Vote for the July4th Contest Winner!

[Garritan]

The entries are in and it's time to cast your vote for the winner of this year's July 4th Music Contest.

There are some 24 fabulous patriotic tunes and it is going to be difficult selecting a winner.

Cast your vote for those songs you feel are the best. You can vote up to three songs. The entry with the most votes will win the upcoming Marching Band library.

Here are the entries: (click on the title to hear the mp3)

"Chasing Liberty" (http://stevehanlon.net/Chasing%20Liberty.mp3) by Steve Hanlon
"Salute to Unborn Americans" (http://www.i5pmusic.com/sound/salutetounbornamericans.mp3)by Infinite5ths
"To Awaken A Sleeping Giant" (http://www.dws.org/dlovrien/ra/giant-test3.mp3) by David Lovrien
"God Bless America" (http://www.garritan.com/mp3/dw-GodBlessAmerica.mp3) by Danny Williams
"America the Beautiful" (http://www.mydocsonline.com/pub/DPDAN/America%20The%20Beautiful%20Arr.%20Dan%20Kury.MP3) by DPDan
"The Star Spangled Banner" (http://www.garritan.com/mp3/dw-TheStarSpangledBanner.mp3) by Danny Williams
"Yankee Doodle" (http://evensongmusic.net/resource/yankeeversion%202.mp3) by giwro_jon
"Independence Day March" (http://www.garritan.com/mp3/rr-IndependenceDayMarch.mp3) by Rich Rayer
"The Tattered Flag" (http://joshuavinci.150m.com/The%20Tattered%20Flag.mp3) by Josh
"Patriotic Overture March" (http://www.garritan.com/mp3/ml-PatrioticOvertureMarch.mp3) by Mathieu Laprise
"Carnival USA" (http://my-mp3s.music-4-schools.co.uk/Jon_Raybould_Carnival_USA.mp3) by Jonray
"My Home, the USA" (http://www.esnips.com/doc/cb00f80d-5fc0-4cc5-b735-543e02e54742/My-Home-the-USA.mp3) by wrayer
"God Bless America" (http://www.dws.org/dlovrien/ra/godbls20.mp3) by Dargason
"As Blue as the Sky" (http://hem.passagen.se/lpkwpg7/latar/Asblueasthesky.mp3) by trumpet82
"The Four Freedoms" (http://home.earthlink.net/%7Eesharpe/TheFourFreedomsMix0A.mp3) by Ed Sharpe
"Fallen Soldier" (http://www.timberwolftech.com/fallen-3.mp3) by CJPro
"Independence March" (http://my.opera.com/rwayland/homes/files/Independence%20March.mp3) by rwayland
"Americana a la Copeland" (http://www.rmupc.com/americana%20a%20la%20copeland.mp3) by Scott McCallister
"The Emperor Penguine March" (http://www.rmupc.com/emperor%20penguine%20march.mp3)by Scott McCallister
"Walk Through The Valley" (http://www.mydocsonline.com/pub/tcohen/Walk%20Through%20The%20Valley%20-%20Tim%20Cohen.mp3) by tcohen
"Freedom Sings" (http://www.helenandrich.com/Music/Freedom%20Sings%2096-1-X.mp3) by RichM
"Civil War Medley" (http://www.esnips.com/doc/31cab913-7894-457c-b374-3a708e236bcb/Civil-War-Medley_WR.mp3) by wrayer
"I Pledge" (http://www.garritan.com/mp3/bp-2k6Ipledge.mp3) by Brad Pearson
"July 4" (http://www.mitchmanthe.net/%7EFamily/music/July%204.mp3) by Mitch Manthe

A big thanks to all who participated. Good luck!

Gary Garritan


http://www.garritan.com/pictures/July4.gif


Music Contest

[danpowers]

I still have to listen to most of these! What's the deadline for voting?

[SteveHanlon]

Is it possible to win something for having the least amount of votes?

Or maybe it could be possible to win something for having the shortest piece?

:D

[etLux]

Obviously with an enormous batch of excellent
entries like this, I *do* get to vote more than
once, right?

David
www.DavidSosnowski.com
.

[SyQuEsT]

it could be nice to vote in several steps, not only one, no ? :)

[Styxx]

Wow., this is taking a long time for me to listen to all. I have a problem with finding bad qualities in any of these excellent compositions and it hinders me in making any fast decisions. (Oh, did I say that right? I don't think I said that right. Did I? Well, I will be enlisting a couple of buddies of mine to help out.
http://www.rubbercal.com/files/bulldog_plunger_md_wht.gif Oops, sorry ... wrong job. :D

[Styxx]

http://www.ducting.com/files/little_buddy_spinning_boat_wheel_lg_wht.gif
Have some extra time today after the three hour tour yesterday so it's back to Listening to these great demos!

[thgmusic]

Hey guys,

When this is over, could I get some feedback on my chart? I would like to learn from the process, so input will be appreciated.

