The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Thursday, October 28, 2010 - 3B Scared to dress for Halloween One year, a University orchestra conductor was suspended upside-down dressed as a bat. The spooky symphony ' drec dow Orch coming pompo come een, th sity's let th down good ti For 30 yea gradua gradua musici School Theatr togeth loween someti music. The loween of a from and th Orches ed by orches ment. Join studen dio of Kiesler tor of U conduc enormc a piece "Th will," s studen ing wh orchestra gets year's Halloween Concert. "We conduct various ensembles, but ssed up to boogie this is the first (official University) event of the year that we get to r, classical style conduct." Yet the Halloween Concert is By JOE CADAGIN a somewhat unorthodox "first Daily Arts Writer showing," considering that the entire orchestra, the conduc- hestras are notorious for tors and most of the audience are g across as stuffy, elitist and dressed in costumes. 'us. But "There was a conductor who Hallow- Unive wore a chicken Suit one time," said he Univer- senior violin major Amy Cave, orchestras Orchestras who will serve as concertmaster heir hair Halloween for this year's Halloween Con- and have a cert. "The violas always do a cos- me. Concert tume as a section, so (they) were more than Sunday at all crayons one year. One year the rs, under- 3p.m. basses were all 'Tetris' pieces." ite and Hill Auditorium For the newer conducting stu- ite student Ticke m $8 dents, leading an orchestra of ans in the goblins, ghosts and ghouls cain be of Music, a soimewhat daunting, and even e & Dance have come frightening, experience. er to put on an annual Hal- "A few years ago, I remember Concert of engaging - and coming up to conduct and right in imes spooky - orchestral front of me sitting in the second violins was this kid with white orchestra for the Hal- face paint and blood and gore," concert will be made up Segal said. combination of musicians "It was so scary to be up there the University Symphony and have this devilish ghoul star- e University Philharmonia ing at me ... It's intimidating and tras, and will be conduct- it's hard to focus," he added. graduate students from the The conductors thernselves tral conducting depart- choose costumes that fit the theme of their pieces. Last year, ing Segal are seven other Warren Puffer Jones, a doctoral ts from the conducting stu- student in orchestral conduct- MT&D professor Kenneth ing, cross-dressed as a Wagnerian r, who also serves as Direc- soprano - complete with a horned University Orchestras. Each helmet and a large metal breast- ting student directs the plate - to conduct "The Ride of ous combined orchestra in the Valkyries." of his or her choosing. "I've heard stories about the is is our first showing, if you 'greatest hits' of the Halloween aid Yaniv Segal, a doctoral Concert," said Jones. "Our teach- t in orchestral conduct- er, Kenneth Kiesler, always talks .o will direct a piece in this about when someone dressed up as a bat to do the overture to (the operetta) Die Fledernaus, which is the German word for 'bat.' They sorehow suspended him upside- down, and he conducted upside- down." The concert is tied together by a series of madcap sketches performed and written by the conducting students. In fact, the graduate students organize the entire concert themselves - everything from selecting the music to finding costumes. "We had a very fun time at the costume shop, and we found some great things," said Matthew Dell, a first-year graduate student in orchestral conducting. "There's a lot of variety, a lot of wacky stuff." This year's program includes a wide range of favorite pieces from the classical repertoire, including Gustav Holst's "Jupiter" from The Planets, Igor Stravinsky's Finale from his ballet "The Firebird" and Richard Strauss's "Dance of the Seven Veils" froin his opera "Salome." These pieces will be conducted by Elliot Moore, Eiki Isomura and Dell, respectively. The concert also includes a few Halloween-related pieces, such as American composer George Whitefield Chad wick's "Hobgob- lin" from Symphonic Sketches (to be conducted by Segal) and March of the Little Goblins, a. piece by Michigan alur Adam Glaser. "It starts with just a few players on stage, and then one by one the sections file in," Segal said. "So at the beginning of the concert you get to see all the costumes of the (musicians) as they walk on stage." With its accessible program and entertaining format, the Hal- loween Concert is a favorite event among students and community rembers. "There are people in town who might never come to one of the other Symphony or Philharmo- nia concerts, but they come to the Halloween concert, and they get to hear a great orchestra play great orchestral music," Jones said. "The reason they enjoy it is because it's funny and there are fun costumes, but they also enjoy the music, and that's worthwhile." The concerts are also a great opportunity for kids to get acquainted with classical music in a friendly atmosphere where they can dress up in their Halloween costumes. "I think it's a big family event, and there are people who have come for years to the (Halloween Concert)," Segal said. "At the end, the conducting students run out to the front of the house and hand out candy to the kids for them