Wow, for that being his first compostion, Ghost Train really is brilliant, then! I am humbled! To hear that work in a performance hall has got to be overwhelming. I have to admit, that, the first time I heard October, I was at an honor festival and I was so overcome that I actually burst into tears and almost started to sob (I am not normally a crier, so this was surprising even to me) and I found out that the man I was sitting next to was Prof. Whitwell from U of Michigan! (He asked Frank Ticheli to compose a version of Amazing Grace) I was so horrified I almost cried of embarrassment when he offered me a tissue! So, October always reminds me of things that are beautiful and serene and Prof. Whitwell asking me if I was okay... Ha.

October was comissioned in 2000 for our High School band just before Eric Whitacre was gaining limelight for his music (and just before commissioning his music got really exspencive!! Haha..) Anyways, our high school comissioned it and Eric dedicated it to our band director Dr. Anderson. (You can see on the sheet music under the title: For Brian Anderson). Well, last year--my senior year we got the privelage of playing it again for our spring concert and Dr. A told us all these stories of Eric. And I specifically remember him asking Eric "Why, since this piece is so calm and serene, why did you write it with me in mind?" (Mr. A, i'll have you all know is a very tough and strict band director--he's doesn't take crap from anybody!!) And Eric replied "Despite your tough exterior, there's a teddy bear inside." That--and Mr. A's favorite month is October. And that's what he got out of it. Interesting huh, To know the personal side of such a beautiful piece, hm?

I've played several Whitacre pieces (October, Sleep, Lux Aurumque, Cloudburst, Ghost Train, Noisy Wheels), and I have to say that I'm not a big fan of his writing. After playing my first piece of his music (October) back in sophomore year, I liked him, but the more we've read of his, the more I've realized how much everything sounds the same (obvious exceptions being Ghost Train and Godzilla Eats Los Vegas). I think he's a fantastic choral composer, but for the most part the wind group transcriptions of his pieces just lack any individual identity. I certainly prefer the choral settings of his music to the instrumental versions.

I like his wind peices but I found his choral peices so beautiful on his website! My community band played October and Ghost train just the first movement this spring concert. I didn't realize ghost train was his first composition. Wow! It wss so interesting and you really had to pay attention and count to come in the right spots. I loved the flute solo and our effects to sound like the train wistle! Our director said the note sequence for the flute solo in the begining was based on one of Whitacre's ex girlfriends phone number! Maybe not Whitacre but somebody's ex girlfriends number. I would think that would be the composer but thought that was funny becasue it's kind of eary sound!

I'm playing October this term with my band, last term we did Cloudburst in the town hall and it was a HUGE success - especially the handbells. everyone was looking to see where they were.

I know...I was just thinking that, but I wasn't going to say anything...