SCORE STUDY EPISODE #13: SHELTERING SKY (John Mackey) 

I remember playing this in my schools wind ensemble, “F” always gives me goosebumps and is just so pure and beautiful in its resolution. Probably my absolute favorite piece I have ever heard and played

I played alto sax in highschool and for my auditions for band placement between my sophmore year semesters. I was in second band, had the opportunity to move up to top band: wind ensemble. Our directors had a way to quantify our abilities, but they also made it clear that on each audition piece (scales, thirds, arpeggios and 2 etudes), points 80-100 (out of 100) were subjective. When it was all sum-totaled and added up, I was kept in second band. But I was sat down with all the directors after they had a meeting with the 5 of them and told that the lowest scoring alto in the top band only scored so many points more than me. I don't remember the exact numbers, but I do remember it meant he scored 0.014% higher than me. Not 14% or 1.4%, but 1.4% of 1%. It was one or two points out of 1500 possible. Considering the inherent subjectivity, i'd say it was a tie. But for reasons I can understand, they wanted the perfect balance/ratio of instruments in the top band. I missed out on playing Aurora Awakes that semester which still pains me to this day. But the silver lining of it, which is still hard to find peace in, is I got to play this piece and had the solo's. It's by far my most favorite classical piece of any music you could consider classical. I will forever cherish the memories of playing this piece many times a day in rehearsal for a month or so, but goddammit that 0.014% . They eventually had a meeting and decided it was a disservice and unfair to keep me in the lower band. I've found this piece sounds the best and hurts the most in times of emotional distress. One day I'll listen to it and just hit skip or go onto the next, but another day I'll cry to it. It's incredible, and deep and profound

My Junior High School band director is one of the 2 band directors who had this piece commissioned. It’s in memory of a student who attended my district who sadly passed away. When Sandy Hook happened the one of the military bands played it at Midwest Clinic the same day or the day after I don’t quite remember. My band director’s words of breaking up the score is that you think of the beginning as the students arriving to school. Then when you get to B it’s the start of the school day but once you get to E to H you hear the trumpets and lows battling it out until the lows prevail symbolizing that the shooter had won. Which is why at H it’s the Euphoniums (my instrument) playing the melodic line of H that then goes to the Oboe. We then begin to hear the leitmotif from the beginning again but this time it feels different which again symbolizes Sandy Hook when it comes to school shootings. Sandy Hook has a different meaning now just like all the other school shootings. We worked on this piece my whole 8th grade year until we ended up perfecting it for our last concert. Also the band directors who commissioned the piece are Rachel Maxwell and Daniel Harrison

I remember playing this my jonior year in band, and as first chair horn, I was the only one playing at the beginning and end, it was so nerve wracking that I almost didnt get the note out during live performance

Love this! Please consider more John Mackey songs like Aurora Awakes or Hymn to a Blue Hour as well. Keep up the great work!

I was the poor clarinet at the beginning who has to hold that Eb forever

So beautiful!

Simply amazing..

Great job, i will say that the vibe part in the beginning is bowed! Other than that your transcribing is flawless!!

Excellent job! Oh man, imagine a score study of Redline Tango.... totally nutzo

Amazing!

I love how this piece sounds but to play it, It’s a nightmare. All the interlocking parts and balance and blend is super difficult. My band is actually performing it tomorrow.

Could you please do a score study on The Witch And The Saint by Steven Reineke?

Give us this day Mvmt 2!!

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥Absolute heat🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

I get the oboe solos for this and my director chose this piece partly because of how strong of a player he considers me...I better not mess up.

Would love to see your take on Turbine by John Mackey!

Saturn Returns by Michael Markowski

Beautiful piece of music, thank you for introducing me to this piece and composer. How much would you charge for a pdf copy of the condensed score? I would love to arrange this for my woodwind quintet.

Could you do a score study episode on Angels in the Architecture by Frank Ticheli?

We're doing this in my concert band now. I'm on vibes, but I don't have a bow :(

I always get lost in this music...

This is so sad