A Journey in Music
A Musical Rediscovery at the 15th World Music Contest, Kerkrade, Netherlands
‘Beautiful…’ That was the evocative word whispered, soft yet audible, by one member of the audience in the centre block in the Rodahal as the last chord of Jericho ebbed away into a moment of magical silence. Then, applause broke out amongst the 2000 odd audience for the Catholic High School Symphony Band performing in the indoor stadium at the Closing Ceremony of the 15th World Music Contest.
One of the youngest band taking part in the 15th World Music Contest held once every four years, we were honoured to be the performance band at the Closing Ceremony held on 31 July 2005. The stage was decked with flowers and flags. We were a 55-member strong secondary school band from Singapore, with members ranging from 13 to 16 years old. It was a breathtaking moment for us as we performed the Dutch National Anthem under the baton of young Dutch conductor Henk Mertens and was enjoined by the entire audience singing with pride. At that moment, it could not be a more apt manifestation of the vision of the World Music Contest – The World Meets In Music. We were a young Asian school band performing a Dutch Anthem with a young Dutch conductor at the closure of the most important international band competition. As intended by the organizers, it was a statement about the future – a musical interaction and bonding between youths of the world.
For our band, this sojourn to the Netherlands was a journey of musical discoveries and experiences. Our boys stayed in the makeshift classroom bunks of College Rolduc Holz. We rehearsed in interesting variety venues in the precinct around the magnificent ancient monastery of Rolduc. We engaged the interest of many, as school bands are a rarity in continental Europe - the sight of young Asian school band members playing classical European band repertoire was distinctive and inspiring. There were always onlookers at the windows or doors of the rehearsal venues, with enthusiastic responses after each piece. It was a sincere interaction between the people of Kerkrade, the visiting bands and us. And this musical trip was also not just about practising. We walked the grounds of the monastery. We walked the aisles of its chapel. We walked in the parks and the woods. Our boys sang their respective parts of the English Folk Song Suite as we wandered through the wooded paths; music has truly taken on a real meaning there.
Finally, on 31 July, the last day of the festival, we performed in the early morning at the Theatre Kerkrade for the Third Division of the Harmonie Band category, and we were awarded the Silver medal. We were told it is a great achievement for such a young band on the international stage, but in truth, we were disappointed, missing the Gold by 1.8 points. We had earlier this year garnered a Gold with Honours at the 2005 Singapore Youth Festival. We had hoped to bring back a Gold for Singapore’s 40th Birthday and for Catholic High’s 70th Anniversary Celebrations. Of course, our band on this trip is much younger than our SYF band, with many secondary one members with merely some 6 months of playing experience. Still, we had taken on this challenge and brought everyone along on this musical journey.
As we walked back from the Theatre to our college, it rained heavily, the first downpour in our 4 days in Kerkrade. Yet, through the anguish and pain, we found faith, we found hope, and we found music again. We knew we had the Closing Ceremony that evening to perform, and we had to bring honour to the Singapore flag, to the World Music Contest organizers, and to the Dutch Anthem. We came together and prayed that afternoon, placing ourselves in the hands of the Almighty. There was a strong parallel to the context of our competition piece Jericho, the biblical tale of how in faith, the Israelites brought down the walls of the city of Jericho with one shout and entered the Promised Land. In faith, we rallied together, we rebounded, and we went on to put up a most unforgettable performance that evening. In Jericho, the intensity and intentions were truly there in all starkness and nuances. There were the pain and labour in the woodwinds, the anticipation and militant purpose in the brasses, and the shout in unison by the whole band. The walls crumbled and the horns led the band in a soaring exultation of the final victory. At the end of the piece, the band created the shimmering final moments of salvation and eternity. And in celebration, we had the audience dancing and singing in a spontaneous burst of gusto and exhilaration to our finale pieces of ABBA Gold and Tequila. Our boys played with a fiery passion that evening. We touched the audience with music, and we were shown the power of music. We overcame our disappointment and emerged stronger. We took flight again and soared even higher. We broke down walls and barriers and entered the universal world of music.
It was a special performance for us. The whole Rodahal was full, with the Concert Division bands packing the floor, awaiting the results of the top division. The band world was in attendance there, including renowned symphonic band composers such as Johan De Meij and Hardy Mertens, and it was telecast ‘live’ by the Dutch national television and radio media. It was the finale to a 3-week long musical gathering of some 270 concert bands, brass bands, fanfare bands and marching bands from around the world. Yet, that evening, we were all reminded that the World Music Contest is not just about competition, and that is the most significant lesson of all. Truly, there was a connection between the audience and music that night.
And that is what this trip by our band is about. There had been numerous musical experiences in the halls, in the woods, in the abbey. This journey is not merely about competition and medals. It is about music embracing all and conveying passion, compassion and humanity. It is about coming together as one band, sharing in one musical experience, and making connection with our art. It is about Music.
