Music>Orchestral
October
October began at a restaurant in Chicago, when I was first introduced to Brian Anderson. Brian, a high school band director from Fremont, Nebraska, knew my work and wanted to commission me, but couldn’t find the finances. If I remember correctly I didn’t immediately hear back from him, and I just assumed the gig would never materialize.
About a year later I get this phone call from him and he says that he has put together a commissioning consortium of 30 high school bands from Nebraska. 30 bands! I’ve dealt with institutional bureaucracy for a while now and I can’t possibly imagine how he brought all of those people together, let alone get them to agree on a commission.
Writing a ‘grade three’ work was an entirely different challenge. It’s easy to write your way out of a difficult corner with flashy, virtuosic material, but with ‘easier’ music your solutions must be simple, elegant, and functional. I worked hard to create a piece that could be successfully performed by all of the high schools in the consortium, yet never compromised its musical integrity. Frankly, writing ‘easy’ music is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
October is my favorite month. Something about the crisp autumn air and the subtle change in light always makes me a little sentimental, and as I started to sketch I felt that same quiet beauty in the writing. The simple, pastoral melodies and subsequent harmonies are inspired by the great English Romantics (Vaughn Williams, Elgar) as I felt that this style was also perfectly suited to capture the natural and pastoral soul of the season.
I’m quite happy with the end result, especially because I feel there just isn’t enough lush, beautiful music written for winds. October was premiered on May 14th, 2000, and is dedicated to Brian Anderson, the man who brought it all together.
59 Comments
ysr on April 13, 2010 at 2:30 pm
october is my favorite piece written by you. yes it is one of the 'easier' musics but it sill has, like you said, the musical integrity. the piece is not hard to be mastered. when you play the one part, the line is very simple and sound like nothing special. but when all the parts are played together, it creates unbelievebly beautiful melody. there is just so much tension in each chord, and when its finally resolved,the harmony in the room is incredible. thats what makes the music fun. thank you so much for such great music :)
Razanne on April 14, 2010 at 11:34 am
This is one of my favorite pieces that you've written. As an oboe player, I hope to one day be able to play this with my band. Thank you so much for all the beautiful music that you've shared with the world :]
Brad Sampson on April 14, 2010 at 2:53 pm
My Sophomore year in high school, we played October for State Band Festival. This piece profoundly changed the way that I look at music. I was taken back by the simple beauty of the melodic lines. The ending especially touched me, where the first theme is brought back and ends with the Added 9th/Mu major chord. I really gained an appreciation for simplicity in music as our band tried to perfect October, and it remains one of my favorite pieces ever composed.
Seth Robinson on April 16, 2010 at 1:56 pm
I was first introduced to your work through "October", and i have to say, I listened to it, over and over and over, completely captivated from start to finish every time. I'm a composer myself and I find it easy to agree with you on the comment that there isn't enough lush, beautiful music for wind ensemble, (with the exception of Frank Ticheli.) Lots and lots of beauty lies in simplicity I've come to find, and I believe that because of the "simplicty", this piece connects to musician of all levels as well as the common listener. At the start, it draws my out and sets me in a place I never knew existed and it never leaves me unsatisfied at the end, and that's something you can't say about most music. I will never hear another wind ensemble work that equals the beauty and magnificence of "October". Maybe I'll get enough inspiration and take a whack at a wind ensemble composition! If your not too busy, feel free to have a listen to some of my orchestral compositions! Just follow the website URL!
Sarah on April 23, 2010 at 7:15 am
I was also introduced to his work through 'October' (actually it was only a few days ago I was introduced to his music!) and I have found myself coming home and listening to this same song over and over and over again!
James Perry on April 17, 2010 at 2:32 am
Go Rutgers Wind Ensemble!! I'm going there next year and can't wait to dive into Mason Gross =D
Jill on April 26, 2010 at 11:31 pm
Mr. Whitacre,
I am conducting "October" tomorrow in my instrumental conducting class. I'm very nervous, as it is my first time conducting an ensemble like that. Just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy this piece!
