All in 1

Aspen Jubilee was the third song of this concert. Right away the song starts at a Vivace tempo with a 4-4 beat division. The sound is very bright and lively, with the distinct sound of the Xylophone and other percussion instruments. Most recognizable is the Wind Chimes. It is joyful and enthusiastic and is accompanied with exciting horn chords that yell out joy. In the 2nd movement the melody rises and plants vivid feelings of youth into our ears. In the 3rd movement the dynamics of the song is softened, giving off a mellow, peaceful, groove along with a Soprano Vocalist adding a spice to this soothing cheerful song. The Wind Chimes make an appearance once again leaving the sound of magic and imagination in the air sending us down memory lane to the happiest place on Earth, Disneyland. At this point of the song I began to reminisce my old childhood past of energy and joy. This feeling stretches all the way to the 4th movement, where an amplified feeling of excitement is entwined with a bit of tension from dissonance to dramatize the ending cadence.
The most enjoyable song of the night for me was the fourth song Ecstatic Waters. The song starts off with a man playing the Glass Harp. The sound the wine glass gave was painted a shallow puddle. And when the harpsichord began the setting changing to a sunny day a light drizzle. The horns simulated the movement of the water that surrounded us, engulfing us deep into another reality. When the music had fully mesmerized us, it began to grow louder and louder as we reach our first cadence. The puddle grew into a mighty lake, with trees and birds surround us. It did not just stop there, as the movement reached a Crescendo. It was as though we are traveling as passengers of the water from pond to a lake. The art began to grow and grow and from lake it reaches a mighty river, flowing powerfully. At the end of the first movement we reach the cadence of the flowing river, leaving us hearing the vast blue ocean.
In the second movement we begin hearing Glass harp once again, but along with a eerie minor sound of the tuba and Euphonium. The processions of cymbals bring an element of tension as we swim in the vast and mysterious ocean. The sound dissonance stirs the feeling that we are not alone. Horns launch the tension higher as the clarinets begin to stir up commotion in the waters. We are now prey and at the end of the first cadence. The clarinet begins to draw our ears to curiosity with subtle licks of the major scale. All of which are crushed when a machine-like noise disturbs our attention and the sound of drilling rings our ears. We feel sorrow and anger building deep inside. Then BOOM! The Gong is pounded in our ears breaking the barrier between the water and us. Ending the second movement with the sound of gushing water entering the stern of a ship.
In the third movement, we return to the subtle pleasing sound of the clarinet in Major. Relaxing us from the intensity of the previous movement. The ocean begins to speak to us in a calm and peaceful voice. Winning our trust as we begin try and alliterate the sound. The machine like noise starts its Crescendo once again, in a usual beat is gears and metal; leaving us questioning how does it fit in? HORNS blast on the upbeats giving powerful sounds of crashing waves during an angry storm. The sound of water eventually overcomes the machine and at the point I realized that the machines symbolized us, constantly disrupting Mother Nature with our fishing, oil ridges, and technological tribulations. The vast ocean begins to dissolve back into a river and gently into the lake and soothingly back into the puddle, we all used to splash in as little kids.
Blue Shades was the last song of the night. This was the only piece I felt bittersweet about. Being a Blues and Jazz fan I did not feel satisfied because there wasn't a strong swing or bluesy tune that whistled in my ears. It was just a song using the Blues scale (the flattened 3rd, 5th and 7th). I closed my eyes to visualize the sound. And right then the music moved me. The clarinet had an uncanny melody of telling the story. In the second movement, the story began to unfold. To me this was the analogy of the Big Apple, New York City. The commotion of the brass and percussion represented the busy streets of Times Square with its endless sea of bodies constantly moving. The Cowbell gave an interesting appearance pushing us forward into the streets of the city. I
n the third movement things quite down as the flutes paint the exciting feeling of exploration while there was a distinctive melody of an instrument I do not know. It had a warmer tone than a xylophone. The cowbell returns once again, pulling along a cannon of both the French Horns and Trumpets. Resulting in an incredible jazzy cadence. Things die down in the fourth movement slowly as if the sun was setting in the big city. The whole brass section began big bold blues cadence ending the day. As we begin to relax the nightlife begins the clarinet gives an outstanding solo with the use of the Blue scale. As if it was crying out to the moon. The way it was played reminded me of the blues harp. Along came the hard stomping sound of brass of the city during the ending cadence. Which reminded me of the action songs of James Bond. Overall I enjoyed this song after I gave it a second chance.