Happy New Year !
To you all, relax and enjoy :)
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
All Packed Up
Hi Everyone,
My things are all packed now,
and ready for me to move to Sydney (NSW Australia).
Now comes the challenging part,
as I have to save money and organise accomodation
to go to in Sydney.
Mel,
if you're wondering why I'm not relying on you for help,
it's because you used the truck to deliver the parcel to my father
and not to help me with moving my things to Sydney.
You may not realise it,
but you're using my ideas to help my father and not me.
You are using your emotional energy
to support my father, and it is not going to me.
So, go figure ??!
My things are all packed now,
and ready for me to move to Sydney (NSW Australia).
Now comes the challenging part,
as I have to save money and organise accomodation
to go to in Sydney.
Mel,
if you're wondering why I'm not relying on you for help,
it's because you used the truck to deliver the parcel to my father
and not to help me with moving my things to Sydney.
You may not realise it,
but you're using my ideas to help my father and not me.
You are using your emotional energy
to support my father, and it is not going to me.
So, go figure ??!
Friday, November 27, 2015
In Transition
Hi everyone,
It might be a while before I can put up my next post,
as I'm intransient at the moment.
I'm going through the motions of moving house,
with the view of moving from Darwin
(Northern Territory, Australia)
to Sydney (New South Wales, Australia).
But it's a slow process,
and it might take quite a few weeks to achieve.
Here's hoping :)
It might be a while before I can put up my next post,
as I'm intransient at the moment.
I'm going through the motions of moving house,
with the view of moving from Darwin
(Northern Territory, Australia)
to Sydney (New South Wales, Australia).
But it's a slow process,
and it might take quite a few weeks to achieve.
Here's hoping :)
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Saturday, November 14, 2015
What Musical Note is That?
Sounds
In nature, there are many different sounds,
which are audible, ie. can be heard by the human ear.
Notes
Some sounds are harmonic.
This means that they "reverberate", in a pleasant way to the ear.
These harmonic sounds are otherwise known as "notes".
Harmonic objects
Harmonic sounds will be obvious to anyone who owns a harmonic object -
Harmonic objects can include,
Tools - such as some saws,
which can "sing" when sawing something
- I have a tablespoon,
which produces a harmonic note when it is struck on a surface,
such as a bench top
Rocks - such as porous volcanic rock,
which can produce a harmonic note when struck by another object,
because of the increased air pockets within it
So, what are the harmonic "musical notes"?
At present, the most common way of representing the notes, is this -
This is based on an individual,
basic pattern of 12 ascending (low to high) notes -
b - means "flat"
# - means "sharp"
Notes such as -
A# and Bb are the same note,
written two different ways
These 12 notes, each with it's own distinct character,
repeat over 4 octaves (pitches), each octave (pitch) being a higher sound -
| A , A#/Bb , B , C , C#/Db , D , D#/Eb , E , F , F#/Gb , G , G#/Ab
____|_____________________________________________________________________
|
4 |
|
3 |
|
2 |
|
1 |
|
Vocal notes
If you like to sing,
you can work out what notes that you are singing,
if you have a musical instrument "tuner",
or musical instrument,
which you can use to compare with the note that you are singing.
Notes on "Tuners" and Musical Instruments
If you have a tuner,
it should show you what note is being played,
- on it - if it is manual, so that you can use that as a comparison
- close to it - if it is electronic.
If you have a musical instrument,
it's very useful, if you have a book or have done a course
on how to use the instrument.
In these ways,
you can familiarise yourself with your instrument,
and where the notes are,
so that you can use these as a comparison,
or, to know the notes that you are playing.
Identifying a musical note
In these ways,
you can identify the notes that you are singing or playing.
(c) Katherine Stuart 2015
In nature, there are many different sounds,
which are audible, ie. can be heard by the human ear.
Notes
Some sounds are harmonic.
This means that they "reverberate", in a pleasant way to the ear.
These harmonic sounds are otherwise known as "notes".
