Lim Yi Benjamin www.limyi.com

Move

2009-06-23T17:09:00.001+08:00

Dear friends,

I have shifted my site to www.limyi.com, or www.limyibenjamin.wordpress.com

All my latest music and happenings are there - check it out and see you!

Cheers,

Ben Lim Yi

2008-12-06T19:01:00.002+08:00

re:mix

presents

Beyond Boundaries

featuring the music of

ABBA, Xin Yao, Beyond & Carlos Anton Jobim

with guest artiste

Roger Wang, guitar

and music arranged by

Iskandar Ismail, Kelly Tang & Benjamin Lim

Sadly, I won't be in Singapore for the concert - will be in LA and Taipei!

Do watch the concert and tell me how it goes, my friends!

Happy Holidays!

re:mix in concert - Beyond Boundaries

2008-11-15T03:22:00.003+08:00

Dear friends,

my string orchestra arrangements of the Xinyao songs 细水长流 Xi Shui Chang Liu 夜的眩晕 Ye De Xuan Yun will be premiered by the re:mix String Orchestra led by Foo Say Ming.

Date: 21 Dec 2008

Time: 3pm, 7.30pm

Venue: Esplanade Recital Studio

Tickets: From SISTIC, $20 each

Click this link (sistic website) to read more!

http://www.sistic.com.sg/portal/dt?desktop.suid=uid=authlessanonymous_sistic,ou=People,o=portal,dc=sistic,dc=com,dc=sg

Check it out if you have the time! The arrangements are in a totally different style from the originals, and played entirely by the string orchestra!

Article in Berita Harian!

2008-11-03T23:52:00.003+08:00

I appeared in the 3 Nov 2008 Berita Harian! I think it's mainly got to do with the book launch the the Music Alive! textbook and my performance...(help with Malay language translation, anyone? :p)

Upcoming Performance...

2008-10-16T02:12:00.008+08:00

Hello my friends! It's been a long time since I've updated, I've been busy!

The Teng Ensemble will be performing soon! Details:

Event: East Meets West Festival,

part of 'Neither East Nor West' Exhibition

Venue: Asian Civilisations Museum

Dates: 8th and 9th Nov 08 (Sat & Sun)

Timing: 1-130pm, 230-3pm (Sat)

1-130pm, 4-430pm (Sun)

Instrumentation: Guitar (Me), Tabla, Sheng, Pipa

Do drop by and say hi if you're in the area!

Review in June 08 Classical Guitar Magazine (UK)

2008-09-12T01:40:00.006+08:00

My english review has finally been published in the June 08 issue of Classical Guitar Magazine (UK)!
The 8th International Guitar Festival (2008) will be held this year from 8th - 14th Dec. Angel Romero is coming!! Woo hoo!!

Disclaimer: I won't be reviewing this year's festival as I'll be off to L.A. :)

On Teacher's Day...

2008-09-01T02:28:00.011+08:00

This teacher's day, I put together a collage of (some) of my students! Taken on my NEW Fujifilm camera, nonetheless! :p

Part of the sheng section

Andrew, Zhongyin Sheng

Little Brandon, Zhongyin Sheng

Timothy, Gaoyin Sheng

Zhengjie, Gaoyin Sheng

As well as these jokers in my theory class...

Xueqi, CM and Nicholas

The flash is BRIGHT yeah...

Meantime, I'm still busy completing my commission for Chinese Orchestra, entitled
昨∙今∙明, Yesterday.Today.Tomorrow. Halfway done, then it's onto working the other two commissions for string orchestra!

Keep well my friends!

Taking a leaf from Chen Qigang...

2008-08-17T18:00:00.002+08:00

For those of you who aren't already fawning over the Olympic Theme song composed by French based Chinese composer Chen Qigang, here it is!

Simple, yet effective - whoever says 'pop' has to be cheesy and repetitive? Listen carefully to Chen Qigang's subtle shadings of harmony and texture as the melody floats above!

Simply brilliant!

Registration is now OPEN!

2008-08-12T01:52:00.006+08:00

Dear students,
Registration for the Nov 08 sitting of the ABRSM theory exams is now open!

You may visit www.abrsm.org/exams to register online, or head on down to the ABRSM office at Victoria Concert Hall.

Here are the details in brief:

Date of exam: Saturday, 1st November 2008
Registration dates: August 4th- August 15th 2008
Fees: please check website for your grade!

Feel free to consult your friendly neighbourhood theory teacher if you need help!

ah boy looking pathetic... :p

NTU Convocation Dinner - 28th July 08

2008-08-04T18:31:00.008+08:00

Photos from the Convocation Dinner as promised!
(We're all dressed up cos it's a HIGH-level, FORMAL event :p)

It was a star-themed night apparently, the hall was nicely decked out with star-lamps! Sweet! ;)

Photos from NTU Convocation - 26th July 08

2008-08-04T18:17:00.007+08:00

Here are some photos from my recent performance at the NTU Convocation Ceremony 14:

Next post: Convocation Dinner where President SR Nathan was GOH.

Article in July 08 NIE News

2008-07-30T16:16:00.004+08:00

I'm in the July 08 of NIE News again!

Follow this link to read more:

http://www.nie.edu.sg/nienews/jul08/contents/89.html

tata for now and keep well my friends!

Review in Gendai Magazine March 08 !!

2008-06-12T21:15:00.008+08:00

My review of the 2007 Singapore International Guitar Festival and Competition has been accepted and published in the March 08 issue of Gendai Magazine!

Gendai Magazine is the premiere Classical Guitar magazine in Japan and they've finally accepted!
My 2007 review (in English) will also be published soon, in Classical Guitar magazine (UK).

Here's some of the review!
(anyone knows how to translate it back to English? :p)

NIE Recital 28th April 2008

2008-04-29T01:56:00.004+08:00

Me playing Dong Lie 冬猎 and Lin Hai Xin Ge 林海新歌, accompanied on Yangqin by Jueru (thanks!) for my end-of-year recital.

