Easter cantata

Let me blog while it is still fresh in my mind =]

Today is THE good friday (i duno how to start the sentence better XD).. eniweiz.. was supposed to be in church by 3pm.. however.. i know things (related to indoz) would ALWAYS drag.. and definitely dragged....... I was planning to reach church at 3.30 initially..

So.... i hd lunch with aswin n novi.. and novie had to go by 2 for her church.. *we didnt leave until about 2.30 tho' =p hihi...*.. so i was supposed to entertain aswin for 45 mins? It was quite a windy day after a very filling lunch that we were both quite lulled to sleep.. we ended up drinking tea at marina sq, until i realised that it was 3.40!!! goodness =.=; so i felt bad about being later than late that i took taxi to church... which was only $3+ (so damn near, actualy) haha....

I kinda expected they all buzzing around the toilet with costumes.. however.. some of them are still eating.. some are starting out the make up kits on the table... yea.. it hasnt started yet =.=; to my resentment and fury =.=;.... they can be really draggy =.=;

Eniweiz.. finally we began our make up sessions.. n yes!! i find that BEING ABLE TO PUT ON MAKE UP ON UR OWN IN VERY VERY VERY IMPORTANT!! It started with them asking 'can u guys put on ur own foundation..' piece of cake.. i did it myself.. i was careful not to make my face look like japanese geisha who freshly painted with rice paint.. *like some of them oopz*..

Then i found myself queueing for make up... while the bunch of them *the bigger bunch* applied their own... sobz.. oh well... i dowan to jeopardize my face just hours before performance by TRYING to put on make up on my own =.=;

Well... i was pretty happy that i got blue make up on.. (because my costume is blue - ofcoz it was first come first served basis that i quickly snatched the blue coloured costume =p).. but yes.. it looks weird off stage.. c winny, the one who applied the make up on me, was warned NOT to put TOO LITTLE... so yea.. mine was pretty bright blue.. that i think was scary.. others also kena scoldings like 'it wun show on stage! put on more..!!!!' but then some of them got pink make up or yellow (gold-ish).. so it still looks pretty normal.. not BLUE... and at least, they all put it on their own.. so their make up does not lie in the mercy of the make up artist like mine do.. =.=' (eniweiz i really hav no idea how to 'tone down' the make up after it was done)

The costume is the usual israelites costume.. mine is blue as i hav said.. =] and my belt is bright pink.. my tudung is the softest prettiest of pink which i got it by chance (i dun really care as long as i got blue robe =p)....

Finally at 5.30 (which i think is v late), we finally try out singing on the auditorium, with the AV people still settling the microphones, the sound system, the ushers still laying out the holy communion stuff... (basically.. the place was quite chaotic).. and we're there being really really noisy with our hair.. our robe.. our lyrics etc etc =.=;

I think my choir conductor really has a strong patience.. it really took quite a bit of time to make all of us be on stage to rehearse one last time, synchronizing with the AV.. while we were on stage, the AV people are still synchronizing the microphone for the soloist, narrator and the whole choir - which, mind you, was VERY chaotic.. there were shouting to the point of them being too-polite-to-each-other-using the word PLEASE -so-forcedfully- that-everyone-knows -they're -actually-pissing -each-other-off.

As usual, i was already quite pissed when things chaotic and some people realy act bossy here and there and some of them simply just 'SOK' sibuk.. i found my spirit was really dampened before even singing..!! i forced myself to shut my ears and just stand there on the stage focusing on the.. erhm.. nothing (we could not even start singing =.=;).... it was really irritating.. annoying.. argh!!

Finally we rehearsed one or two songs.. and it was already almost time... so everyone was asked to leave the auditorium, to the meeting room for clearer (and less noisy) and final instructions... before the whole service, we all prayed... this is the part where i finally found my peace... Leaving everything in God's hand.. and that every voice would only sing for Him.. and that God would help us ease our imperfection..

*fast forward* time to sing!! woohooo...... eniweiz.. the stage felt smaller (as always).. and my personal space on stage was gone, coz, apparently the front row shrank to the back =.=; eniweiz.. husen delivered a v good solo.. thick voice.. clear and strong, no uncertainty of the notes, and no *going back and forth on the note*..

