NationStates Jolt Archive


Ubundiville Philharmonic: Eurasia Tour (Closed; ATTN Eurasia)

Ubundi
16-02-2007, 00:25
OOC: This is the official thread of the Ubundiville Philharmonic (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Ubundiville_Philharmonic)'s tour of Eurasia. To request the Philharmonic to tour throughout your nation, see here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=518056). [End OOC].

Principal Violist Otieno Phirun sat patiently in the first class of an Ubundi Air UA 480-900 (OOC: Two-deck commercial configuration, capable of accommodating over 900 passengers while completely in the economy class or 600 with three classes, able to fly 19,000 kilometers non-stop and reach speeds of Mach .91 or 966 km/h, 600 mph). This was a public flight, unfortunately, as the Ubundiville Philharmonic's private jet had to go under maintenance after engine difficulties. Escorted directly to the aircraft by Ubundiville International Airport's security teams after hundreds of fans mobbed them, the orchestra had the entire first-class to itself. With his Ruggieri viola resting in the overhead compartment, Otieno leaned back in his seat. The window beside him presented a dazzling sunset over the clouds, decorating the cabin with spectacular shades of red, purple, and yellow. Flipping around his personal television attached to his seat, Otieno switched to the current flight information.

"Current speed: Mach .87 | 924 km/h | 574 mph
Length to Destination: 2,414 kilometers | 1,500 miles
Time to Destination: 2h 30m" the screen announced whilst displaying a live video feed from the plane's nose.

Sighing, Otieno stood up and stretched. The twenty-hour flight to Kensington, Eurasia was nearly over.

"But still two and a half hours left…," he said to himself.

Walking to the first class private café, the conductor of the first program tomorrow night, Frederick Mpumelele, called out to him, "Best relax tonight, Otieno! We've got a rehearsal at the [Kensington Concert] Hall in the morning."

"Yes, I'll try to get some shut eye soon."

The café was lit by blue lights above the ceiling, making the room even more like a futuristic prototype. Sitting down as the bar facing an large, oblong window displaying evening sky, Otieno ordered a small dinner. Noticing a program for the next day's concert, he picked it up and flipped through the pages.

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/1095/philharmonicprogramkensye4.jpg
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/3048/philharmonicconcertnotetz2.jpg
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/6380/philharmonicmusicianintqa1.jpg
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/3340/philharmonicpatronscopymb5.jpg

Otieno put back the program and finished his meal.

[The next day, day of the concert.]

As before all concerts, the entire Philharmonic was quite energized, but this night they were more than usual. Being the first concert of its tour, the group knew their performance today would set the tone for the rest. The analog clock hanging on the wall showed the time as 17:02 Eurasian Standard Time. The concert would begin in less than fifteen minutes.

Sitting in a back room of the Royal Concert Hall with the rest of the orchestra having a last minute run-through of the program, Otieno could still hear the massive audience of around 17,000 buzzing with excitement while flipping through the program and talking with the others attending the concert. Otieno was excited himself, as well. After working on this tour for months, it felt great that it was finally beginning.

The conductor's, Mpumelele, call, "all players please proceed to the stage" broke Otieno from his thoughts. Entering the stage, he could see through a small opening between the curtains the audience. Dressed in formal attire, the audience was quite imposing. Settling into his front chair and resting his viola on his leg, Otieno watched as the deep red curtains were pulled open. Mpumelele lifted his baton and Otieno lifted his own bow in unison with his stand-partner Nkosana Refilwe to the string as the rest of the orchestra prepared for the first note. Breathing deeply, the conductor waved his and the show began.

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Ubundiville Philharmonic Bulletin Excerpt

As the Philharmonic prepares for its Eurasian tour, they have released the program for the first night's concert.

1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 "Choral" (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=50617664&s=143441)
2. Stravinsky: Pulcinella Suite (http://http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=157515325&s=143441) (OOC: Scroll down to the "Pulcinella Suite" section.)
3. Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30 (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=6921253&s=143441)
(OOC: Download (http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/) iTunes for free to listen to the works the Philharmonic will be performing.)
British Londinium
16-02-2007, 01:19
Kensington
1630 hrs

Sir Phillip Sinclair sat at his exquisitely crafted desk, his computer whirring as he attended to affairs of state, namely, reviewing HM Treasury figures. The day before, there had been a horrific error with nearly destroyed the Eura's exchange rate - today, his Chancellor of the Exchequer assured him that the error had been rectified, but it was he was leery of delegating the task to a subordinate.

