I just got
FIVE CDs from the West Coast Music Service.
Two CDs are of marches. So far, no new-found gems. Listening to these CDs I've been rudely reminded that some marches are obscure and unheard of for a reason.
Another CD is the London Symphony Orchestra's recording of De Meij's "Symphony #1" (Lord of the Rings). Yes, that's right, the LSO. Yes, that's right, De Meij's great band piece. A
concert band piece arranged for
orchestra! How outstanding is that?
CD #4 is all Percy Grainger music. Personally, I've never been a huge fan of Grainger's stuff. His rambling compositional style with its (relative) absence of recapitulation or development just doesn't work for me. Usually. I love
Marching Song of Democracy, and that's the whole reason I got the CD. Although
The Immovable Do isn't too bad. Kinda interesting, with that incessant drone note on the high C.
CD #5 is called "Wind Currents" and is music performed by the U. of MA-Amherst Wind Ensemble. Allow me to provide a brief critique of each track for you (with accompanying emoticon).
Track 1 -
Ultima Fantasia by Robert Stern. Did not impress me in the slightest, good or bad. Actually I thought it was fairly dull.
Track 2 -
Romantic Serenade by Joseph Turrin. A fairly nice piece. Didn't blow my socks off, but it's a worthwhile composition.
Track 3 -
Motown Metal by Michael Daugherty. Utter crap. A disappointment of Biblical proportions. I love Daugherty's other works (
Niagara Falls, Desi, Red Cape Tango, etc.) and I'm a brass man, so I thought: "Wow, a Daugherty piece for all brass and metallic percussion, I should love it!" Wrong. The piece is garbage. It's a never ending fusillade of trombone smears, brass runs, power chords, and rhythmically uninspired banging in the percussion (straight 8th/16th notes... complete devoid of syncopation, off-beats, accents, power hits... you know, interesting stuff). There was no discernable melody that I could catch, just a whole lot of noise.
Track 4 -
Morning Star by David Maslanka. I can't say that I've ever been a huge David Maslanka fan, but this was a pretty good piece. It has a solid, cheerful theme that is developed throughout.
Track 5 -
Symphony #4 by David Maslanka. Outstanding. This piece blew me out of the water, and the ending is terrific. However, I'm sure the fact that it is a single movement nearly 30 minutes long dissuades many ensembles from attempting it. Too bad, it's a terrific work.