@@bluejay7058 i dont mean any offense but the bend is written into the music (yes ik ur comment is a year old but that doesnt excuse ignorance) you can find the arrangement here th-cam.com/video/nNAanKk8EMU/w-d-xo.html
You have inspired my 16 yr old son to try this at a recital in a few weeks. He's been practicing for ages now along with a Glazunov piece. I don't think I have ever seen him practice his sax or his oboe as hard as he has for this. He's getting pretty good at it too. Thank you for inspiring my young musician.
i feel like i came full circle with this piece. when i was 13 i listened to this recording and i fell in love with this piece, and now 4 years later i’m playing it for my senior year recital in 2024
@@adude3929oh trust me i get really tired sometimes😭it’s nearly impossible to never get tired of practicing. but if you stick with a consistent schedule you’ll be ok
Thanks! The altissimo E's (especially the exposed one in the cadenza) were the source of much stress leading up to the performance, haha. I am glad that it spoke the way that it did here!
@Kezia Lovick-Jones Thank you so much! I'm playing on a Selmer Super Action 80 Series II. The fingering I used for the altissimo E is octave key, RH first finger, RH third finger, RH Eb key (OK, 4, 6, Eb). As far as getting the note to speak, I spend a lot of time working on overtones - I highly recommend Don Sinta's book "Voicing" for more information and a clear approach to practicing this. I was circular breathing at times. To have a consistent circular breathing technique, you have to practice it everyday. In the beginning, I spent a lot of time working on just the neck of the saxophone to perfect the technique before trying to incorporate finger technique as well. Then, simple two-note, five-note, and scale patterns are good ways to practice breathing while you are moving your fingers. I almost always take a circular breath while my fingers are moving to help hide the bumps in the sound. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me on my page. Best of luck!
+James Berger why did you not raise your stand? you looked all crunched up. I think you would have gotten much more quality sound and would help your air control
Been playing saxophone for 13 years now and I make it a point to come back and watch this recording every few months. Absolute masterclass. Great playing, James!
This shouldn’t be on the internet, it’s giving people wrong assumptions on how easy this is. This is the kind of thing that makes kids want to play saxophone and spend countless hours on something they THOUGHT was easy. Wrong. Saxophone is hard, and this piece is harder. Congratulations on this piece it’s too beautifully amazing 😡 🤩
I think this is the best Saxophone playing I've ever heard. I started watching your videos around the time I began playing the saxophone. You were a very large source of inspiration for me to getting into learning. Now I'm an all-stater because of your playing that made such a great model for me to base my tone off of. Btw- I know your mom. She's a teacher at my old school... didn't mean to sound like a creeper.
No disrespect to the soloist in this here video, but here's the link to a performance of this that just blows every other one away. th-cam.com/video/sx0jwZvwmfg/w-d-xo.html
@Christopher Partridge Oh, wow, I didn't know Dr. Murphy was sick in that performance. He really is otherworldly. As I said, I don't at all mean to disrespect the performer in this video. I just ghink that Otis Murphy's recording of this is phenomenal. I recognize it has its own flaws, definitely, but I'm yet to hear the Fantasia played like that.
@Christopher Partridge there is opinion that getting sick is good for muscians for making your playing more senseful but, ofc, taking some techicall skills from u
I had the honor to watch an ensemble in Manitoba perform this exact piece a few weeks ago. Stunning. The sax solo was just phenomenal. This is pro music.
What a lovely piece! My son played this four years ago in a regional competition and won. He was not happy because it sounded not as good as you hoped since the reed was dry. I started listening to this again because he is going to play it again at the festival and the high school band will accompany him. He is very excited and practices very hard. I wish him well! Thanks for the great performance!
