Experience the symphony

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 3, 2002

Music is universal.

I have a strange mix of favorite CDs that I play until I'm sick of them or hear something that keeps me humming until I finally have to get that CD.

The Top Three on my CD chart are Clint Black's D'lectrified, a Tonic Sol Fa a cappella thing and something or other from Alabama.

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I had a toe tapping experience yesterday and now I want a CD. But it isn't country,

rock and roll, bluegrass or hip hop. It's the Austin Symphony Orchestra.

I listened and watched the orchestra practice for its upcoming production. I was fascinated when conductor Stephen Ramsey gave instructions, telling the musicians to go to the "three bold triplets," and the orchestra responded. He also told them to "sneak in very light," "we're suffering from earliness" and "shhhhh -- stay down," but most instructions were a mere hand movement.

It was wonderful to listen to the various instruments, their tones and personality -- oboes calling like a loon across the lake, heralding bassoons, the trumpeting roundness of the French horns.

Violins' angelic caroling set the character of each piece and I settled in and began to wait for each piece to engage the others as the music sounded more familiar. Cellos glued the sound together with over and undertones.

Then came the brass! Tuba, trombones and trumpets herded the tune -- gathering energy and intensity. The bases stood tall in the background, reminding the others of the melody.

If this all sounds flowery and sweet, it's only because it's difficult to describe the symphony with the usual, "Hey man, that music just kicked."

My musical talent is limited to trying to coax music from the piano, laughably playing the spoons and singing for funerals, where, of course, I have a captive audience and no one complains (everyone is crying already).

If I could make music like that I'd gladly give up writing.

Symphony is an experience of the mind. You can close your eyes and imagine anything you want. It isn't just for 'blue bloods' or high brow aficionados. It's for you and me.

I usually stay away from recommending my musical preferences to anyone but I'll make an exception. This is coming from a woman who grew up with the music of the Beatles and Rolling Stones. When the Austin Symphony plays at Knowlton on Sunday, do yourself a favor and go enjoy it.

If you are sitting next to me and my foot tapping gets to loud or annoying, I'm excusing myself ahead of time.

Ailene Dawson's column appears on Wednesdays. She can be reached at 434-2235 or e-mail her at ailene.dawson@austindailyherald.com.