Howells: Music for Strings

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Herbert Howells (1892-1985) was a British composer who took after many of his contemporaries--Walton, Bax, Arnold and a bit of recidivist Vaughan Williams. The Concerto for String Orchestra (1938) is a lucid, if willowy showcase for strings. Howells's "Elegy for Solo Viola, String Quartet and String Orchestra" (1917) has many tonal parallels to the music of Vaughan Williams of the same period. You can almost hear the same folk sources for some of the melodies, though Howells, to his credit, has a more even temperament and is much less melancholy. The Suite for String Orchestra (1938) is probably Howells's clear masterpiece. --Paul Cook

Tracks:

Symphony No.25 In G Minor, K.183: 1st Movemen
Stabat Mater: Quando Corpus Morietur And Amen
Bubak and Hungaricus
Serenade For Winds, K.361: 3rd Movement
The Abduction From The Seraglio: Turkish Finale
Symphony No.29 In A Major, K.201: 1st Movement: Allegro Moderato
Concerto For Two Pianos, K.365: 3rd Movement
Mass In C Minor, K.427: Kyrie
Symphonie Concertante, K.364: 1st Movement

Tracks:

Piano Concerto In E Flat Major, K.482: 3rd Movement - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Ivan Moravec
The Marriage Of Figaro: Act III: Ecco La Marcia - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields
The Marriage Of Figaro: Act IV: Ah Tutti Contenti - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields
Don Giovanni: Act II: Commendatore Scene - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields
Zaide: Aria: Ruhe Sanft - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Felicity Lott
Requiem, K.626: Introitus (Eternal Rest Give To Them, O Lord) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Academy Chorus/Laszlo Heltay
Requiem, K.626: Dies Irae (Day Of Wrath) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Academy Chorus/Laszlo Heltay
Requiem, K.626: Rex Tremandae Majestatis (Awe-Inspiring King) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Academy Chorus/Laszlo Heltay
Requiem, K.626: Confutatis (When Those Cursed Enter Flames) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Academy Chorus/Laszlo Heltay
Requiem, K.626: Lacrymosa (Mournful Day) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Academy Chorus/Laszlo Heltay
Piano Concerto In D Minor, K.466: 2nd Movement (Romanza) - Neville Marriner/Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields/Imogen Cooper

Customer Reviews:

A Whitman sampler of Mozart.......2007-05-02

Truth be told, classical music--like most other kinds--is best heard in the program context for which it was written. Yet any time you can get Neville Marriner, the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, and Mozart in the same place at the same time, you can hardly *not* go for it.

Like the famous chocolate sampler, you get a few of each flavor but not all you want of your favorite kind.

How then to decide? Well, viewing the rollicking good movie AMADEUS tips the scales towards buying and enjoying this fabulous, if disordered, compilation of the Mozart greats that went into the making of a movie that forever dissed the composer's rep but also gained him some fans among non-classical-listening movie-goers.

For the price you also receive a superb liner booklet that locates each piece within the film's narrative and says a word or two about the music on its own merits.

A winner for Mozart lovers.

shows some of Mozart's highlight pieces.......2007-04-15

This CD to me pretty much has all of my favoirite songs that he has made, Especially the reqeium. A must listen to Cd that I think any classical music fan will enjoy, I sure did.

Great Price.......2006-03-02

Great price for the product. I am so glad I logged onto Amazon.com for things like this. It arrived faster than expected. I will definitely continue to buy more in the future.

An excellent soundtrack and an excellent film!!.......2005-05-23

Eventhough many kids in school listen to rap and all, I listen to classical. After watching Amadeus, I was moved by the pieces selected to be played in the film. I especially liked Symphony No. 29 1st Movement. Also, when Salieri is at the Archbishop of Salzburg's palace and reads Mozart's piece, Serenade for Winds, is among my favorites. In Serenade for Winds, Mozart creates a very emotional and almost night music feel to it. I was surprised that the director/conductor did not put in a few more famous pieces into the album . . . ex. Symphony No. 40, The Magic Flute, etc. This is an excellent album and anyone who wants to enjoy the genius of Mozart should purchase this. Take it from me, you will enjoy this album immesensely.

