Nbc Presents Summon The Heroes: Williams / Boston Pops.o

SUMMON THE HEROES is a recording for the spirit of the Olympics in the form of music. This is the essence of athletics inspiring and being inspired by many composers in the 20th century. 'Summon the Heroes' is the title track composed by John Williams, who has a flair for investing this genre of regal and heroic music with an honesty comparable only to John Phillip Sousa. It is a fine work, energetic and antiphonal, a terrific lead-in to the whole disc. "Ode to Zeus" from 'Canto Olympico' in one of several unexpected works here. It is primal, and with the use of modality evokes early Athens and the original Olympic spirit. Another surprise is Bernstein's 'Olympic Hymn,' also a choral work and a strong piece of pure music, lesser-known because of its specificity. Favorites like the CHARIOTS OF FIRE theme and "O Fortuna" from 'Carmina Burana' round out this fiery and vivacious recording, well appropriate for the first Olympic year of the new millennium.