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Wednesday, 13 August 2008

  • Currently Listening
    On a Clear Night
    By Missy Higgins
    Where I Stood
    see related

    End of Summer 0Great

    Somehow four months has passed
    Somehow these four months have changed me
    And somehow these four months achieved nothing for me at the same time

    I had a great summer. I got to take trips to Italy, Austria, Cancun, Chattanooga, Memphis, and Nashville. I got to see the world, make beautiful music in beautiful places, and see my idol compress ivories like I've dreamed of seeing for the past five years. There really was something magical seeing the person who inspired me to open back up my piano and turned something i hated into a passion that drives my life and that I'm making a career out of now. I wrote a lot of music this summer myself, both classical and pop. I couldn't be happier that a single person could change my life, and that i got to see him in action this past thursday night.

    I've learned a lot of about love, and where i'm at with my life and my feelings. Some of it has been good, some of it has been bad and other lessons had to be learned at the expense of hurting others. But thankfully all of it has been productive, so in that i'd like to think i've learned something from this summer. As Missy Higgins says, "I thought love was black and white" but i know for sure that now it is not, not for everyone. Love has been such a huge theme and subject for me this summer. Both with myself, and also within each and every one of my friends and family. It has taken on such prominence, and i still lack some hope in the subject/verb/adjective itself, but i think i still have some. But maybe not.

    I've read a lot of great books this summer. The best one would be "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" by Milan Kundera. This book spoke so many words to me, and put into words so many feelings i've never been able to describe. I highly recommend it to you, its worth the read. As i leave, i would like to leave anybody who reads this a quote from the book, something that i've never agreed with more in my life.

    Here is to you Summer 2008. Thanks for great afternoons, depressing nights, great memories, good books, better music, and the best friends and siblings one could ask for.

    Here is to you

    Joshua

    P.S. I'm addicted to Grey's Anatomy now, and i just felt like admitting it to the world, i already feel better. Season 3 marathon starts this friday if anybody cares to join

    "While people are fairly young and the musical composition of their lives is still in its opening bars,
    They can go about writing it together and exchange
    If they meet when they are older,
    Like Franz and Sabina, their musical compositions are more or less complete,
    And every motif, every object, every word means something different to each of them."


Wednesday, 09 July 2008

  • Summer Pt. II

     Dear Friends,

           So, another summer blog entry. I really had meant to blog a little bit more this summer, but alas, things don't always plan out the way we want them to. I feel like if i've learned one single thing so far this summer, that is easily it. So many things that i thought i was finished with, and so many things i thought i could never be done with have both been completely reversed. And, it actually is kinda upsetting. Some things i really did wish had worked out the way i saw them working out. But as hard as i tried to make them, i guess it just wasn't right. And as hard as it is to accept that, i have. I am at peace with myself right now, which is good. I am content...because i have to be, and because i know that this is where i'm supposed to be in my life right now. Thats pretty much all i understand, but i'm content with just knowing that right now.

        I really am missing Nashville though. I miss my friends, i miss music classes, i miss being independent. I think i honestly might be more excited about going back to school this fall then i was going into it last year. I just cant wait to be back amongst friends. So for those of you who i go to school with and who are reading this, i miss you, and i look forward to good times in the fall.

         Jack's Mannequin has a new album coming out in September, and i couldn't be happier. I'm actually getting to go see them in Memphis on August 7th, and i'm really excited. Andrew McMahon is really solely responsible for my passion and love for piano music to this day. So i can't wait to actually see him and hopefully meet him in person. I digress, his new album has a song he's been playing on warped tour a lot this summer called "Swim" and i just can not stop listening to it. It really is perfect i feel for where i'm at in my life right now, so i leave you with a link to the song and a few sections of the lyrics that are really resonating with me right now. Go look at my Europe pictures on Facebook too if you're bored, it was a good time.

    Joshua

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=sZKlUIku-Oo&feature=related

    You gotta swim
    Swim for your life
    Swim for the music
    That saves you
    When you're not so sure you'll survive
    You gotta swim
    Swim when it hurts
    The whole world is watching
    You haven't come this far
    To fall off the earth
    The currents will pull you
    Away from your love
    Just keep your head above
    I found a tidal wave
    Begging to tear down the door
    Memories like bullets
    They fired at me from a gun
    Cracking me open now
    I swim to brighter days
    In spite of the absense of sun
    Choking on salt water
    I'm not giving in
    I'm not giving in

    Swim
    You gotta swim
    Swim in the dark
    There's an ocean to drift in
    Feel the tide shifting away from this war
    Yeah you gotta swim
    Don't let yourself sink
    Just follow the horizon
    I promise it's not as far as you think
    Currents will drag us away from our love
    Just keep your head above
    Just keep your head above
    Swim

