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Tues. April 21, 2026: Tired Brain
image courtesy of Milena M from PixabayTuesday, April 21, 2026
Waxing Moon
Sunny and cold
You can read the Community Tarot Reading for the Week here.
Thursday, Bluesky had issues. Friday, Instagram wouldn’t let me post. Thank goodness I am old enough to have skills honed before social media. So it was basically frustrating, but nothing more. I could comment on posts on Instagram, I just couldn’t post anything from the computer (I can from my phone). With no explanation. It seemed to work again, somewhat, over the weekend, off and on.
By the time I’d posted the blog, it was bucketing down rain, so I postponed errands. I dealt with some admin work. There was a break in the weather, so I put on shoes, grabbed my bag, and trotted down to the post office. They’re putting in a new sidewalk in front of the post office, so I had to go around to the side door. But they’re doing a much better job than the Sidewalk Chewing Demons have been doing (the company working in front of the post office is a different one).
Got things mailed, headed to another nearby store to pick up some more notebooks for the workshop (I supply small notebooks that the participants can then take with them), swung by the liquor store, and headed home. Made it before the rain began again.
Worked on the handout. Changed things a half a dozen times, to find the right variety of exercises. Pulled some more books I want to take, for the participants to look at.
Did a nice chunk of work on the ghostwriting, getting to where I had hoped to be by end of day Thursday. So I was still behind, but not too far behind.
Cooked dinner, hung out on the front porch for a bit. Some of the seeds are coming up. The white bush (I don’t know what it is) out back exploded into bloom these past days. It usually lasts for a couple of weeks, before fading back to green.
Slept reasonably well, in spite of weird dreams and Charlotte fussing. I woke up at 4:30, refused to get up, dozed off, and got up around 6, which is fine. Fed everyone, the morning routine went well. It was so gorgeously quiet I didn’t want to break it by turning on the vacuum. I wanted to sit and enjoy the morning.
Did a whole lot of other housework before I used the vacuum, including throwing out a lot of instruction manuals for things we no longer have, and tidying up the rolltop desk in the sewing room, which turned into a catch-all. Now, it’s an actual functioning desk again. Did a medium-sized vacuum (a little over 90 minutes). I still need to do a deep clean in a few places. Did some planting.
In the afternoon, I headed down to the gallery to support my friend’s event. There were some other gallery members just hanging out, which was fun. It’s hard to really spend time with each other at openings, because they are so busy. I’m glad they’re busy, it’s great so many people are excited about our work, but I’m better one-on-one than in large groups.
On the way home, I picked up some peel and stick wallpaper that I plan to use on the back door. I can’t stand the raw press-wood door. It looks temporary, and I want something that looks like part of the house. Did a mockup (without peeling and sticking) and realized I’d gotten the math wrong, and needed more sheets.
Got some other work done, cooked dinner, got some planting done. One could feel the temperature dropping.
Did some re-reading of some material I needed for a project.
Slept reasonably well, up at the normal time on Sunday, morning routine. I polished and printed the handouts for the workshop, and did the Community Tarot Reading for the Week, which you can read here. The weather was horrible, and I figured I’d have a low-to-no turnout. I certainly wouldn’t want to come out in the weather if I didn’t have to!
Packed up the remaining bits and bobs for the workshop. Stopped to pick up some more peel and stick wallpaper, headed for the gallery. I was there way too early, but got set up and chatted with the member assigned to sit that day. The weather was awful. We waited a reasonable amount of time, and then called it. I packed back up, and got in the car – and one of the windshield wiper blades snapped off. I should be able to snap it right back on, but it wouldn’t snap, so I had to drive without it.
Stopped at Big Y for coffee filters, tulips, and cilantro. Got home safely, hauled everything upstairs, put it away. I will have to either get the wiper snapped back in or get new wipers this week. Heard from some people apologizing for not coming to the workshop. Reassured them it was fine, I wouldn’t want to be out in the weather, either. It moved between rain, sleet, snow, back to rain, and so forth, with the temperatures dropping.
Set up some tables for the plants inside, and pulled the tender seedlings from the porch. They should be able to go back out by tomorrow, but I didn’t want to risk them in 20F degree temperatures.
Fixed myself a sidecar and read for a bit.
Made fish tacos for dinner, and they turned out well. Definitely much better than the last time I tried them.
Had a relaxing evening, trying to store up energy for the coming week. Slept reasonably well, and woke up to frost on Monday morning. Morning routine was fine, although the free write was more of a brain dump than anything creative. I have some decisions to make this week, so I’m spinning out possibilities.
Technically, in our state, yesterday was a holiday, so a bunch of stuff was closed. I hoped that meant I could have a quiet workday at home.