If You've Seen The Movie...........2004-06-13

Wolfgang Amedeus Mozart's nervy youthfullness went far beyond his personal life.His choice of music very much reflects
his own spirit.He chose to set to music Le Nozze Di Figaro (a
play largely blamed for starting the French Revolution) put him
somewhat at odds with Emperor Joseph.His tendency (very much in
attendance here) to compose opera's in German at a time when
Italian opera was at it's post popular also made him a bit of a musical rebel of his day.I don't listen to alot of classical music (but certainly I have favorites,notably by Eric Satie) but Mozart's many concereto's,acts of his opera's and so
on demonstrate the youthful composers gift for melody and yes,
even hints at improvisation that set 18'th century Vienna (and
later the world) on fire!And Peter Shaffer was sure to include
acts from Mozarts errie unfinished reqeuim mass towards the end
of this CD.So to fans of the movie with more then a passing interest in classical music will enjoy this!And I think Mozart's
spirit will always be alive in those who choose to challange themselfs to innovate within music and get the public's ear to
stretch!

Average customer rating:

Magnificent
Amadeus is a great movie and an equally great soundtrack!
Amadeus rocks!
It is miraculous!
24K Gold & 24 High Bit Remastering = the definitive edition!

Amadeus [Soundtrack] [Gold Cd]
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Fantasy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Amadeus - Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Amadeus: More Music From The Original Soundtrack Of The Film Amadeus
Immortal Beloved / Sir Georg Solti (film 1994)
Amadeus: The Complete Original Soundtrack Recording
Amadeus: Original Soundtrack Recording

ASIN: B00005Y1SV
Release Date: 2002-02-05

Tracks:

Symphony No. 25 in G Minor, K. 183: 1st Movement (As Used in the Film,
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Serenade, K. 525: 1st Movement (As Used in the
Stabat Mater: Quando Corpus Morietur & Amen (As Used in the Film, ...) - Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
Salieri's March into Mozart's Non Pirai, For - Simon Preston
Serenade for Winds, K. 361: 3rd Movement (As Used in the Film, Amadeus)
Die Entf Aus Dem Serail, K. 384: Chorus of the Janissaries ...
Ich Me Wohl (Ein Deutsche Krieglied), K. 539: As Used in the Film,
Die Entf Aus Dem Serail, K. 384: Turkish Finale (As Used in ...)
Mass in C Minor, K. 427: Kyrie (As Used in the Film, Amadeus)
Concerto for Flute & Harp, K. 299: 2nd Movement (As Used in the ...)
Concerto for Flute & Harp, K. 299: 2nd Movement (As Used in the ...)
Symphony No. 29 in a Major, K. 201: 1st Movement (As Used in the Film,
Adagio in C Minor for Glass Armonica, K. 617: Adagio (As Used in ...)

Tracks:

Concerto for Two Pianos, K. 365: 3rd Movement (As Used in the ...)
Concerto for Two Pianos, K. 365: 3rd Movement (As Used in the ...)
Symphonie Concertante, K. 364: 1st Movement (As Used in the Film, ...)
Symphonie Concertante, K. 364: 1st Movement (As Used in the Film, ...)
Zaide: Aria: Ruhe Sanft (As Used in the Film, Amadeus)
Zaide: Aria: Ruhe Sanft (As Used in the Film, Amadeus)
Zaide: Aria: Ruhe Sanft (As Used in the Film, Amadeus)
Zaide: Aria: Ruhe Sanft (As Used in the Film, Amadeus)
Caro Mio Ben (As Used in the Film, Amadeus) - Giuseppe Giordani
Piano Concerto in E Flat, K. 482: 3rd Movement (As Used in the ...)
Piano Concerto in E Flat, K. 482: 3rd Movement (As Used in the ...)
Piano Concerto in E Flat, K. 482: 3rd Movement (As Used in the ...)
Piano Concerto in E Flat, K. 482: 3rd Movement (As Used in the ...)
Nozze Di Figaro, K. 492: Ecco la Marcia (As Used in the Film, Amadeus)
Nozze Di Figaro, K. 492: Ecco la Marcia (As Used in the Film, Amadeus)
Nozze Di Figaro, K. 492: Ah Tutti Contenti (As Used in the Film, ...)
Buband Hungaricus [Early 18TH Century Gypsy Mus] - Anonymous Composer

Amazon.com

The Academy Award®-sweeping film Amadeus wisely pinned much of its dramatic thrust on Mozart's gloriously eternal music, and its soundtrack remains a concise yet rewarding introduction to Wolfgang's spectacular oeuvre. This newly remastered "Director's Cut" edition is a companion to the expanded DVD and features 24-bit encoding on two 24-karat-gold discs, sharpening the sonic clarity of the performances of Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields to near perfection. The performances (which, Marriner notes, crucially served as templates during actual production) have also been augmented to match the expanded new video edition and include a new, 2001 recording of the Adagio in C Minor for Glass Armonica, K. 617. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Magnificent .......2007-01-04

This soundtrack is an excellent review of some of Mozart's most beautiful works. His compositions are timeless and moving. No personal media library can be complete without him.

