Chinese Painting and Calligraphy in 3D

唐詩 高駢【山亭夏日】原文:
綠樹陰濃夏日長，
樓台倒影入池塘。
水精簾動微風起，
滿架薔薇一院香。

【中國風的動畫】配音:
綠樹蔭濃夏日長，
蜻蜓錦鯉戲池塘。
水精簾動微風起，
滿塘荷花一池香。

室內音樂: 韓梅的紅庭中樂團 / Chamber Music: Mei Han's Red Chamber Ensemble

華人在西方社会發揚中國文化藝術不是易事,由其是用古代樂器伴奏的音樂,不單止老外(西人)不識欣賞,連很多唐人,也覺得古樂是「老土」和「落後」。所以在七月二十五日,我和友人特別往加拿大國立文明博物館,參加当晚由韓梅領導的「紅庭中樂團」Red Chamber Ensemble演奏会,捧一捧這隊全女的室內音樂家。

韓梅在中國時,跟隨了好几位有名的音樂教授,她不但彈得一手很好的古箏,对其它樂器和中西音樂研究,她也是中國当代的頂尖兒人物。韓梅來到加拿大溫哥華之後,繼續她对中國古代樂器和中西文化交流的深造,又和数個志同道合的女樂手,組成了一隊叫『紅庭』Red Chamber的中樂團。在七月二十五的演奏会,她們不但發揚了中國的傳統古樂藝術,更加令老外和海外華人讚嘆的,就是她們能夠用中國樂器,彈出西方的藍草bluegrass 音樂,中西合璧,全無瑕疵。

我除了欣賞『紅庭中樂團』的音樂之外,更不会忘記韓梅对覌眾說的几句話(意譯): 『在這經濟繁榮年代,人人都忙著工作致富的時間中,能夠忙裏抽閑,將生活慢下來,喝一杯好茶,聽一聽自己心愛的音樂,也是人生樂事。』

正是: 手拈名茶,耳聽古樂,"綠陰樹下,蟬鳴聲中,我們最好讀書,最好思索我們自己的前途"。

(附上網上資料: 韓梅的【牆外】磁碟和攝影相片数幅)

http://www.asza.com/
http://www.asza.com/meihan.shtml
http://www.asza.com/mhchin.html
http://www.asza.com/RedchamberW.pdf
http://www.asza.com/outsidewall.shtml

室內音樂: 大鍵琴〔鋼琴的前身〕/ Chamber Music: Harpsichord

After the enjoyable Gala Opening Concert with Angela Hewitt and Daniel Müller-Schott last Saturday, I reviewed the 112 events of this year's Chamberfest and discovered that the program is full of performances that would appeal to even a chamber music non-connoisseur like myself. So, on Sunday evening, I found myself again in another old church listening to Mr. Thomas Annand, the Director of Music there, playing Bach's The Art of the Fugue賦格藝術with his Harpsichord 大鍵琴

While a lot of classical music we hear are played by the piano鋼琴, many of the older pieces were actually written for the Harpsichord before the piano was invented. The two instruments might look alike from a distance but they are quite different. For one thing, the strings of the Harpsichord are being plucked instead of hit and the original keyboard instrument was considered more like a piece of furniture as compared to say a gigantic stand-alone grand piano with legs. The sound from a Harpsichord is actually closer to that of a guitar結他, another plucked instrument.

As to our performer Mr. Thomas Annand, according to the Chamberfest brochure, he is also organist and harpsichordist for the National Arts Centre Orchestra and Thirteen Strings, and co-founder and conductor of Capital BrassWorks. He has been featured at the International Congress of Organists, Carmel Bach Festival, and Boston Early Music Festival. At the beginning of the performance, he engaged the audience by explaining the structure of Bach's Art of the Fugue. He then captured the audience's attention with his technical mastery of the Harpsichord. Waves and waves of music just flowed from his finger tips through the Harpsichord and up to the stained glass windows and wooden ceiling of the old church. Without even knowing it myself, I was seeing polynomial equations, converging and diverging infinite series, and all kinds of mathematical variables, constants, formulae, and transformations. I actually did not quite understand what was going on and why the music would have that kind of imagery impacts on me. Was it because of my engineering, science and technology mind? It was only after my friend explained to me later that I realize what Mr. Annand meant by Bach's musical "structure", There is actually an intricate link between the old master's music works and mathematics !!!

