My Twentieth Century

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Martin Bresnick (b. 1946) has long been an influential teacher of music composition at Yale but over the past few years he has begun to receive recognition as an important composer in his own right. On the occasion of Bresnick’s receiving the first Ives Living Award, John Harbison averred, "His music is formally clear, and it has a combination of a direct expressivity and a rigorous method, as well as a real sense of sonic immediacy." His versatility and ecumenical approach to the materials of his art are evident throughout this program of several of his most recent compositions.

Bresnick’s music aims to calmly convince rather than to incite. Mostly scored for various-sized chamber ensembles, his most public, large-scale works are conspicuously unflamboyant. What is striking is not the surface but rather the underlying architecture that supports it—invariably a faultless model of compositional craft, of palindromes and pitch rotations, inversional symmetries—of governing logic recapitulated on all structural levels, of minutely planned proportions unfolding across a rich and varied temporal canvas.

Bresnick’s consummate professionalism results from an intimate familiarity and intense study of five centuries of musical literature as well as an apprenticeship with the uncompromising modernist György Ligeti, whose works are similar tours de force of elegance and refinement. It is this legacy that his compositional work celebrates and which he has transmitted to his many students. As Bresnick’s artistic identity has come into sharper focus, his position as a Janus, simultaneously looking back from modernist rigor and ahead to post-modern eclecticism has become increasingly evident.

Tracks:

This Year Of Grace: Dance, Little Lady
This Year Of Grace: A Room With A View
This Year Of Grace: Mary Make-Believe
This Year Of Grace: Try To Learn To Love
This Year Of Grace: Lorelei
A Dream Of Youth (The Dream Is Over)
Bitter Sweet: Zigeuner
This Year Of Grace: World Weary
Private Lives, Act 1, Love Scene: Someday I'll Find You
Private Lives, Act 2, Scene: I Never Realised/If You Were The Only Girl In The World
Half-Caste Woman
Any Little Fish
Cavalcade: Lover Of My Dreams (Mirabelle Valse)
Cavalcade Vocal Medley: Soldiers Of The Queen/Goodbye Dolly Gray/Lover Of My Dreams/I Do Like To...
Cavalcade, Epilogue: Toast To England
Noel Coward Medley: Parisian Pierrot/Poor Little Rich Girl/A Room With A View/Dance Little Lady...

Customer Reviews:

The style is the man--and the song.......2001-05-02

Many composers have chosen to perform their own material and commit it to discs, with mixed results. Only with Noel Coward do we feel that a good deal of the charm of his numbers lies in the very way he performs them. For proof, we now have the Naxos Nostalgia (8.120529), which dishes up 16 tracks of the ultra-refined son of W. S.Gilbert, giving us six selections from "This Year of Grace," one from "Bittersweet," a medley of treasures from his "Cavalcade," another from his other works, and a few other trifles that are better than most of what is written today.

Add to all this two classical scenes with Coward and co-star Gertrude Lawrence from his "Private Lives," incredibly valuable for those local drama groups who butcher this work in that this CD can teach them the tone and rhythms that are essential in making this classic succeed.

Tracks:

Grace - Pendula and the Center of Gravity
Grace - Of the Heaviness of Matter
Grace - Grace Will Return
Tent of Miracles
Songs of the Mouse People - Common Squeaking (made apparent by its delicacy)
Songs of the Mouse People - That Peace We Yearn For
Songs of the Mouse People - Every Disturbance Is an Opportunity
Songs of the Mouse People - A Thousand Shoulders Tremble (under a burden actually meant for one)
Laughter Stops (when we see Josephine)
Fantasia on a Theme by Willie Dixon
My Twentieth Century

