Week 26 of year 2007 on the double bass

24 Jun 2007, Sun: I decided to work on sight-reading today. I started out with playing the G major scale. I felt there was a tinge of anxiety in me as music exams is approaching.

Afterwhich, I sight-read Mixolydian from Milton Weinstein's Contemporary Modal Solos. It is quite an interesting piece of work and it is not too difficult to play.

Then I went on to work on Capuzzi's Concerto. The edition that I sight-read was not in the usual D major that I had played on from the Yorke edition. I was sight-reading the edition that was edited by David Walter, and the 1st movement is in the key of F major. The F major version sounded clearer and brighter than the D major version, and I love it despite it being more challenging.

27 Jun 2007, Wed: I practised on the double bass in the afternoon, working on Faure's Sicilienne and I read Haydn's Symphony No. 99.

In the late afternoon, I had lesson with Mr GM before the orchestra rehearsal start. It was an enlightening lesson, and Mr GM has been very fantastic in drawing me to play Faure's Sicilienne in a way that would be musically sound.

During the orchestra's rehearsal, I got to play Haydn's Symphony No. 99, and the 3rd and 4th movements from Mahler's Symphony No. 1. I quite like Hadyn's music.

I've probably spent at least 4 hours practising on the double bass on this very day.

28 Jun 2007, Thu: I was feeling drained and in pain, but I decided to play the double bass to seek some comfort for my soul. I spent about 20 - 30 minutes practising Rachmaninov's Vocalise. This is a lovely piece of music with quite a number of notes in the higher register. I had surprised myself that I was able to play the entire work by the end of the short practice session.

To listen to how Rachmaninov's Vocalise sounds like, you can check out this video recording of Gary Karr performing Vocalise.

30 Jun 2007, Sat: I started practising the first half of Rachmaninov's Vocalise, focusing on getting the rhythms right.

Afterwhich, I spent time practising Berkeley's Introduction and Allegro. Next week, I will be meeting my friend who has so kindly agreed to accompany me on the piano to practise together for our first time. I am looking forward to the practice.

**
Another week of reaching my target of practising at least four days per week, 15 minutes each day.

Video of: Youtube and beyond

I've missed Kevin's talk Youtube and beyond: What you want to know but never knew who to ask.

Yet, thanks to technology and Kevin's thoughtfulness, I get to watch a video recording of the talk. Here's sharing the video recording of the talk with you: Video: Youtube and beyond @ National Library (director’s cut)

It is worth a watch. Even if you don't have much time, do catch the first 15 minutes.

Lukewarm responses? Or a case of diligent readers?

About six days ago, I had put up a post titled: 50 posts published on Yesterday.sg, and was asking for my readers to give me feedback which is their favourite post out of the 50 posts that I have posted on Yesterday.sg.

I met Shaun this evening at one of the Friends of Yesterday.sg's gathering, and he expressed disappointments that no one seems to be responding to my post last Saturday other than himself.

Well, I hope I would be right to say that my readers may just be diligently reading all the 50 posts that I have posted so far. As such, it would take them to read and to respond?

Meantime, if you were to ask me, here are my favourite seven posts written for Yesterday.sg, in no particular order:

- Back to the ancient world (Part I and II)
I had spent quite some time working on this post, and I have had some fun at the exhibition.

- A Colonial District Walk
I have a personal liking for the civic district and many of the buildings mentioned in the walk.

- Take a walk of Katong/ Joo Chiat area (Part I and II)
I like the photos and it is one of those special times that I have taken a walk about the Katong area.

- Memories of the MPH Building
This post has brought me nice memories of the building.

- At the Asian Civilisation Museum: Mystery Men
Somehow, like the name suggests, I like the Mystery Men, shrouded in mystery.

- Convergences: Chen Wen Hsi Centennial Exhibition (Part I, II and III)
It has been an enriching experience for myself trying to share about the art of Chen Wen Hsi using the medium of blogging.

