Friday, December 19, 2008
Musique Unifiante 2008
Musique Unifiante.
I think it stands for music (In our school) united because it was the first ever combined concert the Angklung and the Band had. I think we should do it every year in December. The theme Sleigh Ride is also good but Angklung doesn't have that much (Or none?) Christmas songs so they probably won't be able to play lots of songs. Since Angklung (AKE) is super supportive towards the band, I think the least we could do to uh "support" them is to have a combined concert with them yearly. Some may disagree with me on this though, including AKE members.
Our preparations for the concert were "intense". As the MCs said, we had practices almost everyday for 2 months from 8am to 6pm. Our practices became hardcore nearing our concert day 18/12/2008. Practices were from 8am to 8pm sometimes.
Plus we got "scolded" (More like lectured) by all our conductors at least once because the attendance was so bad. This, they had to understand as some of our band members had diploma courses which clashed with our band practice times.
Nevertheless, we managed to pull off Musique Unifiante really good. All the people I know who came down to watch the concert said the band really improved alot. Was really proud to be in MISB after hearing that.
Before the concert, when we were still having rehearsals on the stage, I wasn't feeling nervous at all. Probably because I can play the parts with my eyes closed (Memorized the piece, sorta). During our final run through, the only song that I was worried about was Short Ride In A Fast Machine. I kept thinking the band was gonna break down during the piece. The other worry was the 1st Bb Clarinet part + Eb Clarinet solo part for Jungle right after Jon's Flute solo. Since the 3 of us, Hazmi, Shi Hua, and I, were the only 3 playing the melody. Thought it would sound a bit messy because of the grace-notes. Besides that, I had confidence that we were gonna sound awesome even to the ears of non-musicians.
Straight after the rehearsal, Qiao Ying called me =D. Was really glad she came, even as a usher because when I asked Sok Theng whether she was going, I think she said she wasn't going XD. We took photos at backstage and all =). We were probably the first ones taking picture since we took even before the concert started XD. The concert was starting so she had to go to the reception counter to usher people in. I had to be ready backstage along with my band mates.
At around 7:24pm we walked in the stage. I took slight peeps at the seats and most of them were still empty. Was really disappointed then but not for long as swarms of people rushed in just before the 3rd (Last) bell went off. As the peopled walked in, I searched for my family and friends. Spotted my brother first as we also have the access to "Wonder twins power" XD. I spotted Shima as well!! I was like "Omg! I see Shima!! Shima's here!!". Hopefully for the next concert, she gets to sit with the band on stage and perform with us. I saw Wei Lian and Shiying walking in also. I'm the loyal supporter of Kim Seng Wind Symphony, and Wei Lian's the loyal supporter of Millennia Institute Symphonic Band. Wei Lian's my first ever Clarinet mentor. Then along came Mr. Lim Lip Hua to further guide me on the right path to becoming a better Clarinetist. Then along came Hazmi and Ansar too XD.
I expected people from my class like Gracie, Claudia, Jon, Shao, Shane, Liane, Gerlaine, Apple, Siva, Haikal and many more to surprise me at the concert day by showing up for the concert when they all told me they can't make it. I was expecting too much. I loved it when Gracie, Claudia, and Jasmine surprised me during the last concert, Musical Inspiration, by turning up for the concert when they said they couldn't make it. Back then, most of my classmates came over to support me. I still remember the "GO JAMES" chant they did which over-powered all other chants from the audience WAHAHA! Feeling was great of course. Its just too bad I didn't get to experience it again this concert.
Anyways, after the 3rd bell, Aaron Teo tuned the band and the MCs started the concert off by greeting the audience and by saying "Enjoy Musique Unifiante" or something. Then the lights went off and Mr. Lim Lip Hua started us off on the first piece, Short Ride In A Fast Machine. It started off great and I managed to even-out all the semi-quavers the whole Clarinet section had to play. Then after about 5 bars, the other sections came in. Everything went well for the piece. The Trumpet section solo at the "Slowly" bar was fantastic too!! I heard them play (I think I heard Hui Shi the most) while playing my own parts which means the audience could hear them clearly as well. Oh and none of my section mates got lost for this piece like for the first time!! WAHAHA!! Plus we played at a reasonable volume so that the audience could hear us faintly in the background. My brother said he heard all the parts clearly and they were all perfect XD. Short Ride In A Fast Machine is really a concert starter XD.
The next piece we played was Celebrate which was conducted by Mr. Wilson Ong. Mr. Ong's conducting was kinda different from the way he conducted us during the rehearsals. He conducted with more passion and emotion. For this song, the whole band managed to remember all the dynamic changes and didn't play wrong notes (Or at least I didn't hear any wrong notes XD). Plus all the solos were great too, especially Xian Hua's solo!!
