Post #615900 by tiki mick on Thu, Dec 1, 2011 9:32 AM

Sunday, December 11th at 4:00, an orchestra I am involved with will be performing at memorial hall, Chapman University, in the city of orange.

Tickets are 10 dollars at the door, I believe.

This concert will be especially interesting to those who like exotica. No, we are not playing true exotica of course, but the selections are particularly lush, interesting, exotic and full of lots of percussion and even bird calls!

Gareth Farr: From the depths come the great sea gongs

This is written by Farr, also known as “Lilith LaCroix” (yeah, a drag queen!) who is a modern classical composer from New Zealand.

Alan Hovahness: Mount Saint Helens

A very killer piece about the explosion of the mountain! Loads of booming percussion, which sound AWESOME! (This orchestra has well over 100 players!) the piece even features bits of asian inspired sounds (the composer suggests a tie-in with the pacific ring of fire, hence, bits of asia are in the sound)

Raatavara: Cantus Articus

This is by a Finnish composer, and is very strange… at least to my ears! This piece has a mysterious wind section first movement, with the addition of bird calls.

Resphigi: Pines of Rome

One of my favorites, this was included in the Disney movie “Fantasia 2000” (the scene with the whales!)

All in all, this is one of the most exciting seasons of music for the OCYSO. The selections are difficult to play. Challenging in their harmony and bits of atonality which are still pleasing to the ear! Even if you think you don’t like classical music, this is something you probably will like! After all, most exotica (especially that of Les Baxter) has its roots in modern classical music, as does most Hollywood movie music.

Additionally, supporting the OCYSO (which is an advanced training orchestra made up of highly gifted high school and college students and a handful of highly gifted old geezers like myself!) is a good cause. In this day and age, living under the shadow of the Kardashians, Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan, it is refreshing to find young people who do not share those values, who have dedicated their lives to excelling at something. These kids work their asses off, getting straight As and still finding time for extracurricular activities such as being in Southern California’s premier preparatory Orchestra. Weekly 3 hour rehearsals, seminars, workshops, master classes, concerto competitions, these kids do it all! The result is equal to any major orchestra. The playing level is pro quality. See if you can make some time to attend this event, and feel free to respond to this thread if you have any questions! Yes, by the way, I play bass in this orchestra.