The weather on Saturday was fantastic. Sunny, warm, just what we've been longing for for months. Eric and I went to Pier 86 (where the Intrepid - which I toured with my dad - is docked) to check out the Fleet Week festivities. We had heard the cast of "Wicked" was going to be performing at 1:30, so we made sure to get out there in time for that. We walked around a bit first, exploring the different booths and activities they had set up. Then we watched the "Wicked" performance, which was okay. We had hoped they might do a few different songs, but it was just one song by one cast member. It was nice, though.
"Elphaba" performing "The Wizard and I"
Kids playing in the fountain at Pier 84, with the Intrepid in the background
We went back home then and gathered up the pooch. We took him with us to the Central Park bandshell for the highlight of the day: a U.S. Marine Corps Band concert. We brought a blanket and parked ourselves right in front for the concert. It was so enjoyable! Achilles was a little on-edge, but he settled down for the most part. The exception was the applause after each piece - whenever everyone started clapping and cheering, Achilles would jump right back up and start barking! I like to think he was trying to express his appreciation for the music as well. I'm sure that's it.
USMC Band in the bandhsell
Standing to play the National Anthem
Achilles and me enjoying the music
Eric and Achilles
VIDEO: A snippet of "Fanfare for the Common Man," which started the show. Love it.
VIDEO: Just so my dad doesn't get a big head because of all the brass featured in the last video, here's a piccolo solo. Ah, much better.
(My dad [a brass player] and me [a woodwind] have a long-standing disagreement over which is the superior brand of instrument. I don't know why he's so confused about it. Clearly woodwinds, and flutes/piccolos in particular, are way better than brass. Especially french horns.)
After the concert was over, while most of the band was packing up, a smaller group of them (a couple trombones, saxes, trumpets and drums) marched around the plaza New Orleans-style. It was wonderful! Very laid back, fun music. They were all just having a good time and the crowd ate it up. We all gathered around and enjoyed the show, including a bride and groom who were pulled to the center of the circle for a photo-op, and a crazy man in a dress with a bird on his head dancing through (and surprisingly enough, it was not the first time we have seen this man in the city! We saw him on Easter - the guy with the dog with dyed fur! The dyed fur dog was back for the concert, too).
The small group
The bride and groom!
Crazy man in a crazy dress with a crazy dog and a crazy (real) bird on his head. Okay.
VIDEO: Dueling trombones, dance-off style!
Don't get complacent, rum cake. I'm coming for you.
4 comments:
Nice band music!
Oops! That was from Aunt RAchel who liked both the brass and woodwinds!
If you look at the picture of Eric holding Achilles, and you kind of cover up the boy close to Achilles's head, his pants look like Achilles is wearing a Navy hat! Ha! So patriotic!
It really looks fun and Fanfare is one of my all time favorite pieces. Glad you had fun like you two always do. One thing though...notice how teeny tiny itty bitty the piccolo part was? You know, an ear can only put up with so much .....heh
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