Equus - Eric Whitacre

Equus - Eric Whitacre
Eric Whitacre, Conductor
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The BBC Singers, & The BBC Symphony Chorus
The Proms 2015
Royal Albert Hall, London
August 14, 2015

[@Classic80sFanboy]

This piece absolutely tests the individual players' concentration of timing and rhythm. I loved performing it as it pushed me in terms of performance as far as I could go..a lot of Mr Whitacre's compositions do. You could never say they were rubbish.

[@ilovenycsomuch]

Karl Elwell so this Whitacre conductor guy is in fact the composer of this amazing piece?

[@Classic80sFanboy]

Angela Wilson Yes Angela, he is.

[@allknowing145]

So much offbeats

[@andrewprawat8199]

lol yeah, listening to it confuses me on what's the on beat and what's the off beat, especially near the end.

[@PassengerInMortality]

@@ilovenycsomuch He is a renowned and extremely popular choral composer. You should check out his works.

[@ab7567]

I played this 15 years ago on flute in high school and still remember so much of it which tells you how impactful the music is, even after not listening to it for probably 14 years. I get goosebumps with the trombone slides, remember how technical the scoring is and just can’t get enough of Eric Whitacre’s way of composing.

[@TheBunnyMenace]

This version gives me a much different feel than the concert band version. This version feels much more magical, sort of like the lord of the rings soundtrack. Although i was not a huge fan of the choir, Eric continues to be one of my favorite composers. Keep the good stuff coming!

[@rsaettone]

It's funny you say that, I thought the choir added a different feel, almost raising the stakes. I would always prefer the full orchestra to just the concert band though. This is an epic piece of music.

[@xxxmatt08]

Magnificent..(4:30-6:10) When the mind thinks of shades of colors and ponders emotions, associate one with the other and this is what the connections sound like.

[@Ari-vk1lx]

That collective page turn at 1:23 HAHAHAHA. It's like it's part of the music. I'm in loooooove with the principal clarinetist's performance. She is so musical it hurts. More female principals please! Girl power!

[@carlcushmanhybels8159]

Agree! I'm impressed the camera director knew to often focus on the young woman "With the hopping shoulders", the principal clarinetist. I loved how she had her body join in expressing, bringing out the music.

[@olihewson3470]

I love this performance which had a special arrangement especially for the Prom concert at the Royal Albert Hall; an overlay of the chorus which is on no other recording. We were there and Eric Whitacre was extremely engaging dancing to the rhythm as he conducted. He explained that the piece describes the running wild horses in Wisconsin (I think) where he comes from. You can see them clearly in the phrasing. His addition of the chorus he describes as Carl Orff on speed.

[@thomasromano9321]

Eric Whitacre actually comes from Nevada.

[@thekylelangley4920]

1:47 i love the way that the violinists move the bow at the same time in the same way

[@52flyingbicycles]

sign of a good concertmaster

[@thekylelangley4920]

Thomas Urech exactly!

[@youtuuba]

thekylelangley, that is what pretty much all orchestras do....it is an 'orchestra thing', and all the other violinists follow the lead set by the concertmaster (1st chair first violin).

[@jck1794]

I love the combined orchestra and chorus in this performance. Just listen to 4:00. The power.

[@dababy2888]

4:42 is by far one of the best parts because of its calm and mystery feels

[@wheatberry]

I love seeing this huge group - using every instrument - working together like a finely tuned clock, to produce such a delight of sound ! Eric Whitacre rocks !!!!

[@carlosortega5493]

A wonderful piece! I will say that I love the original recording better, but this performance let me hear new things I have never heard before! Not only was it enjoyable to the ear, but just as amazing watching these performers really get into the music. That in itself is such a wonderful art to witness. Everyone I watch this I feel like I'm watching Eric compose this price right in front of my eyes. What an experience!

[@baekgwashorts]

This piece is so beautiful and I'm looking forward to performing it! I love the clarinet solo parts and just EVERYTHING

[@ManicOrganica]

Mind blown by the complexity of the piece and the exquisite performance!

[@crissignori7482]

Tremendous !! Now that's an understatement.

[@samj3839]

This video was published on my birthday! Ironically I'm a composer too, (a beginner) and on the same day, an interview with Frank Ticheli was also uploaded. Wow!

[@samj3839]

I'm more of a band person, but I have to say I like the orchestra version much better, and I love the band version so... yeah.

[@samj3839]

I'm more of a band person, but I have to say I like the orchestra version much better, and I love the band version so... yeah.

[@josephgarcia6725]

A right gallop this piece is ! For Man and Beast ! Thank You Mr. Whitacre !

