挂起来

This is one of the those Madonna songs that I really like and have just re-visited recently after cleaning up the CDs at my workplace. The music is cool, simple and lyrics are just one kind.

The constrant conflict of being hung up on and hanging up on someone is intertwined nicely within the repetitions of the lyrics.

Anyway, she's really great with stage presence and all. Go see for yourself, her concert videos are great. Her accompanying dancers are fantastic.

Hung up
============================
Every little thing that you say or do
I'm hung up
I'm hung up on you
Waiting for your call
baby night and day
I'm fed up
I'm tired of waiting on you

Time goes by so slowly for those who wait
No time to hesitate
Those who run seem to have all the fun
I'm caught up
I don't know what to do

Ring, ring, ring goes the telephone
The lights are on but there's no-one home
Tick tick tock it's a quarter to two
And I'm done
I'm hangin' up on you

I can't keep on waiting for you
I know that you're still hesitating
Don't cry for me
'cause I'll find my way
You'll wake up one day
But it'll be too late
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The Little Drummer Boy

This Celtic version is rather mysterious and religious sounding.



I like the verse "the ox and lamb kept time"! hahahha =)

Holy cow!

SWS @ Botanic Gardens

Well, thanks to Edwin, I'm some photos of the performance to share.

It was a very pleasant surprise to see him with TWO(not one!) ladies there! Unfortunately his sitting position did not allow him to 左拥右抱。Hahahah =)

I loved the piece sang by the Santa Maria Choir, Little Drummer Boy. Really nice harmony.

Nice, confident sound from the band and familiar christmas tunes. Made it a really relaxed evening.

Xmas concert

Singapore Wind Symphony with the Santa Maria Choir

presents an evening of Christmas classics"CHRISTMAS HARMONY"

conducted by Resident Conductor Mr Regan Wickman

Venue: Botanic Gardens, Shaw Foundation Stage

Date: 21st December 2008

Time: 6pm

Highlights:

Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson)

A Christmas Festival (Leroy Anderson)

Westminster Carol (trad. arr. James L. Hosay)

Excerpts from The Nutcracker (P. I. Tchaikovsky)

Excerpts from Water Music (G. F. Handel)

Celtic Carol (arr. Robert W. Smith)

Xmas is coming!

Rehearsing with SWS has been a remarkable experience. They project very confidently and most of them are VERY VERY LOUD. I bruised my lip while trying to play to hear myself when the entire band plays in forte or fortissimo. The piccolo player is on my left and he plugs his own ear when he plays the piccolo.

During yesterday's rehearsal,

I asked him, "You plug your ears because the piccolo is loud?"

He answered, "Yes, the piccolo is too loud!"

My thoughts, "Huh??? Then don't play so loud!"

I answered him, "Yes, I should wear some plugs myself!"

I performed at St. George's Church with them for the first time. My debut performance on the oboe in a wind symphony. Had a few short solos, was pretty fun, and I had the tuning job too, which was rather scary at first.

The church was a nice place to play in, acoustics were good, not too wet nor dry.

Bible provided! Can't figure out what's the little box for though

From the side

From where I was seated

Chocolate in your face!

That's my dear dog, Chocolate. He looks very contented after a bath and having his hair(fur?) brushed.

He really looks like the typical tissue box deco cover eh?

Looks easy...

Kids doing their drills during the holidays. We've to submit a video as a prerequisite for entering the SYF Central Judging.

The not-so-proficient ones...

The more pro ones.

The kids can do the marching and playing well enough if the activities are seperated.

When they do both at the same time, it can get quite sticky. Legs don't obey hands or vice versa. It's not easy, but it looks damn easy.

Secret Shop?

Please.... please.... please....

Run along to Esplanade Library and order a Honey Mustard Chicken Sandwich and their Ice Blended White Chocolate with whipped cream. It's really good.

Perfect for a delightful snack or a light meal.

It's a must-have for me everytime i visit the library!

Can we buy scores from the library?

One of the silliest things that have happened to me.

You see, I heard this piece called Malambo in Ginastera's Estancia. Fascinated I was, so I went online to purchase the score(along with it the four scottish dances). And then I went to Esplanade and found the score there too!!! Ok never mind, since I've already bought it online, there's nothing much I could do. Thing is, I decided to read the score first and borrowed it home. And weeks after I can't seem to find it at all!!! I've ransacked my shelves and all but alas, it's been misplaced.

Days after, the online purchase arrived. I thought about replacing the library's copy with mine(it's exactly the same version/publisher and newer-looking) but I thought the library probably don't have this policy of one-to-one exchange. And so I reported the loss and paid for the book. It's costs $35, which is about the same price(if not less) from the online store.

Which makes me wonder; Maybe I should have "bought" it from the Library instead?
(What do you call this? despicable? inconsiderate? ultimate low life?)

Hmmm.... are there people who do that?

Tune to A and Bb

I attended the Philharmonic Winds concert on Sunday. They are still as impressive and musical, enjoyed the sound and blend of the wind orchestra.

They played rather "unfamiliar" tunes to the general public and in wind band literature. Nonetheless, I enjoyed most of the pieces except the Saxophone concerto. The tone of the Sax is definitely rich and good, but I think the concerto was a bit over my head, as in, I didn't know how to really appreciate it.

There was a piece from czech and it was certainly the most entertaining to listen to. The conductor spent a couple of minutes interpreting the work before setting out to perform the entire piece; talked about the Russian invasion and the use of various instruments and techniques to represent certain activities/people.

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A link: This is one of those weeks I rehearsed under several conductors in a short span of a few days. Different conductors bring out a different sound from a group, and I think this "sound" aspect can turn out to be quite important.
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I rehearsed a modern interpretation of "The Butterfly Lovers" today, not the oriental version, it's an european one, written for Erhu and Wind Band. The piece is composed based on the same oriental story, but given a modern/western interpretation. It's interesting but can't help but feel that some of the parts just don't seem to form a nice scene to me. Well, it could be because subconciously I still think the Oriental version still reigns! And believe me not, I think those younger members of the band have never heard of the story before!

Generation g a p !

John Golland's Atmospheres is such a beauty! Superb composition. Period. It's a little like the 4 elements thing that my quartet is trying to do, brings the music and the interpretation to the next level! Playing it is an immense learning experience, hope I can get hold of the Cor Anglais soon!

一阳指

Observe the single finger tremolo!!! Pro!　

Is he the fastest fingers on Earth?

Such technique! Think it's the fastest version I've ever heard. and the runs are like super loud.

It's also so fast till the orchestra can barely "contain" the guitar. It is not as well-connected at certain areas and the blend between the solo and the orchestra isn't that good.