English Blog

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 […]

Beethoven Piano Sonata Op. 78 “Therese” 3/25/19 March 25, 2019

This sonata has been living in the special part of my heart since I first learned. Actually I learned it when I was in high school, and the first day I started to study I was totally attracted and mesmerized. What a charm, how tender and sweet… and humor too! And there is no conflict […]

A Movie “Cinema Paradiso” 3/6/19 March 6, 2019

This movie is one of my lifetime favorites, and I have already seen it so many times. Again I saw it the other day. This time on my computer! It was my first time to purchase a movie online to watch. I prefer movies at the theater though…. The movie is just wonderful. I cried […]

Ash Wednesday 3/6/19 March 6, 2019

Psalm 102.9  “For I eat ashes like bread, and mingle tears with my drink”

Music Performance! Subjective? Objective? 2/24/19 February 25, 2019

I played Beethoven Piano Sonata Concert last week. I was deeply moved by Beethoven’s mind during my performance. Op. 109 is one of my favorite sonatas. I have already written about my thought on this piece. We can feel Beethoven’s tender mind in Op. 109. The last movement is written in variation form, and at […]

A Movie “Cold War” 2/19/19 February 19, 2019

“Cold War” has been advertised and talked. So I went to see it. Yes, it is beautiful and romantic. The picture (black and white) is gorgeous. The music is great. But the story is not convincing to me. I suppose the story does not matter in romance?? Each scene is almost a segment, and sometimes […]

Beethoven Piano Sonata Editions 2/11/19 February 11, 2019

As I practice Beethoven Sonatas I have been looking at the different editions for my curiosity. Henle is wonderful and just so nice to see the dark blue cover! Recently I am drawn to Hans von Bülow edition. I can tell he was a great teacher. His comments are often very practical, yet very passionate. […]

Living with Beethoven’s Life 1/21/19 January 21, 2019

I am focusing on Beethoven’s music in the 2018-19 season. I was little overwhelmed few weeks ago preparing so many Beethovens! I just performed Beethoven’s 3 cello sonatas, and will perform Beethoven’s 3 piano sonatas in February. It was almost “miracle” that I started to feel comforted once I passed the stage being overwhelmed. Beethoven’s […]