Almost Classical

Track Listings
1. Sophie for Joy    
2. Merlin the Magician    
3. Nursery Rhyme Concerto    
4. Swiss Suite: La Baumaz    
5. Swiss Suite: Les Monts de Corsier    
6. Swiss Suite: Lac Le Mans    
7. Swiss Suite: Canton Doe Vaud    
8. Barber of Wigan    

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Rick is probably just as well known for his work on piano as he is for his extravaganzas whilst behind a multitude of keyboards, and this is a very rare collection of some classic performances. Some are not in great condition sadly because of the nature of the condition of the original apes when found indeed much had to be completely discarded and will be sadly lost for ever. However, with the aid of very advanced computer software, the odd minor miracle has been produced in order to create this album of piano works.

Album Description
SOPHIE FOR JOY was written for Rick's daughter Jemma before she was born. Rick felt that she would "appear" a baby girl and an initial name had been chosen of Sophie.

At that time Rick was recording an album entitled "Cost of Living" and upon hearing the news that his wife was pregnant, went into the studio, sat down at the piano and asked the engineer to switch the tape machine into record. In his own words "I closed my eyes and then played exactly as I felt". Exhilarated and unable to put into words what he knew he could in music, he played for more than ten minutes before getting up from the piano, walking to the pub, and drinking a large bottle of champagne!

There was no more recording that day. In a typical "Wakeman" change of mind, his daughter was born the following February in 1983 and christened Jemma!

The second track on this CD is a home recording and it is amazing that it has survived at all having been record on a very cheap reel to reel tape recorded which Rick used in the early seventies to make his demo recordings. This is the recording of the very first demo of Merlin The Magician and was made in early 1975 The Nursery Rhyme Concerto has become a classic for stage performance on the theatre tours and no piano based CD would be complete with a version on board.

In the late seventies, Rick made a whole series of demos at his home in Switzerland ion his piano of which sadly only four had survived. These have been re-mastered and have now been given the title of "The Swiss Suite".

Finally there is the much requested Barber of Wigan that has never before appeared on any album. Recorded with the great operatic tenor, Ramon Remedios, this a rare captured piece of comical classical history. As it was recorded directly to the desk, it is almost impossible to hear the audience reaction, but it is likely that you will not miss it as you are likely to be too busy laughing yourself.

Almost Classical, Music, Rick Wakeman, Rick Wakeman, Classical, Concerto, Keyboard, Music for Keyboard, Pop, Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Rock, Rock/Pop, Vocal
Instruments of the Orchestra
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!
  • Beginner or Expert
  • Very Informative and Enjoyable
  • Frank's view
  • Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra
 Instruments of the Orchestra
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  4. The Life and Works of Ludwig van Beethoven
  5. The Life and Works of Frédéric Chopin

ASIN: B00006O0NT
Release Date: 2002-12-03

Tracks:

  1. Overture To 'Tannhauser'
  2. Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
  3. We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
  4. Hungarian Dance No.7
  5. The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
  6. Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
  7. But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
  8. The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
  9. The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
  10. Csardas Music
  11. The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
  12. The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
  13. Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
  14. The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
  15. Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
  16. Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
  17. The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
  18. Tzigane
  19. Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
  20. Caprice No.24
  21. 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.
  22. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
  23. Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
  24. Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
  25. Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
  26. The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
  27. The Violin Muted
  28. Clair De Lune
  29. The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
  30. Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
  31. The Pizzicato Violin
  32. Pizzicato Polka
  33. In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
  34. Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
  35. 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...
  36. The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
  37. 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
  38. Hungarian Dance No.4
  39. Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
  40. The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
  41. Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
  42. Bolero
  43. Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
  44. Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
  45. Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
  46. Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
  47. Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
  48. Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
  49. And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
  50. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
  51. The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
  52. Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
  53. The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
  54. Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
  55. Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
  56. The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
  57. Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
  58. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
  59. Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
  60. The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
  61. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
  62. Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
  63. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
  64. Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
  65. Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
  66. To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
  67. Elfenreigen

Tracks:

  1. Introduction To The Viola
  2. Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
  3. Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
  4. Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
  5. Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
  6. Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
  7. 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.
  8. Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
  9. The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
  10. Cypresses (No.9)
  11. The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
  12. Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
  13. The 'Period' Viola In Bach
  14. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
  15. The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
  16. Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
  17. Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
  18. Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
  19. Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
  20. Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
  21. In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
  22. Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
  23. But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
  24. Elfentanz, Op.39
  25. Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
  26. The Protecting Veil (Opening)
  27. A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
  28. Flamenco
  29. Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
  30. Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
  31. It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
  32. Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
  33. 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.
  34. Symphony No.9 (Finale)
  35. Introduction To The Double-Bass
  36. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
  37. But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
  38. Elegy No.1 In D Major
  39. 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.
  40. Capriccio Di Bravura
  41. 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)
  42. 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....
  43. Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