Harmonic objects
Harmonic sounds will be obvious to anyone who owns a harmonic object -
Harmonic objects can include,
Tools - such as some saws,
which can "sing" when sawing something
- I have a tablespoon,
which produces a harmonic note when it is struck on a surface,
such as a bench top
Rocks - such as porous volcanic rock,
which can produce a harmonic note when struck by another object,
because of the increased air pockets within it
So, what are the harmonic "musical notes"?
At present, the most common way of representing the notes, is this -
This is based on an individual,
basic pattern of 12 ascending (low to high) notes -
b - means "flat"
# - means "sharp"
Notes such as -
A# and Bb are the same note,
written two different ways
These 12 notes, each with it's own distinct character,
repeat over 4 octaves (pitches), each octave (pitch) being a higher sound -
| A , A#/Bb , B , C , C#/Db , D , D#/Eb , E , F , F#/Gb , G , G#/Ab
____|_____________________________________________________________________
|
4 |
|
3 |
|
2 |
|
1 |
|
Vocal notes
If you like to sing,
you can work out what notes that you are singing,
if you have a musical instrument "tuner",
or musical instrument,
which you can use to compare with the note that you are singing.
Notes on "Tuners" and Musical Instruments
If you have a tuner,
it should show you what note is being played,
- on it - if it is manual, so that you can use that as a comparison
- close to it - if it is electronic.
If you have a musical instrument,
it's very useful, if you have a book or have done a course
on how to use the instrument.
In these ways,
you can familiarise yourself with your instrument,
and where the notes are,
so that you can use these as a comparison,
or, to know the notes that you are playing.
Identifying a musical note
In these ways,
you can identify the notes that you are singing or playing.
(c) Katherine Stuart 2015
Friday, November 6, 2015
Poem - "Mary Stuart"
__________________________________________________________________
| | 
Mary Stuart
Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye.
Mary Stuart, Queen of the Scot,
Hereby challenged, is your lot,
For Celtic, you are not.
So our Queen, you cannot be,
Without that personality.
Mediterranean are you, you see.
Furthermore,
Mother of our race, is not your right,
As your crimes, have come to light,
Against your children, dark as night.
As any, true celt will know,
The duty of parent, is to show,
Kindness, so that they should grow.
Hidden, was the truth,
But 'tis time, for all to know,
In, God's court of justice,
Be it so ....
When married to your, French husband, king,
In the arms of Darnley, you were dallying.
A visitor, to the court of France,
His own plans, he did you en-trance.
Pregnant, you became,
And filled with shame,
You fled the French court, your life in tatters,
Your husband dead, having lost all that matters.
Seeking safety in the Scottish realm,
From those in France, at the helm,
Against you, and your deed.
You as Queen, they did not need.
Gave birth, you did, to twins, who knew?
It would seem, very few.
The girl, you sent that day,
By your chambermaid, far away,
To Balmoral, for other ends.
Lightning and thunder. Frightening portents.
And the boy, you took that day,
Into the garden, he was to stay.
And him you did slaughter,
Severing him from your daughter.
Beneath the statue, of the angel of mercy,
Who gazed down, on your act of insanity.
Washed away, in the rain.
Did it assauge, your pain?
Then you buried him, under a tree,
With the dagger, so no-one could see.
But it didn't end there.
Another boy you did bear,
Who met the same fate,
Because of your hate.
Mary, Mary, ghosts are real,
And one, your soul will steal.
As to your daughter, plans you had.
"She can help me kill! She can be bad!
Queen of England, I want to be too!
Killing Elizabeth, she can help me to do!"
But soon you soured, "She will not do it!
Then, her fate is sealed! She will rue it!"
And what of James? Rumour has it,
You had a thing for him, isn't it?
For these reasons, that we mourn,
The Scottish title, from you will be torn.
To you, we will no longer be subjected!
Hear you now, you are, rejected!
