2011 Academy Award - Best Picture

My favourites are: The King's Speech, The Black Swan, The Social Network and Winter's Bone (in that order).

And the Oscar goes to .... The King's Speech!!!

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2011 Academy Award - Best Actor

Colin Firth, who is my favourite this year, also won the Oscar for Best Actor for his leading role in The King's Speech.

Great !!! Now I am waiting for the Best Picture announcement.
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2011 Academy Award - Best Actress

I am glad to see Natalie Portman winning the Oscar for Best Actress this year !!! She performed well in the movie Black Swan which I like very much.

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黃自《天倫歌》 / "Philosophical Song" by Huang Tzu

This is one of the old Chinese songs I have been singing with the local choir. The song had been composed by 黄自 (see his bio below) and was subsequently sung by the famous female vocalist 郎毓秀 in the 1935 movie 《天倫》. While the video clip was an old recording, the song and the singer's voice were both hauntingly beautiful. I have also posted below the lyrics with Chinese pin yin 歌詞與漢語拼音. Enjoy !!!




1935年電影《天倫》插曲: 天伦歌 Tiān lún gē

作曲: 黄自
歌词: 钟石根
演唱: 郎毓秀
(漢語拼音: Machine-translated by Google >_< )

人皆有父 Rén jiē yǒu fù
翳我独无 Yì wǒ dú wú
人皆有母 Rén jiē yǒu mǔ
翳我独无 Yì wǒ dú wú
白云悠悠 Bái yún yōu yōu
江水东流 Jiāng shuǐ dōng liú
小鸟归去已无巢 Xiǎo niǎo guī qù yǐ wú cháo
儿欲归去已无舟 Er yù guī qù yǐ wú zhōu
何处觅源头 何处觅源头 Hé chù mì yuán tóu, Hé chù mì yuántóu
莫道儿是被弃的羔羊 Mò dào er shì bèi qì de gāo yáng
莫道儿已哭断了肝肠 Mò dào er yǐ kū duàn le gān cháng
人世的惨痛岂仅是失了爹娘 Rén shì de cǎn tòng qǐ jǐn shì shī le diē niang
奋起啊孤儿 Fèn qǐ a gū ér
惊醒罢迷途的羔羊 Jīng xǐng ba mí tú de gāo yáng
收拾起痛苦的呻吟 Shōu shí qǐ tòng kǔ de shēn yín
献出你赤子的心情 Xiàn chū nǐ chì zǐ de xīn qíng
老吾老以及人之老 Lǎo wú lǎo yǐ jí rén zhī lǎo
幼吾幼以及人之幼 Yòu wú yòu yǐjí rén zhī yòu
收拾起痛苦的呻吟 Shōu shí qǐ tòng kǔ de shēn yín
献出你赤子的心情 Xiàn chū nǐ chì zǐ de xīn qíng
服务牺牲服务牺牲 Fú wù xī shēng fú wù xī shēng
舍己为人无薄厚 Shě jǐ wéi rén wú bó hòu
浩浩江水 霭霭白云 Hào hào jiāng shuǐ ǎi ǎi bái yún
庄严宇宙亘古存 Zhuāng yán yǔ zhòu gèn gǔ cún
大同博爱 共享天伦 Dà tóng bó ài gòng xiǎng tiān lún

根據維基百科: "... 黃自（1904年3月23日－1938年5月9日），字今吾，江蘇省川沙縣(今屬上海市)人，中國著名作曲家。 黄自幼飽讀詩書，尤愛音樂。1916年入北京清華學校，开始接触西洋音乐。1924年清華學校畢業，赴美国俄亥俄州欧柏林学院留学，攻读心理学，毕业后于1928年转入耶魯大學學習西洋音樂的理論與作曲，1929年毕业后回国。返國後任教於上海沪江大学、国立音乐专科学校等学校。1935年，黄自發起創辦了第一個由全華人組成的管弦樂團——上海管弦乐团。著名的音樂家賀綠汀、朱英、江定仙、林聲、林聲翕、劉雪庵等，皆乃黃自門生。

黃自《天倫歌》、《踏雪寻梅》、《花非花》、《採蓮謠》、《本事》，清唱劇《長恨歌》等作品，不但旋律婉美流暢，且富民族特性；此外，他也是《中華民國國旗歌》的作者。抗戰時所作的《抗敵歌》、《旗正飄飄》，更能激發國人敵愾同仇之心。1938年因傷寒大腸出血症在上海與世長辭。

由於黃自從習西樂與協助國民政府譜寫抗戰歌曲，中華人民共和國成立後長期被視為資產階級音樂學閥，其作品被認為是感情頹靡的輓歌。其弟子賀綠汀等也遭到嚴厲批判。直到改革開放之後，黃自的貢獻才重新獲得中國大陆音樂界的重視。

References:
* 維基百科: "黃自": Text and photo credit

* English version from Wikipedia:
"... Huang Tzu (Chinese: 黃自, Pinyin: Huáng Zì, 23 March 1904 - 9 May 1938) was a Chinese famous musician. His courtesy name was Jinwu (Chinese: 今吾, Pinyin: Jīnwú). Huang was born in Chuansha of Shanghai, China. In 1916, he studied in Tsinghua College and started to touch the western music. After graduation in 1924, Huang went to study psychology in Oberlin College, Ohio, United States and turned to Yale University in 1928, studying the theory and composing of the western music. His composed the overture In Memoriam there, which is the first large-scale orchestral work by a Chinese composer. In 1929, Huang came back to China and taught in the University of Shanghai, National Music College and others. In 1935, Huang established the Shanghai Orchestra, the first all-Chinese orchestra, and taught many famous Chinese musician, such as He Luding, Zhu Ying, Jiang Dingxian, Lin Sheng, Lin Shengxi and Liu Xuean. Huang's famous works have Philosophical Song (天倫歌), Plum Blossoms in the Snow (踏雪尋梅), Flower in the Mist (花非花), Lotus Song (採蓮謠) and Benshi (本事). He was also the composer of National Flag Anthem of the Republic of China. Huang died in Shanghai, 1938 because (sic) of the typhoid fever. ..."

