Jonathan Piper » Miscellany

Tuba recital!

Jonathan — Sun, 29 May 2011 03:53:14 +0000

This past Thursday, May 26th, I gave my first recital since my senior recital at UCLA – 6 years ago. This was a very significant moment for me. It’s been a struggle for quite literally the last 6 years to find a satisfying balance between performance and scholarship. And, as I’ve been rather unhappy with scholarship of late, this recital provided the perfect way to both find my way back to playing and feel content as a musician.

The recital program consisted of 5 all-new pieces for tuba:

SVPER-ANGRY DEATH-BLAST ASSAVLT COVNTDOWN III
by Francis Roberts

Wouldn’t Need You
by Nicholas Deyoe
for tuba and loop pedal

The Sedge Warbler, or The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha
by Carolyn Chen
for tuba, tape, and projection

Jejunum Pummeller
by Clinton McCallum
for tuba, electronics, and drum machine

Crapiccio
by Brian Griffeath-Loeb

All 5 pieces were incredibly fun and rewarding to learn and perform. Crapiccio was particularly special for me. It is a re-composition of Capriccio by Penderecki, which was a big part of my senior recital.

You can play through the entire program below.

“Freeing the Voice,” reenacted by Clint McCallum

Jonathan — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 05:31:52 +0000

My good friend and co-performer Clint McCallum recently reenacted “Freeing the Voice,” originally performed by Marina Abramovic. To encourage the audience’s realization of their own voyeuristic position, the performance included rather prominent video recording and still photography. I was lucky enough to perform the role of photographer, something I’ve been rather enjoying lately.

testing mobility

jonathanmobile — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:42:41 +0000

if this works, I can officially post from my phone. Score!

More brewing, more of the same

Jonathan — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:57:28 +0000

Two new brews into the carboy on Sunday. Well, one brew and one straight ahead apple cider + yeast dealie. It’s my first time doing hard cider, so I really have no idea what to expect. I had initially wanted to make a hard ponche, since this’ll be ready right around Xmas and all and it would actually involve some work and creativity, but Jacky specifically requested a simple fruit cider. And since she’s coming back after a 3 month research trip, I figured I’d indulge her. Just this once.

Also brewed up BaconBeer mkII. This one is just simply bacon. And more bacon. None of that fruit crap that got in the way with the first batch. To start: I took Bill’s advice and soaked the bacon (2 lbs this time) in the brew water for a few hours. This gave the water a simultaneously pleasant and disconcerting smell. Then I removed and dried the bacon. Once it was ready, I fried it up, making sure to collect everything that came out of the pan. I then added the bacon grease to the water and began the boil. Then went the grain bag, into which I put not only grain but also cooked bacon. This then soaked in the hot water for approximately 30 minutes. At the end of the brew, the wort had an aroma of cereal grain and bacon, which, let’s face it, is a pretty awesome combination. The carboy is currently extremely active, again with the characteristic fatty layer up top. I hopeful for this one.

Today I submitted my petitions to fully satisfy all coursework requirements. This means, assuming they’re accepted, that I’m all ready to qualify in January. Speaking of which, time to get back to writing. FOREVER.

Daily tweets, 2009-04-07 edition

Jonathan — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:27:00 +0000

@ladolcevitamin congrats on loans! awesome! in reply to ladolcevitamin #

Daily tweets, 2009-04-01 edition

Jonathan — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:27:00 +0000

Rode 37 miles in 3 hours and felt good. Good ride. First time in a few weeks, so not great. Got a good amount of lactic burn on the wa … #

Daily tweets, 2009-03-30 edition

Jonathan — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:00:00 +0000

sooo muuuch huuummuuus. #

Heading into Spring quarter

Jonathan — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 05:25:22 +0000

Spring quarter begins tomorrow at UCSD. It’ll be a very interesting quarter, I think. I’m taking Nancy Guy’s “Adoring Performers,” a seminar addressing questions of fandom, an independent study with Anthony Burr to prepare for qualifying exams in the fall, and possibly Carol Padden’s “Ethnographic Methods.” I need another seminar, and that one seems most applicable. As for TAing, I’ve got Music of Africa (deer-in-headlights, here we come) and a small assignment for the third quarter of Music History. All in all it should be satisfying.

Also this quarter is the IASPM conference, where I’ll be giving a paper on mixtape sites and the re-construction of musical materiality.

As for performances, Aquapuke has at least two coming up: one on the UCSD Spring Festival and one on the NEW WEIRD SAN DIEGO METAL FESTIVAL. We also might have another performance at Technomania Circus soon. We’re working on two pieces right now: the Industrial Transsexual, based on the life of Kim Petras, the world’s youngest (officially/legally) transsexual who, through the process of changing genders also became a pop star; and a heretofore unnamed sci-fi epic about a young man’s quest to secure a stockpile of his galaxy’s most precious resource.

Beyond that, Ian’s imperial stout, brewed just this past Friday, is shaping up and will be ready by the end of the quarter. There are a lot of miles to be biked, and finally my school schedule will permit riding almost every day. Lots of good food will be made, and then of course apartment hunting starts at the end of May. Exciting times!

Daily tweets, 2009-03-23 edition

Jonathan — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:00:00 +0000

@ladolcevitamin go go go! how’d the paper turn out? in reply to ladolcevitamin #
library -> bevmo -> pizza port -> brentmeistergeneral’s #

Daily tweets, 2009-03-22 edition

Jonathan — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:00:00 +0000

oh how i’ve missed this ♫ http://blip.fm/~38wns #
anyone want to chat about favtape/muxtape/mixtape.me? #