Mass of the Children

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
This is the FIRST ALL NEW RECORDING OF JOHN RUTTER'S MUSIC IN TEN YEARS! "Mass of the Children was written in late 2002 and early 2003. The occasion of its first performance in February 2003 was a concert in New York’s Carnegie Hall involving children’s choir, adult choir, soprano and baritone soloists, and orchestra. I had always wanted to write a work combining children’s choir with adult performers, not only because I find the sound of children’s voices irresistible but also because I wanted to repay a debt. As a boy soprano in my school choir I had been thrilled whenever our choir took part in adult works with children’s choir parts, such as the Mahler Third Symphony and the Britten War Requiem, and years later I remembered this experience and wanted to write something that would give children a similar opportunity to perform alongside adult professionals". From the notes – John Rutter

Tracks:

Overture To 'Tannhauser'
Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
Hungarian Dance No.7
The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
Csardas Music
The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
Tzigane
Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
Caprice No.24
The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
The Violin Muted
Clair De Lune
The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
The Pizzicato Violin
Pizzicato Polka
In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
Hungarian Dance No.4
Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
Bolero
Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
Elfenreigen

Tracks:

Introduction To The Viola
Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
Cypresses (No.9)
The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
The 'Period' Viola In Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
Elfentanz, Op.39
Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
The Protecting Veil (Opening)
A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
Flamenco
Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
Symphony No.9 (Finale)
Introduction To The Double-Bass
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
Elegy No.1 In D Major
The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
Capriccio Di Bravura
Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
Sa'Dawi
Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
Chamber Music No.II
The Piccolo - Aptly Named
La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
A Variety Of Techniques
Chamber Music No.II
Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
Naelden, Naelden
The Bachian Oboe
Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
The Swan Of Tuonela
The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
Bolero
The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
...And Quite Low.
Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
Introduction To The Saxophone
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
Bolero
The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
Sax-O-Phun
The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
Bolero
The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
Symphony No.3 (Opening)
The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
The Ceremonial Trumpet
Fanfare For The Common Man
Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
Billy The Kid
The Trumpet As Character Actor
Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
The Birth Of The Trombone
Aenmerckt Nu Hier
The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
Canzon 12 In Double Echo
The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
Hosannah
The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
The Trombone As Caricaturist
Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
The Horn And The Hunt
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
Walter Music (Minuet 1)
The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
Den Hoboecken Dans
Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
Gymnopedie No.2
The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
The Birth Of The Bongo
Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
Taking Advantage Of Tunability
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
Ravel And The Xylophone
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
Introducing The Vibraphone
The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
Folk Dances
The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
Introducing The Tubular Bells
Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
Carmen Suite (Introduction)
But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Introducing The Celeste
The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
Petrushka (Russian Dance)
The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
Mahler's Sleighbells
Symphony No.4 (Opening)
A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Nocturnes
Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
The Oboe As Duck
Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
A Thunderstorm In A Million
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
Octet In F (Mvt 3)
The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
Canzon 28
Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
Images (Gigues)
A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

Tracks:

Organ Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C Major, BWV 564 I. - J.S. Bach
Organ Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C Major, BWV 564 II. - J.S. Bach
Organ Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C Major, BWV 564 III. - J.S. Bach
Fantasy In C Major, Op.17 (I)
Fantasy In C Major, Op.17 (II)
Fantasy In C Major, Op.17 (III)
Piano Sonata No. 9 In F Major, Op. 68 'Black Mass' - Scriabin
Poeme In F-Sharp Major, Op. 32, No. 1 - Scriabin

Tracks:

Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 30, No.4 - Chopin
Etude No. 8 In F Major, Op. 10 - Chopin
Ballade in G Minor, Op. 23, No.1 - Chopin
Serenade For The Doll No.3 - DeBussy
Etude In C-Sharp Minor, Op.2, No.1 - Scriabin
Etude No. 11 In A-Flat Major, Op.72 - Moszkowski
Traumerei
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (1)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (2)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (3)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (4)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (5)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (6)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (7)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (8)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (9)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (10)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (11)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (12)
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 (13)

Customer Reviews:

A historical legacy!.......2006-03-28

Despite I am not a Horowitz admirer, it 's worthy to underline and emphasize the colossal pianism and thunderous fingering around every one of its different performances.

The special distinction around this album is the fresh inspiration and notable musicality emanated in this Recital, that deserves to be catalogued as a cult recording among the impressive and even excellent live recordings in the Sixties.

A bravura performance and a genuine expression make of this album a very special recommendation.

Masterpieces played by the great Horowitz.......2004-12-12

This Carnegie Hall return recital is one of the greatest recordings by Horowitz. With a huge audience, Horowitz did not disappoint. He plays the Bach/Busoni as only he can play; it is eternally beautiful. Schumann has some mistakes, but those mistakes make the playing even more fascinating. The Scriabin is also excellent.

I am confident in saying that Horowitz's mazurka here is the best recording of op. 30 no. 4. Horowitz takes his time and does not rush the tempo, which is soooo easy to do with this piece. The etude is played awesomely, but the real treat is the Ballade no. 1. Horowitz played this piece all his life and played it very different many times, but this ballade is the best, most musical he ever played, mistakes and all.

The encores are also a treat, and the complete Kinderszenen bonus is another reason to buy this cd. The bonus dvd contains Liszt's Au Bord D'une Source, Chopin's Black key etude, and Moszkowski's etude in f major, op. 72, no.6.

This cd is my favorite, and I have a lot...

Insert Here Any Superlative You Can Think Of.......2004-06-10

For those of you who don't enjoy reading long drawn-out reviews: This is the best CD set I could possibly imagine buying before I bought it. After I bought it, I wept twice in the first listening of just the second disc. The Chopin recordings on this disc are simply legendary, definitive, and indescribably beautiful.

Horowitz out-did even himself at this concert. Sure, wow, wrong notes, even in the first couple measures. Who cares. You had better not. I noticed two exposed wrong notes in my first listen of this disc. It is by far the best CD set I own.

Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major: Sure, wrong note. Grand. I'm not too large a fan of this piece, but, regardless, if you like Bach, you like Horowitz for this recording.

Fantasy in C Major: True to its title, this performance was indeed fantastic. Horowitz is acclaimed most for his different tones on the piano. Let me tell you, that is for a reason.

Scriaban: I, personally, do not like Scriaban. An acquired taste. If you do like him, however, you will by all means enjoy these two recordings of the Black Mass Sonata and the Poeme in F-sharp Major.

The Chopin: The Mazurka is the greatest mazurka recording I have ever heard, period. The Etude is technically flawless and musically flawless. The Ballade. One of my favorite pieces of all time. This is my favorite recording, simply. It is quite, quite unbelievable. I wept. Every theme Chopin includes, Horowitz includes with care. This piece is one that takes a long long long time to figure out. Musically, it is one of the hardest. Horowitz seems to finally understand it after having played it for almost forty years undoubtedly. I have heard roughly 10 or 12 recordings of this piece, and Horowitz's trumps all.

The encores: Debussy, Scriaban, Moszkowski are all wonderful in their own right, but Traumerei is practically Horowitz's child. People in the audience were weeping when they heard this piece. I went in with the intention of not weeping, and failed miserably. It is the singly most beautiful performance I have ever heard.

Buy this set. You will absolutely not regret it.