  1. The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
  2. Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
  3. The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
  4. Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
  5. The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
  6. Sa'Dawi
  7. Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
  8. Chamber Music No.II
  9. The Piccolo - Aptly Named
  10. La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
  11. From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
  12. Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
  13. A Variety Of Techniques
  14. Chamber Music No.II
  15. Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
  16. The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
  17. From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
  18. Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
  19. An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
  20. Naelden, Naelden
  21. The Bachian Oboe
  22. Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
  23. Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
  24. Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
  25. The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
  26. The Swan Of Tuonela
  27. The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
  28. Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
  29. Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
  30. Bolero
  31. 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...
  32. 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)
  33. As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
  34. Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
  35. 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).
  36. The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
  37. The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
  38. ...And Quite Low.
  39. Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
  40. The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
  41. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
  42. But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
  43. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
  44. Introduction To The Saxophone
  45. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
  46. The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
  47. L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
  48. The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
  49. Bolero
  50. The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
  51. Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
  52. The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
  53. Sax-O-Phun
  54. The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
  55. Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
  56. The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
  57. Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
  58. Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
  59. And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
  60. Bolero
  61. The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
  62. Symphony No.3 (Opening)
  63. The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
  64. The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
  65. Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
  66. The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
  67. The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
  68. Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
  69. The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
  70. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
  71. The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
  72. Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
  73. Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
  74. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
  75. The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
  76. Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

  1. The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
  2. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
  3. The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
  4. Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
  5. The Ceremonial Trumpet
  6. Fanfare For The Common Man
  7. Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
  8. Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
  9. The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
  10. Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
  11. 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
  12. Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
  13. The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
  14. Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
  15. The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
  16. Billy The Kid
  17. The Trumpet As Character Actor
  18. Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
  19. The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
  20. Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
  21. The Birth Of The Trombone
  22. Aenmerckt Nu Hier
  23. The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
  24. Canzon 12 In Double Echo
  25. The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
  26. Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
  27. 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.
  28. Hosannah
  29. The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
  30. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
  31. The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
  32. The Trombone As Caricaturist
  33. Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
  34. The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
  35. The Horn And The Hunt
  36. Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
  37. The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
  38. Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
  39. The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
  40. Walter Music (Minuet 1)
  41. The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
  42. Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
  43. Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
  44. The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
  45. Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
  46. The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
  47. Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
  48. The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
  49. Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
  50. The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
  51. Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

  1. Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
  2. Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
  3. At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
  4. Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
  5. Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
  6. Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
  7. The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
  8. The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
  9. Den Hoboecken Dans
  10. Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
  11. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
  12. 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.
  13. Gymnopedie No.2
  14. 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...
  15. 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)
  16. More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
  17. Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
  18. 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.
  19. Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
  20. A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
  21. Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
  22. The Birth Of The Bongo
  23. Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
  24. From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
  25. Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
  26. From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
  27. Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
  28. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
  29. But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
  30. Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
  31. Taking Advantage Of Tunability
  32. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
  33. 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.
  34. Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
  35. Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
  36. The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
  37. Ravel And The Xylophone
  38. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
  39. Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
  40. Introducing The Vibraphone
  41. The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
  42. The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
  43. Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
  44. Folk Dances
  45. The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
  46. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
  47. Introducing The Tubular Bells
  48. Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
  49. A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
  50. Carmen Suite (Introduction)
  51. But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
  52. Introducing The Celeste
  53. The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
  54. Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
  55. Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
  56. Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
  57. 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
  58. The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
  59. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
  60. The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
  61. Petrushka (Russian Dance)
  62. The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
  63. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars 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!

5 out of 5 stars 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!

5 out of 5 stars 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!

3 out of 5 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

The one complaint I have is the last CD. This deals with the orchestra. I wanted more of a tour of how the orchestra has been used through history up to the present. Instead, it was a tour of how different groups of instruments sound. I thought it could have been better. The other 6 CDs are excellent.
The Kings Singers - New Day
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Great sound and great song!
  • Along with the Good Vibrations are my favorites
  • My dad loves it
  • Great Album!
  • Beautiful singing; clever arrangements
 The Kings Singers - New Day
John David , Peter Christie , Cy Coleman , Warren Casey , Bob Barratt , John Lennon , Lionel Richie , Don Schlitz , Hal David , George Harrison , Jim Jacobs , Benny Andersson , Paul McCartney , Michel Legrand , Barry Manilow , Ed Welch , Harry Robinson , Daryl Runswick , The King's Singers , Gordon Langford Quartet , and Cliff Hall
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. The King's Singers Original Debut Recording
  2. The Beatles Connection: The King's Singers
  3. Good Vibrations
  4. Annie Laurie ~ Folksongs of the British Isles / Barrueco · The King's Singers
  5. Watching the White Wheat: Folk Songs of the British Isles; King's Singers

ASIN: B000002RQO
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. You Are The New Day
  2. Nouveau Poor
  3. Three Times A Lady
  4. What's In A Tune?
  5. You'd Have To Be A Rosie
  6. Can't Buy Me Love
  7. Singapore Girl
  8. 'Sweet Charity': The Rhythm Of Life
  9. The Gambler
  10. It Was Almost Like A Song
  11. Here Comes The Sun
  12. Hush Little Baby, Don't Say A Word
  13. 'Grease': Money, Money, Money-Summer Nights
  14. The Summer Knows
  15. Could It Be Magic

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great sound and great song!.......2007-05-19

I loved the song "A New Day" after hearing it on the radio. I tracked it down and ordered the CD. All the songs are terrific.

5 out of 5 stars Along with the Good Vibrations are my favorites.......2007-05-15

Own it! It's all worth it!
"You are the new day" is my personal favorite song.

4 out of 5 stars My dad loves it.......2007-02-13

If he likes it then I am happy. Not my cup of tea. I like the idea that there where some Beatles tunes. Dad is 57 I am 36 might be the difference in age. NOt sure. Just not my cup of tea

5 out of 5 stars Great Album!.......2006-04-22

I was very amazed when I first heard this album. Their sound is like no other. They are so unique that you can't compare them to other acapella groups.