Amadeus is a great movie and an equally great soundtrack!.......2006-07-02

I have to admit, I didn't like classical music before I saw the movie Amadeus. After seeing how they used the music in the movie I had to have the soundtrack. I debated for a day or two over which version to buy, and finally chose this one, since it has Salieri's march to welcome Mozart. Not a huge addition, but it's the complete soundtrack, which is what I was after. Before I received the cds, I was wondering "What's the big deal about them being gold cds?" The sound quality is magnificent, you hear all the music clearly, even the softest strings. These cds capture the sound as it was in the movie (possibly even better...)The booklet that comes with it is full of information and pictures, including a synopsis of the film, and detailed information about the musical selections. I would recommend this to anyone who liked Amadeus, or anyone who loves Mozart's music.

The only negative thing about these cds is that the tracks were labelled incorrectly, repeating the title of one song many times instead of having the correct titles. It was easy enough to fix in my media player but it was frustrating. Don't know if I got a bad copy or not, but the track listing shown on Amazon.com helped me to fix it.

Amadeus rocks!.......2006-02-21

It was a Valentine gift to a friend's boyfriend and he loves it and has been listening to it all the time. Delivery was timely, too. I'm overall very satisfied! Thanx!

It is miraculous!.......2005-06-06

So said Antonio Salieri to Mozart's wife about his music, and this Special Edition Gold Cd set understands this statement. More precisely though, it is Sir Neville Marriner, the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the various opera singers who should receive all the praise for this superb achievement. I have never heard such an authentic and high-quality recording of Mozart's music before. Thanks to the 24-bit encoding and the exceptional quality of the recording, the beauty of Mozart's music sounds as I believe it should. You can hear even the slightest or faintest of strings. Other recordings are simply lesser because of the tempo that is either too slow or too fast and the average clarity of the instruments. If you want to discover Mozart's music for the first time or complement your copy of Milos Forman's magnificent film, this is the set you have to get because it quite simply gets it right. The high price is all worth it as you get transported by this awesome music. It's a pity that classical music is now perceived to be reserved for a niche of artsy and boring people. That couldn't be farther from the truth! If people could just take the time to listen, just for a few minutes.

24K Gold & 24 High Bit Remastering = the definitive edition!.......2005-01-25

There are several different editions of Amadeus soundtracks ranging from single-disc to 3-disc sets available all at the same time, and it can be quite confusing at first.

After some research I ended up debating on whether to get the cheaper 1991 3-disc standard edition (ASIN: B000000XBV) or this 2002 2-disc special edition with '24 High-Bit' remastering. I had initial doubts that the latter contain the same 30 tracks, since it is only a 2-disc set, and decided to take a chance only after visiting the label site to confirm that it contains all 30 tracks as well.

Just a few days ago, it arrived from Amazon in a double-cd jewel case with a 30-page well-designed booklet, which has the movie sypnosis, individual narratives of almost all tracks, 2 articles about the movie and interspersed throughout with colourful scenes from the movie.

I discovered that the two '24K Gold' cds are able to contain the same number of tracks as the 3-disc standard edition because each disc is literally jam-packed to the brim, at 78.07 and 79.28 minutes respectively!

Due to the new '24 High-Bit' remastering, the sonic quality is excellent and perhaps die-hard fans of the earlier standard edition may even want to include this in their collection as well.

For those who are thinking of owning only one edition, this is the definitive edition to get if you really enjoyed the music in Amadeus and want the very best quality possible.

