An American Elegy by Frank Ticheli - Off-Stage Trumpet Solo by Matt Burke

[ZubinHathi]

Great job! You have such a beautiful tone. I love this piece. I play percussion and I played bass drum in this piece with a university wind ensemble last weekend. It was definitely my favorite piece that we played, even though I only got to play the bass drum about 4 or 5 times throughout the entire piece hahahahaha.

[amigomatt]

@ZubinHathi Thanks for your kind comment! Being a brass player, I totally understand what it's like to sit there doing nothing for hours. Make sure you make the most of what you do get to play!

[peanut1319]

Made me cry. Beautifully done!! This song is still my favorite piece that I have ever played in wind orchestra and I'm happy I can still enjoy it through you!

[amigomatt]

@peanut1319 Glad you enjoyed it - job done then?!

[googlymoogly555]

What a beautiful rich sound! Brought tears to my eyes.

[amigomatt]

@googlymoogly555 Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[Y2Hood]

loved this arrangement! Ticheli did an amazing job writing this!

[Ereristrun22]

Amazing, I get the opportunity to do this solo at my high school band this upcoming may... And I would be proud if I do half as good as what you have done. Great job.

[amigomatt]

@Ereristrun22 Thank you for your kind comment, I hope it goes just as well for you! I really enjoyed playing it..

[TheChristina716]

Wow.... What a beautiful job..

[amigomatt]

@TheChristina716 Thank you!

[kompouzer]

NICE :)

[xXJawruWolfXx]

I want my trumpet to sound like that, So lush, pure and warm <3 :D

[STMAKnightMike]

My band is doing an off-stage solo up in the balcony tommorow night! I CAN'T WAIT!

[STMAKnightMike]

@STMAKnightMike GO BASSOONS! :D

[redapplerobie]

REALLY NICE I MYSELF PLAYED THIS BUT WITH A MELLOPHONE(MARCHING FRENCH HORN/ IT'S LIKE A TRUMPET) IT'S REALLY NICE GREAT JOB

[dinomyt00]

I always want to cry when I hear/play this solo, it's so beautiful. You did a phenomenal job with it!

[amigomatt]

@dinomyt00 Thanks so much for your kind comment!

[johnfuller108]

Beautiful ... one day I hope to be able to do that...

[You didn't even seem out of breath!]

J

[rockonforever260]

really nice warm tone. nice and full. your vibrato could be better but your awesome tone makes up for it

[qtxguitar]

I play with this band and i must say this has to be one of my favorite pieces i have ever played with them!

[g15clark]

beautiful playing, equally beautiful staging. this is the kind of piece that is terribly emotional already, but this execution gives me goosebumps all over. tasteful vibrato, too... I am so jealous of the live audience members!

[GaryKrewer]

Matt, you played such a wonderful and moving solo. This piece of music is so great and your solo made it truly wonderful.

The Sun City Concert Band also played this music and we liked it so very much. I was honored to play this solo off stage. My solo wasn't as good as your solo, but the audience was mesmerized and the band thoroughly is moved by this piece of music. We did pretty well considering we are 55 years and older and haven't played our instruments for many, many years. Bravo to you

[amigomatt]

@GaryKrewer Thank you Gary, I really enjoyed playing it!

[thestout77]

im so glad you can play this. our highschool played that a few years ago and our trumpet soloist couldnt hit the "high" notes. i was so pissed. our trumpet section was always crap

[knrpick]

beautiful job!

[redapplerobie]

wow that was REALLY WELL PLAYED i played this piece for a provincal(canada) high school honor band made up with the best players in the province i play the french horn........ You have such a warm, powerful tone. It's so soothing and smooth, you really know your instrument and have great technique. Great job.

wildfiretgh 1 year ago

[TheTRUMPETBOY805]

better sound and perfect solo dude

[blastjet2000]

Great solo. In pvyo, we actually for a high school (band teacher) trumpet player to do it.

[TheJoeistall00]

this is exactly how i thought the solo should've been played

amazing!

[KaylaO1221]

you are amazing trumpet player, you have great tone and sonority with your sound. keep it up! we played this my freshman year of high school, that solo still gives me chills to this day. even though i played that clarinet part :)

[Daisukae]

Very good tone!! Awesome trumpet solo! I actually want to a compition in high school today and i played the solo also!

[neese27]

this is so glorious. amazing kid. freaking clarinets & flutes are off tune dude. i loved that high note.

