Narrative Incident

My fingers were quivering with nervousness that could not be stopped. The members of the Jazz Band were set up and ready to play. Finally, I had booked my first improvisational solo with SHS Jazz Ensemble. The seniors tend to be favored, naturally, so just having the opportunity was good enough for me. The song began and the whole sax section played their melodous part. It was an appealing, yet nasty rock tune that I knew I could go wild on. The measures counted down like seconds on the clock as my time drew near. Just before I stood up to unleash my screaming alto saxophone solo I entered a blissfully calm state of mind. The nervousness seemed to bleed away as my confidence in my own abilities took hold. I was Charlie Parker; I was Sonny Rolands. My mind was a paradox of craziness and calmness as I thoughtlessly played my instrument. My fingers just knew where to go. My mind was clear, but my hands still shook violently as I played. The end was in sight, but I wanted to continue that which I was absolutely mortified of just moments ago. I succumbed to the overwhelming logic of it all and ended when I was supposed to. There ended the "Screaming Alto Saxophone Solo"; it was over and I sat back down. My hands were still shaking.

A Rusty Epitaph (with thanks to Ben Franklin)

The Body J. Sawyer

Crazy Saxophonist,

Like the Brass Plating of an Old Yamaha Student Model,

And

Its Pads All Worn Out

Its Keys Battered and Bent,

Lies Here

Rusting in the Rain,

But the Music it Once Made shall not be Lost,

For it Will as He Believed

Be Heard Once More

In a New and more Elegant Sonata or Opus

Revised and Corrected

By the Composer

Where I'm From (with thanks to George Ella Lyon)

I am from classical music,
from Verdi’s Requiem and Beethoven’s Fifth.
I am from the key of A minor
(cool, bluesy, it’s all the white keys on the piano)
I am from the first old student saxophone,
and the saxophone that belonged to my grandfather
which was passed to me
as if it had always been meant for me to have.
I’m from musicianship and devotion,
from Josephine and Bill.
I’m from the hard of hearing and dancing masters,
From be careful and don’t talk to strangers.
I’m from the encouragement to make music
and the level I have surpassed of what was expected.
I’m from the old ‘20s bebop players and scat singers,
pianos and trumpets.
From the hearing aid that needs to be worn
because the amp was too loud
the angelic voices heard from an ancient choir.
In the dusty basement
where the ancestral instruments sleep
I am from ideas-
ideas that create and bring music to the ears
of anyone willing to listen-
Ideas that, one day, I hope to create on my own.

Classical Music in Today's World

Today's musicians' feeble attempts in making music have overpowered the lost beauty of the classical composers' artestry, but their work still lives on. Despite classical music's "uncoolness", there are still several time honored classics that manage to preserve the memory of the time when music was still good. Here are just a few examples in no particualr order:

1. Fifth Symphony(Beethoven)- This could possibly be the most widely known classical piece today although many people couldn't tell you the name of it.

2. Carmina Burana's O'Fortuna(Orff)- No one can deny their enjoyment of the huge, booming choir and orchestra of this powerful masterpiece.

3. The Four Seasons(Vivaldi)- This piece tends to work opposite of most classical music. People today know the name, but not the music. The four movements of this piece are meant to represent the four seasons on the earth.

4. Canon(Pachebel)- This piece is used in movies, which explains how people recognize it. That also means they probably could not point out it's name or composer, but would remember the song if they heard it.

5. 1812 Overature(Tchaikovsky)- Who can argue with a piece that has cannonfire?

6. Hallelujah Chorus(Handel)- Any churchgoer's favorite.

7. Fur Elise(Beethoven)- Another widely known piano sonata that can be heard in current media content, hence people's knowledge of it.

8. Entrance of the Gladiators(Fucik)- This once gradoise piece has somehow been transformed and degraded into clown music.

The Top Three Most Influential American Jazz Saxophonist's

Charlie Parker- redefined the world of jazz; his complex rhythms and improvisational style influenced musicians and changed the landscape of music forever; invented the unique style of bebop and is arguably one of the best jazz musicians ever known

Sonny Rolands- one of the few surviving icons of the golden jazz age whose talents were once only rivaled by Charlie Parker himself

John Coltrane- best known for his experimentation that had him labeled eccentric, unorthodox, and even unmusical; some of these experimentations included playing the same chord three or four different ways within a single measure and overlapping chords before the change was intended to occur

Musical Terminology

Here's some random definitions for all you musicaly impaired people out there:

1.(as it should be) saxophone- a group of single-reed woodwind instruments, made of brass, invented by Adolphe Sax

2. scale- the arrangement of notes in a specific order of whole and half steps

3. kazoo- a small tubular instrument with a vibrating membrane at one end which is played by humming into it

4. opera- a drama set to music for voices and orchestra, presented with costumes and sets

5. glissando- to slide from one note to another

6. legato- to play or sing groups of notessmoothly and without separate attacks

7. cantata- a multi-movement vocal work for chorus and/or soloists with orchestral accompaniment that is performed without staging

8. vamp- an improvised accompaniment or introduction that can be repeated until all performers are ready to continue

9. bebop- a style of jazz that originated in the 1940's characterized by extended harmonies, improvasation, complex rhythms, and fast tempos

10. crescendo- gradually becoming louder

For a complete set of musical terms go here: http://www.musicoutfitters.com/dictionary.htm

The Labrynth of My Musical Progression and Humiliation

Whenever I need to take my mind off of the stresses of everyday life I will venture up into "the labrynth". Going through the mess of music scattered around my room is enough to clear my head. When I play, though, the whole world's problems just seems to dissipate into thin air. My mind is focused on making music rather than on some girl I have a crush on or having to get my homework done and go to work in an hour. Even if it's for a few short minutes, playing my sax relaxs me to a point where I can reevaluate my situation and think more clear on how to execute a gameplan. The serenity I gain makes my whole day that much better and non-stressful.

Due to the difficulties encountered while trying to post pictures, the actual photo to this photo essay will be handed in separately.

Giuseppe Verdi

In Paul Hume's "Verdi, the Man and his Music", the author not only conveys the life Verdi led and the music he wrote, but the consequences of those actions on a larger scale. Verdi's operas included many themes, but many revolved around freedom and they had such a great impact on Italian nationalism that riots were held against their French and Austian oppresors. The phrase "Viva Verdi" became a patriotic symbol throughout much of Italy. Paul Hume conveys Verdi's life in factual information only and uses many quotes. Hume even takes entire conversation exerpts that take several pages. The style used is strictly chronological, but the extraordinary points are taken in just the same. Many people consider Giuseppe Verdi as an old, dead white guy. And an opera composer at that. Not only does Paul Hume proves them wrong, he shows Verdi in being an essential figure in the unification, liberation, and sovereignty of Italy.

Works Cited

Lentines Music Inc.. Essential Dictionary of Music. 2nd ed. : Alfred Publishiing Co., Inc., 1976.

"Achievements." Charlie "Yardbird" Parker. 13 Nov 2004 http://www.cmgww.com/music/parker/about/achievements.html.

"John Coltrane." John Coltrane. Jazzone Online. 12 Nov 2004 http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Square/9063/index/coltrane.html.

The Best Classical Album n the World...Ever!. EMI Classical, . 1995. CD-ROM. 13 Nov 2004 <>.

Hume, Paul. Verdi: the Man and his Music. 1st ed. : E.P. Dutton, 1977.

Robert, Sherman. Ther Complete Idiot's Guide to Classical Music. New York: Alpha Books, 1977.

*The author would also like to site the uses of Ben Franklin's epitaph format and George Ella Lyon's "Where I'm From" poem format and give those creators his thanks.