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

Updated: 20110708

More info from Musikland (Source: http://blog.roodo.com/muzikland/archives/531872.html )

"..... 自小愛音樂﹐7歲入上海初小﹐已能熟背許多古詩詞；12歲時進入北京清華學校﹐16歲習鋼琴﹐18歲學習樂理及和聲學。1924年畢業於清華學校留美預備班 (清華大學前身)﹐即以“庚子賠款” 公費赴美入歐柏林大學 (Oberlin College) 攻讀心理學﹐同時在該校音樂院副修音樂。1926年獲文學士學位﹐黃自再轉入耶魯大學音樂院 (Yale School of Music)﹐專攻理論作曲﹐1929年獲音樂學士學位﹐畢業作品為管弦樂序曲“懷舊” ﹐並獲選於同年5月31日在美國康州(Connecticut) 新港 (New Haven) 塢西音樂廳 (Woolsey Hall) 演出。 回國後初任上海滬江大學音樂系專任教授﹐兼任國立上海音專理論作曲教授。他更是理論作曲組的唯一導師﹐培養了不少高足如樂英才﹑賀綠汀﹑劉雪庵﹑江定仙等。1931年918事變後﹐黃自寫了不少抗戰歌曲。1932年﹐黃自與蕭友梅等人組織起“音樂藝文社”﹐親任總幹事推動各類社會音樂工作。1934年開始編寫音樂雜誌、辦副刊、為上海市教育局主持廣播音樂節目、撰寫播音稿件﹐發行音樂專刊。黃自重視新人新作﹐不論是郎毓秀、斯義桂的歌唱﹐或是丁善德、李獻敏的鋼琴獨奏﹐都為黃自所重視﹐這些當年嶄露頭角的新秀﹐後來都成了著名的音樂家。可惜1938年不幸因傷寒於上海紅十字會醫院與世長辭﹐其重要作品有“天倫歌”﹑“玫瑰三願”﹑“ 花非花” ﹑“踏雪尋梅” ﹑“西風的話”等。

天倫歌: 為1935年電影“天倫” 的主題曲﹐由郎毓秀主唱。郎毓秀為30年極受歡迎的女高音﹐除了天倫歌外﹐還有1937年電影同名主題曲“滿園春色” ﹐另有改編自1936年Jeanette MacDonald 的電影名曲“鸞鳳和鳴 (Rosemarie)” 及“愛的呼喚(Indian Love Call)”等。...."

Other related links:

* http://www.wangjiwang.com/memorial/memorial.aspx?id=918
相关 黄自 的报导：
黄自先生诞辰105周年音乐会5月24日将在上海举行
黄自个人生平
黄自《永远的黄自》
对于黄自音乐美学思想的再认识
《抗敌歌》
黄自先生的生平与成就
黄自与中国民族交响乐的发展
黄自的作品
深深的怀念--写在父亲黄自百年诞辰之际
悼今吾宗师

* http://www.wangjiwang.com/memorial/shc13262.html

".... 黄自先生诞辰105周年音乐会5月24日将在上海举行: “雪霁天晴朗,腊梅处处香,骑驴把桥过，铃儿响叮当……”今年是《踏雪寻梅》一曲作者、音乐教育家黄自诞辰105周年，本周日，川沙第二届文化艺术节将联手上海音乐学院及音协在川沙影剧院共同举办“纪念著名音乐家黄自先生诞辰105周年音乐会”，音乐学者王勇担任解说，使观众在聆听作品的同时，对创作构想有进一步了解。
　　1904年出生于川沙的黄自为中国现代音乐史写下浓墨重彩的一笔。在其短暂的一生中共创作音乐作品106部，开创了中国音乐艺术的多个第一：中国第一部交响序曲《怀旧》、第一部清唱剧《长恨歌》、第一部电影片头音乐《都市风光幻想曲》等。作为上海音乐学院的奠基人之一，他培养了贺绿汀等中国第一批音乐人才。
　　音乐会上，来自上海音乐学院青年交响乐团和上海音乐学院青年合唱团的师生将为观众呈现《玫瑰三愿》、《思乡》、《春思曲》、《天伦歌》等艺术歌曲，压轴曲为中国第一部交响序曲《怀旧》。
(东方早报记者 安婧) ...."

* http://www.shcmusic.edu.cn/html/news/news/xykx/990022.html

上音简讯（第二十七期）上海音乐学院院长办公室编 二○○九年五月三十一日 "纪念黄自先生诞辰105周年音乐会在川沙举行":
".... 2009年是上海市川沙籍著名音乐家，上海音乐学院一代名师、中国杰出的现代作曲家、音乐理论家、音乐教育家黄自先生诞辰105周年，为弘扬中华民族优秀文化、缅怀黄自先生对中国音乐教育事业作出的卓越贡献，川沙新镇人民政府、上海音乐学院、上海音乐家协会在2009年5月24日共同主办“纪念著名音乐家黄自先生诞辰105周年音乐会”。

音乐会在川沙新镇影剧院举行。上海音乐学院副院长、上海音乐家协会副主席杨燕迪；上海市文化广播影视管理局社会文化处处长萧烨璎；上海市浦东新区宣传部副部长胡建平；川沙功能区域党工委副书记、川沙新镇党委副书记、人大主席陆雄；黄自先生家属等领导嘉宾出席。

音乐会由上海音乐学院师生演唱和演奏了黄自先生作品中最具有代表性的《长恨歌》、《怀旧》等声乐作品和交响乐作品。其中上海音乐学院教授、著名歌唱家李秀英领衔担任独唱，上海音乐学院交响乐团、上海音乐学院合唱团担任乐队和齐唱，上海音乐学院副教授、中国近现代音乐史研究学者王勇博士担任音乐会嘉宾主持。（院办 乐佾真） ...."

