永遇樂 李清照 (1084-1155)

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永遇樂  李清照 (1084-1155)  Tune: Sound Union Happiness  Li Qing Zhao   江紹倫譯
   
落日鎔金 The sun sets like molten gold
暮雲合璧 Evening clouds marbling cold
人在何處 Darling where are you
   
染柳煙濃 Dense smoke keeps willows in dye
吹梅笛怨 Sad tunes for mum blossoms the flute sighs
春意知幾許 Whence will spring arrive
   
元宵佳節 On Lantern Festival
融和天氣 Weather agreeable
次第豈無風雨 Wind and rain will follow
   
來相召 I thank friends of verses and wine
香車寶馬 Sending scented carriage steeds divine
謝他酒朋詩侶  In vain they invite
   
   
中州盛日 Remember happy days in the Capital
閨門多暇 Gathering in my home so pleasurable
記得偏重三五 Friends selected few and valuable
   
鋪翠冠兒 Heads topped with emerald
撚金雪柳 Filigree in gold
簇帶爭濟楚 Fashions vied invariable
   
如今憔悴 Now in languid air
風鬟霜鬢 With frosty disheveled hair
怕見夜間出去 I fear being seen in eve affairs
   
不如向簾兒底下 Preferring to lean behind window screen
聽人笑語 To listen others chat and laugh unseen

“Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen”* Gustav Mahler (1860 – 1911)

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“Lorraine Hunt Lieberson sings Mahler (July 7 1860 – May 18 1911)

[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiME0gbhafk&feature=player_embedded]

This Wednesday is the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Gustav Mahler, who was born in Kaliste, Bohemia on July 7, 1860. His late-Romantic musical idiom was a link between the Romantic Era and the modernism to come later. His music was under-appreciated during his lifetime, but it underwent a revival starting mid 20th century. Today his symphonies and his songs are considered a cornerstone of the standard repertoire. To remember this important anniversary, orchestras around the world are programming Mahler, and special celebrations are taking place this week in Austria and Hungary. Our own TSO is unfortunately in hiatus, but the Toronto Summer Music Festival is calling this year’s theme Song of the Earth, and will perform the chamber version of Das Lied von der Erde (2) on August 7.  To celebrate Mahler’s birthday, I’ve chosen the fifth song of his transcendent Ruckert Lieder, “Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen” (1), sung by the late, great mezzo Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. She tragically died at the much too young age of 52 from breast cancer on July 3, 2006. To many, “Ich bin der Welt” is the most inspired and deeply moving of all Mahler songs. Heard here in a live performance by Hunt-Lieberson accompanied by Roger Vignoles, it takes on an almost unbearable poignancy.”

– Joseph K. So  [http://videoblog.scena.org/]
______________________________
Footnotes by YK:

*(1) “I have lost track of the world”, set to song by Mahler.  For an English translation of the German lyrics, see

http://www.recmusic.org/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=14001

(2) Four of Li Bai’s poems were used by Mahler in this work.

Nikki Yanofsky – I Believe

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(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

Nikki Yanofsky is a 16-year-old Canadian musical prodigy. Since her debut at the 2006 Montreal International Jazz Festival, where she won the hearts of the 100,000+ audience, Nikki has never looked back.

Most recently, Nikki was a featured artist at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games held in Vancouver. Performing at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics as well as the opening ceremony of the Paralympics, Nikki was introduced to a world-wide audience. Nikki was also chosen to sing “I Believe,” the anthem of Canada’s Broadcast Consortium. Written by Stephan Moccio and Alan Frew, this song quickly became a #1 hit on iTunes Canada and the Billboard Canada Top 100 chart.

