Brass, Reeds, and Percussion: June 24, 2023

As Brass, Reeds, and Percussion continues to explore how popular music is often wind-band music, this edition features an original 1940 recording of “Celery Stalks at Midnight” with a riff lifted from “Jeepers Creekers.” The title “Celery Stalks at Midnight” suggests that composition might be a musical depiction of horror, something akin to the sweet potato that ate Chicago. Instead, think of the title as being whimsical and the recording as a demonstration of smooth and tight ensemble playing. This recording is performed by Bill Bradley and His Orchestra. Bradley cowrote the composition with George Harris, about whom we have found very little information. But Bradley was trombone player and big band leader during the 1930s and 1940s who ultimately became famous for his boogie-woogie hits.

1. Celery Stalks at Midnight
   Composer:  George Harris & Will Bradley (1912-1989)
   Performer:  Will Bradley & His Orchestra
   Album:  Swing Time, Vol. 3
2. Arab Dance (Scheherazade)
   Composer:  Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908), arranged by Gil Evans
   Performer:  Claude Thornhill & His Orchestra
   Album:  Swing Time, Vol. 3
3. Torch Dance
   Composer:  James Barnes (1949- )
   Performer:  U.S. Army Band
   Album:  Dances Around the World
4. Crusader
   Composer:  John Philip Sousa (1854-1932)
   Performer:  U.S. Marine Band
   Album:  Military Marches of John Philip Sousa, Vol. 1
5. Symphony 3: Allego energico
   Composer:  Vittorio Giannini (1903-1966)
   Performer:  Dallas Wind Symphony
   Album:  Trittico
6. Symphony 3: Adagio
   Composer:  Vittorio Giannini
   Performer:  Dallas Wind Symphony
   Album:  Trittico
7. Symphony 3: Allegretto
   Composer:  Vittorio Giannini
   Performer:  Dallas Wind Symphony
   Album:  Trittico
8. Symphony 3: Allegro con brio
   Composer:  Vittorio Giannini
   Performer:  Dallas Wind Symphony
   Album:  Trittico