***stardust

..be warned..this's long...but, like I said, I want to remember tonight...
So yeahhh...
..concert...awesome...
Just before we're supposed to go on, Mead tells us all to start looking for a yellow folder..with trumpet music in it.
*groooaannnn*...blasted trumpets...they're stupid. They really just..
...
...but I could rant on brass stupidity for a very long time, and I *do* have to get up in the morning...
So, we go out for jazz band. And I don't have a stand (so I got to go off and find one..this's *really* helping my nervousness--!) And the mics don't work. So, Mead gets to YELL his opening comments out into the auditorium..(which worked just fine, he's used to screaming at the top of his lungs ^_^)...but yeah. So I don't think I was heard a whole lot..cos flute? versus, y'know, trumpets saxes trombones drums etc...yeah. Flute loses. ('Cept for the end of "Into the Mood", when we play it, cos trumpets suck, an' that's *all* me an' Daffy! Woo! ^_^)...but it was quite alright that I wasn't especially heard, cos I botched up my solos..which I kinda figured I'd do, I'm really not used to the jazz improving thing, not having done it at *all* prior to this year...I'm better at making up random melodies in minor or semi-minor keys than I am at jazz-ish stuff in blues scales etc...'specially when, y'know, I've only got a certain number of measures that I've gotta fit things in? Yeah. Not so cool... ~_^
Meanwhile, Daf ROCKED. (As always.) Honestly, truthfully Daf, I'm not at all just saying this: you're AWESOME. You *really*, really are...and I wish I had better words for it, but...maybe this'll help make my point: I was just listening to a recording of "Jump Jive and Wail"? Like, a real version? And you sounded just as good as the sax on the recording. (If not better.) ^_^
..really, Daf..I used to seriously like, *not like* the sound of the sax...and it's really from hearing you ROCK so AWESOMELY on it that I actually *like* the bloody instrument now! ^_^ (Ok, so you're on tenor, not alto, but still...same type of thing, y'know?..err, I mean, sorta, but...tenor's obviously better, of course. ~_^)
And jazz band went pretty well...I so LOVE the drum part to "Zoot Suit Riot". I mean, I love drums any which way, but that opening drum bit? ..gahhh...(tho I think it was better the way he *was* playing it, not the way the trumpet guy told him yesterday...it was all nice and complex and *full*..sounded..quite like Lar, esp. early on...*sheepish grin*)
After jazz band, we went off to go get drinks of water..and then we didn't feel like sneaking back into the auditorium during Symphonic Band, so a few of us just hung out in the hall, me and Daf and Calypso and Pete Myers and various others... (Pete *so* looks like Adam Clayton, I *still* think...'cept cuter, imo..~_^) So that was fun...and Symph. Band actually sounded quite good - Mandy Harkness did a *great* job conducting, I think, she picked a *mega* long piece, and they sounded great on it.
Then we were back on. Yay, Wind Ensemble!!! ^_^
"E.T."...that was definitely the best we've ever played it. A.J.'s still pissed that we played that instead of "Westside Story", but..I liked "E.T." a lot better. The movie semi-creeped me out when I was little, but the song...wow...awesome stuff, esp. playing it. ('Course, then too, I had a nice solo in the beginning..easy, and very nicely in my really good range..^_^) And we missed some runs here and there etc., but overall it went quite well.
"Hoedown" (aka the beef commercial..or, if you're in Canada, the butter commercial *g*)... was prolly the best we'd played that, too. Which is to say, still only about quarter speed..and the trumpets botched up a decent deal, but..this is nothing new. ~_^ ...and I'll admit, there were places in that song that I had a lot of trouble playing, too..an' I'm on flute, I'm *used* to 16th notes, trumpets aren't so much.. But we didn't *entirely* fall apart on the weird, empty parts, which was good.
Then the "clarinet choir" did their thing..which was actually very very nice. Clarinet's never been my fav instrument at all, I just don't care much for the sound a lot of times...and that was defintely an odd little song...but it was VERY well played. ^_^ ...I could even make out what Kevin was playing..and he sounded *good*. (No, I'm not just biased..well, I prolly am, kinda, but..! He *did* sound good, really.)
..and the whole time they were playing...I knew my concerto was up next. And I'm sitting there, looking around the band for support, everyone's telling me good luck, I'll do fine...thank you, guys...and I closed my eyes and prayed that I wouldn't mess up...so much riding on this...not just my own face, but the whole *band*... ... ...good thing that didn't occur to me 'til just now--!
And then they were done, Mead babbled on for a bit...and then introduced me.
And I got up, took my stand, music, flute, and self out in front of the band, a bit to Mead's right (so I could see him for tempo changes and coming back in after the cadenza).
And I prayed again...
