Music – Notes of Mindscapes

If Music Be The Food of Love, Play On

Oh it’s been a very very very long time since my last post and here I wanna tell you. I’ve graduated and I’m a clinical psychologist now!

On my grad day (photo captured by my friend Anjar)

I really love music so then I wrote a thesis about music therapy. Believe me, combining psychology, biology, and music is really something but thank God I enjoyed it a lot (and finally graduated). Ah, so let’s talk about music.

***

I’ve been a fan of Bandung Philharmonic, a pro orchestra from Bandung for about a year (or more I think). Right after I graduated on last September I got a chance to see their first symphony concert in this season at Hilton Bandung. Thank to Josh for this.

Tuesday, November 27th: Right two weeks ago, Bandung Philharmonic collaborated with Hilton Bandung to held an event called “If Music Be The Food of Love, Play On”. I came to this one too! (oh it’s so catchy I’m gonna use it as my post title)

So in this event, Hilton Bandung’s executive chef, Chef Tony Saputra collaborated with three musicians from Bandung Philharmonic to give a special and different experience for their audience. Chef Tony make food that inspired by classical songs they play. The three musicians are Cooper Wright on oboe, Bob Stoel on horn and Hazim Suhadi on piano.

They play their instrument and Chef Tony make food inspired by the songs played

Pak Kevin, Hilton Bandung’s GM give his speech

And here’s the food. Too bad Chef Tony didn’t come so I couldn’t ask a lot about the ingredients, inspiration, and bla bla bla. But I think it’s ok as long as the food come lol 😛

I came to Hilton Bandung several times to taste their food and as expected, Chef Tony’s masterpieces are always amazing. The outstanding one for me was the appetizer: Soft Shell Crab. Oh I still can feel it on my tongue! Not to say that the others are dissappointed, but I always have “my best list” for every set-menu I tasted and for that night the winner is Soft Shell Crab!

I met a new friend too at that night, Amanda.

Ko Charles and Josh (again)! It’s so exciting to see familiar face here (photo captured by Amanda)

The best song at that night (for me) was D.E.T.I.K by Indonesian Composer, Nathan Iskandar. I love Bengawan Solo by Gesang too! Indonesian classical songs are already beautiful right? And the trio made this more and more beautiful.

Sunday, December 2nd: Five days after that night, Hilton Bandung and Bandung Philharmonic collaborated (again) for a concert titled Holiday Concert. This time, thank to Hilton Bandung, I could come to their press conference (as part of media team :P) to know more everything about the concert will be held.

Robert Nordling (music director) and Joel Navarro (chorus master)

L-R: Pak Kevin (Hilton Bandung), Rama Widi, Ferry Chandra, Christopher Abimanyu, Robert Nordling, Regina Handoko, Heny Janawati, Joel Navarro, Airin Efferin, Winda (Hilton Bandung)

Sunday came and I was ready.

Thank you Hilton Bandung for letting me step into the ballroom before audience (photo captured by Bagus)

Michael Hall (music director) and Airin Efferin (CEO Bandung Philharmonic)

The concert began with Overture in D, a song composed by another Indonesian talented composer, Filipus Wisnumurti Pranoto. By the way I came to another concert weeks before (it’s Acacia Youth String Orchestra Bandung) and his other work also performed there. Guess what. He, the composer, is 8 years younger than me. Oh my, so young and talented. After that a beautiful piece of Concerto No. 5 (Jan Krtitel Krumpholtz) performed with Rama Widi as a soloist. He is Indonesian finest harpist who has performed with various orchestras around the world.

The soloists: Ferry Chandra, Heny Janawati, Christoper Abimanyu, Regina Handoko

At the session two Bandung Philharmonic introduce their choir group and the soloists. There are Regina Handoko (soprano), Heny Janawati (alto), Christopher Abimanyu (tenor) and Ferry Chandra (bass). They sang four Christmas masterpieces: Messiah (Georg Friedrich Handel), Winter Wonderland (Felix Bernard), Dreaming of a White Christmas (Irving Berlin), and Sleigh Ride (Leroy Anderson). The audience are allowed to record the last three songs and upload it on social media. For you who don’t know: you are not allowed to record performances in almost all classical concerts so I can say that it was a super-rare opportunity.

