Ceremony

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This time, his inspiration is Biber. But don't assume that bassist Barry Guy's follow-up to In Darkness Let Me Dwell, his utterly fascinating improv take with the Hilliard Ensemble on the songs of John Dowland, will follow the same successful formula of melancholic vocals-meets-jazz. On Celebration, the emphasis is less on lyricism than austerity and tonal colors. The album opens with Biber's "Annunciation" from the first Mystery Sonata, but then quickly breaks into new territory. And Guy's five original works, performed with baroque violinist Maya Homburger, are varied affairs, to say the least. "Immeasurable Skies" is a jagged four-movement work in which the violin's long, haunting notes are briefly shattered by noisy discord. The title work uses tape overdubs to layer violin sounds on top of each other; it sounds like a 16-minute collaboration between Tony Conrad and Arvo Pärt. Guy gets the spotlight on "Still," a bluesy showcase for his vast improv skills on the bass. The final piece here--"Breathing Earth"--was influenced by Biber and somehow brings the disc full circle. All-in-all, wonderful playing and riveting music for those with adventurous ears. --Jason Verlinde

Ceremony, Music, Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Barry Guy, Barry Guy, Maya Homburger, Chamber, Chamber Music, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Artists, Classical Music, Violin with Keyboard

A Day to Remember - Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day
Average customer rating:

A Beautiful Wedding

Wonderful!

Good CD for Wedding

A Day To Remember--Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day, O'Neill Brothers

great choice!

A Day to Remember - Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day
O'Neill Brothers
Manufacturer: O'Neill Brothers
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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A Day to Remember vol II

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25 Wedding Favorites

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ASIN: B000066RG3
Release Date: 2002-04-25

Tracks:

Falling in Love - Tim and Ryan O'Neill
Wachet Auf - J.S. Bach
Air on a G String - J.S. Bach
Air (from Water Music) - Handel
Reminiscent Joy - Tim and Ryan O'Neill
Canon in D - Pachelbel
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - J.S. Bach
The Wedding Song (There is Love) - Stookey
Ave Maria - Schubert
I Will Be Here - Steven Curtis Chapman
The Gift of Love (Water is Wide melody)
Spring (from The Four Seasons) - Vivaldi
Ode to Joy - Beethoven
From This Moment On - Shania Twain
The Way You Look Tonight - Kern
Forever in Love - Kenny G

Album Description

After performing at more than 200 weddings, Tim and Ryan O'Neill recorded this beautiful CD of favorite wedding songs. It features a full hour of instrumental piano, string quartet, flute, and guitar music that can be played at your ceremony or reception.

It also gives suggestions for music at your wedding, including a special bridal website!
*Over 1,000 song titles listed
*Listen to samples of songs
*More ideas for each part of your ceremony, reception, and dance

Customer Reviews:

A Beautiful Wedding.......2007-07-10

This CD made all the difference in our wedding celebration. The songs were simply beautiful. The CD was delivered promptly. I would definitely buy from this vendor again.

Wonderful!.......2007-03-23

This is exactly what I was looking for for my wedding day. It's a beautiful cd, absolutely perfect.

Good CD for Wedding.......2007-03-21

All great music for weddings. It really does have all the music I want to use!

A Day To Remember--Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day, O'Neill Brothers.......2007-02-07

The music was just perfect for our wedding--not too formal, not too simple.

great choice!.......2007-01-10

There are so many different songs to choose from on this cd and it's a great buy. whether you want to play it while eating dinner at the wedding, to walking down the isle, it's wonderful!!!!

Average customer rating:

This should never have worked at all
A GREAT AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED MUSICAL FROM THE 80-IS
Chess
One of my favorites!
Concepts get better with practice

Chess
Bjorn Ulvaeus , and Tim Rice
Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Chess (1988 Original Broadway Cast)
Miss Saigon (Original 1989 London Cast)
A Little Night Music (1973 Original Broadway Cast)
Evita (1978 Original Broadway Cast)
Sweeney Todd (2005 Broadway Revival Cast)

ASIN: B000002GLR
Release Date: 1996-07-23

Tracks:

Merano - The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas/Murray Head
The Russian And Molokov/ Where I Want To Be - The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas/Tommy Korberg/Denis Quilley
Opening Ceremony - The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas/Bjorn Skifs
Quartet (A Model Of Decorum And Tranquility) - Elaine Paige/Tommy Korberg/Denis Quilley/Bjorn Skifs
The American And Florence/Nobody's Side - Elaine Paige/Murray Head
Chess - LSO/Anders Eljas
Mountian Duet - Elaine Paige/Tommy Korberg
Florence Quits - Elaine Paige/Murray Head
Embassy Lament - Tommy Korberg/The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas
Anthem - Tommy Korberg

Tracks:

Bangkok
One Night In Bangkok
Heaven Help My Heart
Argument
I Know Him So Well
The Deal (No Deal)
Pity The Child
Endgame
Epilogue: You And I / The Story Of Chess

Amazon.com

Chess is a musical that sounds like it shouldn't work but instead succeeds surprisingly well. This is the original concept album that was recorded before the musical was staged in London. Chess is the story of a love triangle told against the backdrop of an international chess tournament during the height of the cold war. The composers are Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (the Bs in ABBA) and the lyrics are by Tim Rice, who supplied the words for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, as well as Disney's Aladdin (with Howard Ashman), The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast. The six-member cast does a beautiful job with the songs, which are a combination of ballads, rock, and operatic choruses. Murray Head's version of "One Night in Bangkok" became a surprise hit in the mid-'80s and it still turns up on the turntables in dance clubs around the world. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

This should never have worked at all.......2007-06-18

And on that basis alone, you've got to cut it some slack. Fortunately, not all that much slack turns out to be necessary.

