Tuesday, August 31, 2004

Quiz

There is this band quiz which is making its rounds in Friendster. Being too bored, I shall attempt to answer it here.

Are you in band?
Duh? Why do you think I'm taking time to answer this? I'm actually quite sick of band though. Haha.

If you are, what instrument do you play?
An oboe, sometimes cor anglais if the part requires it. Wait. So if someone who doesn't plays anything can't take this quiz?

Which instrument are you interested in playing besides the one you are currently playing?
Although I'm strictly faithful to my oboe. I would like to learn to play a cello in future to know how string instruments works and the piano to learn more about chords and its progression.

Favourite band piece?
Definitely James Barnes' Third Symphony. Beautiful. If not for people like Alfred Reed, Barnes and some others, band music is actually so boring.

Favourite orchestras/band?
Berlin Philharmonic for the winds
Royal Concertgebouw for the ensemble sound
Chicago Symphony for the strings
Eastman Wind Ensemble for the musicality
Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra for the band ensemble sound

Favourite conductor?
Seiji Ozawa. You just have to see this man in action man! He's a comedy, drama serial, everything rolled into one.

Best player in your band?
Everyone is good.

Best section in your band?
Every section is good.

Best post in the band?
The one with the highest pay.

Award medal in the past SYF's'?
Nah. Secondary school band wasn't very good in my days. We did get something like a "Grade 3" in my days. I don't know what it translates to in today's SYF.

Preferred type of band?
Symphonic

How many time do you have band in a week?
Every working day.

Do you plan to further ur studies in music?
Yes.

Best composer?
Best? I don't know about best. James Barnes is pretty good when he's on form. Look at Third Symphony, Fantasy Variations, Symphonic Overture, etc. On the other hand he has written rubbish like Eagle Bend which sounds like a simplified version og Symphonic Overture. Alvamar Overture is quite cheesy. Philip Sparke writes wonderful broad melodies. Alfred Reed has good orchestration skills. John Williams writes really nice fanfares. Gustav Mahler has breath-taking symphonies. Peter Tchaikovsky has nice ballet music. The list goes on and on. So who is the best? I don't know.

Marching pieces or Concert pieces?
I play the oboe. Oboists don't march except of course in some bands where the management thinks they are not doing enough work and send them off for parades. Like mine.

Preferred choice: Woodwinds, brasses, strings (if
your band has) or percussions?
An ensemble needs all these to perform.

The most challenging piece your band has?
Everything is a challenge. I personally find it a challenge to give a perfect "A" at the beginning of every concert. It?s the scariest solo around. Giving a tuning "A".

Technics, articulation or fingering?
What kind of question is this? Fingering and articulation are part of techniques. My principals of music are as follow in order:

Techniques
Musicality
Sound

Never be too obsessed with sound. You just need to have a generally nice sound, of course not to an extent where you sound like some people on Singapore Idol. Adapted from my teacher: If you have good techniques and musicality, people can hear your beautiful cantabile phrasings and appreciate it. Never mind if you have an ordinary sound. So what if you have a very beautiful sound and you can't play anything? Yes, ideally you should have everything. But once you have good techniques, good sound will follow. The area covered under techniques are just too broad to go into. Maybe I should start a "The Art of Playing" book myself. Hmmm.

Any band piece that is touching/inspirational?
Touching: Barnes' Third Symphony Third Movement - "For Natalie" You can seriously feel his sorrow while writing that movement.
Inspirational: Barnes' Third Symphony Fourth Movement

Concerto's' or sonatas?
First of all. What is/are concerto's'? To answer the question, I like them all.

Have your band had any public performance?
Yes. Countless.

Most challenging instrument?
Perfecting an instrument.
fjozn at 5:39 PM