Customer Reviews

Brass & Percussion [Hybrid SACD]

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

 

 

I am a classical music person, and orchestra is my chosen medium; however, back in the 1960s I heard a recording of Morton Gould conducting his symphonic band, and was blown away by the precision, arrangements, and super sound of the LP version of this disk. Now it is out in RCA's new hybrid CD, re-mastered, and spectacular. The power of this band is superb; its members are obviously pick-up musicians of the highest caliber (I doubt if this band was together for an extended period). Of particular note is Gould's original piece "Jericho", a 12-minute depiction of the famous biblical battle. When the trumpets get cranked up to blow those walls down, you will hear one of the most spectacular feats of brass playing ever recorded, and you had better warn the neighbors before the window-rattling sound of the walls coming down blows the speakers off your stereo. Gould's other arrangements are also top-notch; the 2'43" "Dixie", for instance, is among the cleverest ever put to disc. If you dig band music, this sleeper of a CD will astound you!

I got this CD for all the Sousa on it. It is said to have 13 of sousa's greatest marches, but marches like National fencibles, Corcoran Cadets and Sound Off are hardly known at all. However, this CD is great. It also has Morton Gould compositions, and my favourite non-sousa composition- Goldman's Chimes of liberty. Two Goldman marches are new to me- Jubilee and Happy Go Lucky, and I like them a lot. One Sousa march is new to me- On Parade, which is one of Sousa's few circus marches. The problem about this CD is the fact that the recordings have parts taken out, so the pieces aren't as exciting, but the quality and dynamics are good, so I wholy recommend it anyway.

It was great to find this recording. These Living Stereo recordings are getting harder and harder to find.