October - Eric Whitacre

[@jacksonl1418]

This was the last song my high school band performed before quarantine hit. I will never forget what it feels like to make music with people and have a good time.

[@thecreed3412]

Same we played this piece in 2020

[@martidacunha777]

Anashei

[@Notkdenben]

It’s been a while but we played this back during my junior year of high school at Carnegie hall. Amazing piece to play on that stage.

[@elizabethgambrell8179]

Sometimes you think you hated it but really you missed it

[@HOWLERHAUSE]

Powerful

[@rebeckapollack1243]

My brother was a band director for a high school marching, and symphonic band. He has always had such a great passion for music. Started out playing the trumpet. He lost a 6 years battle with cancer on May 14th, his birthday was late October. This was the last thing he shared on his Facebook account. I love you, Marshall. I'll listen more often 💕 October 20, 1991-May14th 2022

[@iantos1813]

A few days early, but happy birthday to him. He may no longer be with you, but he is clearly with you in your heart and your memories. There, he will live on, and keep supporting you. I hope you have a wonderful life.

[@annageracoulis]

I put this on because MY dead brother was born on October 20 of 1999!!!! He passed on January 7th of 2023. I cannot believe the coincidence here. Beautiful song. May your brother rest peacefully ❤️ Lord have mercy on you and your loved ones ☦️

[@arizonastrip73]

Thiis caused me to drag my clarinet out of the closet and brush the dust off. Then a long, nostalgic moment to remember the many beautiful notes which were produced with it; but that was long ago. Thank you, Eric Whitacre for that moment.

[@lilygriffith1977]

mesaman Ashman this comment made me cry a little

[@zippedydoo1]

@@lilygriffith1977 The first time I ever played this song was 2 years ago, when your comment was made. I cried today to the same comment.

[@andrewventures7024]

a fellow clarinet brother here... playing this song in band and it makes me cry every time

[@shodanart]

Sweet response! Love to you all. Internet so full of trolls it’s nice to hear honest emotion from decent people. ❤️ Greatest music can bring tears to those who have lived a long life, loved and lost!

[@lisapoole5420]

Fantastic! Never let it go!

[@oneinamalonereads]

Eric Whitacre actually came to my university today and conducted my band in this song and A Seal Lullaby. What a wonderful experience

[@CL-tz6iv]

what school was it?

[@darthdarthbinkss]

Melyn_Merlin_McHenry Oh, I played The Seal Lullaby last year.

[@littledrummergirl_19]

I got to play piano for Seal Lullaby in concert band my freshman year of HS and it has such a warm place in my heart and it always will 😭🥰 so many memories 😭

[@verfuncht]

Lydia Bergeron What's with composers coming to everyone's high schools? I had to get into TYWO in order to be conducted by Johan de Meij!

[@littledrummergirl_19]

Jesse Sugarman-Weir oh I didn’t mean he came to our high school, we were just lucky enough to be able to play Seal Lullaby for our spring concert 🥰

[@michaelbranch3168]

From Asheville, always come back to this every fall. My community has been pulling together like this arrangement. Thank you Eric. Grew up playing this and ghost train in high school. Always so comforting.

[@carterstephens6715]

The euphonium solo at 2:21 is one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard.

[@shodanart]

Carter Stephens It is! ❤️💔

[@ilikehydreigon6690]

I got to play it twice my highschool career. Love this song to bits

[@diegomiller9498]

I thought the tenor sax plays it also

[@joek7544]

I’m so lucky I get to play it

[@rm2kmidi]

@@diegomiller9498 If I recall, they include alternate sheets in case you have different instruments in your band. I think our band had the french horn play that part.

[@thomasarthur1997]

My band director said that this piece is so touching and appropriately named "October" because there is so much transformation in one moth near the beginning you have the remnants of summer then autumn peaks when all the colors of the earth become more bright just before winter

[@d0nnyr0n]

But not in Australia! In Australia its the remnants of winter with a spring peak just before summer!

