***** Agreed that the shorter version is the definitive version. But I do also love this version as I'm a sucker for anything by Rodgers arranged by Bennett, no matter how long it is.
I fully understand where you're coming from> IT's just that I grew up with the shorter version that seems so perfect, not requiring anything additional. I would urge you to get to hear Leroy Anderson's arrangements of musical comedy medleys, done when he was staff arranger for the Boston Pops. They are absolutely exemplary, perfect in conception, and fully equal to those by Bennett (dare I say superior?). Just listen to them and decide for yourself. Actually, I don't personally like all those that Bennett turned out. His Show Boat comes as a downer to me. But some of his others, such as No. No, Nanette; The King and I; and especially My Fair Lady; represent some of his very best work. And I can fully enjoy the 8 minute symphonic scenario based on the Victory at Sea score. I prefer this to tying myself up for 13 hours to hear the entire work.
***** Thank you very much for some good advice! I have to agree that The King and I and My Fair Lady are the best of all his work. There are few works I will spend thirteen hours absorbed in but Victory at Sea is one of the few. To be fair, it also has strong personal memories attached to it all, so that likely denies me any objectivity! I will definitely look up Leroy Anderson; I've not been much of a fan of the Boston Pops - though I haven't been/listened in quite a while - so am not familiar with his work with them, but I will definitely check it out.
Jane Smith I fully, completely understand when it comes to strong personal memories - and also first impressions - which by the way, I find that they die hard. I find this to be true in all genres of music; serious and classical included. You say that you're not much of a fan of the Boston Pops. There are different periods of the Boston Pops, as with any light music arranger - Morton Gould, David Rose, Percy Faith, etc. Many of these were at their best in their earlier recordings and commercially cheapened their style in later years. For my part, I only listen to Fiedler's recordings; I am not at all interested in those by John Williams or anyone else. And I should mention that the Boston Pops under Fiedler were in their heyday when Leroy Anderson was their staff arranger, during the late 1940's and early 1950's. After LA left them to go off on his own, the sound of the current Pops arrangement definitely tailed off and was simply not the same as immediately before. Anderson himself cheapened many of his own works by adding sound effects which in my opinion were completely out of character with the music. Anderson's arrangements of musical comedy medleys and the like that he did for the Pops have been posted on RUclips in a manner of speaking, but they are understandably not a simple matter to track down, as of necessity they would not be listed directly under his name. I hope that I have been of some help here. Please feel free to write back.
Jane Smith Jane, I've discovered a site where you can catch this South Pacific medley performed by the Boston Pops under Arthur Fiedler. Just go to X-Box Music, where you can listen for free. On your search, just put in South Pacific Medley. When the various choices come up, click on the one that mentions Arthur Fiedler, and enjoy Leroy Anderson's setting, which I think is fully as good as Bennett's - in direct competition, really. Let me know how you make out, and what you think of it. (On RUclips, though it is posted, it is singularly difficult to locate.)
This music tugs at my heart and transports me back to the years just after WW II ended.
***** Agreed that the shorter version is the definitive version. But I do also love this version as I'm a sucker for anything by Rodgers arranged by Bennett, no matter how long it is.
I fully understand where you're coming from> IT's just that I grew up with the shorter version that seems so perfect, not requiring anything additional.
I would urge you to get to hear Leroy Anderson's arrangements of musical comedy medleys, done when he was staff arranger for the Boston Pops.
They are absolutely exemplary, perfect in conception, and fully equal to
those by Bennett (dare I say superior?). Just listen to them and decide for yourself.
Actually, I don't personally like all those that Bennett turned out. His Show Boat comes as a downer to me. But some of his others, such as No. No, Nanette;
The King and I; and especially My Fair Lady; represent some of his very best work.
And I can fully enjoy the 8 minute symphonic scenario based on the Victory at Sea score. I prefer this to tying myself up for 13 hours to hear the entire work.
***** Thank you very much for some good advice! I have to agree that The King and I and My Fair Lady are the best of all his work. There are few works I will spend thirteen hours absorbed in but Victory at Sea is one of the few. To be fair, it also has strong personal memories attached to it all, so that likely denies me any objectivity! I will definitely look up Leroy Anderson; I've not been much of a fan of the Boston Pops - though I haven't been/listened in quite a while - so am not familiar with his work with them, but I will definitely check it out.
Jane Smith I fully, completely understand when it comes to strong personal memories - and also first impressions - which by the way, I find that they die hard. I find this to be true in all genres of music; serious and classical included.
You say that you're not much of a fan of the Boston Pops. There are different periods of the Boston Pops, as with any light music arranger - Morton Gould, David Rose, Percy Faith, etc. Many of these were at their best in their earlier recordings and commercially cheapened their style in later years.
For my part, I only listen to Fiedler's recordings; I am not at all interested in those by John Williams or anyone else.
And I should mention that the Boston Pops under Fiedler were in their heyday when Leroy Anderson was their staff
arranger, during the late 1940's and early 1950's. After LA left them to go off on his own, the sound of the current
Pops arrangement definitely tailed off and was simply not the same as immediately before. Anderson himself cheapened many of his own works by adding sound effects which in my opinion were completely out of character
with the music.
Anderson's arrangements of musical comedy medleys and the like that he did for the Pops have been posted on RUclips in a manner of speaking, but they are understandably not a simple matter to track down, as of necessity
they would not be listed directly under his name.
I hope that I have been of some help here. Please feel free to write back.
Jane Smith Jane, I've discovered a site where you can catch this South Pacific medley performed by the Boston Pops under Arthur Fiedler. Just go to X-Box Music, where you can listen for free. On your search, just put in South Pacific Medley. When the various choices come up, click on the one that mentions Arthur Fiedler, and enjoy Leroy Anderson's setting, which I think is fully as good as Bennett's - in direct competition, really. Let me know how you make out, and what you think of it. (On RUclips, though it is posted, it is singularly difficult to locate.)
I"m with you Jane 100%. Any R & H works with arrangments by Bennett are delightful ..more power to this genius.
Rodgers and Hammmestein the best
are these people kidding?