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John Philip SOUSA The Stars and Stripes Forever · Semper fidelis
· The Thunderer · The Washington Post · Hands Across the Sea Johann STRAUSS I Radetsky March Joseph Franz WAGNER Under the Double Eagle William STEFFE & Julia Ward HOWE Battle Hymn of the Republic Charles ZIMMERMAN Anchors Aweigh Trad. The British Grenadiers Thomas Augustine ARNE Rule, Britannia Claude-Joseph Rouget de LISLE La Marseillaise Edwin E. BAGLEY The National Emblem Hector BERLIOZ Rákóczy March Georges BIZET March of the Toréadors from Carmen Suite No.1 Giacomo MEYERBEER Coronation March from Le prophète Sergei PROKOFIEV March from The Love of the Three Oranges Op.33a Felix MENDELSSOHN War March of the Priests from Athalie Op.74 Giuseppe VERDI Grand March from Aïda Mikhail IPPOLITOV-IVANOV Procession of the Sadar from Two Caucasian Sketches, Op.10 Paul HINDEMITH March from Symphonic Metamorphosis Sir Edward ELGAR Pomp and Circumstance March No.1, Op.39 Richard WAGNER Fest March from Tannhäuser Kenneth ALFORD Colonel Bogey |
SONY Classical Bernstein Century SMK 63154
[71:25] mid-price
by Ng Yeuk Fan, dedicated to fellow lover of marches, Lo Hong Yee
Many of these are familar pieces that I played while in secondary school as
a member of the band. The endless marching and the many hours in the
sun all adds to the sense of warm nostalgia as I recalled the music in this
album.
Still
other marches have a less serious role but are no less dramatic - being
theatrical masterpieces within operas to generate dramatic fervour when their
composers required their exciting rhythms. Nevertheless, the present
collection represents a kind of 'musical patriotism' transcending all
boundaries, with contributions from not just America and Britain but Italy,
France and Germany as well.
The crucial question: is it good music? I am sure everyone who's played
them would be affirmative of the great joy involved. But there are those
who detest the noisy repetitive snare drums rattling to the beat of the
omnipresent bass drum - well, I guess if it is functional, we have to
forgive it and look elsewhere for the merits. Perhaps Sousa and his other
composer friends did not have alternative choices - or else the marching would
simply go haywire!
In any case it need not always be noisy - while you go
looking for the merits, there are many fascinating 'concert' marches in
this offering such as Johann Strauss Senior's Radetsky
March and Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No.1. The operas provide another rich source (or need) for the creation of marches - Verdi's
"Grand March" from Aïda, Bizet's "March of the Toréadors" from
Carmen, Prokofiev's March from The Love of the Three Oranges and
Meyebeer's "Coronation March" from Le prophète, etc... they are by any
standards fine examples of fantastical music writing.
Let martial note in triumph float
Hurrah for the flag of the free!
Let eagle shriek from lofty peak
Hurrah for the flag of the free.
There is no shortage of merit in the lively playing of the New York
Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Leonard Bernstein. This choice of
professionalism may be to some a sort of 'official' stamp of approval for
these 'suspect' marches usually played by marine and concert bands, but hey,
Bernstein doesn't hesitate to play marches with his favourite
orchestra! In any case, if you need it (the approval) this version is
certainly the one to get. One trusts Berstein to unleash the excitement in
these effeverscent works while retaining the concert allure of the
operatic and stage pace-makers.
Bernstein captures truly beautiful moments of sustained rapture in many of
the trio sections, especially Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance march,
complete with 'Edwardian' grace. The piccolo soli in The Stars and
Stripes Forever have never sounded more exciting or neck-breaking to me.
True to his huge wit and charm, one 'kow-tows' (Chinese for bowing till
one's head touches one's toes, a sign of deep reverential respect) to
Bernstein's impeccable musical taste in his reading of Ippolitov-Ivanov's
enigmatically melodious Procession of the Sardar, the affably fun
Colonel Bogey and the grand Fest March from Wagner's Tannhäuser.
Recorded between 1965 and 1971, there is a slight failing in the dynamic
brilliance that would be expected in a modern day concert
recording - but this is a small price to pay for the assured opinons of
Maestro Bernstein and at that, none on the market will offer as tantalising
a selection for the march fanatic or the occasional music explorer. Whether
you like it or not, marches are needed in life, so the bustling noise aside,
they can become easy listening on a warm afternoon and I hope you find them
addictive too.
It is amazing how catchy some of these tunes are - short, simple
and effective. Many are works for military bands, by John
Philip Sousa (1854-1932) or some British equivalent. They serve a crucial
inspirational function at ceremonies for the armed forces, played at march-pasts, military displays and formal functions.
The Stars and Stripes Forever
And liberty extend its mighty hand
A flag appears 'mid thunderous cheers,
The banner of the Western land.
The emblem of the brave and true
Its folds protect no tyrant crew;
The red and white and starry blue
Is freedom's shield and hope.
Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's
nation.
May it wave as our standard forever,
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.
The never-ending watchword of our land;
Let summer breeze waft through the trees
The echo of the chorus grand.
Sing out for liberty and light,
Sing out for freedom and the right.
Sing out for Union and its might,
O patriotic sons.
Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation,
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation.
May it wave as our standard forever
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with might endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray,
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.
LEONARD BERNSTEIN (1918-1990) |
Ng Yeuk Fan wishes that the D107 stars will never fade.
Back to the Classical Index!... or read previous classical music reviews from the Inkvault Archives!
477: 16.5.1999. up.20.5.1999©Ng Yeuk Fan
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