135 degrees is the best

Ergonomic sitting posture

The Age reported that the more relaxed 135-degree backward sprawl sitting posture substantially put least strain on spinal discs and surrounding muscles and tendons which is the best way to avoid back pain. Both desk slouchers and upright sitters are exposed to fairly equal risk of wear and tear to spinal discs in their lower spine according to some researches.

Researches utilised 22 volunters with snapshots of their spines taken by positional magnetic resonance imaging as they sat in 3 positions:
1. slouched and hunched forward;
2. upright;
3. laid back at the angle of 135 degrees.

Week 4 - Nov@WS

It's been a month playing in the service. Can relax a bit now and focus on choir rehearsal for Christmas service.

Final set of hymns for this month played on 10.30am service:
1. Holy, Holy, Holy (Heber/Dykes)
Tune: NICAEA
Meter: 11.12.12.10
Topic/Scriptural Reference: Trinity/Rev. 4:8, 10; 5:11; Ps 18:11; Ex 33:20; Ps 18

2. Trust and Obey(Sammis/Towner)
Tune: TRUST AND OBEY
Meter: 6.6.9.D. with Ref.
Topic/Scriptural Reference: Obedience/ Jn1:7; Lk10:39

Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy

Tune: NICAEA
Meter: 11.12.12.10

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

This Trinity hymn was written by Bishop Reginald Heber (1783-1826) during his time as Vicar of Hodnet, Shropshire (1807-1823). It is the best known and most popular of the author's hymns.

First published posthumously in A Selection of Psalms and Hymns for the Parish Church of Banbury (1826), the hymn is a metrical paraphrase of Revelation 4:8-11, which is part of the Epistle for Trinity Sunday in the Book of Common Prayer. The image of the glassy sea (verse 2, line 2) is from Revelation 4:6.

Tune Nicæa (1861)

Composed for this hymn by the Revd John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876) for Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861), the tune Nicæa has its name taken from the Council of Nicæa, 325 AD, where the doctrine of the Trinity became recognised. He wrote the tune within 30 minutes - for the use on Trinity Sunday, which occurs eight weeks after Easter - which carried the praise of the Trinity to Christians everywhere.

John graduated with a music master in the same year he composed the tune as he has been a church organist in St John's Church, Hull since he was ten-years-old; was cofounder-then-president of the Cambridge University Musical Society; and appointed vicar of St. Oswald, Durham (1862-1876) .

John might have several different opinions with his bishop, Charles Baring of Durham, regarding "high-church" concept in church and he obtained no help from the bishop as he himself handle his whole parish which could be an exhaustive task.

Have written 300 hymns, John died in Sussex at age 53 on January 22, 1876.

The first and last lines are similar to Tune Wachet Auf (Sleepers wake) as both could draw from the common tradition of catholic hymnody established in the 16th century. Nicæa was more probably inspired by the tune Trinity (1850; John Hopkins) .

Regarded as Dykes' finest and has a timeless quality, Nicæa is one of several tunes where congregations experience difficulty in the melody. To help, the brackets indicate a downward or same note in the melody:

'Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almigh- (down) -ty' (1st line),
'Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and Migh- (same) -ty' (3rd line).

Click here for full lyric and tune Nicæa's MIDI file.

Source:
Holy, Holy, Holy complete review
Article on John Dykes

Week 3 - Nov@WS

Today's hymns:
1. Blessed be the Name
Tune: Blessed be the Name
Meter: C.M. with Refrain
2. Wonderful, Wonderful Jesus!
Tune: -
Meter: 9.8.9.6 with Refrain

Advent 2006

Hmm... been thinking of attending:

1. Advent Procession with Carols - Dec 3
2. The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols - Dec 17

Advent (Latin Adventus, sc. Redemptoris, "the coming of the Saviour") marks the beginning of church liturgical year. This 4-week holy season prepares Christmas celebration and starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.

Reading and teaching during this season contains reminder of the Second Coming and commemoration of the First Coming of Christ our Saviour at Christmas.

Nine Lessons and Carols is a service with nine short Bible readings with hymns and carols singing in between - telling the story of the fall of man, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus Christ. First held in King's College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve of 1918, it has been the tradition ever since.

It is customary to start the service with the hymn Once in Royal David's City and end with the hymn Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

More information:
Advent (on Wikipedia)
Nine Lessons and Carols (on Wikipedia)

Fr Atsushi leaving...

23rd Sunday after Pentecost

Went to 7.45am said eucharist. It's sad to know that The Rev'd Atsushi Shibaoka will no longer serve as Senior Associate Priest at SJKS Sydney. As today's (Nov 12) been his last Sunday, he presided the eucharist himself and later delivered a farewell sermon. He admitted the struggle of preparing today's sermon - which would be his last - for six weeks!

He encouraged every believers to take courage in living this worldly life. He thanked the parishioners for accepting him as their shepherd and their willingness to share their lives with him as their friend.

Good wishes to you, Fr Atsushi, for you new ministry in the RAAF.

Week 2 - Nov@WS

Today's hymns:
1. Now Thank We All Our God
Tune: Nun Danket
Meter: 6.7.6.7.6.6.6.6
2. We Praise Thee, O God
Tune: Revive Us Again
Meter: 11.11 with Refrain

Angelus et Pastores

UNSW Collegium Choir presents: Christmas Concert 2006

A delightful program of carols based around Angels and Shepherds - including items from UNSW’s chamber choir - the Burgundian Consort, Handbell Ensemble and featured student performers.

The program includes communal carols, a candlelit procession and favourites from the festive season. Guest choristers will join in the performance, and audience members will be treated to homemade gingerbread and a small Christmas gift as has become tradition at UNSW.

A newly-commissioned work by leading Australian pianist and composer, Ian Munro, to a text by prominent Australian poet Peter Porter will be given its first performance. Written to celebrate the 40th anniversary of employment at UNSW for Prof Roger Covell, who founded UNSW’s Music Performance Unit (including the Collegium Musicum Choir and Australia Ensemble) as well as the School of Music and Music Education, and has long been an outstanding figure in music in Australia.

Venue: Sir John Clancy Auditorium, UNSW
Date: Thursday, 23 November 2006 - 8pm
Tickets: Adult $20, Senior $17, Concession $14

Bookings and Enquiries:
You can directly contact me or throughUNSW Music Performance Unit (02) 9385 4874 (Monday to Friday)

Week 1 - Nov@WS

Upon short notice, i said yes to the offer to play for this month. Things didnt happen as planned and a relief pianist is in need.

Two hymns played for today:

1. How Great Thou Art
Tune: O Store Gud
Meter: 11.10.11.10

2. Wonderful Grace of Jesus
Tune: Wonderful Grace
Meter: Irregular

The Revellers

Two days ago Tan's couple from WS offered me a ticket for tonight's ACO concert as a friend of theirs cannot make it. Australia Chamber Orchestra presented their last program "The Revellers" for 2006 season featuring young Russian pianist POLINA LESCHENKO. It's been a very enjoyable evening at City Recital Hall - Angel Place, Sydney.

Smalley Birthday Tango [World Premiere] Commissioned by Barbara Blackman

Mendelssohn Concerto in D minor for Violin and Piano

Janacek Suite for Strings: Presto

Dvorák Serenade for Strings in E major Op.22

[Three encores to thank audiences for their ongoing support in 2006]
Piazolla Contrabajissimo

Traditional Cuckold Come Out of the Amrey

Piazolla Obilivion

I am grateful that i accepted the offer. God's been so good to me. He knew i needed a break.