Thank you, sir!
Jill
Eric on April 27, 2010 at 12:36 am
Jill,
Good luck tomorrow… I know you'll be brilliant!
Warmest regards,
Eric
Chris Hanson on May 6, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Dear Mr. Whitacre,
I am currently a senior in high school, planning on going into music next year in college. My freshman year, well before I was interested in music as my career, my band sightread this piece and considered performing it for the final concert of the year. It was the first piece of music I had ever gotten goosebumps while playing. Even though that feeling is much more frequent now, I still have a soft spot in my heart for this piece.
The thing that breaks my heart, looking back on my freshman year, is that we decided not to do it, because the general consensus of the band was that it was "too easy". The fact that so many people involved in music can lose sight of the musical value of simple melodic lines simply makes me want to weep. And it's not simply that it was your music. We played Ghost Train the year after, and we are playing Godzilla Eats Las Vegas this year. It simply makes me sad I never had the privilege to play on such a beautiful piece in concert.
I have to say, you are definitely my favorite composer. Your music finds ways to pull at human emotions like nothing else possibly can. Your choral works are simply spectacular, and I've been lucky enough to perform a couple of them during my high school years. Your music has truly been one of my inspirations in continuing on in music, and I have to give you my unending thanks for this.
-Chris
Philip Barrett on May 11, 2010 at 12:34 am
You're an inspiration to me.
Sarah on May 13, 2010 at 2:32 am
I am in our High school's symphonic band, and we played this piece for festival…it was by far my favorite, despite the subtle challenges it provides, such as tuning and interpretation. It came together beautifuly at the preformance, raising goosebumps on us the band and the audience as well. You wrote an amazing piece- I hope I can do something like this one day. Great job!
Ray on May 17, 2010 at 7:25 am
Hmmm, I can see how this would be an "easy piece," technically, but it's so incredibly difficult musically that GMEA graded it a level six for LGPE. This is absolutely my favorite song for winds by Eric, and I hope I can perform this one day.
Michael on July 10, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Hey Ray, I live in GA, and I do agree this piece is very difficult! It may not be difficult technically (rhythms, etc) However it is very lyrically difficult! Capturing the emotion of the piece is difficult. Also, maintaining the balance between the thinly orchestrated sections is difficult too! Also, keeping the intonation intact will probably be the greatest challenge in this piece. However, it is very beautiful! I'm a sophomore in High School, an I compose myself! This is one of my favorite pieces! It is beautifully written! And to those of you who claim there isn't much lush, beautiful pieces for winds, that's a lie, you just have to know where to look! I suggest looking at some of Hazo's pieces such as "Their Blossoms Down" or "Solas Ane" Very beautiful! Great job, Mr. Whitacre.
Garrett on May 26, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Hey Eric. I'll start by saying you are far and away my favorite composer. I'm a junior at Butler High School in North Carolina and our wind ensemble will be premiering the wind arrangement of "The Seal Lullaby" tomorrow night. It is a fantastic piece in both choral and wind arrangements.
October is one of my very favorite pieces of music. I only hope to one day be able to create the same emotional effects with music that you do on a daily basis.
As an aside, I wish you the best with your fellowship at Cambridge University. I studied at Cambridge over the summer in 2008 and it was the best experience of my life. I'm sure you've been, but It's such an amazing town. And don't pass up our opportunity to walk on the grass! Not everyone is so fortunate. :)
Thank you for gracing us all with your musical genius.
julian gibbons on May 26, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Dear Eric,
I conduct a good wind band germany, black forest, and we have done Ghost Train which was great fun..sadly only 1st movt. I want to programm Equus now and possibly october. We have also done Lux Arumque. I thoroughly enjoy your music..its great and I cant wait to get into equus (I was with the national youth band of canada as they performed it recently). I aso conduct a symphony orchestr in Basel, switzerland and am wondering if october would fit as an encore or last piece in my next rogramme: Mendelssohn Hebrides ov, Mozart Clar Concerto and second half Schubert Unfinished. However it seems a pity not to include the wind/brass players if I did october. Di you only conceive it for strings or could you add wind/brass parts? just a thought. greetings from Vancouver at present, on sabbatical.