Katherine Stuart
|__________________________________________________________________|
(c) Katherine Stuart 2015
Friday, October 23, 2015
Poem - "A Restless Sea"
A Restless Sea
The sky is brilliant blue overhead,
A gentle breeze wafts through the trees.
The height of summer can be harsh,
But soft are the tall grass leaves.
Amassed in the field around about,
The taller heads of seeds.
Dancing delicately back and forth,
A myriad of tiny beads.
And then there is their sweet smell....
But here in the cave,
It is cool, subdued.
Plenty of time to reflect,
And dream....
How came I here?
As if carried, on the current of a restless
sea.
But see I now,
That this place is not for me.
What lies beyond, is not certain,
But kindred spirits I do see.
Welcoming and full of humour,
To these I strive for their company....
(c) Katherine Stuart 2007
Friday, October 9, 2015
Poem - "Headstone"
Headstone
For Sergei
Headstone, headstone,
Why do you weep?
What do you keep,
Buried deep?
In the darkness,
Silence gains,
Overtaking
Mortal pains.
All the while,
Terror reigns.
Lying still,
No sound remains,
Of my brother's life,
'Tis ebbing.
Valiant soul,
Cut down, just near.
Who sought to save
His sister dear,
From the crazed
And violence here.
Compassion,
Draws a tear,
In the churchyard,
Listening.
Lonely, 'tis that silence.
Time did pass,
The crazed had gone,
Wielding axes
All well worn.
Having cut a swathe,
And torn,
A rift so great,
'Tis hard to morn,
With family members
Dying.
But brother,
Know you this,
Your selfless act
I did not miss.
Staying,
As if by your side,
For two hours
'Til your life expired,
Safe, behind the headstone,
Reaching,
Out to you,
In spirit kind.
Not letting you go,
In my mind.
(c) Katherine Stuart 2015
Friday, October 2, 2015
Poem - "Chasies"
Chasies
Round and round the tree,
Vasyielyi and me,
Happy as any two kids could be.
Living in the forest,
Carefree.
Or so it seemed to be.
How was I to know,
I was only three!
Life had its moments,
Being a gypsy.
(c) Katherine Stuart 2015
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Writing a Song - Creative
So, how does one go about writing a song?
I can only speak for myself, but this is my process -
I always think of a song as a poem (rhyming or not) set to music.
You can of course just have music without words,
which then just becomes "instrumental".
And of course, you can also just sing with no musical accompaniment.
The Words
So, I started out for a long time just writing a poem now and then
when I wanted to express some feeling at the time.
But, eventhough you can put feeling into the words when you say a poem,
it still remains basically a statement.
The Melody
Then when I wrote the poem "Shimmer",
(see my blog entry, Song - "Shimmer")
the feelings seemed to transcend up into another level
and a melody to support the words came into my head bit by bit
as I developed the verses,
so that it became a song.
The Musical Instrument
I've had musical instruments before, and I never really used them much,
they just sat in my room doing nothing.
But, when I bought my ukulele,
I also bought a book on how to play it,
and eventhough I've only glanced inside it,
getting this piece of information and that,
my understanding of how to play the instrument has really taken off.
So, if you do have a musical instrument or are thinking of buying one,
I advise you to buy a book on how to play it,
eventhough you don't have to learn everything in it.
Or, undertake a course in how to play it.
Playing around with an instrument
has stimulated the flow of songs from me.
From an instrument (depending on what sort), you can find -
- The Melody The sequence of individual notes that tell the story
- A Chord The group of notes that support and include
the individual melody note
- Bass An additional sequence of supportive notes,
played in a deeper (lower) tone (notes)
What comes first ?
I've only written 3 songs so far, but with -
"Shimmer" The words came first,
then the melody
"Tintagel Shipwreck" I started with a melody,
and the words followed
"Dreamscape" The bass came first,
and then the words and melody came second
So, anything goes !
What happens after that ?
So, when you start to have a better idea of what your song is,
you should write it down, or record it in a sound recorder.
