Reviews (1)

Marches II
i'm trying out for drum major, and part of the try outs is marching an L-pattern, the kind of pattern that you would do in a regular drum major competition. it shows your parade marching skills, your ability to stick to tempo, and your directing abilities. so for tryouts, i need to pick a march and this cd has so many to choose from, its awesome! and its also great if your a band director looking for a good march for your marching band to play, or if you just like listening to John Sousa, who rocks. yay for this cd! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful- recap of the funny call-in quiz show
I am a big fan of Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know? show, and I just loved the CD. It was so funny that I listened to it 3 times the first day I got it! I am buying it for gifts!

A wonderful gift for Feldman fans! ... Read more

Album Description

Box Set of 4 CDs by The United States Marine Band. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Box Of Brilliance
Brilliant is a good word for this set of must have band classics, all of these songs are as american as apple pie. Its a must have for any true patriot or band lover. Sousa is the Motzart of the marchign band world and truly this capture so much more than any other collection. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Magnificent!
From the anouncement of this CD being released, I was more than a little intrigued, and found the music and playing both refreshing and spellbinding. I own a substantial collection of classical piano music performed by gifted, if not umimaginative pianists, and if I want to hear music of the masters as done thousands of times before, that is what I play. However, if anyone believes Rick Wakeman is not technically skilled, and is only capable of lightening fast chops with little to no substance, this is an eye opener. These variations are played with sensitivity, a deft touch, and the grace of a truly gifted individual. Anyone who enjoys the beautiful music of a grand piano in the hands of a master should purchase this CD.

Great Piano Music !!!
This is a great album by Rick, specially the Pathetique (Beethoven), The Swan (Saint-Saëns) and the Variations on The New World Symphony (Dvorak).

This album is for relaxation, and i recommended you if you like piano music in Wakeman's style.

Wonderful finesse!
I can understand why others rate this so low, as they truly do not appreciate the finer qualities of classical piano. Anyone with a pre conceived notion that anything by Rick Wakeman should knock your socks off are doing themselves a great disservice.

Wakeman's arrangements and performances of 10 classical piano pieces are quite as good as they can get. It gives a different twist on these great classics. The Pathetique portion for example, it is as good as, or dare I say better than any others I have heard, and we have at least 10 different versions of this at home, so by comparison Wakeman ranks right up there with the best classical pianists.

Wakeman's execution is charged with subtle heart felt emotion and a very pleasant and satisfying hour's worth of listening. I can honestly recommend this to anyone who truly enjoys beautiful piano music. Everyone I know who has heard this CD, at home or in the office, has said it is beautiful to listen to.

A great opportunity missed?
Most people acquainted with Rick Wakeman's more substantive works are surely clearly aware of his versatility and skill. However, one wonders whether that is truly enough when attempting to elaborate on pieces of previous maestros...I will repeat a mantra that I use for Rick Wakeman more often than I would like to: YOU COULD HAVE DONE MUCH MORE WITH THIS! Rick, this was too easy for you and that is precisely my reproach. This could have been an opportunity for growth, for new insight. When you perform variations, you will inevitably be compared to those who have gone before you.

Despite the lack of growth this plateau-like album expresses, the piano playing is still pretty in typical Wakeman style, but unfortunately there is not much else.

Classical mis-connections
Rick Wakeman earned his reputation as a progressive rock keyboard player with dazzling chops who had once studied (but not completed) an advanced course at London's Royal College of Music. His contributions to Yes in the 1970s (on albums like 'Fragile', 'Close To The Edge' and 'Going For The One') were substantial and original. But he could not cope with the more exploratory direction of 'Tales From Topographic Oceans', even though he plays well on it, and he left before the dark and demanding 'Relayer'. He has been back and forth a couple of times since and is now touring with the band again.

Meanwhile, after a couple of interesting solo albums 25 years ago, Wakeman has been the beached whale of flashy rock keyboards. He has tried every style of music, releasing an avalanche of CDs. He even tried a follow up to the 1974 orchestral melodrama, 'Journey To The Centre Of The Earth'. On 'Classical Variations' he offers, no doubt quite sincerely, interpretations of popular classics on grand piano. It is not, unfortunately, a great success.

It is difficult to know who this album is aimed at. There is certainly a market for 'bleeding chunks' (happy tunes by great composers ripped out of context), but they tend to fall into two categories: compilations of standard performances and embarrassingly twee 'jazzed up' versions. Wakeman's variations fit into neither category. What he has done is to take some songs (Puccini, Mendelssohn, Handel, Faure), some excerpts (Beethoven, Dvorak) and a few ensemble pieces (Faure and Handel again, Massenet, Saint Saens) and redo them for piano. They come out sounding exactly like... er, Rick Wakeman. Edges and nuances are removed, simple melody is highlighted, rhythm routinised, flourishes added, and harmonic language pared down. It is a fairly well established formula and it produces an effect that is frankly bland and uninspiring. These pieces are well performed, though with nothing like the technical skill and insight of a true classical musician. It is all rather pointless.

