Final Project Stuff
October 11, 2009So, while I knew what medium (possibly media) I wanted to work with, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do.
At some point while reading Maffesoli (since I didn’t mark it I can’t find it again-so frustrating) he mentions music. Now, as background, my undergraduate degree is a dual major in English and Music. I really like music, so the metaphors we’ve been reading, especially in Ulmer, really make sense when expressed in terms of music.
Anyway, while reading I remembered this piece that I composed in undergrad that is for 4-part mixed voices (male and female) called “Benedictus.” I think the religious stuff in Maffesoli coupled at some point with that music reference to lead me to this particular piece. While I don’t plan to work with this particular piece, it reminded me that I have another one that is composed for 3-part female voices.
Here’s where I think I am going. Ulmer demonstrates the mystory and all the different pieces that come together in no particular fashion to create one’s identity, by proximity. The piece I wrote in many ways brings all this together for me (the text is a section of Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself).
I don’t have a choir on hand to sing this song, but I myself can sing each part. I have sound editing software that will allow me to layer each part on top of one another, allowing me, essentially to perform this piece as a trio with myself.
The point? Well, frankly it is an expression of my everyday. It is in many ways my “social divine.” This is just a seed of the project however. I plan to try to make it a little more complex (though just doing this will prove to be a challenge). I might work with some of the other pieces I’ve written. I may compose some more music, including perhaps an accompaniment to “Permeable Shell” (the 3-part piece). Rather than just thinking of one’s identity as a polyphony, I will actually perform my identity (or at least part of it) as a polyphony (drawing on Ulmer here). The text also seems appropriate.
Here’s hoping it works out. If so I will be very excited.