There were shootings all over the country over the weekend, the worst being the man in Louisiana who shot most of his family, including his kids, across multiple locations. This is escalating because these men are never held accountable, and it has to start from the top. There have to be consequences for the Epstein abusers, and then it has to spread to everyone. This regime, through policy, legislation, and coverup, including overturning Roe vs. Wade, has legalized violence against women. That has to change.
Did the rounds posting the intent for the week and the tarot reading, then checked the blogs I read daily. Went through a whole lot of email and dealt with it. Washed the inside of the back door to prep it for papering.
Got a little over 1200 words done on BETTING MAN, which was okay, but not as much as I hoped.
I ate an early lunch because the playwrights’ group met online from noon to 2, and I wanted to be ready for that. Did the marketing rounds for the day.
During the writing session, I completed the admin work for the reading in June (the contract and other materials had just come through, so I read through everything and turned it around). I also worked on the pitch for the upcoming deadline. I read through several of my scripts, trying to figure out which sample was best suited as attachment. I was very glad I had the notebook from the free write sessions handy, because I’d made a bunch of notes for the project in there. I’ll give it another look today, and get it out the door.
Took a quick break, and then went back to the ghostwriting.
Had a really good session, over 3K, although I’m still not where I wanted to be by today. I’m still a day behind. I hope I can catch up today and tomorrow, or I will end up working one of the weekend days. I looked up at one point, and large snowflakes were flying around. Sigh.
My brain hurt by the time I shut down for the day. Heated up some leftovers. Read a bit for pleasure at night. I’m savoring my friend’s book instead of rushing through it.
Woke up at 3 AM because of pain in my hip. Tried to get that settled down, and then some dingus started using a leaf blower at 3:30. I’m sorry, there is NO reason to use a leaf blower at 3:30 AM. It wasn’t in the immediate area, but sound carries here, especially between the mountains. I wasn’t about to get dressed and hunt it down, but I was annoyed. I started drifting off again just before 5, and Tessa started insisted on breakfast.
Today will be a long day.
I wanted to go to the mechanic about the windshield wiper, but I have to do it as they’re opening. There’s frost this morning, and, even if I scrape it down off the windshield, I can’t really drive without being able to wipe it off with the wipers (and a paper towel doesn’t work, I tried). So I will wait until it’s warmer, tomorrow, and give it ago.
I have to get in touch with maintenance today, too. The toilet’s running again. I don’t want to waste water. I’m not a data center.
In this morning’s free write, I came to a decision that changes a lot in BETTING MAN. I had to make the decision today, because it affects what I’m about to write as well as the rest of the book, and this change also has an effect on one of the series arcs.
Now, I have to see if I can pull it off.
Late yesterday, an opportunity landed on my desk. A place to which I’d applied for a grant and didn’t get it has an opportunity for people just in this area and got in contact with me, but I have to get the materials out the door today. I’m not sure I can do it. I’m not sure I can afford not to at least try. I have the materials. It would be a case of the cover letter, which shouldn’t be too hard.
After breakfast, I need to get the garbage out, and then put together the crockpot meal. And then, get started on the workday.
Yoga was cancelled due to a sewage pipe break at the studio. I was looking forward to getting back to class, but I guess I’ll wait until next week.
Have a good one!
#art #books #freelance #plot #reading #tarot #teaching #weather #writing -
Tues. April 21, 2026: Tired Brain
image courtesy of Milena M from PixabayTuesday, April 21, 2026
Waxing Moon
Sunny and cold
You can read the Community Tarot Reading for the Week here.
Thursday, Bluesky had issues. Friday, Instagram wouldn’t let me post. Thank goodness I am old enough to have skills honed before social media. So it was basically frustrating, but nothing more. I could comment on posts on Instagram, I just couldn’t post anything from the computer (I can from my phone). With no explanation. It seemed to work again, somewhat, over the weekend, off and on.
By the time I’d posted the blog, it was bucketing down rain, so I postponed errands. I dealt with some admin work. There was a break in the weather, so I put on shoes, grabbed my bag, and trotted down to the post office. They’re putting in a new sidewalk in front of the post office, so I had to go around to the side door. But they’re doing a much better job than the Sidewalk Chewing Demons have been doing (the company working in front of the post office is a different one).
Got things mailed, headed to another nearby store to pick up some more notebooks for the workshop (I supply small notebooks that the participants can then take with them), swung by the liquor store, and headed home. Made it before the rain began again.
Worked on the handout. Changed things a half a dozen times, to find the right variety of exercises. Pulled some more books I want to take, for the participants to look at.
Did a nice chunk of work on the ghostwriting, getting to where I had hoped to be by end of day Thursday. So I was still behind, but not too far behind.
Cooked dinner, hung out on the front porch for a bit. Some of the seeds are coming up. The white bush (I don’t know what it is) out back exploded into bloom these past days. It usually lasts for a couple of weeks, before fading back to green.