In the days when pen, paper and sound recorders were not available
it was the bard's duty to memorise all poems, stories and songs.
I think this is a specialist skill which only some people possess,
so, thankfully for the rest of us, we can record them in some way
without the danger of forgetting those elusive words and melodies.
At a later stage, I'll do a blog entry called
"Writing a Song - Technical"
on how to write down a song
in some basic formats.
Happy tinkering :)
(c) Katherine Stuart 2015
I can only speak for myself, but this is my process -
I always think of a song as a poem (rhyming or not) set to music.
You can of course just have music without words,
which then just becomes "instrumental".
And of course, you can also just sing with no musical accompaniment.
The Words
So, I started out for a long time just writing a poem now and then
when I wanted to express some feeling at the time.
But, eventhough you can put feeling into the words when you say a poem,
it still remains basically a statement.
The Melody
Then when I wrote the poem "Shimmer",
(see my blog entry, Song - "Shimmer")
the feelings seemed to transcend up into another level
and a melody to support the words came into my head bit by bit
as I developed the verses,
so that it became a song.
The Musical Instrument
I've had musical instruments before, and I never really used them much,
they just sat in my room doing nothing.
But, when I bought my ukulele,
I also bought a book on how to play it,
and eventhough I've only glanced inside it,
getting this piece of information and that,
my understanding of how to play the instrument has really taken off.
So, if you do have a musical instrument or are thinking of buying one,
I advise you to buy a book on how to play it,
eventhough you don't have to learn everything in it.
Or, undertake a course in how to play it.
Playing around with an instrument
has stimulated the flow of songs from me.
From an instrument (depending on what sort), you can find -
- The Melody The sequence of individual notes that tell the story
- A Chord The group of notes that support and include
the individual melody note
- Bass An additional sequence of supportive notes,
played in a deeper (lower) tone (notes)
What comes first ?
I've only written 3 songs so far, but with -
"Shimmer" The words came first,
then the melody
"Tintagel Shipwreck" I started with a melody,
and the words followed
"Dreamscape" The bass came first,
and then the words and melody came second
So, anything goes !
What happens after that ?
So, when you start to have a better idea of what your song is,
you should write it down, or record it in a sound recorder.
In the days when pen, paper and sound recorders were not available
it was the bard's duty to memorise all poems, stories and songs.
I think this is a specialist skill which only some people possess,
so, thankfully for the rest of us, we can record them in some way
without the danger of forgetting those elusive words and melodies.
At a later stage, I'll do a blog entry called
"Writing a Song - Technical"
on how to write down a song
in some basic formats.
Happy tinkering :)
(c) Katherine Stuart 2015
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Mad Max 4, "Mad Max: Fury Road"
On the weekend I went to see the film, Mad Max 4, "Mad Max: Fury Road".
It was action packed !
I only have good things to say about it :)
Hot Water Systems
As you can see above,
the solar hot water system that's on the roof at the house where I'm staying
is too broken to use anymore.
The glass has been broken for a long time,
but the crunch came when the tank burst a seam and water was spraying out like
a fountain.
That was three and a half months ago !
But on Friday, I was able to have a new instantaneous electric hot water system
put in, as you can see below.
It feels good to have hot showers again !
(c) Katherine Stuart 2015
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Dust haze over Darwin
over Darwin
(Northern Territory, Australia)
tonight.
This is what it is like,
all around.
(c) Katherine Stuart 2015
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Writing a Poem
So, how does one go about writing a poem?
I can only speak for myself, but this is my process -
Taking as an example, my poem "The Wave",
So, you're just going about your usual
daily business,
and then something triggers a feeling in you.
Here, I was relaxing at the beach,
pretty much doing nothing,
just watching the tide come in,
and then the way the waves splashed against
this rock started to take my attention.
The Wave It was something about the motion
of the waves splashing up and over this rock
Oh, to be a wave, continuously, that triggered a feeling in me.
