A rare update because I'm having great fun in the March holidays. Dad's not been around because he's in Shanghai having his second honeymoon. I'm staying at home alone, from now till Sunday after my grandma and aunt left the house yesterday.
Chi Ling and I had dinner for the first time at Cafe Cartel, food was not too bad, but Munchie's will always be closer to our hearts.
I'll skimp details, but the past five months have not been less than glorious.
Good luck to Lydia for her cello exam tomorrow, the piano-cello duo (consisting of Chi Ling and Lydia) came over on Tuesday and Thursday and I heard them play Franck and Debussy respectively. As I have previously mentioned (in real life), $70 for 45 minutes and just pure monitoring is asswipe. Pure monitoring means telling you which bar is out-of-tune, which bar to practise again, and telling you what scales to expect.
Yeah sure, I'll pay you $100 for you to tell me which part of my back's feeling itchy and that "yes, you should scratch this part. And that. And this." Bullshit!
But I had great fun teaching, and it's this tireless passion of seeing students accomplish their goals and feeling great about it that probably drives teachers to continue teaching.
Breakfast was skewed today, but the pancakes I whipped up were generally out of proportion and a little race-biased on my part. And no, they're not usually like that, but I was in a hurry today. Scrambled eggs as per usual, and thick, partially-burnt pancakes on the breakfast table. The couple sits down to eat, while Lydia practises her scales. Just a little pepper on the eggs, please. And pancakes are laden with maple syrup. Mm, delicious.
Ho. A blank mind at this hour is forgivable.
Oh yes! We Intertwine is a FREAKING good song. First song on Fiona's playlist. But the Beatles' influence is overbearingly powerful in the song, with the voice harmonies and call-and-answers. One song I would love to hear on my powerful HiFi set in my room. Song structure is 10/10.
Whatelse. Squeezing stuff out of my brain at the moment. Forget it. Night, babes.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Well I figured out that there's no use using 'she' and 'she' and 'he' since everyone probably knows who I'm talking about, and using names would definitely make my blogpost more personal, which is mmm..[as in the kind of mm you use when you smell delicious things]..good.
So yesterday was Dad's birthday! Happy birthday Dad. Chi Ling and I got this cute little card for him, front cover had the words: "This birthday card is from both of us! One card, twice the love," Opening it up revealed the following "Half the cost! Happy Birthday!"
At least we heard the chortle from Pop (as we dearly call him).
He said it was his most memorable birthday ever, and I have no doubts about that - with all the friends and new people in the family, what more could you ask for? Everyone spamming birthday SMSes (but he ate dinner alone though) and wishes.
Yesterday I got to school without realising that it was actually an off-day because we did well in A-levels. Which is pretty expected with my heck-care school attitude. The place looked like a ghost town, and then suddenly it struck me that there was no school today.
Will update this at YST.
So yesterday was Dad's birthday! Happy birthday Dad. Chi Ling and I got this cute little card for him, front cover had the words: "This birthday card is from both of us! One card, twice the love," Opening it up revealed the following "Half the cost! Happy Birthday!"
At least we heard the chortle from Pop (as we dearly call him).
He said it was his most memorable birthday ever, and I have no doubts about that - with all the friends and new people in the family, what more could you ask for? Everyone spamming birthday SMSes (but he ate dinner alone though) and wishes.
Yesterday I got to school without realising that it was actually an off-day because we did well in A-levels. Which is pretty expected with my heck-care school attitude. The place looked like a ghost town, and then suddenly it struck me that there was no school today.
Will update this at YST.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The Day I Ponteng School 31...or was it 32. Maybe 30.
Today was a holy day. I ponteng-ed school, and it was entirely worth it! I get to skip Math quiz which I have absolutely no idea (I think) how to do. And also I got to practise nearly the entire day. My fingers feel solid, firm, and organized now - which is great.
Yesterday was Mr. Leon Fleisher's masterclass, I don't know where to begin but I'm sure everyone there was in awe and learnt alot. True, there weren't many things that were new, but coming from my teacher's teacher's mouth himself, truly inspiring.
End of post, because I have too many things in my head, but I don't have the time to write them all down.
So even Imba says my blogposts are getting harder to read, and Uncle Eric (a person whom I greatly respect) who said I looked thinner and I should eat more. I'm REALLY spamming food already!
