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jaala(Don't get too excited: it's just swear words, and all the same one.)
I had my final classes of the year today: MUSC 391 and MUSC 480. A third local composer visited us in Theory today. Dr. Burge seemed disappointed there weren't any questions, so I stuck my hand up at the last minute and asked about the "f-word" in the poem (as I found it on the WWW) that is not present in the musical setting. (I didn't know if we were allowed to swear in class.) "What, FUCK?" he exlaimed. "I love the word! I'm known for using 'fuck'! In fact, I set some poems specifically because they contain 'fuck'. What a GREAT QUESTION!" He indicated me to Dr. Ravenscroft, who was looking a bit pained: "Look at that! Fantastic research!" I was so startled at the enthusiasm of his outburst that I couldn't do anything but giggle as I felt my face flush.
He led us through the music on an overhead, having the CD paused at certain moments so he could point out a permutation of the "phone number" set, draw attention to word setting, and so on. He made a point of stopping at "to Hell with" and singing the original line (with "fuck" intact), explained that the singer of the commissioning trio requested the change because her kids would hear the piece. He added "But if you ever want to swear at your audience, this is the song to sing!" (It does contain several other milder obscenities.)
A student told me later today that it was the most amusing she'd ever seen him be. It was very funny.
* * *
Next up was MUSC 480: Opera and the Romantic Tradition. The class was very chatty. Timbits were snuck into the library and consumed. I'm glad there was so much joking going on because I would have gotten very depressed otherwise at losing both my favourite class and my favourite professor at Queen's so far. Dr. S's contract is over, as most of already knew, but (to my surprise at least) he is staying in Kingston next year because he hasn't been able to find another teaching job. (And to think that there are people with tenure in my department who are reputed to be incompetent!)
I can't remember much at all that was said in class. I brought my camera (as I've been doing in many different everyday situations for the past couple of weeks) and freaked people out at first. We discussed the exam, reviewed general course concepts and argued about the merits of operatic heroes and heroines. As I said, there was a lot of joking. I suppose the sheer volume of wit overpowered my brain. One quote I do remember:
[Dr. S deliberately shifts his upper body so he is facing the other side of the class and gives them a hopeful expectant look. Silence. Breaks into a grin, sighs, and turns back resignedly.]
Dr. S: "I always get a sore neck after this class!"
The students sitting at "my" half of the table talk more. A lot more. I'm going to miss the people in that class too. It made for interesting discussions. I'm sorry I can't see them all at the exam.[1]
[1] I write exams in a separate room at a different time because of a learning disability.
I had my final classes of the year today: MUSC 391 and MUSC 480. A third local composer visited us in Theory today. Dr. Burge seemed disappointed there weren't any questions, so I stuck my hand up at the last minute and asked about the "f-word" in the poem (as I found it on the WWW) that is not present in the musical setting. (I didn't know if we were allowed to swear in class.) "What, FUCK?" he exlaimed. "I love the word! I'm known for using 'fuck'! In fact, I set some poems specifically because they contain 'fuck'. What a GREAT QUESTION!" He indicated me to Dr. Ravenscroft, who was looking a bit pained: "Look at that! Fantastic research!" I was so startled at the enthusiasm of his outburst that I couldn't do anything but giggle as I felt my face flush.
He led us through the music on an overhead, having the CD paused at certain moments so he could point out a permutation of the "phone number" set, draw attention to word setting, and so on. He made a point of stopping at "to Hell with" and singing the original line (with "fuck" intact), explained that the singer of the commissioning trio requested the change because her kids would hear the piece. He added "But if you ever want to swear at your audience, this is the song to sing!" (It does contain several other milder obscenities.)
A student told me later today that it was the most amusing she'd ever seen him be. It was very funny.
* * *
Next up was MUSC 480: Opera and the Romantic Tradition. The class was very chatty. Timbits were snuck into the library and consumed. I'm glad there was so much joking going on because I would have gotten very depressed otherwise at losing both my favourite class and my favourite professor at Queen's so far. Dr. S's contract is over, as most of already knew, but (to my surprise at least) he is staying in Kingston next year because he hasn't been able to find another teaching job. (And to think that there are people with tenure in my department who are reputed to be incompetent!)
I can't remember much at all that was said in class. I brought my camera (as I've been doing in many different everyday situations for the past couple of weeks) and freaked people out at first. We discussed the exam, reviewed general course concepts and argued about the merits of operatic heroes and heroines. As I said, there was a lot of joking. I suppose the sheer volume of wit overpowered my brain. One quote I do remember:
[Dr. S deliberately shifts his upper body so he is facing the other side of the class and gives them a hopeful expectant look. Silence. Breaks into a grin, sighs, and turns back resignedly.]
Dr. S: "I always get a sore neck after this class!"
The students sitting at "my" half of the table talk more. A lot more. I'm going to miss the people in that class too. It made for interesting discussions. I'm sorry I can't see them all at the exam.[1]
[1] I write exams in a separate room at a different time because of a learning disability.
