becoming

同細佬Adrian 和 Jocelyn 做的專訪：

死唔死，來了四日（拍攝時），「我鍾意Hong Kong 多過 Canada…」

Conductor Benjamin Zander has two infectious passions: classical music, and helping us realize our untapped love for it — and by extension, our untapped love for all new possibilities, new experiences, new connections.

For 20 minutes, he talks about how to run your company, on leadership, his conflict resolution work in Ireland — all at the same time while he makes you absolutely love classical music all over again.

“And you know I have a defintion of success. For me, it’s very simple, it’s not about wealth and fame and power. It’s about how many shining eyes I have around me.”

[link: TED]

Jeremy Eichler is Looking for clues to a pianist’s afterlife, in which he rightly identifies Gould’s retreat in order to be (truly and rightly) heard:

The deeper paradox behind his controversial withdrawal from the concert stage, behind his scathing remarks about audiences and his love of solitude, was that it coexisted with a desperate urge to communicate intimately with his listeners. “There is no greater community of spirit than that between the artist and the listener at home, communing with the music,” he wrote. And he actually seemed to mean it. Beyond the brilliant pianism and the charismatic eccentricity, Gould’s enduring allure may also stem from the way he withdrew – just as so many have today – embubbling himself in technology, without resigning himself to the isolation and solipsism that would become such a mixed inheritance of the digital revolution.

Read it all here.

Miserere Mei Deus, Allegri’s most well-known masterpiece. I first came across it in the early 90’s. The first time I heard it was from the (at that time) not so well-known Tallis Scholars. It was love at first sight. The tranquil nature of it is so mesmerizing, hearing it is like receiving the absolution that the Psalmist desperately seeks from above.

Not sure why, but the music rings in my mind tonight. So I thought I should check it out if it is in youtube in order to share with all of you as well, and voilà! Here is a version from the King’s Chapel Choir:

And because of this post, I went to the Tallis Scholars website and learned that they have made another recording of Miserere last year! Wow, who would have thought!

Test your authenticity for being GG’s fan by taking the “Glenn Gould Trivia” quiz from CBC online.

[HT: the well tempered blog]

連續開了三晚的會議，真的累了。

走到教會的鋼琴上，本來隨隨便便的亂彈幾句，
卻忽然想起幾年前寫的一首歌，
應該記下：

憐憫
— 寫於而立之年

活著就是快樂的契機
現實就是滿載是與非
縱有所愛、縱有傷害
難道際遇豈何真的驅散主的愛？

或是像被打倒地流淚
或是內弱歉疚未去追？
心中失重、或太衝動
明白這十架捨身愛比這一切無限重！

我一生的神
愛從未耗盡抱緊
重尋獲整個我
這真摯毫無疑問
站立在你前
從此一生不變
愛得天高海深
也磊落做人

永生的神
似從未倦地抱緊
仍然願給予你
這真愛毫無遺憾
活現著真我
同路不止一個
再多的不甘心
也放下 求憐憫

Imagine you see this in First Markham Place, or Toronto Downtown Pedway:

16 agents create a spontaneous musical in a food court in a Los Angeles mall. Using wireless microphones and the mall’s PA system, both their voices and the music was amplified throughout the food court. All cameras were hidden behind two-way mirrors and other concealed structures.

And talking about Once, of course, who can forget this beautiful, heart-breaking song, The Hill?

Looking up the hill tonight
When you have closed your eyes,
I wish I didn’t have to make
all those mistakes and be wise.
Please try to be patient
and know that I’m still learning.
I’m sorry that you have to see
the strength inside me burning.

Lookin’ at you leavin’,
I’m looking for a sign