"October" by Eric Whitacre - Concordia University Chicago Wind Symphony, 10/29/10

[FunkkyPanda]

Oboe Solos=WIN! <3 <3 <3 I've read through this song in band once and my director but me(3rd chair oboe) on the solos with the 1st chair while the 2nd chair was in a lesson and then the 1st chair went to her lesson and the 2nd chair came in right before the 2nd solo and totally made it out of tune with my playing :( but the 1st chair and I made it sound awesome and our director stopped and complimented us on it <3

[dembonez19]

This is my absolute favorite piece to play as well! I was just thinking about this song the other day. I was able to play it twice through the band clinics I attended, and it was amazing both times. The french horn part is really fun and really moving. I was lucky to play first horn my senior year at regionals.

You got to play the euphonium solo? Awesome! That's a tough solo to play, so you did really well. ^.^

[Euphonious91]

@dembonez19 Thank you! I love this song - one of the best parts about it is how Whitacre weaves all the different parts together to create a harmonic structure that is simply beautiful. I can also really appreciate the french horn part, as I sit next to them and have some of the same lines.

[dembonez19]

That's what I was thinking too. This is one of those songs that makes you appreciate every instrument in the room. Listening to this in particular, I got chills during the second oboe solo. The part underneath the solo really pulled it together. Was that a bassoon? That little addition from the first oboe solo brought in a lot of depth.

Everything else was great, but that in particular is something I just never noticed before.

[YuuGiJoou]

Wow, you live! ...and you're live!

I may not be greatly knowledgeable about music and its composition and exactly how it evokes the reactions and responses it does, but I'm always keen on partaking of the appreciation side of things.

I have been rather surprised to find myself with something of a soft spot for orchestra, since I generally don't think of it until I'm listening to it. It's very understated, underrated, and underappreciated.

[Euphonious91]

@YuuGiJoou Yeah, I've been quite busy, and the internet connection at my school is no great shakes either, so I find it difficult to show my face at the old stompin' grounds these days...

This technically isn't "orchestra" since there are no strings involved - entirely winds and percussion. But I'm glad you appreciate it - we do try our best. And while it my not necessarily be the musical genre at the forefront of the industry, most people still tend to enjoy it. :P

[thebillmans5]

Loved your performance in St Joseph, MI! Fabulous job, thank you for sharing this with us!

[Euphonious91]

@thebillmans5 Glad you could make it! Thanks!