The Mission

I discovered this beautiful piece by Ennio Morricone today from the movie The Mission. Earlier I met with one of my international students to do some English practice. She shared that she had been talking with one of my colleagues. When asked she shared that she related to me as a teacher and as a friend, then a pause and she said as a mother. I smiled because I knew as father was impossible. Other's in the past have said grandma etc.

When my 'ma' passed away years ago I decided that her caring nature and values for neighbours and strangers was something I really wanted incarnate. Perhaps that is my mission.

Beauty and sadness

Sometime I come across something on youtube that I really like and Sifei Wen's arrangement and performance of the theme from Schindler's List is in that category.

It is very precise and maybe perhaps could have been a little more free in timing but still something of beauty. I had a little scare this week when I couldn't see properly because of bright lights in my eyes. For 2 days I was a little worried even though they went away because perhaps there was damage or I might need an operation. Still I'm OK but tired from worrying. I think because I realized for the first time there isn't anyone to look after me if I get sick or disabled. Anyhow I'm OK for now and enjoy Sifei Wen.

Golden Oldie - Julian Lloyd-Webber

Being a cello fan I prefer this to the electric violin piece played by Jenny Bae called Beethoven Virus. Paganinni somehow seems preferable to a more mediocre Beethoven. Sometimes new isn't necessarily better



Want to see what I'm comparing this to? (click here)

Ave Verum Corpus

We used to sing this for services etc. I miss those days of a sight-singing choir. Often we would simply rehearse on Friday and sing for real on Sunday. I think this is Mozart at his best. the words mean

Hail the true body, - Born of the Virgin Mary, - Truly suffered, sacrificed - On the Cross for mankind, - Whose pierced side - Flowed with water and blood, Let it be for us, in consideration, - A foretaste of death.

As I head back to the UK for a rest and I can still hear this anthem reminding me of Easter and why I do what I do.

The heavens are telling

I realized a few weeks ago I was suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I was quite depressed and then it was as the dark cloud lifted. I love this movement from Haydn's Creation. I sung this too many years ago.



The Heavens are telling the glory of God,
The wonder of his work displays the firmament.
Today that is coming speaks it the day,
The night that is gone to following night.
The Heavens are telling the glory of God,
The wonder of his work displays the firmament.
In all the lands resounds the word,
Never unperceived, ever understood.
The Heavens are telling the glory of God,
The wonder of his work displays the firmament.

Mozart Sonata in D major K488

As a teenager my mother introduced me to two piano pieces and all her students eventually played two piano pieces in competition. (My mom was shrewd as my teacher and all my partners were girls!) Watching the Japanese drama Nodame Cantabile has reminded me so much of the fun and pleasure now deep in my past. This is the first duo that Chiaki and Nodame played together in the series. Later they play a Rachmaninov piano concerto together.

The theatrical

I've sung my share of classical choral works including Verdi's Requiem. It ranks in my top ten especially because of this movement Dies Irae. There is nothing quite like it for me because of the range of dynamics. Karajan does an incredibly great job of letting that passion out in a controlled manner. Note the choir sing without music and are giving all their attention.

Rest In Peace

I heard today of Margaret's passing. She was an international student I talked with last semester. She was sad and depressed and struggled desperately for acceptance, which she could not feel even when offered. Gabriel Fauré's Pie Jesus

Pie Jesu Domine, Dona eis requiem. (O sweet Lord Jesus, grant them rest)

In Paradise

Faure's Requiem is just so French! The lush harmonies and pure floating voices. This movement is a favourite that I've sung quite a few times. It signifies journey's end and the rest that will come. Often it something I long for as I've always found living life tough.

papageno! papagena!

This is my favourite opera The Magic Flute by Mozart. A story of the search for love through trials.Tamino, the hero, succeeds in a test and finds his Pamina. Papageno the birdcatcher failed the test and seeks to end it all but is willing to give love one last chance. Eventually after despairing he returns to try his magic bells. (This version is from Ingmar Bergman's version sung in swedish.) Many years ago I took a girl friend to see a live performance and strangely she saw herself as Pamina to my Papageno! Well that's life isn't it?

Something sublime

"...You have often heard of the famous Miserere in Rome, which is so greatly prized that the performers are forbidden on pain of excommunication to take away a single part of it, copy it or to give it to anyone. *But we have it already*. Wolfgang has written it down and we would have sent it to Salzburg in this letter, if it were not necessary for us to be there to perform it. But the manner of performance contributes more to its effect than the composition itself. Moreover, as it is one of the secrets of Rome, we do not wish to let it fall into other hands...." Leopold Mozart

Gregoria Allegri wrote 'Miserere mei'. Setting of Psalm 51 for nine voices (two separate choirs of 4 and 5). The story goes that it was only sung in the Sistine Chapel in Rome Maunday Thursday and Good Friday and the music was closely guarded. Then enters the 12 year old Mozart who visited Rome with his father Leopold, who on one listening transcribed the parts Thursday evening and on Good Friday corrected his score.

In my choir days I sung it in service one person per part and when the top treble/soprano sung a top C my heart bursts open with utter impossibility, that which is beyond me, ineffability and transcendence.

The Trout Piano Quintet

This is one of my favourite chamber pieces. As a young cellist, I was lucky to spend a few summers and music courses playing the Trout. We were not in this league but it's such a fun piece and it taught me so much about ensemble playing.This just an incredible line-up of names Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta, Itzhak Perlman, Jacqueline Du Pre, and Pinchas Zuckerman

Romance

From my main blog you might know cello is the instrument to which I am deeply attached. Probably the Elgar concerto is one of my favorite works and Du Pre is in my top few performances. Just feel the emotions being squeezed out and the lyrical lines singing above the intensity.