2017-03-11

【Aiden in English】

        The spotlight shifted to the pit, temporarily blinding my sight. Around me, people dressed in formal black attire, each with a unique instrument. The conductor was then announced over the speakers, and the audience gave a warm applause. Raising his arms, the band readied their instruments and tensed with anticipation.

        I’m in this year’s play’s pit orchestra. Truthfully, I don’t really care a thing about the play. All I want is to play fun, good sounding music. The pit orchestra was the spot to go for this. However, I’m not too crazy about the play, Alien Invasion, The Musical. A Love Story in Two Acts.

        Before you say “oh, Aiden, you suck”, I just want you to hear me out. I got second alto saxophone not because I didn’t have the necessary skill but because the other sax was very stubborn and didn’t want to be second anymore. I say that because she is always the second alto in the other bands, probably following me and a friend of mine in first. Therefore, I gave her a chance, even if I had to give advice nearly to every part. Funny thing is, she even has a private teacher (I don’t), which is surprising that she is only at this level.

        The pit orchestra has a very interesting playing style. Like our conductor says, we have two volumes. Loud, when no one is singing, and soft, when the cast is singing. In other words, shut-up when you hear voices. This is particularly funny since one alto or trumpet can easily overpower the voices of an entire chorus. And this is why there is musical discrimination…

        Not only does hearing the show get extremely tiresome after the seventh time in a week, but it really takes lots of energy out of you. And just imagine people on Broadway. Anyways, the music I think, for this play, is fit for a place like Broadway, as it is written by the one and only Pennbrook band director. He is literally some kind of musical composer genius, as he writes all the songs for the play. For this year, the 20th Anniversary of the play, there was a 1960’s, Jazz swing theme for about half of the songs. The other half consisted of odd pieces of notes since it is an Alien Invasion, The Musical. A Love Story in Two Acts.

        Just going to say it now, it was the best time in the music I’ve had ever. I loved to just grove out with friends, play funky music, and make jokes about how cringy the lines to the plays are.

        At the end of it all, I never felt nervous. I think being a part of a band was the calmest I’ve felt in front of an audience. This was a great experience, and I really want to do this again next year. Hopefully, we have a better play than an Alien Invasion, The Musical. A Love Story in Two Acts.

【红霞译文】

        聚光灯移向乐池，刺得我一时半会儿睁不开眼，周围同伴身着黑色套装，各自手握乐器，指挥随即正对麦克风宣布音乐会开始，观众报以热烈掌声。他举起双臂，乐队做好准备，紧张地期待着进入角色。

        我参加今年戏剧伴奏管弦乐队，说真的，我根本不是冲着剧组而来，倒想趁机感受一下生趣动听的配乐，伴奏管弦乐队正合我意。然而，我对《音乐剧·外星人入侵──两幕爱情故事》不上杆子。

        “天哟，儿歌，你够损的。” 在你开口之前，我想要你先听我说完。我演第二把中音萨克斯管，不是出于本人技术欠佳，而是基于另一位萨克斯管手固执己见不愿再度出任二把手，之所以这么说是因为以前她在其它乐队一直做副手，这回她干脆跟着我和同为首席萨克斯管的朋友一起应试，所以我就把机会让给了她，结果害得我几乎每部乐曲都要帮她一把。可笑的是，她竟师从私教（我没请过），这般水平不能不叫人跌破眼镜。

        伴奏管弦乐队演艺风格十分有趣，正如指挥所说，我们把握两种音量：当无人演唱的时候，我们需放声吹奏；当演员出场，我们要轻声伴奏。换句话说，如果听到声音，你千万别出动静。这简直就像在开玩笑，因为一个中音萨克斯管或小号就能轻而易举地压过台上整个合唱，难怪世间会出现器乐偏见……

        且不说一周七次连轴观摩这出戏令人极度生厌，每次排练走台实在太花精力，简直难以想象百老汇演员生涯。不管怎样，本次音乐制作如同百老汇歌舞剧，全部由宾溪初中乐队指挥配乐配器，他可真有作曲天赋，一切乐曲均由他个人编写创作。今年恰好是这部剧上演廿年大庆，其中大约有一半歌曲围绕上世纪六十年代爵士摇摆主调，而另一半则靠稀奇古怪的音符乐章烘托剧情，毕竟这是《音乐剧·外星人入侵──两幕爱情故事》。

        说到这里，此部音乐剧让我获得一种从未有过的快乐，我非常喜欢跟朋友搞点时髦音乐，一起嬉戏打闹畅所欲言，即使面对音调怪诞旋律诡变节奏疯狂的场面也在所不惜。

        全部演出到此为止，我从未感觉半点紧张，在观众面前惟与乐队成员同台献艺我才轻松自如，这种经历难以忘怀，想必明年我会再来，到时希望有一部比《音乐剧·外星人入侵──两幕爱情故事》更好的作品出炉。

Today in History(历史上的今天):

2017 Twp Rec B-ball Quarterfinal(2017年乡村娱乐篮球四分之一赛)

Crosslinks(相关博文):

2016 Winter Concert of Eighth Grade(2016初三冬季音乐会)

2016 Seventh Grade Spring Concert(2016年初二春季音乐会)

2015 Winter Concert of Seventh Grade(2015年初二冬季音乐会)

2015 Sixth Grade Spring Concert(2015年初一春季音乐会)