Slept reasonably well, in spite of weird dreams and Charlotte fussing. I woke up at 4:30, refused to get up, dozed off, and got up around 6, which is fine. Fed everyone, the morning routine went well. It was so gorgeously quiet I didn’t want to break it by turning on the vacuum. I wanted to sit and enjoy the morning.
Did a whole lot of other housework before I used the vacuum, including throwing out a lot of instruction manuals for things we no longer have, and tidying up the rolltop desk in the sewing room, which turned into a catch-all. Now, it’s an actual functioning desk again. Did a medium-sized vacuum (a little over 90 minutes). I still need to do a deep clean in a few places. Did some planting.
In the afternoon, I headed down to the gallery to support my friend’s event. There were some other gallery members just hanging out, which was fun. It’s hard to really spend time with each other at openings, because they are so busy. I’m glad they’re busy, it’s great so many people are excited about our work, but I’m better one-on-one than in large groups.
On the way home, I picked up some peel and stick wallpaper that I plan to use on the back door. I can’t stand the raw press-wood door. It looks temporary, and I want something that looks like part of the house. Did a mockup (without peeling and sticking) and realized I’d gotten the math wrong, and needed more sheets.
Got some other work done, cooked dinner, got some planting done. One could feel the temperature dropping.
Did some re-reading of some material I needed for a project.
Slept reasonably well, up at the normal time on Sunday, morning routine. I polished and printed the handouts for the workshop, and did the Community Tarot Reading for the Week, which you can read here. The weather was horrible, and I figured I’d have a low-to-no turnout. I certainly wouldn’t want to come out in the weather if I didn’t have to!
Packed up the remaining bits and bobs for the workshop. Stopped to pick up some more peel and stick wallpaper, headed for the gallery. I was there way too early, but got set up and chatted with the member assigned to sit that day. The weather was awful. We waited a reasonable amount of time, and then called it. I packed back up, and got in the car – and one of the windshield wiper blades snapped off. I should be able to snap it right back on, but it wouldn’t snap, so I had to drive without it.
Stopped at Big Y for coffee filters, tulips, and cilantro. Got home safely, hauled everything upstairs, put it away. I will have to either get the wiper snapped back in or get new wipers this week. Heard from some people apologizing for not coming to the workshop. Reassured them it was fine, I wouldn’t want to be out in the weather, either. It moved between rain, sleet, snow, back to rain, and so forth, with the temperatures dropping.
Set up some tables for the plants inside, and pulled the tender seedlings from the porch. They should be able to go back out by tomorrow, but I didn’t want to risk them in 20F degree temperatures.
Fixed myself a sidecar and read for a bit.
Made fish tacos for dinner, and they turned out well. Definitely much better than the last time I tried them.
Had a relaxing evening, trying to store up energy for the coming week. Slept reasonably well, and woke up to frost on Monday morning. Morning routine was fine, although the free write was more of a brain dump than anything creative. I have some decisions to make this week, so I’m spinning out possibilities.
Technically, in our state, yesterday was a holiday, so a bunch of stuff was closed. I hoped that meant I could have a quiet workday at home.
There were shootings all over the country over the weekend, the worst being the man in Louisiana who shot most of his family, including his kids, across multiple locations. This is escalating because these men are never held accountable, and it has to start from the top. There have to be consequences for the Epstein abusers, and then it has to spread to everyone. This regime, through policy, legislation, and coverup, including overturning Roe vs. Wade, has legalized violence against women. That has to change.
Did the rounds posting the intent for the week and the tarot reading, then checked the blogs I read daily. Went through a whole lot of email and dealt with it. Washed the inside of the back door to prep it for papering.
Got a little over 1200 words done on BETTING MAN, which was okay, but not as much as I hoped.
I ate an early lunch because the playwrights’ group met online from noon to 2, and I wanted to be ready for that. Did the marketing rounds for the day.
During the writing session, I completed the admin work for the reading in June (the contract and other materials had just come through, so I read through everything and turned it around). I also worked on the pitch for the upcoming deadline. I read through several of my scripts, trying to figure out which sample was best suited as attachment. I was very glad I had the notebook from the free write sessions handy, because I’d made a bunch of notes for the project in there. I’ll give it another look today, and get it out the door.
Took a quick break, and then went back to the ghostwriting.
Had a really good session, over 3K, although I’m still not where I wanted to be by today. I’m still a day behind. I hope I can catch up today and tomorrow, or I will end up working one of the weekend days. I looked up at one point, and large snowflakes were flying around. Sigh.
My brain hurt by the time I shut down for the day. Heated up some leftovers. Read a bit for pleasure at night. I’m savoring my friend’s book instead of rushing through it.
