The Teddy Bears Picnic

by George Foreman, New Columbian Brass Band

Overview

The Teddy Bear's Picnic, an hourlong album of zoologically inclined entertainments scored for wind ensemble, may be enjoyed by children, grownups, and those refusing to fit into either category. The melodies, which are splendidly rendered by George Foreman and the New Columbian Brass Band, all date from the years 1900-1921, when live bands regularly performed for the public under the open sky in parks and arenas across the land. The heartwarming title track, which was composed by John W. Bratton, is followed by "A Morning in Noah's Ark," a seven-minute novelty punctuated with animal noises of every description. Insects and other arthropods are saluted with Paul Eno's "In Bugdom," Paul Lincke's "Glow Worm Idyll," and Fred L. Moreland's "Parade of the Doodle Bugs." Ornithological delights include "Chicken Reel," "The Magpie and the Parrot," "Turkey in the Straw" in its original guise as a humoresque for clarinet and band, and a restless interlude inspired by "Two Little Bullfinches." The New Columbian Brass Band boasts of two clarinetists and two cornetists; featured instruments are Allison Shaw's xylophone during Zez Confrey's "Kitten on the Keys," Betsey Hill's piccolo during Arthur Pryor's "The Whistler and His Dog," and Marty Erickson's tuba during L.P. Laurendeau's "Elephantine Polka." Listen also for a fine treatment of Charles L. Hunter's "Porcupine Rag," a rather outlandish trombone part in C.L. Barnhouse's "Somewhere a Cow Is Bawling," and, to wrap up the package in style, a smart interpretation of the old-time jazz standard "Tiger Rag," a French quadrille first introduced on phonograph records under this title by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. The Teddy Bear's Picnic would be an excellent choice for those who wish to teach and encourage children to listen to chamber music; it may also be used while grooming dogs, cats, and other mammals. ~ arwulf arwulf

Product Details

Release Date:	06/13/2000
Label:	DORIAN RECORDINGS
UPC:	0053479320124

Tracks

1. Teddy Bears' Picnic, for orchestra
2. A Morning in Noah's Ark, humorous fanatasy in 4 scenes, for band
3. The Two Little Bulfinches, for 1, 2 or 3 soloists & band
4. A Love Episode in Birdland Suite, for band~The Magpie and the Parrot (Humoresque)
5. The Whistler and His Dog, caprice for band
6. Chicken Reel, for band
7. Elephantine Polka, for tuba & band
8. In Bugdom, an insect epsode
9. Glow Worm Idyll, for orchestra
10. Porcupine Rag, two-step
11. Turkey in the Straw, humoresque for clarinet & band
12. Parade of the Doodle Bugs, march characteristic
13. Somewhere a Cow Is Bawling, trombone symfunny (under name Jim Fisk)
14. Kitten on the Keys, for piano
15. Tiger Rag

Album Credits

Performance Credits

George Foreman   Primary Artist,Conductor
New Columbian Brass Band   Primary Artist,Ensemble,Band
John Hagstrom   Cornet
Betsy Hill   Piccolo
Paul Castillo   Clarinet
Woody Brooks   Vocals
John Jenkins   Clarinet,Clarinet
Vince DiMartino   Cornet
Allison Shaw   Xylophone
Marty Erickson   Tuba

Technical Credits

David Henderson   Post Session Producer,Producer
Katherine A. Dory   Editing,Booklet Preparation
John W. Bratton   Composer
Theodore Bendix   Composer
Paul Lincke   Composer
Debbie Reynolds   Post Session Producer,Producer
Vince DiMartino   Executive Producer
Charles L. Johnson   Composer
George Foreman   Executive Producer,Liner Notes
Arthur Pryor   Composer
Zez Confrey   Composer