Jots and Tittles

But this time, I found -exactly- what I was looking for.  It can be found here - the entire soundtrack, sans sound effects and words (with one minor exception, but that is acceptable).  I found it!  The whole thing!

This, my friends, is why persistence is excellent.

However, now I'm torn.  This is the first time it has snowed really hard since I've been in the Springs (well it also snowed a lot over Thanksgiving but not like this), and traditionally I want to be listening to the Nutcracker right now.  But... I want to listen to North and South!  I'll probably be bouncing between the two all day.  Although, we're out of milk, so maybe when I brave the cold to go to the store I'll put in the Nutcracker and get both.  Yay. ^.^

-Jaya-

For those of you who are not aware of this fact, back in my high school days I was a clarinet player in my high school band.  Yes, we marched, but we were a concert band at heart, and we played some fantastic songs before our dear director Mr. Worth left.  (We also played some fantastic songs after he left, but unfortunately we did not play them nearly as well nor did we play nearly as many.)  But among the many songs that we played, there is one that stands out.  Composed by Steven Reineke, is called "Pilatus: Mountain of Dragons" and can be found here to listen or download.

I wish I remembered the whole story behind this song, because it adds so much to its appeal.  Unfortunately, attempts to find it online have also been unsuccessful (not that I mean to imply it cannot be found online, just that I failed to find it).  So, as far as I can remember, it is about some adventurers who are climbing Mt. Pilatus and run across a dragon.  The dragon kills one and defeats the other, who begs for mercy.  The dragon grants it, restoring life to the one he killed (don't remember how, sadly) and they go on their way. 

At any rate.  I have never played anything which was more fun.  Pirates of the Caribbean was close (or would have been had we not sucked so much at it), Vesuvius was closer (but the song just isn't half as thrilling), but nothing - NOTHING - can compare with the thrill of playing this song.  I don't think I ever practiced anything harder than I did this song.  Partly because it was hard, and partly because it was so good that I couldn't stop playing it!  Even the parts that I didn't have with me, I knew so well I could sing them in my head as I played.  It was so much fun!  The moments where it speeds up, the moments when it's soft and delicate, the moments when it's mournful... all are simply fantastic.  I can't even begin to express just how much I love this song.  When the clarinets start climbing back out of the dark hole that comes when the dragon has killed the adventurer, I can't help moving as though I'm playing again.  I half want to drive back to Brighton, pick up my clarinet, and start fingering along.  I probably don't remember enough of the fingerings to do it, but what the hey.  As it is, I'm very glad my roommate didn't walk in when I first found this song, because she would have found me directing along as though my heart would burst and it probably looked like I was flailing wildly in my chair.  I can't help it.  I can't sit still when I listen to this song.  I couldn't even sit still when playing it either - it was one of the few songs that got me moving as a clarinetist ought to do while playing.  

I wish I could convey to you everything that makes this song awesome.  But, I cannot.  There are some things about which words fall far short, even for me, and this is one of them.  Go listen to it.  Maybe you'll hear what I mean.  

-Jaya-

I have been searching/begging for this soundtrack ever since I saw the movie North and South.  Not the Patrick Swayze ridiculousness about the civil war, but the BBC adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's novel, North and South.  Take a listen to the music, and you'll see why I fell in love with it instantly. (For those who don't have 37 minutes to listen to the whole thing, I suggest Episode 3's main title and/or 38: N&S Harp - both are lovely and give a decent sampling of the music as a whole.  Careful - these two tracks do not contain spoilers for the film, but others do and some of the track names also contain spoilers.)   Unfortunately, the group responsible for it has not released it and has no plans to do so, even though I can almost guarantee they'd make an absolute KILLING with it because, even if you don't like the movie, the music has such passion and movement that it can hardly fail to give some enjoyment.  Unfortunately, the tracks at this website are simply lifted straight from the movie, with the sound effects and voices still intact, which detracts from the movie somewhat.  But it's worth it just to be able to listen to the music.  I can't even begin to express how thrilled I was to have found this.  So I thought I would share.  Who knows, maybe the folks at Bucks Music Group will find this blog, realize that they would be able to make money on the soundtrack (hey, I'd pay handsomely for it!), and release it.  Not likely, but a girl can dream, right?

In other news, my NaNoWriMo word count is up over 72,000, but I still hate the story and am sorely tempted to paste in my Systematic Theology final, some papers from Isaiah, my notes from Gospels, and call it good.  I technically wrote it all in November, anyway.  That would get me up over 80k and I wouldn't have to mess with the stupid thing anymore.  I have a character who is a pastor, so I could integrate it with the story. Or I could just skip the boring part, write the ending, and see what happens.  Who knows, maybe it would be good for the story.

In other other news, still no luck on the job front, although some people from Fuller are asking me about possibly cat-sitting for them over Christmas so I may do that.  Of course, it would mean I wouldn't get to go home except for Christmas day, but we'll see what Mom and Dad have to say about that.

In other other other news - and yes, that's getting ridiculous, and yes, I'll stop - school is starting to wind down.  The assignment I thought would be due on Christmas eve was in fact due today (no worries, I discovered my mistake in plenty of time and got it in ok) so it looks like my last assignment is due December 12, and after that I'm done.  Hooray.  I will miss Isaiah, and some parts of Systematic Theology, but for the most part, I'm ready for it to be done.  Hard to believe that my first quarter is almost over.  Though, I still have a lot of work left to do before that hits, so I can't get too complacent.  Speaking of - if anybody has some good, non-femininst resources about the use of feminine imagery in the book of Isaiah, I'd be much obliged if you would point me in their general direction.   I'm very excited about my paper for that class, because I'm writing on the feminine imagery in Isaiah and not saying a single word about feminism.  It will be glorious... if a bit difficult.  But, needless to say, it's a bit difficut to find resources for that sort of thing, and I'd be willing to search for any resources you might think I'd find useful.

