Hello world!

Just a quick note to let you know about upcoming performances of my “American Revolutions” program at Colonial Days in Provo as part of America’s Freedom Festival. Also, the new American Revolutions CD will be available at the show. Come say hello after one of the shows and get a CD. Here are the dates and times:

July 2nd at 11am and 2pm
July 3rd at 11am and 2pm
July 4th at 11:30am (due to the parade) and 2pm

Location: Colonial Days at 275 East Center St. Provo, Utah 84606

Be sure to come a little early as there is not a lot of parking in this area (especially on the 4th). There’s lots of other activities at Colonial Days as well to see and do after the show. Visit the Colonial Days website for more specifics: http://colonialdays.org/

Hope to see you there!

Carpe Diem,
Ryan

I spent all day today working on a new minus track for “The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha, one of my favorite musicals. I think the track really turned out well. This will be the closer for my American Revolutions program that I’m starting to perform next Friday at Pony Express Days in Eagle Mountain (this program is also available for other events and home concerts - hint hint).

Anyway, I sometimes wonder why a song like this never becomes tiresome. Perhaps it is because the words and music are perfectly wed. Perhaps it is because of the insistant ‘pasa doble’ rhythm. Perhaps it is the subtly inventive harmonic progression. Whatever it is, this song definitely fits in my ‘perfect songs’ category. Some songs just can’t be improved on, and never get tired in our ear (as long as they are given a good performance).

Though ‘Man of La Mancha’ is technically about a Spanish noble that goes a little off the deep end, the way the story has been adapted and the nature of the songs, Don Quixote becomes a role model rather than satiric foil for romantic chilvalry . . . it is a distinctly American take on the subject. It definately makes me think about the nature of faith and how we individually view the world.

Is it more of use to us to see the world “as it is,” or to see it as it should be? Outside of severe economic or environmental catastrophes, I believe that we create our own realities to a large extent. Which is more sane, to despair or to have hope? Perhaps the answer lies in seeing things as they are and how they could be and working to close the gap, always living ‘as if’ it is just a matter of time until the ideal is attained.

The musicals that have had the greatest impact on me are ones like Man of La Mancha that make me see both the reality, the ideal and leave me with a feeling of hope for the future. That is the power of the American musical. It does not celebrate a culture of corruption and death (as so much modern European art and productions seem to - that I’ve seen on video at least and heard tales of), but life and hope.

“The Impossible Dream” is our dream, the American dream, and despite what people might be saying, left or right, in the media about the death of that dream, it cannot die if we keep it in our hearts and do not give into despair. As long as we nurture the dream of ‘liberty and justice for all’ the dream will influence our actions and we will continue to make advances. When we give up our dreams and return to ‘reality’ - then we are in trouble.

“And the world will be better for this: that one man, scorned and covered with scars, still strove with his last ounce of courage to reach the unreachable stars.”

I just finished reading a new post on goals by Derek Sivers (founded CDBaby.com) and it is right in step with the things I have been thinking about and acting on this year. Goals are not about the mysterious and non-existant future, they are about what you can do right now, this moment. In his words,

“You have a goal you’ve been putting off. You want to do it some day. You’ve been meaning to take real action on it, but could use more motivation. Let it go. It’s a bad goal. If it was a great goal, you would have jumped into action already. You wouldn’t wait. Nothing would stop you.”

At the begining of this year I was really depressed. I get that way sometimes. I wrote a post about 2 things I’ve learned about goals this year. Then I said to myself, “What can I do right now. What can I perform right now. What will get me out and performing regularly in the very near future.” So, I chose to select and prepare a program of Sacred Art Songs and Spirituals to perform first at Easter (this program is now available to any audience at a moments notice). As soon as the music was chosen and I could rehearse it, I started compiling and arranging a second program to be performed this coming Summer, American Revolutions (also now available). I’ve managed to book at least 5 seperate engagements for the latter so far (city celebrations, concert series, home concerts).

Anyway, what’s the point? Choosing something you can and want to do right now yields results. In 2008 I was on a merry-go-round as far as time management and I ended up feeling hopeless and depressed. Right now, I feel optimistic, largely due to a change in the way I am working and setting goals.

Yes, there is a ‘big picture’ as well, but as Siver’s says, “. . . remember that the daily actions have to be exciting, too. “Speak fluent Italian” may sound nice, but “take Italian lessons an hour a day for two years” has to excite you just as much, or you’ll never stick with it.”

So, my friends, whether you be a singer, composer or fan of music: think about what you can do today, right now: What can I sing right now that will prepare me to be ready to perform in the next two months? Who can I compose a piece for right now that I know will perform it in the future? Who can I invite right now to sing in my home next month (hint hint)? What concerts can I go to this weekend? What friend have I been meaning to write to and would like to this very moment?

Life is great. Carpe Diem!!!