Maslanka: Symphony No. 4

The University of Texas Wind Ensemble performs David Maslanka’s powerful Symphony No. 4 on the same stage where it received it’s world premiere with the UTWE in 1994. This performance was dedicated to the composer’s memory, only a short few weeks following his untimely passing.
Symphony No. 4
David Maslanka
The University of Texas Wind Ensemble
Jerry Junkin, conductor
Live in Bates Recital Hall - Austin, Texas
October 1, 2017

[@betaomega04]

Paper. Pencil. Piano. That's all that David Maslanka used to make this. Incredible.

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

It's all you need my friend :-) .......................and of course talent.

[@WolfgangXP65-67]

I use a computer and Musescore 😂.

[@zach237]

To be fair, he also used a lot of material from hymns and chorales, which he acknowledged in his program notes. That’s not intended to discredit him at all by the way. I think it’s really cool how he used material and altered it in refreshing ways. I think my favorite chorale I heard him use in many different contexts is the “Only Trust in God to Guide You” chorale, which I believe from looking into it is BWV 93.7, which he also used in his Concerto for Saxophone Quartet, another piece that’s really high up there in terms of interesting musical ideas for me. I’ve only listened to about 10 or so of his pieces so far (mostly his stuff focused on percussion and what I’ve had to play by him in wind ensembles), but it’s always really fun to play his pieces just because they aren’t ever boring to listen to, and he’s definitely up there as one of my favorite composers because of it.

[@williamdoran7134]

I performed this in 1994 as a graduate student at the University of Arizona. I think it was the second premiere after the original by UT. I've never been so influenced by a piece of music in my life. Nearly 30 years later, the thought of how he created this wind band masterpiece still astounds me.

[@aysiawrites232]

Man whoever’s playing the piccolo trumpet absolutely killed it

[@silhouetta6983]

hm i vaguely disagree i would want more staccato and separation between notes.

[@Sonnedude]

I played that part at BU, not easily and I wish I spent more time slow practice lol

[@dallaschandler2843]

instablaster

[@dmfxfischer]

@@Sonnedude 4th

[@theargonath7938]

@@silhouetta6983 I agree. The playing is just fine but more clarity in the articulation would be nice. The premiere performance of this work by UT under Junkin at TMEA has what you are looking for. It's from the early to mid 90s. Whoever that piccolo player was crushed it.

[@joerichey8910]

Rest In Peace David Maslanka ❤️

[@MichaelWidjaja]

I was searching for wonderful recordings of Maslanka 4 and my eye does not deceive me... *THAT'S TROMBONE TIMO ON FIRST IN THE BACKKKKK* 😳😳😳

[@johnnygrettler4721]

This has to be the greatest thing that I have ever heard

[@charleyhibschweiler4555]

Listen to Mahler 2

[@notizu6969]

@@kwabzycomposerlisten to Mahler 9

[@levineuwirth]

Nothing is better than an absolutely genius work such as any of Maslanka's symphonies when played well. Bravo!

[@tchaikiv8968]

Parallels with angels in the architecture, wine dark sea, concepts from equus, its safe to say that composers have ‘borrowed’ from this masterpiece many a few times.

[@braxenb6251]

the one i noticed was the wine dark sea, when i heard it i was so happy bc i love that piece

[@tristanhmusic]

24:48 so majestic. Amazing performance of such a wonderful work of art.

[@mcox12345678]

If COVID won‘t fuck it up again, I will play this in spring and am looking so forward to it… but this recording is so awesome…. First time I listen to it with organ…. Goosebumps

[@johnries5593]

One doesn't usually get to play organ with a symphonic band. Our organist looks like she enjoyed the experience.

[@RyanEntnerMusic]

Just curious, did you play in this band?

[@gracecai9953]

wow the togetherness of the percussionists was so satisfying to watch from 17:29 - 18:00 :') so in sync

[@joshdill7939]

love the shot of the 3 percussionists all grooving together around 17:22

[@asmundpinas3192]

We're going to use this piece in the Norwegian Championship for Wind bands in April next year, and we have already begin to look at this :) This going to be fun. :)

[@brallenwill]

shout out to the horn section, my god

[@johnries5593]

OK. The Doxology sequence gave me goosebumps. I appear to have a weakness for power chord hymns.

[@tomriddle2151]

27:51 it's very beautiful " C " harmony...!!

[@greatalbumslog]

How could anyone dislike this?

[@zephifriend6462]

those who tried playing it and failed

[@JackJQC]

high school band students whose teacher made them write a paper on it.

[@ikmmcn9513]

@@JackJQC *cough cough* me

[@kwabzycomposer]

Zephi Friend lol quite true

[@joer3481]

Those who appreciate things otherwise than music.

[@TheHeadlessChikin128]

incredible piece. incredible group. thank you for posting.

[@hughgpauwels]

The ending 4 minutes....just so much raw emotion! Magnifico!

[@jaydee8872]

Really terrific!!

[@jackwoodruff7889]

Incredible saxophone solo

[@pL-pg1cs]

Recently heard Central Washington University play this. Such a moving piece.

[@Directrix-zv4zs]

p56680 L - i was there too! I got so emotional seeing the conductor in tears at the end of the piece.

