Third Uncle

By Brian Eno
Covered by Bauhaus



Does anyone else feel like dancing?
Also, the video can be ignored, just listen to the music. =)

My Body is a Cage

Arcade Fire


This song describes so much of our lives...

Come Wander With Me

Composed by Jeff Alexander and sung by Bonnie Beecher
For the Twilight Zone episode of the same name.


 
He said
Come wander with me love
Come wander with me
Away from this sad world
Come wander with me
He came from the sunset
He came from the sea
He came from my sorrow
And can love only me

There are many covers of this song. But no one can match her voice.

Lovesong

by The Cure

Official Video

[RhinoEntertainment won't let me embed :( ]


Song only version

"bODY_rEMIX/gOLDBERG_vARIATIONS" 2005

*NWS*

Performed by: Compagnie Marie Chouinard from Montreal.
Choreography: Marie Chouinard
Music: Louis Dufort, J.S.Bach: Die Goldberg Variationen.


It's simply, brilliant.

In This Shirt

By The Irrepressibles

PAG - THE LADY IS DEAD
*NWS*

Director: Roy Raz

...I am lost in a rainbow

Now a rainbow is gone

Overcast by your shadow

As our worlds move on...

*Work safe version: Promotional clip from the film, 'The Forgotten Circus'*




***

BD: Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon I)
DD: Joseph Joachim, Lei Feng 雷锋,
Woodstock begins; 1969
"Assumption of Mary"

Summer - Piano to do List

NTS: (properly learn to play these)

All your ARCT songs:
1. Bach english suite
2. Beethoven sonata
3. Brahms ballade
4. Debussy
5. Diabolical Suggestions (maybe)
6. Revolutionary Etude

Also:
1. Etude op10. no3
2. All those Chopin nocturnes you've started
3. Scriabin left handed prelude and nocturne
4. Flight of the bumblebee
5. Requiem for a Dream (touch up on it)
6. Go find one or two other show pieces (i.e. Etude op10, no13)

Musical Birds

Birds on the Wires from Jarbas Agnelli on Vimeo.

Despite the comments on the video, about whether or not the picture is photoshopped, or that the notes are all 'space' notes (so 3rds = they form consonants no matter what), the the correctness of voice leading, I find that it is still a very creative concept. And this idea of this concept, should be the most important factor. Yes, it would be awesome if the rest of the stuff mentioned above, were more 'artistically correct', but they are secondary.

* * *
DD: John A Macdonald, Louis Chevrolet, Carl Jung

William Tell Overture - Finale

by Gioachino Rossini
Alas, what our school plays for hurry up music, every single morning.
(Unsurprisingly enough, it actually works. We've watched people's walking speed dramatically at the sound of this song. Conditioning much?)
So, not wanting to do anything else the other day, I found several different interesting versions.

Original, orchestral version:


The version that gets played on Fridays (without lyrics. I'm pretty sure it's by the same band)


A choral version


One man band!


Korea Brass Choir - where Beethoven have false endings, they have false beginnings XD


Organ version - oh man, I would love to get my hands on one of those...


A more comedic approach


Harmonica version! A must watch


And finally, Kazoos - some serious effort was put into this


See, people have so much fun with this song.

* * *
BDs: Claudio Monteverdi, Pierre Curie
DD: Emily Dickinson
International Day of Families, Mercuralia

Requiem for a Dream Theme

The highly popular theme song from the movie, Requiem for a Dream.

Last year, I watched the movie and fell in love with the soundtrack. Fairly easily, I tracked down the piano version that everyone uses.

The song itself isn't too difficult, it is mainly composed of block chords, trills and leaps. What differs between playing it brilliantly, and just merely playing the notes, is the pianist's control over the melody; as in the beginning, the melody is share by both hands, while playing other chords and notes. But anyone with training in classical (especially Bach and Beethoven) should be able to master that without trouble (I mean, c'mon, this is nothing compaired to those stupid fugues).

One of my favourite aspects of this piece, technical/physical-wise, is just the brutal force/energy requirement behind it. This is what's so great about modern/popular music at times - the music is fairly easy, so you get to pound at the piano all you want, and it'll be alright to do so. With classical music, you still get to do that - to do the little intricate details, to feel the subtle/giant differences, etc. But most of the time you'll have to fully learn the piece first, and even then, rarely, do you get to pound the keyboard (and usually, the ones where you do get to pound, have high technical difficulty). So yes, for RfaD, I get to hit the piano - which is why I wouldn't dare to play it on an electric keyboard, too much force behind it.

