is anybody a band nerd?

[Dave]

Used, my high school is Brockton High School, in Brockton, MA. I don't know about ACC this year, because I'm not following their happenings too much. I'm in college now, so I don't know what they're up to. I do know that they're planning a trip to Virginia for a band trip and competition. They aren't as good anymore, considering all the really cool and awesome bandos graduated, but they aren't phenomenal.
AND NOW.
Okay, here's the deal: I don't have the recordings I thought I did. While we did these songs, these recordings aren't us. But I got an idea! I would present to you professional recordings, and, when I do get my hands on the recordings our band did in a week or so, I'll post them, and you can compare for yourself how they sound.
This link will direct you to a download. WinZip or WinRAR should be able to open it. Three of the best songs from last year, performed by a professional band (not sure who). This is so you know how cool these songs are. Eternal Father Strong to Save, Ride, and Mannin Veen. Frickin' awesome.
This is Inchon, another professional recording. I performed this my sophomore year in high school, and sounded almost as good as this recording. The helicoptery sounds are done with bass drum heads. Sweet.
This nearly 19 minute beauty is called Suite of Old American Dances. We did played it my sophomore year, and it was really freaking sweet.
And now.
I only have three songs for now that were actually performed by us. They are only medleys... one is a Tribute to Andrew Lloyd Weber, one is a medley of songs from the musical Chicago, and the last is a medley of Batman tunes ... all from varied years in my high school careers, but they are us.
I hope that these are to you guys' liking. In a week or so I'll be able to get the recordings of us up, and you can decide for yourselves how good we sound compared to professional groups. Okay. Enjoy n' stuff.

[Al the Vykker]

We sightread Suite of of Old American Dances a few weeks ago in Wind Ensemble and we played Ride in wind ensemble last year as well.

We submitted for super state contest this year in wind ensemble: Blue Shades, Magnum Mysterium, and Overture to 'Candide.'

Our musical this year this year is actually Chicago and it'll be the first time since three years ago that we've had a full pit orchestra for the musical. I was in the pit as a freshman for Anything Goes and that was awesome so this should be kick ass.

[used:)]

Yeah, I am in pit orchestra now for The Scarlet Pimpernel. It's good music, but half of it is C major so having 5 sharps at once on the key signature can get difficult. >_>

Al, how did your school ever allow Chicago to be performed?

[Dave]

We did Candide last year, but I didn't have any recordings ... bah.
I've never been in pit, much to my chagrin, but I would have loved to be.
And no way is your school doing Chicago. Unless maybe you're at a college somewhere.

[Al the Vykker]

We did Candide last year, but I didn't have any recordings ... bah.
I've never been in pit, much to my chagrin, but I would have loved to be.
And no way is your school doing Chicago. Unless maybe you're at a college somewhere.

Do you want me to link you to the schools website? =P I have pit orchestra auditions this friday, we got the rights before last years school year ended the theatre director got it that is and now all the music department/theatre etc are involved with it. It's going to be awesome we have some high quality productions as it is and on a side note I hope to find a host for our jazz band stuff cuz last nights concert was kickin! We played Mission to Monterey, Wrgley, and Nuyorican Son.

And Used to answer your question, we have a fairly liberal school board, and I'm sure we'll be cutting some of the really risque stuff but who knows we've gotten away with plenty.

[Majic]

Pit is gay. So is Full Orchestra.

Euphoniums ain't good enough for their shit

Not like I wanted to anyways.[/bitter]

[Dave]

Use this site to host your files. It seemed to work for me. Just don't lose the link they give you, because I don't think there's any other way to retrieve the files.

Also! Is anyone here familiar with the Grand Serenade for an Awful Lot of Winds and Percussion? It's a lot more fun to perform and/or see performed than to hear, but I've linked our band's recording anyway. We did it three years ago. It's supposed to be a fun piece, lots of strange things. At one point the clarinet section had to gargle water at a certain pitch, for one movement everyone played on only their mouthpieces, etc. And over the years, Macrina - the band director - had added things that our band would do. Feathers flying, bandos swaying in wide circles, a cowboy running across the stage (our cowboy was about 6 and a half feet tall, black, and usually silent), the trumpet section did the wave, and some other stuff I'm sure I forgot. The song is just under 11 minutes long. The percussionists, despite the overly silly sound effects, were to have overly serious faces.
Note on the third movement: you'll hear a clumsily executed drum roll. Several trumpets hold up signs with 2s and 3s on it. A second drum roll: 7s and 8s. A third drum roll: 8s and 9s. A fourth, also clumsy but more enthusiastic drum roll, and at the cymbal crash he knocks his competitors off the risers. He gets 3 10s.
There is a section where the first five alto saxophones come out, and it looks like they're going to have a great big thing on their own, and they all blow a single terrible note an go sit down.
Okay. Enjoy. It wasn't the best band we've had, but I thought I'd share it with you guys.