Oxley String Quartet in concert

2008-04-24T14:34:00.004+08:00

Thanks to all the well wishes from everyone! The premiere of my pieces Porcelain Harlequin and Through the Glass went well on 23rd April 08. I'm STILL trying to embed an imeem or similar player into my blog! (any tips/help friends??)

I will like to thank the Oxley String Quartet again, for their dedication, professionalism and friendship - Seah Huan Yuh (Violin), Matthias Oestringer (Violin), Darrell Townshend (Viola) and Peter Alsop (cello) - you guys were great!

(from left: Peter Alsop, me, Huan Yuh, Matthias Oestringer- pity Darrell couldn't join us for lunch!)

Dunstable to Charpentier

2008-04-19T03:41:00.010+08:00

Amadeus Chorale performs this Sunday - Early works from the Middle ages onwards!

Tickets are at $20 each, reach me for tickets!

click to enlarge

Porcelain Harlequin PREMIERES!

2008-04-18T15:08:00.008+08:00

Dear friends, my string quartet in two movements: Porcelain Harlequin premieres next Weds!

Here are the details:

Event: Exxon-Mobil Lunchtime Series Concert feat Oxley String Quartet
Date: Wednesday, 23rd April 2008
Time: 12.30pm - 1.30pm
Venue: National Institute of Education (NIE) Recital Studio, 3-01-01
Tickets: FREE
Programme: Mozart, Brahms and Porcelain Harlequin!

Do come down and support if you're free my friends! I'm thrilled to be working with the Oxley String Quartet featuring: Seah Huan Yuh, Mattias Oestringer, Darrell Townshend and Peter Alsop.

Call me, call me if you need help getting to NIE!

tata-deee

Upcoming performances...

2008-04-06T22:18:00.002+08:00

Hello again my friends!! April is indeed a busy month as everything begins to culminate!

Here are my upcoming performances, do contact me if you will like to drop by!

9th April 08 - 12.30pm - 1.30pm: NIE vocal ensemble @ NIE recital room. FREE

20th April 08 - 8pm: "Dunstable to Charpentier" by Amadeus Choral Society @ Lee Foundation Theatre, NAFA Campus 3. Tickets at $20 each. We'll be singing really early music, from medieval up till early baroque. Apart from the choir, there'll be 'Te Deum' by Charpentier which features soloists such as Khor Ai Meng and William Lim! Do msg me for tickets, I have to help sell a few!

23rd April 08 - 12.30pm: Exxon-Mobil Lunchtime Series Concert @ NIE Recital Room, featuring Seah Huan Yuh and his String Quartet! FREE. Apart from premiering my string quartet pieces Porcelain Harlequin and Through the Glass, they'll also be playing Mozart and Brahms. Do come down my friends!

26th April 08 - 4pm-8pm: Funtasia - Singapore Tote Board 20th Anniversary @ Singapore Chinese Gardens. FREE. Following my performance with Dr Wong Su San a few weeks ago, I'll be accompanying some young singers (on guitar) for some nice choral pieces.

28th April 08 - 11am: End-of-year recital @ NIE Performance Room. FREE. I'll be playing Mozart's Turka Alla Rondo (Turkish March), Dong Lie 冬猎 and Lin Hai Xin Ge 林海新歌. Yangqin accompaniment by Jueru!

That's all for now, I'll try to post up some pictures and videos of the Pop Band performance at NIE last week!

Tata-deeeee

What a blast!

2008-03-24T23:51:00.003+08:00

The performance on Friday evening for the SPH Chinese Choir 20th Anniversary Concert was a blast!

Yes, it was really challenging for me to have to learn and play the snake-skinned drum in ONE NIGHT, but I pulled it off! :) Totally respect frame-drum players now man!

My fingers were hurting so much I was so afraid I couldnt play for my sheng solo cadenza part!
Anyway, it's OVER and the organisers are happy, that's all that matters. Yippee!

Here's a pic of the prog booklet- they put such a huge picture of me although I was only playing in one song! Gosh~More updates to my upcoming schedules:

I have a last minute performance with Dr Wong Su San this Weds(!) for the TOTE Board Anniversary Press Conference! I will be accompanying her on my beloved acoustic Ovation :)
My string quartet piece will be premiered by my old friend and excellent violinist, Seah Huan Yuh and his wonderful string quartet! This will happen during one of the weekdays for the Exxon-Mobil Lunchtime Series concert in April.

More to come, more to come! busy as a bee...

Upcoming performances...

2008-03-20T15:47:00.012+08:00

Hello again my friends! I have been busy preparing for quite a number of things, here's an update to some of my upcoming performances:

21st March 08, Friday, 8pm @ Singapore Conference Hall- Guest playing with the SPH Choir for their 20th Anniversary Celebrations.
1st April 08, Tuesday, 12.30pm - 1.30pm @ NIE Recital Studio - Pop band ensemble performance! I will be playing guitar and singing Tequila Sunrise (by Eagles) and Now & Forever by Richard Marx.
9th April 08, Weds, 12.30pm - 1.30pm @ NIE Recital Studio - Vocal Ensemble performance! We will be singing some nice a capalla arrangements of traditional as well as contemporary songs.
28th April 08, Monday, 11am-11.30am @ NIE Performance Room - My end-of-year solo sheng recital! I will be playing 冬猎 Dong Lie, 林海新歌 Lin Hai Xin Ge and Mozart's Turka Alla Rondo (Turkish March).
Mid April, -tbc- Exxon-Mobil Lunchtime Concert @ NTU, featuring the premiere of my string quartet pieces, Porcelain Harlequin and Through the Glass.

Keep watching this space for more updates my friends!
Meantime, drink lotsa water and take care of that health! The weather in SG has been erratic recently :(

String Quartet needed!!

2008-03-11T22:13:00.005+08:00

I need a string quartet to record my latest composition!

It's in two movements:
I. Porcelain Harlequin- Allegro con brio
II. Through the Glass -Pesante.

