FYI, I was in high school in 2001 and saw Union do this show at Bands of America. Now, 8 years later I still watch this show from time to time on youtube. I did college marching band for 6 years and do ARMY band now, this is still one of my favorite shows of all time, if not THE favorite.
I loved this show! This was my freshman year, and I had the best time of my life! I don't care about who did better or whatnot... it is in the past... but This was my favorite show that I marched during my 4 years..... LOVED IT!!
Not sure what happened to my other comment. Anywho, the Westfield High School Marching from Houston, TX was the first band to do this show. It was written and composed exclusively for them. They did it a million times better. I had the pleasure of seeing them do it live back in 96' at the UIL Texas State Marching Contest, which they won by the way. The show is here on You Tube. Check it out and you'll see there is no comparison.
Parts of this arrangement were also performed by Lafayette HS Band in 02 or 03, I believe... The quality of THIS video isn't the best... I was at this contest and it's impossible to even get a feel of what this show produced by watching it.
Lafayette DID perform some arrangement of a piece in Into the Unknown(Union '01), not Distorted Reality. Mark Higginbotham, composer/arranger, assisted. Watch the videos; they were on Lafayette's web page a while back, not sure if they still are.
After watching Westfield's performance in 96, I will agree that it was performed better, but Westfield has been on another level for Union for quite some time. The arrangement was different as well. A few things I liked better about Union's program: The guard is outstanding(not that Westfield's wasn't), some crazy elements in the guard designs and work. Also, I think Union's front ensemble improved the show's concept and vibe - all of the percussion elements were needed.
Firstly markram96, your comment is subjective. For one band or another to perform it better is complete opinion. Union High School worked with Mark H. exclusively to change parts of the arrangement, to thin it out or beef it up in different places. They did, however, perform a powerful show written with the 96 band in mind. However, it seems that you are doing nothing but cutting down another performance which is just as powerful and placed just as high in their relative state, as well as BOA.
Do you mean Westfield 1996? I've never heard of Churchill performing this music/show but westfield did the music. I've never seen Westfield's show, but their version is definetely played better. I'd like to see/hear a recording of Churchill's show if they did it.
hm opening is the closer of cavies 2000 show lol. Your music sounds good, but from a drill writer/judge/instructor's view point of view, the drill is dirty. =\
6:30 - 7:20 is my favorate part!
serisho 1 year ago
im a freshman now in this band...i wonder what place they got then...we didnt go to grand nats this year
katykat121 2 years ago
@katykat121 They Won OBA with this show.
BRUXXUS 1 year ago
FYI, I was in high school in 2001 and saw Union do this show at Bands of America. Now, 8 years later I still watch this show from time to time on youtube. I did college marching band for 6 years and do ARMY band now, this is still one of my favorite shows of all time, if not THE favorite.
djt434s 2 years ago
anyone know when higginbotham composed this?
jbass508 2 years ago
omg this is my favorite union show ever... but this years is so cool and different
sammyjesoos 3 years ago
Apparently this is the best frickin band ever...
I'd hate to be in competition against them...
Mechakitten 3 years ago
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bammxitsxamanda 3 years ago
well, if westfield did it better is debatable, but it wasn't the same show. the music was the same but the drill was different
scotthusker 3 years ago
I loved this show! This was my freshman year, and I had the best time of my life! I don't care about who did better or whatnot... it is in the past... but This was my favorite show that I marched during my 4 years..... LOVED IT!!
IzzyRuss87 4 years ago
Not sure what happened to my other comment. Anywho, the Westfield High School Marching from Houston, TX was the first band to do this show. It was written and composed exclusively for them. They did it a million times better. I had the pleasure of seeing them do it live back in 96' at the UIL Texas State Marching Contest, which they won by the way. The show is here on You Tube. Check it out and you'll see there is no comparison.
markram96 4 years ago
I've had an audio recording of that show and always thought it sounded better. Never seen a video before.
osfn8 4 years ago
Parts of this arrangement were also performed by Lafayette HS Band in 02 or 03, I believe... The quality of THIS video isn't the best... I was at this contest and it's impossible to even get a feel of what this show produced by watching it.
macwinlin 3 years ago
Lafayette never preformed this, PLD did in 2002.
Lafayette did preform a very alterd peice of the Union 2000 show though.
VettesRock 2 years ago
Lafayette DID perform some arrangement of a piece in Into the Unknown(Union '01), not Distorted Reality. Mark Higginbotham, composer/arranger, assisted. Watch the videos; they were on Lafayette's web page a while back, not sure if they still are.
macwinlin 2 years ago
BTW, I'm speaking about Lafayette, Louisiana HS Band
macwinlin 2 years ago
After watching Westfield's performance in 96, I will agree that it was performed better, but Westfield has been on another level for Union for quite some time. The arrangement was different as well. A few things I liked better about Union's program: The guard is outstanding(not that Westfield's wasn't), some crazy elements in the guard designs and work. Also, I think Union's front ensemble improved the show's concept and vibe - all of the percussion elements were needed.
macwinlin 3 years ago
Comment removed
kasmith2020 2 years ago
Comment removed
kasmith2020 2 years ago
Firstly markram96, your comment is subjective. For one band or another to perform it better is complete opinion. Union High School worked with Mark H. exclusively to change parts of the arrangement, to thin it out or beef it up in different places. They did, however, perform a powerful show written with the 96 band in mind. However, it seems that you are doing nothing but cutting down another performance which is just as powerful and placed just as high in their relative state, as well as BOA.
kasmith2020 2 years ago
Ah, I remember this. I was young, but I remember it. I'm in the band program now (F.Horn/Mellophone).
Very nice.
bhill0001 4 years ago
I <3 this show
bellband 5 years ago
I was in this video! This was my senior year and our show was the best! I played clarinet...omg, the brings back memories!
oucutiern 5 years ago
when TX Churchill did it it was better
carlos312 5 years ago
Do you mean Westfield 1996? I've never heard of Churchill performing this music/show but westfield did the music. I've never seen Westfield's show, but their version is definetely played better. I'd like to see/hear a recording of Churchill's show if they did it.
osfn8 5 years ago
hm opening is the closer of cavies 2000 show lol. Your music sounds good, but from a drill writer/judge/instructor's view point of view, the drill is dirty. =\
mellotofer 5 years ago
umm, this is not anywhere close to cavies 2000
bellband 5 years ago
are those japanese flags?
jerryboi511 5 years ago
distorted reality?
BrandonDeCasa 5 years ago
I was there! I was in Guthrie, we won our class. Couldn't compete with any TULSA band though...ROCK
moviebuff83 5 years ago
i saw this show at bands of america when i was a senior in high school. one of my favorite shows ever.
djt434s 5 years ago
Union is one amazing band program. I'd never seen this show before, but it looks and sounds great.
^BTW, OBA stands for Oklahoma Bandmasters Association. They run the state's marching band contest.
quackmofro 5 years ago
thoroughly impressive. but what is OBA though? must be a very distinguished award, this band is very powerful (:
orangeparade 5 years ago