I wish I never stopped playing after hear Joe Alessi playing this piece. I was a student of his father. His father told me I should switch from trumpet to trombone. He was right and I played it better than the trumpet. Now my son inspires me to play as he plays the trombone. Thanks Joe Alessi Senior and Junior.
Yea this is Joe, absolutely...the cadenza, high F, pedals... Those who played this piece at least once should know how tough this is. I have never heard a live performance of this in a better completeness, with the last variation this clear. And I also feel just a bit better that he's also human LOL. But even having said that, he is still God to me.
This performance is amazing. I performed this with my high school band last May, and there's no contest. Joe Alessi is, hands down, the best trombonist on the planet.
I played this piece in my Mesquite High School band spring (I think) concert. For many years I had it on an old open reel tape--now the victim of many moves. We didn't have video back then - 1959. Can you believe it!
There are so many asinine comments on here! Alessi or not, this is absolutely fantastic! I doubt that ANYONE posting on here (including myself) can play it this well. So stop hating, enjoy the music, and stop thinking for one second that you could do better than this. Thanks.
I went to a Baylor Trombone festival and saw the song with just him, like 5 rows in front of me, then I got to see him after the performance, and he was nice, I got a picture with him. It was AWESOME!! This was good, it sounds a bit different with the whole band playing, I did notice a FEW mistakes, but still, they were tiny, and this music is incredibly hard. I wish I could play that goood. :O. Too bad it will probably never happen. I can't play near that high or low, maybe like a pedal A. :(
True, although there is dynamic contrast, I was referring more to spots like after Alessi's short cadenza at the 1:38 mark. In most performances I've heard of this piece, the band is much softer there. Yes, the group played soft enough that Alessi was easily heard throughout the piece and altogether did a good job of accompanying the soloist. I just felt like they were a little loud when Alessi wasn't playing.
absolutly I think,Live perfomances like this one,Is one of the reasons Alessi Isn't a full time career solist. Although,He's still the greatest soloist trombonist :)
As a fellow professional trombone player, I'd have to say that any of the imperfections here are pretty minor. The piece is a showpiece and, given the demands, and Joe's willingness to take risks this is a top notch performance. My old buddy Zalkind probably has done more immaculate performances, but I'm sure even he would say this one is pretty darn good.
@Lotus2885 It is a piece many people try at all levels and still do not pull it off. The third variation is a chop buster or builder. Joe does a fantastic job of blending the musicallity and technical side of it. That is why he is principal trombone of the NY Philharmonic.
You make a great point, the cadenza in Morceau is alot harder, technicalally. Blue Bells is a intermediate so it is not a show off song, if you have fundamentals down, it is played easily.
Yes. Practice is what you need. This is pretty freaking hard, and every high schooler I know (me included) has come out of performing this piece a much, much better player than they were going in because they had to practice a ton in order to pull it off. Don't mess with your mouthpiece until you know what you're doing. If you're seriously concerned about it, ask your teacher.
@tubaman1019 uh, actually, you are wrong. This is the University of Florida. We traveled down to Miami to play this piece with Joe Alessi. I was playing the bassoon in this performance.
It's Joe Alessi and moreover this I have his disc,Illuminations,And He plays there and It's the same,the first cadenza which he is the only player that plays it that way ,and the tempos are the same in both versions
Hmm, im a freshy too, i should probably play something harder than Blazewitch. But i got Morcea, and Bourgeois' Trombone Concerto, I plan to play the first and third movement for State Festival. But I have a limit of 2 solos.
I could never play the trombone like that (or have ever dissed Joe Alessi), but that's not good logic. I can't throw a 90 mph fast ball either, but I feel qualified enough as a watcher of many baseball games to know what a good fastball looks like. Why does one have to be as talented as the person to have an opinion, negative or not? And who made you the criteria policeman? His work stands for itself; let people judge accordingly. They have as much right to their opinion as you.
The C to C jump at around 3:47 also causes him a little trouble. Mind you, it's no mean feat, and he plays the rest of the thing so musically it's not really all that much of an issue.