Woke up at 3 AM because of pain in my hip. Tried to get that settled down, and then some dingus started using a leaf blower at 3:30. I’m sorry, there is NO reason to use a leaf blower at 3:30 AM. It wasn’t in the immediate area, but sound carries here, especially between the mountains. I wasn’t about to get dressed and hunt it down, but I was annoyed. I started drifting off again just before 5, and Tessa started insisted on breakfast.
Today will be a long day.
I wanted to go to the mechanic about the windshield wiper, but I have to do it as they’re opening. There’s frost this morning, and, even if I scrape it down off the windshield, I can’t really drive without being able to wipe it off with the wipers (and a paper towel doesn’t work, I tried). So I will wait until it’s warmer, tomorrow, and give it ago.
I have to get in touch with maintenance today, too. The toilet’s running again. I don’t want to waste water. I’m not a data center.
In this morning’s free write, I came to a decision that changes a lot in BETTING MAN. I had to make the decision today, because it affects what I’m about to write as well as the rest of the book, and this change also has an effect on one of the series arcs.
Now, I have to see if I can pull it off.
Late yesterday, an opportunity landed on my desk. A place to which I’d applied for a grant and didn’t get it has an opportunity for people just in this area and got in contact with me, but I have to get the materials out the door today. I’m not sure I can do it. I’m not sure I can afford not to at least try. I have the materials. It would be a case of the cover letter, which shouldn’t be too hard.
After breakfast, I need to get the garbage out, and then put together the crockpot meal. And then, get started on the workday.
Yoga was cancelled due to a sewage pipe break at the studio. I was looking forward to getting back to class, but I guess I’ll wait until next week.
Have a good one!
#art #books #freelance #plot #reading #tarot #teaching #weather #writing -
Tues. April 21, 2026: Tired Brain
image courtesy of Milena M from PixabayTuesday, April 21, 2026
Waxing Moon
Sunny and cold
You can read the Community Tarot Reading for the Week here.
Thursday, Bluesky had issues. Friday, Instagram wouldn’t let me post. Thank goodness I am old enough to have skills honed before social media. So it was basically frustrating, but nothing more. I could comment on posts on Instagram, I just couldn’t post anything from the computer (I can from my phone). With no explanation. It seemed to work again, somewhat, over the weekend, off and on.
By the time I’d posted the blog, it was bucketing down rain, so I postponed errands. I dealt with some admin work. There was a break in the weather, so I put on shoes, grabbed my bag, and trotted down to the post office. They’re putting in a new sidewalk in front of the post office, so I had to go around to the side door. But they’re doing a much better job than the Sidewalk Chewing Demons have been doing (the company working in front of the post office is a different one).
Got things mailed, headed to another nearby store to pick up some more notebooks for the workshop (I supply small notebooks that the participants can then take with them), swung by the liquor store, and headed home. Made it before the rain began again.
Worked on the handout. Changed things a half a dozen times, to find the right variety of exercises. Pulled some more books I want to take, for the participants to look at.
Did a nice chunk of work on the ghostwriting, getting to where I had hoped to be by end of day Thursday. So I was still behind, but not too far behind.
Cooked dinner, hung out on the front porch for a bit. Some of the seeds are coming up. The white bush (I don’t know what it is) out back exploded into bloom these past days. It usually lasts for a couple of weeks, before fading back to green.
Slept reasonably well, in spite of weird dreams and Charlotte fussing. I woke up at 4:30, refused to get up, dozed off, and got up around 6, which is fine. Fed everyone, the morning routine went well. It was so gorgeously quiet I didn’t want to break it by turning on the vacuum. I wanted to sit and enjoy the morning.
Did a whole lot of other housework before I used the vacuum, including throwing out a lot of instruction manuals for things we no longer have, and tidying up the rolltop desk in the sewing room, which turned into a catch-all. Now, it’s an actual functioning desk again. Did a medium-sized vacuum (a little over 90 minutes). I still need to do a deep clean in a few places. Did some planting.
In the afternoon, I headed down to the gallery to support my friend’s event. There were some other gallery members just hanging out, which was fun. It’s hard to really spend time with each other at openings, because they are so busy. I’m glad they’re busy, it’s great so many people are excited about our work, but I’m better one-on-one than in large groups.
On the way home, I picked up some peel and stick wallpaper that I plan to use on the back door. I can’t stand the raw press-wood door. It looks temporary, and I want something that looks like part of the house. Did a mockup (without peeling and sticking) and realized I’d gotten the math wrong, and needed more sheets.
Got some other work done, cooked dinner, got some planting done. One could feel the temperature dropping.
Did some re-reading of some material I needed for a project.
Slept reasonably well, up at the normal time on Sunday, morning routine. I polished and printed the handouts for the workshop, and did the Community Tarot Reading for the Week, which you can read here. The weather was horrible, and I figured I’d have a low-to-no turnout. I certainly wouldn’t want to come out in the weather if I didn’t have to!