Having heard my story and looking at the pictures, some of you might be tempted to buy one of those beautiful Harpsichords for your living room to replace that old sofa of yours. Come to think of it, may be one for the cottage to show off to your high school buddies during intermission of the Ultimate Fighters. As luck would have it, there is a Harpsichord maker in Montreal who is one of the few in the world who knows how to hand-make just what you want. How much you ask? Well, as they say, if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it. For a mere CDN$20,000 to $30,000, you can own one of these beauties. Of course, special in-laid art work, paintings, optional features and shipping are extra. But again, if you are as skillful and passionate about music as Mr. Thomas Annand, I am sure money is just a means to an end.

(有關攝影图片 / Photo credit: Wikipedia)

其它資料 / Other info:

1. Harpsichord / 大鍵琴
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpsichord
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bpl/hpsi.html

2. Hand-made Harpsichords by Yves Beaupré of Montrél, Canada and price list / 加拿大滿地可手做大鍵琴工匠及價目表
http://www3.sympatico.ca/clavecin/fr17-a.html
http://www3.sympatico.ca/clavecin/prix2.pdf

3. German composer Johann Sebastian Bach / 德國作曲家約翰·塞巴斯蒂安·巴赫 (巴哈)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Sebastian_Bach
http://zh-classical.wikipedia.org/wiki/巴赫
http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.557625-26

4. The Art of the Fuque (German: Die Kunst der Fuge), BWV 1080 (unfinished work by Johann Sebastian Bach / 賦格藝術 (約翰·塞巴斯蒂安·巴赫 或巴哈之未完傑作)
http://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/賦æ
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_Fugue

室內音樂: 安吉拉赫威特 丹尼爾穆勒斯科特 / Chamber Music with Angela Hewitt and Daniel Müller-Schott

The Gala Opening Concert of the International Chamber Music Festival took place last Saturday evening in a local church. Even an hour before admission, the line-up outside was already two-blocks long (these were people with tickets!!). Obviously, the featuring performers安吉拉 赫威特Angela Hewitt (piano 鋼琴) and丹尼 爾穆勒 斯科特Daniel Müller-Schott (cello 大提琴) were irresistible to chamber music lovers. Sitting in their lawn-chairs or just standing around, the crowd waited patiently for the door to open so they could be in the front-rows.

At 8 pm, the Ambassador of Germany stepped onto the stage and introduced the power duo. After a hearty loud applause from their fans, Angela sit gracefully at the piano (a Frazioli specially shipped for this concert) while Daniel attended to the cello (his Saphir “Ex Shapiro” Matteo Goffriller cello made in Venice 威尼斯 in 1727). For the next couple of hours, the fans' patience was rewarded with the following four masterpieces, as well as an encore, played by these two world-class performing artists:

* Johann Sebastian Bach's Sonata in D major, BWV 1028, for viola da gamba and keyboard (Angela played the piano instead of harpsichord; and Daniel the cello instead of the gamba with his parsimonious vibrato)
* Beethoven's Sonata in G minor, opus 5, no. 2 (the first movement Adagio sostenuto ed epressivo was very epressivo and the cello animated).
* Manuel de Falla's Suita Popular Españla or Seven Spanish Songs
* César Franck's Sonata in A major

Even for someone like myself with zero music training and talents, I was completely captured by the seamless integration of the two performers. After the show, I rushed to backstage and had them signed the CD that I had just bought and had our pictures taken (what they have to put up with!!)

For more information about Angela and Daniel, please visit:

http://www.angelahewitt.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Hewitt

http://www.daniel-mueller-schott.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Müller-Schott

(以上是特別為網友 Vicky 和其她/他音樂愛好者寫的 :)
(Dedicated to Vicky and other music lovers :)

義大利地中海內利巴里島:南岸 / Italy's Lipari Island in the Mediterranean Sea: South Coast

環遊世界,爬山玩水,

我提了背囊和攝影机,

獨自一人,

走遍了人跡罕到的南岸,

沿著懸崖峭壁內的山俓奔跑.......