[@kynelson13]

That's beautiful.

[@ashleigha9369]

Whose listening to this in October 2020?

[@TechnoJon96]

😉

[@marmotpeace]

Yes the most appropriate in this October...by maestro Eric Whitacre. I was in his virtual choir three times and every time I'm in awe and admiration!

[@Kaygovegan]

i play this every october like a ritual

[@dulceramirez6265]

Im here because my teacher told me to listen to it lol

[@KristineMLow]

Every year 🌻🌻🎃🎃

[@clairegoulet927]

My high school band director had us learn and play this piece. He sadly passed away. When I hear this I think of him and how much he helped me. Thank you Mr. Barrett, you are deeply missed.

[@shodanart]

Beautiful orchestration the oboe intro, the Euphonium solo at 2:21, the haunting Bassoons, clarinets, flutes, so many wind instruments of emotional joy, pathos...💔

[@taylorleigh813]

Everyday when I head to band class, I always look forward to playing this song. Being in the more advanced group, you dont play alot of slower songs so being able to play clarinet on a beautiful piece like this makes my day and brings me to tears. And being the one creating the music is even better.

[@jasminehamilton9457]

I totally agree! I play Clarinet in my Wind Ensemble and This just makes me happy that we can play so,etching as slow and as beautiful as this

[@taylorleigh813]

exactly!

[@joshua59100]

I played this my senior year of high school and it makes me cry every time I listen to it. Brings back so many memories

[@caseymanbrodude7846]

As someone who did dci, this song is so hard to play!! I was in top band at my school and my bd always told us the slower songs are MUCH harder to play because you need to learn control. Such a good song

[@orangutanteets192]

@@caseymanbrodude7846 YOU DID DCI?? what year? I am in my senior year and have always wanted to try out if I can practice more (I play euphonium)

[@harmsway2914]

I remember back in my junior year of high school. I had just switched over from lead 3rd trumpet to lead baritone and we played this at the district competition. That solo from 2:21 to 2:52 was the hardest thing I ever had to learn. I never felt so relieved when the song was over and my band teacher came up to me immediately after and said "Good job."

[@jenflute]

@daniel coffin october is one of the hardest band pieces wdym 😭

[@eviefrogs777]

@daniel coffin That’s a really rude thing to say

[@marchingbandswag]

I am BEGGING my band director to let us play this next year, since it's my senior year and I absolutely love Whitacre.

[@Rose-cx9iz]

Did y'all end up playing it?

[@skyguy1236]

@@Rose-cx9iz i think its a bit late to be asking that

[@Rose-cx9iz]

@@skyguy1236 you never know

[@pxlz0729]

@@Rose-cx9izlmao

[@kjokjojessica]

I love how so many emotions are portrayed in this magnificent piece and it paints the perfect picture for the ears of how October can be full of life and joy, while also being sorrowful and reminiscent. The picture goes beautifully with the emotions of this piece.

[@jillbosserman6775]

If I could “love” this comment, I would.

[@xninjatrooperx4769]

Thank for this wonderful piece ever year of high school I would listen to this piece over and over and it would never fail to make me shed a tear truly a marvelous piece I’m now here graduate now thank you

[@rotfelix]

i dont care how many times i listen to this song, it will always give me chills and tears in my eyes. this was the last song the wind symphony at my school played after our band director recognized all of the seniors my freshman year, And it was a part of our marching show from my sophomore year (this past marching season). i have listened to this so many times. over and over and over again has it played, and yet i still listen to it.

[@DaFTMonito]

Those high school band feels.

[@alehmkuhler]

This was the opener of the first show I ever marched in and to this day I still think that show had one of the best repertoires of any show I’ve ever heard

[@kelaney7227]

@@DaFTMonito ⁹

[@moonpearl666]

Yes. I play this on the first of October. Fight me.

