Orchestra Game on December 12, 2011

I'm sure people have heard or even played the gift exchange game where people pass a gift left or right.  Well I wanted to play this game for my orchestra party but I didn't want to do a generic Christmas game.  So I took the format of Twas the Night Before Christmas and changed it into:

TWAS THE MOMENT BEFORE OUR CONCERT

PASS-AROUND GIFT EXCHANGE

Each holds the gift he brought to the party. While the poem is being read, each person passes his gift to the person on his right when reader says RIGHT; when reader says LEFT, each passes the gift he has to the left. The gift each person has in his hands at the conclusion of the poem is his to keep.

Twas the moment RIGHT before our concert, when RIGHT through the MCO

Not a person was LEFT tuning, not moving a bow, 

The musicians were sitting RIGHT in their chairs,

In hopes that Aaron C****** soon would be RIGHT there.

The violas were settled RIGHT in their seats,

To the LEFT the cellos were sorting music sheets.

And Jessa and her trumpet, and I with my trombone,

Had just sat RIGHT down, though not alone.

When RIGHT out of the RIGHT door there rose such a clatter,

We sprang RIGHT from our chairs to see what was the matter.

Away to the exits, I LEFT like a flash;

Threw open the RIGHT doors and ran out in a dash.

The moon on the pavement covered in fresh-falling rain

LEFT a sparkle of midday on objects RIGHT on the terrain.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a white Dodge Caliber and a man full of cheer.

From RIGHT inside the building, “Who is it?” shouted Karen.

I knew RIGHT in a moment it must be Aaron.

He was dressed all in black, RIGHT from his head to his LEFT toe,

And the audience was LEFT staring, wanting a show.

A bow he gave them, RIGHT there on stage,

Then turned RIGHT to us, and flipped to the first page.

  

More rapid than a drum stroke he moved his baton;

And he clapped and shouted, you’re LEFT to hang on.

“Now forte, now piano! Now crescendo, now hold!

Play chorales, play bell tones, play and be bold!

From the top LEFT of the music, RIGHT to the end,

Now accelerando, accelerando, accelerando and blend!”

And then in a moment, I heard music to my RIGHT,

The sounds of the horns, playing very light.
As I drew in my breath to make my first sound,
The beat he was playing I quickly RIGHT found.The oboes were playing, RIGHT in front of the crowd

While the flutes played notes, as if they were floating on clouds.
The percussion started banging, RIGHT on the bass drum

Peg played her piano, moving her LEFT fingers and thumb.

His RIGHT and LEFT hands, how they move, how they wave.

The steady rhythm we heard, is what Aaron gave

Marion and Clinton was umpaing along

And from the LEFT of the stage, we hear a ding and a dong.

 The bassoons started up RIGHT when the clarinets joined in,

And the violins LEFT sounds of fiddly finn.

The basses played deep, as low as they could

And the trumpeters trumpeted, we knew they would.

Aaron spoke not a word, but went RIGHT through the work,

And played all the music, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his hand just LEFT of his heart

Then giving a nod, he LEFT to depart.

 He sprang RIGHT to his car, to us, gave a grin

And away he LEFT until suddenly when

 I heard him exclaim as he LEFT out of sight,

Great job to all, and to all a good night!”