live with intention. walk to the edge. listen hard. practice wellness. play with abandon. laugh. choose with no regret. continue to learn. appreciate your friends. do what you love. live as if this is all there is. -mary anne radmacher7/16/11
Tan Dun. What an amazing guy. I almost felt like he was ancient because he just radiated that Chinese culture. The old Chinese culture that ran deep in the bones. Oriental and authentic. Deep respect ran through me as I thought about how those philosophies and traditions still live in him and how he spreads them with his words. And his music? breathless.
The Internet Symphony. Starting from an intense buildup of sound from the twang of the strings. Then the loud percussionist feel starts accelerating the intensity. And out of all the commotion from the din, the brass proudly state their message. And once the melody floats off, the orchestra speeds up again in almost a racetrack feel. And even with that running background, little images jump out from underneath with all their glory and colors. Build up even more as the clashing and clanging get louder and louder and the orchestra holds its breath for the last three chords. And there everything explodes and everything just soars up and out of the pages. Exhilarating.
Eternal Vow from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Soundtrack. The soft background of the Chinese drums and flute prompt the cello solo. And softly she enters. It felt like a spirit was moving through the shadows of a forest deep in the heart of China. And slowly the orchestra strings join in taking it all higher. A tinge of sadness, the lonely spirit moves through the music in a slow but mysterious pace through the journey of life. And while she walks..the haunting melody follows her. And in the end, the sounds just echo and hang in the air... how do you describe that feeling? I don't even know. When your heart is in your throat, and you don't know whether to cry or smile. It felt like everything...
He was so happy. Tan Dun. He went through the Chinese Cultural Revolution and came out of it with a resolve to restore culture, music, and freedom of expression. He's never let go of that happiness. That innocence. He was like a child almost. I've never met such a happy Asian...so incredible. I don't know what else to say...