If you're interested, please contact me! I'll send the score over for a prelim viewing.

My friends, if you have contacts, please reach me!

Hmm...

2008-02-22T11:15:00.004+08:00

This couldn't make it for the October 07 issue, but, oh well, it's been run finally!

click on this link to read!
http://www.nie.edu.sg/news/contents/38.html

Happy Lunar New Year!

2008-02-07T02:11:00.000+08:00

After all that hustle and bustle last week, it's good to finally have some time to quieten down a bit and rest!

We finally had our photoshoot on Sunday for the new TENG website (keep watching!) that's gonna be launched soon. Here are some sneaks!

I think the colour ones look more 'friendly'and 'human'! haha

I didn't really take that many pictures from the whole day's shoot (rem I dont camera-whore well ;p) so that's just about it. I'll upload an album on facebook! Add me my friends!

I'll keep everyone updated when the new site is up! Meantime, happy eating and collecting ang baos, my friends!

Tata!!

String Quartet Frenzy!

2008-02-01T01:14:00.000+08:00

Thanks to everyone who came down for the string quartet performance on Wednesday!

I will especially like to thank the Syzygy String Quartet (NAFA) for their time and effort- Weibin, Pheck Chuan, Christoven and Sihan! Hope the recording is released soon...

Yes, it was a crazy Weds for me as I rushed from NIE-NAFA-NIE, but, oh well, all in a day's work, eh? ;)

Am now in the process of re-writing certain parts of Through the Glass for string quartet, to be performed with the Allegro con brio 2nd Movement, which I've named Estrangement. Hopefully I can arrange for a live performance in NIE recital studio itself so that a recording and performance can be done concurrently!

More updates to come, my friends!

Tata-deeee!

Mozart's Turkish March 土耳其进行曲

2008-01-26T14:32:00.000+08:00

Mozart's Turkish March arranged for sheng by Zhang Zhi Liang lao shi.
Just a warm-up before my recital in April ;P

Do leave me your comments, my friends!

String Quartet Performance @ NAFA!

2008-01-25T14:18:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone, my arrangement of the Chinese folk tune 《草原情歌》 Cao Yuan Qing Ge will be performed by the NAFA string quartet next Weds!

Please come and watch if you're free! There'll be other arrangements of folk tunes by other local composers too.

Here are the details:

Date: 30th Jan 2008
Time: 12.30 pm
Place: NAFA Lee Foundation Theatre
Tickets: FREE (!!)

I went down this morning for a rehearsal with the string quartet, I am very impressed by their playing, and looking forward to the performance!

So friends, come on down if you're free!

Tata-deee!

Who says Shanghai Jazz has to be Chinese or Jazzy??

2008-01-20T00:38:00.000+08:00

My latest performance with my good friend and master tabla player, Nawaz Mirajkar. Enjoy, my friends!

New Year, better ear?

2008-01-12T15:42:00.000+08:00

Wah it's been such a looooong time since I last wrote! Been busy, and nothing really 'big' to post about too I guess.

School term has started again, I'm lucky to be laden with a 3 day work week so far. But there's quite a lot to be done across these 4 modules; music ed, music lesson planning, composition and english writing for sec sch.

Have been crazily rushing a string quartet arrangement of a Chinese folk tune, by next Monday! My teacher says if it's good enough it'll be performed alongside other student arrangements! Hope all goes well...

Planning to write another string quartet as a second movement to my Through the Glass last sem. That one was roughly string quartet with oboe and bassoon. I'm still trying to find a way to upload my music onto this blog so all you friends out there can listen and give me your most precious inputs!

Other than that, there're some small performances coming up, nothing big I guess. I bought a small guitar amp for my classroom teaching today!

It's kinda fun to play around with, a real novelty for me since I play classical most times. Gonna try it out when I teach tonight!

Chinese New Year is coming up soon too! I've made a resolute decision to hang around the kitchen this year and pick up some REAL culinary skills from my excellent chef parents :P

Keep it going everyone! Tata!

Guitar Fest 2007!

2007-12-28T02:12:00.000+08:00

Yes I know I've not really been writing recently, havn't really been in the mood to.

But as promised, here are pictures from the Guitar Fest that concluded earlier this month.

Tibault Cauvin (France) He's the same age as me!

Shin-ichi Fukuda (Japan) His lecture was on Takemitsu! Woo hoo!

Guitar Maker Masaki Sakurai (left) and his wife Yes, we all look a bit tipsy here after some wine!

His Maestro-RF model guitar is amazing! It features a raised fingerboard and is really nice to play. Nice price, too ;)

This is Zé Paulo Becker (Guitar) and Bernardo Aguiar (Percussion) from Brazil. They rock! great Samba rhythms and infectious melodies.

Rick Smith

Great jazz guitarist, nice guy, he plays at Harry's at Boat Quay! Lucky us!

Yes, that's me on alto II tinkering away for the Guitar Ensemble performance. Hah...

That's about all the pictures I took, unfortunately. Guess I was too busy playing busy reviewer and geeky researcher to camera whore =)

Tata -dee folks!

Jacques Loussier Trio!

2007-12-12T02:12:00.000+08:00

Went for the much anticipated Jacques Loussier Trio concert tonight with Cindy.

Both of us are GOING MAD now! Firstly, as if it wasn't staggering enough to be able to watch this LEGEND performing life infront of you, I found out that he has CDs of his work on Satie!

After a whole week of wonderful guitar performances (pictures are coming soon!), I thought my ears had been treated enough. But tonight, it was just mind blowing! As if Jacques Loussier's astounding technique and control isn't enough, he improvises with the most exciting counterpoint and harmonisations that literally sweep you up and through a whirlwind of keys and centricities!

Take that and TIMES THREE. It is seriously draining watching the trio as they come up with the most stimulating counterpoint and improvisations! By the time they came to the Bolero, Cindy and I were sitting there with out jaws right open. :P

I got two cds of the Trio - the Bach double CD and the Satie! Best part? I got it AUTOGRAPHED! WOO Hoooooooooooooo~!!!

