Looking for solitude from the hectic city life, an amateur entomologist, Niki Junpei, travels to the barren outlands. He hopes to find a new species of insect that will see his name recorded for posterity. Engrossed, Junpei misses the last bus home. The local villagers suggest he stay the night and the tired man gladly takes up the offer. He is led to a decrepit hut located deep within a sand pit. Climbing down via a makeshift rope ladder, he passes the night there with the “landlady”. Morning comes; the ladder is gone; he is trapped. With no way out, Junpei finds that his nightmare is just beginning.

Kobo Abe adapts his own novel for the big screen, which is brought to vivid life by director Hiroshi Teshigahara. Shot stunningly by Hiroshi Segawa, Woman in the Dunes is a film filled with fascinating images designed to provoke, placate and perturb the viewer.

Witness, for example, how Teshigahara employs the extreme close-up: a nape here; the back of a thigh there; fingers moving sensually to their own silent rhythm. All disembodied, all glistening with sweat, all covered in the ever-present dirt, grime and sand. Ignited by a magnetic, sensuous charge, proximity seduces us to these images, like Junpei to the woman in the hut. But as with living in a shack surrounded by loose sand, the sense of danger is always around, always palpable.

So do we embrace our desires? Or do we heed the danger and do what we can to preserve ourselves? Junpei yearns for a quieter life and official name recognition. He gets both, but not in the way he imagined. On the other hand, the woman is ever aware of the threat from the sand. So she works tirelessly each night to clear its danger. This prompts Junpei to ask her: “Are you living to shovel, or shovelling to live?”

Therein the question lies the crux of the film. The hut in the pit is a microcosm of life, envisioned as a Sisyphean song looping and re-looping on the tracks of sleep, food, water and sex. Is there all there is? Or does the pursuit of more necessarily lead to the sacrifice of our very existence? The film provides no clear answers.

With this effort, Teshigahara has crafted a bizarre, but unforgettable masterpiece. So sink back, sit deep, and let yourself fall, like sand through an hourglass, into the spellbinding grasp of the Woman in the Dunes.

This review first appeared in High Browse, Auteurs and Authors edition.

Speaker: Ng Tian Hui, local composer
Guest appearance by composer, Zhou Long

Internationally recognized for creating a unique body of music that brings together the aesthetic concepts and musical elements of East and West, Zhou Long is a pioneer in transferring the idiomatic sounds and techniques of ancient Chinese musical traditions to modern Western instruments and ensembles. Join local composer Ng Tian Hui as he leads you on an exciting dialogue in an attempt to discover more about Zhou Long and his much anticipated Flute Concerto which will have its world premiere by the SSO in this concert.

SSO Pre-Concert Talks

Want to know interesting facts about the music and composers to be performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra?

Join our speakers one hour prior to selected concerts as they pour their passion and energy into bringing music alive for the novice and the experienced music lover alike. Our talks are informal, informative and interactive. Get the most out of your concert-going experience by attending the concert after each pre-concert talk!

Admission to all Pre-Concert Talks is free.

*****

Prize Premieres

Thu, 17 Jul 08
7:30pm, Esplanade Concert Hall

Featuring:
Lan Shui conductor
Sharon Bezaly flute

Repertoire/ Programme:
ZHOU LONG - Flute Concerto WORLD PREMIERE
RACHMANINOV - Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27

Synopsis:
Sharon Bezaly joins the SSO in the much-anticipated world premiere of Zhou Long’s Flute Concerto. The failure of his First Symphony caused Rachmaninov to approach his Second with much trepidation, but it would turn out to be an expansive work filled with inspired and memorable melodies which won the Glinka prize the year it was premiered.

For ticketing and other information, please visit the SSO website, here.

Ed: Looks like a musical July in store for you at the library@esplanade! Look forward to jazz performances, a showcase of Chinese music and our regular SSO Pre-Concert Talk in this month of sweet notes and music. On another note, don’t forget to check out our related posts on jazz and blues!

Jazz with Scott Wilson
Date/Time: Saturday Jul 5, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Venue: Open Stage in library@esplanade

Jazz. The very word is synonymous with America. To celebrate Independence Day, the U.S Embassy of Singapore and the National Library Board present renowned Jazz artist, Scott Wilson. Come be enthralled by Scott’s immense musical talent that will be sure to jazz up Saturday evening. Scott has diverse international performance credits and has composed for and performed in the internationally acclaimed One O’Clock band. He is also the President-Elect of the International Association for Jazz Educators Utah Unit.

