Favorite Musical Moments — Band Edition

[the elephant]

The Incredibles.

[sweaty]

My favorites were from John Paynter conducting. He had such a mind on him, he could take a mediocre composition and turn it into a great experience. With a great composition, he would turn it into an experience I remember for decades. An absolute master craftsman of music.

In the 80's, we did Maslanka Symphony No. 2 when it was still in manuscript. The composer talked to us and had tears rolling down his cheeks because he was so moved and thrilled by how his music came to life. I watched a rehearsal of Paynter conducting the second band at Northwestern playing Carmen Dragon's "America the Beautiful". Wow. The beauty, drama, and power he brought out was unlike any performance I've heard of that piece since. I can still feel the goosebumps 35 years later.

[arpthark]

Carmen Dragon's "America the Beautiful"

Oh heck yes. I had almost forgotten about this wonderful arrangement -- I haven't played it in a long time.

When I was in middle school and high school, I went -- almost every summer, from 7th grade until 11th grade -- to the Stephen Foster Music Camp held at Eastern Kentucky University. It was two weeks, and we had a concert at the end of each week, working on music all day, taking lessons with the profs at EKU, playing in small ensembles (my first tuba ensemble experience, yadda yadda). The last piece at the last concert at the end of the 2 weeks was, unfailingly, Carmen Dragon's "America the Beautiful." Outdoor concert in the summer, warm nights, all the families there, capping off a two week journey, friendships forged, memories made. Fun times.

[Teubonium]

Two of my brass band favorites

Riverdance arranged by Ray Farr

Last Call by Otto Schwarz

[Oedipoes]

Banja Luka, Jan de Haan

[C J]

I Don't know where to start,
Alfred Reed, Armenian Dances, Russian Christmas
Robert Jager, Esprit de corps
R.Strauss: Zueignung, Allerseelen
Hardy Mertens: Armageddon (never ever have I heard a better interplay between a Flute and a saxophone)
Philip Sparke, year of the dragon, Sunken village
Johan de Meij, Lord of the Rings, Loch Ness
Of course Elsa's

And I think I forgot a lot of music I have played and loved at the time (more then 23 years playing in community wind bands, 50 rehearsals a year and I think about 8 or 9 different concertprograms a year)

[MikeS]

In concert band, the euphonium counter melody at the end of “Purple Carnival” always makes me smile. The first thing that came to mind for brass band was James Curnow’s “Meditation- The New Covenant.” It’s a regular in my band’s repertoire and I always look forward to playing it.

[MikeS]

I meant to add Stephen Bulla’s “Twelve Days of Christmas.” It’s a workout for every player in the band but we all are smiling at the end.

[arpthark]

I meant to add Stephen Bulla’s “Twelve Days of Christmas.” It’s a workout for every player in the band but we all are smiling at the end.

Stephen Bulla's arrangements are, in my opinion, hit-or-miss, but I've always liked this one.

[Heavy_Metal]

I love almost every moment in Alfred Reed's "Russian Christmas Music", which is a masterpiece of band writing, in my opinion.

This. I've played quite a few pieces mentioned in this thread, but this was THE high point. Unfortunately, our performance is not on YouTuba.

[graybach]