David Maslanka - Give Us This Day 

A "Short Symphony" Maslanka said. A fun tune my band director said...

My band director said he actually met David Maslanka and he said that David got his inspiration because he believed he was a conduit in which the universe expresses itself. No joke

this makes me miss high school wind ensemble so much. Give Us This Day was one of the last pieces I played before I graduated...I never realized how much I would miss coming to school in the morning, getting out my bassoon and playing for two hours, three times a week. I took the entire band program for granted, all four years....so many memories that will stay with me for a lifetime.

The family of composer, David Maslanka posted the following announcement today, in the press: "David Maslanka died during the night of August 6th, 2017 at home. He had been diagnosed with a severe form of colon cancer in June. His wife, Alison, died on July 3rd of this year. He declined rapidly following her passing. He is survived by his children, Stephen, Matthew, and Kathryn. "David Maslanka, born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, wrote more than 150 works including eight symphonies, seventeen concertos, a Mass, and much music for wind ensemble."

RIP David Maslanka. a legend

Who’s with me? That piano plucking part is a KILLER

I was listening to this on high volume, and I was in the slow part, very relaxed and all, then 8:41 happens and I literally jumped

the low voices in the second part are so menacing, i love it.

looking at the comments section, I think the consensus is RIP everyone

Cmon tubas we all know we blasted this song any chance we got

hands down.. One of the best pieces I've ever played

RIP my lungs after playing the second movement of this song.

high school?! when ever I see high schools are playing this stuff I feel so underprivileged. my high schools music program sucked. I didn't get to play the fun stuff until I went to college and states(:

Gosh if only I was able to play this for my last high school concert!! But Covid-19 took that away, which makes me so sad, but just listening to it makes me so happy

My deepest condolences and sympathy to Stephen, Matthew, and Kathryn . . . and please know that you are each in my prayers. My heart goes out to you for the loss of your mother, Allison, last month and for the passing of your father, Maestro David Maslanka, just a month later. May you be comforted by your father's beautiful music; he was a great man and a composer of true elegance. I just listened to this beautiful piece and to his 4th Symphony, played by the United States Navy Ensemble. Just a single word comes to mind: Magnificence! What an excellent composer Maestro Maslanka was; and your father's strong statement of faith, in his quotation of the Doxology in the 4th Symphony moves me beyond what mere words can express. Your father's music is indeed a gift to this world and may it continue to blaze brightly, lighting the path toward home that each of us travels! May God shelter and comfort you children of David & Alison, and may they rest together in perfect peace. -With sincere love and my heartfelt sympathy. C-G

RIP David Maslanka.. one of the greatest composers of his time

Last year, I was a third clarinet and this was an all out BLAST! We got so low in our notes at the end of the 2nd movement that our eyeballs were vibrating out of our heads.

There was nothing like turning the page for the piano part only to see triplets for days and then realizing it's just you and that saxophone....

We played this at region band this year and let me tell you, the horn part was absolutely AMAZING. I literally died on the rips and that high b flat at the end (I was second horn) but it’s one of my favorite songs that I’ve ever played.

Going on a band music binge at the moment. I remember playing this two years ago on bass clarinet at LMEA. Oh how time flies by.

I can imagine Carolina Crown doing at least parts of this song as their show next year. The extremely emotional brass parts in the first movement could be extremely powerful in their hands. Here's to hoping it will happen, some day. (:

I got Phantom of the Opera vibes at 3:10 and then it totally switches and became uncomfortably not intense. At 5:00 I started to think I was listening to church music or a documentary intro to the Great Plains and their vastness. At 5:50 it was a bit chaotic and then suddenly it sounds like the low brass is taking a brick and pounding it into my skull but that's probably because i'm listening on high volume. At 6:20 I could imagine this is what would play out loud if my life was a movie and the audience was watching me leave the house for the first time in months after quarantine. Then at 6:37 when I realize the earth has turned into a barren desert and I now have to embark on an epic journey to the store. 8:40 is an accurate depiction of what happens when me and 5 other dudes turn the corner at the same time to see the last roll of toilet paper at the end of the isle and then proceed to fight to the death for it. 9:06 when I successfully slay my enemies and acquire the precious toilet paper. 9:20 when i'm confronted by another 20 people and embark on a goose chase through the store as they try to steal the paper rolls from me. Finally at 11:23 me narrowly making it back home with the mob of people outside my door threatening me with violence for my singular roll of paper. Then at 11:30 it cuts to me peacefully laying in a pile of toilet paper realizing i'm insane and need to get out more. 13:13 when the neighbors break into my house at night and steal all the remaining toilet paper. 13:28 when I wake up and realize the neighbors took my paper (lol). 13:38 when i'm going house to house and stealing all the paper in vengeance. 14:54 when I'm coming home from my crusade on toilet paper to find the neighbors burned my house to the ground. 15:09 me mourning the loss of my home by burning the entire neighborhood down in rage. 15:44 all the the neighborhood dying in a pile of burning toilet paper with me. 15:59 when the audience is presented with some twisted moral of the story that toilet paper is the root of all evil or something like that. The end, thank you for reading and listening along to this excessive comment I should probably actually go outside before I actually make a movie like this lol.

