Patti Yoon, the book's main character is pushed to be perfect, by her parents and herself.  She is expected to get into every Ivy League school.  Playing the violin is her hook, or what sets her apart from other applicants.  But music is really more than just a hook to Patti; it is her passion.  How will she reconcile her love of music with her parents' desire that she be the "Perfect Korean Daughter" (which basically means that she will get straight A's, score at least a 2300 on her SATs, be valedictorian, go to Harvard, Princeton, or Yale, and become a lawyer or doctor)?

As a former musician and long-time perfectionist, this book really spoke to me.  It is often difficult to do everything your friends are doing when you're always fighting to be the best at everything.  I could relate to almost everything Patti went through.  And this story is told in a very interesting way.  Patti gives us tips on how to make Korean parents happy or unhappy, recipes that tell more about her life at home, SAT tips, and other random lists that give us a clear picture of Patti's world.  (And this stuff is often hilarious...especially the number of recipes involving Spam!)

I would highly recommend Good Enough for all the music geeks and smart kids out there (and I am including myself in those groups).  I would also recommend this for people who make fun of or look down on the music geeks and smart kids.  It could be a real eye-opener about how much pressure these people are under and how much they sacrifice to be the very best.

Gloucestershire airport in England used to blast Tina Turner songs on its runways to scare birds away

A violin actually contains 70 separate pieces of wood.

Almost 425,000 hotdogs and buns, 160,000 hamburgers and cheeseburgers were served at Woodstock '99.

Bhutan issued a stamp in 1973 that looked like a record and actually would play the Bhutanese national anthem if placed on a record player.

Studies have shown that by putting on slow background music it can make a person eat food at a slower rate.

The all-time most nominated Grammy artist with 77 nominations is Quincy Jones.

The designated instrument for the city of Detroit is the accordion.

And As Always,My Favorite.....

The music band UB40 got its name from an unemployment form in England.(How Fitting For A Band)

And just an added fact for OCD-ISM from a question on THIS POST.

Deer arent so nice when you shoot their wives!

Men var sak har sin tid. Idag är det foto som gäller.

En stor favorit än idag är dock Itzhak Perlmann

Prolific and generous as always with her material, there are twenty-two tracks on this album. They come in two discs. The first disc is simply a re-release of the extremely rare first album of her On A Day... only, it has five unnamed live bonus tracks (though I name them below). This first disc is purely classical, based around her violin, most of which are compositions by well known composers such as Bach. Five of the tracks are her own compositions which sound very much like they go hand in hand with the other timeless classics on the album. These tracks were recorded when she was merely seventeen years old and showcases what a young talent she was.  Autumn throws her own arrangement and interpretation into the pieces. Whilst she plays the baroque violin with charm and style, she is backed up with her distinctive other sounds of the lute, harpsichord and the baroque cello - just to make sure you get the full Emilie Autumn experience. She is distinctive, even with pieces that have been played by so many others.

The first disc was recorded in 1997. So ten years on, what does the new disc, recorded in 2007, have to offer that is different from her first? Out with the old, in with the new. Emilie abandons the baroque violin in exchange for the electric violin. This time round, everything you hear on this disc is down to Emilie, she plays all of the instruments (including that distinctive harpsichord she is so well known for) and produced and composed the disc single handedly. I may be bold in saying, this is a disc that you have heard nothing like before. Genius in composition and flawless in their execution, Emilie delivers a sound to excite the mind. It opens with 'Unlaced' which was a sampler for this album on her last EP which is dark, brooding and atmospheric. The albums continues in the same vein, there are no weepy violin solos here. All packed with energy; some dark, and some just plain bouncy such as 'A Cure?' 'Face The Wall' is probably the most fascinating piece on here as it is solo electric violin and is the demonstration of Emilie's refreshing technique with the violin.

Both discs take some listening in order to appreciate the talent on display here. Some tracks may immediately jump out, whilst some are subtle.  If you love the violin, then there should be nothing stopping you here, as this is a new fascinating way for it to be heard.

The Limited Edition has the discs contained in a hardback book like cover, with a generous amount of artwork, and most notably, has the sheet music for the 'Unlaced' track.  There were only 2000 copies of this edition, which has sold out since.  Luckily the album has been re-released in a jewel case edition which is still readily available.

Disc One:
1. La Folia
2. Recercada
3. Largo
4. Allegro
5. Adagio
6. Tambourin
7. Willow
8. Revelry
9. On A Day...
10. Prologue (Live)
11. Sonata for Violin & Basso Continuo (Live)
12. Chaconne (Live)
13. La Folia (Live)
14. Epilogue (Live)

Disc Two:
1. Unlaced
2. Manic Depression
3. Leech Jar
4. A Strange Device
5. A Cure?
6. Syringe
7. Cold
8. Face The Wall

The Violin Maker by John Marchese is a book following the making of the Drucker violin by Sam Zygmuntowics. One of my passions is fiddle playing so the story of a modern day violin maker or luthier holds great interest for me. The book lays out the intricate and demanding process of making violins. It goes in depth about many different topics on what can effect a violin, like how different types of wood can produce a distinct sound or the debate between sanding and carving the body of the violin. I love how the book answers a lot of the questions I have about how or why a fiddle works. I am sure this book will stay on my favorites list for some time to come.