SSO Pre-Concert Talk - Prize Premieres
Date/Time: Thursday Jul 17, 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Venue: Open Stage in library@esplanade

Click here for details.

Music Express 14: Live Mini Concert by NTU Chinese Society
Date/Time: Saturday Jul 19, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Venue: Open Stage in library@esplanade
Language: Mandarin

Music Express is an annual event organised by the NTU Chinese Society. To date, it has been held for 13 consecutive years. In previous years, we have had the great pleasure of inviting some distinguished guests to grace our event. Singapore’s distinguished producer, Mr. Xu Huanliang and Mr. Goh Kheng Long attended as the Guest of Honor and judge for the event. We also managed to invite popular regional artistes Ah Du, Zhang Feng Qi, Joi Chua and Sodagreen to perform at the event as special guests. Our rising superstar, Kelly Poon, was also one of our participants in the event. Campus superstar finalists Gao Mei Gui, Huang Yun Qin and Yang Ce also sparkled at the finals of Music Express 13.

Music Express 14 continues to provide a platform for aspiring song writers and lyricists to showcase their works. The competition was extended beyond the NTU campus to reach out to talents in tertiary institutions, polytechnics and junior colleges, as well as local universities. By doing so, we hope to nurture more outstanding talents for the local music scene and to educate and expose the general public to the art of songwriting and the relevant skills involved such as demo-making.

Music Express 14: Mini Concert at The Esplanade Library on the 19th of July has young vocalists from the NTU Chinese Society Singing Club and Music Express Alumni belting out popular mandarin songs and original compositions that garnered awards in the previous Music Express competitions. So join us and indulge in an afternoon of melodious voices and soothing music!

Saturday Jazz by U.R.S Connextion
Date/Time: Saturday Jul 19, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Venue: Open Stage in library@esplanade

Jazz was largely introduced by the African American community in the Southern United States in the beginning of the 20th century. From ragtime to swing, Bebop to fusion, jazz has shaped a great part of America’s 20th century history. Need more proof? Check out The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece that chronicles the “Jazz Age” where the riches and glamour clashes uncomfortably with the unrestrained materialism and lack of morality.

To jazz up your Saturday, we invite you to join us for a performance by Ryan and his buddies from U.R.S Connextion. Don’t forget to check out our collections from the American Embassy as well!

Divos, Divas and a Pianist (Vocal Recital Preview)
Saturday 28 June 2008
2.00pm – 2.40pm
Open Stage, library@esplanade
Presented by Leslie Tay & Friends

This library@esplanade performance is a preview of a classical vocal recital that some friends and I are putting together on the 4th of July. Details of that concert can be found at the end of this blog entry. The recital will include music by composers like Handel, Mozart, Rossini, Purcell, Ravel, Faure, Debussy, Mahler, Schubert, Tosti, Bolcom and Bernstein.

Who am I?

I’m Leslie Tay, a tenor currently pursuing a Master of Music degree at the Manhattan School of Music. I’m back for my summer break and thought it a nice idea to put together a little recital with some friends and perform music we are currently working on in our lessons or on our own; in other words, we are taking this music on a test drive during the recital by performing it live in front of an audience, much of it for the first time.

Who are my friends?

Marianne Tan is a petite lady with a lovely soprano; Phua Ee Kia is our powerhouse countertenor; David Charles Tay is the other tenor with his fresh, appealing voice; Lai Quan Hui is the baritone with a clean focussed sound; Daniel Ho is a singer in possession of a sturdy, sexy bass. Those are the divos and divas. Finally, the most important performer of all is our sweet and wonderful pianist, Neo Ming Wei who can really work up a storm when she gets her hands on those ivories.

Why do a classical vocal recital?

The answer is simple; because we all love this music. For me, this passion, which began when I was 13, eventually found me applying to music school two years ago. Amazingly, I got accepted. More amazingly, I was going to be in Manhattan! I was definitely excited! To be a music student in New York City is incredible for the city offers so many different types of performances; opera at the Metropolitan Opera or the New York City Opera, classical music by the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall, vocal recitals at Carnegie Hall, musicals and plays on Broadway and off Broadway, jazz in any of the many jazz clubs, free performances by students at the various music schools etc … and all these on one single night!