Packed up the remaining bits and bobs for the workshop. Stopped to pick up some more peel and stick wallpaper, headed for the gallery. I was there way too early, but got set up and chatted with the member assigned to sit that day. The weather was awful. We waited a reasonable amount of time, and then called it. I packed back up, and got in the car – and one of the windshield wiper blades snapped off. I should be able to snap it right back on, but it wouldn’t snap, so I had to drive without it.
Stopped at Big Y for coffee filters, tulips, and cilantro. Got home safely, hauled everything upstairs, put it away. I will have to either get the wiper snapped back in or get new wipers this week. Heard from some people apologizing for not coming to the workshop. Reassured them it was fine, I wouldn’t want to be out in the weather, either. It moved between rain, sleet, snow, back to rain, and so forth, with the temperatures dropping.
Set up some tables for the plants inside, and pulled the tender seedlings from the porch. They should be able to go back out by tomorrow, but I didn’t want to risk them in 20F degree temperatures.
Fixed myself a sidecar and read for a bit.
Made fish tacos for dinner, and they turned out well. Definitely much better than the last time I tried them.
Had a relaxing evening, trying to store up energy for the coming week. Slept reasonably well, and woke up to frost on Monday morning. Morning routine was fine, although the free write was more of a brain dump than anything creative. I have some decisions to make this week, so I’m spinning out possibilities.
Technically, in our state, yesterday was a holiday, so a bunch of stuff was closed. I hoped that meant I could have a quiet workday at home.
There were shootings all over the country over the weekend, the worst being the man in Louisiana who shot most of his family, including his kids, across multiple locations. This is escalating because these men are never held accountable, and it has to start from the top. There have to be consequences for the Epstein abusers, and then it has to spread to everyone. This regime, through policy, legislation, and coverup, including overturning Roe vs. Wade, has legalized violence against women. That has to change.
Did the rounds posting the intent for the week and the tarot reading, then checked the blogs I read daily. Went through a whole lot of email and dealt with it. Washed the inside of the back door to prep it for papering.
Got a little over 1200 words done on BETTING MAN, which was okay, but not as much as I hoped.
I ate an early lunch because the playwrights’ group met online from noon to 2, and I wanted to be ready for that. Did the marketing rounds for the day.
During the writing session, I completed the admin work for the reading in June (the contract and other materials had just come through, so I read through everything and turned it around). I also worked on the pitch for the upcoming deadline. I read through several of my scripts, trying to figure out which sample was best suited as attachment. I was very glad I had the notebook from the free write sessions handy, because I’d made a bunch of notes for the project in there. I’ll give it another look today, and get it out the door.
Took a quick break, and then went back to the ghostwriting.
Had a really good session, over 3K, although I’m still not where I wanted to be by today. I’m still a day behind. I hope I can catch up today and tomorrow, or I will end up working one of the weekend days. I looked up at one point, and large snowflakes were flying around. Sigh.
My brain hurt by the time I shut down for the day. Heated up some leftovers. Read a bit for pleasure at night. I’m savoring my friend’s book instead of rushing through it.
Woke up at 3 AM because of pain in my hip. Tried to get that settled down, and then some dingus started using a leaf blower at 3:30. I’m sorry, there is NO reason to use a leaf blower at 3:30 AM. It wasn’t in the immediate area, but sound carries here, especially between the mountains. I wasn’t about to get dressed and hunt it down, but I was annoyed. I started drifting off again just before 5, and Tessa started insisted on breakfast.
Today will be a long day.
I wanted to go to the mechanic about the windshield wiper, but I have to do it as they’re opening. There’s frost this morning, and, even if I scrape it down off the windshield, I can’t really drive without being able to wipe it off with the wipers (and a paper towel doesn’t work, I tried). So I will wait until it’s warmer, tomorrow, and give it ago.
I have to get in touch with maintenance today, too. The toilet’s running again. I don’t want to waste water. I’m not a data center.
In this morning’s free write, I came to a decision that changes a lot in BETTING MAN. I had to make the decision today, because it affects what I’m about to write as well as the rest of the book, and this change also has an effect on one of the series arcs.
Now, I have to see if I can pull it off.
Late yesterday, an opportunity landed on my desk. A place to which I’d applied for a grant and didn’t get it has an opportunity for people just in this area and got in contact with me, but I have to get the materials out the door today. I’m not sure I can do it. I’m not sure I can afford not to at least try. I have the materials. It would be a case of the cover letter, which shouldn’t be too hard.
After breakfast, I need to get the garbage out, and then put together the crockpot meal. And then, get started on the workday.
Yoga was cancelled due to a sewage pipe break at the studio. I was looking forward to getting back to class, but I guess I’ll wait until next week.
