Assignment September 29 Schutz: Music 331 by Greg Henry Waters

Review of a letter written to his boss to ask him if he can retire. In this letter, the nearly 70-year-old composer recalls his career in the hopes of entering retirement.  What does the author seem to think were important moments in his life?  Does he leave anything out that you might include in your own "retirement" announcement?  Can you trust the author?  Why or why not? 

Yes musicians work at music until their death, I heard of a musician dropping dead on the job

and the foot went right through the bass drum and made a big hole in it. Such is the life of a

musician.

Schultz was a good student and he progressed in his studies therefore, he was able to get work

from important people. He came across Giovanni Gabrieli and became his student so this was an

important moment in his life. The most difficult thing for a real student is to find the real

teacher.

He was given a proper wage by his employer, Lord the Landgrave Moritz, what a name, Lord!

He then decided to study music because music is a big task and very difficult, one never stops

studying Music. It took him two years to study enough to be able to compose a proper piece of

music. Of course a book of madrigals was published which all composers from this period of

history seemed to produce.

In the back ground were always his parents who supported him in his effort to become a

Professional person in society of the day.

He worked in the same place for 35 years which for me is amazing. I never worked longer in

one place more than three years. For if one wants to work a steady job in music becoming a

teacher is the best way to do it or work in an orchestra. I gave up my both orchestra job and

teaching job to be a free spirit and be my own person. Of course from the money view point this

wasn’t a very wise decision. But it is too

late for me because now I am at retirement age. And how I made it here I really do not know.

But I have had three wives, four children, and 6 or seven grand children as far as I know. You

see because I wanted to be a musician not all people respected this decision of mine. Current

news, my daughter 19 just came back to me after five years with two children.

I lived in Canada, Toronto, Chicago, Milwaukee, Denton, Texas, Shenzhen, China and Acapulco

Mexico Now back in New York City. It has been an adventure that is for sure.

What I do not believe in this letter is his praise of his employer, and that God has given me this

opportunity to serve his employer his family. He says he wishes he could have charge over his

duties still. I do not believe this statement.

Yes, I know about old age, sight, vital strength have waned, I know about this, this is true of

course. He is saying that his music is out of style too, I know this for a fact that my music is out

of style for I Have not wanted to change with the times or play the musical chairs game

anymore. I have had it. I no longer want to be a slave to my music but I want to be free of it,

however, I am in school to try to understand my present place in music which for me is no place.

For I have no desire to please others with my music to get a job or apply for some stupid grant

which will never be enough money for anything meaningful to support a life.

I just want to be free to create whatever music I believe is true and honest. I do not want to

Produce What a lawyer or wedding job would want me to play. Or a classical concert or a jazz

concert, or Dixieland concert or whatever. I wish I had an answer for old age but I do not. I am

learning to be a computer musician; so I can produce and hear my own music and record it too if

I want. All I know is the body gets weaker and we do not have the strength as we once did. I

think Schutz is being very honest about himself and his condition. My flute and clarinet are so

old that they do not want to play very well either, five adjustment screws are broken off my flute

so the pads do not seal. My clarinet has a post came out of its hole and will not hold the key

down. So it could come out any time too. I fixed it the best I could. My 80 dollar clarinet plays

better than my Buffet. Ha ha, such is the life of a musician.

Greg Henry Waters about retirement.