Friday, December 17, 2010

FUNERAL MARCH

   This piece is what I am working on right now.   I like it a lot.   A funeral march , usually in a minor key.  It is very slow, and is trying to imtate the solemn pace of a funeral procession.   The well known piece from my favorite Chopin.

If you're talking funeral music, no one did it quite like Frederic Chopin,  the Polish composer born 200 years ago Monday. Chances are, you've heard snippets of his musical evocation of doom and gloom in cartoons, movies and, yes, funerals.
Chopin's Funeral March first appeared in the 1830s. It was the third movement in his Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor — a stunning, haunting work.



Despite the piece's serious tone, Chopin's iconic melody has been used to embellish morbid humor for what seems like forever. Classical pianist Garrick Ohlsson hears it on his cell phone when he loses a game of blackjack. It's also appeared in various television shows and movies — among them Beetlejuice, Monty Python and Looney Tunes cartoons.
Parodies of funeral marches aren't new, according to Jeffrey Kallberg, a Chopin scholar and chair of the music department at the University of Pennsylvania. Kallberg says they trace back all the way to the piece that originally inspired Chopin to write his own funeral march.
"Chopin's march is modeled after a Rossini opera, La Gazza Ladra, and that served as the basis for parodies," says Kallberg, who notes that one such parody was written by Charles Gounod. "If you're old enough to remember, that was the theme music for Alfred Hichcock's show."
Just because something has become a joke doesn't mean it's trivial. In the case of Chopin's Funeral March, it's far from it. When played seriously and in its entirety by a professional like Garrick Ohlsson, it's a different story altogether.
No one knows for sure exactly what inspired Chopin to write the march. But Kallberg says there's evidence that he associated it with the Polish uprising of the 1830s. Chopin, who was born in Poland, sympathized with his countrymen in their revolt against the Russians. Though Chopin was living in exile elsewhere in Europe, he feared for his family and friends in the face of the Russians' violent response.
"His colleagues said that he often played in salons, and the only way to get him to stop playing was to get him to play the March," Kallberg says. "He was so caught up in the emotions of it."
Chopin's first biographer heard "the pain and grief of an entire nation" in his Funeral March, while classical pianist Gabriela Montero says she hears Chopin's humanity.
"A lot of people have the idea that Chopin's music is supposed to be very pristine and almost untouchable," Montero says. "I feel that it's so human and volcanic."
Chopin's march has been played at the funerals of heads of state, including those of John F. Kennedy and, ironically, Russian leaders Brezhnev and Stalin. But the very first time it was performed at a funeral may have been the most important: Chopin's own.


(http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124039949)

Be as chic as Louis Brooks

When I first watched Pandora's Box, LuLu just caught my eyes for the whole time, not only because her beauty, but her hair style.  Here is a picture of he during that period of time.

Louise Brooks ~ Style This Flapper's Vintage Bob Hairstyle

Women across the world will be thankful to Louise Brook's innovative sense of hair style that has ever invented-----the vintage Bob Hairstyle. It breaks of the rule that women have to have long beautiful hairs.  To me, for the most of time, long hair do attract many people, especially for Asians.  Long, dark, straight hair has become a sign of beauty for guys.  
However, Louis Brooks' vintage Bob chic Hairstyle has changed my views.  If anyone has watched the movie,  LuLu's personality is innocent, playful.  This hairstyle, which is short cut, match her lively appearance.  I hardly can imagine her with a long curly hair who would still be able to fit LuLu's personality.  Back in the days of 1920s where curls were popular. Louise Brooks' blunt Bob with the perfect chic bangs definitely caused a jaw dropping reaction.  However, it didn't take long for ladies to be obsessed with this styles.  Ladies all lined up to have their locks cropped into the stylish blunt Bob like Louise Brooks.  One thing good about a blunt Bob hairstyle with bangs is it is suitable for practically all face shapes and hair types.  It looks cute on every woman.
Here are some of the modern Bob hair styles.




 











Vintage Bob ~ Styling Steps

styling steps Wash your hair with products specifically for your hair type.
styling steps Towel dry and detangle with a wide toothcomb.
styling steps Work a small amount of mousse throughout your hair evenly.
styling steps Create an even center part and then working with a round brush, dry on a medium setting.
styling steps You can curl the ends of your Bob under while drying by wrapping your hair around the brush.
styling stepsIf desired, work a small dab of shine serum evenly through your hair avoiding the roots.
Mist lightly with hairspray.

