Ahh, what a year!

After to much food and red wine at the Camargo Thanksgiving Gathering (perhaps, Blowout) we slept well. So, this morning Angela and I were reflecting (as one does when making coffee at 12 noon and dragging out of bed . . .); it has been an amazing year.

In January of this year I was putting the finishing touches on Combine (after Rauschenberg) -- the 8-channel work -- and beginning in desperation to quickly finish Fuinnega -- for Uilleann pipes and electronics. All the while coordinating the Intensive Music Course (a great success), tutoring/mentoring on that course, coaching the COMA ensemble as well as team-teaching Performance Workshop 2. I was also writing the first few chapters of my dissertation at this time. March, April and May were filled with writing, not to mention the minor administrative duties we all get handed in the course of the semester. Then viva voce in July with Pedro and Simon (a great experience, if not nerve-wracking).

Then in August, off to Barcelona, where after two weeks our apartment was raided, laptops stolen, my instrument ripped from me. Then to France (my beautiful Cassis), the unceremonious wait for the new computers to arrive. The drive to begin working once they arrived in October. Then the performance of meditation in Helsinki with Lily-Marlene two weeks ago, the presentation of a paper and my work in Aix at the Locus Sonus Symposium, the concert here with Juan Felipe here at Camargo that was such a wonderful evening of meeting people and networking and sharing ideas and, well, everything. What a year! Then graduation December 15th -- the Dr. will be in the house.

So, today I will reflect for a bit and then complete some more job applications.

Thank you all,

jg

Muchas idomas . . .

Well,

It's nice to see the comments are flowing in. To answer a few questions. I will return to Belfast on the 13th to pick up some papers from the registrar (my diploma). Then off to the US to hang with the family. Note to JD, will have to check out the new Xenakis edition . . . BTW, began my talk by playing Concrete PH as the other people walked into the room. Spoooookey! Good to hear you went into the studio to do some work . . . if you need any help, just give me a shout. : - ) Uh, Hilda is about an hour (hour an a half if pulling a trailer) from Fredericksburg, Texas. Find Gillespie County, almost the geographic middle of the state, Fredericksburg is the county seat.

See you all next week.

jason

Another beautiful day in Cassis . . .

Yes, it is still beautiful. The Mediterraean is like glass. It is November 10th and we can seriously contemplate swimming in the sea today. Might just have to do it.

This past Tuesday I had a wonderful time giving a talk to the other Fellows here at the Camargo. I spoke for over an hour on Futurism, Schaeffer, my music, John Oswald, Earle Brown . . . it was just fantastic. We listened to a good deal of music too. Wonderful stuff! Since then it has been pretty quiet, trying to recoup from the late evening out in addition to staying up all night watching the US returns come in over the internet. Here's hoping the Democrats can do better than the Republicans. What a mess the US administration has made of the world.

Angela and I leave for Helsinki tomorrow afternoon (via Frankfurt) to do a concert at the Sibelius Academy. Really looking forward to seeing Helsinki. That being said, we are horribly prepared for the sub-freezing temperatures. It should be a cold one! We can wear socks on our hands or something -- it should be a great time.

Upon my return to France next Wednesday I am going to particpate in the Locusonus Symposium in Aix en Provence. I am looking forward to seeing what it going on in Aix and hearing the speakers. I will be presenting some of my own work along with work of my colleagues at SARC. Should be a good time.

We will let you know how things are going next week. Maybe we will still be able to eek out a little swim then.

jason