Langham Creek Symphonic Band - TMEA - Pines of Rome, Mvt. 4

[wolfpak9]

oh. my. lawd. - trumpets, figure it out!

[drakechancenathan]

TRUMPETS! AT THE BEGINNING AROUND 40 SECONDS. WHAT THE CRAP WAS THAT!!!!!!!????? But overall, amazing. Especially the young lady on English Horn.

[alankace]

theres some serious tuning problems at the beginning

[bigpapa199460]

lee!!

[zackxii]

that happened so fast i didn't even realize they were clapping that long, one of the best moments of my life

[slexx0r]

I'd like a little more drama throughout the movement, especially the final bars. Fine performance, but I'm just left wanting more, from an interpretation standpoint.

[laskopivo92]

Good performance! Perhaps there are too many trumpets and horns...

[iLoveWarren29]

this performance was truly amazing. i am only in eight grade and just in concert band but one day i really hope to be as good as them! music is my life.

[bstuts7914]

Very nice English horn!

[BehindFor17Hours]

Beautiful

[1337evan]

14 FLIPPIN HORNS?!?!?!?!

[baseballjunker4]

too many people...it just loses the "honor" of it

[JovianLord]

What the heck does "that" mean?

[katsmeow58]

I laughed out loud haha

[dzr11105]

I think it would be a greater honor to play it with all these fine musicians, because it is a lot harder to do! And this proves that we can do it without losing any of its musical integrity.

[ggfanguy]

I don't get the problem. A symphony orchestra would be about 100 players. If you add the extra brass that the composer wrote for, it would just get bigger. Do a festival-type performance and it just gets bigger still. There's no problem here.

[basstrombone2]

There is no pedal Bb in the bass trombone part at the end, play whats written people

[JovianLord]

Well, they added all that brass, but no tubas, so why not? Anyway, it sounded good.

[basstrombone2]

The current bass trombone trend of bigger, louder, and lower needs to stop. They are part of the ensemble and should blend into the sound, not just blast away. Far too many bass trombones are loud without a core to the sound and are fuzzy when playing soft

[dzr11105]

because the tuba part doesn't really have any great orchestral excerpts from pines. Though the Fountains of Rome does, one of my fav.

[Stealthhawk0]

Yikes, trumpets, around 4:40... But let's not dwell on that, pretty good if you ask me, especially for a high school band. No doubt they have a better band than some college programs.

[wcstflyer]

Every time I hear this I miss the orchestra string section at 3:07-3:13 and again at 3:40-3:43 but this is a high school band. The kids are blowing their heads-off "sharp" at the climactic end but who cares. It's great.

[oldjarhead]

You guys play AOK for a high school band...but you're all so up tight and not a litte pretentious. Loosen up and enjoy the music making...that's the point of it all!

[TXBands2006]

This band is amazing. Though they are getting a bit tired by now, they are still playing well.

Almost all of the Langham videos have an important Horn passage and the section seems to nail it every time. This may be the best high school horn section anywhere ever.

[MelloMarcher16]

Langham is outstanding! Amazing job!!

There is however a school is south Texas called Roma High School. That school I would definitely say has the best horn section around.

Great job Langham!

[o00joe]

the recording medium is bad but you can tell it was good. epscially for a high school

[andy123933]

and where a middle school

[enoughbs1]

Well, andy, you left out the part where you also only practice one day week for 15 minutes.

You really don't think anyone believes you, do you?

[andy123933]

my school band sounds better when we play it

[porkchopsisgood]

1) It's a high school....you need to appreciate what it takes to get this sound out of a group.

2)Try Wik-ing this school sometime. This is one of the best high school symphonic band programs in the world...one of 10 high schools to be honored with both the Sudler Flag and Shield for marching and concert band excellence. A program must be incredibly consistent and established for this to occur (I should know....my high school has them too (North Hardin in Radcliff, KY)).

Wonderful job!

[chris13980]

Awesome French Horns! This song (movement IV) is my favorite of all time.

[DCIRules]

yikes the trumpets struggle near the end it sounds like

[JovianLord]

DCI, I'm thinking that most of those problems are coming from the extra brass. I say that only because the others videos from this concert are excellent. I can imagine that the U of H players only got to practice this with the full group once or twice. Does anyone out there know for sure?