When we sing, there's a center screen showing video clips from GOSPEL of JOHN, with the lyrics so that congregation would not fall asleep while listening to us mumble through the words =p I find the video clips really nice.... *duno about congregations* =p

The moment when we sang on stage was pretty fast gone.. and c Herlina, on the laptop (in charge of the music and the video clips) sometimes acted as our subdued conductor.. =p when we sing too fast, she'll give us the beat.. and lead us back to the right part of the songs XD

After that, the sermon came *let me blog separately about this*.. and *fast forward*... and finally we sing the finale.... which i think was the best =] The song is full of Glory, and each note was sang with conviction.. and the song ends with JOYFUL JOYFUL WE ADORE THEE... which i always have this 'choir' feeling when singing XD

Last night, the choir director suggested that when we sing joyful joyful we should 'pretend' to talk to people beside us to ease the 'stiffness' of the choir.. i frowned at the suggestion coz i tot joyful joyful should be sang with all the grandeur of the choir... straight in line... sing each note with stacatto.... with smile on ur face mwahahaa.. that's my rendition of joyful joyful...

The ending of this song, we were supposed to raise our hands up in the air.... but tonight.. either everyone forgot.. or everyone nervous... none raised their hands XD wakakaka.... i just realized when we go offstage XD woopz... oh ya.. at the joyful joyful part, apparently everyone ommitted the part where they have to 'talk' to the people beside them also XD XD

Afterward, i painstakingly removed my make up.. coz my other companions to go home *venny and anna* are pretty 'plain looking' compared to me.. paiseh to go home with too thick of make up on mrt XD.. sigh... y did they use 'water proof mascara' =.=; so hard to remove man..... my right eyes suffered quite a bit =.=;

nevertheless... I LOVE IT!! i love it ... i love it ... i love it ... i love it ... i love it ... =] thx God for this opportunity =] if it were not for Him, it would be hard for me to learn (and memorize!) 6 songs within 3 practices =.=;; with FYP submission in between... O_o' and being sick in between too =.=; Praise the Lord!! =]

Eniweiz.. c Herlina (the one who didnt sing and was in charge of the songs) said that we sounded better at the real performance rather than the practice =p thank GOD! Praise Him!!=]

Oh yea.. this is what distinguish church choir, before and after performance, we always PRAY! hehee.. i remembered when i was still in children choir, we always have to pray before and after performance to remind ourselves that whatever we sang was for God.. and we thank God for the performance and we give back to the Lord everything.. which last time i resented becoz im-tired-after-the-performance-syndrome particularly, this evening the prayer was: "even though people (congregation and us, the singers) might forget the songs, might even forget this night) let the lyrics of the songs live in everyone's heart" AMEN.. =]

I really thx everyone who has come for the service [or for the choir] tonight =] i hope it hasn't been a waste.. =] i pray that the message tonight are also sown well into everyone's head... i hope there will be next timeSSSSSS for me =p thx sbass, thx venny, thx anna, thx hardi.. thx wijen ^_^v (yea man.. husen has a pretty powerful perssuassion that he could make wijen come!! haha!!)

Dixit Dominus

Went to Dixit Dominus concert held by Singapore Bible College for their 25th anniversary... it was AWESOME.... i really loved it..!! i wished i had dragged nana along huhuhu... i tot i didnt want to psycho her because of the sermon =p but the sermon was so........ short n brief XD and the preacher was only repeating the psalm 110 (which was the lyrics of Dixit Dominus) hahaa eniweiz.. it was a pity nana wasnt there to share the good music XD

Eniweiz, it started with a miscalculation of travelling time from me (again!).. i went out 1 hour before the concert... because SBC is v near to bukit timah!! who knows the bus only came after i waited for 15 minutes.. (i tot the frequency was every 10minutes?!! grr...) I neglected the fact it was saturday night whereby people would be kiasu-ly heading for town... or chinatown.... n the bus took 30 minutes just to reach bukit timah plaza O_o'

but miraculously, i alighted at the junction of bukit timah and adam road at 7.30.. and i only waited for few seconds before the bus to SBC came.. n SBC was only 2 bus stop away! so i reached at 7.35.. hehe.. n i met imam on the way.. so it was cool =] i had company! marlin was still on her way from orchard....

When i came, the SBC prncipal (Dr. Albert Ting) was still giving his welcome message... and sharing the story of SBC, etc. Apparently i didnt miss alot =p hehe.. i like him at once =] he has a v good command of english.. and he translated whatever he has said to chinese HIMSELF! cool, eh? he's a soft spoken person with that kind of voice that makes you want to hear his voice again again and again... if only NTU lecturers are like that XD ill be "addicted" to listening to lectures! haha..

