This is what I watched on the last day of the week of Spring break.
This movie is about an orphan, named Danny Boodman T. D. Lemon 1900, born and raised on a ship. He was blessed with the talent of a natural pianist, joined the band of the ship and became well-known. Later the inventor' of jazz, Jelly Roll Morton, boarded the ship to challenge him for a dual in playing Jazz. But 1900 managed to beat him. Although being encouraged by many including his friend Max to leave the ship for a real life on the dry land, he couldn't handle the pressure of facing the complicated uncertainty of the world beyond the ship, and decided to stay as a sailer on the ocean. For this reason he lost the opportunity of becoming rich and famous (well, he was already famous, otherwise Jelly Morton wouldn't come for a dual), as well as the opportunity of chasing a French girl who traveled on the ship to immigrate to America, whom he secretly admired. Eventually, after the WWII, he stayed on the ship and sank with it when the boat was blew up.
The movie was made in 1998 by the Italian directory Guiseppe Tornatore. It featured the actor Tim Roth. The music was composed by the Italian composer Ennio Morricone. In 2000 this movie won the Golden Globe Award. See wikipedia for more information about this movie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_1900
This movie features lots of piano scenes:
- Magic Waltz
- Jazz dual I
- Jazz dual II
- Playing Love
- Piano meditations
- Child prodigy
There is also an online collection of its sound track.
It's a movie worth watching for whoever enjoys listening to and playing piano, especially Jazz.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
American idol 08' Top 11 (3/18)
This is the second week for Beatles' songs.
Michael Johns - A Day In The Life Not bad. On the other hand it is not as good as the initial ones. His voice does not sound so complicated as should be. In general it's not bad but lacks variation, a little bleached. Shining moment is what's needed to impress the judges.
David Archuleta - Long And Winding Road Very good, although cannot say brilliant.
Kristy Lee Cook - You've Got To Hide Your Love Some people say she's boring and cocky. Fine with me, although indeed I agree it's kind of a boring arrangement, the voice is flat and dry.
Brooke White - Here Comes The Sun The judges said she'd get better song choice. She said many oks.
American Idol - Jason Castro - Michelle Simon said that this is a TV show rather than a radio show favors him because his guffy face sold it.
Syesha Mercado - Yesterday Not bad. Might be her best performance.
It's getting subtle. Some performances are not so easily distinguished as being good or bad. The judges sometimes say the performances are disconnected. I think the judges' comments are somewhat disconnected sometimes. Michael John's Bohemian Rhapsody is absolutely stunning, one can easily tell. But the performances here are hard to tell.
Michael Johns - A Day In The Life Not bad. On the other hand it is not as good as the initial ones. His voice does not sound so complicated as should be. In general it's not bad but lacks variation, a little bleached. Shining moment is what's needed to impress the judges.
David Archuleta - Long And Winding Road Very good, although cannot say brilliant.
Kristy Lee Cook - You've Got To Hide Your Love Some people say she's boring and cocky. Fine with me, although indeed I agree it's kind of a boring arrangement, the voice is flat and dry.
Brooke White - Here Comes The Sun The judges said she'd get better song choice. She said many oks.
American Idol - Jason Castro - Michelle Simon said that this is a TV show rather than a radio show favors him because his guffy face sold it.
Syesha Mercado - Yesterday Not bad. Might be her best performance.
It's getting subtle. Some performances are not so easily distinguished as being good or bad. The judges sometimes say the performances are disconnected. I think the judges' comments are somewhat disconnected sometimes. Michael John's Bohemian Rhapsody is absolutely stunning, one can easily tell. But the performances here are hard to tell.
Ave Maria
"Ave Maria" (Latin for Hail, Mary: a traditional Catholic and Eastern Orthodox prayer calling for the intercession of Mary, the mother of Jesus) - the ode to the Saint Maria. An aria. Many composers wrote different pieces for this theme. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ave_Maria
Ave Maria (by Franz Biebl)
- Chanticleer (America chorus)
Ave Maria (by Franz Schubert)
- Pavarotti (Italian)
- Michael Bolton (American song writer and singer)
- barbara bonney
- Svetlana Strezeva
- Jessye Norman (showing score)
- Yehudi Menuhin (Violin, 1947)
- Piano. Another Piano. Two pianos.
Ave Maria (by Bach/Charles Gounod)
- Celtic Woman (Irish music ensemble)
Ave Maria (by Giulio Caccini [Vladimir Vavilov])
- Sumi Jo (Korean)
- Celine Dion (Canadian)
Ave Maria (by Anton Bruckner)
- The University of Michigan Men's Glee Club 148th Annual Fall Concert
- Vienna boyschoir
Ave Maria (Giuseppe Verdi, from Act IV of Otello)
- Renee Fleming (American soprano) She once performed this just 2 weeks after giving birth.
