Saturday was a day to enjoy some music. Piano music and some brass highlighted the Provincial Music Festival for me, which was held in Saskatoon this year.
Over the past few years my tradition has been attendance at the Festival. Two things have highlighted those times.
One is the opportunity to listen to youth who attend our church. The second is just the enjoyment of listening to music well done.
Such was the case as I sat in on the senior class of brass instruments. Two trumpets played and two French Horns.
Now, trumpets are a class in themselves. They herald triumphant battle – as the adjudicator pointed out on one of the songs. Trumpet is the front end of battle, with the trumpet played raised towards the enemy.
Then there is the French horn. The bell of the French Horn faces backwards. You hear a sound that is first bounced off a wall or echoed from a distant point. I find the sound to be softer than a trumpet.
Karalie Near, a youth from our church, played French Horn. Another youth, Paige Summach, also played in this particular class at the festival. Both were very well practiced. The pieces were well done. And the enjoyment was great.
Not every day does one hear the mellow sound of a well played French horn. Yesterday I was treated to a double portion!