Frank Ticheli conducting his own work Blue Shades with the Georgia State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble; November 8, 2011, Rialto Center for the Arts, Atlanta, GA
Played this with my HS wind ensemble last year. Frank Ticheli actually did a workshop with us last semester on this piece. You could tell he really loves what he does.
We played this at BoA in 1999. Our first-chair clarinet nailed that solo every single day in rehearsal, but, sure enough, he squeaked on one of the bends in the performance. I was a 3rd clarinet at the time, if I recall, and everyone in the entire section practiced that damn solo and never could quite get it. It's a bear. Beautiful bass clarinet on this performance, btw. Great job overall.
That clarinet solo is a bitch to play! I had to play it at a concert and had the same thing happen to me. Nailed it in rehearsal, but at the concert I cracked the high G and it didn't go well after that. I was kicking myself afterwards!
Ha… I told my college band director that if that specific section didn’t make me want to step out for a cigarette it wasn’t dirty enough 🤣 I also told various brass players that if that section didn’t make me … well I think you get the point lol
Thank you so much for uploading this video of Prof. Ticheli leading the band in his piece 'Blue Shades', always a treat to see a composer conduct their own works.
I had the privilege of meeting and playing with Ticheli in person recently. Hes a fantastic composer and it was an incredible experience to play one of his own pieces with him, and hearing the theories and intentions behind the compositions. Hes a very animated person, great to be around! Thanks for the upload!
I've got to say, it was a joy playing this piece. Since this song has a lot of weird off beats and tricky rhythms, it was a blast to play this song as a percussionist! (I played the cowbell, slapstick, bass drum, castanets, suspended cymbal, and ride cymbal, so I was busy!) And it was also great running around the stage like a maniac! XD
We played an arrangement of this as part of our marching band show my junior year of high school it was so beautiful. His compositions allow each section to shine in the most magical ways. I’m so thankful my directors picked so many Ticheli pieces for us to perform they were so much fun to play and absolutely genius.
Playing this in my band, and I'm playing 1st Clarinet. I almost died laughing when I first saw the solo page. This is an awesome song, and a great recording. I wish the conducting and audio were in sync though.
I played 3rd percussion for this piece with my school band for my country "Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging" and we got Gold with honour. Love this song
My high school is trying to play this. We aren't good enough, but it's my last year that he'll be able to. A lot of the keystone players are graduating so he wants to do this for one of the last times he'll be able to. Our clarinet has true talent
So bad, we missed an entire measure in the section after the bass clarinet solo, and her clarinet broke in the 30 seconds leading up to the concert, and if was somehow fixed well enough, but we did very well in the end part, or as I called it, the only part where playing french horn is fun in the entire song, I practiced rips so much for it, and it was a good ending. But the most dramatic part was ruined, so that's too bad.
Performing this with the Colorado Mesa University Wind Symphony. Probably one of my least favourite pieces I've played over 10 years, but this recording inspires me. It would've been amazing to work on this with Frank Ticheli.
So mad. Didn't have the instrumentation for it last year so I we didn't do this piece. Would've been so fun. (Id have the clarinet solo ugh). But we played Italian in Algiers instead and I got some of the oboe parts. Was still fun I got my moment. But still this would've been fun.
Yeah, brass, around 7'30-40ish! As for the clarinet, at least she tried to play the style correctly, but others here are right when they talk about her tone.
I agree honestly. His style is so unique, very contemporary with all these rhythmic and difficult entrances, just pure badassery. Like it’s legit impossible to not like his music.
+Luis Garza I actually thought it could have been interpreted as a slight bit of improv...! Think if you didn't know this piece, that squeak could have just as much been a musical gesture.
I like his conducting style a bit better than his composing. Love how he cues people. Like he's handing it to them. Composers for college band music always seem to be trying to write music so the band can show how awesome they are. 'Yeah, we can play any random crap you throw at us...' Trouble is random crap isn't all that musical. This one wasn't so bad though. Kinda Gershwin-esque.
Composer Guy Yeah, I'm sure if I had to play it I'd appreciate it more. It's like "Mountains Rising Nowhere." I hated it when I was playing my own (euphonium) part, but as utility percussion I liked it a lot. Another poster made the point that when you make a mistake on this sort of piece no one can tell. That's what I mean about random crap. I prefer music where the listener can tell when you make a mistake. Shostakovich, Tschaikovsky, Holst, Grainger, Rossini. Those guys aren't out to prove how well the band can read music, they're out to make good music that might be hard to play. Or not.
