Here are some events held in Singapore that are worth taking note of:
1. Singapore Biennale 2006
- Singapore's inaugural international biennale of contemporary art. This event will open to the public on 4 September 2006.
- BELIEF is the theme for Singapore's first visual arts biennale.
- http://www.singaporebiennale.org
2. Singapore 2006
- http://www.singapore2006.org
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Walking and sightseeing
Sometimes, one of the better ways to enjoy Singapore is to travel on foot. I have found that walking along the Singapore River in the evening from about 6.30 - 7 p.m. can treat one's eyes to some beautiful sceneries. Furthermore, it is usually not too hot during that time of the day.
A few weeks ago, I was at Tiong Bahru area attending a meeting. After the meeting, I decided to walk about taking photographs. I started my journey, and without realising, I had actually walked from Tiong Bahru area to Robertson Quay, then to Clarke Quay and to High Street, and finally stopped at Raffles City shopping mall.
The walk was a fairly therapeutic one. There was a nice breeze that day, and while the sun wasn't the most ideal for taking photographs, the air was fairly bearable that day. The best part was that it was fairly peaceful along the stretch of the Singapore River, from Robertson Quay to Ord Bridge.
Now I shall let the photographs do the talking:
"Ord" is the abbreviation of "Ordnance".
If you like the sceneries in the photos, you might wish to travel alongside the Singapore River too.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Trying to digest those heavy theory
Elementary Modulation isn't as elementary as it claims to be. In fact, I am struggling to understand some parts of it.
The only reassuring thing is that I just have to do my part to read the chapter on Elementary Modulation so that I can have a good idea which are the parts that I don't quite understand. Afterwhich, I can get the music theory tutor to go through those parts with me this coming Thursday.
I was reading the chapter on Elementary Modulation from Lovelock's First Year Harmony. Sometimes, the hardest thing I find in studying music theory is that I don't quite figure why certain things have to be done in certain ways. Sometimes, the rules just seemed to be "fixed". It is similar to: why 1 + 1 = 2, and why the sun is understood to rise from the east.
What exactly is false relation? I am aware that we should avoid having "a note in one part in one chord followed in the next chord by the same note chromatically altered, in another part". But I can't truly appreciate why. Maybe I just have to hear how a false relation would awfully sound?
It also took me a while to understand this principle that goes: "the leading note of a minor key is normally sharpened; so that it appears unsharpened and falls a step, it counts as a flattened note."
Understanding is one issue. Applying the concepts is another. I guess I could only try to read the chapter and assimilate as much as possible. Whatever that remains can only be dealt with this Thursday.
Whatever it is, hopefully, understanding elementary modulation would help me better appreciate the music that I will be playing in future.
The only reassuring thing is that I just have to do my part to read the chapter on Elementary Modulation so that I can have a good idea which are the parts that I don't quite understand. Afterwhich, I can get the music theory tutor to go through those parts with me this coming Thursday.
I was reading the chapter on Elementary Modulation from Lovelock's First Year Harmony. Sometimes, the hardest thing I find in studying music theory is that I don't quite figure why certain things have to be done in certain ways. Sometimes, the rules just seemed to be "fixed". It is similar to: why 1 + 1 = 2, and why the sun is understood to rise from the east.
What exactly is false relation? I am aware that we should avoid having "a note in one part in one chord followed in the next chord by the same note chromatically altered, in another part". But I can't truly appreciate why. Maybe I just have to hear how a false relation would awfully sound?
It also took me a while to understand this principle that goes: "the leading note of a minor key is normally sharpened; so that it appears unsharpened and falls a step, it counts as a flattened note."
Understanding is one issue. Applying the concepts is another. I guess I could only try to read the chapter and assimilate as much as possible. Whatever that remains can only be dealt with this Thursday.
Whatever it is, hopefully, understanding elementary modulation would help me better appreciate the music that I will be playing in future.
Today's obsession
I wonder why. The melody from the last movement of Beethoven's 6th Symphony keeps running in my mind. I even find myself humming it.
Then I keep having this rhythm in my mind:
1 2 3 4 5 6
Maybe this is today's little obsession?
Then I keep having this rhythm in my mind:
1 2 3 4 5 6
Maybe this is today's little obsession?
Sunday, August 27, 2006
An empty space
This afternoon, I have sent my dear double bass to the Luthier for some works.
After some investigations, the Luthier managed to identify that the source of the buzzing sound that is occasionally emitted from the double bass. The source was the vibration of the unnecessary long end-pin. So our decision is to cut the end-pin to a slightly shorter length. Afterall, yours truly doesn't need to play a double bass with a very long end-pin. And this should kill two birds with one stone, I can finally have a removable end-pin.
The crackline on my double bass which I was bothered about seem not to be a big issue to work on at this point in time. I just have to monitor the crackline from time-to-time, and get help when I see it aggravating.
There will also be some works done on the bridge to ease playing.
I will not see my instrument for a while. Now there seems to be a stark empty space where the double bass used to stand. Anyway, this should be for the better.
