Hey guys, I was just wondering if anyone here has played or is playing An American Elegy by Frank Titchelli. I played it in Jr. High and I loved it. I just want to know what u ppl that played it thought of it.

hello,
i am part of norwich free academy high school concert band and we played an american elegy. I found the song to be amazing. It gave me goosebumps whenever i played it. We even played it in disneyland in flordia during our spring vacation this year. So if you were wondering the song was the best song that i have ever had the honor of playing. How do you feel about the song? Have you played it? What instrument do you play? I play trumpet.
senserly
TaraLynn Mason

I played it at Chico Jr. High, as a 7th grader, and it was really cool...probably the best song i`ve ever played. i play clarinet and as a freshman, am 3rd chair.

it`s me again
i`m trumpet and i`m a freshman. I don`t think anyone is from CT but NFA is the best around and i personally think that even the best band in the world couldn`t do that song jstice.

Yeah, i know what you mean. it`s an incredible song. I realized that as a mere 7th grader, and i heard a recording of it at http://www.manhattenbeachmusic.com and it sent chills up and down my back. i would think that people who have played it would have a whole lot of respect too.

Yeah i have a lot of respect for the song. Just hearing it and knowing what is coming up next in the music is so uncredible to me. It also gives me goosebumps.

I just played it in a concert this past weekend, on Sunday the 23.

It is definitely the most incredible song I`ve ever been privileged to play. I`m first chair bassoonist for the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra Junior Wind Ensemble, and the writing in this piece was amazing. I loved my part, and I loved the way that everything went together.

The offstage trumpet solo sends goosebumps down my arms every time I hear it, and it brings tears to my eyes. This song is more than worthy of the Columbine tragedy. I feel that it could honor something far more horrorific, like 9/11.

It`s an intense piece, and I love it. I hope to convince my instructor to let us play it again next year, this time with the high school band!

I have indeed played An American Elegy and it is a wonderful piece. It is absolutely breath taking. Even better I play the trumpet solo and whenever i play it i feel a burst of enegy. It is a beautiful piece which we play at graduation time.

I played it in my all state honor band. It was the last song we played, and a few people were tearing up in the audience. I played the French Horn and had the solo, which always gave me chills when I played it.

Hi my name is Scott Sutton, I live in Wisonsin, was born in Indiana, and am currecntly a freshman at Nicolet University High School.
At school I am the 2nd row first chair clarinetist.

But more importantly I am second chair clarinetist in the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra Junior Winds Ensemble, and the same position in University of Wisonsin Milwaukee`s U-WAY 2 Band Program. For those who don`t recognize the name, its a very prestigious 8-12 grade group, which requires rigorous auditioning. It attracts people from over 70 miles away.

In MYSO JW 2004 Season, we played An American Elegy, directed by Thomas Dvorak. IT was incredible, i have since recommended it to my HS Band Director, and he will probably do it next year.

It is a beautiful, stunning piece, full of emotion, drama, and color. This level of composition combined with dedicated and talented musicians, produces an experience which cannot be rivaled by nearly any other elegy. I almost go so far to say it is the most beautiful piece i have ever heard, and was very happy to play it.

Just a little more about me, I am also in the upcomming 2005 Wisonsin State Honors Band, as principal clarinetist. I just got back from a trip to Russia with a specially organized Philharmonia from my high school-and i played solo clarinet and was the only clarinetist of our special eind ensemble (we played jazz-they absolutely loved it) infront of over 500,000 people on some famous rock stage there. When us, an American group of students, played their national anthem (Russia) at the perfect moment right after their minute of silence(nationwide), they cheered and went absolutely incredibly wild about us.. It was an incredible sight, seing over 500,000 people cheering for you and a few of your friends on stage at the same time. As we were beginning to leave the stage, they were yealing MORE MORE MORE in english and russian; and we played Take Five again, and then we left, with them still yelling more more more more more..

I encourage you all to advance your musical careers-there is no limit to how far you can go in a musical career, as long as you keep your eyes open and look for every opportunity available to play or teach.

And on the note of American Elegy, my heart goes out to those lost in Columbine.

I played American Elegy at band camp last week and fell in love with the piece. As a horn player, I adored the horn part and couldn`t play it enough. The song touched out band director so much that he broke down and was in tears at the end of the song. It was the most emotional piece I have played in the 5 years I have played horn.

the song gives me goosebumps do u know the history behind it?....when they played it they left open seats that the dead students once sat in so there woudl be like a trunmpet player a space and then the other trumpets, whenever ithink of that i get so sad

I do,

it was comissioned by columbine in commemoration of the tragic shootings. the omeratum (i dont know how to spell it) (part of the school song by the same composer is partially in the middle of the piece) you see, columbine didnt really have a school song, so in addition to the american elegy, he also wrote the school song for columbine-for a more detailed history email me or..even call me 414 403 9664

hey, its soo good to know that other people appreciate this piece, im from england, i noticed a lot of you come from america.i adore the piece, its so beautiful, i play trumpet and get to play the solo, its the best feeling to be offstage playing that music

I love the offstage trumpet-it is a great effect.
any clarinetists who played it - do you have any comments? im curious.

Btw i encourage you all to try to contact the composer and talk to him he is the nicest man its not that hard to find him either.