Comments for Alexandra Gardner | Building Noises http://alexandragardner.net/blog Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:42:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Long Time, No See by Ramon http://alexandragardner.net/blog/2011/12/11/long-time-no-see/comment-page-1/#comment-13179 Ramon Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:42:24 +0000 http://alexandragardner.net/blog/?p=1040#comment-13179 Que casa más bonita! Felicidades! Que casa más bonita! Felicidades!

]]> Comment on When Names Collide by Alexandra Gardner http://alexandragardner.net/blog/2010/10/26/when-names-collide/comment-page-1/#comment-13146 Alexandra Gardner Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:54:16 +0000 http://alexandragardner.net/blog/?p=913#comment-13146 Dear Ms. Gardner, I have an interesting story to share with you and yes my name is also Alexandra Gardner. I am not a musician, but a seasoned Catering Manager who has lived near Palm Springs, CA for the past 15 years. I do have an artistic/creative side and my husband Tom Gardner is a working painter who shows his work in several art galleries both here and around the US. This morning at 6:45am I received a phone call while still lying in bed waking up. When the phone rings that early, one always wonders who could be calling other than family with urgent news? The woman calling was trying to get in touch with Alexandra Gardner and mentioned Fractured Atlas. Somehow she had gotten my phone number from the internet and didn't even realize she was calling California. Once I woke up and could make sense of her story, I explained that I was not the Alexandra Gardner she was looking for. Apparently she was trying to get in touch with a singer you represented (a tenor who is performing in a production of Figaro in Grand Rapids, MI) This lovely lady, who was calling from Greenwich, CT apologized for calling me so early and we ended our call. Unfortunately, I didn't even get her name. She did mention she had a daughter who lived in Los Angeles. Well, it is fun to know there are other Alex Gardners in the world, all with unique backgrounds and talents. Take care and wishing you the best in your musical endeavors! Best, Alex Gardner Dear Ms. Gardner,

I have an interesting story to share with you and yes my name is also Alexandra Gardner. I am not a musician, but a seasoned Catering Manager who has lived near Palm Springs, CA for the past 15 years. I do have an artistic/creative side and my husband Tom Gardner is a working painter who shows his work in several art galleries both here and around the US.

This morning at 6:45am I received a phone call while still lying in bed waking up. When the phone rings that early, one always wonders who could be calling other than family with urgent news? The woman calling was trying to get in touch with Alexandra Gardner and mentioned Fractured Atlas. Somehow she had gotten my phone number from the internet and didn’t even realize she was calling California. Once I woke up and could make sense of her story, I explained that I was not the Alexandra Gardner she was looking for. Apparently she was trying to get in touch with a singer you represented (a tenor who is performing in a production of Figaro in Grand Rapids, MI) This lovely lady, who was calling from Greenwich, CT apologized for calling me so early and we ended our call. Unfortunately, I didn’t even get her name. She did mention she had a daughter who lived in Los Angeles.

Well, it is fun to know there are other Alex Gardners in the world, all with unique backgrounds and talents. Take care and wishing you the best in your musical endeavors!

Best,
Alex Gardner

]]> Comment on Now or Never Recording by Jonathan Elliott http://alexandragardner.net/blog/2011/01/31/now-or-never-recording/comment-page-1/#comment-13100 Jonathan Elliott Sun, 06 Feb 2011 23:48:48 +0000 http://alexandragardner.net/blog/?p=1020#comment-13100 That is a simply amazing photograph! xo That is a simply amazing photograph! xo

]]> Comment on Now or Never by Brian http://alexandragardner.net/blog/2010/09/25/now-or-never/comment-page-1/#comment-10899 Brian Sat, 25 Sep 2010 21:29:04 +0000 http://alexandragardner.net/blog/?p=887#comment-10899 Yay! Awesome photo too! The group is a never-ending source for wonderful title puns. Yay! Awesome photo too! The group is a never-ending source for wonderful title puns.