[calltoarms03]

We practiced once, in some high school an hour away from our school. So yes, I was pretty nervous about when they started playing.

by the way, I played 3rd trumpet on this song. You can see me, second to the right.

[clar39]

FOURTEEN HORNS!!  GOOD GOD!

[aboylan1]

you all are just mad because we are better than you!!!

[RonnieBass]

I thoroughly enjoyed this performance and I played this piece with Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra 'way back in the 80s. It's a difficult piece for all players. I think the English Horn (Cor Anglais) player was really good and I particularly enjoyed the huge brass build up with the 'off-stage' brass section.

You could really picture the Roman army pounding along. Good job guys and gals!

[aboylan1]

thank you RonnieBass! i played 1st cornet in this performance, and it is nice to hear someone who knows what they are talking about

[etrox318]

Good, but the band needs to get down more so you can hear the English horn. She's barely audible, and it's difficult to play loud on that instrument.

[lcoboe20080721234]

etrox- im the e.h. player. i think it might just be this particular recording because the quality of sound and balance on the cd is much better than on here. the cds recording is much truer to the actual performance than this one.

[rickyrevolution21]

woah!

i love the French Horns :)

[ertatta]

boy is this a rough performance with endless trumpet cacks.. can't imagine getting very excited over this as it makes u wonder if the audience ever gets out to support the various fine pro orchestras in texas!!!!

[dramaminee]

at the end, look at the number of trumpets on the stage. there is a ton of them. Not to mention some of them (the students) had been playing for an hour already, and they only rehearsed ONCE with the UH students. If you consider that, and all the hard literature they played before hand, the endurance level is really astounding. This a great performance that blew the audience away, and thats all that really matters.

[BrianB4837]

Yeah, good idea, let's not challenge our children who are trying to appreciate the greatness of music. Let's never expose them to masterpieces, or let them strive to improve the level of their playing. Let's just keep making cuts to all music programs while we're at it. Idiot.

[axel210]

03:29 - french horns perfect! :D

This is a good version.. but I'm sorry nothing beats a symphony orchestra playing this.

[ecwaufisxtreme]

I totally agree.

[cwinger10]

Sounds awful! Respighi deserves to have his music played by a professional orchestra. They could have done much better. *Shakes head*

[aboylan1]

i would love to see you try to play this after an hour of extremely difficult music

[enoughbs1]

Well, cwinger10, I'll let your use of the word "awful" go by and just attribute it to massive ignorance. Of course, a professional orchestra would play the Pines better. But, so what? An Indy car would get me to work faster, but that's not what I own. Respighi would have loved this performance. He would love that his music was transcribed for band and reaching more people. I guess from your elitist view point, orchestras shouldn't play Sousa either. *Smirks derisively*

[donkeykong88888]

very good

[ProTwoAm]

Excellent playing here! And what a magnificent army of brass players! Bravo!

[lcoboe20080721234]

thank you pierce highschool for saving me the day before this performance when my english horn cracked into the grand canyon!

[cricket2001]

at 2:03 both trombonist wipe their noses

[JovianLord]

Well, it IS good to be in sync with the people playing around you, but that is a bit bizarre.

[theorderofone]

tiny band. the band i played this song in had 288 people. (16 of them including me were tubas)

[sirgermaine]

I'd rather listen to a band this size where everyone can play their parts than a band with 288 where half the band is faking it.

[cepet1484]

Great job, I played this piece in high school and loved practicing and performing it. Wonderful. Everyone can knitpick all they want, but put in context, great performance. Beautiful.

[baiereuph]

It's an awesome piece of music, a good arrangement, and overall very well played! The antiphonal brass probably came across much better in the hall than on the video. Excellent English horn solo, BRAVO! horns on that stratospheric note on the nose. Loved the bass bone(s) at the very end. Great job all!!!

[BandNazi]

How'd you get the nature sounds??

[indyviolin]

resphigi indicates in the original score to use recorded sounds of birds...one of the first symphonic pieces to use media.

[BandNazi]

Oh, recorded sounds! Awesome!!

[sgpepper123]

awesome.

[brescianello]

simply i love it!