So here's so of what I think is good.  I'm not going to write about classics like Black Sabbath and Judas Priest which are awesome, but those are definitely metal and I wouldn't get confused about it.

Within Temptation Angels   beautiful singing and instruments

Apocalyptica Hall of the Mountain King    Cellos oh yeah!  A lot of Classical music sounds good as metal for some reason. 

Birthday Massacre Blue

Inis Mona Eluveitie  Violin, flute, etc... awesomeness

Oomph  Gott ist Ein Popstar  Augen Auf     Electronic bass line

Evanescence  umm mostly all so here's a good one missing 

As you can see all the songs are not necessarily in English.  So tell me what you think.  I've been told that Oomph was scary but I don't really see it. There are a lot more metal songs I listen to, but I think that's a good amount to show that metal is beautiful too. And so I officially like and listen to any type of music as long as its good and yes that includes blue grass, country, rap,  foreign music etc. 

Kagehime

Many years ago I went to an art exhibition in Auckland and beheld, for the first time, the difference between an art print and the sheer magnificence of the original work. It was the Reader’s Digest exhibition from memory (I’m talking the early 1980’s here), and the painting which stopped me in my tracks was Monet’s "Paysage Dans L'Ile Saint Martin". I don’t recall how much the entry fee was, but the impact of that painting will stay with me forever. Until that time I had virtually zero appreciation of the value of art, or for that matter, the meaning of the word "priceless".

So, when an invitation to the 2008 Institute of Registered Music Teachers Showcase Concert came my way, I hadn't the slightest idea of what to expect. In effect the IRMT (BOP Branch) event was an opportunity for our local children to showcase their musical talents, but for me, it turned out to be a second epiphany which I can’t help but liken to the viewing of that huge, original, Monet canvas.

The entry fee this time was $6, and my neighbour who’d invited me along even shouted me. So for me the only investment was my time, yet the experience was priceless. And there’s that huge word again. What these children are able to do with piano and violin is beyond description.

I imagine a formal "review" of this type of event would include knowledgeable references to the types and styles of music played, but I am a very ordinary Kiwi, and my musical history is limited pretty much to what I heard on the radio when I was young. I don’t even listen to that much anymore.

So the Chopin’s and the Debussy’s and the Mendelssohn’s simply conspired together for a night of sheer bliss and inspiration.

Fingers delighting on keyboard

Bows dancing deftly on strings

Piano, violin, songbirds, cello and flute.

And that brings me back to the Monet.

No recording could ever speak to the heart of the listener, as the original performance can do. The instruments were given life by the players.

What also struck me was the countless hours of practice that must go into the apparent "talent" of these young musicians. Forgive the quote marks. There is no question that they are genuinely talented, but this talent is so clearly gained via sheer application and hard work. This was a new slant on the concept of talent for me. I used to think of it as a natural aptitude, but now I believe it can be acquired by anyone so motivated to be prepared to work towards it.

This performance literally altered my view of the world to such a profound extent, that I had the idea to somehow duplicate the idea of the "books in homes" program, to establish a "music in homes" version. ?? Or at least find out a means of sponsoring/encouraging both parents and children, to go out and see at least one live performance.

For all their youth, and they ranged in age from about 8 to 18, they made those instruments speak directly to the heart of the listener.

I don’t know what music lessons cost, but I do have an idea of their value now, and my 6yo is already booked in.

haha . so this picture sums up the entirety of my day. nannying for this pretty cute 8 month old. our day 7:30am-5:00pm consisted of going to the park, eating Kraft mac & cheese, and playing with talking elmo toys.

now i am just laying in my bed listening to Dabney Morris, and figuring out a way i could learn to play violin. dabney lived in a house with my brother for a while, and is a pretty talented musician.

no progress on my life plan so far : ). if only someone would show up on my doorstep and offer me a job! travelling, doing missions, photog, never being in the same place for too long? i would do anything! move to africa for a year? no problem! well enough dreaming for this post.

And don't get me started on the cello.

And then that makes me think of Reggie Watts.

I'll stop now.

My brother, Matthew, is starting to play viola xD  He just started 3rd grade.  He's going to rent an instrument and go to orchestra before school on certain mornings.  I'm kind of excited.  If he sticks with it, I can help him out, and eventually we can play duets!  Then again, he'll probably drop it in two weeks like he did with drums, guitar, and piano.  My family is not a musical one, nor is it particularly decisive.  I was the luck one who was able to focus long enough to fall in love with my instrument.