I can say that their sound is better than a mixed choir because even though the King's Singers is only composed of 6 members. Their sound volume can beat a 30 member choir due to the quality of their voice.

My favorite is "It Was Almost Like A Song" because of the countertenor's very light voice. The baritone part was also awesome as he dominated the scene when he took the melody.

Overall, great album. This has to be one of the King's Singers best albums released. All songs are great that you can't resist missing a moment on listening it.

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful singing; clever arrangements.......2002-06-14

I have been a fan of The King's Singers since their debut recording thirty years ago. New Day is one of my favourite albums. It has the terrific optimistic song "New Day," but many other wonderful tracks.

"Can't Buy Me Love" is sung as if it had been written by one of the Renaissance madrigal writers when he was in a very good mood. There are other up tempo tracks like this one, including Abba's "Money, Money, Money" and "The Rhythm of Life," but the CD also includes some romantic, lush singing in songs such as "Three Times A Lady," "The Summer Knows" and "It Was Almost Like A Song."

The clever arrangement of Barry Manilow's "Could It Be Magic?" begins with an extract from a sombre Chopin Prelude in C minor.

Highly recommended.
Lerner & Loewe Songbook for Orchestra
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Lerner & Loewe Songbook
  • Wouldn't it be lovely?
  • A Successful Sequel
  • Delightful Listening
 Lerner & Loewe Songbook for Orchestra
Frederick Loewe , and Erich Kunzel
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
Orchestral PopOrchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Rodgers & Hammerstein: Songbook for Orchestra (Orchestral Suites)
  2. Rodgers & Hammerstein - The Complete Overtures ~ Opening Night / Hollywood Bowl Orchestra · Mauceri
  3. Puttin' on the Ritz: The Great Hollywood Musicals
  4. Classics of the Silver Screen
  5. Beautiful Hollywood

ASIN: B000003D0E
Release Date: 1994-01-25

Tracks:

  1. I Wonder What The King Is Doing Tonight - The March To Welcome Guenevere - Et Al.
  2. Wouldn't It Be Loverly - With A Little Bit Of Luck - Et Al.
  3. The Night They Invented Champagne - Waltz At Maxim's - Et Al.
  4. They Call The Wind Mariah - I Still See Elisa - Et Al.
  5. Sword Dance - Down On MacConnachy Square - Et Al.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Lerner & Loewe Songbook.......2006-02-24

If you like Percy Faith's music, you'll like this one. He quit recording and died much too young. But while he lived, he recorded some great music.

5 out of 5 stars Wouldn't it be lovely?.......2005-09-26

This CD represents some of the best of Broadway done in a great pops style. There are five orchestral suites, one each for the following: 'Camelot', 'My Fair Lady', 'Gigi', 'Paint Your Wagon', and 'Bridgadoon'. They are all arranged for orchestra by Robert Russell Bennett, save that for 'Paint Your Wagon', which was arranged by Cincinnati Pops Orchestra director Erich Kunzel.

The works of Lerner and Loewe were a mainstay of Broadway for decades in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, but it was during the late 50s and early 60s that their true glory days took hold. The presidential term of John F. Kennedy gained the nickname 'Camelot' in part because of the influence of the Lerner and Loewe production going on at the start. The songs contained in these suites are instantly recognisable by many, as the Lerner and Loewe songs have become so well known that many know the songs better than the musicals or the composers from which they come. 'I Could Have Danced All Night' and 'Wouldn't It Be Lovely' come from 'My Fair Lady', 'Thank Heaven for Little Girls' from 'Gigi' - these are but the most of famous of the familiar tunes.

There are a lot of pieces here that the listener will appreciate, both in remembering old pieces or in learning new nuances to the tunes.

This particular disc by Telarc has a feature called 'Spatializer', which gives a three-dimensional quality to the sterophonic sound, enhancing regular players and working well with surround-sound systems, too. The Cincinnati Pops are expert at this kind of music, having produced dozens of CDs of popular music and modern composers of musicals, film music, and pops-oriented major compositions.

This is a fun disc to have.

5 out of 5 stars A Successful Sequel.......2005-08-03

This CD is a follow-up to the Rodgers & Hammerstein Songbook for Orchestra (1991) from the same team. It is a thoroughly successful sequel: I believe anyone who enjoyed the R&H will enjoy this one as well. If I am very slightly less enthusiastic about this one than the R&H, it's not because of any shortcoming of Kunzel, the Cincinnati Pops, or Telarc, all of whom are at the top of their form. Rather it's because Frederick Loewe, for all his undoubted expertise, is not quite in the same class as a composer with Richard Rodgers. But that's asking a lot, since Rodgers was the American musical theater's leading light. Lerner & Loewe's musicals were second only to R&H's during the golden age of the American musical, and their My Fair Lady is by any standard one of the best musicals ever staged. If Loewe did not create as many unforgettable numbers as Rodgers, he nevertheless wrote many delightful songs and much enjoyable music. This CD features five orchestral suites, ranging in length from 9 to 18 minutes (total playing time 68:06), from Brigadoon (1947), Paint Your Wagon (1951), My Fair Lady (1956), Gigi (film 1958; staged 1973), and Camelot (1960). The arrangements (all but one by Robert Russell Bennett) are expert. The performances are masterly (if perhaps lacking in just a tad of the infectious brio that the same team brought to R&H). And Telarc's robust sound (recorded 1993) would be hard to improve on. Warmly recommended.

