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From: Orchid XP v8
Subject: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 10:17:58
Message: <4ac4ba16$1@news.povray.org>
I just obtained a dubiously legal copy of the score for the Dance of the 
Sugar Plumb Fairy.

OH MY LIFE! O_O

Chromatic chord progressions, MUCH?

Damn, no wonder it's labelled as "advanced"... It's almost unplayable! >_<

Sounds damned good though...

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 11:20:05
Message: <4ac4c8a5$1@news.povray.org>
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:17:58 +0100, Orchid XP v8 wrote:

> OH MY LIFE! O_O
> 
> Chromatic chord progressions, MUCH?

Heh, have a look at some Stravinksy sometime - like the Rite of 
Spring. ;-)

Jim


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From: Orchid XP v8
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 11:38:13
Message: <4ac4cce5$1@news.povray.org>
>> OH MY LIFE! O_O
>>
>> Chromatic chord progressions, MUCH?
> 
> Heh, have a look at some Stravinksy sometime - like the Rite of 
> Spring. ;-)

Yes, because I ACTUALLY WANT TO BECOME CLINICALLY INSANE. :-P

Man, I had literally no idea how hard this was going to be...

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 11:44:07
Message: <4ac4ce47@news.povray.org>
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:38:14 +0100, Orchid XP v8 wrote:

>>> OH MY LIFE! O_O
>>>
>>> Chromatic chord progressions, MUCH?
>> 
>> Heh, have a look at some Stravinksy sometime - like the Rite of Spring.
>> ;-)
> 
> Yes, because I ACTUALLY WANT TO BECOME CLINICALLY INSANE. :-P

Well, it is a pretty cool piece of music.  I may have to listen to it 
today, in fact. :-)

> Man, I had literally no idea how hard this was going to be...

That level of music is by its very nature difficult.  I was listening to 
Paganini's 1st violin concerto the other day, and wondered what it was 
that caused such a deep-seated hatred of violinists. ;-)

Jim


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From: Orchid XP v8
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 11:51:29
Message: <4ac4d001$1@news.povray.org>
Orchid XP v8 wrote:

> OH MY LIFE! O_O
> 
> Chromatic chord progressions, MUCH?
> 
> Damn, no wonder it's labelled as "advanced"... It's almost unplayable! >_<
> 
> Sounds damned good though...

Try this on for size:

D F# A C D F# A C
D# F# A B D# F# A B
D F# A C D F# A C
D# F# A B D# F# A B
F A C E F A C E
F# A B D# F# A B D#
F A C E F A C E
F# A B D# F# A B D#
A C D# G A C D# G
B D# F# B D# F#
A C D# G A C D# G
B D# F# B D# F#
D F# A C D F# A C
D# F# A B D# F# A B
D F# A C D F# A C
D# F# A B D# F# A B

I draw your particular attention to the fact that every line has 8 notes 
in it, EXCEPT TWO that have only six notes in them, just to **** things 
up. (It's also just taken me ten minutes to even figure all this out, 
what with the key signatures and the multiple accidentals and 
cancellations...)

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: Orchid XP v8
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 11:53:39
Message: <4ac4d083$1@news.povray.org>
>>> Heh, have a look at some Stravinksy sometime - like the Rite of Spring.
>>> ;-)
>> Yes, because I ACTUALLY WANT TO BECOME CLINICALLY INSANE. :-P
> 
> Well, it is a pretty cool piece of music.  I may have to listen to it 
> today, in fact. :-)

Well good for you. :-P

>> Man, I had literally no idea how hard this was going to be...
> 
> That level of music is by its very nature difficult.

Doesn't sound very difficult. But Jesus, I'm twisting my hands into 
knots trying to follow all these crazy notes!

> I was listening to 
> Paganini's 1st violin concerto the other day, and wondered what it was 
> that caused such a deep-seated hatred of violinists. ;-)

Paganini was a violin virtuoso, so it probably wasn't that hard for HIM...

(I saw a piece of music the other day. Apparently Bach wrote it as a 
simple piece of organ music to teach his wife how to play organ. 
Except... well, this is Bach we're talking about here, so it's NOT 
simple at all!)

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 11:58:20
Message: <4ac4d19c@news.povray.org>
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:53:39 +0100, Orchid XP v8 wrote:

>>>> Heh, have a look at some Stravinksy sometime - like the Rite of
>>>> Spring. ;-)
>>> Yes, because I ACTUALLY WANT TO BECOME CLINICALLY INSANE. :-P
>> 
>> Well, it is a pretty cool piece of music.  I may have to listen to it
>> today, in fact. :-)
> 
> Well good for you. :-P

:-)

>>> Man, I had literally no idea how hard this was going to be...
>> 
>> That level of music is by its very nature difficult.
> 
> Doesn't sound very difficult. But Jesus, I'm twisting my hands into
> knots trying to follow all these crazy notes!