Got to play this song twice while in high school when I was the 1st chair alto saxophone player. That part was difficult but It was awesome, at least it made me a better player in the end. Just glad I got to play such a wonderful song. I got to meet him right before he past away and which I think made this song so special for me. Rest in piece Mr. Maslanka.

It is obvious that Maslanka put his heart into this piece. My favorite part is in the second movement after the minor arpeggio climax where the piano enters with the oboe and low woodwinds.

RIP Maslanka. Thank you for making my music career an unforgettable experience.

The euphonium part in this song is lip destroying.

One thing I found hilarious about this piece when I figured it out was what the alto sax solo in mvt. 2 actually is in concert pitch. Such a blissful insult.

Ahhhh, maslanka and his b6 in a major key. How beautiful.

I heard the Longmeadow, MA High School wind ensemble play this last night. I'd never heard it before. Very impressive. Congratulations to the school systems that provide music for their students, and encourage them to achieve the skills to play something as difficult as this must be.

I was so saddened to recently learn that David passed away in 2017. I was blessed to be able to very briefly study under him (he was one of my music professors) at none other than Kingsboro Community College of all places! Talk about hidden jewel. To have been able to catch a glimpse of what was going on inside that head of his. To have been able to garner some of his attention for the modest works we were creating under his direction. Wow. It was humbling back then. Now it seems unbelievable. He was a contemporary giant - this work validates that.

alright these people are rare, but piano players, where u at?

I get to meet this man in just a few months when he comes to work with us! Super excited! Now to go practice horn because it has to be perfect!

4:40 Who knew that music with simple 8th notes and half notes could be so breathtaking yet beautiful at the same time? David Maslanka is an amazing composer.

6:20 to 7:20 has been and always will be the best minute of my entire life.

we played this at my senior year of all-state band two years ago now.. killer piece of music.

I was 2nd Trombone when I played this last year. My god, playing that slow first movement made me want to fall asleep. I actually had the words, "Don't fall asleep" written in the music. The rest was really fun to play though.

Nothing like getting a peloton bike ad in the middle of this

Tuba players die for the last minute of this song. I'll never forget almost passing out everyday in class because of that shit

We played this for Honor band, it was amazing......

Rest in peace, Maestro Maslanka. We are all better for having known you through your art.

RIP to Mr Jeffrey Lamar Lawson, the amazing musician and educator who not only introduced my band and I to this piece, but had the most faith in us during us learning it. I will forever listen to this piece and cherish your memory. “Excuses are for losers.”

rip anyone who had to do the fast triplet stuff in the second movement

I had a lot of fun being principal trumpet on this piece. This will go down in history as one of the greatest pieces of the 2000's and early 21st century.

Rip David Maslanka. 08/07/2017

RIP David Maslanka!

I played this my senior year of high school at the Bands of America conference and it still gives me chills. Truly beautiful.

This was the last piece that I played for my high school wind ensemble. I'm starting grad school soon and I really miss these days. Band classes was when I met the majority of my friends and had the most memories. Cherish these days

The clarinet parts for this piece are actually very challenging. He makes you work tf out.

This was the last song I played on my final high school band concert. I'd be lying if I said I didn't cry while I was playing it. On the last part, we played it so blaring loud, it was insane and crazy awesome. Fantastic song, David Maslanka!

oh god my wind symphony director said that we might have to play this and these comments have me terrified of what's to come

The very end reminds me of Carmina Burana! :D I'm in love with this song so much! I got to play it for Nebraska All-State and I must say it my new favorite song, still to this day!

I played this piece for the first time about 2 months ago and WOW!!! This piece is amazing. So fun to play. Our conductor had us sight sing the Bach choral that is in the end of the piece, which was really cool to do and make the connection between Bach and how Maslanka added the choral to the piece.

absolutely amazing piece of work, i get chills running up and down my spine listening to this multi emotional work of absolute greatness.

