requiem for a high homicide enclave

requeim for a homicide crime enclave from paul bailey on Vimeo.
(trailer)

Requiem for a High Crime Enclave is a deconstruction of Purcell's Funeral Music for Queen Mary (1694) based on excerpts from the from the LA Times Homicide Report which documents every murder that takes place in Los Angeles County using blog posts, comments, and Google Maps.

(this version is probably best viewed full screen)

Saturday May 17th and Sunday May 18th, 8:30pm
Roy and Edna Disney/Calarts Theater (REDCAT)
631 W 2nd St
Los Angeles, CA

la times homicide report

assorted selections

tonight
april 23 2008, 8pm
csuf recital hall
d.i.e (diverse instrument ensemble)
cello, keyboard, clarinet and electric bass
lloyd rodgers director

selections:

assorted madrigals
caccini
nicole baker, mezzo-soprano soloist

assorted counterpoints
costanzo festa

chaconne in g minor
henry purcell

requiem for a high homicide enclave

here is early view of the mockup trailer for my new piece;

requiem for a high crime enclave.
based on a deconstruction of purcell's funeral music for queen mary

(its probably viewed best in full screen)

performance venues and dates should be announced soon.

222

Since January 2008 there have been 222 homicides in LA county.



I’m not sure what to do about it, but I can’t stop thinking about it. It started when I came across the LA times Homicide Report (blog). For over a year reporter Jill Leovy and Rueben Vives had a simple and horrendous task, to document every homicide in LA county online. Its seems crazy that newspapers didn’t have do this before, but Leovy points out in a Zocolo podcast that the implied conventional wisdom is that as long as the majority of homicides occur in “high-homicide enclaves”, minimal effort and resources will be allocated by the state to solve this horrendous problem. You begin to realize that this has been going on for years, reading the blog and comments from friends, family and yes... rival gangs and enemies begins to give you an idea of how sheltered we have become.

I’m not sure how to fix it, but reading about it everyday has brings up more questions than it answers. My only response is to attempt to write a piece about it. Which for me brings up the immediate question, how can you do that without people running out the door. All I know is that probably no matter how hard I try its going to be seen as polemic.

The music is done, music and text based on a harmonic deconstruction of Purcell’s Funeral Music for Queen Mary. What better than “borrowing” music from one of the most famous funerals of a British Monarch (1694), to honor those whose brutal deaths who continue to go unnoticed.

carne asada is not a crime

Dear Supervisor Molina,

I am writing to express serious concern regarding the actions you have taken against the taco trucks in our neighborhoods. As a member of the Eastside community, I greatly value our local street vendors–for their food, service, and especially culture.
Taco trucks fill many voids left by traditional restaurants, whether it is more authentic, better food, better hours, or cheaper prices. Furthermore, taco trucks create a sense of community on the streets that enclosed, “brick-and-mortar” stores cannot.

Taco trucks are a special and unique facet of East Los Angeles, and something that I cherish about my neighborhood.

Most of all they provide me (and my band) with cheap eats after shows and rehearsals!

I urge you to withdraw your proposal, and instead focus on the more pressing and detrimental issues that are facing our community.

Here are links to the best of LA

shame

its a shame that alan rich was pushed out as the la weekly's classical music critic this week. this is another reason to not read the exceedingly corporate LA Weekly. first they get rid of any real "alternative" political reporting and now this. even when i didn't agree with his conclusions, i appreciate mr. rich's clear and pointed reviews and the context he brings to any concert he attends. his institutional memory of the los angeles music scene cannot be replaced.

what gets me really upset is the way he is being treated, i have seen too many examples of colleagues and friends who have given their live for their "job" being pushed aside and into retirement by the whims of management. by observing how most employers treat their "mature" staff its easy to get an idea of what is in store for us. i think any professional that has put in the years supporting and building the organizations that make up our community should be able to pick the way they want to go out (within reason). i think while many view retirement as a time to play play golf, drink beer and play cards, if Mr. Rich wants to keep writing in his "golden years", then more power to him.

I suggest that if the LA Times can rethink the "forced buyout" of the esteemed Al Martinez, then LA Weekly should consider the same for Mr. Rich.



btw... how did we get to a point that a majority of our print media is being dictated by bean counters in chicago and phoenix? at least southland publishing is getting it done.