Bravo! I have been playing for 40 years. I enjoy this recording of this piece best of all others. Impressed with your tempos and melodic interpretation and execution. All the other guys play this too fast!! You get all the notes and with awesome rythmic interpretation and expression. Sweet altissimo bell tones, legato and gliss. it's all there. Great cadenza! Most use 2 much space in my Op. Yours is goldielocks. Triple Alt. A ending, anyone? A+! Best recording of this piece ever!
This University band is one of the best in this part of the country, No doubt in my mind they are the best in Texas and have been for awhile. They have the have very talented graduates
Saying that it’s a “simple piece” would be an insult to both the composer and any performer, but as a non-musician I feel like I can really understand this piece.
I am a freshman in Saint Clair County High School Odenville AL and we are playing this piece for our spring concert, even though it is kind of hard, i still think it is so much fun to play and we are also playing The Marriage Of Figaro, The Seal lullaby, and Fate of the Gods. I encourage all to liste to at least one of them. P.S. My favorite is Fate of the Gods. I t is so big and full of different parts for all. And also your saxophone playing is awesome. I hope you listen to some of our music, if you like Christmas music, we played Carol of the bells, Sleigh Ride and other pieces.
Thanks for the quick response! As a student on my way last year of high school, performances like these inspire me to keep going with music. I've been looking for a new horn because the student horn I bought years ago just isn't holding up anymore. Been looking at some saxophones and trying some out, and the SA-80 have been the best so far. Keep being great!
This is inspiring I've been playing saxophone for 3 years and a half and I am thinking of majoring in music. This makes me want to become better. Thank you so much for such an amazing good quality of music. You're amazing.
Great performance, the solo sax nails the high note. I think Kenneth Tse's version is just a little cleaner, but the entire band sounds better in this version.
James Barger I like your videos, very good, you is the master in saxophone. Congratulations for you performance. I am Brazilian saxophonist and like your performances. Congratulations more one time👏👏👏👏🎷
How did I miss this? All I said on the piano version ditto here. Super job. Whatever stress there was with the band / live aud setting (I know it well) you overcame it all very well. I still say he should have written up to the A at the end. But then I'm nuts too.
@Colton Feliciano The Yamaha Custom EX's and Selmer SA80 Series II and Series III are all great horns and I would recommend any of them. I, personally, have been playing a Selmer Series II for 10 years so I am definitely more biased toward them
Always great to hear another sax player to make me want to get better! Your playing is like really amazing. Your tone is beyond awesome! I am an 8th grader and I practice overtones but I have trouble with them getting pass the High D. Any advice on overtones? Like I besides thinking the sound.
This is simply amazing. I've heard this piece several times and this is the best I've heard it played. I'm a young sax player and I must ask your advice, what is the preferred fingering & best way to get into the altissimo range? Bravo Mr. Barger
5:09 was really moving.. especially when he bent the altissimo note.. got goosebumps.
No one seems to notice how it took him a whole beat to realize he should've bent XD, but no really it did sound amazing!
Do you traduit in french for me plaes lol ym speak french
@@bluejay7058 i dont mean any offense but the bend is written into the music (yes ik ur comment is a year old but that doesnt excuse ignorance) you can find the arrangement here th-cam.com/video/nNAanKk8EMU/w-d-xo.html
@Gekuyume i completely agree as i stated on my previous post lol (if u think i was bashing the main commenter u should check who i @'ed in my post)
We meet again
You have inspired my 16 yr old son to try this at a recital in a few weeks. He's been practicing for ages now along with a Glazunov piece. I don't think I have ever seen him practice his sax or his oboe as hard as he has for this. He's getting pretty good at it too. Thank you for inspiring my young musician.
What does he do now 4 year later
HOW DOES HE PLAY SO CLEANLY MY LOWER REGISTER SOUNDS LIKE A VACUUM CLEANER
what setup do you have
try putting a wine cork in bell.
