2016-02-01

【Aiden in English】

        In elementary school, the band seemed like a simple game which most of the time got really boring. Middle school, hence the name, took the band to a different level. I actually needed guidance for a piece. Of course, with higher-level means a higher level of performance.

        The North Penn High School’s auditorium is huge. To show off, it even added a balcony. This is the style performances should be like. My old Montgomery ES provided the comfy floor as our seats, and that’s why our butts always hurt after the orchestra shows since they took forever. But the Wind Ensemble Concert of the NP Secondary Schools tonight, the audience won’t be bored of any band after an hour, because the bands would rotate. The Pennbrook Wind Ensemble of my school went first, and the performance was not the best. There were mistakes, but it turned out fairly well. However, the spotlight was not really on the middle schools, considering that the high school band was in the building.

        The high school kind of stole the show. To start, its band just like the auditorium was huge and almost doubled the average middle school wind ensemble. They had talent as well, especially the guy on the mallets. His hands blurred as they went up and down the xylophone, with speed and accuracy. The other percussion players, yes, were impressive, but I’m pretty sure the audience didn’t even realize the entire drum section was there until the xylophone player stopped. This band had the longest time on stage, and the bulk of the time was from a miniature symphony. I really did wonder how one’s hands didn’t fall off from playing that fast during that piece.

        It was really sensational to hear the upper levels. I know that’s the place I’m going down the road, but I am thoroughly intimidated by their performance. No matter whether I make it or not, I’m still positive. The band played a wide variety of tunes, with the speed that was fast and slow, and sounded so loud that the building shook, and also so quiet that I thought my ears fell off. Especially in this kind of room, the sound resonated everywhere, and the ringing after every BOOM of the bass drum echoed for a whole second or two. Even more so were the cymbals, where a clap of sound blasted at the audience. As the watcher, it sounded cool. But musically, it got annoying when trying to muffle the ringing.

        And before I close this post, I want to quickly note that Brandon McManus, the graduate of NPHS then and the Denver Bronco’s kicker now. He is going to play in the Super Bowl this coming Sunday, and I sincerely wish him luck. The NPSD gave all teachers a t-shirt with his number on it to cheer him on. I really hope that Peyton Manning finishes his career strong. I also wish Brandon would kick the game-winning 60-yard field goal to win the game in double-OT. I know it’s bold, but it will be crazy and bring pride to North Penn.

【红霞译文】

        小学管乐队好像跟过家家差不多，吹来吹去吹不出什么新鲜玩艺。闻其名而知其性，初中与小学之间的水平确实迥然有异，现在我得仰仗高师指点才能吹好整个曲目。毋庸置疑，精湛的演技水平与高端的舞台艺术密不可分。

        北宾州高中礼堂非常气派，设有上下两层观众席，顶好的演出自然离不开如此宏大的场面。我毕业的蒙哥马利小学座椅堪比地板一般结实耐磨，而管乐会又没完没了，结果每当演出完毕屁股总是痛得要命，但在今晚管乐音乐会上，各支管乐队轮番登台献艺，观众即使坐上个把钟头丝毫不会对任何乐队的表演生厌。我们宾溪中学首先出场，说起来算不上水平最高的管乐队，中间几个地方连续出现失误，整个演出表现非常一般。其实争抢镜头夺人耳目的并非初中各路人马，而是出演压轴戏的东道主高中管乐队。

        高中管乐队总算出尽了风头，且不说该校礼堂几乎超出普通初中规模两倍有余，其阵容强大人才济济，彰显艺术实力，尤其那位手握木槌的家伙格外突出，在音准到位的基础上，他来回快速敲击木琴，不能不叫人看得眼花缭乱，其他打击乐器手同样毫不逊色，我敢说在打击乐结束之前，观众根本没有意识到他们娴熟的技艺。高中管乐队表演时间最长，其中更把大部头精力投注在小型交响乐上，演奏期间，打击乐手疯狂摆动并能做到准确无误，简直不可思议。

        从礼堂二楼观赏表演效果绝妙，我清楚早晚有一天自己也会像他们一样，但免不了还是心有余悸。好在我一颗红心两种准备，无论今后能否入选都会保持乐观态度。高中管乐队可以演奏出各种乐曲，速度有快有慢；音量强的地方震天动地，弱的时候恨不能把我耳朵震聋，尤其在现有大厅，由音响产生的共鸣久久回旋，每当低音鼓一响，余音都能持续一两秒钟之久，此时若有铙钹对击，一下子就会拨动观众的心弦。作为观众，这种配器效果听起来不错，但从音乐的角度来看，打击乐的引入挺惹人心烦。

        写到这里，我想将笔锋迅速转到曾为北宾州高中毕业生、现任丹佛野马职业橄榄球队踢球手布兰登•麦克马纳斯身上，他将参加本周末举行的全美超级杯橄榄球赛，我衷心祝愿他福星高照好运当头。北宾州学区已发给每位老师一件印有他球衣号码的T恤衫，以求为他加油打气。我真心希望佩顿•曼宁圆满结束其职业生涯，同时也祝愿布兰登能在双加时大脚踢出60码好成绩，射门得分拿下这场比赛。我知道自己心气旺，不过一旦梦想成真，整个北宾州学区将感到无尚荣光。