- Combining lifestyle with heritage at Kampong Glam
It was an attempt to be less serious in my writing, and I like Kampong Glam.

Now that I have shared with you my personal favourite, I hope I can hear from some of you what's your favourite one post from the 50 posts that I have mentioned.

Today and Tomorrow

Headaches have been bugging me on and off today. In addition, I do not like wearing my pair of spectacles with transition lenses to read and play music because they just weigh quite a bit.

Nevertheless, there were some things that make today a pleasant day. Today, I met up with a friend and ex-colleague for lunch. I probably did not say much, yet I appreciate the time together to catch up with one another. Prior to meeting her, I spent about an hour at a private library reading. Having quiet time and the luxury to sit and read without interruption is a fulfilling experience.

Next, I've finally found a block of time this afternoon to practise on the double bass. I had taken time-off from work for the entire afternoon. Despite not being at the best of my health, some time spent focusing on playing music and practising did wonders.

Then, in the late afternoon, I had lesson with Mr GM before the orchestra rehearsal start. It was an enlightening lesson, and Mr GM has been very fantastic in drawing me to play Faure's Sicilienne in a way that would be musically sound. Many thanks to Mr GM. It pleased me to hear for the first time ever since I have started working on Sicilienne, my rendition of Faure's Sicilienne was not a mere technical performance, but is starting to make some musical sense to me.

For orchestra's rehearsal, we rehearsed one of Haydn's symphonies, and the 3rd and 4th movements from Mahler's Symphony No. 1. Actually, I felt very tired by the time we rehearsed Mahler's, but strangely, my fingers just had the urge to continue playing. Maybe my fingers were fascintated with how they could make interesting sounds and music simply by the way they touch the fingerboard of the double bass. Anyway, I still need more practice. It was still a challenge to play some very difficult passages.

In short, today has been quite a meaningful day.



As for tomorrow, Emily and the rest of Les Six du Singapour will be showcasing their works at the Esplanade Concourse.

Here are the details:
At the Concourse: Superstring
All Sound Out by Les Six du Singapour
Esplanade Concourse
28 June 2007
7.15pm + 8.15pm

I was there this Monday to support them. .

**
Last but not the least, there is a new post up on d'Bassists official webhome: My encounter with L'Orchestre de Contrebasses. It comes with a cool video of double bassists playing on the double bass. Please check it out.

More singing

I feel like singing
And pitch various melodies
High and low
Nevermind that I shouldn't be
Singing in buses, trains and public spaces
The outlet for expression is more important
Than the stares and disapproval that I get

I feel like singing
To get in touch
With what can't be said fully
And only in music
That there is a medium
To convey the deepest thoughts and feelings

And if I should sing
Right in front of you
Whatever is the time and place
It is my way to share my world
With you


***
Updates: I broke the spectacles-frame of my favourite pair of spectacles last evening, and I am trying to get used to wearing the spectacles with transition-lenses to do work. Gosh, it now feels heavy to keep wearing spectacles.

Today: Listened to All Strung Up

Today, I went to catch two sets of performances featuring the works of the composers from Les Six du Singapour. As said by the emcee, the works are aural representions of Joshua Yang's Superstring - a series of single continuous line drawings. Meantime, I shall let the photographs do the talking.

Carcar kindly took time to catch the second set with me, and we had supper after the performance. Carcar makes a lovely company.

By the way, I seem to give people the first impression that I look very serious? I am sure that Eastcoastlife would be among the first to say Yes.

If you have missed tonight's performance and you would like to listen to the works of these budding contemporary composers, here are the details of their next performance:

All Strung Out
Les Six du Singapour in collaboration with Joshua Yang
28 June 2007 (Thu)// 7.15 pm + 8.15 pm
Esplanade Concourse
Free admission

Singing in cries

Darkness has its energy
Melancholy has its beauty
Melodic singing
And actually
One is crying.

***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bax_KwfBGF8
Rachmaninov's Vocalise. Performed by Gary Karr.
(Special thanks to Jason for pointing me to this video.)

