The Witch and the Saint by Steven Reineke (with Score)

A programmatic ten-minute tone poem for symphonic band in one movement that is constructed in five distinct sections to tell the story of the lives of Helena and Sibylla, twin sisters born in Germany in 1588. Starting out with a Gregorian chant-type motif, Reineke uses all manner of musical sorcery to represent the turbulent lives of these vastly misunderstood women. A major work which is sure to become a favorite of audiences and performers alike! Very impressive!
Performed by the Washington Winds under the direction of Edward S. Petersen.
Click here to purchase: barnhouse.com/product/012-339...

[@prettyeyesclef5018]

This song is a canon event for all band kids

[@qoldwater]

I love how this song has stood out for band kids so fondly, it's been over a decade for me now and I still come back to play and pretend I'm still with a whole orchestra again. You never forget the feeling, and I'm glad I never stopped playing flute 🪈✨✨

[@Rosiee769]

I play flute too and we’re playing this for our concert and I absolutely love it 😍

[@pleesedontsueme]

Same I love flute :)

[@salems.bytche]

Only until after we performed this piece and listened back to it did we realize this is almost a 10 minute piece- It NEVER felt that long when we were playing it. It’s so well composed and you really get so focused on it. I played the Bari Sax part. So so fun

[@DaleTheBoulder]

You should check out Vesuvius by Frank Ticheli I believe. Witch and the Saint is 250 measures and 10 minutes, and Vesuvius clocks in at nine, but it’s 400 measures long! Both have some wacky time signatures among other things.

[@salems.bytche]

@@DaleTheBoulder I’ll def check it out! We almost played Blue Shades by Ticheli, so his name is completely foreign lol

[@hellion562]

i played the tenor sax part and i 100% agree with you, such a fun piece. our bands favorite piece was pilatus by Reineke also

[@sleepdeprived_inc.]

I play the Bari sax part too! Yeah I also didn’t notice that it was so damn long till I looked it up to hear this before we ran it through after working sectionals. The other people in my band were shocked when I told them too 💀

[@kaideptuch]

I also play the bari sax part. what was your favourite part? Also, do you know of any longer epics that have more complex bari sax parts?

[@mr.goodman4761]

This song is actually based on an old novel that I can't remember the name of. The first section depicts the birth of the twins and introduces both of their themes. At the time, twins were considered a bad omen, and as the twins grew up, it became clear that they both had a gift of third sight. They could predict the future. The second section is the development of Sybylia. This twin lead a horrible life from a young age, much of the village was afraid of her powers and considered her to be a witch. The third section is the development of Helena's theme. This twin was sent away at an early age to become a saint. There, she would live a happy childhood. The fourth section depicts the struggles of both twins. Eventually, Sybylia is captured by the village. In an attempt to save her, both the twins are captured, and in fear of being burned at the stake, Helena drinks some poison and dies in her sisters arms. Sybylia rides off in sorrow.

[@derekgreene5748]

Thank you for this explanation!

[@lovelyflowers7337]

that's so sad :(

[@behverage9613]

that’s so cool wtf

[@mr.goodman4761]

@@behverage9613 Something my band director told us. A few sites had that story (or something like it) in the description before a few months ago. Now they're all the same as this video's description, idk why.

[@flamedemon9452]

Sml?

[@williamsanborn9195]

I played this piece nearly 10 years ago in symphonic band as a second clarinet player. To this day, it remains one of the most epic pieces I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing.

[@EthanHyland]

Yes. A bass clarinet solo, not a duet with flute or another instrument. That is why I like the bass clarinet part in this piece.

[@thenarwhal8260]

I'm sure my bass clarinet friend will as well :D

[@poopydoopy2000]

There is? Oh hell naw. My bass clarinets don’t know how to tune. One of them makes airy sounds too. Hopefully didn’t offend ya’ll

[@EthanHyland]

@@poopydoopy2000 A teeny bit. But beginners aren't the best; this is coming from someone that has played it for 6-7 years. No worries. I get it.

[@mimpro]

Rejoice at bass clarinet representation!

[@kaideptuch]

now we need some bari sax representation

[@darionpope1876]

I remember playing this in high school. It use to give me chills especially the French horn part.

[@phantompotato5908]

I’m the first F horn part in my band. I got applause for practicing it on my deck. It was fun

[@MissMelodyMuse]

I play mallet percussion in our local community band. We don't have chimes of our own, so for all our rehearsals I played on glockenspiel instead (really not the same vibe lol). We were able to borrow some chimes for the concert thanks to another band's percussionist. The first chimes note in the concert itself shocked the band with the difference in sound/mood. It really is a spectacular piece of music.

[@mazywazzy8185]

We doing this for middle school and i got to do all the auxiliary instruments (including tam-tam) our director wanted me to hit the gong like a baseball 😂. The first time we played, it was so loud the horns (on the other side of the room) couldn't hear themselves play

[@Crookedmoth]

I played this song twice, once as a 2nd flute and once as a 1st flute in both concert band and all county. The story behind this is beautiful yet so sad, but told so beautifully and perfectly by the song. I’ll always get goosebumps with this song and I haven’t played it since high school (I’m 23 now)

[@pleesedontsueme]

go team flute :D

[@Oreobaby0120]

I will always remember the jumps from the front row. I was in band 15 years ago and our teacher always put this song second after something nice and slow to "wake-up" the audience, and boy did it😂. We all love and miss you Lyle. Rest in peace.

