2008 In Review

Although 2008 isn't done yet, it seems close enough to look back at what happened. Here are some of the major things that happened to me this year:

Started playing and listening to (almost) exclusively classical music. I think that this started in Wind Ensemble last year when we played things like Shostakovich's Festive Overture, Rhapsody in Blue, and the Pines of Rome. I knew that this year we would be playing Holst's Planets, and so in preparation I bought a whole bunch of CDs to help me learn. And I really, really liked them! I haven't purchased a jazz CD since the summer, but have gotten many classical CDs. Not that I don't listen to jazz anymore, but I have discovered a deep love for classical music. This has filtered into my trumpet playing as well - I sound more like a classical player too. I guess that this is probably because I now know what type of sound I want to emulate - a full, rich, dark, deep sound.

Camps - I worked at Prov Arts Camp again this summer, which was nothing new, but I also spent 2 weeks at Gem Lake Bible Camp - a camp without electricity on an island in northern Manitoba where I worked with inner-city kids. Quite an experience, I have to say. Also, I attended the U of M trumpet camp, where I got to work with Ronald Romm (of the Canadian Brass) and Chase Sanborn (from U of T). It was worth every penny, and I will be back next year.

Other music - I had my first commission - three of my friends asked me to write them a piece, and they premiered it in April. That was really exciting!

Friends - This year I was very privileged to meet Francesco's girlfriend Amalia and all of her friends. Even though Francesco is in Africa, Amalia has made sure that Andrew and I are still a part of her and her friends' lives, which is super cool. I wish I saw my friends from Prov more, but I realize that we're all in different places now. And I'm very thankful for my friends from Bible Study.

Other interesting things I did for the first time this year: Got into wall climbing (thanks Nate and Francesco), recorded my first CD (with the Wind Ensemble), got a laptop, hiked in the snow, learned how to drive standard.

Favourites:
Book: JPod by Douglas Coupland
Movie: WALL-E
New restaurant: Dim Sum Garden
CD: Morten Lauridsen: Lux Aeterna, Madrigali, Latin Motets (as recorded by Stephen Layton and Polyphony)
Concert: Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, at the Winnipeg Jazz Festival (for jazz), The Planets, by Gustav Holst, performed by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Course: Music of the 20th Century, taught by Dr. Paul Guise
Video game: Persona 3, and Persona 4 is probably going to be my game of 2009 because that's when I'll finish it!

What I'm looking forward to in 2009:
Student teaching!
20th Century Music II
Wind Ensemble Trip to Calgary
Francesco returning from Africa (and Tim and Justin later in the year)
Having my arrangement of Lauridsen's "O Magnum Mysterium" played by the Wind Ensemble in January
Meeting new people and becoming closer with people I already know

That's my year in review. To sum up, I have to quote my friend Dann: "2008? More like 2000-GREAT!"

Happy New Year!

Your input required

Rejected X-Men powers. Your input required.

Here are a few to get you started:

1. The ability to age rapidly.
2. The ability to go without blinking.
3. Being able to converse with inanimate objects. Problem is, they're inanimate so they can't talk back.
4. Being able to see two seconds into the future.
5. PG-ray vision (instead of X-Ray).

Concert

Hi all,
The Wind Ensemble is presenting a concert full of Gustav Holst's music. This includes Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, A Dirge for Two Veterans (featuring the Bison Men's chorus), and First Suite in Eb. It is from 8-10 on Friday, November 28th at MBCI (Jubilee Place). Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students at the door.
Hope to see you all there!

realizations

I just realized that the version of Rhapsody In Blue I have on Ronald and Avis Romm's CD "Living The Dream" was arranged by Timothy Dokshitzer. This is the arrangement that they tell stories about. Wow.

Another time-waster

This has been eating much of my time. But it's fun!

McCain Vs Obama Risk it all and use superior tactics to win the Presidential Election

Play this free game now!!

This just in...

Jack Thompson has been disbarred by the Florida Supreme Court due to inappropriate conduct. It comes into effect on October 25th.

