October, Eric Whitacre

The United States Navy Concert Band performs "October" by Eric Whitacre. Video is from two rehearsals in the Sail Loft, the Navy Band's historic home at the Washington Navy Yard, and a performance at the Basilique-cathédrale Notre-Dame de Québec at the 2009 Québec City International Festival of Military Bands. The band is conducted by Chief Musician Russell Gross, who recently retired after 24 years of service.

[@JohnEckstine]

Just gorgeous...................brings tears to my eyes. This what beautiful music is supposed to do........................

[@usnavyband]

October: A month of transition to cooler weather and changing leaves. Composer Eric Whitacre has captured these feelings in this great band composition.

[@AppleHelperITouch]

amazing oboe player!

[@usnavyband]

#tbt: From 2010, check out our KZbin video of the transcendentally beautiful "October" by Eric Whitacre. *****

[@user-fi1tb7kg6h]

很舒服。。。

[@JSPederson]

Come on, trumpets! Two pretty nast flubs in there.

[@memphisbandman]

Tip of the hat to the euphoniumnist! Thank you, Mr. Gross and US Navy Band for another wonderful musical moment! (I got to sit-in with you when you came to my high school WAY back in '87!)

[@aquablue1252]

one of my favorite pieces by Whitacre, and you guys play it so beautifully. I remember playing this in marching band in HS, and then in wind ensemble. brings back amazing memories

[@carlosjtown]

BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!

[@BaritoneSaxKing]

The first time I ever heard this song it was preformed WMU's top Band. It brought me to tears. Amazing

[@ChaseDotters]

this put me in tears! I really love this piece and my birthday's in october!!! I'm thankful for listening to this! It's such an honor!

[@817Yankees]

Its so pretty. So happy im playing this for my next concert

[@robinraab-watts2132]

Oh so relaxing, all stress & cares gone, as my mind drifts away. Thank you Eric

[@annecopeland2142]

This United States Navy Concert Band is playing so beautifully this grand and inspirational smphony by Eric Whitacre. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. What a magnificent way to start this favorite time of year for me. I love Eric Whitacre's work and consider him one of the best composers and conductors of our age. Thank you again everyone.

[@baygnet6996]

I just played this last night

[@chris26935]

Omgosh, so good! I played this song back in hs last year and this is the best rendition I've heard yet.

[@joslynrose25]

Thank you all so much for this beautiful posting!

[@usnavyband]

@jmalc04 We didn't have complete takes from the Quebec performance or the rehearsals, so we had to edit them together. We're still building up our video capabilities, so stay tuned!

[@liviatara3408]

Bravo chef !!!! We miss you a lot

[@shuriken05]

Wow, lovely music. Nice job in the transitions.

[@FlutistPride]

It's so majestic.

[@179westofficial8]

Very nice baritone solo! I approve as a trumpeter-turned-baritonist

[@Mazagna95]

Trumpets = love. And also oboe

[@evieherriot3447]

Love the percussion line of this piece! :D

[@benjammin6692]

Beautiful performance.

[@43mrssimba]

You should come back for another concert. It was so wonderful..

[@artyzach]

Well, it's that time of the year again. :)

[@baritononegro]

Thanks a lot!!

[@Mazagna95]

I'm in love.

[@JJBRMusic]

beautiful. :)

[@DasBullWy]

wow

[@edcastillo6066]

dude i would be so lost with this conductor i understand hes not a drum major, going beat by beat, he was musically conducting, but still seems hard to follow

[@ThOmAsSs55]

hey!! think about it this way, if he wasn't conducting good they would sound off:)

[@ClarinetistsMusic]

I play under Russell - he is very easy to follow!!!!

[@Dunavec]

He anticipates and follows even the smallest solo with such care for the phrase. He breaths with you and gives you space, and let me tell you stretching the melody so beautifully and getting back into tempo, not a lot of people can do that. I bet you, he is a brass/wind player.

[@anthonyhalstead3925]

I just got this price for band and I'm so confused on how this goes

[@prevaricatinginreality]

Just think about the drum major and try to compare it to what he does

[@brianbaumgarn5795]

is it just me or do the chords at around 3:50 lift you up and carry you on clouds like me?? what a rendition!

[@randallperea4553]

How do I get a recording of this very performance? It is better than any other. So perfect!

[@jmalc04]

these are both beautiful. couldn't you post them both in their entirety?... or better yet record this?? :)

[@pingasatchi9247]

Why would they not put the camera on the euph solo????

[@jamesmaxfield8295]

By now Eric Whitaker's vocal composition prowess needs few words of acknowledgment. And now with his few short orchestral works, perhaps we finally have a successor to the traditions of Sir Ralph Vaughn Williams!

[@AdenosinePush]

Is it just me or does one of the trumpets have a really, really funky embouchure? Like it doesn't look physically possible to play with your horn at a lateral 20 degree angle from your lips. Never seen anything like that before, but hey man if it lands you a spot in the section with the navy band I guess I'll buy it!

[@christiankraemer205]

I play trumpet to the side of my face a bit, but not like this guy. It just depends on where the pivot point on your front teeth is. That's where the best sound comes from. For him, it's to the right due to crooked teeth. It looks weird, but sounds the same as normal

[@brianbaumgarn5795]

he was a career guy in the band, so you know he could play it. but yea, it looks challenging.

[@IconGamer101]

What type of chord are the clarinets playing at 4:27?

[@AlbertoCottaAldanaPersonal]

where can I find partitios like this for wind band?

[@ferce889]

Must say this one needed some more work

[@tommyjuarez2722]

Why was the conductor wearing two outfits?? Interesting!

[@MankoLKR]

Do retired members of the Navy Band hold themselves out as veterans in the same way that combat soliders do?

[@bobgifford5371]

Yes because they are veterans. Those of us who were in for less than retirement terms do as well. We are not “holding ourselves out” we are veterans. Period.

[@afihimmcr456]

1:25 someone forgot about their time signature whoops 😬

[@calebbautista7243]

How so?

[@imakedumbstufflol848]

2:43 that dude is falling asleep 0-0

[@Dylan2007sha]

bass drum 2:15 WTF?

[@ThOmAsSs55]

timpani

[@cyborgjonny]

Thomasss97 still

[@christiankraemer205]

Conductor is going too fast for this piece. You lose all the suspension stress that comes with actually holding out notes especially in a Whitacre piece.

[@johannsebastianbach6282]

I thought this was the best version

[@terrygaylord1887]

Horrible conductor IMO