Planet Earth

Yup, the Planet Earth is over. Like many said, it feels like ended too soon. And a bit of post-concert blues.

Think more about it, I was very brave to choose to play English horn for this concert. Four months ago, I can't even play oboe well. And I think everyone has to agree that English horn can be one of most difficult wind instruments to learn and play.

Quite some first-time for me.

1. First time for me to play English horn of course.
2. First time in my life to play solo, and such a long and expose solo.
3. First time for me to sit so outside in the hall. Definitely special for me.
4. First time for me not to play the first half. Standing by the side of the hall watching the others, many things had come into my mind. Then suddenly realised, I am so lucky to be in NUSWS.
5. And for fun, the first time I had bananas before concert.

After the concert, I can't believe that one month ago, I can't even play my parts well.

Mr Tan said that grade 1 is for 1 year of instrument learning, grade 2 is for 2 years, so Planet Earth as a grade 6 piece must be very tough. When he said that, Jinyang turned to face me, and I pointed the English horn and myself. 4-month learner to play one of the most crucial instruments? Even if considering my music learning time, that's only about 4 years. I was indeed very brave.

If you ask who is the most hardworking person in the band, I would proudly say is me. I don't think anyone else can deny that. Of course, you have to exclude Mr Tan, because he lives only with music. If something has to be proud of without humble, I think this definitely is.

Some of the oboists (and even other woodwind fellows) told me that English horn reeds can usually last for 6 months to 1 year. If you ask me, I would say, "That is only because you are not practising hard." And for me, I overused one reed, and another reed (the concert reed) is turning bad, just in 4 months.

Yesterday night was really fantastic for me. I played like disaster the night before, but yesterday was far better than my expectation. I think the bananas help, so have to really thank those who bought bananas for us. I told Yokes, there was this "banana effect", and when it comes in, I suddenly feel so relax and thoughtful, as in I can make music, in my own way. I do think I have the talent to be a soloist, when the banana effect comes in.

The whole Planet Earth was fantastic. Of course, we can hear a bit of glitches here and there, but other than us, who else will know? Even the wrong timpani entrance sounded so correct and exciting.

For first movement, I played and played, only near the end I suddenly realised, "wah, why so fast one? I haven't enjoyed much leh." Never mind the few running notes that I didn't play.

Second movement, Qicai's solo was as good as always, even though when oboes and clarinet came it, I felt a bit of weird, like something was off sync. But who cares? I cut even more notes at movement 3, like those running notes which I cannot be heard anyway, and those long notes that is to be played with brasses. It was quite weird, staring at those notes without playing them, but I had to preserve.

For my long solo, I came in the first note a bit earlier I think, like 0.1 second earlier, even though they said ok. And I cracked the first note of second phrase. But after the second phrase, the banana effect started appearing, and suddenly the solo changed colour (merely my own comment). I have to admit that I played not really following the full note length, like cut a bit of this note and make that note longer. And when Mr Tan speeds up, I was a bit lag and changed the phrase a bit. But like playing in a dream, now I can't really remember what I had played, so shall wait for the recording. Yoke Khee told me that my lag has confused them when they enter, really sorry about that.

Then at third movement, I eat the parts at the beginning.The running notes after clarinet solo, was totally mess for me. Somehow I felt that yesterday was a lot faster than usual band practice, makes me cannot follow at all. It was when the solemn part that I started to feel high. Then the hymn part, which I felt really in deep emotion, although I didn't have chance to sing.

They said Mr Tan cried, just like the day before. I didn't notice, because of concentrating and partly because of angle. Of course I felt like crying also, but didn't, maybe because I need to play the short solo?

After the concert, friends from NUSSO all told me that I was quite good, especially for a new learner like me.

Truly a wonderful concert for me. My debut on English horn, makes no regret for me.

Thinking forward, what will I be playing for next concert? If I could learned English horn in 4 months, of course other instruments will be no problem also. Still hope that there will be English horn part, or else, I can't imagine.

Of course need to thank all of the band people. But, playing my part well is already a big way of thanks.