Overall, it starts out slowish and simple, no chords in the beginning - this is where the technical 'difficult' melody sharing part comes in. The arrangement in the beginning, is simple just haunting. Then, as the piece progresses, it gains a lot of momentum. There remains a hint of the intro motif, but it slowly gets overshadowed by the block chords. And by momentum, this includes physical momentum too. As I've said before, this is a very physical piece, requiring the entire arm, and if you really get into it, the entire body. And as it goes on, the tension just builds and builds up - not just emotional, but also muscle tension, etc, etc. By the end, it can literally leave you shaking and out of breath. Then the arranger just had to be cruel - he suddenly stops this build up, and ends on a very quiet, simple phrase. This obviously sounds brilliant, but to the pianist, it's almost like sprinting at full speed, then suddenly having to walk a tight rope or something, without a transitional distance to slow down and prepare. Absolute cruelty XD.

What's even worse, is that the song is almost entirely made up of octaves. I have small hands. They can reach up to an octave, but have a VERY big problem reaching anything beyond that (which is one of the requirements for a few places in this song). Plus, keeping them stretched at an octave, pounding away, for the entire piece, all 2+ minutes of it, is very painful. Of course, keeping your hand at one chord position for any song is painful, but the octave block chords just make it worse.

Here is a version of the song, played by my favourite pianist in the world (or at least on youtube) right now. This guy is just brilliant, will rec about him later.

Requiem for a Dream Piano Theme - Played by David Debono

*interesting note: regarding to what I said about how this song will leave the pianist shaking. Look at his right hand at around 2:00min, where the block chords end and the simple melody comes back for the conclusion - note the shaking in that hand, that's an example of what I was rambling on about above.

Here's another interesting version.
It's a tutorial for the song (though, whoever is willing to learn the song using this thing, is either a genius - for being able to learn it via this video - or an idiot - for even thinking about trying to do so)
It's made by a program, so obviously there's not much to listen to in terms of the musical experience.
But if you just watch it... It's like a very trippy version of guitar hero/rockband/DDR/all those type of games. Now, if you had this on one of those games, no one will be able to beat it XD.
Piano (Difficult version) Tutorial


Here is the original orchestral version from the soundtrack:

*Another note: starting at around 0:44min, where the violin starts playing that Bb repetition, it's slightly off tune. If this was done on purpose, it makes the song just that much more awesomer (because, manipulation of instruments to manipulate song, etc, etc). But, if it's not done on purpose, then it's just orchestra/violinist fail -____-, which is just bad.

And the 6 minute more epic orchestral version with vocal.


*Further note: the movie involves a lot of mature content... so all you minors + easily disturbed people, don't watch it.


* * *

Birthday: Sylvestre François de Lacroix.
Deathday: Benito Mussolini
Workers Memorial Day

Youth Musical Group

A Japanese children's musical group.

It is of course, very cute. C'mon, who wouldn't love these little asian kids?

However, the more I watch it... the more disturbing it kind of becomes. Especially with the way they look at the audience - the non blinking wide eyed stare. Most of the time, they don't really look like they are having a lot of fun... but.. I think we could just put that to stage fright or something.

Still... something bugs me about this video...



Birthdays of today:
Leonardo da Vinci
Henry James
Kim Il-sung
Emma Thompson

Deaths:
Abraham Lincoln
Jean-Paul Sartre
Sir Clement Freud

Mechanics of a Brass Instrument

With a mouth piece, a plastic tube, and a funnel.

All you brass players just totally got pwned.

Proust was a Neuroscientist

Book review time!

Proust was a Neuroscientist
by Jonah Lehrer

Using a handful of writers, artist, chef, and musician, Lehrer links the world of neuroscience and psychology, with the world of arts. I thought it was a rather interesting read, with new links and random information for the common reader.

Each chapter is dedicated to a specific artist, and the connections they have made to the scientific world. It typically starts off with a brief introduction and biography about the artist, some of the works they have accomplished. Then, ties between neuroscience and the specific works they have created, how they felt about it. What I liked the most, is that within each chapter, Lehrer also brought in other artists, philosophers, scientists, etc, to back up, or counter the argument. So we get to learn philosophies from a much wider range of people.

Though, to fully enjoy the book, I think one should have some specialty/common knowledge in the arts. For example, one chapter featured a musician - Stravinsky. And when Lehrer made notes between music, and how our brains work, I enjoyed it with greater depth, than some of the chapters on novelists, because I did manage to understand the terminology, and was able to relate to the experiences, and thus understand the links better. Same thing goes for the artist chapter, in which, I understood the experiences.

However, that is not to discourage readers who do not consider artistic inclinations their forte. The language used in the book, is clear enough, that it is suitable for everyone. I just think that artists, writers and musicians would take more out of it, because it does involve their art. For example, I liked and understood the chapters on novelists, but I do not remember as much from those, than from the music and art ones. (After all, memory is linked with the emotions that we feel at the time of its creation)

Overall, I think it's a book worth reading =)

Do TOK

Just because we are in IB, and the end is near!

It is such a brilliant song XD.

Anyone who's been/going through IB will appreciate this.

Do TOK - Group 4 Project, feat. Will-I-B

Arvo Part

Finally, the musician I had meant to feature all along.

