Robert Fripp's Diary

DGM HQ A local accent

08.56

DGM HQ.

A local accent plus laughter coming through the wall at 08.46. A grey day along the valley.

11.14  Mr. Stormy began his day in DGM HQ Reception I…

II…

… prior to moving onto another aspect of the Stormy multi-functionality skill-set in SoundWorld II. Board recordings of the recent Crim Celebrating are now coming down through the ceiling from Soundworld II.

Addressing the pile of stuff that built up during my absence from the desk. A wonderment among the pile…

… a fabbo present sent from Holland…

…  the 1926 volume of Cathedrals published by the Great Western Railway, including several of those visited on the Churchscapes tour of 2006. Worcester Cathedral…

Kitchen Conversations with David, discussing various interests & points of concern.

I have declined to grant a licence through UMG for a film, given non-payment by UMG / BMG of US publishing going back 14 years.

17.12  Reflecting on KC Celebrating. The magic was in the event/s, the electricity in the air; not in the recording / representation of the event.

Robert Christgau wrote, in a Frippertronics review, of his visit to the first Kitchen show in March 1978: you had to be there. Wow! That’s an insight into live performance: you have to be there. Not the same as listening to a record, then.

There are some recordings of live performance that present the music more effectively than it appeared in the live event. Where, for example, the audience missed what was happening, and maybe the musician/s as well; where the acoustics sucked; where the soundman fell asleep on the board; and some shows are remarkable, because of the audience – the audience is the performance – such as Mexico City, the final performance of KC in 2003.

For this Celebrating, you had to be there.

23.12  Evening listening: Chopin.