Bob Stoel who played horn at the previous concert was a part of this concert too.

Hi there Bob! (photo captured by Amanda)

What a happy night! I came to Hilton Bandung often to stay, to taste their food, to see their art exhibition, and I start to like to come for this music thingy. Keep having good events, Hilton Bandung, so I’ll keep coming to you 😛

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At the same time same day, Soomin, my friend from Korea also watched an orchestra concert. It’s HPO Hyundae Philharmonic Orchestra. What a coincident!

HPO Hyundae Philharmonic Orchestra (photo cr: Soomin)

Soomin with her sister (whom a viola player), her sister’s soon to be husband (yeah they’ll get married in this weekend!) and her mother (photo cr: Soomin)

It’s always exciting when you have friend with same hobbies. Both of us love drawing and music too! And next week I will see her and have a year-end trip together. Think it will be fun, can’t wait!

JoJo in 40 Days

Another concert in 40 days and I’ll play a K-Pop song. Can you believe that I’ll play K-Pop at a classical concert? It all started when Mrs. Mela, my piano teacher, asked me to join the concert and offered me to choose my own song, then I told it to my friend Giza.

She said, “I’ll come to your concert if you play K-Pop.” Then I randomly choose JoJo by SHINee. I submitted it to Mrs. Mela the song and she approved it. It was just like… what? Did she just say yes? So that’s how the story goes. I’m going to play a K-Pop song on a classical concert just because Giza asked it.

Btw since my activities going busier and busier, this could be my last concert 🙁 I left my job and decided to continue my study, now I’m a graduate student and I gotta put my study above everything, even above my hobbies. Don’t have enough time to do piano practice everyday and it seems that I have to leave my music school in the near future. So if this my really last (not-really) classical concert, just hope I’ll play the song well. Aamiin.

Cheers,

Piano Tutorial: Do and Don’t

1. Do: lift your wrist. Don’t: rest your wrist on piano keys. Even though it sounds sooo basic, but yes some of pianists still do this lazy-man gesture.

2. Do: put your repertoire at the front holder. Don’t: put the repertoire on the floor.

3. Do: normal feet position. Right feet to push the right and middle treadle, left feet for left treadle. Don’t: cross your feet. You’re playing piano, not attending arisan ibu-ibu.

That’s all, thank you and hope it helps (I know it does). Bye!

Cheers,

Sungha’s Concert, Confirmed!

One of the most-talented-fingerstyle-guitarists in the world, Jung Sungha, will come to Indonesia! This is what I’ve been waiting so long. Oh my, I still remember how I surprised my friends during the KKN days (KKN is like a community development participation class that I had to take). It was on January, when I still on my bed and not fully awake (maybe it was about at 5 am) I checked my email and opened facebook on my handphone. There was an announcement on fb that said that Sungha will come to Indonesia on this December and suddenly I shouted “AAAHH!!” loudly. Some of my friends came closer and asked me why I shouted so loud. Hahahaaa it was funny that when I told them the (unimportant) reason of my shout they didn’t really care and went back to their lovely bed. They thought something happened to me. Sorry fellas. Yeah it was January. Too much euphoria for 11-months-more thing, it came too much when it shouldn’t, haha..

Now I know that the concert will be held on November – not December. I’ll see Sungha with my friend, Giza. Yesterday the presale came out and we were very excited! After some process we did, finally we got the VVIP seat! It’s numbered seat, we dunno the number yet, but we hope we’ll get the front seat, amin! Every time I think about it, I do very excited! Imagine how me and Giza shake Sungha’s hand (yeah, we also got the meet and greet session), talk to him, ask him to sign our paper or book or cloth or guitar or something we bring, idk.

The photo above is me, Sungha, and Giza. See how much Sungha and Giza look alike? Hahhaa, that’s why I always say that Sungha is Giza’s brother, lol. Okay, now is D-110 to the great day (don’t call me freak to count the day, I use day counter on my laptop). It’s kinda funny that I want time fly so fast for things like this but want it to be frozen for some other things, hmm. Now I just wanna say, “Can’t wait to see ya, Sungha!”

regards,

Yes, I am the lucky one!