Ave Maria Paien (Notre Dame de Paris song, 21th)
- French singer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY30Qgj6LJM
Ave Maria (by Franz Biebl)
- Chanticleer (America chorus)
Ave Maria (by Franz Schubert)
- Pavarotti (Italian)
- Michael Bolton (American song writer and singer)
- barbara bonney
- Svetlana Strezeva
- Jessye Norman (showing score)
- Yehudi Menuhin (Violin, 1947)
- Piano. Another Piano. Two pianos.
Ave Maria (by Bach/Charles Gounod)
- Celtic Woman (Irish music ensemble)
Ave Maria (by Giulio Caccini [Vladimir Vavilov])
- Sumi Jo (Korean)
- Celine Dion (Canadian)
Ave Maria (by Anton Bruckner)
- The University of Michigan Men's Glee Club 148th Annual Fall Concert
- Vienna boyschoir
Ave Maria (Giuseppe Verdi, from Act IV of Otello)
- Renee Fleming (American soprano) She once performed this just 2 weeks after giving birth.
Ave Maria Paien (Notre Dame de Paris song, 21th)
- French singer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY30Qgj6LJM
Young generation of pianists
Li Yundi
- Chopin Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2
- Listz La Campanella
- Chopin "Fantasie" Impromptu, Op. 66
- Mozart Rondo Alla Turca (four hands with Jay Chou)
Lang Lang
His facial expression is funny.
- Chopin Nocturne Op. 27 No. 2
- Lang Lang and his father at Carnegie Hall - "Horse". I never knew his father is good at Erhu. I like this one.
- "I play piano like a multimedia website"
- Lang Lang & Marc Yu - Schubert Four Hands Part II
- Lang Lang Gone Mad
Evgeni Kissin (Russian)
- la campanella
- The Turkish March (Rondo Alla Turca)
Mee-Hyun Ahn (Korean)
- Tchaikovsky-The Nutcracker Suite for piano solo
Perfection with this piece. She teaches at Yale. Some say "those who can't do, teach". This is not true.
(Russian)
- Chopin - Fantasie Impromptu
- Chopin - Nocturne
- La Cumparsita
She also composes.
- Chopin Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2
- Listz La Campanella
- Chopin "Fantasie" Impromptu, Op. 66
- Mozart Rondo Alla Turca (four hands with Jay Chou)
Lang Lang
His facial expression is funny.
- Chopin Nocturne Op. 27 No. 2
- Lang Lang and his father at Carnegie Hall - "Horse". I never knew his father is good at Erhu. I like this one.
- "I play piano like a multimedia website"
- Lang Lang & Marc Yu - Schubert Four Hands Part II
- Lang Lang Gone Mad
Evgeni Kissin (Russian)
- la campanella
- The Turkish March (Rondo Alla Turca)
Mee-Hyun Ahn (Korean)
- Tchaikovsky-The Nutcracker Suite for piano solo
Perfection with this piece. She teaches at Yale. Some say "those who can't do, teach". This is not true.
(Russian)
- Chopin - Fantasie Impromptu
- Chopin - Nocturne
- La Cumparsita
She also composes.
Grigory Sokolov
So energetic and firm.. this is Grigory Sokolov! (Russian pianist, 1950.4.18 - ) Although always a low key person, he definitely is among the best pianists of his generation. Listen to these:
- Couperin - Le Tic-Tac-Choc (So fluidish and easy. This is a hard piece yet sounds so effortless.)
- Prokofiev 7th Sonata - 3. Precipitato There is a jazzy groove in this composition.
- Stravinsky - Petrouchka: chez petrouchkag (Russian Dance?)
- Beethoven - Sonata No. 15 op.28 - III Scherzo Trio.
- Rameau - La Poule
Best performers of his generation also include vladimir horowitz and Glen Gould. Glen Gould is most famous for playing the music of Bach.
François Couperin: (1668 – 1733) French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist. His family was gifted in music. François himself was called "Couperin le Grand" (Couperin the Great). He composed "Le Tic-Tac-Choc".
- Couperin - Le Tic-Tac-Choc (So fluidish and easy. This is a hard piece yet sounds so effortless.)
- Prokofiev 7th Sonata - 3. Precipitato There is a jazzy groove in this composition.
- Stravinsky - Petrouchka: chez petrouchkag (Russian Dance?)
- Beethoven - Sonata No. 15 op.28 - III Scherzo Trio.