[utfan3]

If I was in this band, I'd want sit between the piccolo and oboe. Uh, of course, that's because they play so well.

[baiereuph]

Yeah, that would be a nice place to sit. (Even though I'm old enough to be their grandfather!) I play principal oboe with our regional orchestra, so I guess I could belong there, sorta.

[JovianLord]

Really strange to see the word "mediocre" applied to anything this band does, as some have done here. I suppose they might have been getting tired as this was the end of a very long and difficult concert. Still, the performance was awesome. Langham's been to Mid-west at least twice. In March, 2008, they are going to play in Carnegie Hall by invitation for the second time. Mediocre, huh. This is probably the best playing high school band anywhere.

[Chynk4Life]

I have to say, from the crowd's reaction, your live performance must have been pretty good. I heard a lot of cracked and out of tune notes. But then again, this is a recording. A lot of things come out that usually don't. I'm impressed that you guys played such a difficult piece to that level. Good job. I'm sure your band has been to the midwest clinic before. Keep playing musically and with passion. :)

[JTShee010]

Hmmm I heard this movement of the song they're playing is what the Postal Service song "We Will Become Silhouettes" was based on... that's what Wikipedia says... I'm not sure I can hear the resemblence though... I haven't listened to the song in a while, I need my memory refreshed.. or.. could it be... wikipedia's wrong?

Good PLaying though! haha

[jspooner123]

message me back if any of you guys want a link to the recording, its really good, it has la mer and fountains on it as well.

[jspooner123]

the one redone in 1995? its a really awesome recording, i love it dude. it has fountains on it too. my fav bass bone excerpt :]]

[tromboneplaya411]

no its not like that for antiphonal brass, its to cover the buccine parts respighi wrote in, i think there are 6 parts.... but usually a saxhorn, or trombones cover the parts which i think is the case here. the thing that bothers me about transcriptions is that there isnt enough core and breadth and richness in the brass sound along with "edge" in the tone. this is why i hate band :/ (except for brass bands :D) get a chicago recording.

[bandjock1]

I assume the Chicago recording you are talking about is the old Reiner one that has been redone in hybrid SACD. How does it sound on a regular CD player?

[bschatte]

Eh.

[bandjock1]

Huh?

[mmmmmegan]

Are you serious? You obviously don't know what you're talking about buddy.

[jspooner123]

yeah i know what im talking about. ive performed this a couple times in an orchestra, with actual buccines too, they sound really cool (and loud) lol. the other time i played the buccine part, but on trombone as was everyone else in that section

[jspooner123]

yeah its good... but it pretty much ruins the piece. this kind of music is not meant for a band.

[bandjock1]

Whoa there, js. I'm assuming you mean because this piece was originally written for orchestra; it should not be played by a band. If that's true, I think you are in error. Granted there are some pieces that do not transcribe well for band, but The Pines of Rome is not one of them. Would you also say that an orchestra should not play the Stars and Stripes Forever?

[jspooner123]

ehh i really dont like the sound of a band for this, soo wrong lol. its not glorious and powerful enough. huge rich and strong orchestral brass playing is needed, and a nice blend of strings put into the mix. im not saying a band shouldnt play it, im just saying its not good sounding to me, and id much rather enjoy hearing an orchestra play it. besides, most american band playing these days is mediocre imo, check out those british brass bands though!! they bring the heat!

[dramaminee]

im not sure i understand, are you suggesting this band is "mediocre"? This band is the best highschool band in texas, and one of the best in the nation. Having heard this band perfrom live, i know for a fact that they are far far from mediocre. These students are all extremely devoted and put in literally hundreds of hours to play at this level, not to mention the music they are playing is music most highschool bands would never dream of touching. T

[jspooner123]

yeah the music is pretty mediocre. its amazing for high school band, but in terms of actual music making... no. you cant honestly say this is more entertaining to listen to then listening to a major symphony orchestra play the same piece in its original score. it really is good for high school though.

[tomahawkpilot]

dramaminee: The fact that these students practiced for hundreds of hours and attempt music that an average high school band would not touch does not make their performance great. If you appreciate music at all, and if you understand The Pines of Rome, you would have to admit that this is a mediocre performance. An effort is not the same thing as an accomplishment.

