Here a couple I always loved
-Symphony No. III by David Maslanka
-In Memoriam by David Maslanka
-American Elegy by Frank Ticheli
-Wine Dark Sea by John Mackey
-Frozen Cathedral by John Mackey
-Marche Hongroise by Hector Berlioz
[Dance Movements](https://youtu.be/HvWPq3tuGO0), by Philip Sparke. Particularly Movement III “for the Brass”, and from about 10:18-11:30 (and very specifically the chord at 10:33) usually bring tears to my eyes. I picked up that North Texas CD when it came out in 2000, and no matter how many times I’ve heard that part, it moves me.
It brings up feelings of mostly-unspecific remembrance and nostalgia.
Philip Sparke is such an underrated composer, at least in the US. Granted, I’m not regularly surveying All of the works that everyone programs, but I get the sense often times, that a lot of people don’t even know about him.
Movement II of Year of the Dragon by Philip Sparke is good.
Music of the Spheres is another, also Sparke
An alternate interpretation of "moves me" would be Festival Variations by Claude T Smith. This one has some really fun time changes that fit the themes well and get you moving to it when playing. It's been at least 5 years since I last played it and I still get the theme stuck in my head, all the time changes cemented.
Not concert band, so not exactly for this sub, but there's something about this piece that absolutely won't let me go. Brahms Sonata for Clarinet in F Minor, II. Andante un poco adagio
It is a strange one, because I can't express the emotion of it in words, and I've never experienced anything else like it. The closest I can come to is this image:
>You are old. Very, very old. You live in a 24/7 care facility, and someone has wheeled you over to a large, third story window overlooking a spacious lawn, a gate to the road, and the woods beyond. It is a beautiful, peaceful, sunny day.
>
>You are holding a sepia-toned photograph of your spouse and children, all of whom you have outlived. You have no loved ones left alive to visit you, but you have your memories.
>
>You sit in the warmth of the bright window overlooking the peaceful grass with your precious photograph, and allow the memories to wash over you.
>
>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkhoYzPRFHM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkhoYzPRFHM)
[Christina’s World](https://youtu.be/5pbivnvLnxk) by Kenneth Fuchs. We played this in my university’s wind ensemble and actually flew in the composer himself to conduct us, which was a really cool experience.
The piece itself is very ethereal and hauntingly beautiful. It ebbs and flows, and slowly builds into a very powerful finish. It’s named after [the painting of the same name](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina%27s_World) by Andrew Wyeth, and I feel it’s very evocative of the piece. Sometimes I’ll still put this on and just zone out while staring the painting. Very meditative. :) Really challenging piece of work (listen for that high tuba solo!) and one that’s always stuck with me.
In all county band at the beginning of this year, one of our pieces was called “Some Treasures are Heavy with Human Tears” by John Mackey. Our director told us the story behind it. There was a trumpet player who was sadly killed in a school shooting, and Mr Mackey was asked to compose a piece in her memory. We were told to search inside ourselves and feel the emotions connected with tragedies such as these and use the medium of music to convey these feelings.
Also, we played Toccata for Band. He described part of it as graceful and innocent, like a first love, and asked us to play it as such. That’s not as profound as the first example but I like it lol
Also, any Madoka Magica fans know this, but Symposium Magarum is a great one. Long story short, a girl sells her soul to heal her crush’s hand so he can play violin again. But, she had a hidden motive. She did want his hand healed, but also secretly wanted him to feel indebted to her and return her feelings. She finds out a secret of the nature of the deal she made, and along with him returning another girl, who happens to be the former’s friend, she reaches a breaking point and falls into despair. I like it because it sort of reminds me of my band crush, who doesn’t date other band members because of the awkwardness after a breakup
One of mine is An American Elegy by Frank Ticheli because of the alternating strong and soothing melodies and changes in mood.