在那地中海烈日之下,

忘記了城巿繁忙的生活,

忘記了男女之間的恩恩怨怨,

沈醉在美麗的大自然景色中。

那溫暖的海風,

帶著海洋的氣味,

撲面吹來,

一望無際的地中海,

在眼前展現,

與藍色的天空打成一片。

渺小的自我,

帶著喜悅的心情,

重投入了大自然的懷抱,

與數千年的人類歷史,

像週圍的山石一樣,

溶合在一起。

(攝影图片: 義大利西西里島以北之內利巴里島南岸)

(Photo Album: South Coast of Lipari, one of Aeolian Islands north of Sicily, Italy)

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June 23 2009 Update: 請往下列網誌參閱更多的攝影相片和資料

* 義大利地中海內利巴里島 / Italy's Lipari Island in the Mediterranean Sea http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2007/07/italys-lipari-island-in-mediterranean.html
* 山徑人生 / Find My Own Track http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2009/06/find-my-own-track.html

滄浪秋吟 GuZheng NewAge piece: Autumn Scenery

A nice instrumental piece for my sentimental friends.

回应沒問題了!!! / Technical Problems (Resolved - Yeah !!!)

It seems the problems were caused by having too many "video bars" (Renée Fleming, Joan Baez and Connie Francis) loaded as "page elements" in my blog. After reducing the number from three to two (Bye Renée, sob !) , everything is back to normal.

From now on, you will see my responses in the comments section again :)

Haricot

++++++++++++++++++++
Please be advised that until further notice, my responses 回应 will be in a back-dated article posted next to the one containing your comments.

I will continue to read/enjoy your input and respond to them chronologically.

Thanks / Merci !!!

微豆 / Haricot

義大利地中海內利巴里島 / Italy's Lipari Island in the Mediterranean Sea

"Under the hot Mediterranean sun
Two wanderers and a church
we met - by chance"

(My Photo Album: Lipari/Aeolian Islands north of Sicily, Italy)

(我的攝影图片: 義大利西西里島以北之內利巴里群島)

(Related info: UNESCO Isole Eolie)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

June 23 2009 Update: 請往下列網誌參閱更多的攝影相片和資料

* 義大利地中海內利巴里島:南岸 / Italy's Lipari Island in the Mediterranean Sea: South Coast http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2007/07/italys-lipari-island-in-mediterranean_20.html

* 山徑人生 / Find My Own Track http://lotusandcedar.blogspot.com/2009/06/find-my-own-track.html

【巴黎,我愛妳(你)】 / "Paris, je t'aime"

前数天看了【巴黎,我愛妳(你)】 "Paris, je t'aime",這套2006年的電影是由18個不同的愛情故事組成,由20個國際導演,在巴黎18個不同地點拍攝。雖然全片沒有普通「映畫戲」的連貫性劇情,但故事主題和內容仍是圍繞在一個「愛」字,故此每一個導演和演員,都要大展身手,在短短的五分鐘內,用不同的鏡頭、眼光、角度、音響、和演技,來描術各種不同的愛,訢說出每個故事的獨特之処。
(如您有打算去看這套電影,請看罷才繼續閱讀下文)

我現將留給我最深印象的故事,不分先後,簡列如下:

1. 一個單身年青母親,晨早送了嬰兒入托兒所,趕緊乘搭巴士地鐵,往富人的家裏,照顧他人的嬰兒,為謀生計,对兩個嬰孩唱了同樣的搖監曲,但一首是充滿母愛,另一首也是愛,但欲總帶有點憂怨傷感。

2. 一双近六十多歲、有了孫兒的老夫老妻,終於决定離婚。在這數十年間,他們實在厭倦了大家的囗臉,都想另找一個較年輕的伴侶,尋找那失落的青春,在亁杯之後,他們同意分手,各奔前程。

