Author: SB

Perpetually dissatisfied with the contents of my sock drawer.

Format change

As you may notice, I’m changing things around here. I’ve become increasingly uncomfortable with the “personal blog” thing for a while now, particularly since this was never in fact supposed to be such a beast, but rather a forum in which I could write about matters involving music and theology. For a variety of reasons, I would now prefer to focus on my musical activities, perhaps occasionally including theological and other content when appropriate. Over the next days I’ll be going through old posts and removing things that I’m not interested in having out there for the whole world to see, but I’ll be keeping archives in the event that someone would want to remember a discussion we had at one point or another.

In the meantime, bear with me as I figure out the best way to format this as a music website. I’ll be posting regular updates about performances and projects and such, in addition to hosting the kind of static content for which I have previously used my other website (scottblasco.com, soon to be redirected here).

More to come…

Muncie seems like a dream to me now…

We have arrived. Yesterday afternoon Tracy and I rolled into Kansas City in a too-big U-Haul (17 foot!), towing our poor Camry behind us, and within an hour were moving things into our new apartment. By the workings of Providence we arrived as an upstairs neighbor was moving out, and we were able to hire her three gigantic movers to unload our truck for us (which saved us hours of hard labor and possibly injury to me, since Tracy’s on the mend from a foot injury and wouldn’t be able to do a lot). Thanks be to God for all good things.

It is difficult to put into words my feeling about this change, but it is very good. The apartment is amazing: a large two bedroom in an old brick six-plex, with a beautiful shady screened porch in front (in which we have already enjoyed one meal, to be followed I am quite sure by many more). Unpacking is always a chore, but the place is already beginning to feel like home, and more of a home than our Muncie apartment ever was. It feels very much like our apartment in Pasadena did, for those of you who experienced it. For those who didn’t… well, you’ll just have to come visit us, then (hint hint).

Speaking of Pasadena, the area of Kansas City where we are bears some striking resemblances, including a beautiful outdoor shopping district (“The Plaza”) that feels very much like Old Town. Right now we’re sitting in the public library branch near us, which is large and full of art, and this afternoon we had lunch at McCormick and Schmick’s. The only things missing are our friends and Trader Joe’s.

We’re excited about living in Kansas City. It’s beautiful here, with lots of parks and great architecture. Locals tell us KC is known as “the city of fountains,” and I believe them–they’re everywhere. We’re one block east of a gigantic free park with ponds and streams and such, a few blocks south of the Plaza, and less than a mile from campus. I haven’t had much interaction with UMKC folks yet, but the ones with whom I have have been both nice and helpful, and I’m supposed to meet one of the composition professors for a beer sometime soon. A month ago when we were here for entrance exams I met a few other incoming doctoral students, a married couple who were both singers and who seemed quite nice. I think things here are going to be great.

Other news and such to follow. Stay tuned…

De Profundis premiere

Rehearsals have been underway for the past week and a half, and De Profundis is starting to sound like an actual piece of music (!) — encouraging. I have received several comments about the impressiveness of having actually corralled fifteen people into one room in order to make it happen, but better yet I’ve gotten comments from several performers about how much they like the piece. It is very difficult, so these comments are that much more appreciated when I know performers are sweating over some sections.

So I invite you who are nearby to the premiere this coming Monday, April 7, at 8pm. The performance will be in Sursa Hall at Ball State University as the opening of the Student Composers Forum. Given the distance and the Monday-ness of the concert, I don’t imagine I’ll see many (or any) people from out of town, but I will have a recording of the concert, and with luck also a video to share.

Because I’ve been asked by a couple of people about the meaning of it all, I’ve pasted my program notes for De Profundis below. Enjoy.

Continue reading De Profundis premiere