The Disney Chronicles III: Fantasia

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565

Equestria
Canterlot Theater
Many hours later

On stage, Twilight appears before the audience, who applauds as she enters. She was the host and narrator of the concert. After bowing, she picks up a microphone with her magic as she narrates the first number of the concert.

"Now, the number that opens our Fantasia program, the Toccata and Fugue, is music of the third kind, what we call absolute music. Even the title has no meaning beyond a description of the form of the music. What you will see on this stage, which will be shown on a screen, is a picture of the various abstract images that might pass through your mind when you're listening to this music. At first you're more or less conscious of the orchestra. So we will first open with a series of impressions of the conductor and the players. Then the music will begin to suggest other things to your imagination. They might be, oh, just masses of color. Or they may be cloud forms or great landscapes or vague shadows or geometrical objects floating in space. So now we present the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach, interpreted in pictures, which we manage to see during our journey, that were created by Walt Disney and his associates, and in music by the Canterlot Orchestra and our guest conductor..."

Symphony of Sorcery
The Orchestra Stand
Present Time

The ponies, cricket, dragon, Deems Taylor and Leopold Stokowski eye the songbook with the red glow.

"Now, getting inside the songbooks can be triggered with magic," Deems explained. "But this one needs a musical trigger. I suggest we let Mr. Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra play some of the music we were going to play for the concert."

"But how can you play without the sheet music?" Octavia asked.

"We know how to play the first number without sheet music," Leopold answered. "We practiced a lot, but we still need it."

"The first number is the 'Toccata and Fugue in D Minor', written by Johann Sebastian Bach," Deems said.

"He was a famous composer from Germany, who wrote beautiful music in his days," Leopold explained. "Bach composed the Toccata and Fugue at Arnstadt in Germany during the 17th century."

"Wow!" Octavia gasped.

"I didn't know humans had famous composers too," Vinyl said.

"Inside this musical realm, you will see things that pass through your mind when you listen to this music in this concert hall," Deems explained. "They could be cloud formations or many kinds of color or vague shadows."

"So, if I'm in this realm, listen to music and picture a cupcake dancing, it would really happen?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Something like that," Deems nodded. "The music that plays in the realm will cause things to appear and move."

"Cool!" Spike said.

"Now, you better sit down and relax," Deems instructs. "Mr. Stokowski and the orchestra will first play the Toccata. When the Fugue is about to begin, I'll give you the signal to go inside the score."

"Okay," Twilight nods.

As every pony sits on their haunches, Leopold approaches the podium as the orchestra prepare their instruments. It was then Twilight noticed he missed something.

"Wait!" Twilight calls out. "Where is his baton?"

"Mr. Stokowski doesn't need one," Deems answered. "He's famous for conducting with his bare hands."

"Oh?" Twilight asked, in wonder.

"This is going to be interesting," Vinyl nodded.

"Shh," Octavia hushed.