Dancing on a rock,
Splashing in the air, I would say that the feeling was there inside me
Spilling o'er the sides, all the time, it's just that this "event" harmonised
Back in to the sea. with it.
At the time, I was wishing that I could dive in
(c) Katherine Stuart 2013 there and have a swim, as it was a hot day, but I
didn't have the confidence.
Okay, so I had this feeling,
and I was associating it with the image I was
seeing in front of me, of the waves splashing
over the rock.
Then I decided, to express this feeling in a
poem.
I always carry spare paper and a pen,
so I just wrote down what came in to my head.
But, I had to re-work it quite a bit,
until I was happy with the sound of the words,
and that it accurately expressed my feeling.
So, writing this down as a process, it would go something like this -
1. Go about your daily life
2. Has a feeling been triggered?
3. Is the feeling associated with an image?
4. What is the image?
5. What is the feeling associated with that image?
6. Describe that image/feeling in words
- Use short lines of words, either,
- short sentences, or,
- long sentences, broken up into shorter pieces (you can use commas)
- The lines of words can rhyme or not
- The lines of words can be arranged in groups called verses (stanzas)
which can each express individual ideas
:)
(c) Katherine Stuart 2015
I can only speak for myself, but this is my process -
Taking as an example, my poem "The Wave",
So, you're just going about your usual
daily business,
and then something triggers a feeling in you.
Here, I was relaxing at the beach,
pretty much doing nothing,
just watching the tide come in,
and then the way the waves splashed against
this rock started to take my attention.
The Wave It was something about the motion
of the waves splashing up and over this rock
Oh, to be a wave, continuously, that triggered a feeling in me.
Dancing on a rock,
Splashing in the air, I would say that the feeling was there inside me
Spilling o'er the sides, all the time, it's just that this "event" harmonised
Back in to the sea. with it.
At the time, I was wishing that I could dive in
(c) Katherine Stuart 2013 there and have a swim, as it was a hot day, but I
didn't have the confidence.
Okay, so I had this feeling,
and I was associating it with the image I was
seeing in front of me, of the waves splashing
over the rock.
Then I decided, to express this feeling in a
poem.
I always carry spare paper and a pen,
so I just wrote down what came in to my head.
But, I had to re-work it quite a bit,
until I was happy with the sound of the words,
and that it accurately expressed my feeling.
So, writing this down as a process, it would go something like this -
1. Go about your daily life
2. Has a feeling been triggered?
3. Is the feeling associated with an image?
4. What is the image?
5. What is the feeling associated with that image?
6. Describe that image/feeling in words
- Use short lines of words, either,
- short sentences, or,
- long sentences, broken up into shorter pieces (you can use commas)
- The lines of words can rhyme or not
- The lines of words can be arranged in groups called verses (stanzas)
which can each express individual ideas
:)
(c) Katherine Stuart 2015
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Song - Tintagel Shipwreck
Tintagel Shipwreck
Let me tell you,A tale,
Of a ship,
That set sail,
To no avail,
Doomed to fail.
On the headland,
Tricked the captain,
No bearing at hand,
Was his command.
"Seek shelter,
Or we are damned!"
Pirate cove it be,
Under the shadow,
Of Tintagel he.
Relentlessly.
Wood smashing,
Rocks under sea.
Who swam ashore,
Worse than those,
Who drowned before,
Of pirate lore,
On the beach,
They were no more.
Those pirates toil,
Bringing all,
The goods to soil.
Ship of royal.
Plans to sell them,
No-one could foil.
I do say?
Standing nearby,
Out of the way,
The answer's, "Nay!"
Silent witness,
Come Judgment Day.
Silent witness,
Come Judgment Day.
Silent witness,
Come Judgment Day.
Mmm............ (last 2 lines above
x 6)
On Christmas Eve,
'Twasn't what,
You would believe.
(above 4 lines
x 2)
Mmm............ (above 4 lines
x 6)
*Note - Played on my ukulele, open strings are - B (mid C) D F G#
See blog entries "Chords on a Stringed Instrument"
"How I Tuned My Ukulele"
for details.