* http://www.wangjiwang.com/memorial/shc13263.html

深深的怀念--写在父亲黄自百年诞辰之际

黄德音 黄惠音 黄祖庚（执笔：黄惠音）

２００４年３月２３日是父亲百年诞辰，我们深情地凝视着那张悬挂了几十年的父亲的照片，百感交集。 １９３８年，父亲才３４岁，在他应该做出更多贡献的时候，却留下未竟的事业和他深爱的亲人过早地离开人世。当时我们兄妹三人最大的才六岁，最小的还不足九个月。 父亲的英年早逝使我们对他的印象十分淡薄。但是，从母亲和亲友那里，我们了解了他短暂却是不平凡的一生，由此，父亲崇高的形象长久牢牢地树立在我们心中。我们十分崇敬他，更深深地怀念他。

父亲是我国著名的现代作曲家和音乐理论家。他是第一个系统地全面地向国内学子传授欧美近代专业作曲理论，并且有着建立中国民族乐派的抱负的音乐教育家。他留学美国的毕业作品——管弦乐序曲“怀旧”是我国第一部交响音乐作品，也是最早在外国演出的一部中国交响作品。他为左翼进步影片《都市风光》写的片头音乐《都市风光幻想曲》是我国第一部具有专业水平的片头音乐。他所作的《抗敌歌》和《旗正飘飘》是我国最早的两首抗日救亡合唱歌曲。他所作的《长恨歌》是我国最早的清唱剧。

父亲一生为后人留下了９４首包括交响乐、室内乐、钢琴复调音乐、清唱剧、合唱、独唱、教材歌曲等多种体裁形式的音乐作品；１５篇涉及理论创作、批评、欣赏、作家、历史等方面的音乐论著；５６讲有关音乐常识的课文；３部未完成的音乐书稿。他还创办音乐社团和主编音乐杂志、音乐副刊、音乐教材、音乐教科书，为电台组织音乐节目，撰写音乐广播稿等。 父亲能够在不到十年的时间里，在繁忙的教学工作之余完成以上诸多工作，除了因为他具有广博的知识及多方面的艺术素养、有勤奋好学、锲而不舍的精神以及对音乐事业的至爱外，更重要的是父亲具有强烈的爱国心，他决心要把所学到的西洋作曲技术运用到我国民族音乐的创作中去。他把发展中国自己的音乐作为己任，他要努力完成这个历史使命。

１９０４年３月２３日（农历二月初七）父亲诞生于江苏省川沙县（今属上海市）。据姑姑回忆，父亲自小就爱唱歌，而且一首首都唱得很熟，姑姑听奶奶说，１９０７年正月，不满三周岁的父亲就会背诵《大学》中的段落。 １９１６年，父亲离开上海入北京清华学校。在清华的同学中，周培源、冀朝鼎、梁思成、罗隆基等都是父亲的挚友。在校期间，父亲还参加了清华的童子军笛鼓队，又在管弦乐队中吹单簧管，在合唱队中唱男高音，并师从何林一夫人（清华教师）学钢琴，师从王文显夫人（清华教师）习和声。所有这些活动使父亲接触了西洋音乐，进一步培养了对音乐的兴趣。１９２４年父亲毕业于清华学校，并以优异成绩获准官费（即“庚子赔款”）留学美国，入俄亥俄州欧柏林学院攻读心理学（当时官费留学中没有音乐学生的名额），以音乐为副科。１９２６年在欧柏林学院毕业，获文学士学位。由于学业成绩优秀，毕业时被提名为“法·培德·嘉派”（ＰｈｉＢｅｔｔａＫａｐｐａ）学会会员（这个组织自十九世纪末以来已变成一个学术荣誉组织）。据了解，该会只选四年都在本校就读和成绩特别优秀的学生，即在应届毕业生人数中占八分之一的高材生入会，插班生则要成绩过人一等才能予以考虑（由于清华毕业生尤其是文科的，一般都能以插班生的资格入美国学校念大学三年级，父亲的情形正是如此）。父亲不但是插班生，又是该届三十人中的唯一东方人。接着，父亲又留在欧柏林学院继续攻读理论作曲和钢琴。 　　

１９２８年父亲转学至耶鲁大学音乐学校。当时耶鲁音乐学校实行三二制，即念三年颁给证明，再念两年高级课才授予学位，一共要念五年，插班生一般要念二年。父亲于１９２８年９月入学，次年６月毕业获音乐学士，可以算是比较特殊的例子。 父亲在耶鲁一年的最大荣誉就是他的作品获选在毕业音乐会演出，并由耶鲁大学音乐学校校长、著名作曲家戴维·斯坦利·史密斯（ＤａｖｉｄＳｔａｎｌｅｙＳｍｉｔｈ——１８７７—１９４９）亲自指挥。１９２７年７月欧柏林学院的“校友杂志”上曾刊有一段采自当地地方报的内容——黄自的序曲《怀旧》是所有创作的管弦乐曲中的佼佼者，该曲或许不像其它作品那么炫耀，但至少有一个中心乐念，并且表现出最佳配器手法，它同时也是音乐会中唯一令人充分欣赏的作品。从耶鲁大学毕业后，父亲绕道欧洲回国。

１９２９年，父亲回国后最初在上海沪江大学附属中学担任音乐教员，第二年才由萧友梅先生聘任为上海国立音乐专科学校（上海音乐学院前身）专职教员并兼任教务主任。此外经上海公共租界工部局华人教育处处长陈鹤琴先生推荐，被聘为工部局音乐委员。 父亲在国立音专工作了八年直至１９３８年５月９日因病与世长辞。

