this sounds tonal but it isn't actually tonal

after much him-hawing, our recital--the one with me and george that's a week from today--is actually happening. for the last four days there's been some question, since the fabulous pianist we asked initially double-booked himself and had to pull out. and, we all know, nobody likes a premature pull-out. i wanted to be like, "listen, michael. a viola recital? c'mon. you know that singers are where it's at!" or something like that. but i would've ended up sounding like i was on some nickelodeon saturday night pre-teen comedy show. remember snick? yeah. that.

anyway, george found us a pianist, miracle of miracles, in durham that agreed to trek up to baltimore to play the recital. and, an even bigger miracle: he's a really good accompanist. it's the same guy that played fog argument when i sang it at UNC earlier this fall. or was it summer? ah how the months blend together. the point is, he's good. he's a straight guy but i'll overlook that for the purpose of the recital. you can't get much gayer than a recital built around walt whitman poems by composers like weill (bi) and rorem (flaming homosexual). oh, and don't forget that george lam. what a faggot!

so the recital's on. and i'm practicing like a bat out of hell. or a practicing bandit. whatever, i'm practicing a lot. the rorem's currently kicking my ass, since he was in his "this sounds tonal but it isn't actually tonal" mid-60's phase. eliza, you're the only one that knows 'em, so when you hear me fuck up the notes just smile and nod. and we'll both know that i'm wrong, but it'll be our secret.