Josiah’s Portrait

 Date for Entry: (Saturday 26th May 2018)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Saturday 13th August 2022)

Dear Diary,

    I was able to complete something for Josiah’s portrait. Josiah is another person I met on Facebook that asked me to draw him. He saw the previous portrait that I did for Shazard. He sent me a picture of himself wearing a celebratory garment to use.

    I did not have enough paint to finish his face while others at home found it looked better without. The background for the painting was done as a stained-glass effect from a church since he was dressed for that venue.

    Strangely enough, the same strange pattern as with Shazard occurred. I had to end up losing a friend in Josiah also. We crossed paths and we discontinued being friends. I’m wondering if to do another portrait or stop completely. I don’t wish to have to lose another potential friend.

 

Link(s):

• Black and White Version - Picture.
• Shazard’s Portrait – Journal Entry.
• Shazard’s Portrait.

Daryl Zion M. Ali

Music Theory 2 - Finals Exam & TEXTBOOK

 Date for Entry: (Tuesday 8th May 2018)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Tuesday 25th January 2022)

FINAL EXAMINATION.

    The examination for this course was very long and a lot of focus was needed. I honestly needed to lay down after the exam. There were not many pages in the script but we had to do a lot of music notation. I sometimes find the time should be three hours instead of two because they keep us in class for three hours.

    I did my best and handed it up with just a few more minutes left. Justin and I had a short chat on the outside. We had the exam up at MD3 with the dangerous gallery. I loved the view from there. We spoke about the exam, the degree, and how we both wanted to give up and withdraw from the program and aural training. This really was a hard year with an unbelievable amount of classes.

Link(s):

1. Music Theory 2 – (Final Exam) Candidate’s Receipt.**

 

TEXTBOOK.

    I decided to do over the entire book that Mrs. Ramlal had people in the shop photocopy for us to use. The decision came after looking at the six-four notes that I had made for making it easier. I know for sure that the end-of-term examination will test all that was taught for the entire academic year.

    Having that in mind, I did not want to have to return to the frustrating textbook. I wanted to simplify the work so that it would be easier for me to learn and that when I read it once, I would be able to understand it without the confusion from the textbook.

Link(s):

1. Music Theory 2 – Textbook (Version 3).

Daryl Zion M. Ali

'Scenery' Challenge - School of Composition

 Date for Entry: (Saturday 5th May 2018)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Wednesday 26th January 2022)

Scene 1

Dear Diary,

    This month the composition challenge was to select one of three photographs that would inspire you to make the music. My decision was painting number one. I felt something calm and easy. I wanted to do something with the harp and soon my mind began to call for the flute. Playing back all that I did, it sounded empty and that was the reason why the tambourine was inserted. 

    Seven pages were gone in three to five hours after church. I was really proud of this piece because it was a wish to make something soothing. I took that opportunity through this challenge. The question remains in the effectiveness of the piece and if the assignment met what was asked for. I must mention the difficulties of trying to paint over the same image.

Link(s):

1. May Composition Instructions. ** [DOCUMENT LOST.]
2. “Erasing Inner Conflicts” – Score. ** [DOCUMENT LOST.]
3. Recording of “Erasing Inner Conflicts”.

[UPDATE #1]

Scene 3

    Over some days, I wanted to have some sort of steelpan going in the song. Unfortunately, that ended up as a nightmare. Another painting was created for this separate operation. I wanted to have the one I did before. Both of these compositions were submitted.

Link(s):

1. “Melodious Forest” – Score.** [DOCUMENT LOST.]
2. Recording of “Melodious Forest”.

UPDATE #2.

The review came back and was posted on YouTube on July 1^st, 2018. I really appreciate the lesson on the harp being able to play only seven notes at a time in the way they are set up for a piece. Comments on the second piece made me wonder if Matt knew about steelpan. Other important messages from the feedback were:

“Six-four allows for a lot of melodies, especially in a really slow tempo. An ensemble in lutes is only limited in the possibility for colour, at least when it is for a wind quintet or chamber orchestra and because of this we would have to create some contrast and variety. Otherwise, this sound gets tiring… Flutes in a very high register often tend to stress the ear.”

“On our Facebook group, I recall Joshua saying that he didn’t have much time to compose this. I think we wish we all had more time to dedicate to composition but when the time is really limited, why not try a piece with fewer resources. Having so little time and so many instruments on the scores, and having so many empty bars in front of you, is bound to get overwhelming.” 

Link(s):

• ‘Scenery’ Challenge – Feedback & Critique. (Feedback 11:27)

Daryl Zion M. Ali