The orchestra members welcomed us warmly and enthusiastically as we made our way around the room to get an up-close look at each type of instrument and the preparations involved for playing them:
I told this flutist that I play the flute as well, but I was glad later not to have been invited to sit in on the rehearsal. The sheet music was written in a very un-Western format, and I was quite happy just to sit back and listen to the masters play.
Such a variety of instruments!
This musician insisted that Maggie sit down and try out his dulcimer. He had her copy what he was doing so that she finally played a complete scale.
But all of the pre-rehearsal merriment ended the moment the Old Man sat down on his throne. No warm-up, no tuning note, just a big downbeat and the room came alive with the most thrilling sounds! I can't say I've ever particularly cared one way or another about Chinese music, but the piece they were working on was lovely. I found out later that it's a brand new piece composed by the conductor himself. You can hear a snippet of it HERE (hopefully). Unfortunately the moment ended all too abruptly when an orchestra member ran in late, grabbed the chair I'd been sitting in earlier, and immediately knocked over the entire cup of water I had foolishly left under the chair...
Such a variety of instruments!
This musician insisted that Maggie sit down and try out his dulcimer. He had her copy what he was doing so that she finally played a complete scale.
But all of the pre-rehearsal merriment ended the moment the Old Man sat down on his throne. No warm-up, no tuning note, just a big downbeat and the room came alive with the most thrilling sounds! I can't say I've ever particularly cared one way or another about Chinese music, but the piece they were working on was lovely. I found out later that it's a brand new piece composed by the conductor himself. You can hear a snippet of it HERE (hopefully). Unfortunately the moment ended all too abruptly when an orchestra member ran in late, grabbed the chair I'd been sitting in earlier, and immediately knocked over the entire cup of water I had foolishly left under the chair...
This experience has proven to be one of the highlights of my trip -- as Diane says, it was quite a score! The setting, the people, the music and the opportunity to make connections through photos was a joy I hope to never forget.
Praise the Lord.
Praise God in His sanctuary;
praise Him in His mighty heavens.
Praise Him for His acts of power;
praise Him for His surpassing greatness.
Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet,
Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise Him with the harp and the lyre,
praise Him with tambourine and dancing,
praise Him with the strings and flute,
praise Him with the clash of cymbals,
praise Him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150
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