Hmm.. Haven't updated in a while. Been caught up in other stuff. Anyway, after seeing a lot of people blogging on Prom XI, I think i shall follow.
Given our performances at Band Fiesta and NBC, many of us were... fearful for the future. However, we decided to try anyway.
The day started as a normal school day, then at 1.15, we moved the percussion instruments down. Got a new high-tech truck with a lift! Makes loading a bit longer, but much easier. So we loaded, then headed for VCH.
VCH rehearsals went about the same as Prom X, with us only playing segments of some songs to check balancing, and practice others. Not much to talk about here.
The performance started at around 7.30pm. Most of us were quite nervous, even myself. However, concert experience teaches that nervousness before and after is good, during not so.
Anyway, we started with Silvercrest, a nice concert march. That went ok, not brilliant, but not too bad either. Then again, it's a march, so can't say it was difficult.
Le Carnaval Des Animaux was slightly painful. I'm happy that I could play my Fossiles and Finale, but overall I'd say this was one of our worse pieces we played that night.
March and Procession of Bacchus, again, not very good. The trumpets were slightly off at the start, though later they sounded good. Some parts were off timing, and I think that we could have done better for this as well.
Jalan-Jalan was reasonably good, better than we did for NBC. I actually managed to play the low F this time, which is good. Jeremy's solo was good too, as was Chester's . I think dynamics could have been a lot better for the whole song.
Overture for Symphonic Band was expectedly painful, although I must commend the flutes and oboes here for their improvement. Still, I never expected this song to be good, and I think it was our worst that evening.
While we played Carmen, we thought it not good, although the recording turned out to be rather nice. Our best song of the first half, I think. Lower woodwind soli was ok, could have gone softer though.
Then the interval. Standard visitors coming in, including a certain girl who Zi Guang has been dying for for a long time. I took the opportunity to blowdry our reed. Contrary to popular belief, this helps in lower woodwind instruments.
What followed the interval was pure magic. I've never seen our band play as well as we did then since Unisono. The sax ensemble rocked! Jazzablanca was almost perfect. I loved my tone for that song. Stars & Stripes wasn't as good, but was still nice. Can't comment on the percs since I was backstage then, but Whistle While You Work was fun. Got the audience aroused too.
Those Magnificen Men In Their Flying Machines was brilliant. The timing was perfect, the band was in tune and the song sounded excellent. The only screwup with the drumset was unnoticeable. In all, this song was played beautifully.
Bandwagon was good too. Samuel can solo quite well. The rest of the band was ok, but then this is an easy song so I can't say much.
Highlights From Ragtime.. Our best song of the evening. I loved all the solos, especially Winston's and Jeremy's. The song sounded perfect. Absolutely perfect. One has to listen to the recording many times and let the song slowly sink in to fully appreciate it. It was quite meaningful too, being our last official song of the concert.
Of course, that's the last official song. There were still the two encores. Army of the Nile, conducted by Justin, was nice, proving my theory that that song sounds better the faster it goes. Spanish Fever would have been nice if the audience could clap on time... Still that song went nicely too.
After the concert, we packed up and left. No repetitions of Prometheum X this time though, we moved out quickly, loaded the truck and waited for the buses. In a strange case of NBC deja vu, the woodwind bus arrived 45 minutes behind the brass and perc bus.
In the bus, Jeremy and I gave out "inspirational messages", that were supposed to be given out BEFORE the concert. Still, their meaning held so we decided to give them out. Hopefully our juniors took them seriously, because I, at least, meant every word I wrote there. The bus took some roundabout way to get back to school due to traffic jams.
Back at school, we packed instruments, then went for a debrief. Everyone was happy with the concert, and we ended with the loudest band cheer ever. I couldn't even finish because my throat died halfway through the spelling of RAFFLES.
In the end, that was probably the most memorable night of my life. We all played well, the audience was fascinated, Mr Oura was happy, the band was happy. This band certainly has more passion and dedication than the band that went in for Prometheum X. I'm proud of us.
Sigh. Now only Lillies by the River and Investiture... Time flies.
