Friday, March 21, 2008

Study Notes: BYJ Classics - Scenes::Love Story

It's this Bae-ry quiet period again. And we don't know how long it will be. Every Bae sister's patience, endurance and elegant neck are growing stronger and longer. Fumi-san just wrote an article on JOB describing this scenario - all eyes are on BYJ's any tiny move. Where is he? What is he doing now? What is his next project? Every other day, there comes news about him visiting Gorilla, or beauty salon, or he has cut his hair (then maybe not), or he is going to perform in this movie or that drama... As eager as we can be, we found ourselves back to the old familiar routines - repeatedly watching his DVDs, relearning his personality through his past interviews and fan articles, circulating his news and VOD/photos, the lucky Korean and Japanese fans can even dine out in his restaurants, or attend his concerts, watching his dramas together in the theaters. Desperation is the mother of creativity. Here is one more thing that we can do to decipher him through his recent product offerings - BYJ Classics The Scenes.

Two years after his first offering to his fan-family the first series of his favorite classical music collections - BYJ Classics Hero 34 (released when he was 34 years old), now we are in the spring of 2008. What do we get this year? Not "BYJ Classics **** 36", but the "BYJ Classics The Scenes". A bit Surprised first, but think twice, it makes so much sense. Being a professional in drama making field, AND a music lover, is it fair to think that combining the classical drama scenes and music masterpieces into a series of music albums offers a perfect vehicle to communicate part of his inner world to us.


As we recall from the Dong-gam (Sympathy) Vol. II album, BYJ represents "Love",
see Dong-gam(Symapathy) vol. 2 Making film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kS5gnAzLRk

It seems so natural that in this music series, one of the four themes shall be about love - Love Story. So let's start from this album first.




Thanks to flowerbossa, I got the movie/music list of the CD from her recent posting for
Love Story. Let's see what movies and musics HRH likes and perhaps recommends to us.


1. Dvorak's Symphony No.9 "From the New World" (from the film “Clear and Present Danger”)
I don't seem to fine the theme "love" in this movie summary. Guess I need to watch the movie to find the "Love Story".

Movie : Clear and Present Danger (1994)

Wikepedia Info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_and_present_danger


IMDb Profile:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109444/

Smart, tight, utterly convincing and believable and well executed, this is that rare brainy "action" film that does get you involved and hanging on the edge of your seat.

Music: Dvorak's Symphony No.9 "From the New World"

Youtube: Dvorak - Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" - 4th movement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vlci-kCEaKE

Marvelous!!! One of my favorite symphonies!


2. Puccini's 'Turandot, Nessun Dorma' (from “The Killing Fields”)

There! At least I see the word "love" in Dith Pran's journal when he was imprisoned.

Movie: The Killing Fields (1984)

Wikipedia Info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Killing_Fields

IMDb Profile:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087553/

A great movie, of an awful moment in human history. If we have any chance of overcoming man's sorry past, it will be because movies like this one get made once in a while.
Quotes:
Dith Pran: [in his journal while imprisoned] The wind whispers of fear and hate. The war has killed love. And those that confess to the Angka are punished, and no one dare ask where they go. Here, only the silent survive.

Music:
Puccini's Turandot, Nessun Dorma

Youtube: Pavarotti - Nessun Dorma - Turandot, Puccini
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr5vpHtJIlg

Breathtaking!!! Of course, one of my favorite opera songs!


3. Beethoven's 'Piano concerto No.5, Emperor'. (from “Immortal Beloved”)

Movie: Immortal Beloved (1994)

Wikipedia Info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immortal_Beloved_(film)

IMDb Profile:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110116/

"The music is wonderful here and tries to explain the emotions behind the man."


Music: Beethoven Cencerto No. 5, Emperor

Youtube : Beethoven: Concerto 5 movt. 3 (by Claudio Arrau, never before published)
Claudio Arrau is one of the best Beethoven performers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G7nwZCKkr8&feature=related

Mitsuko Uchida is also one of my favorite pianist, want to compare her performance on this movement?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLQxYThWZoM&feature=related

Now since you are looking at Mitsuko Uchida and piano concertos, please please please watch this clip, one of my favorite favorite favorite piano concertos, my son is haunted by this piece too! It's Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20. Just recently I found out that this is widely rated as the No. 1 of 100 greated piano concertos in history. No wonder!

1st movement part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3ymJGV5_lI
1st movement part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpYlUI5HTpM&feature=related
2nd movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyMNDHaMb2w&feature=related
3rd movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDQ-S7lD6E4&feature=related


Uchida is usually rated as one of the best Mozart piano performers. The reviews said she plays Mozart the best, but lesser on Beethoven pieces. To me she is good enough.


