DingDing

在香港購買豎琴其中一個重要的考慮是保養的問題, 香港天氣十分潮濕, 木製的樂器需要加陪照顧.  而且在香港很難找到一些參考書籍介紹豎琴結構.  記得自己的豎琴第一次斷絃的時侯, 連斷了的是哪一號數的絃線也不清楚呢!

幸好有了互聯網, 在網上發現"Venus Harp"的網站收錄了很清楚有關豎琴結構, 保養及維修的資料, 獲益良多!

但當然最有效的保養方法還是"keep it alive", 每天與它"談談情", 豎琴也自然閃耀出明亮的光釆!

Harp maintenance






http://www.venusharps.com/care-maintenance-1.htm

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Die Fledermaus 輕歌劇《蝙蝠》



在華麗的面具下，沒有美醜，也沒有富貴貧賤，王子可以是乞丐，乞丐也可以是王子......大家能夠身份大換轉當然成為劇作家的好題材，而小約翰·施特勞斯Johann Strauss, Jr. 的歌劇《蝙蝠》也是圍繞著一個化妝舞會的。

輕歌劇《蝙蝠》取材自十九世紀法國劇作家梅克及夏威的喜劇〝晚宴〞，哈夫納及和傑內譯成德文劇本，劇情描述艾森斯坦男爵因侮辱官員，即將鎯鐺入獄。朋友福克博士建議他趁入獄之前，好好與美女們共舞，享受人生，邀請男爵參加一場化妝舞會，接連衍生一連串花花草草荒謬趣事，原來這一切都是福克博士為了復仇所一手策劃的鬧劇。最後大家前嫌盡釋，就怪都是香檳惹的禍。

The Operetta Die Fledermaus was composed by Johann Strauss, Jr. based on the French Comedy "Le Reveillon" by Henri Meilhac & Ludovic Halevy with German libretto by Carl Haffner & Richard Genee. The story tells how Dr. Falke revenges on his friend Eisenstein, who made a practical joke on Falke leaving him sleeping in a bat costume in the town square after getting drunk. With branded Viennese elegance and sparkling orchestration, Strauss tied up the story with sweet melodies and soothing harmonies, interwoven with whimsical dialogues into a wild musical party that leaves the audience singing along and laughing out loud.

(Source: http://cityopera.hk/home/node/76)

Johann Strauss jr. - Die Fledermaus - "Mein Herr Marquis" (The Laughing song) sung by Edita Gruberova, one of my favourite soprano, in her 63 years old concert.


Mein Herr Marquis

Mein Herr Marquis, ein Mann wie Sie
Sollt’ besser das verstehn,
Darum rate ich, ja genauer sich
Die Leute anzusehen!
Die Hand ist doch wohl gar zo fein, hahaha
Dies Füsschen so zierlich und klein, hahaha
Die Sprache, die ich führe
Die Taille, die Tournüre,
Dergleichen finden Sie
Bei einer Zofe nie!
Gestehn müssen Sie fürwahr,
Sehr komisch dieser Irrtum war!
Ja, sehr komisch, hahaha,
Ist die Sache, hahaha.
Drum verzeihn Sie, hahaha,
Wenn ich lache, hahaha!
Ja, sehr komisch, hahaha
Ist die Sache, hahaha!

Sehr komisch, Herr Marquis, sind Sie!
Mit dem Profil im griech’schen Stil
Beschenkte mich Natur:
Wenn nicht dies Gesicht schon genügend spricht,
So sehn Sie die Figur!
Schaun durch die Lorgnette Sie dann, ah,
Sich diese Toilette nur an, ah
Mir scheint wohl, die Liebe
Macht Ihre Augen trübe,
Der schönen Zofe Bild
Hat ganz Ihr Herz erfüllt!
Nun sehen Sie sie überall,
Sehr komisch ist fürwahr der Fall!
Ja, sehr komisch, hahaha
Ist die Sache, hahaha
Drum verzeihn Sie, hahaha,
Wenn ich lache, hahaha!
Ja, sehr komisch, hahaha,
Ist die Sache, hahaha etc.

(English Traslation)

My dear marquis, a man like you
Should better understand that,
Therefore, I advise you to look more
Closely at people!
This hand is surely far too fine, hahaha
This foot so dainty and small, hahaha.
The manner of speaking which I have,
My waist, my bustle,
These would never be found
On a lady’s maid!
You really must admit,
This mistake was very comical!
Yes, very comical, hahaha,
Is this matter, hahaha.
So pardon me, hahaha,
If I laugh, ha ha ha!
Yes, very comical, hahaha,
Is this matter, hahaha!

