Happy Chinese / Lunar New Year

... Prosperous Chinew New Year - My First mistake of the year !!! Damn
Sorry Sorry no bad word on new year.
Gong Hei Fatt Choy, Bou Bou Gou Sing
恭喜发财，步步高升

I went to a Chinese Malaysian gathtering on the eve at my buddies' house, Wei Yan and Wei Chuen. Happening !
We had Ayam "Tanduri" (Right Spelling?), Rendang, Cendol, and.... typicial malaysia food.
Yesterday, which was the 1st day of the new year, had a meeting with another new malaysian friends in Santa Monica.
Making myself to feel the new year by meeting malaysians... haha stupid idea.

Anyway, gotta go back to my work. Can't post here often like before.

Last weekend, I score a commercial, Converse Shoes. Scored it in one night. The director sent me the final cut before the night he had to submit the proposal!!! Hopefully the music worked well with the sync, and bring him the job (as well as me! He get the job, I'll get it too)

Will start writing for a Thai Musical (cultural show) in UCLA soon. The show will be played in May.
Started drafting the orchestral score for Chern Hwei School, City University NY.
Hope I can cope, and write some good stuffs.
BLESS ME

February will be my busy month, busy like MAD. no shit ! just, Work hard !!!

Pancho Battle Video Clip

My last recording for a Mexican War Scene.

Pancho Battle http://homepage.mac.com/hfken/Menu29.html


Composed, orchestrated, score prepared, and conducted by Ken
Recorded @ MartinStudio, Alhambra, 32-piece live orchestra.

As requested... BMW

Got some emails asking me to show the video clip of my latest work. BMW and Pancho Battle
My last finished project before vacation in Kuala Lumpur
Commercial for BMW, NOV 2005 (Quicktime Movie File)
Everything was done in Reason 2.5 Rewired to Logic Pro 7 for video syncronizing and sound effects. NO loopings! I hate using loops.
http://homepage.mac.com/hfken/Menu29.html BMW. Comment PLEASE!!

PS: will post the video file of pancho battle later.

Latest update on my work:
Next commercial will come soon, hopefully I get the job.
Student film will be finished hopefully this weekend or early next week.
Musical is not confirmed yet due to budget issue.
Will spend this weekend for James' album
Start writing for a festival audition and Chern Hwei's school - City Unviersity New York


Will do my best. Bless me!

walking deadpan

NOW... almost dawn... dream typing here...

Busy... give me 48 hours a day, one quarter for bed time and being sluuuuuuuumberrrrrrr

Stressed... get me something that I can box

YESTERDAY... I dreamed of this white chickD-U-H !!!!

Pain... someone volunteer (must be willing kind of volunteer) to massage my right arm to my shoulder after torturing my mouse for hours

Mess up... send me an assistant to organize my stuffs, press me to stick to my schedule

deadman... someone to stay beside me, listening to me when I'm complaining and mumbling, whispering behind me to create a steady susurration around me, letting me feel that I am still ALIVE

numb... come here to SAYANG me

...Cheshire???

Happy Birthday Kuan

How are you?
Keep calling you since 14th, which is your 15th, your birthday.
But you never picked up the call. Are you busy?
I just dropped a message in your email.

Many things happen since we left Yu Hua. I know you went through lots of difficulties. Glad that you made it.
Are you still the same? I've changed. Hope both of us change for good.

A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. I hope I am always the one walking besides you.
You and Ngiam Her are always my best friends. and I miss you very much.
Kuan, Happy birthday.

Wish you doing well in everything in this year - your love, career, family and friends.
Happy living

Friendship Forever !

时光去，回忆留。
看着这十二年前的旧照，感触不已。

一首给我老友的歌。
玮亮
祝你新婚快乐，和老婆永远相爱。

Click here to listen

中文 and 文学

One of the reason I created this blog is becasue of the chances to write, especially Chinese - My culture, my root.
I used to write well in chinese and had some articles published on magazines and newspapers during my primary and early high school time. I don't know how I did that. The situation became worse and worse since I came here. I can't even recall when was the last time I wrote a proper chinese letter, and the last book I read, neither in chinese or english.

In fact, writer (chinese) was always my first ambition when I filled in my school profile, until I joined school band in 1990. A quick switch from words to notes, from reading to listening, from literature to music... I suddenly ignore reading, writing, and perhaps don't understand things deeper and think wider as I did.

My dude told me music and literature have to be developed evenly to achieve a higher level of artistic awareness and sensiblility. At first, I thought "stop talking crap..." I like to read actually, I've been reading menu of softwares, reference books, guides, history books, a lot of film scoring books, some composer bios... These are mechanical stuffs! I need them but they are not everything!

He is very true, in fact! I realized the importance of reading literature and writing when I had started working on the symphony I'm currently writing. If you don't read and write, you certainly don't think deeply.