Nikki has used her budding fame to help the underprivileged – becoming an ambassador for the Montreal Children’s Hospital, The Children’s Wish Foundation and MusiCounts. Nikki has also recently joined her fellow Canadian artists in recording K’Naan’s “Wavin’ Flag” for Young Artists for Haiti. Being sold on iTunes as a single and video, the proceeds will directly impact the lives of children, families and communities in Haiti through the relief and rebuilding efforts of Free the Children, War Child Canada and World Vision Canada.  (http://www.nikkionline.ca/)

Nikki Yanofsky – I Believe (by Stephan Moccio / Alan Frew)

There comes a moment when my heart must stand alone
On this lonely path I’ve chosen
like a house that’s not a home
sometimes when I feel I’ve had enough
and I feel like giving up
you willed me to be all I can be
now nothing can stop me

I believe in the power that comes
From a world brought together as one
I believe together we’ll fly
I believe in the power of you and I

This is the moment we have dreamed of all our lives
We’ll be the change we wish from others
We’ll stand tall for what is right
And in my heart there’ll be no doubt
The arms of the world will come reaching out
And embrace me to be all I can be
Now nothing can stop me

I believe in the power that comes
From a world brought together as one
I believe together we’ll fly
I believe in the power of you and I
I believe in the power… of you and I

I believe, I believe, I believe in-
I believe, I believe in you-
I believe, I believe, I believe in-
I believe, I believe, I believe in… you-

(Instrumental)
I believe together we’ll fly
I believe in the power of you and I

I believe the time is right now
Stand tall and make the world proud
I believe together we’ll fly
I believe in the power..
I believe in the power that comes
From a world brought together as one
(Of you and I)
I believe together we’ll fly
I believe in the power of you and I
(power)
I believe the time is right now
(Oh you and I)
Stand tall and make the world proud
I believe together we’ll fly (Together we’ll fly)
I believe in the power of you and I
(I believe in the power…of you and I)

我相信

那一刻
當我的心靈
獨自站在
我所决擇   孤單的途徑
正如, 那屋卻非我家
有時, 感到受够了
想要放棄
你鼓勵我
促我極盡所能
現在, 我, 巳勢不可擋

我相信, 那股力量
四方八面, 聚而為一
我相信, 一起. 我們定能飛翔
我相信, 那, 你和我的力量

這
夢寐以求的一刻
我們渴望的轉捩點
面對挑戰, 我們穩然昂立
在我心裡, 全無疑問
世界會伸出雙手
擁抱我, 我的一切
現在, 我, 巳勢不可擋

我相信, 那股力量
四方八面, 聚而為一
我相信, 一起. 我們定能飛翔
我相信, 那, 你和我的力量
我相信, 那, 你和我的力量

我相信, 我相信, 我相信, 你
我相信, 我相信, 我相信, 你

我相信, 一起. 我們定能飛翔
我相信, 那, 你和我的力量

我相信, 只爭朝夕, 於今朝
穩然昂立, 令世界, 感到嬌傲
我相信, 一起. 我們定能飛翔
我相信, 那股力量
我相信, 四方八面, 聚而為一
(你和我)
我相信, 一起. 我們定能飛翔
我相信, 那, 你和我的力量
(力量)
我相信, 只爭朝夕, 於今朝
(你和我)
穩然昂立, 令世界, 感到嬌傲
我相信, 一起. 我們定能飛翔
(一起. 我們定能飛翔)
我相信, 那, 你和我的力量
(我相信, 那, 你和我的力量)

訴衷情 李清照 (1084-1155)

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訴衷情   李清照 (1084-1155) Revealing Inner Feelings     Li Qing Zhao     江紹倫譯
   
夜來沈醉卸妝遲 Heavily drunk I undress late last night
梅萼插殘枝 Keeping the withered mum in my hair nigh
酒醒熏破春睡 Sobering the sweet scent wakes me from sleep
夢斷不成歸 In my dream my homeland in memory keep
   
人悄悄 Silently silently I remain
月依依 Lingering the moon stays
翠簾垂 Lowly the curtain unrolled
   
更挪殘蕊 I crush dry petals with my finger tip
更拈餘香 To keep the sweet scent in hold
更得些時 Waiting for time to go