Then we sang a new song (by SBC) entitled "Thank You, Lord".. a simple song.. combined with 15 people orchestra, 1 piano... and about 60 people in the choir.. it was simply.... MAJESTIC ^_^...

The Conductor of the night was 'Lee Chong Min'.. according to my friend, he was studying with Lim Yao (from the SSO, remember?) in London.. when i saw him, he's completely different from lim yao =p While lim yao keeps a long hair, the conductor was.. well... erhm... aging XD (abit bald)... but the precision from his fingers movement was really cool =].. n the orchestra... yes!! i felt the orchestra!!! hueheuehuehuehuee.... i could only see one girl from my seat though =(!!! Eniweiz, i was curious to see him, because of what Husen told me about him.... (that he was with Lim Yao - ga kalah ama Lim Yao) but he chose to serve in church music ministry... n that he said he wasnt proffessionals who always come on time for anything.. (He always come EARLIER to pray!!).. he already prayed for everything.. the wheather.. the traffic.. the heart of congregation, the singers the orchestra, even wayyyy before the concert.... awhh.... such dedication!

Dixit Dominus.. The Lord has Spoken..... Apparently, many composers have composed Dixit Dominus, which was based on Psalm 110 (of course i didnt know it was taken from Psalm until the preacher came forward during the message).. the SBC performed the one from Vivaldi and from Handel.... and both were song in their original language.. Latin... at this point i already thought "sharks O_o i think im nt going to like this O_O;"

Dixit Dominus ala Vivaldi reminded me of his four seasons... light.. breezy.. and happy tunes... and ofcourse.. relatively short... hehee.... the 2 main singers of the night were Cecilia Yap (Soprano) and Anna Koor (Alto)... they were fantastic (really!).. I especially like the alto.. her voice is deep and carries alot of meaning in it... (She's from the SLO, btw!)... soprano, as always, sing the 'better' tunes XD... and she was a good singer too!

i wonder WHY.. these singers (and la traviata, phantom of the opera singers..) they all dont open their mouth while they sing.. but they can produce such a loud and beautiful voice O_o'.... they dont look like they're sucking air to breathe too XD.. i think they master the skill that nana said 'stealing breath' XD ------ but.. the Magic Flute singers DID open their mouth when she sang, remember? the queen of the night? why? wads the difference?

Well i was really enjoying Vivaldi's Dixit Dominus..! oh.. the translation part.. was not a problem XD because they only sing most 2 sentences in a song.. n they only repeat it again and again.. for example.. 'Dixit.. dixit.. diiiii....diiixit... do.. mi.. nus.. dominus dominus doooo miii nusss' u get the idea XD

The organ player was quite poor thing hehee.. She had to look sideways almost every half a minute to see the conductor =p i wonder why they didnt move the organ nearer or facing the conductor.. ofcourse i had to crane my neck to see the conductor conducting.. I could only see 2 double bassis, and 1 violinist... and.....then, there was.... timpani!!! XD.... hohoho!! i nudged marlin.. "gantenk!!" huehuee.. well not to say he's utterly good looking.. just that.. he was MUCH better than the Masumi-chan in Nodame Cantabile XD XD XD XD XD XD XD n smehow marlin was also commentng the same thing XD "ga kayak yg di chiaki" XD

Then the message came.. The preacher, Elder Yong Tech Meng asked us to open psalm 110.. n i was like 'OOOOOOOO this is the lyrics!!' n he mentioned many composers have composed songs based on this psalm... hehe.. never knew =p

The interesting he pointed out, is that how music works in human brain is unexplainable.. he said that there are cases of an alzemer (is this how u spell it? the disease whereby u gradually forget things from the most recent happenings... and then u start to forget things in ur past.. etc.. - bukan pikun loch) patient.. he forgot the people surrounded him... he forgets things, events, etc.. but when he hears a song, he could suddenly sing it out....

The second case was a conductor who also got this disease.. when he hears a song, he could CONDUCT the orchestra to the very detailed precision... =] that's the power of music in human lives!!

