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I only caught bits and pieces of the event, but the band playing marches, wow! Probably the best performance of them you can ever hear. Everything was crisp, well balanced. Really fantastic. I'm assuming it was being played live. Not recordings....

I would think “The President’s Own” USMC Band. I didn’t catch the proceedings.

You may have noticed that Wade and I chatted about the Army Field Band - which played quite a few marches (and more of a variety of marches) in the arena where the indoor parade was held afterward. I'm not sure if they were seen/heard by as many as the inauguration itself, because I don't think it was on major networks, but the Army Field Band to me always sounds every bit as good as the so-called DC bands. (I actually believe they played more marches than you heard at the inauguration.) Yeah, I guess the Marine Band is just a little better than all the rest of them, but not much. There was an incredible swell in the quality of the D.C. bands during the Vietnam War (for fairly obvious reasons) and - after that - it (almost unnoticeably) dropped in quality (probably unnoticeable to all but the most critical ears), but as all of these conservatories have been cranking out so many more players than there are jobs, the economy is so weak, and symphony orchestras are cutting pay and services, all of those bands are back to the level that they were during the Vietnam War (if not better, as instruments and mouthpieces - and maybe even learning and practicing techniques have all improved since that time).

I did browse through your posts on the marching show. I didnt realise that show was a part of the inauguration events. The army field band used to do a show near my hometown on a yearly basis. I havent heard anything about it in recent years though. They are fantastic. I really enjoy the discipline and control they have. Especially with dynamics. So much nuance is lost when people play between mf and ff all the time.