Home today on account of the East Coast Blizzard of '10. After cleaning the driveway and well, not having to go to work, here's time for a small offering from the baton of William Steinberg. Aptly titled "Curtain Calls!" this lp features works that would either open a concert program or serve as appropriate encores.
One piece I'd like to mention from this collection is Saint Saens' French Military March from his Suite Algiers. This is a delightful little number, hardly heard today and I have fond memories of playing it in college band, in an arrangement by Dr Mark Hindsley, former director of bands at the University of Illinois. This march is Saint Saens at his best, captivating, invigorating and buoyantly optimistic. In addition, a wonderful rendition of Dvorak's Scherzo Capriccioso awaits the listeneer, not to mention a couple of Strauss polkas brilliantly rendered.
William Steinberg rarely put out a clunker and here is yet another winner. His success was probably due in part to careful and meticulous preparation. My only wish is that he got better overall sound though Pittsburgh never had consistent luck with sound engineering and this frustration goes back to the 40's! This compilation dates from the early 60's and is in decent enough stereo sound.
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