2008 Virginia All State Symphonic Band: Red Line Tango

[USAFVet1]

@ManhattanSonata

First off, the audience was full of moms, dads, friends, etc. of the band so a standing ovation is expected. Secondly, not atonal? So there's not enough dissonance for you in this piece? Can you even tell what key it's in? I copied this quote from the composer's blog on the composing: "There’s now a loud, atonal thing in the xylophone part starting at measure 75. The crunchier harmonic language probably again owes a bit to Rakowski’s influence."

[USAFVet1]

I was 2nd alternate (trombone, 1977) in this band, but I didn't get to participate because no one got sick, lol. Anyway, I'm fortunate to have done that, since in Grundy there were no private teachers anywhere within 200 miles so I think I did PRETTY DARN GREAT! I am not a fan of atonal music, and, with no disrespect at all to the musicians (they are truly gifted), that this arrangement absolutely SUCKS and the director should have been SHOT for having tortured the audience for 9:23.

[ManhattanSonata]

@USAFVet1

Tortured the audience?!! I was at this concert. I guarantee you "torture" was not the audience's reaction. Unless you count a VERY long standing ovation as a sign of torture....

And this piece is not atonal. It may be more modern, but there is a clear tonal center.

[FreakoftheArts73]

I remember this concert! I wish I had made the group that year.

[KnottPatriot]

Why would you record a concert as important as this on a digital camera? Be prepared for god's sake.

[estan247]

YEAH ALL STATES!

[ashIey2491]

Yeah clarinet in concert band :/ was looking for concert band recording but couldn't find one.

[crystalnite]

meh, i was in the front row of the audience. picc in the concert band...this was a fun trip

[orangeraider07]

in terms of the audio, i dont have a camcorder. it was coming from my digital camera.

[asiankid1214]

So yeah....Sightreading this was a pain...but in the end this piece was crazy fun!!

I was the principle 2nd clarinet...and we had our fair share of those low runs.

And yes....this recording absolutely SUCKS.

[tdevino22]

for all the people who keep saying the best musicians come from Texas your wrong....

the best musicians come from Asia. haha

nah i love VA music program we are pretty underrated if you ask me.

[NateMaster]

I would say that because of the population of Texas and California, you're not only more likely to have good players, but more of them. There's nothing ABOUT Texas or California that makes the players good, it's just a higher chance of finding them there.

[ecgtrombone]

I was 2nd trombone in this band. This recording is not a good one. Lol my dvd was much better. Ugh, sightreading this was a struggle but we had 3 days to work on it. We played some hard stuffffff. lol

[euphonilicious]

I was first euphonium there! That piece was awesome and I got a solo in the slow section at 4:05 and it said "sighing" in the part. A little strange, but I tried my best to sigh through the instrument. That band is fantastic though, I've never played with a more professional ensemble. And we only had 3 days to sightread and put all the music for the concert together!

[rocbowl]

Wow, I'm glad to see Virgina has a pretty good music program! This piece sounds very good,almost professional.The only thing I don't like is in the slow section,the clarinet runs is kind of sqeaky and rushed.But besides that, the rest of the piece sounds fantastic!Superior job!

R.Woods

Clarinetist

Blake High of the Arts Wind Ensemble

[numba1bigcid]

yea, i played clarinet in this and i was sitting next to the bass clarinets, there were only 3 and every time they played i thought about how soft they sounded. but there's no doubt that this recording doesn't do the band justice, i mean i was there and i can tell you that there's no doubt it was a great performance.

[chug787]

nevermind i meant mackey, whitacre was last show, and strange humors not sleep

[chug787]

im not from texas but from kansas and were doing a eric whitacre show. i play bari and it is amazing. sleep also has a sweet bari part

[nwmotorman]

Pretty good. But the best HS musicians still come from Texas. That soprano sax player needs to learn the definition of 'musicality'. Rushed the solo and couldn't bent pitch very well. Kinda killed the 'Tango' with that performance. Oh, well. Otherwise, it was pretty good. Needs more low reed power, too...

[ThisIsSize]

i dont see how you can tell if the low reeds need more power with this quality recording.

