The American Album

If one wanted a collection of the best-known and best-loved American orchestral works of the twentieth century, here it is. Leonard Slatkin and RCA have assembled works ranging from the massively imposing — Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man — to the delightfully amusing — Herbert's March of the Toys from Babes in Toyland — from the amiably folksy — Grofé's on The Trail from The Grand Canyon Suite — to the wildly inebriated — Schumann's orchestration of Ives' Variations on "America" — and from the raucously rocking — Copland's Hoedown — to the monumentally patriotic — America the Beautiful as arranged by Carmen Dragon. And while the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's performances are sometimes just a tad too loose — listen to the strings go awry in the recapitulation of the March of the Toys — and Slatkin's conducting is sometimes just a shade too relaxed — listen to the tempo shifts in Variations — no can say that their hearts aren't in the right place. And in a collection of patriotic music, having your heart in the right place counts for more than having your fingers in the right place. For what it is, it doesn't get any better. RCA's sound is loud and proud.