Mystic and yours truly's tour of the National Stadium

I shall dedicate the following two posts to one of my good friends, Mystic, who have accompanied me to the National Stadium on 5 May 2007 for the Stadium Tour:

Tour of the National Stadium
Tour of the National Stadium, Part 2

After the tour, Mystic treated me to lunch and oneh oneh (our dessert after the lunch). The oneh oneh was just average, but Mystic's sincerity did perfect wonders to make yours truly pleased with the dessert that came after the lunch. Thank you Mystic.

oneh oneh

And yes, Mystic was very kind to oblige to my request of stopping by Kallang Theatre so that I could take some photographs of the exterior of the building. That, I was very thankful for. It somehow allowed me to reminisce my good old memories of Kallange Theatre.

Cool Insider's post: Putting the Spin on Classical Music

Cool Insider, an experienced marketer and publicist in the lifestyle and heritage sector, has written a post to share his views on marketing classical music to the masses. Check it out here: Putting the Spin on Classical Music.

Here's a quote from a segment of Cool Insider's post:

Firstly, it (classical music) needs to bring down the "intimidation" factor. Have you noticed how classical music performances are usually done in grand and imposing concert halls?...

Hmm...on being less intimidating, and developing fun and friendly personalities, I wonder if people would be keen to listen to a performance by the double bass quartet, d'Bassists, if they were to see the following photo of the quartet?



Please let me know your responses by posting your comments. Thank you.

Maybe this may help me publish?

Thanks to the information on this URL, I have managed to find a way to publish a new post on this blog.

Now here's the quote from the most helpful post I have found on the issue:

It seems that this is a problem specific to Singnet, so I encourage you all to contact them to see if you're able to provoke some changes on their end. Also, as a workaround, you can substitute the "www" in the URL where you encounter problems to "www2."

Gosh. If the problem is specific to Singnet, maybe it is high time to consider changing my internet service provider unless Singnet rectifies the issue?

Week 19 of year 2007 on the double bass

Dear readers, I am able to post this post not because the problem that I have been facing with Blogger (Status code: 1-500-19) has been rectified. It is simply because I have had saved this post a week ago, so that it would be ready for publishing today.

Perhaps the blessing in disguise would be that I have a little more time to practise on the double bass now that I spend less time blogging since I can hardly create new posts on this blog.

**

6 May 2007, Sun: I played all the movements of the Marcello's Sonata in G major with a pre-recorded piano accompaniment. More work is needed on the third movement and the fourth movement.

I also had some time to practise a few sections from Berkeley's Introductin and Allergro. I keep my fingers crossed that I can have more time to practise.

7 May 2007, Mon: I had a practice-session with QH and XM after office hours. We were practising several double bass ensemble works. It turned out that I spent about two hours on the double bass for the night.

8 May 2007, Tue: In hope to have an outlet to express pent-up feelings, I played the parts from a few double bass duet works. After which, I spent time sight-reading Rachmaninov's Vocalise, that is transcribed for the double bass. It pleased me that my vibrato technique has improved a bit. Subsequently, I practised Berkeley's Introductin and Allergro. I might have continued playing if not from the fact that I was physically tired from the day.

9 May 2007, Wed: In hope to be more ready for an upcoming double bass ensemble rehearsal, I spent some time practising Murray "Doc" Solomon (2002) Sentimental Bossa, with the aid of the metronome. I still need to work on the pizzicato part so that it would sound clear and sensitive.

Afterwhich, time was spent playing the Romance movement of Keyper's Romance and Rondo. Subsequently, I played another work that was written during the Classical period: the first movement of Capuzzi's Concerto in D Major. Somehow I have a liking for the first movement of this concerto.

11 May 2007, Fri: I was feeling fairly tired from work. Nevertheless, I decided to take at least 15 minutes of my time to play on the double bass. I practised playing the first double bass part of Tchaikovsky's Neopolitanian Dance (from "Swan Lake"). I also tried did some sight-reading of two of the parts written for a double bass trio. Gosh, I need more work sight-reading works written in treble clefs.

12 May 2007, Sat: Double bass lesson with my tutor, MJ, has been rescheduled to this day. Prior to the lesson, I practised a few movements from Marcello's Sonata in G major, part of the first movement of Capuzzi's Concerto in D Major, and sight-read the first and second movements of Marcello's Sonata in e minor.

For the lesson today, more than half the lesson was spent working on Faure's Sicilienne. I need to learn to play with a sense of pulse, if I had understood my tutor correctly.

Subsequently, I played the first and part of the second movements of Marcello's Sonata in e minor.

On the issue of sight-reading, MJ said I could get a piece of study and work on it for a duration of 5 practice-days. During this period, I shall attempt to familiarise myself with the study, and learn to keep tempo while playing the study. After the 5 practice-days, I will attempt another new study, and so the process goes on.

