Descent

Just came back from practicing Nathan's piece "Descent." I'm glad Nathan managed to write something real quick for the forum, unlike e who procrastinate all the time which ended up with "zero" output. Well, I'm not glad for my part (the piano) which is this non-stop chords action that is making my hand/fingers sore! Grr, of course part of the fault is me and bad technique. But seriously, I get my fingers entangled at the end of the piece. Aside from that, it's a really awesome piece though.

Went to Jasper's and Josephine's birthday thingy (but mainly Jasper's) with Jasper, Josephine, Min, Brendan, Ryan and Mark on Friday. It was pretty fun indeed, took heaps of photos too! We went to Glenelg, and that was the first time I went there. At the end of the day, I went to one of the restaurants to get Joe and Viv's engagement present (dining voucher thing).

Well, Viv and Joe's engagement thing was on yesterday. Since Viv was a Vietnamese, the engagement ceremony things were done in a Vietnamese way, and it was crazy! I couldn't tell if I were in an engagement party or a wedding! But it was awesome, everybody was pretty, and of course, especially Vivian! Joe, you lucky guy!

Then, I came home, and slept from 6pm till 5am! And then I slept again until like 7:30ish. I had a lot of sleep! =D for once.

Uni

Yesterday was my first day at uni, albeit just an Orientation day (and week). Woke up early and timed myself with the bus so that I would be there around 45 minutes - 1 hour earlier than the opening. Un/Fortunately I got on the O-Bahn bus, the bus that travels through a track, and I was taken to the city in less than half an hour and therefore I was there 1.5 hours earlier than schedule. So I just roamed around the place for a bit.

The VC spoke to us in the Bonython's Hall at 9:30am, the usual stuff and the CEO of Rising Sun Pictures (apparent a graduate of Adelaide University) spoke too. For those who doesn't know, Rising Sun Pictures did the special effects of many Hollywood movies like Harry Potter, The Seeker, Lord of the Rings, the Last Samurai, this and that. I drank a cup of cappuccino and didn't go to the toilet, so I was suffering while listening to the speeches and presentations.

Next was the Con's greeting. It was in the Elder Hall.. This and that spoke and they performed. A Hornist played R. Strauss's Horn concerto, just the first movement, but it ended in the dominant, so it might even be just the exposition. The a Jazz trio played two similar jazz pieces, the ones with just walking bass throughout and the pianist plays the melody/chords.

Then, off to meet my composition teacher. Mr. Charles Bodman-Rae, very British. I met 3 other composition students, Joshua, Andrew and Lauren. After a brief briefing (we were told to meet him at 2 tomorrow and bring our compositions), we left. I was just walking with Andrew when we met Johanna. Andrew is born and raised in Aussie but he is a British, while Johanna is a K.K. Malaysian, with a scholarship to do Piano degree!

Anyway we talked and talked, they are really friendly. After that we went to the MUSCORE briefing and then we left. I then went to the clubs area. I want to join the Adelaide University Gliding Club! Like fly man! Fly! It would be sooo awesome! After that I went to CCM's corner (Christian Church Movement) where Allan and the rest are there packing up already (I went late). They made me carry a cutter and the poster, and they left me there, thinking that I was going with Vivian (whom thought that I was going with them). So I had to go back with a bus. But it's good too, coz when I waited for them for a bit, I saw the Choir Club, and I joined it while searching aimlessly for them. First meeting today at 5:30pm.

Nothing much happens after than other than sleep, chat, eat, msn, etc..

Internet...

The new place didn't have an internet, but then after a while of trying to configure the internet and a long while of getting, "please hold the line" from the ISP, we finally get an internet and atm, I am writing with home internet in the kitchen, erm because there isn't wireless modem...

Anyway, I went to Adelaide Uni yesterday and did the welcome briefing stuff. It seems like I am a magnet to Hongky because the first person I made friend with is a Hongky -_- Oh well, and then I met Stephen Whittington and he kindly took me around the Music Faculty in Adelaide Uni, and maaaan, it's reaaaaly huge! It doesn't have a single building + location like the Con in Sydney but this place is the place to be!

Schulz building from 4 - 11th floor is occupied by the music department, and that 11-floor building is basically monopolised by the School of Music. Then the buildings around it are actually mainly used by the School of Music too. And there is the Elder Hall which was built 1900 in a Revival Gothic style. They are all awesome!

Oh, something Felix might like very much, the technology department in the School of Music has two computer labs, both filled with at least 15 MacPros each! One of the rooms uses normal computer's monitors but the other uses these nice Mac monitors! Felix, if you were there, you would be "lau nua"-ing.

