I finally listened to the Reinecke Clarinet CD I recently purchased while working on my slides yesterday (until early this morning).
It was good listening to classial music once again, this time, still, in a familiar setting. Via a laptop with MS Powerpoint slides staring back at me. I usually discourage listening to classical music this way. It destroys the frame of thought and appreciation. Nevertheless, I was able to listen intently, but I did not quite like it overall - both the feeling and the CD.
Clearly, the visions that came to my mind were those of fresh and nostalgic mornings. Very nature-friendly. Much like those from scenes in the cartoon,Cedie (I think this is a Filipino title, the name of the Prince is Cedric). This was what I felt specifically in the first movement of Fantasiestucke, Op. 22 (I. Allegro).
But the rest, from how I remember, were repetitions of notes done by the clarinet. I felt it was too much clarinet for me. The "Undine" Clarinet Sonata was a familiar tune. I'm guessing this was one of the tracks Dea sent me before.
After drowning in clarinet music, I followed it immediately with familiar works:
Dvorak's Romantic Pieces
I. Cavatina
II. Capriccio
III. Romanza
and
Shostakovich's 5th Symphony
I. Moderato
II. Allegretto
III. Largo
IV. Allegro non Troppo
I felt a sudden rush while listening to these. Not the best accompaniment while at work, but the familiarity of these tunes made me move much quicker. Although quick and fast, attention was divided. I'd still stop and shut out work just to imbibe the music.
Apparently, in this case, it's not a good suggestion to mix work and play. So, it's time to make way for lull moments - Classical Music time!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
More National Costumes
Obviously, I've been a follower of Miss Universe from long ago. I figured out just recently by watching past coronations that the earliest I remember watching was the one in 1989 (I distinctly recall rooting for Miss Sweden that time).
I watched it every year since then.
Miss Universe has been most relevant in my life from 2003 onwards, as further influenced by my partner, Joseph, who I knew and fell in love with this year.
Here are more Miss Universe National Costumes that caught my eye since 2003. Add to all this El Salvador 2007 in my previous post. =)
Miss Russia 2003
Miss Trinidad & Tobago 2004
Miss Canada 2005
Miss Iceland 2006
Miss Uruguay 2006
Miss Trinidad & Tobago 2006
Miss Peru 2007
I watched it every year since then.
Miss Universe has been most relevant in my life from 2003 onwards, as further influenced by my partner, Joseph, who I knew and fell in love with this year.
Here are more Miss Universe National Costumes that caught my eye since 2003. Add to all this El Salvador 2007 in my previous post. =)
Miss Russia 2003
Miss Dominican Republic 2003
Miss Peru 2003
Miss Egypt 2004
Miss Trinidad & Tobago 2004
Miss Venezuela 2004
Miss Canada 2005
Miss Iceland 2006
Miss Uruguay 2006
Miss Trinidad & Tobago 2006
Miss Peru 2007
Monday, June 04, 2007
National Costume
I have read reports recently that this year will be the last time for having national costumes as part of the Miss Universe beauty pageant. So sad, as this is one of the events I look forward to aside from the evening gown competition.As a tribute to this, I would like to post my favorite in this year's pageant. I also wanted her to obtain a spot in the quarterfinals (Top 15), but her gown in the preliminaries could have been better. Here's a beautiful national costume, anyway.
Lisette Rodriguez (El Salvador)
Lisette Rodriguez (El Salvador)
Indulgence
In my most recent trip to Hong Kong (May 24 to 28, 2007), my friends and I went around Hong Kong shops and malls, and I have these as gifts for myself:
Cantonese Phrasebook (from PageOne) - not that helpful without a cassette tape for pronunciation and tone guide. But I'm serious about learning this language, knowing that this would be helpful next time Joseph and I visit Macau (I'm seeing at least once in 1-2 years).. we really love the place.
