Scott Joplin Music

As its Norwegian title proclaims, this recording is the latest to harp on the well-worn theme of the viola's irredeemably melancholic character. Edvard Munch's painting of that name adorns the cover and the informative liner notes, written by Morten Carlsen, are prefaced by relevant poems in the appropriate language by Vinje, Goethe and Byron. Seventy-two minutes later I felt like retorting with Keats that 'shade to shade will come too drowsily / and drown the wakeful anguish of the soul'!

With that off my chest, I can happily report that Carlsen, who has held leading orchestral positions in Bonn, Stuttgart and Oslo and teaches at the Norwegian Academy of Music, is an excellent player with bags of interpretative ideas and the wherewithal to realise them. He plays with a consistently beautiful tone and an eloquent expressivity, exhibiting an unusually wide palette of tone colours and vibrato. Britten's Lachrymae, in a well-structured performance, is preceded by the song by Dowland upon which it is based, an illuminating coupling that should be done more often. Later on, the well-known Brahms songs are preceded by the minute-long canon for voice and viola he wrote for the Joachims. The songs themselves are played more flowingly than usual and are all the better for it. A searing performance of Kodály's Adagio opens the CD, and the remaining items are given idiomatic interpretations, well caught by the excellent recording.

Carlos María Solare, The Strad Magazine, February 2002

In the wake of considerable ersatz patriotism following 9/11, I have become sensitive to what I consider to be acts of true patriotism. Recording these very American songs, with a tremendous commitment to showing them in their most pristine and revealing light, is one of those, perhaps small, acts of patriotism that are profound in their ability to show the best of the United States of America. I used the word "commitment" in the above sentence because that is the underlying theme of this entire venture. Ms. Danton sings with amazing clarity of voice and tremendous enthusiasm for the material. Each of these songs is a minor masterpiece, as presented, and the whole album is captivating and deeply compelling. These songs stay with you. I find myself humming the melodies for days. They are, indeed, songs many of us grew up with or have heard for years. So there you have it: 5 stars for the material, 5 stars for the performances and 5 stars for the recording quality.

This CD was great, just what I needed.
It seems no matter what music I need, I think it is probably impossible for Amazon to have it, they always do have what I need.

Thank you,

Markie V. Ramirez

Listening to the latest CD from Altissimo! brought pleasure to my ears. Whether you like listening to ballads, waltzes, Hungarian Dances, or marches you will find something on this CD that you will love to listen to. This wonderful compilation presents the listener with music favored by 23 of our United States Presidents, and includes bonus tracks of excerpts from four inaugural speeches.

Despite the fact that most of our presidents are not worth remembering in music; this is none the less an interesting CD. Altissimo! has done its usualy bit of culling through the Marine Band library to dig out enough appropriate pieces to put together on one CD. No original recordings here! We should be glad that its a full length selection of over 60 mins for a change, instead of the old 45 min. cheats in the past! Still, the different sound qualities of the various tracks is distracting at times.

Most labels when they combine different recordings together usually list the recording date and who conducted the band at that time. Altissimo! has not graduated to that level of professionalism in their products yet. Hence we just get The US Marine Band, not when it was recorded and who might be directing it!

Fortunately, the quality of the Marine Band is so good that it does not matter what Altissimo! does in putting together a CD. That said, the music provides an interesting chronology of ceremonial music played at the White House over the years. The linear notes are an improvment over the past, when little or nothing was provided. All and all, not bad from what we have come to expect from Altissimo!

Hail to the Chief is the latest of about twenty-seven CDs offered by "Altissimo!", which offer recordings of the USA's fine military service musical organizations. Until Altissimo!, these recording were very rare and just about impossible to find. Thanks to Altissimo! every one can appreciate and enjoy the fine music of these top-notch musical organizations.
The program in Hail to the Chief is a tribute to our presidents. It is a varied program that shows the depth of the music played by one of America's oldest, established in 1798, and finest musical organizations, the United States Marine Band. This CD contains twenty-one marches and other classical numbers from Sousa to Strauss to Tchaikovsky. Some of the music in the CD is rare and for this reason alone of interest to music history buffs. One of these selections is a recording of the "Star-Spangled Banner" using the earliest published arrangement (1814) of the anthem. Another is the "Solemn March" played at Lincoln's funeral. Also included a rarely recorded Sousa piece, "Easter Monday on the White House Lawn." There is also an historic 1906 recording of Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag."
The recording also contains excerpts from speeches made by five of our presidents four of which were from inaugural addresses. The program notes explain the musical selections and how each was of interest to the various presidents.
The only negative, and it is not with the CD itself, is that the program notes do not include recording dates, where recorded and who the conductor of the band was. I highly recommend this CD to all interested in the America's patriotic music as well as the serious collector of military music and those interested in the musical roots of our country.
George Barkman

Hail to the Chief is unique, educational and without question, absolutely wonderful!

I was initially puzzled by the selections but as I began to listen and read the short narrative that is offered I started to realize I was being taken on a very different trip through American history. Consequently, the impact of the program had a totally unexpected and fascinating effect.

I was not just mesmerized by the sounds I heard, the arrangements which were presented or the memorable utterances of some of our Chief Executives. I was completely entranced by the realization that these men and others who had held the office of President of the United States, had listened and reacted to the same music the CD offers. It gave me an insight into their humanity that text books cannot provide.

As an example, I hadn't known the original sheet music for the "Star Spangled Banner" was arranged differently from the way we listen to it today --- who know how many Americans heard it played that way?

I had never actually thought about the fact that Washington might have actually heard "Hail Columbia" played, just as I was hearing it.

I was a bit startled that Chester Arthur commanded Sousa to compose what became the "Presidential Polonaise" and tried to imagine how much pressure he, (Sousa), must have felt in doing the President's bidding. (By the way, after listening to that unquestionably superb composition of the "March King", I must admit despite its delightful sound, I'm very pleased that we no longer use that as the official march of the President and we have returned to "Hail to the Chief".)

I vividly recall watching the casket of President Kennedy being carried over the steps of the Capitol and listening to "The Navy Hymn" and the music recaptured that moment as if it was yesterday.

It wasn't solely the music I savored but it was also the historical images they engendered. Indeed, music affects all "ages"!

The CD is a professional product that will hopefully be enjoyed by thousands for many years to come.

I saw this CD set in a store and told my friend I would like to have it for my birthday. She bought it on the spot for me. I am so glad she did. I really wasn't a classical music fan, but I am now. I listen to this CD set while I am driving home from my job as a broadcaster. It does help you to relax. I even wrap Christmas presents to the music. I would also like to make the suggestion of finding an open field where there are lighting bugs and play this CD while watching the lighting bugs. It is better than a fireworks show. If you are into classical music this is a CD that you must have.