Go have fun with a new VINTAGE BOB STYLE!!!!!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Life

我一直有一件事情不明白,就是為什莫我們好像從出生就要和他人比較。我總是這樣,忘記現在的自己,喜歡嚮往,然後也不努力。你希望你是harvard的可是做出的事情卻不是harvard人做得,希望有個平凡的生活可是轉眼你又不希望了。我現在覺得我是一個對自己不狠的人就是這樣

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Maybe you don't know me, I AM MACAROON :)

Yum!  Hola chicos.   Don't you just want to take a bite when you see these cute colorful Macaroons!.  I am a big fan of Macaroon.  I never had these in my life until I live in NY.  Its name is derived from an Italian word "maccarone" or "maccherone". This word is itself derived from ammaccare, meaning crush or beat, used here in reference to the almond paste which is the principal ingredient. It is meringue-based: made from a mixture of egg whites, almond flour, and both granulated and confectionery sugar.  Sounds so yummy right.  It represent a certain elegant, and noble.  I loves to eat these with my friends in a sunny afternoon, NYU actually, and talk about our life.    It is a way to ease out from the hardship of life.  Live like a beautiful Macaroon may indeed the truth of our life.  Don't you think so?  I want to be the princess of Macaroon

I am so lost

I have to quite listen to piazzolla because it remind me too much of someone.  Love is never perfect in my life, and I tend to run away when there is problem.  I never really love or even like anyone, but when I do, I really try it with my heart.  Under all kinds of condition, this relationship, oh yeah , let's cut it off now, it wasn't a relationship seems to literally kill me inside out.  I was crying last week, but I tried to tell myself, I didn't like him that much.  But what if I did,or I still do.  It is over, and things will never be back even I wants to.  I feel empty and weak.  It takes more than u to destroy me, but Though I am not destroyed, I am scared.  I am scared I will not find anyone that I like to be able to love me back.  Nothing will be the same.  Maybe I should wait, wait quietly.  Be nice to myself, run away from the love game, and try to be a good girl.  Romance, and passion do not last long, as what mothers always say.  One thing I will do is to keep u, if I can, but u are gone, and life goes on.   te amo

Friday, December 3, 2010

The top 100 sound piano piece

1. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor "Appassionata" - Ludwig Van Beethoven

  2. Well Tempered Clavier - Johann Sebastian Bach

  3. Goldberg Variations - Johann Sebastian Bach

  4. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor "Moonlight" - Ludwig Van Beethoven

  5. Piano Sonata in B minor - Franz Liszt

  6. Piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat major - Franz Schubert

  7. 24 Preludes - Frederic Chopin

  8. Préludes, Book 1 - Claude Debussy

  9. Polonaise No. 6 in A flat major "Heroic" - Frederic Chopin

10. Pictures at an Exhibition - Modest Mussorgsky

11. Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor - Ludwig Van Beethoven

12. Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major "Waldstein" - Ludwig Van Beethoven

13. Fantasy in C major "Wanderer" - Franz Schubert

14. Ballade No. 1 in G minor - Frederic Chopin

15. Carnaval - Robert Schumann

16. Piano Sonata No. 29 in B flat major "Hammerklavier" - Ludwig Van Beethoven

17. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor - Frederic Chopin

18. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor "Pathetique" - Ludwig Van Beethoven

19. Préludes, Book 2 - Claude Debussy

20. Gaspard de la Nuit - Maurice Ravel

21. Symphonic Etudes - Robert Schumann

22. Piano Sonata No. 20 in A major - Franz Schubert

23. Impromptus, D899 - Franz Schubert

24. Kinderszenen - Robert Schumann

25. Gymnopédies - Erik Satie

26. Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

27. Iberia - Isaac Albeniz

28. Four Pieces for Piano, Op. 119 - Johannes Brahms

29. Six Pieces for Piano, Op. 118 - Johannes Brahms

30. Intermezzi - Johannes Brahms

31. 24 Etudes - Frederic Chopin

32. Kleisleriana - Robert Schumann

33. Impromptus, D935 - Franz Schubert

34. Pavane pour une Infante Défunte - Maurice Ravel

35. Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major - Ludwig Van Beethoven

36. Phantasie in C major - Robert Schumann

37. Seven Fantasias - Johannes Brahms

38. Goyescas - Enrique Granados

39. Variations on a Theme by Paganani - Johannes Brahms

40. Fantasia in C minor - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

41. Ballade No. 4 in F minor - Frederic Chopin

42. Ballade No. 3 in A flat major - Frederic Chopin

43. Piano Sonata No. 26 in E flat "Les Adieux" - Ludwig Van Beethoven

44. Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel in B flat major - Johannes Brahms

45. Nocturne in E flat major, Op. 9 No. 2 - Frederic Chopin

46. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor - Frederic Chopin

47. Hungarian Rhapsodies - Franz Liszt

48. Songs without Words for Piano - Felix Mendelssohn

49. Piano Sonata No. 7 in B flat major - Serge Prokofiev

50. Piano Sonata No. 5 in D sharp minor - Alexander Scriabin

51. Piano Sonata No. 19 in C minor - Franz Schubert

52. Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major - Ludwig Van Beethoven