[@digitaldeathsquid3448]

+Abby Seal I'm playing this on October 9th

[@digitaldeathsquid3448]

***** then hire me! I play oboe, and I know several people who play euphonium! Although I do live in South-East England. Might be an issue

[@abtwitch2143]

I played it in the last moments of October (evening of the 31st) in our marching show. One of the most moving moments of my life.

[@J-Kersting]

+Abby Seal But are you playing 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' on the same day?

[@moonpearl666]

GamingNOS No. Green Day is overrated

[@noahhiggins1675]

I think i can speak for all of us when i say that there are many words that can describe this piece of music heaven. Before we stared playing this song, our band director told us the story of how this was the only song he was able to choose at his wedding. Now, every time i hear this song, I think of meeting THE ONE. every time o hear this song it brings me to tears. What a beatiful piece. Will forever be my favorite!

[@executionersmough4773]

One of the greatest composers of our time, such beautiful music inspires images in our mind's. An image is worth a thousand words but a song can tell lifetimes... Music like this makes us forget things that hurt us. This song has become a part of me, after playing it in highschool... even if our rendition was pretty horrible... just playing the song, gives me memories of a really good time in my life, a part that I really could say saved my life. This song quite honestly brings me to tears every time I listen to it. If only more songs could inspire this much feeling. Music has come so far and it has even further to go... I only hope people make music to give the listener something to feel, to give them chills. Rather than to make music for the money, the fame... In closing... This is possibly my favorite song of all time...

[@garrisonboehl258]

well said

[@alanpineda11]

I'm a senior and today was our last day of practice. We played this piece last year, and it made our band director cry during a rehearsal the day before our concert. I just came home, turned on the computer and went straight here. Now I'm bawling my eyes out...

[@maxrosen9998]

This is Eric Whitacre at his absolute best - an unbelievably well composed piece of music. I can't quite get over how incredible this sounds. Stunning.

[@carjay7]

Rest in Peace, Myles. You had great taste in music.

[@jamieleonard9173]

Who is Myles?

[@ProtoChaud9]

The horn parts for all his pieces are beautiful...I played horn for a band arrangement of Sleep, it was gorgeous. Everything else too, but I'm partial :) Eric Whitacre is one of the best composers of our time, and yet I was just reading comments on another of his videos about how his music is "empty" or "boring" or "easy". I do not understand how anyone can hear this and think it's anything short of amazing.

[@prionian6641]

Well since everyone else is explaining their stories with this piece, I guess I’ll share mine. I played this my junior year of high school. I was in the top band that year. Only a week before the concert we got news that a science teacher had passed away. I had him my freshman year, and many people liked him. Including me, i consider him my favorite teacher ever, because he pushed everyone to try harder every day, no matter what class your in. We were in rehearsal that day and the band director stopped and asked if we wanted to dedicate this piece to him. Everyone agreed. We performed it the following night, the final concert of the year. And I will never forget how amazing it was playing the trumpet part.

[@bamfturtle3344]

This song so perfectly ensnares the images and thoughts of October it's crazy... The song feels like October... It feels like Autumn

[@clyope4ever101]

I did horn for this last year, my band directer started crying during this piece

[@zacharymckinnon6832]

you know you are doing it right when you band director cries lol

[@alexalani10110]

Zachary McKinnon Yeah lmao I think we make ours cringe 😂

[@ipiqqyfpv]

Mine was super proud

[@lisapoole5420]

Its magical. My high school music teacher explained that music is a bridge between here and the spirit realm, that is why we get emotional.

[@pi_slice_05]

I’m playing horn for this price as well. It’s my freshman year of Highschool.

[@thetrumpetboy4731]

As i am writting this comment, i am fighting off tears because plainly how beutifull this music is. I remember during these last summer vacations, i had my first concert with the highest orchestra of my music school, wich i had graduated to half a year before. I was waiting for this piece impatiently because it was my favorite. I am a trumpet player and played part 1. The high notes, the moments with all the orchestra, it was so beutifull and i cried my soul out, i was litteraly having spasms, yk when your heart feels like it shakes your body from the emotion, it was... I have no words. It was perfect

[@Youtube_OverLord_v3]

I played this in 2010, in high school. Mr. Weaver said to us, in Consideration for how difficult this whole piece is to play, "You hate it now. But you're going to Love it." Yeah.

