Today as usual I listened to Chopin like I do every single day. And it never gets boring. Never. In that, what, 8 minutes of listening, I feel so entranced by the expressive notes and sometimes it makes me so sad listening to it, as if it was truly there. And if I listen to Chopin on the walk to the station in the morning I feel so joyous and light (I'd be listening to something like his Etudes) and the world just seems better.

So what about the story behind the music? For instance, in Chopin's composition Waltz in A-flat, Op. 69, No. 1 “L’Adieu", it is about Chopin's love, Marie. In short, he loved her much but he was never really in good health. Marie and Chopin contacted each other through letters and the few times they meet during his travels to give concerts and lessons. During a holiday trip, Chopin proposed to her and she accepted but Marie's family wanted Chopin to prove himself able to take care of Marie before their marriage would be approved.

However, due to Chopin's frail health through the winter, Marie's family rejected Chopin, and asked Marie to write a letter of rejection to him. When Chopin returned to Paris, he received this letter and wrapped up the bundle of paperwork and labelled it "My Sorrow".

(paraphrased from: chopinproject.com)

This is the song he created and it's called 'L'Adieu' which means farewell. You can hear it by opening this link below, scrolling a bit until you see a music player. Just click on the play button.

http://chopinproject.com/2008/03/19/waltz-in-a-flat-op-69-no-1-ladieu/


Try to really get into the feel of the music. It's a sad song... I was almost into tears. So beautiful.


And now this is another song I recently found. It is actually the last Nocturne piece by Chopin before he died. Let me quote this from chopinproject.com:

Chopin Project Artistic Director Arthur
Greene calls Chopin’s last nocturne a curious, but moving, work:

“It is rarely played. Its absolute simplicity of texture may lead
performers to experiment with ornamentation, but I believe that it is an
expression of Chopin’s new direction, in the difficult few years at the end of
his life, towards a directness and purity of expression. The
Polonaise-Fantasy has somewhat the same mood, although it is much more
elaborate. The little nocturne is a tragic whisper.”

To listen, click this link http://chopinproject.com/2008/08/27/nocturne-in-c-minor-kk-1233-5-1847-chopins-last-nocturne/

Might be hard for some people to like listening to classical music. But yeah for me it's just ... whew. Every song's a experience.

Labels: chopin, classical music, l'adieu, Nocturne, waltz

Found this while searching for chopin's Etude Op.10 No.3 (also called Tristesse). It's a Jap band named Everly. I don't think they're very famous yet, but their music is so wonderful!!!

And this is the violin and piano for La Corda:

So I've been playing my violin again thanks to La Corda ^^

Aaaah I want to bring it back to indo.... T.T sob sob

Labels: chopin, etude, La Corda D'oro, tristesse

I was being ambushed by mean mean zombies o__o



I was also the headhunter =D yay. I don't know if that's supposed to be easy to achieve (well I guess it is), but I'm happy nonetheless. It's these kinds of things that make you want to continue playing a game that LAGS EVERY SINGLE FRIKIN ----. Oh you know. Once the setting gets a bit complicated, the graphics lag like _. Even the audio lagged. Like... every bullet echoed. It was rather ridiculous so I stopped playing it.





Also, I've been quite hardworking with the violin ^^ horray. I play it every day, observe, learn, practise. Playing the violin is fuuunnn... hehe.


Oh and yesterday, my mom, dad, and I went to Puri and we saw this piano exhibition from Kohler & Campbell. We fell so in love with KC142 and really wanted to buy a piano. That night, we arranged a meeting with a secondhand piano dealer for this morning. However, after much thought, I fought the temptation of the piano and cancelled the meeting. I thought that since I was going to leave for Australia and nobody's going to play it until I get back for my 3-months holiday in November, it would be a waste.

...Actually, there were more reasons why I declined it but I don't want to blog about it. Anyway, the end line is... why buy a piano for Rp.16jt which you can't play when you can buy a Rp.16jt violin which will sound godly???

I thought the money would be better worth for something else. Like that violin for example. When I improve and feel myself worthy of that violin. Teh future awaits...!





Hm. What else. Well, for one, I've obviously been preparing for my transition to Aussie. Like... clearing out my wardrobe of clothes I cannot wear anymore... buying clothes for colder weather... passport book... wallet with lots of space... things like that. In a nutshell, shopping.


Well yeah! That covers it. It's not much I know. That's why I've been sort of confused what to blog about... it's like there's no certain event or anything. Oh and before I forgot, my dad asked me today what brand my contact lenses are. And I told him a+, and he was like... what brand is that?

o_o It struck me that I didn't know a thing about a+... like, where is it made? Or anything of the sort. My dad told me to change my contacts but I'm a tad reluctant since a+ sky blue is really a nice colour and I've grown attached to it. No problems whatsoever in my... what, 7 months usage?

So I tried googling for a+, but didn't find anything... I mean... if I googled 'Acuvue' the first thing that comes out would be the official website. a+? Nothing, except for an Indonesian forum with girls talking about how great a+ lenses look and yadida. So I'm rather doubting this product... I think maybe it's a local brand or something? My Dad thinks I'm better off wearing well-known contacts, so... if anyone knows anything about a+, please go to the tagboard. If not, I'd be kissing a+ blue eyes goodbye =((

Labels: a+, CG, chopin, contact lens, Kohler and Campbell, L4D, Left 4 Dead, piano, violin, zombies

Simply. In Love. With that video!!!

