Undertow - John Mackey

Undertow - John Mackey

A flash of musical lightning that will exhilarate listeners at all levels! An infectious rhythmic pulse is created with alternating 4/4 and 7/8 measures that drives the work forward from start to finish. Active percussion parts add to the overall appeal of this lively and very creative work!

I own nothing.

[nekomura_]

6 years after playing this song for the first time, it will never stop being one of my favorite band pieces I played. Not to mention actually having Mackey come and conduct us for one of our practices.

[itsvnniie]

were playing this piece at our spring concert soon

[rNattyCatTTV]

0:57 im a flute player, but that trombone part gives me chills every time. amazing piece!

[sumwitegurnm]

Im a freshman (french horn) and i played this for an Allstate piece back in the fall, i always find myself coming back to listen to this piece. I practically fell in love with timpani since the concert

[jamesmccalister]

played this in an honor band months ago and it still gets stuck in my head weekly

[emmaqiu]

I just preformed this as my final song in my final concert of my final year of middle school, and there couldnt have been a better one to preform than this

[Anniep_lovesGod]

As a 7th grade clarinetist playing this piece.. I can confirm that this piece is really difficult yet so fun to play.. all of the trills and rhythms get stuck in my head and I just somehow got obsessed. ❤😂

[CrosbysCrew]

This is my crush's favorite piece so I had to listen to it 🤩

[hunterjones]

I graduated high school in 2017 and to this day this was one of my favorites that I still remember so well. I haven’t heard it in years but could still play along and I don’t even really practice too much anymore. The time signature is weird but once I really felt the rhythm and vibe of the piece it just made sense to me. Truly a banger

[Optixify]

We started to play it last week. And my band teacher, student teacher is conducting this. At first its really weird, but I love this song.

[Thelazyking]

I was able to meet the composer, and he’s a funny and chill dude. Which I was able to get photos and autographs from him when we were playing this song. And fun fact he made this song under three weeks for a middle school band. Part of the song was inspired from Zelda.

[Cherry-da-bomb]

The 8th graders in our school concert band performed this and I loved it, especially the vibraphone solo. It consistently alternates between 4/4 and 7/8, so the counting goes as thus: 1 & 2 & 1 2 3 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &. in eighth notes. I can't wait till next year, maybe I'll get something as cool as the vibraphone solo as a mallet player.

Edit: Vibraphone, not Marimba.

[flamburg]

I still remember playing the toms and marimba part for this in middle school

[jessiesteele]

Played this on the bassoon my freshman year in highschool 2012. Insane song, this was when band got real

[megangriggs]

I’m playing this song as a somphomore in high school. I first learned it as an 8th grader in middle school. It’s the reason I picked up the piccolo actually. It’s my favorite and the feeling I get playing it is unlike anything. It’s my favorite piece by far I’ve ever played!

[datgamerulike]

I'm playing the cymbals for this song and I've never successfully sight read a more confusing time signature in my life. This score is wack, but nice song!

[TinyTorpeedoTitz]

It’s been well over 10 years for me since I played this back in school and I will NEVER forget this piece or the amazing teacher who pushed us to perform such a thing. This. My childhood. It’s just amazing man.

[fermata]

I had started playing this song today as part of the clinic honors band! Awsone peice

[pecklespeckle]

Started playing this two weeks ago and oh my god, this *is* hard holy shit

[jeremyjacobus]

Where My Timpanists At?? Played this piece last year for northeastern tri county band and Rocked that timp part haha