Fanfare

A fanfare (or flourish) is a short musical flourish that is typically played by trumpets or other brass instruments, often accompanied by percussion (Tarr 2001), a "brief improvised introduction to an instrumental performance" (Griffiths 2004). By extension, the word may also designate a short, prominent passage for brass instruments in an orchestral composition. In French usage, fanfare also may refer to a hunting signal (given either on "starting" a stag, or after the kill when the hounds are given their share of the animal), and in both France and Italy was the name given in the 19th century to a military or civilian brass band (Tarr 2001). In French, this usage continues to the present, and distinguishes the all-brass band from bands of mixed brass and woodwind, which is called Harmonie (Kennedy 2006).

Etymology

The word has been traced to a 15th-century Spanish root, fanfa ("vaunting"). Though the word may be onomatopoeic, it is also possible that it is derived from the Arabic word anfár ("trumpets"). The word is first found in 1546 in French, and in English in 1605, but it was not until the 19th century that it acquired its present meaning of a brief ceremonial flourish for brass (Tarr 2001). Indeed, an alternative term for the fanfare is "flourish", as in the "Ruffles and Flourishes" played by military bands in the U. S. to announce the arrival of the President, a general, or other high-ranking dignitary (Randel 2003).

Fanfare (magazine)

Fanfare is an American bimonthly magazine devoted to reviewing recorded music in all playback formats. It mainly covers classical music, but since inception, has also featured a jazz column in every issue.

History and profile

Fanfare was founded on 1 September 1977 "as a labor of love" by an elementary-school teacher turned editor named Joel Bruce Flegler (born 1941). After 38 years, he is still the publisher.

The magazine now runs to over 600 pages in a 6" x 9" format with about 80% of the editorial copy devoted to record reviews, and a front section with a substantial number of interviews and feature articles. It avoids equipment and pop music coverage and manages to include reviews of many more classical releases than is typical for other magazines in this genre. Subscriptions include online access to current content and archives of past issues.

Fanfare's editorial contributors have a range of expertise from the medieval to contemporary work. Describing itself as "the magazine for serious record collectors", its reviews cover not only the quality of live performance, but also that of sound and recording.

Fanfare (Jonathan Wilson album)

Fanfare is the second studio album released by LA-based artist Jonathan Wilson. It was released in 2013 on the British indie label Bella Union. The album was recorded at Wilson's studio Fivestarstudios in Laurel Canyon.

Overview

The album was recorded over a period of nine months, at Wilson's studio located in the legendary Laurel Canyon. Similar to his previous album Gentle Spirit, Wilson continued to collaborate with numerous artist such as Roy Harper, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Benmont Tench, Father John Misty, Patrick Sansone, Dawes among others. Prior to recording the album, Wilson set out to find a grand piano, which were to serve as the centerpiece and main feature on the album and help to achieve a more epic sound than previous. Wilson found a Steinway Grand Piano for sale on Craigslist and was lucky enough to convince the seller for him to rent it for about nine months.

Fanfare features all original Wilson compositions, with the exception of his rendition of Sopwith Camel's "Fazon".