The Master is not god, he is Wagner
THAT’s me,
1. driving down to WAGNER, (made that up actually, today it was driving down to a phone conversation)
2. listening to JAMES BROWN
3. reading a book about harmony by SCHOENBERG, and
4. going to AFRICAN DRUM class soon.
likely coming home to
5. JAZZ tonight.
so if my life WASN’T about coping with feeling unhappy, because I WASN’T unhappy…
would I do something different?
wonder what…
I got ideas, yo
be professional, be professional, blah blah blah
Mike Robbins is a Percussionist and all-around Musical Weirdo residing in Los Angeles, who spends his time playing and teaching African Music, rather crazed and rhythmically Complex yet Groovy Percussive Music, and has a very-likely-unhealthy obsession with the music of Steve Reich, which he also Conducts and Plays on occasion. He also teaches a little Music Theory of the Harmonically-Colourful Variety, and plays a little Harmonium to accompany North Indian Music. He also arranged some Marching Band and Drumline music, and composes his own stimulating musics as well.
so, a little discussion of what I call
The Zeitgeist Question, which refers, to me, to the notion of am I doing something with myself in mind, or others…
did I miss the day in school where-
where they taught you that when you work for people, yoi ddo what they ask, and not what you want?
or is that not true…
I mean, I have drumset students, kids.
they don’t know what they want or how to get it.
one of them is capable of butchering his way through a song, but if he ever wants to execute it WELL, in tempo, etc, he’s NOT gonna do what HE wants and just play play play, regardless of HOW to play well, so of course, he then needs to do what I say, the way I say it, (bearing in mind which approach I propose works best for him of course, blah blah.)
or am I just incredibly selfish, and never want to work for others, because what they want isn’t interesting to ME?
and why am I different than people who “do it anyway.”
perhaps I am just a selfish twit, only child after all, am I.
perhaps I’m impatient.
perhaps I have things I like.
perhaps a lot of average things just don’t “do it” for me.
perhaps I’m Super impatient.
or perHAPS-
you instead of me are TOO patient,
perhaps you DON’T have things you like, feel strongly about, love, can’t wait for.
perhaps a lot of average things DO “do it” for you.
perhaps you are super patient.
not that I have many “ideas for businesses”, but all the ones I do are usually not about every day things that happen to every day people, things that theoretically would be widespread, but
rather
highly specific things that are interesting to me, not every day things, but highly specific ones relating to me and my weird experience. things that aren’t widespread.
oh WHAT is the matter with me…
or what is the matter with everyone else.
why are we different at all.
and why must I suffer, on the lonely end of the stick so.
awesome as it is, here.
where do others GET the patience to provide a service which they have no interest in? (naturally, if they are poor, or are forced to because of capitalism, yeah that would make sense… but plenty of people I know are NOT like that, and STILL do things that I find muy boring.)
… seems always like things would be (seems…) so much easier if I just conformed, hid my feelings, bit the bullet and just conformed. but no.
it wouldn’t be easier, and I must struggle on, as the real me.
suddenly feeling angry and spiteful (Wagner music on repeat for 2 hours, ah yes.)
!HOW many otha’ people love
WAGNER “AND” JAMES BROWN?
let not the whims and ways and “decisions” of society (within the law of course) define you,
such things were not “designed” with YOU in mind, ESPECIALLY if you aren’t a typical “just get by, fit in, conformist/consumer” type.
and fucks sake, don’t EXPECT much from these “societal structures,” they don’t exist for you, they exist for AVERAGE people.
(when the fuck did I become, such an elitist? (I love it:), so fuck you.)
if you expect fulfillment from, or ANYTHING from such things, and you happen to be rather unique, you will be disappointed plenty, as those of us of this nature have long known inside, and out, based on our lives and how others treat us and what happens when we simply exist amongst these mere mortals, heh.
Self-Esteem = UP, today.
make your own (things.)
BE.
The Boss.
disclaimer: calling people “Mere Mortals” is merely a poetic way of referring to some people as if they are less interesting than I find myself, sometimes. when in a good mood… when in a bad mood, I call them normal and me weird. naturally, the other way (the good mood way) is happier. for me.