WHAT IS GOING ON?.......2003-12-27

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? WHY CANT YOU JUST LEAVE THE POOR MAN ALONE? I AM A PIANO STUDENT WHO JUST FINISHED A CONCERT SERIES OUTSIDE OF MY OWN COUNTRY AND I HAVE JUST READ SOME OF THE OTHER REIEWS ABOUT HOROWITZ HERE AND I AM FRANKLY DIGUSTED.
ARE WRONG NOTES ALL YOU PEOPLE LISTEN TO?
HOROWITZ WAS BRILLIANT, YES, BUT HE WAS ALSO HUMAN LIKE ALL OF US. I MAKE MY FAIR SHARE OF WRONG NOTES AND WOULD HATE TO THINK THAT THEY WOULD BE THE ONLY THING THAT AN AUDIENCE WOULD REMEMBER AFTER A CONCERT. WRONG NOTES ARE A PART OF LIFE AND SOMETIMES ITS MORE IMPORTANT TO TAKE RISKS, EVEN IF IT RESULTS IN FAILIURE. ITS WHAT BREATHES LIFE INTO A PERSONS PLAYING, KNOWING THAT ONE SPLIT NOTE OR TWO IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. GIVEN THE CHOICE BETWEEN BEING MORE MUSICAL OR MORE TECHNICAL, I WOULD RATHER BE A MUSICIAN AND NOT A ROBOT.
IN HOROWITZ'S PLAYING, THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO LISTEN TO. SO NEXT TIME YOU SWITCH ON ONE OF HIS RECORDINGS, WHY NOT TRY TO FORGET EVERYTHING YOU HAVE HAD BRAINWASHED INTO YOU ABOUT PERFECTION AND JUST LISTEN WITH YOUR HEART INSTEAD OF YOUR HEAD.

HOROWITZ WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST PERSON TO TELL YOU THAT A PERFECT TECHNIQUE IS A COMPLETE MYTH. EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES, WE CANT BE PERFECT FOR YOU ALL THE TIME, SO JUST GIVE US A BREAK.

Just the Facts..........2003-11-29

This is not a review per se. My review is elsewhere on this page. But I wanted to follow-up and correct a few errors, which have been circulated in regard to this recording.

First, the corrections used on the original version of Horowitz at Carnegie Hall were not made at a "patch session at Carnegie a few days" after the concert. Columbia's engineers had already recorded Horowitz's rehearsals and used that material for the editing.

Second, the editing in the album was neither as extensive as some have suggested, nor as insignificant as the anonymous reviewer from Baltimore states.

Here is a (mostly) complete list of the patches on the original album, which have been removed from this new edition:

Bach-Busoni: Preludio: Measures 2-12 and parts of the coda (Horowitz, by the way, does not play the ossias at bars 8, 10, and 12); Intermezzo: Small patches at bars 7 and 11; Fugue: Several edits between bars 97 and 110, and again in the coda.

Schumann Fantasy: 1st Movement: patches at 7:32 and 10:21; 2nd Movement: small patches at 2:44 and 4:32, and a series of patches in the coda 6:58-7:39; 3rd Movement: No edits.

Scriabin: Sonata No 9: No Edits. Poem in F-sharp: Patch from 2:16-2:26

Chopin: Mazurka: Small edit at 2:02; Etude: Patched sections from 1:27-1:33 and 2:15-2:20; Ballade: Small edits at 2:04 and 4:52, at least four patches in the coda.

None of the encores were edited.

Tracks:

Mass of the Children
Look at the world (1996)
To every thing there is a season (1997)
Wings of the morning(2002)
A Clare Benediction (1998)
I will sing with the spirit (1994)
Musica Dei donum (1998)
I my Best-Beloveds am (2000)
Come down, O Love divine (1998)

Album Description

This is the FIRST ALL NEW RECORDING OF JOHN RUTTER'S MUSIC IN TEN YEARS! "Mass of the Children was written in late 2002 and early 2003. The occasion of its first performance in February 2003 was a concert in New York's Carnegie Hall involving children's choir, adult choir, soprano and baritone soloists, and orchestra. I had always wanted to write a work combining children's choir with adult performers, not only because I find the sound of children's voices irresistible but also because I wanted to repay a debt. As a boy soprano in my school choir I had been thrilled whenever our choir took part in adult works with children's choir parts, such as the Mahler Third Symphony and the Britten War Requiem, and years later I remembered this experience and wanted to write something that would give children a similar opportunity to perform alongside adult professionals". From the notes - John Rutter

Customer Reviews:

Mass of the Children.......2006-03-24

My daughter is performing this work with her high school chorale. She is the main listener, and is totally enamored with this particular recording.

A Brilliant Masterpiece.......2005-12-24

After being able to perform this piece myself, I know that is is just amazing! I reccomend it to anyobdy who likes spiritual, uplifting music.
Nice work, Mr. Rutter!

Britten-lite :(.......2005-03-30

I contemplated on this 3-star rating for a bit, especially after reading all the 4- to 5-star ratings preceding this. John Rutter is a terrific and charismatic choral conductor and writer. His editing on Fauré's Requiem really galvanized the popularity of that work, not to mention his own very heart-felt Requiem setting as well. Speaking of Requiem settings, my bone to pick about the "Mass of the Children" work is such that it emulates (albeit in a heart-felt and sincere fashion) other large-scale works that involve orchestral, treble and mixed choruses, very specifically Benjamin Britten's unforgettable War Requiem. I couldn't help but feel a bit slighted by the last few pages of "Mass of the Children" and its much diluted rendition of the War Requiem's counterpart conclusion. I think those famliar w/ the Britten will know what I mean. It's hard not to draw a comparison because the similarities are striking yet determinedly contrived.

In any case, I do understand that the participants and "target audience" are perhaps less lofty than that of the Britten. According to the score inscription, this was "written at the inviation of Peter Tiboris and MidAmerica Productions."

There are other anthems on this CD that offer a nice addition. I think the Clare Benediction is a stand-out as a great latter-Rutter anthem, with a characteristically satisfying, fluent and "inevitable" cadences towards the end.

Outstanding!.......2004-12-27

As an avid choral enthusiast, and having performed The Mass of the Children, I can say that this is one of Rutter's finest works. Without a doubt, Rutter truly allows his soul to shine through in this masterpiece. The children's choir is fabulous, and the music gives me chill bumps whenever I hear it. I highly recommend this album!

Beautiful!.......2004-09-11

I sing with my school choir, and was blessed to be able to perform the Mass of the Children with the school. It is a beautiful mass-- the lightness of the childrens voices with the power of the adult choirs make a moving and powerful mass. The orchestra is stunning, just enough to add beauty to the piece. Rutter's Mass of the Children is a must-have for any person who enjoys this type of music.

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The Chamber Orchestra Version of Rutter's 'Mass of the Children'

John Rutter: Mass of the Children

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mass of the Children
Gloria: The Sacred Music of John Rutter
Be Thou My Vision
Requiem & Magnificat/Rutter, Cambridge Singers
John Rutter Collection

ASIN: B000EQHS7I
Release Date: 2006-04-18

Tracks:

Kyrie
Gloria
Sanctus And Benedictus
Agnus Dei
Finale (Dona Nobis pacem)
Shadows
Gather Ye Rosebuds
Sonnet
The Epicure
Sic Vita
O Death, Rock Me Asleep
In A Goody Night
Close Thine Eyes
Wedding Canticle (Psalm 128)

Amazon.com

Beginning with the last piece on this CD, we have a brief Wedding Canticle, a graceful, lovely melody sung smoothly by the choir and underpinned by the odd but also gentle combination of flute and guitar. The middle work, Shadows, is a song cycle composed in 1979 and consisting of eight songs based on 16th- and 17th-century poems; the subject matter is sleep, death and dream-states. Baritone Jeremy Huw Williams colors the text well, and the guitar accompaniment is fluid and interesting, but the cycle is not particularly compelling. The Mass of the Children, however, which takes up most of the CD, is a beautiful, affecting work. It begins with a lively tune and moves at once into a well-blended "Kyrie"; the "Benedictus" is rich and full, with both children's and adult's choirs joining together. The "Agnus Dei" incorporates William Blake's "The Lamb" into the usual text, with the kids' voices intoning it with charm, and the final "Dona nobis pacem" is warm and peaceful. This is a fine program, and even if the Song Cycle is not up to the standards set by the Mass and Canticle, there's still enough here that is superb, and the performances are excellent. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

The Chamber Orchestra Version of Rutter's 'Mass of the Children'.......2006-05-15

It is fashionable in some circles to deride the music of John Rutter because of its strong popular appeal, and indeed it may be true that Rutter is the John Stainer of our era. That is, his music is simple enough to be taken up by amateur groups, church and lay alike, and is enjoyed by many although it possibly will not be remembered by posterity. Somewhere I saw Rutter compared with Andrew Lloyd Webber, but that's a specious notion; Rutter is much more skilled than Webber, regardless of the man-on-the-street popularity of the latter. Rutter is a very careful and meticulous writer with to the ability to write tunes that become veritable 'ear-worms.'

