[.ca] Frederick Fennell & the Eastman Wind Ensemble: Grainger; ...

Performance Mistakes:
Having heard this recording on it's original vinyl release, I have found it to be ok, but I have heard performance mistakes in Lincolnshire Posy(Euphonium 4th mvt) if I remember correctly, and I heard too many tempo variations too my liking. North Texas under Corcoran and Eastman under Hunsburger have done far better interpretations of these works.

Eastman Wind Ensemble - Even Better on CD:
If you liked the original recording on 33 1/3 RPM, you'll love the sound of the Eastman Wind Ensemble on CD. The sound is amazing (especially without the scratches), the textures even more alive in the re-mastered recording. This amazing ensemble is the not-so-subtle reminder of how a "band" should sound. Sit back, set the volume control to give your speakers a work-out, and enjoy the experience.

Big fat brass:
Listening to this recording brings back memories of my own college band experience with some of these pieces. This performance is fun to listen to largely because of the good brass sound from the trumpets and bones. For instance, track 6 (last mvt of Lincolnshire Posy) rocks. Brass and chimes come accross very forcefully, leaving you, the listener, with no doubt that this group could easily give you 30% more without over blowing. In the words of Spinal Tap's Nigel Tuffnel, "This one goes to eleven"!

A classic for all serious collections of wind music:
Of all of the excellent re-releases of the Fennell/Eastman Wind Ensemble recordings, this album is de rigueur for any connoisseur of music for band and wind ensemble. The famous Fennell sound is superbly exhibited in masterful interpretations of two of the most exquisite compositions written directly for winds: Lincolnshire Posy and Persichetti's Symphony for Band. For decades these recordings set the standard by which other performances were judged. The rest of the album is outstanding as well. A fundamental for any serious classical music discography.

5 stars, if only for "Lincolnshire Posy":
'Lincolnshire Posy' is one of the greatest compositions written for wind band, and this is likely the definitive recording of the work. Frederick Fennell's (the conductor's) full score has become the definitive edition, since Grainger never published anything but a condensed score. The Eastman Wind Ensemble provides a tremendous performance of the piece, and of all the works on the album. I must admit that I usually only listen to 'Lincolnshire' and 'Hill Song' because I'm a bit of a Grainger fan, but all the music if great, especially Persichetti's 'Symphony for Band' and Rogers' 'Three Japanese Dances'. If you're not familiar with Grainger, get this album and get familiar with him. He is one of the most important and best composers of the twentieth century, despite how little attention is paid to him outside the world of wind bands.

• Lincolnshire Posy: 'Lisbon' (Sailor's Song)
• Lincolnshire Posy: 'Horkstow Grange' (The Miser and his Man: A local Tragedy)
• Lincolnshire Posy: 'Rufford Park Poachers' (Poaching Song)
• Lincolnshire Posy: 'The brisk young Sailor' (returned to wed his true Love)
• Lincolnshire Posy: 'Lord Melbourne' (War Song)
• Lincolnshire Posy: 'The Lost Lady found' (Dance Song)
• Lincolnshire Posy: Hill Song No. 2
• Symphony for Band (Symphony No. 6): Adagio-Allegro
• Symphony for Band (Symphony No. 6): Adagio sostenuto
• Symphony for Band (Symphony No. 6): Allegretto
• Symphony for Band (Symphony No. 6): Vivace
• Armenian Dances: Allegro moderate
• Armenian Dances: Allegro
• Concerto for 23 Winds: Andante-Allegro non troppo
• Concerto for 23 Winds: Vivace
• Concerto for 23 Winds: Lento
• Concerto for 23 Winds: Allegro molto
• Three Japanese Dances: Dance with Pennons
• Three Japanese Dances: Mourning Dance
• Three Japanese Dances: Dance with Swords