[.ca] Fiesta!

From Amazon.com:
Howard Dunn died just weeks after the release of this 1990 recording. He had served for 20 years on the faculty of Southern Methodist University, where he led the SMU Wind Symphony and taught music history and conducting. As the founder and artistic director of the Dallas Wind Symphony, which made its debut in 1985, he helped transform what was initially a sight-reading group into one of the few all-professional, non-military wind bands in the country. That Dunn left behind a first-rate organization is clear enough from these readings. The virtuosic writing of Gould's Santa Fe Saga sparks the Texans to some fine playing, as does the colorful scoring of H. Owen Reed's La Fiesta Mexicana--a large-scale work that pays off its debt to Hindemith, and its even more evident borrowings from Petrushka, in shiny new pesos. The extraordinary ambiance of the Meyerson Symphony Center is nicely captured as well: live but not too reverberant, with a superbly graduated decay, it proves to be ideal for this music. --Ted Libbey

Me gusta mucho! (I like it alot):
Despite its cheesy title and cover, this album has some very good music nicely played and nicely recorded. It reminded me once again why wind ensembles are so much more fun than orchestras (sorry to all you string players). I bought this album just because it had a recording of La Fiesta Mexicana, one of my favorite pieces from college. While the performance was crisp, I felt the tempo was a little slow. The recording level was also a little too low in my opinion. I realize this is done to allow for proper dynamic range, but combined with the slow tempo, I felt this recording lacked the sense of frenzy and zest that thrilled me so much when I played the piece in college. Nonetheless, I'm glad I finally have a decent recording of it. I had never heard of any of the other pieces on this album, so I had few expectations. But every single one is a delight, just as interesting and exciting as La Fiesta Mexicana. The performances are all tight, dynamic, and nuanced. The recording is clear, with a good mix. While each piece is distinctly different from the others, the Mexican theme gives the album a self-consistent flavor. I definitely recommend this album to anyone who loves "classical" music and is looking for something fun with a slightly modern feel.

I listened to it and IT was great!:
My name is Ameerah Washington and I'm looking for some muscial pieces that I have lost. Those pieces include La Feista Mexicana, Greensleves, Summerland(vartions from four season I think?) and a particular variation overutre. If anyone out there can help me to find these pieces or atleast put me on the right path to finding these pieces I would most appreciate it. Thank you. Ameerah Washington

• La Fiesta Mexicana: Prelude And Aztec Dance
• La Fiesta Mexicana: Mass
• La Fiesta Mexicana: Carnival
• Santa Fe Saga
• Symphonic Dance No. 3: 'Fiesta'
• Fiesta del Pacifico
• Fandango - Fandango