Over the past year that I’ve been away studying, I’ve had the privilege of watching many of these wonderful performances and am constantly awed and humbled by the incredible amount of passion and talent these artistes bring to the stage. In a time when so many things seem to be going wrong with the world we are living in, the arts have an increasingly crucial role to play in our lives. Some will entertain and refresh us, taking us away from life’s troubles for a few hours. Others will challenge perspectives, ignite imaginations and plant the seed for societal change. And then there are those that will touch on an individual level, offering emotional healing.

So what does all this have to do with you?

Everything. Those of us who work at bettering our craft on the stage are nothing if we don’t have people to perform in front of. Our music has to be received by a receptive audience, an audience willing to laugh and cry with us, who understands that much work has gone into preparing each performance and who knows how much courage it takes to stand on stage, vulnerable in front of an auditorium full of strangers, sharing our voices and our emotions.

So we invite you to be that audience and come watch this little preview by the seven of us and perhaps you may find yourself interested in watching the actual recital the week after. We look forward to meeting you!

Concert Details

Divos, Divas and a Pianist
Friday 4 July 2008
8pm-10pm

Venue:
Young Musicians’ Society Auditorium
54 Waterloo Street, YMS Arts Centre
(near Singapore Art Museum)

Tickets:
$10 General Admission

For ticketing enquiries, please email leslietay78@gmail.com or
call 9773 9607.

In Conversation with International Film Festival Programmers

Dates: 21 & 28 June 2008
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade
Admission is free. Details follow…

Film festival programming is a complex and under-examined process. How are films selected and what are the considerations of film programmers when deciding on films for their festivals? How do programmers balance a selection of cinematically experimental works with popular crowd-pleasers, whether they be for retrospectives or world premieres? How do film festivals contribute to film culture and the success of filmmakers?

To be in official selection in high-profile international film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, and Locarno is a prestigious highlight of every filmmakers’ career. Each year, the press, the film industry, and the public make pilgrimages to these festivals to scrutinise the selection of films by the programmers. Film festivals have also evolved over the years, by widening the scope of their agendas, for instance, launching new festival activities such as film markets, funding programmes, networking platforms, film school projects and residencies. How do such film festivals help carve the success of the films and filmmakers they showcase?

“Everyone knows that acceptance to a high-profile fest ratchets up the chances of a film’s success. But few understand the mechanics of the selection process.” Patricia Thomson, Variety.

Asian Film Archive Presents
In Conversation with Jacob Wong (Locarno International Film Festival)

Date: 21 June 2008
Time: 1:00 - 2.30pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Jacob Wong

Jacob Wong has been curator of the Hong Kong International Film Festival since 1997. He is also the delegate of the Berlin IFF, the Locarno IFF and Mexico’s Los Cabos IFF in Asia. He has also curated film programmes for other festivals and institutions, the most recent being “The State of the World” for the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian in Lisbon, in celebration of the institute’s 50th anniversary.

Asian Film Archive Presents
In Conversation with Raymond Phathanavirangoon (Toronto International Film Festival) and Christoph Terhechte (Berlin International Film Festival)

Date: 28 June 2008
Time: 4:30 – 6:00pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Raymond Phathanavirangoon

Raymond Phathanavirangoon is an international programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival. He previously worked as Director of Marketing & Special Projects for international sales agent Fortissimo Films, where he was responsible for the acquisition of Asian films. Some of the titles he helped acquire included Cannes Competition entry SERBIS from the Philippines, Korean Berlin Panorama title NO REGRET, Venice Competition title HELP ME EROS from Taiwan, and others.

He was also in charge of marketing, having directed acclaimed posters and presskits for titles such as TAXIDERMIA and PLEASURE FACTORY. He also works as the International Programmer at the Toronto Reel Asian film Festival, and was previously the English Editor for the Hong Kong International Film Festival. He was a member of the Teddy Jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2007.

Christoph Terhechte

Christoph Terhechte was born in 1961 in the city of Münster, Westphalia. He studied political science and journalism at the University of Hamburg and has worked as a film journalist since 1984. In 1987, he was hired as a writer in Hamburg for the “taz” daily newspaper. In 1988 he moved to Paris for two years, working as a freelance journalist. Up until 1990, he also worked on the film selection and editorial work of the European Low Budget Film Forum in Hamburg. In 1991 he became film editor at the Berlin city magazine “tip”. Christoph Terhechte has been a member of the selection committee of the Forum since the end of 1997. In June, 2001 he was appointed head of this Berlinale section.

Screening: Woody Allen’s Manhattan
Date/Time: Saturday Jun 21, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

No other film has better epitomised the spirit of New York more than Woody Allen’s Manhattan. Shot in 1979, this romantic movie features Woody Allen as Isaac, a man who loves New York and is caught between two women–Tracy, a 17-year-old high school girl and Mary, his best friend’s mistress. 

