Tuxedos and Tunes
My son brought home his orchestra portrait from school the other day. I thought it turned out pretty well.
I took it with me to the nursing home to show my mom. She liked it and said she thought he looked sharp in his tuxedo. Then she laughed and said, "She wasn't used to seeing him in a penguin suit." She chuckled then at her own joke. Any day when she can find a reason to smile is a good one in my mind, so I was glad I took the picture in to show her.
The word tuxedo always makes me think of Tennessee Tuxedo and his friend Chumley, cartoon characters from my childhood. Does anyone else remember them? I took a little trip down memory lane by watching one of their cartoons on Youtube. Don Adams (from Get Smart fame) did the voice of Tennessee Tuxedo. It's interesting that they wear ties and hats but no shirts and pants, don't you think? HA HA!
Anyway, I said last week that I had some videos to post of when my son played the upright bass with the OMEA District 1 High School Honors Orchestra in February. I haven't had time until tonight to get them off the camera and onto the computer and then from there to Youtube and then back here on my blog. "Real" life for me has been rather busy and overwhelming of late, keeping me from having much time to blog.
I uploaded three songs to Youtube, but am only posting two of them here today. The other one by G. F. Handel (titled, "Concerto Grosso Opus 6, No. 1") you can go watch here if you would like to do so. I realize not everyone has the time to watch and listen to videos on blogs and perhaps aren't fans of classical music either. So watch these if you're interested and pass them by if you're not. My son is way in the back in this large group and very difficult, if not impossible, to see through most of the songs, but take my word for it, he is there.
The first piece is called "Point Lookout." "Point Lookout" is a fantasy on Civil War songs. From SheetMusicPlus.com comes this information about this piece:
"Several songs are used in this fantasy. The dark opening and subsequent section is based on The Battle Cry of Freedom by George Frederic Root. The work then moves into a unique and sensitive setting of Battle Hymn of the Republic. As this section develops, a hint of America, the Beautiful is heard, a solemn tribute to the many costly battles that have brought us to the present. The final section is based on When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, another famous song of the Civil War era. As this section continues to build furiously, a powerful, more complete statement of America, the Beautiful returns to unify the entire work."
So as you listen to this piece, you will probably recognize the bits and pieces of those songs listed above.
The word tuxedo always makes me think of Tennessee Tuxedo and his friend Chumley, cartoon characters from my childhood. Does anyone else remember them? I took a little trip down memory lane by watching one of their cartoons on Youtube. Don Adams (from Get Smart fame) did the voice of Tennessee Tuxedo. It's interesting that they wear ties and hats but no shirts and pants, don't you think? HA HA!
Anyway, I said last week that I had some videos to post of when my son played the upright bass with the OMEA District 1 High School Honors Orchestra in February. I haven't had time until tonight to get them off the camera and onto the computer and then from there to Youtube and then back here on my blog. "Real" life for me has been rather busy and overwhelming of late, keeping me from having much time to blog.
I uploaded three songs to Youtube, but am only posting two of them here today. The other one by G. F. Handel (titled, "Concerto Grosso Opus 6, No. 1") you can go watch here if you would like to do so. I realize not everyone has the time to watch and listen to videos on blogs and perhaps aren't fans of classical music either. So watch these if you're interested and pass them by if you're not. My son is way in the back in this large group and very difficult, if not impossible, to see through most of the songs, but take my word for it, he is there.
The first piece is called "Point Lookout." "Point Lookout" is a fantasy on Civil War songs. From SheetMusicPlus.com comes this information about this piece:
"Several songs are used in this fantasy. The dark opening and subsequent section is based on The Battle Cry of Freedom by George Frederic Root. The work then moves into a unique and sensitive setting of Battle Hymn of the Republic. As this section develops, a hint of America, the Beautiful is heard, a solemn tribute to the many costly battles that have brought us to the present. The final section is based on When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, another famous song of the Civil War era. As this section continues to build furiously, a powerful, more complete statement of America, the Beautiful returns to unify the entire work."
So as you listen to this piece, you will probably recognize the bits and pieces of those songs listed above.
This next piece is "Bacchanale" (from Samson and Delilah). Samson and Delilah is a grand opera based on the Biblical tale from the Old Testament. The (Danse) Bacchanale is the exotic and exciting dance music of the priests from the opera. You may recognize this piece too.
This weekend my son has another performance on Sunday that I am really looking forward to attending. The Toledo Youth Symphony, of which he is a part, will be performing side by side with the Toledo Symphony. The teens have been practicing lately with the professional adult members of the Symphony learning the works for this concert. I think it is exciting and a wonderful opportunity for him to be able to perform alongside of them. My other son and one set of grandparents from Cleveland are coming to attend the concert with us too, so it will be a busy weekend.