]]> Comment on Mint Conditioner and Musical Kryptonite by Daniel Eichenbaum http://alexandragardner.net/blog/2010/07/23/mint-conditioner-and-musical-kryptonite/comment-page-1/#comment-10424 Daniel Eichenbaum Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:53:32 +0000 http://alexandragardner.net/blog/?p=867#comment-10424 I find myself responding in exactly the opposite manner that you mentioned in your post. Extremely emotional periods for me, whether from joy or sorrow, tend to kick my creative juices into high gear. I think it really depends on the type of person and how they deal with stress. From my limited understandings of human psychology, people have different ways of handling stress. Some people deal with it straight on and some people try to ignore it by doing other activities. Perhaps the issue you dealing with isn't so much of a compositional one, but rather, an issue of human psychology. I've heard meditation and mindfulness practice can help in these regards. And, yes, I believe Steve is right in that there is something very powerful and healing about PLAYING music. I'm a terrible pianist but I find that sitting at a piano and banging through the opening of the slow movement from Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata is awfully reassuring and clears my mind. To each their own and best of luck to you and my deepest sympathies. I find myself responding in exactly the opposite manner that you mentioned in your post. Extremely emotional periods for me, whether from joy or sorrow, tend to kick my creative juices into high gear. I think it really depends on the type of person and how they deal with stress.
From my limited understandings of human psychology, people have different ways of handling stress. Some people deal with it straight on and some people try to ignore it by doing other activities. Perhaps the issue you dealing with isn’t so much of a compositional one, but rather, an issue of human psychology. I’ve heard meditation and mindfulness practice can help in these regards.
And, yes, I believe Steve is right in that there is something very powerful and healing about PLAYING music. I’m a terrible pianist but I find that sitting at a piano and banging through the opening of the slow movement from Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata is awfully reassuring and clears my mind.
To each their own and best of luck to you and my deepest sympathies.

]]> Comment on Mint Conditioner and Musical Kryptonite by Alex http://alexandragardner.net/blog/2010/07/23/mint-conditioner-and-musical-kryptonite/comment-page-1/#comment-10345 Alex Sat, 24 Jul 2010 04:08:57 +0000 http://alexandragardner.net/blog/?p=867#comment-10345 Thank you all for your thoughts and links! @Steve, I can definitely hear the balloons in your piece, thank you for sharing your story... Thank you all for your thoughts and links! @Steve, I can definitely hear the balloons in your piece, thank you for sharing your story…

]]> Comment on Mint Conditioner and Musical Kryptonite by Steve Layton http://alexandragardner.net/blog/2010/07/23/mint-conditioner-and-musical-kryptonite/comment-page-1/#comment-10332 Steve Layton Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:47:44 +0000 http://alexandragardner.net/blog/?p=867#comment-10332 In those moments I've always found myself turning to music, not listening but playing. And the playing is kind of like you describe; there isn't any clearly defined 'piece' or idea, just a need to make some sound, *any* sound... In the spring of 2005 I was working on a solo piano piece. I was about two-and-a-half minutes in when my mom got the diagnosis of cancer. I stopped there, and for the next two months couldn't write a note, couldn't even really process music in my mind. I would sit at the keyboard, but couldn't find a way to do more than listen blindly to some single chord. It was only after the funeral that a moment suddenly struck, where the piece I had been working on became *her* piece, and the formless playing took on a shape and flow. The recording is here: http://www.niwo.com/steve/music/xlayton_xpurple_ball_purple_balloonx.mp3 You can hear that up to 2:35 my mom was alive and everything was like it always was; from 2:36 on it's two months later and my mom is gone, but she is now in every note and thought to the piece's end. (The title -- My mom's favorite color was purple. The day of the funeral, at my sister's house a purple ball appeared on her front yard, that nobody had ever seen before; that afternoon after the service we released purple balloons into the air, and I watched them rise and drift out of sight over the low hills she'd lived on so long.) In those moments I’ve always found myself turning to music, not listening but playing. And the playing is kind of like you describe; there isn’t any clearly defined ‘piece’ or idea, just a need to make some sound, *any* sound… In the spring of 2005 I was working on a solo piano piece. I was about two-and-a-half minutes in when my mom got the diagnosis of cancer. I stopped there, and for the next two months couldn’t write a note, couldn’t even really process music in my mind. I would sit at the keyboard, but couldn’t find a way to do more than listen blindly to some single chord. It was only after the funeral that a moment suddenly struck, where the piece I had been working on became *her* piece, and the formless playing took on a shape and flow. The recording is here:

