Aug 19, 2006

Solo- Alone and Only

獨自與唯一



Solo,這個字源於義大利,意指「獨自」、「唯一」。

音樂上的定義:
給單一表演者的樂曲,或由主樂器協同伴奏的樂曲。
(引自葛羅富音樂大字典)

Solo, the word coming from Italy, means 'alone', 'only'.

Musically definition:
A piece played by one performer, or a piece for one melody instrument with accompaniment.
(A quotation from Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians)



我記得那個晚上,當我獨自一人,我放了一張唱片。 一套給鋼琴獨奏的組曲。 聲音很快向我襲來,那是我房裡唯一的聲音。 突然之間我覺得像是,這播放中的音樂是我至今唯一擁有的東西,在此刻間。 音樂柔順地流過。 我被圍繞在其中,而這讓我感到無比安慰。

從那一晚開始,我無可救藥地被這個字吸引,深深著迷。Solo。

I remembered that night, when I was alone, I played a record. The pieces for solo piano. The sound soon comes to me, which is the only sound in my room. Suddenly I feel like, the playing music is the only thing I ever have, at this moment. The music flowed smoothly, I was surrounded by it, and that did comforts me.

From that night, I couldn't help to be attracted by this word, fascinated by it. Solo.



Sibelius: The Spruce
piano by Izumi Tateno



六零年代初,一個日本鋼琴家移居芬蘭。他以精湛的琴藝,和充滿靈性的詮釋,對待那裡的音樂。他的每一個音符都是這麼的清澈,他是這麼用盡全力,要把那個地方的每一棵孤獨的冷杉、每一座鄉間小教堂,牢牢記下來,你聽了,猜想演奏這音樂的人,該是多麼喜歡那個地方啊。而或許只有這點,透露了他是個異鄉人。


這是館野泉(Izumi Tateno)演奏的,芬蘭作曲家西貝流士(Sibelius)的鋼琴小品。輯中收錄的最主要作品,是作品編號75的五首鋼琴小品「The Trees/ Puusarja」,以五首曲子描繪五種不同樹木,其中最先抓住我耳朵的是最後一首『雲杉』(The Spruce/ Granen-Kuusi)。



這些表面看似平靜的音樂,總讓我覺得帶點莫名傷感,於是立刻聯想到楊納傑克(Janacek)的「荒草漫延的小徑」(On an overgrown path/ Par les sentiers broussailleux)。
純真的旋律就像在夢裡,但隨著樂句變得越來越破碎,你發現那是作曲家的哽咽聲,原來那是他難以企及的美夢,他的悼亡女之歌。


僅管是小品音樂,鋼琴家卻以面對鉅作般的慎重來詮釋,真是感動。感動的不只是我,還有企鵝評鑑,因為這樣而留下三星帶花最高評價的,是吉利爾斯(Emil Gilels)演奏的,葛利格「抒情小曲集」(Grieg: Lyric Pieces)。

Aug 18, 2006

Bloggism! weekly- 1 painting every day



Blogsite:
1 painting every day

The Blogger:
Jeremiah Palecek






.The man who painted everything everyday
.Portraits from contemporary world
.Paint the game, paint the film, paint your present fantasy

2005年5月8日,因為看到Duane Keisers的部落格,這個人開始每天作畫,同時貼在自己的部落格上。

每天作畫讓他發現,什麼都可以入畫。他畫很多遊戲畫面,那些掃射噴飛的血塊,他也畫電影,畫濺血與光劍,把恐怖片化為一隻斷指、斷臂…當然,他也畫送給姪女的慶生禮。他是捷克人,在英美求學,最後回到布拉格定居,但除了簡介與少數融合回憶的布拉格風景畫之外,根本無法察覺,更何況所有畫還可在ebay上競標購得。

然後我們發現,他畫的題材我們一點也不陌生,因為不管是在捷克、美國還是這裡,我們總是玩著一樣的遊戲、看著相同的電影,即使吃吐司我們也是要用奶油刀塗抹。這世界逐漸同化得難以分辨了。只是…把遊戲裡的3D人像以油畫描繪?大概還是只有每天要找東西畫的人,才想得到這種反諷創意吧!

Aug 15, 2006

Bloggism! weekly- TWILIGHTZONE!



Blogsite:
TWILIGHTZONE!

The Blogger:
RYP



.Music for old time religion
.Back to the time when we were crazy record collectors
.Rare Unseen Revival and Enthusiastic

傳說中的那個搖滾年代早已遠去,還留下什麼供已然衰老的搖滾青年憑弔?大概就剩下如同珍貴遺跡的老唱片吧。

下班後在電視前與沙發上醉生夢死的老搖滾青年們,「TWILIGHTZONE!」將喚醒你所剩無幾的狂熱!

那一張張巨幅唱片封面,那些陌生的名字和從沒見過的唱片,有些很熟悉有些很陌生,大部份都已絕版,但它們仍像從遙遠年代追來的搖滾魂,硬是要提醒你,這世界上曾經存在過多少好音樂,多少好笑的音樂,以及有多少音樂被我們所遺忘。

所以,僅管把你滿坑滿谷的CD收進薄薄的一片Ipod裡,但別忘了被唱片封面吸引而買一張專輯,那種當個瘋狂唱片收藏家的樂趣。

Aug 8, 2006

Bloggism! weekly- berloku "."



Blogsite:
.