[@kerrig1015]

One of my favorite pieces of instrumental music. I love it with the added voices!

[@skypoppy2011]

This piece puts you in the horse’s skin! You’ll be stomping, snorting, spooking, galloping and bucking your way through the Nevada desert, every sinew and ligament taught as a rope. You’ll pause at the water hole where the mustang fillies prance and dally. Then, tail up, you’ll charge with the herd, sailing through the wind - giggling and laughing, breathless with the sheer ecstasy of becoming pure horse, pure Equus.

[@poof4728]

Played this for highschool my sophomore year and loved this

[@EleanorSteinmetz]

I think this piece is so powerful on its own that the choir on top really was just not necessary. Nice job by all of course

[@OriginalFace762]

So glad this footage is out there!!!

[@evanwaggerman3204]

That moment at 7:08 - 7:31...glorious.

[@galaxyofreesesking2124]

agreed. I love the intense bring up forth from that instance the better satisfy the ending.

[@ScreamDemon08]

Yes! It really takes your breath away.

[@andrewprawat8199]

the things i wouldve done to be in that hall at that moment...

[@chiufranz]

Still cannot forget Eric came to Hong Kong to perform this with Hong Kong Festival Orchesra and Hong Kong Festival Voice a few years ago. Absolutely my favourite Eric's piece.

[@galaxyofreesesking2124]

This song is so beautiful. I enjoy the open feel it gives and makes its path decisive. It reminds me so much of Shadow of the Colossus.

[@galaxyofreesesking2124]

You know what this reminds me of? Literally a race of "equus" or hoarse. There would be jockies, but one with a dream and hope to win the race. It seems good in thought...

[@patrickstbone3761]

loved being in the orchestra for the debut of this for wind band in Sydney with the Tallahassee Winds! awesome!

[@aylenllewellyn2385]

Absolutely beautiful!! This harmonious melody is combining surprisingly with life. Amazing!!

[@shin-i-chikozima]

I was listening to this music at the first time .

[@zellybean47]

When a horse is stretched out in full gallop, they take a breath with every stride. The choir’s rhythm kinda reminded me of what it feels like to ride fast like that.

[@ronalddejong.organistklave3507]

Great . Love it . What an energy

[@stevenchristophersen7673]

NOOOO Clarinet solo!!! XD good recovery, and I know how hard that solo is... Performed it before, and I got lucky that I didn't screw up, but It was quite amazing. LOL wonderful performance!

[@WilliamFord972]

The poor second clarinet part: D-D-D-D D-D-D-D...

[@indigo_neo]

@@WilliamFord972 I don’t even play clarinet and I feel bad for them.

[@DarthCalculus]

Reminds me of O Fortuna. Even my little kids were caught up in the energy!

[@DaWeezMan]

Simply amazing! Such an incredible piece!

[@SonerWolf]

Referring to Ellie Steinmetz, You do realize that the composer of the work was actually the conductor as well right? I'm pretty sure that the instrumentation including voice is EXACTLY what he wanted. Marvelous recording.

[@carlcushmanhybels8159]

Superb! This Equus is fun and impressive to watch the musicians and conductor-composer, as well as hear them. I'm extra-impressed the camera director knew to often focus on the young woman "With the hopping shoulders", the principal clarinetist. I loved how she had her body join in expressing, bringing out the music. Tympani too; more expected. If I was deaf I could still hear the players..

[@antonellagramuglia2606]

Always Amazing!

[@Delmarplays]

Still amazing. Great play. I still have a copy.

[@angieconstantinopla9885]

so fantastic....

[@sherlockholmeslives.1605]

GENIUS!

[@pookumpond913]

Such a pleasure!

[@KelzCasa]

I played this in high school some 16 years ago or so, and I’m convinced it’s why I enjoy math rock now. 🤣

[@guitdude73]

Wonderful. Eric is a master!

[@keriannecorroto1339]

Whoever clicked the dislike button, clicked it by accident.

[@prashanthkumaran2768]

I like the band only version better.

[@user-wd3nv9tx6p]

Chubby fingers!

[@arthuryou7976]

I love how at 4:13 the timpanist is just casually going wild.

[@tylerhollins7522]

I noticed the same thing at that part!! He was getting it!

[@EllenMartinTexas]

Fantastico!!!

[@Enolu]

Just amazing

[@Enolu]

Sorry, I have to comment again - I keep listening to this! Who on earth doesn't just jump out of their seat at the end?! Every time! Absolutely brilliant piece of music!

[@farramichel8023]

I played with this band I'm in. It is challenging and hella fun.

