An Era Comes to an End

What a journey it has been! This is my final post, so I will take this time to reflect back on my original goals and the project as a whole.

I completed my basic goal of composing original music and lyrics for the Ithaca High School Alma Mater. Mission accomplished, right? Wrong.

My mission was much greater than that. I desired a greater understanding of the "ins" and "outs" of music, and I have pushed myself to learn everything I can about them. I feel like a much stronger musician now, and I have a greater understanding and appreciation for every piece of music I play or sing. I've experienced everything that goes into the creation of these incredible works of art.

While I've learned that I sometimes lack in keeping my fans updated, I know that it is OK to prioritize what needs to get done. Blogging about how the project needs to get done? Or just do the project?

I failed to write out the alma mater for pep band and orchestra as I had originally planned, but that will be an easy step now that everything is written. Perhaps a summer project is in store!

I have had so much fun exploring music and myself, and I've learned that I'm on the right path. All I want to do now is compose powerful music that touches the soul in a way that cannot be found through words alone.

Music gives us a power that nothing else can fathom. It is the universal language by which we all communicate, and I believe that one day, it will bring together nations, let alone Ithaca High School.

"Music is the great uniter. An incredible force. Something that people who differ on everything and anything else can have in common."
         -Sarah Dessen

Minor Adjustments and Fine Tuning

There was one spot in the song where I wanted a different chord when I heard it sung. Not that anyone here really cares, but the very last time we sing "love our Ithaca", I want an augmented III7 chord there instead of the current I6. 

Again, I know you have no clue what I'm talking about, so I'll explain it at the presentation. You will definitely notice the difference. Making that change required a few minor changes to the parts, but Ms. Zaryski and I will alert the choir of these changes and just have them write in the changes in their parts rather than print a whole new stack.

In other news, each music teacher in the building now possesses a signed copy of the alma mater. I guess this is my one day to be famous.

YES!

We just sang my alma mater for the first time in choir rehearsal, and it was more amazing than I ever could have imagined. The overwhelming sense of pride that I felt for accomplishing such a task was insane, and I honestly got slightly misty-eyed as Ms. Zaryski shot me a look as we were singing it that said "you did it". The power that the music and the lyrics brought to the room was electrifying.

Ms. Z asked for comments after we did the initial run-through. These included:

• "wow, I did not expect something that powerful"
• "it honestly gave me goosebumps"
• "the melody is really catchy"
• "the fact that a student wrote this is really impressive"

and perhaps my favorite…

• "wait, Michael wrote this?"

This was an incredible day, and I'm still running on adrenaline. I just want to hear it over and over again.

Late Surge

In a sudden surge last night, and a series of about 24 emails back and forth between Ms. Zaryski and me, I finished the alma mater. When I look at it, I am so proud. These became the final lyrics, and honestly, I was making changes right up to the very last second, so don't feel ripped off that you haven't gotten to see some of these yet.

Verse:

Far beneath the pathways of Cornell

And the college high upon South Hill

There lies a school in Ithaca

Where the youngest minds are filled                       

Verse:

With inspiring words and knowledge

Innovation, creativity

So much to learn from Ithaca

Education is our creed.

B Section: 

Our Ithaca, our Ithaca

Diverse, yet unified       

Our Ithaca, our Ithaca                  

We stand and sing with pride

Verse:

For our love of friendships made here

And of dreams we've yet to see unfold

Our hearts belong to Ithaca

The future still untold

Coda:

We will always love our Ithaca

The home of red and gold!

I am in love with this. Today we will sing for the very first time, Our Ithaca, the Ithaca High School Alma Mater.

Reaping the Benefits

I feel good. The constant developments of each verse have caused my brain to think constantly of possible new lyrics that would fit with the melody I have.

With a little bit of help from Ms. Zaryski concerning word choice today, I came up with another possible verse to throw into the mix.

When we sing to you our praises

In rooms so filled with pride

Stands our alma mater Ithaca

Every voice with thee abide

The only problem that I've found is that I don't really like the juxtaposition (woooo!) of time and how. The first line refers to time, but the third line sounds unrelated with the use of how. I think the third line just seems out of place to me…oh well, I still have time to work it out. (No I don't. I'm trying to make myself feel better.)

B Section/Chorus

Oooooo today was awesome. I have some solid lyrics for the B section of the alma mater. I like the way that it includes something specific to Ithaca. Try and guess what it is.

Our Ithaca, our Ithaca

Diverse, yet unified        

Our Ithaca, our Ithaca                     

We stand and sing with pride

Can you guess which line is the specific reference to Ithaca? Real hard, I know.

Who knows, this might even become the title of the song: "Our Ithaca". I like how it sounds with the music. 

Word of the day: solid.

An Inside Look

I decided I would give you an inside look on the behind the scenes thought process that goes into the creation of these verses. I know that's basically what I'm doing with this blog, but this is like the behind the scenes of the behind the scenes.

Copied below is the Word Document that Ms. Zaryski and I share to bounce ideas off each other in an effort to create a spark. There are possible rhymes and possible lines simply thrown about as small ideas that will hopefully come together to create greatness.

It's amazing to think that this jumbled mess will/is turning into a school song.

………………………………….hold/cold/bold/told/untold/ahold/

MFS pickup (4and1)  (OR, DRM to set up a RMF, MFS sequence??)

Near the falls…

In a town…

In the town…

By the lake…

By the shore(s)…

In the hills…

Far beneath (the hills)… (opposite of Cornell – Big Red – which is Far above)

Far beneath Cayuga’s hilltops/rolling hills (rolling hills, same motivic idea as “Ithaca”)

There’s a school

There’s a place

Refrain 1

…

Our hearts lie with our Ithaca (same as end)

Our school, our friend, our home. (SF/M—FR—D/D---)

Final refrain (with tag)

Though we’ll journey on from I.H.S.

And we’ll watch our dreams unfold

Our hearts lie with our Ithaca,

(Our school, our friend,

Till the very end…)

The (our) home of (the) Red and Gold!

The home of Little Red and Gold!

Though we’ll journey on from I.H.S.

And we’ll watch our dreams unfold

Our hearts lie with our Ithaca

This will always be

The home of the Red and Gold!

Our hearts lie with our Ithaca,

Though we’ll leave someday

We can/will always say

We are the Little Red and Gold.

Our hearts lie with our Ithaca,

Where we’ll always be

The home of the Red and Gold!

The proud Little Red and Gold!