| 1. Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost |
| 2. Compassion |
| 3. Love |
| 4. Consequences |
| 5. Serenity |
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Part of the Impulse Best 50! Series. Japanese exclusive 24-bit 96khz digitally remastered reissue of 1965 album. Packaged in a limited edition miniature gatefold LP sleeve.
For me, Deepak Chopra's voice is the only one I find soothing! This is a great album, and the music is relaxing - not too silly-keyboardy airy-fairy. It's very professional.
I listen to this while tucked in bed and unfortunately I usually fall asleep before the end! (I like to imagine that my subconscious is still getting the benefit even if I am zonked out 2/3rds of the way through!)
I would recommend this to anybody looking for an introduction to meditation. I have no real previous experience in meditation, eastern philosophy or similar and I found this to be very accessible.
The liner notes are great as well. They share information about the various rituals, prayers, and poems that are behind each of the songs - it's really quite interesting!
Overall, I would highly recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys the sounds of celtic music, as well as those who are looking for music to relax to - it's absolutely beautiful!
The emotional healing meditation didn't really give me as much as I had hoped for either. It is kind of repetitive and was not very helpful to me personally. She just kept saying, "emotions will come and go and we don't know why. It's just energy and a part of life. Just allow whatever comes and let it go". I know that she was probably going for the concept of "if you can feel it, you can heal it", which is true. But I don't know...it just wasn't as good as I thought it should have been. Perhaps it's just my personal preference, but this cd didn't help me as much as I had hoped. If anyone knows some great, relaxing, yet life transforming guided meditation cds...please feel free to let me know what they are.
One of the other exceptions besides Street Hassle to that is "Animal Serenade". Very interesting and artistic takes of some older songs as well as newer ones. The introduction to "Smalltown" is alone worth the purchase price all by itself. And "How do you think it Feels" is a very memorable rendition. Surprising in a way and sounding very current.
This latest thing is hardly surprising at all. And along with recent efforts: The "Ectasy" album (future farmers, modern dance ugh) and "The Raven" are quite honestly just embarrassing. "Set the Twilight Reeling" succeeds for about 1 or 2 songs.
By no means am I the kind of fan who has to relive all the artists previous work nor do I automatically deplore anything that doesn't closely resemble past triumphs. But at the same time, there has to be good song writing, solid melody and hooks, interesting lyrics, innovative song structures. Something to get your arms around, to feel like he really cares about what he's playing or singing. Some emoting or energy should be present to capture the listener. For sure it doesn't always have to be an indie or glam or hard rock sound to succeed. It can be contemplative and alluring, but it should be so in a memorable or compelling fashion. Most of his post NYC albums lack those once common yet now quite rare important elements.
Lou once remarked that "editing" was one of the most important aspects of song writing. That's what appears to be Lou's problem now and has been for some time now. He's got no one editing his work. No producer or collaborator to help him toss the fluff and the weak stuff out or to save and rework later into better tracks. Five minutes of this may have worked as soundtrack material for something much more inspiring or interesting. By itself, or as music to meditate to, it's immediately forgettable. Despite all the amputations, this is still not very good.
If you must buy this meditation album because it's a Lou Reed record then buy it used for a cheap price, and believe me it will quickly become very very cheap. Or better yet, go to the library and check it out for free. That's where you'll find dozens of other forgettable meditation albums. I'd say download it from the web, except I'm not sure it's really worth taking up hard drive space for.
1 and a half stars on effort and an attempt at producing something outside the norm. But ultimately and very sadly, failing miserably in the effort.
Get it if you want a good laugh, but if you do try to meditate with it, try not to dwell on the fact that you've just spent 15 bucks to hear the wailing echoes of a long-empty mind
"Hudson River Wind Meditations" opens with two extended pieces. The opening piece "Move Your Heart" is a 28-minute minimalist piece consisting of slow pulsating synths. There is very little change throughout this piece and the music almost seems as if it were a long loop set on infinite repeat. There is a striking similarity between this piece and Brian Eno's disc-length piece "Neroli".
The second extended piece "Find Your Note" runs for close to 32-minutes and consists of endless droning sine-wave tones. While the ambient nature of the previous piece is still very much present, the overall style is more similar to the electronic music created in the 1960's (ie: the music of Karlheinz Stockhausen or Lamonte Young).
The disc closes with two shorter pieces. The two-minute "Hudson River Wind" is simply an electronic simulation of ocean waves while the closing "Wind Coda" is basically a five-minute summary of what was heard in the previous three pieces - the pulsating notes of "Move Your Heart" combined with the sine-waves of "Find Your Note" and the white noise of "Hudson River Wind".
This is definitely a different type of album from Lou Reed. This isn't the type of music to sing and dance to. This is a quiet, non-intruding piece of background music that suits its purpose perfectly. While this music may seem boring to some, it is quite beautiful and relaxing.
