Via Sequencia

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar

Greetings, my dear readers . . . and welcome to 2008!

I don't usually go to the annoying and futile bother of resolutions for the new year, but I feel strangely compelled this year. Here we go:

1. Be it resolved that in 2008 Sequencia will return to proper blogging, for the edification of himself and his readers.
2. Be it further resolved that in 2008 Sequencia will get more sleep on average per night.
3. Be it further resolved that in 2008 Sequencia will start using his health club membership.
4. Be it further resolved that in 2008 Sequencia will endeavor not to be annoyed by his partner, family members, superiors, subordinates, pedestrians, other drivers, neighbors, politicians, or anyone else who has annoyed him in the past year.
5. Be it further resolved that in 2008 Sequencia will not beat himself up when he fails to fulfill the terms of resolution 4, especially when it involves politicians.

Happy New Year everyone!

Open Letter to the Sewing Circle (aka Stitch 'n Bitch)

Circle of Sewers Bitches
444 N. You Know Where
Chicago USA

My dearest Fellow Stitchers Assholes,

What the hell was that? What did I ever do to you? Did it make you all feel better to each pick up your respective piles of shit and all at once hurl them at me? I certainly hope it did something for you, because I'm going to be cleaning it out of my hair, ears, nose, eyes, mouth, and clothes for the entire three-week hiatus before seeing you all again.

In all our weeks/months/years together, I have never felt so unwelcome, unwanted, unloved, and unsafe. Talk about having your parade rained on. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! I arrived tonight giddy and all upbeat. Is this your way of assisting the universe in keeping itself in balance? To shoot me down hard to a low that is equal and opposite to my high? Or was it simply a way for you each to feel better about your own current state of unhappiness?

Well, whatever it was, it was successful. I thank you all for a very enlightening unpleasant evening. Oh, and before I forget, a very merry fucking Chrismahanukwanzaakkuh to you, too.

Very sincerely yours,
La Sequencia

World premiere without the ticker-tape

My Meriam Mass was given its world premiere this morning at church. It was successful, I think. The notes were all there in the voices as well as in the organ (thank God!). How embarrassing it would have been to play it wrong! The choir sang it beautifully. The congregation was singing, albeit timidly. New pieces always get that treatment. Within a couple of weeks, they'll all be singing it with gusto, I'm sure.

Bottom line: I was well pleased with its first use in the service; it's raison d'etre, if you will.

Having said that, its reception from the masses (no pun intended) was much cooler than I would have hoped. In hindsight, I should have realized it would be just as it was. My therapist keeps telling me that it isn't so wise to ask a question hoping for a specific answer in return. He says that if one does, one will almost always be disappointed.

As much as I was trying to be humble about my work, I was not hoping for it go unnoticed. To be fair, three of my favorite people in the parish who are outside the music program sought me out afterwards to tell me how nice they thought my compositions are. (One friend from outside the parish came to church today specifically because she wanted to hear and sing the pieces, which of course is especially gratifying.) I was grateful for their comments, but they always comment and are very forthcoming with their praise for what we do there to enhance their worship experience. What was disappointing is that no one else saw fit to say a word.

I know I'm on the verge of whining and sounding rather unappealing, but we musicians thrive on attention and need your approval. The piety of Soli Deo Gloria most certainly did not originate with a church musician! It was painful for me to bare my soul in the form of some very personal music today and then feel as though no one gave a shit. It's so typical of Episcopalians to avoid rather than engage. It's no wonder people so often find our signs ironic: The Episcopal Church Welcomes You. Yes...we want you to come and be welcomed by our superior way of doing things, but don't expect us to say much more than hello to you after church. Heaven forbid we should truly connect with you on a human level.

Oh, and yes...peace be with you!

'Missa Mamaw' begins to take shape

The Mass that I've been busy composing has a name: Meriam Mass. It's named in memory of my grandmother, Meriam Delphine Calhoun, who died two weeks ago today. It's still very much a work in progress, but I've completed two parts now...I finished the Agnus Dei on Saturday. Anyway, its nickname of "Missa Mamaw" is already in use around our house.

It was an amazing feeling to hold a piece of music in my own hands that I had just finished writing with those very hands.  Not just amazing...it was intoxicating! Can't wait to experience the whole spectrum of emotions that are still to come, like the nervous anticipation of the reaction from the choir when I pass it out for the first time. Or the excitement of hearing the congregation and choir sing it for the first time during the Eucharist on Sunday, September 16!

Yes, I've started the Gloria, in case you wondered. This is so invigorating!

Sequencia branches out

This evening, as Incontesta was busy upstairs in the music office at church, I was in the chancel practicing Bach and Buxtehude. Suddenly, I got a very strong urge to compose some service music. I have often thought about it, but always managed to procrastinate. I mean, why do today what I can put off till...oh...say, next year?

But tonight was different. The need to create was palpable. I called up to Incontesta on the walkie-talkie to see if he had some music manuscript paper. He printed some for me from the internet and I was on my way.

I decided to start simply...a setting of the Sanctus et Benedictus would be good. (Oh, God! I can't do this! Oh, yes, I can! So what if it's terrible or, even worse, mediocre or sappy or silly. My God! What the hell am I doing?)

So I started sketching out a melody. Then I'd get distracted trying out harmonies. Then I'd try to write something down. Then I'd go back to sounds. I have no system for this. This is uncharted territory. (What the fuck is Supremo going to think of this drivel? Is there any way that he might actually approve of my first attempt at tapping into my compositional creative juices? He pokes fun at my sincere attempts at improvisation. Stop it, Sequencia...just keep at it. Fuck all that other shit!)

Well...about two hours later, I had sketched out the whole piece. D Major. Nice modulation to at least a couple unexpected harmonies. Highest note is an e that occurs in the Hosanna (a whole step higher than what you usually see in service music, but they're quick). Two phrases end with a couple descant-y moments for the choir's sopranos. Yep...I think I remembered to use all the conventions. The fun thing about it is that I didn't really even think about those things very much. They just sort of happened naturally.

Stay tuned. I may have the piece sketched out, but I haven't finalized any of the organ part. Lot's of harmonic ideas that I hear in my head, but still a lot of decisions to be made. Honestly, it's the organ part that's going to make this piece something more than a run-of-the-mill, dime-a-dozen Sanctus.

Again I ask...what am I doing?

Holy, holy, holy shit!

Operation: Wedding Suit

Okay, folks...it's gotten out of hand. I have not been able to fit into my wedding suit in nearly a year. After all the work before the wedding (not to mention the outrageous cost of the suit and the fact that the Big Gay Wedding was only 16 months ago), this is annoying, to say the least.

So...

I'm happy to report that Sequencia is on his way toward recovery (again). Since starting  Operation: Wedding Suit (again) the night before last, we are two pounds down!

Bring on those NutriSystem® meals!

Come on in and sit a spell!

Welcome to the new digs. Things were just getting a little stale over in the old place, so here we are. Let's have some fun. Cheers!

N.B. For a while, you can check out old posts here.