My first question was, "Why not violin??"  Then my mom told me that the music teacher played the Harry Potter theme on the viola for the kids.  Figures.  Matthew says viola is "better," because it has a deeper, "sweeter," sound.

... Yeah, no.

Kidding xD  I have nothing against the viola.   It actually is absolutely gorgeous because of its deep sound.  However, my heart will always lie with the violin <3

Cheers
Jerry

I have a feeling he will put my three years of violin history to shame within his first couple of weeks. Thankfully he is much more musically inclined than I ever was!

H

So one day, I was on youtube just surfing the place, when I saw on the "related videos" section "Prisoner of Love". Thinking it was Utada Hikaru's ever so famous Last Friends song, I clicked it. However, I was surprised to find that it actually wasn't Utada at all. I actually came upon this 4 girl group that calls themselves Vanilla Mood. Yes, they are now going to be featured on my blog. They fit almost perfectly into the strings obsession phase. I was looking for more instrumentalist, and as much as I love my string instruments, I'm very glad to come upon a group that has more than just strings.

Vanilla Mood consists (from left to right), Waka on flute, Mariko on cello, Yui on violin, and Keiko on piano.

An interesting fact about this group is that before, Emily Miyamoto, daughter of a world renowed oboist used to play in this group as violin replacing Waka. This Emily Miyamoto is the same Emily that is now a solo classical violinsts and is going to be reviewd in the future.

However, unlike with other artists, I'm NOT going to reviewing their albums. Instead, I'm going to be reviewing their actual live performances. They have done TONS of short live performances, ranging from original songs, to covers of very popular old songs. In fact, it's more than all the tracks combined on their two mini albums. This should change things up a bit, and give me a chance to talk about more than just how they sound.

So look forward to them soon!

Sunt vesel de toate izbucnirile vieţii, de toate luminile cerului, de toate slăbiciunile primăverii. Sunt trist de toate amurgurile şi toate nostalgiile. Sunt puternic de toate dezlănţuirile furtunii, de toată nepăsarea sfârşitului. Sunt slab de toate amăgirile şi toate înduioşările. Sunt bun ca privirea unui copil îngenuncheat spre rugăciune. Sunt crud ca răzvrătirea unui nedreptăţit: sunt om. ( O Densuşianu - fiul )

Vanessa Mae-The Violin Fantasy :

Dragostea e închinăciunea pe care îngerii o fac stelelor. ( Victor Hugo )

Iubeşte-mă, nu mă ierta...

sărută-mi roua gândurilor,

în palma zâmbetelor tale,

mă plouă cu minunea zorilor,

iubeşte-mă-n mărgăritare,

ascunde-mă-n îmbrăţişare,

şi pierde-mă senin în ea,

iar de mă caut, în uitare,

înlănţuie-mă-n cupa ta...

Sibilla Poesis

Mozart Violin Concerto 5 (2of 5) Janine Jansen- violin :

Dragostea e un extaz; ne scoate din noi înşine. ( Miguel de Unamuno )

Dragostea este ingredientul de care lumea noastrã niciodatã nu se saturã si care niciodatã nu se gãseste din abundentã. Lumea niciodatã nu va renunta la nevoia ei de a avea dragoste. ( C Neil Strait )

Sărutul sufletelor ploi...

te iubesc, la fel cum te-am iubit, te voi iubi mereu,

tu, ştii, eşti jumătatea ce mă întregeşte, tu eşti ... eu,

suntem vultur şi şoim, acelaşi zbor, sub noi, un munte întreg,

de mirări şi uimiri, întrebări nerostite, sunt cei ce nu-nţeleg...

ne-am înălţat deasupra pietrelor zvârlite-n nicăieri şi fără sens,

noi n-avem timp de huiduieli, dar, încă multe împreună de cules,

povestea noastră a-nceput senină , de-a mai fost furtună, uneori,

din încercări am zămislit nemuritoare elegii, sărutul sufletelor ploi...

mă iubeşti, din umbra norilor, mi-ai împletit surâs de flori de colţ,

ştii ceva, şi eu sunt ”hoaţă”, însă tu eşti cel mai zâmbet ”hoţ”,

mi-ai furat inima, ai pitit-o-n cântec, poesie, mi-ai dăruit-o pe-a ta,

am cuprins-o-n sânzâiene şi flori de nu-mă-uita, să te pot respira...

Sibilla Poesis

Dragostea este pur şi simplu o nebunie. ( William Shakespeare )

Iubirea este elixirul vital, izvorul sănătăţii, al puterii şi al energiei pentru fiecare om. ( Prentice Mulford )

Sibilla Poesis

citate preluate de pe www.citapedia.ro

muzica de pe youtube

imagini preluate de pe google.ro

]]> http://fourstrings.wordpress.com/?p=185 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:35:21 +0000 jerry http://fourstrings.wordpress.com/?p=185 Many have tried over the centuries to explain the amazing responsiveness of Stradivarius violins, some saying it is the wood from a particular era grown in a cold period in Europe's history, while others say it's the varnish, or the chemicals used by Cremona makers to treat the wood used in violins against insect attack. Joseph Nagvary is one of the latter. A Hungarian-born biochemist and luthier, Nagvary analysed both the varnish and the insect treatment techniques of the old masters, and is convinced that he can reproduce the Strad sound qualities in his own instruments through the right treatment of the timber and the right varnish.