😂😂😂😂
p r a c t i c e
Jsb Brotman aye I watch this erryyy nightt
i feel like i came full circle with this piece. when i was 13 i listened to this recording and i fell in love with this piece, and now 4 years later i’m playing it for my senior year recital in 2024
I WANT THE SAME MOTIVATION AS YOU GOT, LIKE HOW YOU NEVER GET TIRED OF PRACTICING
@@adude3929oh trust me i get really tired sometimes😭it’s nearly impossible to never get tired of practicing. but if you stick with a consistent schedule you’ll be ok
Awesome! On an unrelated note, the performer's mom, Mrs. Barger, was actually actually my freshman geometry teacher in high school. Small world!
It's currently 1 AM and I am back watching this video for the 1000th time. I'm not upset about it either.
2 years latter and I’m in your same shoes
Better than Netflix…
Can confirm!
This is what motivates me to become a better saxophonist. So I can play like this one day 😩❤️
Thank you Felicia - keep working hard and you will!
Bravo to the soloist :) Horns sounded phenomenal in this band.
Thanks! The altissimo E's (especially the exposed one in the cadenza) were the source of much stress leading up to the performance, haha. I am glad that it spoke the way that it did here!
That altissimo E gave me the goosebumps. Bravo!
This has very quickly become one of my favorite pieces ever made, thank you, James
When I was in Middle school my saxophone line had the privilege of learning from him a few times before competitions, He’s a great teacher.
Thanks so much for the kind words - I'm glad I was able to work with you and help out!
@Kezia Lovick-Jones Thank you so much! I'm playing on a Selmer Super Action 80 Series II. The fingering I used for the altissimo E is octave key, RH first finger, RH third finger, RH Eb key (OK, 4, 6, Eb). As far as getting the note to speak, I spend a lot of time working on overtones - I highly recommend Don Sinta's book "Voicing" for more information and a clear approach to practicing this. I was circular breathing at times. To have a consistent circular breathing technique, you have to practice it everyday. In the beginning, I spent a lot of time working on just the neck of the saxophone to perfect the technique before trying to incorporate finger technique as well. Then, simple two-note, five-note, and scale patterns are good ways to practice breathing while you are moving your fingers. I almost always take a circular breath while my fingers are moving to help hide the bumps in the sound. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me on my page. Best of luck!
+James Berger why did you not raise your stand? you looked all crunched up. I think you would have gotten much more quality sound and would help your air control
Jaybird IB Soloist lower there stand so they can project more and allow the audience to see him.
oscar wei I know that but why would he risk losing his air stream instead of lifting the stand and moving it to the side a little bit
Try it... not a noticeable difference...
@today is not yesterday Completely agree! Classical Sax is so underrated, but I think things are beginning to change... slowly!
Thank you for existing, James, this was an amazing performance.
Hearing this played on saxophone in person is insane
Been playing saxophone for 13 years now and I make it a point to come back and watch this recording every few months. Absolute masterclass. Great playing, James!
This shouldn’t be on the internet, it’s giving people wrong assumptions on how easy this is. This is the kind of thing that makes kids want to play saxophone and spend countless hours on something they THOUGHT was easy. Wrong. Saxophone is hard, and this piece is harder. Congratulations on this piece it’s too beautifully amazing 😡 🤩
We're playing this soon, never heard it before it was on my stand, super excited now!!
I think this is the best Saxophone playing I've ever heard. I started watching your videos around the time I began playing the saxophone. You were a very large source of inspiration for me to getting into learning. Now I'm an all-stater because of your playing that made such a great model for me to base my tone off of. Btw- I know your mom. She's a teacher at my old school... didn't mean to sound like a creeper.
No disrespect to the soloist in this here video, but here's the link to a performance of this that just blows every other one away.
th-cam.com/video/sx0jwZvwmfg/w-d-xo.html
See Jim. I'm not the only one. Not crazy!!
@Christopher Partridge Oh, wow, I didn't know Dr. Murphy was sick in that performance. He really is otherworldly.
As I said, I don't at all mean to disrespect the performer in this video. I just ghink that Otis Murphy's recording of this is phenomenal. I recognize it has its own flaws, definitely, but I'm yet to hear the Fantasia played like that.