That's often the most difficult music.  Some of the most technically 
challenging music I've played are pieces like the Barber Adagio for 
Strings - its simplicity makes it very difficult because (a) it's so 
recognisible and (b) its subtlety makes mistakes in performance glaringly 
obvious.

>> I was listening to
>> Paganini's 1st violin concerto the other day, and wondered what it was
>> that caused such a deep-seated hatred of violinists. ;-)
> 
> Paganini was a violin virtuoso, so it probably wasn't that hard for
> HIM...

He did write them to showcase his own talents, but for most others things 
like left-handed pizzicato thrown in with bowed elements (such that it 
would be physically impossible to do the pizz with your right hand even 
if you wanted to) or double-stop artificial harmonics (single-stop 
artificial harmonics are a challenge on their own because the interval is 
so precise).  The speed isn't the killer, it's the precision and mix of 
elements that will drive you insane. ;-)

> (I saw a piece of music the other day. Apparently Bach wrote it as a
> simple piece of organ music to teach his wife how to play organ.
> Except... well, this is Bach we're talking about here, so it's NOT
> simple at all!)

LOL

Jim


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From: Orchid XP v8
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 12:23:32
Message: <4ac4d784@news.povray.org>
>> Doesn't sound very difficult. But Jesus, I'm twisting my hands into
>> knots trying to follow all these crazy notes!
> 
> That's often the most difficult music.  Some of the most technically 
> challenging music I've played are pieces like the Barber Adagio for 
> Strings - its simplicity makes it very difficult because (a) it's so 
> recognisible and (b) its subtlety makes mistakes in performance glaringly 
> obvious.

Heh. I never really liked that thing very much...

>> Paganini was a violin virtuoso, so it probably wasn't that hard for
>> HIM...
> 
> He did write them to showcase his own talents, but for most others things 
> like left-handed pizzicato thrown in with bowed elements (such that it 
> would be physically impossible to do the pizz with your right hand even 
> if you wanted to) or double-stop artificial harmonics (single-stop 
> artificial harmonics are a challenge on their own because the interval is 
> so precise).  The speed isn't the killer, it's the precision and mix of 
> elements that will drive you insane. ;-)

...left-handed pizzicato?? O_O

OK, that's just frightening.

(Then again, I suck at playing the violin, so...)

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 13:16:16
Message: <4ac4e3e0@news.povray.org>
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:23:32 +0100, Orchid XP v8 wrote:

>>> Doesn't sound very difficult. But Jesus, I'm twisting my hands into
>>> knots trying to follow all these crazy notes!
>> 
>> That's often the most difficult music.  Some of the most technically
>> challenging music I've played are pieces like the Barber Adagio for
>> Strings - its simplicity makes it very difficult because (a) it's so
>> recognisible and (b) its subtlety makes mistakes in performance
>> glaringly obvious.
> 
> Heh. I never really liked that thing very much...

The Barber?  Well, personal tastes aside, it's a very intense piece of 
music, particularly to perform.

In concert, we had to start it three or four times once.  Gorky Park in 
Moscow.  In the band shell (ie, outdoors).  We'd start, it'd start 
raining.  We'd stop, it'd stop raining.  This happened multiple times, 
and finally the winds section got up and went to the back and the entire 
string sections moved back during the last attempt to play it.

By the time we finished, there were only about 4 people left in the 
audience.

>>> Paganini was a violin virtuoso, so it probably wasn't that hard for
>>> HIM...
>> 
>> He did write them to showcase his own talents, but for most others
>> things like left-handed pizzicato thrown in with bowed elements (such
>> that it would be physically impossible to do the pizz with your right
>> hand even if you wanted to) or double-stop artificial harmonics
>> (single-stop artificial harmonics are a challenge on their own because
>> the interval is so precise).  The speed isn't the killer, it's the
>> precision and mix of elements that will drive you insane. ;-)
> 
> ...left-handed pizzicato?? O_O
> 
> OK, that's just frightening.
> 
> (Then again, I suck at playing the violin, so...)

Even good violinists have trouble with left-handed pizzicato.  But the 
Paganini (last movement of VC1) has runs that are like D, C#, B, A 
(played on the A string) in rapid succession; so you have to have the 
strength in your left hand to not only play the notes (not a big deal) 
and to pluck the string AS YOU REMOVE your fingers from the string.

And the coordination to do so while maintaining the rhythm of the music.

Jim


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From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 13:31:19
Message: <9hp9c5d8kqpfhkmrdb4q88cpqe2sp2hmmv@4ax.com>
On 1 Oct 2009 11:20:05 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:17:58 +0100, Orchid XP v8 wrote:
>
>> OH MY LIFE! O_O
>> 
>> Chromatic chord progressions, MUCH?
>
>Heh, have a look at some Stravinksy sometime - like the Rite of 
>Spring. ;-)
>

Everyone to their own :P
-- 

Regards
     Stephen


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From: nemesis
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 13:49:27
Message: <4ac4eba7@news.povray.org>
will you try it on the organ or do you have a piano around?

