Dialogue Space | Zai Circle

ZAI CIRCLE DIALOGUE SPACE MISSION

Welcome to the Zai Circle Dialogue Space! As many of you know, in 2010 I was invited to begin a PHD study program at Xiamen University, in Xiamen, China, with the Zai Circle Project. The purpose of the PHD Study is to really look deeper into Zai Circle-it’s mission, intent, outcomes, directions, and ideas, and of course to continue to engage in musical conversations and collaborations with Chinese traditional (and modern), musicians and other musicians that I meet along the way. Part of the looking deeper has made me realize that I need a place to post ideas, and to get feedback and and engage in discussions. The Zai Circle Dialogue Space is that place. A place I can outline and explore new ideas, new directions, and new projects from full scale visions to passing thoughts. From poetry to prose. From musings to in depth topics. Most of all, the Zai Circle Dialogue Space is designed to open a channel for you to post feedback, comments, and ideas, that relate to each entry and each topic. It is a way for me to stay a bit more connected to my PHD mentors in China without being in China physically for as long as I was last year. It is a way for me to include all of you into some of my process and a way for us to have a written conversation and to keep this overall dialogue about collaboration, healing, peace, the spirit of music, and creating alive and active. I hope you join in the discussion and present your ideas and criticisms and observations. I hope the discussions go far beyond what I post and that you (no matter where you are in the world), contribute, engage, challenge each other (and me), and help Zai Circle to grow, change, and evolve. I hope this is a listening place and a speaking place- because in the end- without listening and collaboration we end up in a pretty empty place in the world. The Zai Circle Dialogue Space is a result of much of what I am exploring as a PHD candidate. It is also a place that I can reach beyond the PHD and begin to make these dreams, visions, and thoughts become real.

KeLan November, 21, 2011

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Topic: What it Takes to Play

Posted by: admin

Date: 5.10.12

Time: 8:37pm

I wrote this list of words that I need to learn in Chinese to communicate a bit better with Chinese players or to simply put on a concert in China. The list was written in no order other than how the words came to my mind. It will take some real work to get all these words down in spoken and written form AND be able to use them! Amazing what we take for granted in our native languages. After I started to work on the list with my Chinese teacher, I realized how difficult it will be to learn and be able to use all of these words. It was also quite challenging to explain (in English), how I need to use these words to her-someone who is not a musician-so that we could get the correct usage, translation and character.

The poem that follows the list is what came next. It is a poem about Music, Dreams, Realities and Logistics and humbles me to think of all the things that need to go into one night of music and also makes me realize how precious those few moments of playing are when none of this matters simply because Music in all its splendor-takes care of all of this.

improvise,melody,harmony,rhythm,form,
structure,tuning,pitch,start,end,1st,2nd,3rd,
4th,5th,6th,interval,sound,sound,check,
volume,level,conversation,dialogue,compassion,nature
direction,call and response,key,tonal center,flow,
flowing,interconnected,travel,tour,touring,
musicians,musician,manager,artist,artist manager,
agent,promoter,expenses,travel expenses,equipment,
audience,poetry,spoken word,balance,meaningful,meaning,
peace,healing,slow,intimate,collaboration,microphone,
amplifier,speaker,sound engineer,color,serious,instrument,
string,acoustic,bridge (as in part of instrument),
technique,communicate,communication,
speaking musically,concert hall,club,stage,lights,
mix,mixer,mixing,blend,blending,extension cord,
power,strip,current/voltage,shipping,fragile,
openness,transparent,feeling (music),expression,
accent,chamber group,trio,duo,quartet,quintet,
circle,musical,experiment,soft,quiet,loud,play
quieter,music is too loud,music is too soft
dynamics,expression,elevator,stairs,set up,
stage set up,payment,benefit,invitation,
new sound,new idea,idea
transportation,car,truck,closed truck,heavy,carry.

What it Takes to Play

WE
improvise and search for
melody
harmony
rhythm.
building
form
structure
with fine tuning and crystalline pitch.

WE
start and end.
You go
1st -then you
2nd-and me
3rd
WE outline
4th 5th and 6th
interval
to create
SOUND

Sound Check now
Tweak our volume
compress our level
to enhance
deep
conversation, rich
dialogue filled with
compassion.

nature.

direction
call and response
key
tonal center
flow
flowing
interconnected
travel
tour
touring
musicians

And I dream

musician. manager. artist. artist manager. agent promoter.

expenses, travel expenses, equipment, audience
all these things just to create
poetry

Right now- I do it all alone.

Spoken word finds
balance.
Meaningful
meaning finds
peace.
healing
slow through
intimate
collaboration.

Microphone
sings.
Amplifier
speaks.
Speaker
hears.

sound engineer
listens to
the color.

Serious I hope. Our
instrument
string
acoustic
bridge
of technique.

WE communicate.
WE ARE
communication.

Speaking musically in the concert hall
but not a club.

stage
lights
mix sound and space.
who is the a mixer in the house?

mixing sounds and culture we
blend, blending.

Do you have:
extension cord
power strip

Watch OUT
appropriate current/voltage or....
BANG! An hour passes as we find someone to reset
the breaker.

shipping
fragile
openness

transparent
feeling of
expression

accent
our chamber group
A trio
A duo
A quartet
A quintet

we are
A Circle.
A musical
experiment.
soft
quiet
loud

play quieter I say
music is too loud
music is too soft to ignore
dynamics of
expression.

NO elevator
Just stairs
set up
the circle of our stage set up mirrors me

Do we see payment
or benefit
from an invitation
searching for a new sound
new idea
I have an idea.
I have a dream.

the night ends.
now transportation
car
truck
closed truck
heavy
carry.

As I reflect on the beauty made
and dream of the next time
we all play.

Zai Circle Dialogue Space

ZAI CIRCLE DIALOGUE SPACE MISSION

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