Puyallup High School Orchestra ensembles. A work in progress.

Kameraad Pannekoek · 01-11-2006, 05:26 AM

Each year at my school, Puyallup High School, we have an ensemble contest in February. In 7th-9th grade, I would always play simple classical music. It got pretty boring, but things changed in my sophomore year. There was a cello quartet made up of 4 seniors who called themselves the Dead Composers' Society. They always played various heavy metal tunes, and went to state level playing "The Unforgiven" by Metallica. I became friends with them quickly, as we often split into groups by instrument, and they would help us out.

This year, they had all graduated. Me and my homeschooled friend Toby were the only veteran cellists in the school, and we were determined to continue the legacy. I recently met up with Jason, who was the old first chair cellist and guy who formed the group. I'm close friends with his brother, and they gave me copies of there old music so that it could live on at PHS. Toby and I had one small problem though: We were but two men, and the only ones who knew of the music.

We were fortunate enough to recruit two new sophomores who were very skilled for their age. They had played in the Tacoma Youth Symphony and were certainly better than me. I informed them about the tradition, and I was suprised to see that they were big Apocalyptica fans. For those of you that don't know, Apocalyptica is a group of cellists who started out playing Metallica songs, and then moved on to writing their own. And that is how the Dead Composers' Society lives on.

This year, in addition to playing "The Unforgiven" with Toby and a Violaist, The new DCS is playing the Apocalyptica arrangement of "Nothing Else Matters." I'm going to see if I can get a decent microphone to record it when the time comes.

MusicMan · 01-11-2006, 05:37 AM

Wow, I'm glad to hear you found some other players to join you. It looks like you've got a great group worthy of continuing the tradition. I'm sure your performance will be awesome, but I really hope you can record it and share it with us as well. If I lived anywhere near Puyallup I'd come watch it live but I'll have to hope for a recording.

Aqualung · 01-12-2006, 02:30 AM

Wow, zephyr, that really sounds awesome!! I love it when traditionally classical instruments play heavy stuff. It's a great fusion, and you guys sure sound like you know what you're doing.

Kameraad Pannekoek · 01-13-2006, 12:38 AM

As of today, here's our progress.

Quartet: We got all 4 parts together decently. A bit more work is needed on the solo, and the Toby needs to get used to the tenor clef (In case you didn't know, cellos usually use the bass clef.) I need to get used to playing chords pizzicatto.

Trio: Toby and I have already memorized our parts, but our viola can't seem to get the whole middle of the song. This may be a challenge.

Aqualung · 01-14-2006, 01:45 AM

That sounds pretty awesome.

What does pizzicatto mean?

What's wrong with him reading the music?

Kameraad Pannekoek · 01-14-2006, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aqualung

That sounds pretty awesome.

What does pizzicatto mean?

What's wrong with him reading the music?

Pizzicatto is plucking, rather than using a bow. I always prefer to use to fingers when I do it, but that is pretty challenging with a bow in my hand.

The tenor clef challenges things because the notes appear in different places than with the bass clef. I think it's just a string higher than bass clef, but I might be wrong. I get to keep my music normal.

Aqualung · 01-17-2006, 11:04 PM

By "what's wrong with him reading the music" what I meant was why does he have to memorize the songs? why can't he read it instead?

Kameraad Pannekoek · 01-18-2006, 12:20 AM

Oh, we don't expect our violaist to memorize his part at all. He has the tough part with the solo. The only reason Toby and I have our parts memorized is because we had practiced much more. We'll all have are music in front of us when we play, but Toby and I have practiced it enough so that we don't really need it.

Aqualung · 01-18-2006, 12:58 AM

Oh, I guess I pretty much misunderstood what you were saying.

Carry on, then.

