Image via WikipediaI am trying to correct the template that has been used for my musing on music blog, which, my apologies to all readers, has been uncorrected for so long a time that I can remember.
Image via Wikipedia
I came across his name when I read some books on music, one by Joel Hirschhorn, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Songwriting, and another one on learning guitars.
Another one of the legends fall. Read the news story here:
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By TODAY | Posted: 04 June 2009 1314 hrs
Sarah McLachlan may have started the whole female singer-songwriter trend back in the late '80s, but she's more or less semi-retired and few have emerged who seem worthy enough to take over that mantle.
Well, Vienna Teng might just be the one. Don't worry if you've never heard of her. She isn't.
When we told that we hadn't heard of her first three albums and only managed to get her fourth, Inland Territory, she said chirpily: "It's okay. I'm glad that you actually heard (this one)!"
Yes, Vienna Teng is a stage name - her real name is Cynthia Yih Shih.
And, yes, she got her first name from the city in Austria, but, no, she didn't get her last name from Teresa Teng.
"That's just a rumour, although I like that story," said the Taiwanese-American over the phone from California where she was visiting family.
Since she started her music career, the 30-year-old has slowly been going from strength to strength.
She recently completed her headlining tour ("That was fun, one great adventure to another, because it started on a cruise ship in the Caribbean"); and she's also shared the stage with the likes of Shawn Colvin, Marc Cohn and Joan Baez ("I'm glad we performed first, because you really can't do anything after she's performed, really").
Yeah, but is Baez named after a European capital city? We think not.
Somebody called your album "good honest music". Agree?
Whenever I write songs, I'm always trying to tell an interesting story inevitably drawn from my own emotions and experience, but not exactly as they happen to me, because I don't think it's as interesting as trying to tell a story that will resonate with somebody else.
This album has a lot of very different styles. Was that deliberate?
That was a pretty deliberate decision that Alex (Wong, producer) and I made. We deliberately wanted to get an eclectic collection of songs, because that's the kind of album that we like. I think our favourite (albums) are the ones where you get to see the musical range of the songwriters and producers.
What's this about you ditching a computer keyboard for piano keys?
Actually, I started playing piano when I was five. My parents are both from Taiwan - and they pushed really hard in school. Actually, they always compared us to Singaporean kids. Like, "look how hard those children are studying, they're so smart!"
So I actually went to college for computer science, designing software. I still have a techie nerd personality. I enjoy locking myself up in a room and working on a problem and I have to remember to go out and talk to my friends and make new friends.
So you're a geek?
I think "nerd" is the word I'd use. I'm very excited about academic stuff. I think I've always enjoyed the brainier side of things.
How do your parents feel about this job then?
I think they find it a very insecure profession and I think they still worry about what I'm going to do when I'm 50 - what career options I'll have! But I think they know this is very important to me, so they're pretty supportive, which is impressive, considering their background!
From ChannelNewsAsia.com; see the source article here.
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Something to look forward to… or try yourself… nothing wrong at all, nothing wrong at all…sometimes your creativity is limited by your own willingness (or unwillingness) to try out new things now and then… I definitely got to try this!
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Posted: 29 May 2009 1457 hrs
Anne Davidson and James Hill
Think ukulele and images of a garlanded Elvis Presley gyrating with the tiny guitar-looking instrument may come to mind.
But the stringed insrument is more than one to be relegated to the realms of simple tunes.
In Singapore to get people to sing a different tune to the ukulele is James Hill, who is regarded as one the world's top composer and ukulele players.
Lesson one on the instrument - getting its name right.
It is pronounced "uku-lele" in the Hawaiian way.
According to Hill, it is made up of two words, 'uku' and 'lele' which translate into "The Jumping Flea".
With such a fun name, it can only mean that this is one friendly instrument.
If you've always wanted to play a musical instrument and either didn't have the time or think you're not too musically inclined - the ukulele is an instrument for you.
"Within five minutes (of learning the ukulele), you can be playing a song and for a lot of people" says Hill.
Having played the ukulele for more than just five minutes, Hill took his love for music and the intrument and teamed it with his other love, cellist Anne Davidson, for a remarkable blend.
Hill and Davidson met at music school and after dating, slowly warmed up to the idea of playing together.
"For three years, we never even considered playing together because it would seem so odd" said Hill.
"But slowly, we got on to the idea with the duo thing and realized what a good combination it is."
The combination of casual ukulele and classic cello may seem like chalk and cheese but these two seemingly incompatible instruments complement beautifully.
"When people come to our concert, they do not know what to expect, or worse, they don't expect," said Hill.
Playing on this doubtfulness is what allows both Hill and Davidson to surprise their audience and change conventional thinking.
"The ukulele has a higher range where the cello has a lower range" said Davidson.
"I also have the capability of using the bow to create long sustained sound which compliments the plucking sound of the ukulele."
Unlike the cello which has a long history, the ukulele is a 'young' 120-year-old in the music world, which explains its unorthodox style, which allows its player to invent his own particular style.
This freedom opened the way for Hill to create his style which he calls 'mono-strumming'.
"Instead of strumming where you can hear all the strings, you only hear a note as you mute the rest of the sound" he explains.
Sounds intriguing? Have a listen to the couple on their only stop in South East Asia, with their "melting of genres" performance on Friday 29 May, 8pm at the DBS Auditorium. - CNA/fa
From ChannelNewsAsia.com; see the source article here.
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