Barnes - was Toronto Wind Orchestra
Lora Crighton
> tho...@antispam.ham wrote:
>
>
> >>>> You've mentioned them often - I have to get a CD or two. What do you
> >>>> think would be a good one to start with?
>
> >>> So many are good. The Fennell recording of Reed's Armenian Dances is
> >>> recommended. But if you can find it, the Japan Self Defense Ground Forces
> >>> Band recently released a CD withBarnes' Fifth Symphony ("Phoenix"),
> >>> which has raised the bar on composing for wind instrumentation. An
> >>> excellent performance (only a couple very minor glitches), and an
> >>> excellent recording. Or the U.S. Air Force Band CD titled "Excursions",
> >>> withBarnes' Third Symphony (sometimes subtitled "Tragic"). Another
> >>> masterpiece. A stunning performance by the Air Force Band (maybe one
> >>> wrong note), and another superb recording technically. Their performance
> >>> of Sparke's "Dance Movements" is also dazzling.
>
> >> Thanks. I used to have the Air Force recording, but it suffered a
> >>tragic accident:-(
>
> > Really? As they say on late night television, "Not Available in Stores".
>
> I was afraid of that - so I won't be able to replace it :-(
>
I went to St John's Music to pick up a score I'd ordered, and of
course other stuff caught my eye, and I bought more than I'd
intended. One of my new items is a two-CD set of music by James
Barnes - it was just called "Symphonies", and didn't name the
performers on the cover, but I took a chance because after the loss of
Excursions, I don't have any of his music. Turns out to include
performances by several different groups, and the recording of the
Third Symphony is the one by the US Air Force Band that I liked so
much :-)
Did Barnes write a First Symphony? The CD's have Second, Third,
Fourth, and Fifth Symphonies, and a piece called "Duo Concertante".
The Fifth Symphony is performed by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Central Band. I'll get to the second CD eventually, but I keep
hitting replay on the Third Symphony - I so happy to find it again
when I didn't expect to be able to replace it. Now if only I could
find another recording of "Dance Movements", which was the other
piece from Excursions that I loved!
Jerry
Lora Crighton
>
> See:
> <http://tinyurl.com/r49auw>
>
Thanks!!
Brendan R. Wehrung
Anybody seen a full CD of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band?
I have an old LP of theirs, and 25 years ago they were pretty good.
Brendan
Lora Crighton
wrote:
>
> Anybody seen a full CD of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band?
> I have an old LP of theirs, and 25 years ago they were pretty good.
>
Their recording of the Fifth Symphony sounded pretty good. Maybe I'll
look up more by them - Tholen, what was the title, and what else was
on their CD that you mentioned before?
tho...@antispam.ham
> I went to St John's Music to pick up a score I'd ordered, and of
> course other stuff caught my eye, and I bought more than I'd
> intended. One of my new items is a two-CD set of music by James
> Barnes - it was just called "Symphonies", and didn't name the
> performers on the cover, but I took a chance because after the loss of
> Excursions, I don't have any of his music. Turns out to include
> performances by several different groups, and the recording of the
> Third Symphony is the one by the US Air Force Band that I liked so
> much :-)
I wonder which label got permission to release the Air Force band
performance?
> Did Barnes write a First Symphony?
It stands to reason. In case you're considering the unreasonable,
then yes, he did, though it wasn't titled "First Symphony", perhaps
because that might have implied that a second symphony would be written,
which did turn out to be the case, but when you're a student with an
uncertain future as a composer, it might also have been considered
presumptuous. So the title was simply "Symphony, Op. 35", and it won
the Ostwald Award in 1978:
http://www.lib.umd.edu/PAL/SCPA/ABA/Ostwald/barnes.html
You can hear the first 54 seconds of the Symphony, though the 64 kbps
MP3 doesn't do justice to the original recording, which I made.
He has also written a Sixth Symphony, though I'm unaware of any
commercial recordings of it. It was written for the Lake Braddock
Symphonic Band.
