Musical thoughts
A symphony orchestra isn't just about music. It's about the people. The horn player who shakes his horn upside down in between playing horn sections. The balding grey-haired flutist waiting for his turn in a flute concerto while the orchestra sings. The cellist who forgets her bow and runs backstage to get it before the performance. The timpanist who carefully sets down a pair of timpani sticks to pick up a different pair for the next part of a piece. The concertmaster who sways left and right to the tune of her violin playing while her neighbor sits still while playing his. The conductor who has back issues and sits on a high stool further into a piece while continuing to conduct. A player who gets sick and has to be replaced by someone else. An orchestra is an organized human-oriented musical entity that produces beautiful (well, sometimes boring) music. When you think about it, compared to the guy or gal who wins American Idol and goes on to be popular singer, the music produced by an orchestra is more amazing due to the amount of effort required to produce it. Yet the singer gets more attention and more money. Ironic, isn't it? :p