Product Description

Martin Bresnick (b. 1946) has long been an influential teacher of music composition at Yale but over the past few years he has begun to receive recognition as an important composer in his own right. On the occasion of BresnickÂ’s receiving the first Ives Living Award, John Harbison averred, Â“His music is formally clear, and it has a combination of a direct expressivity and a rigorous method, as well as a real sense of sonic immediacy.Â” His versatility and ecumenical approach to the materials of his art are evident throughout this program of several of his most recent compositions. BresnickÂ’s music aims to calmly convince rather than to incite. Mostly scored for various-sized chamber ensembles, his most public, large-scale works are conspicuously unflamboyant. What is striking is not the surface but rather the underlying architecture that supports itÂ—invariably a faultless model of compositional craft, of palindromes and pitch rotations, inversional symmetriesÂ—of governing logic recapitulated on all structural levels, of minutely planned proportions unfolding across a rich and varied temporal canvas. BresnickÂ’s consummate professionalism results from an intimate familiarity and intense study of five centuries of musical literature as well as an apprenticeship with the uncompromising modernist György Ligeti, whose works are similar tours de force of elegance and refinement. It is this legacy that his compositional work celebrates and which he has transmitted to his many students. As BresnickÂ’s artistic identity has come into sharper focus, his position as a Janus, simultaneously looking back from modernist rigor and ahead to post-modern eclecticism has become increasingly evident.

Choral Music of Twentieth Century Americans

Average customer rating:

Choral Music of Twentieth Century Americans

Manufacturer: Cambria Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

A Cappella | Folk | Styles | Music

Wedding Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Eric Whitacre: Cloudburst and other choral works

ASIN: B000003XOI
Release Date: 1993-08-23

Average customer rating:

String Quartet Tribute to the Doors

Manufacturer: Vitamin Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Tributes | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The String Quartet Tribute to the Beatles
String Quartet Tribute to Pink Floyd
Strung Out On U2 : The String Quartet Tribute
Opening Doors: A Jazz Tribute To The Doors
The String Quartet Tribute to Jimi Hendrix

ASIN: B0007ZEP6I
Release Date: 2005-04-19

Tracks:

Hello I Love You
Light My Fire
Love Me Two Times
Break On Through
Riders On The Storm
People Are Strange
Touch Me
Twentieth Century Fox
Love Her Madly
Unknown Soldier
When The Music's Over
Give It Up To Me

Product Description

Tracks:

He's Gone Away
The Little Horses
Ching-a-Ring Chaw
At The River
Zion's Walls
In The Fields
Bessie Bobtail op 2, no 3
I Hear an Army, op 10
Sure on this Shining Night op.13, no 3
Rain Has Fallen, op.10
To Say Before Going To Sleep
White in the Moon
The Leather-Winged Bat
Barb'ry Allen
Sleep Now
Winter Song
Twentieth Century
A Letter
The Astronomers
T'is Winter Now
Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day
Make Me An Instrument of Thy Peace
Black is The Color of My True Love's Hair
Soldier, Soldier
Heart! We Will Forget Him!
Richard Cory
Fee Simple
My Native Land
The Things Our Fathers Loved
Memories

Customer Reviews:

Very Good Intro to American Art Songs.......2006-04-02

'My Native Land', a collection of 30 pieces sung by mezzo soprano Jennifer Larmore, accompanied on piano by Antoine Palloc is an excellent tutorial in the American art song. As the introduction states, the art song is as much or more at home in America than any other form of 'classical' music. This became quite clear to me the moment I realized that Stephen Foster's songs were as much of the style of Shubert as they were of native American gospel songs.

This makes it especially odd that there are no Stephen Foster songs on this album. I take this to be an effort on the part of the artist and her producers to focus on less familiar material and thereby educate us about Jake Heggie, Lee Hoiby, John Duke, Richard Hundley, Lora Aborn, John Jacob Niles, Robert Abramson and Charles Naginski and thereby concentrating on 20th century composers joining the better known Charles Ives, Samuel Barber, and Aaron Copeland.

Larmone is not my favorite mezzo and, like another reviewer, have found her doing things I did not totally enjoy, but it seems as if the material in this album fits her to a Tee. It makes me wish she would do a Stephen Foster album.

Recommended.

Excellent recording, lots of photos, partial texts........2005-06-09

I defer to the excellent review below, and to that in the December 1997 Gramophone 12/1997. Just a brief note for purchasers that, for reasons not totally justified by copyright concerns, only nine of the thirty sung texts are reproduced in the original Teldec release booklet - and none at all in the Elatus reissue. Generous total timing 74'58.

Terrific Songs, Great Artistry.......2000-09-25

In an effort to promote American culture abroad, I purchased this CD as a gift for a European friend. After two weeks of previewing it in my home, I'm keeping it for myself! Simply put, I can't remember the last time I have enjoyed a disc of songs as much as this one. No one is more surprised than me, since in the past I haven't always warmed to Larmore's singing, live or on record. Even here there are times when her vocal idiosyncrasies get in the way of what she wants to do. The lower register often takes on a strangely occluded quality, while some of her high notes slice the air with piercing shrillness. It's a highly accomplished voice that, to my ears, lacks consistent beauty. But to be fair, for much of this disc she sounds perfectly fine: a handsome, pleasingly dark sound, notable for its flexibility and legato.

What earns her five stars, however, is her artistry. She brings an arrestingly broad range of responses to this music. Like the nation that produced them, American songs are highly diverse, drawing from folk, European, religious, and pop idioms, to name just a few. Larmore is in full command of this diversity and alters her tone and delivery to bring each number home. Furthermore, she seems really to have read and thought about the texts. Every word counts. When the music can handle it, she lays it on thick and "acts" her way through the song, such as in Copland's "Ching a Ring" or Heggie's "Barb'ry Allen." But she wisely knows when to to hold back and let the melody carry the point, as in Barber's famous "Sure on this Shining Night" or Ives's "My Native Land." (Many accomplished Lieder singers never learn this lesson.) Once or twice she's a little off target (the first track, unfortunately), but this disc gave me a new respect for her art.

It helps that she's chosen such a fascinating group of songs. The Copland and Barber are well known, and recently Heggie is on everyone's lips, but much of the rest rarely makes it to disc. I particularly liked the gorgeous Aborn numbers, with their wistful sentimentality, and the quirky Duke pieces. Hundley's "Astronomers" is a haunting, unforgettable piece. Her inclusion of three Ives songs reminds us that it's time singers of her caliber returned to his oeuvre. Many of her choices stress different kinds of longing, that most American of emotions, but there's enough of a variety to prevent sameness. She also shines in several "patter songs," delivered with lightning wit. Palloc performs his role admirably.

Tracks:

Blow The Wind Southerly
What Is Life
Art Thou Troubled
Come To Me Soothing Sleep
Woe Unto Them
Sprin Is Coming
Ye Banks & Braes
My Bonny Lad
Keel Row
Fidgety Bairn
Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal
I Know Where I'm Going
I Will Walk With My Love
Stuttering Lovers
Ca'the Yowes To The Knowes
Drink To Me Oly With Thine Eyes
Die Music
Der Musensohn
O Praise The Lord
I Will Lay Me Down In Peace

Album Description

The greatest lyric contralto England ever produced, Blackburn-born Ferrier went from being a telephone operator to a much loved and admired international superstar in less than ten years. A concert performer rather than an opera diva, she nevertheless had an opera written specially for her - The Rape Of Lucretia by composer Benjamin Britten. Castle. 2005.

Album Details

The Greatest Lyric Contralto England Ever Produced, Blackburn-born Ferrier Went from Being a Telephone Operator to a Much Loved and Admired International Superstar in Less Than Ten Years. A Concert Performer Rather Than an Opera Diva, She Nevertheless Had an Opera Written Specially for her - the Rape of Lucretia by Composer Benjamin Britten.

Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition

Average customer rating:

Wonderful set
Don't buy the whole thing
Not Insane
insane
For the real music lover

Great Pianists of the 20th Century: The Complete Edition
Great Pianists of the Twentieth Century
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Gavottes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Pavanes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Nonets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | 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

Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Voluntaries | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00002EITP
Release Date: 1999-10-26

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful set.......2004-10-24

This set is for serious piano fans, not for the ones who just start building up a CD library. I sort of agree with one of the reviewers, that there are many repetitions. But if you love piano, you wish to hear the same piece in different interpretations. Indeed, I really like this feature of this set: I can compare the style of various performers.
If you are into piano music, I encourage you to grab this set, if you can find it used (not available anymore at Amazon). I also hope, that there will be a continuation, in which other great pianists, who were left out because of the space limitation, will be included (Prokofiev, Bartok, Dohnanyi, etc).

