Rekadohttps://elephly.net/feeds/tags/video.xmlTag: video2023-09-24T23:33:34Z“Tianshi” on Alto Stickhttps://elephly.net/posts/2010-08-17-tianshi.htmlRicardo Wurmusrekado+web@elephly.net2010-08-17T00:00:00Z<p>When my colleague was in the middle of preparations for getting
married, he asked me to play a nice song at his wedding. “Nice”
songs are a neglected minority in Chinese pop music; most of the
popular songs deal with love affairs gone wrong, broken hearts,
the loss of the original feeling, or they describe the emptiness
after the loved one has passed away. Nothing that would really
fit to the (admittedly cheesy) celebration of Eternal Love™.
Hence, my vast catalogue of popular songs was all but useless. I
had to learn how to play a new song: Mayday’s “Angel”.</p><p>This is my practise session in its blunt ugliness. I spliced in a
solo section recorded at a different angle to divert you from the
boredom. As you will probably notice, the introduction was lifted
from my improvisation <a href="/posts/2010-08-05-flow-on-the-alto-stick-video.html">“Flow”
which I recorded earlier</a>.</p><p>(Yes, this is the same shirt as in my last video...)</p><p>My next recording will likely be an original song, unless I will
be asked by my friends at youku.com for more sino pop before it is
ready.</p><video width="100%" autobuffer="true" controls="true" poster="tianshi.jpg"><source src="/downies/videos/tianshi_low.mp4" /><source src="/downies/videos/tianshi_low.ogv" /></video><p>I offer this video for download in several formats. Choose one
from the list below. When you do not want to care about codecs,
<a href="http://videolan.org">download the free VLC player</a>. If
you are on GNU/Linux <code>mplayer</code> will work fine, too.</p><h2>Medium Quality (HD 720)</h2><div class="download"><table><tr><th>codecs</th><td>h.264 + mp3</td></tr><tr><th>bitrate A</th><td>192 kbps</td></tr><tr><th>bitrate V</th><td>3 Mbps</td></tr><tr><th>container</th><td>mp4</td></tr><tr><th>size</th><td>109 MB</td></tr></table><a href="/downies/videos/tianshi_medium.mp4">download</a></div><div class="download"><table><tr><th>codecs</th><td>ogg theora</td></tr><tr><th>bitrate A</th><td>192 kbps</td></tr><tr><th>bitrate V</th><td>3 Mbps</td></tr><tr><th>container</th><td>ogv</td></tr><tr><th>size</th><td>135 MB</td></tr></table><a href="/downies/videos/tianshi_medium.ogv">download</a></div><h2>Low Quality (HD 480)</h2><div class="download"><table><tr><th>codecs</th><td>h.264 + mp3</td></tr><tr><th>bitrate A</th><td>128 kbps</td></tr><tr><th>bitrate V</th><td>1.5 Mbps</td></tr><tr><th>container</th><td>mp4</td></tr><tr><th>size</th><td>56 MB</td></tr></table><a href="/downies/videos/tianshi_low.mp4">download</a></div><div class="download"><table><tr><th>codecs</th><td>ogg theora</td></tr><tr><th>bitrate A</th><td>128 kbps</td></tr><tr><th>bitrate V</th><td>1.5 Mbps</td></tr><tr><th>container</th><td>ogv</td></tr><tr><th>size</th><td>55 MB</td></tr></table><a href="/downies/videos/tianshi_low.ogv">download</a></div><h2>Streaming</h2><p>The video is available on <a href="http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTk5MDQ4MDE2.html">Youku</a>.</p>“Flow” on Alto Stick: the videohttps://elephly.net/posts/2010-08-05-flow-on-the-alto-stick-video.htmlRicardo Wurmusrekado+web@elephly.net2010-08-05T00:00:00Z<p>
Here I publish the plain video to
the <a href="/posts/2010-08-04-alto-stick.html">recording I
published yesterday</a>.
</p><p>
This is for documentation purposes only. Enjoyment is just a
possible side effect. Just look at my face in the video and you know
what I mean. Music is serious business.
</p><p>
I noticed just now that the chord progression follows rather closely
that one in Mayday’s “天使”, a song I’m currently
practising. I was asked to play one song on a wedding this Sunday
and it will likely be 天使 in an unusual arrangement, blending some
of the ideas that shine through the improvisation with the lyrics of
that song. I’m expecting to have enough time on Saturday or Monday
evening to record it and put it on display here.
</p><video width="100%" poster="/images/posts/alto-stick.jpg" controls="true" autobuffer="true">
<source src="/downies/videos/flow_on_alto_stick_low.mp4" />
<source src="/downies/videos/flow_on_alto_stick_low.ogv" />
</video><p>
I offer this video for download in several formats. Choose one from
the list below. When you do not want to care about
codecs, <a href="http://videolan.org">download the free VLC
player</a>. If you are on GNU/Linux <code>mplayer</code> will work
fine, too.
