Search - John C. Heed, Thomas S. Allen, Karl L. King :: Screamers (Circus Marches)

More than the Big Top

Vinophile | Miami, FL USA | 12/20/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Frederick Fennell's position as America's leading band master is solid, but he is less known perhaps as a scholar. Over his long recording career (which continues now though he's well past 80) Fennell has also documented a rich part of America's musical heritage. This CD focuses on the circus marches, but that's only half the story. Screamers is actually a CD compilation of two LPs Fennell made in the early sixties and, as good as the circus marches are, the disc is equally valuable for the selection of marches by Fennell's great musical mentor Edwin Franko Goldman. Special treasures on the disc include rollicking circus marches like Them Basses and The Screamer (a reference to the steam pipe organs at early circuses), but also classic Goldman fare like On the Mall, Onward, Upward, and the utterly charming Children's March that forms a pastiche from Pop Goes the Weasel and a dozen other kids' favorites. The sound quality continues to be remarkably good. These are more than high steppers -- it's a collection of wonderfully melodic, wholly infectious tunes worth savoring."

Best recording of circus marches.

J Furmanski | Albany, CA United States | 02/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Simply put, there are recordings of circus marches on this CD which will blow your mind. Fennell really captured the heart of the fever-pitch nature of live, all-out circus music. There are a few gems on this album that must be owned if you have any interest in energetic band music. Some of the rest is just "classics", but don't let that deter you!"

Sounds even better than when I first heard it

scarlatti11 | Killeen, TX United States | 02/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I first heard the last eleven marches on this recording; I heard them on tape, and I really enjoyed them, this was back in 1988 when I was in the seventh grade. When I moved in the winter of 1988, I lost that tape. I was very sad when I did, and it was not until the summer of 2002 that I saw this recording at amazon; 14 years later still great, and sounds even better on CD than it did on tape. This time was even better, because it has even more marches, in the old tape, it had what on this recording are tracks 17-28. Tracks 1-16 are equally good, this recording is of a great sentimental value for me...I hope you enjoy as much as I have 14 years later...."