In just over 4 months, I'm going to be graduating high school.
At the school I go to, it is a custom for some people(usually no more than 5)
to perform at the graduation ceremony, at their own desire and request. The
last person to play on a wind instrument graduated 2 years ago, a horn
player(who is now a sophomore in a horn performance degree). Two years before
that there was a saxophone(who is now a very famous fiddle and sax player in a
nationally touring band). So the level of skill of them is quite high.
However, the number is low. Of the five, or six two years ago, all but the
ones I mentioned just now have been a guitar/singer combination, or something
similar. It's also always a country song of sorts, but that's because of our
geographic location being in the middle of West Texas.
Some of the songs chosen have nothing to do with graduating, the future,
memories or anything. It is verified that they chose it because "it's a cool
song and I can actually play it on my gee-tar." While there is nothing wrong
with that, I just think it defeats the purpose.
The others give me a strong sense of fear, nostalgia, and other feelings I
can't describe. Fear for a future that I'm ultimately unsure about, nostalgia
remembering events that the songs bring to mind, and other feelings when I can
grasp the same feelings the performers are having.
I connect most with the two instrumentalists that I mentioned earlier. The
horn player because she was my mentor, and the piece she played(I can't
remember the name of it) just sat well with me. She left the stage in tears.
I could feel what she did. The other one, although he graduated the year
before I was in high school, I could still connect with. He played a jazzy
piece on soprano sax called Joy of Life by Kenny G. I remember his performance
to this day, almost like video in my mind. They both inspired me to keep going
with music, in the hopes that I could one day inspire someone else in the same
way.
I connect more with these two more than the rest combined, probably because
we're all part of a family of musicians, but also because we're
instrumentalists. I'm not going to go into the implications of that because
the subject is HEAVILY biased personally, so I will spare you all.
Anyways, the point of me telling all of this is because I am going to be up on
the same stage they were in a few months, performing just like they did. Just
the thought of it gives me strong feelings-feelings of hope, inspiration, and
of other great things. At this point, most people would be asking for
recommendations for something to play. I am not.
I am instead asking for thoughts and assistance.
You see, I love playing the horn. But I also love composing, almost more than
actually. So I'm going to write the piece I will play.
So, I'm asking, is there a style that best suits the situation? Something so I
have a basis to work from? I was thinking something latin, like a bossa nova,
or similar. Something slow and soulful. Or maybe something like a choro, or
just a faster paced thing. Or maybe do something like Kenny G and do something
smooth jazz. Since there's many years of experience on this board, I figure
some of you would be able to help me out. Plus the fact that we all play the
same instrument is a definite plus.
Thoughts, ideas, comments? Anything will be accepted.
The instrumentation is just horn and Piano.
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