If you don't know who this is or why you should be excited, this post probably isn't for you. If you're curious, then wiki him.

...sigh

Ugh. I just finished two journal entries for Teaching The Arts in the Senior Years, so I am all caught up now. I feel like I still haven't learned anything from that class that I don't already know. I'm doing my best to keep an open mind, though. This week's readings pointed me to www.wefeelfine.org which is a really neat site, and an exercise in transmediation (20 bonus points for me using an Educational Strategy (tm) ).

So, tomorrow is Election Day. I'm facing a dilemma that I haven't had to face yet. Now, those of you who know me know that I usually vote for the blue team. However, the captain of the blue team made some remarks that made me very unhappy (about the arts). So, I really dislike said captain now. However, I think that the red, yellow, green, and french teams do not jive with my economic/political views. Also, they may or may not destroy the country if they get in. But I'm sick of minority governments because they can't actually accomplish anything. And I think that the blue team is probably the best one to see us through our current economic turmoil. But I don't like the blue captain, once again. However, I have to vote, because if I don't vote, then I feel that I am not entitled to complain about the government.

WHAT DO I DO?????

p.s. happy thanksgiving, all! I am very thankful for my friends and family, who never cease to amaze me in many different ways.

Classical Music for you to listen to.

Here are some "classical" pieces that I have become familiar with over the last few months. You should acquaint yourself with them if you can.

The Planets - Gustav Holst

First Suite in Eb - Holst

Second Suite in F - Holst

Quiet City - Aaron Copland

Sonata for Trumpet and Piano - Paul Hindemith

O Magnum Mysterium - Morten Lauridsen

Quintet - Michael Kamen (for the Canadian Brass)

Sonata Pathetique - Ludwig von Beethoven

Phrygian Gates - John Adams

Symphonies 1-9 - Gustav Mahler

This should be enough to get you going for a while.

Requiem

Requiem

Matt Neufeld

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Te decet hymnus Deus, in Sion, et tibi reddetur votum in Ierusalem. Exaudi orationem meam; ad te omnis caro veniet. Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Rest was a luxury not afforded to me.

Kyrie eleison.

My life was spent for the sake of those I served.

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine; In memoria æterna erit justus, ab auditione mala non timebit.

Seeking shelter for the displaced, balm for the wounded, justice for the powerless.

Absolve, Domine, animas omnium fidelium defunctorum ab omno vinculo delictorum et gratia tua illis succurente mereantur evadere iudicium ultionis, et lucis æterne beatitudine perfrui.

I was faithful to my country.

Dies iræ! dies illa solvet sæclum in favilla teste David cum Sibylla!

I shed my life’s blood for them.

Lacrimosa dies illa, qua resurget ex favilla judicandus homo reus. Huic ergo parce, Deus.

No tears were shed for me.

Domine, Jesu Christe, Rex gloriæ, libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum de pœnis inferni et de profundo lacu. Libera eas de ore leonis, ne absorbeat eas tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum; sed signifer sanctus Michæl repræsentet eas in lucem sanctam, quam olim Abrahæ promisisti et semini ejus.

I, a soldier, served my people.

Hostias et preces tibi, Domine, laudis offerimus; tu suscipe pro animabus illis, quarum hodie memoriam facimus. Fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam. Quam olim Abrahæ promisisti et semini ejus.

My nation, in turn, betrayed me.

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth; pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua.

To restore my honour, remember me.

Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.

Remember who I served, and the zeal I had for their well-being.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem.

Though war is distasteful to many, letting innocents suffer is a grave sin.

Lux æterna luceat eis, Domine, cum sanctis tuis in æternum, quia pius es.

If you value my sacrifice, then do this:

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine; et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Cherish my life, poured out for you.

Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem.

Then I can rest.

Amen.

This is another piece that I wrote for my introductory creative writing course. For a translation of the Latin, you can go to the Wikipedia site for the Requiem mass. Comments are much appreciated, as this may go on to be published (I hope).

Also, I'm at Gem Lake Bible Camp for the next 10 days. No electricity/internet. See you in 10 days!

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