On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss By David R. Holsinger

[milnegordon11]

I can say this, a good, loud, sonorous horn sound make this piece unbelievable.

[milnegordon11]

Playing this in a couple days for my first concert in high school. I'm first horn part, and there's absolutely no room to screw up. Amazing how much you have to practice a simple piece.

[GoldenPickaxe]

"one of the best climaxes I have ever experienced"

CAN YOU WORD THIS DIFFERENTLY

[ElizabethEvans2014]

1st chair clarinet....yes.

[ionatorthegreat]

North Texas wind symphony kicks ass.

[QSRebelClan]

im first chair horn in ALL-STATE be very jealous

[SpoopsTheName]

@QSRebelClan I'm first chair bari sax in all state. Guess who plays all the whole notes? me... :) Congrats!

[The1Bandnerd]

@SpoopsTheName I play bari sax too! I played this at a recent honor band and this was my favorite peice. Congrats on 1st chair All-State!

[SpoopsTheName]

@The1Bandnerd We played this song in symphonic band at our middle school. It is such an amazing piece!

[ItsNoahHere]

@QSRebelClan

man im so jealous. not really. conceded much?

[QSRebelClan]

@ItsNoahHere i dont really care if im conceded to tell you the truth.

[Lilly69s]

I was 2nd chair horn, be jelly.

[epicterd1234]

Holy i just realized... i met david holsinger! >:D

[ThejBocaj23]

TROMBONES!!!!!

[Shane2011107358]

I am first chair on the trombone in this song

[Huntermakesmovies]

Yeah I'm first chair clarinet on this song. UMAD?

[blazerinefury]

I play flute and I think the clarinet solo is just absolutely amazing!!!!!

[GageOngaku]

we are playing this in my band

[SamSturtevant]

"Also, It has one of the best climaxes I have ever experienced. :)" LMFAO

[benhur217]

This song is truly incredible. Some people in my band didn't play this song so well until our director told us the origin of the song. After that, we did a great job. The trombone solo at the end was a little tricky though. I had to listen for clarinets and I couldn't hear them. pity..

[BabySquirel95]

i play tuba and im doing this with our trombones for Solo and Ensamble!

[1043studios]

We're playing this piece in our band now, and the only thing I resent in this piece is that there isn't a dedicated bass trombone part (being a bass trombonist myself). Otherwise, it's a moving piece of music. :)

[Chorley67]

I always loved playing this song. It sounded so good

[travisbreeding]

Lots of people mistake this piece to be easy and yes technically speaking it is pretty simple however, in order to really make music out of this piece is a challenge. It's not always technique that makes a piece difficult. Making the music speak is where it's really at.

[Mchristina15]

There's way to many rests for the flutes -.-

[hp71196]

i hate my part in this song

[theLOLsincorporated]

@hp71196 Every part's important.

[hp71196]

@theLOLsincorporated Except the bari sax part.

[phoenixandtheflame]

@hp71196 ESPECIALLY the bari sax part. Or do you know nothing about a balanced, blended sound?

[hp71196]

@phoenixandtheflame I know plenty about it. However, when you have a band with trumpets who fight it, it doesn't make much difference if you are a low reed. Unless it's bassoon.

[SpoopsTheName]

@hp71196 I play bari sax too. Just play the best you can and keep the phrases long and it will be all right.

[EmpyreanMachinima]

I play French Horn and I love the 1st Horn Solo at the beginning. I may also use this piece as an ending song to the WWII video I am doing for History. Would make a real emotional end to the battle.

[philipb129]

alright ths person again.

[bandnerd1996]

Just got this piece in symphonic band easiest piece this year go bari sax

[popnrocker]

My high school plays band this as a prelude at graduation every year. It is my favorite one to play.

[katelynrobinett34]

I'm playing this for competition this year!!!!!!!!!!!! xD

[2015squishy]

I love this song even though it took me a minute to realize its also the song it is well

[ignaciofacundo]

playing this on french horn my senior year of high school was worth the difficulty of playing it :,)

[Emrald569]

Mr. Bliss was traveling on a train far away. The train crashed and exploded, and they found the beginings of this song in his travel trunk, which had mysteriously been left intact in the explosion.. It was given to Holsinger, and he finished it.

