taipei.twinkle.temptation.

tristesse.tango.

re-discovered these little misfits recently
(crayon on butcher paper)

their current residence is M&J's apartment in Ohio
captured them hiding in random corners

extraordinary.ears.

I'm still in awe. Today I enjoyed a concert sponsored by the American Pianists Association, featuring Nobuyuki Tsujii, a 20 year old Japanese pianist. He played a stunning programme of Chopin, Liszt, Schubert, and Mussorgsky ...almost flawlessly.

Tsujii has been blind since birth.

He plays piano by ear, first listening to a live or recorded version of the piece, memorizing what he hears, and then matching his playing to the score he has memorized. Tsujii most recently won the prestigious Van Cliburn competition.

Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder are one thing... jazz pianists "crawl" across the keys mostly, emphasizing the easygoing manner of jazz. Classical pieces, however, can be frightening. Many contain giant leaps that take courage from any pianist, let alone one who cannot see the keys. And Tsujii definitely did not shy away from virtuosic repertoire. His performance today was phenomenal, in both technique and expression. By the conclusion of the concert, I had forgotten that he is blind.

I had forgotten, at least, until someone from a national Japanese tv station thrust a huge camera in my face and asked if they could interview me regarding the performance. The skeletal Asian woman wore puffy sleeves and Scooby Doo's Velma-style glasses and asked me questions about the performance. Of course I was the stupid American who said "fabulous" and "inspirational" about 11 times.... but Tsujii truly was just that :)

"Miracle is the only word to describe him. This is truly the act of God." -Van Cliburn, of Tsujii
listen here

food.coloring & vinegar.

you bring color to my life.

(2am egg dyeing with friends)