Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in Sydney Freedman's LiveJournal:

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Sunday, September 27th, 2009
9:01 am	An Overdue Update... Almost Well, I haven't posted a thing to LJ since arriving in Ireland, but I have been slightly more acountable with my Google group. Rather than re-posting all of my messages from there, I am simply going to post the link. http://travelling_chanter.googlegroups.com If you can't read the archives for some reason, let me know so that I can put you on the list. All right; it's church time! Current Mood: tired but with work to do Current Music: The Great Doxology running through my head (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Friday, January 30th, 2009
8:59 am	Ups and Sowns Well, no Fulbright for me. :-( I just got the e-mail saying that I didn't get through the first of the two screenings. So, now it's time to fill out more applications. Anyone know of any international graduate study scholarships/grants? In other news, I just wrote a fifteen-page paper on medieval chant and devotional vernacular song in the last four days. :) I don't think it's terrible, but I won't stop making changes if I don't turn it in soon. it's huge; twenty-something pages with the score examples, bibliography, and title page added. It's my longest college music paper yet. I leave for choir tour today. I'd better turn my paper in and pack my carry-on bag. I'll be reachable by e-mail while i'm gone. Current Mood: disappointed Current Music: Loreena McKennitt (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, December 12th, 2008
8:43 pm	Hugely Overdue Update It's finals week. my 20th-21st-century music final went very well, and I'm not at all worried about tomorrow's Italian diction final. But, I still have two papers to right (scream) and a tough Lucretius final on Wednesday (kyrie eleison). my study breaks have been spent leading many review sessions for the music 241 students (they have a final that's mostly Baroque stuff and some comprehensive sections starting with the middle Ages). In a little while, Katie and I are going to take a complete break from school, wrap presents, and write Christmas cards. ;) Speaking of Christmas, I just sang my last St. Olaf Christmas Fest, which was very bittersweet. It will be broadcast on NPR, and it should also be archived on their website soon. The most amazing thing ever: I now have my next year planned out (I'm still waiting to hear about--and applying for more--scholarships). I received a long-awaited acceptance letter on St. Nicholas Day (how apt!) from the University of Limerick, Ireland. I will be going there next fall for my masters in chant. A doctorate will depend on money, further acceptance, &c. Needless to say, I am ecstatic! :) All right; it's time to wrap gifts. First, I'll catch up on my friends page and see what you all are up to. Current Mood: mixed Current Music: Monteverdi's L'Orfeo; Skruk's Christmas album (15 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, November 6th, 2008
8:17 am	Amazingness Last night we luck St. Olaf Early Music Singers got to work on two of our Josquin des Prez pieces with the French ensemble Diabolus in Musica in a master class. And, tonight, we will be attending that ensemble's concert (ours is coming up next Friday). While at the class, I also met the director of the Rose Ensemble. Well, I can't write all about everything because I have Latin class now. Nevertheless, the class was fantastic, and I am really looking forward to the concert. Current Mood: excited Current Music: Ilibata Dei Virgo (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, October 23rd, 2008
11:31 pm	Still here... I just took all my midterms in the last two days. I'm so glad they're over. I'll be in bed before 2:00 Am for the first time in a good while. Life is finally starting to calm down. Events and things of note: the St. Olaf and Vocal Essence concert last Friday; fall break (which was too short); music history paper on a Vaughan Williams choral piece due next Friday; beginning of Christmas Fest rehearsals next week; SCA felting class and Clothiers Seminar coming up and, I hope, rapier as well (oh, and our newest member is now our exchequer; it's a long story); prayer shawl knitting; load of fun review sessions and research help for music history students (I love being a TA); being extremely over-tired and "slap happy..." I'll end the rambling list and go to bed now. I hope to post more often and with better entries. Oh, wait! I should mention an amusing little conversation that I had with my voice teacher about how crazy this week has been. At one point I said, "This is the week from... I don't know," to which she responded, "It's the week from h**l; I'll say it for you. That word isn't in your vocabulary, is it?" :) on that note, good night. Current Mood: relieved Current Music: Phos Hilaron (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, October 1st, 2008
12:04 pm	I'm alive... I have just turned in my Fulbright and university applications, audition recordings included. I'm extremely relieved, but more than that, I'm tired from these last three weeks of school work+applications. I'll have some rest and social time this weekend, though, and it's already Wednesday. :) It will be my last homecoming weekend (tear), and Katie and I are planning to go to lunch and shop a the international bazaar after our Saturday Fulbright interviews. could write more, but I'm going to take a nap instead... oh, and actually eating lunch would be a good idea, too :) Current Mood: relieved Current Music: Magnificat and Hymn to the Theotokos (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, September 14th, 2008
7:41 am	Long Time No post :) Here's a quick updte: school has started off well, and my TA position is a blast! I'm spending this weekend filling ou my Fulbright Fellowship and University of Limerick applications. The course director fot the M.A. in chant has been corresponding with me, and perhaps this all may work out. :) As for this weekend's homework, well, let's just pretend that it doesn't exist. For those of you who are into this sort of thing, :) have a solemn yet joyful Sunday of the holy Cross. Pange lingua gloriosi... Current Mood: happy Current Music: Pange lingua by Fortunatus (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, July 31st, 2008