> The CD's have Second, Third,
> Fourth, and Fifth Symphonies, and a piece called "Duo Concertante".
> The Fifth Symphony is performed by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
> Central Band.
I have their recording for the Fontec label, paired with Kobapyashi's
"Passacaglia". An excellent performance, though I suspect the start
and end of the fourth movement are supposed to be with antiphonal
trumpets, but the recording has an "in-your-face" perspective, which
I find to be a bit jarring. Again, I wonder which label got permission
to reproduce the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band
performance?
> I'll get to the second CD eventually, but I keep
> hitting replay on the Third Symphony - I so happy to find it again
> when I didn't expect to be able to replace it.
The Third is superb, but in my opinion, the Fifth surpasses it. The
second movement of the Fifth is a masterpiece.
> Now if only I could
> find another recording of "Dance Movements", which was the other
> piece from Excursions that I loved!
Fortunately, Dance Movements is easier to find than the Barnes Symphonies,
though I haven't found one that tops the Air Force Band's performance. My
second favorite is by the Toke Civic Wind Orchestra. Not quite as clean
technically as the Air Force Band's performance, but there's a climax in
the third movement (for the brass) in which the Toke Civic outdoes the
Air Force in terms of the solidity of the bottom end. You need a sound
system with superb bass response to fully appreciate the recording.
tho...@antispam.ham
> Anybody seen a full CD of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
> Central Band?
Yes.
> I have an old LP of theirs, and 25 years ago they were pretty good.
They're still pretty good.
tho...@antispam.ham
> Brendan R. Wehrung wrote:
>> Anybody seen a full CD of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
>> Central Band?
>> I have an old LP of theirs, and 25 years ago they were pretty good.
> Their recording of the Fifth Symphony sounded pretty good.
Only "pretty good"?
> Maybe I'll
> look up more by them - Tholen, what was the title, and what else was
> on their CD that you mentioned before?
Ken-ichiro Kobayashi's "Passacaglia".
They also have a CD of Russian music on the Universal label (UCCS-1034):
Shostakovich, Festive Overture
Kabalevsky, The Comedians
Rimsky-Korsakov, Russian Easter Festival Overture
Musorgsky, A Night on the Bare Mountain
Borodin, Polovetsian Dances from Prince Igor
Tchaikovsky, March Slave
Rimsky-Korsakov, Dance of the Tumblers from the Snow Maiden
Lora Crighton
> Lora Crighton writes:
>
>> I went to St John's Music to pick up a score I'd ordered, and of
>> course other stuff caught my eye, and I bought more than I'd
>> intended. One of my new items is a two-CD set of music by James
>> Barnes - it was just called "Symphonies", and didn't name the
>> performers on the cover, but I took a chance because after the loss of
>> Excursions, I don't have any of his music. Turns out to include
>> performances by several different groups, and the recording of the
>> Third Symphony is the one by the US Air Force Band that I liked so
>> much :-)
>
> I wonder which label got permission to release the Air Force band
> performance?
>
Southern Music Company - SMCDBAR2
http://www.smcpublications.com/recordings.htm
>> Did Barnes write a First Symphony?
>
> It stands to reason. In case you're considering the unreasonable,
> then yes, he did, though it wasn't titled "First Symphony", perhaps
> because that might have implied that a second symphony would be written,
> which did turn out to be the case, but when you're a student with an
> uncertain future as a composer, it might also have been considered
> presumptuous. So the title was simply "Symphony, Op. 35", and it won
> the Ostwald Award in 1978:
>
> http://www.lib.umd.edu/PAL/SCPA/ABA/Ostwald/barnes.html
>
> You can hear the first 54 seconds of the Symphony, though the 64 kbps
> MP3 doesn't do justice to the original recording, which I made.
>
I'd love to hear the whole thing - would you be willing to share your
recording?