53. Piano Sonata No. 2 "Concord, Mass." - Charles Ives

54. Fantasie for Piano in F minor/A flat major - Frederic Chopin

55. Le Tombeau de Couperin - Maurice Ravel

56. Thirteen Preludes, Op. 32 - Sergei Rachmaninoff

57. Ten Preludes, Op. 23 - Sergei Rachmaninoff

58. Prelude, Chorale and Fugue - César Franck

59. Suite Bergamasque - Claude Debussy

60. Estampes - Claude Debussy

61. Prelude in C sharp minor, Op. 3, No. 2 - Sergei Rachmaninoff

62. Keyboard Sonata No. 62 in E flat major - Joseph Haydn

63. Transcendental Etudes - Franz Liszt

64. Children's Corner - Claude Debussy

65. Lyric Pieces - Edvard Grieg

66. Italian Concerto - Johann Sebastian Bach

67. Barcarolle in F sharp major - Frederic Chopin

68. Piano Sonata No. 8 in A minor - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

69. Valses Nobles et Sentimentales - Maurice Ravel

70. Annees de Pelerinage - Franz Liszt

71. Islamey - Mily Balakirev

72. Images for Piano - Claude Debussy

73. Polonaise No. 3 in A major "Military" - Frederic Chopin

74. Mephisto Waltz No. 1 - Franz Liszt

75. Piano Sonata No. 9 in F major "Black Mass" - Alexander Scriabin

76. Piano Variations - Aaron Copland

77. Five Piano Pieces - Arnold Schoenberg

78. Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli - Ludwig Van Beethoven

79. Piano Sonata No. 18 in G major - Franz Schubert

80. Jeux D'eau - Maurice Ravel

81. Grande Valse Brillante in E flat major, Op. 18 - Frederic Chopin

82. Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

83. Moments Musicaux - Franz Schubert

84. Partita No. 1 in B flat major - Johann Sebastian Bach

85. Nocturne in D flat major, Op. 27 No. 2 - Frederic Chopin

86. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C minor - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

87. Piano Sonata No. 13 in A major - Franz Schubert

88. Variations Sérieuses in D minor - Felix Mendelssohn

89. Rhapsodies, Op. 79 - Johannes Brahms

90. Fantasiestucke - Robert Schumann

91. Petrouchka, three movements for piano - Igor Stravinsky

92. Nocturnes - Gabriel Fauré

93. Andante and Rondo Capriccioso - Felix Mendelssohn

94. Fantaisie Impromptu - Frederic Chopin

95. Invitation to the Dance - Carl Maria von Weber

96. Preludes and Fugues for Piano, Op. 87 - Dmitri Shostakovitch

97. Liebesträume No. 3 - Franz Liszt

98. Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor - Johann Sebastian Bach

99. Scherzo No. 2 in B flat minor - Frederic Chopin

100. Suite Española - Isaac Albeniz

101. Suite for Harpsichord No. 5 in E major "The Harmonious Blacksmith" - George Frideric Handel

102. Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor - Johannes Brahms

103. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor - Sergei Rachmaninoff

104. Waltz in C sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2 - Frederic Chopin

105. Miroirs - Maurice Ravel

106. Piano Sonata No. 6 in A major - Serge Prokofiev

107. Three Piano Pieces - Arnold Schoenberg

108. Nocturne in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 1 - Frederic Chopin

109. Etude in D sharp minor, Op. 8 No. 12 - Alexander Scriabin

110. Les Saisons - Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

111. Harpsichord Sonata in E major, K380 "Cortege" - Domenico Scarlatti

112. "Minute" Waltz in D flat major, Op. 64, No. 1 - Frederic Chopin

113. Piano Sonata No. 8 in B flat major - Serge Prokofiev

114. Arabesques - Claude Debussy

115. Sonatine - Maurice Ravel

116. Three Etudes de Concert, S.144 - Franz Liszt

117. Preludes for Piano - George Gershwin

118. Etude in C sharp minor, Op. 2 No. 1 - Alexander Scriabin

119. Berceuse in D flat major - Frederic Chopin

120. Andante Spianato et Grand Polonaise Brillante in E flat - Frederic Chopin

121. Piano Sonata in E flat minor - Samuel Barber

122. Piano Sonata No. 10 - Alexander Scriabin

123. Mouvements Perpetuels - Francis Poulenc

124. Piano Sonata No. 2 - Pierre Boulez

125. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor "Tempest" - Ludwig Van Beethoven

126. Consolation No. 3 in D flat major - Franz Liszt

127. Scherzo No. 3 in C sharp minor - Frederic Chopin

128. Vingt Regards sur l'enfant Jesus - Olivier Messiaen

129. Arabeske in C major - Robert Schumann

130. Sports et Divertissements - Erik Satie

131. Piano Sonata No. 8 - Alexander Scriabin

132. L'isle Joyeuse - Claude Debussy

133. Rêverie - Claude Debussy

134. Fantasia in D minor - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

135. Scherzo No. 1 in B minor - Frederic Chopin

136. Fur Elise - Ludwig Van Beethoven

137. Romanian Folk Dances - Béla Bartók

138. Harpsichord Sonata in D minor, K9 "Pastorale" - Domenico Scarlatti

139. Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

140. Etudes - Claude Debussy