For years, I've been composing with the format, taste, sound, etc that I'm familiar with, or learning from existing material or composer. I'm trapped! I need input that not from music, input from reading, living, writing... and eventually I think more, I dream more, and get me into the real fantasy of my own world.

"Start from reading" he said, "not reference and guide books"
I do, and I enjoy it.
Thanks

PS: suddenly recall my teacher's quote: 及时努力. Hardwork gotta be prompt, and don't wait.

My old "report"

It's always fun to read your own sent email, A report for Martha last summer, my supevisor / lecturer years back in UPM. I still keep her updated as often as I can.

Why?

She is always a reminder for me to wok harder. she is my brightest mentor... her knowledge, thought, talent etc are always the level I am working hard to achieve.

She is a happy sagittarius though. I believe she is.
________________________________________________
Martha,

We'll Do Brunch
(Scene Taken from TV Series "Quantum Leap", EMG @ North Hollywood, Film Scoring 3, May 16, 05)
Brief: Pop [Flute, Oboe, Horn, Harp, Cello]



My latest works... 1st half, free timing conducitng at 60... 4 prep click at 60 then silent for free timing, refer to stop watch for time check and hit point, no click track (metronome) in my headphone and musicians'. after green streamer 2 clicks for preparation and go into 106 for 2nd half, with click track in ears.
very good experience. luckily learn proper conducting with professor zakhid before... didn't look like crab so far until now. :)

Hor FOOK KEN is very careless... did 4 bars more at the end. i can't resize it (speedy up to fit into scene) coz the harp will sound SUPER weird if i resize 2nd half. no choice. just fade out the last 4 bars, which is fine i think coz the show didn't go to commercial after this scene. Instrumentation is simple. This quarter is the 1st time for students handle the musicians by themselves. Craig, the instructor, won't help u in recording booth. he control the console outside and act like director or producer. pre-record (like MIDI) is allowed to mixdown with live recording.

Next one will be tough i suppose, only 3 one monkeys - clarinet, marimba and cello... no pre-record! (anyway, i never do pre-record because I don't have good sound samples here) many tempo changes to fit into the scene.... basically the scene is about a teenage witch who can transform to watery mercury and float around the room. key changes are expected. with that 3 totally different instruments... don't know what i can do.
Recording will be on next wednesday.

I went to a very big studio for Music Editing field trip yesterday night. learned a lot of stuffs
http://www.toddao.com/
Out of 20 top TV shows, they did 12, including CSI, CSI miami, Kill bill, elf, etc
WOW!!!

There are not many musicians or composers in my class, most of them are new or engineers. I talked to the managing directors, very nice person.

My report... Ciao..

The MP3
Click here Lets Do Brunch

Watch the scene
Fade out to fit into the scene :( No choice

Brotherhood 兄弟情

I learned to appreciate this brotherhood only after I broke up with 8-year GF.
It is late, but I glad I finally realize how important you are to me.
I didn't know how to express my love especially during my high school... regret that I didn't spend much time with you guys when I was at home.

Miss our old days especially when we played basketball together. Coz that's the time we do things together, the time we have the same goal. Although I am not as good, I really hope that we are always in the same team... for basketball, living, sharing, caring, etc.
It doens't really matter whether we win or not, but I enjoy the quality of the process and the renascent moment.

Seng, Wai, Weng... I love you.

>> Accidentally found this photo in my old CD stack. Miss you all
Family trip, Hong Kong Airport, 2000.

Malaysia Music Forum

Musicians, lecturers, teachers, researchers, students... 

Check out this site. 

http://groups.msn.com/MalaysiaMusicForum

Before this group was established, a few friends were e-mailing each other, concerning the development of music education in Malaysia, and is finally being opened on Jan 11, 2006 due to the increasing number of participants 

Currenly, we are discussing about early childhood music in Malaysia. Topics involving awareness, syllabus, method around the world (e.g. Kodaly, Yamaha, Suzuki, Music for Children, Musikgarten, etc), music education in government schools, and others 

Click "Join" and register at "Contact / Profile" when you receive authorization.

Bless me...

Going to a job interview tomorrow.

The position would involve stage, PA set-up and confection duties for student concert and cultural events on the main campus.  The positions are probably part-time, around 20 hours per week, possibly more depending on circumstances. I’m not sure about the salary; probably around $10.00 to $12.00 per hour.

 

It's not a great job, but seems enough to provide a stable income while I am doing freelance jobs - better than dish washing in UCLA kitchen :)

At the same time, approaching a trailer company for a composer post, with my friend's recommendation letter. 

Gotta spend whole night preparing a convincing demo for the trailer company and resume for on campus job.

Bless me. 

Jeff - Hope to show you something great tomorrow 

James, Hau Yoon - I am still put your work in first priority after student film.