[daveisthegr8]

:) I remember playing this my freshman year with the Tenor Sax and then my senior year on the triangle. It was an emotional and touching piece either way.

[lolliepopxstars]

I remember back in high school doing an entire field show (marching band) of just Holsinger pieces. The man is a musical master! Everything he writes is beautiful, this song especially.

[brittanybetrayall]

my first solo on f horn! my freshamn year, i'll never forget. 

[athenacat96]

This song is about people dying...

[beemer22]

Of all the pieces I ever played, from 6th grade to college, this is my favorite one. Sticks with me all the time. Shoutout to all my lady bones! ((girl trombonists))

[IamAudiophile]

Im listening to this because a pretty girl said it was good. She was right :) Thanks Lauren

[RandomVideos20k10]

Clarinets<3(:

[HP1996A]

@RandomVideos20k10 I played this last year. Go 3rd part clarinets!

[smm32390]

So simple, yet so freaking amazing! If I'm ever a middle or high school director my band will play this.

[FlyinDagga]

Who would dislike this? Get out...

[NoahJPeters]

Playing in my MS Concert Band. Favorite piece, I love it because I have a somewhat solo in it. First Trombone/Section Leader (:

[bboneDawg]

best 3rd clarinet part ever...

[tragicxharmony]

@bboneDawg so true! im usually a first clarinet but i played 3rd on this song just because it was better :)

[cachetoncja]

playing this song for my 8th grade band!

[bigbluedevil132]

Best 2nd alto part EVAR

[KnottPatriot]

Tempo is slightly fast at the beginning

[eagleconcertchoir]

Hey! Can you please tell me how you uploaded just the audio? I'm trying to do that, and can't figure out how.

Thanks!!

[drumsforever101]

@eagleconcertchoir ive done the same thing. just get windows movie maker. its free...i think. you simply have one slide and add the mp3 of the music to it. TA-DA! movie!

[zajaba23]

By far my favorite piece ever written.

[js0665]

It was my first year in honor band as a 6th grader and I heard my Sr. High honor band play this. I was so mesmerized. Wow. 18 years ago. Takes me back.

[kn3Eko]

CADETS

[patriciamerivictoria]

This reminds me of tommorrow's yesterdays. And had a similar story, both very sad.

[JazzCullen95]

This was our ballad for marching band last year:) my favorite part of the show.

[flautista20072011]

I graduated from high school in 2007, about two months after the Virginia Tech massacre. My high school had 39 alumni at VT at the time and none were harmed. At my final HS concert, I played this with our Symphonic Band and we dedicated it to the students and faculty of Virginia Tech. SO. GORGEOUS.

[MyStargirl1000]

I'm actually playing this with my senior band and I love it. Not only is it beautiful but it gives me a chance to actually hear my part.

[andwii]

needs a bit more meat from the sax section lol

[crazitaco]

@andwii hahah our band director had to basically tell them to shut up and listen for the clarinet section!!

[andwii]

@crazitaco ha ours did the same thing, only problem with our clarinet section is its made of 2 people so... lol

[Guitargamer91]

My favorite Hymn, and being a clarinet player I love this piece so much. There is so much emotion in this, though I prefer the Lee University Symphonic Band playing it... though we don't have a recording of it. Two reasons why I prefer the LUSB. 1. Dr. Holsinger works at Lee, (he conducts the Wind Ensemble, not the Symphonic Band.) and 2. We are a touring group from a Christian school so our tours take us to Churches and the reaction of the congregation is just so amazing. :)

[NickRobo1994]

The story behind this is that Philip Bliss wrote this hymn after his wife and daughter died in a boating accident. When he came to terms with the accident, he wrote this song "it is well with my soul". It is amazing how music changes once u understand the emotion behind it.  Very emotional.

[bobomber]

@NickRobo1994 That is completely wrong as far as I can tell. Wiki says Bliss died trying to rescue his wife from a burning carriage. Although Horatio Spafford, who orignally wrote the hymn, did so after the death of his four daughters (his wife survived the accident).

