Sunday, 18 November 2007

Done, at least for a little while

Well... it was just a little late, but I prevailed.

My first round on my research paper is now done and e-mailed to Dr. Randel. I don't know how coherent it is and I think I've stopped caring. I have somewhere between 9 and 10 pages written and I have some ideas to expand to the full 20 along with the feedback I'll hear on Tuesday.

Musicological research and analysis is hard. It takes a lot of work. It's so much reading. It takes so much organizing of thought. It takes so much rewriting. It takes so much cross-checking sources and putting all the stuff together into something coherent. It's where the musician gets yanked out of the practice room, out of the rehearsal studio, and turns into a historian. I've been acting like a history major, only the difference is I've had to work closely with a musical score and a recording as well as the dusty books and all my notes. Aren't you proud of me, Jordan?

But this is such interesting stuff! Nik asked me on the phone the other night what I've been up to and after doing some of this writing and all that reading, I can really begin to articulate what's behind Britten's War Requiem and what I've learned. Plus it's pretty sweet music. I'm not a huge fan of a lot of 20th Century music, but this one hit the target.

Last week was a week from, well, you know. I had to have my first round of my lifeview paper finished and do my presentation.
Check.

I had to finish this first round on my research paper.
Check.

And I had to improve on my teaching by the time Mr. DeBoer checked back in with Mrs. Poppen.
Check.

Manfest. Sing tons of men's choral music with Dr. Richmond right behind me (no pressure).
Check.

Mission accomplished.