[@rogerguiot6194]

Formidable

[@Borka642]

This is so underrated

[@scarro]

Well done, kingslayer!

[@foodmore]

amazing...

[@amyjackson5396]

Bravo, amazing 👏🏼

[@maxwell92114]

Genius!!

[@vaermiina1402]

Magical

[@avadakedavra9500]

Very interesting piece. Reminds me of Alexandre Desplat and Danny Elfman. Why hasn't Eric Whitacre done a film score yet???

[@kadenmoss8904]

Tom Bowman the beginning sounds so similar to the painted veil by Desplat!

[@accooper1994]

Tom Bowman he's helped compose a few scores. I think he helped with the new King Fu Panda, if not fully composed it himself.

[@allknowing145]

abbey christine Pretty sure he didn't compose that, in the notes of Seal Lullaby he says he originally composed it for film but it got scrapped because they opted for Kung Fu Panda instead

[@kennedyharris9590]

All Knowing he arranged vocal parts and conducted the Chinese choir in kung fu Panda 3. He also helped Hans arrange choral music in Batman v Superman where the Eric Whitacre singers actually performed the entire score and his wife was a soprano soloist in the score as well. Also, he co-wrote the mermaid theme and arranged choral parts in pirates of the Caribbean 4. Zimmer loves Whitacre and they’re boss together.

[@michelucca]

que peça linda.

[@paulpizzo4790]

.....BRILLIANT.....

[@derderroklachaine]

wonderful

[@20jcontra]

great song. fun to play on the marching field as well

[@WilliamFord972]

You did this for marching band?

[@20jcontra]

+William Ford drum corps, yes. Check out the Cadets 2005 show. The opener was based on equus.

[@elicuchiahora]

I think that soon we're going to see Eric's name in movie credits (if it's not there yet). And if it is, we'll see it more often. We won't even NEED to see it, that will be just be sure because his sound is definitely unique!!

[@avadakedavra9500]

elicuchiahora I would LOVE to hear Eric do a film score. He could be the the next John Williams!

[@reidnoble457]

He composed the mermaid theme in the 4th Pirates of the Caribbean film-- other than that I don't know what he's done.. I agree though!

[@steven20919]

he really should try!

[@unclesing22]

…no words…

[@rhysiscool53]

honestly the only part thats stuck in my head rn is that heavy ass bass at 6:51 they just sound so threatening/like impending doom for some reason

[@mjgiel1]

Whitacre be thy name.

[@joeys11000]

If Dr Who and Final Fantasy were ever combined, this would be the music for it.

[@thomasromano9321]

And maybe with a touch of John Adams and his minimalist style.

[@under_score3829]

0:46.........Aaand on the drums, we have Christopher......Eccleston!!

[@orangejuiceman]

Barely looks like him.

[@davealbrecht12]

06:48 love it!

[@joelremigio3794]

Agreed

[@swalea6507]

@@joelremigio3794 same

[@victorialee809]

lowkey gives off drum corps vibes

[@VerylongJohn]

Would love to see a drum corps take a stab at this! Especially the intro to this piece.

[@nataliecoon6984]

@@VerylongJohn Yeah! Which one though? I feel like Vanguard would do it really well.

[@BrassPlayr]

@@VerylongJohn See Cadets 2005

[@kylecoleman1193]

Unfortunately the tempo of the piece does not lend itself to marching very well. It’s too slow to march the conducted tempo, but too fast to march the subdivided tempo.

[@user-en1vo2ql1n]

How can click dislike to this?! I can't understand. I really want to hear this in Korea... but I think they will never visit Korea..too sad...If they visit Korea,I will pay as far as possible

[@shin-i-chikozima]

This melody resembles the terrifying marching of invincible Soldier Ants . From Tokyo of the Land of the Rising Sun 🇯🇵 Which national are you watching this video ？

[@josephstribrny2539]

Facebook ad couldn't wait until after the applause started, huh?

[@renemartinez7170]

At 7:00 they absolutely love playing this piece. Just look at their faces

[@AnonyMous-pi9zm]

And at the end, Eric looks like he wants to just burst out into applause at the wonderful performance!

[@toddlevin]

mmmm, sort of like Orff meets Adams. But in the cases of those composers, there is something significantly sophisticated and elegant about their independent approach to and usage of repetition, and how they individually found their own personal way to use repetition to form fresh and rewarding musical forms. This piece just feels formless - in that way, it reminds me more of Schwantner's use of repetition - spinning and swirling, but neither going on an interesting journey nor arriving anywhere fulfilling and rewarding. To quote Shakespeare "...Sound and fury, signifying nothing..."