4 out of 5 stars Delightful Listening.......1998-12-05

Some of the nicest and nearly forgotten music (Paint your Wagon & Brigadoon) is nicely compiled here. It will make you want to listen to the full soundtracks again, but for a quick tour of Lerner & Lowe, it is very nice.
The Juliet Letters
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The definition of Musical Genius
  • Epistolary reflections on Costellian themes...
  • Beauty? Truth? You Can't Handle Either!!
  • Deep and moving music from Elvis Costello.
  • Give it a Try
 The Juliet Letters

Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. For the Stars
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ASIN: B000002MI4
Release Date: 1993-01-19

Tracks:

  1. Deliver Us
  2. For Other Eyes
  3. Swine
  4. Expert Rites
  5. Dead Letter
  6. I Almost Had A Weakness
  7. Why?
  8. Who Do You Think You Are?
  9. Taking My Life In Your Hands
  10. This Offer Is Unrepeatable
  11. Dear Sweet Filthy World
  12. The Letter Home
  13. Jacksons, Monk And Rowe
  14. This Sad Burlesque
  15. Romeo's Seance
  16. I Thought I'd Write To Juliet
  17. Last Post
  18. The First To Leave
  19. Damnation's Cellar
  20. The Birds Will Still Be Singing

Amazon.com

Good on Elvis for risking the ridicule of a blinkered pop world with this unprecedented (for him, certainly, and most anyone short of Kurt Weill) and quite lovely album of bitchy, wise, and funny art songs accompanied by strings. His freshest, most evolved work in years. --Jeff Bateman

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The definition of Musical Genius.......2007-05-22

If/when this ever is reprinted you MUST purchase it. It is beautiful in ways that I can't describe. For a writer/musician who is known for writing some amazing pieces, this is his pinnacle.

You will sob. You will laugh. You will rage. You will be haunted.

From a purely musical perspective, when you listen to this CD you are in the presence of great genius.

Listen to it alone, at least at first. Listen in the dark and let the imagery flow over you like fog.

4 out of 5 stars Epistolary reflections on Costellian themes..........2006-01-16

Elvis Costello (Declan MacManus) has done his fair share of collaborations in the past decade. From the Grammy-award winning project with Burt Bacharach in 1998 to 2001's subdued "For the Stars" with Anne-Sophie von Otter Costello has branched out from his rock roots in diverse directions. "The Juliet Letters" from 1993 was the first in a long line of such collaborations. Costello and the Brodsky Quartet were brought together by mutual appreciation (Costello went to Brodsky Quartet concerts while the Brodsky Quartet attended Costello concerts). And Costello's now ex-wife Cait O'Riordan provided the epistolary theme for the project. She spotted a newspaper article about a professor that responded to letters addressed to "Juliet Capulet". Costello then presented the article to the quartet for inspiration. The group of five ended up writing all of the music and words (though much of the music is credited to "MacManus"). The results fall somewhere between classical song cycles and Beatle-inspired "string rock" (a la "Yesterday" and "Eleanor Rigby"). Feelings of melancholy and anger pervade most of the songs. The strings punctuate these feelings perfectly. Fans of Costello's rock music probably won't find much to appreciate here. But the album contains many of the same classic Costello themes and vocal styles utilized in his rock.

Like a Richardson novel, letters provide the basis for the project. Failed and frustrated relationships abound. "Thank you for the flowers / I threw them on the fire / And I burned the photographs that you had enclosed / GOD they were ugly children" Costello sings venemously on the driving "I Almost Had a Weakness". After all, nothing seeps loneliness more than an unanswered love letter. But more than love gets the treatment here. Other songs include a suicide note ("Dear Sweet Filthy World"), a letter from a soldier to a stranger ("I Thought I'd Write to Juliet"), a bizarre experiment in selective exhumation ("Damnation's Cellar"), a reflection on separation ("Why?"), and a letter full of hope in the face of despair ("The Birds Will Still Be Singing"). Many songs explore the sad one-sided nature of letter writing. And no song responds to any other song. This fills the songs that deal with ineffable questions with an almost desparing isolation. But not everything is doom and gloom. "This Offer is Unrepeatable" picks up the mood with a humorously exaggerated letter from a scam artist (and it more than a little resembles the Tom Waits' classic "Step Right Up"). The final song injects some hope into the stark themes in the manner of "Old Man River": "Banish all dismay / Extinguish every sorrow / If I'm lost or I'm forgiven / The birds will still be singing". So in the end, things aren't as bad as they seem. The world goes on regardless of our ephemeral concerns. And as long as the world goes on hope exists.

This CD contains a lot of very beautiful and moving music. Two violins, a viola, a violincello, and voice provide all of the instrumentation. Costello branched out into something very different here. And not all of his fans appreciated it. Regardless, in retrospect "The Juliet Letters" pointed to the future. This year Costello will tour orchestra halls. Not only that, he also wrote a full orchestral score ("Il Sogno"). Strings appear more frequently in his recent music. And year by year he seems to embrace "classical" music more intensely. Still, he hasn't abandoned rock and pop (as "When I Was Cruel" and "The Delivery Man" testify). Though this early collaboration remains somewhat underappreciated, it nonetheless fully showcases Elvis Costello's diverse, adaptable, and broad musical scope. Costello will doubtless appear somewhere on the list of accomplished twentieth and twenty-first century musicians.

