American Fork Symphony blasts to the past with music from classic cartoons
From left: Leslie Jay plays the viola as Elise Clark and Janet Jensen play the cello with the American Fork Symphony. The group will perform music from Saturday morning cartoons Monday at its "The Music of Animation" concert.
Jason Robison is a conductor of the American Fork Symphony. He will lead the symphony at its upcoming "The Music of Animation" concert.
The American Fork Symphony will be pulling out a few extra bells and whistles for its next concert.
The group’s performance of “The Music of Animation” on Monday will include the sound of bird calls, bongos and a slide whistle as the symphony plays classic songs from Saturday morning and other well-known cartoons.
The concert will feature pieces from cartoons young and old, including songs from “Looney Tunes,” “The Flintstones,” “The Jetsons,” “The Pink Panther,” “Toy Story” and “The Incredibles,” as well as Igor Stravinsky’s “The Firebird Suite” from “Fantasia 2000.”
“That’s really what this concert is about is just doing music that is recognizable and easy to listen to,” conductor Jason Robison said.
In addition to unique sound effects, one of the keys to playing the music of cartoons is exaggerating dynamic levels and articulations like accent marks and fermatas, according to Robison.
“Wile E. Coyote, he’ll run straight off a cliff, and then he’s got a solid three or four seconds before he starts dropping down into the canyon, and that’s the same sort of effect that we want through the music,” Robison said.
The symphony’s leaders thought a cartoon-themed concert would be well received among the group’s audience, as one of the symphony’s goals is to put on family-friendly performances. The program even plans to include children in attendance by giving them an opportunity to bring their stick horses or cowboy hats and do a loop or two around the auditorium as the symphony plays the “William Tell Overture.”
“I’m hoping that that will help to get some wiggles out and that they’ll feel part of the music,” Robison said. “They can feel the beat, and they can recognize the theme that they’ve heard on so many cartoons.”
The American Fork Symphony’s family-centered concert focus provides important opportunities for young ears to hear classical music and learn about different musical instruments, according to Robison.
“It’s also, I think, a valuable experience for parents to feel comfortable in bringing their little ones and not have to worry about overly disturbing guests,” Robison said. “Obviously, there’s still concert etiquette in place … but not (feeling) so formal that they can’t bring their kids in the first place.”
Jacob Ovard, American Fork Symphony president and percussionist, said preparing for this concert has been both humorous and nostalgic.
“Playing some of these older pieces and bringing back memories of when you were little, it’s been fun,” Ovard said. “Every one of these songs, (they’ve) just been major hits with all of the members.”
The American Fork Symphony is composed of local volunteer musicians of a wide range of experience, from teen and adult beginners to professionals.
“It’s really a fun way for the community to get together and form this bond through this symphony, regardless of their playing ability,” Robison said. “I think it’s great that we’ve got musicians from all different levels and ages participating in our symphony.”
Robison said he has enjoyed watching this concert come together as he has directed the American Fork Symphony’s rehearsals each Saturday at 8 a.m.
“It’s just so much fun to listen to these pieces go from being just organized sound into real music, things that have shape and phrasing and colors,” Robison said. “I just love it.”
Ovard said he hopes the audience on Monday will see the lighter side of performing and the fun musicians can have with their instruments.
“Music can be so useful and so different for different applications, such as cartoons and exciting, silly music,” Ovard said. “I hope … that you can come to our symphony concerts and leave feeling satisfied and just having a good time with your family and spending quality time with your family.”
THE MUSIC OF ANIMATION
What: The American Fork Symphony performs music from Saturday morning and other well-known cartoons in concert.
Where: American Fork Junior High School Auditorium, 1120 N. 20 West, American Fork
When: Monday at 7 p.m.
Cost: $3-$15
Info: facebook.com/AFSymphony