Have a good one!
#art #books #freelance #plot #reading #tarot #teaching #weather #writing -
Art of the Score: James Horner
You’re here, there’s nothing to fear…
Yes, I’m here, turns out there was nothing to fear to get here (we’ll see on the way back). I’m in Melbourne, just for the day, to hear The Music of James Horner with Art of the Score and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
After presenting the music of John Williams and Hans Zimmer, the Art of the Score team are back to tackle composer James Horner. You don’t hear so much James Horner these days and there’s a good reason for that: He died in June 2015 after crashing his plane. You almost certainly know his music.
James Horner was prolific, composing music for some of Hollywood’s greatest hits as well as many movies you’ve probably never heard of. This concert gives an overview of some of Horner’s more popular music and attempts to give a background into some of what makes them tick.
I’m seated eight rows back, dead middle in Hamer Hall, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s home. The stage is packed with instruments, with barely any space left for the presenters. Stylised visuals are projected on to white drapes at the rear. Along with the smoke and lighting effects, the effect is impressive.
The orchestra emerges, then the conductor, Nicholas Buc, and they launch into the Final Credits from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. I remember seeing the movie at the cinema when I was very young (so traumatic!) and thinking that Horner’s music was rather unimpressive compared to Jerry Goldsmith’s score to the previous entry: Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
Horner’s music is more classically informed, with fewer bold themes than some of his contemporaries. I have long since reappraised his music and Horner’s music forms a significant part of my soundtrack collection.
Listening to The Wrath of Khan live is anything but unimpressive. It’s rich and full and exciting and I am immediately ready for a lot more!
The other two thirds of the Art of the Score trio now join Maestro Buc on stage. Music producer Andrew Pogson and university Professor (and presenter of ABC Classic FM’s Screen Sounds program) Dan Golding introduce themselves and James Horner, who quit a career in academia for Hollywood.
Andrew Pogson and Dan GoldingAnother element of the concert are also welcomed prior to the next piece. On stalls either side overlooking the stage, dressed in pink, are the Australian Girls Choir. The sounding of drums and a lone trumpet sounds as we launch into the Apollo 13: Suite.
Actually, the launch itself is not incorporated into the very martial suite, which is a bit of pity, because it is my favourite out of a great set of tracks. However, we do make a safe splashdown and the choir is superb.
As if the Apollo 13 mission wasn’t danger enough, we now delve into Horner’s “danger motif” and the tritone, the so called “Devil’s interval”. Horner uses a sequence of four notes, including this interval, to signify danger and boy, does he use it a lot.
Stop that Devil worshiping or it’s hammer time!The power of the tritone is illustrated with examples from other composers, including John Williams’ Star Wars and Michael Giacchino paying tribute to Horner with his theme to the Star Trek reboot.
Nowhere is the more danger than back out in space where the Xenomorphs lurk, with a suite from Aliens. Like Wrath of Khan, this is another movie where I came out of the cinema thinking that the score was a bit weak to be of much interest, though again I have changed my opinion since. The quiet passages worth to build suspense and mystery, then the percussion dramatically takes over with Ripley’s Rescue. Percussion is one of Horner’s great strengths and it is ably performed today by the enlarged percussion section at the rear of the orchestra.
There is more work for the percussionists as we take to the air with The Rocketeer: The Flying Circus. I’m familiar with the main theme and did watch the movie once a long time ago, but I’m not sure I’ve ever listened to the full score. The Flying Circus is a swashbuckling sequence and a lot of fun.
It is now time to play one of Horner’s most famous scores, a suite from Braveheart, the story of the Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace, as portrayed by Mad Max, I mean Mel Gibson. That means welcoming guest performer Dr Matthew Horsley and his uilleann pipes, Irish flutes and whistles to the stage.
Check out this pipe!Horner loves his Celtic music, with bagpipes and other Celtic instruments heard in many of his scores, so it’s wonderful to have the real thing performed live here. However, Horner’s choice of the Irish uilleann bagpipes over the Scottish version certainly provoked some discussion. Perhaps he had endured German heavy metal dudes dressed in tartan playing bagpipes before and got turned off. Understandable.
Braveheart is one of those movies I’ve watched once and never want to see again. The ending is so gut-wrenching. Literally. The score is still great, but on reduced play these days because of the memories.
Then it’s a 20 minute interval.
We return with the theme to one of my favourite James Horner scores, Willow. The soundtrack was the first CD I ever bought and I had to get my uncle to copy it to cassette so I could listen to it. Unfortunately, they left out a lot of music and it wasn’t until decades later that I got hold of an extended edition. This time I converted the CD(s) to MP3s!
My parents used to listen to ABC Classic FM all the time and once I heard a theme from Willow playing on the radio, or so I thought. It was different, but Madmartigan’s Theme was there.
