This fun collection could only come from Hess. Firstly--the orchestra is his own creation. Then there is the superbly "cricket" Britishness about his style that infuses most of the pieces. One track that sends him farther afield deserves immediate mention--"Global Variations". Musically this spins the planet faster than Fogg or Palin (eight minutes), taking in the rich sounds of France, Spain, South Africa, Egypt, Russia, India, China, Australia and South and North America. Of course it is bracketed by journey's start and end in Blighty beneath the chimes of Big Ben! The albums title track is a premiere recording that explores the ensemble's capabilities, ranging from dark moods to lightning bursts of cheer. Other journeys taken include a trip "To the Stars!" with an enthusiastic school choir, the take off of "Stephenson's Rocket" (a piece that comes off as an English superhero's anthem), and a county crossing browse through local melody in "Thames Journey". There's also a suitably airy flight taken complete with spirals updiddly up and back down again for "Scramble!" And each of his famous "TV Detectives" (Dangerfield, Campion, Wycliffe, Maigret and Hetty Wainthrop) get a moment in the sun too. The recording has the feel of a concert hall setting, and makes for a most entertaining stationary tour of Hess' wind-blown world. --Paul Tonks
5つ星のうち5.0superlative music, fantastic band playing it
2013年6月25日にアメリカ合衆国でレビュー済み
Amazonで購入
I am new to Nigel Hess. And what a discovery this disc is! He is absolutely one of the best composers of symphonic band music ever. This is REAL music, not the fluff that passes today as band music (so much of it is either dreary and dreadful with flat, limp flutes; or noisy, non-musical noise; or march/militaristic bombast). No, this is orchestral in nature, full of color and nuance, and full, orchestral sounds from winds! It is extremely creative and imaginitive music. It is played here by a fantastic concert band, replete with a full clarinet choir compliment (contra alto and contra bass included). Only the principal trumpet, with the very prominent, wide vibrato distracts (and it is really pretty awful). But fortunately that trumpeter has minimal solo opportunities to wobble through and therefore it's easy to ignore. This is an absolutely delightful, engaging, entertaining and thought-provoking concert. And, it is superbly recorded. Very Very Very highly recommended to all lovers of orchestral music, in addition to band affictionados.
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