Personally, I'm skeptical. Far more tonality comes from the way the wood is shaped and thicknessed, and if you look at most strads and Guarnerius instruments - most have either had much of the original varnish worn away, or have been re-varnished - and that doesn't seem to have affected their tone greatly. Moreover, other scientific research into the Stradivarius varnish shows it to have been little or no different from the standard furniture varnishes used in his time. So I'm still on the side of those who believe a mini ice-age in Europe in the years preceding the making of the Cremona instruments gave rise to the unique tonal stability of those instruments - along with the particular craftsmanship of the top makers of that time.

Tenemos Horario mixto, osease, es un asco; tengo 1 clase de 7 a 9 am y luego 2 clases en la tarde, de 6:15 a 7:45 pm y de 8:00 a 9:30 pm, si así es, tenemos 9 horas entre clases, 9 horas muertas al día, y pues ni tan muertas, las he dedicado últimamente a hacer tarea.

Estoy agripado, puede que albergando hepatitis tipo A dentro de mi (con suerte no), tengo tarea para el fin y cosas que hacer, divertido divertido.

Ya por ultimo y probablemente mi más terrible trauma; mi Violín está enojado (o enojada, no sé que sea) conmigo, siempre ha sido muy celosa y esta semana solo le dedique 1 hora y cachito, y por lo mismo me acerco y se enoja, me reclama y creo que no le agrada la idea de dedicarle más tiempo a otras cosas.

Si, semana complicada, sobre todo por la gripe (y porque una amiga me dijo “Adicto a la Neuroquímica”, igual y luego les platico bien que onda).

Este fin creo que será para descansar, jugar el demo de The Force Unleashed de nuevo (muy prometedor debe decir), un poco de Soul Calibur IV si mi ánimo me lo permite y, sobre todo, tocar violín, compre las partituras para Bittersweet de Apocalyptica, muero por pasar del intro.

Si lo sé, soy un Cry-baby, pero vaya, que mas puedo hacer jajajajajaja.

Gigliola Cinquetti nació en Verona (Italia) el 20 de diciembre de 1947. Ha ganado Eurovisión en 1964 y estuvo a punto de conseguirlo por segunda vez en 1974. Es una de las cantantes italianas con más fama, reputaciòn y renombre internacional, destacandose de forma integral en todo cuanto se ha propuesto. Ha tocado todos los terrenos posibles del terreno artistico con increible exito y con gran responsabilidad.  Está considerada por los seguidores de Eurovisión como una de las mejores intérpretes de la historia de este Certamen. Nació el mismo año que Massiel, France Gall y Michélle Torr, grandes eurovisivas también.  Su padre se llamaba Luigi y su madre Sara, que según la misma Gigliola “era especialista en hacer tortitas de miel”. Tiene una hermana veinte meses mayor que ella, Rosabianaca, Robbie en el ambiente familiar.

DIOS COMO TE AMO

La primera experiencia artística de Gigliola fue con cinco años de edad. Hizo una función teatral. Recibió clases de piano junto a hermana y ya se perfilaba según sus profesores como una chica con mucho sentido musical. Pero su debut como cantante fue en teatro Ristori de Verona en 1959 junto a un elenco de artistas de variedades. Según ella “el corazón le latía fuertemente al pisar un escenario como cantante por primera vez, aunque su voz se mantenía firme”. En 1963 se presentó a un concurso de radio en Venecia y de ella dijo el prestigioso barítono Gino Becchi “que su voz era auténtica porque no estaba impostada o forzada y cantaba como si hablase”. Este halagó mucho a Gigliola y creo que la descripción es muy acertada porque su estilo es muy peculiar. Voz que enamoró a los italianos desde el principio y al mundo después. Subió muy alto en cuestión de poco tiempo, dejando absortos a figuras de la talla de Iva Zanicchi, Bobby Solo, Paul Anka, La Mistinguette, Maurice Chevalier o Mina, que siempre alabaron a la intérprete y la defendieron en sus inicios. En agosto de 1963 la RAI la invita a Milán a presentarse a una prueba para la cadena televisiva. Así se presentó en un concurso de voces nuevas en Castrocaro.