3. 一個非洲來的窮漢,在做地下停車場收銀員的時候,暗暗喜欢了一個常來的實習女護士,他被解僱之後,生活潦倒,但仍对她念念不忘,希望有机会請她去喝杯咖啡,在四処找尋之際,他被流氓打劫,身中刀傷,十字救傷車來到,下車來救他的就是那個護士,她在路旁叫了兩杯咖啡,但造物弄人,他已不能喝了。

4. 一個丈夫有了外遇,决定在他和妻子初戀時的歺館,告訢那「黃臉婆」,他已对她完全失去興趣胃口,實行離婚。那知在他開口之前,老妻哭泣地告訢他,醫生已診段她患上了不治的癌症,那男人聽後,痛心疾首,立刻斷絕了移情別戀之心,中中直直地做了丈夫的責任,对妻子体貼入微,在她逝世之前,給了她一份,他重未給過她的愛。

附加以下一段,是真人真事:

我有一友人,她丈夫拋棄妻子兒女,另結新欢,但在他患了急癌之後,那新欢棄他而去,我友人見前夫臨死時,無人倚靠,也就收留和照顧他,讓他重溫舊夢,在她懷抱中去世。

女人,妳的名字可不是弱者!!

七大奇景之一: 麗都運河 / New Seven Wonders of the World: The Rideau Canal

上星期閱報得知加拿大的麗都運河 Rideau Canal,被列入為世界「新」七大奇景之一 New Seven Wonders of the World,所以也在此談談這運河的來由:

在1812年6月18日,美國向英國宣戰,戰役在四條戰線上展開：
1. 大西洋
2. 大湖地區和加拿大邊境
3. 美國海岸
4. 美國南部州

在加拿大邊境,美國在聖勞倫斯河 Saint Lawrence River沿岸的紐約州 New York State処兵勢雄厚,英國為了保衛滿地可 Montreal,所以由安大畧省 Ontario京士頓市 Kingston向北,沿著麗都河 Rideau River,開了一條長達二百零二公里、有四十七個水閘 locks的運河,直接聯繫上下加拿大 Upper and Lower Canada的運輸交通水路線,不受美軍攻擊。麗都運河在一八三二年完成,雖然英美戰爭已完,但它供給加拿大一條新的水道,在一百七十五年的歷史中,曾加了軍事、商業、和旅遊的價值。

直至今時今日,全條運河仍像昔日一樣,夏天水道開放給遊艇和其它小形船隻, 水閘仍是用人力開關,沿途的小鎮風景幽美。冬天運河大部份關閉,但在首都渥太華 Ottawa的一部份仍繼續開放,是全世界最長的室外溜冰場,我每冬天都会都会到那処一遊,溜冰來回共十四公里。

在二零零七年初,聯合國將麗都運河,加列在保留世界文物歴史榜上UNESCO World Heritage Site,所以最近的全球投票,也可說是大家再次贊同這條運河水道的歷史價值。

(图片攝影: 2007年的運河和「昔日」的英軍)

(Photo Credit: Winter picture from Wikipedia, rest from my own album)

斜陽獨影 / The Lonely Shadow

攝了這張落日斜陽的照片,看到那「寂寞」的白影子,忽然想起了黃自作的【天倫歌】,更換了其中几句,接枝翻插如下:

人皆有伴我獨無,
白雲悠悠, 江水東流,
小鳥歸去已無巢,
兒欲歸去已無舟。

斜陽西下, 身在途中,
欲抽不得, 欲罷不能。

念長情, 記童真,
己為人, 無簿厚。

還望那遊人欢笑,
大同博愛, 共享天倫。

夏日的户外生果檔 / Tutty Fruity

With the tourists coming into town, the fruit stands in the open market are displaying their most colourful and attractive produce. There are mangoes from Mexico, water melons from Asia, honey dews from the US, and kiwi fruit from NZ, just to mention a few. There are also farmers selling their freshly picked vegetable and fruit (strawberries, raspberries and blueberries are my favourites) and the prices are usually much cheaper than those in the grocery stores. Locals also come to shop in this area and often bring home potted flowers for their gardens. Sidewalk cafés are open and you can get a nice cool smoothies while people watching. Oh, I just love the tutty fruity days of summer !!!