After some investigations, the Luthier managed to identify that the source of the buzzing sound that is occasionally emitted from the double bass. The source was the vibration of the unnecessary long end-pin. So our decision is to cut the end-pin to a slightly shorter length. Afterall, yours truly doesn't need to play a double bass with a very long end-pin. And this should kill two birds with one stone, I can finally have a removable end-pin.
The crackline on my double bass which I was bothered about seem not to be a big issue to work on at this point in time. I just have to monitor the crackline from time-to-time, and get help when I see it aggravating.
There will also be some works done on the bridge to ease playing.
I will not see my instrument for a while. Now there seems to be a stark empty space where the double bass used to stand. Anyway, this should be for the better.
WWII accounts
Noelbynature has put up a post on Yesterday.sg that lead us to a link to the section titled: Fall of Singapore 1942, from BBC People’s War Project.
This will be nice reading for the weekend. I still can't believe that it will be Monday tomorrow. This weekend seems short.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Something to rejoice about
which I affectionately refer to as "my husband".
I don't know whether I am considered a workaholic, but I had actually worked more than ten hours on a Saturday, today. The official working hours on Saturday at my office is from 8.45 a.m. to 12 noon. It can be interesting to work as a social worker and to serve othes. Possibly the one thing that may make me unsatisfied with the work is to have more workload that I can humanly manage, and having to compromise too much of quality for the sake of keeping up with the given quantity.
Anyway, after a tiring day at work, the best thing that happened today was to receive my music practical exams results.
I was a little nervous while opening the envelope. While I felt I could secure a pass, I wasn't sure what would really be written on the examination mark form.
Anyway, the result of my ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) Double Bass Grade 8 practical exams is as follow: Distinction. I've passed!
Scoring a distinction has certainly brought a wide grin on my face. This is something worth to rejoice about this weekend.
A recapitulation of my afterthoughts after my Grade 8 exams can be found here: Reflections after the exams.
I took some time to read through the comments given by the examiner so that I could know where I needed to work on. It seems that the rendition of Ridout's Concerto for Double Bass and strings, Marcello's Sonata in g minor and the orchestral excerpts that I have played under List C of the syllabus have all helped me to score for the exams. Credits go to the tutor for his guidance, and my piano accompanist for listening out for me and giving me tips on my playing. Thanks folks. Alright, I shall take ownership of part of the credits, I did practise quite a fair bit afterall.
My playing of scales and arpeggios for this exams have improved compared to my playing of scales and arpeggios during my Grade 7 exams. Still, I could continue to work on this to play scales and arpeggios better.
Sight-reading certainly needs more work. I scored 16 out of 21 for this section. The passing mark was 14.
Putting time aside to study for the aural tests was worth the effort. I think scoring fairly well for this section has helped me gain enough points to score a distinction. I studied the aural section almost entirely on my own, so I am happy that I had scored 16 out of 18. Admittedly, I think I had some stroke of luck during my exams and that has helped.
To all who have encouraged and supported me along the way, thank you. I've made it.
Yeah, I'm so happy that I have passed the exams.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Feeling blue
Feeling blue,
Disoriented
Tummy feels upset
The cut on the thumb is causing me pain
Spinning in a crazy world
Can't wait to find some peace
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Pain
Pain (any pain--emotional, physical, mental) has a message. The information it has about our life can be remarkably specific, but it usually falls into one of two categories: "We would be more alive if we did more of this," and, "Life would be more lovely if we did less of that." Once we get the pain's message, and follow its advice, the pain goes away.
-Peter McWilliams, Life 101
(Found the above quotation from http://www.quotationspage.com/)
***
Wish me health, I am feeling unwell.
Small things do matter
This afternoon, I had double bass lesson with tutor, MJ. We continued to work on the basics. I think it was helpful to do so.
The work today consisted of guiding me to work towards achieving a relaxed and natural hand-and-arm-shape for the left-hand. Today, I was asked to play up to three octaves of the G major scale. It felt awfully challenging to play the notes in the third octave of the scale. I still need quite a bit of work to achieve a more natural posture when playing in that range of notes.
MJ reminded me to be mindful in maintaining a curved-shape for my fingers of my left hand. This does help to allow me to gain better control of my playing. I marvel at how small things like this (shape of my fingers) can make such a big difference to the level of ease and control I have over my playing.
I hope to practise and work towards achieving greater ease and control in my playing as much as possible. Practice time of late has been short due to work commitments, and I'll be sending my double bass (the husband) to the Luthier this weekend for repair. Anyway, it is worthwhile to go back to work on the basics.
The work today consisted of guiding me to work towards achieving a relaxed and natural hand-and-arm-shape for the left-hand. Today, I was asked to play up to three octaves of the G major scale. It felt awfully challenging to play the notes in the third octave of the scale. I still need quite a bit of work to achieve a more natural posture when playing in that range of notes.
MJ reminded me to be mindful in maintaining a curved-shape for my fingers of my left hand. This does help to allow me to gain better control of my playing. I marvel at how small things like this (shape of my fingers) can make such a big difference to the level of ease and control I have over my playing.
I hope to practise and work towards achieving greater ease and control in my playing as much as possible. Practice time of late has been short due to work commitments, and I'll be sending my double bass (the husband) to the Luthier this weekend for repair. Anyway, it is worthwhile to go back to work on the basics.