- Rameau - La Poule
Best performers of his generation also include vladimir horowitz and Glen Gould. Glen Gould is most famous for playing the music of Bach.
François Couperin: (1668 – 1733) French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist. His family was gifted in music. François himself was called "Couperin le Grand" (Couperin the Great). He composed "Le Tic-Tac-Choc".
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
More singing competition
Top 10 performance
David Archuleta's "Imagine" by John Lennon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbtC8Tdj-88
The strongest performance of this round.
Michael John's "You can go your own way": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjN4GFdkvrc
It's ok. But as Simon said, "there is no Moment".
Top 8 performance:
Jason Castro "Hallelujah": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0AT_rwiogc
without guitar, actually shows his voice. Not bad.
Michael Johns "Don't You Forget About Me": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVQeJ23tleQ
Song is ok, not special though.
David Archuleta "Another Day in Paradise": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-E5y11OpAM
In summary. All performances are not bad, but just not as fresh as first time heard their voices.
David Archuleta's "Imagine" by John Lennon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbtC8Tdj-88
The strongest performance of this round.
Michael John's "You can go your own way": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjN4GFdkvrc
It's ok. But as Simon said, "there is no Moment".
Top 8 performance:
Jason Castro "Hallelujah": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0AT_rwiogc
without guitar, actually shows his voice. Not bad.
Michael Johns "Don't You Forget About Me": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVQeJ23tleQ
Song is ok, not special though.
David Archuleta "Another Day in Paradise": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-E5y11OpAM
In summary. All performances are not bad, but just not as fresh as first time heard their voices.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Britain's got talent '07
Paul Potts - the Opera singer & cellphone saleman:
First performance - Sleepless tonight (nessun dorma): http://youtube.com/watch?v=DelJrP3P7tA
Semi-final - Time to say goodby: http://youtube.com/watch?v=rDB9zwlXrB8
Final - Sleepless tonight: http://youtube.com/watch?v=K_5W4t_CBzg
Caruso: http://youtube.com/watch?v=O16nOsG6Z3k
Although skills still can be improved (as opera works like an academic field), he simply has an amazingly touching voice.
Connie Talbot - only 6:
Final: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2cnRXmMn2Ag
She sang with her grandma.
First performance - Sleepless tonight (nessun dorma): http://youtube.com/watch?v=DelJrP3P7tA
Semi-final - Time to say goodby: http://youtube.com/watch?v=rDB9zwlXrB8
Final - Sleepless tonight: http://youtube.com/watch?v=K_5W4t_CBzg
Caruso: http://youtube.com/watch?v=O16nOsG6Z3k
Although skills still can be improved (as opera works like an academic field), he simply has an amazingly touching voice.
Connie Talbot - only 6:
Final: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2cnRXmMn2Ag
She sang with her grandma.
Am's got talent '07
Bianca Ryan - the 12-year-old unusual talent:
First performance: http://youtube.com/watch?v=prXfr_0IeN4
Final: http://youtube.com/watch?v=8uL3kWFQSpY
Somehow I feel the first is better than the final.
Spotlight - extended version: http://youtube.com/watch?v=DhVBtResJic
Here there are also briefs of many other songs by her.
Simon commented in this video that Bianca was potentially one of the best singers he ever heard of in his life.
Bianca - Merry Christmas: http://youtube.com/watch?v=dV8IE_vtTq8
Bianca - You light up my life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRU7e9Qe-qI
Bianca - O Holy Night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uXncfrRUi0
Her album was out in November 2007.
Taylor Ware - the 12-year-old yodeler:
First performance: http://youtube.com/watch?v=bDDEk2AMJAI
This should be better than later performances in the show, since the impression is totally fresh and unexpected. Later it seems to be repetition and not much new, and more country-style singing instead of yodeling.
First performance: http://youtube.com/watch?v=prXfr_0IeN4
Final: http://youtube.com/watch?v=8uL3kWFQSpY
Somehow I feel the first is better than the final.
Spotlight - extended version: http://youtube.com/watch?v=DhVBtResJic
Here there are also briefs of many other songs by her.
Simon commented in this video that Bianca was potentially one of the best singers he ever heard of in his life.
Bianca - Merry Christmas: http://youtube.com/watch?v=dV8IE_vtTq8
Bianca - You light up my life: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRU7e9Qe-qI
Bianca - O Holy Night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uXncfrRUi0
Her album was out in November 2007.
Taylor Ware - the 12-year-old yodeler:
First performance: http://youtube.com/watch?v=bDDEk2AMJAI
This should be better than later performances in the show, since the impression is totally fresh and unexpected. Later it seems to be repetition and not much new, and more country-style singing instead of yodeling.
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