Day11: Pistache and Berio

The recording I made yesterday should be OK, the data is all there; we will see what my bright team will find out---I made a very simple phrase with simple contrasting expressions using same notes, just to start simply :)

As I was told on the first informal meeting, I complied my first 'wish list', things I was always dreaming about. I immediately did answer a 'big one' off the top of my head on the spot, an equivalent of a "Holy Grail", then I saw from their facial expression and reaction, that it is a big subject (and a great one!) which might derail the purpose of my visit this summer---our work on gesture and expression. But if we don't think about these "big questions" nothing will go forward. So, today my wish list to the team contained some of these 'big' dreams, as well as what I called "Cracked Holy Grails", things that are already done, but not good enough in my opinion, for example some pitch tracking, or sound quality issues etc. These "Cracked Holy Grails" are just as important, if not more, than the 'big' Holy Grail dreams for me as a performer/composer using the interactive technology. Anyway, I'm very excited, and so grateful to be given this opportunity.

In the afternoon, I dropped by at IRCAM's Médiathèque, the library inside IRCAM, to check some Luciano Berio score and CD out. I listened while watching with TF1 France vs. Mexico in the background (with no sound, no B-flat). Sorry Mr. B... but I'm really liking some of the duos which I never played before. Their online catalog is a bit of a pain (I have to write exact words or else it's hard to find it---for example a word "Duetti" instead of duo) Then it turned out my team has already used some of the very same Berio duos for experimenting with the system! It's pretty clear we are on the same wavelength and we think of the same thing. I think I will continue on their path regarding this particular 'score following' experiments using this Berio.

I passed through BHV to get some stuff; this Saturday I'm seeing my children for the first time since June 5th! We are currently debating who sleeps where--we are getting together at my brother-in-laws's house, but I will probably have to take one child with me, likely my younger one. This could be very good or very traumatic. He will want to stay with me for the whole time, and his integration and assimilation to French will be interrupted. But we miss each other, so this has to be what a friend said about separating with kids: "Short and Sweet". Dragging out a 'Wagnerian' never-ending tragedy is never good...

The picture above is an Eclair Pistache, and a Tarte aux fruits rouges. I meant to share with my husband but he flew to Nice today to visit his former colleagues at INRIA Sophia Antipolis. I ate half of the Pistache one, which was so good, and thought he has to taste it. Then a friend skyped from LA and reminded me that my husband is French, he speaks French and he can very likely make his way to get his own Eclair Pistache. So I ate the rest of the half just now. Our fantastic 'Boulangerie' is not even a block away. I need to hit some Yoga tonight...