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Related topic: Josefina's 水果怪

尋一縷清香繞道, 覓千里浮雲白雪 / Chinese Poems

網友 Xiao Zhu,續徘句一系列之後,又再詩興大發,登上了【熒】一詞,我在加國用的是「鹹水 」中文,文房四宝有限,就在今夜勉強完成了叫【靈】的回应拙作,趕往 Xiao Zhu 処投稿,雖是失禮大方,但也算是在這地球的另一边,替她湊湊熱鬧。

Xiao Zhu原作:

【熒】

尋一縷清香繞道
凝望遠, 輕提草箋
蕩一葉輕舟泛湖
懶舒懷，笑臥荷蓬

從來水月無限顧
誰道尺軀可迎風
輕履涉水心自涼
無限意，意難容

夕照亭下匆匆
連雨霎霎
還一剎衝動
怎問君
何從

有感回应:

【靈】

覓千里浮雲白雪
半回顧, 塵在風吹
投一石輕波蕩漾
看倒影, 笑曰往年

天涯海角有時盡
一朝風雨限難逃
獨走江湖心自清
無恨意, 莫憂愁

月影楼閣空空
白雪飄飄
南柯一夢醒
怎問卿
何年?

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我的草稿: 【熒】 / 【靈】

尋一縷清香繞道 / 覓千里浮雲白雪
凝望遠，輕提草箋 / 半回顧, 塵在風吹
蕩一葉輕舟泛湖 / 投一石輕波蕩漾
懶舒懷，笑臥荷蓬 / 看倒影, 笑曰往年
從來水月無限顧 / 天涯海角有時盡
誰道尺軀可迎風 / 一朝風雨限難逃
輕履涉水心自涼 / 獨走江湖心自清
無限意，意難容 / 無恨意, 莫憂愁
夕照亭下匆匆 / 月影楼閣空空
連雨霎霎 / 白雪飄飄
還一剎衝動 / 南柯一夢醒
怎問君 / 怎問卿
何從 / 何年?

陈百强MTV－今宵多珍重

Source: http://youtube.com/watch?v=DqUERGbH-9w

今宵多珍重 / Goodnight My Love

我在網友「散文集」処,看到王福齡作、陳百強唱的歌曲【今宵多珍重】,再搜索我的音樂磁碟,發覺所載和当年「靜婷」唱的不同,故此在這裡將這首歌的兩篇曲詞,在此作一比較,又附錄YouTube有關陳百強的片斷回憶。

今宵多珍重
陳百強唱,王福齡曲,楊繼興/鄭國江(?)詞,鮑比達編

愁看殘紅亂舞　憶花底初度逢
難禁垂頭淚湧　此際幸月朦朧
悉緒如何自控　悲哀都一樣同
情意如能互通　相分不必相送

放下愁緒　今宵請你多珍重
那日重見　祇恐相見亦匆匆

懷裡情人在怨　相愛偏不能容
情人無言地哭　心怎不隱隱痛

放下愁緒　今宵請你多珍重
抱入懷裡　深深一吻莫匆匆

懷裡情人在怨　相愛偏不能容
情人無言地哭　心怎不隱隱痛

今宵多珍重
靜婷唱,王福齡曲,林達詞,鮑比達編

南風吻臉輕輕　飄過來花香濃
南風吻臉輕輕　星已稀月迷朦

我倆緊偎親親　說不完情意濃
我倆緊偎親親　句句話都由衷

不管明天　到明天要相送
戀著今宵　把今宵多珍重

我倆臨別依依　怨太陽快昇東
我倆臨別依依　要再見在夢中

同一個作家的金曲,但唱的歌手,和收聽的知音人仕,感受心景就有些分別了!!