If "Metal Machine music" turned a lot of people off, "Hudson River Wind Meditations" may be likely to reverse that.
Hudson River Wind Meditations was originally written by Lou Reed for himself to accompany his Tai Chi and meditative practices. Since so many friends asked him to burn copies of it for them, Mr. Reed apparently decided that it might have some commercial success if released to the general market.
If one takes it for what it is, music for meditation, there will be no disappointments. But remember, like Metal Machine Music, this is not the Rock N' Roll Animal. In fact, there really are no true rock tunes here, but rather, repetitive melodies that slowly change, but never evolve from their original intent. If one were to hear this without knowing who wrote it, Brian Eno or other champions of the "ambient" genre might come to mind, but while similar, this is not quite from that school of thought. Indeed, it is what it is... what a meditative, instrumental album would sound like if it were written by Lou Reed.
One is immediately impressed with the amount of bass response there is (especially on the first track). In fact, it will be a true test of your speaker system. Do not crank up the volume before you push the play button as it could blow out your woofers. And this album grows on you. I like it more each time I play it. On my first listening, I would have given it 3 stars, but now, it is definately ranks at least 4 stars. Perhaps after many more hearings, even 5 stars would not be out of the question.
Basically, of the four tracks, the first two are the meat of the matter in that they are approximately 1/2 hour each. After being lulled into the soundscape created by the first track, one is almost disappointed or jarred when it ends and the second begins. This isn't to say that the second track is not as good as the first, as it too leaves one wanting more when it ends. Surprisingly, the very short third track is the only "loud" piece on the entire album, and a little out of place here as it does not seem to belong to the "meditative" experience the album as a whole generates. Finally, the fourth relatively short track seems to be a reprise of all that has gone before.
This is certainly to be recommended to any fan of the "ambient" genre, those interested in an alternative to the usual sappy meditation discs out there, and to any Lou Reed completist. But if you're looking for the Rock N' Roll Animal, don't buy this because there's no toe-tapping music here. All that said, I would heartily recommend this latest outing from Mr. Reed to anyone who understands they are not getting a rock and roll follow-up to any album that has gone before.
So I listened to Creating Calm and I think it's perfect for where I am right now. I'm a true beginner in meditation. I'm short on time, but I have time to do 15-minute meditation exercises. There isn't any music on it, which I appreciate. It's all very concrete and body focused. Rivka Simmons takes a compassionate and gentle approach. I never felt like I was "doing it wrong."
She provides specific directions; she asks you to draw your attention to what you're doing; to notice what it feels like to be in your body. This may be too simple or easy for some people, but for a beginner like me with only 15 minutes to spare, it works!
I highly recomend it.
Dan Barber
It's like Sterling on Siver.............CTP
Alas, not all attempts are successful. Either there has not been enough nurturing in the Chinese repertoire, or the western playing style has not yet been fully developed.
Ms. Yang is a young classical guitarist. Gathering from what she said in her own introduction to this disc, she is a musician with a great ambition. It is true that the classical guitar may not have a substantial repertoire as other western instruments like the violin and piano. Hence drawing materials from other culture in a guitarist's repertoire is both a necessity and an endeavour.
A guitarist from Beijing, Ms. Yang is familiar with classical Chinese instruments like the gu qin, the zheng and the pipa. These ancient Chinese instruments are like the guitar- all are played by plucking strings set on wooden surfaces. So as Ms Yang herself noted - the guitar originated from the Middle East, a 'cross-over' area of Eastern and Western culture.
In many of the modern works recorded in this disc, Ms Yang played the guitar to the effect of those ancient Chinese instruments, and this is quite stunning. Her familiarity with the Eastern musical style is fully demonstrated, adding the requisite flavour of authenticity to her interpretation. There are a number of great compositions of the gu qing, the zheng as well as the pipa, and I truly look forward to Ms Yang's transcriptions of those to the guitar in due course.
A highly recommended recording for guitar players, guitar lovers and Chinese music fans alike.
When I played this CD for my guitar teacher, he commented that it was rare for him not to have heard at least one piece on any particular classical guitar CD, yet all these pieces were new to him. Carlo Domeniconi (who wrote the masterpiece "Koyunbaba") has composed an outstanding suite based on the I Ching. The 3 pieces by Stephen Goss, which are based on Asian films, are themselves cinematic: "The Blue Kite" is a work of minimalist beauty. There are many other talented composers lending their gifts to this CD. Most of the selections are either composed for Yang Xuefei or are arrangements by her. All are inspired by Chinese culture and music. My favorite piece is "Long Outstretched Pier with its Shadow" (by Dietmar Ungerrank); it is elegantly written and the execution is sensual and rich.