The major piece on this CD is the 'Mass of the Children,' written in 2002. Although recorded before, this is the first recording using the version for chamber orchestra and organ along with mixed choir, children's choir, and soprano and baritone soloists. Rutter conducts forces from Clare College, Cambridge, his alma mater, and gets a marvelously focused and precise performance. He also conducted the earlier CD using full orchestra, which I have not heard. He says he was stimulated to write this piece by the strong memories he retained from singing in a children's choir in the first recording of Britten's 'War Requiem' which uses the same forces. Indeed, the first few minutes of the piece, the Kyrie, sounds for all the world like it could have been written by Britten. Indeed, throughout the 'Mass' (particularly the 'Gloria') one hears echoes of Britten's modal triad-based harmonies; of course the sound of children's chorus singing English words also reminds one of Britten as he wrote so much for trebles in his long career. Early on in his career, Rutter was heavily identified with the Faure Requiem and one hears similarities to that work. Still, this is indubitably Rutter through and through. And for those who love his music, this recording (or the version with full orchestra on Collegium) is a must-have.

The disc is filled out by a charming 1979 song cycle for baritone and guitar called 'Shadows.' It is sung idiomatically and lovingly by Jeremy Huw Williams accompanied by a recent Clare graduate, guitarist Stewart French. The eight songs, all evoking images of the evanescence of life, are set to English poems from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The most familiar text is probably Herrick's 'Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.' Full texts are provided in the booklet, but Williams's diction makes referring to them virtually unnecessary.

The six-minute-long 'Wedding Canticle' for mixed choir, flute and guitar is set to Psalm 128 -- 'Blessed are they that fear the Lord and walk in his ways...' -- a text used in the Anglican wedding ceremony. Flutist Daniel Pailthorpe joins guitarist French, weaving filigree in and around the simple, gentle choral sound.

Not enough can be said for the Clare College Choir and the Farnham Youth Choir. Their contribution is impeccably tuned, musically shaped and entirely engaging.

Scott Morrison

Horowitz Plays Mussorgsky, Scriabin, Prokofiev, and others

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Horowitz Review
No better place to hear musical genius!
Incredible performance, scratchy sound.
I undoubtedly declare that Horowitz is the best.
Horowitz is amazing as usual, BUT...

Horowitz Plays Mussorgsky, Scriabin, Prokofiev, and others

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Horowitz Encores
Horowitz Plays Scriabin
Prokofiev: Sonata No.7/Toccata, Op.11/Barber: Sonata, Op.26/Kabalevsky: Sonata No.3/Fauré: Nocturne No.13/Poulenc: Pr
Horowitz Plays Rachmaninoff/Concerto for Piano in Dm; Sonata for Piano No2/Vladimir Horowitz, Pianist
Horowitz At Home

ASIN: B000003F1S
Release Date: 1992-03-10

Tracks:

Promenade
The Gnome
Promenade
The Old Castle
Promenade
Tuleries
Bydlo
Promenade
Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks
Samuel Goldenberg & Schmuyle
Limoges-The Market
Catacombs
Con Mortuis In Lingua Mortua
The Hut on Fowl's Legs
The Great Gate at Kiev
Etude Op.2 No.1 in C-Sharp Minor
Prelude, Op. 11, No. 5 in D
Prelude, Op. 22 No. 1 in G-Sharp Minor
Danse Excentrique
Sonata No. 9 , Op. 68: Sonata No. 9 , Op. 68 - Black Mass
Dumka, Op. 59
Variations On A Theme From 'Carmen'
Sonata no. 7, Op. 83: III: Sonata no. 7, Op. 83: III. Precipitato
Humoresque, Op. 10, No. 5
Barcarolle, Op. 10, No. 3
Serenade To The Doll, No. 3, Children's Corner
The Stars And Stripes Forever

Amazon.com essential recording

Horowitz's Pictures is one of his most controversial recordings. In true Romantic tradition, he made changes in Mussorgsky's much-maligned score. Ignore those strict constructionists who hold that the composer's word is law, and you'll revel in the sheer high spirits and unabashed virtuosity of this electrifying performance. Few make this piece as exciting as Horowitz. The fillers offer his inimitable versions of various Russian favorites along with his not-to-be-missed transcriptions of Carmen highlights and a Sousa Stars and Stripes Forever as you've never heard it. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Horowitz Review.......2007-01-10

This recording was made in 1947 and the recording quality reflects that. It sounds like the CD was made from a scratchy record with no clean up.

I have heard better Horowitz performances. This one is very mechanical, without much color or feeling.

No better place to hear musical genius!.......2005-08-22

Horowitz' arrangement of Stars and Stripes Forever is possibly the most incredible piece I have ever heard (and I don't even like that song very much.) If you have never heard it in its entirety, you have really been missing something. The first half is really good but the second half is mind-blowing. Horowitz was a genius!!!

The other works on the disc are great too but I prefer more recent recordings such as Evgeny Kissin's Pictures at an Exhibition. Of course it's not that Evgeny plays it better than Vladimir but the recording quality has much improved since 1947.

Whatever you do, don't miss Stars and Stripes Forever. You will never forget it.

Incredible performance, scratchy sound........2000-12-17

A very good CD, but some of the titles are also on the Encores CD, and all the titles except the Rachmaninoff (recorded in 1979) are in mono. Besides the Rachmaninoff, the recording dates range from 1928 (whew!) to 1956. That said, this is Horowitz! It's great! I'd pay the money for the Prokofiev and Danse Excentrique alone. I just want to warn you that this is not the crystal-clear CD sound we're used to.

I undoubtedly declare that Horowitz is the best........2000-12-03

You may know that Horowitz is a TOP pianist. But there is a one more. This recording is the most suitable recording that shows the differences beteween Horowitz and other pianists. In other words, this recording represents the genuine playstyle of Horowitz. One of the conspicuous specialty of Horowitz is ffff. The Grate Gate At Kiev (Pictures at an Exhibition) needs exteremly strong finger power.(Self-confidence of piano touch) Also to "Prokofiev sonata No.7","The Stars and Stripes Forever", the same can be told. I want to say, It`s needless to say who is the second, at least in these pieces. ( the gap between 1st and 2nd is too wide )(And, I`m not saying abut all the pieces of Horowitz. I`m only telling you about the pieces in this record.) I have an absolute pitch, and can compose a little.So believe me. Have a nice day!

P.S. To music lover who want`s to listen awesome 'Carmen Vars.' : Horowitz recorded 'carmen vars' not only once. (because it revised several times.) Carmen.V. in this CD is different from "Horowitz Encore". After buing this record, listen carefully the samples (in Horowitz Encore). They are not the same. (Both has it`s tastes.)

Horowitz is amazing as usual, BUT..........1998-09-27

Horowitz is amazing as we have all come to expect, but at the time that Mussorgsky's PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION was recorded, recording techiniques had not been perfected as they have today. The rest of the CD is outstanding. If you are a Horowitz fan, I highly recommend this recording.