鮑勃•迪倫 / The Legendary Bob Dylan (2)

The night started with a local band playing some familiar tunes and the crowd was warming up. Beer flowed freely and people were definitely enjoying the warm summer night out. Nine o'clock rolled around and the fans cheered as Bob Dylan played his first song. For the next ninety minutes or so, over 35,000 people (my estimate) sang and danced with the 'jester' of rock-and-roll. In front, there was a couple in their fifties hugging and kissing and reliving their hippie trippy days. Next to me was a young man with a gold earring on his left ear, drinking beer and smoking dope at the same time. I wouldn't say he was stoned out of his mind, but his head space was definitely somewhere else. For a while, I could smell the drift of marijuana and was worrying about getting high on second-hand smoke (don't forget I have to bike back home!!).

After Bob Dylan and his band played their last song and left the stage, the audience was still wild and hungry for more. They waited and waited and just would not disperse. The chanting of "Encore !! Encore !!" was like a wave that rolled back-and-forth across the faces of 35,000. Alas, the band came back followed by Dylan and they played one more song, one last time, much to the delight of the enchanted crowd. Finally, the last note was struck, and Bob thanked his band members and the concert came to an end. As the crowd filed its way out of the open field, their faces told me that the legend of rock-and-roll had again captured the hearts and souls of his fans, this time on the Canadian side of the pond.

鮑勃·迪倫 / The Legendary Bob Dylan (1)

The last time I saw Bob Dylan's live concert was on July 16, 2006 in an open-air theatre outside the Auditorium Parco Della Musica in Rome. Under the star-filled night and with the warm Mediterranean wind gently blowing against my face, it was a magical time to see the legendary Bob Dylan in action. So when I heard that he would be in town for the local Bluesfest in early July 2007, I was wondering whether I would have the opportunity to see him on this side of the pond. While July normally marks the beginning of summer vacation for most people in Canada, it has been an unusually busy time for me both in terms of work and family responsibilities. As the concert day approached, I figured there was little chance that I could make it.

On the day of the concert, several things happened. Some of my business meetings were cancelled, I was able to leave work before six-thirty, and things were working out at home. I arrived back at my house around seven-fifteen, changed into my casual attire, flipped a steak into the oven and hopped onto my bike while still chewing the last bit of my supper. By the time I arrived at the concert field, there was already a big crowd lining up to get in. I was lucky enough to purchase one of the last few tickets left.

加拿大國慶日 / Canada Day / La Fêtes du Canada 2007

加拿大國慶日 / Canada Day / La Fêtes du Canada 2007

Photographs: On Canada Day, I took some pictures in the nation's capital, near downtown and around Parliament Hill. Enjoy !!!

攝影图片: 這篇所刊的数幅,是七月一日,我在首都渥太華市中心,和國会附近拍攝的拙作,在此上網,謹供各位覌閱。

加拿大總督 / Governor General of Canada

七月一日是加拿大國慶日,在「國会山莊」Parliament Hill上, 由總督莊美楷Governor General of Canada: Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean (中譯米凯勒‧琼)檢閱禦林軍和致詞。在加拿大這個多元文化國家, 出生在「海地」(Haïti)的莊美楷,是楓葉國第二位少数民族的女總督。她年幼時和家人離開戰乱的家鄉,在貧苦中長大,在滿地可大學畢業之後,往意大利深造,数十年之後,昇封任為總督。莊美楷在致詞中,鼔勵年青的一代,要努力不懈,要相信未來,抓緊夢想,不要隨便放棄。她所說的,是個人的經歷,也是和上任的女總督伍冰枝有共鳴。網友或許還会記得,伍冰枝也是移民出身,她在香港出世,二次大戰時隨父母逃難至溫哥華,想不到数十年之後,成為全加拿大國的三軍總司令和總督。正是:『有志者、事竟成』,我想這兩位女總督的出身、和成功史,是給我們年青一代最好的見証。

References (photos from Wikipedia):

伍冰枝:
http://zh.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%E4%BC%8D%E5%86%B0%E6%9E%9D&variant=zh-hk

Adrienne Clarkson:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrienne_Clarkson

庄美楷:
http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/庄美楷

Michaëlle Jean:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michaëlle_Jean