I’ve been waiting so long…
I realize that I must be very careful when blogging about other people, especially when those people are ones that I have a second degree professional relationship with. But I think highest praise is always an acceptable form of blogging.
I have a new found respect for Boone High School more specifically their music program. I say new found respect as opposed to the deep loathing I had for the school previously. After all, they were a big rival of Webster City High School, my alma mater. (Though I kid about other sources of the deep loathing, I think the friendly school rivalry is the extent of it…)
Nancy teaches individual lessons for their high school band program there, and so naturally she wanted to go to their last music program last night. She wanted me to come along and meet her co-workers. I complained, not at the thought of having to meet her co-workers, or at the thought of having to listen to a high school music program, these are both things that I like to do. I complained at 1) having to go to Boone, and 2) having to go to Boone.
Let me say that the concert last night (featuring their Choir, Band, and Orchestra, as well as a few outstanding solo and ensemble acts) was impressive. Incredible even. But the highlight of the night (for me personally) and the reason that I’m bothering to blog about this was the orchestra. Not that it was necessarily any better than the excellent choir, or the skilled band, but because they played a lot of Rock ‘n Roll. :)
I have to admit that I was skeptical. A high school orchestra performing “Stairway to Heaven” and “Sunshine of your love” (by Cream…). But wow.
“Sunshine of your love” made me chuckle, as the conductor introduced the song, he proceeded to take off his sport coat, loosen his tie, and tell a story about how when he was 16, he begged his parents for a guitar (a Gibson SG nonetheless), and how his parents helped him purchase it (i missed the specifics of the story, as he was taking his tie off and making it into a headband…). He then proceeded to tell us that he was going to play lead guitar with the orchestra on that same song… “and remember, if it’s too loud, you’re too old…” at this point i rolled my eyes, but then they started playing. Let me just say that Mr. Swenson does a mean Eric Clapton. At the end of the piece, I wanted to stand and give him the too-much-rock-for-one-hand sign… too bad no one would have gotten it…
Nice work Mr. Swenson. I think I have found a kindred spirit. If I were an orchestra conductor, I would definitely play Sunshine of Your Love… on lead guitar, with a tie around my head.
I think that might be a sign that the conductor just doesn’t give a crap about what anyone thinks any more and wants to have fun at his job. And also, perhaps, a sign of the coming of age of the rock and roll generation. My dad keeps telling the “young” people at church that the music isn’t loud enough.
That’s quality, right there, in Boone. Who knew? I stand corrected. Someone should tell Ross Schade…
As one who is famous for crying at all band and chorus concerts (I think I’ve attended well over 100 in my 31 year career of being a parent), I am cheered by this report. The classical music for the ages just might be Rock and Roll. And I have a fear of losing my short term memory when I’m old and sitting in the nursing home while muzak plays Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton, telling the nurses that is just isn’t loud enough.