Inaugural Edition, no. 1: Wanna hear in full the marches we heard in part during today's (pitch-perfect, I thought) inauguration?

Here, as I recall, is pretty much what we heard:
(1)

Concert Arts Symphonic Band, Felix Slatkin, cond. Capitol, recorded 1958
(2)

Morton Gould and His Symphonic Band. RCA, recorded October 1956
[Okay, I backed No. 2 up a bit to hear the lead-in, then let it run to the end.]

by Ken

What a difference two weeks makes! To give credit where it's due, while it's not an eventuality that any sane, decent person would have wished, did you notice how the national conversation changed on January 6 in the aftermath of the SwampMonster's failed coup?

I confess I had no little trepidation approaching the inauguration with its horrifying setting of security-first armed fortification. In the event, however, I could scarcely believe how well-manged it was, given the circumstances. Which was the whole point: The planners and executors took full and accurate account of those circumstances.


FOR NOW, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE WORTH SHARING
THE WHOLE OF THESE TWO WONDERFUL MARCHES . . .

Sunday Classics tribute: Apple pays homage to the Captain

We have here, at 0:12, one of the world's great march tunes --

Eastman Wind Ensemble, Donald Hunsberger, cond. KEM-Disc, recorded c1981

by Ken

In the above audio clip I've left in some lead-in, so we can hear the pulse-quickening build-up to the Big Tune, except that when it comes, it comes -- devilishly, given that build-up -- in hushed form! Then at 0:27, when the tune gets its only repetition, it's heard in full voice, after which, all too quickly, it's gone! Leaving us wanting more, no? (We're going to hear one conductor who came up with a solution of sorts to this problem.)


IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT OUR MARCH IS, AND
WHY WE'RE HEARING IT TODAY, CLICK THROUGH