Rockville, MD - The Boston Pops can do no wrong. This CD presents, in only 12 tracks, a vast array of American patriotic music that easily calls up excitement, reverence, and pride. My only qualm with the sung tunes is that, as with most choruses backed by a large instrumental ensemble, the words become unintelligible when the orchestra grows loud. Otherwise, the singing is very enjoyable.
The CD opens with The Star-Spangled Banner, appropriately enough, then moves on to Liberty Fanfare, by one of America's most prominent composers, John Williams. Doodletown Fifers (with real fifes!) paints a musical picture of why we celebrate our freedom, as tunes of the civil war are heard.
Invoking 60s nostalgia, Paul Simon's America (the orchestral arrangement) may bring a tear to those old enough to remember that time. One of the featured pieces on the CD is With Voices Raised, which combines the sung and the spoken word, both imparting historical, thought-provoking quotes on the ages-old fight for equality. Yet another upbeat blast from the nation's past occurs when Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy hits your ears. This rousing version of the Andrew Sisters' hit, featuring a wailing trumpet solo, will undoubtedly increase your heartbeat and get your feet tapping.
America the Beautiful is sung with the utmost feeling by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and soloist Denyce Graves. However, her warbling vibrato is somewhat distracting, invoking images of a Viennese opera singer taking cues from Mozart. If it's a purely classical piece you're searching for, the Pops pulls out all the stops for Tchaikovsky's well-known 1812 Overture.
Not only do they perform with great precision and gusto, but one can not help thrill at the cannons' blasts, brilliantly symbolizing the fireworks that we Americans are so fond of.
And what patriotic CD would be complete without at least a couple of marches? E. E. Bagley's National Emblem and J. P. Sousa's The Stars and Stripes Forever (with its perfect piccolo solo)
provide the expected, yet still exciting parade-like feeling.
The CD cover design catches your attention with action photos, creating the light-hearted atmosphere for your eye that the music creates for your ear. Some tunes were not touched on in this review, but they are played just as flawlessly as those mentioned, and even if you don't think you'll like every musical style represented in this CD, buy it anyway. There's a reason that this group is world-renowned.