Average customer rating:

Howells: Music for Strings

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Howells: Orchestral Works
Herbert Howells: Hymnus Paradisi/An English Mass
Howells: Piano Concertos 1 & 2 / Penguinski
Herbert Howells: Rhapsodie Quintet; Violin Sonata No. 3; Clarinet Sonata; Harp Prelude
Kurt Atterberg: The Symphonies (Box Set)

ASIN: B000000ARP
Release Date: 1994-07-26

Tracks:

Concerto For String Orchestra: I. Allegro, assai vivace
Concerto For String Orchestra: II. Quasi lento: teneramente
Concerto For String Orchestra: III. Allegro vivo: ritmico e giocoso
Elegy For Solo Viola, String Quartet And String Orchestra: Quasi Lento, teneramente
Suite For String Orchestra: I. Allegro deciso
Suite For String Orchestra: 2. Siciliano Elegiaco - Con moto - ma tenerezza
Suite For String Orchestra: 3. Alla Menuetto - Allegro moderato
Suite For String Orchestra: 4. Rondo - Allegro assai - brioso
Serenade For Strings: Allegretto scherzando

Amazon.com

Herbert Howells (1892-1985) was a British composer who took after many of his contemporaries--Walton, Bax, Arnold and a bit of recidivist Vaughan Williams. The Concerto for String Orchestra (1938) is a lucid, if willowy showcase for strings. Howells's "Elegy for Solo Viola, String Quartet and String Orchestra" (1917) has many tonal parallels to the music of Vaughan Williams of the same period. You can almost hear the same folk sources for some of the melodies, though Howells, to his credit, has a more even temperament and is much less melancholy. The Suite for String Orchestra (1938) is probably Howells's clear masterpiece. --Paul Cook

Average customer rating:

A Rare Find
A Beautiful Collection of Mostly Anglican Hymns and Anthems

Faire Is The Heaven

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Hear My Prayer: Hymns and Anthems
Healey Willan: Organ Works
Healey Willan: In the Heavenly Kingdom
The Music of St. Paul's Cathedral
And On Earth Peace: A Chanticleer Mass

ASIN: B00009P1MX
Release Date: 2003-06-17

Tracks:

Jesu, The Very Thought Of Thee
Gloria Deo Per Imensa Saecula
Sing We Merrily Unto God Our Strength
I Beheld Her
Fair In Face
Rise Up My Love
Te Deum
O Thou Who Camest From Above
Ave Verum Corpus
My Song Is Love Unknown
Ave Verum Corpus
Magnificat
Abide With Me
Verleigh Uns Frieden
Faire Is The Heaven
The Day Thou Gavest

Customer Reviews:

A Rare Find.......2005-10-08

This CD features not only the customary hymns and anthems for Anglo Catholics and other 'High Church' Anglicans but several motets by a Canadian composer named Healey Willan. This CD happily includes the lovely 'Marian' motets written by Willan. These are the high points of this set and, for those pieces, I highly recommend this album. Naxos is now a major label for classical recordings, especially for those on a budget or who want to listen to pieces that would not otherwise be recorded on a 'big' label such as EMI or DG. This is another fine example of Naxos' discography.

A Beautiful Collection of Mostly Anglican Hymns and Anthems.......2003-10-18

Who would have thought that a choir based in the village of Elora, Ontario (just north of Kitchener and Guelph, and west of Toronto) would be the home base for the only professional church choir in Canada, and one of the best such choirs in North America? It is the handiwork of Noel Edison, its founder and director, who also directs the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Well, since picturesque Elora is home to the Elora Festival, an annual summer festival dedicated to vocal music, and Edison is its founder and director, too, I guess it should come as no surprise.

This disc is a congeries of choral pieces whose primary connection with each other is that they mostly come out of the Anglican musical tradition. There are familiar hymns such as 'Abide with Me' (set to W. H. Monk's tune, 'Eventide') and high-art compositions like Healey Willan's three Marian motets, 'I Beheld Her,' 'Fair in Face,' and 'Rise Up My Love.' Some are Canadian and some are English in origin. The only ringers are Mozart's 'Ave Verum Corpus,' that well-loved staple of church choirs the world over, and the almost-English Mendelssohn's 'Verleih uns Frieden' ['Grant Us Peace']. All are sung gorgeously by the Choir of St. John's Church, Elora. Most are accompanied by the former organist of St. John the Divine in New York City, Paul Halley, who also contributes descants to a couple of the hymns and who arranged an effective anthem from Gordon Slater's simple hymn, 'Jesu, the Very Thought of Thee.'