EL DOMINGO AL IR A MISA

Gracias al empresario Gianni Ravera fue a Sanremo. Pasó muchas pruebas y eliminatorias con más de 128 candidatos, estuvo entre los diez escogidos. Acudió al prestigioso Festival italiano de San Remo el 30 de enero de 1964 con “Non ho l’étà (per amarti)” de Mario Panzeri y Nicola Salerno con arreglos de Gianfranco Monaldi. Este tema lo debían interpretar dos personas, ella y Patricia Carli. Pero el triunfo fue para Gigliola Cinquetti que dejó boquiabierto al público por su sencillez y espléndida voz. Fue un año polémico por la presencia de Bobby Solo que fue descalificado con “Una lacrima sul viso” debido a una fuerte faringitis que le obligó a cantar en plaback, algo que no se perdonaba en aquellos años. No fue falta de honestidad del cantante, sino imposiciones de la casa discográfica y sus empresarios.

A LAS PUERTAS DEL CIELO

Tras San Remo, como embarcada en el éxito y siguiendo la tónica de Italia esos años, Gigliola fue a Eurovisión en su novena edición que se celebraba en la ciudad danesa de Copenhague, en el Tivoli Concert Hall. Una chica que apenas había salido de su país, sólo había estado en Francia en un show con Maurice Chevalier, se vio en pleno Festival para toda Europa. Y además ganó también con una diferencia abrumadora sobre competidores de la talla de Matt Monro o Romuald. Ella solita, con 16 años se trajo el primer triunfo para Italia, que lo venía buscando desde la primera edición en 1956 y casi ganan en 1963 con Emilio Pericolli que fue tercero en Londres. También hubo polémica con el “Non ho l’étà” en Copenhague. La canción duraba más de tres minutos, se pasaba en 19 segundos, y la UER obligó a los compositores a acortarla hasta que se cumplieran los cánones. Así se hizo y por eso la versión discográfica es más larga que la que se hizo en directo en Eurovisión.

AMAR Y VIVIR

Quitaron una estrofa y tan contentos todos. Daba igual, esta chica cuando acabó su tema recibió una ovación estruendosa. Y eso que ese año estaba algo turbio por el escándalo que se montó cuando un manifestante se pronunció con una pancarta en contra de las dictaduras en España y Portugal. Tuvo que ser desalojado de la sala de malos modos, cuestiones de diplomacia en plena antena. De hecho qué culpa tenían los TNT y Antonio Calvario. Fue una especie de boicot a estas dos delegaciones, que no repercutió a la italiana, pero según declaraciones que hizo posteriormente “sintió algo de miedo ante el mejunje que se montó en pleno directo”. Non ho l'étà se hizo un fenómeno social. Se puso hasta la saciedad en todas las emisoras de radio en Europa. En España la Cinquetti era tan popular como cualquier cantante español. Sus canciones se tradujeron al español. Salió en diversas ocasiones en TVE. “Yo soy aquí quien manda”, “El domingo al ir a misa” y “Gira el amor” triunfan en el ‘72 y Sí en el ‘74, entre otros tantos. Fue tan grande su éxito, que el Papa Pablo VI la recibió en audiencia en El Vaticano. Gigliola y su canción eran un ejemplo para la juventud italiana según la iglesia y los democristianos italianos, y es que la chica no tenía edad para amar. Había que esperar al matrimonio. Una letra del todo moralista que además gustó mucho en la España franquista. Aún así y a pesar del candor de la Cinquetti, estoy segura que guardaba algo inconfesable que nunca supimos, ya que novios nunca le faltaron a la guapa italiana.

EL CONDOR PASA

Las revistas del corazón de la época no dejaron de pronosticar sus idilios y desvirtualizar la supuesta virginidad de la Cinquetti. Tras ganar Eurovisión, rodó con Maurice Chevalier en París “Lección de italiano”. Volvió a San Remo en 1965 con el tema “Ho bisogno de vederti” que también cantó Connie Francis y llegaron a la final. Pero ese año ganó Bobby Solo con “Se piangi, se ridi”. Y en 1966 ganó su segundo San Remo con “Dio comme ti amo”, que después llevó Domenico Modugno a Eurovisión, y el pobre no recibió ni un solo voto en Luxemburgo. Quizá si lo hubiese interpretado la Cinquetti habría conseguido más punto, ella se metía a los jurados europeos en el bolsillo, gustaba mucho. A Modugno se le veía muy compungido en su actuación, a pesar de llevar uno de los temas más buenos de la historia del concurso. Injusticia suprema. Alternó su mundo artístico con el estudio de Historia del Arte en Verona. Le costaba mucho mantenerse al margen de la popularidad, ya que a la salida del Instituto los chicos le pedían autógrafos, era normal, una ganadora de Eurovisión y San Remo que va al colegio, menuda portada. También enfocó su carrera por el cine. Hizo pocas películas, pero de gran popularidad en Francia e Italia.

