[.ca] Stars And Stripes Marches

Simple to sum up!:
This is a simple one to sum up. If this CD does not bring a smile to your face, then you are DEAD and nothing ever more will make you smile.

Great wind band music:
Yes, the title is a bit misleading: this disc goes beyond the familiar to include some attractive rarities. Recorded in terrific Telarc sound, these virtuosic players open with the Olympic theme made famous by ABC's 1968 TV coverage of the Olympics, followed by two other olympic themes written in a similar style. The Barber and Leemans pieces are also beautiful rarities, the Barber sounding quite cultured for a military march. The handsome Florentiner March by Fucik is one of my favorites on the disc. The other pieces will sound instantly familiar to most people; the "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite" by Karl King surely will be a hit with circus goers and "Anchors Aweigh" with sea farers. The glorious Vaughan Williams and Grainger works are less martial and, written by non-Americans, prove beyond a doubt that this disc about more than stars-and-stripes flag waving.

Good CD With Lots of Classics:
This is a great CD for beginning band collections. (Advanced Ones too :) The Clevlend Symphonic Winds are awesome!! The CD conains good renditions of well loved classics. Stars and Stripes, Folk Song Suite, and Radetzky March. Also, the Liconshire Posy which is one of my favorite works for band is on this CD. Not as widely known, it is a excellent piece. The Liconshire Posy is played superbly. The Folk Song Suite lacks something with me, but it always has. Anyways I would recommend this CD to anyone.

Excellent musicianship throughout:
I enjoyed this CD very much, but I was somewhat puzzled by some of the music choices in relation to the title. With a title like 'Stars & Stripes' I would expect to hear American marches and other patriotic music. Instead, there is a mix of American and European marches and fanfares, along with well-loved selections by Grainger and Vaughn Williams. I adore 'Lincolnshire Posy', having played it in college, and this rendition is done very well. I'm just not sure how it fits in with the rest of the album.

• Olympic Theme
• La Chasse
• Olympiad
• Commando March
• Belgian Paratroopers
• Florentiner, Op. 214
• Barnum And Bailey's Favorite
• Anchors Aweigh
• Radetzky March
• Sea Songs
• The Stars And Stripes Forever
• March: Seventeen Come Sunday
• Intermezzo: My Bonny Boy
• March: Folk Songs from Somerset
• Lisbon Bay
• Horkstow Grange
• Rufford Park Poachers
• The Brisk Young Sailor
• Lord Melbourne
• The Lost Lady Found
• Shepherd's Hey