Yang XueFei's technical agility, especially the right hand, (as in "Yi Dance") goes beyond that of her contemporaries. As impressive as this is, the passion she imbues into each work is what connects her to the songs and ultimately to the audience. Technique is there to help her express what is inside of her. It is as if the guitar is her lover. This just isn't a great guitar album; it is a great album period. Its emotional complexity deepens with each listening. Buy it!
I've also purchased "Romance de Amor" which is extremely good as well (listen to her version of "Requerdos de la Alhambra" as compared to one of her heroes, John Williams on "The Guitarist"), but "Si Ji" is totally unique. Don't miss it.
As an aside, If you do end up buying and enjoying this CD, you might listen to Lily Afshar. The influence of her Persian heritage is similar in effect to "Si Ji" by Yang XueFei. Both artists have breathed life into the modern repertoire of guitar music.
This CD is quite different. The pieces are all Asian in flavor and by composers I had never heard of. And they are quite beautiful. Ms. Yang appears to be quite young, so this could be the start of a long and interesting career. But at least one of the pieces was written for her, so she has already apparently developed a solid reputation.
Third Symphony (with which this CD ends and just the third movement).
I grew up with E. Power Biggs, Virgil Fox, et al. and had never heard of Michael Murray (okay, it's been a while). I bought this delightful CD when it first appeared and before Amazon had been invented.
Upon hearing that most famous work with which Murray begins, I confess I was just this side of hysterical -- I was laughing with pure happiness. Murray's take on is it wonderfully over-the-top in the best possible sense. I have a son-in-law who is a musician and, indeed, does play the organ (i.e., if any of them have had pipes, I don't know, but I'm here to tell you, I don't want to hear ANY but pipe organs -- okay, I'm old).
At any rate, to hear this Toccata and Fugue played with such (carefully studied) abandon so tickled me, I called Brian (the son-in-law) and demanded that he listen while I put it on my stereo.
Now I'm going to send it to my son Bruce upon learning last night that he LOVES organ music. Who knew? He's 54 years old, for goodness' sake and never mentioned that little item before.
The arrangements of the Canon are sympathetic and difficult to fault, I suspect that this is because the composer behind Continuo -- Victor Friedberg -- is classically trained. He shows real talent in adding rhythms and effects around the Canon that add to its emotional impact without sounding too incongruous. The rhythms and meditation vocals instil a distinctly (Asian) Indian feel to the music, which coupled with ambient effects and pop style beats makes for an interesting and very satisfying listening experience to those willing to take the music on its own terms.
I have a real soft spot for the Canon and have been playing Continuo's meditations a lot in the few weeks it's been in my possession. Every now and again I come across music which is addictive and demands repeated plays that I don't easily tire of, Continuo is the latest of such music to be keeping my CD player busy. A little more variety would be welcome though, I would have awarded it 5 stars if some of the meditations weren't too much alike.
It's flawless.
Continuo should be a part of everyone's CD collection. In other words - by all means, buy this CD!
Part of the Impulse Best 50! Series. Japanese exclusive 24-bit 96khz digitally remastered reissue of 1965 album. Packaged in a limited edition miniature gatefold LP sleeve.
Meditations,John Coltrane,Import [Generic],Avant-Garde,Avant-Garde Jazz,Free Jazz,Hard Bop,Jazz,Modal Music,Pop
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The Soul of Healing Meditations
Deepak Chopra M.D. , and Deepak Chopra Manufacturer: Rasa Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
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Self-Help
| Miscellaneous
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Meditation
| New Age
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Accessories:
ASIN: B00005TZSK Release Date: 2001-11-20 |
Tracks:
- Breathing Meditation
- Heart Meditation
- Body Awareness
- Heart Sutra Meditation
- Envoking the Gods of Healing
- Inviting the Spirit of Healing
- Banishing Disease
- Ode of Solomon
Amazon.com
Featuring the soothing narration of Deepak Chopra over the trancelike music of Adam Plack, The Soul of Healing Meditations serves as an introduction to meditation for neophytes and as a more advanced tool to help overcome a physical ailment and/or emotional toxicity. That may make it sound like a digital elixir, but as Chopra says in his liner notes: "We like to tell our patients (at the Chopra Center for Well Being) that the body is the best pharmacy in the world and is capable of making wonder drugs." His message here is that one can naturally prevail over serious life challenges by becoming more attuned to one's body--by relaxing and filtering out the external world, focusing on and influencing internal sensations and biorhythms, and banishing negative thoughts and focusing on the positive aspects of life. This CD is not meant as a cure-all for physical or emotional ills. Rather, it's a supplemental experience to other treatments or programs, and it shows how enlightening and empowering meditation can be when practiced properly. Its actual effects will depend upon the receptiveness of the listener. Plack's accompanying soundtrack ranges from delicate ambient tones to more active Indian music, appropriately serving the mood of each of the album's eight tracks. --Bryan ReesmanCustomer Reviews:
Very professional, great intro to meditation.......2007-07-18
For me, Deepak Chopra's voice is the only one I find soothing! This is a great album, and the music is relaxing - not too silly-keyboardy airy-fairy. It's very professional.