(c) Katherine Stuart 2015
Monday, April 6, 2015
Little Bats' vapour trails
There is a species of little bats, that most evenings on dusk, fly over the house here
(in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia), sometimes down the driveway, and also
through the front patio!
In some of the video footage that I took,
I noticed that the bats were flying so fast, that they were leaving vapour trails in the air!
Here are a couple of photos
lifted from the footage,
which have been enhanced,
to more easily show
that there are vapour trails.
These were taken on 18 March 2015.
Videos - Little Bats 1
(c) Katherine Stuart 2015
(in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia), sometimes down the driveway, and also
through the front patio!
In some of the video footage that I took,
I noticed that the bats were flying so fast, that they were leaving vapour trails in the air!
Here are a couple of photoslifted from the footage,
which have been enhanced,
to more easily show
that there are vapour trails.
These were taken on 18 March 2015.
Videos - Little Bats 1
(c) Katherine Stuart 2015
Dochas Books Film
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Total Lunar Eclipse - 4 April 2015
there was a total lunar eclipse
that could be seen here
at Darwin,
(Northern Territory, Australia).
Here is a series of photos
that show the progression
of the eclipse.
From when the moon first rises
(and when the eclipse was due to
start),
to when full moon was again achieved
at 11.20 pm ACST
(Australian Central Standard Time).
came over from a nearby storm,
so there was no visibility,
until a short break
showed the moon
at the maximum point
of the eclipse,
as can be seen here.
(In Darwin, it was almost a total eclipse,
but not quite)
The rest of these photos
show the moon
coming out of the eclipse.
(c) Katherine Stuart 2015
Dochas Books Film
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Chords on a Stringed Instrument
Chords
Chords are groups of notes played (or fingered) together
which sound pleasant (harmonious) together.
Chord Diagrams
To show what a particular chord is,
it's useful to draw a diagram.
Below, are two chord diagrams -
One shows the chord where all the strings are open.
An open string is one where no finger is placed on it.
One shows a chord where there are some finger positions.
These finger positions are where you place your fingers,
- firmly on the string
- just behind the fret,
which is the metal bar that runs across underneath.
Numbers of Strings
Stringed instruments can have different numbers of strings,
depending on the type of instrument.
Using my ukulele as an example,
it has -
4 strings
so I drew the above diagrams with 4 vertical lines.
Numbers of Frets
To keep things simple,
I drew only down to the Fourth fret.
Notes for the Chord with All Open Strings
As outlined in my blog entry "How I Tuned My Ukulele",
I've tuned my ukulele differently to the norm,
and I've indicated these notes below the diagram.
(mC = middle C)
Notes for the Chord with Finger Positions
Chords are groups of notes played (or fingered) together
which sound pleasant (harmonious) together.
Chord Diagrams
To show what a particular chord is,
it's useful to draw a diagram.
Below, are two chord diagrams -
One shows the chord where all the strings are open.
An open string is one where no finger is placed on it.
One shows a chord where there are some finger positions.
These finger positions are where you place your fingers,
- firmly on the string
- just behind the fret,
which is the metal bar that runs across underneath.
Numbers of Strings
Stringed instruments can have different numbers of strings,
depending on the type of instrument.
Using my ukulele as an example,
it has -
4 strings
so I drew the above diagrams with 4 vertical lines.
Numbers of Frets
To keep things simple,
I drew only down to the Fourth fret.
Notes for the Chord with All Open Strings
As outlined in my blog entry "How I Tuned My Ukulele",
I've tuned my ukulele differently to the norm,
and I've indicated these notes below the diagram.
(mC = middle C)
Notes for the Chord with Finger Positions
I've indicated these notes below the diagram,
as they would be on my ukulele.
The distance between each fret
corresponds to an increase or decrease of -
One Note
So here, my -
F open string goes to F#
And here, my -
G# open string goes to A#
(c) Katherine Stuart 2015
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)