Robert Fripp's Diary

Monasterio Nuestra Senora De Los

07.07

Monasterio Nuestra Senora De Los Angeles (Monjas Dominicas), Sant Cugat, Spain.

The faithful have begun arriving for the morning service…

11.39  A bluer sky than yesterday…

At breakfast: The Happy Goat caramel spread. This is the Mexican equivalent of dulce de leche, an Argentinean favourite of mine, but made from goat’s milk rather than juice of the cow. The Happy Goat bottle has the picture of a happy goat, reminiscent of the Happy Cow face on Bel cheeses – this led to comments on the face that launched a thousand small cheeses.

A questioner: GC courses: what is the balance between solemnity & frivolity?

Solemnity is a public expression of grief, such as the funeral of a national hero. GC has had no public burials of GC Heroes, so solemnity is not part of my life in GC.

Serious is where there is something of value, worthy of respect, but this is not to be confused with Guitar Craft Face. One of the Team, who has been practising GC Face for some months, was asked to stand and give a demonstration. His demonstration was not demanding of him, and most convincing.

Frivolity: despite the injunction humour is not permitted, jokes were invited. None were presented.

The quick answer: the balance depends upon the situation, determining conditions & what is necessary in the moment; that is, honouring the injunction act always in accordance with time, place & person.

After breakfast: a meeting with Dr. Mike ranging over various topics, including the possibilities available in state-provided education; architecture & design seemingly without regard for function & use of space by those who work/live within it; the vitality within GC AAD Courses.

T’ai chi at 09.15.

House of Guitars meeting at 10.00, continuing with motifs presented last evening.

Personal meetings continued at 11.00.

17.55 At lunch, an interesting performance. And it was acknowledged that the Spirit of Nunez continues to stalk us in the halls & corridors of Sant Cugat.

An after-lunch showing of a bass part to two of the Team; a visit to The LCG5, continuing well.

Tea at 16.00. A question about relaxing the eyes. The sequence revisited.

The question: when picking, the wrist is released; is the thumb released too? Answer: yes & no.

At 16.45, a visit to The AAD Quartet, practising in the ballroom. The question: how to play as one? A very good question. Possible answers:

Visualize all the members of the group;

To think as one;

To feel with the same heart;

To adopt the same technical style:

eg        Venezuelan wrist;

            Spanish hand;

            English mouth;

            Polish grip.

To separate the parts, and then reconstitute them;

eg        circulating the individual notes, rather than playing in unison.

To listen to each other:

eg        standing behind the chairs, looking outwards;

            ie away from each other.

This had a dramatic effect on the executancy of the piece under consideration.

Clearly, a life can be devoted to answering this in practice.

20.54  A performance at dinner that was not enjoyed by all the players. A suggestion from one of them to develop a new piece, from elements already available in 6/8, in 4/4: Go To Africa! Was the suggestion. Anyone who feels drawn to this is invited to the ballroom at 22.00, following the Theme Meeting with Dr. Mike at 21.00.

The Day so far…

22.10  The Day continues…