to get started on their trick-or- treating. It's really fun to see them there. They're usually laughing, smiling and giggling, and they have a real blast." This year's concert is particu- larly special because it happens to fall on the same day as Halloween. Segal hopes that this will draw an extra-large crowd. He also point- ed out that since the concert is in the afternoon, it won't interfere with youngsters' trick-or-treat- ing. For the musicians, who are used to a more serious black-tie style of concert, the Halloween Concert is a much-appreciated change. Con- certmaster Cave mentioned that having kids in the audience also helps to lighten the mood. "Orchestra concerts can really seem stuffy and old," Cave said. "And having kids there laughing and chatting - even during the music - it's refreshing." So, admission: I kind of hate Halloween. I hate it so much that I've been stressing out over writing this column all week simply because I can't think ofanything to write. And it's not just because there's never anything good at the Sal- vation Army, JENNIFER or that it smells XU like pumpkin whenever I walk into any kind of food store, or even that the streets get obnox- iously rowdy for like 10 days preceding the actual holiday. (Seriously, dressing up one day is fine. Two days is OK, too. But when you're going out seven days a week, each in a different "sexy" outfit, it's time to put on some real clothes.) it's the pressure of it all. In all honesty, much of my beef with the holiday stems from the fact that I can never think of anything good to dress up as. The extent of my creative stupidity is truly boundless. The zenith of this materialized during last year's Halloween, when I tried to con- vince three of-my friends to dress up as the "Mean Girls" by snip- ping holes in our t-shirts, which would reveal circular pieces of our multicolored bras underneath. Needless to say, this idea did not go over well. For me, Halloween is all about toeing the line between decency and creativity. This takes more thought thanI can possibly mus- ter. It also takes good cutting skills. Let me voice out a few of my neuroticisms for you. 1. You have to make sure your body is prepared if you want to dress up like a (creative) slut. This not only calls for working out months in advance but also gradu- ally building up a resistance to 30-degree weather, because Hal- loween night is going to be freak- ing cold. 2. If slut is not for you, the next most important thing is to be recognizable. The imperative is not so much that you're creative but that people will know what you are. This way, you won't have to keep answering the question, "What are you supposed to be?" all night. 3. But, at the same time, you can't be too predictable. This usu- ally means that you can't dress up as a celebrity, because odds are you're going to pick Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson or the cast of "Glee" (for reasons unknown to me, because don't they just wear regular clothes?), and so will everybody else you know. 4. And you definitely can't dress up as Snooki. I love "Jersey Shore" as much as the next obsessed fan, but you know how many people are going to rock the fake-tan guidette look. Don't worry - you will find your "guido juicehead" with or without your bumpit. 5. Once you actuallythink of your idea, you have to go to some vintage store or the Salvation Army to buy all the stuff you need. In the process, you're going to see other people picking out stuff for their costumes and feel bad watching them plan out really awesome ones while yours just seems really stupid. These kinds of stressors could drive you to do truly crazy things, such as buy one of those shirts from Urban Outfitters that say: "This is my costume." It's just so easy! But when I'm feeling really desperate, Ialways, always try to keep this decree in my mind: Do not, at all costs, shop for your cos- tume at American Apparel. Seriously, have you seen their "costume builder" for this year? Way to blatantly pass off clothes you already own as a "costume." My favorites among these stel- lar selections are: "mermaid" (a Whatever you do, don't dress up as Snooki. bra top and two skirts around your ankles), "sun and moon" (a gray sweater and hot shorts) and "cupcake" (three fluffy skirts over your shoulders). The incentives are even dumber - 15 percent off your whole outfit on the chance that you would like to purchase these ridiculously expensive "cos- tumes." Thanks, American Appar- el, I'm so happy I get to save a whole $30 off this $200 purchase so I can puta skirt on top of my head and call myself a "sexy nun." So now that I've effectively ruined your holiday and depressed you beyond all reason, ignore everything I just said. The truth is, all you have to do is wear a freaking costume - after a while people will be too drunk to remember what you came in as anyway. Happy Halloween, you guys. Xu is dressing up as a respectable, upwardly mobile French maid. E-mail her at jennifxu@umich.edu. My love for Bob Dylan is not a-changin By CASSIE BALFOUR DailyArts Writer The name Bob Dylan evokes images of an Americana maverick who, despite slipping into count- less musical styles, has maintained his reputation as one of the great songwriters of the 20th century. But lately there have been blas- phemous