National Anthems of the World

National Anthems Of The World is the first studio album by American jazz musician Stan Kenton and his orchestra under the Creative World label, released late 1972. Recording sessions for the album took place at Western Recorders, August 25, 28, 29, 30 & 31, 1972 in Hollywood, California.[1][2]

National Anthems Of The World
Studio album by
Released1972
RecordedAugust 25, 28, 29, 30 & 31, 1972
StudioRecorded at Western Recorders, Hollywood, California, United States
GenreJazz, Big band, National anthems
Length33:43
LabelCreative World Records,
GNP Crescendo
ProducerRobert Curnow
Stan Kenton Orchestra chronology
Live at Butler University
(1972)
National Anthems Of The World
(1972)
Birthday in Britain
(1973)

Background edit

When the Kenton band was summoned to the studio in late August 1972, Kenton was emphatic about recording a double album: National Anthems of the World. He had been convinced to complete this project by his perception of the previous success of Bob Curnow's arrangement of God Save the Queen played on two tours of the United Kingdom in late 1963 and an altered version earlier in 1972. Curnow had worked on the charts in batches during the spring of 1972 and delivered them while the band was out on the road.[3] The band would hopefully have a good look the manuscripts by the time they would get in the studio in August.

Many agree that so much talent, enthusiasm and money would have been better spent on more promising jazz material than national anthems. Much like the Kenton/Wagner recording project of 1964, Kenton hoped the unique and striking 1972 project would accrue prestige and international recognition. The album was even sent to embassies all over the world.[3] While there were many favorable replies, some were quite surprisingly negative to the extent the government of China bitterly resented their anthem featured on the same LP as arch-enemy Taiwan.[3] Kenton himself would later lament, "The National Anthems album Bob wrote was great, though commercially it died---it was a terrible failure."[3]

Reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz    [4]

Track listing edit

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Germany"Joseph Haydn2:09
2."Wales"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau1:34
3."Holland"Wilhilmus Van Nassouwe1:38
4."Guinea (Liberte)" 1:44
5."Italy ([Inno Di Mameli)"Michele Novaro1:48
6."Bulgaria (Dear Fatherland)" 1:36
7."Japan (Kimi Ga Yo)"Hayashi Hirokami2:25
8."Luxembourg (Ons Hemecht)"Jean-Antoine Zinnen1:28
9."Czechoslovakia (Part I: Kde Domoj Muj) (Part 2: Nad Tatru Sa Blyska)" 2:52
10."Ghana (Lift High The Flag Of Ghana)" 1:37
11."Canada (O Canada)"Calixa Lavallée1:49
12."Belgium (La Brabanconne)"Francois van Campenhout1:20
13."Austria (Osterreichische Bundeshymne)"Francois van Campenhout1:20
14."Denmark (Kong Kristian)" 1:23
15."India (Jana Gana Mana Adhinayak)"Rabindranath Tagore1:27
16."Poland (Hymn Polski)"Michał Kleofas Ogiński1:21
17."Iceland (Lofsongur)" 1:54
18."Korea (Ae Kuk Ga)" 1:27
19."An American Trilogy - Dixie, Battle Hymn Of The Republic, America The Beautiful"Daniel Decatur Emmett, William Steffe, Samuel Augustus Ward3:25
20."Great Britain (God Save The Queen)" 1:07
21."Hungary (Himnusz)"Ferencz Erkel3:29
22."Venezuela (Himno Nacionale)"Juan Jose Landaeta1:16
23."Finland (Maamme)"Fredrik Pacius1:13
24."Sweden (Du Gamia, Du Fria)"Richard Dybeck1:28
25."Peru (Himno Nacionale)"Jose B. Alcedo3:07
26."Nationalist China (Taiwan) (San Min Chu I)"Cheng Mao-Yun1:23
27."Greece (Hymne National)"Nicholas Manzaros1:22
28."Norway (Ja, Vi Elsker Dette Landet)"Rikard Nordraak1:19
29."Chile (Himno Nacional)"Ramon Canicer2:18
30."France (La Marseillaise)"Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle1:26
31."Israel (Hatikvah)"Naftali Herz Imber2:12
32."Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics (Gimn Sovyetskovo Soyuza)"Alexander Alexandrov1:27
33."Switzerland (Schweizerpsalm)" 1:36
34."Burma (We Shall Love Burma Evermore)"Th Kin Ba Thoung1:41
35."Ireland (Amhran Na BhFiann)"Patrick Heaney1:33
36."Spain (Himno Nacional)" 2:02
37."People's Republic Of China (Chung-Ha-Jen-Min Gung-Ho Guo)"Nie Er1:44
38."Portugal (Hino Nacional A Portuguesa)"Aldredo Keil1:26
39."United States Of America (The Star Spangled Banner)"John Stafford Smith, Francis Scott Key2:10

All selections arranged and orchestrated by Robert Curnow

Personnel edit

Musicians edit

  • Alto Saxophone and flute – Quin Davis
  • Tenor Saxophone and flute – Chris Galuman, Richard Torres
  • Baritone Saxophone and flute – Chuck Carter (2), Willie Maiden
  • Trumpet – Dennis Noday, Jay Saunders, Mike Snustead, Mike Vax, Ray Brown
  • Trombone – Dick Shearer, Fred Carter, Harvey Coonin, Mike Wallace, Phil Herring
  • Afro-Latin percussion – Ramon Lopez
  • Piano – Stan Kenton
  • Bass – John Worster
  • Drums – Peter Erskine

Production edit

  • Producer – Bob Curnow
  • Arranged By – Robert Curnow
  • Artwork – Young And Dodge
  • Engineer and Mixed – Don Sears
  • Photography By – Harold Plant

References edit

  1. ^ Sparke, Michael; Venudor, Peter (1998). "Stan Kenton, The Studio Sessions". Balboa Books. p. 212 ISBN 0-936653-82-5.
  2. ^ Witt, Hugh. "Kenton" Jazz Journal (article). March 1973.
  3. ^ a b c d Sparke, Michael. Stan Kenton: This is an Orchestra UNT Press. 2010. pp. 246-249
  4. ^ Larkin, Colin. Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz. Virgin, 1999. pp. 485

Bibliography edit

  • Easton, Carol (1973). "Straight Ahead: The Story of Stan Kenton". New York, N.Y.: William Morrow & Company, INC. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Sparke, Michael (2010). "Stan Kenton: This Is An Orchestra". Denton, TX: University of North Texas Press. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Sparke, Michael (1998). "Stan Kenton: The Studio Sessions". Lake Geneva, WI: Balboa Books. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Lee, William F. (1980). "Stan Kenton: Artistry in Rhythm". Los Angeles, CA: Creative Press. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Harris, Steven D. (2000). "The Stan Kenton Kronicles". Pasadena, CA: Dynaflow Publications. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Cook, Richard (2002). "The Penguin Guide To Jazz On CD (6th Edition)". London, England: Penguin Books. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

External links edit