Keith Brion - Great Symphonic Band Music - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Volume 11 of this highly-acclaimed series features a mixture of marches and popular song, operetta and opera arrangements. The renowned Royal Swedish Navy Band make their first appearance in the series.

John Philip Sousa's swift rise to fame and greatness came at a time when band concerts were the most important aspect of musical life in the U.S. The works on this recording range from the early Revival March of 1876 and the stirring Right Forward March from Sousa's time as conductor of the U.S. Marine band, to the Inchup-to-dateInch 1920's fox-trot Peaches and Cream and the 1923 Leaves from My Notebook, dedicated to the Campfire Girls of America. Music from Sousa's operetta Chris and the Wonderful Lamp can be found alongside his medley of tunes from Gilbert and Sullivan's the Mikado, which includes many of the hit tunes from this operetta, while the Honored Dead was performed at President Ulysses S. Grant's funeral.

John Philip Sousa, known affectionately as InchThe March KingInch, personified turn-of-the-century America, the comparative innocence and brash energy of a still new nation. His ever-touring band represented America across the globe.