This week was the first proper P.E lesson I had in about 3 months. As my P.E teacher puts it, "Its time to get active after 2 months of IN-activity." I need to get into better shape. My muscles are all aching after running and all that.
During worship team retreat, a friend was sharing that he wanted to draw his strength from Christ during physical activities because many other people do it in funny ways. Go to the gym and observe what weird things people do to get energy. I'm thinking, I would like to start drawing strength from Christ instead of relying on my own efforts because in Matthew 11:30, Jesus said "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
WORD OF THE DAY: Alate Having wings, winged
Speciale: Komponist Alberto Ginastera
A fairly modern composer from Argentina. His pieces produce an air of nationalism as well as something different from that of other composers ie Kabalevsky.
Ginastera's piano pieces are mostly in the form of dances. Its not in the Chopin way of waltzes or polanaises for the listeners to dance, its a dance of a particular individual from Argentina. The Danzas Argentinas will explaon what I mean. For example, there is the dance of the old herdsman, etc. Each dance brings out the soul of the individual so personally through the intricate harmony, beautiful but simple melodies and especially through the harmonic and melodic intervals.
The lesson I learnt today is that time-management is essential for everything in life. With the exception of God's help, everything in life revolves around time management. And to people who demands one's time just perhaps days before an event, causing oneself to get stressed etc etc, sometimes we must put our foot down and learn how to say no!
WORD OF THE DAY: Profligacy Reckless extravagance Quote: The extravagance and general profligacy which he scrupled not to lay at Mr. Wickham's charge, exceedingly shocked her; the more so, as she could bring no proof of its injustice. -- Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Speciale - Konzert Lang Lang Musical Concert
On 7 January 2012, Golden Village featured 2 of Lang Lang’s special performances which were compiled into a movie. The two and a half hour movie only available at GV Grand and GV Vivo was in commemoration of Franz Liszt's 200th birthday, whom Lang Lang claims to be his piano hero.
In an exclusive behind-the-scenes video, Lang Lang shares that he was exposed to Liszt's music at the age of 2, while watching one of the episodes in Tom and Jerry cartoon where Tom played the famous Hungarian Rhapsody No.2. Since the age of 5, Lang Lang declares that he has been playing at least one of Liszt's works almost annually. Liszt works are not easy, even the easiest of them requires maturity of at least a 12 year old, but for a toddler to learn them is no easy feat, showing the maturity and sensitivity for music Lang Lang had at a tender age.
The concert-movie showed 2 performances of Lang Lang. The first at the iTunes festival held in London at the Roundhouse. It was unique as all the audience were standing for the whole hour Lang Lang was playing. He played 9 pieces in total all composed by Liszt except for 2.
La Campanella Un Sospiro Theme & Variation from Paganini Romance Standchen (by Schubert) Hungarian Rhapsody No. 15 Consolation No. 2 Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 Encore: Wiomung (by Schumann)
Lang Lang's strength is his ability to play chords powerfully and running notes with a brilliance unlike any other. He is also very good in changing the mood drastically from fierce to playful to accented, loud to soft, etc. Sometimes, I feel that he is more concerned with enjoying himself and impressing others with his skill instead of really intentionally interpreting the piece musically and playing out the soft parts delicately.
In particular, having performed the Un sospiro before, I felt that there were some parts where Lang Lang did not interpret correctly, which is an example for the point I had mentioned above. Although the piece intends for the melody to be played out, it will not do to overdo it, especially for the last line of chords which should be played softly and singingly. However, Lang Lang totally shocked me but playing it faster and louder as the music got to the end. It really stunned me to think that all the parts I had strived so hard to play softly, he played it explosively without a care in the world.
