Orchestra??

Main Entry: or·ches·tra (courtesy of  Merriam-Webster)
Pronunciation: \ˈȯr-kəs-trə, -ˌkes-\
Function: noun
3: a group of musicians including especially string players organized to perform ensemble music

I've had orchestras on my mind lately. A variety of reasons.  A few years ago, I was lucky enough to visit Taiwan along with my family for one of my dad's conferences.  On the conference program was a performance by a local high school orchestra.  I was completely unprepared for what I saw. 

It started out normally.  Big auditorium, lots of students sitting in the normal half moon arrangement.  Truthfully, I wasn't paying that much attention.  The conductor walked out and started going through the familiar setup for the performance.  As soon as the first note was sounded, I had A Shift (you know, where your perception of the world changes).  I realized that while this looked like a "normal" orchestra, I didn't recognize a single instrument the students were playing.  It was a wild and exhiliarating concert.

The definition of orchestra is vague and ambiguous (as it should be).  It had never occurred to me that you could have an orchestra without most of the traditional western instruments.  Looking back, it's an amazingly silly assumption for me to make.

One last point, I'm not sure if you could see this in China.  The only orchestras I saw there had mostly western instruments.  Taiwan seems to be carrying the torch for these "Traditional Chinese Orchestras."  It's one more piece of evidence that the historical culture of China is actually being maintained by the people in Taiwan (since they didn't go through 50 years of the  government trying to stamp out religion and cultural heritage). 

Here's a few links with some orchestras:

1. An elemetary school orchestra
2. A university competition in Taiwan
3. Lunar New Year Gala in Taiwan (2005)

Anuj Attempts a Eulogy

  At my grandfather's funeral last weekend, my mother had asked me if I could say a few words.  I agreed but I know that I'm an emotional guy so I was a bit worried about being able to get through a "few words" while maintaining any coherent speech patterns amidst the sobbing and sucking in of air.  Difficult, but doable.

  About two minutes before the ceremony, my brother pulls me aside and tells me that our mom has asked him to be the MC and that he has decided that I'll be giving the main eulogy. I gave him a murderous look (I know, odd given the circumstances) and set to work expanding my "few words."  Here's what I came up with.

  "My grandfather was an honourable man.  I know this from the stories other people told me about him and from what I remember of him.  Some have said that perhaps he was too honourable.  That at some points in his life, he was honourable to the point that other, less honourable people took advantage of him.  Be that as it may; he had a vision of who he was and how he would live his life.  He wouldn't let the dishonour of others control how he lived his life.  I believe he was in control of his life until the very end when all he'd lost control of was his death.

  I never saw him frown.  Sure, I've heard stories about him being angry or being stern, but I never saw it.  I only remember his smiles and laughs.  The closest he came to an even-set face or sadness what when he talked about the injustice of being allowed to see the death of a daughter-in-law and a grandson.

  Last of all my grandfather was really very cool, mischievous and had a sharp mind.  He wasn't above using his grandchildren to make life difficult for his own kids.  I remember coming home from University with my hair starting to grow long and sporting a new earring.  My parents were not judgemental but both he and I knew that they assumed it was a phase that I would grow out of (and maybe I would have).  When I saw him, he sat me down.  He told me that when he was my age, he had his ears pierced (both of them!) and wore these long earrings.  His sabotage was successful.  I still have my earring."

My Set Is Now Complete

Some people have a knack for using just the right phrase to make an impact.  Here's a story my brother told about my grandfather at his funeral this past weekend.  Of course, I have paraphrased his speech due to my inability to remember everything.

  "For those of you that know me, you know I'm a fairly private person.  One example of that is that I don't like to make a big deal about my birthday.  I would rather the day just passed without the big party or all the attention. While I was in college and graduate school, I had roommates who always seemed to know when my birthday was coming and threw a party.  It took me a long time to figure out how they knew since they never really knew the exact day of my birthday.

  My grandfather's name is very easy to remember, Dr. Hom Chand.  My roommates would simply wait for a large, brightly colored envelope which had a return address with the name Dr. Hom Chand.  Then they knew my birthday was near.  I've saved every birthday card he sent me and now, it seems that my set is complete.  Even though there won't be any more cards, I will always remember that he will be close to me on my birthday and he always had a way of making sure that those around me also celebrated my birthday with me."

I'm Moving In

I've just moved in to a new, permanent apartment and it has sucked down all sorts of time, heartache, sorrow and energy.  I'm living in the Post Rice Lofts. (On the left side, click on "Select Desired Community" and scroll down to Post Rice).

Here's a link to some photos on Flickr if you're in the mood to see the before and after shots.  Of course, this means before my stuff was delivered and then immediately after my stuff was delivered.  I haven't even come close to cleaning up yet!  More info on what's going on in a bit.

Photos on Flickr.

It's Good to be the Count

  Seen several times on drive from London to Stonehenge.  I don't know what "Countess Services" are but they sound a bit naughty.  And I want some.