I ran a little experiment with my iPod recently. I basically avoided doing anything that would reset the playlist (shuffle albums) and found out how long it takes me to get through the entire set.

Allowing for interruptions like cycling or anything else requiring attention, the answer is just over a week.

And it isn't even close to full yet...

... is huge fun. Thanks rdm and leecetheartist!

:)

One of the peculiar characteristics of anime series is a tendency towards opening and closing songs*. I'm mostly talking about series here, it is by no means unusual for movies from any culture to at least end with a theme song of some sort, and certainly not unheard of as openings either. But consider if you will the number of western TV series, particularly SF series, that open or close with songs - to be honest I can't actually think of any offhand.

I'm not musical by any stretch of the imagination but I did start wondering recently about the challenges involved in composing a complete song that is constrained by the time limits of the credits - which is probably thirty seconds to a minute tops.

And then to consider how many series have truly outstanding opening and ending credit songs. It isn't a short list - some of my favourites include I don't need a promise (Vision of Escaflowne), the first opening to Card Captor Sakura, Blue Flow (the end theme to Haibane Renmei) and about the only thing I like about Eva which is the opening (although how much of that is due to seeing Ippongi Bang perform it live at Swancon, twice, is a good question).

So, what do people think? Easier? Harder? Leave a screened comment with your favourite three songs and I'll tally up the votes and post a list later. :)

As I mentioned some time ago the Canberra Symphony Orchestra were going to be playing one of my favourite pieces of music tonight, and that I had tickets.

Alas, the concert has started now and I'm not there since I'm too sick to inflict my company on friends. And I missed a gym session on Monday.

You can call me Mr Grumpy at this point.

Oh well, I'll watch a bit more Card Captor Sakura as mental comfort food, go to bed early, and not set an alarm. I'm sure things will be better tomorrow.

...which must be why I'm loading more CDs into iTunes (and thence onto the iPod).

At least its a (mostly) painless experience (except when iTunes doesn't recognise the CD, which is just frustrating).

A friend has just alerted me to this concert by the Canberra Symphony Orchestra. He's even offering to book tickets.

As some of you may know there was an anime convention in 1991 for which the organisers prepared an opening collage of anime that was perfectly matched to the 4th (I think) movement of Dvorak's 9th Symphony "The New World". This is a spectacular piece of music, one of my favourite pieces of classical music and this is a rare chance for me to see it performed live (I'm not sure I ever have, its been several years if so).

Bounce! Bounce! :)

I'll try to get to this*. Details beneath the cut courtesy of a friend who will be playing on Sunday.

To quote the aforementioned friend (a violinist as it happens...): 
"This is a concert of rich flowing melodies that Brahms and Rachmaninov do so well, with a Russian turn by Khachaturian. The Khachaturian is actually the Violin Concerto arranged for flute ... I think they get the better of the deal in terms of playability, but perhaps I'm biased."

I know I've mentioned this before but the National Capital Orchestra are putting on a charity concert in March that will feature special effects courtesy of Questacon's Excited Particles. For "special effects" read "explosions". :)

Sunday March 4th (probably afternoon)

The National Capital Orchestra is a community orchestra based in the ACT, I've been attending their concerts at Llewellyn Hall for a couple of years now and I've never been disappointed.

Yesterday's concert was no exception, all of the performances were enjoyable and a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

The varied program of Beethoven (two pieces), Haydn, Adams, & Dvorak was enjoyable and enthusiastically played.

Before the interval the highlight was the Haydn Concerto for Trumpet where soloist Chris Hudson's obvious enjoyment of the Orchestra's work was infectious.

Overall though my favourite piece was the Dvorak Serenade in D minor, op. 44 for Winds, Cello and Double Bass.

It is rare in my (admittedly limited) experience to see the wind instruments getting centre stage like this and it was an excellent piece well played.