SOUNDTRACK: MAX RICHTER-Tiny Desk Concert #936 (January 22, 2020).
Max Richter is a composer and pianist. His music is emotional and even more so when you know what has inspired it.
The first piece “On The Nature Of Daylight” was written as a response to the 2003 Iraq War.
In Daylight, which has been effectively used in movies such as Arrival and Shutter Island, a simple theme rolls out slowly in the low strings until a violin enters with a complimentary melody in a higher register. Richter, at the keyboard, adds a subterranean bass line for added gravitas, while high above another violin soars sweetly, mournfully. With all elements interlocked – and sensitively played by members of the American Contemporary Music Ensemble [Clarice Jensen: cello & artistic director; Ben Russell, violin; Laura Lutzke, violin; Isabel Hagen, viola; Claire Bryant, cello] – the piece gently sways, building in intensity. It all adds up to a six-minute emotional journey that, if you open yourself to the sounds, can leave you wrung out.
The music reminds me of the kind of repeating motifs you might hear in someone like Michael Nyman.
In between the two emotional string-filled pieces, he plays a solo piano piece called “Vladimir’s Blues.”
Its delicately toggling chords are an homage to novelist Vladimir Nabokov who, in his spare time, was a respected lepidopterist, obsessed with a subfamily of gossamer-winged butterflies called the blues. Richter plays the piano with the practice pedal engaged for a warm, muted sound.
The final piece, “Infra 5” is a ballet that he composed as
a meditation on the 2005 terrorist subway bombings in London… he counters violence with calming, thoughtful music.
This piece is much like the first in that it is beautiful and repetitive and thought-provoking. This one is interesting because Richter does not play on it. He just stands there and listens, no doubt deep in thought.
Richter is a truly amazing contemporary composer and his music is just wonderful.
[READ: January 23, 2020] Giant Days Early Registration
I found out recently that there is an end to Giant Days. In fact I believe it has already ended, but there are still three or so collections left to come out.
When a beloved (and award winning) series nears its end, it is time to put out early issues and special features collections. Usually they come once the series has ended, but this one has come early.
Early Registration is a collection of the first self-published comics that John Allison made of our heroes Daisy, Esther and Susan. This book is drawn by him (in the style that I initially preferred although I have now come to love Max Sarin so much that these pictures look weird).
This book begins with Esther’s parents sending her off to college (I didn’t realize until recently that Esther de Groot was in Allison’s previous comic Scary Go Round and that this is a spin off of sorts. I don’t know that comic but am sure looking forward to reading it.
When Esther arrives at school, she sees Daisy hauling a massive trunk up the stairs. Esther helps her and while they are talking and thumping, Susan opens her door to ask everyone to be quiet while she is trying to sleep. Daisy: “Were you smoking in your sleep?” Esther asks Daisy is she wants to go to the bar later. Daisy says she’s never had alcohol before. As they head to their rooms, Daisy says “You’re the most confident person I’ve ever met.” Then in her room: “I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
Esther texts with her boyfriend back home, but the knock on the door isn’t Daisy, it’s the popular girls who drag Esther off to the bar. The girls come back to the dorm and instantly make fun of Daisy (calling her lollipop). Esther’s reaction is internal: “I will destroy each and every one of you.”
Later waiting for a class, Esther meets Ed Gemmell. Esther invites him to sit as long as he doesn’t ask what she did for her A-levels, she’s answered that 200 times this week. He says, “What if the answers are lies?” She agrees. She did Jazz Dance, Tunnel Studies, and Poisons. He did Fighting, Further Fighting, and History (of Fights).
Later that night Daisy Susan and Esther have a showdown at a dance with the popular girls (who are surprisingly skilled in the martial arts). Things look bleak until Esther tells Ed Gemmell to get the bag from under her bed. Once he gets past the secret world of women and the wondrous smells, he gets the bag with Esther’s … boxing gloves? We also see that Daisy has mastered the power of yoga flying (even though George Harrison (who makes appearance) tells her he developed yogic flying for peaceful purposes.
Of course, it comes down to Susan and her nasty habit to save the night. and solidify their friendship.
Chapter two starts with Daisy and Susan commenting that Esther will break poor Ed’s heart. Ed also tells his mate Steve about Esther. Steve is a guitarist with a “Kawai Flying Wedge Vintage.” When Ed asks if he can play it: “Ed, you absolutely can’t.”
Esther winds up hanging out with Steve after a fight with Eustace leaves her with questionable judgment.
When Ed stops by to visit Esther, Susan tells him she’s not home. They wind up hanging out and she tells him not to be interested in pretty girls with boyfriends.
But the worse news comes the next day when Steve reveals that he slept with Esther. But Esther wound up breaking his guitar while “trying something.”
Chapter three sees Esther broken up with Eustace and surviving on the cheese slices that Daisy has been pushing under her door.
Daisy and Susan decide to join a club to make more friends. They decide to sign up for the indie society. Of course, Susan says she knows nothing about indie music and Daisy reveals that she only likes Enya. Susan says “Enya’s the most indie recording artist of all time. She’s never played live. She lives on an island. She can probably FLY.”
The meeting is hilarious with pretentious guys (and some gals) fighting over who will be the net president (the previous administration was impeached). The guy who clearly wants to be president is Thom. As an ice breaker he asks everyone to name as many indie bands as they can.
Susan and Daisy meet a nice girl named Erin there. They love mocking Thom and they come up with a wonderful list of indie bands
Vertical Helen, Taupe Surprise, Warned Off Milk, WAXY, The Congleton Bastards, Hemp Problem
When it come time to announce who will run for president, Susan raises her hand.
Meanwhile back at the dorm, two long-haired black metal dudes bring Esther a sizzling invitation to attend a party og the Black Metal Society. It’s a message from The Rook which is “intriguing and annoying” I love that when they bang on the door it goes Knöck Knöck.” The first party is a bit intense and she immediately leaves. When she gets back home a sizzling envelope arrives telling her she should have stayed longer. For the next party she invites Ed Gemmell (and dresses him up as an unconvincing goth).
Ed is not welcomed and Esther wakes up with a tattoo on her back (!)
Susan wins the election because of a hilarious stunt–a cape on which she has written every band who ever made a human feel good to be alive. The group is instantly swayed.
The final scene shows Esther following up on the last stage of the initiation into the Black Metal Society. In a cemetery, of course.
There’s a young guy named Kelvin there as well He was also tattooed. Fortunately her friends (and Erin …whatever happened to her?) are there to help her make a better decision.
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