Post Description

Mercury 432756  Boxed Set CD26 van55
Eastman Wind Ensemble (Fennell, 1960-61) / Fennell Conducts Sousa Marches
John Philip Sousa 1854-1932 
This is the Sousa record for people who are serious about marches. Sousa was the greatest march composer in the history of, well, marching, and this disc includes many fresh and interesting pieces that will likely be unfamiliar, as well as a couple of favorites (including "The Liberty Bell," famous as the theme to Monty Python's Flying Circus). But by and large, this disc focuses on the less well known pieces, though there's not a dud in the lot. Sousa had a special gift for orchestration and for writing tunes with real rhythmic interest; his marches never sound dull. Frederick Fennell is simply the best wind band conductor around, and these performances are standard- setters. --David Hurwitz