Actually those are the things i got from him XD for afterward, he only recite and elaborate more on the Psalm 110 (the lyrics)

Then we got back to Dixit Dominus.. this time, by Handel.... His first piece struck me as 'handel banget!!' u know.. grand entrance... with pipe organ.. like those tune when they show kingdom of England? n just then... imam said 'buset.. handel banget ya?!' haha..... n ofcourse, handel's piece was more... hm.. complicated? more thrilling notes for the choir.. or maybe because they have stopped singing for a while listening to the message, that they somehow couldnt reach some high notes =.= ok lah.. forgivable when the alto came out for her solo song.... n with that song, i really applauded her.... as i said, her voice was deep.. smooth... n rich...!! *hugs her* n i think this is one of the rare occassions i like the alto better than sopranos XD

The songs afterward got more and more complicated tunes... (but again, they only sang 2 sentences within 1 song!)...... that three of us got distracted with funny2 faces in the choir XD we noticed someone at the back row started to 'conduct' using his left hand while the right hand held the music book..... n three of us giggled together... n then we started to guess which was Pdt. Johnny Silas' son...., pointing to this guy who seemed to have such a red face.... and there's mr. potato too..... (ok.. we're really crazy.. werent listening thoroughly to the song!!)

So the program booklet became our 'chatting' window.. Imam asked whether i know this guy from bandung.. n i tot his name sounded v familiar.. 'moe fa kat'.... then.. i remembred the 3 musketeer back when i was in first year junior high.... my fav music teacher (ganteng-kind), singing with my other fav music teacher (nice- kind) and this i-duno-what-he-taught-back-then teacher... his name was v unique.. n YES! it was him... XD Apparently SBC Chorale and Hallelujah Singers have a handful of indonesians!!!!

There was this song alto singing with the Tenors... erhm.. i dun really like that song XD The last song from Handel's Dixit Dominus is 'Gloria Patri, et Filio' which was really a grand song.. with many parts from the song sounds almost like Messiah's 'hallelujah'

Afterward, they asked us, the congregation to sing with them 'Give Thanks' and "great is Thy Faithfulness' medley...... oh man.. i really love the arrangement ^_^... i love singing with the orchestra.. i love singing with the chorale..... huhuhu... it was majestic (at least to me).... i was really happy that i decided to watch =] $25 for listening to two great composer's pieces... really not a bad deal! XD i think i would still watch even if it's more ex....

Im gona support SBC's music ministry.. wooohhhhoooo!!!!!!!!!! all praises, glory and honor just for Jesus!! Gloria Patri! ^_^v

Songs of Joy

Grr... the lazy nana always referred to my blog O_o'.... Okiez... the concert.... it was...... one of my very memorable event in my life... haha!!

===== prior to concert =====

Actually, it was quite mafan, in a way that we had to prepare quite alot of things on top of our voice.. But the costume complication was reduced drastically... [coz i had the costume ready!] just needed to find black shoes...

Anyway.. lucky gret was here for a little shopping... a little shopping? XD its not LITTLE shopping... it took us 2 (almost full) day (plus some rain) to shop for my black shoes O_o'.. finally got a decent pair of shoes that didnt burn a hole in my pocket..

So, the day before the concert, everything was ready.. costume check.. black file check.. voice check (cieee).. =p but then since it was the last day gret in sg, and tony's hands itched to play mahjong, we played till 3am!!..

When i woke up the next morning, my head pounded... pounded... and pounded... Prone to get sick O_o' .. Fortunately, Marlin's mum bought all of us lunch.. so at least with full stomach, i wont fall sick that easily.. hehee...

Gret and marlin's parents left the house... i was consulting with RIna how to put on make up (yea.. i think i failed 2 make up lessons O_o' grr...).. i was ready by 1pm.. I was going around the house... doing practically nothing... and 1.30 sharp, i left the house (coz it takes 45 mins to reach esplanade).. n marlin called... n said that she just reached bukit timah plaza... (she left almost 1 hour ago!!).... n she didnt tell me earlier =.='

Eniweiz.. i tried my luck.. i took LRT instead of 67 coz i know 67 will take longer time.. at bukit panjang, i waited for a few buses tat goes to bukit timah.... n it took about 15mins for the next bus to come O_o; n yea.. i reached bukit timah at 2.15!! i alighted and waited for MORE buses that goes to town.... n guess wad... 67 comes next O_o' stewpeed... in desperation, i tried to call for cab, but apparently all cabs were busy O_o;... almost 2.40, i got a cab!! n i just realized that i didnt have money O_o'