I discovered one of his songs while watching the awesome tv show; Numb3rs.

He's simply, a genius.

Biography and background info

To the untrained and normal ear, listening to his songs, one could imagine him to have lived hundreds of years ago, along with the old masters. This is what I thought at first, only to find out that he is living among the contemporary musicians. (A trained music historian/person could probably tell from the harmony and styles used that he's a modern artist, but most of us have not studied in that much depth)

His music is just very... emotional and pretty.

Yup, just close your eyes and listen to this one. Feels the bells and the layers building in the depth of the spirit.

Cantus in the Memory of Benjamin Britten

Helsinki Flute Quartet

Just.. wow, sheer brilliance.

The Infinite Canon - J. Pachelbel


Air from Suite 3 - J.S. Bach


Alla Hornpipe - G.F. Handel


Must resist urge to go practice flute now (it's 12am, cannot play in fear of disturbing neighbours and family) >.<

And today's dates: death of Julius Caesar, H.P. Lovecraft, International Day Against Police Brutality, and Zeitgeist Day.

Philip Glass

Phew it's been a long week. But no worries, because it's time for March Break!!! Yeah!

I was going to feature another musician, however, lately I have been distracted by another one. So the intended will have to be posted later.

Now, introducing: Philip Glass

He is one of the most well known modern classical composer of the 20th century. Specializing in what we call art music and minimalism. Compared to some of his modern counter parts, I think his music would be one of the easier ones to 'get into', when being introduced to modern classical music. This is due to his more harmonious melodies, and wider use of consonances. More pleasant for the conventional ear than some other composers.

Personally, I think his music is just absolutely beautiful and breathtaking to listen to. Unlike my previous features, with complicated melodies and harmonies and counter harmonies and dynamics and master of all musical techniques. Glass uses simple melody and rhythmic repetitions to pull you into his music. They invoke intense/or just simple emotions, without using all of that extra flare. And it's extraordinary, how something so simple, can bring about so much. Because some of the piano pieces are so simple, it sounds so pure and brilliant and clean, there's room to enjoy each note. Most importantly, it's just so very pretty.

Though, as all musicians come to learn, what sounds easy and simple to do, often, isn't.

Some song recs:

Glassworks - played by Branka Parlic
I just simply love the songs from this series.


The Hours - played by Branka Parlic


Excerpt from Einstein on the Beach
This one's a rather fun/interesting one. I don't remember where I heard this from, but apparently, the counting in the background was not originally planned. Due to the numerous time signature changes, the orchestra had to count out the beats. So, he incorporated the counting in the the song.


The Metamorphosis - played by Branka Parlic
And of course, The Metamorphosis. This is one of my favourite piano pieces from him.
(A funny story, I was writing an essay on The Metamorphosis, by Kafka, the other day while listening to this song. At the time, I did not realize that I was listening to TM by Glass, and I thought to myself; "this song really suits/matches what I'm writing about....." Then realizing, that no duh, because the song is made for the novel. Shows you how well this song captures the book)


Birthdays for today: Georg Philipp Telemann, Johann Strauss Sr., Albert Einstein! (Hehehe, Einstein on the Beach XD).
And alas, Pi day!!!

200

Today marks our dear Frédéric Chopin's 200th birthday.
Love him, or hate him, he is still one of the most brilliant musicians of all time.


When I was much younger, Chopin did not make much sense at all. His songs seemed quite boring, and are only to be played because adults seemed to enjoy his songs. But over the years, as I grew up and have (hopefully) matured somewhat, I think I have finally come to an understanding, or at least, my interpretation of him.


As it turned out, he is not boring at all! Nor is it extremely depressing or sad, as some would describe him. No, his music is filled with passion, with such colourful and at times heart breaking chord progressions and melodies. Sometimes with subtle peacefulness, then such fury! Like a fire, an unquenchable fervour, infatuation, excitement, raw emotions that run through your veins. I love his build ups, with the stretto/cresc./ritenuto/con fuoco combination that just seems to forever build up the emotions, the pressure.... Until, suddenly, it is all released, into quiet peacefulness, drifting on such sweet harmonies, lulling you like the calm rocking of the sea, like warm afternoons on the grassy knoll, under the shade. It is absolutely breathtaking. This is romanticism at its finest.


Here are some of Chopin's piano pieces, though I don't know how well one can truly enjoy them, without playing these pieces, feeling the harmonies and vibrations of the notes beneath one's fingers.


My uncle's favourite song in the whole world: Etude op.10 no.3



Nocturne op.9 no.2



This one is relatively easy, and quite possibly overplayed by RCM students, but I absolutely just love this one: Nocturne op.19 no.72



A piece that I'm currently working on; the Revolutionary Etude, op.10 no.12



And at last, the poem about Chopin's defenestrated piano:
Fortepiano Szopena by Cyprian Norwid
http://colecizj.easyvserver.com/ponorfor.htm