Sticks & Stones (pt. 11)
Hello Mountain View High School -
Very soon you will have the first chance to play through Sticks & Stones, from the first note to the last. This moment is as significant or trivial as you make it, but the fact is, you all WILL be the very first to hear it. Aside from what I imagine this piece sounds like, you'll even hear it before me!
At this point, you might think this piece is finished... well, it isn't. I'm finished conceiving this piece, but it's life has only just begun. Until I have the chance to hear it, and compare it to what I'd imagined, and maaaaybe even tweak a note or two to get it closer to what I'd imagined, it isn't finished.
And so, you're now part of this process, part of the life of this music. What I ask of you is to consider that Sticks & Stones is not a stone-cold marble statue in a musical museum; it is a malleable shape of clay, still in the artist's studio, that has yet to take it's final form. I ask that you bring your musical enthusiasm and sensitivity, as artists. Understand that I have considered and reconsidered every single note, dynamic, and articulation -- and consider challenging yourselves to realize them, and to figure out WHY I wrote them that way. When changes come up, rather than being annoyed by them, embrace them, and consider this a chance to be a part of the music as it evolves.
If you have any questions, ideas, or thoughts, I'd be glad to hear them -- you can post them here on the blog, or on the BCM forum, or email me to me directly (jimbonney@aol.com). I can't guarantee I'm going to take every suggestion, but I'll certainly consider them all. (if you just want to tell me you like it, that's OK too)
Thanks so much, and very best of luck with the music!
Very soon you will have the first chance to play through Sticks & Stones, from the first note to the last. This moment is as significant or trivial as you make it, but the fact is, you all WILL be the very first to hear it. Aside from what I imagine this piece sounds like, you'll even hear it before me!
At this point, you might think this piece is finished... well, it isn't. I'm finished conceiving this piece, but it's life has only just begun. Until I have the chance to hear it, and compare it to what I'd imagined, and maaaaybe even tweak a note or two to get it closer to what I'd imagined, it isn't finished.
And so, you're now part of this process, part of the life of this music. What I ask of you is to consider that Sticks & Stones is not a stone-cold marble statue in a musical museum; it is a malleable shape of clay, still in the artist's studio, that has yet to take it's final form. I ask that you bring your musical enthusiasm and sensitivity, as artists. Understand that I have considered and reconsidered every single note, dynamic, and articulation -- and consider challenging yourselves to realize them, and to figure out WHY I wrote them that way. When changes come up, rather than being annoyed by them, embrace them, and consider this a chance to be a part of the music as it evolves.
If you have any questions, ideas, or thoughts, I'd be glad to hear them -- you can post them here on the blog, or on the BCM forum, or email me to me directly (jimbonney@aol.com). I can't guarantee I'm going to take every suggestion, but I'll certainly consider them all. (if you just want to tell me you like it, that's OK too)
Thanks so much, and very best of luck with the music!
2 Comments:
Hey Jim! I am looking forward to the concert in January and hearing the new piece. I performed chaos theory with you a couple of years back. Unfortunately I cannot perform the new piece with you since I am graduated but I will most definately be there for the premiere.
A former Bassoonist
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