So I asked nana to wait for me outside of esplanade with $5... i mean.. from newton area.. to esplanade.. its not that far... right? guess wad.. i reached esplanade at 2.55!! and the taxi costs $8.50............ gila bgt ga segh O_o' traffic jam... n welll... i duno where the taxi driver brought me.. it drove past bugis O_o'

===== Hours before the concert =====

Me and nana brisk walk to the esplanade concert dressing room O_o; n i could only take a deep breath when i saw everyone still chattering outside the dressing room =p lucky eng kee never say the REAL time we're supposed to be on stage... hehehee... so most of the time, we were kept waiting =p..

Everyone looked very .... normal... like nana said, i didnt even feel THAT feeling that we're performing.. =p looking around, the other choir members wear black black black..... most of them appear... normal... well at least not 'WAH' kind of costumes... only hm... tante wear full length gown with shawl and she did her hair too! XD ... her make up was the best.. =p the rest of them, dont really put on make up.. only blusher, lipstick or some necessary basic make up.. ohhhh! nathalia came with full make up too... she looked really pretty.. n when we asked who did the make up, she said she put it on herself... kewwwwllllll XD

Our turn came to be on stage for our final rehearsal... photographers stationed almost at every corner of the stage... n yet..... i dont feel the 'nervousness' XD It just felt like last tuesday when we stood there rehearsing... and got scolded by our conductor for singing like a cat.... XD.. n yea.. the photographer walked about here and there snapping pictures of our conductor.. when it is our turn to be photographed, whenever we sing 'aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa' they'll snap our pictures XD XD... (according to one choir member)... so.. the pic shld turn out to be quite ugly XD

Then, our grand finale practice.. the conductor wear full costume of a maestro.. huehuehe cool dude XD cool grampa...... XD

Then we had our (not-so-delicious) early dinner.... Rita and Nathalia apparently graduated from the same univ, same faculty.. O_o so qiao!! The swakoo me and my indo frenz, took pics here and there including in the green room XD XD... tante also joined in XD and after dinner, when we looked around, everyone was sleeping..... including nana........ she was like 'wake me up in 10mins.. more than that, my eyes would swell..' then she turned her face away.... then she turned to me again 'make it 15mins..'

after 15mins, i wake her n said 'haa.... 15menit lagi...' O_o' XD then the bored me and rita went around the green room.... took pic (again) outside.. leaving nana sleeping soundly on the sofa with nathalia and yudy.. hehee...

Then... we were REALLY SUPER BORED!! we started calling our 'audience-to-be' and asked where they were... then, we went outside to take pics (again) XD XD...... until marlin came.. sbass and ezer came... and snap snap snap... XD more picturessss XD XD

===== Moments before our concert.... =====

Went back to our dressing room to do final touch up =p .... n final warming up.... and THEN... when they all started saying 'lets do well tonight people...; blablablablabala'... it sets it.... im PERFORMING!! wooohhhhhooooooo XD XD get sooo excited =p hehehee...

Moments before we went in to the concert hall, i started to feel the anxiety O_o; no more excitement O_o... what if i cldnt sing well O_o what if we sang out of tune... what if what if and what ifs....

But i guess i wasnt as nervous as when im going for exams XD.... my legs didnt buckle like how it did when i opened the first page of exam paper... and i could feel myself smiling now and then whenever we sing the right tune XD...

==== The Concert =====

Anyway, i was enjoying our own 20 mins concert.. watching my conductor closely (part of the reason for this... is becoz im nervous... and watching conductor is one of the way to ease nervousness bwahaha)... and forgetting to sing 1 phrase at the 'bye bye lulay' song XD apart from there, i did my best.. i believed there were some glitches in the soprano II parts (at Olux beata TRINITAS...) ... and ofcoz the part where our conductor conducted wrongly for the song 'love came down at xmas'... but apart from there, amazingly, we didnt sing flat XD.. There are some parts where i felt 'shit..... flat......' n i was crossing fingers.. but when the orchestra strikes the correct tune, i managed to smile to myself XD *pats* XD

It's true that i didnt feel the other singers.. (im like singing with my fellow sopranos only).. that actually what makes me think WHY our voices didnt blend...... we lack BONDS between singers, i think.... After the concert, the pretty soprano II (yg mirip princess diana) was complaining to other Soprano II member.. i duno abt wad.. i dun really care =p i sang my part wel enuff according to me XD

===== The Grand Finale =====

The grandfinale, on the other hand, i didnt feel the 'usual happiness and lightheartedness'.. duno y o_O' i couldnt even sing the last part (highest note) which i usually could reach and sustain......duno y....