Reinecke CD - Reinecke: Music for Clarinet
Can't wait to listen to Reinecke's tunes really really soon. I knew of Reinecke from Dea, and I really liked one of his works, I just forgot the title. It was a piece of work that features the clarinet, too. Here is the track list of the CD I bought:
Trio in A major for Clarinet, Piano, and Viola, Op. 264
I. Moderato - Allegro
II. Intermezzo
III. Legende
IV. Finale: Allegro moderato
Fantasiestucke, Op. 22 (Clarinet + Piano)
I. Allegretto
II. Presto
III. Deutscher Walzer - Intermezzo
IV. Canon
Clarinet Sonata, Op. 167bis, "Undine" (Clarinet + Piano)
I. Allegro
II. Allegro vivace
III. Andante, molto tranquillo
IV. Finale: Allegro molto
Introduction and Allegro appassionato in C minor, Op. 256 (Clarinet + Piano)
This CD I haven't seen in the Philippines. I'm really happy about HMV Hong Kong's range of classical music CD's. Such a big leap from the choices we have locally.
Cantonese Phrasebook (from PageOne) - not that helpful without a cassette tape for pronunciation and tone guide. But I'm serious about learning this language, knowing that this would be helpful next time Joseph and I visit Macau (I'm seeing at least once in 1-2 years).. we really love the place.
Reinecke CD - Reinecke: Music for Clarinet
Can't wait to listen to Reinecke's tunes really really soon. I knew of Reinecke from Dea, and I really liked one of his works, I just forgot the title. It was a piece of work that features the clarinet, too. Here is the track list of the CD I bought:
Trio in A major for Clarinet, Piano, and Viola, Op. 264
I. Moderato - Allegro
II. Intermezzo
III. Legende
IV. Finale: Allegro moderato
Fantasiestucke, Op. 22 (Clarinet + Piano)
I. Allegretto
II. Presto
III. Deutscher Walzer - Intermezzo
IV. Canon
Clarinet Sonata, Op. 167bis, "Undine" (Clarinet + Piano)
I. Allegro
II. Allegro vivace
III. Andante, molto tranquillo
IV. Finale: Allegro molto
Introduction and Allegro appassionato in C minor, Op. 256 (Clarinet + Piano)
This CD I haven't seen in the Philippines. I'm really happy about HMV Hong Kong's range of classical music CD's. Such a big leap from the choices we have locally.
I Don't Wear Rubber Shoes, I Don't Want an iPOD Nano
My high school friends are a blessing, I know. They just don’t know me that much.
We know each other quite well, but I think it’s myself they know least. Maybe I don’t get to see them as often (not until recently because of a just-concluded outing – we also did Hong Kong + Macau).
When we were in Hong Kong, they were all excited about shopping (fashion, accessories) especially Carlo, Leo, and Robbie. They also shopped for gadgets and techie stuff, mostly Ryan.
I just find it demeaning that they envision me wearing stuff I don’t like and owning gadgets I’m not fond of.
RUBBER SHOES
In our Hong Kong – Macau trip (it’s only Leo and myself by the way who went on to see Macau), I wore leather shoes at the airport and another pair of leather shoes (with rubber soles) for sightseeing and moving around the city. I’m rather sure they’re making fun of me – leather shoes on a hot sunny Hong Kong day, while they wear their slippers (Leo calls it flip-flops, but it sounds so affected) and stylish rubber shoes in Hong Kong Disneyland and shopping centers. They asked me about this and I have told them that, yes, I feel comfortable wearing leather shoes, heeled shoes, even. With rubber shoes, my feet feel cramped, hot, heavy, constricted. And they say that’s the opposite feeling of what ruibber shoes can provide. But I don’t feel it at all.
Back in Manila, we’re soft-planning for a next out-of-the-country trip with Greece-Italy as probable itineraries. And again, the rubber shoes issue was raised again. Robbie says, “I hope you would have rubber shoes for our sightseeing in Greece.” Carlo adds, “Um, slippers would do.” All this, I faced with rejection. I won’t, really. I’ll try, I’ll see, but I may just wear something still close to leather shoes. It’s just really uncomfortable for me to wear rubber shoes.
I like my style and I won’t give it up just to stay attuned and keep myself abreast with today’s fashion. I just wear “hard core” leather shoes in the airport, but during city tours, I love wearing the rubber-soled leather shoes or anything similar (just not sports looking rubber shoes hehe). As opposed to what they believe, I would never wear hard core leather shoes (and I say this pertaining to shoes usually worn in the office) during travel within the city + sightseeing!
iPOD NANO
I recently sold (via Joseph) an iPOD Nano which I obtained without cost. I told my high school friends about it, that I was selling it.
