16th Singapore Int'l Piano Fest 2009 - 26th, 27th & 28th June

It was Piano Fest again and this year, I had 2 rather different experiences on 2 separate nights.

26 June
Unfortunately, as I was still recovering from flu, I had to miss this concert. Was pretty disappointed. But well, as I was preparing for my trip, I should get more rest. Good thing my friend managed to help me find a buyer for my ticket.

27 June
It was a rather French experience this night with a French pianist Pascal Rogé playing French music (plus a Polish). As my friend put it, it was probably a French style, where the tempo was rather "light" and lyrical. Well, I guess it's the "impressionist" way.
The 1st half of night began with an uninterrupted flow of mainly Chopin & Debussy pieces. There were a few familiar pieces like the Nocturnes and also "Raindrop", Chopin's Prélude in D-flat major, Op. 28 No.15. My friend introduced me to an interesting Chopin piece Étude in A-flat major, Op. 25 No.1, also named the "Aeolian Harp" (An aeolian harp is a wind harp, named after the ancient Greek god of the wind, Aeolus). The interesting part was the "delicate melody centred on the right little finger". Ok, if the programme notes didn't point it out, I might have been less focused on that. Hmm...how shall I put it...it was "sweet", a little dreamy maybe, a melody out of the "myriad" of arpeggios going on.
And being always one for a bit of "pomp" in my classical selection, the first part of the night ended nicely with the "slavic" Revolutionary Étude in C minor (Op.10 No.12).
Strangely, I had an impression that 1 of the pieces reminded me of Oasis's "Sally Can Wait". Well, you can go guess which one. Just those few notes...

The 2nd half of the concert was mainly a duet with his wife, where they performed 4-hands. They also did 2 encores together, with a suite by Fauré and a French waltz, which I liked.

On a side note, we were talking about the make-up of the audience before the concert and I suddenly thought of my piano teacher. Well, I've not seen her for a no. of years and she must be about 80 or older by now, and I was thinking I should drop by her house to pay her a visit 1 day. After all, she stays quite near me. I just heard she's on holiday now in Spain. She's still very fit and active, which is good.

28 June
A great contrast from the mellow tones from last night, tonight's performance was more "passionate" than last night. Well, why wouldn't it be when we have a young Russian pianist (Yevgeny Sudbin)?
It opened nicely with Scarlatti's Sonata in F minor, K.466 and Sonata in G major, K. 455. The pieces played tonight were pretty short, but I would say I rather enjoyed them. Maybe it's the Russian interpretation or the pieces are so, with the many sonatas. He did 2 encores and both were great, ending rather dramatically with a rather familiar piece (forgot the name). haha...me & my Russian pomp. Interestingly, Yevgeny actually wrote his own programme notes.

Well, after listening to the night's programme, I think I'm actually one for sonatas. The way they move me... It's obvious too with how much I like "Moonlight Sonata".

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman

Having been down with flu for the past week, I stayed home for the most part and did some reading (I was hoping it could help me get some sleep...which didn't really work).

Anyway, was reading the above-mentioned book and I'm still not very sure what my primary love language is (I think it's either quality time or acts of service). Well, here are the 5 love languages as stated in the book:

1) Words of Affirmation
2) Gifts
3) Acts of Service
4) Quality Time
5) Physical Touch

These are applicable for all kinds of relationships, whether it's your friends, family or significant other, and it's supposed to be helpful in improving relationships.
You need to figure out which is the other party's primary love language and speak it, then as time goes on, you can add in the rest like as I quote "icing to the cake".

Mid-Year Review - 2009 resolutions

It's time for the mid-year review! of my 2009 resolutions.
Let's see what I had in January first:

1) Person: to be nice to people and learn to put aside some differences.
2) Ministry: volunteering in church
3) Music: more time & inspiration to write more songs; write more Christian songs; make more use of my GarageBand functionalities; brush up on my music skills
4) Sport: fencing skills - speed, accuracy and tactic
5) Work: better manage my time
6) Rest!

Let's start with item 1. Hmm...I think I'm working on that. Taking things easy and less defensive now. Hopefully, I can learn to be more open too.