七哀詩 曹植 (192-232)

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七哀詩     曹植 (192-232) Lament   Cao Zhi (192-232)   江紹倫譯
   
明月照高樓 Playfully moonlight streams across the tower
流光正徘徊 Her soft light lingers on the bower
上有愁思婦 Wilting a lady lets out tender sighs
悲嘆有余哀 Lamenting heart rending pain she cries
   
借問嘆者誰 Who could be here in such ruth
云是宕子妻 Forsaken a love without proof
君行逾十年 Away you have been for scores of years
孤妾常獨棲 Left behind alone I live with but tears
   
君若清路塵 You rise like upward dust on your way
妾若濁水泥 Like muddy water I still stay
浮沉各異勢 Swimming or sinking we separately remain
會合何時諧 Whence we will be one again
   
願為西南風 How I would like to be the southwest wind
長逝入君懷 Sailing across the land to fall into your fold
君懷良不開 Where your embrace is kept in unfold
賤妾當何依 Where and what could I rely to hold

“Old Folks At Home” Stephen Foster (1826-64)

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Rosa Ponselle Sings Stephen Foster’s Old Folks At Home (or Swanee River):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgpJM17KVZw&feature=player_embedded

“This Sunday, July 4, is Stephen Foster’s birthday. He was born on July 4, 1826 in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, and died in poverty at only 37 in New York on January 13, 1864. Considered the Father of American Song, Foster had a melodic inspiration second to none. One has to have a heart of stone not to be moved by his songs the likes of Beautiful Dreamer, My Old Kentucky Home, Old Folks At Home, and many more.  To remember the birthday of this great song writer, I have chosen Old Folks At Home, sung by another great American, soprano Rosa Ponselle.  Opera lovers will be familiar with Ponselle, who sang in the era of Caruso.  It is so intriguing to hear a great Norma, Aida, Santuzza, and Leonora (Forza) sing this very sentimental ditty. Ponselle actually sings it without excessive sentimentality, only varying her tone colours for expression.  This is a performance to remember.”
– Joseph K. So           http://videoblog.scena.org/

Anguish Of An Ordinary Citizen

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(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHIZ2Jl2vuQ
(Video of an angry shopper stymied by G20 shutdown in Toronto)

I am mad. I am hopping mad.

Why are you closed? Why, why, why!? I want to shop!

Every weekend, I come to Eaton Centre to browse, to shop, to max out my credit cards, just to help out the economy, to fulfill my duty as an ordinary citizen, as a contributor to our financial community. And to spend, spend, spend.

Why did you shut it down, in the name of security?  Why did you shutdown the downtown core, to intimidate us shoppers, by the presence of such a horrendous police force?

Why couldn’t you keep all the guests up in Muskoka, in the safe haven of our cottage country? Look at the G8 gatherings, not a hint of violence; no protest, no riots. Then why bring the G20 back to Toronto? Were they not classy enough for the resort environment? Once when you set up shop with the enclosing wire fences, and a large police force, they acted as magnet and wild fire that attracted all the media-crazed bugs and thugs. All variety of protests zoomed into the downtown core, convenient and within walking distance. Ka-boom, all madness got loose. Was that what you forsee or hope for, with such outcome, to justify the need for more than a billion bucks to be blown away on one weekend.? If not, then why the government already denied to compensate businesses any damage done, way before they actually happened?  That’s amazing.

You can close and board-up parliament whenever you want, but, please do not, I repeat, do not close up our headquarters of consumerism, deprive us of our great shopping experience and entertainment,  ever again.

Why are you closed? Why, why, why!? I want to shop!

I am mad. I am hopping mad.

