Ted

Haha I'm an engineer as well! Haven't picked a major yet...too many to choose from.

Cornell! I'm heading there as a freshman in just a couple of weeks!

It's always been a far-fetched dream of mine to be a member of the Boston Pops. Living nearby, I've been to many concerts with my family, and I am simply in love with the group. I play the saxophone and the clarinet...was a member of my high school band and jazz band. Actually, the father of one of our trumpeters is a member of the Pops (Thomas Rolfs--he is also known for being one of the two trumpets heard in harmony in "Hymn to the Fallen"). I'm going to college in less than a month as a freshman (Cornell), where I hope to participate in some music group. I'm pretty good, but I doubt I have the ability to be in the Pops. It's a dream for me, one that still ranks up there with astronaut, pilot, and all of those childhood dream careers! Anyway, does anyone else have a desire or dream to be in a group like the Boston Pops? I think the biggest thrill for me would be playing a John Williams piece conducted by the man himself. That would be one of the ultimate "highs" for me. -Ted

For that piece I was playing clarinet. Unfortunately the clarinet is not really featured in that piece, but we did get to play with the main brass theme (not that you could really hear us ). It sounded really nice. -Ted

I got to play a snippet of "The Patriot" in band this year. It was in a medly of recent JW movie themes (Harry Potter, Patriot, AI, and maybe another that I forget right now). What I began to love about it was how the brass comes in with the main march theme, and the flutes are playing an intricate, yet somewhat random collection of fast phrases. I downloaded the main theme, and I love blasting it on my stereo, with a big subwoofer! My affection with JW music is like that...I get addicted to his songs for a while, then I play them too much and slowly get tired of them (not to the point of dislike, but to the point of not playing it every time I turn on my computer). So right now I get my current JW "high" from the Patriot theme. Good thing he has a lot of music! -Ted

Yea it was too bad they didn't play any JW music. Actually, this was the first year it was on a big network. Usually, it is broadcast here in Boston on one of the local channels, and simultaneously on A&E. This year, it started at about 8 or 8:30 on a local station. Local coverage ended with the 1812 Overture (which in previous years had been the finale). CBS picked up the national coverage at 10:00 (and their into featured the freshly recorded highlight of the 1812 -- good quick editing job by CBS). I guess it would have been nice if the Pops continued through the fireworks. I think part of the reason is that everyone leaves the Esplanade and heads as close to the river as possible, and away from the stage. Also, with the recorded music, the engineers are able to sync it up with the fireworks--something that couldn't be done with live music. And it is a free event :-) -Ted

Where is the bootleg cd available? It's piqued my interest. I searched and found "The Music of NBC News" that came out in 97, but it does not seem to be available anywhere. -Ted

:spiny: :spiny: :spiny: :spiny: :spiny:

Uh-oh I'm intruding! I just found this site a couple days ago, and I like it a lot. Is there room for two Ted's?

I think the trumpeters of the National Symphony need a lesson in Olympic Fanfare!