Piano Performance by Mae Morton
Date/Time: Saturday Jun 21, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Join us for a melodious evening as accomplished pianist Mae Morton brings you a selection of classical pieces by the likes of Brahms, Beethoven and DeBussy.

Divos, Divas and a Pianist (Vocal Recital Preview)  by Leslie Tay and Friends
Date/Time: Saturday Jun 28, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Join some of Singapore’s emerging classical singers as they not only present a selection of vocal pieces but also explain what makes opera and song so fun for them!

Musical Moments
Date/Time: Saturday Jun 28, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Jennifer Chew and her gifted students are back at the library@esplanade to perform perennial classics for us this lazy Saturday afternoon. Join us as we unwind from the week’s toil. 

The following programmes have ended:

Music from Central Asia
Date/Time: Wednesday Jun 11, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Drawing on a range of performance traditions, musicians from Central Asia will illustrate and discuss some of the distinctive elements of the region’s music. Featured styles will include the shaman-inspired vocal and instrumental repertoire of Kazakh bards, lyrical troubadour songs, and virtuosic improvised classical music of Azerbaijan (mugham). Interaction with the performers will be facilitated by a presenter and interpreter with expertise in Central Asian musical traditions.

The workshop will take form of an interactive presentation, a dialogue with the audience and a unique opportunity to explore the notions of music, history and tradition in the presence of artists from Central Asia, bearers of tradition and oral culture, both experienced masters and their young disciples.

Recorder Marvels! Showcase and Talk by QNG (Quartet New Generation)
Date/Time: Sunday Jun 15, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Hailed as “Four Recorder Virtuosos” by The New York Times, QNG (Quartet New Generation) will introduce the early and contemporary music for records through a showcase and talk. They will share insights about the composers and their works, introduce the different types of recorders used and share tips on ensemble playing as well as a Q & A session with participants.

Recorder enthusiasts are welcome to bring along your recorders for an interactive session with the musicians!

From the lame title I’ve coined for this post, I’m sure you’ll have figured out that library@esplanade is holding a loan promotion for M. Night Shyamalan’s latest offering, The Happening!

As per usual, borrow 8 items and stand a chance to win premiums and movie passes to The Happening! Heck, with the Force still strong on D.E.A.R., you might as well get 16 items and stand 2(!) chances to win some goodies from the show. But don’t forget to split the receipts, dears! The Happening promotion runs from 13-22 June 2008, so don’t dilly-dally and come down to the library today!

All premiums and movie passes kindly sponsored by 20th Century Fox.

But wait, wait, wait, WAIT!

That’s not the end of it because all public libraries are also holding a promotion to celebrate the Ian Fleming Centenary and the release of the new James Bond novel, Devil May Care. Written by Sebastian Faulks-writing-as-Ian Fleming (howzat for twists!), be prepared for a ride full of thrills and spills that only this master-within-a-master can conjure!

To win a copy of this book, all you have to do is approach the Customer Service Counter and show your loan receipt of at least 4 borrowed items (combined receipts accepted) to receive a Devil May Care promotion quiz form. Answer the simple quiz, fill up your details and drop it into the contest box provided. Receipts need not be attached to the form.
white noise

This is where you wanna listen well and listen good!

If you wanna stand the chance to win a bundle of stuff from the library@esplanade, here are the steps a certain “guru” (Ed: *ahem*) suggests you take:

1. Grab 16 worthwhile items you wanna borrow from library@esplanade.
   WIN!
2. Separate them into 2 batches of 8 and borrow them all.
   WIN!
3. Grab both receipts and head to our Customer Service Counter to exchange for 4(!!) James Bond promo quiz forms.
   WIN!
4. Fill up the quizzes and drop them into the James Bond promo contest box. DO NOT attach your receipts to the quiz forms!
   WIN!
5. Shuffle over to The Happening promo on your right, fill up your details (name, IC number, telephone and email address) on both receipts and drop them into the promo box provided.

That’s it! You’ve given yourself 6(!!!) chances to win some awesome gifts and premiums! Now how’s that for happening stuff at the library, eh?

Last but not least, here are the lists of recent arrivals at the library. As usual, they’re done up by eLiz, so go ahead and download away! You’ll need a PDF viewer to read the files, yah?

* This listing is non-exhaustive. Please check the catalogue for the availability of the items.

