Customer Reviews

Forward March! Great American Marches

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

FORWARD MARCH! is an enjoyable and stimulating album which provides an unusual mix of traditional marches and not often heard compositions.

The United States Army Band is magnificent in its superb technical presentation of the broad spectrum of music contained on the CD and that unquestionably makes it worth acquiring.

Altissimo! Recordings once again educates listeners, as it did in HAIL TO THE CHIEF, by exposing them to pieces which have historical as well as musical significance. It carefully points out those works which are parade marches versus concert marches --- describing the Washington Grays as the "forerunner" of the latter.

The documentation which accompanies the CD provides a brief but tantalizing sense of who or what prompted the composition. Consequently, a far better appreciation for each selection is the result. The overall effect is a noteworthy collection of thoroughly enjoyable music for all to hear!

FORWARD MARCH! is a must for those who enjoy the uplifting of spirit which the march as a style of music provides!

The Forward March CD is a great collection of marches. I have listened to the CD three times in the last few weeks and my students have replayed the CD over and over at the band room. A worthwhile addition to your library.

Finally a CD from Altissimo! of decent length with a solid march program. Instead of the usual patriotic dribble that we normally get on this label at last we have some real marches!Many of the selections are well known, but there are a few gems here. The performances are first-rate as to be expected by this premier band. For a change it looks like Altissimo! put together a winner from the extensive library of the bands' recorded music. Most likely none of the pieces played here are current recordings, but are taken from the bands own library which is what Altissimo! does with all of their products. In other words this is not an original recording. Still, the material is good and worthwhile. The program notes are better than usual as well. Altissimo! is slowly getting more professional in their products. Its been a gradual process indeed!

Aside from the recording itself, which is impeccable, this US Army Band, is a marvel. The instruments from the piccolos to the tubas are played with precision, clarity and with a dynamic range and musicianship that testifies to the quality of the director and his appreciation of band music. IMO they clearly have replaced the US Marine Corps Band as the military's premier musical organization.

Contains some great marches that are seldom heard. The only drawback is that it contains the "Stars and Stripes Forever" which is undoubtedly the most overly-recorded piece of music there is.

Not a whole lot to say here except that I like the music featured, the musicianship is first rate, and the sound and recording quality is as good as I would expect. Just what I wanted, so 5 stars.

A great collection of marches for any and all occasions. These great pieces will have you up and moving around in no time. So go ahead march forward and get this one you won't be disappointed.

Forward March! Great American Marches
I bought this for my 'marching band'fan grandson along with Tune BuddiesTune Buddies - Getting to Know the Instruments
His mom says he loves them both!

The sound quality is the best I've ever heard on a march CD -- bright and crisp -- no muffled cymbals here, but also no overly-brassy brass. I'm not too keen on some of the selections (The Virginians, Barnum and Bailey's), but others (like Americans We) are truly beautiful. Create your own playlist and go out for a walk to this music -- just great! I would also recommend "Stars and Stripes Forever" by the Centennial Concert Band -- the quality is not quite as good, but it has great selections, and plays well with the "Forward March" on your iPod.

FORWARD MARCH!IS A NATIONAL TREASURE!

THE 17 GREATEST AMERICAN MARCHES? THEY ARE RECREATED ON THIS NEW CD BY THE U.S. ARMY BAND, "PERSHING'S OWN".

FOR 130 YEARS THESE 17 NATIONAL MARCHES HAVE "INSPIRED US, MARCHED TROOPS INTO FORMATION, CELEBRATED OUR NATIONAL PRIDE", AND ENTERTAINED US IN CONCERT. NOW FORWARD MARCH! SHOWCASES AMERICA'S GREATEST PATRIOTIC MARCHES-EACH MARCH WRITTEN WITH PRIDE BY AN AMERICAN AND PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY IN EVERY SENSE BY THE U.S. ARMY BAND UNDER LEADER AND COMMANDER COLONEL GARY F. LAMB.

COL LAMB HAS INCLUDED THE MARCHES THAT I THINK WOULD MAKE ANYONE'S "A LIST", SUCH AS OUR NATIONAL MARCH, SOUSA'S "STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER" AND THE ESSENTIAL "WASHINGTON POST". BUT SINCE A CONSTANT 120 BEATS PER MINUTE "MARCH TEMPO" CAN BECOME MONOTONOUS(IF YOU'RE NOT MARCHING!), COL LAMB HAS INCLUDED THE COMPLEX (AND DIFFICULT!) "COMMANDO MARCH" BY SAMUEL BARBER(WHOSE MUSIC WAS USED IN THE MOVIE PLATOON) AND THE VERY SLIGHTLY SLOWER PACED "WASHINGTON GRAYS" , THE OLDEST MARCH IN THIS COLLECTION(1861) TO CHANGE THE PACE-LITERALLY. "WASHINGTON GRAYS", LIKE "COMMANDO MARCH" IS A CONCERT MARCH. IT HAS MANY CONTRASTS IN MOOD AND DYNAMICS, WHICH COL LAMB AND THE BAND DEMONSTRATE SUBERBLY, USING ANY OPPORTUNITY THE MUSIC PRESENTS FOR CREATING CONTRAST AND INTEREST --VERY IMPORTANT WHEN THE CD CONTAINS ONLY ONE GENRE! EACH MARCH IS TREATED WITH THE SAME CARE AND IN SOME PASSAGES ALMOST REVERENCE. VIRTUOSITY IS EFFORTLESS---THE HARD SOUNDS EASY! EXAMPLES ARE THE FAMOUS PICCOLOS IN "STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER" , AND THE BARITONE/FRENCH HORNS(HEROIC INSTRUMENTS!) AS THEY ENJOY THE HIGH TESTOSTERONE OPENING FANFARE OF "THE VIRGINIANS" (THE LATTER MARCH IS THE YOUNGEST IN THE GROUP(1992), BUT IT CLEARLY DESERVES MEMBERSHIP.)

"THE CHIMES OF LIBERTY", "NATIONAL EMBLEM", AND "AMERICANS WE", WERE CLEARLY COMPOSED WITH NATIONAL PRIDE ---AND ON THIS CD THE PREMIER MUSICAL ORGANIZATION OF THE U.S. ARMY PERFORMS THEM WITH PARTICULAR PRIDE .

THESE "GREAT 17" MARCHES, OUR NATIONAL MUSICAL TREASURES, ARE HONORED ONCE MORE, AND INSPIRE US ONCE MORE THANKS TO THE SKILL AND DEVOTION OF THE U.S. ARMY BAND AND IT'S LEADER COLONEL LAMB. WELL DONE SOLDIERS!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND FORWARD MARCH!
RON BOWERS