Search - Sousa, Brion, Royal Artillery Band :: Music for Wind Band, Vol. 7

Sousa's El Capitan March, and Much More

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 01/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) wrote a jillion marches -- well, actually only 136 -- and you've probably only heard one of the ones on this disc, the seventh in Keith Brion's and the Royal Artillery Band's series devoted to his music. The one you've heard -- and, really, I doubt if there is anyone who hasn't -- is 'El Capitan'. This famous march is actually a medley of tunes from Sousa's Broadway show of that name from 1896. It, and all the other selections on this disc, are played with proper restraint and delicacy. Sousa's music is not just blood and guts; it is really quite wonderfully and knowledgeably constructed and was originally played in the rather cool manner adopted here by this British band. That is not to say there isn't spirit in the playing, it's just that it isn't loud, too fast, or schlocked up.



Among the highlights on the disc is the late (1916) 'America First March' (also called 'The March of the States') which uses four tunes associated with as many states or regions: 'Dixie', 'Maryland, My Maryland', 'We're Off the Philadelphia in the Morning' (a tune that commemorates the centennial celebration in Philly held in 1876 in which Sousa had played violin in the Exposition's orchestra), and good ol' 'Yankee Doodle'. Great fun.



There is the lovely and Straussian 'Intaglio Waltz' (1884) written for a friend's daughter. Another operetta selection is 'The Bride-Elect March', from, you guessed it, 'The Bride-Elect' from 1897, a modest success that followed the wildly popular 'El Capitan' on Broadway. And from another operetta, 'The Charlatan' (1898), is 'The Charlatan March', which takes some of the show's triple time tunes and recasts them in march time.



And oddly effective one is 'Sheridan's Ride' commemorating the famous breakneck twenty-mile ride of General Sherman to rejoin his troups and rally them to win the battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia during the Civil War. It comes complete with the sounds of artillery fire and cheering during the battle sequence.



But my favorite of all these is 'Sounds from the Revival' which incorporates 'Jesus Lover of My Soul', 'Nearer My God to Thee' and 'Sweet Bye and Bye' among others. A lovely, nostalgic picture of an earlier, more innocent time.



As in the earlier issues in this series, Brion and his Royal Artillery Band do themselves proud. Brion, of course, is probably the world's foremost Sousa specialist, so this is no surprise.



Another winner in this series.



Scott Morrison

"