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1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Probably will not be bettered Jun 07, 2009
This is a superb collection of Sousa Marches from Frederick Fennell's old Mercury Records Sousa Series. It is amazing how good the sound comes across on CD -- comparing very favorably with CD recordings 20 years more recent. Fennell was, of course, one of the all time great Sousa interpreters and the Eastman one of the all time great Sousa bands.
Because I use this CD to pace me on the treadmill, I have had the opportunity to listen to it over and over again. Fennell was by no means perfect. He can be a bit bass-heavy and brass-heavy. The trombones drown out the woodwind melody in the trio of "High School Cadets," and even manage to overpower his all-but invincible trumpets in the break strains of "Gridiron Club" and "Golden Jubilee." He can extend the end of a line a bit too long, as in "Invincible Eagle" and "Cadets," and his first trumpet (and piccolo) can be too strident, particularly when accompanying a melody in the winds (I play the bassoon and saxophone and am accustomed to being drowned out in Sousa anyway).
But Fennell's defects have corresponding virtues. The trumpet work in "Gallant Seventh" is really glorious, and his percussions are a wonder (note, for example, the "Native American" section of his "New Mexico March.") His rhythms are rock-solid, if sometimes perhaps just a bit inflexible. Furthermore, his selections are terrific. Many rarely heard marches remind you that what is most popular in Sousa is not necessarily what is best in Sousa, with just enough "old chestnuts" thrown in to remind you who the composer is.
One minor point: the "playlist" in Amazon's bill lists No. 14 as "Golden Jubilee." It is not. It is "Pride of the Wolverines."
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Motivating! Jan 31, 2009
As a retired Marine, I have found this CD to be very inspirational. I used to have a copy and it somehow got lost a while back. I considered myself to be very fortunate to have found it again at Amazon. I use this music at Marine Corps League functions and outdoor BBQs to motivate the hell out of people. Very stirring and to all militarists out there, I highly recommend this recording!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Sousa on a Highwire Aug 26, 2007
If there is ONE Sousa cd to get, this is definitely a top candidate. Fennell chose Sousa's best, but not necessarily his most famous. Conspicuously (which may be a relief to some) missing are Stars and Stripes, Washington Post, and Semper Fidelis.
Instead you get the far more interesting "Nobles of the Mystic Shrine", "Pride of the Wolverines", and "The Gridiron Club". Fennell and the Eastman are at their best in these, where you need that extra "oomph"...on some marches, such as "The Gallant Seventh" or "Sabres and Spurs" there seems to be a sense of lagging that harms the march sound, but maybe that's just me. In any case, Gunther Schuller pulls off a wonderful "Gallant Seventh" on the disc "Footlifters", Sony label. If you compare that with this performance, I think you might agree.
But don't let that small squabble stop you. Fennell + Sousa = Success, and I do not tentatively give this the full five stars, I give it in full sincerity.
9 of 9 found the following review helpful:
 Fennell Brings Out the Best in Sousa 's Marches Feb 21, 2004
This is an outstanding CD. The sound quality is very good. The instrumental balance is very good. It's interesting to compare the rather subtle difference in the percussion section performance between the two recording dates, particulalarly the cymbalist.
Sousa had an uncanny ability to score the cymbal strike at places which add significantly to the listening experience.
Hats off to Sousa, Fennell,and the Eastman Wind Ensemble
6 of 13 found the following review helpful:
A solid Sousa album that comes up a bit short Jan 25, 2003
In the 60s, Fennell and the Eastman Wind ensemble recorded a good amount of marches by Sousa, many released on this album, and the rest (as far as I know) on the album Hands Across the Sea. As many of Sousa's best marches are on that later album, this one falls a bit short of greatness -- but not my much.
Sousa knew his marches, writting something like 200 of them, and almost every one of these is a great example of how to write a good march. Indeed, The Liberty Bell and Manhatten Beach are two of my alltime favorite marches. However, being prolific often means that there will be misses, and many here, while written well, just aren't all that memorable. I'd be hard pressed to be able to identify such pieces as The Gallant Seventh, New Mexico, or the Black Horse Troop unless I had just listened to them.
Still, one has to admire the creative way Sousa sometimes put his music together. The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company uses the song 'Aude Lang Syne' for its trio, and it fits so well that it's hard to believe he didn't write it himself. The Liberty Bell uses tubular bells in *just* the right spots that it makes an impact every time one listens. And Sabre And Spurs uses wook blocks to simulate horses, which also works great.
So overall, this is a solid album that has its ups and downs. The sound quality is great, haveing a certain amount of 'bite' that's almost impossible with digital recordings, the playing impecable, and there's plenty of variety.
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