And, as the saying goes, that's all, folks!  More next time, whenever that will be.

-Jaya-

P.S. YES, Mr. Thornton, I'm coming home with you!  If you'll have me! ;D

I know, I know: do your freaking homework, Jaina.  But... I'm not gonna.  Not right now.  Right now I'm going to take (another) break.

You should know the drill by now--iPod on shuffle, write down the songs, no cheating.  Make with the magic.

How does the world see you?
Gilderoy Lockhart (Chamber of Secrets Soundtrack) - John Williams (Greeeeeaaaaaat.  That's a promising start.)

Will I have a happy life?
James K. Polk - They Might Be Giants (did he have a happy life? I don't know...)

What do my friends really think of me?
I Started a Joke - Bee Gees (I have WAY too much Bee Gees on my iPod.  Seriously.)

How can I make myself happy?
Carol of the Birds - Mannheim Steamroller (Um, singing like a bird? Right on!)

Will I ever have children?
I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred (Woudn't that imply that I'll have lots of children?  Or maybe it would ruin my figure to have kids... you know... that figure that I don't have?)

What is some good advice for me?
Pretty Paper - Roy Orbison (I concur, I really should be working on my paper and making it pretty.)

How will I be remembered?
Little Drummer Boy - Perry Como (so either I'll be a famous percussionist or give everything I have to Jesus, even though it's not much.  Needless to say, I prefer option B.)

What is My Current Theme Song?
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - Josh Groban and Lili Hayden (YAY! That makes me so happy!)

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
Prologue - Loreena McKennitt (well... as dearly as I love that song... WTF?)

What song will play at my funeral?
Big Rock Candy Mountain - Harry McLintock (Once again, WTF?)

What type of men do I like?
Shark - Weird Al Yankovic (so... I like men who are aggressive and want to bite my head off at the slightest provocation--but they can swim well.  Howsabout no?)

Who do I love?
Working My Way Back to You - The Four Tops (I finally get a normal song and it makes NO SENSE. Oi.)

Am I going to get married?
Don't Stop the Love - 98 Degrees (so, is that a yes or a no?)

Who loves me?
Dog Eat Dog - Weird Al Yankovic (nobody?)

Who will I marry?
It's True - Backstreet Boys (That doesn't answer ANYTHING!)

My summer love forecast:
Sweet Afton - Nickel Creek (I... don't have a clue what that song is... but upon listening to it, I kind of like it...)

What will tomorrow bring?
Wonkavator/End Title (Pure Imagination) - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (cool! I get a ride in the Wonkavator!)

What will be the title when I repost this?
O Fortuna [Carmina Burana] - Carl Orff (riiiiiiiiiiight...)

I love these things!  I don't know why, but they make me smile.  Not that it takes much to make me smile, but... you know.

Music survey.
Put iTunes (or your music player of choice) on shuffle and write the songs down in the order of the questions and don't cheat if it doesn't make sense.


IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Thunder Cats - Theme (riiiiiiiiight... this isn't a very promising beginning)

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Isle au Haut - Dan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg (well all right, I don't know that I'm that peaceful but whatever)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
The Taming of Smeagol - Howard Shore (um... wtf?)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Dream a Little Dream of Me - The Mamas and the Papas (all right, that one works.)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Betrayal at Bespin - London Symphony Orchestra (wait, you mean my whole life's purpose is to betray my closest friends to the spawn of all evil?  NO!)

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Lindyhop - Big Band (right on, I like that song... not so much for a motto, but whatever)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Scotland the Brave - Celtic Pipes (yay, I'm brave! and Scottish! ...o.O)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
Party at the Leper Colony - Weird Al Yankovic (um, last I checked, my parents weren't lepers.)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Yes I Will - Backstreet Boys (yeah, well, I suppose that's true in a very twisted sort of sense)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS?
Prologue to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - John Williams (um, sure. why not. >.>)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Shut Me Out - Kutless (I don't mind putting up with you and all the things you say.  Right on. >.>)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
The Phantom of the Opera - Andrew Lloyd Weber (so there's a hot creepy man in a mask and flowy cape stalking me. Sweet.)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Away in a Manger - St. James Harp Quartet (so... I wanna be Jesus? Well, okay!)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Stand Out - A Goofy Movie (in a  weird kind of way, I really like it.)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Treason - Kutless (um, that could be bad)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
You're A God - Vertical Horizon (as much as I like this song, I sure hope this isn't the FIRST dance! Lame!)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Arrival on Dagobah - John Williams (we're getting a lot of Empire, here... and does that mean I get to go to Dagobah when I die?  Because, as cool as that would be, I think I'd prefer heaven.  Or at least Corellia!)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Disciples of Babylon - Dragonforce (riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight...)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Lift High the Cross - Steven Anderson (what? NO! Jesus is good, not scary!  LAME)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Matchbox - The Beatles (um, sure.... >.>)

WHAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR FUTURE?
The Phantom of the Opera (Punk Remix) - Punk Covers (well, I suppose if it's my life story, it makes sense that It'd come to mind when I think about my future.)

WHAT SONG WILL BE THE SUBJECT WHEN YOU REPOST THIS ?
Time of the Season - The Byrds