Alex Crenshaw on May 30, 2010 at 1:50 pm
This piece profoundly changed my life. I discovered it shortly after my father passed away a few years ago. At first, I was astounded by this piece's woundrous beauty and vivid imagery, but later, I began to draw paralells between the progression of the music and how we progress through our lives. To me, this piece illustrates a peaceful, prosperous time that has been disrupted by sorrow and uncertainty, but slowly, we move forward again and before long, we find ourselves again at peace with the world. I'm not exactly sure if that progression of ideas was intentional, but it reminds me every day that even though season change, snow falls, and days grow cold, life goes on and life is still beautiful. Thank you for giving me hope in a time when I needed it the most, Mr. Whitacre.
-Alex
P.S. I can't wait to perform with you in New York! (Riverview High School Sharks!)
James Conces on June 30, 2010 at 3:29 am
Absolutely a gorgeous piece! This is easily my favorite piece I've had the fortune of playing. Those suspensions and resolutions just knock my socks off!
David Wilkinson on July 29, 2010 at 2:49 am
This piece will surely go down in history as harkening back to the Romantics, no doubt about it. RVW's Lark Ascending, Elgar as well. Even some of the Choral music harkens back to Bruckner, and others. You are so able to channel those fine composers and meanwhile put your modern spin on what flows out. You don't see that every day sir and I say bravo.
Bill Drayton on September 6, 2010 at 8:25 am
This evening I discovered Eric Whitacre's music for the first time. What a revelation! This is the music of heaven or could viery well be! Eric, whether you believe it or nor, God has entrusted you with a message to give through the sounds of voice and musical instrument. I feel sure you have witnessed people singing when the sound "takes off" into a totally different dimension. I heard such a sound yesterday evening in a church. It is a sound which you rarely hear!
Christina on September 25, 2010 at 6:10 am
Where can I buy a copy of this recording?? I'm in love with the string version..so beautiful.
Bill Drayton on September 25, 2010 at 6:19 pm
This is a very beautiful piece. I do indeed hear the influence of composers such as Elgar and Vaughan Williams. For example, the latter's "The Lark Ascending".
Jake on October 4, 2010 at 4:49 am
I was a Sophomore at Fremont High when this was debuted by our Junior/Senior Band. I was somewhat angry at the time of not being able to play it, but completely taken away when they began. The musicianship put into this piece is really something special. Still one of my favorite pieces of music I've heard my old music department play.
Savannah on October 13, 2010 at 10:13 am
I absolutly love this song! My high school orchestra is playing it this month for our October concert (what a coincidence). I absolutly love my teacher for picking this song for us to play. I play 2nd violin and sometimes we can have boring parts as well as violas, cellos, and basses but this song gives every instrument a chance to shine. It's a beautiful song and definatly reminds me of October. Awesome job with this song!
Seairra Goettler on October 16, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I have decided that when I get married, October will be my first dance music, but String Orchestra version.
Peter Schipper on October 18, 2010 at 5:57 am
We played this in my high school band (not very well… but we still played it…)
As a (then principle) trumpet player, thank you so much Mr. Whitacre for making such a wonderful brass part! I love the chords in the trumpet section around the 6 minute mark! shivers every time!
Samantha on November 2, 2010 at 11:01 am
I am a clarinet major and have played this piece twice now and the music still moves in me anytime I play or hear it. I am coaching a high school winter guard and we are using October for our competition show. I can't wait to write the equipment work for it.
Alicia on November 21, 2010 at 11:26 am
(I don't know if you'll see this below, so I'm going to repeat myself.)
