Remember 228

Today is 228 in Taiwan and more than ever, we need to remember.  When callous remarks like those of General Hau Pei-tsun (郝柏村) are spoken, it just shows Taiwan has not had the reconcilliation from this crime against humanity.  Today, I donated US$100 (C$102.28) to FAPA and $228 to the Saskatoon Symphony  to commemorate 228.  Earlier this month, I donated $76 to the Cancer Research Society so that it will be tripled in effect to $228.  The Taiwan Library Online is another homage I pay to the victims of 228.  I am continuing the 228 Memorial Scholarships at the Saskatoon Music Festival for 2012.  This afternoon, a colleague asked what I would like as a courtesy for my grandmother and I asked her to donate to Amnesty International to remember 228 (I give $19/month = $228/year to AI).  I'm glad to see some students from my wife's alma mater have not forgotten 228.  Tsai Ing-wen also paid homage to some heros of the past - Ng Chiau-tong (黃昭堂) and Deng Nan-jung (鄭南榕).  Remember 228.

An image of an image

I found this interesting photo on the Weather Network:

It's a picture of one of the 'twin towers' in Regina.

2012 June 30

Now, I believe that the larger reflection is an image of the other tower and the shorter reflection is an image of the image of the tower (being photographed).  That is, the shorter reflection is the reflection of the image of the tower being photographed from the 2nd tower.  It's a 2nd order reflection.

I took a photo of this myself on a beautiful summer day:

2012 June 30

Beethoven Piano Sonata Nr 30 - sad, but beautiful

We are in mourning today.  I've listened to Beethoven's 30th piano sonata a lot recently.  I read somewhere how it mentioned there was a delay between the Hammerklavier sonata and the 30th sonata because Beethoven was suffering from ill health after he wrote the Hammerklavier sonata.  The last movement of variations is something else.  I had recently bought Christoph Eschenbach's recording from Amazon.ca marketplace.  Here are some notes Robert Silverman wrote about the Beethoven Piano Sonatas.  András Schiff also has a series of audio commentary. Timeless masterpieces for all time.  Goodbye Grandma.

A very full day and a great night with the SSO

I have been playing the Akiko Suwanai recording of the Dvorak Violin Concerto this past week because of Lara St John's concert with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra tonight.  David Smith was their guest conductor and I liked how he introduced Smetana's Má vlast. Both kids stayed awake and that's a testament to the quality of the concert tonight!  We got tickets for the family and the kids played with some other Saskatoon Suzuki Strings students before the concert in the lobby.

I must admit I'm not much of a Dvorak or Czech music fan, but I certainly can see that changing.  I've always enjoyed the playing of the Czech Philharmonic and Ivan Moravec (their wonderful Brahms concerti recordings!).  What has been occupying my ears more this week has been late Beethoven piano sonatas played by Christoph Eschenbach.  He's had quite a life and what a pianist!  Opus 109 (sonata number 30) takes me to the same plane of enjoyment and admiration as I have for Schumann's Opus 17 and Brahms Opus 118, Nr 2.  I was listening to it last week as background music when it just ended (and I thought, wow, that moved me).  I've sure taken a long time to getting around to listening to more Beethoven sonatas.  There is much more to discover.  More on that in the future.

Manuscript of Beethoven's Piano Sonata Nr 30