Let's all agree on one thing - This is a VERY hard piece. My college ensemble had a hard time playing it this passed semester.
Where's the balance? Perhaps bad mic-ing but everyone seems to be playing at one dynamic.
Way too much snare.
Maestro seems to be too involved in the score - perhaps that would help some of these issues. The addressing of ensemble issues starts up there on the box (podium). It is not all the conductor's responsibility but they are in control.
yeah, the only great recording ive heard of this was on iTunes. i was actually surprised to have heard players coming in a whole measure early or late during certain parts
all of those factors as well as interpretation of the music were bad. It is supposed to be faster anyway. There were also just plain mistakes. I played this with all county high school band along with armenian dances pt 2 and it was much faster and I think our tempory director guy, having 1 of 2 original scores of this in the world, would know what the tempo is. This band isn't good though
So i have been looking for a good recording of this for forever i playes this in 2002 as a senior in my highschool and i just cant stand this being played the way it is i stopped listening after the first 10 bars cause the horn players are horrible. As a fellow honist please get it togeather before making fools out of yourselves.
I am saddened to hear this performance. When remembering my private teacher speak of the Band of American I heard names like Abe Pearlstein and John Clark and the great Simone Mantia. This performance does not even hold a candle to those greats. The conductor is also extremely disengaged from the music and the musicians. Sad....
Ohh its so slow... Its supposed to be loud and brash and crazy, I just feel like this is boring.
And being a horn player, I love seeing a full 8 horn section, but the horns here dont blend well. I played this over the summer with a three horn section and we kicked serious butt.
Overall, I think the reason they're not all that together is the tempo. It drags way too slow for some of the passages.
As your experience with music continues, you find out that faster isn't always better...there are other factors like intonation, musicality, etc. Keep up the good work.
I agree... he's always had that reputation. I got along with him while he was in Houston, but I haven't seen or heard from him since he went to Atlanta,GA.
this is too slow and I thought the BOA band was all kids. What's with the baldies? I guess they don't have a gong. Cheesy cymbals crash instead of the cool gong.
There is a kids group made up of kid allstars with Band of America in their name or something like that, but this is a group called "Band Of America" that performed at Radio City Music Hall in NY 30 or more years ago. This was an exhibition concert for their reformation after years of not performing.
Wow...it's alright...they need some improvment on phasing and articulation isnt the same during some parts. Also, the double tounging is OFF. But it's pretty good. That solo trumpet sucks tho -_-'
suspended cymbal is late. my high school can play better. i lyk the t-bones they sound pretty good. the snare drum is not that good. really out of tune im sorry
no offense.. but i think this wasn't good at ALL. the french horns are really flat on the high concert C's in the beginning, the trumpets are out of tune throughout most of it, and in the end, it seems like its really rushed. its not together. they don't ever find the beat.
so no offense.. but i think band of america can do much better.
Last year, my wind ensemble played the same piece. Overall, sounded good. The Trumpet solos sounded decent. For a second, i thought near the end, they were trying to keep up with the director.
What are u kidding me? The horn line had so many balance and intonation issues, the trumpets were horribly out of tune, the lead trumpet messed up the last solo, and they had so many tempo issues, especially with the accelerando at the end.
yeah now listening to it when my ears are much much much more in tune to the germanic sound, They definitely have pitch problems and really covered. Well what can we say... this piece is an American piece. heheh. And this isnt the Band of America from what I know now. haha. This is just some wind ensemble that calls themselves Band of America.
If you call this difficult you have no clue what your talking about. This song is "easy" compared to Heroes, Lost and Fallen.
roccosperanza 3 years ago
I hope we get to play this song for competition! We played it today in band (I play French horn [1st chair]) and I liked it. Fun and difficult.
furirox4ever 3 years ago 2
overall this was pretty good. it seems to me that the band as a whole was tiring through this piece.
this is especially evident during the second trumpet solo.
QuoneShow 3 years ago 2
oops - you sure said it...
jwd0808 3 years ago
Let's all agree on one thing - This is a VERY hard piece. My college ensemble had a hard time playing it this passed semester.
Where's the balance? Perhaps bad mic-ing but everyone seems to be playing at one dynamic.
Way too much snare.
Maestro seems to be too involved in the score - perhaps that would help some of these issues. The addressing of ensemble issues starts up there on the box (podium). It is not all the conductor's responsibility but they are in control.
JSB1983 3 years ago 2
This is the chair test for our high school band.
KeetTheOrca 2 years ago
yeah, the only great recording ive heard of this was on iTunes. i was actually surprised to have heard players coming in a whole measure early or late during certain parts
ibanezdude9659 3 years ago
well done im playing this song for the Fredericksburg, VA community band.