Horowitz: The Historic Return Carnegie Hall 1965; The 1966 Concerts

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How Live is Live?
A gigantic recording
Beautiful piano playing
A MONUMENT
One of the great piano recordings of all time

Horowitz: The Historic Return Carnegie Hall 1965; The 1966 Concerts

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Vladimir Horowitz, The Complete Masterworks Recordings 1962-1973, Volume VII: Early Romantics
Vladimir Horowitz, Complete Masterworks Recordings 1962-1973, Vol. I: The Studio Recordings 1962-63
The Complete Masterworks Recordings, Vol. 4: The Legendary 1968 TV Concert
Liszt: Sonata, Ballades and Polonaises
Holst: The Planets; Grainger: The Warriors

ASIN: B00000290C
Release Date: 1994-06-14

Tracks:

Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C Major, BWV 564: I. Preludio, quasi improvvisando. Tempo moderato
Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C Major, BWV 564: II. Intermezzo. Adagio
Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C Major, BWV 564: III. Fuga. Moderamente sherzando, un poco umoristico
Fantasie In C Major, Op.17: I. Durchaus phantastisch und ....
Fantasie In C Major, Op.17: II. Mag. Durchaus energisch
Fantasie In C Major, Op.17: III Langsam getragen. Durchweg leise zu halten
Piano Sonata No. 9, Op. 68 'Black Mass': Moderato quasi andante - Molto meno vivo - A llegro - Piu vivo - Allegro...
Poeme In F Sharp Major, Op. 32 No. 1: Andante cantibile

Tracks:

Mazurka In C Sharp Minor, Op. 30. No. 4: Allegretto
Etude In F major, Op. 10 No. 8: Allegro
Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23: Largo - Moderato - Menno mosso - Presto con fuoco
Serenade For The Doll: Andante
Etude In C Sharp Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: Andante
Etude In A Flat Major, Op. 72 No. 11: Presto e con leggierezza
Traumerei
Sonata No. 11 In A Major, K. 331: I. Tema. Andante grazioso e variazioni
Sonata No. 11 In A Major, K. 331: II. Menuetto - Trio
Sonata No. 11 In A Major, K. 331: III. (Rondo) alla Turca. Allegretto
Polonaise - Fantaisie In A Flat Major, Op. 61: Allegro maestoso

Tracks:

Mazurka In B minor, Op. 33 No. 4: Mesto
Nocturne In E Minor, Op. 72 No. 1: Andante
Sonata No. 10, Op. 70: Moderato - Allegro - Puissant, radieux - Allegro - Piu vivo - Presto - Moderato
Sonata In F Major, Hob. XVI : 23: I. Allegro
Sonata In F Major, Hob. XVI : 23: II. Adagio
Sonata In F Major, Hob. XVI : 23: III. Finale
Blumenstuck In D Flat Major, Op. 19: Leise bewegt
L'ISLE JOYEUSE: Quasi una cadenza - Tempo. Modere et tres souple
Vallee d'Obermann: Lento assai - Piu lento - Un poco piu di moto ma sempre lento - Presto - Lento

Amazon.com essential recording

Sony's series documenting Horowitz's mature career offers many indispensable items, including "live" (with studio touchups) recordings of his mid-1960s return to the concert stage after a prolonged hiatus. The Bach-Busoni is a dazzling opener, followed by a titanic Schumann Fantasy in C amply illustrating Horowitz's total identification with the composer. The performance abounds with tightly controlled nervous energy, precise articulation, and gorgeously shaded timbres. A crisp Haydn Sonata, a marvelously shaded Scriabin, a poetic Schumann Traumerei, and more are all indispensable. Not to be missed: the pregnant pauses and crackling tension of the Chopin G-minor Ballade. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

How Live is Live?.......2003-11-29

This is not a review per se. My review is posted under the "Live and Unedited" version of the 1965 concert. But I wanted to correct a few errors which have been circulated in regard to this recording.

First, the corrections used on the original version of "Horowitz at Carnegie Hall" were not made at a "patch session at Carnegie a few days" after the concert. Columbia's engineers had already recorded Horowitz's rehearsals and used that material for the editing.

Second, the editing in the album was neither as extensive as some have suggested, nor as insignificant as others state.

Here is a (mostly) complete list of the patches on the original album, which have been removed from "Live and Unedited":

Schumann Fantasy: 1st Movement: patches at 7:32 and 10:21; 2nd Movement: small patches at 2:44 and 4:32, and a series of patches in the coda 6:58-7:39; 3rd Movement: No edits.

Scriabin: Sonata No 9: No Edits. Poem in F-sharp: Patch from 2:16-2:26

Chopin: Mazurka: Small edit at 2:02; Etude: Patched sections from 1:27-1:33 and 2:15-2:20; Ballade: Small edits at 2:04 and 4:52, at least four patches in the coda.

None of the encores were edited.

It should be pointed out that the editing of supposedly "live" recordings is more commonplace than the recording industry will admit. Although not generally aknowledged, Arthur Rubinstein's 1961 Carnegie Hall Highlights album was patched, and most live recordings today are actually compilations from several performances.

Whether you choose this patched version, or "Live and Unedited" the 1965 return concert contains some stunning piano playing. Can anyone imagine the pressure Horowitz was under on that day? To prove you have not just retained your original greatness, but have deepened and become even greater cannot have been easy. The new, unedited version of the concert is not a revelation, but serves as a reminder of Horowitz's all too human frailty.

A gigantic recording.......2001-02-21

There's an interesting debate going on in the reviews below about Horowitz's technical and musical ability in general. Do yourself a favor and read through these reviews. It'll show you that Horowitz's ability to engender strong positions and fairly heated exchanges continues undiminished, more than eleven years after his death. What this proves, of course, is his uniquely important position in 20th century piano playing. No other classical pianist was as influential, no one's style was copied as much, no one was as frequently and thoroughly misunderstood (mere technician, mere dazzler, mere showman). What you have to understand in listening to these recordings is that he was a complete professional, totally devoted to his craft to the exclusion of just about any other interests in his life - a tremendously one-sided person. But within the art of piano playing he reigned supreme. His oddly introverted, unmoveable, purely efficiency-oriented appearance during performance (he never moved anythying but his hands - no facial contortions, no head shakes, no swaying body, and even his hands were super-efficient) contrasted oddly with the extreme extrovertedness of his playing. He knew so much more about the sound possibilities of the instrument than anyone else that listening to him was downright frightening for other pianists. I remember a well-known pianist during intermission at a Horowitz recital in Hamburg in 1986 laughing and crying at the same time, shaking his head and saying over and over again, "it's impossible. That was impossible. That can't be done" (he was talking about Horowitz's rendition of a Schubert-Liszt transacription).

Anyway, his mastery of the instrument far beyond all other humans' capacity has persistently clouded people's perception of Horowitz and made an assessment of his artistic merits much more difficult. Undoubtedly he had clear limitations as an artist (Beethoven, for example, was just not part of his artistc world). But we have to keep in mind that, unlike practically all classical musicians today, who are trained to be universalists and to assemble a vast variety of styles, Horowitz came out of a strong and idiosyncratic musical tradition - that of Scriabin and Rachmaninov. That tradition was his world, his artistic home, and he always explored other musical traditions from the vantage point of his particular musical identity. In all of this he proved extremely flexible (playing, for example, Scarlatti, Clementi and Czerny to great critical acclaim), but since he never aspired to neutrality and objectivity (like, for example, Pollini or Arrau), it always was obvious when he played music that didn't fit with who he was.

So the debate about Horowitz's musical merits that goes on in the reviews below is as old as his career. What's curious, though, is that a couple of reviewers believe to have found TECHNICAL shortcomings in his playing. That is new in Horowitz criticism. All his career he reigned as the supreme master of piano technique, acknowledged as such first and foremost by most famous pianists (Rubinstein, Argerich, Pollini, Perahia, and many others have rhapsodized - or expressed their jealousy - about Horowitz's technique publicly and at length). When speed and power decreased due to old age, he transferred his technical accomplishments to polyphony, to shadings, colors, multi-layered pianissimi unimagined before or after. In the present recordings from the mid-60s, there was no noticeable decrease in speed and power yet, but his development toward more sophisticated sound effects was well underway. In other words, the questioning of Horowitz's technical abilities in some of the reviews below is utter and complete nonsense. I can only surmise that the authors of these reviews are people raised on the bland, impersonal mechanical functioning displayed by so many contemporary pianists that Horowitz's edginess, his constantly going to extremes (of speed, of clarity, of softness, of bel canto, etc.) irritates them somehow. One thing Horowitz was never after was a polished surface. If you want pleasant, comforting stuff that you can play happily in the background while doing the dishes, Horowitz is not the artist for you. He demands total concentration. But he'll reward that concentration tenfold. Even if you don't agree or don't like what he does in a particular piece, you'll learn a ton about music listening to him. He's a very musically opinionated guy, and some of his work may irritate you a great deal, but he will never, ever bore you.