Kameraad Pannekoek · 01-27-2006, 06:21 AM

Well, we're still getting set to record, possibly tommorrow (friday), but if anyone wants a sneak peek, here's the place that we first found the music for the quartet. It's Nothing Else Matters, and they have it in *.TIF format for anyone interested. The site also has various other songs written for cello.

http://cdtn.cd.funpic.de/sheets.php

Kameraad Pannekoek · 02-04-2006, 12:33 AM

Well, the ensemble thing is tommorrow, and I still haven't gotten anything to record with. We finally have our songs practiced and ready, so here goes nothing I guess. If I'm lucky I may be able to record tommorrow's stuff.

Aqualung · 02-04-2006, 12:37 AM

Well, good luck with that, Zephyr! I hope you can find something, though, because I really want to hear it.

MusicMan · 02-04-2006, 03:27 AM

:sadparty: I hope you find a way to record it.

Good luck and have fun tomorrow.

Kameraad Pannekoek · 02-05-2006, 12:41 AM

Final Update: Terrible News!

I just got back from the ensemble, and a lot of crap happened. The cello quartet did pretty well, but someone had a pretty bad flu and ended up losing his place for a second. Fortunately he recovered and did very well considering his illness (He had it bad.) We were unfortunately unable to record it, but we might be able to do it later. If you want to know what it sounded like, go borrow Inquisition Symphony by Apocalyptica and imagine a small goof-up towards the first chorus...thingy.

The trio was much, much worse. Toby and I sat, waiting for our third member, who arrived late, without his instrument or music, and horribly out of tune (he borrowed someone else's). To make matters worse, we had no time to practice beforehand, and I had to leave soon. When we played, Toby and I had it fairly smooth, but it still turned out terrible as the melody was warped beyond recognition. In the end, I didn't even have enough time to pack up before leaving. Fortunately, I was able to stab him pretty hard with my endpin before leaving.

End Results:
Quartet: Pretty good
Trio: Dying Cats.

Aqualung · 02-05-2006, 12:48 AM

Oh, that's too bad.

MusicMan · 02-05-2006, 04:57 AM

Sorry to hear it didn't go as well as you hoped. It sucks when you put so much work into something, only to have some dimwit screw everything up. But it sounds like the quartet did ok. Better luck next time

hisatomi · 02-10-2006, 12:20 AM

very interesting story

01-11-2006, 05:26 AM	#1
Kameraad Pannekoek Drunk on power. And beer. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wazzu Posts: 3,181 Thanks: 61 Thanked 133 Times in 114 Posts Rep Power: 500	Each year at my school, Puyallup High School, we have an ensemble contest in February. In 7th-9th grade, I would always play simple classical music. It got pretty boring, but things changed in my sophomore year. There was a cello quartet made up of 4 seniors who called themselves the Dead Composers' Society. They always played various heavy metal tunes, and went to state level playing "The Unforgiven" by Metallica. I became friends with them quickly, as we often split into groups by instrument, and they would help us out. This year, they had all graduated. Me and my homeschooled friend Toby were the only veteran cellists in the school, and we were determined to continue the legacy. I recently met up with Jason, who was the old first chair cellist and guy who formed the group. I'm close friends with his brother, and they gave me copies of there old music so that it could live on at PHS. Toby and I had one small problem though: We were but two men, and the only ones who knew of the music. We were fortunate enough to recruit two new sophomores who were very skilled for their age. They had played in the Tacoma Youth Symphony and were certainly better than me. I informed them about the tradition, and I was suprised to see that they were big Apocalyptica fans. For those of you that don't know, Apocalyptica is a group of cellists who started out playing Metallica songs, and then moved on to writing their own. And that is how the Dead Composers' Society lives on. This year, in addition to playing "The Unforgiven" with Toby and a Violaist, The new DCS is playing the Apocalyptica arrangement of "Nothing Else Matters." I'm going to see if I can get a decent microphone to record it when the time comes. __________________ If you ever need help with anything, anything at all, just send me a PM and I'll see what I can do for you. Dave's Gear: MIM Fretless Fender Jazz Bass Fender Rumble 100w Bass Amp Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Vox Valvetronix AD30VT Guitar Amp Dunlop .71mm picks (Pink picks for the win!)

