Musings
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Theme and Variations
Not long ago (though it seems a lifetime), I wrote about modulations. The idea that the dissonance of post-college life would eventually resolve into normalcy was comforting; considering the modulations in music were consoling to me as I felt keenly the sudden transitions I experienced after four years of relatively little change. Several months later, Continue reading
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Up the Ladder, Down the Ladder: on artistic affection
“He now is struck with wonder by what’s wonderful in him. Unwittingly, he wants himself; he praises, but his praise is for himself; he is the seeker and the sought, the longed-for and the one who longs; he is the arsonist— and is the scorched.” – The Metamorphoses of Ovid In his Metamorphosis, Ovid paints perhaps Continue reading
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Poetic Love
A year ago today I picked up a copy of Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey in a Waterstones in Cambridge. I read it cover-to-cover without sitting and — admittedly — without purchasing it. I was intrigued, but, when I closed it and placed it back on its display, I realized that the fascination I’d felt with Continue reading
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A Writer’s Whim
Skimming the stories I loved so, I saw the growth of a writer. Glimmers of the novel I am drafting now and the woman I am becoming shine out in those early pages of limping syntax and predictable plots. Every now and then, a good sentence or single word stands out and says, “There is… Continue reading
Book, drafts, portolio, practice art, stories, write, write night, writer, writer goals, writer problem, writer problems, writer struggle, writer’s block, writers despair, writing, writing advice, writing expectations, writing humor, writing is hard, writing practice, writing problems, writing process, writing struggles, writing victory -
Two Bluebirds
I’ve been rereading Ray Bradbury’s (…may he rest in peace…so sayeth we all…) Fahrenheit 451. Actually, I’m listening to it on Audible; there is a performance of it by Tim Robbins which literally makes me weep. It’s THAT good. Anyway, as I revisit this all-too-prophetic story of a society so frightened by what is uncomfortable, challenging, or Continue reading
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Carol Contemplation
My favorite carol this year is one that few people have heard of and I myself did not know until this advent season. It’s title alone sets it apart from the more popular carols, which I love as well. Can you guess which it is? Joy to the World O Come, All Ye Faithful O Little Continue reading
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12 (Truthful) Thank-yous for my Roommate
Sites like Odyssey feature posts like “12 Things to Thank your Roommate For” is “13 Reasons You and Your Roomie are Basically a Couple.” Well, these are sweet and all, but they’re not nearly as relatable as you’d think… at least not for my roommate and me, being rather odd, creative souls. And so, inspired Continue reading
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Poems and a Creek and Such (revisiting an old spot of time)
When I was a freshman in college, I had the not-uncommon experience of feeling 150682234% overwhelmed. It was honestly a feat of grace and strength that I stuck it out, but by the second semester, how happy I was that I did! As that terrified, homesick 18-year-old, I went on a choir retreat and nearly Continue reading
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Dear Mr. Dickens: An Open Letter
My dear Mr. Dickens, I hope you are well and not at all rolling over in your grave. (It is, after all, nearing Christmas and renditions of your famous holiday tale are promenading before audiences who are mostly wondering whether they actually turned off the oven or whether the turkey they pretend to like is Continue reading
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Preeminent Performance
In my “Redeeming Culture through Music” class, we were asked the following question: “Which is most important in music: the composer, the performer, or the listener?” The class more or less unanimously expressed that the three persons are equally important. After all, if there is no composer, there is nothing to perform and if there Continue reading
Art, artist, Biola, biola university, christ, christian, christian culture, christian music, christian theology, colossians, ephesians, faith, faith and art, faith and culture, image, Image of God, inspiration, learning, Music, music culture, music theology, musician, performance, performer, preeminence, psalms, question, redeeming culture, religious art, religious music, sacred art, sacred music, theological, theology of art, theology of music, torrey honors institute, truth, word -
Three Principles
As I was practicing piano the other day, I wrote a series of three questions to ask myself as I worked on each detail: Is it clean? Is it beautiful? Does it mean something? First, I work technically, listening even to exercises to discern if they are played with clarity and precision. Are they clean? Continue reading
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A Poem Passed-By
That moment gone was but a spot of time Yet still I yearn towards its eternity, To find it past yet feel it presently For such moments are best realized in rhyme. But somehow this one fails to really be As full in feeling as it was before; In that one moment, not a second Continue reading
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Ryanne Molinari 