Search - Listen to the Band :: Listen to the Band: Quick March

Steppin' Out!

Daniel E. Turkington | Danville, VA USA | 07/26/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As the title of this album would suggest, the marches are mostly taken at a faster pace than is the case on most collections done by British bands, such as in much of "The Great Marches" series, where the slow tempos are more suitable for actual marching. "Listen to the Band" refers to a BBC radio series in which these marches were recorded by various British bands in the mid 90's. Most of them are recorded by brass bands, which give some marches a sligtly different sound than American audiences are used to. The quality is of a very high standard - wonderful to listen to.
Some thoughts on individual marches:
Soldiers in the Park - The only complaint I have with this sprightly theme is that it only lasts a minute and a half. Would love to hear more.
The Invincible Army and The Red Shield - Two marches written by Salvation Army composers which have made it into the "mainstream" of band music, and justifiably so.
The Florentine March - A march with an Italian title, written by Julius Fucik, the "Czech King of Marches". Was recently featured as background music for a British tourism ad run during the British Open golf tournament.
Hail To The Spirit of Liberty - Only one of many examples of the genius of Sousa extending well beyond his most popular compositions.
Barnum and Bailey's Favourite - The Brits finally got this long time "favourite" of circus marches right, playing it at the correct circus tempo (one beat to the measure). For a contrast, the version played on "The Great Marches, Vol. 5", at a traditional slow British tempo, is almost a minute longer.
Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4 - As far as I'm concerned, the best of this series of "coronation" marches by Elgar - perhaps only matched by "Crown Imperial" by William Walton.
The Pines of the Appian Way - Although a briliant piece of music, hard to imagine this as a march.
A great addition to anyone's march collection, since most are not recorded elsewhere."