The Blogger:
berloku



.What's going on design in Chile?
.A cute and funny girl, lots charming works
.All can make you :D

一個十八歲小女生的部落格,取的站名和她一樣有個性,就簡單叫「.」而已,目前設有三個分站。部落格主berloku來自智利,是設計學校的學生,喜歡塗鴉畫漫畫,作品充滿粉嫩的色彩、大膽的創意。

不小心逛到這裡來,感覺很像是闖進小女生的房間,而她桌上的小本子剛好打開來…於是你看見她可愛的塗鴉、她很有個性的作業,而在這中間,還夾了幾張跟男友的甜蜜照片。那裡面的每樣東西都是這麼美,因為那畢竟是人家如同盛夏般耀眼的青春啊!美好得讓你無法停止窺看。

Aug 4, 2006

Save Memories by Your Ears

友人K赴日旅遊,只買了一張CD。他說,妳知道的,Keith Jarrett封面有玫瑰的那張。其實我對Jarrett先生的認識,僅限於大家都知道的傳奇經典-柯隆音樂會,以及某次出於好奇買的,演奏宗教聖歌那張,但我猜他說的大概就是「Death and the Flower」,如右圖示。K在旅程中反覆聆聽,那張買來作個紀念的專輯。於是當他結束旅程,再聽那音樂時,就又好像回到在東京的時光。所以,為什麼總要拍個幾百張照片,在下次旅行前也還整理不完?用耳朵和喜歡的音樂儲存旅行吧。


過沒多久,某個尋常夏夜,我踏著輕快的腳步,走在下班的路上。我選了久久沒聽,不知是否還健在的美國獨立樂團Flin Flon,陪我一起走。


Ukraina by Flin Flon

from the album a-ok







然後,我聽到了那首『Ukraina』,不小心把很久以前的回憶叫了出來。那時候我們還有某棟樓高三層的唱片行,那時候還沒有MP3人們依然購買CD,而我又回到了那個炙熱的午後,我們聚在某層樓,進行一種叫做「盤點」的行為。那時候我們邊聽著這樣的音樂,用手一張一張撫過架上的CD,不知道幾年以後,那些CD、CD架以及所有的人,都將流散。

那時候我們整天聽著音樂,我們甚至共有一本筆記留在服務台,本子裡塗畫著關於音樂、關於工作的大小事,互相傳來傳去。我們竟然從不曾懷疑,如此單純而美好的時光,會是暫時。除了主管,我沒有其他煩惱。那是我第一份真心喜歡的工作。當我必須離開時,我沿路把失控的淚水留在公車上,留在通往學校的山坡上,留在一份不及格的期末考卷上。

如今,我已到達緊握僅有回憶不放的年紀了。但是,在音樂結束以前,我的確回到了那裡。那些人的臉孔早已模糊,只有那個午後的光亮與溫度,原封不動的印在我的皮膚上。無論如何,這首歌聽完了,再找下一首就好。僅管記憶不全都是這樣輕易浮現,而有些還是別隨便跑出來比較好。

下一首歌,已經在等你播放。

Next song...

Goodbye To All That by The Legendary Jim Ruiz Group

from the album Sniff






My friend K took a trip to Japan, he brought only one CD back. He said, "You know, it's Keith Jarrett's album, cover with a rose that one." Actually I don't know much about Jarrett, unless the legendary The Köln Concert, and bought an album that he played sacred hymns of G.I. Gurdjieff (only by curiosity). But I'm sure that what he bought is 'Death and the Flower', as his souvenir. He listened and listened this album during his trip. In the end, when he back from the trip and played that album again, he found he's back to his time in Tokyo.

So, why we waste time in shooting hundreds of pictures? You don't even have time to put them into your photo books! Try carring your favorite music, then memorized your voyage by your ears.

Another summer night, I took brisk steps on my way home. I chose the music by an indie band 'Flin Flon' to walk with me. Suddenly, I heard their song "Ukraina" and some memories soon came out. I'm back to the time when we still have a large record shop, the time when we don't have MP3s and still buying CDs. And I'm back to the time when I still working in a record shop, in one summer afternoon, while we were gathering to check CDs. We were listening to this kind of music when we work, not knowing the CDs and people here would be separated in some years latter.

We listened to the music all day, we share everything about music and work to each other. Everything is pure pleasure. The first job I truly in love with. When I had to leave the job, (they need a full time, I can't) I cried and cried, tears over my way to school, tears in my failed test paper.

Now, it's the end of the music. In the memory, faces of these people became faint, but the light and the warm of the afternoon are well memorized in my skin. Anyway, just play another song, though memories are not so easy to reveal, and some we don't really want to recall.

Aug 1, 2006

Bloggism! weekly- Jazz Frisson (Round Midnight)

部落格主義!週報



Blogsite:
Jazz Frisson(Round Midnight)

The Blogger:
Jean-François




.Wonderful taste in Jazz
.Friendly and generous MP3 links
(Listen before you read the "welcome jazz lovers", and be careful! You will purchase all the records!)
.First hand live report
.Proof that music is universal

言簡意賅的標題「Round Midnight」(鋼琴怪傑Thelonious Monk之爵士超名曲),已等於宣示這是片爵士樂土。雖然網誌主要以法文寫作,但友善的MP3聯結讓你突破任何語言障礙(只需要注意一點,使用過度將讓你想要擁有所有的CD!),並對部落格主Jean-François對爵士樂的卓絕品味致上敬意。除了專輯介紹,Jean-François先生也會不時進行爵士樂現場報導,包括才剛結束的2006蒙特婁爵士音樂節!住在加拿大的他,最近更去了紐約來趟爵士小旅行,實在令爵士樂迷嫉妒不已。

就像巷底深處的小店,沒有讓太多人知道的「Round Midnight」,目前仍靜靜的、優雅的,釋放著溫柔的心意與悠揚的爵士樂聲。如果你放慢腳步,專注聆聽,就會聽得見。

又:就在我寫好這篇文章不久,JF先生已將此站改頭換面啦!已改名為「Jazz Frisson」,新站仍在架設中,不過網誌架構不變。再一次,印證部落世界瞬間萬變的不變定理。