Learn all about English

...In 47 seconds...A lesson by Figaro.

FIGARO : English is such a beautiful language! You don't need much of it to go far. With God-dam, you don't lack anything, wherever you are. - Do you want to taste a nice fat chicken? enter a tavern, and just do this gesture in front of the serving boy. (He spins a roasting spit.) God-dam ! you are served a foot of salted beef, without bread. It's admirable. Do you happen to enjoy drinking a glass of excellent burgundy or claret ? Only that one. (He uncorks a bottle.) God-dam ! You are given a foamy nice pewter pot of beer. Such contentment ! Do you happen to encounter one of those nice girls who walk around with tiny steps, elbows held behind, rolling their hips : put you fingers mawkishly over your mouth. Ah ! God-dam ! She slaps you like a porter, proof that she understands. Englishmen, if truth be told, add here and there some other words when talking ; but it's quite easy to see that God-dam is the core of their language.

(merlin's awkward translation from "Le Mariage de Figaro", III, 5, by Beaumarchais)

Criticism

When you play, you tend to hear what you want to hear, and not always what you're playing. So yesterday, I recorded a few bits of the Mozart, so I could criticize better what I was doing.
Some things, I already knew : I do not know the piece well enough, so mistakes and hesitations are aplenty. But for some other things, I didn't know I played like a ...barbarian ? For in my head, I was hearing what I wanted to play, not what I was actually doing. Realizing this helps a lot. My ears need to learn to listen *wink*
I hesitated before uploading those bits on the net, but then, why not ? It can be interesting to listen to a piece which is not yet ready to be played, to hear mistakes and musical clumsiness. It helps thinking about the piece.

The first bit :
I've always got a problem with the tempo and rythm, and you'll notice the heaviness at certain moments of the right hand (looks like it's bouncing).


The second bit :
There are a few (musically) clumsy details. And I agree, the last chord is just a little bit too heavy...*clears throat*


The third bit :
It's ok. I should be less gentle with certain chords, though.


The fourth bit :
Two part here. I had to cut the second one, because the camera doesn't have a long memory. Speaking of this second part...It's more than clumsy. It should be more...witty, lighter ?


Fifth bit :
There's still work to be done. In the fast part, the left hand melody is not loud enough.


The sixth bit :
This is the end. Phew ! Now if you stick the bits together, you'll have a Mozart Patchwork, with its mistakes and all. You can think about what is wrong, what sounds clumsy and train your musical sensibility !

Piano-in-Disguise

Piano Party

Yesterday, it was my teacher's piano party.
Everybody was here, or almost, all the ole good band : my teacher, Hélène, Rachel, Clara...There was no violonist, this time, so we didn't mess around with violins, but still, it was fun.



<= Rachel at the piano. Listening to her playing is amazing. Such energy ! She's got a gift, this little one. And I think it's only her second year.

Our Fight

Violence is ugly. But wipe all violence, and you'll end up with a lifeless world. This is probably why we can't get rid of it : violence is so thoroughly linked with life.
But there is a 'healthy' violence and a more despicable one. By 'healthy', I mean a violence you use as a last recourse to help your body stay alive (like a carp gulping down a mosquito for breakfast, or someone fighting back to save his skin). But there is another form of violence : violence for Violence's sake. I've just watched a frightening video about young people destroying cars and shop windows and trampling people, and another video about young chaps from the AF (Action Française, crazy integral nationalists). My, my. After this, you can't help but ponder : how to put an end to this ?
*bitter smile*
I think most of us have thought about this. Most of us want peace and happiness. But peace can't be imposed. It does seem hopeless, doesn't it ? There will always be violence and hate, but ! One more smile kindled on someone's lips is a wonderful thing indeed. So of course we fight to protect the wonder and beauty of life. And I'm completely with you on that point, Fellows.

I have decided that I have no nationality. I'm not French anymore : I have declared myself Citizen of the Earth. I say, every language is my mother tongue, just give me time to learn them all. As if by uniting all languages inside me I could bring together the smoldering tapestry of humankind. *another bitter smile*

Such a post for a return on Blogger after a gap of a month ! I admit I wallow in "Dramatics" (or Romantic antics, if you prefer) too much these days. Nothing the oncoming examinations won't cure...Talking of exams, I've still got a pile of books waiting to be read, and look at what I'm doing. *shakes head*