[nwmotorman]

This quality of recording is good enough for me. I'm a Texas all-state bass clarinet player whose been playing since 6th grade. Also, my HS band is playing Redline Tango this year. We have two bass clarinets (myself included), one contra, and an all-state bari sax. The low reed part kicks ass. Especially with our guys on it. I can tell when something's missing, especially in a piece such as Redline...

[xramosballa]

WAIT!!! What school are you from?...cuz im in Texas too and my HS band is playing this song too.lol

By the way i agree with your comment Texas does have the best HS musicians.lol

[nwmotorman]

I think I may know you. You may know me. Perhaps not. I am a senior at Southwest High School in Fort Worth, Texas. Our Raider band got sweepstakes at UIL, partly due to our performance of Redline tango. I am the bass clarinet soloist in that performance...

[xramosballa]

Im a senior at Judson High School in San Antonio, Texas...we're playing this song this year and we got sweepstakes too.lol i play tenor trombone...i ABSOLUTELY love it!! it has an awesome low brass and low reed parts.

[mamokilo89]

I also go to Judson High School in SA, Texas, and agree with xramosballa that this song completly OWNS... i play Tenor Sax and loved this song... only thing i can say bout the soprano solo is, take more time... slow it down... it's a cadenza so take ur time and make everyone wait for you, don't try to keep their speed!... & low reeds... SHOUT IT OUT! this is ur feature! i could hardly hear ya @ all!

[amartinez1337]

i've heard of you, i was excited to hear you were going to play that piece...congratualtions!

[pshsa5]

Hey! I'm in Texas!

I'm playing Bari Sax on this piece :P

I got to Plano Senior High School. Close to Dallas.

[pimpdaddyt1219]

im from Texas and i played Bari Sax on this piece for Westfield High School. Don't you just love what's required of the Bari Sax in this song?

[pshsa5]

I played Bari in Texas for Plano Senior HS for this song! I loved my part.

[ThisIsSize]

Haha, you want to know something funny? Kind of ironic, but I'm from New York and the bari in my band was first chair last year. I've played it and, trust me, I know it has an awesome low reed part. But I can barely hear the bass drum in this recording lol. It's probably on a cell phone camera or something.

[samcacdm]

I played contra-alto clarinet in this recording and I can tell you that this recording isn't very accurate in showing the power of the low reeds, though I have to say the bass clarinets weren't as strong as I thought they would be.

The low reed part for this song is delicious.

[Phantom034]

Oh man, I hear that! My band played with 2 basses, a contra, a bari and a tenor. And we filled Bates Hall at UT-Austin with that. It was unbelieveable.

[euphonilicious]

We sightread this at the event. Texas bands get their music beforehand and then put it together. Our conductor (LSU) told us. He has conducted the VA all-state and the TX all-state about five times each.

[oohaygames]

You had to sightread this? That's really good that you did so well, but they should have given you the music ahead of time. In Iowa, we receive the music upon acceptance into all-state after our auditions. Either way, you dida great job with the piece. Go tubas!!

[ecgtrombone]

The orchestra gets music ahead of time.

[NateMaster]

I think you're lying about sightreading...

[euphonilicious]

I'm actually not. The concert and symphonic Bands in Virginia sight read all their music on the first of three days of rehearsal. The orchestra gets the music ahead of time though.

[NateMaster]

Oh, well when you put it that way, it makes sense. Three days of rehearsal... how many hours a day? I'm sure it has the similar effect as getting the music before hand, teaching yourself mediocerly if it's several hours per rehearsal.

[wslb2009]

i didnt make it this year that this was performed in but i made it this year and i know that the rehearsals are like 10 hours long for thurdsday and friday and on saturday its like 4ish. and this recording fucking sucks ass.

[wslb2009]

hey good luck at interlocet this summer alex. p.s. your solo in this was awesome

[ManhattanSonata]

He/She is not lying. It's always worked that way in VA.

[kwsbravesboy6]

Yup, it has always been that way in Virginia. They usually do it because they like to bring a large selection of music and then select from that music.

[okaymusic]

okay 2nd tuba!

[crazypirateninja]

Nice. Represent! I actually played Bass Trombone. Funny how all of us run to youtube to find ourselves.

[ecgtrombone]

I was there!! 2nd t-bone