Digital Rehearsal Hall: Variations on "America" - Charles Ives

Observe a rehearsal of Charles Ives' Variations on "America"
orchestrated by William Schuman/transcribed by William Rhoads
Watch more rehearsals: kzbin.info/aero/PLA...
Website: www.marineband.marines.mil/
Facebook: / marineband
Instagram: / usmarineband
Twitter: / marineband

[@wythetrumpet6419]

So impressive! Nobody does Band better! These are some of the finest musicians in the world!

[@justinburstein5349]

love the foot shuffling @16:34. Nice to see musicians appreciating what their colleagues are playing.

[@thomasdaily4363]

Only time I've ever heard a Marine colonel ask "would you mind?"

[@donalddodson7365]

LOL!! Any O-6 for that matter. Great leadership does not rely on rank. (Former US Army Bandsman 1968-1971)

[@bryanscollick8305]

One of my favorite pieces. I played this in college. Ives is so under appreciated.

[@twiiii1]

I am continually amazed how quckly the band comes together after taking direction from the conductor and how well they listen to each other while playing. Its as if the each new the entire score by heart.

[@DW-qt3ee]

very much like attending a college music rehearsal, but at another level. Bravo!

[@BANDLDR]

I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure I was one of those who requested/suggested this piece for a digital rehearsal hall episode. No matter. I love it!

[@manondumouchel5298]

Wonderful… love this .. thank you to all for sharing your beautiful music with us.. Enjoy it

[@ethanwarren9006]

There is no reason for the marine band to make such quality and educational videos, but I am glad it happens anayways.

[@brucekuehn4031]

Whatever tiny portion of my tax dollar goes to the band, I’m all for it!

[@donalddodson7365]

@@brucekuehn4031 I agree, especially considering the much greater waste of our funds for pork barrel and pretend programs the Federal government spews forth.

[@7karlheinz]

What I love about these rehearsals is seeing the arranging on the fly by a master conductor like Col. Fettig. As another commenter stated he did his homework, that's so true. References to the three "variations" of the composition's organ origin and subsequent orchestrations are all factored into his interpretation of the piece.

[@Eupher6]

Excellent rehearsal. Col. Fettig really has done his homework and he has the respect of the band. Great stuff!

[@donblanton2181]

This is a great conductor and band. They work so well together.

[@n6mz]

I never thought that I could love this WONDERFUL piece any more than I always have since childhood ... but now I do! B R A V O !!!

[@jamesfoley1176]

Thank you for making these videos. They are fantastic!

[@jeffcolvin363]

This is absolutely amazing. Thanks for sharing.

[@bikone5]

This pure Gold. Thank you very much for sharing!

[@paulg9042]

Very nice. Good to see so many similarities between your rehearsals and every rehearsal I've even been in! Love this.

[@donalddodson7365]

This is so exciting to vicariously participate in a rehearsal of one of the US's finest wind ensembles! The precision, intonation and ensemble is fantastic. Thank you for allowing us into your hallowed hall. (Former clarinet, oboe, bass drum, Deuce-and-a-Half and M-16 rifle: U.S. 4th Infantry Division Band, RVN, 1969-1970)

[@garrisoncluff5367]

They always do such an amazing job on whatever they perform! I hope to half as good as them someday!

[@XxRossTheGamerxX]

This is an incredibly useful resource to have access to. Thank you

[@roncabell2338]

The concert band I play in is playing this piece in a concert next month. I play percussion. I accidentally came across this video tonight, without even looking for it! This video is an absolutely perfect, wonderful tutorial for me! I was having trouble playing some of the percussion instruments in this piece. This instructional video shows me how to play them! It's a blessing!🙂

[@marcvg1625]

Wonderful 👍👍

[@Mkohlbauer]

Very nice sounding!

[@Clarinet69]

Great music making!

[@mariotiago3161]

Muito bonito. Bravo maestro Ives

[@josuepedrozobaptista8806]

Very good

[@GrabIt86]

Inspiring!

[@johnk.blanchard503]

Francis McBeth taught us to call rehearsal numbers first; then "before" or "after"; then count: "Letter G; after 1/2/3/4/5/6 seventh bar."

[@YourBestSpal]

Indeed

[@kawikaharper1579]

I've so enjoyed the presentation (some pun intended). You're welcome to do a masterclass on the language used, I'm interested in the vocabulary that was used in the rehearsal. Incredible command, and clear direction. Thank you!

[@brucekuehn4031]

Written for organ by Ives in 1891 when he was just 17 years old. You may also enjoy Beethoven's 7 Variations on God Save the King (same melody of course) that he wrote in 1803 for piano. I’m a big fan of the Bela Fleck version where he plays banjo with guitarist John Christopher Williams!

[@hannahgadlage]

I love that bouncy beat !

[@edcew8236]

Loved the attention to detail! I played 2nd trombone on this piece and loved my part at L, where I overblew the horn a little for more overtones on the downbeats, but only on the first two measures. Question: in many pieces, not necessarily this one, eighth notes at the end of a phrase are often cut short, but it seems to me the music would be more interesting, and the phrases would flow into each other more nicely, if the eighth notes were held long enough for one cycle of a vibrato. Louis Armstrong did this a lot, but I think the technique has near-universal applicability. Comments?

[@joemiller1740]

Outstanding! Col. is a gifted conductor. I'd like to see Jim Stephenson's "Voices" in rehearsal

[@calvintrombone]

👍👍👍

[@hudsoncampos2201]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@greasyllama5562]

Amazing! What instrument was used for tuning?

[@rmp3769]

oboe gave 2 A's. one for winds and brass

[@greasyllama5562]

@@rmp3769 I don't think it was an oboe. It didn't look like they started the tuning notes from the front row near them, it sounded like an Alto-voice instrument from farther back...? 🤔

[@rmp3769]

@@greasyllama5562 I just rewatched and i think it was clarinet

[@roncabell2338]

​@@greasyllama5562It sounded like a clarinet to me.

[@roncabell2338]

It sounded like a clarinet was used for tuning.

[@Overlycomplicatedswede]

Is there a alto trombone sitting back in the trombones or is just a odd looking wrap design?

[@aa1bb2cc3dd4]

What is that ictus.. no way that is SoM SOP.

[@MichaelWidjaja]

These musicians are masters at their parts and their instruments, and so they rarely need a conductor except to stay together. Col. Fettig job is to show expression, which sometimes means not needing to have a clear ictus as the musician know what they are playing. I do agree that it does get confusing at times, but they seem to get it. We'll see when I'm under his baton this June!!

[@aa1bb2cc3dd4]

@@MichaelWidjaja as a musician of 25+ years, 4 active Marine band, 9 guard band, I understand exactly how conductors are meant to perform. Military conductors are not meant to show emotion. They are not meant to do anything but hold a strict pattern as directed by SOM SOP. That being said, holding a crap ictus like this only makes it harder on your band. It doesn't help anything. Any proper musician would appreciate a strong ictus over emotion+bad ictus. You can make emotion with your face and your nonconducting arm. Don't lead your band astray with bad form.

[@roncabell2338]

​​@@aa1bb2cc3dd4I've seen several conductors of professional orchestras who had alot worse form than the conductor here.

[@albieh2563]

I thought it was just me. I personally don't know how anyone can follow thatbeat pattern. I realize that he is great but,.....