Actually this is a copy version of the latest post on my tumblr with the same title. On this one, I just translate it in English. So for you guys who have read my tumblr, please don’t be bored and enjoy the flow of my words~ Here we go!

I saw Jason Mraz! After a sad story on last November 2011, I had 3 VIP Jason Mraz’s concert free passes but couldn’t go to Bali, finally last night I saw and sang along with him on his tour in Jakarta. Thanks, God!

What I got from his concert last night?
Before the concert began, I saw Chevrina and Kamga from Tangga, a famous vocal group from Indonesia. I asked my friends (Gugun, Janet, and kak Astrid), “Do I look tacky if I come there and ask for their signature?” and they said, “No, it’s okay.” Then I came to them and I got this.

Even though I like Tangga since I was on high school, actually I looked for Vidi Aldiano, a famous handsome singer (>,<) He is Nitnot’s favorite, hhahahhaaa.. We knew that Vidi would come to Jason Mraz’s concert then Nitnot asked me if I meet him, I had to say her greeting to Vidi. I didn’t sure I could see him because there was more than 6 thousand people at Senayan. But, I said to Gugun, Janet and Kak Astrid that I looked for Vidi since the concert began. When the concert was over and we wanted to go home, kak Astrid said “That’s Vidi with the stripe one!” and she pointed to someone. I thought she was joking but then I knew that it isn’t. That was the real Vidi Aldiano! I followed him and finally I got this.

Hi Nitnot (from Vidi)

The link above is a 6 seconds video that Vidi made for Nitnot. Just open the link and you’ll see what it is but if it isn’t really clear on your ears, here I write it for you.

“Halo Nitnot, ini Vidi Aldiano. Teman kamu nyuruh saya bilang HAI untuk kamu. Bye!”
“Hello Nitnot, this is Vidi Aldiano. Your friend asked me to say HI to you. Bye!”

The photo above, a bit blury. Hahhaa I captured it by myself and my hand was shaaaaaaaaking~

That’s about the other. Then how about Mr. A-Z? Well I didn’t capture any photo or record any video about him last night. Too nervous to make a great photo or video (actually I did but it’s blury) and it was too far! Seriously, I got nothing about Jason on my camera. And for the last, this is me and Gugun at Jason’s banner.

So, I’ve seen Jason with my own eyes, met Chevrina, Kamga, and the one who I looked for in more than 6 thousand people, Vidi Aldiano. Now I can say that I am the lucky one! Yes, I am!

And now I’m hoaaaaaaaahm.. sleepy. Bye fellas, have a good night (or day)!

regards,

Oh?

Last Wednesday, just 2 days after Mrs. Mela asked me to join a concert, she texted me. Told me that I had to came to my music school to take another piano sheets. I will not play 1 song, but 3 songs because she said the song before is too short. Errrr.. (-_-“)

So yesterday I met her and received the sheets. I’ve joined a concert before. On my last concert I played Humoresque, a 2 minutes song and learned it in 1 month. I also had join a competition. I play Sechs Lieder ohne Worte, a 3.5 minutes song, learned in 3 months. Now I gotta play 3 songs and only have 15 days left? Wow. And oh.

Seriously, I have to learn hard for this! I slept late yesterday and today it will happen again, I think. Hope I can play it well, amin. GANBATTE! Okay, see you on the next post!

regards,

Yeayy!

Yesterday my piano teacher asked me to join a piano concert on this September yeay! And I said (absolutely) yes, OMG! On last August 16th I said to myself that I want to play piano at concert, again.

For this one, I will play Footpath in the Rain, a song by M. Konishi at Centre Culturel Francais in Bandung on September 23rd. Even though it’s only a one minute song I’ll learn it hard. It was D-18 when I asked to join and I told Megan, my friend from Texas about this. She said it’s really really awesome and I should be proud and honored I were asked to join. Of course, Meg!

Okay, I have to go now. I’ll share my another story here, next time.

Cheers,