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

China Bans Individuals from Registering Websites

I really could not believe this news. I read it several times to make sure I was not misunderstanding it. Since I run many websites I had contemplated running a Chinese network hosted in China – and I’m so glad now that I didn’t do that. What a waste it would have been.

In short: China will be reviewing all personal Chinese websites for content; will ban any website they think has bad content (porn, anti-government, dissidents, etc.); and anyone registering a new domain will have to present business papers.

Continue reading “China Bans Individuals from Registering Websites” →

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.

General Midi Patch List

Patch list for General Midi sounds.

Piano Chromatic Percussion Organ
1.Acoustic Grand Piano
2.Bright Acoustic Piano
3.Electric Grand Piano
4.Honky-tonk Piano
5.Electric Piano 1
6.Electric Piano 2
7.Harpsicord
8.Clavi		 9.Celesta
10.Glockenspiel
11.Music Box
12.Vibraphone
13.Marimba
14.Xylophone
15.Tubular Bells
16.Dulcimer		 17.Drawbar Organ
18.Percussive Organ
19.Rock Organ
20.Church Organ
21.Reed Organ
22.Accordion
23.Harmonica
24.Tango Accordion
Guitar Brass Strings
25.Acoustic Guitar (nylon)
26.Acoustic Guitar (steel)
27.Electric Guitar (jazz)
28.Electric Guitar (clean)
29.Electric Guitar (muted)
30.Overdriven Guitar
31.Distortion Guitar
32.Guitar Harmonics		 33.Acoustic Bass
34.Electric Bass (finger)
35.Electric Bass (pick)
36.Fretless Bass
37.Slap Bass 1
38.Slap Bass 2
39.Synth Bass 1
40.Synth Bass 2		 41.Violin
42.Viola
43.Cello
44.Contrabass
45.Tremolo Strings
46.Pizzicato Strings
47.Orchestral Harp
48.Timpani
Ensemble Brass Reed
49.String Ensemble 1
50.String Ensemble 2
51.Synth Strings 1
52.Synth Strings 2
53.Choir Aahs
54.Voice Oohs
55.Synth Voice
56.Orchestra Hit		 57.Trumpet
58.Trombone
59.Tuba
60.Muted Trumpet
61.French Horn
62.Brass Section
63.Synth Brass 1
64.Synth Brass 2		 65.Soprano Sax
66.Alto Sax
67.Tenor Sax
68.Baritone Sax
69.Oboe
70.English Horn
71.Bassoon
72.Clarinet
Pipe Synth Lead Synth
73.Piccolo
74.Flute
75.Recorder
76.Pan Flute
77.Blown Bottle
78.Shakuhachi
79.Whistle
80.Ocarina		 81.Lead 1 (square)
82.Lead 2 (sawtooth)
83.Lead 3 (calliope)
84.Lead 4 (chiff)
85.Lead 5 (charang)
86.Lead 6 (voice)
87.Lead 7 (fifths)
88.Lead 8 (bass+lead)		 89.Pad 1 (new age)
90.Pad 2 (warm)
91.Pad 3 (polysynth)
92.Pad 4 (choir)
93.Pad 5 (bowed)
94.Pad 6 (metallic)
95.Pad 7 (halo)
96.Pad 8 (sweep)
Synth Effects Ethnic Percussive
97.FX 1 (rain)
98.FX 2 (soundtrack)
99.FX 3 (crystal)
100.FX 4 (atmosphere)
101.FX 5 (brightness)
102.FX 6 (goblins)
103.FX 7 (echoes)
104.FX 8 (sci-fi)		 105.Sitar
106.Banjo
107.Shamisen
108.Koto
109.Kalimba
110.Bagpipe
111.Fiddle
112.Shanai		 113.Tinkle Bell
114.Agogo
115.Steel Drums
116.Woodblock
117.Taiko Drum
118.Melodic Tom
119.Synth Drum
120.Reverse Cymbal
Sound Effects
121.Guitar Fret Noise
122.Breath Noise
123.Seashore
124.Bird Tweet
125.Telephone Ring
126.Helicopter
127.Applause
128.Gunshot

Continue reading “General Midi Patch List” →

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” →