by John Philip Sousa
Album Title: MUSIC FOR WIND BAND: VOLUME 17
Recording: Guildhall Symphonic Wind Band
Conductor: Keith Brion
Publisher: NAXOS 8.559811 Purchase
There is a lot more Sousa than marches and Keith Brion continues this unparalleled series with Volume 17. The titles of the five works may be unfamiliar to most but some snippets are better known by astute bandfolk. The three-movement suite from the operetta The American Maid (originally titled The Glassblowers) contains Dance Hilarious-With Pleasure which has been performed as a separate work. The Salute of the Nations to the Columbian Exposition might be recognized for the concluding “Morning Colors” Wagnerian styled Star Spangled Banner. Keith Brion & Loras Schissel have a setting published titled Fugue on Yankee Doodle which is taken from the first part of this suite. March of the Pan Americans-Part One is a continuous arrangement of the North & South American national airs/anthems… Part Two will be featured on the forthcoming Volume 18. The remaining pair of compositions are The Smugglers-Quintet and the Prohibition influenced Humoresque: A Mingling of the Wets and Drys. Highly recommended.