Among music written in the last 100 years is John Ireland's hymn 'My Song is Love Unknown,' surely one of the loveliest of his creations, which has here been enhanced by Halley's soaring descant. New to me is Latvian-born Canadian Imant Raminsh's 'Ave Verum Corpus,' a five minute anthem with hushed but piquant harmonies. Herbert Howells's 'Te Deum,' well-known in Canada and England, is rarely heard here and is, I know from experience, a powerful experience to sing; it is similarly moving to hear.

An extraordinary find for me is Willan's 8-minute-long 'Gloria Dei Per Immensa Saecula,' a well-crafted motet written for five parts whose cumulative effect is persuasive. The sopranos sound a bit taxed by the piece's high-flying tessitura, the only evidence of any strain on the entire disc.

Giving the CD its title is 'Faire is the Heaven,' a double-chorus anthem by Sir William Henry Harris (1883-1973) set to Spenser's well-known poem. The arch form is emotionally satisfying and the sudden key change at the climax is still startlingly effective.

One last word: I have heard one previous recording of Willan's three motets also sung by a Canadian choir--that of Willan's old church, St. Mary Magdalene in Toronto--and the present recording is much more expressive.

Recommended.

TT=63:25

Tracks:

Linden Lea
O My Deir Hert
Epitaph For Amy
Searching For Lambs
The Lawyer
The Prism Of Life
Love For Love
The Sky Above The Roof
Three Sonnets Of Cecil Day Lewis: For Infants, Time Is Like A Humming Shell
Three Sonnets Of Cecil Day Lewis: Our Youth-Time Passes Down A Colonnade
Three Sonnets Of Cecil Day Lewis: To Travel Like A Bird
How Can The Tree But Wither?
Ten Blake Songs: Infant Joy
Ten Blake Songs: A Poison Tree
The Piper
London
The Lamb
The Shepherd
Ah! Sunflower
Cruelty Has A Human Heart
The Divine Image
Eternity
Full Moon
Sleep
Elegy On The Death Of Cock Robin
My Own Country

Average customer rating:

Glorious sound in a glorious space
A truly essential recording

Light's Glittering Morn

Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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

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

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

Te Deum | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000002RRX
Release Date: 1992-01-23

Customer Reviews:

Glorious sound in a glorious space.......2005-10-04

As I have had a long personal relationship with both Washington National Cathedral and John Fenstermaker, the conductor of this disc, it would be difficult for me to find anything critical to say about it. The sound brings back memories, but that's another story. The balance of forces - an immense organ, a very large choir (two combined, actually), and a brass band - is superb for a recording in a space notoriously difficult to get a balanced sound in. I was particularly interested in the addition of the brass band to things like Finzi's "God is gone up," which (as far as I know) was not originally scored to include it. It's a big, glorious sound in a big, glorious space, but also has some more contemplative moments (e.g. Palestrina's "Sicut cervus" and Tallis's "If ye love me" ) and the unusual treat of about 45 seconds of carillon music (I'd have liked more!) at the beginning. Consider this CD an ESSENTIAL addition to the library of any fan of Anglican church music at its best.

A truly essential recording.......1999-07-21

This is possibly the best album ever recorded by a men and boys choir. Every fan of choral work owes it to themselves to search out and buy a copy of this CD. Every single composition included is unforgettable and moving. Try to find a copy however you can -- you won't regret it. Recorded as a celebration of the completion of Washington National Cathedral in 1991, this CD is an impressive achievement in and of itself. Famous choral works are balanced perfectly with lesser-known, Nathional Cathedral-affiliated composers, all adding up to an enlightening and highly enjoyable listening experience. Be sure to listen to the powerful majesty of the Cathedral's Great Organ, displayed on this recording in all its ground-shaking grandeur.

Average customer rating:

Joyous surprises!
Simply the Best...