父亲在世上只度过了短暂的３４个春秋，但是他却留给我们很多宝贵的、值得我们永远学习的精神食粮。 父亲的爱国精神 １９３８年父亲去世后，在武汉音乐界举行的追悼会上，田汉同志曾代表当时的军委政治部第三厅说：“黄自是最有青年气的音乐家，他学习音乐的动机是为民族国家，和一般的学院派音乐家不同……” 父亲公费留美五年，学成后立即回国，并投身到祖国的音乐创造和音乐教育事业中去。在他发表于１９３４年１０月２３日上海《晨报》的“怎样才可产生吾国民族音乐”一文中，他曾明确提出：“我们要发展中国自己的音乐。中国的新音乐决不是抄袭外国作品，或如西洋用五声音阶作旋律的骨干便可以做成的，它必须由具有中华民族的血统与灵魂而又有西洋作曲技术修养的作者创造出来……他努力探索着民族音调和民族风格的创造，并为祖国现代和古代诗人的诗歌作曲，他的爱国思想充分体现在对民族文化的重视和发展民族音乐的志向。他努力创作民族题材和民族风格的音乐作品，编辑《音乐杂志》，创办上海管弦乐团，编写初中教材书，在这部教材书中的６９首歌曲中，６３首是中国作品；在这部教材书的１７课音乐史中，中国音乐史讲了９课。他为了撰写“中国之古乐”一文，从《礼记》、《乐经》、《尔雅》等古籍中收集了有关古代乐制和乐器的资料一千多则，在当时的历史条件下，这种重视民族音乐文化的表现是难能可贵的。 爱国歌曲是父亲全部声乐作品中最有社会影响的部分，１９２９年父亲从美国学成回国后，正是日本帝国主义侵略势力步步侵入，中国民族危亡迫在眉睫的时候，父亲积极响应爱国人士的抗日救亡运动。１９３１年“九一八”事变发生后，父亲激于爱国义愤，迅即亲自带领学生为东北义勇军募捐，并自作歌词且谱成了慷慨激昂的“抗敌歌”。 １９３２年１月２８日，淞沪抗战爆发，革命老人何香凝为此写了壮怀激烈的《赠前敌将士》，父亲读后，立即谱成了歌曲，献给十九路军的抗日战士。不久，又用韦瀚章的歌词谱写了悲壮激越的《旗正飘飘》。 １９３３年３月底，音专师生利用春假去杭州举行“鼓舞敌忾后援音乐会”，父亲被推为主席。母亲曾说这次音乐会，父亲还亲自担任报幕。 除此之外，父亲还继续谱写了《切记分明》、《民谣》、《九一八》、《睡狮》、《热血》等十余首爱国歌曲，这些歌曲曾被广泛传唱，影响较大，实现了父亲想以音乐来鼓舞全国人民抗战斗志的意愿。“家可破，国须保；身可杀，志不挠”正是父亲爱国主义思想境界的真实写照。父亲对中国的抗日斗争，怀有坚定的胜利信心。他曾说：“现在我写抗敌歌曲，希望不久能再写庆祝抗敌胜利的歌曲。”可惜他在抗日战争爆发后第二年就去世了，未能亲眼看到抗战的胜利。

