Customer Reviews

An American Salute

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD is worth buying just for the historic recording of the Grand Canyon Suite by the Boston Pops under Arthur Fiedler. There have been many recordings of Grof?s Grand Canyon Suite, but I think this is the most evocative of the desert and its moods. For example, the CD with Kunzel and the Cincinatti Pops is worth having for the live thunderstorm - definitely a "demo" disc - but Kunzel's perpetual forward thrust emphasizes the jazz at the expense of the (dare I say) impressionist side of the music. Fiedler on the older recording somehow manages to put you right into the desert.

The opening chirps in seconds from the woodwinds, for example, in the Fiedler recording sound like some exotic bird rather than orchestral instruments, and the "Painted Desert" movement sounds so parched I can see the heat shimmers. "Sunset" is rich and expansive; Fiedler's tempi are generally more relaxed than Kunzel's. This is the definitive Grand Canyon recording for me. BTW, technically it stands up very well against later recordings -- the sound is brilliant and has a broad stereophonic landscape.

The other selections for me are simply a bonus; the Gershwin Cuban Overture is particularly good to have as it is not as often recorded as it deserves.

The 4 star rating is primarily due to the attractive compositions
grouped on this one disc, by six great American composers. The remastered recording quality is variable with the "Grand Canyon
Suite" and "Cuban Overture" sounding best. The recording dates range from 1958-1964. On Gould's "American Salute" Fiedler conducts at
break neck speed; I think missing some detail. The "Fancy Free" dances are too brief and are probably included as filler. All in all this recording is dated and their are better versions available of all these pieces. Anyway, at a bargain price this is a nice way to spend seventy minutes relaxing. Subtract 1 star
if recorded sound is all important to you!

This is a nice Sunday afternoon concert played by a wonderful orchestra with a late, lamented leasder, maestro Fiedler.

Please understand that this is not patriotic music per se, but rather a collection of tunes about America or by prominent American composers--which means the title is a bit misleading, even though Gould's American Salute is the title track.

Still, for those who don't know much about the American concert repertoire, this is a nice album. I especially enjoy the Grand Canyon Suite and so too will anyone who's seen it with his own eyes.