It's like he's shooting music out of his hands and elbows.
Frank Ticheli is brilliant.
Darth Ticheli
if i had a dollar for every minor third in this piece, i'd be able to buy a new trombone
Played this with my HS wind ensemble last year. Frank Ticheli actually did a workshop with us last semester on this piece. You could tell he really loves what he does.
We played this at BoA in 1999. Our first-chair clarinet nailed that solo every single day in rehearsal, but, sure enough, he squeaked on one of the bends in the performance. I was a 3rd clarinet at the time, if I recall, and everyone in the entire section practiced that damn solo and never could quite get it. It's a bear. Beautiful bass clarinet on this performance, btw. Great job overall.
That clarinet solo is a bitch to play! I had to play it at a concert and had the same thing happen to me. Nailed it in rehearsal, but at the concert I cracked the high G and it didn't go well after that. I was kicking myself afterwards!
The "Dirty" part gave me chills good lord
Ha… I told my college band director that if that specific section didn’t make me want to step out for a cigarette it wasn’t dirty enough 🤣
I also told various brass players that if that section didn’t make me … well I think you get the point lol
This guy was NOT playing around with his piece. He demanded EVERYTHING from his musicians.
i hated playing blue shades every rehearsal until it all just clicked a week before the concert. now i can't get enough of it
Thank you so much for uploading this video of Prof. Ticheli leading the band in his piece 'Blue Shades', always a treat to see a composer conduct their own works.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I had the privilege of meeting and playing with Ticheli in person recently. Hes a fantastic composer and it was an incredible experience to play one of his own pieces with him, and hearing the theories and intentions behind the compositions. Hes a very animated person, great to be around! Thanks for the upload!
I've got to say, it was a joy playing this piece. Since this song has a lot of weird off beats and tricky rhythms, it was a blast to play this song as a percussionist! (I played the cowbell, slapstick, bass drum, castanets, suspended cymbal, and ride cymbal, so I was busy!) And it was also great running around the stage like a maniac! XD
I love this! Seeing his expressions when he conducts it brought a smile to my face 😊 I love playing this awesome piece :)
FRANK TICHELI IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING JUST WOW.
We played an arrangement of this as part of our marching band show my junior year of high school it was so beautiful. His compositions allow each section to shine in the most magical ways. I’m so thankful my directors picked so many Ticheli pieces for us to perform they were so much fun to play and absolutely genius.
This piece blows my mind every time the same way it did when I first heard it. So crazy
i love this man
This group sounds amazing. Congrats on such a great performance!
Fantastic piece!
He looks so happy when the cow bell and aux percussion have the break in the middle
All that bass clarinet gives me life
Poor thing got shook up after that squeak in the solo and sped up. Still really great job.
We're playing this. Love this piece. Having so much fun working on it.
Dear God...I'm a freshman and were starting to play this.....
+Logan Payne its all good you will get it im a shophomore and i know the solo my director made me learn it as a backup
we played this for Wisconsin State High School Honor Band. An absolute blast to perform!
Playing this in a concert tomorrow night. Truly an awesome piece. Very excited.
How did it go?
hey how’s things now? still with band somewhat? :)
This piece is awesome for percussion. I played timpani, tambourine and triangle.
Oh we played this at Grissom last year! I had the clarinet solos. Terrifying but it was such a fun piece to play!!
Playing this in my band, and I'm playing 1st Clarinet. I almost died laughing when I first saw the solo page. This is an awesome song, and a great recording. I wish the conducting and audio were in sync though.
I played 3rd percussion for this piece with my school band for my country "Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging" and we got Gold with honour. Love this song
hey I love that profile picture of yours X) hopefully I can play this one day ❤️
My high school is trying to play this. We aren't good enough, but it's my last year that he'll be able to. A lot of the keystone players are graduating so he wants to do this for one of the last times he'll be able to. Our clarinet has true talent
How'd it go?
So bad, we missed an entire measure in the section after the bass clarinet solo, and her clarinet broke in the 30 seconds leading up to the concert, and if was somehow fixed well enough, but we did very well in the end part, or as I called it, the only part where playing french horn is fun in the entire song, I practiced rips so much for it, and it was a good ending. But the most dramatic part was ruined, so that's too bad.
Med Down SAME im a senior and the best players at my school are about to leave and we are playing this
Loving this! Haha
Timpani part for this was lit
Well done.
That solo can sound better if she only had a better Clarinet tone, and absolutely no squeaks, but at least she tried her best. Very tough solo.