-- 
a game sig: http://tinyurl.com/d3rxz9


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From: Orchid XP v8
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 13:52:11
Message: <4ac4ec4b$1@news.povray.org>
nemesis wrote:
> will you try it on the organ or do you have a piano around?

Using my MIDI controller to control Kontakt, I have some actual sound 
samples of a real celesta. (Although it actually sounds not bad on 
harpsichord too...)

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: nemesis
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 13:56:28
Message: <4ac4ed4c$1@news.povray.org>
Orchid XP v8 escreveu:
> nemesis wrote:
>> will you try it on the organ or do you have a piano around?
> 
> Using my MIDI controller to control Kontakt, I have some actual sound 
> samples of a real celesta. (Although it actually sounds not bad on 
> harpsichord too...)

ah, that's much better too! XD

-- 
a game sig: http://tinyurl.com/d3rxz9


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From: Orchid XP v8
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 14:18:36
Message: <4ac4f27c$1@news.povray.org>
>>> will you try it on the organ or do you have a piano around?
>>
>> Using my MIDI controller to control Kontakt, I have some actual sound 
>> samples of a real celesta. (Although it actually sounds not bad on 
>> harpsichord too...)
> 
> ah, that's much better too! XD

Having said that, I have a recording on DVD of the Dance of the Sugar 
Plum Fairy played on the organ at Liverpool Cathedral. It has an almost 
bell-like quality, which sounds really nice...

Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEhWzkgR6AQ

(Not quite as good, but still a lot of fun.)

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: Orchid XP v8
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 14:21:16
Message: <4ac4f31c$1@news.povray.org>
Orchid XP v8 wrote:

> Check this out:
> 
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEhWzkgR6AQ

For extra fun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKDJ6Z_stvg

That's some pretty insane footwork. And check out those runs of the 
scale where he changes hands half way though... I'll never be this good, 
sadly.

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: nemesis
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 14:37:04
Message: <4ac4f6d0@news.povray.org>
Orchid XP v8 escreveu:
> Orchid XP v8 wrote:
> 
>> Check this out:
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEhWzkgR6AQ
> 
> For extra fun:
> 
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKDJ6Z_stvg
> 
> That's some pretty insane footwork. And check out those runs of the 
> scale where he changes hands half way though... I'll never be this good, 
> sadly.

youtube only at home... :/

-- 
a game sig: http://tinyurl.com/d3rxz9


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 15:07:03
Message: <4ac4fdd7$1@news.povray.org>
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:31:12 +0100, Stephen wrote:

> On 1 Oct 2009 11:20:05 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> 
>>On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:17:58 +0100, Orchid XP v8 wrote:
>>
>>> OH MY LIFE! O_O
>>> 
>>> Chromatic chord progressions, MUCH?
>>
>>Heh, have a look at some Stravinksy sometime - like the Rite of Spring.
>>;-)
>>
>>
> Everyone to their own :P

OK, Wagner, then. :-)

Jim


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From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 15:56:48
Message: <ib2ac51s0om5s3bba1ff81rjnsn6tdi5e9@4ax.com>
On 1 Oct 2009 15:07:03 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>>>Heh, have a look at some Stravinksy sometime - like the Rite of Spring.
>>>;-)
>>>
>>>
>> Everyone to their own :P
>
>OK, Wagner, then. :-)

My upper limit, Benjamin Britain excepted :-)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 16:23:39
Message: <4ac50fcb$1@news.povray.org>
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:56:42 +0100, Stephen wrote:

> On 1 Oct 2009 15:07:03 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> 
>>>>Heh, have a look at some Stravinksy sometime - like the Rite of
>>>>Spring. ;-)
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Everyone to their own :P
>>
>>OK, Wagner, then. :-)
> 
> My upper limit, Benjamin Britain excepted :-)

LOL

John Cage? ;-)

Jim


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From: Kevin Wampler
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 16:36:12
Message: <4ac512bc$1@news.povray.org>
Jim Henderson wrote:

> John Cage? ;-)

I'm sure he at least wouldn't mind 4'33" ;-)

Along these lines I was very surprised to find that a professor who was 
sitting in on a computer science seminar with me was actually a pupil of 
Xenakis.  He had some amusing stories to tell about how Xenakis once 
cleared out an entire concert hall save for three of his students 
(including the professor) in the front row.

I was also lucky enough to hear a good reproduction of La Légende d'Eer 
in an actual concert a couple of years ago.  My girlfriend who I'd 
dragged to the event was somewhat less enthusiastic.


