Ever been emotionally moved WHILE playing?

[Bandmaster]

The arrangement of Send in the Clowns that Marvin Branson arranged for us was absolutely beautiful, and that night during the post game concert the magic happened. As we played the goose-bumps started to form and the tingling start moving up the spine and it just kept building. You could see the expression on the band director, Larry Curtis' face as he was conducting, he was definately feeling it too. When we released the last note it was an erie feeling as all 250 band members just turned and stared at eachother in disbelief. We all realised that something very special had just happened.

You should try doing that same song with a Santa Clara hornline. Here is a pic of the crowd SCVAC played for in '02, just before finals started Saturday. I aged out at that stadium in '86 and it was very cool to stand on that field once again, with other SCVs at the 2002 Nationals.

I have a recording of your 2002 performace here on my computer. I have quite a few friends that were on the field playing with you that day. But my all time favorite SCV moment was at DCI Finals in 1987 when they opened their show with Russian Christmas Music. THAT was an emotional experience for everyone that heard it! Santa Clara and Phantom Regiment are the only corps that have ever given me that tingling feeling when they play.

[skeath]

It happens often to me, to one degree or another, but the most extreme case was when my quintet (which had been together for 26 years) played for the funeral of our first trumpet (also a founding member). We played several special arrangements of hymn settings that we had played as a group for years. It became very difficult to go on, and for the next year, playing some of those pieces brought back a rush of emotion.

It was, in its own way, more difficult than playing for the SW Exposition Rodeo.

[eupher61]

I hope to have such an experience at least once on every gig. It doesn't always happen, but more often than not it does.

[The Jackson]

I get "emotional" sometimes while listening to music, and I really do wish to feel the same way when performing, eventually.

[Brassworks 4]

Quite a few times, actually. But then, I do cry at road kill.

In all seriousness, Lauridsen's "O Magnum Mysterium" for brass does it every time.

But the most difficult was last summer during the memorial concert for one of our quartet members. Our finale consisted of the three of us playing "with him" on a piece he wrote. We had his track pulled from our recording and we played along with it. It was quite an experience. His sound filled the theater, coming through the sound system in all directions. And there we were on stage, playing through our tears as we matched his sound for the last time. wow. Somehow we were given the strength to pull it off, despite the emotion.

[Adam C.]

Any time playing the Service Medley and seeing an elderly veteran rise up out of his wheelchair unassisted.

[Norwintuba12]

I am playing Magnum Mysterium in Wind Ensemble so it has its emotional ups and downs, but last year at a local festival I was sitting principle and the conductor told me to play the pedal BBb at the end of An American Elegy and by the time we got to the end I was so emotionally moved that I had my freind play it. This is honestly the most beautiful peice of music and it has true meaning.

[JHardisk]

Any time playing the Service Medley and seeing an elderly veteran rise up out of his wheelchair unassisted.

It is this reason that I never look into the audience when doing the service songs. America the Beautiful is at times, moving, too. Nothing worse than trying to "read" music through cloudy eyes...

[Wyvern]

I have frequently got emotional while playing. I think nothing links so directly into the emotions as music!

The finale of Mahler 6 never fails to affect me and also playing that beautiful brass chorale in Tchaikovsky Pathetique last movement. But emotions created do not have to be sad, or sentimental. Playing joyful music will also lift me out of depression, if I am feeling particularly down.

[TubaBobH]

Our community concert band will be performing "A Movement for Rosa" by Mark Camphouse for our series of July 4th Patriotic concerts. We have only run through the piece a couple of times so far, but it really seems to be pushing a lot of my emotional buttons during these rehearsals. It is a very powerful piece of music with a really nice tuba line.

[tubafatness]

While it wasn't a full out emotional response, I did feel something similar two weeks ago, at a Wind Symphony concert. We were playing a song called "My Sister's Tears" by a composer named Ralph Hultgren. Both of my parents were in the audience, and for some reason, in the middle of the piece, all I could think of was my Aunt Vicki, (my mom's oldest sister,) who died several years back of leukemia. I know that hurt my mom and her family quite a bit, especially since it was not too long after my Grandpa, my mom's father, had died of complications from a stroke and other health problems. I was fine, but it did hit me pretty hard.

[TUBAD83]

We are in the business of emotion-- of moving people with our performance. So how can we not be moved, especially if the music is performed well? But I think I understand what you're asking--there are pieces I have really love playing very much and are truly very moving:

Irish Tune from County Derry
The Navy Hymn (Eternal Father Strong To Save)
America The Beautiful
Amazing Grace
A Lincoln Portrait
Mansions of the Lord

[Highams]

I think the slow music today will be very poignant as we lost two close friends this week, one on Wednesday the other late last night.

CB

[TubaRay]

I have followed this thread with interest, since its inception. I have most certainly experienced very strong emotions while performing. A Movement for Rosa was responsible for this, at least once. When this occurs while I am playing, I do my best to hold back the physical part of the emotional response, as this makes it extremely difficult for me to play. It affects the entire breathing apparatus, which can cause a performing disaster. I might add that this is not always easy to do this.

As we know, music can convey the full spectrum of emotions. In this manner, we are swept along with whatever emotion is in the score. It is not limited to just sadness. It can range from overwhelming sadness to unspeakable joy, with all the emotions in between. As an example, I find that performing as I often do, in polka bands, allows me to experience the "just plain fun" emotion.

[Funcoot]

Pomp and Circumstance

It's moved me to rage (and a few other players). Mainly cause we get these boring "ghetto," arrangements. Seriously, no one likes playing graduation. We play it like 5 times.

[TubaRay]

Pomp and Circumstance

It's moved me to rage (and a few other players). Mainly cause we get these boring "ghetto," arrangements. Seriously, no one likes playing graduation. We play it like 5 times.

Personally, the more of these($$$) that involved, the more I enjoy playing graduations. I must admit that playing P&C twenty times or more is not exactly fulfilling.

[peter birch]

A while ago, the band was accompanying our trombone player in Ray Steadman Allens "The Eternal Quest". It was a summer evening and some doors had been opened, and during the extended cadenza, there was a blackbird singing along. Most of the band were quite oblivious to it, but for me, it was a truly moving musical experience.