I listen to this while tucked in bed and unfortunately I usually fall asleep before the end! (I like to imagine that my subconscious is still getting the benefit even if I am zonked out 2/3rds of the way through!)
I would recommend this to anybody looking for an introduction to meditation. I have no real previous experience in meditation, eastern philosophy or similar and I found this to be very accessible.
Excellent guided meditation.......2007-06-04
Soothing and comforting.......2007-05-13
Excellent.......2007-05-07
Excellent meditation instrument.......2007-03-09
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Celtic Meditation Music
Manufacturer: Sounds True ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Music
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Meditation
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Meditation
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ASIN: 1591791529 Release Date: 2004-05-11 |
Tracks:
- Blind Mary
- Aran Boat Song
- Far Beyond Yon Mountain/Bridget Cruise
- Were You At The Rock (An Raibh Tu Ag An Gcarraig)
- Bruach Na Carraige Bana/At The Edge Of The White Rock
- Dark Island
- An Bhoutais
- Gentle Maiden
- Dawning Of The Day
- Easter Snow
- Limerick's Lamentation (Marbha Na Luimneach)
Album Description
New World. 2004.Customer Reviews:
Great music to de-stress.......2007-05-09
Transportive and restorative.......2007-01-25
Absolutely Beautiful.......2007-01-05
The liner notes are great as well. They share information about the various rituals, prayers, and poems that are behind each of the songs - it's really quite interesting!
Overall, I would highly recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys the sounds of celtic music, as well as those who are looking for music to relax to - it's absolutely beautiful!
Gentle, contemplative Celtic instrumentals.......2006-10-01
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The Ease of Being: Guided Meditations for Centering and Healing
Mary Maddux and Richard Maddux Manufacturer: Heart of Healing ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Self-Help
| Miscellaneous
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General
| New Age
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ASIN: B00009R5VP Release Date: 2002-04-01 |
Tracks:
- Silence: a Centering Meditation
- Allowing: a Healing Meditation
- Flowing Freely: an Emotional Healing Meditation
Album Description
May 12, 2005 UPDATE: The Ease of Being CD has now been re-mastered for improved audio quality.The soothing voice and deeply relaxing music on the Ease of Being restore a centered state of awareness and support healing. The meditations encourage trust in the natural flow of life, leading to greater physical, mental and emotional ease. The instructions suggest that you "…simply allow the words and music to wash over you… It is not necessary to understand, or even hear, all the words". Instead of asking you to focus on specific instructions or images, these meditations gently guide the mind to relax completely. In this relaxed state, healing can happen naturally and effortlessly.
Once referred to as "meditations without borders", the Ease of Being does not represent any particular tradition. It gives you the freedom to relax into your own, unique healing journey. One customer stated, "These meditations are unique - you can just float with them". If you listen with an open mind and heart, The Ease of Being can take you straight to the "heart of healing"!
Customer Reviews:
Works Better the Longer You Use It.......2007-06-13
Gentle yet remarkably effective.......2007-06-05
Fall Asleep While Listening.......2007-05-22
Excellent Guided Meditations.......2007-05-09
Not as good as I had hoped........2007-05-08
The emotional healing meditation didn't really give me as much as I had hoped for either. It is kind of repetitive and was not very helpful to me personally. She just kept saying, "emotions will come and go and we don't know why. It's just energy and a part of life. Just allow whatever comes and let it go". I know that she was probably going for the concept of "if you can feel it, you can heal it", which is true. But I don't know...it just wasn't as good as I thought it should have been. Perhaps it's just my personal preference, but this cd didn't help me as much as I had hoped. If anyone knows some great, relaxing, yet life transforming guided meditation cds...please feel free to let me know what they are.
