Search - Millar Brass Ensemble :: World Anthems, Vol. 1

Unimpressive, but solid

tmcrpar | Bel Air, Maryland | 01/03/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As an avid collector and aficionado of national anthems, this disc seemed different - concentrating on the musical value of each anthem rather than the patriotic arrangements so often found elsewhere. The result, to me, was solid but unimpressive. The USA's national anthem was brilliantly arranged, but I found no joy in the stagnant rendition of "Jana-Gana-Mana" (India), the highly boring "Istan Aldd Meg a Magyart" (Hungary) or the plodding imitation of the powerful "Schne Ne Vmerla Ukraina" (Ukraine). France's Marseillaise seemed plastic, whereas Russia's representative bore no relation to the true national anthem. Bulgaria's representative, "Schumi Maritza," is a dinosaur of the Dimitrov era and should be replaced by the correct "Mila Rodino." Sparkling arrangements of Slovakia's and Monaco's national anthems were sadly counterbalanced by a positively irreverant Venezuela and a somewhat disappointing Spain. Some anthems (Turkey and Belgium) were oversimplified...it seems, overall, that in musical zeal much of the original power of these anthems has been lost by overconfident arrangers.PS - If anyone wants to "talk anthems," please e-mail me."

Good music, but incomplete

E_J_Jones@MSN.com | Boston, MA | 10/27/1998

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Needs to be a follow on CD with athems which no longer exist. When watching the first Olympics (post USSR), I was sadened not to hear their famous national anthem. Also where are the pre WW2 anthems, many of which no longer exist, but were powerful pieces."