2007-2008 Alphabetized

I found I had more to say than 10 things so I'll try for an Alphabet. =]

A - Annabelle - My lovely, lovely piano who (like me) is quite talkative at the moment (her dampers don't come down quite like they're supposed to so she tends to be long winded whenever I give her something to sing). I think I can safely say that Annabelle is an amazing piano.

B - Buhler - Mr. Buhler is an awesome teacher. He's crazy, but he's awesome. I think I've praised him before in another post, but for this one I shall say that FAT year would not have been as funny/silly/thought provoking/and interesting if not for him.

C - Christian Bearup - Always towering over us and making me laugh and talking about movies and generally being an all around great guy. I am very very very glad of your friendship.

D - Dante - Is definitely going to be a huge favorite of mine. (Going through Purgatory now) =] (Gasp!)

E - Edwards - I need to re-read a Divine and Supernatural light. In fact, I need to re-read the whole Foundations curriculum! I don't think I'll ever understand them completely. I don't think we even read them completely!

F - Foundations - I've often wondered about the structure of the Three TA classes. Why are they put in that order? Inklings, Foundations, Faith. Hmmm. From Inklings to Faith. Someone should write a memoir. =]

G - Gabriel - Is a name an inseperable part of a person? Would a person still be that person if they had a different name?

H - Hobbes - AHHHHHHHH!!! (H could also stand for um let's see...HERESY!) But it's okay Hobbes, at least you can pull some weight against Calvin in Faith.

I - Independence - That and Freedom. They are way more complex than I ever imagined. We're just a few wrong words form being a nation of rebels.

J - John Locke - I like Locke; in fact, Locke could possibly be my favorite political text of the year, after Tocqueville, of course, but then that defeats the purpose of saying that Locke was my favorite in the first place; oh well, I guess I should find something else to say about him; I think his views on property were quite ingenious, the way he gets us from the State of Nature to having the right of owning things, mixing ones labor, man, what a genius; in conclusion, Locke makes me think of a long long long car ride with no bathroom breaks, in fact, I'd tell my mother, "Just one more sentence" instead of "Just one more paragraph"; I think I over did that a bit. =]

K - KUSC - Last classical radio station in SoCal. If you listen, go support. I cannot imagine losing this station to pop.

L - Learning - A supreme joy.

M - Montesquieu - 20 years! A third of his life! "If anyone worked as hard as I did, he would have done better." I really want to be able to say this. haha.

N - Nelsons - A lovely, lovely clan. Charming and very sweet except when they decide to take advantage of my gullibility. Jessie, Katie, Kevin, and Mrs. Nelson. I am very glad I had so many study hall sessions. =]

O - Oh, Emily - We have very much in common. Insecurity, enthusiasm, indecision, love of food, many questions, borderline neurotic Asian drive to excel, etc. Yay for being able to talk more next year! It is a priviledge to know you. =]

P - Peterson, Danielle - Wonderful, Artistic, funny, undeniably intelligent, lover of chocolate, wholly herself. I think I win the title of supreme procrastinator of emails. =] I can't think of many other people I'd rather talk to than you. Hope to see you soon friend!

Q - Questions- "Further up and Further in!"

R - Rachmaninoff or the Reynolds - I can't decide! They're both so absolutely amazing. Really! Mary Kate and L.D. and Jane and Ian and Dr. Reynolds and Mrs. Reynolds. If they were characters in a book it would be my favorite on in the world. But they're not, (Aren't we glad they're not!) they are too good for words. =] Very Rachmaninoff - ish.

S - Shakespeare - With Mr. Bartel! The greatest playwright and a highly intelligent poet. I am very happy I get to take this class next year. =]

T - Thoreau - Had his suits laundered twice a week. Turns out he lived only about a mile from town. Isolation my foot. =] Civil Disobedience. Good idea.

U - Unworthy - Jesus spoils me. (not enough smilely faces in the world).

V - Vision - Can we trust memory? (you can tell I'm starting to run out of things, problem is the moment I hit "publish post" I'm gonna think of something)

W - Wheatstone - Enough Said. http://www.wheatstoneacademy.com/content/

X - X-Files - Our Foundations class should be writers on that show. We had Wyoming seceeding from the union on the count of not being able to wear big hats. That and Iran managed to seperate the state and invaded it. In mid-air. Don't ask.

Y - Yes? - I seem to be saying that alot these days.

Z - I need to get some of these. =]

The year I became FAT

Since I won't get to attend the last week of TA because of Economics. Thursday was my last day of Foundations. =[ It's been a lovely/funny/weird/growing pains/happy/beautiful/absolutely amazing year. The books had a reputation of being dry, but come on, who doesn't love Tocqueville? =] I'm horrible with actually expressing myself through words so I shall spare everyone and keep myself to a few words. I present to you: 10 Things I learned this Year.

1. My friends are absolutely, positively, incredibly, undeniably, quite simply, some of the most wonderful people I've ever met.

2. Humility truly is "endless". (I make no claims as to my attainment of this virtue, only a claim to strive for such a goal)

3. The teenager can deprieve himself of many, many, many hours of sleep...and still function. Haha (Don't push this one).

4. God, Family, Friends, Ideas, Books, Music. I want to be near all of these for the rest of my life. (As to how they're all going to fit in, I'm pretty sure that if I keep things in proper relation to each other, it'll turn out fine.)

5. The struggle against self will be a life-long battle. However, by the Grace of God...etc.

6. Thank God I get to go to Torrey Honors. =] =] =] =] =] =] =] (Yes, that really does need 7 smiles and many, many more)

7. All good things will become corrupted and evil when set up as an idol.

8. I am (mostly) a prideful, arrogant, obnoxious, stupid and sinful creature. (Have I covered them all?)

9. God likes to rehabilitate such people. In fact, He loves them, hard to believe as it is. How incredibly powerful is the Love which sacrifices all for the beloved. How wonderful, how beautiful.