Indeed, if this musical journey is to be summed up in one word, it would be - ‘beautiful’.
post written 14 August 2005
‘Beautiful…’ That was the evocative word whispered, soft yet audible, by one member of the audience in the centre block in the Rodahal as the last chord of Jericho ebbed away into a moment of magical silence. Then, applause broke out amongst the 2000 odd audience for the Catholic High School Symphony Band performing in the indoor stadium at the Closing Ceremony of the 15th World Music Contest.
One of the youngest band taking part in the 15th World Music Contest held once every four years, we were honoured to be the performance band at the Closing Ceremony held on 31 July 2005. The stage was decked with flowers and flags. We were a 55-member strong secondary school band from Singapore, with members ranging from 13 to 16 years old. It was a breathtaking moment for us as we performed the Dutch National Anthem under the baton of young Dutch conductor Henk Mertens and was enjoined by the entire audience singing with pride. At that moment, it could not be a more apt manifestation of the vision of the World Music Contest – The World Meets In Music. We were a young Asian school band performing a Dutch Anthem with a young Dutch conductor at the closure of the most important international band competition. As intended by the organizers, it was a statement about the future – a musical interaction and bonding between youths of the world.For our band, this sojourn to the Netherlands was a journey of musical discoveries and experiences. Our boys stayed in the makeshift classroom bunks of College Rolduc Holz. We rehearsed in interesting variety venues in the precinct around the magnificent ancient monastery of Rolduc. We engaged the interest of many, as school bands are a rarity in continental Europe - the sight of young Asian school band members playing classical European band repertoire was distinctive and inspiring. There were always onlookers at the windows or doors of the rehearsal venues, with enthusiastic responses after each piece. It was a sincere interaction between the people of Kerkrade, the visiting bands and us. And this musical trip was also not just about practising. We walked the grounds of the monastery. We walked the aisles of its chapel. We walked in the parks and the woods. Our boys sang their respective parts of the English Folk Song Suite as we wandered through the wooded paths; music has truly taken on a real meaning there.
Finally, on 31 July, the last day of the festival, we performed in the early morning at the Theatre Kerkrade for the Third Division of the Harmonie Band category, and we were awarded the Silver medal. We were told it is a great achievement for such a young band on the international stage, but in truth, we were disappointed, missing the Gold by 1.8 points. We had earlier this year garnered a Gold with Honours at the 2005 Singapore Youth Festival. We had hoped to bring back a Gold for Singapore’s 40th Birthday and for Catholic High’s 70th Anniversary Celebrations. Of course, our band on this trip is much younger than our SYF band, with many secondary one members with merely some 6 months of playing experience. Still, we had taken on this challenge and brought everyone along on this musical journey.
As we walked back from the Theatre to our college, it rained heavily, the first downpour in our 4 days in Kerkrade. Yet, through the anguish and pain, we found faith, we found hope, and we found music again. We knew we had the Closing Ceremony that evening to perform, and we had to bring honour to the Singapore flag, to the World Music Contest organizers, and to the Dutch Anthem. We came together and prayed that afternoon, placing ourselves in the hands of the Almighty. There was a strong parallel to the context of our competition piece Jericho, the biblical tale of how in faith, the Israelites brought down the walls of the city of Jericho with one shout and entered the Promised Land. In faith, we rallied together, we rebounded, and we went on to put up a most unforgettable performance that evening. In Jericho, the intensity and intentions were truly there in all starkness and nuances. There were the pain and labour in the woodwinds, the anticipation and militant purpose in the brasses, and the shout in unison by the whole band. The walls crumbled and the horns led the band in a soaring exultation of the final victory. At the end of the piece, the band created the shimmering final moments of salvation and eternity. And in celebration, we had the audience dancing and singing in a spontaneous burst of gusto and exhilaration to our finale pieces of ABBA Gold and Tequila. Our boys played with a fiery passion that evening. We touched the audience with music, and we were shown the power of music. We overcame our disappointment and emerged stronger. We took flight again and soared even higher. We broke down walls and barriers and entered the universal world of music.
It was a special performance for us. The whole Rodahal was full, with the Concert Division bands packing the floor, awaiting the results of the top division. The band world was in attendance there, including renowned symphonic band composers such as Johan De Meij and Hardy Mertens, and it was telecast ‘live’ by the Dutch national television and radio media. It was the finale to a 3-week long musical gathering of some 270 concert bands, brass bands, fanfare bands and marching bands from around the world. Yet, that evening, we were all reminded that the World Music Contest is not just about competition, and that is the most significant lesson of all. Truly, there was a connection between the audience and music that night.
And that is what this trip by our band is about. There had been numerous musical experiences in the halls, in the woods, in the abbey. This journey is not merely about competition and medals. It is about music embracing all and conveying passion, compassion and humanity. It is about coming together as one band, sharing in one musical experience, and making connection with our art. It is about Music.
Indeed, if this musical journey is to be summed up in one word, it would be - ‘beautiful’.
posted by edwinheng at 12:15 am
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home