> He has also written a Sixth Symphony, though I'm unaware of any
> commercial recordings of it. It was written for the Lake Braddock
> Symphonic Band.
>
>> The CD's have Second, Third,
>> Fourth, and Fifth Symphonies, and a piece called "Duo Concertante".
>> The Fifth Symphony is performed by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
>> Central Band.
>
> I have their recording for the Fontec label, paired with Kobapyashi's
> "Passacaglia". An excellent performance, though I suspect the start
> and end of the fourth movement are supposed to be with antiphonal
> trumpets, but the recording has an "in-your-face" perspective, which
> I find to be a bit jarring.
From the CD liner notes: "Fantastic interludes (using the offstage
trumpets and swirling woodwinds) conjure visions of violent death,
unprecedented destruction and the firebombs and atomic horrors which
ultimately ended World War II. ... The final movement, 'Jubilation', is
a celebratory piece, intended to recognize Japan's rejuvenation of
spirit and it rebirth as a great democratic nation. The offstage
trumpets return in exultation during the extensive fanfare that befins
the movement."
You're right - the trumpets do sound a bit "in-your-face" for something
that is supposed to be offstage.
> Again, I wonder which label got permission
> to reproduce the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band
> performance?
>
See above.
>> I'll get to the second CD eventually, but I keep
>> hitting replay on the Third Symphony - I so happy to find it again
>> when I didn't expect to be able to replace it.
>
> The Third is superb, but in my opinion, the Fifth surpasses it. The
> second movement of the Fifth is a masterpiece.
>
I don't like it as well as the others - it seems rather large and too
loud. I love both the second and the third, and am definitely going to
find more recordings by Tokyo Kosei.
>> Now if only I could
>> find another recording of "Dance Movements", which was the other
>> piece from Excursions that I loved!
>
> Fortunately, Dance Movements is easier to find than the Barnes Symphonies,
> though I haven't found one that tops the Air Force Band's performance.
I've heard other performances, and I actually have one on CD, but it is
not nearly as good as the Air Force Band's.
> My
> second favorite is by the Toke Civic Wind Orchestra. Not quite as clean
> technically as the Air Force Band's performance, but there's a climax in
> the third movement (for the brass) in which the Toke Civic outdoes the
> Air Force in terms of the solidity of the bottom end. You need a sound
> system with superb bass response to fully appreciate the recording.
>
Can you give me details of the CD it's on?
Thanks!
Lora Crighton
Thanks!
tho...@antispam.ham
>>> I went to St John's Music to pick up a score I'd ordered, and of
>>> course other stuff caught my eye, and I bought more than I'd
>>> intended. One of my new items is a two-CD set of music by James
>>> Barnes - it was just called "Symphonies", and didn't name the
>>> performers on the cover, but I took a chance because after the loss of
>>> Excursions, I don't have any of his music. Turns out to include
>>> performances by several different groups, and the recording of the
>>> Third Symphony is the one by the US Air Force Band that I liked so
>>> much :-)
>> I wonder which label got permission to release the Air Force band
>> performance?
> Southern Music Company - SMCDBAR2
Ah, the publisher for much, if not all, that music. Figures that they
would have something to say about it.
>>> Did Barnes write a First Symphony?
>> It stands to reason. In case you're considering the unreasonable,
>> then yes, he did, though it wasn't titled "First Symphony", perhaps
>> because that might have implied that a second symphony would be written,
>> which did turn out to be the case, but when you're a student with an
>> uncertain future as a composer, it might also have been considered
>> presumptuous. So the title was simply "Symphony, Op. 35", and it won
>> the Ostwald Award in 1978:
>>
>> http://www.lib.umd.edu/PAL/SCPA/ABA/Ostwald/barnes.html
>>
>> You can hear the first 54 seconds of the Symphony, though the 64 kbps
>> MP3 doesn't do justice to the original recording, which I made.
> I'd love to hear the whole thing - would you be willing to share your
> recording?