[@greysenselfie]

loved playing this song in band! Played Clarinet and it was some pretty fun stuff :D It gave me a hellfire from the hunchback of notre dame kind of feel and I love it for that!!!

[@EugenieDuceppeThibodeau]

Played Clarinet to !

[@notenoughraptors5655]

I come back after highschool to listen to this song fondly. Being the main Baritone player of the band. I loved the feel I had when I played the section duet and trio at the beginning. The hardest part I had was the ending solo. Having to switch from the rapid part to the slowest part of the song at the very end. Those whole notes tried to asphyxiate me

[@notenoughraptors5655]

My very favourite low brass and reed song I have to say.

[@TheyLoveAutss]

omg wait im a baritone too and my section consists of just three of us and the trio at the beginning was amazing and then i play the solo closing out the song

[@bentheturntableguy182]

My high school band is playing this song right now and I have the snare drum part. It’s some tricky stuff!

[@ascensionbeyond8413]

played snare for this about 3 years ago for our band, wasn’t tricky in technical terms but the time signatures are the hardest part for me

[@WALDSMIND]

Yeah same lmao. Though for me counting through all the changing time signatures was the hardest part.

[@phantompotato5908]

im currently doing this as 1st horn. love it

[@fraukemarburg3566]

Playing (the Clarinet) is absolutely fun and it does not feel like 10 minutes. Love it being allowed to give full power at some stages. Plus, every time I am melting at 2:02, such a sweet melody 🥲.

[@ChaosAnimates]

This is my favorite piece to play as a baritone

[@RammerSTi]

As a bass trombonist, I can agree

[@DENIXX.04]

As a french horn player, i agree

[@BethLasky]

Yes, mine too! The baritone part is awesome and sits in a great range!

[@carterkline5161]

This song also has parts of fate of the gods in it, a piece he previously wrote, if you listen you can hear it

[@brandonm1708]

Love how this starts with The Licc

[@Tech35_]

TRUE

[@quadgames1334]

@@Tech35_ I've played this in high school college. I NEVER realized that was the licc until you said this

[@poopydoopy2000]

I knew i recognised it! I think the description said the beginning (probably da licc), that it was a Gregorian chant motif

[@brandonm1708]

@@poopydoopy2000 that would be really funny if the lick originated from some Gregorian Chant

[@JMEANNICEAYYWSPLOL]

Played percussion on this one out of my years of band probaly my favorite one!

[@liamlightner7956]

I played this in high school band, bass drum. I enjoyed it a lot more that I should have

[@rakkoon8893]

Timpani part is sooo much fun, can't wait to play it for our concert! Edit: I broke the Timpani head playing this piece, woops!

[@pleesedontsueme]

my band director wants our timpani player to hit it that hard, I guess he doesn't think we're strong enough to break it which is probably true XD

[@JoelCathey-hb2uk]

It's amazing

[@user-ov8it7tq4j]

The chimes and the low brass coming in always sounds like the time that is ticking away from the characters. Also, the use of the large dramatic section that was used at the beginning right at the end tells me that someone got put into the flames.

[@jaxonthehalloween1812]

I played timpani for this song and it was the best part i ever played so fun solos were awsome and even made people jump at the beginning solo of the song

[@xjademisty6044]

Im playing this for my concert in Fall, senior year and i got that amazing Timpani part Its such a fun part but all the tuning in it is terrible when you have pedals for tuning lol

[@WiiUFan-jj3is]

7:17 sounds like his other song Pilatus Mountain of Dragons

[@nameisanonymous]

and 3:20 sounds like his other piece Goddess of Fire

[@Polandsrblx]

I played 2nd flute for this for my sophomore year- I was The only one playing. It felt like a damn solo 😭

[@pleesedontsueme]

i'm playing 2nd flute but my director let me play 1st on some parts, now I'd say I'm half and half lol

[@frosticle6409]

That O fortuna beat drop lol

[@Doggykid-5305]

i played the arranged version of this and at 3:39 it always edges me on when the exciting part happens

[@aidenhite1846]

anyone else notice the beginning melody is the lick up slowed down

[@bread7966]

im a trumpet in this and i have so much fun at 4:08

[@martimbrites68]

It starts with the lick 💀

[@pleesedontsueme]

I AM IN FREAKING 7TH GRADE PLAYING THIS

[@radhikasaravanan8778]

Me too

[@TrebleClefDan]

Your 7th band must be amazing to play something this hard, I'm playing this in high school and our band is still making mistakes on the day before our concert

[@pleesedontsueme]

@@TrebleClefDanOur 7th grade band isn't playing it, but our 8th grade band is. A few of each section, including me (flute), moved up to 8th band starting in January, and we're playing it there It still is really hard lol

[@pleesedontsueme]

I like to think we're really good but we make lots of mistakes on it too

[@realpsychonaut]

2:41

[@clintholloway5862]

9:01 sounds like Star Trek theme song.

[@poopydoopy2000]

1:33

[@user-qh1nf5ct4k]

7:59

[@bolnet632]

6:25

[@veronikamidtowne]

2:02

[@raspberry9313]

Double reeds superiority >:]

[@veronikamidtowne]

@@raspberry9313 you play the solo?

[@raspberry9313]

@Veronika Lament Sometimes but usually my senoirs play it (I used to be the only oboe in my band till I came to my new sch)

[@rubyclarke9174]

High key reminds me of some cutscenes from Pokémon tbh

[@FraFer81]

Tim Burton Films

[@michaelcole6751]

Is it just me or does this sound like something in lords of the rings.😂

[@imjuiced6778]

Me too!