Nominees for Ping.sg are up

ping.sg is a meta blog for Singapore bloggers.

In May 2007, I registered ,myself as a user of Ping.sg. Now, when there is a new post on d'Bassists official webhome, I will usually ping Ping.sg so that it will be featured there. However, you won't see posts from this blog up on Ping.sg. I would prefer a bit of privacy.

Now for the news, congratulations to Eastcoastlife, Veron, and Kevin. Their blogs and/or blog-posts have been nominated for Ping.sg 1st Anniversary Blog Awards. Voting starts now, and results will be announced on Ping.sg 1st Anniversary Party at 070707.

Eligible registered user of Ping.sg can now cast your votes for those whom you think are deserving of the respective awards. This is the link to vote: http://ping.sg/awards

Week 25 of year 2007 on the double bass

d'Bassists. Photo taken by Carcar on 30 May 2007.


17 Jun 2007, Sun: In the earlier part of the day, I practised the entire Marcello's Sonata in G major, taking time to practise the more challenging parts for at least several times.

Later in the afternoon, I practised Faure's Sicilienne. The goals were to improve the intonation and to have a steady sense of rhythm. The minor seventh melodic interval was one of the more challenging leaps to make on the double bass.

19 Jun 2007, Tue: Less than an hour after I returned home from work, I started practising at abou 10.10 p.m. I continued to practise Faure's Sicilienne to work on the intonation and the rhythm, but this time I practised a different section from the one that I had practised on 17 Jun 2007.

I also spent some time practising the double bass solo part from the third movement of Mahler's Symphony No. 1. I can now play it much better than when I had played it about three years ago for my ABRSM Grade 6 double bass practical exams.

20 Jun 2007, Wed: Prior to double bass sectional, I practised Faure's Sicilienne, focusing on yet another section.

As XM was attending to some matters at the start of the double bass sectional, I have had the privilege to play Faure's Sicilienne for Mr GM since the scores were anyway right in front of me on the music stand. Mr GM has a very wise and insightful way of looking at the rhythm and at the phrasing that instantaneously brought me to see more light in this piece of music. More work on the intonation and the rhythm.

Then, when XM joined us, we practised the third and fourth movements of Mahler's First Symphony. I beg your pardon, aside from that double bass solo in the third movement, I don't remember playing anything composed by Mahler in my entire nine years with the orchestra. It was a refreshing sectional since it was my first time playing two movements from one of Mahler's Symphonies. There was a sense of primitive energy in his music, I felt.

Then for orchestra rehearsal, I had my chance to play the double bass solo!

For the orchestra rehearsal, we managed to sight-read much of the third and fourth movements from Mahler's First Symphony. For a first reading, it was commendable that the orchestra did not break down at some of those awfully difficult passages.

22 Jun 2007, Fri: I practised selected passages from the first movement from Keyper's Romance and Rondo. The goal was to work on improving the intonation and to practise keeping to the time. While the practice was only about 30 minutes, it was quite a fruitful one for I've found my intonation improving to some extent. I was also more expressive in playing the selected passages.

23 Jun 2007, Sat: I continued from yesterday's practice, and played selected passages from the first movement from Keyper's Romance and Rondo. Afterwhich, I practised the second movement from Keyper's Romance and Rondo, at a relatively slow tempo so that I can focus on the intonation. I am looking forward to play Romance and Rondo with my friend who have kindly agreed to be my piano accompanist for my upcoming exams.

**
In summary, I have managed to achieve my target of practising at least four days per week, for at least 15 minutes per day on each of these four days.

There is a bugging thought that I would like to have time for more practising, until I start to wonder if I should consider taking up a degree in double bass performance. I am feeling ambivalent.