I haven't really gotten down to deciding on what to volunteer for. Choral or kids?

Music. Hmm...think this year, I've only written 1 new song so far. Well, got to work on it. Anyway, I have some potential lyrics for a Christian song. Hopefully I can get some tune into it. And no, haven't got down to exploring Garageband much. But I think in terms of keyboard, think I'm slightly getting the hang of it, though practice would be something I should resolve to do more often. :P

As for my fencing, hmm...i think I've sort of reached some bottleneck. Can't seem to be improving much and accuracy is something I've really got to work on, along with strategy.

Work. Hmm...have been rather restless, but hopefully after the holiday I'm taking, I'll be rejuvenated. Have been looking out for opportunities too in other divisions.

And finally! Something that I can finally say that I'm achieving. Rest! Haha...went for a holiday in Hokkaido on Feb and now, rather suddenly, am going to UK in July! I'm indeed taking more breaks. I usually go for overseas holiday only once a year, but this time it's twice! The upcoming KL trip in Aug is not counted as it's just a short getaway. Still wondering if I can go to US now with all this flu thing around, but that's for work, so also not counted. I guess after all these, I won't be going for any more trips this year. No time & no money. I mean, this UK trip is probably going to cost me at least S$5K!

In addition to all these resolutions, recently, I suddenly thought of a few more. Firstly, I think I should compile a directory of my CDs. Well, I don't expect it to be completed by this year, but I do hope to at least cover my English CDs.
Secondly, I've decided to sign up for vocal lessons at Believer Music. To train up my voice, learn techniques and to take worship to a higher level. Who knows, maybe after this, I would really be drawn to serve in the choral team.
Lastly, I've been thinking of doing something new in sports. Suddenly had the idea of go-karting, although I think this might be a 1-time thing. Just for the fun of it. Also, a friend suggested cycling on weekends. Maybe I should go for some of those.

Well, guess that's all for now.

Trying something new

Hmm...the day before, I was suddenly contemplating trying g0-karting. Never done it before, but it seems fun. Wonder if any of my friends got lobang and/or interested too?

I'm also planning to sign up for vocal classes at Believer Music. Not sure if it'll be useful, but maybe it can improve my singing, especially in finding my key/range.

Li Yundi in concert?

Looks like I'm not fated to catch Li Yundi live in concert. A couple of years ago (was it 2004?), he was slated to perform here. However, the concert was cancelled.

This year, I just found out he's performing on 24 Jul, but alas! I've already bought tickets for SING Dollar, which is happening next door. So near but yet so far.

停留的博客

某年某月某日。一个不会前进的日子。如果有明天，他将写什么？如果有明天。。。

。

。

。

我停留在某年某月某日。

～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

I had this stream of thought/inspiration while on the bus home a few days ago. Was thinking this could be material for a short story, lyrics to a new song or even a narrative script for drama. hmm...maybe good for MTV or a narrative before & after a song. :P

Wisdom & Testimony

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus."

~Acts 4:13

random thoughts

I can't remember if I mentioned this before, but I like to imagine myself lying on a hill in the meadows, where the grass is soft and green, like carpet all round, with wild flowers swaying in the breeze. I'll be looking up into the blue sky and watching the clouds, all nice and tranquil, just me, the wind, nature and peace, appreciating God's creation.

Moon-Sun Wait

Finally got down to uploading my latest song presented at Songcraft last month.

Lyrics:

Female:
Each night, I look out the window
I see the cold and lonely moon
Am I like it, waiting for the sun

To shine its light upon my face

Male:
Each day, I wish for someone near
To set my heart ablaze with fire
I’ll give her joy and chase away her fears

Like the sun that warms her inside out

Chorus (Both):
I’m looking for true love
A love that was meant to be
A love that’s just for you and me
There will be no other
’cause that’s the way it is
’cause you’re the chosen one for me

Written in December last year, this was inspired at a time after I watched a couple of musicals I think. I was inspired to write a duet in a musical kind of setting and had the idea of the relationship between the sun & the moon in my mind. Originally I named it "Like the Moon & Sun" for want of a better name at that time, I didn't want it to sound too cliché with "sun & moon" (and definitely not like the restaurant!). So I changed it to "Moon-Sun Wait". Also becoz I started the song with reference to the moon. It sounds weird still, but never mind lah.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not a song of hopelessness based on the "sun-never-meets-moon" theory. It is in fact a more positive song based on the fact that the moon gets its shine from the sun (a reflection of the sun), hence the words "am I like it, waiting for the sun, to shine its light upon my face". Just like a girl waiting for someone to light up her life.