5 out of 5 stars Beauty? Truth? You Can't Handle Either!!.......2006-01-06

The reason the Costello/Brodsky collaboration "Juliet Letters" is such a difficult listen is also why its the MOST SINGULARLY BRILLIANT ALBUM IN THE ENTIRE ELVIS COSTELLO DISCOGRAPHY! And this declaration is coming from a man who could write a thesis on "Armed Forces" and "Imperial Bedroom" in his sleep! The idea of setting "letters" to music has certainly been done before, but Costello sticks his neck out, both as a composer and singer in ways he'd never done before. Accompanying yourself with just a string quartet (no snarling guitars or euphonious keyboard filigrees,) is the surest way to test your mettle as a vocalist. And sure, sometimes Costello's voice isn't exactly the strongest, but like say, Billie Holliday it always seems to occur precisely when the lyric calls for it: check out "Who Do You Think You Are?" or "The Birds Will Still Be Singing" and you'll hear exactly what I mean. Even his ode to a chain letter, "This Offer Is Unrepeatable" serves up a cheeky bit of satire worthy of "Three Penny Opera." Of course, you can only experience this album sporadically - could anyone watch "Death Of A Saleman" or "Long Day's Journey Into Night" repeatedly without losing one's mind? Emotionally-wrought exercises like "Letters" take a lot out of you, even when you're merely the observer (or listener,) rather than the participant. But that's what makes the journey, however bittersweet, one worth taking.

5 out of 5 stars Deep and moving music from Elvis Costello........2005-06-18

The Juliet Letters is a moving colaboration from Elvis Costello and the Brodsky String Quartet. His deep vocals are complemented by the string quartet. This album is
neither fish nor fowl (classical or pop) it's just a musical
exercise. The strings are some of my favorite compositions,
(viola, cello and violin). Elvis Costello not only got the Brodsky Quartet a bigger audience but he inspired them to
write their own music (a third of the songs are composed by the Quartet).

While it might not be everyones cup of tea, the music is brilliant and Elvis reaches octave levels I thought I would never imagine he could ever attain. Maybe sometime in the near future he'll work with them again. I applaud him for taking such a bold step in making a non-commercial album.

Highly recommended.

3 out of 5 stars Give it a Try.......2004-03-03

I've been listening to a lot of Philip Glass and Steve Reich lately,and its caused me to go back to this album to give it another go.Previously I thought that it was an interesting experiment which hadn't worked out very well.Now I think that it is a good album for rockers and classical music lovers to use to stretch their ears a little.So called crossover albums are usually horrifying-does anyone else remember that album that Procol Harum did with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra? Elvis flatly denounces the concept in the liner notes.And not everything on this album works.It isn't the brilliant work that some of the other reviewers seem to think that it is.But it is a worthwhile experiment and a work that should be given a fair chance.Rockers and classical music lovers tend to be snobbish and dismissive of one another.This is a good work for them to live with for a while.When Elvis and the Brodsky's click-on "Jackson Monk and Rowe" or "Romeos Seance"-the results are as beautiful and valid as anything either of them have ever done.
Three stars because some of this simply doesn't work. But this is a work anyone who likes Elvis or the Brodsky's should have in their collection.
Classical Highlights: Schumann
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Classical Highlights: Schumann

    Manufacturer: St. Clair Entertainment
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    TriosTrios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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    All Works by Robert SchumannAll Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    RomanticRomantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    Incidental MusicIncidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
    OverturesOvertures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
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    English HornEnglish Horn | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
    CelloCello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B0000CDLC1
    Release Date: 2003-09-16

    Tracks:

    1. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in a Minor: Allegro Affettuoso
    2. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in a Minor Intermezzo: Andante ...
    3. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in a Minor: Allegro Vivace
    4. Carneval
    5. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood): From Foreign Lands and People
    6. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood): Perfect Happiness
    7. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood): Important Event
    8. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood): Ride of the Rocking Horse
    9. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood): Almost Too Serious
    10. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood): Bogeyman's Coming
    11. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood): Child Falling Asleep
    12. Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood): Hark! The Poet Speaks
    13. Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra in a Minor: Nicht Zu Schnell
    14. Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra in a Minor: Langsam
    15. Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra in a Minor: Sehr Lebhaft
    16. Symphony No. 4 in D Minor: Introduction
    17. Symphony No. 4 in D Minor: Allegro
    18. Symphony No. 4 in D Minor Romance
    19. Symphony No. 4 in D Minor: Scherzo
    20. Symphony No. 4 in D Minor: Finale
    21. FantasiestFantasy Pieces) For Clarinet and Piano, Pt. 1
    22. FantasiestFantasy Pieces) For Clarinet and Piano, Pt. 2
    23. FantasiestFantasy Pieces) For Clarinet and Piano, Pt. 3
    24. Waltz "Bunte Bler"
    25. Waltz "Albumbler"

    Tracks:

    1. Symphony No. 1 in B Flat Major "Spring": Andante un Poco Maestoso, ...
    2. Symphony No. 1 in B Flat Major "Spring": Larghetto, Attaca
    3. Symphony No. 1 in B Flat Major "Spring": Scherzo - Molto Vivace
    4. Symphony No. 1 in B Flat Major "Spring": Allegro Animato E Grazioso
    5. Manfred Overture
    6. Hermann und Dorothea Overture
    7. Trio for Violin, Violoncello and Piano No. 2 in F Major: Sehr Lebhaft
    8. Trio for Violin, Violoncello and Piano No. 2 in F Major Mit ...
    9. Trio for Violin, Violoncello and Piano No. 2 in F Major in ...
    10. Trio for Violin, Violoncello and Piano No. 2 in F Major: Nicht Zu ...
    11. Symphony No. 3 in E Flat Major "Rhenish": Illegro
    12. Symphony No. 3 in E Flat Major "Rhenish": Scherzo
    13. Symphony No. 3 in E Flat Major "Rhenish" Intermezzo
    14. Symphony No. 3 in E Flat Major "Rhenish": Andante
    15. Symphony No. 3 in E Flat Major "Rhenish": Finale
    16. Album F Jugend (Album for the Youth): Melodie (Melody)
    17. Album F Jugend (Album for the Youth): Soldatenmarsch ...
    18. Album F Jugend (Album for the Youth): Trerliedchen ...
    19. Album F Jugend (Album for the Youth): Ein Choral (A Chorale)
    20. Album F Jugend (Album for the Youth): Stn (Little Piece)
    21. Album F Jugend (Album for the Youth): Armes Waisenkind (Poor ...)
    22. Album F Jugend (Album for the Youth): Jrliedchen ...
    23. Album F Jugend (Album for the Youth): Wilder Reiter (Wild ...)
    24. Album F Jugend (Album for the Youth): Volksliedchen (Little Folk
    25. Album F Jugend (Album for the Youth): Frcher Landmann ...
    RCA Red Seal Century: The Vocalists
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		RCA Red Seal Century: The Vocalists

      Manufacturer: RCA
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      WaltzesWaltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by BarberAll Works by Barber | Barber, Samuel | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by DonizettiAll Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by LeoncavalloAll Works by Leoncavallo | Leoncavallo, Ruggiero | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by MassenetAll Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAll Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by MussorgskyAll Works by Mussorgsky | Mussorgsky, Modest | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by PonchielliAll Works by Ponchielli | Ponchielli, Amilcare | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by PucciniAll Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by RameauAll Works by Rameau | Rameau, Jean Philippe | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by RossiniAll Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by SibeliusAll Works by Sibelius | Sibelius, Jean | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      Strauss Jr., JohannStrauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by TchaikovskyAll Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by ThomasAll Works by Thomas | Thomas, Ambroise | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by VerdiAll Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      All Works by WagnerAll Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
      CompilationsCompilations | Classical | Styles | Music
      RomancesRomances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      Baroque (c.1600-1750)Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      Modern & 20th CenturyModern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      Romantic (c.1820-1910)Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      EnglishEnglish | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      FrenchFrench | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      GermanGerman | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      ItalianItalian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      RussianRussian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      Classical MusicClassical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
      Opera & VocalOpera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
      ASIN: B00005OLDA
      Release Date: 2001-11-06

      Tracks:

      1. Le Caid: Act I: Je Comprends Que La Belle Aime Le Militaire - Pol Plancon
      2. Otello: Act IV: Ave Maria - Emma Eames
      3. Der Fliegende Hollander: Act II: Traft Ihr Das Schiff - Johanna Gadski
      4. Carmen: Act II: Les Tringles Des Sisters - Emma Calve
      5. Aida: Act I: Celeste Aida - Enrico Caruso
      6. Lucrezia Borgia: Act II: Il Segreto Per Essere Felice - Ernestine Schumann-Heink
      7. Il Barbiere Di Siviglia: Act I: Una Voce Poco Fa - Luisa Tetrazzini
      8. Hippolyte Et Aricie: Act IV: Rossignols Amoureaux - Alma Gluck
      9. Tales From The Vienna Woods, Op325 - Marcella Sembrich
      10. La Gioconda: Act I: Voce Di Donna - Louise Homer
      11. Tosca: Act I: Vissi D'arte - Geraldine Farrar
      12. Un Ballo In Maschera: Act III: Eri Tu - Pasquale Amato
      13. Pique Dame: Act III: It Is Almost Midnight - Emmy Destinn
      14. Don Giovanni: Act II: Il Mio Tesoro - John McCormack
      15. Le Nozze Di Figaro: Act I: Bravo, Signor Padrone! - Giuseppe De Luca
      16. La Traviata: Act I: Follie! Follie!... Sempre Liberia - Amelita Galli-Curci
      17. Il Barbiere Di Siviglia: Act I: Largo Al Factotum - Titta Ruffo
      18. La Cene Delle Beffe: Act II: Ed Io Non Ne Godevo... Sempre Cosi - Frances Alda
      19. Falstaff: Act II: E Sogno, O Realta? - Lawrence Tibbett
      20. Boris Godounov: Act I: In The Town Of Kazan - Feodor Chaliapin
      21. Pagliacci: Act I: Recitar!... Vesti La Giubba - Giovanni Martinelli

      Tracks:

      1. La Boheme: Act IV: Sono Andati - Lucrezia Bori
      2. La Forza Del Destino: Act IV: Pace, Pace Mio Dio - Rosa Ponselle
      3. I Lombardi: Act III: Qual Volutta Trascorrere - Beniamino Gigli
      4. Herodiade: Act II: Ce Breuvage... Vision Fugitive - John Charles Thomas
      5. Sav, Sav, Susa, Op.36 No.4 - Marian Anderson
      6. Die Walkure: Act I: Wintersturme - Lauritz Melchior
      7. Die Walkure: Act I: Du Bist Der Lenz - Kirsten Flagstad
      8. Lohengrin: Act I: Einsam In Truben Tagen - Helen Traubel
      9. Il Trovatore: Act IV: Vanne, Lasciami... D'amor Sull' Ali Rosee - Zinka Milanov
      10. Rigoletto: Act III: Cortigiani, Vil Razza Dannata - Leonard Warren
      11. Les Pecheurs De Perles: Act I: Au Fond Du Temple Saint - Robert Merrill
      12. L'Arlesiana: Act II: E La Solita Storia - Mario Lanza
      13. Vanessa: Act I: Do Not Utter A Word, Anatol - Eleanor Steber
      14. La Rondine: Act I: Chi Il Bel Sogno Di Doretta - Leontyne Price
      15. Manon: Act III: Gavotte - Anna Moffo
      16. Il Corsaro: Non So Le Tetre Immagini - Montserrat Caballe
      17. Otello: Act II: Ah! Mille Vite... Si Pel Ciel Marmoreo Giuro! - Placido Domingo
      18. Le Nozze Di Figaro: Act I: Non So Piu - Vesselina Kasarova
      19. Werther: Act III: Traduire!... Pourquoi Me Reveiller - Ramon Vargas
      20. Carmen: Act I: Quand Je Vous Aimerai?... L'amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle - Denyce Graves
      Almost Human
      Average customer rating: 2 out of 5 stars
      • Oh Dear
      		 Almost Human
      Maya Beiser
      Manufacturer: Koch Int'l Classics
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
      Similar Items:
      1. World To Come
      2. Oblivion
      3. Kinship

      ASIN: B000J20V94
      Release Date: 2007-04-24

      Tracks:

      1. One - Two
      2. Three
      3. Four
      4. Five - Seven
      5. Eight - Nine
      6. Ten
      7. Eleven
      8. Twelve
      9. Motion Detector
      10. Falling

      Customer Reviews:

      2 out of 5 stars Oh Dear.......2007-07-18

      This CD was a big disappointment for me, after the excellent "World to Come". The greatest part of this CD consists of musical accompaniment to spoken word; poetry if you like. This is a combination that I dislike, so I suppose responses will depend on taste. But I found relatively little music per se on this CD. It gets better as the CD goes on; there is some music that is there for its own sake, recalling some of the excellence of Beiser's other work. Overall, the execution is excellent, and the sounds are pleasant enough to offer some gratification in listening. I will be waiting for Beiser's next CD.
      Classics Explained: Rite of Spring
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Classics Explained: Rite of Spring
        Stravinsky , Rahbari , and Brt Po Brussels
        Manufacturer: Naxos
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
        Similar Items:
        1. Classics Explained: Pastoral Symphony
        2. Classics Explained: Brandenburg Concertos 4 & 5
        3. An Introduction to Ravel's "Boléro" and "Ma mère l'oye"
        4. An Introduction to Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2
        5. Symphony 9: Introduction to Dvorak

        ASIN: B00007FPFN
        Release Date: 2003-07-15
        White Man Sleeps
        Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
        • Weak Bartok kills this album
        • very weak
        		 White Man Sleeps
        Kronos Quartet , Charles Ives , Jon Hassell , Thomas Oboe Lee , Ornette Coleman , Ben Johnston , Bela Bartok , and Kevin Volans
        Manufacturer: Nonesuch
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        QuartetsQuartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Bartók, Béla | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
        Ives, CharlesIves, Charles | ( I ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Ives, Charles | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
        Kronos QuartetKronos Quartet | ( K ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
        Avant Garde & Free JazzAvant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
        Similar Items:
        1. Kevin Volans: Hunting: Gathering (String Quartet No. 2) (1987) - Kronos Quartet
        2. Kronos Quartet : Winter Was Hard
        3. Kronos Quartet
        4. Short Stories
        5. Released: 1985-1995

        ASIN: B000005IYJ
        Release Date: 1990-10-25

        Tracks:

        1. White Man Sleeps #1
        2. Holding Your Own: Scherzo
        3. Pano da Costa (Cloth From The Coast)
        4. Morango ... Almost a Tango
        5. Lonely Woman
        6. Amazing Grace
        7. White Man Sleeps #5
        8. String Quartet No. 3

        Amazon.com essential recording

        Kronos's second Nonesuch record combines seemingly unrelated work into a fairly seamless whole. From the off-kilter jazz of Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman" to the strains of Bela Bartók's String Quartet No. 3, this is an album of blues-tinged music. Kevin Volans, the South African composer, lends the disc its title and its opening track, which melts hesitantly familiar folk melodies into a racing quartet. Volans's technique is not far removed from that of Bartók, more than 70 years his senior. Kronos slow the intonations of Bartók's quartet to about a minute and a half longer than the Emerson Quartet's take--long enough to contribute to a kind of defamiliarization. Speaking of which, Ben Johnston's arrangement of "Amazing Grace" is what makes this CD a real keeper. He tests the mettle of this beloved melody by playing it against itself in numerous different ways, and the tune never succumbs to the tinkering. --Marc Weidenbaum

        Customer Reviews:

        3 out of 5 stars Weak Bartok kills this album.......2005-05-27

        I agree with the previous reviewer...the Kronos rendition of Bartok Quartet #3 is charitably described as anemic. Compared to any number of other recordings (most notably, in my opinion, the 1963 Juilliard version), it underscores my feeling that Kronos would be well-advised to avoid the standard repertoire and stick to works composed specifically for them.

