The use of classical music in classic cartoons started in the 1930s and spawned a whole new learning process for children and adults alike. For example, an episode of Tom and Jerry, the popular cartoon depicting the cat and mouse in a perpetual chase, titled The Cat Concerto, features one of Liszt’s works - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2.
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A question: What comes to mind when a foreigner asks you to tell them more about "Singaporean Music"? Do we label ourselves as a culture that churns out patriotic songs only during National Day? Or is there truly a Singaporean identity - elusive though it may be?
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For sharing: Our very first patriotric songs, Stand Up for Singapore, Count on me Singapore, We are Singapore, were outsourced and composed by a Canadian jazz pianist, Hugh Harrison, who was... See More For sharing: Our very first patriotric songs, Stand Up for Singapore, Count on me Singapore, We are Singapore, were outsourced and composed by a Canadian jazz pianist, Hugh Harrison, who was working for McCann-Erickson, a global advertising company then. It was only later on that we got Singaporeans contributing. With people like Dick Lee and Jeremy Monteiro composing Home and One People, One Nation, One Singapore respectively. So, are our National Songs representative of Singaporean music? |
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Viewpoints are subjective, and are thus never about whether it is valid. Meaning while it can be valid for me, it isn't valid to you. |
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But still worth sharing? ? |
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Maybe I'll just touch on the tip of the ice-berg: Some mention that Xinyao (新遥) is one pivotal genre that represents "Singaporean Music". On the premise that even if we agree with this, what... See More Maybe I'll just touch on the tip of the ice-berg: Some mention that Xinyao (新遥) is one pivotal genre that represents "Singaporean Music". On the premise that even if we agree with this, what defines Xinyao? Translated literally into English, it means "Singaporean Folk Music". Eric Moo is supposedly one of the most "central figures" in Xinyao. But he is a Malaysian. So does that count? But about English songs composed by Singaporeans (another can of worms)? In fact there are deeper sociopolitical forces at play that can be traced back to the saga of Nanyang University (not NTU). More importantly (and musically), how should the style of Xinyao be like? If we look at the most stereotypical Xinyao piece 邂逅 (see following link): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3tG-1yONdU It has a very "pure" and "simple" melody line, very "campus-like" and accompaniment is on solo guitar. And indeed many other pieces in the Xinyao genre that came later are also possessing these similar features / characteristics. But some have "evolved" or "expanded" to possessing the style of Hard Rock, Hip-Hop and Dance. Do we still call this Xinyao? So if one really would like to explore the "Singaporean Identity in Music" - it is worth not just a journal article, but perhaps an entire book. |
Joke riddles for pianists (with cringeworthy answers):
a) What do you get when you drop a piano down a mine shaft?
b) Why was the stupid pianist banging his head against the keys?
c) What is the difference between a piano and a fish?
d) Why did Mozart kill his chickens?
e) Why is crossing the street like playing the piano?
f) What do you call a laughing piano?
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Just got back from a Pianovers meetup... Haha... I was correct, but my reasons were very different. The oboe player would say to the conductor - "Ho bo?" (Hokkien / Singlish as in "Are you okay... See More Just got back from a Pianovers meetup... Haha... I was correct, but my reasons were very different. The oboe player would say to the conductor - "Ho bo?" (Hokkien / Singlish as in "Are you okay?"), which is a homophonic play on the word "oboe". |
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Omg.. Lolz! So imaginative, Gavin! I couldn't have guessed "Ho Bo"!! |
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[Headslap] Or, perhaps the conductor says "Oboe," and the oboeist gives a thumbs-up in reply to what he thinks is the conductor asking "Ho bo?" The conductor therefore thinks he is the most... See More [Headslap] Or, perhaps the conductor says "Oboe," and the oboeist gives a thumbs-up in reply to what he thinks is the conductor asking "Ho bo?" The conductor therefore thinks he is the most obedient. |
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Haha, hilarious! |
No way you are going to squeeze that fancy new "Longest" grand piano into a HDB room... https://www.worldpianonews.com/new-product/acoustic/worlds-longest-conce...
