The performance is such a great experience that most musicians wish for. We got to select three songs that we perform for three judges all of whom are well respected in the community. Then after we perform one of them comes up and talks to us about improvements we can make to take ourselves to the next level. The awards ceremony is the following day and my orchestra ended up taking home silver in our division (which is a good thing).
Our first piece was called Hungarian Dance NO 5 and it is a very lively piece with many dynamic markings of crescendos long with tempo changes and accidentals. (My favorite piece from the trip). Our second song was called Raindrop Prelude and it is a sweet soft song that describes the sounds of the rain so eloquently and has a great part for the lower instruments in the middle section.
The last song was Symphony No 29 the First Movement which is a longer piece but also lively and at times difficult with its fast paced sixteenth notes but very rewarding and enticing to the audience.
The other amazing thing is something that my train of thought stumbled across when I was thinking, how does Disney music get to be so deeply and widely loved? I think there are 2 reasons for that. Firstly the musical component touches so many of our emotions and everyone can relate to them on some level. The other reason is that it is designed for the kid in all of us just like the park. Sure kids love going there and freak out over the characters, but even as a 16-year-old my friend waited for 30 minutes to get a picture with Woody. I myself ran across the park to get to a ride because of my excitement. So many people believe in the magic because there is a 5-year-old in all of us just waiting to break free. My advice to all of you is to let that kid run free.