I wish you were my coach!!! Not that I don't like mine, but now I'm jealous of your guard because they get to perform to this beautiful music.
Sophia on November 10, 2010 at 9:50 am
This will forever be my favorite piece that I have had the pleasure of playing or listening to. I played this my freshman year of high school, it's now my senior year and I ask my band director every day when we will bring it back out for us to play. Unfortunately, he will not repeat it until after we'e gone. However, we do play many of your works. Right now we're working on Lux Aurumque for winds. Your work continues to amaze me.
David Brock on November 19, 2010 at 11:45 am
I think as someone said above, music does not need to be complex to be beautiful. Some of the best music in the world I believe is simple. We play complex difficult technical music on all of our concerts, and one day our director pulled out a grade two piece and I think it was the favorite of everyone in the ensemble and the audience. October is one of my favorite pieces of all time.
Alicia on November 21, 2010 at 11:23 am
I am currently a senior (in the colorguard-very close to the band) at my high school. Our band played Ghost Train when i was a freshman, and Godzilla Eats Las Vegas later that year. Throughout high school, these were among the most memorable pieces, but it wasn't until they played October that I realized just how amazing your music is, Mr. Whitacre. I can hear the simplicity of it, but if it was more complicated, it wouldn't be beautiful like it is.
I'd also like to say that I'm convinced this is the song that won my band $5000 at the first annual SF Fleet Week Band Challenge.
Oh, and I am extremely jealous of the guard that the above Samantha is coaching!!
Sam Thurston on November 22, 2010 at 3:44 pm
I couldn't agree more with everyone who has commented at how inspiring and truly beautiful this piece is. I played this back in high school, and to this day I cannot find another piece that has affected me like October. There is so much literature (both wind ensemble and orchestra) that I absolutely love, but nothing has spoken to me like this. Truthfully, words cannot describe my love for this piece. Bravo.
Blas Garcia on December 2, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Mr. Whitacre,
Thank you so much for this wonderful piece of music! I played this in my high school band in 2005 and to this day it has been the highlight of my musical career. Whenever I can't sleep at night I listen to this still and it always does the trick. Thank you again for this simple yet awe inspiring arrangement
Kelly Jones on December 3, 2010 at 2:03 pm
So much longing in this song, especially at the 3:10 mark. Really inspires me to craft my writing around this music.
Meg on December 28, 2010 at 7:47 am
This song.. is.. so full of emotion, almost creating more then one emotional high point. Thank you very much for this. I am currently playing this song in my high school, and I absolutely love it. Thank you, again.
Ben Ratliff on January 6, 2011 at 4:27 pm
This is my favorite piece of music. Ever. Runner-up is not even close. This captures about any peaceful emotion possible all into one composition, and definitely fits the month of October, which happens to be my favorite part. I played this my junior year of high school at festival, and the amount of emotion we displayed was amazing. Goosebumps were common during good run-throughs. Heck, even during some bad ones, I still got goosebumps. This piecee definitely inspired me to begin composing, and I always listen back on it when I lack motivation.
Louie on January 11, 2011 at 12:45 am
Oh my god. This song made me cry the first time I heard it. Its so beautiful and well written. He is one of the reasons why im majoring in music composition and performance in college. And its a plus that eric is sexy as hell too. ;)
Emma on January 12, 2011 at 4:25 pm
This piece is one of the greatest musical contributions to the modern world. I was born in October, and it also happens to be my favorite month, when the air grows just a little cold and the leaves suddenly brighten like fire. I am an oboist who had the pleasure of playing this piece in High School, and dearly hope to play it once more now in college. Every single time I hear or perform this piece I cry; every aspect of it, every intrinsic detail IS October. It is the only composition I have found myself able to perform without getting nervous at soloing. The music in you is proof to me that there is a higher meaning to life. You help me grow in faith through music, and I can't thank you enough for that.
