July 31 - Of Mouse and Mice

Back before music notation software was generally used, score for Mice and Men was written in pencil directly as full orchestration roughly over six summers (Act I - 1987, II - 88, III - 89, IV - 90, V Scene 1 - 91, V 2 - 92, although the work extended to a completion date of October 5, 1992). As of today (with MM V 2 part F page 14-15), it's finally, basically, all in the computer (a process that extended, on and off, over the last two years), and MIDI versions have been produced for recording. Hallelujah...

It's a collage, detailed, Ivesian work -- markedly different in approach with respect to the later operas, all latter of which are troped on pre-existant material and notated directly into computer, usually (with the exception of Henry Miller, which evolved into the present procedure) conceived as piano-vocal "short scores," then subsequently orchestrated.

Further work today on the August 2008 issue of 21st-Century Music (work-in-progress at 21st-centurymusic.blogspot.com and soon to be published in print and at 21st-centurymusic.com), plus reconstructing August 2005.

July 30 - A Normal Day... Is That Good? Sure...

Another couple of pages (12 and 13) of the F section of Mice and Men Act V Scene 2 prepared for publication, plus catch-up and daily work on 21st-Century Music (21st-centurymusic.blogspot.com -- the Chronicle sections of the August 2008 and September 2008 issues).

July 29 - Happy Anonymous Birthday!

Happy Belated Birthday in Absentia!

and will email soon, after finishing publication preparation of Mice and Men Act V Scene 2 Part F Page 11.

July 28 - California Hallucinatin'

Telephone tag with John Browning, starting to prepare for the summer Southern California jaunt -- seems like it might be time to walk to the top of Mt. San Jacinto. Best that can be done today are the Mountains of Sacramento -- is such a thing possible? At least Mice and Men Act V Scene 2 page 10 is prepared for publication...

July 27 - The Line of Aesthetic-Poetic Fog

The line of fog extends from the Berkeley Hills down to the Salinas Valley -- an aesthetic-spiritual connection that ties the location of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men with the second Goat Hall / San Francisco Cabaret Opera rehearsal today of our opera on same. Same group as last week -- and everyone has come prepared, such that we can move right into blocking and accomplish much.



Home in reverse, with sunshiney Sibley slopes,


the Mothball Fleet,



and The Quarry, ultimately mining more musical ore by preparing for publication Act V Scene 2 F 10.

July 26 - Stay of Ex-Vacation

The book blog is provisionally finished (there will be refinements along the line, certainly, beginning next semester), grades are done and will all be turned in by Wednesday, current and respective back issue of 21st-Century Music will be dealt with next week, and ready for tomorrow's Mice and Men -- so, time for a walk, but first, to the in-town branch of the local library (a first), to check on the CD collection, since have gone through main branch's holdings.



Visit to Joe's, then down Buck Avenue, past stately, plump houses



and tall palms,



through Jamison Canyon,



down North Kelly Road (with the only sign of the past few weeks' widespread fires),



ultimately back to Dry Creek Canyon on the west side of Napa Valley (past the Wine Guy, of course



and the turn-off from Route 29 at Oak Knoll Crossroad -- with its views of Stag's Leap),



hugging the eastern wall,



providing an opportunity for self-reflection,



as houses derelict,



abandoned,



pixie-ish lurk in the shadows,



near a stump gate,



an unlikely juxtaposition of steed and sign (a fiery filly?),



a stark driveway,



and dishy electronic accoutrements.



The upper reaches of the Canyon by the crossroad opens up,



near a ramshackle barn



(with a ladder still-life,



an uncertain upper end,



a quixotic sign,



dilapidated quonset hut,



and framed lawnmower),



an oak savanna,



curved branches,



and a prominent pale house.



The sun sets on willows,



a firestation at the crossroads,



patterns of russett, tan, and gray.



There's nothing to do but get back in the car,



head down the Oakville Grade,



over the Yountville Crossroad,



to Stag's Leap, leaping home to prepare for publication Mice and Men Act V Scene 2 F page 9.

July 25 - Errand of We'll See

Back to school to receive outstanding work from students, then dropping off Mice and Men excerpt piano-vocal scores to several cast members, past the Shakespeare Festival Hills,



over to San Francisco, up upper Market Street,



then north on the Great Highway, with views of Mt. Tamapais and Cliff House,



through Lincoln Park with more Tam



plus Golden Gate views,



past the opulence of Sea Cliff,



the residences precariously perched above Lobos Creek,



the Presidio's wonders (including a cockeyed bridge



and de-commissioned chapel),



to pastoral glimples of Marin (St. Vincent's Ranch)



and Sonoma (Sears Point Mountain), home to Act V Scene 2 F page 9 publication preparation.