Always Something Sings

"Always Something Sings"
Music arranged by Linda Spevacek
Original lyrics by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Let me go where I will
I hear a sky-born music still
It sounds from all things old
It sounds from all things young

From all that’s fair
From all that’s foul
Peals out a cheerful song

It is not only in the rose
It is not only in the bird
Not only where the rainbow glows
Nor in the song of woman heard
But in the darkest, meanest things

There always, always something sings
Always something sings
Always, always something sings

'Tis not in the high stars alone
Nor in the cups of budding flowers
Nor in the redbreast's mellow tone
Nor in the bow that smiles in showers

But in the mud and scum of things
There always, always something sings

There always something sings
Something sings

mp3 source: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/a/item.html?id=69435&item=7444641

New day, new mood, new music

I kinda like Cliffs of Dover by Eric Johnson. Melodious rock!

Courtesy of Adit's Guitar Hero 3 from Wii.



Here ya go.

Lucky-draw, lucky me!

Chris Botti, here I come

Omg, can hardly believe it, I just won. A pair of tickets. To the Chris Botti concert on May 20 at Esplanade. :-)


It's the first time I've ever won a lucky draw! What a rush of excitement, especially those first 5 minutes just after receiving that 'congratz, you're our lucky winner!' call from the event organizers.

Ah, life's simple pleasures. :-) Not a cent of regret buying this "Chris Botti: Italia" CD two weeks ago.

For your trial & listening pleasure: Track 1 - Italia (feat. Andrea Bocelli)

Like it? Get the CD at any HMV or CD shop, or if you're in Singapore, just catch his concert next week - tickets are available online from SISTIC here.

Other stuff:
- Chris Botti Official Website
- The ever-comprehensive wikipedia
- Online reviews: 1, 2, 3

Life is jazzy,
-tmsh-

Classical-post #8

Love is all around
Been out and about doing other things lately... but now I'm back with some classical-recs, folks!


I'm currently in love with Edward Elgar's "Salut d'amour" (I think it means "love salutation"? Wild guess, haha).

This version in particular, is a lovely blend of 5 instruments: piano, flute, violin, cello, and trumpet. What a beautiful harmony it makes! <3

-tmsh-

Song of the week: Then Will The Very Rocks

download here

Eklesia will sing this joyful song on Sunday, May 4 '08 :-)

-tmsh-

[Review] "We Will Rock You", The Ultimate Jukebox Musical!

Music of the week: ROCK!

A couple days ago, I watched the rock musical "We Will Rock You" (WWRY) Live at the Esplanade.. and boy, what an exhilarating experience!


Really? Me, voluntarily watch rock? *jawdrop*

At first I also didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I actually did, considering I'm not a big fan of the rock music genre. But I gotta tell you, WWRY totally exceeded my expectations - I can even say I enjoyed it as much as "Phantom" which I saw for twice the price last year.

Definitely a must-watch for any rock/QUEEN-fan, and highly recommended for all lovers of musicals.

So, What Is It Really?
Basically WWRY is a full-fledged musical production by Ben Elton et. al. featuring various all-time hits from QUEEN. Here's the official website. More straightforward info on wikipedia.

The Story

"Star-Date: The Future: Real music is banned.

Computer generated Cyber Idols have infested the charts.

It is the Age of Ga Ga.

This is the story of the Bohemian Rebellion of 2308.

The year of the Rhapsody!

The year that the ancient promise

WE WILL ROCK YOU

was fulfilled."

The musical is seamlessly divided into two acts: The first act establishes the situation, the characters, and brings the story to the height of conflict (oooh, the suspense). The second act dramatizes the external conflict, adds some internal conflict (a touch of drama), resolves them, and ends the story at a high note.

A more comprehensive summary of each act is also available on wikipedia.

The Songs
The bread and butter of the whole deal is the performance of all-time famous hits from QUEEN. All I can say is the music director did a fantastic job with the song choices and made the arrangements very memorable.

Want a 'trial' to put on your iPod? Here are a few to download and listen to:
- The grand opening "Innuendo"
- Introducing Galileo Figaro "I Want to Break Free"
- Touch of melancholy "No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young)" --- my personal favorite
- Theme song "We Will Rock You"
- Peak-point "Bohemian Rhapsody" --- the best-ever QUEEN song, IMHO

If you like these, go look for the CD at any HMV or CD shop. Pssst, some more of my top picks can be found here.

The Cast
Never knew 'em before, but certainly know a bit about 'em now.

• MiG Ayesa, the lead actor, is perfect for the role of 'Galileo Figaro', with a rather high-pitched voice and rebel-like profile, fittingly portraying a so-called 'bohemian'. Apparently he recently released his own album, too, think I'll check it out later.
• Annie Krumer as 'Killer Queen' was undoubtedly the best vocal of the cast, and she acted out hilarious mimics.
• Sivan Raphaely played a good 'Scaramouche', with her sarcastic tone and petite frame.
• All the other main cast also had fantastic voices and profiles, and the supporting cast sang and danced, shouted and pranced very enthusiastically.

List of WWRY Musical Casts - past and present - are available on (guess what?) wikipedia.

In Conclusion
I think the universal appeal of WWRY is that it's a 'jukebox musical', not the typical serious 'sit-still-until-your-rear-end-hurts' type of musical. Like a jukebox, you pick a channel, tune into it and just enjoy as it jumps from song to song. Sort of like a sitting in a 70s bar with friendly faces around and a lively jukebox running for 2.5 hours straight. :-)

(1) The story resonates really well with the current 'here & now' of the world, i.e. charts being dominated by a 'certain type' of boybands, typically programmed 'digital music', and the loss of the genuine sense of 'freedom' that, supposedly, used to exist in the 70s.