For playing a solo like this, what size mouthpiece would be recommended? I find it difficult to get it up to tempo on my bach 5G, but it could just be that I need more practice.
i know much about Arthur Pyror but the thing is, compared to the pieces that I have played and read, this is very intermediate. sure beginner stuff is low range quarter notes, but intermediate is a step up jsut like this, I know middle schoolers who have played this and I have taught this in a few of my lessons as a range excersise. So I think I know a thing or two about this piece.
Yeah, I tend to like Lindberg's interpretations better, but I still like Alessi's sound a lot more than Lindberg's. Lindberg tends to have that "euphonium player switched to trombone" sound, whereas Alessi's tone is perhaps one of the most pure sounds on a brass instrument ever.
What's this, the great Mr. Alessi actually missed some notes? Regardless, he still had a great performance, although I would have liked to hear the UF Wind Ensemble play a dynamic other than forte.
Blue Bells is not an intermediate piece. Get yourself caught up on some trombone history. The variations on "Blue Bells of Scotland" was written by Arthur Pryor, who was a soloist with the Sousa Band at the turn of the century. Arthur Pyror was one of the first visible virtuoso trombonists in our recent history. He wrote these pieces to show off his technique and his virtuosity. Blue Bells is not an intermediate piece. It is a piece tackled by high school players all over, and rarely done well.
funny thing is that he can play all the fills for the cadenza amazingly, but still tripped up on some notes in the F-A range. lol, but nonetheless, bravo. i would love to play this for s&e, but my double tongueing sux so i just can't play it to speed, and i don't like hearing things at the pace they shouldn't be, so im just gonna wait till i get better.
Eh, as much as I love Joe and his playing, he doesn't quite have "it" for jazz playing. He imparts jazz styling pretty well and in a interesting way musically, but I think he'd be playing more jazz gigs if he could hang, ya know? Probably going to get flamed...lol Oh well.
Obviously you haven't played them both. Blue Bells provides a different sort of challenge and is widely regarded as a more show-offy piece than Morceau, which is more of a staple piece.
i too find it a bit difficult on a bach 5G, but a 5G is a great interrmediate mouthpiece and is strongly recommended. this piece could be done on just about any mouthpiece, but if you've been working with your 5G, i'd say just stick it out.
practice with a metronome. Slow speed, play perfect, speed it up 5-10bpm, play perfect, etc. work on tonguing and alternate positions. And make sure your upper notes like the key As and Cs especially are in tune, because they tend to be sharp because you usually come into to those notes from outer slide positions. It's not that bad, just give it a more mature approach than most high schoolers.
I dont think this is joe alessi. If you listen to his recording of the song, hey plays everything faster and so much more cleaner. Joe wouldnt let his performance get that sloppy.
dude. single tongue that shit. that's what i do. leave the double tonguing for REALLY crazy stuff (rolling thunder anyone?) unless you're gonna do crazy cadenzas, in which case, go right ahead lol
Sorry guys, but for someone like Joe Alessi, this really is an intermediate piece. Not to say it isn't impressive sounding or anything. A recitalist would really hesitate before performing this at an assessed performance. It's popular with school students because it sounds impressive but is relatively straightforward to play, as long as you've nailed your double tonguing and flexibility exercises.
Richard Pinder those are two of the most difficult aspects of brass playing. It may seem straightforward, but it's way easier said than done. Alessi's outstanding technical abilities and his ease in execution just happen to overshadow the extreme difficulties and idiosyncrasies encountered with brass playing
Am I the only one that thinks the snare drum a bit out of place in this piece? I want to try and take this to solo and ensemble my senior year, I'm a sophomore so I probably have plenty of time to practice lmao.
I wish I never stopped playing after hear Joe Alessi playing this piece. I was a student of his father. His father told me I should switch from trumpet to trombone. He was right and I played it better than the trumpet. Now my son inspires me to play as he plays the trombone. Thanks Joe Alessi Senior and Junior.
Literally, brilliant. Both dramatic and cheerful for me. Joe and Christian are my favorites!