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Just as people ask if driverless cars will replace the joy of driving and if sending email kills the warm personal touch of writing a traditional letter, people too, are asking if it is really possible for computers to make music. Music, after all, has been an essential part of human existence for as long as civilisations have existed. Now then, to what extent can humans accept music that is artificially-created as part of their lives?
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Just as people ask if driverless cars will replace the joy of driving and if sending email kills the warm personal touch of writing a traditional letter, people too, are asking if it is really possible for computers to make music. Music, after all, has been an essential part of human existence for as long as civilisations have existed. Now then, to what extent can humans accept music that is artificially-created as part of their lives?
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A side track to this is: It is easier to get the computer (organ/keyboard) to harmonise for your melody than to teach someone to do so. Likewise, it is easier for the computer to identify your... See More A side track to this is: It is easier to get the computer (organ/keyboard) to harmonise for your melody than to teach someone to do so. Likewise, it is easier for the computer to identify your chord (based on your notes played) than to teach someone to do it. Thank goodness the computer is unable to identify the key of a piece of music yet. If it is able to (in time to come), it will indeed be a scary era. |
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If the computer harmonises the melody, is it creative enuff to figure out which chord progression is better? |
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There is an AI engine in the computer software. If this engine is able to constantly gather human inputs as to which harmonisations/progressions are better, it will "learn" over time so that... See More There is an AI engine in the computer software. If this engine is able to constantly gather human inputs as to which harmonisations/progressions are better, it will "learn" over time so that future churning outs will be "better". |
Dutch pianist and composer Jeroen van Veen built a life-sized Lego Piano over a period of more than two years. Consisting of almost 30,000 second-hand Lego bricks, the idea of building the Lego Piano came about over a debate at the coffee table between Jeroen and his two sons. He gave his first public performance on the Lego Piano in his concert in Almere, Netherlands on Friday, 12 November 2016.
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Waa... Big Lego Piano!!! *drools.. ? |
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Haha you shouldn't have given the answer straightaway! |
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Lol. Ok, next one! |
It was a very distressing moment, then, when in April 2007, an Austrian-made Bösendorfer grand piano found its way onto a set of granite steps. The GBP26,000 (SGD78,000 in then’s terms) instrument was being delivered to its new owners at Devon in southwest England, when accident struck.
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Nope. I got rid of mine about a year back because one of the strings busted - too much Liszt. I think the Roland was worth it though, for my composing needs. But I do miss the weight of the... See More Nope. I got rid of mine about a year back because one of the strings busted - too much Liszt. I think the Roland was worth it though, for my composing needs. But I do miss the weight of the acoustic keys. Anyway, my new job brought me to MND Annexe and the pianos outside URA Centre are available to me everyday now. |
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Wah.. you write songs? |
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Trying to write something now. |
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That's cool! Share with us when you're done! |
What is your take on this? If a person is feeling very sad, should he be listening to a melancholic piece such as Tchaikvosky's Pathetique symphony? Or should he be listening to a cheerful and joyful piece like Mozart's Paris Symphony?
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Hmm, so you feel it depends on the individual..... |
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Here is a scientific perspective: Here is a scientific perspective: |
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Interesting, thanks for sharing! |
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I will listen to sad ones, to connect with my inner self. ? |
The Rhapsody Rabbit (Warner Bros) was released a few months before The Cat Concerto (MGM). Both studios accused each other of plagiarism. But today, both studios have merged. Talk about irony!... See More
The Rhapsody Rabbit (Warner Bros) was released a few months before The Cat Concerto (MGM). Both studios accused each other of plagiarism. But today, both studios have merged. Talk about irony!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QukNmiOC5P0
In truth, Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody #2 was featured in way too many cartoons. Take a look here: https://www.youtube.com/... See More
In truth, Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody #2 was featured in way too many cartoons. Take a look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1laz-7C2KM
Mabel, I didn't know there is a bugs bunny version! Hehehe, nice!
Wow, I watched this before! Nice!