a really good Sousa CD


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Posted by Richard on March 09, 2002 at 18:56:32:

Stars & Stripes & Sousa, Keith Brion and the Washington Winds on the Walking Frog label. Excellent.

The hook? It's Sousa marches, as close to the way HE played them. According to the album's promotion, Sousa published his marches in basic generic arrangements, but performed them in distinctively personalized ways. In order to protect this "regime" his players were provided with basic parts, but instructed verbally on expression, dynamics, and where to play and where to lay out. The materials for this recording were put together through researching the old parts, interviewing surviving members, and with ears glued to the old acoustic recordings of the Sousa Band.

The results are fascinating. It's not your grampa's Sousa. Or maybe it IS.

I gather the Washington Winds are drawn from the various service bands. Sean, do you know anything about this? Like who are some of the key players? Are you on it?


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