The only real real big disappointment to the concert was the dismal turnout! I mean, like, it's JACQUES LOUSSIER TRIO! What in the world is Singapore doing missing a thing like that??! Oh well...

My guitar review is completed! A whole week's worth of hard work at the Guitar Fest - keep a lookout for my next post!

Meantime, tata-dee folks! :D

Chalet chalet!

2007-12-01T14:24:00.000+08:00

Here are the pics from the chalet on Tuesday!

What a wonderful place! Nice, quiet bungalow, and corner unit some more! Highly recommended to anyone looking for good quiet time alone :)

the lovely juniors of NIE!

Hope the BBQ went well everyone!

I went out with my laoshis -both of them! for dinner. So sad that my laoshi only came for like, less than two days! No time to bring him out and see abit more of Singapore. But I think he may be coming again next year! Yippeee...

Introducing Carrie...

2007-11-26T23:52:00.000+08:00

check out the rosewood mouthpiece!

My latest obsession...

2007-11-25T13:14:00.000+08:00

So recently I've been looking to get meself a good sound system. I really need one with all that score reading etc ahead of me (I got all the scores to Bartok's String Quartets, finally!).

Was out shopping on Weds and decided to pop by the Bose showroom for a try. Not bad, decent price, I thought. Would suffice and last me till I got my own house.

But YESTERDAY my life changed FOREVER. Went to an audio showroom in Adelphi (yes, you know where I'm heading) and...all I can say is, I can never return to commercial sound systems a la Bose, Pioneer etc ever again. For audiophiles out there, you probably know what I'm talking/hearing about!

Considering I'm on a puny budget, I decided that I will settle on an entry level model: The Spendor S3e speakers and the Sugden Bijou Series. I will sooo need a good loan now to get this set. Maybe I'll go back to the showroom another few more times before really getting it!

This is the Spendor speakers. Reviews I've checked out label this little baby as a real stirrer for its size! I'm going for the darker hued red rosewood one :p

This is the Sugden Bijou CDMaster. It's compact size is a plus for my small room!

AmpMaster Power Amp...

& the Headmaster Pre-amp...

The Sugden is known to pair well with the Spendor, both being UK brands. HMV uses Spendor speakers! Rich B***tards... :P

Yes, Ben has officially entered the world of audiophilia with this entry-level set! But before I raise enough funds for this, I shall just remember the sound of such clarity ringing in my ears...

Wish me luck in my fund-raising everyone! ;)

*pictures from Spendoraudio.com and Sugdenaudio.com

Post sem life...

2007-11-23T00:01:00.000+08:00

Life has been busy since sem ended!

1) Saturday's Guitar Perf @ Esplanade Lib:It was quite an o-o-k performance for a general public kinda crowd, though we probably have to shape up a lot more to play for the Guitar Fest! The place was sooo squeezy, you can see us all shoulder to shoulder! *grrr*

2) My Cousin's Wedding on Sun!

As most weddings would go, the whole thing started from morning when we had to go 'fetch the bride'. Haha the jie mei's are so evil to make them all do funny stuff!

I played sheng and guitar for the dinner...Hardly got to eat the wonderful food as a result! Hmm Club Chinois at Orchard Parade Hotel...apparently run by Tung Lok! Good food indeed :P
No pics of my perfs cos my camera batt went flat then :(

3) Watched The Pillowman

Went to catch SRT's The Pillowman! It's a fantastic play, I recommend it to all! Dark and macabre plot, with stark juxtapositions of violence and humour - quite Pinteresque I would say!

This is a picture of Jae and me in the courtyard outside SRT at the waterfront - it's a nice place to chill! Lotsa cool pubs etc...

4) I went mad buying tons of CDs!

I've finally fulfilled my semester long urge to get these CDs!

Arvo Paert, Copland, Takemitsu, Lutoslawski, Brouwer, Piazolla, Rautavaara, Tan Dun, Corigliano, Varese, Carter!

AND I finally found the musical production of Les Miserables! Woo Hoo! (You can see it in the foreground :P)

PLUS I got all SIX of BARTOK's STRING QUARTETS on one Cd by Emerson Quartet!

I'm going mad!! Weeeeeeee

5) Guitar Fest 2007 is coming up!

this year's festival is from 3rd - 9th Dec, although performances are nightly from 5th Dec.

Interesting artistes this year include Shinichi Fukada and Tibault Cauvin. Shinichi was a former student of Andrés Segovia (!) and he's a great interpreter of both classical and jazz style arrangements.

Cauvin is like THE hottest name now! At only 23, he's won like, 13 international competitions! WOO

For more details, check out:
http://www.tomas-music.com/tomas_music_consultants/default.asp

I'll be there reviewing the festival again, drop me a msg to let me know if you're going to say HI! :P

JACQUES LOUSSIER TRIO is also coming to Singapore on 11th Dec! I nearly flipped when I saw the flyer in my inbox. Like WTH!?! Bought a pair of tix straightaway. GET YOUR TIX EVERYONE!!

My laoshi from CCOM is coming down on Sunday! But so sad, he'll be leaving on Tues night.
I wonder how my new sheng will be! EXCITED q^^p

Finally, here're some nice pictures of old Singapore that I took recently while running my errands:

This is the road with old shophouse near Mackenzie Road that I'll always walk through to get to my prawn noodle place (see previous post)...

This is a nice old coffeeshop in Tanglin Halt (Commonwealth) where I've been getting great authentic Kaya toast since young. So nice to be back there again after so many years...

That's all I have for now, till my next post! Happy hols my friends!

Tata!

Term has finally ENDED!

2007-11-13T23:24:00.000+08:00

Yes I know it's been a looooong time since I last blogged. My life this past one month has been rather sordid - assignments, school, teach, read, sleep, eat, watch music dvds, assignments, school...

