Billy Joel: Fantasies & Delusions, Op. 1-10

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
For nearly a decade now, Billy Joel has devoted himself to writing instrumental classical music. The results heard on Fantasies & Delusions show the "Piano Man" firmly rooted in Romanticism and short, expressive works that cover a range of moods. There are hints of Schumann and Chopin throughout the 10 solo piano compositions; Joel may wear his influences on his sleeve, but at least he has great influences. Some critics may scoff, but this is a solid debut--not a "classical crossover" attempt filled with infectious pop melodies, but an impressive recording of new piano works played solidly by Richard Joo. As with his pop creations, Joel doesn't strive for the cutting-edge and he certainly doesn't traverse the depths of human emotions (though the 11-minute "Soliloquy, Op.1" sounds a little overwrought). This is still a pleasant classical album that's infinitely listenable (and head and shoulders above recent "classical" works penned by Paul McCartney and other pop stars). --Jason Verlinde

Billy Joel: Fantasies & Delusions, Op. 1-10, Music, Billy Joel, Richard Joo, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Crossover, Classical Music, Keyboard, Music for Keyboard, Pop, Rock/Pop
Billy Joel: Fantasies & Delusions, Op. 1-10
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • great CD
  • At best, a sincere attempt by a layperson
  • Lovely piece of wrting played very well
  • Unbelievable... unforgettable!
  • Richard Joo is the pianist in the world - I heard him live!!!
 Billy Joel: Fantasies & Delusions, Op. 1-10
Billy Joel , and Richard Joo
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Billy Joel - Fantasies and Delusions: Music for Solo Piano, Op. 1-10
  2. Streetlife Serenade
  3. The Bridge
  4. The Nylon Curtain
  5. Storm Front

ASIN: B00005Q6KS
Release Date: 2001-10-02

Tracks:

  1. Reverie (Villa D'Este)
  2. Waltz # 1 (Nunley's Carousel)
  3. Aria (Grand Canal)
  4. Invention In C Minor
  5. Soliloquy (On A Separation)
  6. Innamorato
  7. Suite For Piano (Star-Crossed)
  8. Sorbetto
  9. Delusion
  10. Waltz # 2 (Steinway Hall)
  11. Waltz # 3 (For Lola)
  12. Fantasy (Film Noir)
  13. Air (Dublinesque)

Amazon.com

For nearly a decade now, Billy Joel has devoted himself to writing instrumental classical music. The results heard on Fantasies & Delusions show the "Piano Man" firmly rooted in Romanticism and short, expressive works that cover a range of moods. There are hints of Schumann and Chopin throughout the 10 solo piano compositions; Joel may wear his influences on his sleeve, but at least he has great influences. Some critics may scoff, but this is a solid debut--not a "classical crossover" attempt filled with infectious pop melodies, but an impressive recording of new piano works played solidly by Richard Joo. As with his pop creations, Joel doesn't strive for the cutting-edge and he certainly doesn't traverse the depths of human emotions (though the 11-minute "Soliloquy, Op.1" sounds a little overwrought). This is still a pleasant classical album that's infinitely listenable (and head and shoulders above recent "classical" works penned by Paul McCartney and other pop stars). --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars great CD.......2007-05-09

Amazing. It is very light, not serious. A very enjoyable CD

3 out of 5 stars At best, a sincere attempt by a layperson.......2007-03-01

I understand that Joel has a limited classical background. It shows in all of the pieces. They are, however, a sincere attempt at classical composition. He tries different approaches, like drama, wistfulness, and even a motoric element. But it's obvious that he needs to listen to more classical discs and brush up on his knowledge of classical repertoire.

Nice try though.

4 out of 5 stars Lovely piece of wrting played very well.......2006-12-31

For all that say this is a hollow initation of past composers should remember that there has been little groundbreaking compsition for the last 50 years (maybe 100) and what is groundbreaking I can barely stand listening to. It is not Chopin .... it not supposed to be.

Listen for what it is and you will find it lovely piece of wrting played very well.

