Search - University of Michigan Band :: The Stars and Stripes Forever: Sousa Marches and other American Classics

100-Men Strong

Val J. Thomas | Deerfield, WI USA | 08/23/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Back in the 60s and 70s, there were two main sources for recorded Band Music - Frederick Fennell with the Eastman Wind Ensemble on Mercury and Dr. William D. Revelli with the University of Michigan Band on Vangard. Although both conductors are giants of the Industry, they differed greatly in their approaches - Fennell worked with small groups (usually under 50 personnel) while Revelli used a LARGE group - advertised as 100 strong.This recording incorporates all of the selections on the original LP "Hail Sousa" (now on CD - also available through Amazon) with the addition of several non-Sousa selections as shown on the song selection list. Which recording to buy is a personal preference - whether you want to pay a couple of dollars more for 4 additional selections. All the additions are classic marches except for Jerry Bilik's "American Civil War Fantasy". This is out-of-place in a march collection, but it is a wonderful recording nonetheless. It is taken from another old UM recording, "The University of Michigan Band On Tour". The performances are uniformly excellent. I was always amazed at the ensemble playing of the woodwind section. Although not as "clean" as the playing of a small group like the Eastman Wind Ensemble, the overall sound of this big band, especially at high volume levels, is simply amazing. The Brass are big and boomy, and the percussion drive things along while still playing tastefully.I have not given this recording 5 stars because some of the newer recordings by Fennell on import from Japan with the Tokyo Wind Orchestra have much better digital sound, and the old Fennell recordings on Mercury are considered THE classic recordings. However, this CD has very good analog sound, especially considering its age."