2005 Boston Crusaders - 2005 DCI Audio Archive APD

Show: The Promise of Living

• Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
• Overture to Candide
• The Promise of Living (from Tender Land)
• Sing Sang Sung
• Ninth Symphony (Ode to Joy)

The Good: Two pieces I played with '95 Glassmen were used this year. One of them was Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, which Boston performed this year. As a result, I already have a soft spot for this show. So, it appears, did the fans, as there was a strong reaction just to the opening intro alone. Candide's always a fun piece to listen to and I like how they worked Make Our Garden Grow into the arrangement. I greatly prefer Boston's Promise of Living arrangement over Colts. I feel it's more like the original piece and less choppy. I love the groove the drumline puts down at the beginning of Sing, Sang, Sung, although I felt like this was similar to 2002's Artie Shaw section. Of course, Conquest grunts in Boston are going to make people go nuts.

The Bad: Candide was pretty watered down, giving much of the melodic line to the pit. Not sure that was really necessary as the horns sound pretty good. Sing, Sang, Sung was a played a little straighter than I prefer. Ode to Joy was a little muddy before the final push of the song.

The Ugly: This show is the joy of no ugliness.

Overview: A very fun, crowd pleasing show, practically taylor-written to get the home crowd off their feet at Finals.

Website: http://www.crusaders.com/crusaders/home.asp

2006 Auditions: November 25-27