The funny thing came after the clappings.. =p... our conductor left the stage........ and apparently the clappings didnt really 'subdue' (well it wasnt the kind of clapping i heard for handel's messiah, tho).. but none of them shouted ENCORE..

Suddenly the conductor came into the stage again n i was 'hHAAA?? i tot only if they ask for encore, we sing?' XD... So yea.. we sang the PREPARED encore piece.... XD XD

After that, the audience started to leave.. and thenn my eyes start to roam to my audiences... XD 3rd circle... cant see anyone.. O_o i just could note... that 1/2 of the circle 3 is actually EMPTY o_O... man... And foyer stall... i couldnt see sbass, coz i tot he was sitting very near to the projector room....

Only when the hall almost empty, i saw 3 figures waving wildly from upstairs... i almost thought they're gona trip over the barrier XD n i was like announcing to nana 'there u see? they're up theree...' n nana was like 'sh.. diem..' er... true.. other people didnt even fidget =p ooPZ... heheee... then i tried to find sbass in the $50 seat again XD... apparently his seat is the one which he must crane his neck to watch the choir XD... poor ting XD XD...

Phototaking session with a lady minister.. cool right... XD

==== The aftermath =====

Bottom line, on saturday, i gained new experiences and it was added to my personal pride XD...

1. Singing in choir

2. Singing with IFC (good to sing with the different nationalities)

3. Singing with SUCH A HUGE choir

4. Singing in Esplanade.. (DUH!)

Hehee.... thx for all my friends who attended and those who supported me, my dad, my mum, my friends... thx to my fellow IFC singers... XD XD XD [kayak yg gw dpt award apa aja] bwahahaa....

After the concert, Since marlin's camera is with me, wanted to take some pics with fellow singers.. but duno WHO to take with XD... who to approach XD... then Yudy said 'lets take pic at the stage..' whewww.... can we??? XD XD.. Yea we could! hehee.. so... we went on stage.. and took quite alot of pics XD our motto at that moment 'KAPAN LAGI bisa poto2 di esplanade concert hall!!' hahaaa =p After that, we went separate ways... i felt 'thatz it!! end of choir... n i suddenly felt sad.... huhuhu... i want to go choir againnnnn =['

Me and nana met the rest of them.. marlin, sbass, ezer and congii at carl's junior... and they were saying 'not bad...' 'ok koq..' sbass said 'very well done'.... then we asked the next question 'r u guys gona watch again if we perform next time?' n all of them broke to giggle....... XD XD 'depends on who u r singing with next time' XD XD artinya... ya gituw lagh yakh.. elo tao gw tao XD XD

Thx frens... XD ... Thx for reading jg =p

Choir again...

Yesterday was the first time we rehearsed with the orchestra.. RJC string orchestra... i must say, they play it well [even tho there are some parts they dont really play the RIGHT note.. hihi.. but i must say, i didnt expect THAT kind of expertise for JC level.. hehe thumbs up!!!].. i think violinists look better from the back XD.. n yea.. ofcoz they look super cool swinging the 'tail' [its called tail right?]... ARGHHHHH i think its cool..!!! shld i snatch my sis's violin and start learning with marlin? XD XD



Hm... wad shall i say.... WE'RE STILL SOOOO FLAT o_O' haiz... until the RJ people smiles when they play their part as [re-entry] after we sing.. undrstand wad i mean? for one whole song, not all parts we sing it with the orchestra.. there are some parts we sing 'accapella'... and when the orchestra re-enter... its at the different note all together..... u'll see people 'meringis' and saying 'oopz..' 'ewhhh!!' 'haizzz' 'oh no...' things along that line.. XD and u'll see the JCmates smiled to each other... hahaa.. die O_o' furthermore,.... many of my soprano II mates dodnt really know their parts well... [ended up singing like the soprano I and struggled when singing those super high notes] and also, most importantly, NOT watching the conductor!! its really bad.. becoz the tempo and unity is not there =[



I hope we will get better these days =[ otherwise paiseh to the other choir leh!! There will be MEN choir... singing accapella also... n i think they sound better than our choir.. XD and ofcoz, their song is more lively than our lullaby..... *sigh...*

So, audience, please make sure u get enough sleep before coming to the concert... XD and get some refreshing drinks during the intermission XD


Today we'll rehearse at the esplanade... whew... im looking forward to it!!! hueheuheue.. ill b standing on esplanade stage.. haha! well.. its erhm... my own pride that ill b standing on esplanade concert hall XD doesnt matter if im only 1 person out of hundreds out there.. haha!