Presumably the majority of people who buy this album will be Wakeman followers with little knowledge of classical music. Perhaps they will be impressed. Anyone else would be rather astonished at this, I would have thought. If this CD leads anyone to visit the original music performed by great musicians, all to the good. Otherwise it is best forgotten. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good; but not what I expected
I purchased this CD after the funeral of President Reagan when I heard the superb music put forth by our American military bands. Unfortunately, that quality was not recreated in this collection. I was especially interested in hearing what I perceived as the traditional "military"sound; that is, a chorus of men. Many of the songs on this album had the predominate sound of sopranos. I was reminded more of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir than "singing sergeants". With all respect due to women in the military..God bless every one of them..it just wasn't my idea of a military band. The instrumental songs were solidly good and toe-tapping. I especially loved the version of the Marines Hymn which was arranged so differently from the usual sprightly "Halls of Montezuma". It was in the warm, mellow tones of a traditional hymn. I will happily play this album again and again, but with the known caveat that I will not be hearing an all-male chorus.

This is what it's all about, Folks!
Precise music, beautiful choruses, patriotic songs by military bands. I don't know about you but I'll take this over Rap any day. Of course I live in the heartland and am conservative by nature but I can't help but believe that we have lost something by not appreciating the songs of our past. The music on this album brought to mind all of the sacrifices made by our forebears in their quest to establish and expand our nation. I hope you will enjoy this exceptional rendering of patriotic music as much as I have.

Don't buy this disc!
This disc contains recordings of patriotic favorites that are otherwise available to the public for free directly from the military. The recordings on this disc were never meant to be commercially distributed - indeed the military is prohibited from doing so and thus gives them away for free. I have spoken with many of the military performers here in DC and they resent that a commercial company is able to sell these otherwise free recodings as a result of a quirk in the law. More importantly, the selections are not recorded in a way that is consistent with professional commercial standards. Other commercial patriotic CDs are much better. Try the Washington Men's Camerata's "Spirit of Freedom" on Gothic or Shaw's "Battle Cry of Freedom" on RCA. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Mix of Pipes and Brass Band
A fine session with songs featuring brass band as well as the more commonly heard classics on pipes and drums. Several of the longer medleys bring together both bands, very unusual for Scottish military recordings. This is a real find for fans of military music, with several technically interesting renditions of marches and retreats. There are two thrilling versions of "Men of Harlech" that are worth the whole thing! Everyone has heard "Scotland the Brave" a million times, but the solid version of it recorded here is the best I have ever heard. A great CD of real soldiers playing their songs. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Some of the best pipe music on CD
I have had this CD for quite awhile now, and though it does not make the regular rotation in my CD player, it certainly does make in in there every so often. As much as I do like/love the pipe (mostly the drums)one can only take so much on a daily basis. The music on the CD is very well produced, sounds great and is very moving, especially at the end when the band is singing the Minstrel Boy. As a firefighter I appreciate this CD even more and encouage other to give it a try.

Pipes & Drums
There is an attachment firefighters have to any pipes and drums band, and this album brings it all home. The tunes here will move any pipe lover. The band is crisp and their talents are well displayed here. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

It's wicked with a capital W!
I just saw Star Wars Episode 1 and it really brings back the thought of this tune. Also, I am doing a school projest on space and this really helps me a lot!

Great CD if you can find it!
This CD-Single of Darth Vader's theme is a CD cut in the shape of Vader's head! Great marketing... glad I was able to snag one before they sold out.

The Imperial March
This song perfectly conveys the power, prestige, and sheer evil which surrounds the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader. This is an amazing conveyance of his power, and awesome presence. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Very good content not available elsewhere.
I don't understand why the other reviews are critical of this record. Apple Blossom,White Cliffs are available on about every 40's record put out, just like When The Lights Go On Again, etc. It was much better putting songs on that were not so readily available.

Missing in Action
I agree with the previous reviewer - whoever made the choices on this disk obviously didn't LIVE during WWII or they would have known that "Apple Blossom Time" and "White Cliffs of Dover" were the REAL classics of WWII!

Obvious Omissions
I can not believe an album of songs regarding the World War II era not including "The White Cliffs of Dover" and "Apple Blossom Time." I'm sure there are more, but they are glaring omissions! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Magic of Andrew Lloyd Webber
This album has many of the best of the shows produced by Sir Andrew.Particularly impressive is the rendition of "Pie Jesu".I have seen the show "The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber" performed live, and the artists who performed this piece gave me chills!I recommend this CD for anyone who is a fan of Sir Andrew. ... Read more

Album Description

Recorded by the U. S. Navy Band and Sea Chanters Chorus conducted by Commander Ralph M. Gambone. ... Read more