Yea this is Joe, absolutely...the cadenza, high F, pedals... Those who played this piece at least once should know how tough this is. I have never heard a live performance of this in a better completeness, with the last variation this clear. And I also feel just a bit better that he's also human LOL. But even having said that, he is still God to me.
this is an absolutely stellar performance. Every musician is amazing.
This performance is amazing. I performed this with my high school band last May, and there's no contest. Joe Alessi is, hands down, the best trombonist on the planet.
Joe allesi .... Ive heard him play and if it doesnt make you satisfied then youll never be. Thumbs up.
I played this piece in my Mesquite High School band spring (I think) concert. For many years I had it on an old open reel tape--now the victim of many moves. We didn't have video back then - 1959. Can you believe it!
WOw!He was so great!!!
There are so many asinine comments on here! Alessi or not, this is absolutely fantastic! I doubt that ANYONE posting on here (including myself) can play it this well. So stop hating, enjoy the music, and stop thinking for one second that you could do better than this. Thanks.
This is beautiful. So well played. Im going into my freshman year and this is my solo probably this year.
man... he makes this look so easy. im doin this for my HS solo next year... i have to start now or ill never learn it. HE does a wonderful job
Joe alessi for my criterion the best trombonista of the world ' of chili I order a strong greeting this great teacher
Wow - incredible player. I play trumpet but have always been amazed at great trombonists who could move quickly. Thanks for putting this up.
Oh, what I would do to be taught by someone as talented as him.
I know this is Joe, even if it was not his best day. But this is just great. Who can ever play like him with such professionality?
Whoa. That is some awesome fast playing. and I gotta admit, Im not ever gonna be that good at trombone playing.
I went to a Baylor Trombone festival and saw the song with just him, like 5 rows in front of me, then I got to see him after the performance, and he was nice, I got a picture with him. It was AWESOME!!
This was good, it sounds a bit different with the whole band playing, I did notice a FEW mistakes, but still, they were tiny, and this music is incredibly hard.
I wish I could play that goood. :O. Too bad it will probably never happen. I can't play near that high or low, maybe like a pedal A. :(
It's kinda nice to see a human side of him. Even Professionals make mistakes and it's almost nice to see it....Great job though!
This is Alessi. It might not be his best day but let me hear any of you sound anywhere near that good, even on your best day.
True, although there is dynamic contrast, I was referring more to spots like after Alessi's short cadenza at the 1:38 mark. In most performances I've heard of this piece, the band is much softer there. Yes, the group played soft enough that Alessi was easily heard throughout the piece and altogether did a good job of accompanying the soloist. I just felt like they were a little loud when Alessi wasn't playing.
absolutly I think,Live perfomances like this one,Is one of the reasons Alessi Isn't a full time career solist.
Although,He's still the greatest soloist trombonist :)
Joe alessi ' Para mi criterio el mejor trombonista del mundo '
As a fellow professional trombone player, I'd have to say that any of the imperfections here are pretty minor. The piece is a showpiece and, given the demands, and Joe's willingness to take risks this is a top notch performance.
My old buddy Zalkind probably has done more immaculate performances, but I'm sure even he would say this one is pretty darn good.
awesome.
@Lotus2885 It is a piece many people try at all levels and still do not pull it off. The third variation is a chop buster or builder. Joe does a fantastic job of blending the musicallity and technical side of it. That is why he is principal trombone of the NY Philharmonic.
I think this is Joe playing with the University of Florida Wind Symphony. I recognize the conductor as being Dr. David Waybright.
the guy I take lessons from when to Julliard with him and they are they are best friends.
AKA my trombone teacher is just as good.
You make a great point, the cadenza in Morceau is alot harder, technicalally. Blue Bells is a intermediate so it is not a show off song, if you have fundamentals down, it is played easily.
Yes. Practice is what you need. This is pretty freaking hard, and every high schooler I know (me included) has come out of performing this piece a much, much better player than they were going in because they had to practice a ton in order to pull it off.