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From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 16:47:23
Message: <fa5ac519oo1o0h0e1jtubkkh0sg1fje08r@4ax.com>
On 1 Oct 2009 16:23:39 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>> My upper limit, Benjamin Britain excepted :-)
>
>LOL
>
>John Cage? ;-)

LOL, reminds me of the 1950s/60s jukebox record of 2.5 mins of silence or the
Picasso art where he sold signed blank pieces of paper.
-- 

Regards
     Stephen


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From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 17:04:05
Message: <i96ac55ibvgo9d06bo5ugr0co3um48acjk@4ax.com>
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:36:10 -0700, Kevin Wampler <wam### [at] uwashingtonedu>
wrote:

>Jim Henderson wrote:
>
>> John Cage? ;-)
>
>I'm sure he at least wouldn't mind 4'33" ;-)
>
>Along these lines I was very surprised to find that a professor who was 
>sitting in on a computer science seminar with me was actually a pupil of 
>Xenakis.  He had some amusing stories to tell about how Xenakis once 
>cleared out an entire concert hall save for three of his students 
>(including the professor) in the front row.
>
>I was also lucky enough to hear a good reproduction of La Légende d'Eer 
>in an actual concert a couple of years ago.  My girlfriend who I'd 
>dragged to the event was somewhat less enthusiastic.

Thank you for that. May I respond with "Several Species Of Small Furry Animals
Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict"?
-- 

Regards
     Stephen


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From: Orchid XP v8
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 17:07:48
Message: <4ac51a24$1@news.povray.org>
Stephen wrote:

> Thank you for that. May I respond with "Several Species Of Small Furry Animals
> Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict"?

Ah, quality...

If it weren't for the price tag, I'd buy this.

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: Kevin Wampler
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 17:28:00
Message: <4ac51ee0$1@news.povray.org>
Stephen wrote:
> Thank you for that. May I respond with "Several Species Of Small Furry Animals
> Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict"?

Sounds like a landmark piece of contemporary music!

In seriousness, I found the process of learning to like modern music 
pretty similar to how I learned to enjoy beer.  Sure it seemed terrible 
at first, but once I got used to it I started to really appreciate it. 
Not all of it mind you, I still dislike some beers and find some modern 
music (like 4'33" for instance) to be rather silly.

Not trying to convince you to try it out of course -- I totally 
understand why many people hate that sort of music.


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From: Kevin Wampler
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 17:32:24
Message: <4ac51fe8$1@news.povray.org>
Stephen wrote:
> Thank you for that. May I respond with "Several Species Of Small Furry Animals
> Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict"?

Also, now that I've actually listened to this -- hilarious!  I didn't 
realize it was an actual song at first and instead just thought you'd 
made up the name as a parody of contemporary music (instead Pink Floyd 
did that I suppose).


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From: Orchid XP v8
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 17:37:30
Message: <4ac5211a$1@news.povray.org>
>> Thank you for that. May I respond with "Several Species Of Small Furry 
>> Animals
>> Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict"?
> 
> Also, now that I've actually listened to this -- hilarious!  I didn't 
> realize it was an actual song at first and instead just thought you'd 
> made up the name as a parody of contemporary music (instead Pink Floyd 
> did that I suppose).

Not only is it real, but the title is actually a surprisingly accurate 
description of the content. ;-)

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 18:00:08
Message: <4ac52668@news.povray.org>
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:47:17 +0100, Stephen wrote:

> On 1 Oct 2009 16:23:39 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> 
>>> My upper limit, Benjamin Britain excepted :-)
>>
>>LOL
>>
>>John Cage? ;-)
> 
> LOL, reminds me of the 1950s/60s jukebox record of 2.5 mins of silence
> or the Picasso art where he sold signed blank pieces of paper.

4:33 is one of my favourite Cage pieces. ;-)

Jim


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 18:02:20
Message: <4ac526ec$1@news.povray.org>
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:36:10 -0700, Kevin Wampler wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
> 
>> John Cage? ;-)
> 
> I'm sure he at least wouldn't mind 4'33" ;-)

I think it rather depends on what occurs during that period of time.  The 
premise of that score is interesting, though.  The thing I found funny 
about Cage's scores was that they tended to look more like they came off 
an EKG machine rather than musical notation.  I remember one that had 
three graphs - one for pitch, one for amplitude, and one for rate (IIRC).

> Along these lines I was very surprised to find that a professor who was
> sitting in on a computer science seminar with me was actually a pupil of
> Xenakis.  He had some amusing stories to tell about how Xenakis once
> cleared out an entire concert hall save for three of his students
> (including the professor) in the front row.

LOL - so how does the story go?

> I was also lucky enough to hear a good reproduction of La Légende d'Eer
> in an actual concert a couple of years ago.  My girlfriend who I'd
> dragged to the event was somewhat less enthusiastic.

I'm going to have to look that one up - I don't think I've ever heard of 
it before.

Jim


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From: Kevin Wampler
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 18:39:41
Message: <4ac52fad@news.povray.org>
Jim Henderson wrote:
> On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:36:10 -0700, Kevin Wampler wrote:
> 
>> Jim Henderson wrote:
>>
>>> John Cage? ;-)
>> I'm sure he at least wouldn't mind 4'33" ;-)
> 
> I think it rather depends on what occurs during that period of time.  The 
> premise of that score is interesting, though.  The thing I found funny 
> about Cage's scores was that they tended to look more like they came off 
> an EKG machine rather than musical notation.  I remember one that had 
> three graphs - one for pitch, one for amplitude, and one for rate (IIRC).

