On my list of things to do: Experience a performance by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. A while back, I had bought tickets to see The Lord of The Rings at the CPO, where they would play the entire The Fellowship of the Ring, but all music would be performed live! However, a trip to Ireland derailed that, so I exchanged the tickets for one of my favourite symphonies, Gustav Holst’s “The Planets”.
Last night began with Rainbow Body (Theofandis) and Azul for Amplified Cello and Orchestra (Golijov). The latter was a great piece, especially when there was a dynamic play between Alisa Weilerstein on Cello and the percussionists and hyper-accordion. Definitely the best part of the composition. I need to find this!
Then after intermission, it was “The Planets”, accompanied by NASA images of the planets. I think some of the images were created for effect, but for the most part, the actual NASA images were pretty cool. “The Planets” is a great piece: its haunting and dramatic beginning with Mars, the Bringer of War, to the well-known melody of Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity, and the other sections of Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. I love the orchestra! Aside from being a great evening with lovely company :), the night caused me to reflect. I remember analyzing the score for Mars during my grade 13 music class, and I remember playing Jupiter on flute while I played in the senior concert band during high school. It seems like a lifetime ago that I was able to read music and play the flute. Actually, I think it was 13 years ago. My goodness! But it’s never too late to get back into things, and watching the performance of “The Planets” reminds me that I still love music: many genres; the feelings one can experience while listening to it; and how a simple song or piece can bring you right back to another time.
HIKES & HAMSTRINGS 