Monthly Archive for November, 2005

Fire

Technology have change rapidly and so are the toys that children play nowadays. However, there’s something after thousands of years some kids still play with… Fire.

No, I’m talking about the recent fire bombs that some teens in France.

It was an evening however while I was sitting on the garden bench, enjoying the breeze, seeing children playing at the playground, some at an elderly fitness corner, some kids playing badminton, then something caught my eye. It was a shot of dark flame shooting from a bottle.

Curious, I walked in their direction. A few kids, around the age of 10+, were gathered around that excitement. By the time I reached them, it seems they had finished their fun.

Evidences I could find in my quick look - Burnt matches, a medicine like glass bottle, a plastic mineral water bottle, and what seems like cotton swaps.

From what I made up, from that glass bottle was alcohol content. The cotton was used to absorb that, placed in the plastic bottle then turned around to release the flammable gas to a lighted match cause a moment a small burst of flame shooting out from the bottle.

Years ago, it was on the news, some boys were caught for playing explosive by packing fire sparklers fillings in a can.

Thinking back, I was one played with fire when I was younger. My parents and brother used to say I burned my pyjamas and also myself when I was younger when playing with lanterns(or was it fire sparklers at my grandma house in Malaysia?).

I was more curious than the usual I say. In my primary school day, I was know more how saw dust powder can be flammable by reading the encyclopedia.

There’s always a warning on batteries or canned products like hair spray warning not to disposed in fire. Interest ignited from the flammable word on a perfume can, I bought a cheap perfume spray. Lighted some stuff up and then spray it from a distance, I had my own “flame thrower”.

Later I learnt how to make a “rocket” utilising nothing more than a box of fire sparklers. In my most successful model, it flew about 2 stories and bust with a loud “boom”. Adults around wondered what happen and if it was an explosion.

On the not so dangerous site, I learn a magic trick on how to light a safety match without the matchbox. I also bought a zippo light and practiced a few simple zippo tricks

Ironically, in ns I learning about explosives in army. However with age, I should be more sensible. Knowing the dangers of explosive, like the knowledge of cruelty of car and suicide bombings, I play with fire no more.

Chopin Funeral Marches

Today(06 Nov 2005), I have recorded 3 of Chopin’s Funeral March. Performance wise, I think its not even practice standard. Recording wise, quality “as good” as my playing, stored in compressed wave on my cheap muvo fm mp3 player / voice recorder(ima adpcm 8kHz, mono, 4bit, 32kbps). Its played on the untuned Bohemia piano in my home. Maybe if you had heard me performing before entering national service or about 1 year ago, you might certainly hear some rust. Then ago, recording always make me nervous and I have never play better to anyone than to myself. Not to give any more excuses, I think the most important reason is that I dont have a good standard and have never reach anywhere near perfect. Anyway these recording are just for my fun and hopeful to your entertainment.

“Chopin has 3 funeral marches?? So what they?”, you might ask.

1. Sonata Op.35 Marche Funebre
The most commonly heard, known and loved version I think. Its actually the center extract from Chopin Sonata Op.35 (Movement 2?)where it is written Marche Funebre.

2. Prelude in C Minor Op.28 No.20
I dont think Chopin named it funeral march but it is the nickname for Chopin’s Prelude in C Minor Op.28 No.20. Rachmaninoff wrote variations on this- “Variations on a Theme of Chopin”.

3. Funeral March, Op.72 No.2
This is the only piece I found which is titled Funeral March by Chopin. Its his Op. 72 No.2. I dont think its very popular although many others like I learned to love this piece.

Simlarities I have noticed between these 3 pieces.
-Minor Key.
-Have a dotted and halved rythmn. (although sometimes I get lazy and dont play them well)
-With a distinct peasant melody in the center of the music(exception the prelude), before its recurring theme

Something else interesting? I’m not sure if any of these funeral marches are played in Chopin Funeral, but according to what I have read on the old Chopin Files, the Prelude in E minor, Op. 28 No.4 “Suffocation” on the organ.

And oh for those who want the scores for the pieces, you can find them on Sheet Music Archive

Also see this thread in chopin files forum for comments by others

20 Years

… is the measure of men’s time since I appeared out from my mom’s womb.

Thank God, I am still alive this day. More what I can remember, is the numerous occasions that I could have met death, or suffer, if I was not preserved through near death situations.

A “Thank you” to those who remembers my birthday, and the well wishes and gifts you have gave me.