Don't buy the whole thing.......2001-07-08

I've put a lot of thought into constructing my own piano library, and unless you can easily afford the present set, I would recommend a different approach to collecting piano music. This set emphasizes the piano player rather than the piano composer. Of course both are important. For example, the "Barcarolle" appears in this set EIGHT times. I'm sorry, although I love the piece, if I am going to spend [the money], I would prefer more variety. Where are the Alkan, Medtner, and Szymanawski compositions represented in this set? I appreciate having so many interpretations of the same pieces, but I would also appreciate more exposure to pieces not so popular. The selection by Philips which I consider a somewhat popular selection suggests to me that when Philips constructed this set, they realized most people would be buying the disks separately, and this affected the selection. And it's not just that obscure composers are left out, but also if one spends so much money on piano recordings, you'd think you'd want to buy pieces from a composer in completeness. For example, an alternative way to construct a library would be to combine purchases of complete cycles, e.g. complete Beethoven sonatas, complete Scriabin preludes, etc., along with outstanding recordings of more particular pieces. I'm not sure why someone would want to concentrate so much on so many famous artists, instead of acquiring complete sets of compositions. For me the composer is more important, or at least, if I am going to spend [the money]on piano recordings, I'd prefer more complete, rather than snapshot, exposure to the composers.

Not Insane.......2001-01-02

I had to write this review, as I am enthralled with this set. I have been going through it in order having already purchased a few individual units from the collection earlier. I am not sure what `insane' was talking about as there is NO repetition. Sure some pianists perform the same pieces, isn't that what they did in reality? The idea is to appreciate the different nuances and approaches taken by these artists. You will then enjoy these pieces from a better vantage.

It is a large ambitious contribution to the art of great piano playing. It is a labor of love and represents a tremendous amount of research and cooperation between many record companies. Rather then representing insanity, it is a resource to treasure.

Yes experts can quibble over who was left out, and what performances were inserted. I do not think such a massive undertaking could have been accomplished without someone being able to find faults. Overall however, unless you already have a monumental collection, (it would have to be almost legendary), this incredible set will give you a rewarding look into 74 of the greatest pianist of all time. You will come away with a honed sense of appreciation for your likes and dislikes. You will undoubtedly become someone who will search out recordings and be able to enjoy them for the rest of your life with a refined ear.

The only negative is this price. I would shop around, as it is daunting to spend 2 thousand dollars on such a collection. Of course you do get 200 CD's. However, the used collections might be good to consider.

Enjoy these masterpieces. I am not ashamed of owning this music as `insane' implies. I am proud to have enriched my life.

insane.......2000-10-12

This is not a good library of piano music. The reason is, there is too much repetition. I'm not saying the series is bad. The series is wonderful. But this collection as a whole is a bad libary. For the same money you could collect together (with more effort) an incredible libary of piano music. There are so many wonderful cd's out there, this is just a waste of money. If you can actually afford to spend 2 grand on piano music, then either (1) spend the time and do some research to get a good library of piano music, which will probably include some selections from this collection, or (2) hire someone to do that for you. Personally I would be embarrassed to own this whole collection, since that shows I have put little thought into my purchases of piano music.

For the real music lover.......2000-03-12

This series attempts to present important and representative performances by most of the major pianists of the 20th century. One might quibble a bit with the choices, but the works presented are of consistently high quality, and often do represent what may be the best works of a performer. Since this covers most of the time that recorded music existed, some of the recordings are technically challenged, as there is only so much one can do to enhance an old recording. Still, these appear to have been treated with love and respect in their restorations. Since this series is so large (and expensive!) one is tempted to "cherry pick" through the series, yet by doing so one can easily overlook gems by artists one is less familiar with. This large a set must inevitably have many versions of the same pieces, and takes many hours to listen to. The true enthusiast will appreciate the differences in interpretation, whereas the less experienced listener may find the set repetitive and overwhelming. If one has the time to really dig into this set, it can provide years of exploration and discovery. It would make a wonderful gift for some special music lover in your life ... or for yourself!

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Music Review

Herz [Import]

Prokofiev: Romeo And Juliet

Shostakovich: From Jewish Folk Poetry Op79; Fleischmann: Rothschild's Violin

Album Review: 18

Shadyside

Secret Places Private Thoughts

Reflections in the Sea of Nurnen [Import]

Nuevas Criaturas

Para Ellas

Classical Treasures: Luciano Pavarotti

Waiting To Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album