English Blog

An Animation Movie “Mirai” 8/26/19 August 26, 2019

4-year-old boy, named Kun, feels forgotten by his parents when his little sister Mirai (It means “future” in Japanese) arrives. Kun-chan (Little Kun) thought his little sister is stealing all of attention from his family. He feels neglected. His world is different.. Mirai is cute and everybody pays attention to her. As his mother returns […]

A Movie “The White Crow” 6/29/19 June 29, 2019

THE WHITE CROW was inspired by the book “Rudolf Nureyev.” The drama focuses on the iconic dancer’s famed defection from the Soviet Union to the West in 1961, despite KGB efforts to stop him. Rudolf Nureyev was a superstar/sacred monster who changed the very nature of ballet, especially the roles of the male dancers. Acclaimed dancer […]

How Can I Keep from Singing? by Robert Lowry 6/9/19 June 9, 2019

My life flows on in endless song; Above earth’s lamentation, I hear the sweet, though far off hymn That hails a new creation; Through all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing; It finds an echo in my soul— How can I keep from singing? What though my joys and comforts die? […]

Clara Schumann: The Artist and the Woman revised edition by Nancy B. Reich 6/8/19 June 9, 2019

This book was first published in 1985, when the woman’s studies were not common, and Ms.Reich became an advocate of the woman’s studies throughout her life. This biography depicts Clara Schumann’s life in many aspects, as a child prodigy, composer, pianist, artist, teacher, wife, mother of 8 children, business woman, music promoter, social figure, and […]

A Movie: Exhibition on Screen “Rembrandt from the National Gallery, London, and Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam” 6/9/19 June 9, 2019

This is one of my favorite nights at the movie theater, ‘The Exhibition on Screen”. This exhibition focuses on the highlights from the final years of Rembrandt’s life, commonly thought to be his finest years. The masterpieces he produced during this final period could be called his defining works, with each piece so soulful, sincere, […]

Robert Schumann “Humoreske” Op. 20 5/30/19 May 30, 2019

My affection to Schumann’s music continues. Now it is Humoreske, Op. 20. The music of Humoreske is very organic to me. The music flows so naturally that I often forget it is a lengthy cycle. Schumann tells his Belgian music-lover friend that the word “Humoreske” is hard to translate to French. He said it is […]

A Movie “Non-Fiction” (French Title: Doubles vies ) 5/26/19 May 26, 2019

The French title “Double Lives” describes this movie better than “Non-Fiction”. A celebrated publisher, Alain, runs a famous publishing company. One day he refuses to publish a book by a controversial author, Léonard. They are friends! Alain’s company adapts to the digital age. From there the story will start slowly and go around their circle […]

A Movie “Être et Avoir” 5/5/19 May 5, 2019

It is a 2002 French documentary film. The title translates as “to be and to have”, the two auxiliary verbs in the French language which I have been studying. It portrays a primary school in the commune (population of about 200) of Saint-Êtienne-sur-Usson, Puy-de-Dôme, France. The school has one small class room for mixed ages, from four […]

Good Friday April 19, 2019

It was very beautiful during Good Friday Service. O vos omnes                 Pablo Casals O vos omnes qui transitis per viam: attendite et videte si est dolor sicut dolor meus. (O all ye that pass by the way, attend and see if there be any sorrow like to […]

Performance Opportunity at Académie internationale d’été de musique de Lyon, from July 27 to August 5 April 16, 2019

Hello! I would like to extend my invitation to come to Lyon, France, to study piano and perform this summer. I will be a piano faculty at Académie internationale d’été de musique de Lyon. It will be my second time to be at this festival! The festival is fantastic and Lyon is a beautiful city […]