1.01 Give Love Each Day (2.32)
1.02 Close To The Edge (20.19)
1.03 Listen To Your Heart ~ Long Distance Runaround (6.18)
1.04 Don't Go (5.31)
1.05 In The Presence Of (11.33)
==============================
2.01 The Gates Of Delirium (23.46)
2.02 Winter ~ The Clap (7.19)
2.03 Wonderous Stories (3.44)
2.04 Perpetual Change (11.56)
2.05 And You And I (12.15)
==============================
3.01 Ritual (30.13)
3.02 I've Seen All Good People (10.13)
3.03 Starship Trooper (12.09)
3.04 Roundabout (6.06)
==============================
The Mann Festival Orchestra rehearsal with William Stromberg
4.01 Give Love Each Day (4.13)
4.02 Close To The Edge (18.30)
4.03 Long Distance Runaround (7.37)
4.04 Don't Go (3.00)
4.05 In The Presence Of (10.49)
4.06 The Gates Of Delirium (9.20)
4.07 Orchestra soundcheck (18.54)
==============================

Yes w/ The Mann Festival Orchestra led by William Stromberg at
The Mann Center For The Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania August 21st 2001

Row H Center: Schoeps MK4V's>Schoeps VMS021B>SBM1>Sony D3 by Mike H.

set list/file list

1.01 Give Love Each Day (2.32)
1.02 Close To The Edge (20.19)
1.03 Listen To Your Heart ~ Long Distance Runaround (6.18)
1.04 Don't Go (5.31)
1.05 In The Presence Of (11.33)

2.01 The Gates Of Delirium (23.46)
2.02 Winter ~ The Clap (7.19)
2.03 Wonderous Stories (3.44)
2.04 Perpetual Change (11.56)
2.05 And You And I (12.15)

3.01 Ritual (30.13)
3.02 I've Seen All Good People (10.13)
3.03 Starship Trooper (12.09)
3.04 Roundabout (6.06)

The Mann Festival Orchestra rehearsal with William Stromberg
4.01 Give Love Each Day (4.13)
4.02 Close To The Edge (18.30)
4.03 Long Distance Runaround (7.37)
4.04 Don't Go (3.00)
4.05 In The Presence Of (10.49)
4.06 The Gates Of Delirium (9.20)
4.07 Orchestra soundcheck (18.54)

The first three discs are the definitive audience recording of this show.
Recorded by Mike H. Center section Row H

The forth disc is my mono recording of the soundcheck and orchestra rehearsal recorded with my Sony MZ-R37 Mini disc recorder with Core Sounds low cost cardiod mics. I was in the front balcony center section for the rehearsal.
In real time, the soundcheck on the last track disc 4 came before the orchestra rehearsal.
I put it at the end to create a better listening package. If anybody really wants to hear it you can by waiting until the end. You'll hear me talking on my cell phone and listening to Steve Howe's guitar tech Ron "Shooz" Mathews test out Steve's guitar and equipment with some random noodeling.

For historical reasons I will also say that after the orchestra rehearsal Steve Howe played some tunes as is shown on the YesSymphonic bonus DVD filmed in Philadelphia. I had left to pick up my friends for the nights show and so didn't record this section (and I am not permitted to put it here because it is part of an officially released bonus DVD from YesSymphonic).

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Mike Purdy Yesworld Review:

Venue: Philadelphia, PA, August 21
Posted by: Mike (mpurdy@jwpepper.com)

A previous reviewer (Barry) suggested some words from a member of
the orchestra that played the Mann Ctr performance might be
interesting. Well, I was pleased to be in the orchestra that night.
I know there are many opinions about the use of the orchestra at
this concert but I’m very please that no one said the orchestra
sucked (smile).

I’m not sure what you’d like to know but let me start off by saying
that this is very demanding music in every respect. Without getting
technical the charts call for tremendous concentration to negotiate
the complex rhythmic passages, amazing physical endurance to play at
the sustained volume called for (I’m a brass player) and the parts
push the limits of range (high and low) of the instruments. It was
really a night’s work to say the least. Add to this that we were
allowed a 2-hour rehearsal including the 15-minute break required by
the union (It’s really expensive to pay for an orchestra of that
size). Much of the time had to be spent on working out the complex
metrics of the music and some of the straight-ahead material we did
not play until the concert.

The conductor was in total control of the session. He knew the
music upside down and backwards. He was totally in touch with the
flexibility needed for the band (YES) to give a performance that was
not a cookie cutter dog and pony show (more on this later). Now, he
took over the position after the tour started and, if I remember
correctly, he told me this was show number 10 for him. It was
really a display of musicianship that he worked so closely with the
band to keep the whole thing from crashing and burning.

It was mentioned somewhere in the reviews that the orchestral
accompaniment kept the group from being as spontaneous as in shows
without orchestra. This is somewhat true but not the total picture.
Each of us had a headset that allowed the conductor to give us
changes as they were happening during the performance and allow the
band to somewhat change the piece as they felt moved to. His
comments would range from instructions to the timpanist to not play
the percussive hits in his part as the percussionist in YES elected
to play them, to an unannounced repeat of a section and included
compliments and encouragement when the orchestra followed him or
executed a particularly difficult passage.

All in all this was quite an experience. Definitely not the typical
gig orchestral or otherwise. While I am proud of the level of
professionalism displayed by the orchestra I can only think of what
an additional performance would have been with the orchestra knowing
the music on a deeper level.

I’m certainly glad to have been part of this performance and hope
the opportunity comes around again.