I'd be uncomfortable allowing it to circulate in the general public
without first requesting permission to do so.
>> He has also written a Sixth Symphony, though I'm unaware of any
>> commercial recordings of it. It was written for the Lake Braddock
>> Symphonic Band.
>>> The CD's have Second, Third,
>>> Fourth, and Fifth Symphonies, and a piece called "Duo Concertante".
>>> The Fifth Symphony is performed by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
>>> Central Band.
>> I have their recording for the Fontec label, paired with Kobapyashi's
>> "Passacaglia". An excellent performance, though I suspect the start
>> and end of the fourth movement are supposed to be with antiphonal
>> trumpets, but the recording has an "in-your-face" perspective, which
>> I find to be a bit jarring.
> From the CD liner notes: "Fantastic interludes (using the offstage
> trumpets and swirling woodwinds) conjure visions of violent death,
> unprecedented destruction and the firebombs and atomic horrors which
> ultimately ended World War II. ... The final movement, 'Jubilation', is
> a celebratory piece, intended to recognize Japan's rejuvenation of
> spirit and it rebirth as a great democratic nation. The offstage
> trumpets return in exultation during the extensive fanfare that befins
> the movement."
Either you can read Japanese, or you likely have liner notes in English.
The recording I have was purchased in Japan, so it comes as no surprise
that the liner notes are in Japanese. The first movement is titled
"Eulogy", and I've often wondered who the eulogy is for. At first I
thought it might have been for a former conductor of the Central Band
who had passed away, but your excerpt above suggests that perhaps it's
for the victims of World War II.
> You're right - the trumpets do sound a bit "in-your-face" for something
> that is supposed to be offstage.
Made me turn down the volume. I don't think the editor did a very good
job of mixing in those extra trumpets.
>> Again, I wonder which label got permission
>> to reproduce the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band
>> performance?
> See above.
>>> I'll get to the second CD eventually, but I keep
>>> hitting replay on the Third Symphony - I so happy to find it again
>>> when I didn't expect to be able to replace it.
>> The Third is superb, but in my opinion, the Fifth surpasses it. The
>> second movement of the Fifth is a masterpiece.
> I don't like it as well as the others - it seems rather large and too
> loud. I love both the second and the third, and am definitely going to
> find more recordings by Tokyo Kosei.
What about the fourth? Is the performance on your two CD set by the Japan
Maritime Self Defense Force Band? The concept behind the symphony is a
good one, but it left me wanting more. It could have easily become a five
movement work, something like Grofe's "Grand Canyon Suite". But the
recording is so heavily compressed that it's very tiring to listen to. I
need to find a different recording.
>>> Now if only I could
>>> find another recording of "Dance Movements", which was the other
>>> piece from Excursions that I loved!
>> Fortunately, Dance Movements is easier to find than the Barnes Symphonies,
>> though I haven't found one that tops the Air Force Band's performance.
> I've heard other performances, and I actually have one on CD, but it is
> not nearly as good as the Air Force Band's.
I haven't encountered any that are as good as the Air Force Band's, but the
North Texas Wind Symphony does a good job with it on Klavier KCD-11084.
Perhaps a little cleaner technically than the Toke Civic, but it lacks that
solid deep bass that elicited such a strong response from me. Ditto for the
Tokyo Kosei on Kosei KOCD-3906. As far as interpretation goes, I might put
North Texas ahead of Tokyo Kosei on this one, and it's much easier to
purchase Klavier recordings.
>> My
>> second favorite is by the Toke Civic Wind Orchestra. Not quite as clean
>> technically as the Air Force Band's performance, but there's a climax in
>> the third movement (for the brass) in which the Toke Civic outdoes the
>> Air Force in terms of the solidity of the bottom end. You need a sound
>> system with superb bass response to fully appreciate the recording.
> Can you give me details of the CD it's on?
