itsstephenyo Posted October 27, 2007 Report Share Posted October 27, 2007 Wow, I'm a bit late coming to this discussion. Oh, well. Takigan makes a great point in saying that the Dallas Wind Symphony is one of the premier wind symphonies in the nation. When I performed with them in GDYO a few years ago, I remember Maestro Junkin saying something like, "All the people in the performance hall are there because they want to hear great band literature. It's not like the fancy DSO concerts, where everyone dresses up in a tux and ball gown and go listen because they need to be seen doing something fancy. They're there because they did the same thing, and now their children are doing it and they still love it. That's the difference between the DSO and the DWS." It was kinda interesting to hear him say that. I'd never really thought about it in that manner until he said so. By the way, he conducts really weirdly sometimes. During one performance, he would take his fingers and close them up and conduct like that, not using his baton. Really, really odd things sometimes. Great conductor, just kinda weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson07 Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 By the way, he conducts really weirdly sometimes. During one performance, he would take his fingers and close them up and conduct like that, not using his baton. Really, really odd things sometimes. Great conductor, just kinda weird. I've had the opportunity to witness Jerry Junkin conduct before and I completely agree with you. A few years ago, he conducted the Region (18?) Wind Ensemble through Carmina Burana and did it without a score. Plus, he was crazy into this music (but who can blame him, its effing Carmina Burana). But about Whitacre, I played October my sophomore year in high school and I was fortunate enought to play the euphonium solo. This was the first time that I had heard Whitacre before and I just fell in love with his work. All the greats like Noisy Wheels of Joy, Sleep, Lux Aurumque, October, Water Night, Cloudburst, and the list goes on and on. I do agree with some of the other posts on here in that he is not quite considered one of the "Greatest Composers" yet. But, if he continues cranking out more of these amazing pieces, he certainly has a shot at being up there in the big leagues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king_kool360 Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Why did Beethoven not favor his son? Because he kept talking Bach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsstephenyo Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 The weirdest thing I've seen him (Junkin) do is when we played David Maslanka's 4th symphony. During one of the faster paced sections, he would pucker his lips and blow really hard, to the point that his face got incredibly red and this steady stream of air was just escaping his face. I gotta admit, when I saw him do that, I almost started laughing. I'm pretty sure I at least smiled. By the way, I was also at that Region concert. I believe it was Region 24, because I sat there and listened as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shamilton Posted October 31, 2007 Report Share Posted October 31, 2007 Some of Eric's work just exceeds amazing. While adding a contemporary modern feel through new sound effects he still is able to develop such greatness that we all love in music. I am really looking forward to hearing SCV play his piece "Cloudburst" in their upcoming show 3hree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GenericWit Posted November 1, 2007 Report Share Posted November 1, 2007 Why did Beethoven not favor his son? Because he kept talking Bach. Everyone's just gonna ignore that? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessi Posted November 2, 2007 Report Share Posted November 2, 2007 waternight...amazing!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flutealicious Posted November 8, 2007 Report Share Posted November 8, 2007 so, during summer band, we were rehersing with the pit in the band hall, and we started playing Lux Arumque. it was amazing, and as my friend says, the band directors eqivalant of an orgasm. YES, he is the next great composer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachnutc2c Posted November 9, 2007 Report Share Posted November 9, 2007 we actully played "october" during our marching show this year.. it was the first time i had even heard of whitacre. after playing hearing october, i looked into him and he is easily one of the greatest composers i have heard. i fell in love with his music immediatly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radchad Posted November 13, 2007 Report Share Posted November 13, 2007 Waternight for the win. :] It's like Dmitri Shostakovich. Many of his works were created in reaction to that time period. He had some rough spots in his life. When he was happy, his works were slightly more upbeat. In times of sorrow, well, you know where I am going. It's hard to really compare any composer, especially over such a long period of time. Eric Whitacre vs. Beethoven. Lmao. That just doesn't look right to me. Music has changed with the times. Even comparing modern music with 70's music. It has changed. Eric Whitacre represents modern music while someone like Beethoven represents how music once was. Erich Whitacre is a production of what Beethoven and Bach started. Haha. None of that made sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonepit06-07 Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 our top band at Connally is suppose to do a whitacre piece for UIL this semester idk wat its called though were gonna sightread it some time this week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesnareguy Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 With Each Sunset Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebellbrass07 Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 It's like Dmitri Shostakovich. Many of his works were created in reaction to that time period. He had some rough spots in his life. When he was happy, his works were slightly more upbeat. In times of sorrow, well, you know where I am going. Well considering Eric Whitacre isn't living in the time of one of historys most evil dictators, and his music isnt inspired by politics, you might want to re check that statement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takigan Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 With Each Sunset ? Isn't that by Richard Saucedo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesnareguy Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 LOL. For some reason I thought of it that one instead of Sleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaverickBand15 Posted January 25, 2008 Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 Our Winterguard is using sleep for their soundtrack, and it was our ballad in our marching band show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonepit06-07 Posted February 21, 2008 Report Share Posted February 21, 2008 i think conally's varsity band is thinkin about lux aurenbore i think is wat it is called to play for UIL contest when we sight read it... it had all the elements of a perfect ballad.... great chords disenance and wat not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbroomas Posted February 21, 2008 Report Share Posted February 21, 2008 i think conally's varsity band is thinkin about lux aurenbore i think is wat it is called to play for UIL contest when we sight read it... it had all the elements of a perfect ballad.... great chords disenance and wat not. The name of the piece of Lux Aurumque, and it's a beautiful piece both played and sung....and yes all of Eric Whitacre's music has Dissonance. In fact most of his pieces have tone clusters, which is a twentieth century music term meaning that there are several pitches stacked on top of one another, either a half step or whole step up or down. Depending on the combination of pitches, they can create some amazing musical sounds. A little twentieth century counterpoint for ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I MARCH Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 He's a great composer but one of the best upcoming composer's is John Mackey. His Music has a lot of meaning and also 21st century Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takigan Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Well look at it this way, Whitacre has been around for awhile now, while Mackey is a rising star. It's like fads....they come and go, Mackey is the "IN" composer right now....mainly because Eric hasn't written a new band piece in several years and people are also looking for something new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmbalash Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 If you're on Facebook (and really, who isn't these days?) go to Eric Whitacre's fan page. He posted all of the demo tracks for Paradise Lost: Opera Electronica a few months back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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