Washington Post Pirates Of Penzance Overture   Colonel Bogey March Carnival Of Venice   Intermezzo (from Cavalleria Rusticana)   The Thunderer   Poet and Peasant Overture   The Liberty Bell La Donna e Mobile (from Rigoletto)   A Stephen Foster Fantasy   The Cossack   The Debutante   Abide With Me   Stars & Stripes Forever         Â

 

 

 

The Marches

John Philip Sousa's marches awoke the spirit of patriotism in a young America. His Washington Post (Track 1) was composed for a children's essay contest sponsored by the Washington Post newspaper in 1889. Of interest is that the newspaper was obscure at the time and the march was responsible for giving it international fame. The Thunderer (Track 6) was written in 1889. It's enigmatic title is typical of Sousa but as in most of his marches, there is a thunderous section. After witnessing a spectacle called "America" in Chicago which depicted a backdrop featuring the Liberty Bell, Sousa was inspired to name his current creation The Liberty Bell (Track 8) written in 1893. There is no way Sousa could have known in 1896 when he wrote The Stars and Stripes Forever (Track 14) that it would become the most beloved and patriotic American march ever written. But, of course, the march form didn't start or end with Sousa. William Rimmer's The Cossack (Track 11) has rated fourth among all band marches. Set in a minor mode with slavic rhythms, it successfully captures the spirit of these fearless, freedom loving people. And in 1913, Kenneth J. Alford, while strolling on the Fort George golf course in Scotland, heard somebody whistle a descending minor third as a warning. Using this interval as the basis for a march and the golf term "bogey", he created the Colonel Bogey March (Track 3) which gained renewed popularity in 1957 when used in the film "The Bridge On The River Kwai".

Orchestral Transcriptions

Gilbert and Sullivan have their own special niche in operetta and Sir Arthur Sullivan's music sparkles with wit and verve in The Pirates Of Penzance (Track 2). Always a candidate for the most beautiful song ever written is the "Intermezzo" from Cavelliera Rusticana (Track 5) by Pietro Mascagni. He wrote it while still a music student, and it ushered in the verismo style of opera, brought to it's peak later by Puccini. This arrangement features the soaring range of the Eb soprano cornet. The popularity of The Poet and Peasant (Track 7) is best illustrated by the numerous transcriptions made of it including brass band. Written in 1854, this overture is self-sufficient and does not serve as the prelude to each scenic action. The fast, falling figure at the Allegro Strepitoso is universal in its appeal for listeners of all ages.

Solos

Herbert L. Clarke (1867-1945) is easily the best known cornet soloist of all times. He performed with bands such Gilmore's Band, Victor Herbert's Band and John Philip Sousa's Band. He toured extensively, once performing 437 solos in one year. He was also the most recorded cornet soloist of his day. The Debutante - Caprice Brilliante (Track 12) and The Carnival Of Venice (Track 4) are both solos composed by Clarke to display his virtuoso talents on the cornet. Euphonium soloists, lacking a wealth of literature from this time period, often relied on the solo cornet literature. A more recent arrangement for euphonium, also included here, is Verdi's famous tenor aria La Donna e Mobile (Track 9).

Original Arrangements

Stephen Foster, another American original, composed songs that are timeless - Camptown Races, My Old Kentucky Home, Beautiful Dreamer, and Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair. This arrangement of these classics entitled Stephen Foster Fantasy amply evokes the American spirit during a bygone era. Hymns Abide With Me (Track 13) may be the most beloved of all hymns. This beautiful Adrian Raven arrangement puts a tender brass quartet in the middle of a full brass band treatment. The selection concludes with an original Amen. This prayer ends the program. The Stars and Stripe Forever follows as an encore.