In addition, I played the 2nd and 4th movement of Marcello's Sonata in G major.

By the end of the lesson, MJ still asked that I consider getting a better double bass. I wonder where I can get a sponsorship for that?

Plagued by headaches

I was having headache for most of today. If not for QH's recommendations that I should take just a dose of Panadol, I may still be suffering for a bugging headache. I think it has to do with poor blood circulation.

I was out-of-office, attending a course today and I simply could not sit at ease because no matter how I sat, I felt very uncomfortable at the leg areas and the headache persisted.

The headache had caused some sense of disorientation to me today such that I realised I had difficulties walking about in one straight line for much of the day.

Headaches seem to be plaguing me of late. For now, I shall just be comforted that the pain has stopped. However, I don't intend to take pain-killers on a regular basis. I wonder if there would be any remedy for headaches?

I need quite a bit of relief from the headache.

5 May 2007

One of my friends, Mystic, and I met this morning to join a tour of the National Stadium. The National Stadium will soon be torn down to make way for the construction of a new Sports complex. Being a nostalgic person I am, I could not help but register for the tour to see the National Stadium before it becomes history.

Mystic was very kind to go the extra mile to drive all the way to where I live, and drive me to the stadium. Before the tour, Mystic and I have breakfast at the Mac Donalds' fast-food restaurant nearby the National Stadium.

I shall write a post on our tour of the National Stadium at a later date, so please check out this space. Strangely, Mystic's predictions came true. There were personnel from the media following our tour group, and I won't be surprised if someone told me that they saw me appearing for a split-second on the news on TV.

I realised that there were so many people registering for the tour, that the organiser had to organise several tour groups for the day. If my eyes had been sharp enough, I think I saw fellow bloggers, acroamatic and Cool Insider, from a distance while I was on my tour. They were too far away for me to even shout for their attention.

After the tour, Mystic drove me to the Old Airport Road Hawker Centre (I suppose?) and treated me to lunch. The Oneh oneh sold by the stall behind the Toa Payoh Rojak was merely average when I tried it today. The Kway chap however was better than average. There was a queue for the kway chap and Mystic was very kind to join that queue to order it for me. Mystic had lor mee for her lunch. A word of thanks to Mystic for being so patient with me for the day.

After lunch, Mystic drove me to Tanjong Katong Complex before she left for home. I went to two music shops along Tajong Katong Road to check out for double bass bow case. I did not find any bow case that I felt was worth buying. Anyway, I've purchased a few music books from one of the shops.

Then in the later part of the afternoon, I spent much of my afternoon at library@esplanade. This is the library that is located within the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay. Since I had more than 3 hours before my next appointment, I had spent quite a fair bit of time researching for materials that would be helpful in my preparation to write programme notes for the DipABRSM music performance exams. It had been quite fruitful.

In the evening, I attended the concert, Strains of Majesty, by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. It was one of the best SSO concerts that I have attended for this year.

I simply like the interpretation and the intensity of Beethoven's Symphony No. 3. The rendition was refreshing and engaging. Tonight's rendition is by far the most memorable rendition of Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 that I have heard live. I think Maestro Jahja Ling has done a great work at conducting the orchestra for the concert.

Nina Kotova's rendition of Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B minor was pretty engaging and inspiring too. While I think her right-hand technique could need more work on (and so do I), she has very good sense of musicality and intonation. I could not help but say that Dvorak is a genius to write such a brilliant cello concerto.

Special thanks to one my friends, ML, for making time to accompany me for this concert. It so happens that I had won a pair of tickets to this concert a few days ago because I've managed to call in to a call-in contest on the radio station, 92.4 FM. The seats that I have won were very good seats. Many thanks to ML too for her treat to dinner, and her lovely greeting card. It was nice catching up with her.

Overall, while I did have my moods swinging for the day, the day turned out fairly fruiful. I think the good concert had helped.

Week 18 of year 2007 on the double bass

29 Apr 2007, Sun: I was in the mood to play Romantic music, so I started my practice session with Faure's Apres Un Reve (After a Dream) for string bass and piano.

Afterwhich, I spend some time working on Lennox Berkeley's Introduction and Allegro. It is by far the more challenging work to practise for my programme for DipABRSM. Its irregular time signatures has made it challenging for me to use the metronome consistently throughout my practices. Strangely, my tutor always seem to have the idea that this piece is very manageable for my standard of playing. More practice would be needed on this.

30 Apr 2007, Mon: Took leave to practise. In the morning, I worked on Pachelbel's Canon (tranposed to G major) scored for a double bass quartet, arranged by David Heye. Finally, my rendition of this work is beginning to take some shape.

