Had the unbelievable opportunity to perform this as a member of The Cadets (Drum Corps International) in 1992 (as a kid)...not realizing that I would one day end up a member of USAF Band of Liberty. A very cool connection...and tremendous honors...both.
I love the absolutely exhilarating feeling of having this piece down pat. The feel of playing it and everything just coming naturally and confidently despite the fact you know what you're doing is difficult.
I played this in high school (French Horn) and still have the sheet music. I had the honor of playing with Dr. Holsinger conducting and it was a performance I will never forget as long as I live. It's been a decade since I played this song but I can still remember every nuance, rest, and note of this composition (mainly because we spent so much bloody time on it). This was the pinnacle of my musical performances and I never came even close to topping it. Such an incredible composition.
I've played Havendance and Graysondance as well as Liturgical Dances, but this was ALWAYS the Holsinger piece I wanted to play. I was #1 in Rhode Island for Tuba my senior year of high school and BEGGED my director to do this, and instead we did Liturgical. Not a terrible consolation prize, but I still long for the day when I can play this magnificent beast.
@Doombah i Played Tuba all through high school in Canada and my music director had us play Russian Christmas music in grade 11 and then this in gr 12 along with havendance.. unreal thrill to play
I love this song so much! I played this my freshman year in high school. The beginning is gorgeous and is one of my favorite parts of the song! The whole song is amazing and holsinger is by far one of my favorite composers of all time!
my college wind ensemble read this the other day, and i love it. i play euphonium, and my part is challenging, but it is an epic piece, and it's very easy to picture what the piece is about... i love it.
I am a freshmen this year and we just got this piece today. Of course I got the hardest mallet part. But I love David Holsinger! In 8th grade we played Prairie Dances (which he wrote) and now we are playing this! Cool thing about 8th grade though. At our really big festival (the judges are as ir more strict than high school judges), he was one of the judges. So I got to meet him!
When I was in HS my band played those, although we only sight read Angels in the Architecture...also by Ticheli, Vesuvius, Shenandoah. Additionally I think I might have played his concerto for trumpet at an audition for a brass band at some point.
David is by far my favorite composer. His music is challenging to play as a Freshman, but I have upper class men to help me play it. I was exited when my director said we were playing another Holsinger piece after we played Liturgical Dances.
Never had the privilege of playing this piece (received it HS but alas...too difficult). However, it is without a question one of the best pieces composed for wind band. Love Holsinger. Also check out American Faces by him as well.
When Brother Rice/Mother McAuley Symphonic Band played this piece back in 1994 (in exhibition) at the Chicago-area "State of the Art" Catholic HS band contest, Mr. Henning introduced this piece by saying that, in order to do the piece full justice, you needed to have a band comprised of 63 first-chair players. And he was right - and he certainly DID have 63 first-chair-quality players that year, and the band NAILED this piece (and "Commando March" before it, too).
We actually ended up not doing this one, we spent too much time on Angels. We'll be playing this in the next concert though. We were going to compete with this as well, but are now playing a piece we did earlier in the year called Hymn to the Sun with the Beat of the Mother Earth. Look it up, it's pretty spectacular.
Two songs I always ask my band director to let us play: Angels in the Architecture by Frank Ticheli To Tame the Perilous Skies by David Holsinger He always says no. He doesn't think we can handle it :(
I am pleased to announce, five years later, that this turned out to be my absolute favorite piece of all time. I am now 20, in college and I come back and listen to this piece from time to time.
Boy I remember the one section on the end of this being a bitch on Tuba. I'd had to record myself playing for a class assignment and wound up faking me way through the one last line. STILL GOT AN A.
@misslenny23 I played this at my high school to on 1st horn, just fyi i found that just slapping the trigger down for pretty much the entire fast part makes it worlds easier to spit out clean, granted you'll have some intonation issues but at 208 bmp who can really tell if you 5 cent flat on an 8th note lol, other than than good luck, i know the high b flat is nasty, this piece is the only reason i can play that note flawlessly now though, at least you'll have that.
Yep....I really with Cadets had won with that show. The following year they DID win with another Holsinger work ("In the Spring, at the Time When Kings Go Off to War") Put "Cadets 1992 - To Tame the Perilous Skies" into the YT serchbar to see the first 1:46 of the show. Put in "Cadets History - 1992" to see the last 2:42. (I don't think the full show is on YT)
Well I think the difference is one was the premiere (or close enough...I don't know the actual date this was recorded in 1990)...the other was recorded at least 5 years after it was in their repertoire
Go Tactical Air Command! Slash that Flying Sword at our enemies in the sky! The USAF never gives up. Airmen never up in a fight, just like the Marines. That has been indoctrinated since they entered Lackland AFB, the basic training center- Never Give UP!
