Concert Overtures

So potential buyers could easily find this excellent recording. "DIMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH" has nothing to with it, and we can no longer submit suggested changes to these listings. Very unfortunate.

delightfull is the word.. this really beautifully put together disc.should be in evey clasical lovers library.Buy a copy if you can?

The musical style of British composer Sir Malcolm Arnold (b. 1921) is rather unique. Listeners may detect some similarities with the music of Walton or, to a lesser degree, Sibelius. However, Arnold is one of those composers that can be identified from just listening to 10 seconds or so of any song, regardless of the song and regardless if you are familiar with the song or not. His compositions are dominated by brass and percussion, which is not surprising when considering the fact that Arnold is an accomplished trumpet player. If Arnold prefers any woodwind instrument, it would have to be the piccolo which frequently accompanies a marching drum part, in military-like fashion.The BBC Philharmonic is comfortable in Arnold's distinct style, and the brass and percussion do the music justice. Several of the pieces on this program, featuring a selection of Arnold's exuberant overtures and orchestral works, are comedic in nature. There are low brass oompahs, trombone glissandos, drunken bassoons (similar to Arnold's Scottish Dances), overblown endings, and Arnold's characteristic French horn rips. The opening piece, "A Grand Grand Festival Overture," features a part for three vacuum cleaners and one floor polisher. After four gunshots are heard, symbolizing the execution of these musicians, the music proceeds to a coda full of fanfares, chimes, and timpani, accompanied by organ, which appears to be an obvious parody of the extended codas of certain Romantic composers.Many of the selections here could also be considered programme music. "Tam o' Shanter" for instance, concerns a story of an alcoholic who rides his horse home, only to be chased by evil spirits. The tendency to include such elements in this music makes some of the pieces a little difficult to follow, from purely a listening standpoint. In fact, it seems like much of the crashing and swooping elements of this music would be well suited to accompany an action movie. Another tendency of this music is to suddenly alter between pianissimo to fortissimo and back again. Some may find this to be annoying, on the account of that the volume dial may need to be frequently adjusted.Overall, I would place this release somewhere between four and five stars. Despite the fact that the pieces on this program span Arnold's entire compositional career, there seems to be a lack of variety, although that is probably due to the fact that Arnold's style is so distinct. I will mention that my favorite moments within the Arnold symphonies (finales of 6, 7 and 8; first movements of 5 and 7) and the dance suites (English and Scottish) give me slightly more pleasure than my favorite overtures on this program. Although, anyone who enjoys the music of Arnold, or any of the orchestral devices mentioned above would do well to pick up this CD.75:43

It is a tragedy that Arnold's music isn't more widely heard in concert halls, doubly so when it is as well played as this. Quite simply this is an immensely enjoyable disc, full of zest and zing and played with obvious enjoyment by the BBC Philharmonic under Rumon Gamba. Vernon Handley has recorded some of these overtures and, as fine as those discs are, this is even finer. Chandos, already well regarded for their spectacular recordings, have outdone themselves here; the soundstage is deep and the orchestra is superbly caught, the percussion especially thrilling. I can't remember enjoying a disc quite so much for ages. Bravo to all concerned!

sounds a bit sterile

la qualità di incisione è ok ma fracamente speravo fosse qualcosa di migliore . . . . . . .

「ホフナング音楽祭」のために作曲された『大々的序曲』(A Grand Grand Oveture)作品57を、新録音で聴ける点が何よりのポイント。この作品は、大序曲「1812年」への皮肉ともとれる冗談音楽で、オーケストラの演奏を妨害するかのように３台の真空掃除機と１台の床磨き機が登場し、演奏中に床掃除を始める。これらの機器は機種が指定されており、指定の機種が入手できない場合は、排気音や動作音の周波数が同じものを選ぶことになっている。そうした細かい指定も、一種のギャグである。掃除係たちは次第に図に乗った態度を示すようになるので、オーケストラの奏者のひとりが舞台袖に引っ込むや銃を持ち出し、銃声4発（むろん空砲だが）、掃除係らは倒れ、オーケストラがクライマックスを築いて終わる。素晴らしいバカバカしさ。こうした曲を、真剣にバカバカしく演奏するのが、いかにもイギリス風と感心する。

吹奏楽コンクールで初めて聴きました。やはり、吹奏楽をやっていらっしゃる学生の皆さんにはぜひこの曲に限らず「原曲」「全曲版」「オーケストラ版」を聴いてもらいたいと思います。カットされた曲が「完全版」だと思っている方の間違いを正すことも重要ですが、「原曲によるサウンド」を感じてほしいです。さて、演奏ですがこの楽曲の音源自体も珍しいです。音質も良いです。BBCフィルの壮大な演奏には感動します。この楽曲のテーマとなったマンチェスターでのピータールーの大虐殺ですが、打楽器による兵隊の足音に背筋が凍ります。吹奏楽がきっかけでオーケストラの原曲（この曲にかかわらず）に興味を持ってもらいたいです。