Back in the 80s Drum Corp International's Garfield Cadets did Apalacian Spring, with some beautiful melophone solos. Very memorable performace because they started and ended the show off the field with only a solo dancer and one horn. Also, the part where they stepped over the rifle line, DCI's Cavaliers also did that back in the 80s. As an old fogey, this was a nice homage to both performances.
After 6 months of humming and searching high and low, I HAVE FOUND THIS DAMN SONG. Good god I was about to crazy. Takes me back to 4th grade music class.
The Euphoniums at 3:45 are beyond outstanding. The sonority of their sound is just amazing. And the ending with the bells, resolving to a major tops all of it off. Brings chills and tears to me every time. Especially because i played this my Junior year of high school, the same year we were Group 5 Open New Jersey State Champs and Northernstate Regional Champions. Good times. Times that i will never forget.
I just saw them tonight in Ft Myers, Florida. They have changed this song ALOT from this performance. Both are still amazing. The poster below who says this doesnt do the live show justice is right. Live the sound is everywhere. AMAZING show.
omg i had seen this live quite a few years ago had wanted to see it again but had forgotten the name. accidently clicked this clip, glad i did. bring back great memories of HS band when i play the French Horn.
Definitely my favorite segment from Blast! It just became much more powerful after I listened to the real Appalachian Spring, then watched SCVanguard perform it for their 2009 show.
Well I saw the conductor under the balcony when they performed at the lyric operahouse in Baltimore and I also remeber in the special features of the Blast DVD they talked about the conductor or D.M under a balcony.
I love when they go into Appalachian Spring...I played it this last spring during our All-State and it brings back fond memories...and they execute it beautifully :)
I remember seeing this live and around 5:30 to 6:10 that part was so cool because you just got blasted with a wall of sound it was physical, knocked you back into your seat... talk about powerful!
Appalachian Spring was very much a Santa Clara Vanguard thing before Blast! came around. Even their show this year is Ballet for Martha which eventually evolved in to Appalachian Spring. ^_^
The level of musicianship/performance of these folks is amazing. The handbells = genius!! My only complaint is the way it got filmed... we didn't get the full glory of the company-front, and from the comments before, I apparently missed a solo..? Thanks for posting. Very nice artistic interpretation of these pieces!
Video does no justice to Blast pieces, especially this one.. when you sit in the audience, you are surrounded by sound, sound comes from all angles... its awe inspiring.
Not many people have PERFECT pitch (I haven't met any yet), but you'd be surprised how easy it is to train your ears. To my understanding, relative pitch is very common among musicians, including high school band students.
Bravo! Much better than a strict Copland operatic of the simple Quaker children's song. Would have preferred the finale with a flugelhorn like in the beginning, but the trumpet was fitting also. And the treatment with the bells......Wow. Another piece to put on headphones and turn off the monitor.
Blast! was essentially an attempt to expand the boundaries of traditional Drum Corp. This particular piece stands Drum Corp right on it's ear. :o) Ballet, Singing.... and traditional DC moves.... WOW.
i would like to meet the 19 ppl that disliked this and smack them upside the head. This is one of the best shows ever, i can say im proud to have seen this live.
Many the gifts, many the people, many the hearts that yearn to belong. Let us be servants to one another, making your kingdom come. Christ be our Light, Shine in our hearts, Shine through the darkness.
This song is so soothing. Teaches a lesson in life. Listen up. LOVE IT! :D (Meditates to song, then sings along.) You do realize it's actually two songs in this video, Simple Gifts and Appalachian Springs
@schantzman87 speaking from marching band experience, it's a bit of both. Yes, BLAST (like all MBs) has a director of sorts, but the problem with stage is the lights make him/her difficult to see, so they have to also be able to keep time themselves. It's the same for field shows, you can't always see the Major, so you have to be able to keep your own time at points and use the others on stage with you to help keep time also.
@puclik ok, NO the only relation they have to London is that, they Premiered their first show at the London Apollo theater in Hammersmith, London. they formed out of the disbanded drum corps, "Star of Indiana" here in the US, they are an American performing group, that tours the world. the point is, they are from the US, not London.