Simply the Best Christmas Album

Manufacturer: Erato
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Holiday Music | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Pop Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Pop Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

The Ultimate Relaxation Christmas Album 2
The Ultimate Relaxation Christmas Album
Ultimate Classical Christmas Album of All Time
A Christmas Festival
James Taylor at Christmas

ASIN: B00005MJ0G
Release Date: 2001-08-21

Tracks:

Adeste Fideles - Thomas Hampson
Ehre Sei Gott In Der Hohe (From Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio) - Tom Koopman
A Spotless Rose - Edward Higginbottom
Silent Night - Kiri Te Kanawa
O Joyful Children - Vienna Symphony
Festive Cheer: (Sleigh Ride/Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas/Jingle Bells/We Wish You A Merry Christmas) - London Brass
Glory To God (From Handel's Messiah) - Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Il Riposo - ...Per Il Natale (From Vivaldi's Christmas Concerto) - Il Giardino Armonico
O Holy Night - Sumi Jo
Noel Sur Les Jeux D'anches - Marie-Claire Alain
Panis Angelicus - Vienna Symphony
Jesus The Light Of The World - The Boston Camerata
In Dulci Lubilo - Chanticleer
Fallt Mit Danken, Fallte Mit Loben (From J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio) - Ton Koopman
Glory To Christmas - Moscow Liturgic Choir

Tracks:

The Nutcracker Suite (Opus 71a: Miniature Overture) - Alexander Lazarev
The Nutcracker Suite (Opus 71a: March) - Alexander Lazarev
The Nutcracker Suite (Opus 71a: Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy) - Alexander Lazarev
The Nutcracker Suite (Opus 71a: Trepak, Russian Dance) - Alexander Lazarev
The Nutcracker Suite (Opus 71a: Dance Of The Reeds) - Alexander Lazarev
Away In A Manger - London Brass
Christmas Stays The Same - Linda Eder
O Tannenbaum - Thomas Hampson
Pour La Nuit De Noel (Concerto Grosso Op.8 - Third Movement) - I Solisti Veneti
A Christmas Carol - Chanticleer
Agnus Dei - Vienna Symphony
O Little Town Of Bethlehem - Jouko Harjanne
We Wish You A Merry Christmas - Kiri Te Kanawa
Entre Le Boeuf Et L'ane Gris - Maitrise Saint-Pierre Aux Liens De Bulle
Christen, Atzet Diesen Tag (From Bach's Christmas Cantata, BWV 63 First Movement: Coro) - Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Jung
The Holly And The Ivy - Vienna Symphony
The Little Road To Bethlehem - Edward Higginbottom
Schliesse, Mein Herze (From Johann Sebastian Bach's Christmas Oratorio, Third Cantata: Alto Aria) - Ton Koopman
The Four Seasons, Winter (From Vivaldi's Four Seasons - Second Movement) - Progretto Avanti
Hallelujah (From Handel's Messiah: Part II/Chorus) - Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Amazon.com

A rather presumptive holiday title, Simply the Best Christmas Album is an unqualified best--if you like classical, choral, and symphonic music. Marquee talent such as Placido Domingo, Natalie Cole, and Jose Carreras anchor the mix, abetted by the redoubtable London Brass, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Edward Higgenbottom & The Choir of New College, Oxford, and the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra. This two-disc, 36-piece set presents a broad spectrum of holiday pageantry that embraces familiar traditional works like The Nutcracker and more contemporary pieces from Sumi Jo and Linda Eder. From triumphant brass and angelic choirs to stirring string pieces and rich, lovely orchestral movements, Simply the Best sets an exquisitely festive mood. --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews:

Joyous surprises!.......2006-06-01

Every once in awhile I run across an album that excells, not because of the shining brilliance of one artist, but because of the collective impact of several. Here, in this album, are some little-known gems from Christmas music literature. I was captivated by the lilting and primitive joy in "Jesus, the Light of the World," which I had never heard before. Then there is Chanticleer and its rendition of Charles Ives' "Christmas Carol," a classic too little known. There are others. If you look for unique renditions of familiar and unfamiliar Christmas music to enhance the joy of the season, this album is a must-buy.

Simply the Best..........2002-11-19

The minute I heard Thomas Hampson sing the first few notes of Adeste Fideles, I knew I had to have this album. It is a marvelous compilation of Classical Christmas favorites (excerpts from the Bach, Vivaldi and Corelli Christmas Concertos and The Nutcracker) and standard Christmas favorites, as well as some of the lesser heard Christmas gems.

