Today’s piece is brought to you by the Specially Spiteful
Stinging Symphony of Nature, featuring the busy bumbling buzzers, whimsical waspspsps,
carefree caroling crustacean-like creatures and hoarse cornet-playing horned
hornets dressed in pretty yellow jackets!
Well, not quite. But that’s the gist.
This piece is in recognition of all those bumbling buzzers
summer has brought, entitled “The Wasps I. Overture” by composer is Ralph Vaughan
Williams, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Pop! It opens with frantic buzzing…
The dynamics create the feeling of a swarm of insects flying
around your head, as you are trying to duck each time they approach.
Soon the entire orchestra joins in, uniting all kinds of insects.
First there’s the pompous entrance of praying mantises, making known their
presence with a loud fanfare. Then the woodwinds and brass grow silent for the delicate
melody of butterflies to resonate in the strings. The full orchestra returns with
the anxious, boisterous sound of the wasps.
Fading to
pianissimo, the theme drastically changes to something mysterious and even peaceful,
that you could easily get lost in the gentle air of it. At first, anticipation
prevents you from relaxing in the music. However, as it progresses, you find
yourself feeling a little sleepy…and sleepier…and sleepier…ah, the song must be
coming to an end…
Nope!
You jump in your seat when you recognize the same “POP” you
heard at the beginning!
(Williams was probably laughing at the audience by now…)
Now things feel even more rushed and anxious than before, as
if it is building up to something big. The wasps are getting antsy…
Ah! There’s that theme! Not to mention those arrogant
praying mantises…but once again, they are followed by the graceful butterflies.
Now, however, there is something new happening. The dynamics
drop, and the cellos drive the gradual crescendo while the woodwinds and
violins simply ride along with them. Following, the strings and woodwinds play
simultaneous yet different melodies, which are leading to the conclusion…
And there’s the theme again, building, building, building!
And….
Ba-dum!...
Dum!..........
Dum!...............
BA-DA-DUM!!!!!!
This is just an immensely dynamic, lovely composition. I had
the privilege of playing this piece with a small orchestra last fall, and it
was one of the most fun music experiences I’ve ever had.
I hope you have enjoyed listening to The Waspspsps—waspsps—I
really can’t pronounce that.
Anyway, hope you like it as much as I do, and please like, comment, and share!