Anyway now that TERM HAS ENDED (the submission of the cursèd lesson outline for ACE321 was yesterday), here are some more interesting updates of my life to come:

1. my cousin is getting married this Sunday. I, being the only musician in the family, have been 'arrowed' to play my sheng while the couple stride into the ballroom. Talk about return to old times with the troupe accompanying the bride eh, except this time it's me on sheng solo! In addition, I have to perform a couple of songs on my guitar as the guests dine. Yes, the guests get tortured to my singing and wailing of my guitar :P

2.the Niibori/Cairnhill Guitar Ensemble is performing at Esplanade Lib this Sat. 6pm to be exact. Have been busy practicing my little alto guitar parts since I only started attending rehs like, 2 weeks ago! I HAVE to stop sight-reading ;)

3. My laoshi from Central Conservatory is coming down to Sg end of this month!!! He's the chief examiner for all winds in the NAFA /CCOM exam. Waha! Heh this piece of excellent news leads me to...

4. I AM GETTING A NEW SHENG!!! Yes, although Charlotte is temporarily gone (I'm going to pick her up tmr), her short absence has reminded me that I may be without a sheng at any point. Hence, when Yang laoshi comes down end of this month, he's helping me bring down a 26 reed sheng!! WOOOO HOOOOOOOO!!! That's like, 5 extra notes compared to my old one! I can go mad finally!! WAHAHHAAHA hmmm what shall I call her? I think Carrie sounds nice...

5. I placed an order for Persichetti's 20thC Harmony!! WOO HOO!!

6. Guitar Fest 2007 is coming up soon! First week dec to be exact.. But more official updates on that at a later date...

7. Does anyone still want to read the follow up analysis of Chou Kong Shan? Although I have officially submitted the paper, I can easily post up some excerpts of the analysis...leave a msg if you ARE indeed following it!

Besides that, here are some photos that I took recently too:

Nice old kopitiam at Mackenzie Road that I love to go for my fav Prawn noodles :p

It's such a charming old world feeling kind of area...just evokes nostalgia... Why do they keep destroying old shophouses anyway? Idiots...

Deepavali just passed! I took a picture of a beautiful setting done by student's mom. It's called a Rhugali if I heard correctly...Anyone knows the proper name? Either way it's just beautiful...It's made of coloured rice and powder and all.

Was walking back from Canteen A the other day with Yif, JR and Joyce when we saw this beautiful sunset tearing through the corners of the blocks. Most illuminating...

Ever since my aunt and uncle came down from US, we have been eating good stuff...like this HUGE plate of chicken breast meat at Boon Tong Kee :P My fav...Boon Tong Kee Boon Tong Kee Boon Tong Kee...

And finally here's a picture of my lazy ah boy (again):

I'M the king of this house...where're my servants?

Liu Hui has given birth!!!!

2007-10-06T16:15:00.001+08:00

My lao shi's wife has finally given birth!!

Here's some pictures I took at lesson today, sooooooo cute!!

Can you guess if it's a boy or girl? =)

Well, it's a girl!

This picture here was taken when she (Myrna) was just a week old. She's 11 days old now!! Yippeeeee!

Apparently she's not supposed to be out till 10th Oct! Luckily she's not in any danger or anything lah. Small hands, small small small. So cute!

Anyway, before I go out of control baby-gaga-ing, here's a picture of my lazy ah boy to end with:

Tata deeeee!

Wind and Window Flower by Robert Frost

2007-10-04T23:44:00.000+08:00

Lovers, forget your love,
And list to the love of these,
She a window flower,
And he a winter breeze.

When the frosty window veil
Was melted down at noon,
And the caged yellow bird
Hung over her in tune,

He marked her through the pane,
He could not help but mark,
And only passed her by
To come again at dark.

He was a winter wind,
Concerned with ice and snow,
Dead weeds and unmated birds,
And little of love could know.

But he sighed upon the sill,
He gave the sash a shake,
As witness all within
Who lay that night awake.

Perchance he half prevailed
To win her for the flight
From the firelit looking- glass
And warm stove-window light.

But the flower leaned aside
And thought of naught to say,
And morning found the breeze
A hundred miles away.

Updates from my camera...

2007-09-29T23:44:00.001+08:00

Just completed Day 2 of our Lantern Fest shows at Central Mall. This is quite a beautiful place!

To start off, this is where we perform (you can click on the pics to enlarge):

Our little 'stage' is on the left (the orange hue thing). The mall here overlooks the river, and it's Clarke Quay on the other side. It was real hot in the afternoon when we were setting up, but by night it's really quite enchanting.

So nice to people watch as we perform! hehe..

Apparently the mall is designed by some Jap fella. It's real quirky and I keep getting lost! But what the heck, as long as I know where the Starbucks is, all is fine =)

This is the bleak storage room that is our holding area for the three days. It's actually an unoccupied shop unit, just next to the toilets. There're still lots of untaken units, surprisingly, in this Central Mall place. According to my brother, they're waiting for the SOHO to be fully up.

The kids said they feel ''caged up'' here. haha. we literally have a little flimsy lock to lock up the wooden partition as we leave. haha.

This is us performing on Sat night. The crowd was much better as I think it was a Sat. Fri was a little quiet. I like it when the kids sit on the ground and watch us play, they're so enthralled! There was this little girl that came up to me to shake my hand, so cute!

Anyway, enough about all the boring stuff about our performance. The BEST part was the lanterns! They dot the whole riverside and is really quite breathtaking. Whether you're on the Clarke Quay side sipping a beer or dining in Central Mall, it's just so nice and atmospheric. Sometimes I gaze and gaze till I forget what I'm playing! =p Hehe I took all these photos in between my sets, I'm like a tourist... Let the photos speak for themselves!

And there're lots more there - I didn't want to walk up and down the river with a camera with people thinking I was a weirdo. haha. There were little kids playing with lanterns and all, so cuuttteee!