After lunch, I worked on Lennox Berkeley's Introduction and Allegro and managed to practise the entire work. Hopefully I would soon be ready to play the entire work during one of my upcoming double bass lessons. DipABRSM exams is drawing near, and will be coming in about four months time. Wish me luck.

1 May 2007, Tue: A public holiday, Labour Day.

In the morning, I met up with XM for a sight-reading session. We spent the morning sight-reading most of the duets from From Amadeus to Jazz: Easy Duos for Two String Basses edited by Franz Pillinger. I would still need more work on sight-reading! I very much like the melody of Greensleeves but had to decide not to play it for the day because some of the accompaniment parts were too challenging to be sight-read.

Later in the day, when I was home, I spent time playing the first movement of Capuzzi's Concerto in D major. It is quite an interesting work to play.

In the later part of the night, I managed to urge myself to practise the Rondo movement of Keyper's Romance and Rondo. I still need more work to get the harmonics to sound sweet and clear.

3 May 2007, Thu: The double bass lesson day. For this lesson, I worked entirely on Lennox Berkeley's Introduction and Allegro, and I have managed to play through this entire work. One thing that I need to brush up on is my sense of rhythm. I want to feel the pulse in my blood.

My tutor, MJ, also reminded me on the placement of my thumb. Proper placement of the thumb contributes to better intonation. More practice and more practice for this work. MJ on the other hand, thinks that this work is more manageable than the other works that I will be performing for DipABRSM. I realised that he has reasons to say so.

5 May 2007, Sat: At about 8 a.m., I took time to play the Marcello's Sonata in G major and I played the CD containing the pre-recorded piano accompaniment for this sonata. More information on such pre-recorded piano accompaniment can be found here: http://www.virtualaccompanist.com/.

I felt it was much more fun and engaging to be play along with a piano accompaniment even though the accompaniment was pre-recorded. I managed to play the first and second movements of the sonata, and the first half of the third movement. Then I stopped as it was soon time to get ready to meet my friend, Mystic, for a tour of the National Stadium.

**
Overall, I have managed to reach my target for this week as well. More practice and studies on the double bass would be needed to play more engaging music. Cheer for me please.

My parcel from US

A parcel air-flown from US reached me today. I have ordered some double bass related CDs and scores from Lemur Music.

I was listening to one of the CDs that was part of this part. This is a CD recording of a "virtual piano accompanist" who is playing the Marcello's Sonata in G Major. The CD comes with several selections with metronome click track. I think it would serve me well very soon. I can play anytime with a virtual piano accompanist in the luxury of my own home, even at this odd hour of the night. The only pity was that it did not come with a recording of the double bass parts.

The other CD that I had bought contains recordings by Gary Karr, the double bass playing three sonatas for Viola da Gamba and Klavier composed by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Music soothes, and I am loving the sound of the double bass.

The unspoken

Many words
Would like to say
In the end
Left unsaid

How shall I express
What is deep within?
For the depth and breadth
Of some messages
Are beyond what words could fully say

The cries

Singing aloud
The cries
In rhythms, pitches and melodies
For words can't fully express
What music could

To ...

I am sorry
That I have not been
As good a friend
Such that in times of your troubles
I wasn't most of the time there

I am sorry
That I could have been a better friend
Yet my failings have been my hurdles to cross
And I am sorry
For having made you bear with these

Apologies that I owe you
Yet such hard to speak
Where to begin?
How to say it?

Many years later
More than thankful
For the forgiveness you have lent
And for the chance
To practise being a better friend

The beautiful Abdul Gafoor Mosque

I can't help but think that the Abdul Gafoor Mosque has a beautiful architecture. Here's to share more photos of it with my readers. This is one landmark to see if you are in Little India. Enjoy!

It is located at: 41 Dunlop Street, Singapore 209369

The backlane.

Also see: A tour about Little India

A tour about Little India

My friend, Mystic, has been interested to know more about my recent tour about the Little India, and I shall dedicate this post to her.

Regular visitors to my blog would have realised that I love going for The Original Singapore Walks. It is by far one of the most enriching, engaging and entertaining tours that I have attended in Singapore.

Make a guess of the function of the red-and-white colour structure.

This tour that I will be writing about is one of The Original Singapore Walks named Of Rajas, Sultans and Sahibs™. A simple way to describe it would be that it is a walk about the Little India of Singapore, with a dinner at the end of the tour. Read the synopsis of this walk here: http://www.singaporewalks.com/tours/rajassultanssahibs.htm

This tour has brought me to two temples and it has pleased me greatly that I've got to learn a little more about the religion of the Hindu. It was very interesting for me to learn about the differences between the two temples. I was even treated to accounts about the Indus civilisation. Yes, ancient civilisations is one topic that would captivate my attention. Do join this tour if you are interested to find out more.

