Hands Across the Sea: The Band of the Grenadier Guards—Sousa Marches

There's no denying the energy and dash of John Philip Sousa's (1854-1932) marches for brass, or the skill of Britain's 50-strong Band of the Grenadier Guards, which plays a generous selection of them here—nearly 30 pieces in all (including, of course, “The Stars and Stripes Forever”). Unfortunately, the visuals—shot at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire—while quite lovely, also tend to be rather bland and repetitive, featuring exterior shots, scenes of the guards marching in formation, or sequences in which the band plays seated in ornate chambers while the camera roams over furniture, tapestries, and other artwork. The viewer may feel a touch of relief when, toward the program's close, a few minutes are devoted to a montage of stills and archival footage from Sousa's own time—which hardly constitutes a full-scale biography, but at least offers some historical context for the music, which is presented in LPCM stereo. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)