This past Saturday was Johannah's first performance with the Nittany Valley Symphony. I didn't even need to hear a note played to be excited to attend the performance. I was counting down the days for at least a week!
Great thing? We all loved every minute of it, even John! That's right--the music was of such a high caliber, and yet was completely understandable by all, that John came away from the evening happy too.
It was an "Americana" concert (not unlike the Americana concert at Interlochen this summer....great conducting minds think alike, I guess). Two pieces by Aaron Copland, one piece of John Williams, and one jazzy clarinet concerto that fused the symphony with saxophones and a drumset.
The highlight of the night, however, was a beautiful piece that was written in honor of a speech given by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It was during WWII, and Roosevelt was speaking of the four freedoms to which every person is entitled: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. As it turns out, Norman Rockwell painted a series of paintings after this speech was given, and allowed the war department to take them on tour in order to sell war bonds. $130 million dollars later....
For this concert, the conductor arranged for a few minutes of the speech to be played on a screen in the auditorium, and then while the four different movements were played, the corresponding Rockwell painting was shown on the screen. It was a very moving performance.
I felt incredibly happy, hearing the music and seeing Johannah up on stage. It was a beautiful thing to see so many white-haired musicians (or as Hannie calls them "the Keen set", referring to their choice of footwear), and know that my daughter is the recipient of their combined experiences in music. They have welcomed her with open arms, and are proving to her that music is a good thing for so many reasons. Getting into this orchestra is a blessing indeed!
Great thing? We all loved every minute of it, even John! That's right--the music was of such a high caliber, and yet was completely understandable by all, that John came away from the evening happy too.
It was an "Americana" concert (not unlike the Americana concert at Interlochen this summer....great conducting minds think alike, I guess). Two pieces by Aaron Copland, one piece of John Williams, and one jazzy clarinet concerto that fused the symphony with saxophones and a drumset.
The highlight of the night, however, was a beautiful piece that was written in honor of a speech given by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It was during WWII, and Roosevelt was speaking of the four freedoms to which every person is entitled: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. As it turns out, Norman Rockwell painted a series of paintings after this speech was given, and allowed the war department to take them on tour in order to sell war bonds. $130 million dollars later....
For this concert, the conductor arranged for a few minutes of the speech to be played on a screen in the auditorium, and then while the four different movements were played, the corresponding Rockwell painting was shown on the screen. It was a very moving performance.
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| Freedom from Want |
Brava, Johannah!
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| Johannah is three heads to the right of the conductor (she has her hair pulled back) |
I loved the concert and loved that Johannah was in it, it was awesome!! Good job Johannah!
ReplyDeleteWay to go Johannah! I have to make a trip to Pennsylvania to hear you play!
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