Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon

1. how you come across to it:
A friend plays the CD in car.
Recently a student need to take A.MusTCL exam, and this is the set work.
So I bought a DVD of it, with interview of the band members.

2. why this piece?
The lyrics touch me deeply. The electronic music and effects are simply fascinating that still sounds attractive after 35 years. The idea of a CD album with all the songs linked as a whole and recurring motifs is very wagnerian to me.

3. (and...)
It sticks in my brain and disturbs me from writing things that I need to hand in this week...

Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.2 in G minor, Op. 16

1. how you come across to it:
HKPO concert with Yundi Li & de Waart (RTHK TV broadcast)

2. why this piece?
It digs deeply into your soul and your heart. Once you started listening the opening, you will listen to it until the end and then replay again and again in CD player / computer speaker / in your mind for a long period of time.

3. (and...)
Though I don't like Prokofiev (even hate), the piece can become one of my top favourites. Can't you be stunned by the following cadenza?

Remember Yundi Li rendition but no more (at this moment)

Derek Bermel: Kpanlongo

1. how you come across to it:
My iPod

2. why this piece?
It's the programme of our last concert.

3. (and...)
This piece is the symbol of our hard work since last September. From singing in a mess even with the music in hand, till we can do it nicely (sorry, still not perfect) by memory in the concert.

Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

1. how you come across to it:
In office.

2. why this piece?
It's the next year's programme.

3. (and...)
It's still not disclosable which production I've watched. Trombone glissandi in sexual ecstasy, so real.

Debussy: L'Enfant Prodigue, L 57

1. how you come across to it:
"Composer of the Week", BBC Radio 3

2. why this piece?
I fell for the refreshing "distant land" atmosphere in this early Debussy piece right away.

3. (and...)
Orfeo's recording is said to be the only complete one in the market. Will check it later.

First things first,

we’ll take a snapshot every 1 week (preliminary); no more, no less (hmmm...).

This is how the snapshot works:-

Step 1: Answer the following 3 questions literally and subjectively*. Q3 is optional:

Put name of the piece to the title: [composer: work]

1. how you come across to it: [e.g. overheard someone’s iPod on MTR / in a concert / my niece sang it on my lap]

2. why this piece? [e.g. I’m running out of inspiration / to steal some ideas from / mo liu / would like to expand my repertoire]

3. (and...) [e.g. It has to be Celibidache. No Karajan. Best for sleepless nights.]

Step 2: Tag freely as you like. It will be nice if you tag the composer, genre, instruments, notable artists, and CD labels. You are welcomed to include something personal. Remember to tag your name. So you’ll get what you’ve listened to by clicking your own name after some time.

Step 3: If you feel the urge to elaborate or discuss certain aspects of that piece, please feel free to add 4. (also...), or do it in "comments".

Step 4: Do share with us good recordings you find on youtube. You are welcomed to upload your own too!

What is being said above are not meant to be "instrutions" to be followed strictly, but rather some ideas for reference. It would be interesting if the blog itself evolves in its own way organically, or arrive to a point that it becomes… Who knows?

*you don’t think you can be objective on music matters, do you?

FAQ

Q1: What if I got too many pieces to note down this week?
Answer: Pick the one most frequently played in your head.

Q2: Why limit to those questions? Why every single week, but not otherwise?
Answer: For the beauty of ostinato

If you are still not very sure how to write, read the posts.