This Thursday (12.18.08): The World Premiere of ‘Libertas Imperio’ for Symphonic Winds and Electronics (With Recordings!)
December 15, 2008This week I’ll be in Chicago at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic conducting this new transcription of Libertas Imperio for concert band and electronics. (Libertas is from my opera/musical Paradise Lost:Shadows and Wings). I’ll also be freezing my butt off. Why can’t they hold this convention in Miami? Or in May?
The very excellent Lockport High School Band (Brian Covey is their brilliant director) commissioned the transcription and asked me to conduct. I’ll be working with them tomorrow night, and the performance will be at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday. I just hope it’s loud.
The piece will be in print this Spring; the printed score will be bundled with a CD of the backing track. And I’d love to take this moment to credit my dear friend Steven Bryant for all of his work with me on the electronics. If you don’t know his work, check out his website; he’s a brilliant composer and is responsible for a lot of the track’s visceral sound world.
Here’s the original track from Paradise Lost, with killer vocals supplied by Dan Callaway (Logos) and Kevin Odekirk (Ignis).
And here is the electronica track that will accompany the band:
And finally, as a small token of appreciation to you, dear reader, I humbly offer a Libertas Imperio ringtone. Please feel free to put it on your phone and turn up the volume to 11.
Click here to download the ringtone.
Eric,
Already rocking it on my iPhone. Sounds great!
-Adrian
Thanks for the shout-out! Also need to credit Craig Hillelson – he laid down the raw guitar stuff that I processed with my special sonic sauce before delivering it to you.
Can’t wait to hear this on Thursday, especially after doing my own band+electronics work this year!
Eric!
Sweet! I will have many old friends at Midwest this week–as most of my college friends were music majors.
Tracks sound awesome…
Big hugs to you & Hila!
“… but why don’t just make 10 louder”
Thanks for the new shiny ringtone, although, I fear it may cause me to not answer my phone now as I’ll be busy listening to my fantasmagasm of a ringtone.
I was pondering to myself, “I’m so glad i’m not Eric Whitacre”, whilst listening to your music. I thought that it must be awful to right such amazing music but to pick holes in things you thought you could do better (not that there are holes). I’m glad I can listen to your music every day without noticing those.
This leads me to ask, what music do you listen to? Do you slap a bit of Rutter on, now that you’re the best of pals? Or are you more likely to be said there nodding your head to some kind of Rock.
P.S, I liked your old WPTheme, it felt a little more personal
oh dear, *write.
I wish I could be there. But my band director Brandon Jones will be.
You should say hi to him!
Oh, by the way, we’re playing Sleep for our next band concert and our choir is singing it with us. As silly as it sounds I am SUPER excited because it’ll be the first of your choral piece transcribed for band that I’ve played.
Anyways, good luck with the Midwest Clinic. Keep warm!
YAYA!!! I have it on my phone now. Thanks so much. And, now that I was forced how to put ringtones on my iPhone, I can put all of your other songs there as well!
Thanks for the Ringtone! My phone is old school so I had to cut it down to 30 seconds, hope that’s okay.
I live in Central IL, so I can attest, it’s butt-freezing-off cold here.
I just wanted to let you know how amazing that piece was. As soon as I heard the track start, my mouth flew open and stayed that way the entire time! I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. As a future music ed teacher (going to graduate this May), I find it amazing that your music connects to so many different generations. I have seen kids to beg their director to play more of your music. This piece shows just how much cultural relevance your music has and will continue to have. I cannot wait until it is published and I can get my hands on it for my band! If my future students react like those Lockport students did, then you know you are doing something right!
At first,I’m so sorry to leave my comment here, because I don’t know how to send my message to you.
I’m Yukiko and 26years woman live in Japan.
When I was junior high school student, I was a member of brassband club and we played at the All Japan Brassband Competition in 1996. I played the flute solo.
I think that our teacher faxed some messages to you from Japan when we decided to play Ghost Train. Do you remember ?
We believed that if we could to take part in All Japan Brassband Competition, you come to Japan to listen our music.
