Pixar Symphonies (a DE Mini-Feature Story) + Giveaway!
** Congratulations to Lauren A. for winning our Pixar In Concert ticket giveaway! **
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Listen up.
When you watch a movie nowadays, what do you notice? The actors, the actresses, the action, the stunts, the drama…typical things that tend to grab your attention in a movie.
But imagine all those things without a little thing called the musical note. You know, the ominous dot with an upward or downward pointing tail seated on a bunch of straight lines. If those things weren’t clumped together on hundreds of pages, the modern movie as you know it would not be so great to watch.
What simply was just meant to fill silence in “moving pictures” has become a true art that carries every emotion that a film needs in its many slurs and crescendos. Movie scores, as they’re called, are truly under-appreciated and we must not forget that great music in a great movie is just as necessary as are the great actors. Take for example Disney music.
Disney music has its roots in “broadway” with the musical classics like “Aladdin” and “Mary Poppins” written by the famed Sherman brothers seen above, but aside from that, Disney music is also known for their simple melodies that fill the spaces that words cannot. One such example includes the music of Disney’s other company Pixar.
Immediately when you think of Pixar, the first thing you might think of most likely was this, this, or even this. It’s music!
In time, Disney music grew to include these fantastic musical movie scores again adding to the fact that movie score (more importantly Disney music scores) are timeless and have been and will always be remembered for making us laugh, cry, smile, and even sing/hum along to any time of day or night. And you’re not alone.
Pixar’s music, although not filled with lyrics all too much, consist of melodies that carry us through the movie and even afterwards if that little hyperlink experiment above proved anything. Even though Pixar’s movie music hasn’t been around as long as the staple Broadway-style music from the Disney movie classics, it is Disney music that’s worth highlighting and that’s what our friends at Pixar have done for us.
For a little over a year now, Pixar music has been traveling to some of the most well-known performance stages in the world being played by some of the best orchestras in the world. Pixar In Concert is literally what it is – it’s Pixar’s movie music played by a live orchestra which plays to a montage of scenes from that particular movie all in front of a live audience. In a world where movie music is always noted in the background, the music here will be center stage giving young and old audiences the pure and deep emotional rush it is to experience a live orchestra play some of the greatest music ever written for human ears.
While the concert has been traveling the world for the better part of a year now, it certainly hasn’t been the easiest task to put together a full symphony orchestra concert, folks! We had the opportunity to speak with Jonathan Heeley, Director of Music Publishing at The Walt Disney Company, who also was a part of the team that brought the concert concept to reality. “Each of the orchestras [that get to play this concert set list] has to match the standard Disney is known for,” he said. He continued saying that each of the orchestras that do choose to play this music do have high standards, making it a safe bet that concerts like these with the Disney name on it will express high quality Disney magic.
“It’s something everyone should see.”The concert itself is 80 minutes long, which is usually how long a full orchestral concert is. “After it’s over, you’ll notice how short it really felt. You’ll also notice how much you cried – the music choices and accompanying projections of the Pixar movies are really poignant. It’s something everyone should see.”
We’ve always wanted to see this concert since it was announced, but we never had the opportunity to until now! The Pacific Symphony Orchestra based right here out of Southern California will have the opportunity to perform these great pieces of music just a few miles outside of Disneyland in mid August of this year.
“You’ll come to appreciate how relevant and fun great music is in your lives.”Eileen Jeanette, the Vice President of Artistic & Orchestra Operations told us that the Pacific Symphony has a great relationship with Disney and is happy to put on a concert in partnership with them. The concert has been about a year in the making and she is glad that the day is almost near. Although the Pacific Symphony is a symphonic orchestra that is known for playing classical pieces, Eileen assured us that the goal of this concert (and the other contemporary concerts that the orchestra is starting to put on) is to really broaden the interest of live concert music. “We really want to get more families and individuals loving classical live performance music,” she said. “You’ll come to appreciate how relevant and fun great music is in your lives.”
And we are looking to have that fun (and perhaps cry a lot) when we get to see the concert performed by the Pacific Symphony on August 17 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, California. Tickets are still available for the concert, but since this is a ONE NIGHT ONLY event, its best if you don’t delay your purchasing any further!