        Aside from the lousy Bartok, the only piece of note (for me) was the Kevin Volans piece, which earns this album the lofty 3 stars I have given it. The other pieces seem to be largely filler, and are so unmemorable as to be forgotten as soon as they are finished. Definitely not one of Kronos' better efforts.

        2 out of 5 stars very weak.......2002-04-04

        This is one of Kronos' weakest CDs. As a driving force for new music in the end of the 20th century and beginning of the 21st century, they've been invaluable in commissioning, performing and recording new works. But when they try to play the great music of old, they reveal themselves to be a below-average ensemble. Such is the case here with their Bartok 3, arguably the best of the composers' six quartets. Kronos' anemic sound is combined here with occasionally vague rhythm, utter lack of dynamic contrast and single-color playing, and the result is something of a joke, especially in comparison with some of the great recordings by groups such as the Emerson, Tokyo, and Takacs quartets.

        The other works on the disc are weak and easily forgettable (including the odd, somewhat cheesy Johnston arrangement), though the Volans is mildly entertaining. In short, don't waste your time or money on this recording.
        Melodies We Love: The Forties
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • Melodies We Love: The Forties
        • First rate musicianship
        • Goes great with coffee
        		 Melodies We Love: The Forties
        Jim Gibson
        Manufacturer: Hickory Cove Music
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | New Age | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
        Similar Items:
        1. Songs of the South
        2. The Art of Tea
        3. Songs of the South II
        4. Songs of the Civil War
        5. Love Songs

        ASIN: B00005B08K
        Release Date: 1999-07-01

        Tracks:

        1. Anniversary Song
        2. How Hight the Moon
        3. My Meloncholy Baby
        4. Dream
        5. It Had to Be You
        6. You Made Me Love You
        7. Peg O' My Heart
        8. For Me and My Gal
        9. As Time Goes By
        10. Seems Like Old Times
        11. There's A Small Hotel
        12. Laura
        13. (Kiss Me Once . . . )It's Been a Long, Long, Time
        14. (There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover
        15. I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
        16. Look for the Silver Lining

        Album Description

        This is music from "The Greatest Generation." Beautiful and haunting melodies from World War II expressed hopes and dreams, and created songs that have become classics.

        This recording continues Jim Gibson's popular solo piano tradition--combining the timeless appeal of classical music, the free, improvisational spirit of jazz, and the melodic focus of new-age pianists. It's a blend that creates a relaxing, wonderful new appreciation of these classic popular songs.

        The forties are gone . . . but these melodies live on.

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars Melodies We Love: The Forties.......2004-06-19

        This CD has a VERY romantic sound-definitely great mood setting music for a laid back dinner for two. It also has great public appeal. My husband plays it in his art gallery and people hum or sing along with the music commenting that they haven't heard good songs like Gibson's in a long time. Certainly not a sound available on any radio stations today.

        5 out of 5 stars First rate musicianship.......2001-09-21

        Jim Gibson is an exceptional talent. His approach to Popular Solo Piano is unique... REAL MUSIC, not renditions that are "elevator" or "vanilla" or "trite". Rich harmonies, voicings and counterpoint, along with thoughtful Rubato sections and mood/tempo changes hold your attention without being overpowering. BUT... if you "listen seriously" to his inventiveness and musicality, your interest will be piqued by the clever use of hints of the classics, modern harmonic substitutions and melodic sequences. The most mundane of melodies takes on a new life not before imagined!
        One album WILL lead you to another - your problem will be
        WHICH ONE NEXT?

        5 out of 5 stars Goes great with coffee.......2001-06-15

        I own a coffee and tea shop and I frequently play this CD in the shop. I don't remember where I got it, but I am amazed at the number of customers who come up to me to find out "what that wonderful music is." It's quiet, but not boring, and the songs are great. My customers love it, and so do I. I'm glad to find it on Amazon.com, so I can send people here to buy it!

        Music Review:

        1. An American Songbook [Import]
        2. Arnold Bax: Tone Poems
        3. Art of Dame Joan Sutherland [Import]
        4. Béla Bartók: The Six String Quartets - Juilliard String Quartet
        5. Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos.1, 2 & 3
        6. Bach: Cantatas, Vol. 2: Ostern
        7. Baroque Recorder Concertos: Pamela Thorby & Sonnerie (SACD)
        8. Beethoven: Symphony No. 9; Claudio Abbado, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
        9. Beethoven-Two Quartets - String Quartet, Op. 95, & Op. 59, #3
        10. Bolcom: Briefly it Enters; Let Evening Come

        Music Review

        music review

        Music Review

        Untitled [Import]

        Huber: La Force du Vertige; Eröffnung und Zertrümmerung

        George Feyer Plays Cole Porter

        Diary

        Le Slow Motion Boogie Woogie [Import]

        Northern Lights

        Les Indispensables [Import]

        Lockjaw

        Northern Lights [Import]

        Henry Cowell: Fiddler's Jig; Air & Scherzo; Concerto Grosso; Hymn & Fuguing Tune No. 10

        Jetro da Silva Live [Live]

        Latin Music: 100 Canciones Mas Bailables de Colombia, Vol. 1

        La Cuesta De Mr Bond [Import]

        Funk Is in the House

        Works, Vol. 1