Another Stunning Youth Orchestra

[Don Higdon]

Here's an impressive concert band of elementary school children in Japan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9p0Acf-SbU

As good as they were, my personal reaction was that they seemed not to be having as much fun as I expected. When the conductor turned to the audience at the end, she looked kind of grim.

The comparison is not entirely fair, because this Venezuelan orhestra is all teenagers, but it's obvious that conductor Gustavo Dudamel is proud as hell and having a ball. Especially on the 2nd piece, starting at 06:44 the kids really tear it up. http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/a...chestra_1.html
The emotion and the joy as they crank up at 14:20 lift the hairs on my neck. Watch the bodies flying at 14:50.

Make no mistake, I found the Japanese children stunning. I'm just hoping they get a chance to let their emotions flower. I don't fault them. It's early in their lives. I'm probably reacting to the conductor.

[JtheJazzMan]

The TED link isnt working for me.

But the japanese one is quite impressive. Dont forget there are cultural values to take into account. Music can be fun and entertaining, but also formal and ceremonial etc. So music can be for different purposes in different contexts, and this doesnt look like a fun and games context.

It looks like a highly disciplined orchestra to me.

[Don Higdon]

Originally Posted by JtheJazzMan

The TED link isnt working for me.

Fixed.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by JtheJazzMan

Dont forget there are cultural values to take into account.

There ya go....
Fabulous clips, both. I love the Venezuelan now, as I did when you first posted it a few months back, Dono. How can one not love hearing all the beauty and watch all that energy and fun streaming from those young bodies.

JazzMan's point is huge, IMO. The cultural thing in Japan is a whole other spin in the eyes of this part of the world.
I listened to both clips a second time with my eyes closed. The music and energy was right there in both.
Visually.....energy and fun from Venezuela. Visually from Japan.....clean, concise and formal but no music to read. Memorized, internalized and owned. I dig that a bunch.