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Hudson River Wind Meditations
Lou Reed Manufacturer: Gemini Sun Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Alternative Rock
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ASIN: B000LW9Q9I Release Date: 2007-04-24 |
Tracks:
- Move Your Heart
- Find Your Note
- Hudson River Wind (Blend The Ambiance)
- Wind Coda
Amazon.com
Every now and then, usually reliable iconic figures put out a project that completely perplexes even their most stalwart adherents. Lou Reed did it in 1975 with Metal Machine Music. Released as a double LP and mostly conjured from pure feedback and some guitar effects, it sounded to many like a symphony for garbage disposals and jackhammers. At the time, Reed claimed most people wouldn't like it, and he was right, although if you drilled beneath the surface, it was strangely triumphal and exultant with almost psychedelic melodies. Three decades later, he returns with the follow-up. Hudson River Wind Meditations is the yang to Metal Machine Music's turbo-distortion head-crush ying. Which isn't to say it's smooth and soothing. Hudson River's two primary tracks consist of Doppler-effect sine waves, Tibetan-singing-bowl-like sounds, and deep subharmonics that threatened to crack my speakers. They all do slow-motion, abstract barber-pole dances around each other over the course of their half-hour or so duration. Listening deeply, one can get lost in the harmonic relationships in a way that recalls LaMonte Young's Theater of Eternal Music or Alvin Lucier's Music on a Long Thin Wire. Lou Reed is a practitioner of Tai Chi, and he says this music is meant for body work and meditation, but while the Hudson River itself can be a comforting, reflective place, this sounds more like the underground groans and electronic nervous system of Manhattan. The album was originally called Inner Spaces, but I suspect for most people, it might just be boring spaces. It's music for deep listening, but the rewards are highly rarefied. --John DilibertoCustomer Reviews:
Private meditation is where this music should have been kept. And never released to the unsuspecting public.......2007-06-19
One of the other exceptions besides Street Hassle to that is "Animal Serenade". Very interesting and artistic takes of some older songs as well as newer ones. The introduction to "Smalltown" is alone worth the purchase price all by itself. And "How do you think it Feels" is a very memorable rendition. Surprising in a way and sounding very current.
This latest thing is hardly surprising at all. And along with recent efforts: The "Ectasy" album (future farmers, modern dance ugh) and "The Raven" are quite honestly just embarrassing. "Set the Twilight Reeling" succeeds for about 1 or 2 songs.
By no means am I the kind of fan who has to relive all the artists previous work nor do I automatically deplore anything that doesn't closely resemble past triumphs. But at the same time, there has to be good song writing, solid melody and hooks, interesting lyrics, innovative song structures. Something to get your arms around, to feel like he really cares about what he's playing or singing. Some emoting or energy should be present to capture the listener. For sure it doesn't always have to be an indie or glam or hard rock sound to succeed. It can be contemplative and alluring, but it should be so in a memorable or compelling fashion. Most of his post NYC albums lack those once common yet now quite rare important elements.
Lou once remarked that "editing" was one of the most important aspects of song writing. That's what appears to be Lou's problem now and has been for some time now. He's got no one editing his work. No producer or collaborator to help him toss the fluff and the weak stuff out or to save and rework later into better tracks. Five minutes of this may have worked as soundtrack material for something much more inspiring or interesting. By itself, or as music to meditate to, it's immediately forgettable. Despite all the amputations, this is still not very good.
If you must buy this meditation album because it's a Lou Reed record then buy it used for a cheap price, and believe me it will quickly become very very cheap. Or better yet, go to the library and check it out for free. That's where you'll find dozens of other forgettable meditation albums. I'd say download it from the web, except I'm not sure it's really worth taking up hard drive space for.
1 and a half stars on effort and an attempt at producing something outside the norm. But ultimately and very sadly, failing miserably in the effort.
More pretentious drivel from an increasingly irrelevant "star",.......2007-05-25
Get it if you want a good laugh, but if you do try to meditate with it, try not to dwell on the fact that you've just spent 15 bucks to hear the wailing echoes of a long-empty mind
Yet Another Side to Lou Reed........2007-05-15
"Hudson River Wind Meditations" opens with two extended pieces. The opening piece "Move Your Heart" is a 28-minute minimalist piece consisting of slow pulsating synths. There is very little change throughout this piece and the music almost seems as if it were a long loop set on infinite repeat. There is a striking similarity between this piece and Brian Eno's disc-length piece "Neroli".
The second extended piece "Find Your Note" runs for close to 32-minutes and consists of endless droning sine-wave tones. While the ambient nature of the previous piece is still very much present, the overall style is more similar to the electronic music created in the 1960's (ie: the music of Karlheinz Stockhausen or Lamonte Young).
The disc closes with two shorter pieces. The two-minute "Hudson River Wind" is simply an electronic simulation of ocean waves while the closing "Wind Coda" is basically a five-minute summary of what was heard in the previous three pieces - the pulsating notes of "Move Your Heart" combined with the sine-waves of "Find Your Note" and the white noise of "Hudson River Wind".
This is definitely a different type of album from Lou Reed. This isn't the type of music to sing and dance to. This is a quiet, non-intruding piece of background music that suits its purpose perfectly. While this music may seem boring to some, it is quite beautiful and relaxing.
If "Metal Machine music" turned a lot of people off, "Hudson River Wind Meditations" may be likely to reverse that.
The Anti Metal Machine Music.......2007-05-09
Hudson River Wind Meditations was originally written by Lou Reed for himself to accompany his Tai Chi and meditative practices. Since so many friends asked him to burn copies of it for them, Mr. Reed apparently decided that it might have some commercial success if released to the general market.
If one takes it for what it is, music for meditation, there will be no disappointments. But remember, like Metal Machine Music, this is not the Rock N' Roll Animal. In fact, there really are no true rock tunes here, but rather, repetitive melodies that slowly change, but never evolve from their original intent. If one were to hear this without knowing who wrote it, Brian Eno or other champions of the "ambient" genre might come to mind, but while similar, this is not quite from that school of thought. Indeed, it is what it is... what a meditative, instrumental album would sound like if it were written by Lou Reed.