Congrats in advance to the deserving winners...

Thanks,

[Garritan]

Obviously with an enormous batch of excellent
entries like this, I *do* get to vote more than
once, right?

David
www.DavidSosnowski.com (http://www.DavidSosnowski.com)
.You bet! You can vote for three entries.

Gary

[etLux]

You bet! You can vote for three entries.

Gary

Oh Gosh. I already voted for 24 of them.

But -- only my favorites, honest!

David
www.DavidSosnowski.com
.

[C J Pro]

Darn etLux, I look and start thinking "I got a vote!" Then I realized I'm still tied for last.

[Stephanie Pray]

You bet! You can vote for three entries.

Gary

Hi Mr. G :)
I would like to use my other 2 votes, but I can't seem to figure out how to do that. It says that I've already voted...there's no option for me to do anything. Are you serious about all of us having 3 votes or am I just being way to gullable today?
thanks,
Steph

[SteveHanlon]

Could a person win just by being next to someone with a lot of votes? Kind of a sympathetic vibratory effect...

;)

[SyQuEsT]

Fine to see no one to zero ! ... Gary, will you add your vote too ?

[Garritan]

Hi Mr. G :)
I would like to use my other 2 votes, but I can't seem to figure out how to do that. It says that I've already voted...there's no option for me to do anything. Are you serious about all of us having 3 votes or am I just being way to gullable today?
thanks,
Steph Steph, You can only vote time and that one time only up to three entries. If you voted you cannot go back and add votes. Sorry :(

[C J Pro]

Now, how many of you are voting for your own pieces?

[Styxx]

Can't I just vote for all! Cripes sake these are all son of a gun dang blasted all fantastic! You really have me stumped on this. :mad:

[C J Pro]

SteveHanlon, it's just down to you and me for last so far.

[SeanHannifin]

What an incredibly tough vote! I enjoyed all the pieces, congrats to everyone! Great work. :)

[SteveHanlon]

CJ, :D

Neck and neck to the finish line. a head butt. then an uppercut "I'm gonna lose!" replied Hanlon. "No, I will to be the loser," shot back CJ.

"I'm gonna lose the Halloween music writing contest!" retorted Hanlon

"Not a chance! I want to lose the hallow...hey wait a minute, this is the 4th of July contest," discovered CJ.

They rested in peace knowing they were just winners before their time.

[Styxx]

http://www.rubbercal.com/files/edgar_writing_desk_lg_nwm.gif
It was a tuff decision. Many a hour spent by candle light juggling titles and composers but in the end I prevailed! I had decided on three in this order from first to third, best to last and .................................................. .....

[Infinite5ths]

Styxx,

Do you do CGI animation....or do you just dig up those animated GIF pics from a 3rd party? They are great fun. [I'm sure I'm not the first to mention this.]

[Mitch Manthe]

Yes, I'd like to know more about it, too. :)

[Garritan]

This is a close one! We'll end the voting soon. Please cast your votes and we'll announce the winner soon.

Gary Garritan

[Garritan]

The poll is now closed.

It looks like.....

DPDan is the winner!

It was very close as a tie-breaker vote slipped in at the last minute.
Everyone else who entered will get a substantial discount. :)

We had some excellent entries this year.

Thanks to everyone who participated. I salute all of you!

Gary Garritan

[C J Pro]

Congrats Dan!


I thought the contest was going to be easy until I came on one day after you released your entry and found the topic commenting about it. Gave me a challenge though.

And I think I'll hold my question for Gary till tomorrow.

[etLux]

Congratulations, Dan!

My best,

David
www.DavidSosnowski.com
.

[joaz]

Congratulations Dan.

regards Joe

[Stephanie Pray]

Congratulations Dan!! :)

[SyQuEsT]

Will the second have the half of this library ? :)
or another price for the best original composition ? :)

Congratulation Dan ... very close ;)

[Cobalt Katze]

I'm certainly not surprised, but congratulations Dan ;)

[Infinite5ths]

WAY TO GO DPDAN!!! ;)

....and thanks to Gary for all the fun. :D

[Reegs]

Congrats Dan!!

[Leaf]

:) :) :) :) CONGRATULATIONS!:) :) :) :)

http://www.mydocsonline.com/pub/Leaf/arg-d-50-trans.gif http://www.mydocsonline.com/pub/Leaf/arg-a-5O-tRyA.gifhttp://www.mydocsonline.com/pub/Leaf/arg-n-50-trans.gif




www.artie.com

[jcbryson1]

Congratulations Dan, yours was a beautiful rendition!

Jon

[wrayer]

Congratulations Dan!

[thgmusic]

First, congratulations to Dan for winning. It was an excellent arrangement, to be sure. It also showed a real mastery of the "instrument" of GPO, as well as artistry in the mix. Congratulations as well to everyone who entered a piece...it's always tricky sticking your creative neck out for others to have a go at!