I mean WOW, I think Colin Jacobsen (the violinist) really nailed this violin version (by Sarasate) of Chopin's Nocturne Op.9/2. I was trying to find the violin music score for several hours but couldn't find it. (Not that I expected my humble self to be able to play it, but I wanted to see it nonetheless)

Seriously. I have no idea where to buy violin music sheets here in Jakarta. I mean I see piano books a lot. But violin... unless I missed it when I was in the Yamaha store, it really is nowhere to be found. And Gramedia is hopeless. Try looking for music books in Gramedia, you will see what I mean. It is pretty pathetic the music books they have there. And not to mention they are all for piano, and a few guitar.

Speaking of piano, if you noticed, I cancelled out 'have piano lesson for the first time' off my wishlist. Well, it doesn't mean it's done, actually, I don't wish for it anymore. In fact, I want to cancel my application. Thank god I haven't paid for it.

Why? Let's just say 3 hours in Susan's house exposed to the piano and trying to play Nocturne Op.9/2 killed me. Yes, I know I should start off with an easy song first, but still. And plus, if you think about it, like Martin said to me today, December = lots of holidays. Mid-Feb = leave for Australia. So I'll just be wasting my money!

Therefore I shall stick to my beautiful violin. After playing the piano for a little while, I realised I like the violin better. Lol maybe it's because I can play it better than the piano obviously, but I just like the METHOD of playing the violin. I hate separating my mind into two different bars of notes like in piano. And in some songs, the violin sounds more passionate, and I like it that way.

On the other side of things, I had this sudden urge to google for RMIT students for some reason. I found several interesting things.

One, I have decided which club I want to join later on! Check out this .pdf file, which contains the whole list of clubs:

And the following information I got from http://5starman.blogspot.com/2007/09/travis-fimmel.html (you can click the link if you wish to see more pictures of him):

Date of birth: July 15, 1979
Birthplace: Victoria, Australia
Home: LA
Agencies: New York Model Management and LA Models
Education: Attended RMIT University
Marital Status: Single
Hair: Dark blonde
Eyes: Blue/green
Height: 5'11Weight: 180 lbs
Shoe size: 10
Shirt: 15 1/2 to 33
Waist: 32
Inseam: 33
Hobbies: Surfing, beach volleyball, martial arts, motorbiking.

I'm sure the red font catched your attention. Yes, RMIT University! For those who don't know him, he is the model of Calvin Klein, Travis Fimmel.

Next! For Asian readers, this person would be more familiar...

Wu Zun from Fahrenheit!

Source: http://asianfanatics.net

Name: Wu Zun (吳尊)
Real Name: Wu Ji Zun
Fahrenheit: Cool
D.O.B: 10th of October 1979
Star Sign: Libra
Blood Types: O
Height: 183cm
Weight: 72kgs
Measurements: 40, 31, 38
Education: RMIT (Australia) B. Business Majoring in Business Administration (Distinction)
Languages: Malay, English, Chinese and Hokkien
Hobbies: Basketball, Eating, Travelling, Going to the Gym
Fav. Food: All, besides oily and fatty foods.
Fav. Drink: Mocktail
Fav. Flower: Lillies
Blog: www.wretch.cc/blog/wuchun10cool

Mmhmm. Now you know what will make me really happy? If Shirota Yuu, or maybe a look-alike, would be in RMIT next year.

Oooh yeah I'm excited for life in Australia. By the way, did I mention that my Guardians in Australia are: Ken and Alison Taylor? :) You know.

Labels: Calvin Klein, chopin, clubs, colin jacobsen, Fahrenheit, model, Nocturne op.9/2, RMIT, RMIT Music, shirota yuu, string ensemble, Travis Fimmel, violin, Wu zun

I slept with Gucci last night!

Labels: Ave Maria, Caccini, Caprice, chopin, Gucci, Nocturne op.9/2, Paganini, piano, Scarborough Fair, violin

Whoopee, it's a new post! Finally!

This time, I am going to talk about my sudden interest in classical music. Why? Coz yesterday I just watched La Ro-sth-sth anime in animax (recommended by Chu and Irene). While watching the show, I noted down the titles of 2 songs - Waltz of the Puppy and Fantasia, by Chopin himself.





Then I downloaded more of his songs.
Another song I've always liked is Vivaldi's Concerto in A-Moll... or E-Moll. I have no idea. And I can never find it. All I have is the music sheet for the violin (which I can only play the front), and a recording of it in my phone.

You know what I just discovered though? X-Box has a game on Chopin! Here's how he looks like:



HOOOOT eh??? hahah :D

Man I wish I can play a musical instrument well. It would be cool. I can sit on my little piano bench and play beside the window as the sun sets - some dramatic notes by some great great pianist worshipped by people all over the world. That would be fun.

Or the violin with my long hair swinging around, wearing a dress, in the spotlight, being all passionate and emotional.... ahh.

Unfortunately, these dreams are never coming true. I never can understand all those notes. They confuse me too much. And my violin squeaks when I play it. =D hahhaa. what a contrast from my previous descriptions.

Labels: chopin, classical music