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Main
QUESTION
NOVEMBER 15, 2011
Sheet
OF THE WEEK
by Samuel Burleigh
What is your favorite part of the Mainsheet?
Anna Donaldson
Chris Meehan
Jerrica O’ Donahue
“I like the ability to read up on all the numerous events happening at the college.”
“I appreciate the diversity of the paper,
and how it is like a commercial newspaper
but condensed into four pages.”
“It is a great way to check up on events
around CCCC, such as Poetry Slams and
Readings by Dan McCullough.”
Professor John French
Professor Christine McClure
Josh Estrada
“You can get all the pertinent information
about the college, and it’s the first way to
hear of the various events around campus.”
“The ability to keep up with what is going
on around the campus.”
“Honestly, a few years ago the MainSheet
was a great paper, but now I have given
up on it.”
Inspirations of a Jazz man
Kushigian explained some of the musical history and
importance behind the work of Palestrina. He said that
during the Renaissance era in the 1500’s, at the Council
of Trent, a council associated with the Roman Catholic
Church, the pope outlawed polyphony in sacred music.
I try to practice at least two or three hours
per day and it is also a good way to relax
my mind during the day.
CCCC student Ben Kushigian
In its simplest terms, polyphony can be described as
when two or more melodic lines are played at the same
time. Kushigian said, “The pope felt that polyphony detracted from the greater glory of God. He thought that
people would like to hear the music instead of the word
of God.”
Kushigian explained that Palestrina, a composer of sacred music, had created a composition titled the “Pope
Marcellus Mass” in an effort to overturn the ban. He said
that once the pope heard the composition he recanted his
opposition. Kushigian said, “The pope said only God
could have inspired such beautiful music.” Palestrina’s
work was not only influential to Kushigian, but to the history of musical composition which continues to be studied to this day.
Sitting and talking with Kushigian about music can be
compared to opening the pages of an attention-grabbing
book. Each page reveals an interesting fact or story about
some of the most fundamental aspects of the musical
photo by Dianna Taunton
by Dawn McDermott
Ben Kushigian sits alone with his guitar on a wavy
shaped bench in the Science Hall at Cape Cod Community College. It is in the early morning hours of the day
and the campus slowly begins to show signs of awakening. Fluorescent lights above Kushigian flicker as they
warm, casting a glow as they start to illuminate the darkened building he sits in. Soft humming sounds coming
from computer equipment behind closed classroom doors
attempt to permeate the silent morning atmosphere, but
are instantly quieted once Kushigian strums his fingers
across his guitar.
Kushigian, a CCCC student majoring in music, can
easily be spotted just about anywhere on campus. Whether it is the large Trinity College acoustic guitar slung
across his back or the warm smile he offers to friends and
strangers alike, passerby’s take notice as Kushigian walks
by. And then there are the sounds of his music.
“It’s a great sound that just keeps echoing back to you,”
said Kushigian, describing the acoustics of the Science
Hall. He explained that while all the areas on campus
in which he plays, both indoors and out, have a unique
sound, the Science Hall and the lobby of the Tilden Arts
Center probably have the best acoustics.
When asked why he plays his guitar around campus,
Kushigian said, “I try to practice at least two or three
hours per day and it is also a good way to relax my mind
during the day.”
Kushigian has been playing guitar for over ten years.
He has studied many genres including swing, classical,
jazz and gypsy jazz. Many of these genres come from the
guitarists and composers whose music has inspired him,
including Django Reinhart, Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery,
Bach’s harmonic stylings, Beethoven, Tony Rice, Brian
Sutton, and Giovanni Palestrina, who according to Kushigian “single- handedly saved music.”
Ben Kushigian, a CCCC student majoring in music, has been playing guitar for over 10 years. Kushigian can often be found many a
mornings in the Science Hall, strumming away on his guitar.
form, told by a captivating storyteller whose passion and
knowledge for the subject shines through.
Currently, Kushigian plays guitar in a jazz duo with
John Dirac, a Berkley graduate. The duo primarily plays
Latin and Gypsy Jazz, but is also beginning to play some
classical music. They can be seen at Buckie’s Biscotti,
681 Main Street Dennisport, MA, on Sundays from 11
a.m. until 1 p.m.