“Soul of the Battalion” captured in new Altissimo! Recordings Release

PRLog (Press Release) - May 01, 2007 -
“…Further, no one, not even the adjutant can say for certain where the soul of the battalion lives, but the expression of that soul is most often found in the band.”  Rudyard Kipling, 1915

Nashville, TN (SE-Enterprises) May 2, 2007 – Set for release May 15, Altissimo! Recordings newest album celebrates the “expression of the soul of the battalion” with “Songs of the Soldier,” a history of the Army through its music.

Originally recorded in 2006 by the U.S. Army Chorus, “Songs of the Soldier” is a collection of time honored Army-related classics.  Featured are the unit songs from infantry, field artillery, armor and cavalry divisions, and the United States Military Academy.

In a 1915 speech, Rudyard Kipling well expressed the significance of military bands and their music to the hearts and souls of our armed forces -- “It stands to reason that 1,200 men whose lives are pledged to each other must have some common means of expression, some common means of conveying their moods and their thoughts to themselves and their world.”

“Songs of the Soldier” brings that common means of expression to a single CD with unit songs such as “The Big Red One,” song of the 1st Infantry Division;  “Dog Face Soldier,” 3rd Infantry Division; “ The Old Guard March,”  3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment; and  “Mechanized March,”  4th Infantry Division

There are also tried and true Army favorites on the release – from “Yankee Doodle” to the “Ballad of the Green Berets,” “The Caisson Song,” and, of course, the “Army Song.”   “The Star Spangled Banner” sets the tone as the first track on the recording.

The songs are performed, as they should be by those who live them -- the U.S. Army Chorus. This elite musical ensemble, comprised of twenty-eight singers and two pianists, represent the finest musical talent our nation has to offer.

“Songs of the Soldier” is available for pre-order for a 25 percent discount at www.militarymusic.com or by calling 1-800-365-7718.  After May 15, the album is also available through catalog sales and all online music retailers.  Altissimo! Recordings albums are also available at hundreds of retailers including military exchanges, Borders Books and Music, and United States National Park gift shops.


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Track List for “Songs of the Soldier

1. The Star Spangled Banner (1:18)
Airborne Infantry
2. The All-American Soldier - 82nd Airborne Division
3. The Screaming Eagles  - 101st Airborne Division
Infantry
4. The Big Red One - 1st Infantry Division
5. The Warrior March  - 2nd Infantry Division
6. Dogface Soldier  - 3rd Infantry Division
7. The Old Guard March - 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment
8. Mechanized March  - 4th Infantry Division
9. Climb To Glory  - 10th Mountain Division
10. Tropic Lightning  - 25th Infantry Division
Armor and Calvary
11. Iron Soldier March  - 1st Armored Division
12. Garry Owen  - 1st Cavalry Traditional
13. Allons! Allons!  - 11th Armored Cavalry
14. Hit the Leather  - 26th Cavalry
15. Yellow Ribbon  -
Field Artillery
16. Mountain Battery
17. The Corps
18. Benny Havens, Oh!
Classic Army
19. Yankee Doodle  -
20. Arirang
21. The Ballad of the Green Berets
22. Here Come the
23. The Caisson Song
24. Auld Lang Syne
25. The Battle Hymn of the Republic
26. The Army Song