murmurs across cam- pus of Dylan's failing voice and poor stage manners. And now that Dylan is returning to his college- touring roots tonight at Hill Audi- torium, I am forced to remind everyone why the '60s icon is still relevant to the youth of today in spite of his supposed cantanker- ous antics. Now, I don't have much to add to the decades-long conversa- tion concerning Dylan, but I do have the requisite Dylan post- ers plastered to my walls, and I still defend his quirky voice to My unconvinced friends. So even though I'm intimidated by the wealth of Dylan history, 1 will speak with authority and humbly soldier on. Bob Dylan's command of gen- erations of eager listeners is nearly unmatched. How can one man appeal to so many denmographics? Personally, I can't even remember how or why I started listening to him. My parents are staunchly anti-Dylan. My father does a terri- ble impression of Dylan's vaguely' nasally voice that lie thinks is just hysterical. So I don'tnremember who introduced him to me, but it feels like I've been bumming "Tangled Up in Blue" my entire life. Dylan is ingrained in Ameri- can youth culture, and his lyrics still resonate with politically con- scious youti the same way they did back when Dylan first started out, which is why Dylan still deserves enough to be his grandchildren. yOur unwavering adoration. Why do they continue to flock Dylan's musical career has to his concerts and buy his post- spanned decades, and he's had ers and watch tedious movies just as many musical transforma- about him? I know that in my tions: from folksy '60s revolution- case listening to Dylan, especially ary to authentic rock'n'roller on The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan and The Times They Are A-Changin, causes an inexplicable wave of nostalgia for a world I never expe- However old and rienced. Dylan's ability to evoke such a pivotal time in American tired he gts, history could send any politically Bob Dylan is still active co"iege student into a fin of tears. Or it could just be Dylan's a cultural icon. appeal to stoners, like his sexy aatrack "Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35," when he proclaims with his sharp wordplay, "They'll stone Blonde on Blonde, to at one poit ynou when you're playing your gui- even dabbling im eva:'elical tar / Yes but I would not feel sO Christian rock with two gospel all alone / Everybody must get records, and well, everything in stoned." between. Dylan has weathered all Dylan fans are sprinkled across sorts of criticism, and In appeal- campus and I attempted to round ing to you, dear readers, to i is a few fellow Dylan lovers to cranky old Bob Dylan one more fawn over the enigmatic trou- chance. badour for his upcoming show. hDylaix's retUrnl to Ann Arbor Though it generated some inter- may also be a return to his earlier, est, self-proclaimed fans were folkier days. This version of Dylan, more cautious. One prospective a waidering , counterculture hero concert buddy shocked me with advocating ni behalf of the down- a callousness that is being echoed trodden and spit-on , is not the by a lot of "fans" these days. im yian h's ways seemed "I don't know ... I love Dylan to be xlifxrtabl ith, which but I hear (he) sucks live these His eeinly stage days." rnxirner towa'rird his adoring fans. Another "friend" (we've since Although lie often protested the cut all ties due to his slanderous idea lie was some sort of incendi- attacks on Mr. Dylan) carefully ary protest singer, his songs were warned against getling my hopes undoubtedly socially conscious up for a good show. and some of them became anthems "Love him to death, seen him for the Civil Rights mnovements, twice. But don't expect to be including the classic "Blowin' in blown away." the Wind." Even though Dylan has been But there has to be a reason, on his "Never Ending Tour" for besides the political undertones, the past couple of decades, there that Dylan appe als to fans young have been rumors that the moody singer has been less than courte- ous to his fanbase. Friends who have seen Dylan in recent years cite many affronts, like refusingto interact with the audience, tear- ing apart and rearranging classic Dylan songs much to his fans' cha- grin and even turning his back to the audience. in my head Dylan is immortal- ized in black and white, forever young. The picture I have burned into my memory of Bob is the one featured on one my posters: ciga- rette dangling precariously out of the side of his mouth as he rakishly salutes the photographer. So with this image and Dylan's discogra- phy in my mind, I choose to ignore the fact that maybe at 69, Dylan's iconic voice isn't quite what itused to be. When friends breathlessly warn me about Dylan's antics, I can't help but shrug it off. When some- one is as brilliant and ground- breaking as Dylan, I couldn't care less if he treats me as just one-in- a-million. Hell, I'd let Bob sit on me while he performs if it means getting to hear "Masters of War" live, an incredibly relevant song that still gives me chills. Cut Dylan some slack for his rougher vocals and curmudgeonly stage presence. This is a chance to see one of the great icons of the century perform at one of the best venues in the country. Don't let haters sway you from making the right choice.