FANFARES, FANCIES AND FUGUES • Robin Browning, cond; UH Brass Ens • UHR 02001 1017 (61:55)

BURRELL The Hatfield Procession. Fanfares and Fugues. Entry of the Mace. The Mayor’s March. Fantasia: Shining. Sturrocks’ Parade. 3 Fancies. Hatfield Procession Remake. HANDEL (arr. Burrell) Water Music: Air; Hornpipe . Royal Fireworks Music: La Rejouissance. SCHEIN (arr. Burrell) Intrada. PURCELL (arr. Burrell) Funeral Music for Queen Mary. HULGILL St. George’s Chorale

Every now and then, I come across a disc that leaves me scratching my head and asking “Why?” This is just such a disc. The music on this CD is uniformly uninteresting, the playing is competent, but no better, and the sound is dry and lackluster. All of the works except one were either composed or arranged by Howard Burrell, emeritus professor of music at the University of Hertfordshire, England (the “UH” in the ensemble’s name and in the record label), who also serves as one of the producers of the project. With titles such as The Mayor’s March and Sturrocks’ Parade , most of the music is in a decidedly light vein, making its lack of memorable tunes all the more deadly. The more “serious” works, Fanfares and Fugues and the set of variations Fantasia: Shining , are vaguely reminiscent of Hindemith and Vaughan Williams respectively, but without the masterful skill and strong, distinctive musical personalities of those two great composers. Even the arrangements of familiar Purcell and Handel are bland and unimaginative.

Much of this music is ceremonial in nature, and I suppose I could envision some of it being used effectively in that capacity, but as a listening experience, it really strikes out. I hate to be so dismissive, but I cannot imagine anyone being interested in this disc except those who were personally involved with the project. Merlin Patterson