Anyway so I enrolled and the subjects I enrolled in for the first semester are as follows:

• Composition I Part 1
  
• Music History Foundations IA
  
• Introduction to Theory and Analysis
• Music Technology I Part 1

This is going to be really exciting, although I have to attend class everyday, thanks to Music Technology! T_T 1 Class on Tuesday due to Mus. Tech. And Introduction to Theory and Analysis Tutorial on Friday! 1 Hour classes on both Tuesday and Friday, how crap!

Well, let's see how things go. I'm going to the city to get a wireless modem now. Till then.

Interview

There isn't much new stuff to talk about. Besides, I went to do my interview today! It was horrible! I waited for 40 minutes, everyone had done their interview before I went in. Well they asked me questions and I answered them timidly, because it was so quiet and they weren't even responding much! The situation was pretty coool there. But I went through it. Thank God, He's always good. Oh well. That's all for today.

ST

Lord of lords

LORD OF LORDS
Words & Music by Brooke Fraser

VERSE 1
Beholding Your beauty
Is all that I long for
To worship You Jesus
Is my sole desire
For this very heart
You have shaped for Your pleasure
Purposed to lift Your Name higher

VERSE 2
Here in surrender
In pure adoration
I enter Your courts
With an offering of praise
I am Your servant
Come to bring You glory
As is fit for the work of Your hands

CHORUS 1
Unto the Lamb who sits on the throne
Be glory and honour and praise
All of creation resounds with the song
Worship and praise Him
The Lord of lords

VERSE 3
Spirit now living
And dwelling within me
Keep my eyes fixed
Ever on Jesus' face
Let not the things of this world
Ever sway me
I'll run 'til I finish the race

CHORUS 1
Unto the Lamb who sits on the throne
Be glory and honour and praise
All of creation resounds with the song
Worship and praise the Lord

CHORUS 2
Unto the Lamb who sits on the throne
Be glory and honour and praise
All of eternity echoes the song
Worship and praise Him
The Lord of lords

BRIDGE
Holy Lord
You are holy
Jesus Christ
Is the Lord

CHORUS 3
Unto the Lamb who sits on the throne
Be glory and honour and praise
Call all the sinners to join in the song
Worship and praise Him
The Lord of lords

Hillsong Music

Photos of the Messiah Concert

Here's some photos of the Messiah Concert, but you could see all in my webgallery. Just click the link on the right module.

Queenie and I (before the practice)

Ginny, Queenie and I (before the practice)

Rehearsal

Me playing the organ

Me and Queenie against the organ

More Exams...

Yes, I do look happy, don't I, Steph... But MORE EXAMS!!!! Tomorrow. Derrick just called me after his audition, which went bad according to him, which means it went all right. So, he told me that I can take the musicianship test tomorrow. Queenie, Derrick, Dickson and I already confirmed that we are doing it tomorrow. Nicola and Andrew, don't know yet, but they will most likely be doing it tomorrow at 1pm too.

Derrick mentioned to me that there are a lot of people who are interviewing for the composition program too. I am now a bit worried, but I will leave it to God. I'll do my best and it is His choice whether He wants me to do composition here or not.

Alright, on to the next topic, going to Mario's pizzeria tomorrow! After the bloody exam! Grr. Yeah, it's gonna be cool! Hooray! At least for a while.

Doesn't matter, I'll try to go to the beach again today... =p

Piano Exam and Andreas' Last CG This Year

Piano exam... Was pretty exciting actually. I was pretty ok I guess. Toccata was bad though. The last part just messed the entire performance. Liszt was terrific and Mozart was good. We overheard Mr. Wu's conversation with the Con's guy regarding our marks. Apparently I got 25/30 while Queenie got 25.5/30. Haha. For mine, 7.5/10 for Bach, 9/10 for Liszt and 8.5/10 for Mozart. Should have played something I am familiar with, then I might get an extra mark or something =p

Well I am glad that everything is done! After all these, Dickson and I went to Zhu Mama Restaurant thing to eat. It was pretty good IMO. I was really full though.

Then I went to Darling Harbour to have our Connect Group. Andreas' last one before he goes back to Sweden.

Two things happened with the mostly-drunk high school people who were having formals (prom).

Firstly, a guy borrowed Gary's skateboard and handed Gary his booze. Then went on doing flips etc, before finally destroying Gary's skateboard, one wheel came off.

Discussing about Gary's skate?

Well of course Gary got pretty upset and rattled on the whole night about how destroyed his skateboard is.