LA ROSA NEGRA

Son: “Canzone, bulli e pupe” de Carlo Infarelli en 1964, “Dio, come ti amo” de Miguel Iglesias y “Testa di Rapa” en 1966, “Il porfessor matusa e i soui hippies” de Luigi de Maria en 1968, y últimamente, en el 2001 “I cavalieri, che facero l’impresa de Pupi Avati. En la música se multiplican los éxitos. En 1969 “La pioggia” se hace número uno en Italia, y muy conocida su versión en español en nuestro país como “La lluvia”. Los setenta son muy productivos también. Destacan trabajos como “Gira l’amore”, “Amarte e poi morire”, “Rose nel Buio”, “Fatalità”, etc. Grabó un disco junto a Los Panchos que se hizo muy famoso en América Latina titulado “El amor se hace canción”, donde estaba el “Quizás, quizás, quizás”, “Bésame mucho” o “Amapola”. Hizo otro larga duración en francés donde entraban temas inolvidables de la “chanson” como “Que-reste-il de nos amours” que popularizó Isabelle Aubret, o el “Ne me quitte pas” de Jacques Brel. Grabó muchos discos de música folclórica italiana.

LA BOHEME

Su incursión en la radio fue poniendo voz a uno de los personajes de la “Bella y la Bestia” con Paolo Villaggio. Gigliola Cinquetti cantó Sí –de Mario Panzeri, Danielle Pace, Laurenzo Pilat y Carrado Conti- bajo la dirección de Gianfranco Monaldi. Ganaron la Canzonissima ’74. La canción fue víctima de una dura carga política llegada de su país. El 7 de abril del ’74 se hacía el referéndum sobre la ley del divorcio en Italia, un día antes era el Festival de Eurovisión que se hacía en Brighton. La derecha y la izquierda se enfrentaron en un país de fuertes convicciones religiosas. Precisamente la Cinquetti, chica modélica de los años sesenta, fue bendecida por el mismo Papa cuando ganó con el “Non ho l’étà”. Antes decía que no tenía edad para amar y ahora decía “dulcemente Sí”. Sinceramente se le dio un sentido político a ese “Sí”, bastante oportuno, que no lo tenía. La derecha democristiana estaba en el gobierno y por si acaso la RAI no retransmitió el Festival hasta la semana siguiente al evento.

LISBOA ANTIGUA

Temían que ese “Sí” fuera un reclamo para que los italianos votaran Sí al divorcio. Italia no vio el triunfo de ABBA en directo, pero también se perdió el honroso segundo puesto que consigue Gigliola gracias a los 18 votos que le otorgaron los jurados. España le dio 2 puntos. Si la RAI pensó que así no se influía en el referéndum se equivocaron porque al final ganó el Sí por un 60% de los votos ante un 40% que votó en contra. En cuanto a Gigliola Cinquetti, después del Festival del ’74, donde quedó en segundo lugar detrás el grupo ABBA, siguió triunfando en Europa. Fue número uno algunas semanas en el Reino Unido con “Sí”. Se casó el 13 de abril 1979 con el periodista italiano Luciano Teodori, en la basílica de Santo Stefano de Verona, en el más puro secreto. No sabe por qué, en fin, ya que sí tenía edad para amar. Siempre ha sido muy reacia a hablar de su vida privada.

PIENSO EN LAS COSAS PERDIDAS

Ya tuvo un romance sonado con un estudiante Derecho llamado Vittorio Selmo en 1969 y que sólo duró dos años debido a que él se oponía un poco a la ajetreada vida artística de Gigliola, en pleno éxito comercial en Europa. Estuvo muy seguida por la prensa rosa italiana, francesa y española casi siempre, cubriendo portadas sonadas en Italia. Es quizá uno de los personajes más conocidos de ese país. En el ’79 grabó otro LP de gran éxito en nuestro país titulado “Quien habrá inventado a este hombre” ¿se referiría a Luciano, su esposo? Con él tuvo dos hijos, Giovanni y Constantino nacidos en 1980 y 1984 respectivamente. Su vida estaba entre Roma y Verona, su ciudad natal, la cual nunca ha querido abandonar para las cosas importantes, como su boda y nacimiento de sus hijos. Sólo abandonó su carrera cuando estuvo embaraza y mientras sus hijos eran muy pequeños, pero enseguida retomaba el trabajo con programas de televisión, telefilmes o nuevas y constantes participaciones en la Canzonissima o el Festival de San Remo, como presentadora o intérprete.

LA LLUVIA

En 1985 quedó tercera en el Festival de San Remo con “Chiamalo amore”. Con todo en las décadas de los ochenta y noventa fue espaciando más sus apariciones en la esfera pública. En el ’91 presentó el Festival de Eurovisión en Roma junto a Toto Cutugno –ganador por Italia del ‘90- Ahora a sus 61 años sigue estando en plena forma. Ha mantenido una imagen y estilo intacto, de una elegancia extrema, aunque como vemos en algunas fotos ha sido una gran showoman y se ha disfrazado de lo que haya hecho falta, estupenda. Fuente: Reyes del Amor Caballero: http://www.eurovision-spain.com/biografias/21.htm?idioma= Gigliola Cinquetti, nació en Verona, Italia, el 20 de diciembre de 1947 es una grandiosa cantante y destacada animadora de televisión italiana.