Dong - Yes Yes. no money, I gotta go back 2 months later. Understand? 

HMI ... Chern Hwei SHUT UP!

Beautiful City

Busy now :(
Can't spend one more mintue here.
Had so much thought during my visit in this beautiful city.
Hope I still remember when I update my blog later.

Printed memories.... please visit.

http://homepage.mac.com/hfken/Personal

Play first

Why everything comes together??? Even playing! GGGGGrrrrrrr
I got home late today, like 7 plus evening. A real big surprise welcome me home.
Jessica: We are going to San Francisco NOW. Shioko is taking shower and getting ready
Ken: ...
Fumi: YOU HAVE TO GO!
---I just keep hitting Jessica, coz she looks like lying... all PAKAT to TIPU me
Fumi: It's up to you, if you don't go then we won't go. But Yuko (GF) just went back to Japan (this morning) and I have nothing to do until I go home next wednesday. I'll be sad if I keep thinking of Yuko. Jessica and Shioko will start school on Monday. This should be our only chance for long time. Up to you.
Ken: ...
---Continue hitting the other butt
Fumi: You decide.
Shioko from the bath room: You go we go.
---seems like MY fault.... SIGH
Ken: Alright, GO
Good to go out for a while... too stressed!
Got a chance to visit somebody and look for my next job.
Looking at my table, SORRY.

gotta wake up at 6am.... why everything is so tiring? even playing

I don't care - Play first

Love can be...

Love can be easy
Love can be difficult
Love can be straight forward, like news reporter
Love can be a recondite guessing game
Love can be costly
Love can be F.O.C.

Love can make life beautiful
Love can ruin your life
I learn this from Cheshire : girl friend 是要来疼的
Means you get a girlfriend because you wanna treat her well.
I am happy that I choose an easy and comfortable way to love
Ms Y: You don't have to choose a difficult way... and you still can choose. What you need to is to face it, instead of keep it by youself. A guy always assume you are satisfied if you don't ask for more.
Life is Beautiful

Touching Scene

Went to bed this morning at 7am, then woke up at 11. Director meeting at 4pm. Call me superman!


Some touching scene from the film -
Jeremy had a bad childhood because of his alcoholic mother. He wants to get rid of this nightmare by talking with his mom.

Jer: Mom... I have something to talk to you
(Mom - Pause and blank)
Jer: You remember when we were kids...
Mom interrupts: You used to love McDonald's, always that gad damn Mcdonald's...
(Mom falls asleep)
Jer: ... mom, I say I wanna talk to you
(asleep...)
Jer: ...

Parents are sometimes like that, perhaps most of the time. Parents unconsciously escape from something, especially from their own failure. Worse thing is when they consciously keep themselves away.

I miss my dad and mom. They are the best. They've been doing well so far.
Shall I be...? I hope I will be a good one.

Favorite Quote

Only the pure in heart can make a good soup.
~ Ludwig Van Beethoven

What the heck....!!!!

Spent quite some time to set up this blog and I found intersting to maintain it, especially for my family and friends.... Then I realized visitors can't write comments and trackbacks unless they sign in. GGGGGgrrrrrrrr

My mum doesn't have friendster, she just knows how to do one-button click, and takes long time to write a short message to her son. More complicated than that, she will PENING!. Friends can't write anything to me right after reading, and send my response to my email instead.... it is just not SIOK!!!

This is sucks!! friendster operator, you guys should do something.
Friendster already has a lot of permenant members, you guys DON'T have to do this to "attract" people to join frienster.

Friendster is always great for me... but I am changing my mind. SIGH!

So busy!

Wake up Ken!!
** 3 re-arrangment pieces for Clarinet, Piano, Cello, Double Bass - Happy Birthday Medley, Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin, Pachelbel Canon
DUE - Jan 1
** Scoring Student Film (UCLA) final Draft Due Jan 3
** D.I.Y. Album, James Voon from Malaysia. 1st song HAVE TO BE done ASAP
** Thai Musical Started in January
** Symphony score for Chern Hwei school, City University New York. Performance in March 2006
** DEMO for an independent movie - Submit ASAP
** and some other jobs from KL.
Now, prepare myself for an audition of a festival and trying to get another student film
Don't think too much... just do my best.
Bless me.

Student Film

This is the UCLA student film I am working on. My 2nd student film in LA. I did a song for the end credit before I went back to KL. Now it's the real task - scoring the film.
Film scoring is different from song writing, can be pretty different in some cases. In this film, music is totally a supporting role. Playing underneath, bringing out the emotion, merging the sound design, and most important doing what the director wants.

I know the rules. I want to score this confidently. I DO.

I wish to write something different, but I choose to write in the box.
No shit, I need a good credit for this.

