John Philip Sousa: On Stage

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Just for fun, try playing this CD as a quiz for a musically knowledgeable friend. You can give one hint: the composer is well known. As the suite from the operetta The Bride Elect proceeds, you'll probably get guesses like Johann Strauss (during the opening waltz), Offenbach, or Victor Herbert. But when the concluding number, a march, arrives, the composer will be obvious. Sousa's operettas, if one judges from these orchestral selections, aren't highly original or even outstandingly tuneful. But they are good light entertainment, especially as played by this crack group of Slovak players under the direction of Sousa expert Keith Brion. Naxos's recording is as crisp and clear as the orchestral playing. Nice design, helpful program notes. --Leslie Gerber

Tracks:

The Bride Elect: Waltzes
The Bride Elect: Tarantella: The Dancing Girl (Ballet: People Who Live In Glass Houses)
The Bride Elect: The Champagnes
The Bride Elect: The Rhine Wines
The Bride Elect: White Rock And Psyches
The Bride Elect: The Whiskies -- Scotch, Irish, Bourbon, And Rye
The Bride Elect: Convention Of The Cordial, Wines, And Whiskies
The Bride Elect: March
El Capitan: Selections
El Capitan: O Warrior Grim
El Capitan: Waltzes
El Capitan: March
Our Flirtations: Overture
Our Flirtations: March

Amazon.com

Just for fun, try playing this CD as a quiz for a musically knowledgeable friend. You can give one hint: the composer is well known. As the suite from the operetta The Bride Elect proceeds, you'll probably get guesses like Johann Strauss (during the opening waltz), Offenbach, or Victor Herbert. But when the concluding number, a march, arrives, the composer will be obvious. Sousa's operettas, if one judges from these orchestral selections, aren't highly original or even outstandingly tuneful. But they are good light entertainment, especially as played by this crack group of Slovak players under the direction of Sousa expert Keith Brion. Naxos's recording is as crisp and clear as the orchestral playing. Nice design, helpful program notes. --Leslie Gerber