Those Years 那些年

The Philharmonic Winds Goes Pop 2012
December 16, 2012
Esplanade Concert Hall
Conductor: Adrian Chiang

木村充利 Mitsutoshi Kimura / 九把刀 Jiu Ba Dao

Arranged by: Ong Jiin Joo

Published by: Retsel Mil Publications

Grade : 3 1/2

This is an arrangement of the music from the 2011 Taiwan Romance film ‘You are the Apple of My Eye’, 《那些年，我们一起追过的女孩》. This arrangement for Those Years was conceptualised for a relatively small band. After an introduction by the piano and mallets, the piece starts with an exposed and extended trumpet solo, joined later by fragments of harmonies that set the character for all the melodies in the piece. It is important that the top line for these chorded melodies comes through despite the thick orchestration, without sacrificing the lyrical tune. Syncopations in the melody are not to be accented; instead, players should emphasise the ups and downs and build as big a phrase as possible.

Also worth noting is the on-going background counter melodies, which in many cases clashes and can easily overpower the tune. This includes the line by trumpets from letter D, the two lines apart from the trumpets from letter I, and everyone apart from Horns, Euphonium and 1^st Trombone in letter L. A mature band will manage the dynamic of the supporting line just under the tune, without compromising the generally broad and emotional character of the line. Although the climax of the piece between the 3^rd and 4^th bar of letter K (i.e. accented vs. slurred triplets) is worth contrasting without reservation, do keep the rest of the sections bouncy and let the music speaks for itself without over emphasising any one part.

Last but not least, beware of the 3 semiquavers that pick up the melody, which is a source of errors and often a culprit for the music slowing down, particularly when the drum is not giving time.

Instrumentation:

1. Piccolo
2. 1^st & 2^nd Flute
3. Oboe
4. English Horn
5. Bassoon
6. Clarinet in E♭
7. 1^st Clarinet in B♭
8. 2^nd Clarinet in B♭
9. 3^rd Clarinet in B♭
10. Bass Clarinet in B♭
11. 1^st Alto Saxophone
12. 2^nd Alto Saxophone
13. Tenor Saxophone
14. Baritone Saxophone
15. 1^st Trumpet in B♭
16. 2^nd Trumpet in B♭
17. 3^rd Trumpet in B♭
18. 1^st & 3^rd Horn in F
19. 2^nd & 4^th Horn in F
20. 1^st Trombone
21. 2^nd Trombone
22. Bass Trombone
23. Euphonium
24. Tuba
25. Piano
26. Bass Guitar
27. Drum Set
28. Percussion (Triangle,wind chimes, suspended cymbal, shaker)
29. Timpani
30. Glockenspiel
31. Chimes
32. Vibraphone

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