5 out of 5 stars Unbelievable... unforgettable!.......2006-12-01

Wow! This is a great classical album. It's perfection. A hundred years from now, if only one recording of Billy Joel survives, I hope it's this one.

5 out of 5 stars Richard Joo is the pianist in the world - I heard him live!!!.......2006-03-07

I have to say that the performance on the CD by Richard Joo is impeccable! However, I have had the fortune to hear him perform live and I must say that he is absolutely the BEST pianist that I have ever heard!!!! I have been in the classical music business for years and have heard countless pianists, but RICHARD JOO is in a league of his own. Especially when he performs "serious" classical pieces. So, if you ever get a chance to hear him live, DON'T MISS IT!!!! I have definately become his fan.
Fantasies & Delusions
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Billy Joel - Fantasies & Delusions
  • Copycat
  • Superb
  • Nothing special, though pleasant enough
 Fantasies & Delusions

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Billy Joel: Fantasies & Delusions, Op. 1-10
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ASIN: B00005RGND
Release Date: 2001-11-13

Tracks:

  1. Opus 3. Reverie (Villa d'Este)
  2. Opus 2. Waltz # 1 (Nunley's Carousel)
  3. Opus 7. Aria (Grand Canal)
  4. Opus 6. Invention in C Minor
  5. Opus 1. Soliloquy (On a Separation)
  6. Opus 8. Suite for Piano (Star-Crossed): I. Innamorato
  7. Opus 8. Suite for Piano (Star-Crossed): II. Sorbetto
  8. Opus 8. Suite for Piano (Star-Crossed): III. Delusion
  9. Opus 5. Waltz # 2 (Steinway Hall)
  10. Opus 9. Waltz # 3 (For Lola)
  11. Opus 4. Fantasy (Film Noir)
  12. Opus 10. Air (Dublinesque)

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Billy Joel - Fantasies & Delusions.......2007-01-12

Excellent arrangements of Billy Joel's Op. 1-10. Clearly written. Easy to read and play.

2 out of 5 stars Copycat.......2005-01-10

When I listen to these works, I hear bits and pieces of other composer. It is 10 bars of Beethoven, 2 bars of Joel, 6 of Mozart, 16 of Bach, 4 bars of Joel, 24 of Rachmaninov, 12 of Chopin, etc. Unfortunately there is very little of Billy Joel in these works.

The recording is great and the music is pleasant enough to listen to, but it feels as if he heas been copying and pasting from other works.

It is also all very old-fashioned. This kind of music was written more than a hundred years ago - classical music has developed in new ways, but there is nothing of that in CD.

I was disappointed.


5 out of 5 stars Superb.......2004-03-06

This is Billy Joel all grown up, and he even admitted on Bravo that this is the music he was due to write given his age. The composition is first rate and the recording is some of the best mic'd stereo piano ever recorded. The playing is also excellent. If you are a fan of classical piano music in either Sonata or Concerto format you will love this work. This is definately a 5 star recording and I can't wait to see what Billy Joel does next. Expand your muisical horizons and get a copy of this. Other recordings I am listening to are Josh Groban, Sara Mclachlan, Bob James, Brian Culbertson, Steve Tyrell, Keiko Matsui, Lynne Arialle, Norah Jones, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Glenn Gould, Dave Grusin, David Foster, David Benoit.

3 out of 5 stars Nothing special, though pleasant enough.......2003-01-09

I am a huge fan of Billy Joel's more popular (hate to even use that word) work. I'm not sure what I was expecting with this CD, but I think perhaps I was expecting classical music with a hint of something that would let me know Billy Joel was behind it. I don't hear that in this CD. Don't get me wrong; it is a perfectly lovely CD with plenty to like about it. However, there is nothing here that sets it apart from other piano CDs. Perhaps that is just what Billy had in mind.
Digital Audio Check CD
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Digital Audio Check CD

    Manufacturer: Denon Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    QuintetsQuintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by J.S. BachAll Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAll Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by SchubertAll Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by StraussAll Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    All Works by DebussyAll Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    RomanticRomantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    Tone PoemsTone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
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    Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    OrganOrgan | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
    ViolinViolin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    Sound EffectsSound Effects | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
    Test RecordingsTest Recordings | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
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    ASIN: B0000034MN
    Release Date: 1994-12-16

