Notes and Editorial Reviews
BERNSTEIN
Fanfare for the Inauguration of John F. Kennedy. Candide:
Overture; Suite.
On the Waterfront:
Suite.
On the Town:
Three Dance Episodes.
Divertimento
•
Scott Weiss, cond; University of South Carolina Wind Ens
•
NAXOS 8.573056 (63:22)
There is really no need for a long-winded, elaborate review here. Your enjoyment of
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this disc will depend on your ability to accept these well-known works in transcriptions for wind band rather than the orchestral originals. I had no such issues. This disc contains well-crafted transcriptions of some of Leonard Bernstein’s most beloved works in convincing performances by a very accomplished university-level wind ensemble. Much of the credit must go to the arrangers—Bernstein’s close friend Sid Ramin (
Fanfare
), Clare Grundman (the two
Candide
transcriptions and
Divertimento
), Jay Bocook (
On the Waterfront
), and Marice Stith (
On the Town
). The playing by the University of South Carolina Wind Ensemble is spirited, expressive, and energetic throughout and the interpretations, such as they are, by conductor Scott Weiss hold up favorably with comparable Bernstein-conducted performances.
One might quibble over the inclusion of both the
Candide Overture
and the
Candide Suite,
as the two works share much of the same material (as well as the same arranger), or of the omission of other great band transcriptions of Bernstein—Michael Sweeney’s brilliantly adapted and arranged
Suite from “Mass”
comes immediately to mind—but overall there is little to criticize. Do these performances displace their orchestral counterparts? Of course not, nor were they meant to. But in their own right, they constitute a most enjoyable program.
FANFARE: Merlin Patterson
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Works on This Recording
1.
On the Waterfront: Symphonic Suite by Leonard Bernstein
Conductor:
Scott Weiss
Orchestra/Ensemble:
University Of South Carolina Wind Ensemble
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1955; USA
2.
On the Town: Three Dance episodes by Leonard Bernstein
Conductor:
Scott Weiss
Orchestra/Ensemble:
University Of South Carolina Wind Ensemble
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1944; USA
3.
Fanfare for JFK by Leonard Bernstein
Conductor:
Scott Weiss
Orchestra/Ensemble:
University Of South Carolina Wind Ensemble
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1961; USA
4.
Divertimento for Orchestra by Leonard Bernstein
Conductor:
Scott Weiss
Orchestra/Ensemble:
University Of South Carolina Wind Ensemble
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1980; USA
5.
Candide: Suite by Leonard Bernstein
Conductor:
Scott Weiss
Orchestra/Ensemble:
University Of South Carolina Wind Ensemble
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1956; USA
6.
Candide: Overture by Leonard Bernstein
Conductor:
Scott Weiss
Orchestra/Ensemble:
University Of South Carolina Wind Ensemble
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1956; USA
Sound Samples
Fanfare No. 1 for the Inauguration of John F. Kennedy (arr. S. Ramin for wind ensemble)
Candide: Overture (arr. C. Grundman for wind ensemble)
On the Waterfront Suite (arr. J. Bocook for wind ensemble): Andante (with dignity) - Presto barbaro -
On the Waterfront Suite (arr. J. Bocook for wind ensemble): Adagio - Allegro molto agitato - Alla breve (Poco piu mosso) - Presto -
On the Waterfront Suite (arr. J. Bocook for wind ensemble): Andante largamente - More flowing - Still more flowing - Poco meno mosso - Lento -
On the Waterfront Suite (arr. J. Bocook for wind ensemble): Moving forward, with warmth - Largamente - A tempo - Calmato - Andante come prima - Sempre avanti, with intensity - Ancora piu mosso -
On the Waterfront Suite (arr. J. Bocook for wind ensemble): Allegro non troppo, molto marcato - Poco piu sostenuto - Moving forward - Meno mosso -
On the Waterfront Suite (arr. J. Bocook for wind ensemble): A tempo
On the Town: 3 Dance episodes (arr. M. Stith for wind ensemble): No. 1. The Great Lover: Allegro pesante
On the Town: 3 Dance episodes (arr. M. Stith for wind ensemble): No. 2. Lonely Town: Pas de Deux: Andante sostenuto
On the Town: 3 Dance episodes (arr. M. Stith for wind ensemble): No. 3. Times Square 1944: Allegro
Divertimento (arr. C. Grundman): I. Sennets and Tuckets: Allegro non troppo, ma con brio
Divertimento (arr. C. Grundman): II. Waltz: Allegretto, con grazia
Divertimento (arr. C. Grundman): III. Mazurka: Mesto [molto moderato]
Divertimento (arr. C. Grundman): IV. Samba: Allegro giusto
Divertimento (arr. C. Grundman): V. Turkey Trot: Allegretto, ben misurato
Divertimento (arr. C. Grundman): VI. Sphinxes: Adagio lugubre
Divertimento (arr. C. Grundman): VII: Blues: Slow blues tempo
Divertimento (arr. C. Grundman): VIII: In memoriam: March, "The BSO Forever": Andante
Candide Suite (arr. C. Grundman for wind band): I. The Best of All Possible Worlds
Candide Suite (arr. C. Grundman for wind band): II. Westphalia Chorale and Battle Scene
Candide Suite (arr. C. Grundman for wind band): III. Auto-da-fe
Candide Suite (arr. C. Grundman for wind band): IV. Glitter and Be Gay
Candide Suite (arr. C. Grundman for wind band): V. Make Our Garden Grow
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 1 Customer Review )
Bernstein Wind Band Classics. April 19, 2013
By Frances Vandervoort See All My Reviews
"I love band music, and love Bernstein -- a perfect match! Fran Vandervoort"
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