[CGWRESTLER14]

I'm in 8th grade and my band is playing this i also have the solo.... any tips?

[ChristainHungry]

Very nice solo! Maybe think about some more emphasis on the length of your vibrato. It will sound more theatrical, but other than that NICE!! BRAVO!

[OhSweetOz]

MX-leadership depends on the person, not only their playing, the best players will not always be the best leaders

[jonisthemon]

I wish my band director would get this song for my High School's concert band to play. It's so beautiful!

[Trmptbeast]

i know! my concert band is actually playing it and it sounds so amazing!

[romanian1991]

i love this song. our trumpet player cries every time she plays that solo. and at the end of the song. its so beautiful and emotional. this song is just amazing.

[firemanonice]

o i remember this soo well i played this 4 our concert competition and its sounded so beautiful im a trumpet player and when i tryed it , it sounded sooo well i love tht solo

[RamenxXxNoodles]

oh god i gotta do this for my band concert cause im first chair trumpet and im gonna be all alone...oh gawd

[AJVsGirl]

I was in the all state band! I loved the solo! We played this, and I wanted to hear it again.

YOu did awesome

[luke55698]

wait, which all-state band? I know one of the Texas ones did this song... (i was there)

[itwasthepudding]

yeah AJVsGirl was 4th chair trumpet in the ATSSB all state band 09 luke, she is from my school

[jayarrrhandk]

i am playing this solo for our upcoming concert. i was wondering how you do the vabrato so easily? i have been working on it but it doesnt sound quite as good..any help?

thanks!

[hofhaus1]

i use only my lips to vibrato. I can't explain exactly what im doing but from what i can tell, i vary the size of my embouchure, it almost feels like im wiggling the inside of my lips. so as soon as you hit the note you ever so slightly open/close the opening ever so slightly to vary the pitch. or you can just use your hand. hope that helps. i just figured out the lip thing on my own...good luck!

[dumbo800]

Yeah, it's just a variation of lip position (minute). Each technique has its place. Breath vibrato, lip, horn (shaking), (and for trombones, slide vibrato)

[luke55698]

the Association of Texas Small School Bands all-state concert band played this... and someone from my school was going to play the solo, but this other kid had played it in his school's state finals qualifying marching band show, so he got to do it... this solo is just a little bit better, not much, but the all-state 'band' did better than this 'band'.

[930605j]

The main theme that follows, stated by the horns, reveals a more lyrical, serene side of the piece. A second theme, based on a simple repeated harmonic pattern, suggests yet another, more poignant mood. These three moods - hope, serenity, and sadness - become intertwined throughout the work, defining its complex expressive character. A four-part canon builds to a climactic quotation of the Columbine Alma Mater.

[930605j]

Rarely has a work revealed itself to me with such powerful speed and clarity. The first eight bars of the main melody came to me fully formed in a dream. Virtually every element of the work was discovered within the span of about two weeks. The remainder of my time was spent refining, developing, and orchestrating. The work begins at the bottom of the ensemble's register, and ascends gradually to a heartfelt cry of hope.

[930605j]

I hope the work can also serve as one reminder of how fragile and precious life is and how intimately connected we all are as human beings. I was moved and honored by this commission invitation, and deeply inspired by the circumstances surrounding it.

[Clarinerd617]

anyone here know the legend about Ticheli's inspiration for this piece?

[930605j]

From Frank Ticheli's program notes of the premier performance: An American Elegy is, above all, an expression of hope. It was composed in memory of those who lost their lives at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, and to honor the survivors. It is offered as a tribute to their great strength and courage in the face of a terrible tragedy.

[trumpetjules03]

fantastic job on this solo, you have a beautiful tone perfect for this piece. i'm playing this solo on valentine's day for a regional honour band concert. i'm so excited!

[Limabean231]

Would love to see the entire performance.

Sounds good. =)

[SkaterChild333]

great job. you have a very powerful tone but it's a really clear sound. i play trumpet aswell but i'm a freshman so i'm not playing any solo's at my highschool spring concert when we play this piece. nice job

[scoggles]

It always bothers me when someone is playing a beautiful solo in this and the flutes are a hot mess as far as intonation.

[NoelNoodels13]

hey not bad you sound good...im a trumpet player my self...how long have you been playing for?

