Customer Reviews

Stars & Stripes: Fanfares, Marches & Wind Band Spectaculars

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This being the month of the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, not too surprisingly, the "...appropriate music..." alluded to above are the Three Fanfares by Leo Arnaud (b. Lyon, France 1904; d. Hollywood, CA 1991). The first two fanfares ("Olympic Theme"; "La Chasse") were originally written in 1959. At the time, the first fanfare had no specific name; the two fanfares together were simply called "Bugler's Dream." It was nearly a decade later (1968) that ABC-TV adopted the first fanfare for the '68 Olympic Games (and then for "Wide World of Sports"); then the "Olympic Theme" name stuck. Permanently. So, all the Olympics watchers in the U.S. can expect to OD on the theme, whether they like it or not. (Interestingly, in cruising a few classical music message boards during these Olympic times, I find that all too often people attribute this "Olympic Theme" to John Williams. Not so!)

Well, so much for the "preliminaries for the Olympic occasion." The Cleveland Symphonic Winds under Fred Fennell play these three brief works for all they're worth, even to restoring the French horn responses to the trumpet calls in the second part of "Olympic Theme." These French horn parts were-and are-so difficult that the ABC-TV version, from, obviously, a different and earlier recording, had them replaced by trumpets.

My main reason for acquiring this album when it first came out two decades ago was not Olympian in the slightest. In short, it was because Fennell reprises three wind ensemble classics that he had done many years earlier, with the Eastman Wind Ensemble on the Mercury Living Presence label. These three are Sam Barber's "Commando March," Ralph Vaughan Williams's "Folk Song Suite," and Percy Grainger's "Lincolnshire Posy." All three are classics for the wind ensemble, and I can envision tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of former wind ensemble players who "passed this way" in high school and college. I certainly did, and remember these works with great fondness (along with many other wind ensemble "classics" that Fennell has conducted over a long and illustrious career).

The Eastman band was never ever a slouch in performing this type of music. (In fact, it was the model for the repertoire.) But the Cleveland Symphonic Winds (essentially, the Cleveland Orchestra minus the strings, but beefed up where sections require more instrumentalists, plus cornets, saxophones and baritone horns not normally found in orchestras) is on another, higher, plateau entirely. This is most evident in the Grainger work, which is a true masterpiece of the repertoire, with some highly original parts writing that provides intriguing sonorities not normally associated with "band" music.

All three-the Barber, Grainger and Vaughan Williams works-come off noticeably better on this Telarc release than they did years ago (MANY years ago in the case of the Barber work) when Fennell led the Eastman Wind Ensemble. In terms of sonics, it isn't even close: as might be expected, the Telarc sound is still state-of-the-art after two decades.

The balance of the album is mostly fillers of marches from the U.S. and Europe. (The album title is somewhat of a misnomer, given its contents, including the Grainger and Vaughan Williams pieces.) A few marches are well-known; a few are obscure. All are as well-played as the pieces I've commented about in some detail.

At just a little under an hour, this is not necessarily high value, but it was typical for "early" CDs, as this one is. To me, it is worth it for the superb job on the Grainger work. To others, perhaps the three Arnaud fanfares will fill the bill. For the next few weeks, anyway. :-)

Bob Zeidler

This is a simple one to sum up.

If this CD does not bring a smile to your face, then you are DEAD and nothing ever more will make you smile.

Yes, the title is a bit misleading: this disc goes beyond the familiar to include some attractive rarities. Recorded in terrific Telarc sound, these virtuosic players open with the Olympic theme made famous by ABC's 1968 TV coverage of the Olympics, followed by two other olympic themes written in a similar style. The Barber and Leemans pieces are also beautiful rarities, the Barber sounding quite cultured for a military march. The handsome Florentiner March by Fucik is one of my favorites on the disc. The other pieces will sound instantly familiar to most people; the "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite" by Karl King surely will be a hit with circus goers and "Anchors Aweigh" with sea farers. The glorious Vaughan Williams and Grainger works are less martial and, written by non-Americans, prove beyond a doubt that this disc about more than stars-and-stripes flag waving.

