This CD of animal-themed light music from the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra is full of surprises, and John Morris Russell's program presents some familiar music in new arrangements, along with several character pieces that aren't heard every day. Perhaps the most controversial offering is Russell's re-orchestration of Camille Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals, in which the pianists -- and the piece called Pianists -- are eliminated, as is the movement Tortoises; parts are reassigned to different instruments; and recorded ...
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This CD of animal-themed light music from the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra is full of surprises, and John Morris Russell's program presents some familiar music in new arrangements, along with several character pieces that aren't heard every day. Perhaps the most controversial offering is Russell's re-orchestration of Camille Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals, in which the pianists -- and the piece called Pianists -- are eliminated, as is the movement Tortoises; parts are reassigned to different instruments; and recorded animal sounds are placed before each of the sections, Hens and Roosters, Elephants, Donkeys, Aviary, and the Grand Finale, as well as elsewhere in the program. This might be effective or amusing in concert, but on CD the canned animal sounds seem like an obvious gimmick that adds little for what was lost. The album is more successful for the remainder, because the short pieces are engaging and fun, and such crowd-pleasers as Percy Grainger's Shepherd's Hey!, Leonard Bernstein's Turkey...
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