The trombone part is AMAZING and have a blast playing it. This plus bernstine three dance episodes is a hard concert with tough march. Hoping to go to state this year

Played this my senior year, it was amazing and wonderful experience :) I really loved that I played the Contra Bass Clarinet for it too *-*

played this piece for the first time just after my grade 8 exam at Sherbourne summer school of music 2016 just after my 18th birthday and I can honestly say it was the best concert that I have done up to date. loved the experience and the people I met. The music speaks for itself

R.I.P mallet players

Very fun song for Tuba! I like how there are piccolo cues in the middle of the second movement :P

playing 2nd clarinet for this and it's probably the best thing i've played in high school so far

We just played this at our District 8 band concert on Saturday. I am officially addicted to this song.

I'm playing this piece in symphonic band as 3rd flute and I really like it. It's hard and very tedious, but it's a really good piece. I can't wait until we get it together.

Man, the tuba part is a chop killer in the second movement...played this in an ensemble camp back in June.

My band was just introduced this piece today… pray for us

During my senior year we played this a few years ago right before the pandemic hit. We were supposed to go to MPA. This was the last piece I played in high school. I'm definitely satisfied with it. I played first clarinet part, second chair. The woodwind parts are difficult. Side note, the second movement goes crazy. The diminished quality gives it a certain menacingly, yet beautiful tone.

Played the second flute part and holy hell this song was a trip. Love it with all my heart!

This is an amazing piece. I played for all-state my senior year. Still think of this piece almost 3 years later.

We had less than 12 hours to learn this for an honor band.

I was doing homework peaceful at the end of the first movement, and fell out of my chair, startled at the second movement :o Love it

I am playing this piece at a band clinic this weekend, and it is nothing short of incredible. Nothing more to say

Man Give U This Day is one of the most fun and greatest songs I've played as a percussionist ever. The song is so cool and sound awesome!!!

Playing this in my band at MSU where he graduated from. Pretty much love it.

This piece is simply perfect!

I love this! My high school's Symphonic Band played this for their festival. Everyone's mind was blown.

I am learning how to play euphonium on this song... and I have the euphonium solo in the first movement. RIP me through the entire song

me too dude. i love just the intensity in the piece and all the nice arpeggiated work in the second movement

just played this the other day at my district band concert i was almost in tears coz it was so beautiful..

RIP brass lungs. I played this at my TMEA all-region concert and it was incredibly fun but my lungs didn't think so afterward. Beautiful song though. I could've sworn I've heard it in a movie but I can't recall what movie

I played this for all-south and this is my absolute favorite piece

Just had our first concert playing this on 1st tuba. My lungs miraculously survived.

rest in peace maslanka. I played Heart Songs by him and i'm going through his music listening to them right now.

I played this in highschool. Most fun piece I've played.

thank God I had awesome band directors and an absolutely phenomenal group of students to play this with in high-school, I miss it so much.

OH LORD. THIS THING. Played this last year on the spring concert. My cousin and I were the only 1st clarinets (our top band is very small and therefore it's usually 1 or 2 on a 1st part of any instrument.) Though we knocked it out of the ball park. she and I both renamed this piece to "Give us this Hell"......

We played this for honors band and I cannot get it out of my head :D

I'm playing this song for my band right now and it's amazing im a sax and it's so freaking fast but beautiful. Search up the Cathedral City High School band and we an amazing marching band. We won 4th place at csbc grand champs and we have one of the best symphony bands in cali. An honor to be in this band.

Rest In Peace, Maslanka. Your music will live on.

Playing this for a concert tonight as principal trumpet!

This was part of my marching show last year, Echo of the Infinite, Pride of Bixby.

ほんとにいい曲…だいすき

a piece that features contra alto 😍

Shoutouts to the loudest I’ve ever been instructed to play on my instrument🎺🎺 Love this piece

I'm playing this piece at my High Schools End of the year concert!!! Can't Wait

My high school played this my sophomore year... easy peasy. Then, we moved on to Maslanka's Symphony 8, my junior year.

A really beautiful piece. By David! :-)

Playing the Trombone solos at UNT in about 5 days!!!! SAo excited. such a great piece

Loved playing this on horn!

wowzers, so kool! like w0w! I bllllown away by the great sounds happenin on this song!

UBC plays this very well, and it's always a fun listen.

playing this in HS. first euphonium

Let's go Contrbassoon! I heard this song with an addition to a Contrabassoon and it was just moving. Very nice lyrical part with both the Contrabassoon and Double Bass playing.