Yesterday was Mr. Leon Fleisher's masterclass, I don't know where to begin but I'm sure everyone there was in awe and learnt alot. True, there weren't many things that were new, but coming from my teacher's teacher's mouth himself, truly inspiring.
End of post, because I have too many things in my head, but I don't have the time to write them all down.
So even Imba says my blogposts are getting harder to read, and Uncle Eric (a person whom I greatly respect) who said I looked thinner and I should eat more. I'm REALLY spamming food already!
Monday, March 9, 2009
-start of stream of consciousness-
Hey peeps. A quick update from me, because I need to settle down quickly for the night and have a good rest before a new day tomorrow. Which is going to be equally long, but I'm promised that it's much more interesting compared to today.
Sunday was a great day, considering Arsenal's wonderful football and the subsequent comfortable win over Burnley. 3-0, adequate enough. I've recently been zoning out watching Arsenal play football, because the ball goes around aimlessly, but Sunday's game was just the opposite. Great runs, fantastic footwork, and engaging teamwork from both sides, but ultimately my favourites proved to me why they deserved to be my favourites, persevered, and took the game in their stride.
And then came today. Not a really stressful day, but a couple of miscommunications and understandings led to a little fright - some cock-up over my own recital and the Inspire 09 concerts. Ok so Clarence is performing.
Reminders about my upcoming concerts - Primarily Piano and Medan! I nearly forgot about Primarily Piano after I was invited to perform at a recital at the ArtsHouse next week (which I passed because I think I'm too busy for all these). Primarily Piano needs the Ravel Sonatine 3rd Movement while Medan needs all five of the Ettlingen repertoire back.
So here are some of the pieces that I would be performing before March ends.
Ravel Sonatine 3rd movement
Mozart K330 1st movement
Griffes Scherzo
Faure Impromptu in Fminor/major
Chopin Harp Etude
Liszt Sonetto del Petrarch
Gasp! Juries in May.
Beethoven Op 10 No.3
Liszt Mephisto Waltz. Or should I revert back to Valley d' Obermann. I think I should, I haven't gained enough stamina for Mephisto Waltz. But many people will be pushing me to play it.
Other than that Clarence taught me how to play Secret and told me of his many adventures of playing it on an upright piano back in secondary school, and how the girls would coo and sing along.
No thanks, I've had enough of guys doing that back in Secondary school. And playing a piece of music just to see people coo? Hell no, thanks very much. But seriously, thank you for teaching me. It sounded nice though.
Bryan Choong was being an exceptional bastard during lunch today by insulting everyone, and then not remembering that my mum had already expired, started telling me how ugly my mum was. [don't worry, he does that to everyone without even knowing how they look like.] The whole crowd at the table was staring at him with huge eyes and he was greeted with silence, until after a painfully long 10 seconds did he remember last year's events and apologising subsequently.
I couldn't do anything more than look at him in shock, but I don't think I'm the kind who would bother to raise my fork and stab him. Too tired already.
Speaking of which, yes, I need to go gym. I just SAY it, but whether I would execute it is an entirely different manner. After much persuasion I'm eating my meals regularly (gasp) and drinking bucketloads of water. But then I'm obviously lacking in stamina after playing through the first 3 pages of the Mephisto Waltz and PANTING.
But my 2.4 timing seems to have improved. Maybe it's just the thought of a PARTICULAR somebody beating me at 2.4 (or any other girls, as a matter of fact) that adds extra horsepower to my already failing engine.
Since we're at the topic of health and wealth, I might as well talk about the last time I ate homecook food (aside from a bowl of Maggi Mee). That was donkey years back, and it wasn't even at my own house. Thank you to Aunty for making my last homecook food memory so wonderful.
[damn. I really miss homecook food.]
Back to more musical matters in this stream of consciousness....I SHAKED HANDS WITH LEON FLEISHER. Couldn't be bothered to wash my hand after that, it's so precious. If we play the hand-shaking game again, I know Mr. Fleisher shook hands with Schnabel, who in turn shook hands with whatshisnameLeschtisvky. Who in turn with CZERNY himself. And of course, BEETHOVEN KISSED CZERNY on the forehead. Hopefully Czerny rubbed his hands on his forehead so he got some of the Beethoven DNA and passed it on.