50 posts published on Yesterday.sg

Some of my readers may probably realise that I have been actively contributing posts to Yesterday.sg, the blog on Singapore's heritage, history & museums. Furthermore, it is in my interest to do so as one of the Friends of Yesterday.sg

I just realised this morning that I have already contributed 50 published posts on Yesterday.sg since Feb 2006. That means on the average, I contribute 3 posts per month to Yesterday.sg

To allow me to gather some feedback on what readers may enjoy and like, I invite you to check out this link: http://yesterday.sg/member/12/ and then click on the link "View all posts by this member" so as to view the links to all my posts on Yesterday.sg. Then please share with me by commenting to this very post and let me know which one of these 50 posts is your favourite, and why. I will love to hear from you.

Throw the towel

Overloaded
The feeling today
Of course work never ends
Yet excessiveness
Can lead one
About to throw the towel

I had felt like screaming
In anguish
To let out the steam
Yet music is a nicer tune
So I sang in high and low pitches

I ask
For space
To recharge
To find myself
To act from within
With the strength and wisdom

Finding my solace
To keep my sanity
So that there may not be
The need to throw the towel

Next week: Listen to Emily's new compositions

Emily not only plays the double bass, she is also known for her compositions.

Next week, there will be two free performances at the Esplanade Concourse and you will get to listen to the compositions by Emily and a few of her friends. Compositions that will no longer be just prints on the manuscript, but will come to life and be performed live! Do check this performance out especially if you want to support contemporary music by local composers.

All Strung Up
Les Six du Singapour in collaboration with Joshua Yang
25 June 2007 (Mon)// 7.15 pm + 8.15 pm
Esplanade Concourse


All Strung Out
Les Six du Singapour in collaboration with Joshua Yang
28 June 2007 (Thu)// 7.15 pm + 8.15 pm (Timing to be confirmed)
Esplanade Concourse

Note: The programme differs for each of the four sets of performances listed above.




You will get to listen to two of Emily's latest compositions at the above two performances:

Zero Amplitude
Yuan Peiying (soprano sheng), Emily Koh (double bass) and Diana Soh (piano)

ParaMoebiusDox
Yuan Peiying (soprano sheng) and electronics

And there will be several other works that will be showcased at the above-mentioned performances held on 25 and 28 June 2007.

If you would like company, I will be there on 25 June 2007 for the 7.30 p.m. set of performance. Hope to see some of you there.

Played the double bass solo today

In Mahler's First Symphony, there is a double bass solo at the beginning of the third movement. I have written a post on The double bass solo in Mahler's First Symphony last week on d'Bassists official webhome.

Today isn't the first time I have played this double bass solo, but it was the first time that I have played this solo with the entire orchestra. Thank goodness it was passable. I needed to work more on the intonation, and my rendition of the last two bars of this solo. There is a challenging shift in the last two bars of the solo. More practice to get it to sound the way I want it to.

Another thing I may need to learn is to still play the solo as if it were any regular passage. I can say I would prefer to feel relaxed and alert while playing that solo than to find a tinge of pressure that I have everyone's eyes and ears on my solo. Relax and be alert.

If you wonder how that double bass solo would sound like, maybe you can check out this link to a video clip of conductor, Claudio Abbado, rehearsing the third movement of Mahler's First Symphony: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lI7icWPfoc

I heard that our orchestra will be playing the third and fourth movement of Mahler's First Symphony for an upcoming concert in September 2007. Details to be confirmed.

**
Related post:
The double bass solo in Mahler's First Symphony

Emily and the art of making of rice dumplings

Rice dumplings. Photo credit: The above photo is taken from Emily's blog

Today is Dragon Boat Festival, also known by Chinese as Duanwu Jie

Duan Wu Jie is a day to commemorate the Chinese patriot and poet, Qu Yuan (屈原). Falling on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, it is a day to remind oneself of one's duties and obligations to the nation. (View source here)

If you are like myself wondering how rice dumplings are made, please check out Emily's post, Rice Dumplings... to get the gist of the processes behind this. It is quite interesting to read about how traditions are being passed from one generation to another.

(The contents on this post has been posted on Yesterday.sg on 18 June 2007.)