[NickRobo1994]

@bobomber Excuse me. sorry. wrong person. But thats not the important part.

[WhatAndEver]

@NickRobo1994 OMG I remember my junior year in high school, my band teacher told our class the same thing before we began playing this piece. "It is well with my soul." I love this piece. :)

[MattEvangelist]

I toured with my high school band to France. We played this at the American Military Cemetery in Normandy, the site of the D-Day landings. I heard that during our performance, some passers-by and others who listened to us were teary-eyed, and was noted before that we are touching the lives of the relatives and close friends of those that lost their lives there on Omaha Beach June 6, 1944. @WhatAndEver "It is well with my soul."

[hlslayer123]

I just absolutely loved playing this song when my band did. Even though I was a tuba player and had an absolute boring part as bass, it was awesome

[ColorxMexCourtney]

I play baritone, love this piece <3 the climax is amazing

[MasterVooDoo652]

First chair Clarinet :D

I love everytime are band plays this song-3

[kkittyy122]

we've only practiced for a day and the only thing that needs work are the trumpets.... and i dont have a low Bb in the second part... but i know what you mean. on a peice we are working on i play tenor and i cant get the low notes to speak at all... our director lets the rest of the band fit around how quietly we can play the lower notes..

[Mleww]

I wish the beginning was a bit slower.

[kkittyy122]

i love the alto sax parts! i'm so glad we get to play this at our concert

[summersongstudios]

@kkittyy122 me too, especially since i play sax, and i'm playing this song with the symphonic band for our spring concert. however my most favorite part is from 2:27 to 3:00 when the trumpets play.

[kkittyy122]

@summersongstudios at that part i wish our trumpets could play louder.... because you can barely hear it... but it is really a lovely song to play and to listen too... i love the lower parts on the 2nd alto part.. challenging but really fun

[summersongstudios]

@kkittyy122 wow. you must REALLY love the part that i play. i've practiced that song for over a month or two. it's not that hard. my challenge is being able to let the notes speak about it's hard for a saxophone to get as low as Bb (B Flat) and stay at piano, but as i can get those notes to speak, then i would have any problems at all with the piece. but yeah, you must REALLY love my part.

[TheLazzarus101]

the like/dislike bar looks like a tasty joint for me to smoke =P

[lalalaelmosworld999]

i play flute and im in the 8th grade riverside middle school band i like this song but flutes barely play but when we do we sound nice!

[aduchess08]

i'm a clarinet <3



[shaylenmusic]

@aduchess08 that must suck.

[aduchess08]

@shaylenmusic naww it really doesnt (:

[shaylenmusic]

@aduchess08 really? I'd hate to be made out of wood and have people blow and finger me all day.

[aduchess08]

@shaylenmusic

-ahaa Yur funny ~!(:

Bhut atleast i make beautiful music

[Less706]

I play the flute.

[Funsizetwix]

IT IS WELLLL

[shaylenmusic]

1 person didn't have the best climax ever.

[ShOcKwAvEzZ121]

@shaylenmusic

2 now

[brassbaby112]

sometimes i forget why i love music so much. then i listen to this song.

[CanyonBassCaptain]

Our junior high band played this, and did quite well. Awesome piece.

[Mr528699]

we played this at our band festival....and we got straight 1's!!!!!......it was my favorite piece to play......we actually made our band director cry while playing this song

[Mr528699]

we played this at our band festival....and we got straight 1's!!!!!......it was my favorite piece to play

[Mr528699]

we played this a our band festival....and we got straight 1's!!!!!......it was my favorite piece to play

[MusicD80]

I played this my 8 grade year ! we totally made to state and i played the flute solo ! =)

[superflysantana1]

theres 1 douche out there

[grooms63941]

This song gives me chills and makes me want to cry every time I listen to it.

[KodaRollins]

North Texas...of course it sounds good

[summersongstudios]

I'm in a high school symphonic band, and we're playing this for our spring concert! My most favorite part is from 2:27 to 3:00. It reminds me of a happy time in my life while the rest of the song reminds me of Rhosymedre.

