Brass, Reeds, and Percussion: January 13, 2024

Continuing the exploration of how popular music is often wind-band music, this edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion features music of a big band called “a thundering herd” instead of an orchestra. Before being a musician or bandleader, Woody Herman was a vaudeville performer billed as “The Boy Wonder.” He began playing his clarinet in a band at age 13 and doubled on saxophones. In 1934, he joined the Isham Jones Orchestra and added singing to his musical activities. In 1936, he formed his first band called the Band That Plays the Blues. Probably because of the rhythmic drive of the band’s playing, a music critic started to refer to the band as Woody Herman’s Herd. The band reached the height of its popularity during WW II, during which time the name of the band morphed into Woody Herman and His Thundering Herd. We open today’s edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion with one of his hits from that WWII period: “Goosey Gander.”

1. Goosey Gander (1945)
   Composer:  Woody Herman (1913-1987)
   Performer:  Woody Herman & His Thundering Herd
   Album:  Woody Herman, Vol. 3
     
2. Blowing Up a Storm
   Composer:  Woody Herman (1913-1987)
   Performer:  Woody Herman & His Thundering Herd
   Album:  Woody Herman, Vol. 3
     
3. Octet in D: Menuetto Allegretto
   Composer:  Franz Schubert (1797-1826)
   Performer:  Schubert Ensemble
   Album:  Schubert Octets
     
4. Octet in D: Allegro
   Composer:  Franz Schubert (1797-1826)
   Performer:  Schubert Ensemble
   Album:  Schubert Octets
     
5. Lift Every Voice and Sing
   Composer:  James Weldon Johnson (lyrics, 1871-1938) & J. Rosamond Johnson (music, 1873-1954), arranged by Dr. Greg Danner (1958- )
   Performer:  Tennessee Technical Univ. Symphony Band
   Album:  Cuico
     
6. FeierLicher Einzug (Ceremonial Entry)
   Composer:  Richard Strauss (1864-1949), arranged by Jose Schyns (1959- )
   Performer:  Royal Symphonic Band of Belgian Guides
   Album:  Phoenix Ascending
     
7. Festival de Neige
   Composer:  Akio Yashiro (1929-1976)
   Performer:  Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra
   Album:  Overtures 2
     
8. Honeysuckle Rose
   Composer:  Fats Waller (1904-1943)
   Performer:  Philharmonic Wind Orchestra
   Album:  Movie and Light Music Highlights
     
9. Music from "Indiana Jones and Temple of Doom"
   Composer:  John Williams (1932- )
   Performer:  Philharmonic Wind Orchestra
   Album:  Movie and Light Music Highlights
     
10. Ob Ovo
    Composer:  Joep Beving (1976- )
    Performer:  Signum Saxophone Quartet
    Album:  Echohes