Nonstandard notation of this sort is not uncommon in a lot of 
contemporary music and cage is certainly not the only person to use it. 
  It is pretty strange to look at coming from traditional western notion 
though.  Once you start getting into Aleatoric music (as Cage did) you 
get even more bizarre notations.


>> Along these lines I was very surprised to find that a professor who was
>> sitting in on a computer science seminar with me was actually a pupil of
>> Xenakis.  He had some amusing stories to tell about how Xenakis once
>> cleared out an entire concert hall save for three of his students
>> (including the professor) in the front row.
> 
> LOL - so how does the story go?

About like it sounds.  I was giving a sort presentation on some computer 
music topics and I played an example of Xenakis' Myceane Alpha.  The 
professor then related how Xenakis had given a concert  at some music 
conference and played this or a similar piece at about 120dB. 
Apparently the audience did not last long and by the end only his 
students were left.  I'll need to remember to ask him next time I see 
him if this was Xenakis' intent from the beginning (and if Xenakis 
thought it was humorous).


>> I was also lucky enough to hear a good reproduction of La Légende d'Eer
>> in an actual concert a couple of years ago.  My girlfriend who I'd
>> dragged to the event was somewhat less enthusiastic.
> 
> I'm going to have to look that one up - I don't think I've ever heard of 
> it before.

Unfortunately none of the recordings do it justice.  The piece was 
initially composed for seven tracks each playing from a speaker in a 
different part of the concert hall (actually, it was composed for a 
particular concert space which Xenakis himself designed).  This allowed 
Xenakis to make heavy use of the three-dimensional placement of the 
sound, and this is more or less totally lost in the available 
recordings.  This was one of the reasons why it was so cool to hear a 
proper reproduction in a concert hall.

My girlfriend was amused that he was able to create an entirely new form 
of musical suspense when she realized that a really loud sound somewhat 
like a rocket taking off was slowly moving over to our side of the theater.

Side note: This piece was written to celebrate the opening of Pompidou.
Another side note: It's not easy listening.


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 18:52:38
Message: <4ac532b6$1@news.povray.org>
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:39:37 -0700, Kevin Wampler wrote:

>> came off an EKG machine rather than musical notation.  I remember one
>> that had three graphs - one for pitch, one for amplitude, and one for
>> rate (IIRC).
> 
> Nonstandard notation of this sort is not uncommon in a lot of
> contemporary music and cage is certainly not the only person to use it.
>   It is pretty strange to look at coming from traditional western notion
> though.  Once you start getting into Aleatoric music (as Cage did) you
> get even more bizarre notations.

That doesn't surprise me.  At the time it did, but I was in my mid-teens 
at the time and had only seen western style music notation.

>> LOL - so how does the story go?
> 
> About like it sounds.  I was giving a sort presentation on some computer
> music topics and I played an example of Xenakis' Myceane Alpha.  The
> professor then related how Xenakis had given a concert  at some music
> conference and played this or a similar piece at about 120dB. Apparently
> the audience did not last long and by the end only his students were
> left.  I'll need to remember to ask him next time I see him if this was
> Xenakis' intent from the beginning (and if Xenakis thought it was
> humorous).

Interesting.  That is certainly loud - did the students have any sort of 
ear protection?

>> I'm going to have to look that one up - I don't think I've ever heard
>> of it before.
> 
> Unfortunately none of the recordings do it justice.  The piece was
> initially composed for seven tracks each playing from a speaker in a
> different part of the concert hall (actually, it was composed for a
> particular concert space which Xenakis himself designed).  This allowed
> Xenakis to make heavy use of the three-dimensional placement of the
> sound, and this is more or less totally lost in the available
> recordings.  This was one of the reasons why it was so cool to hear a
> proper reproduction in a concert hall.

That does sound cool.  I have always liked sound reproduction that 
involves the space as part of the performance, but it's so rare because 
it requires a lot of planning and setup work.

> My girlfriend was amused that he was able to create an entirely new form
> of musical suspense when she realized that a really loud sound somewhat
> like a rocket taking off was slowly moving over to our side of the
> theater.
> 
> Side note: This piece was written to celebrate the opening of Pompidou.
> Another side note: It's not easy listening.

Cool. :-)

Jim


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From: Kevin Wampler
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 20:21:01
Message: <4ac5476d$1@news.povray.org>
Jim Henderson wrote:
> 
> Interesting.  That is certainly loud - did the students have any sort of 
> ear protection?

I'm not sure.  It might not have *actually* been 120dB either, but just 
really loud.

> 
> That does sound cool.  I have always liked sound reproduction that 
> involves the space as part of the performance, but it's so rare because 
> it requires a lot of planning and setup work.
> 

Indeed.  Every now and then I manage to catch an art museum with some 
sort of exhibit which incorporates sound and/or music into a space.  I 
almost always enjoy it.


