Mosaic Festival 2007 - Youn Sun Nah 5

My first Mosaic.

After I had read the various write-ups & done elimination (wanted to only go 1 this year as a try-out) and finally settled on this performance. Well, I read that she sang jazz, so I thought "should be quite safe". It turned out it was not the classic kind of jazz but contemporary (well, not sure which genre it was).

I didn't really like the earlier part, but the later half's songs/music were not too bad. I must admit that she uses her voice quite well, with various techniques & sounds made.
I was also quite amused by the pianist, not only did he played on the piano keyboard, he played directly on the strings! Making metallic rhythms and it was interesting.

It was an interesting performance & out of the ordinary for me. Think next year I'll try out electronic music.

Designing Leisure - Bear Fruit project (2)

The presentation was over on Thursday. My concept? The Envelop.
Honestly, I can't draw. So I used a mind map to present my idea in keywords. As it came out, I find myself presenting the concept quite badly (I'm quite bad at presenting verbally...nervous) & everyone was trying to figure out what I'm describing and visualise it. Well, the panel tried to help me a bit, like making me draw (which was a flop) and using paper to create a shape. They tried to prompt me in further developing my idea, sometimes to bring me to be more practical. 1 of them even tried to draw it out for me.
Really, by the time I finished my presentation, I thought "ok, everyone seems to be a bit clueless of what I'm talking about, so my design won't be taken up". However, it turned out that it was accepted, but I really need to fine-tune it to be more concrete to let people see what I really want to do. Of course, I will be getting a helper who can help me draw. Haha....Not bad eh?

After that, my brain started working again & I considered what materials to use and also incorporated some of the comments of the panel to enhance my design.

Yesterday, I was affirmed that the panel actually liked my idea though I couldn't draw it out. Hey! hopefully, they see what I see in my design concept even though I couldn't express it.

This is so exciting. I can do something out of my ordinary life.

The next session will be doing a mock-up of my design. Have to do some research of what materials to use & take into consideration the cost.

Singapore symphony

I attended a SSO concert tonight, featuring SINGAPORE. A Geopolitical Utopia by Vladimir Martynov, a symphony written by a Russian composer on Singapore (it was first performed in Moscow in 2005 at the opening of some Russian-Singapore relations event). It was rather high security with metal detectors/scanners as many high officials, ministers, ambassadors, including our MM Lee Kuan Yew and His Excellency President S R Nathan attending.

Ok, going into the performance...

It started quite different from the usual, with clapping! Everyone in the orchestra clapped & the choir launched into "Sin-ga-por", repeating the word. This lasted for some time.
As the symphony went on, it gave me the feeling of different cultures enveloping me and the effect was very "surround", very "Singapore"...with all the races coming together in harmony. Somehow, it felt like those National Day songs...nostalgia. It was full of Singapore flavours with some Malay-like music.

After the very Singapore 1st part, you can hear it changing into a hymn-like music...more European/Russian style. Following which there was music that sounded refreshing and like day break. Somehow, I imagined that it was describing Singapore moving from the "turbulent past" to a new beginning as a nation.

It moved into more classical style music then a bit of jazz and then you could distinctly hear Chinese-style tunes. Very well put together.

You could somehow sense the multi-faceted & versatile Singapore, vitality, as we move into the future. Multi-cultured.

It was very interesting and I liked the piece very much. Of course, a standing ovation was given. Yes, I believe the composer did a good job in depicting Singapore.