10. Faith is going to be an awesome, awesome year. =]

There you are. 10 things I learned this year. They're certainly (I hope!) not everything I learned, but they are what come to mind at the moment. =]

Goodnight, goodyear.

Nevermind...

After a good ole lesson I'm now working on different pieces. =]

Bach: Italian Concerto, 3rd Movement
Beethoven: Tempest Sonata
Rachmaninoff: Moment Musicaux no. 4
Chopin: Op. 10 No. 3
Dohnanyi: Four Rhapsodies, No. 3

Still gonna be a ton of work. =\
Prayers are very much appreciated. =]

Hope everyone is well.

What the Choo's said...

Sister: "Hey Gabriel, who's Beet-rice?
Gabriel: "...um...*looks at sister - looks at book she's holding - Dante*
Gabriel: "Sigh...Beatrice, Joycelyn, Beatrice!"
Sister: "...oh...I thought it was some sort of dish..."
Gabriel: "Nevermind..."

Mom: "Don't make Gabriel laugh or else he won't be able to see!" *At which point my eyes get really really squinty from smiling*

Oooh, funny story:

About a year or two ago, my mother and I went to see a play (Cyrano de Bergerac, terrible production, good play). Now I'm not sure if it was the lighting or something, but this is what happened.

Guy sitting next to us: "Hey can we switch places with your girlfriend?"
Me: *mouth open...look around slowly to see if any young woman is sitting next to me...see Mom*

Yeah...that made my Mom's day....er...week. haha.

Okay, late goodnight. =]

Lux Aeterna

It's really really awesome having a sister whose teacher is getting her master's at USC. Two words: Free Concerts. Yeah.

This would be the third time we've gotten to go. =]

Tonights performance of Durufle's Requiem and Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna was conducted by Paul Salamunovich who also conducted the 1997 premier of the latter piece.

Both Choral works were deeply moving (at least for me, I'm always a sucker for choral works, think Vespers by Rachmaninoff).

The awesome thing was that the composer showed up on stage and took a bow! I know it's sounds silly, but being less than five feet away from a composer of such beautiful music does something to you. =]

Here I must lament my ineloquence and merely say a few words on each piece (which by no means do them justice, in other words, go listen to them).

The Requiem is set the the standard latin text of the mass for the dead. Wonderful. There's something about the human voice that cannot be rivaled by anything else. The Dies Irae section here gave me chills. The terror of judgement day really comes across. But then again, so does the redemption and love of Christ. Some theological points that I don't agree with, but that doesn't keep me from enjoying this. =]

Lux Aeterna. I first heard this on KUSC the day I took the SAT...hmmm.... Beautiful piece. Especially in conjunction with the text. According to the composer, it is a meditation on light in all forms. Spiritual, physical, etc. I was blessed. (Note: both pieces are set to sacred texts so it was really almost like church). The conductor, orchestra, and choir recieved standing ovations. The conductor went on and off stage about 5 times. Yeah. =]

I wish I could say just how wonderful it all was but then music wouldn't be music would it?

Have a wonderful evening Ladies and Gentlemen. God Bless.

Dies Irae II

Apparently a whole lot of other composers use the Dies Irae plainchant melody in they're works. In fact its pretty much a musical idiom for death.
I was extremely priviledged to attend a performance at USC of Totentanz by Franz Litz. The work is a paraphrase of the Dies Irae. An astounding and jaw-dropping display of brilliant pianistic virtuosity. I was pretty much in awe for a day or two. Just listen to a recording of it! I also got a really good seat! All those octaves, jumps, glissandos, etc. Absolutely amazing. I was also able to listen to the live radio broadcast of Gustavo Dudamel's conducting. =] Prokofiev's first piano Concerto was amazing. At moments very lyrical and joyfully exuberant. I was reminded constantly of a child just beginning to learn his Alphabets. =] And then there was the Fantastic Symphony by Berlioz. And here's where the Dies Irae comes in. I think during the Movement known as the Witch's Sabbath. The Dies Irae does all kinds of transformations. Plus Berlioz has these awesome 2,500 pound church bells clanging away. Yeah. I'm sure there is so much more I'm unsure of. =]

Out of the Tunnel...for now.

I suspect that in most things, as in piano, there comes a moment or any particular lull of time where you can step back take a breath and proudly yet humbly look over what God has helped you to accomplish. It's like driving up a mountain and you're going through this long dark winding tunnel and all of a sudden there's light and boom! you're looking down at the valley you just came up from and if you squint you can barely make out the tiny little cars that are at the same place you were a while ago. =] The funny thing about this mountain is that the top is a long, long, long way off, and you still have to go through quite a few more tunnels. But it's nice to know you have a few behind you. =]
I was finally able to finish Anna Karenina and I realize now how naive my first thoughts were. Some more hopefully less naive thoughts: Tolstoy has an amazing ability to find the perfect analogies that just completely embody the situation! And the whole book is just permeated with reality. All the characters are so, so well, it's almost like I wouldn't be surprised if I met them. An example of this is how often the characters are doing this pendelum (I spelled that wrong, but you get the idea) between sanity and insanity, grace and damnation, truth and lies. Ahhhh! I certainly am not the first or the last to gush over Anna K (A good thing!) but I just couldn't help writing out how wonderful the book is. I still don't think I get more than half of it. (Not get as in understand, but the impact of the book, the depth the hidden gems to be mined, those.) Yeah. It was amazing.
Term Papers are due tomorrow.
Gotta go. =] Be well. God Bless.