[@evangoodson178]

Was it at Sonoma State for the CBDNA conference? If so, I was there too! The final movement is always jaw dropping with an awesome ensemble. I hope to perform the piece some day!

[@pL-pg1cs]

Evan Goodson - no it was at Windfest, which is a festival that CWU holds at their university

[@ldsaarono]

I heard CWU perform this when I was a Junior in 2014 or 2015 I believe. Absolutely transformed my expectations for symphonic music.

[@cozname397]

such a revelation - this group and its repertoire.

[@bombiecustodio]

Fantastic Bravissimo

[@braxenb6251]

playing this as a freshman in wind ensemble..wish me luck please

[@avac-bone673]

Me too

[@braxenb6251]

@@avac-bone673 5th chair clarinet lets gooooooo 😎

[@topherp8912]

@@avac-bone673 you’ve been found💀

[@gametheus1306]

Definitely drawing some parallels between the first movement of this and the third movement of Mackey’s Wine Dark Sea, perhaps Mackey drew a little from this?

[@user-gd1cs6ri8t]

日本人で初見だけどめっちゃいい曲 他に日本人いないかな？

[@zephifriend6462]

fav part is definetly 24 minutes to the end.

[@ikmmcn9513]

Just put it in 1:10 format

[@ikmmcn9513]

That format that I used to say that

[@ItsLarry-in1jq]

My favorite part is 0:00 to the end

[@mckenziecooper4643]

Interesting ensemble set up - why are the piccolo and flute 2 behind the oboes?

[@HyyahDemacia]

It's a projection thing from the conductor's point of view. Sometimes clarinets and oboes will be in the front row with bassoons, and then flutes and piccolo will sit in the second row for some wind arrangements. I don't think there's really a right or wrong answer.

[@iamtheipodman]

Unbelievable

[@_nichrye]

21:00 is by far my favorite section

[@jennagambino3950]

nah, that jazz section is the best part

[@robbierichmond5947]

I think the sax solo

[@Nathan-wm8yb]

I like 0:00-30:53

[@meredithmcmahon6239]

Nathan wow, what's wrong with 30:54?

[@Jupiter_125]

That's trombone solo is crazy 24:48

[@stefanalexanderlungu1503]

Why does the horn section have two assists? My school band's lucky if it can find 4 horns at once.

[@alawsonmusic]

Most university bands and most professional bands use 6 horns. One acts as an assistant, and the other often doubles one of the lower parts.

[@ashaanbrooks4563]

Does anyone know the reason for the spreading of the clarinets throughout the band?

[@darrylschultz6479]

That's so the piece sounds equally clarinetty to everyone in the audience no matter where they're sitting. Next question!

[@albusdumdledore5919]

@@darrylschultz6479 why the weird flute placement, and why three oboes in a wind ensemble

[@darrylschultz6479]

@@albusdumdledore5919 Must be because that's how the professionals in charge of setting it up determined it would sound best. Then again, maybe they were just trying to annoy some people who'd be watching this video of the performance on KZbin. But my money's on the former.

[@hanstaeubler]

I like good resolutions like 7:10

[@obinnanwakwue5735]

This piece is amazing, but one of the third clarinets looks tired and it ain't even halfway through the piece! (14:58)

[@brallenwill]

Okay but like the horns and bass trombones slapped at 6:10

[@user-ih5sg5vi6d]

5:47 21:04 24:16

[@ghostoastt]

anyone else trying to play this using a cat, recorder, and toaster?

[@ikmmcn9513]

hMmMmMm ah yes big brain time

[@silhouetta6983]

hm?

[@flarewolf8610]

no but u should make a vid of that and post it

[@vincentd.1424]

0:17 2:54 3:00 3:28 7:14 8:14 10:21 11:22 12:10 14:38 16:44 18:38 21:04 22:57 24:34 25:31 26:18

[@jj123as]

21:04

[@hughgpauwels]

20:00- 20:11 4:33- 5:25

[@tko5019]

5:45 10:20 17:21 20:00 23:25

[@William.Phi17]

4:37 and 18:02

[@barryknezek1008]

Performed this piece several times and this was kinda rough across many sections. Trumpets did outstanding job. Seems below the normal high standards of this ensemble.

[@kurtgros4022]

Would love to hear your recordings if that’s the case!

[@HyyahDemacia]

@@kurtgros4022 Barry here plays in the Lone Star Wind Orchestra under Corporon as a percussionist, so he's no doubt played this symphony at least a few times. Given his experience in performance, though, you'd think he'd find it a bit below him to critique a performance of this piece without knowing any of the circumstances leading up to its performance. Given this was dedicated to Maslanka shortly after his passing, could it be that they programmed it late and had limited time to prepare the work?

[@theargonath7938]

First question is which version of the UT wind ensemble is this? Is this the A team or the B team? The A team would be the selection for performance at TMEA or CBDNA etc.... either way this is not a professional ensemble. It's a fine performance given in the moment.

[@johnrussell3718]

dang, I didn't know ppl actually listened to this.

[@zacharymckinnon6832]

I feel bad for the assistant horn player. Doesn’t seem like they were used to their full potential