My choir costume shopping list is reduced drastically, because apparently some stuff that my mum bought previously came in handy =p hehe... she forced me to buy a black top hm... last year? n i was like 'why did u force me to buy this?!!' but i can wear it to perform =p hehee... all i need now is a black comfortable pair of shoes that wouldnt kill me while standing and singing.. XD

Addicted to singing....??

On sunday, me n nana went to Song of Joy's 2nd grand rehearsal.... at first, rita didnt wana go because of the timing.. but nana said 'lets go..' so i decided to go.. i mean.. we paid alot for the membership... and we skipped many many practices bcause of our coursework... Now, that we have the time for it... y skip again? hoho..

So i told rita tat we're going.. n then she also followed =p hehee.. the place is at SOKA somewhere along vivo city... harborfront centre... somewhere there..... According to nana, soka is one of the religion similar to buddhism... As we stepped into the compound,.. i felt lost O_o... aunties and uncles everywhere.. XD XD and most of them were barefooted... (so japanese hor)..

They provided super big shoe shelves.. so we had to go into the building barefooted.. its soo fun! hahaa.. There's this carefree feeling when walking barefooted on carpeted floor.. XD we looked LOST (ibeliv) tat one security guard approached us and asked where we are going... hehee... he directed us to go to this big auditorium (do u call it audi?) that's so bright and noisy from aunties' chattering =p

WHen the practice starts, it took sometime for the conductor to subdue the noise.. the conductor was a frail looking old man.. few strands of grayish hair.. he was abit hunchedback... wearing suit and brining that little wand that conductors swing here and there... well.. picture the scientist guy from 'back to the future' minus the white lab coat....... its HIM! hehee...

He was speaking in chinese so softly.. and he mumbled his english translation tat i had to lean forward to listen to what he's actually saying... initial thought.. 'haiyozz old man.. can u just speak english? O_o there are so many ang mohs who dont know chinese leh...' 'man... sld this practice be fruitful.....' 'haiz............ nt fun.....' Anyway.. the conductor was directing us which bars to sing softly .. which bars crescendo.. decrescendo... forte... piano... etc etc.... which i cant really follow due to my bias opinion and his very soft muttering.... n then... first song.....

Once he swung his little wand..... the choir sang.... i was speechless...... the choir was sooo much better than IFC!!! hahahaaah... nv hav i imagined that combination of oldman-aunties-uncles-angmohs would give suuuuccchh a grand entrance to the song... huehueee..

This conductor was sooo sensitive.. when he said forte, it REALLY has to be sung forte.. when he says 'stacatto..' it has to be sung as stacatto as possible... bottom line, he is GOOOOOODDDDDDD......!!!!! The way he smiles when we sing correctly, the way he twitched when we sang too loud/too soft... Those people around me, they were swinging to the beat when singing the songs.. even the ang mohs!! they sang the chinese song with joy.. (they also had a good laugh after each song.. maybe due to the language barrier.. but nevertheless, they wore such happy faces)...

And, before realizing it, the practice ended... wad d hell O_o/.... i was like 'haaa? udahan??? masi mau nyanyiii T.T'... rita ditto-ed me... nana was feeling too cold to say anything XD.. when she showed her goosebumps, i tot she was referring to the choir, giving her goosebumps =p after all, the tenors are soooo many like nana has always been dreaming abt =p hehhee.. Some of the members left the audi.. but luckily, we dilly-dallied a little longer... the conductor says 'cai lai yi ci...' YAYYYYYYYYY

We sang each song once.... n he said "last weekz practice i would give you 70 marks.. today's practice i give you 80 marks! By next week, it would be 90... 100.. 1000 marks..." huehueheue.. so cuteeeeee XD XD.... oh ya.. after the 2nd song ends, the choir unanimously clapped hands for him... ohohohohho.... until the end of practice, the conductor remained unanimous conductor to me =[

On the way home, i felt like a traitor yang 'habis manis sepah dibuang' kind =p, talking about the other conductor... XD XD.. i told nana i would rather join this choir... killing 2 birds with 1 stone... 1 singing, 1 learning chinese.. huehuee..