-end of stream of consciousness-
Sunday was a great day, considering Arsenal's wonderful football and the subsequent comfortable win over Burnley. 3-0, adequate enough. I've recently been zoning out watching Arsenal play football, because the ball goes around aimlessly, but Sunday's game was just the opposite. Great runs, fantastic footwork, and engaging teamwork from both sides, but ultimately my favourites proved to me why they deserved to be my favourites, persevered, and took the game in their stride.
And then came today. Not a really stressful day, but a couple of miscommunications and understandings led to a little fright - some cock-up over my own recital and the Inspire 09 concerts. Ok so Clarence is performing.
Reminders about my upcoming concerts - Primarily Piano and Medan! I nearly forgot about Primarily Piano after I was invited to perform at a recital at the ArtsHouse next week (which I passed because I think I'm too busy for all these). Primarily Piano needs the Ravel Sonatine 3rd Movement while Medan needs all five of the Ettlingen repertoire back.
So here are some of the pieces that I would be performing before March ends.
Ravel Sonatine 3rd movement
Mozart K330 1st movement
Griffes Scherzo
Faure Impromptu in Fminor/major
Chopin Harp Etude
Liszt Sonetto del Petrarch
Gasp! Juries in May.
Beethoven Op 10 No.3
Liszt Mephisto Waltz. Or should I revert back to Valley d' Obermann. I think I should, I haven't gained enough stamina for Mephisto Waltz. But many people will be pushing me to play it.
Other than that Clarence taught me how to play Secret and told me of his many adventures of playing it on an upright piano back in secondary school, and how the girls would coo and sing along.
No thanks, I've had enough of guys doing that back in Secondary school. And playing a piece of music just to see people coo? Hell no, thanks very much. But seriously, thank you for teaching me. It sounded nice though.
Bryan Choong was being an exceptional bastard during lunch today by insulting everyone, and then not remembering that my mum had already expired, started telling me how ugly my mum was. [don't worry, he does that to everyone without even knowing how they look like.] The whole crowd at the table was staring at him with huge eyes and he was greeted with silence, until after a painfully long 10 seconds did he remember last year's events and apologising subsequently.
I couldn't do anything more than look at him in shock, but I don't think I'm the kind who would bother to raise my fork and stab him. Too tired already.
Speaking of which, yes, I need to go gym. I just SAY it, but whether I would execute it is an entirely different manner. After much persuasion I'm eating my meals regularly (gasp) and drinking bucketloads of water. But then I'm obviously lacking in stamina after playing through the first 3 pages of the Mephisto Waltz and PANTING.
But my 2.4 timing seems to have improved. Maybe it's just the thought of a PARTICULAR somebody beating me at 2.4 (or any other girls, as a matter of fact) that adds extra horsepower to my already failing engine.
Since we're at the topic of health and wealth, I might as well talk about the last time I ate homecook food (aside from a bowl of Maggi Mee). That was donkey years back, and it wasn't even at my own house. Thank you to Aunty for making my last homecook food memory so wonderful.
[damn. I really miss homecook food.]
Back to more musical matters in this stream of consciousness....I SHAKED HANDS WITH LEON FLEISHER. Couldn't be bothered to wash my hand after that, it's so precious. If we play the hand-shaking game again, I know Mr. Fleisher shook hands with Schnabel, who in turn shook hands with whatshisnameLeschtisvky. Who in turn with CZERNY himself. And of course, BEETHOVEN KISSED CZERNY on the forehead. Hopefully Czerny rubbed his hands on his forehead so he got some of the Beethoven DNA and passed it on.
-end of stream of consciousness-
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Out of Blog Titles.
I wake up at the atrocious time of 7am, leaving me just 40 mins to assembly. No alarm clock, just me clad in boxers, with one eye still scanning the sky and noting the blue tinge in it already. It's never good news.
Uniform on, jacket hastily put on, and I'm out of the house by 7.10am, while my dad clocks 7.05 to fetch the car from the carpark opposite. I basically don't do much to pack, everyday's a close duplicate of the last. But today's different. There's piano practical, and then audition later in the evening.
I worked it out as 2pm, instead of the correct 5pm, which meant I got some of my meeting timings really screwed up badly.