4. J.S. Bach’s Harpsichord Concerto in D Major (from “Love Story”)

Movie: Love Story (1970)

Wikipedia Info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Story_(1970_film)


IMDB Profile:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066011/


"
The music was also terrific in this movie. I think it's, beside the acting, one of the most important points to make this movie timeless."

Music:
J.S. Bach’s Harpsichord Concerto in D Major

Youtube :
Bach - Concerto No. 3 in D Major for harpsichord (BWV 1054)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brmmJhaLbsU


5. Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No.2 (from “Brief Encounter”)
Movie: Brief Encounter (1945)

Wikipedia Info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brief_Encounter


IMDb

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037558/

"Brief Encounter" is the perfect encapsulation of a very specific time in both women's and British history.

How about just leave it like that and you can figure out the rest of the "Love Story". Watch this line, I love it!

"See this film to witness how it was once possible to make films about love without bedroom scenes. "


Music:
Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No.2

Youtube: Rachmaninov piano concerto No.2 by Weissenberg & Karajan

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZRbko3UsnQ&feature=related

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx_XfNWkf_s&NR=1

Such a touching piece! Rachmaninov is so talented isn't he? Karajan was the conductor. Pianist Alexis Weissenberg did a great job!

6. Barber's "Adagio for Strings" (from “Amelie”)

Movie: Amelie (2001)

From the reviews, it looks like a must-see. Wow HRH, thank you for bring this to my attention. I am so ignorant!

Wikipedia Info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Am%C3%A9lie

IMDb Profile:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211915/usercomments?start=0

"In my opinion, it is an outstanding film in film history for its cinematography, the music, the story, but above all the overall atmosphere ... The atmosphere is also supported by the magnificent music by Yann Tiersen who has composed 19 songs in 15 days for this movie. The principal motive appears in many variations somehow being joyful, yet at the same time sad - slow and sometimes fast and activating. The music supports every moment in the film and becomes the sound of a fabulous world."


Music: Barber's "Adagio for Strings"

Actually never heard this before. Thank you BYJ for introducing a beautiful piece to me!

Youtube :Samuel Barber - Adagio for Strings, op.11. Uncut
A nice pace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV3SHBFyDZM&feature=related

A singing version, hauntingly beautiful ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkObnNQCMtM


Wow, no wonder we all love HRH! He has such good taste for arts. These movies and musics are all so very beautiful and meaningful! Thank you HRH for introducing this CD to us. I find it rather educational too! For the lucky sisters in Japan, especially Jaime, enjoy the BYJ Classics Scenes concerts!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow!! H, it took me 2 days to finish this posting, I've learned a lot. Love all the misic and wonderful performances, thanks for the links. Movies .. I've seen only "Love Story" and "Emelie", loved them.
Yes I agree with you, our HRH is a classy man. Love him more .....

love,
Y.

jaime said...

MY dearest h,

I am so amazed and impressed by your post.

First, I am so grateful that you are kind enough to share your immense knowledge of music and movies with us. Then, your love for HRH and our sisters is so selfless and deep and I respect you for putting in so much thoughts and efforts to do this wonderful post for us.

I agree so much with you about 'Desperation is the mother of creativity'. When we miss him too much, we will come up with something from our hearts to remind ourselves of his virtues.

Dearest h, I thank you so much for enriching my knowledge on classical music so I can enjoy what HRH wants to share with his family. I especially enjoy the Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 that you recommened to us. We are so lucky to have such a knowledgeable sister in our family.

love & hugs ... Jaime

gosijo said...

Dear H,

This is an astonishing resource you've put together for us. Thank you so much! I think I'll come back to it many times and absorb it in small pieces.

Hope all is well with you and your family!

xiaoyi said...

Dear heippieh,
How are you dear? I'm wondering can I repost some of your materials about the BYJ Classics - The Scenes that you have resarched? Thanks in advance!
Loves, xiaoyi

Anonymous said...

Wagner was a Nazi (his music is actually banned from being played publicly in Israel). Other than that, this is really a fantastic selection BYJ has chosen.

HeippieH said...

Dear Yee, Jaime, gosijo, xiaoyi and anonymous,

Sorry for being so late replying. Glad you are benefiting from this list. I myself was curious about all those movies and musics in his CD offering, so I did the search myself and thought, why not record these "google" searches so that we can come back to it whenever we have time.

Hope I have more time to do the rest of his CDs.

Love,
-H.