One is immediately impressed with the amount of bass response there is (especially on the first track). In fact, it will be a true test of your speaker system. Do not crank up the volume before you push the play button as it could blow out your woofers. And this album grows on you. I like it more each time I play it. On my first listening, I would have given it 3 stars, but now, it is definately ranks at least 4 stars. Perhaps after many more hearings, even 5 stars would not be out of the question.
Basically, of the four tracks, the first two are the meat of the matter in that they are approximately 1/2 hour each. After being lulled into the soundscape created by the first track, one is almost disappointed or jarred when it ends and the second begins. This isn't to say that the second track is not as good as the first, as it too leaves one wanting more when it ends. Surprisingly, the very short third track is the only "loud" piece on the entire album, and a little out of place here as it does not seem to belong to the "meditative" experience the album as a whole generates. Finally, the fourth relatively short track seems to be a reprise of all that has gone before.
This is certainly to be recommended to any fan of the "ambient" genre, those interested in an alternative to the usual sappy meditation discs out there, and to any Lou Reed completist. But if you're looking for the Rock N' Roll Animal, don't buy this because there's no toe-tapping music here. All that said, I would heartily recommend this latest outing from Mr. Reed to anyone who understands they are not getting a rock and roll follow-up to any album that has gone before.
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Creating Calm In Your Life: A Guided Meditation and Stress Reduction CD
Rivka Simmons Manufacturer: Floating Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| New Age
| Styles
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ASIN: B0002TQZSK Release Date: 2003-12-01 |
Tracks:
- Mindfulness Meditation One (15 minutes)
- Mindfulness Meditation Two (15 minutes)
- A Progressive Muscle Relaxation (15 minutes)
- A Body Scan Relaxation (15 minutes)
Album Description
Creating Calm In Your Life: A Guided Meditation and Stress Reduction CD contains 4 short, easy-to-do, 15-minute meditations: two mindfulness meditations, a progressive muscle relaxation and a body scan meditation. It is ideal for busy people looking for an easy way to incorporate meditation and relaxation into their lives. Rivka's soothing voice gently guides listeners to deep stillness and calm. Here's what some of Rivka's students have to say about Creating Calm: "I love Rivka's gentle voice" "Gives me a deep feeling of well-being" "Helps me to sleep peacefully" "A good introduction for beginners" "Perfect way to end a hectic day"Customer Reviews:
Great for beginners short on time!.......2007-03-29
So I listened to Creating Calm and I think it's perfect for where I am right now. I'm a true beginner in meditation. I'm short on time, but I have time to do 15-minute meditation exercises. There isn't any music on it, which I appreciate. It's all very concrete and body focused. Rivka Simmons takes a compassionate and gentle approach. I never felt like I was "doing it wrong."
She provides specific directions; she asks you to draw your attention to what you're doing; to notice what it feels like to be in your body. This may be too simple or easy for some people, but for a beginner like me with only 15 minutes to spare, it works!
Not meditation, but not bad for tension.......2007-03-03
Somewhat helpful.......2007-02-16
meditation is deeply personal.......2007-01-18
a little too hippie for my wife.......2007-01-10
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Hymns & Meditations
Manufacturer: RPI ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
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ASIN: B000087HWV Release Date: 2002-11-24 |
Tracks:
- Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
- Near The Cross
- Softly And Tenderly
- I Need Thee Every Hour
- Nothing But The Blood
- Just As I Am
- What Wondrous Love Is This
- Come Ye Sinners Poor And Needy (Medley - part of Just As I Am)
- Con Que Pagaremos
- Brethern, We Have Met To Worship
- Sacred Head Now Wounded
- Nearer My God To Thee (Medley - part of Just As I Am)
Album Description
One of Fernando Ortega's first albums and one of his most highly acclaimed, Hymns & Meditations revisits some of the world's favorite hymns in a beautiful and authentic recording. With his outstanding piano skills and tender, intimate voice, Fernando breathes new life into the time-honored classics. Hymns & Meditations is, by far, one of Fernando Ortega's finest recordings and best selling albums to date... if you're a Fernando fan, this is a must have for your collection.Customer Reviews:
Best hymn singer I know.......2006-10-24
His Best Album.......2005-04-14
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Distant Land: The Orchestra Collection
Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Rutter
| Rutter, John
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ASIN: B0000D9YAE Release Date: 2004-01-13 |
Tracks:
- Distant Land
- What Sweeter Music
- Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind
- Candlelight
- Lord, Make Me An Instrument Of Thy Peace
- The Lord Bless You And Keep You
- A-Roving
- I Have A Bonnet Trimmed With Blue
- O Waly Waly
- Dashing Away
- 1. Prelude
- 2. Ostinato
- 3. Aria
- 4. Waltz
- 5. Chanson
- 6. Rondeau
- First Movement: She Loves You/Eleanor Rigby/Yesterday/All My Loving/Hey Jude
- Second Movement: Here, There And Everywhere/Something
- Third Movement: Can't Buy Me Love/The Long And Winding Road
Customer Reviews:
One of the best.......2007-01-09
I highly recomend it.
