Thinking small this week with 10″er’s and the like. I bought this for $5 not really knowing anything about this other than it was French, I got all excited as it could be anything. French female pop, chansons, even that crappy French attempt at new wave rock and roll. The possibilities were endless.
Then I heard it. Really not what I was expecting. SO let me then explain. Fanfare des Beaux Arts , from what I can ascertain, is a French carivnval/ festival type activity in which students and former students of the Beaux Arts parade in some fashion. It began in the late 1800’s and I believe it continues on today, not only in various regions of France, bit in Belguim and Holland as well.
Originally celebrated with cheap cardboard horns, a brass band was incorporated into the celebration in 1888, which I believe this record is part of. I am sure there is a whole lot more to it. At this point so close to this month’s finish line, I really am getting tired of reading a poor French translated webpage. You can fill in any blanks below. Also, if you know something , please fell free to enlighten me.
Link to Translated Wikipedia page
The Honore Champion band, won one of these fanfares in 1958 and recorded this 10″ record the same year in celebration. Very much is marching music with horns and some percussion. When I first listened to this, I was disappointed as I was expecting something else. But after a few listens, learning a bit if the back story and seeing the pictures, I quite enjoyed this album and wish we had a similar thing here in the US.
There is a festive aura to this record and I found it quite enjoyable. Thus for a sample, I went with three songs, First we have “Hello…Le Soleil Brille” which is a version of Bridge on the River Kwai‘s “Colonel Bogey”. Next we have a cha cha cha number “Rico Vacilon”. Finally, we have the Italian number, “Funiculi- Funicula”. These numbers are quite loose and rather joyous.
I came to really enjoy this record despite being nothing like what I thought it would be. Satisfactory.