It's on the Cafua label, disc number CACG-0044. I bought the CD primarily
to get a recording of "Flight", which at the moment ranks as my favorite
Claude T. Smith composition. As a bonus, the disc includes a performance
of Jack Stamp's "Fanfare for a New Era", which is the first track on the
Air Force Band's "Excursions" disc, so the Toke Civic's recording partially
replaces your lost "Excursions" disc.
> Thanks!
You're welcome.
Lora Crighton
>>>
>>> You can hear the first 54 seconds of the Symphony, though the 64 kbps
>>> MP3 doesn't do justice to the original recording, which I made.
>
>> I'd love to hear the whole thing - would you be willing to share your
>> recording?
>
> I'd be uncomfortable allowing it to circulate in the general public
> without first requesting permission to do so.
>
Of course. I understand.
> Either you can read Japanese, or you likely have liner notes in English.
> The recording I have was purchased in Japan, so it comes as no surprise
> that the liner notes are in Japanese.
Mine has notes in English - I just lent the CD to one of my teachers
this afternoon, but I would be glad to send you a copy of the booklet
when he returns it to me.
>
> What about the fourth? Is the performance on your two CD set by the Japan
> Maritime Self Defense Force Band?
Don't remember, and my iTunes copy for the 2nd CD just says "various
artists" - again, I'll let you know when I get it back from my teacher.
> The concept behind the symphony is a
> good one, but it left me wanting more. It could have easily become a five
> movement work, something like Grofe's "Grand Canyon Suite". But the
> recording is so heavily compressed that it's very tiring to listen to. I
> need to find a different recording.
>
If you find a good one, let me know.
>
> I haven't encountered any that are as good as the Air Force Band's, but the
> North Texas Wind Symphony does a good job with it on Klavier KCD-11084.
Thanks! I'll listen to that next time I'm at the library.
> Perhaps a little cleaner technically than the Toke Civic, but it lacks that
> solid deep bass that elicited such a strong response from me. Ditto for the
> Tokyo Kosei on Kosei KOCD-3906. As far as interpretation goes, I might put
> North Texas ahead of Tokyo Kosei on this one, and it's much easier to
> purchase Klavier recordings.
>
Klavier is part of the Naxos online library, which I have access to
through my school library. I will have to buy CDs of my favourites
before I graduate, but for now it's wonderful to be able to listen to
all of them online.
>> Can you give me details of the CD it's on?
>
> It's on the Cafua label, disc number CACG-0044. I bought the CD primarily
> to get a recording of "Flight", which at the moment ranks as my favorite
> Claude T. Smith composition. As a bonus, the disc includes a performance
> of Jack Stamp's "Fanfare for a New Era", which is the first track on the
> Air Force Band's "Excursions" disc, so the Toke Civic's recording partially
> replaces your lost "Excursions" disc.
>
Another new composer! I don't know any of Claude T Smith's work. Sounds
like an interesting CD - thanks again, Tholen.
Brendan R. Wehrung
Yes, and it was called _____________ on the label ___________ with the
catalog number _______________?
Thanks
Brendan
tho...@antispam.ham
>>> Anybody seen a full CD of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
>>> Central Band?
>> Yes.
>>> I have an old LP of theirs, and 25 years ago they were pretty good.
>> They're still pretty good.
> Yes, and it was called _____________ on the label ___________ with the
> catalog number _______________?
You would already know the answer to that question if you had better
reading comprehension skills, Wehrung.
tho...@antispam.ham
>>>> You can hear the first 54 seconds of the Symphony, though the 64 kbps
>>>> MP3 doesn't do justice to the original recording, which I made.
>>> I'd love to hear the whole thing - would you be willing to share your
>>> recording?
>> I'd be uncomfortable allowing it to circulate in the general public
>> without first requesting permission to do so.
> Of course. I understand.
>> Either you can read Japanese, or you likely have liner notes in English.
>> The recording I have was purchased in Japan, so it comes as no surprise
>> that the liner notes are in Japanese.
