Before I come to how I was mesmerized by her graceful conducting hand movements, let me give a brief review on the concert.
VJC Band is real solid. Love the songs chosen and the way they played them. The music was tight. Good control of the instruments and rounded tones. The best part about band playings is that grandeur feeling. You just feel so warm listening to the music.
Though the songs were generally long, like real long, it was captivating. The problem with long songs is that you tend to drift away, lose your attention and forget about listening to the music. But no, this did not happen yesterday. I like how the band was able to capture little bits of expressions through their playing. Intense, Grand, soft, tip-toed, suspense, terror, sweet, swing and all.
The opening of the concert was most apt with this overture. Classic will be how I describe it.
1. Festive Overture
Dmitri Shostakovich/ arr. Donald Hunsberger
Presentation of the 2nd song was very interesting. SUDDENLY, the lights in the concert hall dimmed gradually beyond the usual brightness. (Suddenly vs gradually?? isn't that an irony) haha ok not SUDDENLY as in literally *SNAP* all dark. But what I meant was, we didn't expect this to happen. It was expected that the lights will dim but it dimmed so much that it was almost pitch black in the concert hall. You barely could see your fingers. So then, is there a electricity breakdown?
Far up on the 3rd level of the concert hall, a white figure shone upon by spotlight appeared. It was ghostly. BUT, she's not a ghost. She is an angel. She started this piece by singing her solo part. She was not using any mike, but her voice echoed well in the concert hall. The power of the esplanade concert architecture that makes sound resonate. The melody she sang was a sweet one. Reminded me of the singing Harry Potter heard underwater in the Triwizard Tournament. Following her solo singing, the band came in. This time, the music was suspenseful with detached silences embedded in them.
2. Angels in the Architecture
Frank Ticheli
3. Noah's Ark
Bert Appermont
The following song is a romantic one. My cousin conducted it beautifully. I remember how she used to be clueless about conducting and was so afraid, but now, she has done it. :) Well done! Her movements were so graceful. Her hands appeared to be dancing in the air, dancing to the beat. We all enjoyed her song very much. Thank God for bringing her through the entire process.
4. Mononoke Hime Medley
Joe Hisaishi/ arr. Takashi Hoshide
INTERMISSION
After the intermission, it was the Alumni performing. The only thing I shall mention here is that I spotted a familiar face. That of a familiar person. That of a familiar drummer. He was my batch in VJC and was a guest performer for my Harmonica Concert. He was the Best Drummer I have ever met. His beat is very steady and even. Most amazingly, he can just impromptu the drum's accompaniment! I think drums are very important. For the appropriate songs, they make them come alive.
5. By the River's Bend
VJCSB Alumni
6. 童话
VJCSB Alumni
7. Blue Sky & Sunshine
VJCSB Alumni
8. William Tell Overture
VJCSB Brass Ensemble
Following the immense popularity of the Taiwan movie "the apple of my eye", introduction to this song is unnecessary. As implied, those years makes one reminiscent about the past. The past...to me, I would always fondly remember my times in VJC. I spent 4 years there and I would say, it's the best time of my schooling days. Though there were lots of tutorials to do, lots of exams, and the big A Levels monster, I felt that times then were so innocent and carefree. I was happy. Thank God I still am :).
9. 那些年
VJCSB Brass Ensemble
10. I Miss You
Dr. Zechariah Goh Toh Chai
11. La Passio De Crist MVT I
Ferrer Ferran
12. Archangel Raphael who leave a house of Tobias
Masanori Taruya
Last but not the least, the band presented us with Japanese Graffiti XIV. When the song name was announced, a big crowd in the hall cheered. It must be some popular or famous song, I thought. The name appeared unfamiliar to me at first but after the song started, I realized it's... ARASHI! Arashi is a Japanese Band that my other cousin loves. They have been around for more than 10 years. She introduced it to me years ago and I grew to like Nino! He's the guy 2nd from the left in the photo below. My cousin's favourite is Ohno, who is the leader of the band, the one in the middle. Ohno and Nino are very good friends!
13. Japanese Graffiti XIV
Miura Hideaki
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| Arashi |
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