Don't mess with your mouthpiece until you know what you're doing. If you're seriously concerned about it, ask your teacher.
yea, I'm definitely playing bassoon in this recording. Joe alessi is a pretty awesome guy.
did.you record this on a potato
@jazzybandy Wrong, this IS him. I was in Wind Symphony at the time, and this is definately him.
@tubaman1019
uh, actually, you are wrong. This is the University of Florida. We traveled down to Miami to play this piece with Joe Alessi. I was playing the bassoon in this performance.
Lots of high school students tackle this piece, very few actually pull it off. Hopefully I can be one of those few.
that is UM because ive been in that hall millions of times
Does anyone know he's one of if not the best trombone players in the world !
It's Joe Alessi and moreover this I have his disc,Illuminations,And He plays there and It's the same,the first cadenza which he is the only player that plays it that way ,and the tempos are the same in both versions
@bassoonisbetter oh ok. I was mistaken. I am a University of Miami student and I work in the Gusman Hall.
lol I like your description for this video.. "This IS Joe Alessi. I am playing in this recording" So you must be joe alessi
haha cj614 it totally does sound like an elephant! thats so sweet. haha
Wow!
your right. ive met him and hear him play in person. this isnt Joe.
i have a 1 al because it came with my churches bass trombone and all the notes i play are basically tuba notes
i have a copy of it
its preety cool all of black stuff on the paper lol i could play most of it
Hmm, im a freshy too, i should probably play something harder than Blazewitch. But i got Morcea, and Bourgeois' Trombone Concerto, I plan to play the first and third movement for State Festival. But I have a limit of 2 solos.
I could never play the trombone like that (or have ever dissed Joe Alessi), but that's not good logic. I can't throw a 90 mph fast ball either, but I feel qualified enough as a watcher of many baseball games to know what a good fastball looks like. Why does one have to be as talented as the person to have an opinion, negative or not? And who made you the criteria policeman? His work stands for itself; let people judge accordingly. They have as much right to their opinion as you.
The C to C jump at around 3:47 also causes him a little trouble. Mind you, it's no mean feat, and he plays the rest of the thing so musically it's not really all that much of an issue.
Agreed.
i have well i hope i have if i play it O.O
For playing a solo like this, what size mouthpiece would be recommended? I find it difficult to get it up to tempo on my bach 5G, but it could just be that I need more practice.
I have the trumpet solo at :57 and that is way harder than anything the trombone is doing in my opinion. lol
@magge95 the video isn't sped up
just listen o a recording and you would know
@upthetree42 hahahahahahah that's the right attitude bro!!!!!!!!!!!!
i know much about Arthur Pyror but the thing is, compared to the pieces that I have played and read, this is very intermediate. sure beginner stuff is low range quarter notes, but intermediate is a step up jsut like this, I know middle schoolers who have played this and I have taught this in a few of my lessons as a range excersise. So I think I know a thing or two about this piece.
Everyone makes mistakes....some people just make them less often than others.
@ES942 I must have been on something that day
Yeah, I tend to like Lindberg's interpretations better, but I still like Alessi's sound a lot more than Lindberg's. Lindberg tends to have that "euphonium player switched to trombone" sound, whereas Alessi's tone is perhaps one of the most pure sounds on a brass instrument ever.
@Lotus2885 ive finally practiced it enuf 2 do that this year for solo and ensemble
wow, i fail. thanks!
@Thatrandomguy1887
put some tuning slide gel, like hetman, anywhere thats metal-on-metal, but nowhere that will get into the actual mechanism.
Trombone players!! Does anyway know how to make your F attachment quieter? Mine make a lot of noise
What's this, the great Mr. Alessi actually missed some notes? Regardless, he still had a great performance, although I would have liked to hear the UF Wind Ensemble play a dynamic other than forte.
Blue Bells is not an intermediate piece. Get yourself caught up on some trombone history. The variations on "Blue Bells of Scotland" was written by Arthur Pryor, who was a soloist with the Sousa Band at the turn of the century. Arthur Pyror was one of the first visible virtuoso trombonists in our recent history. He wrote these pieces to show off his technique and his virtuosity.
Blue Bells is not an intermediate piece. It is a piece tackled by high school players all over, and rarely done well.