父亲的敬业精神和献身精神 我们常常为父亲对自己所从事的音乐事业和教育事业的热爱、执着所感动。他具有献身精神，他孜孜不倦、一丝不苟，他认真严谨，任劳任怨。 我国著名音乐家、上海音乐学院的老院长贺绿汀曾在回忆文章中写道：“黄自先生以二十五岁的青年，在上海音专担任繁重的教务工作外，还把全部理论作曲课包括共同课都由他一人包下，从初级和声及键盘和声、对位法、曲体学、配器法、音乐欣赏、音乐史一直到自由作曲他都教，他除了繁重的教学工作外，还从事各种音乐形式的音乐创作，甚至和他的学生共同编写中小学音乐教科书，创造大型的合唱曲、爱国歌曲、艺术歌曲以及电影音乐。” 母亲也曾回忆道：你们的父亲对教学工作是非常认真严肃的，当时他要讲好几门课，这些课对他来说是非常熟悉的，但他还是把绝大部份的时间用来备课，甚至有时一直要工作到深夜。对此，我有些不理解。一次我问他，“这些课你不是早就熟悉了，为什么还要花这么多时间来准备呢？”你们的父亲摇了摇头很严肃地说：“不对，你自己懂了还没有用，只有充分准备后，到上课时才能吸引同学的注意，让他们真正吸收进去。”一次，他病了，得了阿米巴痢，每天早晨肚痛，而且像有规律似的，总是在要到学校去时痛得特别厉害，我曾多次劝他请几天假，找医生治疗一下，他始终不肯，只是在腹痛时躺着用热水袋焐一下，就又赶去上课。 每次上音乐欣赏课以前，他总是把要讲的唱片反复地听好几遍，有时候还对着我讲“卡门”如何如何，“茶花女”如何如何，他常对学生说：“你们努力，我比你们更努力。”对音乐论著和创作工作，他也非常认真，为了编写《音乐史》和《中国之古乐》，他不厌其烦地收集各种史实和资料，可惜因为他的早逝，以上二书均未写成。他对我国民族音乐是十分重视的，他曾听说苏州某处有一古老的道教庙宇，就特意赶去，聆听古老的道教音乐，从他的遗稿中也发现，早在１９１４年，他正在清华求学时就参观了在北京天坛举行的“古物展览会”，并作了详细记录，甚至把古代乐器的详细构造，尺寸都记了下来。 母亲还说父亲平时专心于音乐教育，音乐创作，难得到街上去“闲逛”。可是有一次却破例了。当时上海电通电影公司要拍摄一张描写上海面貌的影片（就是后来的《都市风光》），要求父亲为这部片子写一插曲，父亲答应了电影公司的要求。为了更多地体验生活，他一反常态，多次要母亲陪他在晚上去当时的大马路、新世界一带看看。 父亲对创作的态度也是极其认真严肃的。当他每次拿到一个歌词时，就总要把歌词中的每一句每一个字的声韵搞清楚不可。由于父亲是上海人，对普通话有时咬字不准，他就让母亲一遍遍地念给他听，有时还在字旁注上声韵符号，以求完全正确。父亲做事非常严谨、仔细，就连他自己的书桌、书柜也是根据自己工作的特点专门设计的。他的乐谱买来后，也要重新装订成统一的格式，但封面的颜色则根据乐谱种类不同而不同。可惜的是由于多次社会动乱，他的遗物大部分已经损坏或流散了。更令人难以忘怀的是１９３８年５月９日，当父亲因肠出血生命处于垂危时，尽管他的病床旁站满了自愿来输血的亲友和学生，但是为时已晚。父亲最后对母亲说的话是：“快去请医生来，我不能就此死去，还有半部音乐史没有写完呢！”由此可见，父亲心中装的全是事业。 父亲的高尚品德和师生情义 凡与父亲接触过的亲友、同事和学生都一致认为父亲为人正直、淳朴、谦虚、诚恳、勤学好学、诲人不倦。 著名音乐家钱仁康先生曾回忆说：“黄自先生的学识非常渊博，但他总是虚怀若谷，从不骄溢自满，非常尊重同辈和先辈人物，从无居傲和忌妒之心。他在《调性的表情》一文中，再三推崇赵元任先生（１８９２—１９８２）的歌曲，讲课时也常常以赵先生的作品作为范例，他对我国音乐界老前辈沈心工先生（１８７０—１９４７）也很敬仰，曾为他的歌曲做伴奏，为他的歌曲作序。 “黄自先生从不斥责学生，修改学生的作业时，不是说’这也许不是最好的办法’，就是说：’你这样固然也可以，但我喜欢那样’。他在课外与同学相处，非但没有师长的居傲，甚至不以师长自居。１９３６年发起组织上海管弦乐团时，每次写条给学生商谈事情，都以兄弟相称。” 母亲也曾向我们说过：“你们父亲的性子很静，温和，稳重，看上去似乎沉默寡言很严肃，但是只要和他接触一多，就可以发现他待人非常诚恳、和善、热情；也常常会谈笑风生，特别与学生接触时就更是健谈，学生们都喜欢接近他，经常有学生到家来，有时个别地来，有时三五成群地来，也有时是一大伙一齐来。一般学生们都是晚间来的，来了以后，大半是谈谈学习方面和音乐方面的问题，有时也玩桥牌或其它游戏。此时，工作或上课时显得十分严肃的父亲就会像二十岁左右的青年一样活泼。” 父亲喜欢学生，学生们也喜欢他，钱仁康教授还说：“他对学生关怀备至，并乐于在各方面给予帮助。１９３１年马国霖同学发生经济困难，交不出学费，正为将要辍学而苦恼时，忽然接到黄自先生的一封信，其中放入替他缴了学费的收据和入学证。这事使他十分感动，人们都说：’做黄自先生的学生太幸福了。’” 还有父亲的学生这样回忆：“我们都很怕黄自先生，每次他给我批改和声习题的时候，如果我做得好，他就一面在钢琴上弹，一面微笑地点着头。如果我做得不好，他仍是微笑着，但不是点头，而是慢慢地摇着头。” 父亲对学生的感情是真诚的，学生对他的敬爱也使他感动。母亲曾告诉我们在父亲去世前，经常有学生到医院探病，学生走后父亲常常被他们的热诚关心所感动而低声哭泣。 父亲的生活非常艰苦朴素，母亲告诉我们，当时音专离家并不近，但父亲总是步行来回。父亲在家总是穿旧衣服，特别是冬天，他在家里穿的是一件满身补丁的丝棉长袍，出外穿的衣服也不多，但他总要注意自己的衣服是否干净、整洁。父亲就是这样为我们做出了榜样。

父亲的一生是短暂的，但他对我国音乐事业发展做出了不可磨灭的贡献。（完） ＞＞

作者介绍： 黄德音，黄自之长子 黄惠音，黄自之长女，本文执笔者 黄祖庚，黄自之幼女

旅遊泰國 曼谷 瓦因和漢寺: 申請輪迴轉世 / Travel to Thailand's Wat Intharawihan (Part 3): Dog Day Afternoon in Bangkok

When I was visiting Wat Intharawihan, a Buddhist temple in Bangkok (曼谷 瓦因和漢寺), I saw this dog napping outside the golden door. I wondered what it was dreaming about.

Dog: "zzzz ... Good !! This time, I am the FIRST in line to apply for reincarnation .... "

Photo Credit:
* I took this photo on Jan 10, 2011 at abt 10h30.

有偷盜癖的貓兒 / Dusty the Klepto Cat Burglar

C as in Cat, and
K as in Kleptomaniac !!!

"California cat burglar caught red-pawed"
AFP February 17, 2011

LOS ANGELES - A thieving feline has been caught on camera, stealing over 600 items from neighbors' homes in a California town, reports said Wednesday.

Dusty the cat burglar was videoed by a night-vision camera carrying everything from a bath sponge and a toy dinosaur to a neighbor's bikini top down the street in San Mateo, south of San Francisco.

"Towels, gloves, shoes, socks and children's toys," owner Jean Chu told locla ABC News television, listing the various household goods her pet has brought home.
"He took my mom's swimming clothes," added one neighbor's five-year-old, after the feline was finally fingered for the theft of some 600 items over the last three years.

Infrared video of Dusty showed it carrying a string of stolen goods in his mouth, including one item of clothing so big and long that the cat's back feet were splayed as it hobbled along the sidewalk, dragging its bounty.

Neighbors have re-named Dusty "Klepto the cat" after he was caught red-pawed following an investigation by "Animal Planet," which featured him in one of its TV shows this week.