@Christopher Partridge there is opinion that getting sick is good for muscians for making your playing more senseful
but, ofc, taking some techicall skills from u
Just incredible. Absolutely amazing.
Quite honestly, this is the best recording I've heard of this piece.
Such a musical interpretation! Bravo,bravo
I had the honor to watch an ensemble in Manitoba perform this exact piece a few weeks ago. Stunning. The sax solo was just phenomenal. This is pro music.
You do the piece and your instrument justice. Beautiful work.
Thank you for watching the performance again!
What a lovely piece! My son played this four years ago in a regional competition and won. He was not happy because it sounded not as good as you hoped since the reed was dry. I started listening to this again because he is going to play it again at the festival and the high school band will accompany him. He is very excited and practices very hard. I wish him well! Thanks for the great performance!
Absolutely wonderful.
5:31 THAT DIP IN THE G IS PORN TO MY EARS
TheeBlackHawk literally same
FUCK FUCK FUCK OH MY NUT GOD JESUS PLEASE JELP
The fact the he might have seen this is really funny
But yeah it really is
Playing this on my Senior Recital in a few months, been practicing it for over a year now. Such an amazing piece and I am so excited to play it!
I replayed this so many times
ughh this peice gives me chills!!! the slow part is probably the most passionate music will ever get.
The slow section was so moving and beautiful! You're a really talented saxophonist, wish I had your skills as a musician.
2:15 slow down to .75 and reference this as good vibrato and practice.
Super soloist and a top band, GREAT !!
i am back here again for my annual binge of this video
Used to listen to your solo recording all the time! So good!! Chills
Thanks Andrew - I hope that you’re doing well!
Simply. Awesome. This is the first time I have heard this piece, and what an introduction! Bravo!
Bravo! I have been playing for 40 years. I enjoy this recording of this piece best of all others. Impressed with your tempos and melodic interpretation and execution. All the other guys play this too fast!! You get all the notes and with awesome rythmic interpretation and expression. Sweet altissimo bell tones, legato and gliss. it's all there. Great cadenza! Most use 2 much space in my Op. Yours is goldielocks. Triple Alt. A ending, anyone? A+! Best recording of this piece ever!
This University band is one of the best in this part of the country, No doubt in my mind they are the best in Texas and have been for awhile. They have the have very talented graduates
this man is the sax god. 😌
you have to possesses exceptional skills to tackle this piece. being just good won’t get it. He is a exceptionally gifted saxophone player.
Saying that it’s a “simple piece” would be an insult to both the composer and any performer, but as a non-musician I feel like I can really understand this piece.
Impeccable altissimo playing! Brilliant!
Thanks! I use the first and third fingers on the right hand and the pinky Eb for the E.
altissimo aside this guy's articulation and fingers are perfectly in time at a really high speed
Non mi stanco mai di ascoltare questa performance ,grazie grazie grazie
Grazie Disconzi!
I am a freshman in Saint Clair County High School Odenville AL and we are playing this piece for our spring concert, even though it is kind of hard, i still think it is so much fun to play and we are also playing The Marriage Of Figaro, The Seal lullaby, and Fate of the Gods. I encourage all to liste to at least one of them. P.S. My favorite is Fate of the Gods. I t is so big and full of different parts for all. And also your saxophone playing is awesome. I hope you listen to some of our music, if you like Christmas music, we played Carol of the bells, Sleigh Ride and other pieces.
Also i play trumpet which I love but I ALSO LOVE SAXOPHONE
Thanks for the quick response! As a student on my way last year of high school, performances like these inspire me to keep going with music. I've been looking for a new horn because the student horn I bought years ago just isn't holding up anymore. Been looking at some saxophones and trying some out, and the SA-80 have been the best so far. Keep being great!