Shree Lakshminarayan Temple. Notice the stupas.

Shree Lakshminarayan Temple. A North-Indian temple.
5 Chander Road, Singapore 219528.

Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple

Main door of Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple. Notice how elaborated the designs are.

These sculptures tell a story.

Nearby one of the temples, I took a photo of one of the garland shops. The tour guide shared with us some of the beliefs and ideologies associated with the offering of garlands to the gods. I learnt that the garlands made of grass were meant to be offered to the god, Ganesha.




Little India is a lovely place. During the duration of my tour about Little India, I could not help but admire the architecture and the designs of the buildings in the area. Throughout the tour, I was treated to the fragrant smell of spices that was lingering in the air.

Campbell Lane

One landmark that is worthy of my mention here is the Abdul Gafoor Mosque (Masjid Abdul Gafoor). This is by far the most beautiful and unique mosque that I have seen in Singapore. Notice the elaborate sundial at the main entrance to the prayer hall in which you would see 25 rays of the sun done in calligraphy. I was impressed by it when I saw the real thing. For this part of the tour, I like listening to the accounts of the spread of Islam to this part of the region.

Masjid Abdul Gafoor. A beautiful mosque.

Masjid Abdul Gafoor in the evening. Taken after the tour.

(More photos of Masjid Abdul Gafoor can be found here.)


We were then taken to the Indian Classical Music Centre which is located at 26 Clive Street. For myself who plays a musical instrument, it was a fascinating place to visit. I learnt a bit about Indian classical music right here. The Founder Director, Ustad Sharafat Khan, treated us to beautiful music played on the sitar. This place carries interesting Indian instruments and recordings of sitar music for those who would like one of these as momentos.

A lovely rendition of music on the Sitar.

The tour also brought us to an Ayurvedic Medicine shop at 48 Campbell Lane where we learnt more about Ayurvedic Medicine. I cannot help but think that there are a lot of things that we can learn from the Indian civilisation and its various philosophies.

Aloe vera outside the Ayurvedic Medicine shop.

The tour ends with Indian dinner at Banana Leaf Apolo. The food is good. I like the North Indian cuisine because it is less spicy. While having dinner, I could not help but remember the day when I have had dinner with my friend, Mystic, at the Banana Leaf Apolo restaurant at Race Course Road several months ago. Good food can trigger pleasant memories.

Now, let the photos do the talking here:

North Indian cuisine.

Making of the Indian 'pancake'.

Nasi briyani.

Yummy food.

After the tour and the dinner, I walked about Little India on my own.

Of Rajas, Sultans and Sahibs™ is an enriching tour for anyone who wants to learn more about the Indian civilisation. I get very excited each time I go for the Original Singapore Walks because the tours would remind me that there are so much that I can learn about this country that I grew up in. I am loving the idea of touring my own country, and I shall go for more in the near future.


Also see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism
The Colourful Little India
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masjid_Abdul_Gaffoor

(Updates: With effect from 2 July 2007, the Little India tour with dinner, Of Rajas, Sultans and Sahibs™ - will no longer be part of the regular weekly walks. Interested walkers however, can still request for the tour. Please call Tel: 6325 1631 for more details.)

30 April 2007 in a nutshell

Ganesha

Originally uploaded by oceanskies79.

I had taken leave from work today to find a little more time to practise. I am feeling glad that I have managed to find time to play the entire Berkeley's Introduction and Allergo. It has been nice to take a break from the usual work routine.

The photo that you would see above is taken during my visit to the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, located in Little India, Singapore. I had went for one of the Original Sigapore Walks this evening. This is a photo of a statue of Ganesha. Notice that there is a statue of a rat close to the feet of Ganesha. The rat is said to be Ganesha's vahana which he rides on. I was told that it is symbolic to have a rat as Ganesha's vahana. Here's what I understand: when one needs to clear the obstacles in one's path, one needs to face one's fears.

It has been an enriching and interesting tour, and I am pleased that I had went for it. As part of the tour package, tour participants get to enjoy an Indian dinner. I am nostalgic perhaps. While I was having dinner, I can't help but to think of the dinner that I have had with Mystic several months ago.

Back at home, while I was surfing the Original Sigapore Walks' website, I've found out that it has a new tour coming up in May 2007: The Tipple Exchange™ . This tour sounds like fun, and I would love to hear about the stories of the bridges along Singapore River. The interesting thing is that this is a pub walk, and the price of the tickets include three speciality drinks! Would anyone be keen?

Tomorrow is a public holiday, and I don't need to report for work. I have set the day for more practising. Hope it would be fruitful.