Beautiful piano playing.......2000-11-17

I am writing in to disagree a bit with the previous reviewer who dismissed this recording and Horowitz's playing in general. I would agree that this is not Horowitz's greatest recital. It may be better remembered for its historical significance than as a representative sampling of Horowitz's art. For me, much of the repertoire in this recital could be called "ill-chosen." The pieces such as the Schumann Fantasie, the opening Bach piece, and Chopin's g minor Ballade do not really show Horowitz at his best -- and not just because they're "big" pieces that "require interpretation." Aside from the Chopin Ballade, these are not pieces that one would typically hear at a Horowitz recital, and I do wish that he had not insisted on repeatedly performing and recording the g minor Ballade. I agree that his bombastic, episodic approach never worked with that piece. I tend to favor the pieces on this album that were recorded in the 1966 recitals, including the Chopin Polonaise-Fantasie dismissed by the previous reviewer. Yes, the ending is too bombastic, but there is so much beautiful, gorgeous piano playing in this performance. The way Horowitz could layer the sound and produce such a beautiful, expressive, vocal melodic line can perhaps be fully appreciated only by real connoisseurs of piano playing. Horowitz was not just a pianist for the "masses." He was also a pianist for connoisseurs.

Is it possible to acknowledge the shortcomings in Horowitz's technique and interpretive ability pointed out by the previous reviewer and to still be a great fan and admirer of his playing? Yes, it is. I know that many listeners who hear the shortcomings in Horowitz's playing feel that Horowitz's admirers must lack discrimination, and I think that in some cases this is true. In fact, I sometimes think that critical reaction to Horowitz can be roughly divided into three categories:

The first category would be for unconditional admirers of Horowitz who feel that he could do no wrong. I would say that this represents the least perceptive evaluation of Horowitz's playing.

The second category would be for people who are aware of the shortcomings in Horowitz's technique and musicality and who feel justified in dismissing Horowitz because of these shortcomings. I think that this view represents a somewhat more perceptive evaluation of Horowitz, and I think that the previoius reviewer would fall into this category.

The third category would be for people who are aware of the shortcomings in Horowitz's technique and musicality and who still feel that he was one of the greatest pianists in history. In my opinion, this is the most perceptive evaluation of Horowitz's playing.

I, too have listened to all of Horowitz's recordings, and have come to a different conclusion about his playing than the previous reviewer. For me, this recording is certainly worth having, mostly for the 1966 recordings.

A MONUMENT.......2000-05-19

One of the best recordings to discover the Horowitz legend. As far as technique is concerned, the Carnegie Hall performances don't reflect all the artist's talents, but Horowitz's magic sonority and the unique atmosphere make it exceptional. My favourite pieces: Bach-Busoni's intermezzo and Chopin's G major ballade.

One of the great piano recordings of all time.......1999-12-09

In May 1965, Vladimir Horowitz, the greatest pianist of all time, ended a 13-year retirement and returned to Carnegie Hall. The audience contained many of the world's most famous musicians, and playing up to its frenzied expectations seemed impossible. Horowitz begins, tense to the breaking point. For a few seconds, his hands are out of control, and he hits more wrong notes than right ones. Then things settle a bit, and he starts to translate his tension into pure musical energy. In that first piece, the Bach-Busoni, Horowitz seems almost superhuman with his orchestral sound, his sharp rhythm, his alternatingly hard-edged attack and meltingly lyrical lines, his supreme intelligence. It must have been immensely frustrating for the pianists in the audience to be so rudely confronted with such hopeless pianistic superiority. The Bach is followed by a highly idiosyncratic Schumann Fantasy, where Horowitz shows a grasp of the work's structure and an analytic penetration of Schumann's neo-Bachian polyphony undreamt of by any interpreter before or after. The recital continues with musical and pianistic jaw-droppers. I single out the Chopin and Moszkovski Etudes, where the audience's incredulity at Horowitz's feats dissolves in laughter at the end of the pieces, the tenderness and intimacy of Debussy's Serenade for a Doll, and the truly moving Schumann Traeumerei. The remainder of this CD collection contains 1966 live recordings, many of which are as fascinating as the '65 concert. Particularly noteworthy are the Haydn Sonata for its dry wit, Chopin's Polonaise-Fantasie for the almost infinite range of expressions and emotions Horowitz creates, and Liszt's Vallee D'Obermann, which inspires Horowitz to the most atmospheric, most evocative music-making I have ever heard on a recording. In sum, if I knew I would lose my hearing in a few hours, I would spend them listening to these recordings.

Complete Masterworks Recordings, 1962-1973

Average customer rating:

Horowitz: good. Amazon: good. Sony Classical: BAD.
ARE YOU CRAZY RICH OR CRAZY STUPID?
merely spectacular!
I have never regretted buying this...
The greatest 20th Cent. pianist at his best!

Complete Masterworks Recordings, 1962-1973

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon
Chopin: The Piano Works
Liszt: Piano Works
Horowitz Encores
Brahms: Works for Solo Piano

ASIN: B000002909
Release Date: 1993-10-05

Tracks:

Sonata In E Major, K 531 (L430): Allegro
Sonata In A Major, K322 (L483): Allegro
Sonata In G Major K455 (L209): Allegro
Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 13 'Pathetique': I. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio
Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 13 'Pathetique': II. Adagio cantabile
Sonata No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 13 'Pathetique': III. Rondo. Allegro
Impromptu In G-flat Major, Op. 90 (D899) No. 3: Andante
Etude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12: Allegro con fuoco
Etude In C-sharp Minor, Op. 25 No. 7: Lento
Scherzo No. 1 In B Minor, Op. 20: Presto con fuoco
3 Preludes - From Book II: IV. Les fees sont d'exquises danseuses. Rapide et leger
3 Preludes - From Book II: V. Bruyeres. Calme
3 Preludes - From Book II: VI. General Lavine - eccentric.
Poeme In F-sharp Major, Op. 32 No. 1: Andante cantabile
Etude In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: Andante
Etude In D-Sharp Minor, Op. 8 No. 12: Patetico

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No.2 In B- Flat, Op.35: I. Grave- Doppio movimento
Piano Sonata No.2 In B- Flat, Op.35: II. Scherzo
Piano Sonata No.2 In B- Flat, Op.35: III. Marche funebre. Lento
Piano Sonata No.2 In B- Flat, Op.35: IV. Finale. Presto
Etude-Tableau In C, Op.33 No.2: Allegro
Etude-Tableau In C, Op.33 No.2: Appassionato
Arabeske In C, Op.18: Leicht und zart
Kinderszenen, Op.15 - Scenes From Childhood: 1. Von fremden Landern und Menschen
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 2. Kuriose Geschichte
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 3. Hansche-Mann
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 4. Bittendes Kind
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 5. Gluckes genug
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 6. Wichtige Begbenheit
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 7. Traumerei
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 8. Am Kamin
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 9. Ritter vom Steckenpferd
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 10. Fast zu ernst
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 11. Furchtenmachen
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 12. Kind im Einschlummern
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: 13. Der Dichter spricht
Toccata In C, Op.7: Allegro
Hungarian Rhapsody No.19 In D Minor: Lento patetico (Lassan)- Vivace (Friska)

Tracks:

Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante moderato
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegretto
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante e cantabile
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante e cantabile
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro
Keyboard Sonatas: Andante moderato
Keyboard Sonatas: Vivo
Keyboard Sonatas: Allegro

Tracks:

Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C, BWV 564: I. Preludio, quasi improvvisando. Tempo moderato
Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C, BWV 564: II. Intermezzo. Adagio
Toccata, Adagio And Fugue In C, BWV 564: III. Fuga. Moderamente sherzando, un poco umoristico
Fantasie In C, Op.17: I. Durchaus phantastisch und leidenschalflich vorzutragen
Fantasie In C, Op.17: II. Massig. Durchaus energisch
Fantasie In C, Op.17: III. Langsam getragen. Durchweg leise zu halten
Piano Sonata No.9, Op.68 'Black Mass': Moderato quasi andante-Molto meno vivo-Allegro-Piu vivo-Allegro...
Poeme In F-Sharp Major, Op.32 No.1: Andante cantibile

Tracks:

Mazurka In C-sharp Minor, Op. 30. No. 4: Allegretto
Etude In F major, Op. 10 No. 8: Allegro
Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23: Largo - Moderato - Meno mosso - Presto con fuoco
Serenade For The Doll. Allegro ma non troppo
Etude In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 2 No. 1: Andante
Etude In A-Flat Major, Op. 72 No. 11: Presto e con leggierezza
Traumerei
Sonata No. 11 In A Major, K.331: I. Tema.Andante grazioso e variazioni
Sonata No. 11 In A Major, K. 331: II. Menuetto - Trio
Sonata No. 11 In A Major, K. 331: III. Rondo alla Turca
Polonaise-Fantaisie In A-Flat Major, Op. 61: Allegro maestoso

Tracks:

Mazurka In B minor, Op. 33 No. 4: Mesto
Nocturne In E Minor, Op. 72 No. 1: Andante
Piano Sonata No. 10, Op. 70: Moderato - Allegro - Puissant, radieux - Allegro - Piu vivo - Presto - Moderato
Piano Sonata In F Major, Hob. XVI: 23: I. Allegro
Piano Sonata In F Major, Hob. XVI: 23: II. Adagio
Piano Sonata In F Major, Hob. XVI: 23: III. Finale
Blumenstuck In D-Flat Major, Op. 19: Leise bewegt
L'ISLE JOYEUSE: Quasi una cadenza - Tempo.
Vallee d'Obermann: Lento assai - Piu lento - Un poco piu di moto ma sempre lento - Presto - Lento

Tracks:

Ballade No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 23: Largo - Moderato - Meno mosso - Presto con fuoco
Nocturne In F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1: Andante
Polonaise In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 44: Tempo di polacca - Doppio movimento, tempo di Mazurka - Tempo I
Sonata In E major, K 380 (L23): Andante commodo
Sonata In G major, K 55 (L335): Allegro
Arabeske In C Major, Op. 18: Leicht und zart
Etude In D-Sharp Minor, Op. 8 No. 12: Patetico
Traumerei
Variations On A Theme From Bizet's Opera 'Carmen'

Tracks:

Sonata In E-Flat Major, Op. 12 No. 2: III. Rondo
Adagio sostenuto In F Major
Sonata In B-Flat Major, Op. 25 No. 3: II. Rondo
Sonata In A Major, Op. 50 No. 1: II. Adagio
Corale Prelude 'Lch ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ'
Sonata In F-Sharp Major, K 319 (L35): Allegro
Sonata In G Major, K 260 (L124): Allegro
Sonata In C Major, HOB. XVI: 48: I. Andante con espressione
Sonata In C major, Hob. XVI:48: II. Rondo
Sonata No. 28 In A Major, Op. 101: I. Allegretto ma non troppo
Sonata No. 28 In A Major, Op. 101: II. Vivace alla Marcia
Sonata No. 28 In A Major, Op. 101: III. Adagio ma non troppo, con affetto - Allegro

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 14 In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 'Moonlight': I. Adagio sostenuto
II. Allegretto
Piano Sonata No. 14 In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2'Moonlight': III. Presto agitato
Piano Sonata No. 21 In C Major, Op. 53 , 'Waldstein-Sonata': I. Allegro con brio
Piano Sonata No. 21 In C Major, Op. 53 , 'Waldstein-Sonata': II. Introduzione. Adagio molto - attacca
Piano Sonata No. 21 In C Major, Op. 53 , 'Waldstein-Sonata': III. Rondo. Allegro moderato - Prestissimo
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, 'Appassionata': I. Allegro assai
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, 'Appassionata': II. Andante con moto -attacca
Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57, 'Appassionata': III. Allegro, ma non troppo - Presto

Tracks:

Mazurka in A minor, Op. 17 No. 4: Lento, ma non troppo
Etude in G-flat major, Op. 10 No. 5: Vivace
Introduction & Rondo In E-Flat Major, Op. 16: Introduzione. Andante - Rondo. Allegro vivace
Waltz in A minor, Op. 34 No. 2: Lento
Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53: Maestoso
Mazurka in F-sharp minor, Op. 59 No. 3: Vivace
Mazurka in C-sharp minor, Op. 50 No. 3: Moderato
Mazurka in D-flat major, Op. 30 No. 3: Allegro non troppo
Mazurka in E minor, Op. 41 No. 2: Andantino
Mazurka in D major, Op. 33 No. 2: Vivace
Etude in C-sharp minor, Op. 10 No. 4: Presto
Etude in E major, Op. 10 No. 3: Lento, ma non troppo
Etude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12: Allegro con fuoco
Prelidu In B Minor, Op. 28 No. 6: Lento assai

Tracks:

Posonaise in A major, Op. 40 No. 1: Allegro con brio
Prelude in D-flat major, Op. 28 No. 15: Sostenuto
Etude in E-flat minor, Op. 10 No. 6: Andante
Etude No. 2 in A-flat major from 'Trois Nouvelles Etudes': Allegretto
Mazurka In F Minor, Op. 7 No. 3
Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64 No. 2: Tempo giusto
Variations On A Theme By Clara Wieck From Sonata No. 3 In F Minor,Op. 14: Andantino
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: I. Ausserst bewegt
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: II.Sehr innig
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: III. Sehr aufgeregt
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: IV. Sehr langsam
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: V. Sehr lebhaft
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: VI. Sehr langsam
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: VII. Sehr rasch
Kreisleriana, Op. 16: VIII. Schnell und spielend

Tracks:

Impromptu In A-Flat Major Op. 90 (D899) No. 4: Allegretto
Impromptu In F Minor Op. 142 (D935) No. 1: Allegro moderato
Impromptu In A-Flat Major Op. 142 (935) No. 2: Allegretto
Impromptu In E-Flat Major Op. 90 (D899) No. 2: Allegro
Consolation In E Major S. 172 (R.12) No. 2
Pour les arpeges composes: Dolce e lusingando
La terrasse des audiences du clair de lune: Lent
Etude In A Minor Op. 104b No. 3: Allegro vivace
Scherzo & March S. 177 (R.20)

Tracks:

Feuillet d'album In E-Flat Major Op. 45 No. 1: Andante piacevole
Etude In F-Sharp Minor Op. 8 No. 2: A capriccio, con forza
Etude In B-Flat Minor Op. 8 No. 11: Andante cantabile
Etude In D-Flat Major Op. 8 No. 10: Allegro
Etude In A-Flat Major Op. 8 No. 8: Lento (Tempo rubato)
Etude In F-Sharp Major Op. 42 No 3: Prestissimo
Etude In F-Sharp Major Op. 42 No. 4: Andante
Etude In C-Sharp Minor Op. 42 No. 5: Affannato
Etude Op. 65 No. 3: Molto vivace
No. 1: Allegretto
2 Poemes Op. 69: No. 2: Allegretto
Vers la flamme Op. 72: Allegro moderato
Feuillet d'album Op. 58
Fairy Tale In A Major Op. 51 No. 3
Sonata No. 2 In B-Flat Minor Op. 36: I. Allegro agitato
Sonata No. 2 In B-flat, Minor, Op. 36: II. Non allegro
Sonata No. 2 In B-Flat Minor, Op. 36: III. Allegro molto
Prelude In G-Sharp Minor Op. 32 No. 12: Allegro
Moment musical In B Minor Op. 16 No. 3: Andante cantabile
Etude-Tableau In E-Flat Minor Op. 33 No. 5: Non allegro - Presto
Etude-Tableau In C Major Op. 33 No. 2: Allegro
Etude-Tableau In D Major Op. 39 No. 9: Allegro moderato (Tempo di Marcia)