References:
* Article from http://www.canada.com/newsletter/California+burglar+caught+pawed/4295831/story.html
* Video clips from YouTube

飲食,生活方式,體重和健康苗條的身材 / Diet, Life Style, Body Weight and a healthy-looking Bod

On Feb 15, 2011, I went see a doctor cuz the cough that I had caught during the SE Asia trip was not subsiding. Apart from the cough, I had also loss quite a bit of weight. The scale read 1x9.5 lbs which was only 5.5 lbs more than the weight of that skinny Hong Kong student who came to Canada many years ago !!!

While travelling in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, I was following a SE Asian diet for almost a month with little red-meat and dairy products. I ate a lot of fruit, veggie, rice and fish, all of which I enjoyed. I woke up early to go sight-seeing and did not spend hours in front of a TV or computer. It is evident that the fat-free diet, the walking all day, and the change in life style all had an impact on my weight. I am now more wiry and have less body fat around the waist.

All are good news except the cough. Now that I am taking antibiotics and feeling better, I hope I can go back to my exercise routine again. While I will never have a healthy-looking body like Olympian swimmer Dara Torres after child-birth at age 41 (see photos), I can only hope that a better diet and healthier life-style will keep me fit for the years to come !!!

I hope I am not sounding too vain :)

Related Link:
* Lotusandcedar/Dara Torres: 2008北京奧運三女將 ∕ My Top Three Women Athlets of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (AUGUST 20, 2008)

旅遊泰國: 曼谷 瓦因和漢寺 / Travel to Thailand: Wat Intharawihan, Bangkok (Part 2)

(cont'd from Part 1)

K and I walked around and found the temple simple but elegantly designed with lots of wall murals, colourful tiles and roof decorations. There were quite a few devout visitors praying, offering and asking for devine blessing. I assumed most of them were seeking favours for good health, big money and other personal benefits. Perhaps some were begging Buddha to cure illnesses and misfortunes that were cast upon them or their family members. I wonder how many were interested in global security and world peace.


References:

* According to wikipedia and http://www.bangkok.com/attraction-temple/other-temples.html#wat-intharawihan:

".... Wat Intharawihan or Wat Intharavihan (Thai: วัดอินทรวิหาร, Thai pronunciation: [wát ʔintʰaráʔwíʔhǎːn]) is a wat located in the Nakhon District of Bangkok, Thailand. It was built during the Ayutthaya period and was originally called Wat Rai Phrik. ... The Ubosot has several interesting Buddha images, elevated murals on the walls and lavishly gilded window shutters. Outside are unusually carved sema stones and tucked away in an alcove there's a lifelike model of Luang Phaw Toh, a famous monk. In the small museum are old Buddha images and various paintings. ..."

* Other Temples in Bangkok: http://www.bangkok.com/attraction-temple/other-temples.htm#ixzz1ENt2I4b9

* Here is a good article written by Taiwan blogger "世間猿 Yama - 無盡世間，有窮人間" on 2010/01/11:

"..... 瓦音寺 (瓦因寺、Wat Inn、Wat Intraviharn、Wat Intharawihan、Wat Intharawihan Bangkhunprom Nok): 瓦音寺(Wat Inn)的全名是瓦因和漢．棒昆碰納寺(Wat Intharawihan Bangkhunprom Nok)，一般簡稱叫 Wat Inn、Wat Intharawihan和Wat Bangkhunprom Nok。這個在曼谷附近的寺院歷史很悠久，甚至在大成王朝就有這個寺院，在當時就叫Wat Inn，但是因戰火，所以損害非常嚴重，在拉瑪王朝初期，在附近安置不少難民尤其是寮國及泰北。在當時，一位皇室成員(泰皇拉瑪一世妃子的叔父)名叫Chao Intra，重新修建了瓦音寺，並延請僧官(昭坤Chao khun )帕安倫亞克(Phra Arun Yik)擔任重建後第一任的寺主，當時有不少皇室成員都在此出家。 在拉瑪二世時，其中有二位皇子出家，一位即日後的拉瑪四世孟庫國王，另一位傳說是二世的庶子即日後阿贊多大師。而阿贊多大師即昭坤帕安倫亞克的弟子，在拉瑪三世至四世時，皇家修建另一座寺院並請昭坤帕安倫亞克兼任此寺住持，即有名的大鐘寺，也就是大家熟知的瓦拉康寺，之後繼任的住持就是阿贊多大師。瓦音寺因為和另一寺的名稱太相像，在拉瑪六世時瓦音寺正式更名Wat Intharawihan Bangkhunprom Nok，但是大家還是慣稱Wat Inn。在拉瑪五世時阿贊多在瓦音寺計畫修建一尊大佛，不過在大佛完成前，阿贊多就在瓦因時圓寂了，接手修建正是龍波poo大師，而這尊大佛歷經60年募款和修建終於在拉瑪七世時完成，即目前相當有名高達32公尺的Luang Phor Toh 大佛，所以瓦音寺又叫Wat Luang Phor Toh。 ...."

旅遊泰國: 曼谷 瓦因和漢寺 / Travel to Thailand: Wat Intharawihan, Bangkok (Part 1)

瓦因和漢寺 Wat Intharawihan is the first temple K and I visited in SE Asia. It is within walking distance from the Phranakorn-Nornlen Bed & Breakfast hotel where we were staying. From the hotel's rooftop, we could see the 32-metre golden statue of Buddha protruding into the Bangkok sky.

As we walked closer and closer, the statue became bigger and bigger .....

.... until we were right at the bottom, standing next to its big toes and looking up, way up !!!

According to www.bangkok.com and Wikipedia:

"... A soaring 32-metre high, 10-metre wide standing Buddha, referred to as the Luangpor Toh, Luang Pho To, or Phrasiariyametri, is what defines Wat Intharawihan, which borders Wisut Kasat road at the northern edge of Banglamphu. Building of this brick and stucco statue began in 1867 during the reign of King Rama IV. Decorated in glass mosaics and 24-carat gold, the statue took over 60 years to complete and is the tallest of its kind in the world. The topknot of the Buddha image contains a relic of Lord Buddha brought from Sri Lanka ..."