In the 2nd part of the movie-concert, Lang Lang performed the majestic Concerto No. 1 in B minor with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He said that it felt more like a homecoming as he started out with them. It was with they who brought them to China where his whole amazing career flourished and his performance at the Beijing Olympics wowed the world. The movie ended with an encore of an orchestral version of Happy Birthday which was extremely unique and made the whole concert seem like a birthday party in memory of the amazing composer. Overall, it was an interesting experience watching a concert in a movie form and I learnt many lessons from it through the different angles the movie portrayed Lang Lang in. For example, the fingers, the eyes, the facial expressions, all within the same movie. This enabled me to observe me more things than what I actually could in a normal concert hall recital. One uncomfortable point about the movie theatre setting, was that the sound was very loud to the point of discomfort, as it was played in a normal theatre sound volume which can be harsh on the ears during the loud portions.
Quote from my Civics Tutor: "Trust you all have had a good break. (Can already hear the collective groans of NOOOOOOOOOOOO)"...
The month long December holidays are coming to an end. There is a general rush to complete assignments, homework, revision for re-papers. The year will be tough ahead for JC students (as it always will be)
WORD OF THE DAY: Sprat A small or inconsequential person or thing.
I found this word amusing. It sounds like 'spat' and 'sprout' which have nil resemblance to the meaning of sprat. hehe (random moment)
Speciale - video
This is one of my FAVOURITEEE new age pieces. It starts off perfectly tame and simple but gradually increasing in dynamics, volatility, texture and intensity along the way. Who says pieces which require whole arms to play dosen't. sound lovely? This piece just proves that statement wrong.
The title, 'All of me' was chosen due to the need for the pianist to use all of himself, physically, mentally and emotionally to play this piece. More literally, it points to the unusual requirement of the pianist to use the whole length of the arm instead of just typically, the fingers.
When my friend was practicing for this piece for a recent recital, my teacher was extremely concerned about her piano everytime he played for he to comment. She would say 'Careful ah! Don't break any of my strings.' In short, 2 words - enlightening, magical
It has been two years since I've written on this here. Looking back, I see how superficial and shallow I have been. Haiz.. the times when I was young, stupid and retarded. Well, its 2012 and the Mayan calendar and all that are obviously wrong because the Earth is still intact.
The main reason why I've revived this blog is so that I will have an output to really improve my language and writing skills - big As coming up. SO.. every post will have a new word which I will learn from dictionary.com.
My blog will also be dedicated to reviews related to any form of the arts - literature, music, art,film, etc etc... so do look out for the posts.
WORD OF THE DAY - courtesy of dictionary.com FETIAL - concerned with declarations of war and treaties of peace.
Speciale - Video
One of first performances. I felt that I had not enough strength and there were too many mistakes. Of course, the next video below, performed 3 months later was much better, with the exception of the little breakdown just before the start of the fast 'war' movement.
TKGS String Ensemble will be putting up a concert on 21 Nov 09. Venue: DBS Auditorium Time: 7.45pm Cost: $12
Please please come if you can!! We need to fill the seats!!! Email/call/sms me if you want tickets
; 11/10/2009 06:07:00 AM
Saturday
Crazy week or maybe its just me
Sighs. It started off quite well. Then all the trouble started on wed, like doing super well for amath then failing biology! Its unthinkable.
Then earlier, someone said something which made me feel so redundant so my mood was already quite down.
Mr Li didn't come for string so student conductors took us. We as seniors should set a good example for the juniors. If we ourselves don't even respect the authority, how can we expect our juniors to respect us? I don't blame the juniors if they don't.
I feel that we should give whoever's speaking in front of string the due respect they deserve. Even as seniors, or even part of the comm, we shouldn't be teasing, interrupting, talking back etc etc. Sometimes the person speaking may be our super good friend, or someone we know very well, we must still maintain a formal environment.
THUS! BE SERIOUS! GROW UP! AND STOP GRABBING ATTENTION
; 8/08/2009 06:59:00 AM
Thursday
ITS TOMORROW!! I'm nervous and cant sleep, wish me all e best. Tummy is feeling really wierd
; 7/23/2009 07:38:00 AM
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HY
Musical Musician
Pianocello;keyboard
Musician for God
Quote
I’ve never known a musician who regretted being one.
Whatever deceptions life may have in store for you,
music itself is not going to let you down.”