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From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 1 Oct 2009 23:22:35
Message: <4ac571fb$1@news.povray.org>
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:20:57 -0700, Kevin Wampler wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> 
>> Interesting.  That is certainly loud - did the students have any sort
>> of ear protection?
> 
> I'm not sure.  It might not have *actually* been 120dB either, but just
> really loud.

I guess at that point it makes little difference what the actual dB level 
is. :-)

>> That does sound cool.  I have always liked sound reproduction that
>> involves the space as part of the performance, but it's so rare because
>> it requires a lot of planning and setup work.
>> 
>> 
> Indeed.  Every now and then I manage to catch an art museum with some
> sort of exhibit which incorporates sound and/or music into a space.  I
> almost always enjoy it.

I'm going to have to see if there's anything here in SLC like that 
now. :-)

Jim


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From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 2 Oct 2009 06:13:27
Message: <khkbc5t16o7q76g9aecqegl219kmdg4qge@4ax.com>
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:27:57 -0700, Kevin Wampler <wam### [at] uwashingtonedu>
wrote:

>
>Not trying to convince you to try it out of course -- I totally 
>understand why many people hate that sort of music.

Well I have tried to like modern classical music but it is very hard going on my
ears. I found that Benjamin Britain crept around my mental block with his Sea
Interludes from Peter Grimes. Also Wagner is OK if you don't think about what he
is saying, I draw the line at Mahler. I physically want to get up and leave. Sad
as I feel that I *should* enjoy it.
Now I am listening to a lot of Handle especially his Concerto Grosse. :D
-- 

Regards
     Stephen


Post a reply to this message

From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 2 Oct 2009 06:24:04
Message: <k5lbc5974itsi0pl4aliuc1rc49u7c56mi@4ax.com>
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:32:21 -0700, Kevin Wampler <wam### [at] uwashingtonedu>
wrote:

>Stephen wrote:
>> Thank you for that. May I respond with "Several Species Of Small Furry Animals
>> Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict"?
>
>Also, now that I've actually listened to this -- hilarious!  I didn't 
>realize it was an actual song at first and instead just thought you'd 
>made up the name as a parody of contemporary music (instead Pink Floyd 
>did that I suppose).

No I spent many hours listening to it in my youth. :D

How about "Set the controls for the heart of the Sun"?

-- 

Regards
     Stephen


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From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 2 Oct 2009 06:26:23
Message: <r8lbc5dpubice64bpga80uijss6sdp0kur@4ax.com>
On 1 Oct 2009 18:00:08 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>> LOL, reminds me of the 1950s/60s jukebox record of 2.5 mins of silence
>> or the Picasso art where he sold signed blank pieces of paper.
>
>4:33 is one of my favourite Cage pieces. ;-)
>

Sorry to be a Philistine but paying money to see/hear that is a joke.

Typical Scots stereotype :P
-- 

Regards
     Stephen


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From: Orchid XP v8
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 2 Oct 2009 06:46:38
Message: <4ac5da0e$1@news.povray.org>
Stephen wrote:

> How about "Set the controls for the heart of the Sun"?

Witness the man who waves at the wall,
Making the shape of his question to heaven,
Whether the Sun will fall in the evening,
Will he remember the lesson of giving?
Set the controls for the heart of the Sun.

The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The 
heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart 
of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the 
Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. 
The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun...



Lucifer Sam, anyone?

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


Post a reply to this message

From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 2 Oct 2009 08:06:32
Message: <45rbc55v62bto5gdkbvebtcm1m1bcfn8ss@4ax.com>
On Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:46:38 +0100, Orchid XP v8 <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:

>Stephen wrote:
>
>> How about "Set the controls for the heart of the Sun"?
>
>Witness the man who waves at the wall,
>Making the shape of his question to heaven,
>Whether the Sun will fall in the evening,
>Will he remember the lesson of giving?
>Set the controls for the heart of the Sun.
>
>The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The 
>heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart 
>of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the 
>Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. 
>The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun...
>
>

So you do know how to use Google :P
-- 

Regards
     Stephen


Post a reply to this message

From: Orchid XP v8
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 2 Oct 2009 11:13:40
Message: <4ac618a4$1@news.povray.org>
>> Witness the man who waves at the wall,
>> Making the shape of his question to heaven,
>> Whether the Sun will fall in the evening,
>> Will he remember the lesson of giving?
>> Set the controls for the heart of the Sun.
>>
>> The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The 
>> heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart 
>> of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the 
>> Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. 
>> The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun. The heart of the Sun...
> 
> So you do know how to use Google :P

Why would I need that? I have the sleeve notes right next to me. :-P

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


Post a reply to this message

From: Jim Henderson
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 2 Oct 2009 12:05:46
Message: <4ac624da$1@news.povray.org>
On Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:26:17 +0100, Stephen wrote:

> On 1 Oct 2009 18:00:08 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> 
>>> LOL, reminds me of the 1950s/60s jukebox record of 2.5 mins of silence
>>> or the Picasso art where he sold signed blank pieces of paper.
>>
>>4:33 is one of my favourite Cage pieces. ;-)
>>
>>
> Sorry to be a Philistine but paying money to see/hear that is a joke.
> 
> Typical Scots stereotype :P

Oh, I never said I'd pay money to see/hear it. ;-)

But I've heard it several times myself - in fact, you could say, I've 
performed it several times (never for an audience, though - and certainly 
never for profit).