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But if you just don’t have the money to go or if tickets aren’t available as of this posting, we’ll take care of you. Just two of you only actually. That’s right! We’re giving away TWO (2) tickets to Pixar In Concert with the Pacific Symphony where you’ll even be able to meet the DisneyExaminer Staff too! What a prize!
What do you have to do to enter? It’s quite simple actually.
To enter our little giveaway, just do the following:
1) In our comments section below (powered by our friends at Disqus), leave a comment!
2) The comment must consist of your full name, email address, and a reason why you should be the recipients of the pair of tickets* in 100 words or less.
*We will be giving away the tickets as a pair to one person only!
And that’s it! The last day for entries is Saturday, August 10 and we’ll choose a winner from among those entries on Monday, August 12.
We hope all of you enter our giveaway in hopes that you’ll get to fully understand the reason behind this story. In hopes you’ll understand that Disney music is Pixar music and without it, the movies mean nothing. Like silence.
UPDATE 8/12 – We’ve extended the entry period for one more day! The last day to submit your entry is TODAY, August 12! We’ll announce the winner on Wednesday, August 14.
UPDATE 8/13 – Thanks everyone for your entries! At first glance, it’s just so great to hear all your stories of how Disney, Pixar, and its wonderful music has made a difference in all your lives. Although we wish we could give you all tickets, we can only give one pair away…
But we encourage you all to attend this great concert put on by the Pacific Symphony Orchestra on the evening of August 17 in Irvine. Tickets are still available HERE.
We’ll announce the winner of our giveaway tomorrow, August 14!
UPDATE 8/14 – Congratulations to Lauren Albee who is our giveaway winner! It was really tough choosing who to give the tickets to because all of you had pretty convincing and heartfelt reasons, but Lauren hit it right on the spot when she wrote that the music is central to how it makes us (and the musicians) feel.
Lauren, we hope that you and your guest feel the magic of Disney and Pixar this Saturday night.
Again, our thanks to everyone who entered! Expect more great giveaways from DisneyExaminer soon!
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Our special thanks to Disney Music Publishing, Pixar, and the Pacific Symphony for their help in putting this mini Feature Story together.
As we said in the story, tickets are still available for the next showing of “Pixar In Concert.” If you’re in the Southern California area and are looking for a great date night, family outing, music appreciation evening filled with great Disney music and your favorite Pixar characters and worlds, please come down and join us on August 17 for what is sure to be a night of great music and Disney movie magic!
Click HERE for tickets.
My name is Aaron Lee and my email address is musicgoon (at) gmail (dot com). I should receive the pair of tickets because my wife and I love Disney and Pixar! We just came back from our honeymoon at Aulani, so that is why we cannot afford the tickets. My wife is an artist, I am a musician. I have great respect for Disney music. Alan Menken is why I am into scoring music for films, and I love Michael Giacchino’s work. We would truly appreciate being able to enjoy the night of Disney music!
I really appreciate DE for giving all Disney fans an insider look at many things we are all not able
to participate in. Also giving us chances at giveaways like this one. As a Disney fan, I have loved Disney music from the early years of Mickey’s whistle on Steamboat Willie to the Sherman Brothers, and Alan Menken. From the contributions of Michael Giacchino and Randy Newman I have also greatly admired Pixar music. I believe that Pixar music elevates each movie, building a richer story with each musical scene. Email: edemonteverde@gmail.com
I am Michael Siyluy and my e-mail is msiyluyg8@gmail.com.
I have loved Disney since I was a baby. I
remember the movie because of the music. The best qualities about the
Disney and Pixar music are the moments where it captures my mind and heart into
the movie. Biggest examples are Peter
Pan, Up, and most of all Fantasia. I listen to music every day, and
being in live music performances would be sublime. Especially if it is Disney.
I would love to get the tickets, because I love Disney music. I grew up listening to it ALL. THE. TIME. I would love it!
– Dinah Garcia, DyNaH428@hotmail.com
Dan Nguyen
Teenrep@Hotmail.com
I love Disney and Pixar. It would be an amazing experience to hear Disney and Pixar performed LIVE by an orchestra! I can’t wait to experience this!
My youth performance group has performed two sets of songs from Disney – Aladdin and Fantasmic. These two pieces alone have inspired both my youth group and those who watched it. Even if our performance had many mistakes, the atmosphere, the feeling of joy and awe created by the music, was just so amazing that I believe our performance was successful in inspiring everyone. I can’t imagine how touching it will be to listen to the original orchestra. I may not be a huge Disney fan but anyone can see how great the music is!