http://www.niwo.com/steve/music/xlayton_xpurple_ball_purple_balloonx.mp3

You can hear that up to 2:35 my mom was alive and everything was like it always was; from 2:36 on it’s two months later and my mom is gone, but she is now in every note and thought to the piece’s end.

(The title — My mom’s favorite color was purple. The day of the funeral, at my sister’s house a purple ball appeared on her front yard, that nobody had ever seen before; that afternoon after the service we released purple balloons into the air, and I watched them rise and drift out of sight over the low hills she’d lived on so long.)

]]> Comment on Mint Conditioner and Musical Kryptonite by litherland http://alexandragardner.net/blog/2010/07/23/mint-conditioner-and-musical-kryptonite/comment-page-1/#comment-10331 litherland Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:35:52 +0000 http://alexandragardner.net/blog/?p=867#comment-10331 Lovely and moving. <blockquote><em>Perhaps the act of playing music freely, without any expectation, censoring or the need to “produce” something, is housed in a different department of the brain?</em></blockquote> I would say yes; cf., e.g., <a href="http://www.science20.com/news_releases/study_prefrontal_cortex_in_jazz_musicians_winds_down_when_improvising" rel="nofollow">this article</a>. Lovely and moving.

Perhaps the act of playing music freely, without any expectation, censoring or the need to “produce” something, is housed in a different department of the brain?

I would say yes; cf., e.g., this article.

]]> Comment on Mint Conditioner and Musical Kryptonite by Armando Bayolo http://alexandragardner.net/blog/2010/07/23/mint-conditioner-and-musical-kryptonite/comment-page-1/#comment-10330 Armando Bayolo Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:34:35 +0000 http://alexandragardner.net/blog/?p=867#comment-10330 I think I have a similar reaction to grief as you do, Alex. The last time I went through it, though, I wasn't really composing but, rather, was in the middle of putting together a program with Great Noise Ensemble, which forced me to plow through and compartmentalize my feelings while in rehearsal. I do find, like you, that the piano is very therapeautic. Or maybe it's not so much the piano (it just happens to be my instrument) as having it available for musing without the presence of an audience or a group of fellow musicians. The vehicle for private grief is the key there, I think. I am sorry for your loss, though. Hang in there. I think I have a similar reaction to grief as you do, Alex. The last time I went through it, though, I wasn’t really composing but, rather, was in the middle of putting together a program with Great Noise Ensemble, which forced me to plow through and compartmentalize my feelings while in rehearsal. I do find, like you, that the piano is very therapeautic. Or maybe it’s not so much the piano (it just happens to be my instrument) as having it available for musing without the presence of an audience or a group of fellow musicians. The vehicle for private grief is the key there, I think.

I am sorry for your loss, though. Hang in there.

]]> Comment on Why we do what we do by Alex http://alexandragardner.net/blog/2010/05/19/why-we-do-what-we-do/comment-page-1/#comment-9401 Alex Sat, 22 May 2010 03:47:01 +0000 http://alexandragardner.net/blog/?p=836#comment-9401 Thank you!! In my experience, happy musicians = happy listeners! Thank you!! In my experience, happy musicians = happy listeners!

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