Search - Fennell, F:cnd/Dallas Wind Sy :: Marches I've Missed

Wonderful recording. Great liner notes. Outstanding content.

12/01/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you like marches you have to love this recording. Fennell is truly the march recording king of our time and this could very well be his signature recording. The liner notes are a fascinating personal insight as to Fennell's personal attachment and involvement with each march. As an avid collector of march recordings, the arrangements on this disc are outstanding as are the phonics. The disc brings me back to my high school band days and maraches like Footlifter and Band of America just jump off the disc. A truly wonderful piece of Americana by a band legend"

Bravo, Maestro Fennell!

Daniel E. Turkington | Danville, VA USA | 03/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For the past 50 or so years, Frederick Fennell has probably been the "Best Friend" that collectors of band music in general and marches specifically could ever have imagined! Starting with monaural LP's in the 1950's, such as Marches For Twirling and British Band Classics with the incomparable Eastman Wind Ensemble, which he himself founded, Dr. Fennell has consistently set the standard for march recordings, and has been a tireless champion for wind ensembles as a serious musical medium.This CD contiues that tradition, with a selection of marches that runs the gamut of styles that define a "march" (military/patriotic, circus, concert, collegiate, Spanish, Italian, etc.)The musicianship on this album is truly outstanding, and Maestro Fennell's understanding of tempo and attention to every detail are once again amply demonstrated. Also, although he has always provided a wealth of information concerning the marches themselves and their composers, I believe this marks the first time that he has also included information in his notes about his personal involvement in each number, a very nice touch! A few thoughts about some of the marches:March of the Steel Men - This is a great demonstration of the genius of Harry Alford, who bridged the gap between the traditional march style and the "modern" march, which typically contains only two strains and much more complex harmonies, at which Alford excelled, both in his own compositions and in his numerous arrangements.The Gladiator, El Abanico and Sol y Sombra - Interestingly, Dr. Fennell plays by far the slowest-tempoed version of The Gladiator I have heard, Sousa's first "hit", that I have heard, as if it were a Spanish paso doble, which, of course, it does resemble in style. On the other hand, El Abanico is taken at the fastest pace I know of, apparently being the very rare Spanish march meant to be played as a "quickstep". And Sol y Sombra is finally played as a traditional paso doble (two-step), suitable for the bull ring.The Footlifter and Men of Ohio - Two fast-paced examples of why "Uncle" Henry Fillmore is considered by many march aficionados to be second only to Sousa as a march writer.The Northern Pines - One of Sousa's last compositions demonstrates that the March King had not lost his touch for martial melodies over his long career, since this would certainly rank among his best.Again, this album is among Frederick Fennell's finest recordings, and hopefully will not be his last march recording, but would be a fitting tribute to his long career if it is."