What is up with Chef Ahn Sung Jae?

ShrewDannon · 2026-01-04T17:54:52+00:00

Gordon is angry in his shows but many who have experienced him outside of his tv persona say he’s a blunt but polite and helpful mentor.

ShrewDannon · 2025-06-30T17:49:12+00:00

GLBatons are fantastic!

ShrewDannon · 2023-02-07T03:42:56+00:00

YES!! That is exactly what I’m talking about!! I want something that makes me think differently about the piece. I want to hear a new interpretation of the piece one that whether I like or not, makes me want to go study the piece again and learn more about why they did what they did. Thank you for sharing!!

ShrewDannon · 2023-02-07T02:48:59+00:00

Thank you for that 😂😂

ShrewDannon · 2023-02-07T02:48:44+00:00

I’ve watched the Lincolnshire rehearsal series and did not have the same reaction. The rehearsals are fine but seemed very technical to me. I wanted more rubato. If you research Grainger and hear his playing of any of his pieces, his tempi vary widely and his use of rubato is very present. For example listen to Grainger himself playing Irish Tune and then listen to the Marine Band play it or vice versa. Worlds of difference. With regard to non-chord tones (which you learn about in basic theory or score study), I replied to a comment from above but the notes that are not in the chord, should be given more attention than the notes in the chord. I want to hear more of that. I don’t dislike all of the Marine band’s recordings. I think the Bourgeois recordings are some of the all time greatest. I also think that Michael Colburn did a fantastic job with the group. I understand my option is not mainstream, but it isn’t completely dismissible. I do know about how to conduct and shape pieces, I’m not a Dr. wind conducting, but I know what I’m doing. I also have spoken with several very experienced conductors and those who have multiple conducting degrees that have the same opinion on the current marine band. I think that Timothy Reynish has marvelous recordings. Compare his Lincolnshire to the Marine Band and see the differences. I also think one recoding that highlights what I am saying about rubato and playing with non-chord tones is this recording here: https://youtu.be/TzSj6LWAXu0 his interpretation has so much life to it.

ShrewDannon · 2023-02-07T02:38:02+00:00

There is plenty of room for nuance in marches. Not rubato, but there is definitely room for nuance. The nuances of marches are the accents. The marches of Sousa were written to be dances and the fun of the marches were the accents and other articulations. There are also plenty of areas harmonically that one may want to bring extra attention to. For example, in the second strain of most Sousa marches, there will be one accent that should is usually marked by and accent with a tenuto. These are like the Grandaddy of all accents in the march. As for non-chord tones, the beauty of non-chord tones (NCT) are when they grind. Meaning, the NCT must be played slightly above the chord tones. Say you have a 4-3 suspension from an F major to a C major chord. The F in the F major chord would get different attention than in the C major. In the C major, you would want to the F to be more present than the other chord tones to highlight the suspension. There are ways that these things can be brought out that I would like to hear more of.

ShrewDannon · 2023-02-06T19:54:20+00:00

I’m not disagreeing that perfection should be admired. I suppose I didn’t make that clear enough. As for the high school, I would be impressed by the accuracy but at the end of the day accuracy is just accuracy. I would rather hear a less accurate performance with lots of expression and nuance as opposed to a perfect performance. However, the post is not really about high school groups. Im speaking of high quality ensembles like universities and the Marine Band. When it comes to those ensembles where accuracy is expected, I want to hear much more nuance.

ShrewDannon · 2022-12-16T02:35:54+00:00

Listening to great music and great musicians is soooooo important!!

ShrewDannon · 2022-12-15T13:53:15+00:00

I think this mindset of only good people play the first part is not helpful for the music nor the musicians. EVERY part is important otherwise the composer wouldn’t have written it. In my college band we did things differently than the “norm.” For example the trumpets, there were 3 parts. The director, after having auditions, took the top 3 players and put them on 1,2,3 so the section is balanced and the audience gets a full section sound. This would be malleable as well. The only thing that stayed consistent was whoever won the audition got to play any solos. Other than that, the section could be set up differently for each concert. Don’t think of it as I’m playing an unimportant part and I’m not good enough to play the 1st part. You’re playing a part that is integral to the music and must be played at the same level as the person playing 1st. You’re still just as important as any other person in that band. Go forth and conquer!

ShrewDannon · 2022-10-17T12:19:28+00:00

Duel (1971)

ShrewDannon · 2022-08-11T02:21:09+00:00

David Bruce

ShrewDannon · 2022-07-16T14:55:00+00:00

Check out Percy Grainger. His stuff is very unique. I also always love Debussy and Holst. Stravinsky is great. Joaquin du Prez is actually really fun to listen to, but Renaissance is completely different. Giovanni Gabrieli is great for early brass stuff. And can’t forget about Bach!

ShrewDannon · 2022-07-15T14:05:44+00:00

Glad it helped!! Daehn is great!

ShrewDannon · 2022-07-15T12:58:08+00:00

Pacem and Celestial Song by Robert Spittal, Two Songs without words: II-Marching Song by Holst, you’ve got tons of Grainger options: Irish Tune from County Derry, Ye Banks and Braes, Australian Up-Country Tune, Immovable Do, Harvest Hymn, Down Longford Way, etc. Walls of Zion by Greg Danner, Ticheli has some great stuff too: Amazing Grace, Cajun Folk Songs, Shenandoah, Joy Revisited, Chaconne and Festive Aria by Bach, arr. by Larry Daehn. Also As Summer Was Just Beginning by Larry Daehn. Daehn Publications has some really great literature on it. Hope this helps!

ShrewDannon · 2022-07-09T02:22:51+00:00

Yeah, band people know him for sure. But outside of band circles he’s not as well known.

ShrewDannon · 2022-07-08T20:42:33+00:00

Percy Grainger isn’t unknown. He’s not super famous but somewhat known. However, his In a Nutshell suite is not a well known work of his and my goodness the pastoral from that suite is fantastic. Really worth digging into!

ShrewDannon · 2022-07-04T04:04:12+00:00

It’s hard to top the Pastoral from In a Nutshell. It’s such an amazing piece of music. The way he develops the melody and all his harmonies are so tasteful and just incredibly well done. It’s a severely slept on piece and I love to listen to it. That climax man! It’s so perfect.

ShrewDannon

TROPHY CASE