Here's a metal version of Xerxes by John Mackey. I recommend you check out the original piece for wind band before listening to my arrangement. http://ostimusic.com/audio/Xerxes.m3u

When I originally heard this piece I was in the percussion section of the Northwestern State University Wind Symphony. We were reading lots of music on the first day and this piece came up. Before rehearsal, the director gave me the score so I could assign parts. I knew right off the bat this was not going to be a typical concert march, as it says in the subtitle. 

No one knew this piece of music; it was pretty much brand new. We started playing and it was pretty low key--simple rhythm in the snare drum, a relatively tame bass line in the tuba section, a few other effect type things happening in the percussion section. Then the rest of the band came in, namely the high brass. Everyone was pretty shocked, but we kept going. For 5 minutes it continued, and it totally lived, and still does live, up to its title. It may not be the most complicated Mackey piece, but I knew from early on it was destined to make it to an electric guitar.

Special thanks to my bro Sean Ashe for mixing my piece of garbage, unorganized mess.

Xerxes - John Mackey, arr. Brooks Tarkington

Cover of Paul Simon's "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard" from 1972, but I made it pop punk.

Credits:
Olivia Herald - Guitar, "Bass", drums, vocals, mixing
Brian Herald - Mastering

Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard - Paul Simon Cover

Live recording of "Wine-Dark Sea: Symphony for Band" by John Mackey.
Performed by the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, conducted by Jerry Junkin.
Program note and full score available here:
http://ostimusic.com/WineDarkSea.php

Wine-Dark Sea: 1. Hubris

Hank Green, all-round Renaissance man and half of famed vlogging duo the Vlogbrothers, sits down with Rhett & Link this week to talk about the awkward circumstances surrounding meeting the love of his life, his personal take on sexuality, religion, and "nerdom," and the surprising way that he and his brother, John Green, have dealt with John's mainstream success with "The Fault In Our Stars." 

Ep. 48 Hank Green- Ear Biscuits

Todd Fancey, songwriter, dug through an old hard drive under his bed to find an alternate, unheard version of "Hunter's Song" with many verses not used on the show. For the first time anywhere, you can hear it right here.

That One Night Alternate Lyrics

A pop song that I wrote, sang and recorded, ca. 1986. As best I can remember I used a Roland Juno 106; an ESQ 1; a Korg DDD1 drum machine; and an early generation emulator. Everything was recorded onto a four track recorder.

Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard - Paul Simon Cover

Olivia Herald

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