Thursday, February 17, 2011

Life in Adagio

Adagio: a slow musical tempo.

These last few days my life felt as if it's moving to an adagio tempo. Valentine's Day came and went. I spent most of the day studying for an exam the following day, ironically an exam on human sexuality.

My best friend from undergrad is getting married. I just got his save the date. He and his fiance look so happy together. I've known the both of them for the last 6 years or so. I was looking at their engagement pics earlier tonight, and I really like the theme they chose. And as I clicked to RSVP, there was a slot for how many guests and I would be at one. I hesitated and didn't complete it. I'll do it later I guess. Weddings have been really weird for me for the last 3-4 years.

I came across the following a month or two ago (on this site):
I couldn't have put it any better. I've been chatting with Drew off and on, as usual. Earlier tonight he said something like: "We still haven't met yet, this must be corrected soon." It seems like we're tentatively planning to meet up on a Friday in the near-ish future. Trying to catch him online is kind of like throwing a dart at a board with one eye covered, haha. Here's hoping for good things, but I'm not sure we'll progress much farther than "just friends." Hopefully I'm wrong, but I'm not sure how one could maintain a decent relationship during rotations.
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Adagio: a slow musical tempo.

Adagio for Strings by the YST Cello Choir

This is one of my favorite arrangements of this piece. It's such an expressive piece and it perfectly describes my mood these days. While Barber's Adagio for Strings has been described as one of the saddest pieces ever, I don't necessarily hear "sadness." It is, for sure, one of the most beautiful and emotive pieces I've heard with the notes painstakingly drawn out without so much as an accelerando. I hear a resignation that describes the world as it is, a kind of eternal reflection. Not necessarily sad, but it can be perceived as such.

Here's a recording of the original piece (not an original, the original as conducted by Toscanini who Barber himself requested to conduct it).

Finally, to end with a quote I found on my brother's Facebook page:
"Pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for." ~Dag Hammarskjold

10 comments:

Manu said...

Good luck meating Drew! :)

robert said...

great post.

fan of casey said...

Excellent list of things to love about someone.

I've been listening to a lot of Miyazaki anime movie soundtracks, which are surprising lush and deep when played by a full orchestra and chorus. The composer is Joe Hisaishi.

Uncutplus said...

You are not old enough to have witnessed the death of JFK. The Adagio for Strings by Barber is one of the pieces played constantly in the background between the assasination and the funeral on TV. That is why it evokes sadness for so many of us.

Anonymous said...

I like your brother's page's quote.

Anonymous said...

Isn't "Adagio" a song by Abba?

No wait... that was "Andante"... =)

Aek said...

Manu: Hehe, thanks!

robert: Thanks. :-)

fan of casey: I'm not sure if I've heard the soundtrack to that anime. But full orchestra is so amazing!

Uncutplus: Barber's Adagio was also played for 9/11 (though, I didn't realize this until recently). The history of the piece is somewhat melancholic, but it can also be described as reflective.

James: Me too. :-)

woodensarsen: Lol?

Biki Honko said...

Lovely post. I think at times all of us feel we are living life in the slow lane. We feel rather out of touch with ourselves, and others. I love your I will fall..., that is just perfect!

The song is very emotive, in a contemplative way. I've never heard it before, but really like it.

Good luck with meeting up with Drew!

J said...

This is a lovely post, ennobled by the absence of self-pity and the subtle presence of hope. Our hearts are with you Doc.

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