Christmas Spirit CD,”A Christmas Carol – A Dickens of a Tale” and 16 other Christmas selections
A Review of the MAINSTREET BRASS recording by The American Record Guide
Christmas Spirit CD Cover
The central part on this recording is the narrated reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol by Alan Danson. Danson’s musical narrative is a perfect complement to the famous Dickens Tale. The English carol ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ is the basis of the entire piece, and fragments of the piece are artfully woven into the music.
This kind of piece is what makes a new recording of Christmas music so special.
A wonderful selection of festive Christmas arrangements that will make even the stingiest of Scrooges crack a smile.
Read the full review
Two reviews in “Sheet Music Review”
It is not surprising then that a musician of Alan’s ability and experience has arranged such an interesting piece as A MEDLEY OF RHYMES FOR FIVE BRASS.
Alans’s arrangement consists of six nursery rhymes cleverly woven together with flair and imagination.
It is fun to play and will appeal to audiences of all ages.
Another from the pen of Alan Danson is an original work entitled INTRADA, composed for the Mainstreet Brass Quintet ……………..
is a dynamic curtain-raiser for any concert ……………..
very playable for an average-ability brass quintet ……………..
the layout and presentation of both score and parts is excellent.
On The Way and Just For Starters, Horn Quartets
A review of these two works by the British Horn Society
ON THE WAY
The collection in paricular must surely have a place in the repertoire……………..
I do hope Alan will be inspired to write more.JUST FOR STARTERS
Is aimed at Grade 1 and 2 pupils and consists of 6 movements………………….
and plenty of variation in tempo between the sixmovements.
Both works can be purchased from Broadbent & Dunn.
On The Way
Just For Starters
A review of Alan Danson’s works in Classical Music Web
Alan Danson is an arranger/composer of the present day, especially for small wind ensembles. If he is an arranger rather than a composer, his arrangements are, as I heard recently, notably inventive.