Oh don't ask me who the girl in the second pic is. She was just camera- whoring the whole time I was trying to get a perfect shot. Hehe.

So anyway that's that from the riverside. EVERYONE must go down and take a look at the lanterns and all! It's so nice and festive there, it's one of the few times I actually don't mind crowds.

Finally got the pictures from SPH for the Youth Talent Concert too. Here's one of the pics:

I really don't know whose hand I'm shaking here, I thought it was supposed to be President Nathan?!! (afterall it's PRESIDENT's Challenge right?) Either way, I just thought this was one of the few pictures I've taken where I actually look quite decent. Now you know why I'm not one for camera-whoring eh. :P

Finally, here's a picture of my Ah Boy on a lazy afternoon to part with:

Tata-deeeeee!

Analysis of Movement I: Adagio (Part I)

2007-09-29T00:47:00.000+08:00

In this post, I will focus on the first movement of 《愁空山》 - the Adagio.

According to Guo Wenjing's write-up, this movement depicts ‘悲鸟号古木，子规啼夜月’ . Roughly translated, it is a scene where mournful birds hark about old, bent trees, while (I) sob under the moonlight. The 'sob' word here (啼） is also more commonly used to refer to the harking of birds, but I shall not delve to deep into the subtext and different layers of these lines.

The structure of this movement is as such: lento- adagio-accelerando-lento-adagio. Apparently, this form was used by Guo to allude to the 板式 ban shi style of opera.

The pitch material here (as provided by the composer) states that it is one mainly built on a three note major second ascending motif, of pc set {0 2 4} (in normal form already). It is first started off by the dizi solo (Fig A). I did manage to find a few instances of it transposed here and there, in different unordered pc sets (Fig B-C):

I didn't choose to illustrate this {0 2 4} set much because, frankly, it really did not turn up in that many places. More interestingly, however, I found another pc set that is, to me, an intervallic expansion of this {0 2 4} set. This latter set, {0 2 5}, is so salient throughout the piece, it appears in inversions, transposed, transposed inversion, it's so exciting!

BUT we'll have to wait for my next post to get a glimpse of that. I have to rush off for my performance now.

Tata deee!

A poem for my lover

2007-09-25T21:12:00.000+08:00

Wherefore art thou, my lover, when thine needeth you most?

For you I've given time
for you I've cried and laughed
for you I've given friends,
for you I've travelled in solitude

You promised me a lifetime of enchantments
you led me around the world
you opened doors when others were closed
you let me know you as time wore on.

Your witty turn of phrase never fails to pique me,
Your ever-changing footsteps always an inspiration
Those magical sonorities you entranced me with,
I hold dear in my heart till now.

Yet when my broken body turns to you,
your face is nowhere to be seen
your voice is a faint whisper, an echo
I long for a warm embrace, on nights like these
when my mind and body can no longer see you
I am fatigued.

You run from me as I chase ever so desperately
You're always a step ahead of me.
you turn your head to hurry me along
My legs have grown so weary.

How I wish I could speak of my lover
a lover who is almost one with me.
you whisper in my ear when others aren't looking
you scream when I'm not ready for you.

But I will never see thy face
I shall never hold thy hand
I will never feel the warmth of your cheek against mine
Your fragrance will never fill the air.

That much I have to be content with,
my lover that lives in my heart.

Random happenings...

2007-09-17T02:51:00.001+08:00

Been too busy to blog recently.

Busy rushing my Finale assignment for Dr Tang's module now. Was telling Cindy that NOW I realised why Dr Tang was so concerned that I had the Trio to type in - he asked me if I wanted to change the score. I shld have taken up the offer! My score is like, 12 pages long and, although only with violin, clarinet in Bb and Piano parts, it's really tough stuff. Esp the piano, which has like so many voice parts. Dr Tang really uses the piano to its max man! :P

I'm actually getting quite fast on Finale, and I realised that, after you've memorised certain hotkeys, things can get quite as fast as on Sibelius. Well, I've not tried printing and editing layout yet, so I'll reserve my FINAL verdict till later. Heh. I'm going to be borrowing my friend's Sibelius 5 tomorrow to test run it too. =)

Good news last week for me too! My guitar review for last year's Singapore International Guitar Festival was accepted and published in the September issue of Classical Guitar magazine! I'm quite shocked that they accepted it too, considering how it's a (UK) international magazine that is like THE magazine for classical guitarists. Hope I don't get hate mail after this issue :P

School work is starting to pile up too. The stupid AMX module (Cultural Differences) is really getting on my nerves. As if it isn't sickening enough that I go to school on mondays just for that ONE HOUR lecture. Now there's like group projects and individual essays too. They shld make all music majors be exempted since we did Ethnomusicology (twice) and have like, covered all the issues already. Dumb. Oh well. It's the last common module I have to do, I think.

Realised I have no real social life too. Life is quite about sacrifices sometimes. Ah what the heck, I always say, never regret, never look back! You only live once, so just live and be happy. Saw a cat sleeping soundly on my Dad's bonnet so I took a picture:

Tata-deeee!!

《炫》 Xuan By Guo Wenjing

2007-09-09T18:39:00.000+08:00

Here's a video of a percussion piece, 《炫》 Xuan or 'Parade'. The title has two meanings - The first meaning 'bright', or 'scintillating', with reference to the timbre of the percussion instruments used. The latter meaning is that of 'parading' or, showing off.

This piece is a sequel to another percussion solo piece also by Guo Wenjing, titled 《戏》 Xi or 'Drama'.

Enjoy!

Social and Historical Context behind 愁空山 Chou Kong Shan

2007-09-03T22:08:00.000+08:00

Here's a very brief run-down on the climate preceding Guo Wenjing, the events leading to the 'new wave' of composers, as well as the context to which Chou Kong Shan is such a seminal piece.

In the 1930s and 40s, composition was very much limited to that of art songs, vocal pieces and piano solos.

