Today's Music; November 5, 2015

Fryderyk Chopin's Piano Sonata, No.2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35.

This piece jumps at you. So, I usually try and relaxed before I begin to listen to this one. Or, sometimes, unexpected surprise adds a charm. Nonetheless, without knowing, it transitions into something languid. Eventually it comes back to the original fierce atmosphere before it concludes. Scherzo has a similar mixture of feelings with a bit more fierce tone. Third movement is the famous of 'Funeral March', which is somewhat comical to me because of the memory of this being used as a back ground of a video game when player gets expired. I can get into the intended mood when I try but I rarely feel like trying, now a days. Anyhow, there is a really beautiful and relaxed tone hiding in the middle of the movement. The last movement is like an abstract drawing. Nothing much to say about it.

My favorite recording is Polini's. Recently I found that Daniel Barenboim's recordign is also great, I am guessing that he thought about his late wife when he recorded this.

Today's Music; October 30, 2015

Celestine by Kirsty MacColl

One of my favorite collection of Songza is "An Ipanema of the Mind" as I am very partial to the Bossa Nova. Celestine is included in that collection radiating exotic, relaxed, and exciting tropical atmosphere.

The lyric of Celestine is quite naughty. Nonetheless, the attractiveness of the melody, rhythm, and beat is undeniable. It simply reminds of me my favorite vacation destination.

So sadly, the songwriter and singer, Kirsty MacColl passed away from a unfortunate and tragic accident at the Cozumel island. Considering how beautiful that area is and how extraordinarily this beautiful song reflects that beauty, Kirsty MacColl's passing adds weird tinge of pathos to this song.

Without knowing all of this, my daily background was set to this.

lenient being

Today's Music; July 29, 2015

P. I. Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D Major, Op.35
Henryk Szerying (violin) and Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Charles Munch

It has been really a while that I listened to a romantic era piece this attentively. I stumbled upon this particular recording today morning and it was a greatly pleasant surprise as this was one of cassette tapes that I had listened to when I was very young. Those cassette tapes include

• Beethoven Symphony No. 6 by Vienna Symphony Orchestra conducted by Otto Klemperer
• Beethoven Symphony No. 7 by by RIAS Symphony Orchestra (Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin) conducted by H. Karajan
• Mozart Symphonies Nos. 40 and 41 by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by H. Karajan
• Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D Major by Henryk Szerying and Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by Charles Munch

I listened to those when I got in my bed probably hundreds of times each. That kind of experience leaves deep and emotional impression in your subconsciousness. I found and collected other 3 recordings but I was not able to collect this because this had been out of print. So, it is great to be able to listen to this particular recording.


I thought that this was recorded live because there was a distinctive noise in the third movement, which seemed to be removed when it was remastered. It is not easy to find a great performance recorded in live but such a rare jewel makes me very emotionally excited.

Considering where I am in my life, this may be a small sign of temporal location, to where I am headed.

Composition Practice; Simple Life

I have wanted to live a simple life when I developed the capacity of reasoning. Probably, that is why I always have wanted to be a scholar. I intuitively have thought that it is the best and probably the only way to keep my life simple.

What I have not known is that even the scholar is a profession defined and developed inside the human society. Unless I make my living directly on nature's ground, there is no way I can avoid an intermingled relationships. Residing in the web of relationships and karma is inevitable.

Therefore, to get along with the fate, you should be able to adjust your attitude to unfolding events in front of you. "滄浪之水淸兮 可以濯吾纓 滄浪之水濁兮 可以濯吾足".

Some can do so with or without contemplation, others abhor doing so. The latter may not be heroes as Ayn Rand saw them. They are just born that way. That is just the way they are. There is no supposed way of living as the nature does not judge anything.

So, play on.

Composition Practice; Mechanics in biological phenomena

I believe in the importance of mechanics in biology. In biology, chemical reactions and compositions have been emphasized to explain the mechanisms of observable phenomena. In my opinion, transports of materials, energies and development of stress are what create concrete entities and drive physical responses of biological subjects. Underlying constitutive mechanisms can be explained by chemical reactions and compositions. Nevertheless, quantitative observations should be made reflecting the primary properties defined in the mechanics, quantitatively. Such a call for an alternative measurements implies that we should employ different approaches in measuring biological phenomena from traditional biochemical approaches. Of course, the gap between traditional biochemical observations and measurements of fundamental mechanics parameters should be bridged.

Composition Practice; Life as a non-tenure-tracked faculty

I knew that I wanted to be a scholar. I thought that it meant to become a professor, which I am not (yet).

At some point, I realized that what I wanted to be was a scholar and 'professor' was a title usually linked to that profession in modern era. There have been few factors events and decisions that have hindered my career to become a tenure-tracked faculty. I am realizing that being a tenure-track faculty is not as relevant as I thought. Perhaps, the most important fact in my current life is that I am doing what a scholar is supposed to do.

One thing, which I do not appreciate much, is that I need to worry about financial situation. Probably that worry would not go away even with the tenured professor title.

lenient being

Today's Music; March 6, 2014

J. S. Bach Little Six Preludes BWV 933-938

Probably he wrote this for teaching. Nonetheless, they are sparkling gems that brighten up the atmosphere. Whenever I listen to each prelude, I do not want it to end. But they all do. Fortunately, next one begins.
lenient being