[killerbean200]

OMG i needed to hear how a real trumpet played this cause im playing the off stage solo at my spring concert

[flygun2]

dude i love this!

i like many ppl who watch this vid am playing this in my upcoming concert. This is just an amzing solo you have done!

[Piechickenman]

absolutely beautiful playing

[laurabadorathexplora]

you sound great :) i have to play the same solo for our concert too and im really nervous! haha :P

[ScottishBandGeek]

Wow, every time I watch this it gives me the shivers... amazing sound!

[cursivenight]

Incredible job. I want to play this piece so badly!

[lordofthestrings93]

excellant work!!! you played the solo as close to perfect as can be. it could have been just a little bit more muffled though. its supposed to imitate a celestial voice. but great sound!

[kikyoreborn626]

This is such a beautiful song. We're playing it in my band class.

:]

[ILoveUltimate]

Gosh this song brings me back to high school. One of my favorite (full band) songs I ever played, along with October by Eric Whitacre. You played the part excellently.

[1337bG01]

You were really good.

I wish you had held out the note at :55, it sounded like you fell out of it.

But besides that.

Awesome, warm sound.

I got to play this solo myself, it made me cry.

[wildfiretgh]

Wow great job. You have such a warm, powerful tone. It's so soothing and smooth, you really know your instrument and have great technique. Great job.

[amigomatt]

Thanks for your kind comment, glad you enjoyed it!

[AReynolds3]

This is a great solo! I'm glad you posted it!

[trumpet24923]

I almost played this at a June concert this year but a seinor took it over! Nice job though! This one is hard since it comes about five minutes into the song.

[Derek1640]

I saw a wonderful performance of this at our High School Festival and it was so amazing I got goosebumps. Very nice tone, control, and pitch on your playing. Very nice.

[IDKwhyimweird]

I'm a trumpet player from the Mississippi All-State Lion's Band and I have to say amazing job on the solo. It was beautiful and breath taking. I know that you probably hate hearing this, but I have to ask. Do you know where I can get the music for this solo? It would be greatly appreciated.

[yourlala04]

I love that solo, it gives me gussbumps everytime! we played it last year and it was amazing! we had a slide show play in the background as we played.. we were all crying.

[johnsurs22]

Nice job on the solo! I got to play this solo for my high school band, and I could never do that g to g slur, so I decided to tongue it. You did it well, nice job, but it's just so tough to master it with no notes played inbetween. And your tone is awesome, nice job.

[amigomatt]

Thanks for your kind comments!

[GregBartholomew]

Terrific trumpet solo! Your warm round tone is wonderful.

[amigomatt]

Thanks Greg for your kind words!

[Skoog817]

Trumpet solo was stunning. thank you for putting this up :)

[ijason2]

Beautiful! Good job! I'd really appreciate it if you'd subscribe to my channel. Talk soon! Hope to see more vids!

ijason2

[infernalice]

Our soloist in a high school honor band at University of Tennessee (there were some incredible players there), her name was Kate Norton, and she literally brought everyone in the band to tears. No offense, but she did it better. :)

This song is absolutely incredible, but it's crap if it's not the most dynamically contrasted song in the program. It takes a truly mature group to bring this song to it's peak.

She played the solo from the organ loft. It was heavenly and beautiful at the same time.

[yourlala04]

..No offense but yes you have to be a mature group but it dosent have to be a university because i played this song with my high school band and we did an amazing job, not trying to sound concetited tho. we really get into what we play and i loved playing this song.

[guitarherodude44]

I'm playing this piece as a freshman in high school. I'm playing 1st trumpet, but I don't play the solo. Our soloist is very good just like that performance: excellent

[rachthebandgeek]

whoa dude.

that was beaaautiful.

i love this song :]

[reddviolin]

why are you the conductor and the soloist?

[amigomatt]

This was one of my first concerts taking over as conductor from the chap who is conducting this piece. This is his retirement concert, and he wanted to conduct American Elegy and for me to be the trumpet soloist, with me having previously been first trumpet in this band for many years.

[knreal]

im playing this solo in my concert band in college and my director wants me in the sky box seats, its gonna be intense but i can do it

[shakelikek]

beautiful, simply gorgeous

you've got great control with dynamics and tone.

good job!

[trumpetz09]

either way it was still beautiful

[ripmeganmeier]

its really really beatiful...

[trumpetz09]

oboe..sorry

[trumpetz09]

this song makes me tear up or cry everytime i hear it..judging by this solo i'd be breaking down if I heard the whole thing. I loved your tone throughout it all, and trading the voice to the sax was flawless. Thank you!

