Search - Dallas Wind Symphony, Paul Riedo, Frederick Fennell :: Pomp & Pipes

A Buffet of Sonic Extravagance

Barry B. Barnes | Dallas, TX | 02/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is possibly the most acoustically impressive recording I own and is indeed an audiophile's dream come true. The awesome power and range of the Fisk organ (Opus 100) has to be heard to be believed and elevates the Dallas Wind Symphony's agility and pomposity to unrivaled new heights.If you don't have a first rate sub-woofer, you're going to cheat yourself out of the full potential of this dazzling recording. If you do, watch out for falling plaster!"

Will knock your socks off!

David Adolphson | Rochester, MN, United States | 12/14/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Don't try this recording without a VERY good hifi system! Excellence audiophile quality recording all the way down to 16hz organ notes. A must for any brass musician!"

Riches and Rags

E. Worth | Provo, UT, USA | 01/17/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This recording has received rave reviews. Certainly the recording is of audiophile quality and tests the merit of any system. However, the techical quality of the Dallas Wind Symphony leaves much to be desired in this recording. Allelujah! Laudamus Te (Alfred Reed) is a *must hear* track. I play this track multiple times with great enjoyment each time. On the other hand, Lord, Save Thy People (Charles-Marie Widor) is amateurish in brass attacks, tempi, and overall performance. In places, it just stinks.The Fisk Organ (Opus 100) ranges from peaceful and quiet to bombastic. Always under control, Paul Riedo does a creditable job in technique and registration. His performance is solid but frequently lacks feeling and interpretation. For both "Praise the Lord with Drums and Cymbals" (Seigfried Karg-Elert) and "Poeme Heroique" (Marcel Dupre), I prefer Frederick MacArthur playing the Skinner Organ with the Old South Brass at the Old South Church in Boston. This CD contains music of Nancy Plummer Faxon and George Faxon, not heard on any other CDs that I know of.That said, this 1994 Reference Recording is still a favorite, as it contains organ/brass repertoire that has never been recorded elsewhere."