-Kevin Okamura
satoshiokamura@hotmail.com
Chelsey Whitworth
cwhitworth333@yahoo.com
Both Disney and music are huge parts of my life. I was fortunate enough in high school to be invited to Disneyland for both marching band and jazz band performances. Being a part of the Disney Performing Arts program is a major highlight of my music career. Experiencing a symphonic Disney-PIxar production would be very special to me. I’m still a huge music nerd and a huge Disney fan as well, 22 or not, one is never too old.
Xander Rodzinski
rodzinsk@usc.edu
I’m currently studying music composition at USC, however, my free moments are devoted to scoring films. The reason I became involved in film scoring was due to the fantastic music of Pixar, falling in love with Randy Newman’s score to Bug’s Life at age 4. Such creative films provide enormous musical opportunities that Giacchino, the Newman clan, Doyle, and Brion on the newest short have all taken full advantage of, creating some of the most memorable scores of all time. I would be delighted to hear the music that inspired me so deeply by such a wonderful orchestra.
Lauren Albee
Lindyhopper88@aol.com
I have always loved the music to the Pixar films. I play them on repeat in my car 😀 It would be amazing to see and hear the music played in a live setting. Music plays such a powerful role in everyday life and in films. Just by listening to the music, your emotions run wild. I wonder if the musicians get as emotional as the listeners get?? I hope I win so I can experience those powerful feelings with the audience and the musicians.
Congrats, Lauren! You’re our winner for the Pixar In Concert tickets giveaway! Please check your email for instructions on how to pick up your tickets.
Because Pixar is awesome and I would have so much fun and be so happy to actually win something!
Jenisse Castillo
Jenissecastillo@gmail.com
I have always been a huge fan of Disney and Pixar. I have a dream of being a film director and later on to compose the music that creates the entire mood of films. I have always loved film scores especially in pixar movies and shorts. It would be an honor to attend this and listen to the beautiful music live! It would light my fire of pursuing my dream even more as I enter my senior year of High school. Thank you so much for your time and giving this opportunity to the readers of Disney Examiner!
Donna Wilson
basketgal917@hotmal.com
“There’s a terrific power to music. You can run any of
these pictures & they’d be dragging & boring, but the minute you put
music behind them, they have life and vitality they don’t get any other way.”–Walt
Disney. To have the opportunity to “see” these films unfold through sound would
truly be music to my ears! As my daughter is a fan of Disney/Pixar films, this
experience would expose her to symphonic artistry as well as gain appreciation for
the power of music, thus ensuing in her the magic that is simply called “Disney”.
Flora Kwan
florakwan1111@gmail.com
Pixar is awesome and it would be so cool to hear the music that makes the movies come to life! Thank you for this great opportunity 🙂
Verena Kwan digestinghippos@gmail.com
I want to win the pair of tickets because Pixar’s music is amazing and I would love the opportunity to see it being performed live…a great and fun way to remember all of the incredible stories Pixar has brought to life on the big screens.
Ever since I have been a little boy I have been a fan of Toy Story. I love all the hard work that Pixar put into all the films. Music is a big for me because it sets the mood. I would like to win the tickets not just to listen to the awesome but to relive my childhood.
Esther Lee
yestherlee93@gmail.com
I’ve always noticed the music while watching Disney movies. After I watch each movie, I remember the music listen to the soundtracks. Just the other night, I was humming the songs from Fantasia 2000 and Up. To hear the work of the extremely talented composers (my favorite being Michael Giacchino) as well as the performers would be absolutely magical.
Pixar has put out such great movies for both children and adults. I would love to have a great time enjoying the music of such great films.
Thanks everyone for your entries! At first glance, it’s just so great to hear all your stories of how Disney, Pixar, and its wonderful music has made a difference in all your lives. Although we wish we could give you all tickets, we can only give one pair away…
But we encourage you all to attend this great concert put on by the Pacific Symphony Orchestra on the evening of August 17 in Irvine. Tickets are still available here –
http://www.pacificsymphony.org/main.taf?p=9,5,6,6&ProductionID=9952&tessitura.submit.ReserveTickets=1
We’ll announce the winner of our giveaway tomorrow, August 14!
oh no!! I’m Aaron Lee’s wife. I was hoping to win 🙁