Photo Credit:
* All the above photos were taken by myself on Jan 10, 2011 around 10 am local time.

.... to be continued

弟弟的加拿大之行 / Brother's Visit to Canada

I dropped my brother off Monday morning at the departure lounge of the airport. He spent a month with our mother who was happy to see her son. Bidding farewell to my Mom, my brother can only assure her that he would be back soon, perhaps this summer or next Xmas.

Separation seems to have become a fact of life for many families these days. With ageing parent(s) living far far away, I always wonder when a child's farewell might be his/her last. One could only hope for the best.
Sent from BlackBerry

情人節快樂 / Happy Valentine's Day Feb 14, 2011

祝大家情人節快樂 !!!!

Photo Credit: I took this photo of a street vendor in Dien Bien Phu, northern Vietnam on Jan 22, 2011 17h20.

平時不燒香 臨急抱佛腳 / Embracing Buddha's Feet & Begging for Mercy

旅遊泰國一寺廟的時候,看到這位先生在金佛腳下喃喃自語,不禁想起年幼時惰性重,每逢考試前夕大起恐慌,要開通宵讀書,老父見到就搖頭嘆息說:

平時不燒香
臨急抱佛腳

那時我血氣方剛,還冲着回答道:『有時間壓力,才有最高效率!』其實我当年只是「死雞撐飯蓋」,自欺欺人罷!!

老父!! 希望我這個教而不善的兒子,沒有令您失望啊!!!

旅遊泰國: 在曼谷市中心的民宿店 / Travel to Thailand: Bed and Breakfast Place in Downtown Bangkok

I am posting here some new photos and text to supplement the blog article I wrote on Jan 10, 2011 while travelling in Bangkok, Thailand:

" ..... Back in Ottawa, K spent a lot of time researching a good place to stay in Bangkok. We both like friendly Bed & Breakfast (B&B) accommodations as opposed to some high-rise starred hotels. So, this unpretentious little Phranakorn-Nornlen Hotel hiding on a side-street just off the busy Krung Kasem Road suits us just fine. ...."

As you can see from the four photos below, the B&B place is quite artisitcally decorated. The work of a local artist has given the otherwise dark corridors vivid colours and images of what the old family house/community neighbourhood was like before it was converted into a hotel.

".... Even as a meat eater, I love their organic vegetarian food, the ingredients of which are either grown on the roof-top or purchased from local farmers. Presently, as I am surfing on the Internet, K is lying on a mat 10 feet away having a Thai massage. ...."

The next photo was taken from the spot where K had her massage. The view across the courtyard was very zen and relaxing. The photo below shows a typical organic breakfast cooked by the kitchen staff.

旅遊泰國，老撾，越南和柬埔寨 / Travel to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia (Jan 9, 2011 17h11 Hong Kong International Airport)

Twenty hours after taking my last photo at the Toronto Airport, I had my camera out again, this time inside the Hong Kong International Airport HKG, also known as Chek Lap Kok Airport 赤鱲角機場.

Here is the blog entry I wrote on Jan 9, 2011 at around 17h11 local time:

"Hong Kong International Airport en route to SE Asia: I am sitting inside Thai Airways' Royal Orchid Lounge at HKG waiting for my connecting flight. It is the first time I am back to HK since around 1987. I am just passing thru this time, but hopefully I will come back for a real visit in the near future.

Looking outside, I can see high peaks against the sunset clouds. Is it Tai Mo Shan that I climbed many years ago? And, where is HK Island itself? I feel like a total stranger even tho this is my birth-place.

So close, and yet so far !!! ..."

As you can tell, the place brought back a lot of my childhood memory and I wished there had been more time for a stay-over.


Just before boarding the Thai Airways flight to Bangkok, K and I had a quick tour of the shops near by. We were both quite fascinated by this place selling traditional Chinese herbal medicine. They even offered on-site massage service to travellers who wanted to try the "oriental healing art". Alas, the PA system announced that it was time for boarding. I told K she would have to settle for a Thai massage in Bangkok (which she did).

Photo Credit:

I took all the photos except the first one.

References:
* Thai Royal Orchid Lounge (HK): http://www.loungeguide.net/wiki/u/Hong_Kong_(HKG)_Thai_Royal_Orchid
* Hong Kong International Airport HKG: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Airport (source of 1st photo)

旅遊泰國，老撾，越南和柬埔寨 / Travel to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia (Jan 8, 2011 09h16)

I took this photo on Jan 8, 2011 at the Toronto Airport. Looking out the window of the departing lounge, I could see the catering service and ground crew loading up the plane that would take K and I to Bangkok via Hong Kong.

The sun was shining outside and I was looking forward to leaving the ice and snow behind and enjoying the warmer weather in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

(to be continued)

旅遊泰國，老撾，越南和柬埔寨 / Travel to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia

K and I are back on Canadian soil and are waiting at the Toronto airport for our flight home.

The SE Asia trip has lasted almost 30 days and we have covered thousands of kilometers by foot, bus, boats and planes. We visited many major cities, small towns and mountain villages in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

We have learnt a lot abt these countries, the peoples, their culture, tradition, and history. While the knowledge I have gained is still very much superficial and is definitely from an outsider's point of view, I still think it is better to experience everything first-hand as opposed to extracting such info from books or television.

I will post more articles and photos upon my return to Ottawa.