@bassbonemexie or playing in the ensemble...
Holy Trombone, Batman!
funny thing is that he can play all the fills for the cadenza amazingly, but still tripped up on some notes in the F-A range. lol, but nonetheless, bravo. i would love to play this for s&e, but my double tongueing sux so i just can't play it to speed, and i don't like hearing things at the pace they shouldn't be, so im just gonna wait till i get better.
If you play this at the correct speed it is impossible to play all of it single tongue.
I wish i had his tone.
obviously joe. just listen to the vibrato, it's very distinct to joe's sound. sounds like he may have had an off day however
I played it on a Shilke 60 which is the equivalent to a Bach 1G. Then again I am a bass player ... lol. no 4G action on a bass.
thats coz Joe Alessi is not a human trombone player!
Eh, as much as I love Joe and his playing, he doesn't quite have "it" for jazz playing. He imparts jazz styling pretty well and in a interesting way musically, but I think he'd be playing more jazz gigs if he could hang, ya know? Probably going to get flamed...lol Oh well.
haha this is song is awesome i could play but not as good as him lol
damn you joe alessi......... i just want to turn in my mouthpiece
can u send me the music? PLEASE AND THANK YOU
@Trombonesbest93 right on
Obviously you haven't played them both. Blue Bells provides a different sort of challenge and is widely regarded as a more show-offy piece than Morceau, which is more of a staple piece.
i too find it a bit difficult on a bach 5G, but a 5G is a great interrmediate mouthpiece and is strongly recommended. this piece could be done on just about any mouthpiece, but if you've been working with your 5G, i'd say just stick it out.
yeah def. embelished the shit out of that cadenza. Pryor didn't write that.
@zpace21 Besides Jesse Luedtke! #1 Trombonist in Iowa!
@kosuzuk2425 wow me too!
I play on a Shilke 60 which is the equivalent to a Bach 1G. It's really is easier to play high on a fatter mouthpiece, granted not as long.
whats the g stand for?
practice with a metronome. Slow speed, play perfect, speed it up 5-10bpm, play perfect, etc. work on tonguing and alternate positions. And make sure your upper notes like the key As and Cs especially are in tune, because they tend to be sharp because you usually come into to those notes from outer slide positions. It's not that bad, just give it a more mature approach than most high schoolers.
lmfao
if i practiced more i could do it with a 1al :P but then again thats a bass trombone mouth peice kinda hard to play high on that sucker
@Lotus2885 Ive got a better idea than getting 'caught up on my trombone history'...'getting caught up on anything else other than trombone history'.
what state
I dont think this is joe alessi. If you listen to his recording of the song, hey plays everything faster and so much more cleaner. Joe wouldnt let his performance get that sloppy.
You dunce. In studio recordings, they do multiple recordings and piece together all of the best parts seamlessly.
You are wrong. It's definitely Joe.
@BigPimpModee good luck getting into Juilliard :\
@nimrod814 Me too :)
nobody's sure. it has to do with size...
and hes only around 5'6"
Blue bells is not intermediate full stop!
dude. single tongue that shit. that's what i do. leave the double tonguing for REALLY crazy stuff (rolling thunder anyone?) unless you're gonna do crazy cadenzas, in which case, go right ahead lol
but very rarely do people hear a good trumpet player :P
lolz
Sorry guys, but for someone like Joe Alessi, this really is an intermediate piece. Not to say it isn't impressive sounding or anything. A recitalist would really hesitate before performing this at an assessed performance. It's popular with school students because it sounds impressive but is relatively straightforward to play, as long as you've nailed your double tonguing and flexibility exercises.
Richard Pinder those are two of the most difficult aspects of brass playing. It may seem straightforward, but it's way easier said than done. Alessi's outstanding technical abilities and his ease in execution just happen to overshadow the extreme difficulties and idiosyncrasies encountered with brass playing
Am I the only one that thinks the snare drum a bit out of place in this piece?
I want to try and take this to solo and ensemble my senior year, I'm a sophomore so I probably have plenty of time to practice lmao.