[@TimoteoJuan89]

I first discovered Whitacre in HS; our Winterguard/Drumline did a combined thing my Junior year, and Lux was our music. I literally played Sleep my Freshman year of college, and was OBSESSED. To this day, being a Libra, EVERY YEAR, on Oct. 1st, this is the first song I listen to. ❤❤❤

[@Zen_Techniques]

So beautiful. Almost gives me the feeling of recalling an old memory from a distant life time. Or some other romantic notion.

[@leesajp12]

Played this last year...had the euph solo...completely rocked it! I get tears every time I listen to this song.

[@DirkDjently]

was principal percussionist of my university's symphonic band when we played this - got greedy and gave myself the suspended cymbal part so I could play all the crescendos and emotional climax spots our conductor liked to hold for so long. best concert evar.

[@Yahtzii]

OMG The trumpet part is so amazing in this piece. Easily one of the most beautiful songs I've heard.

[@lisapoole5420]

My sons high school band did this piece, and they did it well. When life gets tough I think of that night and this song.

[@soylentcompany5235]

Rest in peace Myles

[@mrs1196]

I see that you came from that playlist

[@matthewcooper2640]

What a powerful hymn, as much as I hate to admit it I almost cried when I played this at Chicago Symphony hall with my High School band.

[@SugaGalaxy]

Absolutely beautiful!!!! It brought tears to my eyes!!!! Brilliant, Eric Whitacre!

[@Blind_Strike254]

I just adore the complexity as well as the underlying ominous tones of the low brass, that somehow gives this piece a beautiful calmness.

[@jrgleason2003]

His music evokes emotion in its players, so that it actually becomes music...

[@pikachuchujelly7628]

Such a beautiful piece of music and a beautiful performance of it!

[@swxtch5503]

Played this my freshman year right before Quarantine hit. We only had one real performance of it. Seriously bummed out we never revisited it.

[@brianbaumgarn5795]

just went to a cousin's funeral. he was a farmer and man of he earth, he would have loved this selection as I do. my favorite month bar none, the air, the colors, the time to reflect on something finished, awesome

[@hmvlogs6367]

Wow… gives me goosebumps every time. I remember playing this my freshman year of high school, now a junior, it is still my favorite piece I’ve ever played.

[@jazzminkasper5504]

This song was one of the many pieces that the band from my high school played at the end of the year concert we call Prism. This was my most favorite piece they played. Absolutely outstanding!

[@Cassiyo]

I am listening to this, not in October, but in remembrance of playing it after my high school music teacher died, and remembering the feelings I felt while playing this song, and missing the comraderie. I last played this song, and played with my teacher, at Carnegie Hall in NYC in 2005. My heart really hurts right now.

[@PunmasterSTP]

I still remember playing this in high school. One of my favorites!

[@meganpaulsen8854]

Such beautiful music. It's a shame billions of people never experience true beauty.

[@someoneelse7287]

Great song. One of the best recordings of it I've ever heard.

[@kingdomheartsxxlove]

This is my favorite piece I've ever played in my career so far. It is just absolutely beautiful and nothing compares to sitting in the middle of the flutes clarinets oboes and contras playing this beautiful melody.

[@priscillagutierrez117]

My best friend Brian and I played the flute. We played this song during concert season. Everytime I think of this song I think of him. He took his own life in 2022.... I think of him often. ❤

[@alanadawngiesbrecht4601]

And it's at times like this that I feel so proud to be an oboe player! :)

[@MegaKingsven]

respect to the oboe but its all about that brass. That low brass, shout out to all the trombone players.