I also tried to be metaphoric in the lyrics where in the 1st verse, the girl is the moon, while in the 2nd verse, as a reflection of the 1st verse, the guy is the sun. Notice the "like the moon" and "like the sun" references, also the way it's written with "to shine its light..." "that warms her...". Also little things like "night" vs "day" between the verses. These all tie in too to the concept of the moon's shine as a reflection of the sun.

I was imagining one of those classic scenes where the girl is on the balcony (Romeo & Juliet?) looking up at the moon and singing the 1st verse, followed by a guy who is somewhere else, wishing away. Haha...must have been dreaming of a "hero" who will rescue the girl from the loneliness.

The chorus is actually depicting the search of "The One" where there will be no one but the 2 leads meant for each other. I was even thinking of a reprise of the chorus later on after the 2 finally get together where the lyrics would change to:

I've found my true love

A love that's meant to be

A love that’s just for you and me

There can be no other

’cause that’s the way it is

’cause you’re the chosen one for me

A fantasy love song.

Did You Hear The Mountains Tremble by Delirious?

This song has been ringing in my mind since yesterday.

VIm V IV

Yeah! I learnt an (extended) deep chord progression that I think will fit my style at keyboard class today. Can't wait to apply it to write a song.

Anyway, I think I'm getting the hang of things as we start moving into melodic intros. I know I still have a long way more to go as:
1) I am guilty of not practising and
2) I keep forgetting the rhythms and progressions (ok, this has something to do with 1)

But I tried something today which I liked when we were going through the 3 chords above; I added some chords as fills in between before repeating them. Well, not very great, but it's like getting the feel of things. However, I'm still trying to figure out how to derive the chords when I already have the melody (which is actually 1 of the reasons why I started keyboard classes).

More significantly, I was greatly moved at keyboard class today by the song "Will Justice Reign" by Kathryn Scott. Maybe because it was the subject raised in this particular lesson. We've been going through the Commandments and this week, class began with talk about babies and Psalm 139, followed by how many of such creations were terminated.
Did you know that approx. 115,000 abortions are performed per day in the world? That makes approx. 42 million abortions in a year. (http://www.abortionno.org/Resources/fastfacts.html) It's heartbreaking. And as we sang this song, that was what happened as my heart mourned the loss of these innocent souls. I held back my tears as after all, we were in class, but the great pain my spirit felt was deep. Thou shalt not kill...

爱多或爱少一点

有时候，我想，女人是不是应该找一个爱她比她爱他多一点的伴侣。这并不代表她不爱他，而只是不愿太过度付出而遭到伤害。

一个女人往往比较“吃亏”因为她比较会付出感情。一旦付出了就很难收回。若遭到伤害，也比较难抚平伤口。这是女人的优点，也是她缺点。也许她也希望被人疼爱多一点。毕竟，一个能比她爱他多一点的男人应该更懂得珍惜她吧。

当然，如果她能肯定得确定他是全心全意地爱她是，她是不会畏缩的。

其实，若两人真的是真心相爱的，谁爱得比较多也是很难衡量的为数。

哈哈。。。好矛盾。

这只是一个女人的想法。

Chasing dreams

I was reading a friend's post about dreams and was inspired into a reflective mood. So thought I'll reproduce my comment here with more elaboration.

Finding your dream(s) is like looking for simplicity in the complexities of life. Often, our dreams get crowded out by what’s around and they might get confused with other dreams we thought we might have. “Might” as in they are sometimes a branching out of that latent dream we have or "might" as in peer pressure.