[ripmeganmeier]

trade to oboe acutally

[trumpetz09]

thx

[samstia]

i absoulutly love it!!! i keep listening to this, im getting close to your beautiful sound i absolutly love it!!! ur an amazing player, good job i love it!!!

[ETSUdrummer1]

very nice...i believe the saxes were a little out of tune..it may be the recording. i can't tell, but nice job on the solo. it may have been a touch too loud, but other than that, very nice intonation :)

[XaIee]

Lol going off stage was funny because they thought i got sick or something. the audience did.. err when i played this

[JGordonfan231]

Nice job man great tone. I'm a t-bone player and we played this song last year for our spring concert at the college in remembrance of the victims of Virginia Tech.

[ScottishBandGeek]

I watch this over and over again and never get tired of it... your tone is really good and I love this piece. Good job!

[amigomatt]

Thank you! That's a really nice compliment!

[thecoolcoolcool]

We just played this in all county band...

Thats a little loud of a solo that says "distant" on the music but very nice tone for a trumpet player. They're hard to come by these days :)

[LibertyCoSnare]

I agree. Our concert was in the common's area of our high school and our soloist went all the way down the hall way. She did amazing though and so did this guy.

[JordiekinsxxReal]

yeah our soloist goes all the way down the hallway, which has great acoustics btw.

[spamuel615]

Ours..... under the bleachers...... we play in a gymatorium :P Well..... for festivals I guess we play backstage.....

[loupokami]

We played this in our wind ensemble in 1999 at Festival of Winds at USF in tampa. We were lucky to be among the first ensembles to perform this piece, because it was written after the Columbine tragedy.

It's a very beautiful and sad song, especially because it was written en honor of those killed in the shootings.

[eliteownge]

I don't know how many times Ive played this piece. Every time, no matter the venue, this still remains one of the most beautiful bits of music ever written!

[chubacabra88]

I'll be playin this solo tomorrow!

[mustangsally9008]

can you say chills???? my band played this song in 8th grade. but this sounds amazing! and i love the way this person does vibrato!!!

[Miscguy667]

wow, we just played this in our band, with mostly high school and and a few college students, i absolutely love this piece, we got given it to learn in 3 days, and we learnt it and it was beautiful we sounded amazing :) , people in the audience were crying , i love the solo its so.... beautiful and alot of passion....

[AkaneKonae]

That was awesome... But did you leave out some of the notes between :52 and :58? I remember there being more to that section.

Last year, at the Disney Honors Invitational, all the bands that performed had the honor of having a clinic with Dr. Ticheli (he also was one of the judges for the performances). He's actually very nice and pretty funny. It was an awesome experience.

[VValkvvithme]

sickkk. I love how theres this tiny kid in the middle of the trumpet section. I totally dig your style of vibrato and that's some amazing projection

[KiKadet]

I'll be playing this solo at the end of this year, my senior year in high school. Inspirational, really.

[bbirgj21]

yo man im jack and i play the trumpet too, and were playing this song now in concert band now. i loved how u played it, awesome job

[piehead12]

this amazing makes me shiver. Have you not got the whole recording?

[coolfreakpaisd]

You sound amazing. My school band here in Texas played this song two years ago during our spring concert and for our regional contest (we won). I remember that by the time the song was over there was not a dry eye in the hall.

[mrbobsco]

yes when we played this in Illinois last year i had the solo. At least 20 people came up to me and told me the song brought tears to their eyes. very beautiful

[Ondyp]

this really is great.

what type of mouthpiece are you using?

[punkrck011]

man do you have a video of the whole song you can up?

The tone this group has is amazing. and that trumpet solol. KUDOS!!!!!

We are playing it this year for our concert season and in a few weeks Dr. Ticheli will be coming to our school to work with us on it.

[amigomatt]

Thanks for your kind comments, it was awesome playing that solo from the balcony there! Unfortunately, I don't have the original DVD, but I do have some other concerts we've done. I'll put them up when I get time.

Send Dr. Ticheli my regards!

[samlake42]

Nice sound but you were lucky with the concert hall or whatever it is... It sounds like an european church :)

[joshopsho]

Its the main performance space in the RNCM, nice acoustic. Large, square, amphitheatre styled auditorium, with a handy balcony!!!

