An unusual Gig...*S*

[Medi]

...Years ago, I played in a semi-professional community orchestra.     Because of other 'perceived talents', I was elected to the Board of Directors.     It was interesting, watching 'business-minded people' working with 'artistic-people' to decide how to run an Orchestra.  I was the only musician from the orchestra on the Board, so, of course, they placed me on the committee to advise the Conductor on the concert reperatoir (sp) for each season.  The Conductor was an arrogant snob, and HATED 'Pops Concerts'!  If he had to do one, we would play light, classical music, and then have a few singers sing opera.     At a meeting, one of the Directors was arguing for a 'Pops Concert' that had movie music, and the Conductor CAME UNGLUED!!!     He said that 'movie music' wasn't music...and then added 'The Musicians will be UPSET if we tell them that they HAVE TO PLAY MOVIE MUSIC'!!!     All of the other Directors looked at me...and I just 'shrugged'.     ((Some of you have seen Izee' 'shrug' during r/p...and I was feeling the same emotions when I did that at the meeting.   ))   That Conductor moved on, and the new, younger Conductor was much more open to what a Community Orchestra should be doing.  We did some GREAT 'Pops Concerts'...and 'movie music' is as hard to play as many symphonies, and it sounds nice.     Here is a good one...

https://youtu.be/TMryl0S6HM4

[Medi]

...A traveling troubadore (sp) comes to the Main Camp...and is granted permission to perform before the Main Furs.     He is delighted to be able to perform for the Tuchuk, and had provided many affidavits attesting to his brilliant playing.  Ragnar, Raziel, Tumen, Tristan, and other Officers were sitting on the porch of Dragonslair...interested in hearing the music that the Man was prepared to perform.     Unfortunately...the Tuchuk just didn't appreciate the Artistry of the Performer.   

https://youtu.be/SdUdhYvXrLw

[Medi]

...The Ubar had decreed that He REQUIRED more 'lofty' and 'inspirational' music to be performed at the Main Fires of the Tuchuk.     Unfortunately...He assigned the task of selecting the musicians to Izee'...   She and a FM went to Ar, and Izee'...after drinking a whole bottle of 'Old Yesterday' by herself...selected the most 'Inspirational Band' that she had EVER HEARD!     The FM 'arranged' for the Band to 'travel' to the Tuchuk... ...and the Band performed.     Izee', while sitting in a cage after the Concert, and watching the 'musicians' being turned into base laborers...thought..."I need tae learn tha musical preferences a tha Ubar better."   

https://youtu.be/aCg6FdvTUgA

[Medi]

...It is that time of the year... ...the "Nutcracker" will be played all over everything.  I just love the music, and have actually sat in a pit orchestra and played the entire piece while dancers were on the stage.  I really enjoyed this part, the Waltz of the Flowers.  It is sooooooooooo much fun to play.     During a rehearsal, the Dance Director stopped the dance...and yelled at the dancers..."What are you doing?  Can't you hear the CHANGE IN THE EMOTION THAT THE CELLOS ARE PLAYING?  NOW, LET US DO IT AGAIN...AND DANCE DIFFERENTLY AT THAT POINT!"  He seemed happy when we repeated the song...but I couldn't see the stage.  (The cellos ATTACK at about 3:40.     Our Principal was very precise, she would work her way up the D string, and then just reach over to hit the top note.  Being a budding Panther then, I would stay on the A string...and then SLIDE UP to hit the top note.     I thought it sounded more exciting.)

 https://youtu.be/5h4kJRrh0ck

[Medi]

...Katniss is passing by an concert hall...and hears the locals rehearsing a complex song.  She stops, and listens for a while, and then walks over and pushes their female soloist aside.     She gets the musicians to start again...and she sings the solo...putting into it all of the feelings that had been pushed into her during the last Migration.     She finished, and the Conductor approached her, and she just walked away...and said..."That is how TUCHUK sing!"   

https://youtu.be/LN5CbmjebPg

[Medi]

...Izee' had never told S'lene and Aslaug of her complete past...she had told bits and pieces...and Johanna and Katniss had taught the two young girls some tales about Momma.  One evening, Izee' sat with the two young girls and told them of her life...of being born in the Barrens...living in the Forests...meeting, and losing Marcus, and how His memory was Honored by the Torvies at Scagnar...and her time with Tuchuk.     The two had then left her side, and gone off to sit at the Main Campfire, and they quietly talked about Momma.

https://youtu.be/GHSX1lBVDEY

[Medi]

...Izee' sat with her daughters, and tried to explain to them of what growing up in the Barrens had been like.  They were alone, and far away from anyone...and at times...Izee' got her daughters to dance with her...to experience of what life in the Barrens had been.

https://youtu.be/jF1OQkHybEQ