[@pxlz0729]

For real, this year we’re playing this and Variation on a Korean Folk Hymn. Both have amazing oboe solos

[@SuperPolishFreak]

This is the song I listen to when Im feeling emotional, its just SO beautiful. Its the only piece I have ever played where MUSIC is made, like not music as in notes but its just such a beautiful piece it breaks my heart (in a good way)

[@marcushughes7226]

I’ve listened to this ten times in a row today

[@kimross1726]

Gorgeous flute section. This is the first piece I ever performed in Carnegie ♥ so many amazing memories. This will always be one of my favorites

[@ivanmaldonado5712]

This is a gorgeous piece to play and to listen to. My band is playing this piece this year and it is the most beautiful and difficult piece that the band has played since the highschool's initiation over 60 years ago.

[@emilieb7950]

This song kills me. We are playing this song for this year's contest season, and my best friend (who's a senior) is playing the beautiful euphonium solo during the first half. My best friend also happens to be my boyfriend, and this song keeps the thought fresh in my mind that he is leaving. This song will be a beautiful memory, and a memory that I shall cherish...

[@ashbydaugherty]

This is my theme song every October. What a fantastic piece.

[@claudiaross2622]

I can't think of anything more beautiful than this...

[@raijinko1602]

This song is simply beautiful. It gives me chills. It just makes me stop and listen, and it never gets old hearing it. Gorgeous.

[@trevors6991]

It’s been a long time since I’ve been in band lol but I thought the weather today was so October and remembered this and that I used to love this. I wish I remember what year I played it or maybe I just listened to it a lot. So beautiful

[@TheMCsquareClub]

Eric Whitacre has to be one of my favorite composers. He makes you really feel the music. I also enjoy that the horn part for this song is just so beautiful. And of course, that beautiful baritone solo always makes me want to play the baritone!

[@nglyder]

Singing this song in my choir in a couple of months....only gotten through 20 measures and it is already one of my favorite songs Ive ever been blessed enough to perform with a talented group of people. I simply cannot wait to sing the entire piece

[@yazmincelaya8583]

im a senior and a euphonium player and we are playing this! so happy! and keep insisting its a great piece!!

[@jaredschroeder5353]

What Eric Whit acre should do is create a Virtual Concert Band!

[@jennycho7007]

OMG YES

[@ashzipperich5023]

oh my god. i agree so much

[@peteroselador6132]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@leswoodson5840]

Mission accomplished. The Virtual Concert Band with over 360 musicians from 23 countries just posted it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmbYcqyAjduSras

[@awildnickhasappeared4285]

Jared Schroeder This comment aged well

[@daniellewatts1586]

In the middle of a November Blizzard, and yet this is all I want to hear.

[@rayl9]

We did this song for Concert band, my senior year. I cannot explain to you how magical this piece was, to perform. It may not have been the best, technically, but emotionally, all of us band members were connected. As cheesy as that sounds, I stand by what I say. This song is brilliant. We all had something to put into this piece, which makes it a beautiful composition. I thank Mr. Eric Whitacre, for such an amazing piece, from the bottom of my heart.

[@CailynCara]

This song when playing Bass Clarinet made me actually feel I was a part of the band. the lines in it were so gorgeous.

[@ItsAlyssaYaDigg]

Can this just be the score to my life? Please?

[@thecatherineelisabeth141]

So beautiful

[@fyerworks]

Played this in 2002 at Kilgore College...I remember one of the clarinet players crying at the end of the performance...that's music

[@tomfilipiak690]

Played this with a university band. Wow. What an arrangement. I was moved to hear this piece. I was moved to play first Clarinet on this piece.

[@violetmusic4145]

Almost went the whole month without listening to this!

[@ethanschnapp]

I played the euphonium solo tonight for our concert, and halfway through the solo my second valve tuning slide fell out and I almost cried.

[@fingercrossed]

This has been one of my absolute favourite songs to play on oboe

[@emileenunn9194]

This is the only song ive ever played with so much passion, such a powerful and amazing song. *1st Clarinet*

[@jacobwright6780]

This feels like heaven!

