World of Pageantry

O Magnum Mysterium is one of those "general" songs, like Ave Maria. Many people have set O Magnum, but I think the wind band version is a H. Robert Reynolds transcription of a Morton Lauridsen choral work. I'm pretty sure Giovanni Gabrielli did a version as well.


As for my personal favorite wind band pieces


Rocky Point Holiday
Armenian Dances-Alfred Reed
Pineapple Poll

someguywhodoesthings wrote:O Magnum Mysterium is one of those "general" songs, like Ave Maria. Many people have set O Magnum, but I think the wind band version is a H. Robert Reynolds transcription of a Morton Lauridsen choral work. I'm pretty sure Giovanni Gabrielli did a version as well.

The choral work is indeed Lauridsen, and I also believe it is Reynolds' arrangement for band.

I found a choral version online. It seems a little distorted at times, but maybe it's just me. http://www.musicaficta.org/CDConcerto20 ... k%2013.mp3

When I was in high school, my favorite piece was Chester by William Schuman. Second favorite piece was American Overture by Joseph Wilcox Jenkins. Great tuba parts--the last note of the tuba part on the American Overture is a middle C (C above the staff). You get there by a glissando rip from an octave below.

October
Vesuvius
Firebird Suite
O Magnum Mysterium (arr. H. Robert Reynolds)

First & Second Suites in Eb & F
Armenian Dances
Symphony in Bb (Hindemith)
Some of the Erickson pieces

The definition of song should be carefully noted. A song is sung. Bands do not sing, unless they use their voices.

The two pieces I like the most are

Satiric Dances
Of Sailors and Whales

incantation and dance all the way ;]

I like Into the Raging River , Songs of Salior and Sea ( I think thats the name ) and some others I guess I have to look though the all the music I have but those are my top 2

oh, forgot one

redline tango by john mackey - awesome piece

i like any of james swearingen's pieces, especially centuria.

the phantom tuba player wrote:The definition of song should be carefully noted. A song is sung. Bands do not sing, unless they use their voices.

so we would refer to the music we play as either "piece" , "selection" or music?

the phantom tuba player wrote:The definition of song should be carefully noted. A song is sung. Bands do not sing, unless they use their voices.

Yes and no-

A song is a "poem" set to music

Song FORM is a composition, either vocal or instrumental with three sections, etc.

that from a music dictionary by Nicolas Slonimsky

There are many compositions called "Song (s) Without Words" for instrumental solos and ensembles.

Spring-Heeled Jack wrote:Armenian Dances by Alfred Reed (one movement, 10 minutes or so) is a good piece, but Armenian Dances by Aram Khachaturian (two short movements of about 3.5 minutes a piece) is even better.

The Reed piece was written for American band. The Khachaturian piece was written for a Russian band and, I think, when I was in high school, we would have been labeled as subversive if we played it. He was a Soviet first and an Armenian second... He was very political and his politics were not welcomed here in the United States.

I think it's a great piece. And, before anyone criticizes me for stating Russian and not Armenian band, it should be noted that the Russian culture permeated all of the republics of the Soviet Union. Even today, after the Soviet Socialistic Republics ceded from Mother Russia, every one of those countries uses Russian, with the exception of Armenia. Consequently, Khachaturian is even more underrated there (due to his Soviet loyalty) than probably anywhere else his music is played.


And the comment about song: A song without words is not a common form of music in band. It refers to a poetic, lyric style. Because they happen so infrequently in band music (and orchestra music even less!), the terms I use are:

• piece

• selection

• number

• tune (though that one's not really a good one)



I worked with Nicolas Slonimsky on a project when I was in college. I called him on the telephone and we worked for about a week on this project. Most of the faculty at the university I was attending thought he was dead at that time--he died about ten years later (I was an older college student!)

Euphoniums Rule!!! wrote:To Tame the Parilous Skies
Watchman, Tell Us of the Night
Godzilla Eats Las Vegas

we tried once, haha *no comment*

azn_zeratul wrote:incantation and dance all the way ;]

omg. that song was practically dedicated to me (bass clarinet). xD

but one i really liked that i played freshman year was

AFRICA (ceremony something. )

it was so crazy fun to play. shouting, dynamics everywhere and how it was so spread out around the band. =P