[StringMaster94]

Oww by the way we scored straight ones at Band Fest and now were going to the State Competition. So thank you Mrs. Crazy Sub we all owe ya one

[StringMaster94]

My director recently had a baby with his wife. when he was gone we had a substitute who was crazy about learning to "feel the music" witch is completly diffrent from the director their now who is a robot with tempos and key signatrues and stuff. So the crazy Sub picked this song for us to play and made everyone in the band nuts. then our directror came back and we all had to keep playing the song because Band Fest was 2 weeks away. In the end this song tought us all how to be a little crazy

[AsianFOP]

This song made my parents cry. :D

[KayGJay]

Hate the flute part, love the song.

[phoenixman1015]

I get such a rush from this song. It starts so saddening but with hope and tension just stringing along, just waiting.

It gives me, well, bliss! Obviously 50 people agree with me (ha, for a change a likes instead of a dislikes comment!)

[AzNbOiJayJ]

Ahh i love this song so much, I was the only first trombone playing that melody at 1:00. I still managed to outplay 3 french horns.

[bluez4soul]

What Genre would you call this

[CharlieBladeRemus]

I remember playing this in marching band my sophomore year of high school. Played alto sax, and I sucked, LOL we had the low clarinet parts in the beginning and I couldn't get those low notes to save my life haha...the memories...I miss high school

[bluez4soul]

@CharlieBladeRemus I remember this from sophomore year too

[meeshter24]

Question! So, when do you use the word piece, and when do you use song?

[bluez4soul]

@meeshter24 Song if there is words. IF there are no words and even if there are words, you can still say piece

[MrPrivatePiano]

I love this song, it is amazing and I've got the melody! =D

[AzNbOiJayJ]

the first the love the first trombone part from 1:00 - 1:27. I was the only first trombone playing that part with all the french horns.

[steelyross]

You know, North Texas has a great music school and it shows with their wind ensemble. However, I don't get much out of this performance. It sounds good technically, but the performance sounds a little sterile to me. "Going through the motions" is the conductors fault. It's a beautiful piece and you have a great ensemble in front of you. Use it.

[RonBand01]

One of the effects of playing in lower register and in the key of d-flat concert with clarinets is that the timbre of the entire ensemble changes. Those lush sounds are more difficult to control, especially with younger musicians. The results can be spectacular. Dr. Holsinger is a genius at challenging both amateurs and professionals with his compositions.

[HanHanFilms]

Our symphonic band played this last year...it was so beautiful and the reason it was written just makes the emotional aspect of it so much more powerful <3

[ForeverTheBeatles1]

Yeah.. Thats right I played the first clrinet part in this:)

Also,I did some research on this song,they played this as the titanic was sinking into the deep ocean blue.

All was well with their souls.

[HanHanFilms]

@ForeverTheBeatles1 I don't know if you're thinking of a different arrangement, but this wasn't in existence when the Titanic was around. You must be thinking of "Nearer, My God, to Thee" or "Autumn".

[ADEAL416]

@ForeverTheBeatles1 Where did you find that? (It wouldn't be this version, by the way--Holsinger was not even born in 1912 :) But they could have played the original hymn--"It is Well with my Soul" which was written in the 1870's after the 1871 sinking of the Ville du Havre in which Horatio Spafford's (the writer of the words to the hymn) four daughters went down with the ship

[ADEAL416]

Sorry, slight correction, the sinking of the Ville du Havre was in 1873, not 1871. But the basic point is the same. Philip Bliss himself was killed in a train wreck in 1876, so the original hymn would have to have been written between 1873 and 1876.

[Rileysaloser]

Back in my day i played the nobody cares, otherwise known as the first horn

[SASA7X0182]

1st clarinet part all the way :D

[AKURYUDEMON777]

My lil brothers Band is playing this piece they play it better than the recording no offence and there in middle school the best band in Michigan there going 2 the mmc in grand rapids this Jan. carter Middle school thats where the best of the best go:)

[jbalusek]

@AKURYUDEMON777 Really?  Better than the North Texas Wind Symphony? sure

[bigkev300]

@AKURYUDEMON777 Quit smoking the stuff man.

[MrJtl2299]

1 person is a drummer....a tone-deaf drummer.

[tangomecrazy]

@MrJtl2299 Pretty redundant.