Sunday, 04 May 2008

  • Currently Reading
    Atonement
    By Ian McEwan
    see related

    Home In the Summer

         It is amazing to me that i have finished my senior year. It seems such a short time ago that i was sitting in my room typing my farewell blog back in August getting ready to start my Freshman year. I had such an amazing first year. I learned so much, both academically but especially musically. I learned more this year about music and how it works then i have in my whole life, and i am more passionate about it then i was before. I decided for sure on my major, and added one (music composition/theory) and really grew in my knowledge both of works and composers. I love classical music (such a nerd...). I also ended up with a 4.0 for the whole year, and i'm really proud of that seeing as i worked my butt off and didn't go out many nights, so i'm glad that paid off (dont count on that being a trend though)
         Not only was it a great academic year, but i also made a lot of great friendships. I have a solid group of guys that are a lot of fun to hang out with, and i definitely have some awful/great memories with them so far as well. I look forward to more ridiculous times this fall with those guys. John and i got along great as roomies too, so i really am glad things worked out with him. I have an amazing accompanist/friend in Anna Horne, and i can't wait to continue our relationship both as performers and friends. And of course as some of you know i have a wonderful girlfriend too, kelsey. She's great and i've really enjoyed getting to know her and spend time with her. So, i've mad a lot of great relationships so far in college too. Glad that things sifted out so well for me.
         And now i'm home for four months. I dont go back until August 25th. This summer i dont have much planned. Monday i'm going job hunting, i need to find one really bad and need to start making some money. I'm going to Italy and Austria in June with my choir and i'm really excited about that, it's going to be a great time for sure. Later in July i'm going to Cancun with my dad and his family as well. Besides that though i just plan on sleeping, catching up with friends, and listening to and writing a lot of music. I'm excited about this relaxing summer
        So, call me up! Let's hang out and talk about what has happened this past year and how we've changed. I look forward to it. I also plan to write in this some, not sure what yet. For now, just make sure you go to Eric Whitacre's blog and listen to his new song The Stolen Child. It is amazing

    Call me up and lets catch up, seriously

    Joshua

Tuesday, 18 March 2008

  • Spring Break, 0 Great

    Spring Break is here! And this break is welcomed for sure
    It's really great spending this time in Nashville, being Brothers again with Richard
    And not having to do school! Besides my first week last semester,
    I feel like i haven't been able to really enjoy Nashville
    So this has been a great break so far hanging out with Richard and the ol familiar gang i used to visit so often

    I sat on Richards roof today and read Madame Bovary and smoked a pipe while the wind blew
    And it was really nice, mainly due to the weather
    Richard said it was very "Romantic Period" esque
    I want to do  things like that when i'm in Europe this summer
    I'm looking forward to the alleyways in Venice

    So besides more late nights, great conversation, and the mature company i'm really starting to enjoy
    (Both during spring break, but also at school)
    I will be in Huntsville for a few days
    (call if you would like to hang out)
    And then off to Washington DC for a few days with me mum
    (And hopefully visiting Lauren at Georgetown)

    I hope everybody is having a relaxing break and enjoying the time off.
    It's crazy for me to think that when we hit the books again monday,
    I'll only be a month away from finishing my Freshman year of college
    (And also, Inter mural Soccer begins, The GSE is going to rock!)

    Crazy
    I miss you
    Come back soon

    Love,
    Joshua

Wednesday, 20 February 2008

  • My life, as of now

    I should be studying for my theory test i have in the morning, but i feel like procrastinating.
    Its been a while anyways since I've updated my blog.
    Things have been going really really well for me, i'm very happy.
    I feel like I'm growing, moving into a more mature, some what new person.
    And, i really like it
    I love the group of friends I'm a part of that is only growing tighter
    I especially enjoy all the new friendships i've made this semester already as well

    I finally have finished my Brass Trio (Yes, even Dr. Reed says they're finished)
    There are three movements, and I plan on adding more movements later in life probably
    I'm calling them "Snapshots" because they're quick looks at memories in the past
    I put a lot of emotion and personal reflection into them, and it was emoitionally exhausting at times
    But thats what Dr. Reed wanted, and i think the product shows the emotion because of it
    The movements are titled as follows:
    1) Conversation - a piece about three (certain) people having a conversation
    2) The Hammock - the slow movement, rocks back and forth while conversation occurs, my personal favorite. My friends found it easy to get the feeling i tried to express from this piece, and so i was really happy about that.
    3) Bicycles - Probably the most accessible of the three pieces, has a great theme. The least personal though

    I really enjoyed writing for brass. Currently some friends of mine are learning them
    And hopefully they can be performed soon in a recital
    Now i'm off to 12 Tone theory and writing, I'll be writing my particular piece on piano
    Should be fun, really weird, deep music theory that i don't get, but it'll be cool when i do understand it all

    Besides that, I'm very happy. I have a lot going for me right now,
    And whether all of it works out or not is up in the air,
    But I'm easily learning, growing, and moving forward though all of it, and i couldn't be happier
    I haven't been home since December. I miss my family, but its been nice being away

    I think thats enough ramble. I miss a lot of you guys. Call me sometime, we'll catch up.

    I love you.

one_mannequin

  • Visit one_mannequin's Xanga Site
    • Name: Joshua
    • Country: United States
    • State: Alabama
    • Metro: Huntsville
    • Birthday: 12/7/1988
    • Gender: Male
    • Member Since: 8/31/2005

About Me

  • My name is Josh Harper. I'm 18. I enjoy Music. I sing. I play piano. i write music and i call myself compression on the ivory. I like stove top stuffing, 5th avenue bars, and arizona green tea. Jacks Mannequin, Something Corporate, The Rocket Summer, and Straylight Run are some of my favorite bands. I also enjoy being a Christian and trying my best to live for God.

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