Fantastic! Probably my favorite piece for saxophone
Thank you Bob! It's a wonderful piece and I'm glad that you enjoyed my performance.
Thank you Henrik!
5:11 would be such a good hit in a marching show
Thanks you James. Breathtaking playing.
Thank you!
That Altissimo E was PERFECT. 0.0
This is inspiring I've been playing saxophone for 3 years and a half and I am thinking of majoring in music. This makes me want to become better. Thank you so much for such an amazing good quality of music. You're amazing.
Really terrific. Thank you.
Wow … Just the other side of Fantastic. Amazing !!!
Great performance, the solo sax nails the high note. I think Kenneth Tse's version is just a little cleaner, but the entire band sounds better in this version.
puts a smile on my face when he gets to that upper register
Fantastic performance!!! Beautiful!
Thank you very much! I'm glad that you found the Glazounov to be a helpful resource to you as well!
You have an amazingggggg sound. Wow. Blown away. Any tips for an incoming college freshman?
John Wardlaw someone is close to graduating college, i guess those tips would be a bit late lol
I'm really impressed by the control it sounds like you have over your altissimo. I still feel uncertain when I go into that register.
simply amazing !! bravo 👏 👏👏👏
AMAAAAZING!
Rock on man, amazing performance!
This was impressive, indeed. Thanks so much for the upload. Enjoy your channel, as well :)
impressive for a young player. Excellent control. Almost to the level of Kenneth Tse. Good job, man.
I love kc also but I hear no difference in control and James has twice the richness of overall sound. He's got more sound to control.
What a legend
Nice compliment! James is only about 15-16 years younger than both of them :). Can't imagine where he'll be playing wise in that time!
phenomenal performance and amazing tone quality. well done :)
BRAVO!!!!!!!
Congratulations! Great performance!
Sou apaixonado por essa peça!!! Você é muito fera , parabéns.. que um dia eu chegue no mesmo nível !
Congratulations !!! Very Good Solo!!
😍 Te amo.. que lindo tocas el sax 🎷.. Eres mi inspiración.
THE BEST
New saxophone role model... Those altissimos!!! Keep it saxy my friend
Bravo.wonderful tone!
Wow, great
You inspire me. Thank You.
Thank you! OneRandomCommunity
Fine performance:-)....the Selmer loves you...Bravo !
Thank you Joe!
just beautiful
Great performance!
I, a Saxophonist myself, personally adore this song and I am actually getting the sheet music soon.
WOW! Well played sir!
Thank you Petrius!
Brilliant!
AMAZING!!
Eu sempre choro ao ouvir isso, que som magnífico, mds
James Barger I like your videos, very good, you is the master in saxophone. Congratulations for you performance. I am Brazilian saxophonist and like your performances. Congratulations more one time👏👏👏👏🎷
incredible performance! if you mixed Otis Murphy's unique tone and your quality of playing, we would have a perfect sax player!
How did I miss this? All I said on the piano version ditto here. Super job. Whatever stress there was with the band / live aud setting (I know it well) you overcame it all very well. I still say he should have written up to the A at the end. But then I'm nuts too.
Me dejaste sin palabras, eres un gran saxofonista, Saludos desde México :D
@Colton Feliciano The Yamaha Custom EX's and Selmer SA80 Series II and Series III are all great horns and I would recommend any of them. I, personally, have been playing a Selmer Series II for 10 years so I am definitely more biased toward them
Always great to hear another sax player to make me want to get better! Your playing is like really amazing. Your tone is beyond awesome! I am an 8th grader and I practice overtones but I have trouble with them getting pass the High D. Any advice on overtones? Like I besides thinking the sound.
Muito bom
This is simply amazing. I've heard this piece several times and this is the best I've heard it played. I'm a young sax player and I must ask your advice, what is the preferred fingering & best way to get into the altissimo range? Bravo Mr. Barger
you're a great saxophonist¡¡¡that altissimos is very great ¡¡¡amazing your solo.
So gorgeous.