Haricot
Toronto
Feb 7, 2011
17h00

柬埔寨王國 / Travel to Cambodia - A Developing Country

According to Wikipedia: "..... 柬埔寨王國（高棉語：ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា），舊稱高棉，是位於東南亞中南半島的一個國家，首都金邊，人口15,000,000（2009年）。柬埔寨國民通常稱為柬埔寨人或高棉人，其中大部分為信奉上座部佛教的高棉人，此外還有信奉伊斯蘭教的占人以及華人、越南人和一小部分山地部落。柬埔寨西部及西北部與泰國接壤，東北部與老撾交界，東部及東南部與越南毗鄰，南部則面向暹羅灣。柬埔寨領土為碟狀盆地，三面被丘陵與山脈環繞，中部為廣闊而富庶的平原，佔全國面積四分之三以上。境內有湄公河和東南亞最大的淡水湖－洞里薩湖（又稱金邊湖）。2005年，柬埔寨領海內發現石油和天然氣，商業開發預計於2009年或2010年開始，將對柬埔寨經濟產生重要影響。柬埔寨目前實行君主立憲的兩院內閣制，現任國家元首為國王諾羅敦·西哈莫尼，政府首腦為首相洪森。柬埔寨是東南亞國家聯盟成員國之一。柬埔寨是東南亞發展較為落後的國家，經濟以農業、加工業和旅遊業為主。2006年，國外遊客人數超過170萬。 ...."

The following notes are written Feb 6, 2011 in Bangkok:

This morning, K and I flew from Cambodia 柬埔寨王國 back to Thailand. During our approximately one week stay, we visited two major cities, the country's capital Phnom Penh 首都金邊, and Siĕm Reab 暹粒, plus a few villages and towns close by. There is no doubt that Cambodia is a developing country that needs to grow its economic base in a sustainable manner. According to Wikipedia:

" ..... As of 2005, GDP per capita in PPP terms was $2,200, which ranked 178th (out of 233) countries. The older population often lacks education, particularly in the countryside, which suffers from a lack of basic infrastructure. Fear of renewed political instability and corruption within the government discourage foreign investment and delay foreign aid, although there has been significant assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors. Donors pledged $504 million to the country in 2004, while the Asian Development Bank alone has provided $850 million in loans, grants, and technical assistance....."

When we were there, we visited a village school as well as a community clinic. We talked to the administrators there and learnt that the country is really over-stretched financially and knowledge-wise, with little resources to satisfy the growing population.

Currently, Cambodia is relying a lot on tourism as a major source of revenue. Both K and I are quite impressed with the country's rich culture and especially historical sites such as Angkor Wat 吳哥窟. According to Wikipedia:

"..... The tourism industry is the country's second-greatest source of hard currency after the textile industry. Between January and December 2007, visitor arrivals were 2.0 million, an increase of 18.5% over the same period in 2006. Most visitors (51%) arrived through Siem Reap with the remainder (49%) through Phnom Penh and other destinations. Other tourist destinations include Sihanoukville in the south east which has several popular beaches, and the area around Kampot and Kep including the Bokor Hill Station. Tourism has increased steadily year on year in the relatively stable period since the 1993 UNTAC elections. ...."

Unfortunately, in the Prasat Preah Vihear region, Cambodia is currently having a military conflict over ownership of the UN Heritage Site with Thailand. Hopefully, that can be resolved satisfactorily in a peaceful manner.

I will report more abt Cambodia and post some pics on this blog upon my return back to Ottawa. Stay tuned !!!

References / Photo Credit:

* Wikipedia: Cambodia
* 維基百科: 柬埔寨

Haricot
Bangkok
(Feb 6, 2011, 17h15 local time)

【江湖人海見聞錄】: 灰先生 / 【World Kaleidoscope】: Mr. Gray // 精神分裂症 schizophrenia (Part 2)

(上續 cont'd from .... Part 1)

- "Are you OK Gray?"
There is no answer, just his sobbing.

- "Answer me Gray. What's wrong? Do you want to talk abt it?"
The door squeaks open and there is Gray sitting on his bed with no pants on.

I hear Cathy's footsteps coming down the hallway.
- "It's OK, Cathy! I am WITH Gray." I yell.
Sensing the tone in my voice, she steps back into her room.

I fix my eyes on Gray who is covered in tears.
- "What's going on Gray? Why are you crying?"
- "The children of the world are suffering ... (more sobbing) ... and there is nothing I can do for them."
- "Yes I know Gray, and we are all trying to help ..."
I gently reach out my hand to pat him on the shoulder.

- "But I AM Jesus Christ and I AM supposed to help them ..."
My hand freezes in mid-air. He looks at me, his eyes pain with sorrow. It's the first time I come face-top-face with someone who thinks he is Jesus Christ, with no pants on.

To escape his fixed penetrating gaze, my eyes wonder around the bedroom.
- "I believe you ... (as I bite my tongue and refrain from calling him Gray). ...
- Oh, and what is this model of the space shuttle sitting on your bed?"
I try to change the subject.

- "The Americans are going to launch the space shuttle this weekend."
He picks up the model.
- "And without ME, they will have an accident."

All of a sudden, I am confronted with three issues:
(a) world's children suffering (which, in my professional opinion, needs long-term multilateral solutions from the United Nation);
(b) imminent accident of the US space shuttle (which Houston needs to know); and
(c) my house-mate claiming to be Jesus Christ (who is sitting right here in front of me).

- "And, what are all these pills on the floor?"
I continue with my probing.
- "I just took a whole bottle of them."
My response to that is swift and decisive.
- "Gray!! Put on your pants, NOW !!! I am driving you to the hospital !!!!"

So at two o'clock in the morning, I drove Mr. Gray to the emergency room where they put a tube down his throat and pumped out his stomach.

References / Photo credit:
* Wikipedia: " ..... Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of the process of thinking and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social or occupational dysfunction. ....."

* 维基百科: "..... 精神分裂症（Schizophrenia）是一種重大精神疾病，症狀為思考方式及情緒反應出現崩潰。常見病徵包括幻聽、偏執、異常妄想及雜亂的言語與思考，並出現社會或職業功能退化。患者通常於青壯年顯現初期病徵，其中約1.5%的患者終身為此病所苦。精神分裂症的診斷方式為患者自述經歷以及觀察患者行為等。現階段並無精神分裂症之臨床實驗。....."