He heard a knock at the door.

"Enter," the Prime Minister barked, and Chloe Khitian, Minister for Culture, Media, and Sport, entered the room.

"Sir, we need to leave," reported Chloe. "The concert begins in forty-five minutes, and with traffic this hour, it'll take a bit to get there."

"What concert?" asked Sir Phillip, not looking up, his fingers continue to type in a flurry.

"The Ubundiville Philharmonic's performing at the Royal Concert Hall - as I outlined in my Ministry memo, you are needed to attend," replied Chloe, sighing.

"Ah. That one," muttered Sir Phillip. After the economic crisis, he forgot all about it. "Then let's get a move on, shall we? Computer, secure save and lock out - authorization Sinclair Alpha-Delta-Tango."

Authorization confirmed, Sinclair Alpha-Delta-Tango, with voice pattern verified. Palace-wide security lock initiated on secure systems, intoned a digitized female voice. Security protocol three hundred and thirty six is now in effect.

"Three hundred and thirty six?" quizzed Chloe.

"Yes," replied Sir Phillip. "As I speak, the computer is intializing security measures to ensure that the primary computer system's sensitive data is being isolated, and the Deputy Prime Minister is being placed under increased surveillance and protection."

"Ah," remarked Chloe, still not comprehending.

---

Delayed by Kensington traffic, Sir Phillip managed to reach his seat just as the orchestra began to play.
Ubundi
17-02-2007, 04:08
Pianist Izolda Mazur sat before the grand piano, her practiced fingers gracing the keys. This was the moment she had been working towards for countless weeks: Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3. The piano, obviously, was the feature of the piece, and being the pianist, Izolda was the center of attention. Missing a note or hitting the wrong key might be devastating. Mpumelele stood close by on the podium, his baton slicing through the air, leading a group of nearly one-hundred and ten veteran musicians through one of the most demanding works. Izolda focused on the measures Rachmaninoff had wonderfully crafted nearly one century ago and attempted to avoid glancing at the enormous audience observing the orchestra with wonder which would have made Izolda, no doubt, lose her place, the work being called the hardest of all piano concertos.

The concerto's last movement, Finale: Alla breve, and entire performance, was coming to a close. As the Philharmonic drew out its final note, Mpumelele lowered his arms.

The crowds roar was deafening. The orchestra stood, bowed, and sat back down while Izolda Mazur received a standing ovation.

* * *

The Philharmonic boarded the Philharmonic's bus to the Kensington Ritz Hotel to rest before the next day's performance.
Ubundi
19-02-2007, 02:44
First Concert a Success!

By Adeola Nomusa for Ubundi Now!
Kensington, Eurasia

KENSINGTON — The Ubundiville Philharmonic's worldwide tour started off well after a very successful first concert in Eurasia.

Music Director Samuel Muturi said on his blog (www.samuelmuturi.ubu) of the concert, "a performance that will set a wonderful tone for the rest of our concerts."

In an after-concert interview with UNC, Conductor Frederick Mpumelele said, "This concert was exactly what we were looking for. Quality, style, and mood."

The Ubundiville Philharmonic will perform its last concert of the Eurasian tour later today, before they set off to Pacitalia for another two-day touring. The Philharmonic plans on visiting Vetaka and Russkya, as well.

Before an audience of seventeen-thousand, the Philharmonic performed Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Stravinsky's Pulcinella Suite, and Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30.

The Philharmonic plans a tribute to Eurasia with a performance of Eurasia's anthem, Beethoven's "Ode to Joy", at the beginning of the second concert.


Tonight's Program
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/nbulgaria/philharmonicprogramkensington1.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/nbulgaria/philharmonicconcertnoteseurasia1.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l191/nbulgaria/philharmonicmusicianinterviews1.jpg
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/3340/philharmonicpatronscopymb5.jpg

There will also be a performance of Eurasia's anthem, "Ode to Joy", at the beginning of the concert.

Listen to Tonight's Program
1. Bach: Violin Concerto in e Major (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=73316152&s=143441) (OOC: Scroll down to Concerto in E major)
2. Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=191902769&s=143441)
3. Holst: The Planets (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=56556187&s=143441)