Brass Attitude - Maynard Ferguson/Big Bop...

Advantages: Great patriotic tracks
Disadvantages: none

...I'm sure many of you out there remember the release of the film Brassed Off in 1996, which reminded many people of the strife of a miner, and sparked in the UK a new interest in brass bands. For those who never saw Brassed Off (with the lovely Ewan McGregor :o) ), it follows the life of the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, made up of members of the Grimethorpe Colliery (that's miners to you and me!). Watch the band (featuring McGregor, Pete Postlethwaite, Tara Fitzgerald) as they try and work their way to the National Brass Band Finals- do they make it? The original film soundtrack was released in 1996, and when listening to it, it's easy to understand why it sold 50,000 copies and got the UK into brass band music! I think there's something quintessentially British about brass bands, and spark a patriotic pride in all of us. Plus... Read review

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Advantages: Some catchy numbers, Hysni Zela's vocals
Disadvantages: Not all wedding music, not enough Hysni Zela, over-produced

...Browsing the CDs in the 'World Music' section of my local independent music store I came across the intriguing "Albanian Wedding: Brass Explosion" by a band called Fanfara Tirana. So delighted was I with the cover picture of a pompom-ed slipper and the back cover shot of the band in their finery that I bought the CD immediately. Reading the cover notes I discovered that the band is something of a novelty because, while brass instruments are not unknown in traditional Albanian music, there has never been the tradition of brass bands such as this. Although the band members are all serious and (very talented) musicians, they decided to form a brass band as a joke to create a tradition that never existed - brass bands travelling from town to town playing traditional music at weddings which is very common in the other Balkan countries... Read review

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Advantages: Perfection in film scoring: works in film and works just as well alone
Disadvantages: Scarcity of album very unfortunate; musically none

...the Idol's Temple". The funny, scherzo-like "The Basket Game" has been a big Williams favorite for a long time now, as is the stand-out cue "The Map Room: Dawn", a cue that combines the Medallion and Ark themes in a grand, four minute progressively developing excitement, beginning softly at first, but culminating with blazing brass and choir in a brilliant display of Williams' sense of drama (being one of my absolute favourite scenes ever). Of equal stature is the fabulous "Desert Chase" where Indy's theme, the nazi motif, and some more of Williams' lightly jumping scherzo music are combined to make one of the most effective and synchronised action sequences ever made for any film. Here Williams really shows his skills at writing highly choreographed action music. Precise and to the point, there is nothing unnecessary in this eight-minute cue... Read review

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