After Celebrate, Mr. Lim came back on stage to conduct Cantilena. When I playing this piece, I really played with lots of emotion especially at the Clarinet melodies. I get really sad whenever I'm playing this piece because it reminds me of something although there is absolutely no link between that memory and this song XD. OHHHHHHHH AND I HEARD THE "Ap-ple, ba-na-na, wa-ter-mel-lon" melody AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE SONG!! XD. Super funny how Mr. Lim taught the other section the rhythm. I swear I could have burst out laughing if I wasn't concentrating and serious when I was performing on stage XD. The 5/8 bar and the 6/8 bar melodies also sounded good too. In short, perfect or excellent performance of the piece.
Next came the piece Jungle which was a little different than the other pieces we played (Conducted by Mr. Ong). Jungle is more energetic at certain parts and more calm at parts like the Flute solo by Jon. My brother said the Flute solo (By Jon) was awesome haha! Oh and the thing I worried about (The Clarinet melody being messy and loud), that was no problem either. My brother said it wasn't loud and messy at all XD. But he did say people were silently laughing when we did the monkey noise and the bird noise before the Flute solo XD. OMG I can't believe I forgot to mention the Percussion here!! =(. The rain-sticks, conga, tam-tam, cabasa, everything came in perfectly. Especially the cabasa (Right?? The "gong-like" sound before the flute solo) XD. I know because I actually smiled here when I heard everything being played perfectly XD.
Ponyo was next, and was conducted by Mr. Lim again. Lots of people liked this piece I think. Even the performers enjoyed themselves on stage (Like me XD). Hui Min's Clarinet solo and Hui Shi's Trumpet solo (Both sounds the same but at different parts) were also great! 2 thumbs up XD. I was thinking of the MV of Ponyo Jon showed me on his phone while playing the piece XD. And for this song too!! The drumset beat during the Tango part (If I'm not wrong) got the whole band going XD. I'm sure it got the audience going too because lots of them did say Ponyo was one of the pieces they liked XD.
Oh and our band performed the world premiere of Decade, composed by Mr. Wong Kah Chun. It was composed by him so he conducted the piece of course. Decade was super nice too. I mean the composition is nice but we performed it nicely as well. I squeaked during Decade. A super soft one though.. AND MY BROTHER HEARD THE SQUEAK!! -.-. Everyone makes mistakes right?... XP.
Last piece we played for the audience was Last Christmas, which was performed last year's Sleigh Ride. I thought of my previous Clarinet section... Yi Zhen, Xian Hua, Yvonne, Liyana, Mui Wen, Saw Wah, Wei Lian... Now Xian Hua's the only one still in the band with me. Oh I miss them XD.
I didn't really get to see the AKE perform.. because I had to be backstage preparing for the encore pieces. The encore piece, Suri Ram, was super fun to play because everyone was like all "not serious" and having fun haha.
After the concert everyone went crazy and started taking photos. When the AKE were doing their cheer they said something like "O~ Re O~" HAHA! After hearing that I shouted "O Re O!!" Then Hui Shi (who was just next to me) followed me then everyone followed HAHA! "O Re O" is like our band cheer now XD.
So overall, the concert was a success!!
Congratz to all the band members, guest players, teachers (Mr. Zachery Lim and Ms. Huang Shijin, and the conductors (Mr. Lim Lip Hua, Mr. Wilson Ong, Mr. Wong Kah Chun) who put in so much effort to make this concert a success =) (Especially my beloved Clarinet and Flute section~ XD).
I want to thank everyone who came down to support me/the band/the performers too =). Especially my parents because they came down to support even though they were so busy. Qiao Ying for the rose and for coming down to support me~ I was super surprised (And happy like mad) when you gave me the rose~ XD. Will never forget.. =). Oh and thanks to the supporters from Kim Seng Wind Symphony (Wei Lian and Shiying) for coming down too XD. When I said Shiying's name, my voice kinda squeaked so it sounded really funny. She nearly died laughing haha and she's still making fun of it -.-. Maybe after my A's, I'll join Kim Seng along with CY. We kinda planned it out already. Wahaha then I get to perform with Wei Lian again =D. Oh back to the "thankings". I'd like to thank OWL and Kamal for being the only 2 out of 20-something in my class to come for the concert to support me. Really appreciate it guys, you guys're the best!! Especially Kamal since he's super supportive of whatever I do XD.
SHUT UP.
6:14 PM