Amazon.com

It may surprise you to learn that, despite his untouchable reputation with the public, Vladimir Horowitz enjoyed a certain dubious reputation with the critics. For many, he was the epitome of the witless virtuoso, all technique and vulgar display, and no brains. There was some truth in this to the extent that he really could be variable on record, but by general consensus his Masterworks recordings show him at his absolute best. Aside from his famous Carnegie Hall concerts from 1965, you get stunning performances of music by Schumann, Haydn, Beethoven, Chopin, Scriabin, and above all, Scarlatti--the composer that Horowitz, more than anyone, put back on the map for pianists the world over. A great set. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Horowitz: good. Amazon: good. Sony Classical: BAD........2004-05-24

I bought this set in December, and because I have so many classical CD's (more than 300), it took me 5 months to realize that the set contained TWO volume 8's and NO volume 9's. Worried that it might be too late, I e-mailed Amazon. Their first reply was that the replacement was already on its way (with return shipping paid for as well). Wow, that was a relief!

When I got the new set, I decided to study it closely and make sure that everything was good. It turns out that several of the discs (in both sets) had holes through the aluminum reflective layer -- which seemed to be because it was too thin to begin with. One disc was cracked, and another looked like the aluminum was "rotting out" on the edge. You would think that for $230, Sony Classical would put more quality into their discs. So what good is "Super Bit Mapping" and "High Definition Remastering" if the discs are so cheap that the player will misread the data? And I don't have much confidence that the discs will last many years, either.

Fortunately I got to pick the best discs from the 2 sets, so I won't need to replace this one for another. But I certainly lost respect for Sony Classical.

And kudos to you Amazon; you're really looking out for your customers!

ARE YOU CRAZY RICH OR CRAZY STUPID?.......2002-08-25

Why would any one in the right mind plunk down [money] for 13 CDS by the same pianist? Is it so you can brag about owning 11 years' worth of the same old thing? Or did you get it as a gift designed to impress but not really to listened to? Now you could probably get [money] for it whether you used it or not. Columbia Masterworks should have brought along new and younger talent. For my bet I can't think of many American pianists who are currently recording. Do we have to recycle Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Schubert, Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin, Scriabin, and others over and over? This is the Twenty-first Century. We should at least be thinking of Twentieth Century piano works. I can get 10 CDs by 10 pianists currently recording if I look to Europe.

merely spectacular!.......2001-03-10

I've only had this set about a week and have already indulged three complete listenings; it's a gold mine! - the power of preaching is persuasive in the Temple of Horowitz! I'm taken aback by the unity and continuity of sonics, an excellent and remarkable display of high engineering art. Everything important is here (almost! I wish some of the Scriabin Preludes had been included). There are sketches of incomparable pianism and supreme intelligence in these discs: Liszt's 'Vallee d'Obermann', and the Consolations; Debussy's 'L'isle joyeux' - so 'russian playing french'! - Scriabin's 'Vers le flamme' and the Black Mass sonata - one simply can't climb out of the volcano, it's terrifying and beautiful! - and the Scarlatti and Chopin. Only Gilels approaches Horowitz's indigenous understanding of Chopin. In the course of thirteen discs the glory can start to crash in around you, but at the last moment of endurance along comes 'Serenade of the Doll', or one of the Consolations. The Bach-Busoni is cerebral and fine. Horowitz gets rapped for the wrong romanticism - it's the romanticism of artistic intelligence that his art claims! I love that famous C clunker at the beginning of the Bach-Busoni in the Return to Carnegie Hall recital; more than that, I appreciate how Horowitz played his public pride in it, no retouches, etc. Shrewd, and very real, I think. He was a pianist of enormous humility on the inside, so completely knowing of his gifts - one of the reason his playing was something special. He possessed the often disregarded ability to stand completely outside his playing and admire it as one might a beautiful woman, with complete humility. It affords us the privilege of reaping joy after joy of a remarkable art the likes of which will surely stand true for a long time. 200 bucks is a lot of money, I probably would have thought it too much for the convenience of a collection; I'm glad someone else didn't feel that way, and gave me the set! - now I find it curiously too clever a package to be considered merely a consolidation of recordings into a 'set' - there is something indefinably congruent about these recordings. They fit together with harmonious intent, and shine and shadow the land with a marvelous music. Highest recommendation without reservation.

I have never regretted buying this..........2000-08-22

Considering that this set is devoted to a single instrument played by one artist in a 12-year period, the depth is mind-blowing. If variety is the spice of life, than this set is a very warming set indeed.

For the most part, Horowitz communicates a deep respect for the specific style of each composer: his Scarlatti is done articulately and without any smear with the pedal. His Liszt is demonic. His Rachmaninov is dazzling, with all of the "superfluous" notes (!) and Russian virtuosity in tact. Horowitz's Schumann is sensitive, passionate and Romantic.

And then there are his interpretations of Chopin. To me, Vladimir Horowitz is one of Chopin's best ambassadors. In particular, I draw attention to the Polonaise-Fantaisie in Vol. 3 and the mazurkas and etudes of Vol. 7.

For a good summary of this collection, listen to Vol. 4, "The Legendary 1968 TV Concert." Applause is omitted between selections, and the repertoire is tailored to Horowitz's pianistic gifts.

The first disc of Vol. 3 (Including the Bach-Busoni Toccata and the Schumann Fantasy) is not top-notch piano-playing... It's a little sloppy and inaccurate. I'm sure there are other minor slips elsewhere in this collection, but here they are most obviously seen.

Regardless, this collection is a MUST for Horowitz fans. Save up your money little by little and go and buy it. It is truly the most rewarding purchase of classical music I have ever made.

The greatest 20th Cent. pianist at his best!.......2000-04-15

If you were to take a set of piano music from only one performer to a desert island, this would be the set. Vladimir Horowitz was a pianist of incredible, almost unique, technical prowess capable of creating wonderful piano textures and tone colorings, and possessing his own dark, distinctive sound on a wonderful Steinway he had transported to each of his concerts or studio recording sessions. Of almost limitless ability, he suffered criticism from music critics because he severely limited his performing repertoire and stayed away from the concert stage for several prolonged periods because of his terrible insecurity and stagefright. He was especially criticized in his early years for bravura performances which were brilliant, but loud and not always tasteful. He was known for giving his enthralled audiences what they wanted, but it should be remembered that he championed Scarlatti and almost single-handedly brought him back into the performing world from near-oblivion, and it was Horowitz who premiered several important works by twentieth century composers such as Barber and Khatchaturian. He kept the works of the mysterious and exotic Alexander Scriabin from disappearing from piano benches in the conservatories, and he created some of the most imaginative and thrilling encore transcriptions ever heard in the concert hall. In later years, his repertoire expanded and he played some wonderful Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven, much of which is featured in this set. The highlight of this disc collection from the early 60's through about 1973 is the historic return concert at Carnegie Hall in 1965. After a self-imposed exile from public performing for 12 years, he made this famous recital which is one of the most memorable in the history of recorded piano performance. Although he made several nerve-induced mistakes in the opening Bach piece, he settled down quickly and delivered a thrilling performance, highlighted, for me, at least, by the Chopin Ballade in G minor, which took away my breath and featured one of the most dazzling climaxes I have ever heard on a piano. His incredible performance possessed a youthful vitality which belied his 62 years. Throughout the other discs in this set one hears Horowitz at his best: still technically awesome yet more musically mature and capable of producing little miracles from pieces well-known, and less-known. No longer pandering to the expectations of the audience, he gave as his encore at the Carnegie Hall return concert, a precious, child-like Traumerei from Kinderszenen. The Schumann featured on these discs includes some of the most beautiful offerings available anywhere of this composer, including a wonderful Fantasy in C and perhaps the best performance ever on record of Kreisleriana. The Schubert impromptus are little miracles, and the Debussy that's thrown in makes us fantasize about the other French music he could have given us! His wonderful Chopin reminds us there are other views besides Rubinstein's to this most-important-of-all piano literature, and his Rachmaninoff is glorious. Performing into his eighties, he was a wonder of music and the 13 discs offered here give a personal record of a dazzling career from his very best years. It might be pointed out that several pieces are offered more than once in the set as they were recorded in several concerts and studio sessions and it is interesting to hear the differences in his performances. One might wish that his piano oeuvre had included more composers and a wider range of pieces, but this collection certainly highlights the work he was best known for, including as it does the various Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Schumann, Scarlatti, Scriabin, Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Clementi, and Beethoven gems he was noted for throughout his long career. Anyone loving the piano, or just beautiful music must hear these discs!