« Anvil Chorus » Salvatore Cammarano (1801-52)

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Chorus from Verdi’s opera Il Trovatore

“打鐵歌”             (意) 沙尔发多雷.卡马兰奴 谱词

梵尔第歌剧”遊吟武士”合唱曲

Performed by:

Orchestra e Coro del Teatro Regio di Parma
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQm4g14OpaA&feature=related

DRESDEN. SINOPOLI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXFZckzjcKw

Chorus of the Hungarian State Opera House             http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjMHCzoneuM&feature=related

GMCLA.ORG             http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3x-pwJGsgU

Tr. YK Chan 陳耀国译

Vedi! le fosche notturne spoglie                            看！巨大的天穹
de’ cieli sveste l’immensa volta;                            脫落了黑夜的斗篷；
sembra una vedova che alfin si toglie               如寡妇终於卸下
i bruni panni ond’era involta.                                 裹在身上的喪服。
All’opra! all’opra!                                                             开工吧！开工吧！

Dagli, martella!                                                                上吧！打鐵吧！
(Danno di piglio ai ferri del mestiere.)            (众拿鐵鎚准备鐵钻的工作。)   
Chi del gitano i giorni abbella?                             谁为吉卜赛人过的日子欢呼？

La zingarella!                                                                    吉卜赛女郎！
Versami un tratto; lena e coraggio                   给我添酒；酒给我          
il corpo e l’anima traggon dal bere.                 身心上的勇氣及活力。

 Oh guarda, guarda! del sole un raggio           看，一线陽光的閃爍

brilla piu vivido nel tuo bicchiere.                   在你的杯中更灿烂。
All’opra! all’opra!                                                          开工吧！开工吧！        
Chi del gitano i giorni abbella?                           谁为吉卜赛人过的日子欢呼？
La zingarella!                                                                   吉卜赛女郎！

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

《小雅·采薇·六章》詩經

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《小雅·采薇·六章》詩經 Home After the War (selected part)     Book of Poetry 江紹倫譯
   
昔我往矣  When I left here
楊柳依依  Willows lingered and shed tears
今我來思  Now I’ve come back
雨雪霏霏  Rain and snow seen everywhere
行道遲遲  Long long have been those days
載渴載饑  Suffering thirst and hunger always
我心傷悲  Grief in me launch and o’erflow
莫知我哀 Who knows who cares to know

榮譽謀殺

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(Through Rose-Coloured Glasses)

(Photo credit: Alaa al-Marjani / Associated Press A poster at a Najaf rally reads “Stop violence against women.”)

榮譽和謀殺, 是两個格格不入的概念。謀殺, 無論是自衛, 神經病殺人, 安樂死, 都是不甚光彩, 都是懦夫的行為, 都是犯罪的活動, 又怎會感到榮譽呢?

最近在安省, 魁北克, 就發生了幾宗同樣性質的謀殺傷人案件。在Brampton, 有位父親與兄長, 因女孩不願尊守巴基斯坦民族傳統, 堅持穿著西方衣服, 不載民族頭巾, 還離家出走數次, 致令父親在親朋眼中, 因管教不嚴, 大失臉子, 頓起殺人之念。

表面上看来, 這是個各民族文化與習俗不同的問題, 是個 ”如何教養子女”的問題。自古以来, 無論是那一個民族的父母, 都會遇上的。反叛的青少年, 是任何社會的通病, 肯定是個大難題, 但也不應動手殺人, 並引以為榮。這兇殘行為, 又點只習俗, 殺人咁簡單。

想深一層, 歸根到底, 問題的關鍵, 就是婦女在社會上的地位。有些民族, 是男人獨専的社會, 一切都由男人掌權, 操控, 女子並沒有什麼社會地位。一個女子的一生, 都要尊守:  “在家從父, 出嫁從夫, 老来從子” 的禮教, 這相等於中國人的封建思想, 在西方社會, 這類思想, 早巳被淘汰, 成為歷史的糠粕。如果一意孤行, 在這裡, 要維持這類封建遺毒到極端, 出動暴力, 繼而殺人, 就會被世人所唾棄, 成為社會的渣子, 民族的敗類, 何榮譽之有?