雙琴馬 Double bridges

證實 '雙琴馬' 減弱琴的音量，音色雖然柔和但亮度減低。Increased mass and contact area from double bridges apparently decrease the resonance of the wood cover plate of the instrument sound box.  So, double brides is not an option.

On my Taiwanese cello （臺灣‘大筒弦’，伴奏歌仔戲用 widely used to accompany Taiwanese opera，搭配椰子殼的‘弦仔’）

Stringed with inner gut string 絲弦 （老弦） and outer steel string 鋼弦, tuned to G and D as the first two violin strings

This Taiwanese cello was made in Taiwan.  In 2006 the instrument stem（琴桿） and peg （木弦軸）were remade with better wood （黎木） in Beijing.  White bow horse hair replaced original black horse hair.

Double bridges on my Chinese violin, stringed with two gut strings （老弦，内弦）, tuned to C and G

http://www.chinamusicindustry.com.cn/showworld.asp?id=1233  古典提琴之光
在整个19世纪期间，欧洲一些琴迷们继续顽强向古典提琴发起冲击。式样丰富的新琴使人眼花缭乱，有双琴颈 双琴马、吉他形、匙形、圆形、带卷曲喇叭口、双音梁并带有特制的张力调节器。科学的最高原则就是简单，琴体结构越复杂，实质上离科学越远，必定毫无生命力。 
I verified with Dr. Chris Fu, graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music 中央音乐学院, that 双琴马 was proposed and was evaluated in China.  The review panel favored single bridge over double bridges.

Chinese violin reflects life's ups and downs

人生酸甜苦辣味，琴弦抑揚頓挫音。 (Chinese violin reflects life's ups and downs.)

▲ 現代人能享受「把玩」樂器的「樂趣」者越來越少，
人們總以為只要懂得「欣賞」即可，何必「大費周章」自學、自娛，而「自討苦吃」呢？

The statement is true.  It so happened, in the village (鹿港鄉下) where I grew up, there was an ensemble who played for weddings and other festival events.  Two of my closest neighbors played stringed instruments.  As a kid, I asked one to teach me the songs they played.  He told me there were no sheet music.  He could only play when the ensemble played.  Today I know they played BY EAR (this talent I envy).

In old times, people could spend long period of time mastering a craft including musical instruments.  Today kids or adults are taken up by so many tech gadgets, it becomes very difficult if not entirely impossible.  Kids take piano and violin lessons because parents say so (myself included, haha).

上帝的創造，美不勝收！

上帝創造的，美的各不相同，一人一個樣子，這叫 ‘自然美’ ‘天然美’。 現在的 ‘人工美’ 是大家都一個樣子。 看兩分鐘就煩了，哈哈！ ‘巧奪天工’ 只是美麗的詞藻而已。

The 1988 Kodak color print has shown some color fading.  In this back-lit picture with no fill-in flash, her face was in the shade (Nikon FE2 1988 summer).

 

Tomas Lee's Elements 6 version 美不勝收！

Tomas Lee's other version.  Tom held an opinion that she leaned backwards, so he made her stand straight.  I come to like it more than when I first viewed it because of the beautiful skin tone and a very good fill-in flash job.

Scholarship for Studying Abroad at Peabody (Baltimore) 1987

豎琴科Harp major student from China 留學studying abroad at Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University  - 之前在（中國）深圳 

Practicing a baby Lyon and Healy Harp

Peabody Brochure1987-88

  

Peabody brochure (Page 21) 

Searchlights for the Soul

I often feel the presence of the Creator when I drive to play ping-pong and afterwards.  I always tune my radio to stations that preach the gospel and I, from time to time, heard amazing messages that astonish me in a special way.  (Strictly speaking, our feeling should not be the measure of God's presence, for which the reason is obvious.)  Pastor Lance Sparks among many other pastors impresses me greatly when I listen to his preaching.  Yesterday (Monday) I heard "The Talents, Part 1" of the "Searchlights for the Soul" series.  I would also like my friends and teachers (せんせい^２ 先生 sensei) to listen to it and see what you think.  It is interesting that one can interpret Jesus' parables many different ways, perhaps the way you want it to be.  I heard people who are into making money (and into stocks, even) often cite this parable to support their zeal for doing investments.

Ping-pong talk:

After 40+ years of hard studying and playing, I am coming to play it "almost" right.  For people of no talent, there is no alternative except hard work.

"Searchlights for the Soul" series
http://www.ccc-online.org/resources/audio_searchlights.php

A ministry of Christ Community Church with Pastor Lance Sparks
http://www.livingword-online.org/

To listen to audio series click here "Searchlights for the Soul" series

中醫同學3才の写真 Oriental Medicine Classmate's 3 Years Old Picture

Picture taken in year 1999 compared to her 3 years old photo taken in 花蓮Hualien, the east coast of Taiwan.

About year1999 Soutb Baylo University 中醫實習照片acupuncture internship black and white photo （Nikon FE2） 。（對面即 across the street is Fullerton Sarang Church，正在興建under construction） — 彭麗 Peng Li

Old Fashion Version

 彭麗3才の写真/3嵗照片 Peng Li 3 Years Old

 

Old Fashion Version

負片Negative Version

 

張原自Kenneth Chang Graduating from UC Santa Barbara 2013

Kenneth Chang's 2013 UCSB graduation postcard

Plain 

Design 2

B&W