It was Schumann’s Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Minor “Rhenish”, from which Horner borrowed the theme. That brings up another aspect of Horner’s compositions which is not mentioned today, that many of his scores incorporate melodies from classical and folk compositions by others. Horner also reuses a lot of music across many of his scores, which partly explains how he has been so prolific across his shortened career, composing for over 160 movies.
We are treated to a suite of three of these movies with Casper, An American Tail and The Land Before Time, lyrical pieces for children, the last two animated features, that illustrate Horner’s use of a children’s choir. Rather than just harmonising, as they did for Apollo 13, the choir now have a chance to sing lyrics.
My degree was in mathematics, so the next piece, A Kaleidoscope of Mathematics from A Beautiful Mind transcends music for me. Also, I remember buying the CD soundtrack from a shop in St Kilda on a trip to Melbourne, so there’s a connection there too!
The score features a solo female voice, today performed beautifully by guest soprano Amy Lehpamer. Absolutely wonderful!
The following piece Promises and End Credits from The Amazing Spider-man is also a favourite of mine. Horner really captures the essence of our friendly neighbourhood superhero swinging his way through the city, once again using some fantastic percussion.
I’m not going to repeat Andrew Pogson’s segue into Field of Dreams: The Place Where Dreams Come True. This is a quiet piece featuring lovely classical guitar work. The phrase “If you build it, they will come” has sadly become a byline for wasting time on projects where they never come at work. I try to distract myself with the music here.
There is more classical guitar in The Ride from The Mask of Zorro, this time played with a Spanish style in 6/8 or 12/16 time, or in groups of triplets. It’s a real adventure in music!
The final two pieces utilise the entire orchestra and guest performers, playing suites from James Cameron’s blockbusters Avatar and Titanic. And by entire orchestra, it really is the entire orchestra.
If you were to ask me to pick James Horner’s greatest score, I would probably say Avatar. It has gentle wonder, thrills and drama and that is wonderfully captured by this performance. The choir singing in Na’vi and the magic of the alien landscape with the exotic sound of Matthew Horsley on his pipes, leading up to the sheer power of the triumphant final battle featuring incredible rapid off-beat percussion work. For me, this is the highlight of the day and it keeps playing in my head on the flight home.
Then comes what is probably James Horner’s most popular score, his Celtic flavoured music to Titanic. There is Hymn to the Sea, the excitement of Leaving Southhampton and the race to escape the sinking. A little less of Rose than I would have thought, but of course that is being saved up for a special treat.
For after the applause comes an encore. Amy Lehpamer channeling Celine Dion with a perfect performance of My Heart Will Go On from Titanic. What better way to end the concert?
James Horner has composed such a range of scores that it would have been impossible to cover them all in a single concert. There was his electronica phase with cheesy 80’s scores to movies like Commando that don’t really need orchestral treatment. He composed swing style pieces (glad not to hear them) along with some haunting music for the Cocoon movie and its sequel that have a place in my heart. And then there were the jazz inspired scores for movies like Class Action and one of my favourites, Sneakers. There is certainly enough material and commentary for a follow up concert and I hope that the Art of the Score will bring it to Sydney soon so I can share it with the rest of my family!
Although I have been to many concerts featuring his luminaries like John Williams, Hans Zimmer and others, I don’t think that I have ever heard James Horner’s music performed live before. That, along with Horner’s ability to use the entire orchestra and beyond, made this a special event that I thoroughly enjoyed. Bravo to the Art of the Score, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Girls Choir and the rest of the team for a fantastic concert.