(2) QUEEN is still undoubtedly one of the most-hailed, true-blue classic rock-bands, whose music surpasses time and generation. The song choices are superb favorites; even a casual QUEEN-liker would be able to appreciate.

(3) Wonderful blending of story-telling & musical-production. The dance choreography, actions on stage, and song lyrics not only blend together flawlessly but complement one another.

(4) Amazing cast of performers & musicians. I can't imagine how they keep their voice and endurance, performing every single day for a full month (twice on weekends) since March 28 til Apr 28. I guess having a passion for music/dance helps :-)

(5) All in all, top-class production. I'd gladly watch it again anytime should they come back to perform in the future.

Endnotes a.k.a. off-stage comments
Unfortunately my friends and I booked our tix just a day before so we only got top-most floor, top-most row seats. It had its advantages (full birds-eye view of the stage, giving a movie-like atmosphere) but for a 4-eyed person like me, it took a bit of squinting and binocular-sharing to catch the cast's expressions. Didn't mind much though - it was still fully enjoyable.

Compiled references:
- WWRY Musical's Official Website
- WWRY Musical on Wikipedia
- WWRY Musical's lead singer MiG Ayesa
- Book it on the Esplanade Website


Tuning-out for now,

-tmsh-

To Love Our God

To love our God, to love our God. The reason that we live is to love our God. Listening to this song striked a chord deep within me, not only through its harmonious blends and expressive dynamics, but also through the starking simplicity of its lyrics.

What is our purpose in life but to love God? Nothing!

So may we learn to love God wholeheartedly and wholemindedly, by devoting our all and doing our best in every aspect of life - work, play, study, service, relationship, even hobby and spare time - for Him and His glory alone.


Download here
Song source here

---

To Love Our God
By Mark Hayes. Arranged by Mark Hayes. Text: John Parker. For SAB Choir.

Where does the wind come from?
Where does it go?
Blowing north and south
How does it know?

Oh, where does the wind come from?
Oh, where does it go?
Blowing north and south
How does it know?

The rain flows gently to the sea
Yet the sea is never full
How can these things be?
How can these things be?
How can they be?

Humanity works hard to make a name
Toiling in the sun yet nothing gained
We all return to dust from whence we came
All is empty
All is vain

To love our God
The reason we live
To love our God
The highest call

Nothing satisfies our soul
Gives life meaning, makes us whole
For this purpose we were made
To love our God
To love our God
The reason that we live is to love our God

To love our God
The reason we live
To love our God
The highest call

Nothing satisfies our soul
Gives life meaning, makes us whole
For this purpose we were made
To love our God
To love our God
To love our God!

---

PS: Thanks to Yudith for picking this song for Eklesia. It's a blessing to sing this!

-tmsh-

Classical-post #7

Times of trial
In the midst of a turbulent heart, always seek for the silver lining and cling to the hope abound.


Tonight, I empathize with Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2, a musical retelling of how one's inner turmoil:
Starts at the brink of despair,
Develops a sense of hope, then
Evolves into a flush of freedom.

There is a time for everything; for everything there is a time.
And I truly believe He makes all things beautiful in His time.

In His time, in His time
He makes all things beautiful in His time
Lord, please show me every day as You're teaching me Your way
That You do just what You say in Your time

-tmsh-

Classical-post #6

More than words
Have you ever had a day when you just feel it, but can't express it?


Faze out in wordlessness with "Song without Words No.1 in E Op.19b No.1" by Mendelssohn. (...that's one long title for a song that doesn't have any words.) X-D

-tmsh-

Classical-post #5

Dance after the rain
Had a lively game of 'dancing' on the courts earlier this evening, drizzling aside.


Now, enjoy one of Chopin's well-known tunes for dances, the "Grande Valse brillante".

Happy Sunday,
-tmsh-

SongVid-post #1

Easter has passed this year, but His blessings never will
Two weeks ago on easter, my church's choir, Eklesia, was privileged to bring forth a song with the most beautiful lyrics.

"In Christ Alone", a modern hymn, has a very simple melody but words with such intense meaning and power.

Here's a solo rendition performed by Keith & Kristyn Getty, the co-writers of the hymn. Hope it blesses you as it has me.

-tmsh-



"In Christ Alone"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.

Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.

No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

Source: gettymusic.com

Classical-post #4

Gloom looms
It's been a gloomy day for the most part, but it doesn't mean a gloomy mood.


Have a thoughtful twist with "Alborada de gracioso", the first movement from Ravel's all-famous Miroirs.

-tmsh-

Classical-post #3

April has arrived
And it's looking to be a fantastic month ahead.


On this day of fools, let's take it lightly with Dvořák's "Humoresque". ^^

-tmsh-

Classical-post #2

Monday not-so blues
Got a lot done today. Go me! To celebrate, here's Gershwin's "I got rhythm".


Have a rhythmic-week, folks. ^^

-tmsh-

Classical-post #1

It's one of those days


Chopin's "Fantaisie-impromptu" adequately represents what I'm feeling right now: mixed up, rush & tumble... at the same time contemplative and hopeful.

-tmsh-

[sharing] American Idol Season 7

The Top 12

...and the best of the rest

The AI Phenomenon

Here's a little treat for fellow Idol followers. Be sure to come back for updates every week. Enjoy!



-tmsh-



PS: Sorry, friends, only multiply-ers can access the download links. But it's easy enough (and free) to sign-up and join in on the multiply-cation. ^^

PPS: To avoid copyright infringement, note that these are just the freebie "fan-trial" TV performance versions ripped off from YouTube, not the actual studio-recordings sold on iTunes. If you like 'em, support the singers & buy the originals, k?