Instead of playing the typical Beethoven in black-and-green velvet dresses, this month the Langley Orchestra performed anime music and folk songs in kimonos and hanboks.
The Langley Orchestra recently put on its first-ever Asian concert, performing both traditional and modern Asian music.
“Asian members of the orchestra have long insisted for an ‘Asian concert.’ I thought if I delayed it any more, there would be a mutiny,” said orchestra conductor Dr. Scott McCormick.
The initial planning for the concert started when senior Chigaya Sakai, a pianist in the orchestra, found and purchased raw music scores for “One Summer Day,” an original sound track from “Spirited Away,” by contacting a music rental service in Japan. “Spirited Away” is an Academy Award-winning Japanese animation by Hayao Miyazaki, the “godfather” of Japanese animation.
Many Asians in the Orchestra, including senior Charlie Wang, were ecstatic. Longtime fans of Miyazaki, they had always longed to play the original soundtracks from his movies.
Although the “Asian concert” was partly a fan concert for Miyazaki, the repertoire included a wide spectrum of Asian songs: Pokemon songs, original sound tracks from “Mulan” and “Memoirs of a Geisha,” and traditional Singapore and Korean songs.
“We tried to incorporate as many cultures as possible, and put some songs that Americans can relate with – like ‘Mulan’ and ‘Memoirs of a Geisha,” said Dr. McCormick.
Additionally, the students figured that an Asian concert would not be complete without “Gangnam Style,” the viral YouTube sensation by Korean pop singer PSY.
Eastbound, an all-Asian student band, performed “Gangnam Style.” The semi-joke original name for their band was “Hoonie and the Kimchi Kids,” named after their lead singer, junior Hoonie Kim.
“I wanted to sing it because it’s “Gangnam Style.” Everyone wants to sing it,” said Kim.
The orchestra conductor, called “Doc” by his students, was skeptical about playing “Gangnam Style” at first. Unlike other songs, “Gangnam Style” needed a pop singer, pop dancers, electric guitarists, and a drummer. Because Doc thought moving drums up and down the stage would be too much work, the concert ended up not having a drummer. However, he eventually supported playing the song.
“I don’t think Doc really knew about “Gangnam Style,” since he doesn’t surf the Internet as much as we do and see all the flash mobs around the world. But we showed the dance to him live, and he loved it,” said Kim.
“Doc is really interested and open to changes,” said Wang. “When a student comes up with a nontraditional idea that seems interesting, he just goes with it.”
“It’s not only for Asians – it’s about entertainment for everyone,” said senior orchestra member Alexandra Fraley
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Photos by Na He Jeon