EN BRASIL

Canta en español, francés y, por supuesto, en italiano Debuta a los dieciséis años en el Festival de San Remo de 1964, junto con Patricia Carli, ganando el concurso con la canción Non ho l'età (per amarti) ("No tengo la edad (para amarte)"). Dos meses después vence en Copenhague, con la misma canción, en el Festival de la Canción de Eurovisión. En total, ha participado en doce ediciones del Festival de Sanremo, venciendo en dos ocasiones, considerándose al artista que más participaciones ha tenido en ese famoso festival italiano. La segunda vez fue en 1966, en compañía de Domenico Modugno, cantando la canción Dio, come ti amo ("Dios, cómo te amo"). En 1973 participa en el programa "Canzonissima" venciendo con la canción Alle porte del sole ("A Las Puertas Del Cielo"), re-editada dos años después por el cantante italoamericano Al Martino, que alcanzó la posición número 17 en el Billboard Hot 100. En 1974 participa de nuevo en el Festival de Eurovisión, quedando segunda con la canción Sì (ya que la primera posición la alcanzó ABBA, con la canción "Waterloo"). La versión inglesa del tema llegó a la séptima posición de la lista de ventas inglesa. Durante los años 90 y hasta hoy en día trabaja como animadora de televisión en la RAI.. Fuente: Wilipedia

MOMENTO MAGICO

I'm teaching three sections of rhetoric at a small liberal arts college on the border of Iowa and Illinois. I get up at 6am to be on campus for an 8:30am class. My "turn-the-car-around-freak-out" moment occurs right as I cross the Mississippi and pass the casino, when, since the coffee has yet to kick in and I'm terrified of public speaking, all I want to do is double down.

Education is its own gamble, I suppose. I love working with students. I love elucidating a concept, or provoking an opinion, or prodding a prejudice, or reading Auden's "Funeral Blues" aloud to them for the first time.

What I don't love is standing in front of a group. I mean I'm fine once I get past the first few minutes. Then I really get going. Then I can hold court confidently and articulately. But the initial throat clearing, the "Good morning!" introductory bit, never gets any easier.

I played violin from first grade through my senior year in high school. I learned the names of strings by food association. If I could identify the G string, I got a grape. The A, an apple. D was for dougnut. Needless to say, there was a lot of clamoring for songs written in the key of D string. That, or "Hot Cross Buns." (We also got the occasion bun.)

Unfortunately, the time came to set aside snacks and introduce public performance, aka recital, aka Becca throws up day. I'm a shy person and I don't know why. It isn't because I'm an only child, or because I had a speech impediment growing up and pronounced "f" as "th." Both of these are true ("Are we having thish for dinner? Thuck you!") but irrelevant.

I got to be good at violin, which only worked to my disadvantage. The good people always performed last. My prowess meant up to an hour of hand-sweating, and knee twitching, and staring at my horse-hair bow in utter horror and disbelief. I would try and do meditation -- this was way before I even knew what zen was -- and separate the silky hairs with my eyes to somehow tame my heartbeat. Much like combing through sand with a mini rake, it never worked.

Being a nervous violin player is not ideal. If your hand shakes, then your bow shakes. And if your bow shakes, it stands to reason that Bach's Concerto in E Major will sound like the only extant recording of Tennyson.

It's confusing, especially as a kid, when you enjoy one element of something and dread another. How can you say, at thirteen, "I'd like to play violin in the basement, maybe lay down some tracks on my tape recorder," but politely decline the invitation to perform in the anteroom of the school gym? I can still smell the faint trace of chlorine wafting off the pool, see the holes in the gaudy yellow shag carpet where the cellists waited with their endpins.

Yet despite my anxiety, I'm a good teacher. No -- I'm a great teacher. I just had a girl sign up for my second period class because her friend said I'm "interesting." Neither one has any clue that I was practice teaching to the bathroom mirror a minute before. Some anxieties are worth getting over.

My first morning of my first class, I found a pendant on the podium.

It wasn't planted by Dan or by any of the faculty, but rather lost by a Victoria (so says the engraved back). Simply there: a corky
reminder that New York City is still with me, and that I was supposed to bring it to these kids.

(Band retreat photo. We are playing the "tummy ha ha game, only saying "bunny bunny instead of ha ha."

I'd like to touch a little more on the violin practicing. How and why would I consider 10 hours every week of long, hard, dedicated practicing "fun" and "exciting"? Many Moody students have actually changed from being a Music major because of the hard work involved. It's hard at first, but this is how I think of it:

• Playing violin for a long time is not monotonous. The more you play it, the more you experience different aspects to it. (And, the more you play, the better you sound!)
• Being in a small, enclosed practice room for 1 or 2 hours keeps you from any distractions. You are here to build a "relationship" with your violin, and nothing else!
• Being focused and dedicated in one area such as violin helps you grow to be focused and dedicated in everything else.

