Samuel Barber

Overview - Recordings - Scores - Books - Links

Born: March 9, 1910, West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: January 23, 1981, New York, New York, USA

Samuel Barber's romantic music was immensely popular in his early career but out of fashion for the last ten years of his life. Now it is back in fashion and the beneficiary of many recordings. His songs, symphonies, operas. concertos, sonatas, and choral works are his major musical contributions. Commando March is certainly not the top of his musical output, but it is still a delightful piece and a favorite in the band repertoire.

Currently it is available on three CDs whose repertoire only overlaps on this piece. Fennell's CD includes many more marches, along with classics by Percy Grainger and Ralph Vaughan Williams. Stamp's CD includes American favorites by Vincent Persichetti, John Barnes Chance, Joseph Willcox Jenkins, and more. If you are looking for the ultimate Commando March, it's hard to go against Fennell, but both CDs are fine additions to any band collection. I have not yet heard Satterwhite's recording.

Recordings

Works	Performers	Reviews	Stores
Commando March	Cleveland Symphonic Winds Frederick Fennell	Bauman	Tower Amazon
Commando March	Keystone Wind Ensemble Jack Stamp	Simmons	Tower
Commando March	University of Georgia Wind Symphony H. Dwight Satterwhite		Tower Amazon

Scores

Commando March

Books

Samuel Barber: The Composer and His Music by Barbara B. Heyman