Current Musical Adventures

An update on current activities. I’ve received a couple emails asking why I’m not blogging so much. After  making it through Chinese New Year here in Macau, China I was able to take a long overdue vacation and return to the United States for the first time in two years. (Beloved Skagit County, Washington USA – I didn’t visit down in Southern California). The break gave me a chance to bring some more gear back to China and to set new goals and aspirations for myself – pretty much like starting a new year.

Continue reading “Current Musical Adventures” →

The Secret Treasure of Failure

“Curiosity is the most powerful thing you own,” he said. “Don’t put limitations on yourself. Other people will do that for you…failure has to be an option in art and exploration because it’s a leap of faith.”

“In whatever you’re doing, failure is an option, but fear is not.”

– James Cameron – TED Talks 2010

Just read these words today and they hit me so strong. Like if you’re reading the bible and a verse jumps out and you think God is speaking directly to you.

Continue reading “The Secret Treasure of Failure” →

O Holy Night – Celtic Singers

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDeXUvWbLp8

There is a little confusion in China when it comes to Western holidays. For instance, on Christmas Eve the street was littered with confetti as people exploded party poppers at the stroke of midnight for the beginning of Christmas Day. And then Auld Lang Syne is playing on all the bar sound systems. Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve – what’s the difference right? Ugh.

So thank you to my friend from the Great White North who sent me this. I got home tonight as Christmas Eve turned to Christmas Day in China. Was feeling very sad not to be with my family, and to not have the usual Christmas events around me. This video helped center me a bit.

Her is an alternate verse for O Holy Night (Cantique de Noel), and I think a more powerful one.

Chains shall he break
for the slave is our brother
And in His name
all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy
In grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us
Praise His holy name

Christ is the Lord
And ever ever praise we
Noel, Noel

O night, O night divine
Noel, Noel
O night, O night divine

Conrad Askland French Horn 1982

Conrad Askland - Horn 1982
Conrad Askland - Horn 1982

What a trip. Someone posted this photo on Facebook. I think it’s 1982 at Interlake High School (Bellevue, WA) at a Symphonic Band concert. I am the third French Horn player from the right. I graduated the following year in 1983 first chair. So I think I was 15 years old in this photo. Leo Dodd was the music director for bands and jazz ensembles. He is a legend.

After this I went to Pacific Lutheran University, gave up French Horn, and focused on piano, voice and composition.

Jacques Brel – Ne Me Quitte Pas

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfegOxTCuOQ

Such a beautiful song by Jacques Brel (recorded in 1959). Here is an English translation.

Jacques Romain Georges Brel (8 April 1929–9 October 1978) was a Belgian singer-songwriter. Brel composed and recorded his songs almost exclusively in French.  The quality and style of his lyrics are highly regarded by many leading critics of popular music.

Brel’s songs are not especially well known in the English-speaking world except in translation and through the interpretations of other singers, most famously Scott Walker and Judy Collins. In French-speaking countries, Brel is also remembered as an actor and director. Jacques Brel has sold over 25 million records worldwide, including over 12 million albums and singles in France and Belgium.

Ne Me Quitte Pas (If you go away)

If you go away on this summer’s day,
Then you might as well take the sun away
All the birds that flew in the summer sky
When our love was new and our hearts were high
When the day was young and the nights were long
And the moon stood still for the night bird’s song
If you go away, if you go away, if you go away.

Continue reading “Jacques Brel – Ne Me Quitte Pas” →

The 2009 Mystery Christmas Present

In Christmas 2008 I received a donation given in my name. I made a nasty blog post about giving donations at Christmas presents which has gotten me a lot of hate mail.

The nasty blog post is here:

https://www.conradaskland.com/blog/2008/11/making-donations-as-christmas-presents/

But one person from the Great White North took pity on me for Christmas this year and has sent me a giant box which I received today. I am under strict orders not to open it or the accompanying Christmas card until December 25, 2009 – which I will honor.

Continue reading “The 2009 Mystery Christmas Present” →

How to Start a Career in the Arts

I get many emails from people asking variations of the question “How do I start a career in the arts?”. It comes from singers, writers, hip hop producers – all people who perform and create. They are starting out, they have a drive, they think they have what it takes but they are not sure of where the road is.

I will tell you the secret. And it’s very simple. I cannot tell you if you will succeed, or if you are any good, or even if you should. But here’s the secret:

Continue reading “How to Start a Career in the Arts” →

ZAIA Celebrates 500 Shows

ZAIA Cirque 500 Shows Poster
ZAIA Cirque 500 Shows Poster

November 12, 2009 was the celebration for the 500th performance of the ZAIA show by Cirque Du Soleil in Macau, China. Cirque founder Guy Laliberte flew in for the performance and toasted the artists and crew. Family and friends were also invited for the occasion.

Guy Laliberte and Conrad Askland
Conrad Askland and Guy Laliberte

Conrad Askland (ZAIA keyboards and assistant bandleader) and Guy Laliberte.

Continue reading “ZAIA Celebrates 500 Shows” →

DNS Updates or How Did I Get To This Website?

I recently updated DNS on websites that are not active to point here to my personal site. Thank you to the person who emailed me about that. Over the years I had many websites on different servers and I didn’t update DNS on websites I wasn’t using. When those old IP’s were reallocated, new owners would load their websites onto them. In plain english that means that when people would go to an old website of mine I wasn’t using any more they would end up on a different random site like “Norm’s Bait and Tackle Shop”.

Continue reading “DNS Updates or How Did I Get To This Website?” →