You are very comical, Marquis!
With this profile in Grecian style
Being a gift of nature;
If this face doesn’t say enough,

Just look at my figure!
Just look through your lorgnette, ah
At this outfit, ah
It seems to me that love
Has clouded your eyes,
The image of your chambermaid
Has quite filled your heart!
Now you see her everywhere,
This is truly a very comic situation!
Yes very comical, hahaha
Is this matter, ha ha ha ,
So pardon me , ha ha ha,
If I laugh, ha ha ha!
Yes very comical, ha ha ha,
Is this matter, ha ha ha , etc.
[ Mein Herr Marquis Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]

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假面舞會



人生實在有太多包袱, 只能在假面下才能釋放自己.  在互聯網上大家都能盡情利用不同身份與人交往, 或許這就是現代的"假面舞會"! 

威尼斯面具嘉年華

威尼斯面具嘉年華起源於西元1162年，是威尼斯人(Venezia)為慶祝戰勝烏爾里科人（Ulrico），在聖馬可廣場舉辦一場盛大的慶祝舞會。

中古時期強烈的階級觀，使得當時一般平民百姓都不可以隨便參加宴會狂歡，只有貴族才有夜夜笙歌的權利，但在這個一年一度的熱鬧慶典上，無論貴族或平民均可戴上漂亮多姿的面具，興高采烈地參與盛會。在華麗的面具下，沒有美醜，也沒有富貴貧賤，王子可以是乞丐，乞丐也可以是王子，所有的階級與身分地位，在這段時間不再有任何意義，平民與貴族，都可以盡情享樂，戴上面具，享受平等的歡樂氣氛，揮灑出屬於自己的舞台，無形中也拉近貧富階層的距離。

威尼斯面具嘉年華，每年舉辦的日期都不盡相同，大致上會在聖灰星期三（Ash Wednesday）前10天舉行，嘉年華活動期間，聖馬可廣場上搭起了一個伸展台，提供所有愛秀的人上台表演，再由觀眾票選出年度面具與服裝造型大獎，在這個伸展台上你將會看到所有最美、最醜、也最怪的面具造型。




The Venice Carnival is the largest and most important Venetian festival.

The Carnival has very old origins. It is a festival that celebrates the passage from winter into spring, a time when seemingly anything is possible, including the illusion where the most humble of classes become the most powerful by wearing masks on their faces. The official start of the Venice Carnival dates back to 1296, when the Senate of the Republic made the Carnival official with an edict declaring the day before Lent a public holiday.

The Carnival of Venice (Italian: Carnevale di Venezia) is an annual festival, held in Venice, Italy

Carnival starts around two weeks before Ash Wednesday and ends on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras), the day before Ash Wednesday.

What are Venetian Masks?
Venetian masks have a long history of protecting their wearer's identity during promiscuous or decadent activities. Made for centuries in Venice, these distinctive masks were formed from papier-mâché and wildly decorated with fur, fabric, gems, or ribbons. Eventually, Venetian masks re-emerged as the emblem of Carnevale, a pageant and street fair celebrating hedonism.

Venetian masks emerged in a climate of cultural and religious repression during the Medieval era in Italy. People donned the colorful masks to free themselves from judging neighbors, all of whom knew each other in such a small city. The gentry class and peasants alike sought anonymity for promiscuity, gambling, and other indiscretions. Even the clergy were known to dress up to go dancing.


(http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-venetian-masks.htm)

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年輕的浪漫
近日因買了一部高速的雙面scanner, 家裏一些舊文件及書籍都通通被scan.  連藏在床底多年的珍藏也無一幸免，也須要檢討應否scan了它們。
珍藏中找到這批已封存二十多年的數學書。它們都是威廉唸大學研究院時購買的。但當然其實他只需參考數本便可完成他的論文。




(部份珍藏終於出土!)

記得它們是我們非常努力在廣州購買的，其實預備論文只需要數本便可，但他太喜歡這套書籍，於是大量買了下來，希望可以在退休後慢慢閱讀, 還說把它們放在家中當牆紙都藉得!!!

只是二十多年，它們從未曾有機會放在書架上呢！

在番閱它們時，大家又開始懷舊一番，又是我細聽不同數學家的小故事的時候了......  

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