Black Knight I agree.... Did they forget to tune up beforehand. There is a much better recording of this with by Col. Alan Bonner and the USAF Band.... Absolutely impeccable.
Who you gonna call? Chops-busters!
Had the unbelievable opportunity to perform this as a member of The Cadets (Drum Corps International) in 1992 (as a kid)...not realizing that I would one day end up a member of USAF Band of Liberty. A very cool connection...and tremendous honors...both.
Such an iconic performance. I'm a huge fan. Always will love the Cadets!
Hopefully you’ve seen that the ‘92 video from the cadets is on RUclips! Beautiful piece and performance!
This brings back so many memories of high school band.
Evan S I remember playing this during symphonic season in marching band. What awesome memories.
We won the New York State Band Field Competition in 2010 with this music. The nostalgia is real.
This was a very "tense" recording session at Ogden Hall! My nerves rattled for days after this!!
L. Heatwole
We won the New York State Band Field Competition in 2010 with this music. The nostalgia is real.
Which school did you March with? I go to the "Dome" every year!
@@christopherauert6634 I marched tenor drums in the Brentwood Green Machine marching band from 2009 - 2011
Ah yes!! Good band.
I love the absolutely exhilarating feeling of having this piece down pat. The feel of playing it and everything just coming naturally and confidently despite the fact you know what you're doing is difficult.
I played this in high school (French Horn) and still have the sheet music. I had the honor of playing with Dr. Holsinger conducting and it was a performance I will never forget as long as I live. It's been a decade since I played this song but I can still remember every nuance, rest, and note of this composition (mainly because we spent so much bloody time on it). This was the pinnacle of my musical performances and I never came even close to topping it. Such an incredible composition.
This was my favorite song from high school band for sure. Played it back in 91 or so. Tenor sax.
I played this in the mid-90’s in college. This song makes me crave the feeling of being immersed in a band or orchestra. That energy.
@11:03 to @11:30 amazing musical feel
My absolute favorite piece to play I'm high school! ❤
Had the privilege of playing this under Lt. Col. Graham for the 1993 GA All State Band. One of the most memorable performances.
***** That band is how I was exposed to this song. Love It. I was in the Concert Band that year.
Awesome!
I've played Havendance and Graysondance as well as Liturgical Dances, but this was ALWAYS the Holsinger piece I wanted to play. I was #1 in Rhode Island for Tuba my senior year of high school and BEGGED my director to do this, and instead we did Liturgical. Not a terrible consolation prize, but I still long for the day when I can play this magnificent beast.
@Doombah
i Played Tuba all through high school in Canada and my music director had us play Russian Christmas music in grade 11 and then this in gr 12 along with havendance.. unreal thrill to play
i have had this director in an honor band before. he is amazing.
I love this song so much! I played this my freshman year in high school. The beginning is gorgeous and is one of my favorite parts of the song! The whole song is amazing and holsinger is by far one of my favorite composers of all time!
My band is playing this for festival..it's so awesome to play. :D
my college wind ensemble read this the other day, and i love it. i play euphonium, and my part is challenging, but it is an epic piece, and it's very easy to picture what the piece is about... i love it.
My high school wind ensemble played this a few years ago. It was the most awesome song i have ever played to this date. I play p[ercussion
I am a freshmen this year and we just got this piece today. Of course I got the hardest mallet part. But I love David Holsinger! In 8th grade we played Prairie Dances (which he wrote) and now we are playing this! Cool thing about 8th grade though. At our really big festival (the judges are as ir more strict than high school judges), he was one of the judges. So I got to meet him!
When I was in HS my band played those, although we only sight read Angels in the Architecture...also by Ticheli, Vesuvius, Shenandoah. Additionally I think I might have played his concerto for trumpet at an audition for a brass band at some point.
Lord have mercy on my fingers on all those runs.
Gorgoeous piece and powerful emotional impact!
This is part of our HS marching show this year.
One of the best songs to play for band.
David is by far my favorite composer. His music is challenging to play as a Freshman, but I have upper class men to help me play it. I was exited when my director said we were playing another Holsinger piece after we played Liturgical Dances.
the best recording on youtube by far
I play clarinet 😩 lol we're playing this for our spring concert this semester at my college😁
Thank you for this recording!!
this song is actually way harder than it looks/sounds :P
I had to wait till college :P
11:57 to 12:39 consists of the 42 best seconds of music ever written.
im listening to this piece while im doing my homework :}
Never had the privilege of playing this piece (received it HS but alas...too difficult). However, it is without a question one of the best pieces composed for wind band. Love Holsinger. Also check out American Faces by him as well.
