Customer Reviews

Teddy Bears Picnic

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

 

 

Dorian Recordings should be given some kind of award for the most imaginative releases of not only great historical but great musical value. <The Teddy Bears Picnic: a Musical Menagerie from America's Golden Age> (DOR-93201) features the New Columbian Brass Band under George Foreman playing 15 pieces written from 1900 to 1921 and inspired by animals.

So we have "The Teddy Bears Picnic," "A Morning in Noah's Ark," "The Two Little Bullfinches," "Turkey in the Straw," and even "Tiger Rag." The Noah's Ark number is replete with animal sounds by a guest expert and links up with an earlier Dorian release called "A Trip to Coney Island: Descriptive Overtures from America's Golden Age" (DOR-80153), which introduced me to a form of musical tone poem very popular around the turn of the century.

This is one of those rare recordings that will appeal to all age levels; and scholars will be delighted to note that "Turkey in the Straw" is actually a Humoresque for Clarinet. Also anyone who has ever seen barnyard chickens in any old Warner Brothers cartoon will have already heard "Chicken Reel." A very definite 5 star Grabbit.

This is the first CD by the New Columbian Brass Band I have ever purchased, and I can't wait to own them all. This virtuoso group is a joy to listen to. Owning this CD is a must for lovers of brass band/turn-of-the-century music. It's a delight!

What a wonderful introduction to classical music for your children this CD is. My children love it and I do too. We use it as bedtime music now (ages 4 & 7). However, if your children really tune in to the music it can be a bit unnerving in parts so we used to only listen to it at home or in the car......they had to gain a few years to become comfortable with it in the darkness of their rooms at night. Buy this!