Music and Rites

So we all know that music is an integral part of human life, especially with us music majors. For me personally, I listen to music for about 14 hours a day. But music isn't just there for entertainment while walking back to your dorm room after class. There are so many instances where music provides a purpose. So many rituals that just wouldn't be the same. So, let me introduce you to some of mine. 

Let's start with a day almost everyone looks forward to their wedding day! Now I don't know about y'all, but I know if/when I ever get married, the music will be the most memorable part of the night (you know, apart from the joining of two individuals for life).  Being a cellist, I have been asked to play in a number of weddings. It's a really cool experience to be able to make music on someone's big day. It's also a really nice atmosphere for me because I don't like performing by myself or as the only cellist in a small group, but at someone's wedding, I'm not the focus. 

I guess I have to include Pachabel because I'm a cellist talking about weddings...

Respectfully, I wish I never had to Pachabel's Canon in D ever again. This was the first piece I learned to play in middle school that had different parts for each section. The cello part is incredibly boring (hint: it's a bunch of whole and half notes) and if/when we do have the melody, it is very high. Almost every cellist I know doesn't like this song because it is overplayed. Every woman wants this song to be played during her wedding. I played a version of this song at a wedding last year and the theme was The Princess Bride. It was a beautiful wedding, truly, but this was the song that was supposed to play while the bride walked down the aisle. Once the processional came down and took their places, the bride didn't come. We all waited. Nothing happened. A friend of mine was playing piano with me and we just kept playing so they weren't sitting in silence. Turns out, the bride had a panic attack due to the fact that there were a bunch of people that would be staring at her and her soon-to-be husband for close to an hour. I don't blame her, I don't like being the center of attention either. Anyways, I was stuck playing Pachabel's Canon in D for a lot longer than I would have. If you so choose, you can listen to it below.

Music actually wasn't the biggest part of my school career. I loved music, don't get me wrong, but I put more time into my science and medical studies. However, one of my most favorite times of the year was our orchestra's end-of-the-year concert. Instead of wearing our typical concert black, we got to dress up in colorful dresses and suits. One year, one of the seniors came in a hot pink suit! We always played lots of fun music like medleys from different movies and rock music. My junior year, we had a few students come in and play drums (I'm pretty sure it was Josh Wood) and electric guitar and bass. We played Kashmir and a few other rock songs. We also played a medley from Moana and one of the 2nd violinists was given the very special and sacred role of the class percussionist. Ashlyn, her name was, took this role very seriously and performed amazingly. For this medley of songs from Moana, the arranger had incorporated small percussion bits, and Ashlyn ordered a rubber chicken that looked like Hei Hei. In the middle of this song on stage at the concert, Ashlyn stands in her dark green dress and, with a very professional face, squeaks this quite large rubber Hei Hei. The crows went wild with laughter! I haven't been able to find a video of any of the really fun songs that I've mentioned so far, but I did find a video from when we did the Avenger's Theme song so enjoy!

River Bluff High School Orchestra

The end-of-the-year concert at my high school was a really bittersweet experience. On one hand, we got to wear fun and colorful clothes. On the other, it was the last concert of the year and we had to wait until the next year to see each other again and play together. The music was always fun to play and kept everyone engaged and motivated. A lot of us would go out for ice cream afterward and remember the fun times we had during the year. 

Lastly, one of my favorite experiences I have ever had was a concert my church orchestra did. Our orchestra director got in contact with his friend, a composer/arranger named Phillip E. Allen. All but one of the songs we played were composed or arranged by him. His style is very majestic and movie-score-esque. Phillip Allen has become one of my favorite church music composers since I first came in contact with one of his pieces. He takes hymns and popular sacred music and combines it with secular music in these very complex and quite hard to perform masterpieces. One of my favorite pieces is a piece called L'Orchestra Cantano! The cello part is 5 pages long! Our orchestra director made a habit of inviting religious music composers to write for us and come participate in a concert featuring their music and direction. When my orchestra director moved churches, I moved with him and he continued to bring in new music and composers to perform for the congregation with them. It's really awesome to be able to meet these composers from around the country and play under them. 

This same orchestra director also carries a tradition with our orchestra of doing concerts in the park in July. Every July, we go out to the local park and play patriotic music for anyone and everyone to hear. It's a nice tradition that's in the middle of summer. I love playing in large groups and when I'm not in school, it's amazing to have a chance to play for my community with my church friends and musicians. This picture is from a few years ago, but this is my friend and fellow cellist Hope! She started playing cello about 5 years after I started, but she's a quick study and an all-around amazing musician.

I love that music is such an integral part of our lives. Every ritual we have can be made more enjoyable or easier to get through when we bring music into it. Weddings, funerals, workdays. All of these things would be really awkward or very tough to endure without the music that we like to hear. I can't wait to see what new rituals we all develop and how we bring in music.