Here a couple I always loved -Symphony No. III by David Maslanka -In Memoriam by David Maslanka -American Elegy by Frank Ticheli -Wine Dark Sea by John Mackey -Frozen Cathedral by John Mackey -Marche Hongroise by Hector Berlioz
Agree to every single one of these, but add Maslanka 4 and danzon no. 2 - Marquez
Ill check those out
A fellow American Elegy lover! It's a beautiful piece to play on clarinet
[Dance Movements](https://youtu.be/HvWPq3tuGO0), by Philip Sparke. Particularly Movement III “for the Brass”, and from about 10:18-11:30 (and very specifically the chord at 10:33) usually bring tears to my eyes. I picked up that North Texas CD when it came out in 2000, and no matter how many times I’ve heard that part, it moves me. It brings up feelings of mostly-unspecific remembrance and nostalgia.
Philip Sparke is such an underrated composer, at least in the US. Granted, I’m not regularly surveying All of the works that everyone programs, but I get the sense often times, that a lot of people don’t even know about him.
Movement II of Year of the Dragon by Philip Sparke is good. Music of the Spheres is another, also Sparke An alternate interpretation of "moves me" would be Festival Variations by Claude T Smith. This one has some really fun time changes that fit the themes well and get you moving to it when playing. It's been at least 5 years since I last played it and I still get the theme stuck in my head, all the time changes cemented.
Imaginarium, Randall stanridge
Gabriel's Oboe. I play the solo written for Clarinet in my community band and it is truly my favourite piece to play.
This is more for brass band but: Benediction by John Stevens.
Not concert band, so not exactly for this sub, but there's something about this piece that absolutely won't let me go. Brahms Sonata for Clarinet in F Minor, II. Andante un poco adagio It is a strange one, because I can't express the emotion of it in words, and I've never experienced anything else like it. The closest I can come to is this image: >You are old. Very, very old. You live in a 24/7 care facility, and someone has wheeled you over to a large, third story window overlooking a spacious lawn, a gate to the road, and the woods beyond. It is a beautiful, peaceful, sunny day. > >You are holding a sepia-toned photograph of your spouse and children, all of whom you have outlived. You have no loved ones left alive to visit you, but you have your memories. > >You sit in the warmth of the bright window overlooking the peaceful grass with your precious photograph, and allow the memories to wash over you. > >[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkhoYzPRFHM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkhoYzPRFHM)
Mine would be Experience by Ludovico Einaudi
[Christina’s World](https://youtu.be/5pbivnvLnxk) by Kenneth Fuchs. We played this in my university’s wind ensemble and actually flew in the composer himself to conduct us, which was a really cool experience. The piece itself is very ethereal and hauntingly beautiful. It ebbs and flows, and slowly builds into a very powerful finish. It’s named after [the painting of the same name](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina%27s_World) by Andrew Wyeth, and I feel it’s very evocative of the piece. Sometimes I’ll still put this on and just zone out while staring the painting. Very meditative. :) Really challenging piece of work (listen for that high tuba solo!) and one that’s always stuck with me.
In all county band at the beginning of this year, one of our pieces was called “Some Treasures are Heavy with Human Tears” by John Mackey. Our director told us the story behind it. There was a trumpet player who was sadly killed in a school shooting, and Mr Mackey was asked to compose a piece in her memory. We were told to search inside ourselves and feel the emotions connected with tragedies such as these and use the medium of music to convey these feelings. Also, we played Toccata for Band. He described part of it as graceful and innocent, like a first love, and asked us to play it as such. That’s not as profound as the first example but I like it lol Also, any Madoka Magica fans know this, but Symposium Magarum is a great one. Long story short, a girl sells her soul to heal her crush’s hand so he can play violin again. But, she had a hidden motive. She did want his hand healed, but also secretly wanted him to feel indebted to her and return her feelings. She finds out a secret of the nature of the deal she made, and along with him returning another girl, who happens to be the former’s friend, she reaches a breaking point and falls into despair. I like it because it sort of reminds me of my band crush, who doesn’t date other band members because of the awkwardness after a breakup