Bibo161 3 years ago
what part is that indian trumpet player playing? (Cornet/Trumpet 1,2,3???)
Smartangel1989 3 years ago
its cornet 1
leonard03 2 years ago
First cornet.
Clorow 2 years ago
im a sophmore in highschool and we played it faster and im 2rd horn and we mastered the beginning and ending and everything in between
eastxxswimmingxx 3 years ago
all of those factors as well as interpretation of the music were bad. It is supposed to be faster anyway. There were also just plain mistakes. I played this with all county high school band along with armenian dances pt 2 and it was much faster and I think our tempory director guy, having 1 of 2 original scores of this in the world, would know what the tempo is. This band isn't good though
parquar 3 years ago
So i have been looking for a good recording of this for forever i playes this in 2002 as a senior in my highschool and i just cant stand this being played the way it is i stopped listening after the first 10 bars cause the horn players are horrible. As a fellow honist please get it togeather before making fools out of yourselves.
bandie4christ 3 years ago
I am saddened to hear this performance. When remembering my private teacher speak of the Band of American I heard names like Abe Pearlstein and John Clark and the great Simone Mantia. This performance does not even hold a candle to those greats. The conductor is also extremely disengaged from the music and the musicians. Sad....
bayridgemaestro 4 years ago 4
Ohh its so slow... Its supposed to be loud and brash and crazy, I just feel like this is boring.
And being a horn player, I love seeing a full 8 horn section, but the horns here dont blend well. I played this over the summer with a three horn section and we kicked serious butt.
Overall, I think the reason they're not all that together is the tempo. It drags way too slow for some of the passages.
HornPlaya4Life 4 years ago 2
As your experience with music continues, you find out that faster isn't always better...there are other factors like intonation, musicality, etc. Keep up the good work.
hallwaypro 4 years ago
I played this in 1971 with Phil Anthony conducting at Lubbock Coronado...and we kicked their butts.
I yes, I've played under Ralph...not in this band. He's good but not great. If he could just get along with other people!
ddttrrb72 4 years ago
I agree... he's always had that reputation. I got along with him while he was in Houston, but I haven't seen or heard from him since he went to Atlanta,GA.
hallwaypro 4 years ago
this is too slow and I thought the BOA band was all kids. What's with the baldies? I guess they don't have a gong. Cheesy cymbals crash instead of the cool gong.
trane1959 4 years ago
There is a kids group made up of kid allstars with Band of America in their name or something like that, but this is a group called "Band Of America" that performed at Radio City Music Hall in NY 30 or more years ago. This was an exhibition concert for their reformation after years of not performing.
hallwaypro 4 years ago
I like this performance more than other ones I had found here in YouTube...
Great... Really!
RVM1458 4 years ago
Wow...it's alright...they need some improvment on phasing and articulation isnt the same during some parts. Also, the double tounging is OFF. But it's pretty good. That solo trumpet sucks tho -_-'
AznVamp24 4 years ago
wow. incrediblely.... bad!! nice way to slow down to a march tempo at the end. Im competing with that piece and it is ten ttimes better.
meetingthere23 4 years ago
OMG that presto was terrible :( I love when it goes faster!!!
tracesakamixedangel 4 years ago
suspended cymbal is late. my high school can play better. i lyk the t-bones they sound pretty good. the snare drum is not that good. really out of tune im sorry
miamiheat67 5 years ago
I have heard this done much faster... but it's still great.
stevokr 5 years ago
no offense.. but i think this wasn't good at ALL. the french horns are really flat on the high concert C's in the beginning, the trumpets are out of tune throughout most of it, and in the end, it seems like its really rushed. its not together. they don't ever find the beat.
so no offense.. but i think band of america can do much better.
lookitscarolx3 5 years ago
They're not that great. I played in the National Wind Ensemble under Robert Reynolds in New York and it was millllllles ahead of this.
scottiehall 5 years ago
Last year, my wind ensemble played the same piece. Overall, sounded good. The Trumpet solos sounded decent. For a second, i thought near the end, they were trying to keep up with the director.
jowjester 5 years ago
Sick Horn section!! I hope I make Band Of America.
1337evan 5 years ago
Yeah. I hope I can make it, too...except on flute/piccolo or tuba.
aznpiccplayer123 5 years ago
What are u kidding me? The horn line had so many balance and intonation issues, the trumpets were horribly out of tune, the lead trumpet messed up the last solo, and they had so many tempo issues, especially with the accelerando at the end.
hz44567 5 years ago
yeah now listening to it when my ears are much much much more in tune to the germanic sound, They definitely have pitch problems and really covered. Well what can we say... this piece is an American piece. heheh. And this isnt the Band of America from what I know now. haha. This is just some wind ensemble that calls themselves Band of America.
1337evan 5 years ago