When Brother Rice/Mother McAuley Symphonic Band played this piece back in 1994 (in exhibition) at the Chicago-area "State of the Art" Catholic HS band contest, Mr. Henning introduced this piece by saying that, in order to do the piece full justice, you needed to have a band comprised of 63 first-chair players. And he was right - and he certainly DID have 63 first-chair-quality players that year, and the band NAILED this piece (and "Commando March" before it, too).
@CNB9500 Strange. My band is playing that too.
....
....Corey?
This makes me miss the tuba so much. < / 3
I enjoyed recording this a lot!
We actually ended up not doing this one, we spent too much time on Angels. We'll be playing this in the next concert though. We were going to compete with this as well, but are now playing a piece we did earlier in the year called Hymn to the Sun with the Beat of the Mother Earth. Look it up, it's pretty spectacular.
4th period band ftw
3:13 is my favorite part
Especially if you play french horn!
Two songs I always ask my band director to let us play:
Angels in the Architecture by Frank Ticheli
To Tame the Perilous Skies by David Holsinger
He always says no. He doesn't think we can handle it :(
Never forget CBC 1992
@icewizzrobe4289 It changes meter often but it starts out in 4/4
@icewizzrobe4289 it's not a single time signature. For example, at 5:33 it goes from 9/8 to 2/4 then 6/8 then 2/4 then 9/8 again then 2/8
Aarg! I am terrified of this piece! I can't wait to learn it! Go tubas!
I am pleased to announce, five years later, that this turned out to be my absolute favorite piece of all time. I am now 20, in college and I come back and listen to this piece from time to time.
@@Takertantrum2000wow… I’m only in 8th grade
Songs like this that make me wonder what it's like to be a conductor...
-Bass Clarinet
im 1st cornet in my high school wind ensemble, im scared outta my pants at the piece,
Boy I remember the one section on the end of this being a bitch on Tuba. I'd had to record myself playing for a class assignment and wound up faking me way through the one last line.
STILL GOT AN A.
Go HHSMB!!
idk about yall but this song goes hard on so many levels.
@misslenny23 I played this at my high school to on 1st horn, just fyi i found that just slapping the trigger down for pretty much the entire fast part makes it worlds easier to spit out clean, granted you'll have some intonation issues but at 208 bmp who can really tell if you 5 cent flat on an 8th note lol, other than than good luck, i know the high b flat is nasty, this piece is the only reason i can play that note flawlessly now though, at least you'll have that.
I'm doing this song for marching band this year but a bit modified and shortened
xXTREMEGAMER90x samee
xXTREMEGAMER90x what band are you in?
That's a long concert!
@BlkKnt69 That's because this isn't the Air Force playing this recording. The Air Force recording was live.
At 6:24 is the big scale
and david holsinger is my friend on facebook xD
Yep....I really with Cadets had won with that show. The following year they DID win with another Holsinger work ("In the Spring, at the Time When Kings Go Off to War")
Put "Cadets 1992 - To Tame the Perilous Skies" into the YT serchbar to see the first 1:46 of the show. Put in "Cadets History - 1992" to see the last 2:42. (I don't think the full show is on YT)
Yes it is. You can watch the semi performance
Mine as well, our instructor arranged it.
Picollo part.
Enough "tuplets", 9/8 measures, and other miscellaneous difficulties that my 90+ measures of rest cannot make up for it.
bar chimes part got me dead
Good performance. I feel like the last 3 mins are about 10-15 bpm too slow.
Well I think the difference is one was the premiere (or close enough...I don't know the actual date this was recorded in 1990)...the other was recorded at least 5 years after it was in their repertoire
my speakers are terrible, anyone wanna tell me where the cornet (NOT the trumpet solo) comes in?
This makes me feel like I just stole a jet and took off at Mac 20
The 2012 Cadets latest song XD
Cadets played this in 1992
Go Tactical Air Command! Slash that Flying Sword at our enemies in the sky! The USAF never gives up. Airmen never up in a fight, just like the Marines. That has been indoctrinated since they entered Lackland AFB, the basic training center- Never Give UP!
Black Knight I agree.... Did they forget to tune up beforehand. There is a much better recording of this with by Col. Alan Bonner and the USAF Band.... Absolutely impeccable.
I know this comment is old, but my band has just gotten both the songs you listed for the same concert. Be jealous.
What time signatures is this in?
At 5:10 the mellophones come in faintly
u mean french horns?
@Micah Lall-Trail really? cool! ill look it up, we r playing this in concert band
I don't think it is you guys he is worried about not being able to handle it. Those songs are extremely hard to direct.
You may have to wait until college my friend.
anyone know of a recording of this that is actually in tune ?
Dan Moulton the original recording by the Air Force
Wow, this does not sound like an Air Force band should. This is not good.