TINKERING WITH PERFECTION
Jack Kopstein

I recently purchased a library of classical sheet music, mostly of the works by Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms. I have studied very carefully most of the so- called masters both the scores and the recordings and it is almost uncanny how religiously orchestras world wide retain the works just as they written by composers, centuries ago. There are however variances in the speed of the music.

The eminent George Szell one of America’s greatest conductors asserted that the tempi of music had become much faster as the jet era developed worldwide. Szell’s artistry, as amply demonstrated by his recorded legacy, demonstrates his full insight into understanding of the great classic and romantic composers -- Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, and Dvorák. He completely understood the music and was able to interpret exactly what the composer intended.

In the view of most band music purists, the music of Sousa is flawless and therefore why would it be necessary to tinker with this perfection. There are actually new arrangements of Sousa marches that have been issued along with so called edited   and simplified versions. Once the copyright on the music ran out, many major publishing houses began to rewrite the music in a modern format even to the extent of changing the instrumentation. and the chords.

It is granted that nearly all the music itself was printed on March cards, so it could played on parade. However when the music was published for concert purposes, suddenly the structure and originality disappeared. Similarly the same kind of change for change sake filtered into the recorded field. In this vein the marches and music of John Philip Sousa has been with few exceptions become really flawed. Tradition it seems goes out the window, when the music is not clearly understood.

The recorded music of Sousa is extensive, there are literally hundreds of military and concert band records dating back to the turn of the last century, one of which features Sousa himself speaking and playing his marches. Orchestras from around the world have joined in with special orchestrations of his music. With the existence of all the recorded Sousa music it is quite easy to tell how the interpretation by the music directors differ and how often changes are introduced into the music.

The United States Marine band are however unique, the heritage of Sousa lives on, in their treatment of the Sousa march. We can hear the mood and the preservation of every nuance in their recordings. The music is exactly as he wrote it. The very essence of the man and his music is reproduced with total accuracy. Every note, every chord, every marking, and with the exception of the French Horns parts, the instrumentation is retained.

Altissimo Records sell and promote all of the American Service bands that also maintain the originality of the Sousa music. Don’t tinker with perfection-get the best that money can buy.

This may not be news but it is reality. My very best holiday wishes to all our friends worldwide. May all service people serving the cause of democracy have a peaceful and safe holiday season.