When I was in high school, I had one semester in marching band (I would have had more, but I didn't like the music teacher). Because I played flute and piccolo, I learned to play the piccolo solo for the classic John Philip Sousa patriotic song "Stars and Stripes Forever."
That said, I haven't given much thought to this piece of music for decades. But just recently I saw a clip on YouTube and spontaneously clicked on it.
Watch until the very end! If you've ever played piccolo as I have, this blew me away.
Trust me, this will make you smile.
I absolutely love The Stars and Stripes Forever. By far my favorite patriotic song. My favorite version is by the The President's Own Marine Band. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-7XWhyvIpE&list=RDa-7XWhyvIpE&start_radio=1
ReplyDeleteThey were wonderful! When our flag dropped down in the back, it choked me up. I really hate to see the direction our country is taking on some matters.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and look forward to reading it. May you and your family be blessed.
Came here from EatonRapidsJoe's blog and am glad I did as instructed even though I thought there was a glitch and the video was repeating. Huzzah!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this and round of applause for the Dallas players. Few pieces of music get me choked up. This is one!
That was fun. I sent it to my son who played the clarinet.
ReplyDeleteEven the "minor" instruments can have their moment to shine.
Wow, that was enough to give me chills! :) I, too, play flute, and I played piccolo in high school and university for a while and learned that song for marching band as well. What fun to hear them soaring above that concert band!
ReplyDeletePatrice, if you can play that piccolo part after a single semester, you have missed your calling! That's VERY impressive!
ReplyDeletewow They were great !!
ReplyDeleteI too played flute and piccolo in high school and some university.
I also played Stars and Stripes with my grandfather
Ralph "PeeWee" Peer (the one from Iowa, not NY). My whole family were musicians.
Thank you for putting up such a great piece of music with a very talented group of musicians!!
Oh that was AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patrice! You made my day! Love it! My Dad bought me a piccolo when I joined the Marching Band so I could learn this piece. My favorite Sousa march. I got to conduct it with the band in my senior year. Happy memories! Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteMM