Duty, Honor, Country

 (4 customer reviews)

By the title, Altissimo's latest CD, "Duty, Honor, Country," would appear to be just another compilation of patriotic and military music. Upon listening, however, I quickly realized that this is far from just another patriotic CD. The CD features highly spirited music with excellent sound reproduction.

The music by the US Army Field Band and Chorus spans the time from the Civil War to modern day. While some of the songs are well known, there were several that I heard for the first time, most notably "Fantasia on the Army Blue." According to the liner notes, this number, written by Ira Hearshen, was commissioned by the Army Field Band on the occasion of the bicentennial of the U.S. Military Academy. The number depicts Hearshen's impression of West Point in music and is based on the Academy song "Army Blue."

One of the highlights of the CD is a very moving and heartfelt narration by General Norman Schwarzkopf called "Duty, Honor, Country." This adaptation of a...Read more

Duty, Honor, Country: Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what
you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. This album captures the
importance of these three axioms so very well. The soldiers/musicians who
perform on this album are proud service members who use their God given
talent to inspire, uplift, and entertain. Never in the history of this
nation have we needed to remember these three ideas more clearly. In the
complicated and trying times of the modern world these ideals will see us
through. If you need excellent and inspiring music to see you through the
day, then this album is a must have. - From the well known West Point
March to the title track each song brings about the imagery of great
sacrifice and struggle to preserve what our great nation stands for. -
If you love military music or are just a true patriot like myself this album
is a must have. Another awesome album by the US Army Field...Read more

Altissimo! continues to try and improve its product range. Often with varying results, but at least we have an almost full length CD here with some decent liner notes. The 45 minute teasers of the past same to be gone. (For now at least) This collection of recordings, and I must emphasize that, as none of these are current tracks, spans a pretty wide range of US patriotic music. There's a bit more variety than usual here for an Altissmo! product, and a lot of music with signifiance to the US Military Academy at West Point. The sound quality is decent, and even though we have no idea when these recordings were made, the sound engineering has made them consistant in their quality. Altissmo! has learned a few tricks from their past efforts.

Over all not a bad CD with the usual heavy-hand of patrotic numbers, but with some nice choral selections by the band's choir, and a few good marches not offered on other Altissimo! albums for a change. Keep up the work Altissimo...Read more