Album

Altissimo's The Blessings of Liberty features "the President's Own" United States Marine Band in a selection of relatively new marches and arrangements, made by members of the band at the time of recording (1998). It contains such resolutely twentieth century fare as the march Franklin D. Roosevelt by William H. Woodin and Guadalcanal March from Richard Rodgers' Victory at Sea, in addition to the symphonic scenario drawn from that same work. It also contains both the Navy and Marine hymns ("God of Our Fathers" and "Anchors Aweigh") and a respectful, harmonized version of "Taps." The standout selection is March of the Women Marines by Louis Saverino; it is high stepping, energetic, and inspired, just the sort of the thing to get the lead out. The recording is very good, and performances are both professional and polished, though in most cases do not rise to an especial plateau of excitement; furthermore, it is a very short CD, not even cracking the 40-minute mark. No leader is listed; however, it does find the U.S. Marine Band in good voice. If one is already predisposed to patriotic American band music done in a contemporary style, Altissimo's The Blessings of Liberty should be all right.

© Uncle Dave Lewis , All Music Guide

CD 1
Various Composers Composer Armed Forces Medley, for orchestra Work United States Marine Band Ensemble
1	Armed Forces Medley, for orchestra	3:43			$0.99
William H. Woodin Composer Franklin Delano Roosevelt March Work United States Marine Band Ensemble
2	Franklin Delano Roosevelt March	2:21			$0.99
Harry Warren (AKA Salvatore Guaragna) Composer Song Of The Marines March, for band Work United States Marine Band Ensemble
3	Song Of The Marines March, for band	2:05			$0.99
Taylor Branson Composer Marine Corp Institute, march for band Work United States Marine Band Ensemble
4	Marine Corp Institute, march for band	2:43			$0.99
Richard Rodgers Composer Victory at Sea, suite from the television documentary, scored by R.R. Bennett Work United States Marine Band Ensemble
5	1.Guadalcanal March	2:46			$0.99
Louis Saverino Composer The March of the Women Marines Work United States Marine Band Ensemble
6	The March of the Women Marines	2:38			$0.99
Sammy Nestico Composer The Marines' Hymn Apotheosis Work United States Marine Band Ensemble
7	The Marines' Hymn Apotheosis	2:20			$0.99
Richard Rodgers Composer Victory at Sea, suite from the television documentary, scored by R.R. Bennett Work United States Marine Band Ensemble
8	3.The Symphonic Scenario	10:49			Album Only
John Bacchus Dykes Composer Eternal Father, strong to save (Navy Hymn or Melita) Work United States Marine Band Ensemble
9	Eternal Father, strong to save (Navy Hymn or Melita)	2:39			$0.99
Anonymous Composer Taps ("Bugle Call"), for trumpet Work United States Marine Band Ensemble
10	Taps ("Bugle Call"), for trumpet	1:21			$0.99
George William Warren Composer God of Our Fathers (The National Hymn) Work United States Marine Band Ensemble
11	God of Our Fathers (The National Hymn)	4:06			$0.99