Dreams are really what’s in the heart. One's real dreams are those that are pure & simple, that may or may not have been formulated in our younger days. Sometimes, it comes from the discovery of self. As we grow older, somehow the happenings around or to us, affect the once pure dreams and in the rat race, we forget these dreams, thinking they are not practical enough (which may be so in this world) and change or abandon them. Often, we develop fake dreams influenced by these which are actually not really what we want, but what society wants. Really, at the end of the day, when the time comes, you will know which are your real dreams and which are not. Well, hopefully we don't have to wait till the end to find out, or else then you'll know simply because of the regrets you might have.

However, fortunately, some people do chase after their dreams and though unrewarding financially at times (pressures of the world), are rewarding to the soul. They live happier in this pursuit rather than be trapped in the mundanity or expectations of society.

In response to my friend's post too, I must add that finding that special someone to share your life with is also part of a bigger dream. Ideally, both of you when together, should produce some synergy such that your individual dreams can become both your dreams. Alone, we are confined to our own dreams, but when you find the right one, somehow, there are new possibilities and perceptions you have not seen before and as both come together to edify each other, the synergy generated will carry both our dreams and new dreams to greater heights.

Personally, as seen by my motto above, I hope to live a life of passion. Am I doing it? Well, in a way, I believe I am. Abandoning my accounts background, I chose to further my studies in library science and to become a librarian. Although mainly driven by God's prompting, I believe this is part of my dream. Also, I have taken the step to really explore the artistic side of me, especially in the area of music. I'm finding myself more spontaneous to a certain extent and am loving it. I believe these little things will lead to some bigger things ahead, though still unseen, as I continue living it out.

It's living out God's dream for you. You might think it's God's dream not yours, but when you walk right with the Lord, your dream is His dream too. Living the 4th dimension in a 3-dimensional world.

""For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."" ~ Jeremiah 29:11-13

Further studies?

Not now, but, I've recently been thinking about it. However, it'll probably be after I complete my upcoming module and finish my development programme.

Not intending to take a degree or anything (just a self-improvement thing), I've been thinking of studying counselling or something to do with psychology. This actually isn't something new. Long ago, I ever had the thought to take a degree in Psychology last time, but somehow, I ended up taking Accountancy.

Well, I think I'm a good listener too, as some friends had said. So maybe there are possibilities. Maybe it would serve well in ministry too.

Movie season

Have been catching a no. of movies lately, like every (other) week, and following from Star Trek, I've caught 3 other movies: Angels & Demons, Night at the Museum 2 and most recently, Terminator Salvation.

Well, Night at the Museum 2 was funny (not super funny though), but enjoyable. Incidentally, I caught no. 1 on TV last night.

Now, Angels & Demons, was quite different from Da Vinci Code. Although I must admit 1 of my main motivation to watch the show was because of Ewan McGregor :P (I'm a fan!), it was not too bad. It's actually more of a murder mystery where Robert Langdon was basically tracking down a serial killer. Well, I like murder mysteries, though on afterthought, I had questions on parts of the scheme, but as I hadn't read the book, I shan't probe further since it could have been the movie couldn't explain too much about it.

Terminator Salvation. I actually watched the 1st 2 Terminator movies last time. Missed out on the 3rd though. So it was partly because of this reminiscence that I was motivated to watch this, which supposedly was set in the times at the beginning of the war between humans & machines, so no "back to the past" plot. And Sam Worthington is so 帅! I have a soft spot for blue eyes and he totally stole the show from Christian Bale. He looks like a mix of Ewan & Ben Affleck (not exactly a fan of Ben though).

haha...got distracted. The show was not too bad, and I enjoyed it. The usual good versus evil battle and Terminator kind of story. And yes, the "I'll be back" phrase did pop up.

A ridiculous taxi driver

I was listening to the news on the radio this morning when a report told of a taxi driver who "dumped" a pair of teenagers, looking for a campsite at some wooded secluded area, supposedly near the campsite. It seems that the driver lost his way so he just dropped them off citing he 怕黑. The teenagers were of course terrified and lost their way while searching for the campsite and were only found 2 hours later by the police.

This is such a terrible & irresponsible driver! If you're afraid of the dark, why are you even driving a cab, and at night at that! I hope they catch him.