Next, thanks so much to Gary for his generous offer of a discount on the upcoming Marching Band library to all the others who entered. I was planning on buying it anyway, but this makes it easier!

Last, as I mentioned in a previous post, I would love to hear some feedback on my entry, just to know where I can improve. For instance, using the indicators that I mentioned for Dan's arrangement: what in the arrangement itself did you like/dislike? how can I improve my use of the "instrument" of GPO? what aspects of the mix need to improve?

Please forgive me if asking these questions here is a breach of forum etiquette. If I need to take it to another area, please point me in that direction.

Thanks again...this is the best forum I have ever been a part of.

[DDW]

Congrats, Dan. Well-deserved!!

[DPDAN]

Holy Cow everyone!

Thank you!!!
I'm sorry I have not posted till now.

I have been in this storm that has been on the news, monster wind and tons of power lines and big trees down. No damage at my house except no elctricity since Wednesday. Can you imagine trying to sleep without A/C. In St. Louis, air conditioning is not a luxury, it is ranked right up there with oxygen. :D I have been staying at my parents home with electric and A/C since then. The temperatures have been in the high 90's, and a number of days lately have been over 100. YIKES ! talk about global warming. Just kidding :)

I sure do want to thank all the folks who voted, but not just for me, but for all the votes that were cast. I really wanted to try competeing because I have never entered these type of contests before. When Gary announced it, I wanted to post something before the fourth. Often, I think about how fast some of you folks do things with GPO, and I wanted to see if I could quickly throw something together. I managed to satisfy myself which was my only goal. I will not take full credit for the arrangement because I copied some of it by ear from an old CD of the Boston Pops directed by .... you guessed it John Williams. After the brass completes the first verse, a really nice soft sounding choir comes in and sings the second verse. Of course I don't have a choir, so I used mainly woodwinds for the second verse with the strings very soft in the background, and for the last verse, I wanted it huge. So, Since the "pipe organ" is considered to be the "king of instruments" (and GPO has one), I used just one stop and one pedal stop since I was in a hurry to get this thing done before the fourth. I purposely have the organ brutally loud to duplicate the sound that is often achieved when a trumpet soloist is playing and is getting buried by the over zealous organist showing of it's power. Enough about me and "America, The Beautiful"

I believe we Americans are so blessed to live in this country called the USA, BUT I for one understand the full meaning of brotherhood when people of all genders and from everywhere around the world participate in one common language..... MUSIC.

I'm rambling, but I want to thank everyone who entered the contest, and hope that nobody feels like they lost. I didn't think I was winning for a long time, but in my heart, I had accomplished my goal, and I trust all those who entered are glad they did.

Thank you Gary for all the things you do for us. It is amazing the amount of participation that Gary has with us here.

My wish for everyone is peace!

dpDan :)

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

[Rhap2]

DPDAN:

Haven't been watching this for awhile, but I had hoped you would win. Your rendition was really beautiful.

YOU WON, DAN.............(But then, you always were a winner).

Jack

[DPDAN]

Thank you Jack, and thanks everyone again!

Dan

[Scott McCallister]

Congratulations to you DPDan!

Yours was a favorite of mine in this list (next to mine of course :D ) and I was very impressed with the overall sound you are getting from GPO.

Not bad for a quickie! Before I read your last few responses, I was wondering a bit if you actually started working on it a while back and it just happened to fit the nature of the contest (it was so good). Spit and polished to be sure. I'm looking forward to when I am able to use this set of tools as quickly as you obviously do!

Nice job! You set an awesome example for the rest of us!

Scott

[SeanHannifin]

Many congrats, Dan! Fantastic work!

And congrats to all who participated! What a wonderful set of music! :D

[rwayland]

Well, I just now noticed that the contest has ended! Congratulations to Dan, who will undoubtedly make very good use of it!

Good to see you up and running again, Dan!

Richard

[DPDAN]

Scott, Sean and Richard,,, thank you for your nice words.

I am honored to have won, but it's just great to be among such nice people.

Thanks gobs!

Dan :)

[RichR]

Congrats are in order for DpDan:

CONGRATULATIONS - WELL DONE!

Just a little question for the rest of the members, though. Even though I was not a winner, I would like some feed back on the piece I put together:

"Independence Day March"

Criticism will not hurt these old ears but may help in orchestration and GPO usage in future pieces. I have certainly learned a lot from hearing DpDan's music and many of the comments on other pieces by forum members. That's what makes this place such a great place to visit!

Sincerely,

[DPDAN]

Hi Scott, I am sorry I didn't answer your question.
I started working on this on July 1st. I am hopefull to go back to this piece and fix some poor timing issues with some of the parts, and record a real choir over the GPO version for next year's Fourth of July, not for a contest, but just for something fun to do.

I am grateful for your comments Scott.

Dan :)