01-12-2006, 02:30 AM	#3
Aqualung Pshaw! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 11,548 Thanks: 527 Thanked 731 Times in 684 Posts Rep Power: 271	Wow, zephyr, that really sounds awesome!! I love it when traditionally classical instruments play heavy stuff. It's a great fusion, and you guys sure sound like you know what you're doing. __________________ Here we go. Mushu cereal for breakfast with duck sauce.

01-13-2006, 12:38 AM	#4
Kameraad Pannekoek Drunk on power. And beer. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wazzu Posts: 3,181 Thanks: 61 Thanked 133 Times in 114 Posts Rep Power: 500	As of today, here's our progress. Quartet: We got all 4 parts together decently. A bit more work is needed on the solo, and the Toby needs to get used to the tenor clef (In case you didn't know, cellos usually use the bass clef.) I need to get used to playing chords pizzicatto. Trio: Toby and I have already memorized our parts, but our viola can't seem to get the whole middle of the song. This may be a challenge. __________________ If you ever need help with anything, anything at all, just send me a PM and I'll see what I can do for you. Dave's Gear: MIM Fretless Fender Jazz Bass Fender Rumble 100w Bass Amp Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Vox Valvetronix AD30VT Guitar Amp Dunlop .71mm picks (Pink picks for the win!)

01-14-2006, 01:45 AM	#5
Aqualung Pshaw! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 11,548 Thanks: 527 Thanked 731 Times in 684 Posts Rep Power: 271	That sounds pretty awesome. What does pizzicatto mean? What's wrong with him reading the music? __________________ Here we go. Mushu cereal for breakfast with duck sauce.

01-17-2006, 11:04 PM	#7
Aqualung Pshaw! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 11,548 Thanks: 527 Thanked 731 Times in 684 Posts Rep Power: 271	By "what's wrong with him reading the music" what I meant was why does he have to memorize the songs? why can't he read it instead? __________________ Here we go. Mushu cereal for breakfast with duck sauce.

01-11-2006, 05:37 AM	#2
MusicMan "It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong." - Voltaire Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Inside your head Posts: 7,404 Thanks: 565 Thanked 464 Times in 405 Posts Rep Power: 500	Wow, I'm glad to hear you found some other players to join you. It looks like you've got a great group worthy of continuing the tradition. I'm sure your performance will be awesome, but I really hope you can record it and share it with us as well. If I lived anywhere near Puyallup I'd come watch it live but I'll have to hope for a recording.

01-18-2006, 12:20 AM	#8
Kameraad Pannekoek Drunk on power. And beer. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wazzu Posts: 3,181 Thanks: 61 Thanked 133 Times in 114 Posts Rep Power: 500	Oh, we don't expect our violaist to memorize his part at all. He has the tough part with the solo. The only reason Toby and I have our parts memorized is because we had practiced much more. We'll all have are music in front of us when we play, but Toby and I have practiced it enough so that we don't really need it. __________________ If you ever need help with anything, anything at all, just send me a PM and I'll see what I can do for you. Dave's Gear: MIM Fretless Fender Jazz Bass Fender Rumble 100w Bass Amp Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Vox Valvetronix AD30VT Guitar Amp Dunlop .71mm picks (Pink picks for the win!)

01-18-2006, 12:58 AM	#9
Aqualung Pshaw! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 11,548 Thanks: 527 Thanked 731 Times in 684 Posts Rep Power: 271	Oh, I guess I pretty much misunderstood what you were saying. Carry on, then. __________________ Here we go. Mushu cereal for breakfast with duck sauce.

01-27-2006, 06:21 AM	#10
Kameraad Pannekoek Drunk on power. And beer. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wazzu Posts: 3,181 Thanks: 61 Thanked 133 Times in 114 Posts Rep Power: 500	Well, we're still getting set to record, possibly tommorrow (friday), but if anyone wants a sneak peek, here's the place that we first found the music for the quartet. It's Nothing Else Matters, and they have it in .TIF format for anyone interested. The site also has various other songs written for cello. http://cdtn.cd.funpic.de/sheets.php __________________ If you ever need help with anything, anything at all, just send me a PM and I'll see what I can do for you. Dave's Gear:* MIM Fretless Fender Jazz Bass Fender Rumble 100w Bass Amp Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Vox Valvetronix AD30VT Guitar Amp Dunlop .71mm picks (Pink picks for the win!)