</p><h2>Medium Quality (HD 720)</h2><div class="download">
<table>
<tr><th>codecs</th><td>h.264 + mp3</td></tr>
<tr><th>bitrate A</th><td>192kbps</td></tr>
<tr><th>bitrate V</th><td>3Mbps</td></tr>
<tr><th>container</th><td>mp4</td></tr>
<tr><th>size</th><td>105MB</td></tr>
</table>
<a href="/downies/videos/flow_on_alto_stick_medium.mp4">download</a>
</div><div class="download">
<table>
<tr><th>codecs</th><td>ogg theora</td></tr>
<tr><th>bitrate A</th><td>192kbps</td></tr>
<tr><th>bitrate V</th><td>3Mbps</td></tr>
<tr><th>container</th><td>ogv</td></tr>
<tr><th>size</th><td>103MB</td></tr>
</table>
<a href="/downies/videos/flow_on_alto_stick_medium.ogv">download</a>
</div><h2>Low Quality (HD 480)</h2><div class="download">
<table>
<tr><th>codecs</th><td>h.264 + mp3</td></tr>
<tr><th>bitrate A</th><td>128kbps</td></tr>
<tr><th>bitrate V</th><td>1.5Mbps</td></tr>
<tr><th>container</th><td>mp4</td></tr>
<tr><th>size</th><td>54MB</td></tr>
</table>
<a href="/downies/videos/flow_on_alto_stick_low.mp4">download</a>
</div><div class="download">
<table>
<tr><th>codecs</th><td>ogg theora</td></tr>
<tr><th>bitrate A</th><td>128kbps</td></tr>
<tr><th>bitrate V</th><td>1.5Mbps</td></tr>
<tr><th>container</th><td>ogv</td></tr>
<tr><th>size</th><td>53MB</td></tr>
</table>
<a href="/downies/videos/flow_on_alto_stick_low.ogv">download</a>
</div><h2>Streaming</h2><p>
I’ve uploaded the video
to <a href="http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTk1NTQ0MDM2.html">Youku</a>.
</p>One Night In Beijinghttps://elephly.net/posts/2010-07-14-one-night-in-beijing.htmlRicardo Wurmusrekado+web@elephly.net2010-07-14T00:00:00Z<p>When I noticed that the online voting system for the big Niuren
2010 event was not to be trusted, I was pretty convinced not be
one of those chosen to perform on stage in Bejing. In order to
be sure, I wrote a message to my friend at Youku. Some hours
later I was informed that disregarding the number of the votes
(which did turn out to be comparatively high in the end) I was
supposed to be invited to give a performance on the Stick. After
all formal issues were agreed upon, I prepared to leave for
Beijing on Sunday morning with the Chapman Stick in tow.</p><p>When I arrived at the venue I was surprised to find the stage to
be a lot larger than I anticipated.</p><img class="full stretch" src="/images/posts/niuren2010_beijing_stage.jpg" alt="The stage in Beijing" /><p>When it was time for my soundcheck the clouds had formed a dark
opaque blanket across the unattractive skies of Beijing and at
times rain drops mixed with the soil on the vast meadow to form
squishy mud. The crew seemed to marvel at the impression of
hearing two instruments’ sounds, each articulated by one
individual hand on its own set of strings but on one
instrument.</p><p>At about ten o’clock in the evening, the show began. It only
lasted for about 15 minutes as the occasional rain proceeded to
grow into drowning vertical streams of water. The stage was
lacking any sort of rain protection and it didn’t take long until
the stage lights went off as the cables were drenched.</p><p>The show was eventually cancelled which only made sense
considering that most of the mud-dwellers in front of the stage
had given up their hopes for better weather and had left the
premises in shoals.</p><p>Disappointed we returned to the hotel. When finally everybody
had returned we discussed with the organizers how to proceed, how
to salvage the investment. At first the idea was going around to
stage the event on Monday evening, without an audience, just
recording and pretending it all happened the day before. This
idea was soon discarded, though, when the organizers learned that
most of had would be flying back home on Monday morning. A
compromise was found when the decision was made to record
individual performances—or rather very pale and primitive
versions of what was originally planned—in the lobby of the
hotel.</p><div class="figure"><img src="/images/posts/niuren2010_beijing_lobby.jpg" alt="Recording video clips in the hotel lobby at 2am" /><p class="caption">Recording video clips in the hotel lobby at 2am</p></div><p>These clips—all of which were recorded between two and three
a.m.—are supposed to serve as teasers for the actual show which
has now been postponed to some time in August or September. I
will add the links to those video clips in the next few days,
provided I can find them. A new entry will be posted once the
date for the postponed show in Beijing has been confirmed.</p><p><strong>Update (July 29):</strong> The short video clip has been
uploaded. You can <a href="http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTkzMzc1NDI4.html">watch it on
youku</a>.</p><p><strong>Update:</strong> Gao Ming interviewed the participants during
