Pulitzer Prize winning composer Michael Colgrass's Urban Requiem headlines this recording. This nearly half hour work explores the technical and expressive qualities of the saxophone quartet, as well as providing an aural experience that vividly describes life in the Big Apple. Scott Lindroth's exciting Spin Cycle explores a variety of timbral and rhythmic aesthetics and is reflective of many of the technically exhilarating works currently being written for wind band. Lee Brooks's transcription of Saint-Saëns's popular Introduction and Rondo-Capriccioso gives this exciting work a new and fresh perspective. October demonstrates Eric Whitacre's exceptional melodic gift as well as his use of the sonorities of wind and percussion instruments. Guy Duker's setting of Shostakovich's powerful Overture on Russian and Kirghiz Folk Songs is an invigorating and challenging contribution to the repertoire. Finally, the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine by the American March King, John Philip Sousa, reminds us of the magic of his exceptional compositional talents and of the tradition of the wind band in the 21st century American music scene.
