The term "elegy" originally denoted a type of poetic meter (elegiac meter). It commonly describes a poem of mourning, from the Greek elegeia (ἐλεγεία) derived from elegos (ἔλεγος)—a reflection on the death of someone or on a sorrow generally. As such, it may be classified as a form of lyric poetry. An elegy can also reflect on something that seems strange or mysterious. Additionally, "elegy" (sometimes spelled elégie) may denote a type of musical work, usually of a sad or somber nature. The term "elegy" is not to be confused with "eulogy."
Wow. Thanks wikipedia for giving me a word that sounds a lot like elegy, and that is related in meaning to elegy, in order to avoid confusion. That'll help me a lot.
Anyway, my prof said that the piece is supposed to be about specific event, something tragic in my life. But I can't think of anything. Not to say that nothing tragic has ever happened to me, but just that all my tragedies have been small tragedies. Tragedies not necessarily worthy of a piece of art. Trifling tragedies. Like being snubbed by animals in general(why don't they ever want to cuddle with me?). Or feeling upset because someone thought I was lame for wearing fake louis-V, only I didn't even know it was a fake anything-at-all. I just thought it was a watch my mom gave me. Or being made a spare on a children's precision skating team called Capitol Blades. I wonder if they are still around. Hmmm.. well I just did about three minutes of internet searching and couldn't find them. I guess they failed. snicker snicker. Or changed their name.
Actually, after watching this video,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0poMM6BPZXM&feature=related
I'm not sure that my exclusion from the world of synchronized skating was so trifling a tragedy after all. I mean, look at all the sequence. Just look at it. You have no idea how much hair gel went into that event. All I am going to say is : whale-bladder-ful.
I guess there have been some real sad things in my life, but somehow writing a piece about them feels wrong. Like I could never do real tragedy justice through art. Besides, I never can seem to write programmatic music. When I sit down to write it's all notes, rhythms, phrases, textures, and harmonies. The emotional and visceral content must eek out subconsciously. Which is kind of nice, because that way I can just sit back and enjoy listening to my own music on a level that has nothing to do with notes, rhythms, phrases, textures and harmonies. As if I didn't even write it myself.
I think the elegy I am writing sounds like it fits more in the vein of the mysterious or the strange than in the tragic It has a little march half way through it that is a little nervous. It is for two voices, like Stravinsky's elegie written for viola, which I have got to say is one of the most beautiful pieces I have ever heard. I have been playing it over and over again for myself on the piano. There is something kind of ritualistic and addictively repetitive about it. Like a lot of Stravinsky's music that I have heard, it is sparse yet powerful. Kind of like the poetry of H.D. Here's a link to a video with the music and some sweet pics of Stravinsky (one of them is a drawing by Picasso!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4pGbFwC1s0
Now I know you are all waiting for the rest of my story, and believe me it has been a stewin' and a brewin' in my brain. But you know how stews are; the longer you let them do what stews do, the better they taste. Unless you let them sit forever, in which case they turn into a dried out paste that eventually burns down your kitchen. Soooo, what I mean to say is that I will write some more tomorrow. I am tired and still have a cold so you, my invisible and so far nonexistent (except for Cody) readership, will have to wait.
Slothlady out.
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