Frederick Fennell's "Stars and Stripes" is a must for any band director, not to mention enjoyable listening for anyone. This CD was recorded by Frederick Fennell (1914-2004) and the Cleveland Symphonic Winds on December 3, 1978 and November 18, 1979. Fennell was one of the early pioneers of band recordings and helped to establish music that has become the staple of university and professional bands worldwide. His legacy as a conductor and author will be long remembered.

The music was recorded DDD, which, until I read the liner notes was unaware that the music industry was recording digitally in the late 1970's. The quality is very clear, as is the balance between sections. The performances are spectacular, crisp, and every much as exciting as any of Fennell's earlier recordings. The tracks are the staple of the band library: Samuel Barber's "Commando March," Leeman's "Belgian Paratroopers," Vaughan Williams "Sea Songs" and "English Folk Song Suite," and Grainger's "Lincolnshire Posy," not to mention marches by Fucik, King and Sousa.

I've used this CD many times as a listening example for my students many, many times over the past fifteen years that I've owned it. For me, it was a very, worthwhile investment and if you enjoy/study/listen to band music, I believe you'll feel the same.

As with Frederick Fennell's album of Holst and Handel, also recorded with the Cleveland Symphonic Winds (wind ensemble of the Cleveland symphony), this album includes material I performed in my musical youth in high-school and college-level bands and summer-program symphonies, notably Vaughn Williams' Sea Songs and Folksong Suites (yes, yes and the Sousa). So my ear is experienced, and I find no cut on this CD less than peerless, and with a great director and a great ensemble this is a very worthwhile album. The "Stars and Stripes" and Olympic-fanfare material is a smaller part of what is mostly truly profound music, and some otherwise hard-to-find work. Recording quality still outstanding even this many years on.

I enjoyed this CD very much, but I was somewhat puzzled by some of the music choices in relation to the title. With a title like 'Stars & Stripes' I would expect to hear American marches and other patriotic music. Instead, there is a mix of American and European marches and fanfares, along with well-loved selections by Grainger and Vaughn Williams. I adore 'Lincolnshire Posy', having played it in college, and this rendition is done very well. I'm just not sure how it fits in with the rest of the album.

Well, happened to find a LP at a secondhand shop, Macho Marches, by Frederick Fennell, The Cleveland Symphonic Winds. I was so impressed by this Telarc recording that was only natural that I'd seek it out on CD. With the CD though, there is a added bonus of extra tracks, by Percy Grainger. What more can I say. It is terrific!

Having played and enjoyed this music all my life, I have never heard it better played. Nothing beats this. I have the Eastman recordings with Fennell and as good as they are, this is better. Buy it and love it. Even a hackneyed piece like Barnum and Bailey sounds entirely fresh. Essential for every collection. If you have room for only CD of band masterpieces, this is it.

This is a great CD for beginning band collections. (Advanced Ones too :) The Clevlend Symphonic Winds are awesome!!

The CD conains good renditions of well loved classics. Stars and Stripes, Folk Song Suite, and Radetzky March. Also, the Liconshire Posy which is one of my favorite works for band is on this CD. Not as widely known, it is a excellent piece. The Liconshire Posy is played superbly. The Folk Song Suite lacks something with me, but it always has. Anyways I would recommend this CD to anyone.

I have owned this CD for many years and have enjoyed it time after time! This CD is a showcase for well played band music and brings a crisp beauty to the music that is so very satisfying to the one who loves band music. The wide selection of music, styles, and periods is another plus for the buyer of this CD.

The liner notes point out the use of french horns by the Cleveland Symphonic Winds where trumpets have been substituted because of the difficulty of the part for french horns; "In the original scoring of "Olympic Theme," the second section of the fanfare was written with french horn parts answering the trumpet call. It was found to be so difficult however, that additional trumpet parts were added in place of the scoring for horns." It goes on to say, "the daring horn players of the Cleveland Symphonic Winds play the parts as originally written."

This provides an important clue as to the sharp professionalism one can expect from this recording.

Like some of the other reviewers, I too have fond memories of bands in high school and college; it was a wonderful experience to attend band competitions and enjoy the surplus of great band music floating through the air. This recording provides a very enjoyable walk down memory lane for many and a stirring band experience for all!