Tracks:

Mary's Magnificat - Andrew Carter
O Gloriosa Domina - Michael Head
The Birds - Benjamin Britten
Come Sing and Dance - Herbert Howells
O, my deir hert - Herbert Howells
The First Mercy - Peter Warlock
Ave Maria - Rene Atkinson
Corpus Christi Carol - Benjamin Britten
Infant Joy - Ralph Vaughan Williams
The Lamb - Ralph Vaughan Williams
Wonder - Gerald Finzi
Christmas Song - Alan Hovhaness
My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord - Randall Thompson
Lullaby (Upon my Lap my Sov'reign Sits) - Randall Thompson
Cradle Song - Ned Rorem
A Christmas Carol - Norman Dello Joio
Lullee, Lullay - William Bergsma
Sure on this Shining Night - Samuel Barber
What Sweeter Musick - Gordon Binkerd
The Rapture - Gerald Finzi
Love is His Name - James Holloway
Scottish Lullaby - arr. Michael Kelly

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Green & Pleasant Land

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Soundtracks | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00008ZZ2Y
Release Date: 2003-11-18

Tracks:

Symphony In G Minor: Vivace - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Clear And Gentle Stream - Choir Of St. John's College, Cambridge
The Shropshire Lad: Loveliest Of Trees - Christopher Maltman
Two Aquarelles: Gaily, But Not Quick - David Lloyd-Jones
Summer Music - Royal Scottish National Orchestra
In The Wood: Adagio - Nicholas Daniel
Sospiri - English Northern Philharmonia
As You Like It: Under The Greenwood Tree - Andrew Penny
Egdon Heath - Royal Scottish National Orchestra
On Wenlock Edge - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
Like As The Hart - Choir Of St. John's College, Cambridge
Alla Marcia - Maggini Quartet
A Cotswold Hill Tune - David Lloyd-Jones
Vivace - Andrew Penny
Andantino - Andrew Penny
Con Moto - Andrew Penny
Allegro Ma Non Troppo - Andrew Penny

Album Description

A delightful selection of English music with a pastoral theme featuring several individual tracks from award winning discs in the British Music series. Performed by the elite of British artists such as the Maggini Quartet, the Choir of St. John's College Cambridge and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under David Lloyd-Jones.

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Amadeus

Manufacturer: Fantasy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
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Brothers in Arms

ASIN: B0001ZMXHM
Release Date: 2004-04-27

Tracks:

Symphony No. 25 in G Minor, K. 183, 1st Movement - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Stabat Mater; Quando Corpus Morietur and Amen - Choristers of Westminster Abbey, Simon Preston
Buband Hungaricus
Serenade for Winds; K. 361; 3rd Movement - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Die Entf Aus Dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio, K. 384) - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Ambrosian Singers Of London, Sir Neville Marriner, , John McCarthy, Suzanne Murphy
Symphony No. 29 in A, K. 201; 1st Movement, Allegro Moderato - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner
Concerto for Two Pianos, K. 365; 3rd Movement - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Imogen Cooper, Sir Neville Marriner, Anne Queffelec
Mass in C Minor; K. 427, Kyrie - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Laszlo Heltay, Felicity Lott, Sir Neville Marriner
Symphonie Concertante, K. 364; 1st Movement - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Levon Chilingirian, Csaba Erdi, , Sir Neville Marriner

Tracks:

Piano Concerto in E Flat, K. 482; 3rd Movement - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner,
Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492), Act III, Ecco la ... - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Isobel Buchanan, Felicity Lott, Sir Neville Marriner, Samuel Ramey,
Nozze Di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492), Act IV, Ah Tutti ... - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, , Felicity Lott, Sir Neville Marriner, Samuel Ramey,
Don Giovanni, K. 527; Act II, Commendatore Scene - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Ambrosian Singers Of London, Sir Neville Marriner, , John McCarthy, ,
Zaide; Aria, Ruhe Sanft - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Felicity Lott, Sir Neville Marriner
Requiem, K. 626: Introitus (Eternal Rest Give to Them, O Lord) - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Laszlo Heltay, Sir Neville Marriner
Requiem, K. 626: Dies Irae (Day of Wrath) - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Laszlo Heltay, Sir Neville Marriner
Requiem, K. 626: Rex Tremendae Majestatis (Awe-Inspiring King) - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Laszlo Heltay, Sir Neville Marriner
Requiem, K. 626: Confutatis (When Those Cursed Enter Flames) - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Laszlo Heltay, Sir Neville Marriner
Requiem, K. 626: Lacrimosa (Mournful Day) - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Laszlo Heltay, Sir Neville Marriner
Piano Concerto in D Minor, K. 466; 2nd Movement (Romanza) - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Imogen Cooper, Sir Neville Marriner

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