From 1949 to roughly 1979, due to the Cultural Revolution, government policies as well as politics of mass media / propoganda, much musical activity and creativity was greatly hampered, if not completely stopped.

Songs that were composed during this era had to be explicitly patriotic, and had to have easy, mass appeal, especially to rural villagers who were uneducated. Many of these tunes were actually quite cleverly composed, and still endure till today. One of the first Sheng 笙 pieces I remember playing was <学习雷锋好榜样> Xue Xi Lei Feng Hao Bang Yang. We used to laugh at it's 'Communist' impetus, but the truth was that many pieces composed around this time (and till very much later) was of such a nature.

Hence, if you like, this was a period generally that was not conducive and even repressive towards any form of artistic creativity.

All this changed in the post-cultural revolution years, when more and more foreign trained Chinese started returning from overseas. They followed the atonal trends current in Western music of that time, while inherently trying to keep a link to traditional Chinese music aesthetics.

(Incidently, the cipher notation system <简谱> was only adopted in the 1920s or so, and it was modelled exactly after the western system of notation. The urgency for this new system arose as a result of a perceived erosion of traditional folk tunes, and the need to preserve them. Yet you notice that it wasn't a wholesale adoption of the western notation yet; parallels to the disposition towards western composition techniques ensue here).

The lack of repertory for ethnic instruments 民乐 arose largely in due part because of the absence of literature available for composers to study and learn about these instruments. There was no Walter Piston, no Samuel Adler and no hundreds of years of carefully documented orchestration books to refer to (not that such literature could have even been written, considering the nature of Chinese music aesthetics up till then).

This issue of instruments is also a huge discourse in which I will not delve too much into, but in a nutshell the thing to note is that compostions for traditional instruments was not very possible because there was 1) no standardisation across the huge expanse of China with regards to playing styles and instruments, and 2) the instruments themselves were rapidly evolving with the burgeoning economy and increasing influence and access to western technology.

Hence, most standards for traditional instruments were mainly composed by adept exponents of the instruments themselves. In Dizi 笛子, namely Yu Xun Fa 俞逊发, Lu Chun Ling 陆春玲 and Zhang Weiliang 张维良.

The idea of a 'concerto' involving traditional chinese instruments is also a new and western import. Of this genre, again Guo Wenjing belongs to the latter half, where, in the case of Chou Kong Shan, the dizi with western symphony orchestra. Older 'new' composers like 刘文金 Liu Wenjing, you would find, wrote in a much different style. Guo, on the other hand, as we shall see, embraces new techniques and develops sonorities that exploit new advances in instrumentation and capability, such as the use of the 8 hole dizi (compared to the 6 holed traditional one).

I shall enumerate more on the dizi in my next post. For further reading into the development and history of Chinese traditional music, feel free to open these cans of worms:

汪毓和 Wang Yu He (ed.) 2006. 中国现代音乐史 Zhong Guo Xian Dai Yin Yue Shi. 北京: 高等教育出版社. Beijing: Gao Deng Jiao Yu Chu Ban She.
乔建中 Qiao Jian Dong (ed.) 1998. 中国音乐 Zhong Guo Yin Yue. 北京: 文化艺术出版社i. Beijing: Wen Hua Yi Shu Chu Ban She.

Tata- dee!

My crazy Friday

2007-09-01T13:30:00.000+08:00

I just had the most crazy Friday, I feel so hung over now! This is how it went:

0930h: Music class with Prof Stead. Quite fun, we did some aural and sight-singing stuff. I think I really need to work more on my singing in minor keys! hehe

1130h: Rushed down to ACS (Br) to pick up the intruments. It was so frustrating coordinating the instruments with the school because, being Teachers' Day, all the teachers weren't around. Hence the rush to reach the instruments before they all left for their teacher's day lunch.

1230h: Loaded the instruments onto the lorry. Two huge drums, one vibraphone, some small gongs. Had to carry it up a long, steep flight of steps! ARgh.. At one point I even took off my shoes because I didn't want to get them scratched. (haha I love my shoes lah). Thank goodness Jiwei was around to help me.

The bane of my life: 大堂鼓，花盆鼓 and Vibraphone

1330h: Instruments arrived at Singapore Conference Hall. Sound check straight away. BIG PROBLEM: Eugene tells me that the gongs were the wrong ones! = ...( We proceed to play with the weird gongs we had anyway, although it sounded really off.

1430h: Eugene and I rush back to ACS. We were so anxious to settle this little hiccup that we decide to eat lunch only after getting the right gongs.

1500h: Peace at last. All has been saved, and the right gongs have been found! In some obscure corner of the C.O room, nonetheless...

1530h: Eugene and I head to Sunshine Plaza on Middle Road to eat Parklane Wanton Noodles. I quite like hanging around this area because I'm so familiar with it. It's an area with rich history and lots of arts activities. Guess that's why I prefer this area (Bugis, City hall) to Orchard.

1545: Finally some rest from all that flurry of activity in the morning. Thrown with like, 3 hours to kill before the performance, Eugene and I head to Pacific Coffee at Red Dot Musuem. It was my first time at this branch, and it's GORGEOUS! So nice and cozy. You really should check out this Pacific Coffee branch when you're in town with time to kill! It's nice and quiet with lush sofas and all.Whipped out my laptop, ice latte, cool air-conditioning, what more can a man ask for...

1800h: Backstage with packed rice for dinner. The coffee is wearing off already and I'm beginning to feel sleepy. Everyone's had their make-up done, including Yi Fang! She was gorgeous during her sound check. Eugene and I try to elude the make-up radar by eating our dinner in the balcony outside :P

1915h: Audience members start streaming in. We're slated to perform at 830pm. Yawn.

2000h: THE SHOW HAS STILL NOT STARTED. This is so frustrating! Apparently the president was not late at all. But the @&%*! lion dance troupe seems to be dragging their routine outside in the carpark. grrrr

2040h: I'm up next! I try to shake off my 'sleepiness' by running my item through my head. The dim lighting and dark corners backstage certainly doesn't help me now. I wonder how the audience will take to our item. Tonight we've seen quite a varied number of performances, from fire twirling to beat boxing to dance. Ours is still quite a 'traditional' music performance. The crowd is really young too. Most probably students supporting their friends in the dance and drum troupe.

