To hear this again...After 27 years of not playing it, and to still know the words to Movement 3, has brought me to tears. No words. Dr. Mcbeth = Genius.
I played this piece under Dr. McBeth himself in Arkansas All-State Band back around 1994-1995. Such a great conductor and composer. I don't think I've ever played a piece by him that I didn't enjoy immensely.
We played a McBeth piece in one of the AR all-region bands, and right before we played, the conductor had McBeth stand up from the audience. There was a collective jaw drop in the band. He then came up to us after and was so kind and humble. Great memory.
I had the pleasure of performing this and learning it under Dr. McBeth for a whole week at Arkansas Tech University band camp in1990 if my math is right. Seeing him dance around with spindly arms like Queequeg...awesome experience.
@@jeremyford3522 We chewed some of the same dirt...I played this at HSU Band Camp My senior year in 1992. Dr. McBeth didn't conduct us, but he did attend the performance. I was 2nd chair tympani so I filled in on other percussion while the first chair worked his ass off. He was about to go to HSU as a music major and the sea battle scene ate his lunch. I've never hit a gong so hard. We had played Masque at my HS before and he wrote some great stuff for percussion.
This may be my favorite programmatic composition for band to date. I had the privilege of performing it not long after it was published. It's still a great ride. Dr. McBeth gave the band world so many treasures and this is one of the best.
Occasionally, a friend and I decide to sing the second movement using its own title. It would end up kind of sounding like, "Quee quee quee quee quee quee quee quee quee quee quee quee quee quee quee quee queg."
Im playing this piece rn in high school and its one of my favorite pieces ive played so far i love hearing the clarinet flutes and trumpet parts im a tuba btw
Absolutely loved playing this piece on Tuba in college. Mvts 3, 4, and 5 are full of awesome stuff for the Tuba (mvts. 3&4 Tuba parts support quite a lot of unwritten octave doubling in places, btw)
15:48 I love the trombone/euphonium ostinato. It creates such an awesome effect for the horns and trumpets to build on, not to mention the flute, oboe, clarinet, and xylo counter-melody. The layers in this piece are so amazing
One of McBeth’s finest of many superb compositions! The work is so interwoven with the novel in nuance and emotion. I never get tired of hearing or directing it!
My high school band director told me that we might play this in 2014 (my senior year). I really hope that we do, the last time our band played it was in 1998. I think it's time to play it again.
@@andrewmcfarland7580 Yes, at that spot the Trombones actually have a written pedal Bb (unison with Tubas). Knowing that, I took the liberty of playing the Tuba's pedal Bb (which I can, with considerable power) there, instead of the written unison with the Trombones. It sounds a bit like there is an Organ with a 32' Contrabombarde playing the Bb if you do that, which is awesome.
I played it freshman year as 3rd chair tuba in our wind symphony. I’m a senior as 1st rn but unfortunately coronavirus kinda stole my senior year, and therefore, all of our performances :(
Had the honor of playing euphonium on this piece while at Dr. McBeth's Alma Mata (Hardin-Simmons University) under his direction for the Texas Music Educators Association conference back in the 90's. Loved every minute it.
I had the privilege of playing this piece at an all-Francis McBeth concert February 2019. Dr. McBeth's widow and daughter were in attendance. When they were introduced on the stage, they got an ovation lasting longer than those for any of the music on the program!
Going to be playing this piece in the spring. Such a fascinating and gorgeous piece. Our band has less than 50 members. As a trumpet player though, movement 5 is terrifying
Playing this right now in my symphonic band. Up in Cda Idaho. I’m reading bass clarinet but playing contrabass clarinet. Amazing opportunity as a jr in highschool.
Playing this piece right now for my senior year. It's definitely tested the relationship between us and our conductor. Haha but its been a great ride and I can't wait to perform and possibly compete this piece. Francis Macbeth is a genius.
The most symphonic band suite I ever had the chance of playing. And we played a LOT of symphony transcriptions at UAM; not every day one gets to play their trombone AND sing in Symphonic Band -- usually had to walk upstairs to do the latter. 😅
Played this for ct eastern regional many years ago with George Parks conducting. We had a narrator who acted out parts of the story in between the movements, and used our own seagull noises for the beginning and end of the third movement. The fullness of the orchestration and the size of the ensemble made this piece magical.
This song was definitely my favorite to play in high school. But when we played it, we had six french horns so it sounded waaay better (not that I'm biased or anything since I played the french horn XD)
I'm playing this in high school it's so cool that the baritone part has the melody mostly throughout the piece and the low brass does too and at 10:35 the low brass line is just baritones in my high school we have 3 baritones including me
My band is pkaying this song for our next concert. Im gonna be playing the Bb and Eb clarinet so im gonna do a lot of switching bewteen instruments and parts
This was my last piece played in high school (technically second to last). Fun piece. Being a trombone player... But nobody asked! Like I said, fun piece.
I know this is my band because I recall my band director adding in the 'applause' effect at the end of the piece because of the rowdy people. Central Davidson High School Wind Ensemble played this song.
I'm not sure how people can enjoy this. I'm sure I am missing something. I am a junior in high school. i personally don't like this song and think it is boring. Could somebody enlighten me as to how this is enjoyable? no offense intended haha I just don't get it
*gasp* Boring? This piece is beautiful!! I'm learning it right now, but we're only learning 2, 4, and 5, because my band teacher isn't to fond of 1 and 3 lol. Idk her actual reason, but that's what she told us.
Not doing 3 or 1? Those are the best movements because 1 has so many effects that add to the peace before the whale and 3 has the most impact on an audience since it shows you can't only play music, but also sing .
