The tunes included in these Overtures almost invariably include "Yankee Doodle" and a large helping of Scottish and Irish tunes, presumably appealing especially to those coming from those countries. Other tunes used include the "Marseillaise", William Shield's "The Ploughboy", "Oh dear, what can the matter be", and, most surprising of all, the opening tutti from Mozart's Piano Concerto No 20 in D minor. The results are clearly of considerable historical interest even if musically to describe them even as second rate might seem an exaggeration of their qualities. However unless you insist on nothing but the best, as did a relation of mine whose entire reading of fiction consisted of "Ulysses" and "War and Peace", there is much to enjoy here. This is due more than a little to the sprightly performances and clear recording but I think is primarily due to the very appealing self-confidence and ingenuous swagger of the music itself. Despite the political messages that their music is apparently intended to send, the three composers represented here were all British in origin - Reinagle from Scotland and Carr and Hewitt from England. These Overtures have much in common with the music of such composers as Michael Kelly, Charles Dibdin and Steven Storace. Hewitt is best known for a wonderfully naÃ¯ve Sonata describing the Battle of Trenton, and the works by him on this disc are little more advanced musically. However like all the rest they have charm and curiosity value in abundance. Maybe it is overstating the case to describe them as "American Classics" but this is certainly a disc that I find almost always generates a contented smile in this listener at least.

Tracklist:

Medley Overture In D Minor-Major (Orchestration Reconstructed By B. Van Boer)
Federal Overture (Orchestration Reconstructed By B. Van Boer)
New Medley Overture In C Major (Orchestration Reconstructed By B. Van Boer)
New Federal Overture (Orchestration Reconstructed By B. Van Boer)
Miscellaneous Overture In D Major (Orchestration Reconstructed By B. Van Boer): I. Allegro
Miscellaneous Overture In D Major (Orchestration Reconstructed By B. Van Boer): Ii. Andante - Allegro - Presto
Occasional Overture In D Major (Orchestration Reconstructed By B. Van Boer): I. Moderato
Occasional Overture In D Major (Orchestration Reconstructed By B. Van Boer): Ii. Andante - Allegro
Overture In G Major (Orchestration Reconstructed By B. Van Boer): I. Allegro di Molto
Overture In G Major (Orchestration Reconstructed By B. Van Boer): Ii. Allegro
This Christmas Time
Bohemian Grove
Come Out From Within
Unmovable Mover
Feel Alive
Lonely Ship
Keep On Drivin
Once In A Lifetime

UPC: 636943965429
Label: Naxos American
Release Date: 3.29.11
Format: CD

Ben Band Reel - Overtures (CD)