We painted a picture of the ghost to have the imagination cleary. Anyway we really had a great fun to play Ghost Train and could come together thanks to you.
I’m really poor at English, so I can’t tell you what I want.
Anyway I really wanted you to know that I love your music.
I wanna say thank you to you.
Thank you
Mr. Whitacre-
We are the parent’s of a student, Greg, that performed “Libertas Emperio” at the Midwest Conference with you on the 18th- We think we can safely speak for everone involved by saying that the piece is absolutely brilliant!!
We could never express our thanks properly to you for the piece, and the chance to be able to listen to them- conducted by you- it was the thrill of each and every student’s lifetime!!
We beieve that you lit a fire in each and every student in the Wind Symphony that will never be extinguished- not to mention opening up a totally unexplored genre of music for these kids- we think your passion for your work may inspire these kids to work toward reaching levels musically that they never imagined reaching!
Again, our heartfelt thank you for allowing “our” band to work with you- continued success!!!!
John and Cindy Rife
Hey Eric,
Did you do a movie “Alligator Alley” ?
IMDB says you were the composer of that
Oh gosh……. my apologies…. “Libertas Imperio”
I experienced the premiere.
Being a huge Eric Whitacre fan (and mildly embarrassed by that fact, since I am not a high school choir girl), my expectations were monumentally high seeing that I was ’scouting’ for the next piece to program since I have either conducted or performed all of the Whitacre cannon for winds…
Initially I was disappointed. But then I have to say that I really embraced the way the piece polarized the audience – very classic in the lasting composer sense. And very memorable for the Midwest crowd. I don’t think it is as strong as other Whitacre band pieces (especially as a contribution in the repertory as a whole). It feels like a movement to a whole. That said, I would love to see this turn into a suite from Paradise Lost (I selfishly think “Sleep My Child” would be another sexy choral-to-winds transcription). Maybe then? I would also love to see the vocal part published with the score.
On a final thought, I was sad that – even though loud was accomplished – I never really ever heard the band from my seat in the audience.
But, Eric Whitacre still stands as the classical rock star and I look forward to more music. I am thrilled that the commissions, etc. have resumed, and I will still be there for those events!
Hi Eric! I was in Chicago at the clinic as well, and like so many others, was incredibly blessed to get to see your new transcription of Libertas Imperio. It’s been over a week, and the song is still stuck in my head! I was also thrilled to get to meet you and get your autograph. (I can tell you this, it was the best present I’ve ever given anyone…and free too! =]) I just wanted to thank you for being so patient with our huge group of high schoolers that stormed you before your concert with the Lockport High School Band. I speak not only for myself but for the 29 others in my group, when we say one big THANK YOU!!
I’m a huge fan of your work. Any chance you’ll be posting the recording soon?
Eric,
I was at Midwest, and loved the “Libertas Imperio”. I am a band director at Desert Vista H.S. in Phoenix, AZ. I have a “Fine Arts Assembly” for the entire school in three weeks. I would love to perform this transcription- I think the student population would love it. Is there even a remote possibility I could purchase this piece from you, and have it shipped the first week of January? Thanks for your help! Hope to hear from you soon!
Hi Eric-
I have been fascinated with your music for a long time. Now Paradise Lost is a leap that is intriguing for two major forthcoming humanities and composer events. I am presenting America’s Artistic Response to Global Terrorism:
In Search of Expression and a Renewed Spirituality at the Oxford University Round Table of Scholars the last week of July, 2009. I would like to interview you for insights into your music’s meaning, spirituality and expression, possible excerpts for the Round Table to reflect upon. Q: What do you think?
We are also hosting SEAMUS convention in April 2009 for which we would like to perform Liberatus Imperio and possibly other excerpts. Discuss similar ideologies as at Oxford. Let me know what you think, and I may send more…
Musically Yours,
Rik Hansen, Ph.D.
Professor of Music: Conducting and Musicology
St. Cloud State University
Eric,
How do you explain the polarization between a piece such as Water Night and the new material?
Do you regard it as a step forward, musically & creatively?
I think all of us would be enthralled to know how you got to where you are now with your arrangements.
