Hearing the Liberty Bell March - I think that is the one - on Monty Python has me itching to hear some more marches, just for a change of pace. Maybe it is nostalgia for my days of pumping the ol' trombone back in HS and college. Anyhow I have no idea what are good recordings to look for. The first thing to leap to mind when I think Sousa is US Marine Band but I am not familiar with any of their recordings so I don't know if they are captured well and worth getting. Any of yous guys have some Sousa that you would either reccomend - or else warn against?

This is great because it is Sousa's more obscure material. Conducted by Frederick Fennel who is the world's supreme master of this material.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000057LB/qid=1099618964/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/002-3485580-3503209

EDIT: this will be available 11/9/04 on sacd at acoustic sounds:

http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=15017

And for an amazing recording of other military band music:

http://www.telarc.com/gscripts/title.asp?gsku=0639&mscssid=202QHHDQFCEL9KL5X39Q64CMC8V60KW7

Otherwise, you'll probably get the best results by searching for United States Marine Band, United States Navy Band, etc.

Can't recall at the moment who, but a relative of mine was a member of one of Sousa's bands.....he apparently had several so that they could be in more than one place at once, that's how high a demand there was for his music at one time!

Anthony

Whiskey:

Here's another vote for the Frederick Fennel album. This Mercury recording is goose-bump city at high volume (providing that marches are your cup of tea).

As a former band director and player I agree with all of the above that Frederic Fennell is the guy to go with for a start; there are others as well but Fennell's work on Mercury, then Telarc and now Reference Recordings with the Dallas Wind Symphony are all recordings to hear. Sousa was the best American example of the march but don't overlook all of the other European march composers either. The world of wind music(or band music) if you will, is a primary motherlode of interesting listening. More to share in the future if there is some interest in this room.!!!!!

With all the recommendations it looks like I might have to pick up that Fennel recording.

Impatience got the better of me and I decided not to wait for mail order. I found this locally at FYE:

http://www.oninomusic.co.uk/music/sousa_marches_stirring_marches_of_the_usa_services .html

it looks to be reissues of two records released on vinyl in the 60s. I listened to through Koss plugs at the gym yesterday while working out. I modified some silicone earlplugs to replace their foams so they will stay in better when moving around.

Turned ALL the way up. Whoa, does that get your blood pumping for exercise. There is a difference in recording between the two halves. Through headphones, the first album sounded like the band was a foot in front of me. The second one sounded like I had trumpets on my left shoulder, trombones and baritones on my right shoulder, a snare drum on the back of my throat and a glockenspiel in my eye sockets. :yikes: On accented strikes of the bass drum my skull would momentarily pressurize. I have to listen to it on the speakers to hear what this kind of mix sounds like outside my head.

You heard it right. Those recordings were made in different halls and under different circumstances. I just love when they do that!! London records at that time were trying to catch up with RCA and others who were doing experimental mixing, EQing and , in some cases, creatived panning of the different channels. There was also a channel "race" on between dompanies as to who could use more independent channels and make them "move around you" . Today we can be amazed or laugh at what they were trying to do but you have to admit that it is "different". I you want your Sousa "pure" save a fews bucks and get ahold of some of the Fennell recordings and hear it as we conductors hear it everyday. Have fun!!!

After listening on the home stereo I have to admit that the second section sounds more familiar since I'm used to hearing rock records mixed for stereo playback on speakers and my brain is more willing to soak up, yeah, those guys might be seated left-to-right in the room blasting away.

It sure is dramatic sounding music. I like heavy metal but I have to admit that pure shocking volume sounds more natural to this stuff than even Metallica or Sabbath.

I'm less familiar with hearing a large-ensemble, large-space performance reproduction so it is a bit for my brain to chew on. If I pay attention to what it sounds like, the first section is more like the players are in ranks and all projecting forward and blending together like a parade, and the second section is more like a concert I guess. But on my system it sounds like the band is spaced closely between the speakers, or a ways back from me so the sound source is not spread far left to right. If I just read and let myself stop thinking about it, there are more grin moments. I guess it is a matter of getting used to it.

I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying your "new" musical discovery, that is something i always look forward to.
When you get used to hearing instrumentation of a band or wind ensemble; and if you like the experience, you will find a whole new world of music out there available to you. Let me know if you get to that point and I, and others I'm sure, can make many more suggestions fo your listening pleasure.
Enjoy, enjoy,enjoy!!!!!!! :)