Illiana Wind Ensemble "Elegy for a Young American" - Ronald Lo Presti

[sarcasticasian]

Great band. The only downside: too much talking/coughing in the background!!!

[boyscout244]

DUDE EVERYONE FINDS INTONATION A PROBLEM BUT ITS ACTUALLY SUPPOSE TO SOUND LIKE THAT the piece was made for the murder of JFK and the wrong sounding notes at meant to be for the sorrow and sadness of his death

[BB042288]

ohhhh god the tuning clarinets come on........

[mangopassion12345678]

I CAN HEAR WAVES AGHHHH. It was good other than some intonation stuff.

@cnr200220062011 you're too right

[cnr200220062011]

their lower brass needs help. As far as dynamics, they have the fortissimo. They need to learn how to play the opposite end of the spectrum.. and how to build better. But that's the case with most high school bands. Other than that, a good playing.

[swankified77]

@jellyboy21

This director actually took it faster than what the composer specified in the score. I took it a little slower with some rubato in my interpretation to get the feeling of the "Stages of Grief."

[LiliIsEmo93]

clarinets be careful on b flat after square 3

[Kwchief09]

Perfection is a matter of perception.

[gsuclarinet2301]

the only tips I can think of is fr you to be careful with those throat tones...other than that, excellent balance. Its quite a sad story behind this piece

[Vindicta15]

We played this last year. It was great!

[jellboy21]

toooo slow in the beginning

[argenzjc]

@jellboy21 too FAST in the beginning. but we can talk interpretation all day

[ShortLesMisfan]

you some major 2nd and 3rd trumpet issues throughout the piece but I only realize that because I'm playing it right now lol other than that it sounds great

[clarinetjheila]

Any 1rst clarinet tips? :) Did you guys get a superior?

[abajkl]

In 2007, Illiana was the Honor Band at Superstate Illinois so they were not judged. My son played the clarinet, so I can;t help you with any tips! Thanks for viewing the video!

[Mrdianalynn]

@clarinetjheila use superglue for pitches on clarinets.

[Lauren29032]

This is one of my favorite pieces of all time. Last year for our spring concert we played this and we put a slideshow of John F. Kennedy on the wall behind the band on a projector screen. Some of the audience was in tears. It was a very emotional and amazing piece to play.

[Northside777]

I studied composition with Ron Lo Presti. He was a wonderful guy and wrote all kinds of imaginative music including chamber works, vocal pieces, two orchestral symphonies and many band scores.

[tartarjynx]

you guys sound great... i played this piece in high school... very emotional song about our former president

[SLIBFS0607]

i played this about ten years ago in high school. definitely one of the most memorable and beautiful pieces ive played. great job clarinets and trombones.

[GaRR91]

lol, who's here to judge and for what reason. no one cares about anyone's band playing it or being better. just enjoy man.

well done, one of my favorite pieces. my school just played at this past superstate. bravooo! =)

[BarfFromSpaceballs]

It should be mentioned that this song is about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

[glands222]

my high school band is wayyyy better!

no offence! you guys do sound great though!

[Eleanortook]

same here...

ours is so quiet and peaceful sounding than this..

but this is still good

[DaBears850506]

it was good for the most part, some minor mess ups though, such as 4:36-4:37 one of the tubas way over blew and it came out terrible. I understand the dynamics were Fortisimo, but he didn't need to blow that much air.

[lukamu]

the dynamic there is actually triple forte... but yeah, it came out as a splat, i agree.

[shogunmetic]

it was a bass trombone, not tuba my friend

[jaredpadalecki4life]

beautifully played.

the clarinets sound very unified.

LOVE THIS

[Bobofwestoregonusa]

Beutifully played, University of Illinois has a good program.

[shadowrequiem54]

Good job, but make sure to watch your tuning. There is planty of dissonance but i definitely recommend going back to them tuning CD. However it may just be the recording. Great Job!!!

[Bobofwestoregonusa]

Actually, I belive that's how it is supposed to sound, i've heard multiple bands play this song live before, and my school plays this as well. I think it has something to do with the key as well as all the minor chords.

[shadowrequiem54]

I do agree on this. it is very dissonant. however, even dissonance can be tuned. and i was referencing the "impact moments" of the piece. i believe guitar528 already referenced the edgy low brass sound, and that is probably what i was hearing. I already said it was really well played and i stand by that statement. However, there is always room for improvement for any player, no matter how skilled or experienced.

p.s. i have played this piece before too.

[BarfFromSpaceballs]

I've played this piece before with my wind ensemble. The dissonance is supposed to be present. If you read the sheet music, you would see several accidentals.

[shadowrequiem54]

ummm yes. i just addressed this in my previous comment. maybe you should read it because i definitelt own the sheet music SCORE included. of course its dissonant but EVEN DISSONANCE CAN BE TUNED!!! i already said it might be the freaking video recorder too...so of course its dissonant!!! but it is not performed to PERFECTION, however well played it is...and there will ALWAYS be tuning issues in this piece because the chords are so difficult to tune!!

[shogunmetic]

a real musician does not know a PERFECT performance. Is there such thing??? hmmm

[shadowrequiem54]

that is the point i was trying to make lols i've never had a perfect performance nor will i ever because like i said, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT. lol

[guitar528]

good job on this piece. i love it. were playing it this spring in my band. its a really beautiful piece. very well played! a little bit of edge in the low brass before and after the cesura, but i like it. :)

[Lauren29032]

They are amazing...I love playing this piece. It brings tears.