[@henrychandra2064]

I don't know why, but beginning at 6:10, I can see in my mind Captain Kirk commanding the Enterprise to a fierce battle with the Bird of Prey.

[@anbergh9476]

7:16 sounds like Lieutenant Kijé 2nd

[@francogermanmoyano4783]

From 4:00 sounds like a World Of Warcraft new expantion trailer soundtrack

[@sarahturner4148]

Did you hear the little nod to the pines of rome in the trumpets, at around 5:42?

[@ru99414]

0:42 thank you, strings

[@WilliamFord972]

This sounds a lot like John Adams at some points. This piece isn't your "normal" Eric Whitacre. Still an amazing piece though; I'd love to play it (yes, even the viola part).

[@MicheleChiappa]

Performed it last night with Eric and he told the audience "short ride in a fast machine" was a huge inspiration. So you were definitely right :)

[@sorensment2107]

My director freshman year in high school brought this out for our symphonic band to play. The time signatures alone were terrifying, suffice to say it is a daunting piece but god was it beautiful when we got it right.

[@BenRichards227]

@@MicheleChiappa I was definitely getting "short ride" vibes, glad I wasn't totally off course!

[@brycebiffle6250]

Even with the choir and the venue there's just "something" lacking about this performance (sadly). It hardly feels like a "tight" reading. It feels as if the musicians are just reading rather than "feeling." Whitacre did an excellent recording of this with the LSO while the RPO stumbles over the syncopations. I've heard high school groups' renditions (as originally for wind band) that play circles around this ensemble. ( Also it looks like there's a good deal of subs in the wind section?)

[@jck1794]

+Rusty Shackleford of course it's not going to be as tight with such an enormous group. the bigger the group, the easier it is to lose cohesiveness.

[@carolinebishop7822]

This may be the recording and I have noticed this before re watching concerts I have attended here; at the Royal Albert Hall. Live this was electrifying and the addition of the choir was so powerful. We also attended another of his Proms concerts a couple of years previously; Cloudburst. That was also amazing live but a little flat watching the recording.

[@jeffreypeppler8327]

This piece is so incredibly difficult to keep that consist rhythm. UNFORTUNATELY they don't have a bass clarinet but I played this in high school on that. Incredibly similar to the bassoon part and incredibly difficult to have the tongue stamina

[@RCastillonaire]

Anyone else gets reminded of the movie Interstellar for some reason?

[@Michael-Oh]

kinda John Adam'sy at points

[@simonthebard9512]

7:08 Morricone vibe

[@JakeKolesar]

This would be great music for Night at the Museum 4!

[@user-fx2fd6qo5k]

1:06 4:53 1:16

[@1thearrow146]

Hardest song I ever played

[@natshoe3148]

piece

[@1thearrow146]

Nat Shoe Whatever

[@Teladian2]

This transferred well from the wind band version, but I feel this tempo is just a touch too fast... Even if Eric is conducting.

[@emery1057]

Man this is absolutely wonderful but why does the orchestra have such a hard time keeping tempo

[@jamesloggins8397]

Can I have the lyrics?

[@ioioio2729]

James Loggins sure Ah ... Ta ...

[@MacBarbieLover000]

lol that guy is laughing at 6;59

[@--076]

Why does Eric look like he's from Game of Thrones, tho?

[@ru99414]

Such a shame that the less important parts got captured so loud in this recording than the actual important parts!! some of it lies on the ensemble too, but mostly just bad recording. I love the idea of using choir here, but its such a shame they dominated too much! The choir part wasnt really that good arranged, so they werent that important, and when they are so loud and clear as they were in this video, it kinda ruined it for me. The same with the percussions... so damn loud 😫

[@PassengerInMortality]

I disagree that the choir "dominated" at all!

[@carolinebishop7822]

The Albert Hall has really difficult acoustics which may have something to do with it. The performance was electrifying. We were there!

[@erik7317]

This is Danny Elfman.

[@jefflpanther]

Great piece, well performed. Reminds me a little bit of Heitor Villa-Lobos's Chôros No. 10: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYeohqaLp513b8U

[@dragcnheart]

i came here because someone said it was made out of spite

[@captainalex0018]

The score looks simple, but when you play with the orchestra, you gotta count cuz there's nobody to follow and what you hear is a piece of mess.

[@HallyPorter]

Hacky mediocre John Adams

[@mathiasreusser7314]

Greatly crafted, but so superficial in theme development...

[@Teladian2]

Its a tone poem., so there isn't going to be much thematic development

[@tundra6491]

this is GARBAGE.

[@Belladosomestuff]

Ain't no way 💀