United States Marine Band: The Blessings of Liberty (Alfred Hart Miles - Julia Ward Howe - Robert Crawford)

Chronique

Altissimo's The Blessings of Liberty features "the President's Own" United States Marine Band in a selection of relatively new marches and arrangements, made by members of the band at the time of recording (1998). It contains such resolutely twentieth century fare as the march Franklin D. Roosevelt by William H. Woodin and Guadalcanal March from Richard Rodgers' Victory at Sea, in addition to the symphonic scenario drawn from that same work. It also contains both the Navy and Marine hymns ("God of Our Fathers" and "Anchors Aweigh") and a respectful, harmonized version of "Taps." The standout selection is March of the Women Marines by Louis Saverino; it is high stepping, energetic, and inspired, just the sort of the thing to get the lead out. The recording is very good, and performances are both professional and polished, though in most cases do not rise to an especial plateau of excitement; furthermore, it is a very short CD, not even cracking the 40-minute mark. No leader is listed; however, it does find the U.S. Marine Band in good voice. If one is already predisposed to patriotic American band music done in a contemporary style, Altissimo's The Blessings of Liberty should be all right.
© TiVo