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Saturday 18 July 2020

Problem Solving

I have hinted in previous posts that aspects of my life which have hitherto kept me very busy have - in recent years - started to lose their attraction.
Although I bought a digital church organ in September, since lockdown I have not played it every day: I really should. Sometimes it is a major struggle to turn it on, change my shoes, and started playing.

However, I have just done an hour or more on a new piece by Stephen Burtonwood. I hope to record this for Fagus Music soon as the piece is due to be published soon.

In many ways it was not a hard piece (the first movement is more tricky) but I spent a great deal of time on the registration: that is, the selection of stops and the ways in which one changes from one choice to another. In years gone by this would often be done by hand or with some basic playing aids. These days we are blessed with pistons and general pistons.

As usual one weighs up the possibilities and tries them out. I think I have found the solution.

It struck me as I finished, that what I enjoy in life most of all is problem solving. So, when many people rave about the music church bells create (which has never interested me) I focus on the mathematical patterns. In music I like to solve problems.

I had some very cruel mathematics teachers at school: away from the subject they were fine. I passed my 'O' level but hated maths. Later on, I did an Open University degree in maths to put this ghost to rest. More problem solving rather that mere arithmetic.


Friday 17 July 2020

No emails

I broke with my normal pattern today which has been to spend time on the computer whilst I drink my post-breakfast cup of tea. I then tend to stay on the PC until coffee time (10:45) after which I get dressed. This decadent behaviour all started in lockdown.

Yesterday I looked up the weather forecast and decided I would go to Whittlesey Cemetery to take more photographs of the next area of the cemetery on my plan: I have done all the 'old section'.

I set the alarm for 07:05, got up, dressed, made a packed lunch and flask of coffee and was in the car at 08:00 for an hour's drive. I was taking photos by 09:03 and it started to get quite hot. I left at 11:00 and was home by 12:00. All in all a good morning out which I needed.

I ate my packed lunch at home and turned on the PC. No emails, no Facebook messages. I was expecting a few replies to queries I had sent out. Nada, zero, none.

People do not seem to want me unless I can do a job for them. Thus I had an email yesterday suggesting that I crack on with plans for the school play music. It was nicely phrased and not unexpected but I do not get many "How are you?" emails.

Perhaps I am just a boring person.

Thursday 16 July 2020

The novelty has worn off

When I discovered Ringing Room (RR) I was dead keen. I joined a Facebook (FB) Group on which practices were advertised and I met some nice people. I invited several as friends on Facebook.

When I gained confidence with RR, Zoom, Google Meet, Jitsi and whatever, I organised practices of my own and people turned up. However, we did not spend time on the things I wanted to ring because too many people turned up and I did not want to keep people waiting. The Accidental Ringer has mentioned this.

My next step was to organise private practices to which I only invited my FB ringing friends. This worked OK but still more than 6 turned up and I felt I was denying some a ring. There must be many private practices going on. An early one I went to was organised just like they would in a tower.

The main issue with RR is that people think they have to mute everyone because of potential feedback issues. If all ringers wear headphones this does not happen. If all are muted then one cannot say anything such as "another dodge 3 then go up", or "I'm lost!".

Further issues are poor broadband, people not really knowing a method and a poor sense of rhythm. Fine if folk want to learn a method that is good, but I would do my home work on Abel first and not turn up cold.

In other practices when many attend, people try to ring Maximus. Even plain hunt maximus is hard if 12-bell experience is lacking and, if the rhythm is affected by hesitations, then it is not enjoyable.

I have been to a practice and then into a breakout room but it hasn't been ideal.

Sadly, I seldom go into RR now and I wonder when I shall ring on a tower bell again.

If I could find the Chinese guy or gal who let Covid-19 out of the laboratory, I'd happily ring their neck.

Wednesday 8 July 2020

Maths and Music

There is a correlation between maths and music. In my teens I bashed my way through Jongen's "Toccata" pretty well. It was one of my teacher's party pieces and I sought to emulate him. (Hear him playing it here)

There is one really awkward bit, if one thinks about it too hard. The hands have been doing septulets, then the left hand changes to sextuplets and finally to quintuplets: it is at this moment when I get stuck. I have analysed the maths for the purpose of slow practice. If each beat is divided into 20, then the music below can be represented by the chart below that. Sorted eh?

Jongen "Toccata" page 5 bar 4

The above bar (first 3 beats only)