Dan Barber
An Orchestral Extravaganza.......2006-07-03
Exquisite!.......2005-11-30
It's like Sterling on Siver.............CTP
Guilty pleasure.......2005-08-21
Rutter... without words.......2005-08-05
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Si ji (Four Seasons)
Manufacturer: Gsp Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music
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| Classical (c.1770-1830)
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ASIN: B000AXWHEY Release Date: 2005-09-13 |
Tracks:
- Wang Huiran: Yi Dance
- He Luting: Shepherd Boy with Flute
- Dietmar Ungerrank: Intonation & 4 Sound-and-Image Compositions - Intonation
- Dietmar Ungerrank: Intonation & 4 Sound-and-Image Compositions - Long Out-stretched Pier with its Shadows
- Dietmar Ungerrank: Intonation & 4 Sound-and-Image Compositions - Wind on The Hill
- Dietmar Ungerrank: Intonation & 4 Sound-and-Image Compositions - Waiting for Guests
- Dietmar Ungerrank: Intonation & 4 Sound-and-Image Compositions - Land Circus
- Traditional - Heavenly Bird
- Tradional - Lantern Song
- Traditional - Mayila
- Evan Hirschelman: Meditation No.2
- Evan Hirshelman: Meditation No.1
- Stephen Goss: The Blue Kite
- Stephen Goss: Yellow Earth
- Stephen Goss: Farewell My Concubine
- Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 1 T'ai
- Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 3 Lin
- Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 4 T'ung len
- Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 5 Huan
- Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 6 K'uei
- Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 7 Chieh
- Stephen Funk Pearson: South China Sea Peace
- Thierry Rougier: Four Seasons - Spring
- Thierry Rougier: Four Seasons - Summer
- Thierry Rougier: Four Seasons - Autumn
- Thierry Rougier: Four Seasons - Winter
Customer Reviews:
Successful crossing over from East to West.......2007-07-06
Alas, not all attempts are successful. Either there has not been enough nurturing in the Chinese repertoire, or the western playing style has not yet been fully developed.
Ms. Yang is a young classical guitarist. Gathering from what she said in her own introduction to this disc, she is a musician with a great ambition. It is true that the classical guitar may not have a substantial repertoire as other western instruments like the violin and piano. Hence drawing materials from other culture in a guitarist's repertoire is both a necessity and an endeavour.
A guitarist from Beijing, Ms. Yang is familiar with classical Chinese instruments like the gu qin, the zheng and the pipa. These ancient Chinese instruments are like the guitar- all are played by plucking strings set on wooden surfaces. So as Ms Yang herself noted - the guitar originated from the Middle East, a 'cross-over' area of Eastern and Western culture.
In many of the modern works recorded in this disc, Ms Yang played the guitar to the effect of those ancient Chinese instruments, and this is quite stunning. Her familiarity with the Eastern musical style is fully demonstrated, adding the requisite flavour of authenticity to her interpretation. There are a number of great compositions of the gu qing, the zheng as well as the pipa, and I truly look forward to Ms Yang's transcriptions of those to the guitar in due course.
A highly recommended recording for guitar players, guitar lovers and Chinese music fans alike.
One of the best solo guitar albums I have ever heard.......2006-10-06
When I played this CD for my guitar teacher, he commented that it was rare for him not to have heard at least one piece on any particular classical guitar CD, yet all these pieces were new to him. Carlo Domeniconi (who wrote the masterpiece "Koyunbaba") has composed an outstanding suite based on the I Ching. The 3 pieces by Stephen Goss, which are based on Asian films, are themselves cinematic: "The Blue Kite" is a work of minimalist beauty. There are many other talented composers lending their gifts to this CD. Most of the selections are either composed for Yang Xuefei or are arrangements by her. All are inspired by Chinese culture and music. My favorite piece is "Long Outstretched Pier with its Shadow" (by Dietmar Ungerrank); it is elegantly written and the execution is sensual and rich.
Yang XueFei's technical agility, especially the right hand, (as in "Yi Dance") goes beyond that of her contemporaries. As impressive as this is, the passion she imbues into each work is what connects her to the songs and ultimately to the audience. Technique is there to help her express what is inside of her. It is as if the guitar is her lover. This just isn't a great guitar album; it is a great album period. Its emotional complexity deepens with each listening. Buy it!