[pspboy623]

verynice i loved your tone

our band is doing this for marching season

but we have an oboe playing it =P

but trumpet is better

[jhatpro]

Beautifully done!

[thejoker442]

The one minute mark is my favorite moment in the entire piece. Well done.

[BandNazi]

The most beautiful trumpet solo EVER.

[RainbowCatcher8]

oooooh i remember playing this. its a shame the whole thing isnt up here. good playing matt.

[VValkvvithme]

heh. gorgeous man, amazing projection. Interesting interpretation too. Almost nailed that high note on the dot ><

[AndJusticeForSome]

Thanks for one of the most beautiful solos I've heard. Our director played this song for us as an example of how playing with emotion can give life to a piece and the way you played gave such a mournful feel to the solo that almost brought me to tears.You sir are a great player and should be damned proud of it.Have a nice day.

[yellowmanffxfrk]

great vibrato..awesome tone *tear*

[Ondyp]

Ahhhh that solo is really really nice...great tone. I can't stop watching it!

[Ondyp]

That was quite nice...beautiful.

[Antonisil]

wow god this was great it gave me a cold feeling

can you send the score of that solo to me if you still have it?

But thx for the wonderful solo

[HopeBforJC]

That was a really good job, very beautiful. Probably could of held a few of the notes out just a little bit long, but otherwise..really..a good job! We just played this song for festival this year and got a one at district and states :) I love this song

[kutipi234]

Excellent job! I would LOVE to hear the whole piece! This is probably one of my favorite band pieces out there! I can so glad that Ticheli brought it to existance!

The band sounded great, and the trumpet solo gets me every time! And you played it so well!

Such a beautiful dedication for such a sad event. *sigh*

[amigomatt]

Thank you for your kind comments!

[kutipi234]

Your welcome. :) Oh, my highschool band got to play it for their first concert the year after I graduated (which was in 2006) <_<. I was jealous lol!

[bballandnsaxaphone13]

the solo was pretty good just a smidge outta tune. thats all. i like ur vibrato. its nice. we're playin this piece too, not with old ppl but we're playin it

[pelirrojo173]

Absolutely fantastic man.

[kristenvogt24]

thats AWESOME!

[kristenvogt24]

okay. it was great to show yourself off (because you're GREAT) but... i cant seem to find this group performing the whole piece??

(and ps. its real nice when a group can actually keep on pitch for this piece.. its gorgeous.. and from the sound of it, i think this group probably did it flawlessly!)

yay.. techeli.. great piece, so moving and emotionally, sadly motivated by a horrible event.. sighs*

great job, seriously.

[amigomatt]

When I get the time to re-edit the DVD, I'll post the whole performance on here, plus more. We just finished a very successful tour of Berlin last week and those concerts were also recorded on video.

[deathwilldie0]

I played this solo last year when I was in the 10th grade. You did a great job and I love your tone.

[98supra123456]

I've been playing the trumpet for almost five years now and I admire your beautiful tone.

[1337evan]

gives me goosebumps hearing him play trumpet like that.

[ilive4thedbacks]

i might cry!

[skipfrii]

I played this solo on a Bright Yamaha...but your dark sound makes the mood so much more

[Frenchornmaster1]

i played French Horn in this piece, and now im in the phoenix symphony

[waltts]

post more of this ensemeble and the other ensembles at RNCM

[hendrahacker]

love the sound.

[bassface88]

Hi Matt, I've been dying to get hold of this recording from the RNCM purely for this 'track', but i've never got round to askin Mark for a copy. Is there any chance you could pass one on to me?

Many thanks, see u wednesday

Mark (Ascroft)

[scottishtrumpet]

thanks for the tips

[scottishtrumpet]

ive only being 4 6 yrs so id luv 2 play tht lyk u 1 day

[amigomatt]

Well, it sounds like you're passionate about it, and that's the most important thing. Try and make sure you have a good teacher, listen to lots of different trumpet players and PRACTISE!

Try to play with a gound sound imagined in your head. You can't make a good sound unless you know what a good sound is. You understand what I mean...

Good luck,

Matt.

[scottishtrumpet]

wow gr8 solo and great sound. wat kind of trumpet r u playing on and how long have you been playin 4?

[amigomatt]

Thank you for your kind comments! Here I'm playing on a Kanstul 1500A signature series with a bronze bell - very dark sound.

I've been playing about 20 years (I'm 29). I teach, play and conduct in Manchester.

Matt