AhDoe – Music as an International Language

This post is dedicated to those who are getting married soon…

Chinese Traditional Bridal Costume

I don’t know much about other’s wedding, but from what I observed, Chinese’s wedding ceremonies usually cost a lot!

They have to pay for wedding photos and albums, wedding banquet, Ang Pows (Red Packets), wedding rings and a lot of traditional items (differs by dialects). I really don’t know how a young, newly-wed couple can fork out more to buy a house and go for honeymoon.

Sometimes, they even pay for live performances in their wedding dinner!

I have been invited to play piano several times, with certain amount of “Ang Pow” as well…(Please don’t ask how much…shy~). Besides my pay, the couples have to consider piano rental, wedding hosts and PA system as well. Sometimes, they will just go for an event organizer to sort these things for them. This is where I came into the picture: The organizer called me to schedule for the performance.

Due to my past experience, I can fully understand what songs should not be played and what songs are suitable during the auspicious day. Come on, I have seen people making mistake by singing “Turning Back Again” (再回首) when the couple is busy toasting with their friends! That’s rude, isn’t it?

Normally, I’ll try to understand whether there is any special request from the couple and whether they preferred Chinese or English songs, just to please them and make their big day more memorable.

This is a short song list that I normally prepare for wedding dinners, which appears to be acceptable by majorities:

1) The Moon represents my Heart (月亮代表我的心)
2）Endless Love
3) Your Name, My Surname (你的名字我的姓氏)
4) First Love
5) I am going to marry you tomorrow (明天我要嫁给你啦)
6) Along with Love (爱相随)

Etc…

Notice that some are older songs? Some are English Pops and even Japanese? Just to make sure everyone gets entertained.

Too bad, sometimes, they can manage to entertain themselves, leaving me entertaining myself…

I think it might be meaningful to post the real, original and genuine wedding songs here, as a form of sharing. You certainly know these songs!

Maybe a short preview on the video before you decide which piano sheet to view?

Free download of Bridal Chorus by Richard Wagner piano sheet here. It’s actually from the Opera Lohengrin, for your information.

Free download of Wedding March by Felix Mendelssohn piano sheet here. This song is also an incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Hmm…any other songs that ought to be in the list?

This is a post without much words…

Yummy Birthday Cakes!

A Birthday Celebration in Korea

Happy Birthday to you Fakebook

I heard this song coincidently in my car in one sweet day, but I was not planning for any sweet escape like what Ms Gwen Stefani did with Akon. Of course, I guess that is the consequence of being too lonely for Akon.

Am I nuts or what??? *Knock knock*

At least I am honest with the first sentence: I really heard it in my car.

Gwen’s voice is so unique that you’d hardly mistaken it for another person. She is so unique and cool, especially her accent. Unfortunately, I did not go to any of her concerts before, although I knew that they are quite reachable for me (as far as I know of, she sang in Malaysia and Singapore this year). There is news about Muslims organization (singular or plural form? Excuse me for my bad memory) that protested against her over-exposed costumes and requested the authority to ban her concert unless she promises to be more conservative.

In the end….Gwen Stefani sang in Malaysia, of course…in an obedient manner….(Quite hard to imagine)

However, she told the press that she had fun in her Singapore Concert. By the way, she brought her baby along as well…how cute!

“4 in the morning” is from “The sweet escape” album, which impressed me with its groove and rapping part…yo yo yo!!! You know, it’s something new for me to write the chorus with 90% identical notes. If you really sing it without any background music or accompaniment, it’d be boring…

But I think it’s fun!

Wanna try it out?

(more…)

It’s almost Hari Raya now…

You know? The best time during seasonal festivals is the countdown moment to the very day. This is why I chose to post this right now, when countdown is final.

I am quite sure that you won’t be able to see Hari Raya being celebrated by Muslims and non-Muslims except in Malaysia and Singapore. Non-Muslims witness how the Muslims fast food for one month before Hari Raya, feel and share the joy that is being shown on their faces and daily lifes and yes, we are entitled to enjoy a lot of special events together with them…(Holidays holidays holidays!!)

(more…)

I never knew that China can be so beautiful in the eyes of Western movies. The Painted Veil proved that I was wrong.

 

Mainly shot in Guilin, China, The Painted Veil emphasized a touching love story in front of the beautiful backdrop. Kitty (Played by Naomi Watts) and Walter (Played by Erward Norton) were ordinary couple who just got married and moved to China. An affair between Kitty and Townsend (Played by Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts’s boyfriend in real life, as the gossip said) almost destroyed the marriage and there is totally no romance from the beginning.

I even virtually agreed that Kitty and Walter might as well file for a divorce…

After Kitty and Walter moved to countryside, where Walter volunteered to assist with cholera epidemic, things began to change. I realized how life can change a person’s perspective. Kitty saw the gentle and noble side of Walter; and this helped her to ponder how she can contribute to the villagers and children in such difficult time.

The story is plain and simple, but I’d still give a thumb-up (Changed my mind, make that TWO please!) because the way how this story is presented, throbs deep into my heart.

Ahdoe.com will introduce you two classics that are representatives in this movie:

 

Trois Gnossiennes by Erik Satie, a French Musician and Pianist. Not too difficult, give it a try!

It’s ok, I know there is only one page. You can download the PDF version of Trois Gnossiennes piano sheet music at ahdoe.com as well.

Another song to come…it’s A La Claire Fontaine (What? A French riddle?)

Yes, it is, but with brand new expression by Laure Shang (尚雯婕), a talented Chinese Singer, who also worked as a French translator in Shanghai.

A La Claire Fontaine Piano Sheet Music

Again, I thought you might be interested in a full version of A La Claire Fontaine Piano Score. Please help yourself with the download, and don’t worry, it’s free. I welcome any comments about it and it helps me to improve a lot. (Thanks Dude~)

“When you asked whether you are in love with a person, you are already in love…” Quoted by Ahdoe, inspired by The Painted Veil

How beautiful isn’t it? 🙂