Askel on February 14, 2011 at 6:50 am
This was my favorite piece I played in high school. It's amazing, it's been almost six years since I played this and yet it still stands out in my memory.
Thank you for such a wonderful piece of music. It is wonderful to play and listen to.
Nita Morgan on February 18, 2011 at 5:26 am
Out of the ten years I've been playing music, this is the only piece that gives me chills every time I play it. October is my favorite month as well, and I think you captured it absolutely perfectly. I especially love the tension/release chords that ring in the concert hall. Thank you so much sir, for creating beautiful music. You are my inspiration (I'm going into music as my major), and I thank you for doing what you do. Without you, band geeks like myself would be out of a fantastic time.
Viki Kamenov on February 18, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Dear Mr.Whitacre,
I could hardly say that October is my favorite month, but for sure your lovely peace of work will make love October more and more :-)!Thank you for this graceful impression!
have a nice weekend!
Greetings from Bulgaria!
Alex Quigley on March 15, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Just as many people have stated above, October is my favorite piece that you have written. Everything about it paints a perfect image in my mind about that crispness of the month, the slightly reddish tones to the world, and how a sense of winter sneaks up behind you. I am a Euphonium player and if it weren't for this piece, I never would have been able to do a solo in my Wind Ensemble. I thank you for writing it, for it helped make my a dream of mine come true. And, it's not only this piece that inspires me, it is ever one of your works. They bring a deeper meaning to music for me, and let me see the world in a different way.
Garrett on March 17, 2011 at 8:34 am
Hi guys, I am a Sophmore trumpet player in the Winnetonka Pride band in Kansas City Missouri. We are going to Carnegie Hall for our second time on easter of 2011. We will be playing this piece of music, along with some other great ones. In my opinion this piece is one of the greatest that I have ever heard, and I enjoy playing this piece alot. Thank you Eric for your great work! :D
Joseph Spence on March 22, 2011 at 10:42 am
Hey Mr. Whitacre,
I absolutely love this piece. It is the only piece that has ever brought tears to my entire wind ensemble and the only piece in which they unanimously agree is the most fun to play. Having heard both the wind symphony and string versions, it has come to my attention that this piece would be absolutely fantastic with both colors of the strings and the winds, and an arrangement/transcription of such would be fantastic, and even more bombastic than the original.
WWO on April 7, 2011 at 3:38 am
Hi Mr Whitacre,
I'm from Warwick University in the UK and our wind orchestra recently played October (along with Stephenson's Rocket by Nigel Hess) at the National Concert Band Festival finals, held at the RSAMD in Glasgow. We gained a platinum award (to everyone's surprise – we were playing with an understrength band, we're unauditioned and some of our players had only played the pieces with us for the first time on the day of the finals). The adjudicators were giving their verdicts after the competition and one of their comments was that they had been really emotionally moved by the piece – we definitely wouldn't have done so well had we not had such a beautiful piece to play. In a way it helped that we were not at full strength as we could really make the most of the quieter passages. Everyone who took part loved October, hopefully it showed how much we liked the piece when we were playing it which helped us to achieve what we did.
So thank you for writing such a great piece of music :) I know it'll be a very special piece for everyone who played it at those finals, I'll be sad when we go back after Easter and don't get to play it any more, it really is a truly beautiful piece of music.
Daryl Silberman on April 20, 2011 at 3:15 am
Hi. We're sitting here in Chamber Orchestra perusing your website and listening to October. We'll be performing this on May 13, 2011 at Oregon Orchestra OSAA State Championships – one day before it's 11th anniversary.
Thank you for your music!
~Daryl S.
Jonathan Arndt on May 29, 2011 at 10:28 pm
I couldn't help but notice how closely the beginning of this piece resembles parts of the soundtrack of the movie "Cinderella man," the movie about a boxer during the Great Depression. This makes me miss being in band, but im happy that i have a taste for good music unlike most of todays teenage society.
