Bolero & Other Blockbusters

Read About This Recording

No one ever accused the Canadian Brass, one of the classical music industry’s best loved and most enduring ensembles, of being anything less than aware of what a hit tune is and on this collection the Brass have brought together some of their favorite all-time hits. Every one of the 27 tracks on this fun CD is a tune you can sing along with and that starts right at the beginning with the famous theme to the movie 2001 A Space Odyssey, aka Strauss’ "Also Sprach Zarathustra."

Famous and popular melodies by Vivaldi, Handel, Bach, Haydn and Beethoven are all beautifully adapted and executed by the talented members of the Canadian Brass. There’s a beautiful reading of Mouret’s Rondeau, which may be better known as the theme to Masterpiece Theater. You’ll have trouble catching your breath during the Brass’ exciting 90 second version of Chopin’s "Minute Waltz" and you’ll definitely want to sing along with their rendition of the "Toreador Song" from Bizet’s Carmen.

Every track on this disc is a true blockbuster and the variety of styles and sounds is tremendous as is the Canadian Brass’ rich, well-honed sound. You’ll have your favorite tracks, but for the record mine is the Overture to Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore. What’s yours? Let us know!

—Jacob Anthony

Quotes

"The world's leading brass ensemble." —Washington Post

Contents

Strauss: 2001 Theme; Vivaldi: Allegro from Concerto for Two Trumpets; Handel: Sarabande; Music for the Royal Fireworks; Largo (Xerxes); Ravel: Bolero; Beethoven: Turkish March (Ruins of Athens); Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring; Mouret: Rondeau; Haydn: Gloria (Lord Nelson Mass); Chopin: Minute Waltz; Bizet: Toreador Song; Mozart: Turkish Rondo; Nicolai/Cornelius: Cor Royale; Ballet Excerpts: Tchaikovsky: Overture (Sleeping Beauty); Waltz of the Flowers (The Nutcracker); Ponchielli: Dance of the Hours (La Gioconda); Linke: The Glow-Worm; Grieg: In the Hall of the Mountain King (Peer Gynt); Offenbach: Can-Can (Gaite Parisienne;) Parry: Jerusalem; Traditional: La Virgen de la Macarena; Verdi: Grand March from Aida; Collegium Musicum: Gaudeamus Igitur; Gilbert & Sullivan: Overture to H.M.S. Pinafore; Forsythe: Golyardes' Grounde; Lutkin: Farewell Anthem.

Canadian Brass.