To Ryan’s dismay, he cannot believe that I won’t have the iPOD for my personal consumption. I really don’t see myself using it. The capacity is 2GB. I have around 50GB of classical music files in my laptop and burned CD’s, and the Nano variant is too small. I told them I’m open to having an iPOD, but not the Nano type which I had. Probably something with a sizeable capacity would do, but it’s not the next gadget I wish to buy. I’m looking at a personal laptop, not the office laptop which I often use. I’m also thinking of getting a really good digital camera soon. Perfect set-up for sightseeing – Joseph with his manual SLR (for photos shot “with diligence”), and myself with a digital camera (for just taking pictures). In this way, I don’t have nothing to do while waiting for him take really, really good and well thought-of photographs.
Anyway, the buyer has the iPOD Nano now and I am definitely sure, it was purchased at an affordable price, to think that it’s unopened from case, brand new.
Like I said, my high school friends are a blessing. I just hope they would be more accepting without the judgments and reactions I receive from them.. just the way I keep an open mind about their experiences, thoughts, and identities.
We know each other quite well, but I think it’s myself they know least. Maybe I don’t get to see them as often (not until recently because of a just-concluded outing – we also did Hong Kong + Macau).
When we were in Hong Kong, they were all excited about shopping (fashion, accessories) especially Carlo, Leo, and Robbie. They also shopped for gadgets and techie stuff, mostly Ryan.
I just find it demeaning that they envision me wearing stuff I don’t like and owning gadgets I’m not fond of.
RUBBER SHOES
In our Hong Kong – Macau trip (it’s only Leo and myself by the way who went on to see Macau), I wore leather shoes at the airport and another pair of leather shoes (with rubber soles) for sightseeing and moving around the city. I’m rather sure they’re making fun of me – leather shoes on a hot sunny Hong Kong day, while they wear their slippers (Leo calls it flip-flops, but it sounds so affected) and stylish rubber shoes in Hong Kong Disneyland and shopping centers. They asked me about this and I have told them that, yes, I feel comfortable wearing leather shoes, heeled shoes, even. With rubber shoes, my feet feel cramped, hot, heavy, constricted. And they say that’s the opposite feeling of what ruibber shoes can provide. But I don’t feel it at all.
Back in Manila, we’re soft-planning for a next out-of-the-country trip with Greece-Italy as probable itineraries. And again, the rubber shoes issue was raised again. Robbie says, “I hope you would have rubber shoes for our sightseeing in Greece.” Carlo adds, “Um, slippers would do.” All this, I faced with rejection. I won’t, really. I’ll try, I’ll see, but I may just wear something still close to leather shoes. It’s just really uncomfortable for me to wear rubber shoes.
I like my style and I won’t give it up just to stay attuned and keep myself abreast with today’s fashion. I just wear “hard core” leather shoes in the airport, but during city tours, I love wearing the rubber-soled leather shoes or anything similar (just not sports looking rubber shoes hehe). As opposed to what they believe, I would never wear hard core leather shoes (and I say this pertaining to shoes usually worn in the office) during travel within the city + sightseeing!
iPOD NANO
I recently sold (via Joseph) an iPOD Nano which I obtained without cost. I told my high school friends about it, that I was selling it.
To Ryan’s dismay, he cannot believe that I won’t have the iPOD for my personal consumption. I really don’t see myself using it. The capacity is 2GB. I have around 50GB of classical music files in my laptop and burned CD’s, and the Nano variant is too small. I told them I’m open to having an iPOD, but not the Nano type which I had. Probably something with a sizeable capacity would do, but it’s not the next gadget I wish to buy. I’m looking at a personal laptop, not the office laptop which I often use. I’m also thinking of getting a really good digital camera soon. Perfect set-up for sightseeing – Joseph with his manual SLR (for photos shot “with diligence”), and myself with a digital camera (for just taking pictures). In this way, I don’t have nothing to do while waiting for him take really, really good and well thought-of photographs.
Anyway, the buyer has the iPOD Nano now and I am definitely sure, it was purchased at an affordable price, to think that it’s unopened from case, brand new.
Like I said, my high school friends are a blessing. I just hope they would be more accepting without the judgments and reactions I receive from them.. just the way I keep an open mind about their experiences, thoughts, and identities.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
