Orchestra pit

Girard believes that Imitation is the basic mechanism of learning and contends that reproducing someone else’s behaviors can have a positive outcome. However, he also posits that when we imitate another’s desire for a given object; conflicts and rivalries may occur. He distinguishes this type of imitation as “mimesis.” He further classifies this potential conflict as “internal mediation.” Sheehan and Jordon place Girard’s theory of mimesis in a choral rehearsal context where the subject…

Pop songs today are laid out in similar ways: verse, chorus, verse 2, chorus, verse 3, chorus. Because of their repetition, choruses usually make up what we see as the “core” of a song. When one thinks of “Rude” by Magic, do they think of the chorus or the verses? What about “Wake Up” by Arcade Fire? We generally think of songs like these as having a “normal” song structure. In fact, very few pop songs go against this grain, with most of the few examples of this not actually being pop songs.…

In 1978, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil started working on a musical adaptation of Les Misérables in French. “This show was inspired by Alain’s visit to Cameron Mackintosh’s production of Oliver! in London.” (Musical World.) When Mr. Boublil saw the Artful Dodger he instantly thought of Gavroche and the idea of Les Misérables as a musical was created. They released a French concept album in 1980. In September of the same year a French director by the name of Robert Hossein staged…

School is not just a place to learn in a classroom; it is also a place to explore your personal interests and learn from your classmates. I have participated in many different school activities over the past few years. I started learning flute when I was in Grade 3. My biggest motivation for learning the flute was probably the fact that I wanted to be in a band. I remember when my brother used to be in the school band and I would go to his performances. After watching the first performance, I…

Romeo and Juliet by Peter Tchaikovsky comprises of different events from the original play by William Shakespeare (Adagietto 2013). Tchaikovsky used many characters as well as moods with melodies that provided efficient musical differences. This play begins with an excellent clarinet and bassoon melody that indicates the two individuals’ relationship, somber as well as the friar Laurance. It is based on the Overture Fantasy; however it does not have the opus number Everybody can relate to the…

I, Randy Rivas, attended a performance with two separate chamber groups and a soloist. One of the chamber groups was Christine S. Lopez and Sung Ae Lee both performing on piano, the other was Paul Da Silva playing piano and Manon Robertshaw on cello, and lastly Sung Ae Lee doing a solo performance. This was performed at Cerritos College in the music building at BC-51. It began at eleven in the morning on February twenty sixth. First musical performance was the piece of Muzio Clementi’s sonata in…

Romanticism was a period that started in the early 19th century, primarily in England and Germany. At first Romanticism influenced the literature world, but by 1820s musicians started to adopt the style in their music as well. Hector Berlioz was a French composer during the Early Romantics period in the 1830s. He is most famously known for his piece “Symphony Fantastique” 5th Movement composed in 1830, where he tells about his own personal love for an Irish Actress, Harriet Smithson. Hector…

standard example of the Romantic era. Strauss created both the piano and orchestral versions, with the orchestra score calling for solo horn, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, timpani, and strings (Steinberg). The orchestral version was premiered on March 4, 1885. Richard Struss’ father, Franz, was the principal horn player of the Munich Court Orchestra. So it is no surprise that Richard’s first concerti would be one that featured the horn. The Opus 11…

Standing on stage at The Kennedy Center singing to an audience of veterans, I realized my future accounting degree could combine my career with a valuable cause. After previously taking a high school finance course, I wanted to major in accounting. However, it was not until I participated in the 2015 National Memorial Day Choral Festival that I knew how to use it to serve those who have already served. When my choir director revealed the 2015 trip destination, I was overjoyed in anticipation of…

Marching band showed me one of the most important parts of my life. Marching band teaches people. With Mr. Beach as a director, one learns more than just how to march and play an instrument. It all started three years ago with five people in a loose section. To preface this story, I need to explain instruments. I found myself playing mellophone in marching band. The mellophone resembled a bigger trumpet and used by French horn players. Flugelhorns also look like trumpets, but they share the…