The car pulls into school by 7.38am, but that doesn't mean I miss my fair share of looking at accidents and jams and roadworks on my way to school. Really, cars can be driven anywhere. Into ditches, into trees, into poles.
[...Car accidents in Poland involving civilians..]
While you seemingly uncurl your toes from the grippingly corny line, I shall take my time to finish my biscuit dinner. Yee, small Marie biscuits with a cup of fresh milk.
First class period of the day was Music Practical with Dr Gooi. I played Ravel Sonatine on the Firewood Piano, 3rd movement. Slips were prevalent for the first few bars, but after that I went on cruise control (which is not recommended). Cruise controls means like, running through the motoric configurations because you've played the piece over and over again and your fingers have without doubt memorised the movements.
I've seen friends who play like that. But I've been guilty before, of not practising separate hands (enough) and slow (enough). Which meant that when I was suddenly pin-pointed to start on a random passage with only the left hand, I'm often left lurching, embarrased and bewildered. [used to.]
If only we were to dedicate more time to simply practising slow, 100% of the time, with the actual performance of it at original tempo. I'm sure I've sat beside many of them, telling them to play slow, but after playing slow for at most three times (with pedal - ah! another thing), I taste impatience in the air.
Unfortunately I fall victim myself to this, but rinse-repeat, rinse-repeat, and you're certain to fall less into this unfortunate trap. But why do we practise slow? I should dedicate another post to this subject matter. Next time then.
Practical ended with Evan's Rachmaninov. Sidenote: I've never played any solo Rachmaninov works before.
The lessons after Practical were a blur. This is what happens when you don't have your breakfast, and your dinner the day before. This is what happens when the last time you ate was 3.30pm the previous day. This is what happens when you're lazy.
Sat through Thomas's String Quartet 2nd movement, which he composed for leisure. Conventional sonata form, but loved it well enough. I just realised how messy my hand-writing was compared to other musicians. Db major, mmm..
"I thought composers had neat hand-writing!" - some random girl whose name I can't remember, because that phrase is stuck in this girly high-pitched voice in my head.
Met her for Jap lunch at Clementi at 3 with a throbbing headache and a heavy heart (man I'm starting to be like a woman. Not that women have heavy hearts but the throbbing headaches part...)By the time we finished talking my head felt like helium and my stomach? Full. 3.30pm. Cheers.
24 hours without substantial food (ok I did eat half a bagel from Sydney at 10). But my moods and spirits were maxed up.
Was late for the auditions though, by 2 minutes. Willette was already playing her Rachmaninov, Griffes wasn't touched for the past week, but a silent practice before entering ensured a confident and dynamic reading of the piece. Never felt so comfortable playing Griffes after Ibiza Finale. Cross my fingers!
Lady asked me if I played the cello, and unfortunately no I don't wish to pick up cello performance again. It's that having to lug this huge piece of wood around that puts me off totally. Around the school, around Singapore. Gosh, give me a break sial.
Wish I could deny the prophecy I made to Tuck Wai the previous day.
"I never get home earlier than 6."
"Wow, that's sad."
I got back home by 6.10 today. Yes, it's a fun and happening life. I can't wait to see what happens when my dad goes off during the March holidays.
Uniform on, jacket hastily put on, and I'm out of the house by 7.10am, while my dad clocks 7.05 to fetch the car from the carpark opposite. I basically don't do much to pack, everyday's a close duplicate of the last. But today's different. There's piano practical, and then audition later in the evening.
I worked it out as 2pm, instead of the correct 5pm, which meant I got some of my meeting timings really screwed up badly.
The car pulls into school by 7.38am, but that doesn't mean I miss my fair share of looking at accidents and jams and roadworks on my way to school. Really, cars can be driven anywhere. Into ditches, into trees, into poles.
[...Car accidents in Poland involving civilians..]
While you seemingly uncurl your toes from the grippingly corny line, I shall take my time to finish my biscuit dinner. Yee, small Marie biscuits with a cup of fresh milk.
First class period of the day was Music Practical with Dr Gooi. I played Ravel Sonatine on the Firewood Piano, 3rd movement. Slips were prevalent for the first few bars, but after that I went on cruise control (which is not recommended). Cruise controls means like, running through the motoric configurations because you've played the piece over and over again and your fingers have without doubt memorised the movements.