I've also purchased "Romance de Amor" which is extremely good as well (listen to her version of "Requerdos de la Alhambra" as compared to one of her heroes, John Williams on "The Guitarist"), but "Si Ji" is totally unique. Don't miss it.
As an aside, If you do end up buying and enjoying this CD, you might listen to Lily Afshar. The influence of her Persian heritage is similar in effect to "Si Ji" by Yang XueFei. Both artists have breathed life into the modern repertoire of guitar music.
Virtuoso playing and an unusual repetoire.......2005-10-26
This CD is quite different. The pieces are all Asian in flavor and by composers I had never heard of. And they are quite beautiful. Ms. Yang appears to be quite young, so this could be the start of a long and interesting career. But at least one of the pieces was written for her, so she has already apparently developed a solid reputation.
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An Organ Blaster Sampler
Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach
| Bach, Johann Sebastian
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ASIN: B000003CXP Release Date: 1991-02-10 |
Tracks:
- Toccata And Fugue In D Minor
- Toccata
- Toccata
- The Emperor's Fanfare
- Beaucoup Plus Largement
- Dieu Parmi Nous
- Finale
- Rigaudon
- Fanfare
- Maestoso
Customer Reviews:
"Blasted" away.......2006-09-27
Wow!.......2006-06-07
Third Symphony (with which this CD ends and just the third movement).
I grew up with E. Power Biggs, Virgil Fox, et al. and had never heard of Michael Murray (okay, it's been a while). I bought this delightful CD when it first appeared and before Amazon had been invented.
Upon hearing that most famous work with which Murray begins, I confess I was just this side of hysterical -- I was laughing with pure happiness. Murray's take on is it wonderfully over-the-top in the best possible sense. I have a son-in-law who is a musician and, indeed, does play the organ (i.e., if any of them have had pipes, I don't know, but I'm here to tell you, I don't want to hear ANY but pipe organs -- okay, I'm old).
At any rate, to hear this Toccata and Fugue played with such (carefully studied) abandon so tickled me, I called Brian (the son-in-law) and demanded that he listen while I put it on my stereo.
Now I'm going to send it to my son Bruce upon learning last night that he LOVES organ music. Who knew? He's 54 years old, for goodness' sake and never mentioned that little item before.
For those who like BIG organ works.......2005-09-04
Pure Majestic Power!.......2003-07-20
A word of caution - this CD requires a capable stereo (think subwoofer) to sound its best. Trust me - if you listen to this CD on a good stereo and if you like organ music, you'll sit there with a big grin on your face and tears in your eyes as you listen to this CD.
Excellent Performance by Murray.......2001-11-09
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Meditations on Pachelbel's Canon
Continuo Manufacturer: Six Degrees ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| New Age
| Styles
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Meditation
| New Age
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Six Degrees Records
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ASIN: B00001SIAL Release Date: 1999-09-28 |
Tracks:
- Intro
- Meditation 1
- Meditation 2
- Meditation 3
- Meditation 4
- Meditation 5
- Finale
Amazon.com
Pachelbel's Canon in D, probably one of the world's most recognizable melodies and certainly one of its most recorded, receives an atmospheric and New Age treatment on this eminently listenable CD. Victor Friedberg, who cites John Cage as a teacher and mentor, uses various electronic and world-beat elements to add new spice to the classic canon. Fitting in nicely with Six Degrees Records' mission "to discover unique sonic atmospheres from around the world ... that are often impossible to categorize, but always accessible," these seven meditations include synthesized rhythmic loops, gentle washes of reverberant sound, and Jennifer Rhys Davies's remarkable soprano voice. "Finale" returns to a simple piano rendition of the familiar melody, serving as a traditional end to an otherwise thoroughly modern, electronic treatment. --Wally ShoupCustomer Reviews:
Continuing the Canon.......2004-10-27
The arrangements of the Canon are sympathetic and difficult to fault, I suspect that this is because the composer behind Continuo -- Victor Friedberg -- is classically trained. He shows real talent in adding rhythms and effects around the Canon that add to its emotional impact without sounding too incongruous. The rhythms and meditation vocals instil a distinctly (Asian) Indian feel to the music, which coupled with ambient effects and pop style beats makes for an interesting and very satisfying listening experience to those willing to take the music on its own terms.
I have a real soft spot for the Canon and have been playing Continuo's meditations a lot in the few weeks it's been in my possession. Every now and again I come across music which is addictive and demands repeated plays that I don't easily tire of, Continuo is the latest of such music to be keeping my CD player busy. A little more variety would be welcome though, I would have awarded it 5 stars if some of the meditations weren't too much alike.
Continuo and Pachelbel - a spot-on combination!.......2004-10-04
It's flawless.
Continuo should be a part of everyone's CD collection. In other words - by all means, buy this CD!
INCREDIBLY INSPIRING.......2003-12-12
A wonderful inspirational CD!!.......2003-02-13
Pachelbel's Canon at it's best.......2002-05-15
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