Stillness And Sweet Harmony

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Compilations from a performer's catalog are often musically hit-and-miss and programmatically shaky. But when you have a catalog as strong, varied, and musically rich as the Cambridge Singers', the question is not how to find appropriate material but how to reduce the first-rate choices to fit on a single CD. This one offers a wide range of selections, including chant, Renaissance sacred and secular works, folk song, and 20th-century pieces. Every track contains a gem--music and performance--so it's hard to list only a few highlights. There's the Pie Jesu from Fauré's Requiem, Allegri's famous Miserere, several classics by Byrd, Orlando Gibbons's popular "The silver swan," and two masterful folk-song arrangements by Rutter. But among the 15 works featured, John Sheppard's "In manus tuas" (one of the glories of the English Renaissance) and Rutter's "What sweeter music" (his most famous piece) alone make this disc worth owning. --David Vernier

Tracks:

Adoro te devote - Gregorian Chant
Requiem: Pie Jesu - Gabriel Faure
Visita, quaesumus Domine - William Byrd_
Draw On, Sweet Night - The Cambridge Singers directed by John Rutter
O Can Ye Sew Cushions - The Cambridge Singers directed by John Rutter
The Silver Swan - Orlando Gibbons
Down By The Sally Gardens - The Cambridge Singers directed by John Rutter
In manus tuas - The Cambridge Singers directed by John Rutter
Miserere - Gregorio Allegri
Tantum ergo - Gabriel Faure
Justorum animae - William Byrd_
O quam suavis - William Byrd_
Laudi alla Vergine Maria - Giuseppe Verdi
Alma Redemptoris Mater - Gregorian Chant
What Sweeter Music - John Rutter

Amazon.com

Compilations from a performer's catalog are often musically hit-and-miss and programmatically shaky. But when you have a catalog as strong, varied, and musically rich as the Cambridge Singers', the question is not how to find appropriate material but how to reduce the first-rate choices to fit on a single CD. This one offers a wide range of selections, including chant, Renaissance sacred and secular works, folk song, and 20th-century pieces. Every track contains a gem--music and performance--so it's hard to list only a few highlights. There's the Pie Jesu from Fauré's Requiem, Allegri's famous Miserere, several classics by Byrd, Orlando Gibbons's popular "The silver swan," and two masterful folk-song arrangements by Rutter. But among the 15 works featured, John Sheppard's "In manus tuas" (one of the glories of the English Renaissance) and Rutter's "What sweeter music" (his most famous piece) alone make this disc worth owning. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Bad day at work? Enter another realm.......2005-07-31

This is a wonderfully mellow selection of choral works in the English tradition, and a particularly well-balanced program: You can set the CD to play and relax with a good glass of wine.

The Cambridge Singers come across as a single, smooth instrument--not a group of belting soloists. Rutter's arrangements and orchestrations avoid here some of the cutesy movie-style effects on some of the Christmas albums.

This album is a compilation from previous Cambridge Singers recordings, so it's very suitable as a gift from someone who has expressed an early interest in English choral music, to lead them into the area. The CD is a wonderful value and highly recommended.

Ahhhh...........2004-06-30

Very pleasant music for rattled nerves. I'm no expert on choral music, but this is a calming and enjoyable CD to listen to while driving.

Average customer rating:

Relaxing!
It really does lower your heart rate
Soothing, centering, calming..

Twilight

Manufacturer: Sally Wood
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005UJTC
Release Date: 2001-11-23

Tracks:

Sicilienne by Faure
Pavane by Faure
Trio for Two Flutes and Harp by Berlioz
Romance by Glinka
Canzona by Bertona
Siciliano by Bach
En Bateau by Debussy
Arioso by Bach
The Swan by Saint-Saens
Intermezzo by Mascagni
Thais Meditation by Massenet
Entr'acte from Carmen by Bizet
1st Gymnopedie by Satie

Album Description

Meditative Music selected and arranged to lower the listener's heart rate.

Customer Reviews:

Relaxing!.......2002-08-13

I found this CD pure magic. The music is relaxing and I would recommend it to everyone. I listen to this cd at the end of a stressfull day and I relax. Highly recomended.

It really does lower your heart rate.......2002-08-12

This CD says that it's supposed to lower your heart rate and it really does! It's also totally pleasant to listen to. A very good arrangement of some excellent music.

Soothing, centering, calming.........2002-08-12

I love this uplifting CD! I turn it on just as I am getting into bed and the beautiful and ethereal sounds lull me into tranquil dreams. Listening to Zenaida has proved to be very addictive, a lovely ritual I've happily incorporated into my daily life. I recommend the CD as a wonderful gift for anyone needing a refreshing antidote to the stresses we all face, for anyone you love! In the shadow of recent world events the sounds of Zenaida provide a touchstone, us a reminder of unseen light during dark times.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Music Review

Things & Other Things

Kodaly: Sonata for cello solo Op8; Duo Op7

Moderne und traditionelle Gitarrenmusik des 20. Jahrunderts

Good Old Fiddle Music

Looking Back, Vol. 5

New England Portraits

Lisboa: Red Hot on Portugal

Legs to Make Us Longer [Enhanced]

Left Hand Drive [Import]

Light My Fire

Reflections V.2 [Import]

Mutacao [Import]

No One Can Do It Better

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Fabio Biondi & Europa Galante

Repent