    Tracks:

    1. Announcement For Basic Checks: Channel: Left, Right
    2. Announcement For Basic Checks: Balance, Phase: Center, In Phase, Out Of Phase
    3. Test Signals For Basic Checks: 1001 Hz Sine Wave: - 16 dB, Left
    4. Test Signals For Basic Checks: 1001 Hz Sine Wave: - 16 dB, Right
    5. Silence: Emphasis On
    6. Silence: Emphasis Off
    7. Sweep Signals: Frequency Log Sweep 1 KHz, 5 Hz - 22.05 KHz: - 15 dB, L+R
    8. Sweep Signals: Level Sweep 1001 Hz, - 20 dB, - 60 - 0 dB, L+R
    9. Sweep Signals: Phase Sweep 401Hz, 0, 0 - 360: - 20 dB, Stereo
    10. White Noise: - 20 dB, L+R
    11. Source Material For Sound Quality Evaluation: Orchestra, Piano: - 60 dB, Stereo
    12. Source Material For Sound Quality Evaluation: Orchestra, Piano: - 40 dB, Stereo
    13. Source Material For Sound Quality Evaluation: Orchestra, Piano: - 20 dB, Sereo
    14. Source Material For Sound Quality Evaluation: Orchestra, Piano: - Normal, Stereo...
    15. Symphony No.8(9), In C Major, D.944 'Great': l. Andante-Allegro Ma Non Troppo (Excerpt) - Otmar Suitner/Staatshapelle Berlin
    16. Ein Heldenieben Op.40: Der Held - Herbert Blomstedt/Staatskapelle Dresden
    17. Violin Concerto No.5 in A Major, KV.219 'Turkish': lll. Rondeau; Tempo Di Menuetto (Excerpt) - Jean-Jacques Kantorow/Leopold Hager/Netherlands Chamber Orchestra
    18. Horn Quintet In E-Flat Major, KV.407: lll. Rondo; Allegro - Norbert Hauptmann/Philharmonia Quartet Berlin
    19. Golliwog's Cakewalk - Jacques Rouvier
    20. Praeludium In G Major, BWV.568 - Jacques Van Oortmerssen
    21. Winterreise, Op.89 D.911: Der Lindenbaum - Hermann Prey/Philippe Bianconi
    22. Der Rosenkavalier, Op.59: Waltz (Excerpt) - Hans Vonk/Staatskapelle Dresden/Theo Adam
    23. Carmen-Fantasy (Excerpt) - Paganini Ensemble
    24. Dabble Vision - Eiddie Gomez/Chick Corea/Steve Godd
    25. Just the Way You Are - Nancy Wilson
    26. Bemscha Swing - The Great Jazz Trio

    Music Review:

    1. Cecilia Bartoli - Mozart Portraits
    2. Cecilia Bartoli - The Vivaldi Album / Il Giardino Armonico
    3. Chopin: Scherzi/Impromtus
    4. Chopin: Waltzes Nos. 1-14
    5. Classical Wedding Traditions
    6. Debussy: Snowflakes Are Dancing, Prelude, etc / Tomita [Original recording remastered]
    7. Double Violin Concerto
    8. Dream a Dream
    9. Duetto
    10. Dvorák: Symphonies 8 & 9 / Kubelik, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

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    Yellow River Piano Concerto Is Back

    Songs of Faith and Inspiration

    Your Love (Got 2 Have It) [CD-single]

    You (Radio Gnome Invisible, Pt. 3) [Original recording remastered]

    When Wendy Was Walter

    Year of Meteors

    Whoa Nelly [Import]

    Today [Import] [Original recording remastered]

    Two Cats and a Mouse [Import]

    Um Trio Viralata [Import]

    Yearz of Dedication [Explicit Lyrics]

    Directions: Music From Pacific Lutheran University

    Mémoires: Memories Of Django