Now, that sounds great, I'm sure. However, what I've been struggling with recently is this: I spend 2 hours every day building a "relationship" with my violin, but only 10-15 minutes building a relationship with my Lord who loves me and has died for me. Does that sound slightly lopsided to anyone? My violin doesn't love me. It's just a piece of wood with a purpose: to glorify God in the sound that I make with it.  Maybe this rings a bell with some of you. Maybe you play sports after school for 2 hours, or watch movies for 2 hours, or hang out with friends for two hours. There is so much you can do with "2 hours." Hopefully, I'll be able to schedule a time during the day for prayer and for being transformed by His holy Word. Sure, it'll be hard, and maybe frustrating when things come up, but the same situation goes for practicing violin. What's more valuable? Two hours of laughing with friends, or 2 hours of getting to know the most important, wonderful Being who always was, always is, and always will be?

It is so easy at a Christian college to get into the routine of thinking about God during classes and homework, but not at other times. As one of my professors put it this morning, "If we only spend our time here at Moody "preparing" and not actually getting involved with ministry and living our lives radiantly for the Lord, our faith becomes stagnant. We take in all these spiritual 'calories' and don't exercize to stay spiritually 'fit.'" I am so thankful for my Practical Christian Ministries (PCM) program. It will start next wednesday, and will entail being an after-school tutor for inner-city children grades K-6.  It will be challenging, especially for me because I have not been very exposed to inner-city life, but I am excited that it is where God has put me, and I pray that not only will the children be changed by our ministry, but that God will work in our own hearts and that we would come out of it more spiritually mature.

May the Lord bless you in whatever you are involved in! Please let me know how I can pray for you!

Soli Deo Gloria,

April Cervinka

Having given her a cursory exam with my examining bow, I have pronounce her fit as a fiddle and may play her, tonight, for the  commies down at the coffee shop.

OK, who all thought the "new baby" was some sort of motorcycle?

The Top Ten Things I Wish Someone Would Say in this Country ...Preferably to Me

1. Film Company: Congratulations You've just been hired. Welcome to the team! And since you've had to endure that awful city Los Angeles we've decided to up your salary. 

2. Kip: Wow you do (that) amazingly well. I think I'll move back to London...forever. 

3. John and Yoko Flatmates: We've just reduced your rent because we realize you never use the common area and we feel bad hogging the flat screen television every night and trying to force you to eat our organic chicken. Also, our cat, Jack, would happily like you to know he will no longer be joining you during those midnight bathroom runs. 

4. Carla: Ethan just told me he wants to fuck your American brains out...and then go out for a cuppa tea followed by a couple episodes of The West Wing naked in his bed. Holy Mama! 

5. NHS General Practitioner: You're health is impeccable, I'm impressed.  In fact, you're so amazing you can stop by anytime, no appointment necessary. In fact, here's my mobile number...

6. Literary Agent: I read your script and was so impressed I passed it around the office. Luckily for you, Mike Leigh just happened to be in, read it and wants to direct it straight away. What's your schedule like and when can we buy you an expensive lunch? 

7. Carla: Ethan wants you to come back and fuck your brains out again...and buy you a multi-regional DVD player so you too can enjoy his HUGE...DVD collection when he's not around. And so Tilia can also reap the benefits of his...generosity. 

8. Letter from Topshop: Congratulations! You've just won a £1,000 shopping spree in our largest shop on Oxford Street. A stretch limo will pick you up at your flat at your earliest convenience so you don't have to carry all those awfully heavy bags down to the tube and get them knicked. 

9. Oxfam Sales Manager: Excuse me Miss, I've noticed you walk by every day eyeing that vintage violin in the window. I've decided to go ahead and save you the walk. Here you go, it's yours. Happy early Christmas. It was a vagrants anyways...someone knicked it off him while he was sleeping outside the door...I feel quite bad about it actually and need to emit some goodwill out into the universe. 

10. Post Office Delivery Man: (Leaves a note with package on the doorstep) Hiya. This is Delivery man 2195. Now I know we can be right twats, only ringing the bell once at 7 am and leaving with a chuckle, making you wait days for your package where you have to go pick it up on some dodgy back street near some hole in the wall accompanied by lots of crackheads whistling, staring and asking for a fiver. To make it up to you, on behalf of the entire Royal Mail team here in London, I've especially wrapped your Amazon purchase in a fancy box with a bow. Attached is a year's membership for free local delivery. 

Cheers xx

11. (Runner Up) Cheeky UK Weather Announcer: Looks like the rest of the week is nothing but...sunny skies? Please don't shoot me. I'm just the messenger.