Noteworthy
About more than a month ago, I had lunch together with Emily at the Botak Jones outlet in Ang Mo Kio. She has even written a post about the lunch. It seems like there could be more reasons for her to visit Botak Jones again.
According to Veron's latest post, Botak Jones will have a new stall opening at 325 Clementi Avenue 5 within these two weeks. I checked the streetdirectory.com and this place is fairly nearby the Clementi MRT station. There is a direct bus from the university to Clementi MRT station and this should make Botak Jones more accessible to students like Emily.
So, Emily, this post is for you.
According to Veron's latest post, Botak Jones will have a new stall opening at 325 Clementi Avenue 5 within these two weeks. I checked the streetdirectory.com and this place is fairly nearby the Clementi MRT station. There is a direct bus from the university to Clementi MRT station and this should make Botak Jones more accessible to students like Emily.
So, Emily, this post is for you.
Waking up in the middle of the night
In the middle of the night, for seemingly no reason, one actually wakes up fully awake. Strange that the mind may be, it actually alerts one to an oversight. So one gets up of bed trying to salvage the situation. In the end, I decided the solution was to take urgent leave from work to do my part to salvage the oversight, and this had to be done by this morning. Now that the issue has been addressed, at least I could say I have done my part.
Is the sudden, unexpected waking up in the middle of the night a reflex of the mind? Or is it a demonstration of one of the mysterious ways that our intuition works?
I wonder: How do we tap on and make wise use of such intuition to serve good purposes?
Is the sudden, unexpected waking up in the middle of the night a reflex of the mind? Or is it a demonstration of one of the mysterious ways that our intuition works?
I wonder: How do we tap on and make wise use of such intuition to serve good purposes?
A world gets darker
I wish something the air was better. Smoke has been lurking in the air, and this has been irritating my windpipe.
My hip continues to hurt. Perhaps the blessing in disguise is that I could still walk without an obvious limp.
The air and the hip aside, something doesn't feel right. I have yet to learn how to articlate it. That feeling is more than a sensation that makes one feel down. It is something that makes one feel like giving up on things.
Strange it is, the human beings often put themselves in a contradicting position. On one hand a part of oneself feels like surrendering to the world of darkness, the other part of oneself urges one to hang on. The pit below now seems darker and deeper. Is there a reason to have a survival instinct? Maybe falling isn't that bad? At least, one isn't stuck, and there's a direction to head towards for?
Anyway, playing music in an orchestra this evening helps one keep afloat on a life-buoy. This evening, we played the "storm" section of the Beethoven's 6th Symphony. I was told that it is the third movement.
Playing in an orchestra and listening to everyone play can be more interesting than sitting down in a concert hall and listening to the performers. At the very least, one gets to listen, to participate, and to be part of the music-making. Yet, it might just be a temporary jab of endorphin? That bugging feeling is just a symptom to an unrecognised problem, and unless its roots can be found and addressed, the pain remains.
A world gets darker. For the night has come.
Spread one's arms, and allow the free-fall to start, in this darkness.
My hip continues to hurt. Perhaps the blessing in disguise is that I could still walk without an obvious limp.
The air and the hip aside, something doesn't feel right. I have yet to learn how to articlate it. That feeling is more than a sensation that makes one feel down. It is something that makes one feel like giving up on things.
Strange it is, the human beings often put themselves in a contradicting position. On one hand a part of oneself feels like surrendering to the world of darkness, the other part of oneself urges one to hang on. The pit below now seems darker and deeper. Is there a reason to have a survival instinct? Maybe falling isn't that bad? At least, one isn't stuck, and there's a direction to head towards for?
Anyway, playing music in an orchestra this evening helps one keep afloat on a life-buoy. This evening, we played the "storm" section of the Beethoven's 6th Symphony. I was told that it is the third movement.
Playing in an orchestra and listening to everyone play can be more interesting than sitting down in a concert hall and listening to the performers. At the very least, one gets to listen, to participate, and to be part of the music-making. Yet, it might just be a temporary jab of endorphin? That bugging feeling is just a symptom to an unrecognised problem, and unless its roots can be found and addressed, the pain remains.
A world gets darker. For the night has come.
Spread one's arms, and allow the free-fall to start, in this darkness.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
All mixed up
Is there a time when you feel tired, but you don't wish to sleep. It is as if sleep does not lend one the required peace of mind. It feels as if something is missing, and sleep does not help to fill that empty void.
While trying to fill that void, I browsed for photographs taken about a year ago. It is now 00:27 in Singapore. But if I am right, it should be about 13:27 in London. I am imagining myself being stuck in this problem of time differences between two different worlds. A year apart.
The Millennium Bridge and the St Paul's Cathedral.
I particularly like this part of London.
**
Would I get a restful sleep tonight?
While trying to fill that void, I browsed for photographs taken about a year ago. It is now 00:27 in Singapore. But if I am right, it should be about 13:27 in London. I am imagining myself being stuck in this problem of time differences between two different worlds. A year apart.
I particularly like this part of London.
**
Would I get a restful sleep tonight?
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