OMG this música is só briliant
This was the first song I ever performed on bassoon with my wind ensemble
Yes
still can’t believe this is 11 years old, wow :(
the better question is what time signatures are not included in this piece
it really isnt that bad just 3/4, 4/4, and a bit of 6/8
So many signature changes, Tool filed a lawsuit 😛
Performing this with the Colorado Mesa University Wind Symphony. Probably one of my least favourite pieces I've played over 10 years, but this recording inspires me. It would've been amazing to work on this with Frank Ticheli.
Wow, lot's of Gershwin elements in this!
Dat bass clarinet solo. So close to nailing it except for the triplets at the end of each phrase.
+Montana Williams It was easy for me
Me too
The time signatures in this should be fun.
3/4, 4/4, and a few measures of 6/8
So mad. Didn't have the instrumentation for it last year so I we didn't do this piece. Would've been so fun. (Id have the clarinet solo ugh). But we played Italian in Algiers instead and I got some of the oboe parts. Was still fun I got my moment. But still this would've been fun.
He clearly spent a lot of time studying the score
he composed the piece 😂
im surprised his baton didn't come flying out of his hands
my favorite part is 3:08 😍 hard to play but sounds sooo cool
7:52 - Count! Hahaha
I mean the festival in my country **
This piece doesn't have that many awkward time signatures. It's primarily 3/4 with some 4/4 and like 10 bars of 6/8
Yeah, but it's all of the off beats and different layers of instruments that make it hard to play.
Obviously you've never seen the 1993 Blue Devils. Over 200 time signature changes in the show, most in 8's.
He doesnt evn need a conductor book. Hahahah
It's called a Score. The music that conductors read the music off of is called the Score.
1:47 clarinet dude had one job and literally blew it
His face at 9:22 he is so excited XD
Lol loving the uni students saying how hard it is. We played this for Queensland Youth Orchestra and our youngest player was 10
Hi Jenny
Reverberations - Brian Balmages
Yep, Balmages' Reverberations totally rips off Blue Shades. Law suit?
Pretty good. I give this 4 sharks out of 5 tails
Mute the video, then watch :)
Amazing performance though, Ticheli knows how to compose good music.
Yeah, brass, around 7'30-40ish! As for the clarinet, at least she tried to play the style correctly, but others here are right when they talk about her tone.
Pretty in sync for me
0:49
3:08
5:42
1:48
Modern-Day Bernstein!
I agree honestly. His style is so unique, very contemporary with all these rhythmic and difficult entrances, just pure badassery. Like it’s legit impossible to not like his music.
Yeah it does sound like him, doesn't he?
cant believe the bass clarinet squeaked the high note in the last solo
You can tell its not out of sync. Just watch ticheli singing along at 4:43. The cues are coming early to offset reaction time.
The squeak on the solo disappointed me so much
Luis Garza Imagine how he feel. He did it in front of the composer. I'd be crushed. Don't be so hard on him.
+Luis Garza I actually thought it could have been interpreted as a slight bit of improv...! Think if you didn't know this piece, that squeak could have just as much been a musical gesture.
Eh, it happens. Anyone who attempts this solo in front of the composer and kicks as much ass as this person did (squeak and all) is a hero.
i feel so bad for the soloist lmaooo, ticheli literally lost his whole groove because of that, but its still a vreat attempt
I like his conducting style a bit better than his composing. Love how he cues people. Like he's handing it to them. Composers for college band music always seem to be trying to write music so the band can show how awesome they are. 'Yeah, we can play any random crap you throw at us...' Trouble is random crap isn't all that musical. This one wasn't so bad though. Kinda Gershwin-esque.
Composer Guy Yeah, I'm sure if I had to play it I'd appreciate it more. It's like "Mountains Rising Nowhere." I hated it when I was playing my own (euphonium) part, but as utility percussion I liked it a lot. Another poster made the point that when you make a mistake on this sort of piece no one can tell. That's what I mean about random crap. I prefer music where the listener can tell when you make a mistake. Shostakovich, Tschaikovsky, Holst, Grainger, Rossini. Those guys aren't out to prove how well the band can read music, they're out to make good music that might be hard to play. Or not.
Top comment WHOOP
Dirty
SOooooo out of synch.
Yikes.. my high school performed this ... well... considerably better
The clarinet solo is so bad in this
laaaaaauren
Totally!
yea actually all of the clarinets sound sound like poo unless it's just the recording