Tagged Wagner cause I think he felt similar.
it isn’t about spectacle.
it’s about substance.
it isn’t about power, money, control, or fear, such things are meaningless.
it is about interest, stimulation, imagination, and being in the fucking moment.
I’m lucky….
that I have strong interests… I can’t bear to imagine (nor can I imagine in itself)
how boring and dis-engaging life would be without such things.
I’m also ill-equiped to mentor people who don’t have such interests, as I’ve NO idea what they should do other than GET some of said interests…
and mine are I believe a function of being ADHD and smart, so…
don’t know what non-adhd’ers ought do.
but if you IS adhd, I know what should do.
come party and music make with me.
dude, I’m making some parts (string ones) to a piece for rock band with some strings. (for a high school.)
(It’s work.)
man, my god, this piece is a lesson in how NOT to write for orchestra!
my GOD-
each instrument has un UNCHANGING part, always in 8 bar groups, often the same ones repeated later, NO variation added EVER. no interesting voicings, just roots and 5ths, etc.
all the instruments of an orchestra, and EVERYTHING is just doubled doubled doubled, no one “switches roles” ever, no “have the trumpets play E and G HERE, THEN have the violas do it, while the trumpets play “oooh I know, G and B!”)
it’s COMPLETELY unimaginative (and very easy to copy, for it’s just endless repetition (and no, it’s not minimalism, it’s just very very boring music.)
I can’t believe people pay money, much less tons of it, to hear such crap. my opinion, yes.
it’s as if someone with no understanding of nor INTEREST in orchestration, harmony, or voicing, took a two-line keyboard part and copied everything note for note without any THOUGHT to ALL instruments, and THEN thinks THEY KNOW HOW TO WRITE FOR ORCHESTRA.
(maybe that’s just the style, yes, but I don’t like no such style.)
AND THEN PEOPLE IN THE GENERAL POPULATION AGREE, either cause they don’t know better (cause maybe they aren’t exposed to more interesting things, or at least a broader variety of things, or because they don’t actually listen, and just do what the media and tells them, or what their peers tell them, or because THIS REALLY “IT” what they are interested in (doubtful), or still also perhaps because their attention spans are really short (hey, I’m ADHD, I’d know.)
but no…. (see addendum)
AND PEOPLE HIRE THEM BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW ANY BETTER, NOR CARE, CAUSE IT’S ALL ABOUT PROFIT, AND THE HELL WITH CULTURE OR ANYTHING INTERESTING OR ARTISTIC!
I’M OFFENDED THAT THIS PASSES FOR ART!
CAUSE IT’S BLOOOOOOODY GARBAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
…
this is something I hate about plenty pop music too. and edm.
they don’t bother to try to do anything INTERESTING.
the hell with ’em.
I don’t need that.
people HAVE done interesting things.
be one of those.
leave these pathetic disinterested fools behind.
Addendum, written weeks later:
SOoooo that was pretty spiteful, yeah.
regarding the bit about people maybe having short attention spans? no, that can’t be it. they say “I’VE” got one, but only with things I don’t find interesting.
either many people don’t find music that is “at all substantive” interesting (by MY standards, anyway,)
or they simply aren’t listening, really, at all…
tagged burningman because they play tons of EDM there, and I hate edm. yep:)
tagged African Music cause in IT, you REALLY have to listen CAREFULLY all the time, for various changes that happen, whenever the leader indicates.
tagged Minimalism, cause in IT, a similar thing to African music happens (in Steve Reich, at least.) some Philip Glass too, in different but similar ways.
Tagged Music Theory and Harmony, cause I feel the palette of harmony used in a lot of popular music is WAY WAY simple and frankly, not that interesting. not to me.
Tagged WAGNER for a similar reason (he had phat harmonies, man.
Tagged Philosophy cause, as usual, this IS part of MY philosophy:)
Tagged Adhd (duh)
Tagged Frustrations about Women cause I don’t see me being with any woman who greatly likes music that I find way boring. and yep, I’m alone. what’s your point?:)