Jim


Post a reply to this message

From: Kevin Wampler
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 2 Oct 2009 16:35:16
Message: <4ac66404$1@news.povray.org>
Stephen wrote:
> On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:27:57 -0700, Kevin Wampler <wam### [at] uwashingtonedu>
> wrote:
> 
>> Not trying to convince you to try it out of course -- I totally 
>> understand why many people hate that sort of music.
> 
> Well I have tried to like modern classical music but it is very hard going on my
> ears. I found that Benjamin Britain crept around my mental block with his Sea
> Interludes from Peter Grimes. Also Wagner is OK if you don't think about what he
> is saying, I draw the line at Mahler. I physically want to get up and leave. Sad
> as I feel that I *should* enjoy it.

That's odd -- I've never thought of Mahler as being particularly taxing 
to listen to.  It the tonality of the music actually grating to listen 
to or is it more that the large-scale structures bother you?

> Now I am listening to a lot of Handle especially his Concerto Grosse. :D

Good stuff!  Despite that I do really like modern music, I still spend 
most of my time listening to stuff more like this (well, this through 
late Romantic).

If baroque or classical style is more to your liking but you're still 
interested in listening to some more modernish composers without the 
earache you might take a listen to Prokofiev's Symphony No.1, 
Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Brasileiras (no.5 is the best known here), or 
some of Busoni's Bach transcriptions (his arrangement of the famous 
Chaconne for violin in particular is quite well known) to name a few.


Post a reply to this message

From: Kevin Wampler
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 2 Oct 2009 16:42:16
Message: <4ac665a8@news.povray.org>
Stephen wrote:
>> Stephen wrote:
>>> Thank you for that. May I respond with "Several Species Of Small Furry Animals
>>> Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict"?
> No I spent many hours listening to it in my youth. :D

And you say you don't like avant-garde music :-)

> How about "Set the controls for the heart of the Sun"?

I have heard this one (and quite like it).  I really should get a few 
more Pink Floyd albums though, it's just that there's already so much 
music in my queue to buy.

I'm always impressed by how little their sound has aged over the years. 
  Most bands who have stuff that old have a pretty "dated" sound to me 
now, but somehow Pink Floyd manages to still manages to sound like it 
could have been made recently.


Post a reply to this message

From: m a r c
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 2 Oct 2009 17:44:01
Message: <4ac67421$1@news.povray.org>
"Kevin Wampler" <wam### [at] uwashingtonedu> a écrit dans le message de news: 
4ac665a8@news.povray.org...

>  Most bands who have stuff that old have a pretty "dated" sound to me now,

You mean like the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, the 
Kinks, the Who, Frank Zappa...?

Marc


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From: Orchid XP v8
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 2 Oct 2009 17:45:44
Message: <4ac67488$1@news.povray.org>
>>  Most bands who have stuff that old have a pretty "dated" sound to me now,
> 
> You mean like the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, the 
> Kinks, the Who, Frank Zappa...?

...what are you talking about?

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*


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From: m a r c
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 2 Oct 2009 18:20:55
Message: <4ac67cc7$1@news.povray.org>
"Orchid XP v8" <voi### [at] devnull> a écrit dans le message de news: 
4ac67488$1@news.povray.org...
>>>  Most bands who have stuff that old have a pretty "dated" sound to me 
>>> now,
>>
>> You mean like the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, the 
>> Kinks, the Who, Frank Zappa...?
>
> ...what are you talking about?
>
I was replying to Kevin who told (if I understand well) that most bands who 
have stuff as old as Ummagumma sound dated...just question of taste

Marc


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From: Kevin Wampler
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 2 Oct 2009 20:23:58
Message: <4ac6999e$1@news.povray.org>
m_a_r_c wrote:
> "Kevin Wampler" <wam### [at] uwashingtonedu> a écrit dans le message de news: 
> 4ac665a8@news.povray.org...
> 
>>  Most bands who have stuff that old have a pretty "dated" sound to me now,
> 
> You mean like the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, the 
> Kinks, the Who, Frank Zappa...?


Yes, with the caveat that I didn't mean "dated" in any sort of bad way 
-- more just that it's more clear from listening to it when the music 
was written.  I still think they are as good to listen to as they ever 
were.  I mean, heck, since I like a lot of classical music it would be 
pretty surreal to use "dated" as a pejorative.