[Al the Vykker]

Use this site to host your files. It seemed to work for me. Just don't lose the link they give you, because I don't think there's any other way to retrieve the files.

Also! Is anyone here familiar with the Grand Serenade for an Awful Lot of Winds and Percussion? It's a lot more fun to perform and/or see performed than to hear, but I've linked our band's recording anyway. We did it three years ago. It's supposed to be a fun piece, lots of strange things. At one point the clarinet section had to gargle water at a certain pitch, for one movement everyone played on only their mouthpieces, etc. And over the years, Macrina - the band director - had added things that our band would do. Feathers flying, bandos swaying in wide circles, a cowboy running across the stage (our cowboy was about 6 and a half feet tall, black, and usually silent), the trumpet section did the wave, and some other stuff I'm sure I forgot. The song is just under 11 minutes long. The percussionists, despite the overly silly sound effects, were to have overly serious faces.
Note on the third movement: you'll hear a clumsily executed drum roll. Several trumpets hold up signs with 2s and 3s on it. A second drum roll: 7s and 8s. A third drum roll: 8s and 9s. A fourth, also clumsy but more enthusiastic drum roll, and at the cymbal crash he knocks his competitors off the risers. He gets 3 10s.
There is a section where the first five alto saxophones come out, and it looks like they're going to have a great big thing on their own, and they all blow a single terrible note an go sit down.
Okay. Enjoy. It wasn't the best band we've had, but I thought I'd share it with you guys.

We played that song in Symphonic Band two years ago!!! Loved it seriously good times playing that allrighty I'll get some of those files ready for the downloading. I'll get last year's compiliation CD of our top Jazz Band on there since we dont have our 05-06 out yet of course lol.

[mitsur]

Oh god... :P. No not me, I hate instruments. I love music, but I hate instruments >.<.

I saw this movie once though, it was like a band drill camp. That movie was awsome.

Same. I've been forced to play the viola for the past 4 years. >.<.

It sucks. Badly. Just the amount of practicing required drove me over the edge.

[Dave]

YES!
Got my band's music here. Boom!
Now, these first four tracks are from our performance at Symphony Hall in Boston.
Brockton Introduced
Rifle Regiment March
Eternal Father Strong to Save
Mannin Veen
The rest are collected from throughout my senior year.
American Salute
A Hymn to the Fallen (from the soundtrack to Saving Private Ryan)
Ride
William Tell Overture
Theme from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (Marching Band Haftime Show Opener)
These two are supposed to be Christmas tunes.
Mary's Boy Child
Cielito Lindo

Please, guys. Give 'em a listen. Tell me what you think. An alright band or what?

[Paris]

My boyfriend was in high school. He played alto and tenor sax. And the drums. I was a cheerleader - that's how we met
And three years later we're engaged!

[used:)]

My boyfriend was in high school. He played alto and tenor sax. And the drums. I was a cheerleader - that's how we met
And three years later we're engaged!

A match made in heaven.

[Dave]

I feel the need to bump this.
I'm feeling ashamed and unsure because no one has told me what they thought of my school band... it's not that bad, is it?

[used:)]

Sorry, but the links you sent required some stuff I didn't want to get into. So meh :/

[Adriel]

Well, that sucks doesn't it.

[Al the Vykker]

Sorry Dave yeah I was lazy and forgot to check these the last time I was here but I will and give you a verdict. Forgot to mention in here our Wind Ensemble got selected for Super State for the state of Illinois! We'll be playing Blueshades, Candide, and Magnum Mysterium! =)

Oh and on American Salute at our concert in February I had the Alto Sax (since we didn't have an english horn) solo!

[used:)]

The marching band is doing something similar at my school. We are marching on main street on april 13 I think playing a traditional called a Salute to America in Disney, Florida. The whole trip is really shaping up to be great.

[Dave]

Right on, Al! Super State, no shit. Sweet deal on the solo. If you've got a recording (or when you get one), post it. I'd love to hear it.
And word up for Candide. We did that ... wow, last year. Three movements.
And Used. Florida trip? Fun times. I assume you'll get to hang around and hit the park. I hope you like rides. I don't, and so I had kind of a boring time. I got into the Blues Brothers out there, though, when we went to the House of Blues.
Oh, wait ... do you mean Main Street USA in Disney? DAMN. Word up to you guys. My band didn't do that - we just competed and then performed in Disney and Epcot. Right on, Used. Good luck.[/jealousy]

[Adriel]

hey, I went to solo and ensamble last week and got 2 ones. one on trumpet and one on trombone. And a 3 in a brass quartet.