[dramaminee]

I was at this concert. There were thousand of people there, most of which were Texas music educators. If this was "mediocre", would they have given this band the longest standing ovation of the convention? I dont think so. The energy in the room was incredible at the end of their performance, and THATS what makes this performance exceptional. Mediocre bands cannot inspire those reactions, unless your implying Texas music educators cannot appriciate music.

[jshhmr]

One of my favorites! The kids did a fantastic job!

[ihadaralf]

Well done you people. I conducted the symphonic original whilst at University and to this day, it remains an absolute favourite. All I would ask for is that the recording be brighter-it dulls the sound. Should you manage to find a crisper recording, Respighi's noise will be even more impressive.

Bravo. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[JovianLord]

The DVD is WAY better.

[wcstflyer]

These kids really know the definition of "Fortissimo" FFF!!! It must have been fun to be in the brass section.

[InfinityeXpress]

coooolllll!!!!!!

[LordofOnionRings]

Nice job by the trumpets, although I heard some cracking notes. My high school band did a Fantasia 2000 marching band show back in 2003, it was really fun. We ended with Firebird Suite.

[wcstflyer]

At 4:20 (which is the climax of the piece) the high brass on stage fell into the old high school culprit of "blowing sharp" while attempting to play FFF, though the college supernumerary group- stage right- was fabulous. A few cracked notes can be forgiven.

[LordofOnionRings]

It was still very good. It is probably hard to put together an arrangement with so few people.

[SuperJox]

Pretty good. Hmm the concert band arrangement sure is a different sound. I like this. Strong Bass trombone (s?) there. Great job guys! I wish I got to perform this song.

[mmmmmegan]

And those high schoolers are backed up by music majors at the University of Houston! GO COOGS! I'm the trumpet on the far left.

[bandjock1]

That must have been fun. How much did you guys all practice together for this?

[MTVMANN]

Why did you guy back up this honor band?

[mmmmmegan]

Antiphonal brass.  That's why.

[mjsk8er90]

OOOOMMMMMFFFFGGGGGG

i think i just teared up :'(

beautiful

[bassposaunen]

EXCELLENT!! One of the few performances of the Pines of Rome on youtube that Respighi would be pround of. Better than some professional groups on youtube that played this. Bravo!

[ecwaufisxtreme]

How dare you say that this is better than pro orchestras on youtube! Are you saying that this PWNS Berlin Phil under Karajan or Santa Cecilia under Pappano?! Are you saying that this high school band PWNS pro orchestras! You never ever say that this band is better than pro orchestras. SHAME on YOU!

[dramaminee]

uh, Shame on YOU for being close minded. Look at some of the other stuff this band has performed. They recently played in Carnegie hall, and the judges said they performed Till Eulenspiegel better than ANYONE theyve ever heard. Meaning they PWNED the other PRO orchestras theyve heard. But in general, of course they are not better then pro orchestras, they are PRO for a reason. One thing they DO "pwn" is most other highschools and even alot of college level bands. To say that is not absurd.

[ecwaufisxtreme]

How dare you say that this high school band is better than pro orchestras! Are you giving the message that high school bands PWN orchestras, even pro orchestras?! Are you saying that this group also PWNs Berlin Phil and Santa Cecilia Orchestra?

Yes, this performance is very good, but to say it is better than a pro orchestra is absurd!

[JovianLord]

bass., I think we maybe getting out on a limb of exaggeration here. This band is super good and this a great performance. I doubt you can find another high school band that can do better. But pro music groups are pro music groups. Enjoy the music, but keep it real.

[bassposaunen]

I am a symphony orchestra musician myself and I am extremely familiar with the Pines of Rome. When I said that this recording was better than some pro groups on youtube I was really only referring to one, the Osaka Phil. I believe that this recording is more styalistically what Respighi was hoping for than the Osaka Phil video. I have recordings of the Pines of Rome by all of todays major orchestras, and yes, this High School band is not on the same level as pros, but they're very good.

[northwestern21]

Keep in mind that these are 15 and 16 year olds. Simply Amazing!

[bandjock1]

YIKES! Would love to have been in this room. With all that brass, they must have blow the walls down. I'm so ordering the DVD.