The new hotness.

Ho, there, Voxland.  It's been a while.  Far too much has transpired since I lost and regained my internet connectivity, so I won't try to do a catch-up post.  I will throw up some pictures to illustrate some of the nice things that have happened:

Obviously, my goal is to once again blog consistently.  My schedule is (barely) beginning to open up, although it will undoubtedly hit another crunch in the next few weeks as finals and juries approach, but I think once every couple days is reasonable.

I've been doing a lot of recording lately.  It's a very useful tool for a performing musician, because you can get out of your own head and hear what you really sound like.  You may think you're dragging the rhythm in a certain measure, then hear the recording and realize you're rushing it.  You may think your playing is even, and your dynamics varied, but the microphone does not lie.  It teaches you that you can't always count on your own interpretation.

Today I recorded a movement from a piece I am performing soon, and I actually thought it turned out rather well.  So here it is, for your enjoyment:

Concertina da Camera: II. Larghetto

So, my loyal readers, what would you prefer?  Suggestions of classical/contemporary music, or suggestions of modern/popular music?  I tend to think the classical selections won't be so popular.

What's on your Top 5 video games list?
Submitted by mileena.

Usually I don't answer the QotD, but I couldn't resist this one.  This isn't by any means my list of "The Top 5 Games of All Time", just my personal favorites.  In no real order: Guitar Hero 2, Knights of the Old Republic, Super Smash Brothers Melee, SSX On Tour, and Lumines.  I think each one is very unique (with the possible exception og KoTOR, which has had it's format copied several times) and highly enjoyable.  GH2 and SSBM are great multiplayer games, especially for occasions when the crowd is not so hardcore about gaming, SSX is the latest refinement of the best arcade-sports game of the last decade, Lumines is so addicting you begin to see falling blocks when you are walking down the street, and KoTOR was, to me, the first truly immersive cinematic game, not to mention it sates the deeply rooted urge for me to have the power to shoot lightning from my hands.

I found a horn to borrow, from an alum of my school who's now living and teaching up in Beverly, MA.  The trip to retrieve it was more strange than I'd have liked, but it's in my possession for the next 3 days and I don't have to worry about Monday's concert.

It's still on, and I'm still set to perform.  Only I now have no horn to play.  In rehearsal today I felt that my horn just wasn't right.  Notes were weirdly out of tune, some weren't speaking, some made awkward gurgles and jumps.  The first cause that pops into mind when these problems come up is a leak somewhere on the instrument. 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH, 2006, 8 PM

This blog was intended to chronicle my move to Boston and my experiences here, something which I have failed miserably to do.  Some of it is that I have precious little internet access, which actually tends to keep me more productive, and some of it also has to do with the fact that I typically don't share much of my private life, outside of a general sense, with the blogging community as a whole.  The sense of uncontrollable openness makes me a little wary, and if you ask my family or friends, they get very little news of my private doings as it is - so don't feel bad that I'm not sharing as much as I could with you.

Yet again, I am left without any explanation for why I am not good enough.  I am tired of hearing that I am so wonderful as women tell me they can't be with me.