Vic Firth Presents: Stained Glass by David R. Gillingham

David R. Gillingham's "Stained Glass" is performed by the University of Oklahoma Percussion Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Lance Drege.
This video is part I in a spotlight series on David Gillingham. Don't miss David's discussion of Stained Glass and Vic Firth's full interview with David, including his thoughts on scoring for percussion ensemble. For more great percussion ensemble performances, please visit www.vicfirth.com
Note from the Composer:
"'Stained Glass' is a work for percussion esnemble inspired by the beauty and color of stained glass. The work is cast in three continuous movements. The first movement, Foyers, is so named because of its reference to the many variations of stained glass found in the entrances of dwellings. As doorways lead to the main living areas of homes, so does this movement serve as a sort of 'prelude' leading to the other two movements. The second movement bears the title Cathedrals and seeks to create the mysteriousness and grandeur of the many great cathedrals of the world which are laden with a multitude of stained glass. The final movement, Sun Catchers, begins joyously in the bright key of E major. If one can imagine all the radiant colors which are reflected by a variety of multicolored sun catchers, then a mind set for this movement can be achieved."
David R. Gillingham (b. 1947) has an international reputation for the works he has written for band and percussion. Many of these works are now considered standards in the repertoire, including several compositions for percussion ensemble.

[@TMJJack]

I played this years ago with my section. I was the tom part. When I listen to it, my gut still forces me to stand and count 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 3... That sequence messed with my head for over a month. Whenever I felt unoccupied during any part of the day, I would practice and repeat those damn alternating time signatures to myself. It's hard to describe being so flustered. Everyone stutters occasionally, but to stutter, not buffer, in one's own thoughts is both confusing and demoralizing on a very strange level. While this piece did bring me some discomfort, I'm glad I got to play it. It's hard to say why exactly. Maybe I enjoy the intensity.

[@tylerwiseman453]

What time signitures was this piece in? It sounds like it was in something crazy

[@sivadepilif]

IMHO, one of the most bealtiful pieces for percussion ensemble

[@gilli1gd]

The chime part, along with depicting cathedral bells, was also a tribute to one of the composer's teachers, H. Owen Reed who used the same technique in the 'Mass' movement of "La Fiesta Mexicana".

[@artsykub]

YES! KNEW it sounded familiar

[@MikeBishopMusic]

One of my all-time favorite percussion ensemble pieces!

[@navalshastri]

One of the great composition and presentation. Visual Inspiration is great. Amazing feeling after watching it. Blessed

[@chromica2621]

Our high school marching band played an arrangement of this for our 2012 show's opener, and it's arguably my favorite opener our band had ever done

[@reissecupfilms]

is there a video?

[@ash-jf9dd]

My High school's marching band is playing it for our opener for this year's show, I'm on the marimba part

[@eboone]

We’re doing it for the ballad

[@chromica2621]

Glad to see it's still being used so many years later

[@chromica2621]

@@reissecupfilms I suppose (very) late better than never, but here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJS2YqKklthkhNk

[@dominicmazenko9490]

One year my drumline perfomed this as our percussion feature. That same year we did it as a percussion ensemble too. Then again in college i had the privilege of performing this again

[@FrankNawrot]

Killer piece!

[@SenseiDrums]

Splendid! VF, please bring us some more OU music. What a great ensemble!

[@shaqloco7671]

I played timpani but my favorite movement will always be the second movement. Its so beautiful.

[@AnthonyMariano2112]

An amazing piece! I am studying with the professor who commissioned this piece, Douglas Wolf. I haven't heard a bad version of this ever.

[@katherinetheking]

i’m a sophomore at my high school and i was just told to learn the piano part for this… i’m really scared from how intimidating it looks but i’m also so excited to learn it

[@Br04U12No93]

Perfeitoooh...

[@dillonmoore8704]

David Gillingham went to my high school! We just commissioned a piece of his called "Home Again" at our concert last night! It's weird to think that someone as widely recognized as him is from our small country community.

[@ShaneCasserly]

haha we had a song commissioned for the lancaster percussion ensemble as well! before he became as big as he is now.

[@spaceshxtking]

This was our closer four years ago

[@SickerTrumpet]

Look up Santa Clara Vanguard 2000 (The drum corp) this was ending to their incredible fav favorite 2000 show.

[@SenseiDrums]

@theCguy64 If you mean the chime player, then yes, very likely. This is a premiere ensemble at a great music school. Probably doubling the chime sounds with the same pitch twice on each hand for volume and a more effective diminuendo.

[@moonkitty43]

wowowowow

[@tbone0303]

Playing this for winter percussion! XD

[@QuickscopingJew]

I'm playing Perc 4 for this part (The marimba to the far left of conductor front row). What mallets are being used as soft/hard and for 4-mallets?

[@BladeTNT2018]

Part of my our Marching Show

[@braedenalberstein5128]

6:00 for personal reference.

[@SickerTrumpet]

The Chamber of Sages from Zelda Orcina of time was also created/sampled from the movement they started at 6:00. You’re welcome 😊

[@macerunner4674]

oh my god it is

[@bonsaiclub]

what

[@kirk_baltzell]

Man, that pianist played that like it was nothing

[@prionian6641]

so looking forward to the '16 season, this will be the basis for our show this year!!!!

[@Yoyobb409]

This was used for the 3rd movement of my sophomore marching show called cathedrals. This piece is truly amazing.

[@jonhillery7736]

WAIT! This was in Cavaliers Indoor 2015 right?!?!?!?

[@luckystiff5695]

Jon Hillery It was also the closer to SCV 2000

[@user-ij6dm4uo9g]

かっこいいの！

[@DorEnErnil]

Santa Clara Vanguard sent me here!

[@thatwgigeek]

Seattle Cascades doing this for 23- learning counts for guard has never been so confusing lol

[@jsphknt]

i think he has to play it like that because he has to play both at once and the side of the hammer doesnt make as much sound as the ends

[@kylef4784]

Camera man appearance! 6:17

[@cireravilob]

SCV 😊

[@luckystiff5695]

Glad someone here recognizes it. I've been on a binge of Vanguard shows, recently, and I've decided to listen to all the source music and it does not disappoint.

[@fioletovium7801]

5:14

[@sinice422]

I play bass, tam tam, and temple blocks. I play nothing during cathedrals lol

[@jtlinton4014]

Sinice ayyy same, I play toms and roto toms

[@Drumstixxxes]

Moral of the story - as a percussionist, you will be given your fair share of parts you don't want. It's about creating music in the end. If you complain about being able to make wonderful music with other talented musicians, you should consider choosing another profession. This profession is not made for people who half-ass.

[@LionAzul]

Shazam, chill. You didn't even play piano. I did. Trust me, compared to your Vibraphone part, the piano part makes your part look like bloody Twinkle, Twinkle, little star. - Yes, It's me. Joseph.

[@EpicMind500]

Yeah that piano part is bloody hell.

[@LanceNEvans]

I was the piano player for this piece’s debut, at Iowa State University. I have an autographed piano score. I agree, the piano part was very challenging. Lots of fun, though!!

[@drumaddictkc]

In my experience, mixed meter ensemble pieces usually sound ...crafted and blah. But....Gillingham.

[@hoosier9009]

Heres the real answer-Its Gillingham.