Side noteee......:

The toilet.. =p inside this SOKA building, as i said, everyone is barefooted.. but in the toilet, they provide many many pairs of sandals for those of us going to the toilet.. and as expected from a japanese association, its SPOTLESS... even tho the toilet might be old, its well maintained... *thumbs up*..

One blur occasion: nana went home taking the bus from the same bus stop as me... when i was 1/2 way home... she called me... telling me she took the wrong bus... i tot she took wrong bus as in taking 165 instead of 166... kind.... but she actually taking the wrong DIRECTION XD XD ... nana dodolz!!!!

Well.. im kinda addicted to singing now... thx for IFC who has revived the feeling of singing in choir again =] heheheee.. going for singing practice with IEC tonight... =p heheheee... im soo sooo soooo crazy abt singing O_o KTV anyone?? ato mo nunggu gretan? =p

choir lagi...

Uhrm..... this is the choir in question (see prev blog entry) in 2005.. huix.. its super BIG... O_o' n i guess this is the kind of choir nana has been dreaming of (at least 20 bass... 20 tenors... rite na?) hehee... oh ya.. this is at esplanade's concert hall [the one we always go for beautiful sunday free concert!!] so circle one is already 'quite far' from the stage!! not the same as the theatre leh... haiz.. must start planning which category to buy for handel's messiah!!! *kiasu mode*

Oh yakh... looking at the photo... the chinese words says 'qian ren da he chang II'... [duno if its wrong.. but i think it makes sense...] 1000 people singing? XD my translation sux.. but i think that's roughly how it is.. hohoo.... does it make you MORE excited now na? XD!!! it makes my knees wobble bhow!! so many people singing... whew... =p this'll REALLY REALLY look good for my resume XD!!!!

The pic is taken from this website... idiotically, its in chinese O_o' cant read.. even the newspaper cut out is in chinese =.=; dodolz..

music in my life...

Hohoho... howz the new music background? =p hehee.. a very very nice song, eh?

This reminds me of SMPK1's choir back when i was in SMP1!!! can you beliv it? it was the super nice music teacher (pa iie) or the erhm.. guantenk Pa Agus as the conductor for their choir.. nice nice song =]

I saw husen's shoutout msg in f-ster few days ago.. n i watched the youtube version of this song... but it was choir version n it wasnt v clear.. but this one is very clear! u can hear her singing every word.... *sigh...* nice voice, dear ^_^

Eniweiz.. i got this from youtube.. So if you want to see the girl singing.. here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn98OvmNQxE

As long as I have music... as long as there's a song for me to sing.. i can find my way i can see the brighter day..... the music in my life will set my spirit FREEEEEEEEE.....!!! woooohhhoooo.... =]

NANA! let me know if you have gotten the reply for the choir thing ASAP hor!! huehuee... for those of you who doesnt know wadz going on... nana n I are signing up for choir!! HOHOHO!! Tony was the one suggesting it to us... n if we go through the ehrm... audition *selection or wadsoever they call it*... we will be acompanying the International Festical Chorus to sing christmas cantata (according to the email it's one english song and 2 chinese song....) wadeva that is,... it made me excited.. excited excited... xmas chorale!! ^_^ another THING to look forward this xmas ^_^

n yea... IF we go thru... it'll be at esplanade ^_^v IF... IF ... IF.. okay?! IF.... eniweiz.. I wldnt mind the least bit if i cant perform.. due to some other commitment called 'exams' and 'fyp' (ciee.. like real...), it might be hard for me to go for practices... isnt it? O_o' haiya.. see how lagh... as long as i can be the member for a short term... it'll look good in my resume too.. ^_^v

ennnnnn one more thing..... should i be the SSO friend? O_o' its $50... and 50% off for almost every performances for student (cat 4-6).. n after looking at their layout.. cat 4 is not bad...!! it's at circle 1 back row (the row between us and the VIP boxes when we watched swan lake).. not bad leh...

For nana, u can get 10% off at kinokuniya when you become friend of SSO =] huehuehuehuee.... *ngeracunin orang lagi gw*