And they started the piece (it's "Concertino", by Chaminade, btw), those two measures of intro were a little rough, but not too bad.. and I came in, and - I wasn't nervous! I just focused on the music...and yeah, I botched up a few times, screwed up some runs and things, esp. at the tempo change, where it goes a lot faster, the...ok, singing the part won't work here, but--! Yeah. That part. But it didn't go too badly, partly cos I could kinda see Mead, and was able to pick up the tempo. ..and runs, no-one in the audience'd notice if I messed up anyway.
Got to the cadenza...and partway into it, I got nervous, my hand started shaking...which was bad. But not as bad as it used to be..I managed to get it mostly under control, kept playing, it wasn't the best I'd ever ever played it, I don't think, but it was alright. And the band came back in, and I relaxed a bit... 'til the end. The ending..is frickin' PSYCHO. And I messed up a few notes towards the end, and I think I miscounted the last few measures, but by that point, it no longer mattered...
I did it.
It's done.
I never have to play it again!!!!!! Woooo!!!!!!!! *laugh*..no, really, I love the song, but it *is* a relief to have it over with!
..and everyone clapped cheered etc. (I had my own li'l sections of cheerleaders out there, Melinda Holly and Laur were right up front, Heather and James were a few rows back..)...and Mead looked at me, and he was smiling..and I was just laughing...(I do that a lot when I don't know what to do, I think..when I'm really happy, beyond words, I laugh..do that on roller coasters, too. *shrug* *g*)...and I sat down, they were still clapping, Mead had me get up and bow again...it was just...wow, thinking back on it...but I was soooo happy when I'd finished...
...and then Mead intro'd all the seniors (me first, unfort., cos of my bleedin' last name!)...and he said Bono right, which was GOOD, cos he'd been threatening to say it wrong..and I was gonna kill him if he did... (I'd said my career goal was to be a rock star, and my fav band memory was being Bono on the Annapolis trip.) And we all went up there, and they gave us flowers...which was sweet...and like I said before, had I let myself think about it, I woulda been in tears...but I was too busy listening to what Mead said about everyone else, and laughing at the memories...
And we sat back down, at last.
And played "Africa". (I forget the full title..but that's the imp. part? *g*)
And it was AWESOME...I mean, the song is just INCREDIBLE any which way...and the percussion section'd written an intro, which was awesome, and once they got thru that, there's this huge bass drum roll, and then BAM, trumpets are in, huge chords...(once in awhile, the brass sections are actually worth keeping ^_^).
It was just...HUGE. Which is exactly what it should've been...and I was so very proud of our band, in awe, I think, of the sound we were putting out...cos it was just so very incredible...
...awesome...fell apart a bit in the middle-ish area, I think I played my solo wrong, but it's one of those ones where if you *do* play it wrong, it's *impossible* to tell, cos it's this weird (but cool) li'l thing..only a few measures, anyway.
And at the end of it, I was getting chills, and...man...just...beyond words...
And people clapped forever, standing ovation...
And then we launched right into "Stars and Stripes Forever". Which we also played the best we ever have..
And the audience was clapping along and all..it was great...
And me, AJ, and Adrienne got up an' did the bloody picc thing, we'd gotten it memorized..and we played it *nearly perfect*. Woo!!! We were actually *in tune*! Three piccolos, bleedin' in *tune*!!!!! (Unless you've tried this, you have *no* idea how *impossible* that is!!) And we got *all* of it..each of us slipped a bit here and there, and I was the only one to play that one evil measure we could never get, but..man. Awesome.
And we finally left the stage, it'd felt like we'd been there forever, I don't even know how long it was, maybe an hour? I have no idea...felt like forever, like no time at all...and us three picc players were jabbering about how well it'd gone, and Daf caught up with me, so did everyone else, and...man. It was just...awesome, we were all on SUCH a high after that, it was THE best band concert, EVER.
..and I met up with everyone, and Heather got me a rose..thank you..and my grandparents had gotten me flowers...and Dad was just so very proud of me...(I think he flattened my nose, he hugged me so tight! *g*)...and Laur hung out for a bit, and Daf and I were there..and so was Calypso.
And she told him that she likes him.
...did I tell you how proud I am of you, Daffy??? ^_^...that really, took a LOT of guts...I'm so happy for you, tho, you have no idea, you were finally able to do it!...
...and we gave Daf a ride home, she and I and Calypso and my mom were like, some of the very last ones there, we didn't get home 'til about 10.30...
...and Mom dropped us off...and I just went over and gave Daf the biggest hug, she gave me one back...I've still got a few months, but it's starting to feel like the end of all this...and I don't want it to end, I love my friends so very very much, and band, and even the school..in an odd sort of way..
..but I should go, I've still gotta get up in the morning, an' here it's 1am already an' I'm tired...

...thank you, everyone...I just pray I can remember even half of the joy I felt tonight...

*Ananda Daydream * 1:07 AM * *

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