[@Trombone1310]

I love this piece! I'm playing it in band it just melts my heart every time!

[@MuzicDrama06]

This was kind of senior send off song when I graduated. It was the last piece I ever played with the Symphonic Band and my high school. It was definitely filled with emotion and the room swelled with music that day. I'd go back and do that piece any day. Our euphonium soloist in this piece went on to get the euphonium grad assistantship at Arizona State University starting this fall. We went through high school and undergrad together, and now we get to go to grad school together.

[@abbiepotter1347]

Im a junior in high school playing the bassoon 2 part on bass clarinet, this is one of the most beautiful pieces I’ve played in band

[@rotfelix]

the top band at my high school played this song last night at our last band concert of the year. this song is also going to be part of our marching show in the fall. so beautiful :)

[@amandamich3lle10]

Played this in concert band. Beautiful song

[@sherlockholmeslives.1605]

WOW! What a Truly Great Composer! GENIUS!

[@PistonCiderYesIDid]

This was my all time favorite song to play as bass clarinet, we played this and symphonic movement

[@akatsukiawsome13]

I love listening to great music... when it affects me in such a deep way, like I am crying about something long forgotten, or yet to come that I cannot comprehend. When shivers run up and down my spine, tiptoeing and causing goosebumps to spread throughout my entire body. This is the moment that everyone should feel, know well and love. If you are without this feeling then you need to search for it because it is the greatest feeling you can have.

[@tinkerbell09ization]

This is so beautiful! I love a beautiful piece of music!

[@totaldestroyer1]

I got to play the first trumpet part of this piece in Symphony hall this year with my school band. Not a day I'm going to ever forget. Such an amazing experience.

[@sherryblair9989]

I love the instrumentation!

[@thewayofway1]

Not enough people are talking about how particularly beautiful 5:35 to the end is. Like a gorgeous cinematic conclusion.

[@Opatrovat]

The euphonium line and solo give me chills every time.

[@altx7776]

Playing this in our symphonic 1 band, its literally the best thing on the planet

[@Zmangaka89]

when we first started this piece in band class, I hated it because it was pretty challenging...but now it's my favorite band song I've ever played in school, and holds a special place in my heart. I'll always remember playing this at our winter concert, it was magnificent. Trumpet 4 lyfe

[@SheenaBrnai]

I adore this song. AND HE'S MADE A CHORAL ARRANGEMENT OF IT! God I cannot WAIT!

[@sennataylor592]

Twenty people have offended the gods of music by disliking this video.

[@Hellfire918]

+Senna Taylor Don't worry the Low brass will find them & beat them to death with our cases.

[@chaumelbrown9730]

Senna Taylor *51

[@ryanharris402]

Now 63, so 43 people have disliked in the past 5 years

[@Nat-ster]

5:40 ~~~ the end is glorious 🥰☺️

[@thepaddockblock8595]

72**

[@taylorgonsalves53]

love this song so much. we played it at my band director's final performance and so many of us cried. I think maybe it was the ethereality of it all; when we played it that day there was so much raw emotion and it was easily the best we'd performed it. 5:37 is goosebumps every time, and the euphonium solo

[@maxorio5560]

I hope to be a choral music major because of the impact that Eric has had on my life and my music directors most prominently from one of my favorite people ever Mr.Green he inspires me so much but he has just been fired from my school. I am still a bit lost but I will not let this discourage me from my destiny as a music major

[@xXMusicRider097Xx]

This is absolutely beautiful.

[@patrickhill3320]

This was the premier of his wind band music performed at the Sydney opera house. I was on 2nd trombone and good friend Ted was the baritone solo. Amazing concert!

[@MKROXTON]

Very pleasant sounds. I like it!

[@MKROXTON]

See this clip too: Typical october weather in germany in HD

[@lowbrassnerd]

I concur. the end is a great part, and there are very cool harmonies throughout

[@brianbaumgarn5795]

I am 63 now, what I would have given to play this with my college wind symphony, wow.