3:08 pm	For the fifth time... I have just donated my hair to Locks of Love. Everyone says that I look better with short hair, but I just think it's strange. That's part of why I chop off a foot or two of hair every year or two in the first place. I don't think the donation would mean as much if it were no trouble to cut it off. St. Paul new what he was saying when he stated that a woman's hair is her glory. :) So, 72 inches of my hair are now (I hope) on the heads of grateful cancer and chemotherapy survivors. Current Mood: indescribable Current Music: Sanctus (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008
11:58 am	Back In Arizona Well, I'm back in the 110-degree weather, but it's good to see my family, my cats, my old room, etc. I haven't posted in awhile, so i'll mention the highlights of the last three weeks or so: WW, the final symposium for summer research, packing, and flying to Arizona. The next couple of weeks are full of appointments, get-togethers, spending time at Dad' and at the cabin, and working on fun projects like spinning, harp playing, and poetry. After that, I will be going to the Shakespeare festival in Utah with my grandmother for about a week. I will then have one more wek here to pack up, and I will fly back to dear ol' Oleville on August 28... for my senior year! What??? I had better finish unpacking now. Current Mood: relaxed Current Music: Donna, si totz temps vivia by Berenguier de Paloul (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Friday, June 27th, 2008
7:42 pm	Meme :) Rules: Post five things you've done that you believe nobody else on your F-list has done. Indulge in remorse if someone calls you out on a listed item. I. I have Translated Latin versions of Chinese official edicts into English. II. I have jumped off of a fifteen-foot cliff into the Kearn River in California. III. I have been suspected by police while singing in Tiananmen Square. IV. I have hiked with Eric Weihenmeyer. V. I have sung at nearly every funeral I have attended, most of which have been for friends or family members. Current Mood: hot Current Music: Radio Walsingham from live365.com (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
5:08 am	Random Stuff I've done some very refreshing and wonderful activities these past two weeks--attended and Orthodox church festival, found a consistent ride to an Orthodox church on Sunday's, spent several days with Maranda (yea for good womanly chatter, Jane Austin films, chocolate, etc.), and made some progress on my side project for the summer (a thesis and a rough sketch of the ideas and arguments). The Fulbright deadline for St. Olaf students is 30 September. Anybody have any tips? I think I'm going to apply for a study grant for the year-long master's program in Western plainchant at the Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick. I could probably do the same for any master's program in the UK or Ireland (they are all year-long), e.g. Medieval performance or musicology at the University of Exeter or the University of York. For the latter two, I could continue on and study for a D.Phil or Ph.D., and I would like to study for such a degree at some point (and get a music thanatology certificate and study Byzantine chant and...). Any thoughts? Current Mood: awake Current Music: birds outside my window (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Tuesday, June 10th, 2008
9:45 pm	Quote of the Day I just came across this fantastic sentence about the hemp fiber plant (as opposed to certain other varieties). "For those who enjoy smoking materials like steel, copper and cotton, industrial hemp will yield similar results." :) Current Mood: laughing Current Music: Lay Aside All Earthly Cares (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, May 5th, 2008
11:48 pm	Thanks!!! :) I just wanted to pass along a quick thank you for all of the birthday greetings i received yesterday. They made my busy weekend of paper writing and almost no sleep much less miserable. :) Friends are amazing to have around. :) I'm still plugging away at papers, but their completion finally looks feasible and maybe even imminent. :) I'll post an update about said papers and the birthday activities, which included being kidnapped by friends, :) later. Current Mood: happy Current Music: some crazy ars subtilior piece (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008
12:20 am	Plodding along... Over the weekend i didn't get as much work done as I had hoped... six pages of the paper about laude spirituale being used to fight heresy, no pages of the paper about the concerto delle donne and Luzzaschi's music, no pages of either religion paper on creation theology... I did prepare my presentation for teaching the class about Wipo of Burgundy's Easter sequence and made hot cross buns to bribe... I mean, give to Prof. Brunelle and my classmates. :) By the way, a slightly belated happy Easter to all Orthodox. Xristos anesti! (Anyone know how to write Greek or Slavonic in LJ? I have no idea what the Slavonic transliteration is off the top of my head.) Christus surrexit! Yes, I am definitely taking advantage of celebrating Easter twice. :) Another thing that I didn't quite do over the weekend was plan out my answers for the Medieval history in-class essay exam (the paper on laude spirituale is for the same class). However, I did some reading instead of eating lunch, spent the walk to class and the first five minutes of the class period saying, "Deus juva me" and the like, and even though I was half asleep, I managed to write something down and to make some important (well, maybe?) points (though I didn't quote much... oops). Well, I'm glad that it's over and that I was able to write *something.* After having last week off from choir, it was nice to have rehearsal today. My voice lesson went well, too. I sang for a friend's composition recital this evening (it wasn't over until 11:00!), and I had the opportunity to hear the premieres of several interesting pieces by my fellow students. I have nothing tomorrow except for choir and ballroom class, so I am going to put myself to bed and due Wednesday's homework tomorrow. Or, should I at least start the concerto delle donne paper? Hmmmmm... If I at least start it, I won't worry as much. No, I should actually try to sleep for once; I can work on the paper tomorrow morning. :) Current Mood: thankful Current Music: Let God Arise (Comment on this)
Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
10:01 pm	Wow... I just spent half an hour on Facebook. That's a long time for me. I'm not usually one to spend lots of time on that site. Anyway... we now return to our regularly scheduled program... Current Mood: weird Current Music: people talking down the hall (Comment on this)
Tuesday, March 25th, 2008
10:23 pm	Where to Study Medieval Music for Grad School Dear LJ Brain Trust, I'm planning on going for a doctorate in early music performance practice/musicology, and I want to concentrate on Medieval music. In light of just discovering the Barbara Thornton Memorial Scholarship and since I could not study abroad during my undergraduate career, I would like to study in Europe (scholarship applicants must plan to study Medieval music in Europe). There's a very promising program at the University of Paris, taught in French, but, alas, I'm only fluent in Spanish, remember some of my Mandarin, and have studied other languages that are no longer spoken. :) I would prefer a university that offers international scholarships since I won't be able to pay much at all. With the above in mind, does anyone have any ideas of where I could study? Many thanks! Current Mood: anxious Current Music: Under der Linden by Walther von der Vogelveide (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, March 23rd, 2008
11:52 pm	One a penny, two a penny... There is an abundance of hot cross buns. :) We ate quite a few of them (I'm glad that everyone liked them :) ), and we have enough left for breakfast and snacks tomorrow. Note to self: heather honey definitely makes them better. :) Vanamali's lentil soup was fantastic, too. All right; it's time to read and go to sleep. Current Mood: full Current Music: Sainte Nicolaes, Godes Drud (that last letter should be an eth) (2 Comments |Comment on this)
10:32 pm	Happy Easter!!! Victimae paschali laudes immolent Cristiani... Christus surrexit! Alleluia! Surrexit quidem! Alleluia, alleluia! I sang in the ad hoc choir at the St. Olaf Easter vigil, which was a wonderful experience (though Fr. Z.'s Exultet at St. Agnes is still my favorite :) ). I stayed up until midnight and broke my fast, read for awhile afterwards, and finally went to sleep a couple hours later. I woke up for morning prayers and then slept again until about noon (I don't remember the last time I slept in so late... it felt amazing :) ). Ken made waffles for breakfast (I'm staying with Vanamali and ken over break) I talked with the family and wished them a happy Easter, and after a lot o doing nothing, Vanamali is making dinner, and I'm doing Easter baking. Speaking of baking, I need to check on how well the hot cross buns are rising. And, speaking of rising, I will say it again: Christ is risen! Alleluia! He is risen indeed! Alleluia, alleluia! I hope everyone has had/is having a blessed Easter! Current Mood: happy Current Music: the Easter sequence (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, January 27th, 2008
9:01 pm	You Are A Pine Tree You love agreeable company, peace, and harmony. Compassionate and friendly, you love to help others. A natural poet, you have a very active imagination. You are very soft on the inside - needing affection and reassurance. You can fall in love deeply, but you will leave if you feel betrayed. What's Your Celtic Horoscope? I just got back from choir pre-tour (it went well), and I should finish my acoustics lab report. I really don't want to, though. I just feel like relaxing and going to bed early. I told my lab partner that I would probably have it done Friday night, but... Yeah, that didn't work out. I only have a little bit left, but my brain refuses to work. :( *Must... wake... up... brain... Oh, and tha tree horoscope thing was interesting. I'm not into the method, but I have to agree with the description that I got. :) Current Mood: okay Current Music: BWV... I don't remember the number :( (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, January 21st, 2008
3:36 am	Best Weekend in a While On Saturday, I went to Twelfth Night, and even though it seemed too short, it was great. It felt god to be at an SCA event (I haven't been able to attend even a folk moot since early May 2007), and I got the chance to see friends, many of whom received well-deserved awards. :) Sunday was the Early Music Singers and Collegium Musicum concert (well, sort of; there were five of us singers and several instrumentalists, not all of whom are in the collegium). The program was sacred concerti by Heinrich Schuetz, and it was a fun one to perform and to listen to. I sang three: "Herr unser Herrscher," the second part of "In lectulo per noctes" (duet with Lauren :) ), and "Was betruebtst du dich, meina Seele" (the setting for five voices; I sang S2). The concert has not yet been archived, so i have yet to listen to it. It felt like it went all right, though, despite a couple of a couple of things that I thought could have gone better. I'm self-critical as usual, and as my voice teacher says, "Don't dwell on how horrible you thought that vowel sounded or whatever silly little thing is bothering you." I still wish that D and Middle C weren't in the bottom of my range. Some phrases in the B section of "Herr unser Herrscher" suffered because of that. I'm working on it; I got down to a B-flat last Wednesday. :) It was super-quiet, but it was distinctly a B-flat. :) Anyway... the concert will be archived on the streamed events page at http://www.stolaf.edu. Well, I woke up at 1:40 and should probably go back to sleep. Current Mood: recumbent Current Music: Schuetz (Comment on this)