March hares
Edward Johnson writes… As is traditional in the Column when the 1st of the month comes along, some suitable music is played. Tchaikovsky is always at the forefront, with the twelve months in his “Seasons” providing the opening items.
First, here is his “March” from “The Seasons” in its original form for solo piano, played by Yunchan Lim …
Here it’s performed by soloist/arranger Georgii Cherkin with his own orchestral accompaniment played by the Classic FM MTel Orchestra, conductor Grigor Palikarov …
In his orchestral version, David Matthews gives the piano’s melody line to a solo violin, here played by the concert-master of the Norddeutsche Rundfunk Orchestra, conductor Carl Davis …
Still with Tchaikovsky and still with March, here it is in ceremonial form, being the Festival Coronation March written for Tsar Alexander III in 1883. The Tonhalle-Orchester Zurich is conducted by Paavo Jarvi …
YouTube is awash with some super Marches, so here are three of my favourites. First, Vaughan William’s “Sea Songs” Quick March, splendidly played by the Bournemouth Sinfonietta, conductor George Hurst …
Next, Paul Paray and the Detroit Symphony in Mercury’s spectacular ‘Living Presence’ recording of Berlioz’s “Trojan March” …
Lastly, Stokowski at the age of 93 conducting the hand-picked National Philharmonic recording orchestra in his own orchestration of Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” … Listen out for the sleigh bells and the upward glissandos on a xylophone! …
Edward Johnson
Not quite the last because now comes Colin’s own selection of assorted Marches! …
Okay, thanks Ed, I wasn’t anticipating extras from me, and with not many hours of Feb remaining – so brain now in overdrive…
Pomp & Circ No.4 (with a much better Trio tune than in No.1!!!); London Phil/Sir Adrian (note the timpani at 2:47).
Vienna Phil.
USSR Ministry of Defence Band/Nikolai Petrovich Sergeev.
Sousa…
United States Marine Band.
Saint Louis SO/Leonard Slatkin. RCA (posted by Sony Classical).
Also from that release, Gounod’s music associated with Alfred Hitchcock…
Percy Grainger. London Phil.
LPO. From the above Lyrita release; vinyl this time.
Done. March meltdown avoided!
Postscript: Edward, I have added your injury-time suggestion – Steiner/Serebrier – here…
… a good choice as it was a favourite of my father’s, his centenary just a few days ago…
… and which includes a couple of Marches.