Marine Band - Music of John Wiliams

[davewerden]

I just got this announcement today via a post card (yes, actual U.S. Mail):

Beginning this year, we have transitioned our annual educational recording to an all-digital album that is available for free download, as well as on our YouTube channel. We are especially excited to share our inaugural digital album with you, which exclusively features the inimitable music of a true American icon. The never before released performances of the music of John Williams on this double volume set were recorded live during two concerts given at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., in 2003 and 2008 with the composer himself on the podium. We hope that you enjoy this first digital release of these incredible and historic concerts, and we look forward to sharing much more music with you in this way in the years to come.

The link they provide is:
https://spark.adobe.com/page/MtAOvmGmJ8YRQ/

[RickF]

Wow, that’s a great resource! Thanks.

— edit —

I just got a postcard today too.

[daruby]

This is awesome!

[DaveBj]

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!

[John Morgan]

That is some piece of work!!! Really a first class job. I couldn't stop reading all the notes, and I read them while the music played.

[aroberts781]

Thanks for sharing this Dave, I've really been enjoying listening to these recordings and reading the liner notes. One of the arrangers of these transcriptions, Jay Bocook, was on the faculty at my university and we did a John Williams concert using many of these pieces when I was a freshman or sophomore. The music is extremely fun to listen to and to perform so it was really a hit with both the audience and the ensemble. Listening to the Marine Band play these pieces has brought back a lot of fun memories!

[RickF]

I spent a couple of hours listening to this great collection of recordings while reading the liner notes. Just great! Two of my heroes in music are John Williams and the "President's Own" Marine Band. Always impressive!

I've played "Olympic Fanfare and Theme" (John Williams) a few times. It must have been an arrangement since I don't remember the euphonium section having 32nd notes around 2:20 into that piece.

"Olympic Fanfare and Theme" - (2:30 in)

[John Morgan]

I spent a couple of hours listening to this great collection of recordings. Just great! Two of my heroes in music are John Williams and the "President's Own" Marine Band. Always impressive!

I've played "Olympic Fanfare and Theme" (John Williams) several times, but I don't remember the euphonium section having 32nd notes around 2:20 into that piece. Our music must have been a different arrangement.

"Olympic Fanfare and Theme" - (2:30 in)

Rick,

There are a lot of different arrangements of this great, monumental piece. The U.S. Army Band Herald Trumpets played it for it's debut at the opening ceremony of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. John Williams was commissioned by the L.A. Olympic Committee to write the piece. I missed out on playing at that by about 8 years (I left the U.S. Army Band and the Herald Trumpets in December 1976 to return to college, go through ROTC and then reenter the Army as a commissioned officer where I stayed until retirement in 1992). That piece brings chills to me every time I hear it played, and it has truly become almost an integral part of every Olympics since then.

John Williams is my hero, too. He has contributed in such a huge way to the music we enjoy today. But I am admittedly partial to The United States Army Band, although I did administer the oath of enlistment as an Army Major to my son upon his entry into the United States Marines! Oorah!!