> Mine has notes in English - I just lent the CD to one of my teachers
> this afternoon, but I would be glad to send you a copy of the booklet
> when he returns it to me.
Don't violate copyright.
>> What about the fourth? Is the performance on your two CD set by the Japan
>> Maritime Self Defense Force Band?
> Don't remember, and my iTunes copy for the 2nd CD just says "various
> artists" - again, I'll let you know when I get it back from my teacher.
Well, if it sounds heavily compressed, then it's probably the same ensemble.
>> The concept behind the symphony is a
>> good one, but it left me wanting more. It could have easily become a five
>> movement work, something like Grofe's "Grand Canyon Suite". But the
>> recording is so heavily compressed that it's very tiring to listen to. I
>> need to find a different recording.
> If you find a good one, let me know.
Searches on a couple of band music web sites came up empty. I have made
a recommendation to North Texas that they record the entire set of Barnes
symphonies.
>> I haven't encountered any that are as good as the Air Force Band's, but the
>> North Texas Wind Symphony does a good job with it on Klavier KCD-11084.
> Thanks! I'll listen to that next time I'm at the library.
>> Perhaps a little cleaner technically than the Toke Civic, but it lacks that
>> solid deep bass that elicited such a strong response from me. Ditto for the
>> Tokyo Kosei on Kosei KOCD-3906. As far as interpretation goes, I might put
>> North Texas ahead of Tokyo Kosei on this one, and it's much easier to
>> purchase Klavier recordings.
> Klavier is part of the Naxos online library, which I have access to
> through my school library. I will have to buy CDs of my favourites
> before I graduate, but for now it's wonderful to be able to listen to
> all of them online.
>>> Can you give me details of the CD it's on?
>> It's on the Cafua label, disc number CACG-0044. I bought the CD primarily
>> to get a recording of "Flight", which at the moment ranks as my favorite
>> Claude T. Smith composition. As a bonus, the disc includes a performance
>> of Jack Stamp's "Fanfare for a New Era", which is the first track on the
>> Air Force Band's "Excursions" disc, so the Toke Civic's recording partially
>> replaces your lost "Excursions" disc.
> Another new composer! I don't know any of Claude T Smith's work. Sounds
> like an interesting CD - thanks again, Tholen.
There is an entire CD of Claude T. Smith works recorded with his daughter
conducting the Kansas City Wind Symphony as a tribute following his passing.
Emperata
Castlebrooke Overture
God of Our Fathers
Eternal Father, Strong to Save
Three Contrasts for Solo Horn & Wind Ensemble
Dance Prelude
America the Beautiful
Zia, Zia
Danza Sonora
Symphonic Variations on 'In Dulci Jubilo'
I can't find a disc number anywhere on the CD. It only says "Claude T.
Smith Publications". Emperata is probably his best-known work. Hard to
play well for the clarinets because they spend a lot of time in the
throat tones. None of these really compare with Flight.
Brendan R. Wehrung
It's called "They're still pretty good"?
Brendan
Lora Crighton
He gave details in a reply to one of my posts. I haven't had time to
look for it yet, but eventually. Anyway, here are the details again, in
case his reply didn't make it to your server.
Brendan R. Wehrung
Brendan
Lora Crighton
>
> >> The concept behind the symphony is a
> >> good one, but it left me wanting more. It could have easily become a five
> >> movement work, something like Grofe's "Grand Canyon Suite". But the
> >> recording is so heavily compressed that it's very tiring to listen to. I
> >> need to find a different recording.
> > If you find a good one, let me know.
>
> Searches on a couple of band music web sites came up empty. I have made
> a recommendation to North Texas that they record the entire set of Barnes
> symphonies.
>
Have you checked out the "Composer's Collection"? I have several from
the series and plan to get the others. Maybe they could do Barnes - a
set of his symphonies and some of his other work. I liked the
recordings Brendan found - had not heard any of the pieces before, and
they were all interesting.