This is Awesome!
I have not had the chance to see Paradise Lost, as I don’t know how to find it to see. Any ideas?
I didn’t know you were friends with Steven Bryant, and that he worked on this too. He came to my school to do a clinic and watch our performance of some of his music last semester at CSU, and we were so glad to have him!
It would be awesome to have you come to see us at Colorado State, by the way!
Melanie
Dude,
I’m writing a report about you for my orchestra class because my buddy Mr. Sieloff got really excited when I told him I had to pick a composer to write about and he said to pick you.
I find it interesting that I’m writing a paper on somebody who’s alive and blogging while usually my subjects have been dead for quite some time.
If you want I’ll email it to you when I’m finished. Although you might not want to read a one-page report by a stranger in high school that was done around midnight the night before it’s due. I’m not sure if I would.
E -
That backing track is slammin’ man. Nice work!
Eric,
I’m a 10th grader from PA who before making districts had never heard of you. We sang Water Night at our festival and it is the most beautiful song that I have ever heard. All of the parts fit so beautifully and while you sing it you feel the room soaring. Now I’m in the process of getting my school’s select camerata to sing some more of your songs. Anyways I just wanted you to know how great your music is and keep composing so that kids like myself can sing good, fun music!
Matt
My name is Matthew from New Jersey and I would like to personally congratulate you on your piece being performed for soon-to-be President Obama tomorrow on Inauguration Day. . I would also like to thank you for creating such beautiful music. I’m sure you get this a lot, but whenever I feel like my day has been less than perfect, I play your music and everything seems better. I’m in awe of your achievements and I want you to know how much I admire and aspire to be like you one day. I do also want to thank you for responding to the e-mail that I sent you back in 2007; it really made my day that day (i thank You God!) Currently I am attending Northwestern University Bienen School of Music and the University Singers are performing your piece “Water Night” at our concert in March. Even though I’ve sang that piece twice before in two different choirs, the feeling of euphoria and excitement at the beauty and artistry of your music still remains within me. Thank you, Mr. Whitacre, for being an inspiration to me and countless others of musicians and music appreciators.
I wish you the best! I’ll be sure to be watching tomorrow. =)
Sincerely,
Matthew Chi Lee
Northwestern University Bienen School of Music
Choral Music Education/Voice Performance Major
Class of 2012
P.S. Any word on when Paradise Lost CD/DVD will be released?
I like it alot, i’m not sure how this comes across to you, but it is in no way meant as an insult, but the interweaving of the industrial/neo-post rock influences in this song reminds me the of how Moulin Rouge managed to take a timeless pack of music and give it a new edge. In short, I love it, I think someone needs to listen to more post-modern music, that sounds like what you’re going towards, go check it out haha.
Hey Mr. Whitacre,
I soo wish I could have recordngs of these songs, do you think it would be possible to get a copy of them or buy a cd or something? I’m a big fan =]
Thanks a bunch!
Really cool piece, I’m excited to get it for my band! Missed you guys at the BCM Int. booth at Midwest this year! I’m working on ‘October’ with my band for state festival (Colorado) and I had a question; While I have oboe and euphonium players, I’ve got a fantastic flutist and a monster cellist. Would it be completely offensive to have them play the solos? I’d like to feature them a bit, and honestly, they’ll be more musical than my other (younger) players. Hope all is well, would love to see you in Colorado again sometime. (I conducted October for you at UNC a few years back, I’m the guy that dated the girl from Yerington). Take care, thanks for the tunes.
Corry
LIBERTAS IMPERIO @ Midwest was mind-blowing. I was expecting it, and was sitting in a group of well known band directors in Illinois during the performance. Their faces will be imprinted in my mind forever, thanks for shaking things up in the band world once again! Absolutely Genius!!! (also posted on facebook fan page)
My band has been playing Eric’s works for years. When I heard that Libertas Imperio was being written for Symphonic Winds, I couldn’t wait to play it.
Any idea as to when the work will be in print? Hal Leonard’s website already has it on their website as available, so I have been waiting patiently.
My Wind Symphony wants to do it badly