NationStates Jolt Archive

I, for one, am absolutely giddy about the prospect of getting to draw parallels between Late Middle English poetry and ostinati from Shostakovich and Holst.

I'm going out of town this weekend which should be fun.

Getting home so I can continue my conquest of the Byzantine Empire in Civ 4.

Nothing really. There are only things that bore me slightly less than others, because I am oh so sophisticated and cynical, which obviously indicates my great maturity.

Pizza. Gotta go.

The pizza I stole from DrunkenDove.

What gets me excited now? The prospect of enjoying my year long sabbatical from work. I deserve it! Not that I've been able to, but I still can hope.

The different ways in which I can humiliate myself in exchange for £1000 worth of goodies is keeping me pretty entertained for now. It's certainly trumping neurology study

Also, in before someone (probably Cabra, or Sin) posts something completely inappropriate, or just barely avoids posting something completely inappropriate. Perverts. >.<

I, for one, am absolutely giddy about the prospect of getting to draw parallels between Late Middle English poetry and ostinati from Shostakovich and Holst.

You mean creating a sense of machine-like music that can be grotesque and/or empowering depending on use/character?

You mean creating a sense of machine-like music that can be grotesque and/or empowering depending on use/character?

Isn't that what Industrial Rock is already? o.O

You mean creating a sense of machine-like music that can be grotesque and/or empowering depending on use/character?

No, how repeated figures, whether musical or verbal, create the image of a surging, unstoppable force.

I, for one, am absolutely giddy about the prospect of getting to draw parallels between Late Middle English poetry and ostinati from Shostakovich and Holst.

Bah! Stravinsky was the only composer to write any ostinati worth while. Accept no substitutes!

And while Industrial Rock can be grotesque or empowering, the first adjective that usually comes to my mind to describe it is "boring", I'm afraid.


(I just got a huge pile of CDs. The thought of listening to and finding the scores to go with all of them excites me. Especially since it means I won't have to do any work while doing it.)

A-League Grand Final.

Isn't that what Industrial Rock is already? o.O

Perhaps, but those he mentions were writing like that in the 1910-50s, so for a Shostakovich the time of the Five Year Plans and later WW2, and for Holst WW1 and earlier changes in Britain. Both use it relating to industrialisation and war.

My B-day is today!!

Today in History: The Marines raised the US flag on Mt. Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Semper Fidelis

Today was also Soviet Armed Forces Day.

The Seige of the Alamo began in 1836. For a native of San An, this means a lot to me, "Remember the Alamo!" indeed.

Perhaps, but those he mentions were writing like that in the 1910-50s, so for a Shostakovich the time of the Five Year Plans and later WW2, and for Holst WW1 and earlier changes in Britain. Both use it relating to industrialisation and war.

Ah, I see.

No, how repeated figures, whether musical or verbal, create the image of a surging, unstoppable force.

Yes, though that isn't entirely unrelated to what I said. Machines demonstrate far better what unstoppable repetition means, and thus when combined with war, creates something altogether more terrifying i.e. Shostakovich's 7th.

'War machine' is quite a popular word, especially applied in WW2.

Yes, though that isn't entirely unrelated to what I said. Machines demonstrate far better what unstoppable repetition means, and thus when combined with war, creates something altogether more terrifying i.e. Shostakovich's 7th.
Which is the particular example I'm using, incidentally. Whether it refers specifically to the German assault on Leningrad, or "war" in a more abstract sense is debatable, given that much of the 7th (including the 1st movement) was written BEFORE the siege.

Hell, it might even refer to Stalin's metaphorical war on the Russian people.

The specifics are of course irrelevant here; what matters is the effect created.

'War machine' is quite a popular word, especially applied in WW2.
Yes, and that's why I'm hesitant to use it--because I'm also using Holst as an example, specifically the 5/4 figure from Mars, which was written a couple of years before the advent of mechanized warfare, and has its roots in classical mythology and astrology.

I currently blitzed on my own adrenaline after having slogged through about four feet of snow to buy garlic fingers.

Which is the particular example I'm using, incidentally. Whether it refers specifically to the German assault on Leningrad, or "war" in a more abstract sense is debatable, given that much of the 7th (including the 1st movement) was written BEFORE the siege.

Hell, it might even refer to Stalin's metaphorical war on the Russian people.

The specifics are of course irrelevant here; what matters is the effect created.

Lots of things have been argued over it due to it's very high profile appearance. I wouldn't say it necessarily refers to the siege itself, rather the general advance of the Nazis and the resistance of the Soviet people. Shostakovich was, after all, expected to write patriotic things, especially after 1936, and this was an ideal opportunity; although, he would have written it anyway, his love the people of his country was quite strong even if his view of the government is more debatable.