[SangoRocks10]

My school is playing this and I'm 1st horn. I have braces so it's really hard to play. I hope I can pull it together before our concert in a month! haha

[theme104]

I absolutely loved playing first horn on this piece.

[tylerbedell]

i played this in middle school as first horn :) i am now a sophomore in high school

[TheBebe976100]

@tylerbedell kool i'm a junior in high school and play 1st horn as well and i feel so much pressure because we play this and to challenge the sky and heavens above and play the solos in both!!!

[autigerssuck]

1st trombone from 1:00 - 1:13 is beautiful.

[TheBassBone1]

@autigerssuck Thank you! Though it's not me playing in this, I agree. As a trombonist, that is my favorite part!

[lsupetchgirl]

i played this my 8th grade year for UIL contest, we got first division for the 8th year in a row

[00KristinAshley00]

@lsupetchgirl

HECK YES(:

Good times! I can't believe you keep finding theseeee! Brings back so many memories!

[PlatinumTriforce]

My Region Band that I have to audition for plays this so it's the audtion piece. Got this link to this song in an e-mail. Beautiful piece with lots of clarinets on the lower parts and brass. Anyone who has ABSOLUTELY NO RESPECT for this music is probably going to put bad comments on this video, so I ask "If you don't like this, why are you idiots even here?!" Great song. :D

[ryanxkeke]

i love the tuba whole notes it gives the piece more sound

[ryeanlovesyou]

my second favorite chorale next to As Summer Was Just Beginning

[DairyGirl01]

oh that was so beautiful. i played it in high school. i was the 2nd alto. love this piece!!!

[shaylen911]

to the info section: THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID

[BrandonGDOG]

@shaylen911 LMFAO

[BCsing36]

@shaylen911 HAHA! I was thinking I was just too dirty for thinking the very same thing

[CharlieBladeRemus]

@shaylen911 HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!!

[MrPrivatePiano]

@shaylen911 really,,, this is beautiful music...

[shaylen911]

@MrPrivatePiano A) this is not a song, it is a piece. Pieces are played and songs are sung. B) I never said that this wasn't beautiful, nor did I ever imply that this piece isn't brilliant; I was simply commenting on what the uploader posted. You've got to admit, it's not very well worded. C) What do you play?

[zyzylivinlife09]

@shaylen911 LMFAO. haha did they relly have to put "climaxes i have ever experienced" lol...whew

[CherrrrrryyyyCrush]

@shaylen911 You just made my day. Thank you :D

[thisandthat93]

@shaylen911 I know you were making a joke and all, but come on now....why put it on a piece as gorgeous as this? just listen to this beautiful music and dont go for the most "thumbs up"

[oceansurferg]

playing this at our final concert. It's my first time playing horn in class, and I'm the only one, so I've got first. I'm really afraid I'm going to stick out because my current dynamic range is simply loud. Particularly with the higher notes...

[shaylen911]

which instrument?

[oceansurferg]

@shaylen911 french horn. Should have specified. Normally I pla tuba though.

[xXinsanity92Xx]

I love the lush lower-register clarinet parts.. it's a nice change from shrill sixteenth note runs =)

[jazzmancarron]

yea, it was always nice to play them after playing the crazy stuff for weeks on end.

[Iwantbrokenlaptops]

@xXinsanity92Xx Yeah man yummy chalumeau ftw

[zekew32394]

@xXinsanity92Xx yes i know EXACTLY what you mean!

[yourladydisdain]

@xXinsanity92Xx That was my favorite part about playing this song. The Bb clarinet's low register is so under-appreciated.

[cynthiayl12]

@xXinsanity92Xx I agree. Ohh God I'm tired of sixteenth notes :)

[AmyJWidge]

@xXinsanity92Xx yay me!!! (clarinet player lol)

[benji389]

the brass choir section that sets the climax is what makes or breaks a performance of this piece...

that and a good bassoon section.

[NMC21887]

Too bad this is way often performed with a missing bassoon section and a malnourished brass section.

[videofanYT00]

OMG we played this 2 years ago, i think you are stalking me

[kaseyWtrumpet]

No it's a rather famous piece in concert band repetoire.