Monday, July 25, 2005

Simply lovely

Last night Geoffrey, his sister Carey, Geoff's former co-worker Boe and I went to see "Dear Friends - the music of Final Fantasy." The performance of Nobuo Uematsu's score to the long-lived role playing game (RPG) was great. The concert purposely chooses songs that would show off an orchestra to its best advantage - sweeping strings, crisp percussion, and a very talented high school chamber choir as well as score high recognition points from the audience. The house was almost completely packed, with the exception of some high end front row seats. And clearly, this was a major coup for the DSO - in the gift shop, a young women commented that they had driven from New Jersey to attend (and this was the Sunday night performance). I hope they left Michigan with a good impression of Detroit and Michigan in general. Our DSO certainly did the music justice. Arnie Roth, the conductor who is traveling with the Dear Friends tour, looked absolutely delighted with the performances. He had the entire orchestra stand up after a couple of the songs and applauded enthusiastically when he felt they had really nailed the music.

It was really cool to see so many different age groups crossing Woodward (and 8 mile, in many ways, not just geographical) to come to Orchestra Hall. Many people were dressed to the nines, others were more casual. Young adults were bringing their parents. There's always someone lamenting the death of classical music, but maybe this is the classical music of our time. And hopefully, there's a band geek or two out there who decide to continue to play, enjoy and share their music, knowing that orchestral music can be cool and can be applauded with all the enthusiasm of a rock concert. Kudos to the DSO for bringing the concert to Detroit.

For the official Square-Enix website of Uematsu, go here.

Kelley L. Carter of the Detroit Free Press puts a bit of context on the amazing response to the tour in the July 22, 2005 Detroit Freep. Unfortunately, despite being one of only a few cities to get the tour, local post-concert write-ups are nonexistent - bah!

Friday, July 22, 2005

Gotta love those random personality tests...

How Smart Am I really?

HASH(0x8fd9328)
Wow, you get this ending cause you got over half
the questions right, and I am surprised! You
might actually be smart. You might actually get
a good job. You might actually lead a good life
unless you turn out to be like the majority of
the Brainiacs out there on the streets with no
job because of their lack of motivation,
laziness, and boredom with the world because
they are too smart. Let's hope you aren't like
one of those and succeed... We shall see, shalt
we. (By the way, if you are as smart as you
seem to be, you would notice that the person
above is Albert Einstein)


The IQ Test! How smart are you really?
brought to you by Quizilla


Which Hogwarts student am I most like?

You are most like Hermione Granger, smart and
witty. You are against breaking rules but you
always let your friends talk you into breaking
rules. Not only are you good at school work but
you have lots of common sense and your very
good at solving problems


Which Hogwarts student are you most like?
brought to you by Quizilla


What's my Cowboy Bebop Theme Song?

my cowboy bebop theme song is adieu

what's your cowboy bebop theme song?


Adieu Lyrics

Been a fool, been a clown, lost my way from up and down,
And I know... yes, I know...
And I see in your eyes that you really weren't surprised at me
At all... not at all...
And I know by your smile...
It's... you...

Don't care...
...for me
Don't cry, let's say goodbye.
Adieu...

It's time to say goodbye,
I know... that in time,
It will just fade away.
It's time...
...to say...
...good bye.

I stand alone,
And watch you fade away
Like clouds.
High up and in the sky,
I'm strong,
And so cold,
As I stand alone.
Goodbye,
So long,
Adieu...

Oh how I love you so,
Lost in those memories,
And now you've gone.
I feel a pain,
Feeling... like a fool...
Adieu...

My love for you
burns deep inside me
so strong...
Embers of times we had,
And now,
Here I stand,
Lost in a memory,
I see your face... and smile.

Oh how I love you so,
Lost in those memories,
And now you've gone.
I feel a pain,
Feeling... like a fool...
Adieu...

My love for you
burns deep inside me
so strong...
Embers of times we had,
And now,
Here I stand,
Lost in a memory,
I see your face...
...and smile.

Sunday, July 03, 2005

Back from New York and Stratford

Hello all!

Geoff and I rented a car and drove out to Elizabeth, New Jersey last Sunday, then met up with my Detroit Archdiocesan Festival Chorus on Tuesday. The city tour was great, though exhausting and by no means as comprehensive as anyone would have liked (there was a very blink-and-you'll-miss it view of the Statue of Liberty through some trees as we happened to drive past). Our performance at Carnegie Hall wasn't bad, it was more enjoyable for the adrenaline rush of performing more than anything else. We did better at St. Patrick's Cathedral the next day, maybe because we were in the choir loft and no one could stare at us. Geoff and I then drove out to Syracuse, NY and then onward to Stratford.

All I can say is, I love the Barenaked Ladies. I have no doubt that much like Anderson and Ulvaeus (you may know them as the two gentlemen from ABBA) Robertson and Page could go into scoring musicals and plays if they wanted to. Steven Page wrote most of the material, but it's promoted as a BNL project. For excellent media clips, go to the Stratford website. And as much as I love the Ladies, the fellows they have performing the material do it fine justice. Check out the Lover and His Lass video - just amazing. I wonder if Wm. Shakespeare would be tickled at the idea of a group of guys dancing the hustle to his lyrics.

We drove back this morning and all was very quiet and green and beautiful. I do love flying, but a good road trip is well worth the extra time spent enclosed in a car. Well, that and a trusty iPod (or two, since we had both Geoff's and my mini). And now it is back to reality and budgeting and work starting on Wednesday (I took an extra day off which I will probably need just to get through all of my e-mail).

If you can get to Stratford before the show closes in October, do it. Get a big group of folks together and go see the show. If you can't get to the show, buy the CD or the MP3 (you can also purchase downloads of past concerts).

Later! L.