08.37
Monasterio Nuestra Señora De Los Ángeles MM. Dominicas,
Mare de Deu del Roser, 2,
Sant Cugat (08174),
Barcelona.
Question asked at breakfast: Is it necessary to have a working knowledge of C major in order to circulate?
The first 4 answers – no. The fifth answer: only if you’re circulating in C major.
Q. If we’re not circulating in C major (and, by extension, if we’re not circulating music, or circulating with a musical vocabulary) what are we circulating?
Two answers: an intention, a quality.
Q. What brought our Alexander teacher off the floor last night? (This referred to last evening’s chromatic THRAK whizz circulation).
A. Movement, energy, music.
Q. Was the chromatic THRAK whizz circulation music?
Two men answered: yes.
Two women weren’t sure whether this was music or not.
One man answered: it was musical but not music.
So, it seems what was going on was a something in-between: movement & energy, and maybe / maybe not music. The in-between zone is always interesting.
The answers & comments at breakfast have changed what I was planning for Circulations. Yesterday, two Circulations came to life, and took on a life of their own to a remarkable degree. Given that at least one-third of the present course members are functionality incompetent in C major, a working knowledge of C major is no longer a requirement for participation in Circulation courses. I wonder what my Wife will make of this.
In the early days of Guitar Craft, undertakings & arisings frequently & even regularly took on a life of their own; so in these Circulations I see something new beginning. So, the question is: how do we support this new coming into the world?
Heaven & earth share the same space, so onto practicalities. Zum is performing at a festival this evening, so there is no T’ai Chi this evening. Dr. Mike is holding personal meetings; personal meetings for Alexander & myself continue. Guitar meeting at 10.00; a meeting without guitars at 11.00 to present the present state of the proposed GCIR&P. Volunteers for washing up to meet in 10 minutes.
09.09
Habit = habitual;
Habit + presence = skill;
Skill + presence + attention = craft.
Skill + presence + attention + understanding = artistry.
17.28
The Guitar Meeting at 10.00:
Addressing basic & variegated forms in the complete Circle; then in 2 & 3 groups.
Everything broke down with attempts to engage C major.
Three groups with independent whizzes.
Then three groups with determined chromatic figures.
At 11.00 a division of attention exercise, not presented before, followed by a report on the current position of the proposed GCIRP; the possibilities of an appropriate house in Bredonborough; and the relationship between the two. As of yesterday, I opted for a company-limited-by-guarantee, with three trustees: Dr. Mike, David Singleton & myself. The solicitor suggests that a period of 3 months is usual in establishing a company such as this. I will open a bank account for the Institute next week.
Then to personal meetings.
At lunch: performances by The Whizzers & Zum. No food was stolen while performers were away from the table. One good comment on the morning’s work.
Personal meetings through the afternoon. Good questions, good comments, real issues.
20.56 Personal meetings completed.
23.07 Guitar meeting at 21.45.
Basic form circulations, including basic form left – 1, an exercise in holding the form. On the outside, in an audience, this would be indistinguishable from basic form left & continuing.
Basic form left – 2.
Then to chromatics in the large Circle, and the Circle divided into 2 groups.
Finally, the Chromatic Whizzer. This has all the power of the early THRAK. In two groups, with 3 women in 3 of the 4 pole positions at the beginning & end of the 2 semi-circles; coming together in the full Circle at the end.
"When we act as we like, we may get what we want.
But not what we need."
