Saturday, June 23, 2007

Richard Clayderman

Richard Clayderman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Richard Clayderman (born Philippe Pagès on December 28, 1953, Paris, France) is a French pianist who has released numerous albums, including renditions and arrangements of popular music, French chansons, and popular piano works of Beethoven, Chopin and Mozart. Most of his recordings focus on popular music in general and orchestral arrangements of well-known romantic songs in particular, such as Yesterday, The Sound of Silence and Memory, rather than on Jazz or Classical Music. He is known to alter many famous pieces of music such as Fur Elise. His music is generally played with an orchestra. This accompaniment is usually with James Last's orchestra.
Biography Born to a piano teacher, Clayderman started studying to play piano at age six, and he was accepted at a Conservatory of Music in Paris at age 12. After finishing Conservatory he worked as an accompanist and session musician. His life changed dramatically in 1976, when he recorded a single "Ballade pour Adeline", composed by French musical producer Paul de Senneville. The single became an instant success, selling 22 million copies in 38 countries. Since then, he has recorded over 1000 songs and has become one of the most successful instrumental recording artists in the world, with reported record sales in excess of 70 million units worldwide. In the peak of his career he performed 200 concerts in 250 days. He is often credited with pioneering the piano recordings of famous Hollywood soundtracks and pop music artists, such as ABBA.
Success Clayderman has a curious market niche on third world countries, a fact mainly attributed by critics to his commercially-oriented performance of local and very popular music (especially love songs), and inexpensive, well-distributed records. On the other hand, there are people who refer to his work as elevator music, because of extensive playing of his production in neutral spaces as elevators, malls and other public spaces. Richard Clayderman, however, according to the linked interview, does not see this classification as negative as, according to him, he feels pleased to turn people's workplaces and daily lives into more pleasant places through the use of his music. Clayderman's music continues to be exceedingly popular in East Asia, in places such as Japan , Taiwan and mainland China. Some Chinese music teachers attribute the popularity of his music in Mainland China to the increase in the number of piano students since the 1980s. According to the book Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams, published 1990, Clayderman was the most-played artist in China then.

posted by 兔子 @ 10:45 PM 0 comments

VLC

1.He refused to comment the problem. comment in

2.What is the reason of Hong Kong's air pollution? reason for

3.Can we meet to discuss about the policy changes? Discuss

4.Graduates should consider on their career goals. consider with

5.They were asked to participate the interviews. participate with

6.Obviously you need to adapt changing circumstances. adapt to

7.Applicants who filled the questionnaire were then chosen randomly. filled out

8.This figure could reflect their dissatisfaction of the lack of training. dissatisfaction with

9.What are the main differences of US English and the English spoken in the UK? differences between

10.Some authorities are now claiming that chocolate may be good to you in moderate quantities. good for

11.The USA made a formal complaint on that country's environmental policy. complaint with

12.Pay attention on that company's press releases. They may be looking for new employees soon. attention to

13.The cleaners demanded for a pay rise because of the recent rise in prices. demanded on

14.People can use credit cards to pay goods on the web. pay for

15.If on line learning can be developed, it seems to me that education will be more effective than the past. the past

16.Education in the internet can save a lot of resources. on

17.In my point of view, I do not think the government should censor the Internet. On

18.All Hong Kong people were concerned on the recent economic crisis. concerned with

19.In some universities more than 2000 students are enrolled the same course. enrolled in

19They want to get a job in the earliest possible opportunity.on

20.This implies that the present situation of Hong Kong does not allow graduates to get their first preference jobs easily. in

21.Because of the economic downturn, students tended to apply more jobs than last year. apply for

22.Concerning about job seeking skills, the findings presented in Table 5 show that one-third of the subjects felt they needed more help in their interview techniques. Comcerning with

23.24% of the subjects claimed that they needed help on English speaking skills. in

24.This figure could reflect their dissatisfaction of the lack of training. dissatisfaction with

posted by 兔子 @ 10:32 PM 0 comments

TOEIC TEST

My Scores

1. Listening-15

2.Reading-12

My Impressions

After I do this exercise, I find that my English ability is not enough. I have to improve my skills. And my listening is better than reading. So I have to do more practice on my reading exercise.

posted by 兔子 @ 10:20 PM 0 comments

Reading Comprehension Texts (2)

SWEET SOUND OF UNREQUITED LOVE

http://www.edict.com.hk/vlc/comp/frame32T.htm

My scored-9
Out of-16



Summary

Composer Robert Schumann's passionate devotion to his fiancee, Clara, and anguish that the marriage was opposed by her father Friedrich Wieck resulted, says author Basil Howitt, in some of his most stupendous work."Intense and unfulfilled longing for his beloved drew some heavenly music from Schumann," says Howitt, in his recently published book, 'Love Lives of the Great Composers'. No less than four major works grew out of all his pain and anguish." Howitt says: "My cumulative impression is that suffering and angst in love have produced more great art than has happiness."

posted by 兔子 @ 10:12 PM 0 comments

Reading Comprehension Texts (1)


THE REAL THING?

http://www.edict.com.hk/vlc/comp/frame13T.htm

My scored-10

Out of-16

---------------------------------

Summary

A more likely reason for the enduring popularity of Coke may, however, be found in the company's enviable marketing strategies. Over the years it has come up with some of the most memorable commercials, tunes, slogans and sponsorship in the world of advertising, variously emphasizing international harmony, youthfulness and a carefree lifestyle. Few other companies (arguably including Pepsi) have been able to match such marketing ploys so consistently or effectively. As suggested earlier, the influences of American culture are evident just about everywhere, and Coca-Cola has somehow come to represent a vision of the United States that much of the rest of the world dreams about and aspires to. Perhaps drinking Coke brings people that little bit closer to the dream.

posted by 兔子 @ 10:06 PM 0 comments