the preparations of the show. There is a 25+ minutes <a href="http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTg5NzMwNDI4.html">video clip on
youku</a>. At about 2:40 he comes across the table where I am
relaxing with other participants.</p>The Stick—Live on Chinese TVhttps://elephly.net/posts/2010-06-01-chapman-stick-on-national-tv.htmlRicardo Wurmusrekado+web@elephly.net2010-06-01T00:00:00Z<p>Once upon a time, there was a mediocre musician with a dream. The
story has not yet ended, so I cannot say much more than that. If
this story would, however, be written down by my sentimental alter
ego one day (long after the last polar bear will have surrendered
before the army of blind manatees, oh, the huge manatee!), it
would probably make mention of the following event.</p><div class="figure"><img src="/images/posts/stick-on-tv.jpg" alt="The Chapman Stick on Chinese national TV" /><p class="caption">The Chapman Stick on Chinese national TV</p></div><p>Tossed around on the waves of his whimsical nature, the mediocre
musican fell into the path of an opportunity. In a way as to
apologize for the accidental collision, the clumsy musician
offered to make up for the damage by playing tunes and singing
songs for pure entertainment. Not without a hidden agenda was it
that on that day the musician decided to bring an instrument,
playing which he was not even capable of.</p><p>Lo and behold: ’twas the Chapman Stick the musician had strapped
on, knowing well that the juxtaposition of the minimalistic yet
noble instrument with the silly cowboy dress... What can I say?
There is no way I could justify that preposterous appearance.</p><p>Anyway, I participated in a popular Shanghainese show and played
the Stick. The show was broadcast live on February 8, 2010 and
despite the promise to be given a reel of the performance, it took
four months and lots of effort on my part to find <a href="http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTc3OTAyMTY0.html">this low-fi
snippet</a> of the very first appearance of the Stick on Chinese
TV.</p><p>What you can see here is part of my introduction, a teaser of
sorts, to keep the audience hooked till the actual performance
later in the show. The song I was playing is a somewhat funkier
adaption of Wang Li Hong’s “龙的传人”.</p><p>You can <a href="/downies/videos/qjdls_chapman_stick_1.mp4">download this historical video clip here</a>.</p>Rehearsalshttps://elephly.net/posts/2010-03-26-rehearsals.htmlRicardo Wurmusrekado+web@elephly.net2010-03-26T00:00:00Z<p><a href="http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTUxMDczMDE2.html">This
video</a> was shot by the friendly youku team during the rehearsals
for the live broadcast of Quan Jia Dou Lai Sai.</p><p>Thanks to Youku for their support!</p>Billie Jeanhttps://elephly.net/posts/2010-03-26-billie-jean.htmlRicardo Wurmusrekado+web@elephly.net2010-03-26T00:00:00Z<div class="figure"><img src="/images/posts/billiejean.png" alt="Playing Billie Jean on the Stick" /><p class="caption">Playing Billie Jean on the Stick</p></div><p><a href="http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTMyOTc3Nzcy.html">This
video</a> was recorded some time in December 2009. I had just
learned how to <a href="/posts/2009-07-01-chapman_stick.html">tap
with both hands on the Chapman Stick</a> when I was contacted by
representatives of the Chinese video portal <a href="http://youku.com">Youku.com</a>. They asked me to provide them
with a quick video of myself showing off the peculiar instrument I
told them I had just learned to play.</p><p>Later the video was to be tacked on to <a href="http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTMzMDA1MDU2.html">footage that
was recorded some days earlier with the Youku team</a>. All
together this was supposed to be my entry for the voting to join
the show 全家都来赛 (the official English name is the silly <em>“Super Family”</em>).</p><p>As the show’s purpose is to present ‘talented families’, I asked
Jackie to play the drums while I would cover bass, chords and
vocals of Michael Jackson’s <em>Billie Jean</em>. The result
<a href="http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTMyOTc3Nzcy.html">can be
seen here</a>.</p>2009 Youku Niurenhttps://elephly.net/posts/2010-03-26-youku-niuren.htmlRicardo Wurmusrekado+web@elephly.net2010-03-26T00:00:00Z<p>On January 23, 2010 Jackie and I attended the annual Niuren show
hosted by Youku. We were handed a cheap plastic board,
symbolizing entry into <em>Quan Jia Dou Lai Sai</em>. Here’s a
<a href="http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTQ3NjI2MzYw.html">video of
the ceremony</a>.</p>Quitian Bu Huilaihttps://elephly.net/posts/2009-11-02-qtbhl.htmlRicardo Wurmusrekado+web@elephly.net2009-11-02T00:00:00Z<p>
Watch me play <emph>Qiutian Bu Huilai</emph> on the
guitar: <a href="http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTI5Njk4OTI4.html">video
link</a>
</p>