Average customer rating:

Christmas Adagios
christmas adagios
Nice Background for the Holidays
One of my very top 5 favorite holiday albums!
Wonderful POCOCAT?

Christmas Adagios

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Movie Adagios

ASIN: B00005NY7D
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Tracks:

O Holy Night - Leontyne Price
Ave Maria - Luciano Pavarotti
In The Bleak Midwinter - Rosemary Joshua/Ian Bostridge
Coventry Carol - The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/David Willcocks
Away In A Manger - Mark Tinkler
Gabriel's Message - The Choir And Orchestra Of Clare College, Cambridge
Pastoral Sinfonia - Academy Of St Martin In The Fields/Neville Marriner
Il S'en Va Loin De La Terre - Acadamy And Chorus Of St Martin In The Fields/Neville Marriner
Panis Angelicus - Kiri Te Kanawa
Schlafe, Mein Liebster - Marilyn Horne
Wiegenlied - Renata Tabaldi
O Jesu So Meek - Simon Preston
While Shepherds Watched - Stephen Cleobury
Susser Trost, Mein Jesus Kommt - Agnes Giebel
Lute Concerto, RV 93: Largo - Eduardo Fernandez
Alma Redemptoris Mater - Julian Podger
O Magnum Mysterium - John Angelo Messana
Zastupnitse Userdnaya - St Petersburgh Chamber Choir/Nikolai Korniev
Iubi-Te-voi (I Will Love Thee, O Lord) - Angela Gheorghiu/Romanian National CHamber Choir 'Madrigal'/Constantin Marin
Once In Royal David's City - Robin Barter/David Briggs
O Tannenbaum - Vienna Boys Choir/Uwe Christian Harrer
O Little Town Of Bethlehem - The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/David Willcocks

Tracks:

Stille Nacht - The Bach Choir/David Willcockes
Gloria In Excelsis Deo - Katherine Fuge/Nicola Jenkin/Elinor Carter/Julian Podger
Winter, RV 297: Largo - Alan Loveday
The First Nowell - The Choir Of Kings College, Cambridge/David Willcocks
In Dulci Jubilo - The Bach Choir/David Willcocks
The Three Kings - Gerald Finley
Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen - Monteverdi Choir
Still, Still, Still - Ian Bostridge
The Crown Of Roses - The Choir Of Clare College, Cambridge/John Rutter
Christmas Concerto, Op.6 No.8: Largo Pastorale - Academy Of Saint Martin In The Fields/Neville Marriner
The Lamb - Monteverdi Choir/John Eliot Gardiner
Balulalow - Anthony Way/Lucy Wakeford/St Paul's Cathedral Choir/John Scott
Ave Maria - Leontyne Price
Mille Cherubini In Coro - Luciano Pavarotti
Vesperae Solennes De Confessore, K.339: Laudate Dominum - Kiri Te Kanawa
The Infant King - The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/David Willcocks
Lullaby My Jesus - The Choir Of Winchester Cathedral/David Hill
What Child Is This? - Anthony Way/Tom Finucane
The Tales Of Hoffmann: Barcarolle - L'Orchestra De La Suisse Romande/Richard Bonynge
See Amid The Winter's Snow - The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/David Willcocks
The Blessed Son Of God - The Choir Of Winchester Cathedral/David Hill
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear - Leontyne Price
White Christmas - Kiri Te Kanawa/London Voices

Customer Reviews:

Christmas Adagios.......2007-03-03

This is the BEST Christmas collection that I have ever heard. I would like
to purchase 15 more to give as gifts this year; however, it appears that
Decca is out of stock or no longer releasing it. HELP!!

christmas adagios.......2007-01-14

this was one of the best assortment of classical holiday songs that i have ever heard. it contains a marvelous array of the best composers and performers that the world has to offer. if you are a fan of classical music, i think this cd will be a positive addition to your music collection

Nice Background for the Holidays.......2007-01-11

Beautiful Adagios and a rich selection for the price. Audio travels to Vienna, London, Cambridge etc

One of my very top 5 favorite holiday albums!.......2005-11-19

What a delightful surprise this 2 disc album was and I'm not a big fan of Christmas music. I loved all the selections and felt they were well performed. This is a true "must have" for any Christmas collection. Superior to many other compliations on the market. This one is a keeper! It is the one album I'll pick first to listen to after Thanksgiving.

Wonderful POCOCAT?.......2005-07-16

Great CD. The reviewer who calls him/herself POCOCAT says he/she is an opera singer. Wonder how much work an uninformed singer gets?
A "fast spinning" vibrato,as you describe Ms. Price, is not the same as a wide vibrato. The former is a speed issue, the latter a width issue. Therefore, 4 variables exist: fast, slow, wide, slim. Thus, 4 types of voice exist: fast/wide, fast/slim, slow/wide, and slow/slim. Most often a singer leans toward fast/slim or slow/wide, in varying degrees. A matter of taste, yes, but learn more about the voice before you expound.

Zoltán Kodály: Psalmus Hungaricus; Missa Brevis

Average customer rating:

Zoltán Kodály: Psalmus Hungaricus; Missa Brevis

Manufacturer: Arts Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000006BZN
Release Date: 1998-03-17

Tracks:

Mikoron David Nagy Busultaban
Te Azert Lelkem
Igaz Vagy Uram
Introitus
Kyrie
Gloria
Credo
Sanctus
Benedictus
Agnus Dei

Faure: Requiem Op48; Messe des pêcheurs de Villerville

Average customer rating:

pass the cheese, please

Faure: Requiem Op48; Messe des pêcheurs de Villerville

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000027O2A
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Tracks:

Messe de Requiem: Introit et Kyrie
Messe de Requiem: Offertoire
Messe de Requiem: Sanctus
Messe de Requiem: Pie Jesu
Messe de Requiem: Agnus Dei
Messe de Requiem: Libera me
Messe de Requiem: In Paradisum
Messe des Pecheurs de Villerville: Kyrie (Messager)
Messe des Pecheurs de Villerville: Gloria. Benedictus (Faure)
Messe des Pecheurs de Villerville: Sanctus (Faure)
Messe des Pecheurs de Villerville: O Salutaris (Messager)
Messe de Requieum: Agnus Dei (Faure)

Customer Reviews:

pass the cheese, please.......2007-01-20

It is well known that Faure never ate a piece of cheese in his life. he would often sit for days in his lounge and gaze disgustedly at the kitchen door. knowing his moldy socks were enough to satisfy his penseés de fromage,friends who knew him swear they saw pieces of Ritz crackers in his boots. while his music became celebrated, ( even the vampires living beneath l'Opera cheered when his magic baton took to the stale air) his mood became not unlike a fall fungus from auvergne. He never went fishing, and it is quite a paradox that he would write for the fishermen of Villerville. Perhaps it was meant to be an ode to the great peaches of Villerville, known throughout the North Sea as "les instruments de l'amour" (roughly, nookie cookies).

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