America the Beautiful at Washington Cathedral (Clare Fischer arr.)

[terrysisk]

The sheet music for this arrangement by Clare Fischer appeared in the June/July 1986 issue of Sheet Music Magazine. You can find them for sale on E-Bay or at Amazon.com.

[TheMaestro42]

Does anyone know where I might find the sheet music to this? I've looked everywhere... all the best American organ works are just impossible to find.

[a55b47]

@TheMaestro42 Wish I could help you, but all I can offer is that there was a rash a few months ago of comments from Clare Fischer's friends/colleagues/admirers, & I seem to recall mention of a Clare Fischer web site that might help (or maybe he's on Facebook?) I know Doug Major, the organist on this recording, is on Facebook, & he might have some advice.

[dinerdog]

Clare is one of the few people that can bring tears to your eyes with the notes he plays. You can't be the same after listening to him. Truly an other worldly talent. : >

[dwintz1]

A teacher, mentor and friend Clare Fischer composed this version of America the Beautiful. Sounds wonderful and like everything our country is - full of ideals, ambition, dissent and hope. Perfect timing to listen to again, particularly in light of today's date.

[methu124]

Profound beyond words, this timely arrangement expresses the inexpressible! It proclaims the existential mystery of a nation's pristine melody of progress remaining miraculously afloat atop the anguishingly dissonant harmonies of its trials, tremors, traumas, and triumphs. This is the kaleidoscopic reflection of a noble people renderred as only Clare Fischer can! As an American, I will always treasure it!

[LIQUIDJAZZ]

Than your for posting this beauty. Clare Fischer is unique, his harmonies are heavenly, matched by no one else.

[dej60]

what beauty! truly amazing....: thank you Clare! Your understanding of harmony, and tension and release go far beyond any theoretical study.....into timeless beauty.

thank you for all the incredible vocal arrangements over the years, and i'm so glad THIS arrangement can be heard in both versions! (or soon, that is - when the vocal cd comes out....hint hint! :)

david

[sundaysatvics]

How many arrangers have such a distinctive voice that it can be heard clearly

in everything from a salsa arrangement to a cathedral organ work???

[papaginou]

...Absolutely stunning!!!! A true master piece!!!! BRAVISSIMO!!!!

[DoctorPatient]

"lush" - "gorgeous" - certainly, and what ever other superlatives we can utter to heap praise on this wonderful piece and essential posting ... and special thanks to Mrs. Clare for the email ("Copy this title into YouTube and be sent into the eternities.") she just sent out alerting us, the faithful afficionados, that the piece was viewable here ... now, if we could only get that Left Coast CF big band simulcast that happened recently - hmmm ... thanks again

[MontgomeryMonte]

Clavo does it again! My wife and I moved to Washington last year, and the view from the roof of our building is of this very edifice. Next time I'm up there watching the sun set over its Gothic towers, ithe sight will have a deeper meaning for me knowing that his dulcet tones have echoed through its chambers. In short: nice work, man.

[altoegovcl]

My god that's gorgeous!! Thanks for posting.

[itmsjim]

@altoegovcl Pun intended? (Being a Cathedral and all) ;-)

[sneskid]

Do you still have the cd? I ask, because you might be able to get around the scratch, if the scratch isn't on the label side.

[a55b47]

@sneskid Thanks for the offer, but it's a CD I made from an old tape of an old radio broadcast -- so the audio has already gone through several iterations. Don't know where the scratch(es) came from, but I don't think they're on the CD.

[sneskid]

@a55b47

Sorry for the double post, I deleted my last comment by mistake!

Anyway... If you're running Windows, you might try ripping it again, with a program called Exact Audio Copy (it's a free download, just do a Google search. It should be the first thing that comes up).

The problem, is that many audio ripping programs are not capable of detecting read errors on audio CDs. This results in these clicking sounds.

[sneskid]

@a55b47

Exact Audio Copy on the other hand, detects these errors, and attempts to re-read these problem areas. If it succeeds, it continues on.

If it fails, it will log every area that it had a problem with, giving you the opportunity to listen to these "problem areas" and then try to "repair" them.

[a55b47]

@sneskid , Thanks for the advice. It sounds intriguing, & I may try it -- if I can ever find the time ;-) I'm not a huge audiophile; I'm an organ-phile, & just trying to get these old recordings out where more people can hear the King of Istruments.

[sneskid]

@a55b47

Let me know how it goes!

[bombarde1701a]

Im sure you'll be at the AGO convention in July..I'll be there...do u think it will be possible to get permisson to film at the Shrine for the closing concert?

[joenwayne]

Love it. George Shearing would be proud.

[a55b47]

I think it has a Shearing-like quality, too. It reminds me a lot of the Shearing arrangement of "Amazing Grace," which, if memory serves me correctly, you posted a wihle back.

[joenwayne]

Your memory serves you correctly.  Thanks for posting this.

[silverstartrucker]

Magnificent Cathedral and a lovely lush sound...

[pjdonagh]

Lush is certainly the appropriate adjective here....and how!!

Very enjoyable.

Thank you.

[mortondavid]

Oh! That's good, Douglas!

[Larsky1010]

Progressive jazz in a stupendous setting! Even with the limitations of the 3rd- or 4th-generation recording it sounds marvelous! I must find a better recording if it exists! Thanks!