To download the list, “Right Click” and “Save As” on the following links:

• New Arrivals - Week 13.05.2008
• New Arrivals - Week 23.05.2008
• New Arrivals - Week 02.06.2008

To all this great stuff happening at the library@esplanade, as the great John McClane (no, I don’t mean him) once said, “Yippee Ki Yay, Mo—.”

Phew, got so excited I almost got carried away ;)

Recently bought the CD+DVD version of Xuefei Yang’s 2nd international release and I thought of sharing it here. This album succeeds her debut album “Romance de Amor” that was released in 2006. You can have a look at this if you would like to find out more about her.  She is an inspiration to aspiring guitarists.

This album comprises of music from Spain and China, and is given its title because the capital cities of Spain (birth place of the Classical guitar) and China (Xuefei’s birth place) lie near latitude 40 degrees north. The Spanish classical pieces are composed by Isaac Albéniz, Francisco Tárrega, and Enrique Granados. The Chinese pieces ranged from traditional and folk songs like the Jasmine Flower (much popularised by Kenny G on the saxophone) to the symphonic work of Butterfly Lovers Concerto. See track listing here.

This could be the first time that the “Butterfly Lovers” is ever being played on the guitar. Originally composed for the violin, the “Butterfly Lovers Concerto” or  梁山伯与祝英台协奏曲, is one of symbolic concertos written by the Chinese for the western symphony orchestra. It has been performed on many other musical instruments, with accompaniment of a full orchestra.

Fei’s arrangement for the guitar comprises the 1st part of the concerto (first 3 movements) and she played it solo without any accompaniment. Despite so, you could still the experience the orchestration of the music from that one instrument. I would very much like to see her performing the entire piece comprising of 7 movements with a full symphony.

Do check out on this album and in any case, if you couldn’t get hold of the version that comes with the DVD, the content of the DVD is available online from here.

I would like to invite you to participate in the poll below, just to hear from you whether you would like library@esplanade to obtain a copy of this album.

So. Are you red, or green?

*****

If you had an answer to that question, then whichever colour you picked, I’m sure you’ll be interested to know that Murakami Haruki recently gave an exclusive interview to Mainichi Daily News.

Among other things, Murakami talks about the work of translating, the impact American contemporary classics have had on him and what writing is to him. He also lets on a bit about the novel he’s been working on since Kafka on the Shore (2002), an epic which promises to be greater than The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.

All right boys and girls, calm yourselves down, take a deep breathe and start clicking the links below:

1. Haruki Murakami opens up about translating America’s literary giants
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2. Murakami says American contemporary classics ‘really significant’ for his writing
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3. Murakami’s next epic poised to become his biggest ever
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4. ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ helped inspire Murakami to write for his daily bread
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5. Murakami aims to find harmonious balance between globalism and regionalism

For an archive of old interviews with the elusive author, you can check this place out. The New York Times Featured Author section also has some terrific articles on Murakami Haruki.

Closer to NLB, you’ll find QQ*librarian’s thoughts on reading Kafka on the Shore (post 1 and post 2), Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman.

A wager between QQ and Ivan saw the Rambler reading Norwegian Wood. Though I think he read only the second part, from what he wrote. (Ed: Incidentally, Ed has read both books in the wager. Ed loves them both. Ed is on QQ’s side when it comes to reading tastes, though.)

On another note, you might think this post is better suited for High Browse Online. Perhaps it is. But then again, what is a Murakami Haruki novel, if not music?
(Ed: PK didn’t say it, Jay Rubin, M.H.’s long-time translator, did. See: Haruki Murakami and the Music of Words by Jay Rubin, call no. 895.635 RUB. Check catalogue for location and availability.)

Oh, let’s not forget another thing:

I’m just a freaking fanboy.

*****

えっ、僕？

もちろん緑だ。

だって、緑はめちゃ格好いいじゃないですか。

Thong Yang enjoys music. He prefers music in its purest form and feels that good music should stir emotions.

His encounter with music started late at age 13 when he first learned the harmonica. A year later, he went on to pick up the Chinese bamboo flute. He fell in love with the instrument and began studying it seriously.

However, due to other commitments, he chose to sort of “retire into seclusion” soon after winning the 1st prize in the National Music Competition in 1993. Since then, he only performs on the Chinese flute upon request.

About 5 years back, he found affection for the nylon string guitar and ever since, has been trying very hard to master the instrument. He now spends most of his personal time pumping nylon on the fretboard and competing with Barney for his daughter’s attention.