classical

Aug

2023

FRIDIDDYDAY!!

Today is the Day of Songun (meaning ‘military-first’. ‘Son’ meaning ‘First’ and ‘Gun’ meaning ‘Military’.), a public holiday in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It marks Kim Jong-il’s inspection visit to the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su Guards 105th Armored Division of the Korean People’s Army on this day in 1960. This tank division was part of the main advance from Seoul to Taejon (Daejeon) during the Korean War, and the leaders visit to the unit is regarded as the start of the Songun revolutionary leadership by the North Korea government.

Songun, officially ‘Songun Politics’, prioritizes the military in all aspects of Korean society and has boosted the importance of the Korean People’s Army in politics, society and culture.

Today is the birthday, in 1918, of American composer, pianist, conductor, Leonard Bernstein. His best-known work is the Broadway musical West Side Story, and he conducted the New York Philharmonic aged 25. Bernstein was the recipient of many honors, including seven Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, sixteen Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement, and the Kennedy Center Honor. He died on 14th October 1990 age 72. Here he both conducts and plays. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH2PH0auTUU

Aug

2023

TOOT TOOT TOOSDAY!!!

Today is the Qixi Festival (also known as the Qiqiao Festival) in China. It celebrates the annual meeting of Zhinü and Niulang in Chinese mythology. A celebration of romantic love, the festival is often described as the traditional Chinese equivalent of Valentine’s Day. The festival is derived from Chinese mythology: people celebrate the romantic legend of two lovers, Zhinü and Niulang, who were the weaver girl and the cowherd, respectively. The tale of The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl has been celebrated in the Qixi Festival since the Han dynasty.

The popular tale is a love story between Zhinü, the weaver girl, symbolized by the star Vega and Niulang, the cowherd, symbolized by the star Altair. Niulang was often abused by his sister-in-law. They eventually kicked him out of the house, and gave him nothing but an old cow. One day, the old cow suddenly spoke out, telling Niulang that there would be fairies bathing in the spring nearby that night. The fairy would stay there if she failed to go back to heaven before morning. In accordance with what the old cow said, Niulang saw those beautiful fairies in the spring, and fell in love with one of the beautiful fairies who was the heavenly weaver. In order to make her stay, he took her clothes that helped her to go back to heaven; this made her an ordinary earth woman without any power. Then they got married and had two children. The Emperor of Heaven, lit. ’The Jade Emperor’ found out about this and was furious, so he sent minions to escort the heavenly weaver back to heaven. Niulang was heartbroken. The old cow suddenly spoke out again, telling Niulang he could take his skin to make it into a flying coat to chase after them; and Niulang did. However, the Queen Mother of the West drew a Silver River (The Milky Way) in the sky and blocked his way. Meanwhile, the love between Niulang and the weaver moved the magpie, and so they built a bridge of magpies over the Silver River for them to meet. The Emperor of Heaven was also moved by the sight, and allowed this couple to meet on the Magpie Bridge. once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. That was the origin of the Qixi Festival.

‘Just take the stairs’, they said.

for a friend…

Today is the birthday, in 1862, of Claude Debussy, one of the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxcHoICbJlM

Jun

2023

Last WEDNESDAY in June!

Today is Independence Day in Djibouti. It is the National Day of Djibouti and marks the country’s declaration of independence in 1977, ending nearly a century of French rule. On May 8th 1977, a referendum took place. An overwhelming 98.8% of the electorate voted for independence from France and thus, on June 27th 1977, Djibouti became the last of France’s African colonies to gain independence.

That time of year…

I Came Into The Office Early And Switched As Many M And N Keys On Keyboards As I Could. Some Might Say I’m A Monster But Others Will Say Nomster

No good birthdays today. Here’s the amazing Yuja Wang playing variations on the Turkish March (Mozart) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGAPTRrAilY

Jun

2023

FRY-DAI

Tomorrow is Icelandic Independence Day. Also called Icelandic National Day or simply ‘the seventeenth of June’, the day marks Iceland’s move to complete independence from Denmark.

Iceland was proclaimed an independent republic on June 17th 1944. Iceland actually gained independence from Denmark much earlier, on December 1st 1918 with the signing of the Act of Union with Denmark. The Act recognized Iceland as an independent state under the Danish crown. During World War II, Denmark was occupied by Germany and there was a movement in Iceland for complete separation. The referendum was held in at the end of May 1944. Voters were asked whether the Union with Denmark should be abolished and whether to adopt a new republican constitution. Both measures were approved with more than 98% in favour and a voter turnout of 98.4%.

Uh Oh…

Today is the birthday, in 1843, of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nMUr8Rt2AI

Jun

2023

FRIDY

Today is the T. T. Bank Holiday on the Isle of Man. The T.T. Bank Holiday holiday takes place on the Isle of Man on the Friday in the first full week of June. The holiday may also be called ‘Senior race day’ as it is observed on the day of the Senior Race in the Isle of Man T.T. race.

The International Isle of Man T.T. (Tourist Trophy) Race is an annual motorcycle sport event that takes place on the Isle of Man, usually over the last week of May and first week of June. The event first took place in 1907. The races take place on the roads on the Isle of Man and are a thrilling spectacle for locals, racing enthusiasts and tourists alike. The Senior TT is the most prestigious event of the festival and takes place on the Friday of race week. The winner is awarded the The Marquis de Mouzilly St. Mars trophy.