I've seen friends who play like that. But I've been guilty before, of not practising separate hands (enough) and slow (enough). Which meant that when I was suddenly pin-pointed to start on a random passage with only the left hand, I'm often left lurching, embarrased and bewildered. [used to.]
If only we were to dedicate more time to simply practising slow, 100% of the time, with the actual performance of it at original tempo. I'm sure I've sat beside many of them, telling them to play slow, but after playing slow for at most three times (with pedal - ah! another thing), I taste impatience in the air.
Unfortunately I fall victim myself to this, but rinse-repeat, rinse-repeat, and you're certain to fall less into this unfortunate trap. But why do we practise slow? I should dedicate another post to this subject matter. Next time then.
Practical ended with Evan's Rachmaninov. Sidenote: I've never played any solo Rachmaninov works before.
The lessons after Practical were a blur. This is what happens when you don't have your breakfast, and your dinner the day before. This is what happens when the last time you ate was 3.30pm the previous day. This is what happens when you're lazy.
Sat through Thomas's String Quartet 2nd movement, which he composed for leisure. Conventional sonata form, but loved it well enough. I just realised how messy my hand-writing was compared to other musicians. Db major, mmm..
"I thought composers had neat hand-writing!" - some random girl whose name I can't remember, because that phrase is stuck in this girly high-pitched voice in my head.
Met her for Jap lunch at Clementi at 3 with a throbbing headache and a heavy heart (man I'm starting to be like a woman. Not that women have heavy hearts but the throbbing headaches part...)By the time we finished talking my head felt like helium and my stomach? Full. 3.30pm. Cheers.
24 hours without substantial food (ok I did eat half a bagel from Sydney at 10). But my moods and spirits were maxed up.
Was late for the auditions though, by 2 minutes. Willette was already playing her Rachmaninov, Griffes wasn't touched for the past week, but a silent practice before entering ensured a confident and dynamic reading of the piece. Never felt so comfortable playing Griffes after Ibiza Finale. Cross my fingers!
Lady asked me if I played the cello, and unfortunately no I don't wish to pick up cello performance again. It's that having to lug this huge piece of wood around that puts me off totally. Around the school, around Singapore. Gosh, give me a break sial.
Wish I could deny the prophecy I made to Tuck Wai the previous day.
"I never get home earlier than 6."
"Wow, that's sad."
I got back home by 6.10 today. Yes, it's a fun and happening life. I can't wait to see what happens when my dad goes off during the March holidays.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Life Adventure
I'm surprised today is Tuesday.
A sudden thought while reading my own blogposts yesterday, that my life's turning out to be an adventure. It sure is. Auditions, band, concerts, compositions, homework, lessons, classes, competitions, festivals. I'm glad now there's someone (more than one of course) looking out for me at every turn, to pull me up when I slip and fall.
I still think I had to, but I wouldn't elaborate. Reaching the end of this sentence makes me think about what Fiona mentioned on my convulated and pseudo-cryptic words.
I admit - I can't concentrate on anything else when there's music around - pop, jazz, classical, funeral, whatever. I've known people who suffer from such a handicap (eg. Ben Low), which means when we do work and listen to music all we think about is:
"Right, C. A minor. F. G."
"No, next one would be an E minor. Just for that kick."
"Aww, shit, it was really an A minor."
"Ok cut here. What? No cut?"
Then we would end up not doing anything at all.
Just like how I feel like not doing anything at all now and watching Batman Begins on Channel 5.
For your eyes only, that I really bought the milk and would be drinking it for dinner/supper WITH biscuits. I had a super super heavy lunch at 3 (with 2 tons worth of vegetable), so I'm really full right now. No worries..!
After Batman Begins, time to read a little poetry and be inspired.
On a sidenote, I scored 6 goals today during a lop-sided soccer match played during PT/PE. Total score was 7-1. Logically speaking, we're the former. And Piano Ensemble took on a new meaning of watching RJ alumni talk about piano performance for 1 and a half hour.
-1 and a half hour later-
"Have I been doodling on?" [In a slow and mundane voice]
On my very ambitious list of composition:
an eight-hand two piano fantasy! (for Child's Play Piano Ensemble Concert 2009)
and another solo piano work for Music-Art collaboration
I need a piano concerto before I reach 20. I must. I have 3 more years left.