New Year Wishes

've been busy this holiday season - Crazy count down, friends' departure, crazy drinking again, jobs, exploring with my newly installed MAC OSX Tiger... Stop me from posting a word on the new year.
My housemates and I finally made new year wishes yesterday, Jan 2nd.
What I wish the most - Establish a career in LA this year.
I always remember a quote my primary school teacher wrote me on my autograph book
及时努力
means be hardworking promptly. This always remind me about my worst habit
No 1 thing to learn this year, STOP DRAGGING... in everything

Happy New Year

When our memories outweigh our dreams, we have grown old.
Happy New Year :)

瞳をとじて Lyrics

Lyrics and music: Ken Hirai

[Translator's note: The "just your shell" in the first line is literally translated as "your discarded skin is beside me", what an insect might leave behind after a metamorphosis. The idea is that the girl, although physically present, has already moved on past the relationship to a different stage in life -- her soul isn't there anymore. However, though insect carcasses may have their place in Japanese torch songs, I don't think they belong in English ones, so I've translated it a bit more liberally. Thanks to Ryo and Hideki for their ideas about the symbolism here.]



朝目覚める度に　君の抜け殻が横にいる
ぬくもりを感じた　いつもの背中が冷たい
苦笑いをやめて　重いカーテンを開けよう
眩しすぎる朝日　僕と毎日の追いかけっこだ

Every time I open my eyes in the morning, the body that's beside me is just your shell,
and your back, where I always felt warmth, is now cold.
I stop my bitter smiling and throw open the heavy curtain
to the over-brilliant morning sun that chases me down each day.

あの日　見せた泣き顔
涙照らす夕陽　肩のぬくもり
消し去ろうと願う度に
心が　体が　君を覚えている

The tear-stained face that you showed me that day, shining in the sunset,
and the warmth of your shoulder --
whenever I wish for these memories to disappear,
my heart and body suddenly remember you.

Your love forever
瞳を閉じて　君を描くよ　それだけでいい
たとえ季節が　僕の心を　置き去りにしても

Your love forever
Closing my eyes and seeing you; that alone is enough
even if the seasons leave my heart deserted.

いつかは君のこと　なにも感じなくなるのかな
今の痛み抱いて　眠る方がまだ　いいかな

I suppose that sometime in the future, I may feel nothing for you.
It's better to go to sleep embracing my current pain, isn't it?

あの日　見てた星空
願いかけて　二人探した光は
瞬く間に消えてくのに
心は　体は　君で輝いてる
I wish forever

Even though the light that we wished on and searched for
as we looked at the starry sky that night has been extinguished,
my heart and body still sparkle because of you.
I wish forever

瞳をとじて　君を描くよ　それしか出来ない
たとえ世界が　僕を残して　過ぎ去ろうとしても

Closing my eyes and seeing you; I can't do any more that that
even if the world passes me by and leaves me.

Your love forever
瞳をとじて　君を描くよ　それだけでいい
たとえ季節が　僕を残して　色を変えようとも
記憶の中に君を探すよ　それだけでいい
なくしたものを　越える強さを　君がくれたから
君がくれたから

Your love forever
Closing my eyes and seeing you; that alone is enough
even if the seasons pass me by and all the colours change.
I shall search for you in my memory; that alone is sufficient
because you gave me strength that overcomes what I lost.
Because you gave me that.

hitomi wo tojite 瞳をとじて by Hirai Ken

Friends come and go, but the music stays

I love this song. One of the song that I learned about in LA from my japanese dudes. We used to sing this song loudly when we got drunk in party. First time I heard Fumi singing this song in a Karaoke in Sawtelle, WOW! fabulous!

It's already 15 months I've been here. Last year on today afternoon... around this time, I got back from Tokyo. On my way back to westwood from LAX by bus, I carried a lot of uncertainty, confusion, and questions. I met another batch of new friends at the same night, mainly koreans this quarter / semester. I had memorable time with Koreans. This winter, I did well in my study, also wrote my very first serious composition for live orchestra. I spent most of my time on revising Tonal Harmony, which I never pay attention during my college.


I've been missing Cheshire and my family and I finally went back to Malaysia for a short vacation end of March. I met a new korean friend on the plane, and we went out dinner with his family, his english teacher, and my Cheshire. I didn't manage to learn this song until I came back from vacation in 2nd week of April, after stopping by at Soeul. On the arrival night, my Japanese dudes sang this song with me on my YAMAHA keyboard. They gave me the lyrics and patiently explained me the meaning. Touching. It was hard to follow their singing. While playing with them, I started my new circle of friends, and another happening quarter.

The part that I like the most about this song is the opening of a girl saying GoMeNet (sorry in japanese)
I just got this MTV from Chai. 'd like to share with you.


http://www.youtube.com/w/Hirai-Ken---Hitomi-Wo-Tojite?v=_v7dEVAJtAQ&search=ken%20hirai