With this release, the Georgia Brass Band proudly presents music by a number of celebrated American composers. Many of the items on this recording are original works for British-style brass band, an ensemble that came to prominence in Victorian era England and whose resurgent popularity continues to expand to all corners of the United States. Several items were originally written for other instruments but have been skillfully adapted by arrangers who know, as we do, that almost any type of music sounds better when played by a brass band. Whatever the original instrumentation, all music on this recording came from the pens (or music notation software) of American composers. Some of the composers represented here are practically household names, even if they are not typically associated with brass band music. John Williams, for example, is widely known for his movie soundtracks and his distinguished tenure as conductor of the Boston Pops, while Hoagy Carmichael gained fame as a piano player, singer, composer of popular songs, and occasional actor. We are also pleased to feature two composers with strong ties to “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band; John Philip Sousa served with distinction as Bandmaster prior to forming his own touring band, and Stephen Bulla served with distinction for thirty years as arranger to the band and chamber orchestra, providing music for numerous ceremonies and White House functions. James Curnow and William Himes are well-known in both brass band and wind band circles as composers, conductors, and educators. They, along with Stephen Bulla, have been involved in brass banding their entire lives through their associations with brass bands of The Salvation Army. Karl King ranks alongside Sousa as a prolific and important composer of marches and gave us some of the best-known screamers and marches in the repertoire. Fiddle master Jay Ungar is perhaps the composer here least associated with brass music, but the featured arrangement of his most widely known tune is a welcome addition to the brass band repertoire. Being from Georgia, we are especially pleased to highlight several items with specific ties to our home state. Summon the Heroes and King Cotton were both composed for major international events held in Atlanta roughly a century apart. Georgia On My Mind is, of course, the tune most obviously associated with the band’s home and it permeates our local culture. This recording also features two items with particular significance to the band’s history. Decade Celebration was the first piece commissioned by the band and receives its premiere recording here. Aspects of Praise was the test piece for our first contest victory. Hailed as “a major force in the North American brass banding world,” the Georgia Brass Band has performed at concert halls, churches, and colleges throughout the state of Georgia, as well as in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Vermont. The band has been featured at prestigious festivals including the International Euphonium Institute, the Atlanta Trumpet Festival, the Trumpet Festival of the Southeast, the International Trumpet Guild Conference, the US Army Tuba/Euphonium Conference, the International Trombone Festival, the Southeast Regional Tuba/Euphonium Conference, the Deep South Brass Band Festival, the Great American Brass Band Festival and the Georgia Music Educators Association Conference. Several of the bands concert performances have also been aired on WABE-FM’s Atlanta Music Scene. Georgia Brass Band concerts have showcased many of the world’s leading brass soloists including Scott Hartman, Patrick Sheridan, Thomas Ruedi, Christopher Martin, Demondrae Thurman, David Childs, Vincent DiMartino, Thomas Hooten, David Zerkel, Richard Marshall, Colin Williams, Tormod Flaten, Matthew van Emmerick, Adam Frey, Chris Gekker, Ingrid Jensen, David Thornton, Brett Baker, Megumi Kanda, Charles Vernon, Allan Dean, Paul Duffy, Mike Roylance, Steven Mead, and Philip Smith. The Georgia Brass Band has earned a reputation for musical excellence through its successes at the annual North American Brass Band Association Championships. The band’s performances have earned favorable reviews in both national and international brass publications, including Brass Band Bridge, British Bandsman, and 4barsrest.com. The band has scored victories in two different divisions at the Championships and has established itself as one of the finest brass bands in the United States.