#AmyLehpamer #AndrewPogson #ArtOfTheScore #AustralianGirlsChoir #classicalMusic #Concert #DanGolding #JamesHorner #MatthewHorsley #MelbourneSymphonyOrchestra #music #NicholasBuc #orchestra #piano #reviews -
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Pipe dream?: What’s your dream job? I don’t think my dream job exists. Hear me out. I would love to run a nonprofit. By myself. With no board and no drama. I would just really like to run an organization that supports theatre in communities that don’t otherwise have access to it. That would make me blissfully … Continue reading Pipe dream? https://thisgirlsgotcurves.wordpress.com/2025/01/20/pipe-dream/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Uncategorized #dailyprompt #dailyprompt1823
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Pipe dream?: What’s your dream job? I don’t think my dream job exists. Hear me out. I would love to run a nonprofit. By myself. With no board and no drama. I would just really like to run an organization that supports theatre in communities that don’t otherwise have access to it. That would make me blissfully … Continue reading Pipe dream? https://thisgirlsgotcurves.wordpress.com/2025/01/20/pipe-dream/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Uncategorized #dailyprompt #dailyprompt1823
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Pipe dream?: What’s your dream job? I don’t think my dream job exists. Hear me out. I would love to run a nonprofit. By myself. With no board and no drama. I would just really like to run an organization that supports theatre in communities that don’t otherwise have access to it. That would make me blissfully … Continue reading Pipe dream? https://thisgirlsgotcurves.wordpress.com/2025/01/20/pipe-dream/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Uncategorized #dailyprompt #dailyprompt1823
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Pipe dream?: What’s your dream job? I don’t think my dream job exists. Hear me out. I would love to run a nonprofit. By myself. With no board and no drama. I would just really like to run an organization that supports theatre in communities that don’t otherwise have access to it. That would make me blissfully … Continue reading Pipe dream? https://thisgirlsgotcurves.wordpress.com/2025/01/20/pipe-dream/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Uncategorized #dailyprompt #dailyprompt1823
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Pipe dream?: What’s your dream job? I don’t think my dream job exists. Hear me out. I would love to run a nonprofit. By myself. With no board and no drama. I would just really like to run an organization that supports theatre in communities that don’t otherwise have access to it. That would make me blissfully … Continue reading Pipe dream? https://thisgirlsgotcurves.wordpress.com/2025/01/20/pipe-dream/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Uncategorized #dailyprompt #dailyprompt1823
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News -- Pipe Dream Brewing, a Londonderry, NH brewery that was the subject of a federal investigation last summer, is shutting down. https://bostonrestaurants.blogspot.com/2025/01/news-elsewhere-pipe-dream-brewing-in.html
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Heat’s next pipe dream that will drive fans insane might’ve just been revealed https://www.rawchili.com/nba/739505/ #Basketball #heat #Miami #MiamiHeat #MiamiHeat #NBA
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LeBron James pipe dream might suddenly make sense for the Nuggets https://www.rawchili.com/nba/733371/ #Basketball #Denver #DenverNuggets #DenverNuggets #NBA #Nuggets
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Cargo Sous Terrain: Swiss pipe dream goes up in smoke. #cargosousterrain
https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/cargo-sous-terrain-vor-dem-aus-schweiz-bekommt-wohl-keine-unterirdische-gueterbahn-358029565837 -
Cargo Sous Terrain: Swiss pipe dream goes up in smoke. #cargosousterrain
https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/cargo-sous-terrain-vor-dem-aus-schweiz-bekommt-wohl-keine-unterirdische-gueterbahn-358029565837 -
Cargo Sous Terrain: Swiss pipe dream goes up in smoke. #cargosousterrain
https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/cargo-sous-terrain-vor-dem-aus-schweiz-bekommt-wohl-keine-unterirdische-gueterbahn-358029565837 -
Cargo Sous Terrain: Swiss pipe dream goes up in smoke. #cargosousterrain
https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/cargo-sous-terrain-vor-dem-aus-schweiz-bekommt-wohl-keine-unterirdische-gueterbahn-358029565837 -
Cargo Sous Terrain: Swiss pipe dream goes up in smoke. #cargosousterrain
https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/cargo-sous-terrain-vor-dem-aus-schweiz-bekommt-wohl-keine-unterirdische-gueterbahn-358029565837 -
Can One of These PIPE DREAM Players Fall to the Chicago Bulls at 12? https://www.rawchili.com/4344536/ #AceBailey #basketball #CedricCoward #ChicagoBulls #ChicagoBulls #CollinMurrayBoyles #KhamanMaluach #NBA #NoaEssengue
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3/3 "Pipe Dream" - trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-G7J825fjo #documentary #art
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@klillington it’s a pipe dream fantasy but by jiminy wouldn’t the thoughtful deliberation inherent in #sortition be better. No chance of politician turkeys voting for Christmas however. #ge24 #ge2024 #irishelection
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These iterations of *Pipe Dream* by @tezumies and *The most important meal of the day* by @uluiq12 go along so well!
I like how both show vibrant colours and clean shapes, yet approach it from quite different perspectives (literally). Both are among the first additions to *kimp*, the next chapter of my semi–chronological galleries.
Gallery: https://deca.art/boringoldguy/kimp
#Artmiration #GenerativeArt #DigitalArt #AbstractArt #fxhash
Left: Pipe Dream #102
Right: The most important meal of the day #19 -
• #GenerativeAI remains a pipe dream
• the evil it's unleashed is 100% real
“Revealed: The Authors Whose Pirated Books Are Powering Generative AI”
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/08/books3-ai-meta-llama-pirated-books/675063/1. Is there a better #SiliconValley #BigTech initiative to “flood the zone with shit” (at scale) than this?
2. How is this different than weaponizing intellectual stolen goods? 🧐
#ArtificialIntelligence
#OpenAI
#ChatGPT
#AIEthics
#EthicalAI
#Copyright
#Law #Legal
#Publishing
#AIBlitzkrieg
#OligarchBlitzkrieg
#Amazon