*Is currently reading the Elizabeth Wilson biography*

Yes, and that's why I'm hesitant to use it--because I'm also using Holst as an example, specifically the 5/4 figure from Mars, which was written a couple of years before the advent of mechanized warfare, and has its roots in classical mythology and astrology.

The Planets was written between 1913 and 18 (I don't know the dates of the individual movements), so I suppose you could say it was influenced by the events of WW1. I'm not sure mechanised warfare as in tanks is the right way to think about it (tanks in those years weren't that effective), more so the mechanisation in machine guns and artillery, and the way young men were thrown into this system of barrage and slow advance and, most likely, their death. A killing-fields machine, perhaps.

Although, more generally you could think of the rhythm from Mars as an advancing army in whatever era. The slow, inexorable plodding of thousands of men towards you; quite a scary thing, even when reduced just to a repeating rhythm. Also, the brass figures from rehearsal mark IV are certainly militaristic, though of a more victorious nature (though this doesn't dominate later).

I have reason to believe this weekend will be fantastic. :)

Syncopated rhythms. Tight pants. The thoughts of my beloved and the apparently illegal things we'll get up to.

Syncopated rhythms. Tight pants. The thoughts of my beloved and the apparently illegal things we'll get up to.

wow, you two must be into some REALLY kinky shit....

wow, you two must be into some REALLY kinky shit....

I swear I didn't sell them the goats.

I just bought Planet Earth on Blu-Ray from eBay, waiting for it to arrive.

Syncopated rhythms. Tight pants. The thoughts of my beloved and the apparently illegal things we'll get up to.

You mean like, missionary position, for the purposes of procreation, between a a lawfully married man and woman, with the lights on?!

I'm calling the county police to report this heinous misdemeanor if you don't turn them off quick like!

The same things that always excite me, the match tomorrow night, the 3 new books I have sat upstairs waiting to be read, the "Learn French In 3 Months" pack I bought today and the possibility of random drunken sex this weekend leading to an inevitably doomed short term relationship.

I'm going out of town this weekend which should be fun.

I have reason to believe this weekend will be fantastic. :)

Correlation or causation?

That spring break is just a mere eleven days away :D

X-rated picture of Dragonesses.

Please, no 'PICS NAO!!!!1111oneoneoneoh-enn-ee' requests.

X-rated picture of Dragonesses.

Please, no 'PICS NAO!!!!1111oneoneoneoh-enn-ee' requests.

I wouldn't worry about that.

Correlation or causation?

Coincidence? CONSPIRACY!

Calamity and consternation!

Finishing off the darn Holy Roman Empire in Medieval: Total War 2.

The possibility that the preliminary design of a coal gasification plant with reduced emissions and CCS may be completed by Wednesday.

Smart money says this won't be happening.

The possibility that the preliminary design of a coal gasification plant with reduced emissions and CCS may be completed by Wednesday.

This excites you? You're a strange strange girl..

Nothing. I've just broken up with my long term girlfriend, which, since it's my fault, sucks somewhat.

Date with a girl I really like next week :3

Syncopated rhythms. Tight pants. The thoughts of my beloved and the apparently illegal things we'll get up to. I guess I really do need to check the case law on that...damn...I'll find a way around it, I'm sure!

wow, you two must be into some REALLY kinky shit.... I take that as a compliment, coming from you :P

Going to bed?

I, for one, am absolutely giddy about the prospect of getting to draw parallels between Late Middle English poetry and ostinati from Shostakovich and Holst.Getting sleep, my taxes back, my bonus, so i can pay off a bunch of bullsh*t, getting my f*cking car taken care of, some awake time with my little dudes, and enjoying the summertime in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Did i mention sleep?

Date with a girl I really like next week :3

How can you already know that you will like her next week? :confused:

I wouldn't worry about that.

You'd think so, but you'd be wrong. :eek:

I, for one, am absolutely giddy about the prospect of getting to draw parallels between Late Middle English poetry and ostinati from Shostakovich and Holst.

Right now I'm enthralled by the very idea that, within 5 minutes, I'll be sleeping in my bed and enjoy a good 5 h 1/2 sleep.

What excites you right now?

This:


http://www.picamatic.com/show/2009/01/27/01/05/1874832_295x500.jpg

I'm going to watch Melbourne Victory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_Victory) play in the A-league grand final on Saturday night. I can't wait!

To further contribute to devolving this thread along the lines of 'look what we're all doing in our video games' I managed to wreck Germany's shit as Poland in HOI2, playing historically. There was an epic battle for Berlin in which 20 German divisions were destroyed just before they could break out.

I am far more pleased with myself today than I have any right to be.

That's gotta be more interesting than my game -- all I did (as Belgium) was extend the maginot line north, creating the most boring game ever. :(

1. rugby this weekend on TV
2. going home in a few hours
3. seeing g/f
4. getting this bit of sandwich out from between my damn teeth

How can you already know that you will like her next week? :confused:

Haha. I know her, but we're going out for the first time...