I'm surprised tomorrow is Wednesday. Track of time, seriously derailed.
A sudden thought while reading my own blogposts yesterday, that my life's turning out to be an adventure. It sure is. Auditions, band, concerts, compositions, homework, lessons, classes, competitions, festivals. I'm glad now there's someone (more than one of course) looking out for me at every turn, to pull me up when I slip and fall.
I still think I had to, but I wouldn't elaborate. Reaching the end of this sentence makes me think about what Fiona mentioned on my convulated and pseudo-cryptic words.
I admit - I can't concentrate on anything else when there's music around - pop, jazz, classical, funeral, whatever. I've known people who suffer from such a handicap (eg. Ben Low), which means when we do work and listen to music all we think about is:
"Right, C. A minor. F. G."
"No, next one would be an E minor. Just for that kick."
"Aww, shit, it was really an A minor."
"Ok cut here. What? No cut?"
Then we would end up not doing anything at all.
Just like how I feel like not doing anything at all now and watching Batman Begins on Channel 5.
For your eyes only, that I really bought the milk and would be drinking it for dinner/supper WITH biscuits. I had a super super heavy lunch at 3 (with 2 tons worth of vegetable), so I'm really full right now. No worries..!
After Batman Begins, time to read a little poetry and be inspired.
On a sidenote, I scored 6 goals today during a lop-sided soccer match played during PT/PE. Total score was 7-1. Logically speaking, we're the former. And Piano Ensemble took on a new meaning of watching RJ alumni talk about piano performance for 1 and a half hour.
-1 and a half hour later-
"Have I been doodling on?" [In a slow and mundane voice]
On my very ambitious list of composition:
an eight-hand two piano fantasy! (for Child's Play Piano Ensemble Concert 2009)
and another solo piano work for Music-Art collaboration
I need a piano concerto before I reach 20. I must. I have 3 more years left.
I'm surprised tomorrow is Wednesday. Track of time, seriously derailed.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
musicfest, birthday, exdee
Ok.
First and foremost, I survived this week. Obviously, or I wouldn't be posting here right? I hate how MusicFest was organized, but it's the brutal reality of it. They want entertainment, which was never in my head since I started writing the music for it. Which was 3 weeks before the actual thing. Believe it or not, the third and fourth movement was written on the day of performance itself.
And Dramafeste people! We finish LATER THAN YOU GUYS! Yes we really do, we finish work at around 10.30 and then I almost always have chicken rice dinner at S11. Ah, the yummy soup. Gosh I really want to eat it now. Speaking of which I just woke up at 4.15. Slept at 2 yesterday.
This whole week has been a kalabaloom week, with all the late-night rehearsals. And then the realization that other houses were doing much better than us (apparently). But I haven't lost my impromptu touch, to rush things out last minute and at least score some points.
At least we got 3rd prize, what a relief. The first movement was self-composed, a close imitation of a March, late Romantic. The second movement was composed last December for piano for her, and then I transcribed it for 2 cellos, 1 violin, 1 euphonium, and yangqin. And piano.
3rd movement called Potpourri, a medley consisting of 3 tunes (originally 4) - Bananas in PJs, Telletubies, and Elmo's World. The Bananas was an improvisation, and nothing was written down except the chords. Telletubies and Elmo's World was scored last minute.
4th movement was also never scored properly, just the sequencing. An ostinato of the Powerpuff Love tune, and then a fugal section when Bananas, Telletubies and Elmo's World was played (although not really obviously).
The characters marching out wasn't really a significant one in my head, simply because I managed the music and Mich and Willette did the choreography. Even that, I heard, was improvised, because we've never rehearsed with them before, and the masks were done in the PAC itself.
Wonder what other houses would think when they read this. Even I feel a little sad for them and their effort. Congrats to BB and MT! BB deserved it entirely (even though I've never heard them). MT...grr. Bad blood between MT and MR. :O Or maybe it's just me and Shawn Neo.
After MusicFest I had to run to the opposite Multi-Purpose Hall, where eXDee was due to perform 2 numbers and an encore. That was pretty alright, but not the best.
Saturday was definitely going to be another mad rush. Got my passport photo taken (because the old one was taken in 1996, and I still get stopped at EVERY immigration point I've been to. Ran though music at Daniel's house at 5, Baybeats top 30 auditions was due at 7.45pm. Performed 2 songs, did everything right.