P.S. i am one of Mr. Wrights students and look forward to singing with you in L.A. you are an inspiration that just because one doesn't know exactly how ones life will layout, you can still do something amazing that you never thought possible. God bless.
Molly on June 2, 2011 at 7:29 am
I would just like to say that this is the piece that made me fall in love with music, and want to do something with it for the rest of my life. It is absolutely gorgeous, I see so many images in my mind when I play it.
Thank you so much for creating this masterpiece. :)
Mary on June 11, 2011 at 9:48 am
Will you ever arrange October to be sung by a choir without any instruments? It would be so amazing!!
Ben Murrie on August 8, 2011 at 2:04 am
Brilliant. Just brilliant.
Brian Hickey on August 19, 2011 at 11:08 am
Mr. Whitacre!
I’d just like to say how much I enjoy your work. I am actually in the process of writing my Extended Essay on this piece, as well as one of Frank Ticheli’s works entitled ‘Shenandoah’. A
As an aspiring musician, composer and conductor, you to me are one of my greatest inspirations and I greatly thank you.
Best of luck with your new settlement in London.
and my best regards,
Brian
David Brock on September 14, 2011 at 1:30 am
A lot of the easiest music out there is some of this most beautiful. I’m not all into flashy music myself, and October is one of my all time favorites. I can never grow tired of your work, Sir.
Justin Raines on October 2, 2011 at 12:51 am
I have always loved this piece, but find that this wind recording you have posted to be the best recording of the work out there so far. Which one of all the recordings do you like best? Is there one out there I have not found? There are some alterations in this version that is different in the available score. Why is that?
Celia on October 31, 2011 at 1:51 pm
I especially love the string orchestra on this piece. Mr. Whitacre, have you ever arranged this piece for orchestra? I recall your having mentioned on your blog that this particular recording is too fast. I would love to hear a string orchestra play it the way you would arrange and conduct it.
Lauren Collings on November 8, 2011 at 3:22 pm
i am in theYouth County Wind Band for Derbyshire, England on the Horn, i have just finished one of our music courses we have every so often. the band and i just played this piece, i love the serenity and the simplicity of the atmosphere created by the lush harmonies, in particular the horn section;)
Eric G on November 9, 2011 at 5:59 am
Last year in my school’s wind ensemble we played this as one of our spring concert pieces. At first I thought we played it pretty well, but after hearing the UNT recording of this song I realized that we butchered it. When we played it in class I would often get goosebumps, but when I heard a professional recording I was moved to tears. I was ashamed of the lack of emotion put forth by the people in my band and I only wish we could have heard a good recording of the song so we could at least have started to emulate the deeply running emotion and passion that is present throughout this whole song.
All of that aside, this is truly one of my favorite songs of all time. Mr. Whitacre, my hats off to you.
Dillon on December 18, 2011 at 4:10 am
Mr. Whitacre
I usually wouldn’t comment on web pages, but I just felt the need to say something.
This piece takes me from my kitchen chair and makes me feel as though I’m soaring above a giant forest. It sparks my imagination! I can see everything there, the trees, the animals. It makes this more than a song. It’s an adventure!
So, thank you so much for writing such a beautiful piece!
Matthew Alan Canales on December 28, 2011 at 4:15 am
Was aquainted with this piece during my all-region practice in San Deago,Tx 2007. We practiced it numerous times in detail. Even after 2-3 hours of detailed repetition, October never got old. lol Unfortunately this piece was removed from the final cut list. Our directed wanted Texas/American themed music throughout our performance :-/ . maybe one day
Nathan Nelson on January 4, 2012 at 5:14 am
Bravo Mr. Whitacre,
Thank you for providing a piece that is both beautiful and lush and yet completely capable of being performed by high schoolers. Thank you for contributing a piece for our youth that has thought and emotion and soul.
Katrina Carpenter on January 21, 2012 at 7:52 am
This is an amazing piece:)