ThanksForAllTheFish

By far, our show this year was the hardest our school has ever attempted. It paid off though. We did well at Nationals.

1. October - Eric Whitacre Brilliant piece by a brilliant composer. If you have not heard this piece or do not enjoy it, you can hardly consider yourself a musician. 2. Rocky Point Holiday - Ron Nelson This piece is a perfect addition to any concert anywhere. Ron Nelson's classic is most fondly remembered by the Dallas Wind Symphony recordings I continue to hear. Jerry Junkin truly takes that piece to heart, and conducts (in general) like a god. Kudos to Nelson for this brilliant work. 3. Whatsoever Things - Mark Camphouse Very few good recordings exist of this piece. Mark Camphouse's work is a tribute to John P. Paynter. This 14+ minute piece brings tears to my eyes each time I hear it. Playing it for UIL last year was truly an amazing experience. 4. Symphony No. 2 Mvt. 3 "Apollo Unleashed" - Frank Ticheli WOW! Frank Ticheli is a genius! This piece took me a good month to like. The first time I listened to it, I really disliked it. But I just kept listening to it. It got better every time. Now, I love the piece so much that I've heard it live by the Dallas Wind Symphony, bought a score for the whole Symphony (and got Frank Ticheli himself to sign it), and have the beforementioned score almost entirely memorized. Listen to it. Now. 5. The Hounds of Spring - Alfred Reed Incredible piece, although it's a bit easier than a few pieces I mentioned earlier. The small "ballad" section in the middle of the piece is gorgeous. This is, save Russian Christmas Music, probably one of Reed's best works. 6. Symphony No. 5 Mvt. 4 "Finale" - Shostakovich Quite possibly the greatest orchestral symphony of the 20th century. And not only the fourth movement: I'm talking the entire symphony. This is another one of those pieces that you need to just go download. RIGHT. NOW. 7. First Suite in E Flat - Holst A classic. It was around before I was alive, and it will be around long after I die. This is a true example of CLASSIC band literature. Listen to it today. 8. Lux Aurumque - Eric Whitacre Whitacre is most well known for two reasons: The band piece October and his numerous choral works. Lux Aurumque was originally a choral piece, but Whitacre arranged a version for band upon request for the 2005 TMEA All State 5A Symphonic Band. This lush piece of music is literally the definition of what Whitacre is all about. Go look this up. While you're on Whitacre, go look up some choral works as well, including "Water Night," "Sleep," "When David Heard," and "Cloudburst," which was also arranged for band. 9. Damnation of Faust - Hector Berlioz Originally written by Hector Berlioz for orchestra. The band version is equally as powerful. This is really an amazing march. Great fun to conduct when sitting at home. Check it out, and you won't be disappointed. 10. Medea's Dance of Vengeance - Samuel Barber One cannot list classic pieces of music without listing Samuel Barber's classic, Medea's Dance of Vengeance. I perfer hearing the orchestral version of this piece rather than the band arrangement. Oh yeah, and don't just listen to the fast stuff starting at around eight minutes and thirty seconds. The beginning is quite amazing as well. 11. Adagio for Strings - Samuel Barber Again, this is a classic that cannot be left off of any list. Listen to it. It's gorgeous. You will cry. You will get chills. Embrace them, and you will go far in your musical career, young grasshopper.

L.D. Bell had the hardest show this year, no doubt about it. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.