2100h: Our item is done! I think we were really more stable and comfortable than during the sound check. Didn't like the idea of having to walk on stage and waiting there before the emcee announced us though. It's so weird.

Now we just wait. Apparently we can't go off yet because there's a certificate
presentation and reception with the President. All the kids are really excited about it. I take a step back and somehow, I really feel happy for them. Spoke to this kid, he's 15 and in RI, doing a 6 year IP programme and also on some special music course at Yong Tau Foo conservatory. Good that there're more channels open to youths nowadays, and more are doing it professionally. Easier when you're like a 'western' musician too I'll think. Oh well.

2200h: Finally the show is over. Trust SPH to turn the whole show into a 'booming ra-ra show success' thingy replete with party poppers and streamers etc. So drama. haha Eugene's not around cos he had a 10pm romantic appointment. Glad he's missing all this ra-ra show histrionics.

2210h: Group photo-taking and reception with the president. Those kids that do the Indian instruments are such CAMERA WHORES. They like try to inch in with the president, chit-chat so that they can get captured etc on papers. Gosh. I told Yi Fang that we should do that too, so that Dr Eugene will see us on the papers. haha

2230h: I decide to be elusive and slip out from the reception after sipping some wine and having some wonderful chocolate truffle cake. I'm already feeling the fatigue in my bones.

2300h: I go for supper with my old friend Michelle and her bf. She came to watch the performance too. Went to Liang Seah street, ate, ate, ate. First it was the Beef Noodle house, then some Italian cafe or something opposite (nice club sandwich, inexpensive too!) and finally desserts at Ah Chew's dessert house. haha We're such pigs.

0130h: Back home! I lug all my barang barang home (costume, Charlotte (my wife), certificate, posters etc). I feel quite happy with the whole performance, although I would have preferred something with less hype. Oh well, it's quite infectious being with the young ones too, all their bubbliness and all. I feel less old already. I didn't get any feedback on the show, mainly because all my friends were busy tonight. Samuel, my NIE senior went though, and he was thoroughly happy with the whole show. Well, one good feedback from a trained ear is better than anything else! :P

0230h: I decide to call it a day after watching abit more of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess.. Time to recharge my batteries before my performance tomorrow night! I'm accompanying Andy for his solo dizi recital. Good night!

Background to Guo Wenjing

2007-08-27T23:50:00.000+08:00

Guo Wenjing (b.1956) is from Chongqing, Sichuan. He entered the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing (中央音乐学院) in 1978, the first batch of students following the Cultural Revolution when the conservatory was shut down.

Only 100 students from were selected from over 17,000 applicants in this inaugural matriculation. Amongst Guo Wenjing's classmates include now famous composers such as Tan Dun, Chen Yi, Zhou Long, Qu Xiaosong, Ye Xiaogang and Chen Qigang.

Whilst many of his classmates pursued advanced degrees overseas (Tan Dun, Zhou Long and Chen Yi in Columbia, Ye Xiaogang in France), Guo remained in Beijing, staying on in the Central Conservatory. He held the post of Composition faculty head for many years.

Guo's output is most diverse and indicative of his inherent journey from culturally rich Sichuan through to the urban jungle of Beijing. I find this most apparent in his piece for unaccompanied violin, 《川调》　Sichuan Tune. In it, he uses a syncretic blend of folk material andwestern violin techniques, producing a cohesive piece.

Despite not being based abroad, his operas such as Wolf Cub Village 《狂人日记》 and Night Banquet 《夜宴》 have received great critical acclaim, with Wolf Cub Village being performed in no less than than 8 different productions and languages. This is an unbeaten record for any Chinese, including overseas based Chinese and diaspora.

Besides his numerous compositions for different set-ups, he also has had much output for film. More recently, he composed the music for 张艺谋 Zhang Yimou's film, Riding alone for Thousands of Miles 《千里走单骑》. I've got this film on DVD, and I must say his style is really a departure from 赵季平 Zhao Jiping's, a composer for many of Zhang's earlier films such as
《菊豆》 Ju Dou and 《红高梁》　Red Sorghum.

To see a more comprehensive list of his works as well as his background, please do take a look at the following websites:

http://bk.baidu.com/view/568462.htm
http://www.centralcityopera.org/index.cgi?CONTENT_ID=598
http://www.cnmdb.com/name/1200/

As well as his blog, which is hyperlinked here in my blog.

I'll post more on the soical and historical context of Guo's life soon. Tata!

Upcoming Concert - 31 Aug 2007

2007-08-24T23:12:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone!

I'll be performing for the upcoming 'Youth Talent Concert' 青春展才艺 organised by SPH. It's in aid of the President's Challenge 2007, and will be held at the Singapore Conference Hall.

In it, I'll be playing a sheng solo with percussion, <孔雀开屏> (The Peacock spreading its feathers).

Come watch if you're free! There're lots of other interesting, contemporary and ethnically themed 'Chinese' performances. Yi Fang from our NIE music dept will be singing too.

Tickets can be purchased from Karl Heng Enterprise, #02-95 Bras Basah Complex, at $20/-.

First Post

2007-08-19T22:01:00.000+08:00

This blog is born! This blog was set up to document and record my research findings /analysis for the module AAI 333: Analysis of 20th Century Music.

For this mini-research project, I will be looking into the music of Chinese composer Guo Wenjing 郭文景. In particular, his piece for Dizi (Bamboo flute) and orchestra, 愁空山 (Weary of Empty Hills).

Here's more information on Guo:

http://www.centralcityopera.org/index.cgi?CONTENT_ID=598

and some information on an upcoming performance in Beijing:

http://www.emma.cn/eventinfo.asp?id=407&category=MUSIC