02-04-2006, 12:33 AM	#11
Kameraad Pannekoek Drunk on power. And beer. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wazzu Posts: 3,181 Thanks: 61 Thanked 133 Times in 114 Posts Rep Power: 500	Well, the ensemble thing is tommorrow, and I still haven't gotten anything to record with. We finally have our songs practiced and ready, so here goes nothing I guess. If I'm lucky I may be able to record tommorrow's stuff. __________________ If you ever need help with anything, anything at all, just send me a PM and I'll see what I can do for you. Dave's Gear: MIM Fretless Fender Jazz Bass Fender Rumble 100w Bass Amp Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Vox Valvetronix AD30VT Guitar Amp Dunlop .71mm picks (Pink picks for the win!)

02-04-2006, 12:37 AM	#12
Aqualung Pshaw! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 11,548 Thanks: 527 Thanked 731 Times in 684 Posts Rep Power: 271	Well, good luck with that, Zephyr! I hope you can find something, though, because I really want to hear it. __________________ Here we go. Mushu cereal for breakfast with duck sauce.

02-04-2006, 03:27 AM	#13
MusicMan "It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong." - Voltaire Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Inside your head Posts: 7,404 Thanks: 565 Thanked 464 Times in 405 Posts Rep Power: 500	:sadparty: I hope you find a way to record it. Good luck and have fun tomorrow.

02-05-2006, 12:41 AM	#14
Kameraad Pannekoek Drunk on power. And beer. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wazzu Posts: 3,181 Thanks: 61 Thanked 133 Times in 114 Posts Rep Power: 500	Final Update: Terrible News! I just got back from the ensemble, and a lot of crap happened. The cello quartet did pretty well, but someone had a pretty bad flu and ended up losing his place for a second. Fortunately he recovered and did very well considering his illness (He had it bad.) We were unfortunately unable to record it, but we might be able to do it later. If you want to know what it sounded like, go borrow Inquisition Symphony by Apocalyptica and imagine a small goof-up towards the first chorus...thingy. The trio was much, much worse. Toby and I sat, waiting for our third member, who arrived late, without his instrument or music, and horribly out of tune (he borrowed someone else's). To make matters worse, we had no time to practice beforehand, and I had to leave soon. When we played, Toby and I had it fairly smooth, but it still turned out terrible as the melody was warped beyond recognition. In the end, I didn't even have enough time to pack up before leaving. Fortunately, I was able to stab him pretty hard with my endpin before leaving. End Results: Quartet: Pretty good Trio: Dying Cats. __________________ If you ever need help with anything, anything at all, just send me a PM and I'll see what I can do for you. Dave's Gear: MIM Fretless Fender Jazz Bass Fender Rumble 100w Bass Amp Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Vox Valvetronix AD30VT Guitar Amp Dunlop .71mm picks (Pink picks for the win!)

02-05-2006, 12:48 AM	#15
Aqualung Pshaw! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 11,548 Thanks: 527 Thanked 731 Times in 684 Posts Rep Power: 271	Oh, that's too bad. __________________ Here we go. Mushu cereal for breakfast with duck sauce.

02-05-2006, 04:57 AM	#16
MusicMan "It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong." - Voltaire Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Inside your head Posts: 7,404 Thanks: 565 Thanked 464 Times in 405 Posts Rep Power: 500	Sorry to hear it didn't go as well as you hoped. It sucks when you put so much work into something, only to have some dimwit screw everything up. But it sounds like the quartet did ok. Better luck next time

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02-10-2006, 12:20 AM	#17
hisatomi Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Rep Power: 51	very interesting story

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