And guess what! We got into TOP 15!!! I just got the message from Yisin at 10 (which meant after that I slept for a further 6 hours. Fantastic.
After that I ran over to Plaza Singapura to celebrate her birthday, and she was with the huge Pooh balloon(think about lugging it [ok no trying to hold it down] around Singapore). Aunty was there too, but sister wasn't, although 4 of us got down to celebrating it in the end.
Due to a freak accident the Breadtalk cake was erm. partly decimated, but Bengawan Solo cake prevailed ALL THE WAY from Thomson to Orchard to Boon Lay (omg.) Yeah we cheated on the last leg because we decided to cab back. And how I hate rainy weather. In the cab went the balloon and the 2 cakes and 2 carton of eggs Aunty got for a crazy 95 cents for a carton.
Photos, cake, blowing candles, play a little piano, done.
Back home by 2am.
And sleep till 4pm. Tomorow, a new week. New challenges.
First and foremost, I survived this week. Obviously, or I wouldn't be posting here right? I hate how MusicFest was organized, but it's the brutal reality of it. They want entertainment, which was never in my head since I started writing the music for it. Which was 3 weeks before the actual thing. Believe it or not, the third and fourth movement was written on the day of performance itself.
And Dramafeste people! We finish LATER THAN YOU GUYS! Yes we really do, we finish work at around 10.30 and then I almost always have chicken rice dinner at S11. Ah, the yummy soup. Gosh I really want to eat it now. Speaking of which I just woke up at 4.15. Slept at 2 yesterday.
This whole week has been a kalabaloom week, with all the late-night rehearsals. And then the realization that other houses were doing much better than us (apparently). But I haven't lost my impromptu touch, to rush things out last minute and at least score some points.
At least we got 3rd prize, what a relief. The first movement was self-composed, a close imitation of a March, late Romantic. The second movement was composed last December for piano for her, and then I transcribed it for 2 cellos, 1 violin, 1 euphonium, and yangqin. And piano.
3rd movement called Potpourri, a medley consisting of 3 tunes (originally 4) - Bananas in PJs, Telletubies, and Elmo's World. The Bananas was an improvisation, and nothing was written down except the chords. Telletubies and Elmo's World was scored last minute.
4th movement was also never scored properly, just the sequencing. An ostinato of the Powerpuff Love tune, and then a fugal section when Bananas, Telletubies and Elmo's World was played (although not really obviously).
The characters marching out wasn't really a significant one in my head, simply because I managed the music and Mich and Willette did the choreography. Even that, I heard, was improvised, because we've never rehearsed with them before, and the masks were done in the PAC itself.
Wonder what other houses would think when they read this. Even I feel a little sad for them and their effort. Congrats to BB and MT! BB deserved it entirely (even though I've never heard them). MT...grr. Bad blood between MT and MR. :O Or maybe it's just me and Shawn Neo.
After MusicFest I had to run to the opposite Multi-Purpose Hall, where eXDee was due to perform 2 numbers and an encore. That was pretty alright, but not the best.
Saturday was definitely going to be another mad rush. Got my passport photo taken (because the old one was taken in 1996, and I still get stopped at EVERY immigration point I've been to. Ran though music at Daniel's house at 5, Baybeats top 30 auditions was due at 7.45pm. Performed 2 songs, did everything right.
And guess what! We got into TOP 15!!! I just got the message from Yisin at 10 (which meant after that I slept for a further 6 hours. Fantastic.
After that I ran over to Plaza Singapura to celebrate her birthday, and she was with the huge Pooh balloon(think about lugging it [ok no trying to hold it down] around Singapore). Aunty was there too, but sister wasn't, although 4 of us got down to celebrating it in the end.
Due to a freak accident the Breadtalk cake was erm. partly decimated, but Bengawan Solo cake prevailed ALL THE WAY from Thomson to Orchard to Boon Lay (omg.) Yeah we cheated on the last leg because we decided to cab back. And how I hate rainy weather. In the cab went the balloon and the 2 cakes and 2 carton of eggs Aunty got for a crazy 95 cents for a carton.
Photos, cake, blowing candles, play a little piano, done.
Back home by 2am.
And sleep till 4pm. Tomorow, a new week. New challenges.
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