A snapshot from last Friday night (a week ago). There was no organized meal from the conference that night, and so people were left to their own devices to explore the chilly embrace of Washington DC. With the group of people that I was with, music emerged after dinner. Here is cosmologist Stephon Alexander (some of you may know him from his blogging days as part of the Quantum Diaries project.) with his saxophone. He’s in the middle of explaining tritone substitutions to two young clarinetists (the children of Jim Gates – theoretical high energy physicist like myself – we went to visit with his family). Stephon later taught them the blues scale, which of course should immediately be put to good use. I asked if there was a piano, so that I could provide harmonic support -haven’t played in years, but a few coherently played blues chords on a piano is a simple thing to get right. Instead, I was supplied with an acoustic guitar. I can’t recall really playing a guitar in the last 15 years or so, but luckily I was able to tune it, remember some chord fingerings, and get up to speed on the accompaniment quite rapidly.
-cvj
And great for travelling. Thinking of getting one to take along with me to this Edinburgh workshop.
Hi Tommy,
Ah. I also play(ed) the electric variety. Thinking of digging them out of the basement one of these days. Thinking (more strongly) of getting myself an acoustic one of these days… nice to have on hand.
Have fun!
-cvj
Hi Laura,
Er…I believe we already have the cosmos. Nobody else seemed to want it. 😉
-cvj
Ah Clifford, I’m just learning the guitar myself right now (though I’ve gone the electric variety). I think the Blues scale might be the next thing I tackle after I get these chord change thingies down.
I already knew that theoretical physicists make for great poets. Now, they make for good musicians too? Are you planning to take over the cosmos?