And then, after the skateboard incident, suddenly I heard a big thump on my left and when I turned my head to the left, I saw this.

Fainted!

Yep, a girl fainted and I am pretty sure (1000%) that it was caused by the bottle of alcohol she held when she fell down. Well, heaps happened in between. Marli, Andreas and a lady tried to help her. A guy came to call the ambulance. But her mates were like, "no don't call the ambulance, don't ****-ing call anyone," etc. And they made her stand up and said nothing is wrong with her and it is normal. Well, then a big huge guy (one of them) came and carried her away.

Kids these days... tsk tsk tsk... So irresponsible. Marli and Andreas (and the other lady) were trying their best to convince them to take her to hospital to at least get her checked (because she fell from a higher place). Oh and Amanda was calling someone already. But these people just don't care about their friend I guess.

After that we went to the foodcourt, not to eat but to talk (only Anggi ate). And then we prayed as usual and took photos.

Here are some photos taken today.

More can be seen at http://gallery.mac.com/steventanoto

While waiting for everyoneAndreas, David and I


Andreas and I


One big happy combined CG-family!

As for the next connectgroup, I am the new leader, but I hope I can have combined CG with Marli.

Messiah Chorus Practice

After the going-to-the-beach incident, I went to choir practice. The choir seemed so unusually extra draggy all the time tonight. It's almost like the accompanist and the conductor was beating a few millisecond before us (well of course due to the fact that we are slow).

Well, the usual stuff happened, we practiced the whole thing and it ended gorgeously at the Amen Fugue. Oh how I love the music! So, next practice on Saturday will be at Shore School together with everyone! All the massed choir, I think there are two more venues till today, so it should be a lot of people!

I am not exactly excited or looking forward to tomorrow's piano practical. I haven't practiced at all and it is going to be a miracle if I can pull through it without a mess. But I am expecting a miracle! *wishful thinking* And I'm going to thank God for that first! Haha.

Cooking for lunch tomorrow. Should be good, hopefully it's not uncooked.

ST

Schubert String Quintet in C major.

Check this out!

Music theory exam yesterday... ugh, I lost like 4 marks coz of a silly mistake! Italian 6th, and I wrote Neapolitan 6th. Doesn't matter.

Anyway, aside from the fact that I bought 3 DVDs and I bought a book, today was a pretty uneventful day. Boring indeed. Morning was spent playing the fightclub stuff on facebook and chatted away with my mates.

I don't even know what to do tomorrow, besides the 10 hour piano practice of course *cough cough*.

Oh yeah, Powerhouse yesterday was awesome too, Carl Lenz brought the word. He is from the US. Said something about how to keep being passionate. And touched the topic "Your Mama".

I'm currently composing a Requiem, I guess I'm on to that "morbid" mood again. But honestly, I enjoy being morbid! It's lovely. Not only that, it feels good being melancholic. I enjoy being sad too. There is this strong fire that burns in my heart when I feel so, and it feels somewhat "pleasurable". lol, whatever. First part done, Requiem Aeternam.

Alright, will cya on the next post then. I'm going to watch my movie!

Monday's Exams

Today, had two three-hour exams! On top of that a three hour rehearsal on Messiah.

Anyway, exams feedback first. It was great! They were pretty easy, as in I could write most and I could answer most problems. Pretty great! Indeed! Because I honestly did not do much revising.

Messiah! Great, we did the whole thing again, but in slightly better detail. It was fun.

And now here I am, updating at 2:16AM! Aiyo!!!!! Gotta sleep.

Movie Watched: Sunshine
Movie Watching: Elizabeth
Movie to be Watched: Elizabeth, the wateva age.

Rachmaninoff Concert

It was awesome. The pianist was quite good, but could be better. Ashkenazy was wonderful! I just found out that the Symphonic Dances is a really great work of Rachmaninoff, one that many people overlooked.

This was supposed to be uploaded yesterday, but I fell asleep.

So there you go.

Exams

I decided to use blogspot again. For some unknown reason.

Today's the first day of exams! Well, only English but still. Instead of reading on the topics or the template for discussion essay etc., I am on blogspot making a new blog. How ridiculous.

Anyway, Rachmaninoff 3 concert tonight. It's going to be pretty interesting. Can't wait to watch that (with Anggi and Queenie).

Powerhouse two days ago was madness. Kudzi was there, that's why. During praise, the moss pit was crazier than usual. Kudzi even asked me to go on the stage and jump to the crowds; so I did, crowd surfed all right.

The worship is also phenomenal, I don't know why but it was different.

Anyway, that's all for this morning.