Post a reply to this message

From: m a r c
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 3 Oct 2009 03:48:15
Message: <4ac701bf@news.povray.org>
"Kevin Wampler" <wam### [at] uwashingtonedu> a écrit dans le message de news: 
4ac6999e$1@news.povray.org...
> m_a_r_c wrote:
>
> Yes, with the caveat that I didn't mean "dated" in any sort of bad way --  
> more just that it's more clear from listening to it when the music was 
> written.  I still think they are as good to listen to as they ever were. 
> I mean, heck, since I like a lot of classical music it would be pretty 
> surreal to use "dated" as a pejorative.

I did not understand it as pejorative but I still disagree :-)
We still hear Hendrix, Led Zep, the Who .... as soundtracks backing tracks 
or as them of tv shows and those tracks could have been recorded yesterday 
night..
What about *early* Pink Floyd?
I have the feeling that they were searching during that period (BTW some 
must do it) while other were finding a new sound which is still surrounding 
us.
Now it is a question of taste :-)

Marc


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From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 3 Oct 2009 05:00:31
Message: <bv2ec5pqq75415j75r3pgs567m4dmv6nid@4ax.com>
On Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:35:13 -0700, Kevin Wampler <wam### [at] uwashingtonedu>
wrote:

>
>That's odd -- I've never thought of Mahler as being particularly taxing 
>to listen to.  It the tonality of the music actually grating to listen 
>to or is it more that the large-scale structures bother you?
>

It is the tonality that gets to me. Although I do like Kindertotenlieder.

>> Now I am listening to a lot of Handle especially his Concerto Grosse. :D
>
>Good stuff!  Despite that I do really like modern music, I still spend 
>most of my time listening to stuff more like this (well, this through 
>late Romantic).
>
>If baroque or classical style is more to your liking but you're still 
>interested in listening to some more modernish composers without the 
>earache you might take a listen to Prokofiev's Symphony No.1, 

OK I liked the clip I heard on you tube. I think that I must have been put off
him by seeing a couple of his operas. The first ever opera I ever went to was
"The Love for Three Oranges" then I saw "The Fiery Angel" at Covent Garden. I
like the concept but find the actual music too "sharp" to bear. For some reason
I confuse him with Shostakovich.
Needles to say I don't like Richard Strauss not to be confused with Johann
Strauss :)

>Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Brasileiras (no.5 is the best known here), or 
>some of Busoni's Bach transcriptions (his arrangement of the famous 
>Chaconne for violin in particular is quite well known) to name a few.

Yes I could listen to these and I thank you. I suppose that my problem (one of
them actually) is that I had no musical education and have had to pick things up
on my own.
-- 

Regards
     Stephen


Post a reply to this message

From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 3 Oct 2009 05:03:08
Message: <4n4ec55m4j2j79ii9c5lh3ohipp0duj0d3@4ax.com>
On Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:13:40 +0100, Orchid XP v8 <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:

>Why would I need that? I have the sleeve notes right next to me. :-P

Why indeed :)
-- 

Regards
     Stephen


Post a reply to this message

From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 3 Oct 2009 05:19:17
Message: <nu4ec55vel8vb62aammj1andm3cq3ca4qg@4ax.com>
On Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:42:12 -0700, Kevin Wampler <wam### [at] uwashingtonedu>
wrote:

>Stephen wrote:
>>> Stephen wrote:
>>>> Thank you for that. May I respond with "Several Species Of Small Furry Animals
>>>> Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict"?
>> No I spent many hours listening to it in my youth. :D
>
>And you say you don't like avant-garde music :-)
>

Where? What? When?

I didn't say that at least I don't think I did. I tend to split up my musical
tastes into eras that are quite distinct. In the 60's I liked pop music and folk
music (Scottish and Irish) in the 70's Rock, Blues and Psychedelia. The 80's say
me being corrupted with Classical and Opera. I seldom listen to my earlier
likes.

>> How about "Set the controls for the heart of the Sun"?
>
>I have heard this one (and quite like it).  I really should get a few 
>more Pink Floyd albums though, it's just that there's already so much 
>music in my queue to buy.
>

How true :)

>I'm always impressed by how little their sound has aged over the years. 
>  Most bands who have stuff that old have a pretty "dated" sound to me 
>now, but somehow Pink Floyd manages to still manages to sound like it 
>could have been made recently.

I agree they were so "off the wall" they were in a universe of their own.
-- 

Regards
     Stephen


Post a reply to this message

From: Stephen
Subject: Re: Tchaikovsky
Date: 3 Oct 2009 05:25:53
Message: <8q5ec51s3hp7didf3kqeuevb5mnl8j90rf@4ax.com>
On 2 Oct 2009 12:05:46 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>
>Oh, I never said I'd pay money to see/hear it. ;-)
>

Phew!

>But I've heard it several times myself - in fact, you could say, I've 
>performed it several times (never for an audience, though - and certainly 
>never for profit).

MacFucius say: "Man who listen to Cage has wax in his ears! Aum! 
-- 

Regards
     Stephen


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