While "Chess" may be a document of an era that no longer exists, there's a lot more going on than the surface metaphor. It holds up very well indeed. When it aims for humor, it generally succeeds, and likewise when it aims to devastate. What more can you ask for?

A GREAT AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED MUSICAL FROM THE 80-IS.......2007-03-04

`Chess' is a musical that should be counted among the best of what the 1980-is had produced: side by side with `Cats', `The Phantom of the Opera', `Les Miserables' or `Miss Saigon'. The score as heard on this concept album, written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (formerly of ABBA) and with the exceptional lyrics written by Tim Rice, stand proof to this. And yet, due to various reasons, like the changing of the director half way through London staging; a heavy rewrite for Broadway and a pan review from Frank Ritch (a.k.a. `The Butcher of Broadway'), `Chess' seems to be unjustly neglected.

This concept album is the main reason why the show has so many ardent fans until this day. Tim Rice wanted to write the show with the main plot revolving around chess for years and after his long time partner Andrew Lloyd Webber remained uninterested, he found the new collaborators in Ulvaeus and Andersson. The subject matter follows two international chess players in a championship, a Russian (Tommy Körberg) and an American (Murray Head) and a woman called Florence (Elaine Paige) who is a manager to the American but falls in love with the Russian. The story also draws a parallel between the game of chess and the cold war/real life situations.

This concept album was recorded in 1984, two years before the original London production took place. As the authors noted in the accompanying booklet, it was a work in progress and thusly the story is not quite readable here from the musical numbers alone. Despite that fact (which is amended by the synopsis included in the booklet), this album remains a winner. The score (played here by the London Symphonic Orchestra) itself makes an intriguing bland of the famous ABBA sound, the classical; the rock and the pop enhanced by the orchestral solo passages and the strong choral parts. The lush orchestrations add an epic touch to it and on the whole it is melodic and hummable, packed with great tunes. Some of the songs achieved huge success outside the musical: `I know him so well', a duet between Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson, held the number one spot on the UK singles charts for 4 weeks in February 1985 and won Ivor Novello Award as the Best Selling Single; Murray Head's `One night in Bangkok' became one of the biggest dance hits of its time, often heard today. Some other notable tunes include `The Anthem' (Russian's deliberation on his homeland); the soaring rock songs `Where I want to be' and `Pity the child' (in the former, the Russian reflects upon his life under the spotlight; in the latter, the American ponders about his own unhappy childhood) or the gentle `Heaven help my heart' (in which Florence weighs up her relationship with the Russian).

A special reference must be made to Tim Rice's excellent lyrics. With `Chess' he managed to keep up to the high standards he set himself in `Jesus Christ Superstar' and Evita'. Again in this case he shows he is a lyrical wizard, with his familiar cynical touch. `The story of chess', in which he gives a history of the game in a couple of crafty verses, is a pure masterpiece. The same can be said of the song `I know him so well', where the two women reexamine their relationship with the same man. As a whole, `Chess' owes a lot of its appeal to Tim Rice's written word.

The cast on this album ranks the high standard of the material. The principal parts (sung by Elaine Paige, Tommy Körberg and Murray Head) are delivered in a strong and impeccable fashion.

This 2-disc edition comes with a booklet containing a note from the authors, a text about chess, a full synopsis and a libretto, together with the photos of the principal singers.

Anyone interested in the modern musical theatre should find `Chess' to be a great score with great lyrics, which should be enough to satisfy any aficionado.

Chess.......2007-01-15

A magnificent musical, i have enjoyed the music since i first heard it and read the storyline. Had been unable to find it in our local music stores.Very pleased to find it on your site.

One of my favorites!.......2007-01-12

I love "Chess"! I still remember the first time I heard the single "One Night in Bangkok" on my car radio. I thought it was so unusual and so very cool, so I tracked down the album and bought it. Then I taped it onto a cassette, which is what I've been listening to for years, so I finally broke down and got it on CD. Of course, it's on my iPod now. I've seen the musical, and I loved that, too.

Concepts get better with practice.......2006-11-27

I love this show! That said, I do not care for this version of it. The inclusion of the word "concept" in the title means it is just that. This was, thankfully, not the final version of the show that would later spawn the hit song, "One Night In Bangkok".

With most Broadway musicals, the musical numbers tell the basic story of the show. If you listen to the recordings of Phantom, Mama Mia, Beauty and the Beast, you can discern the basic storyline of the show. Listening to this particular recording of Chess, though, will leave you wondering "What was that?" The Broadway arrival of Chess saw a much needed reworking of the storyline and arrangement of the musical numbers. This recording seems too much like a mish-mash of songs that don't really relate to each other.

For musical fanatics (like myself), I say "yes, you should have this recording in your collection", if only to understand how much work went into the show before it opened on Broadway.

If you are only buying the album because of "One Night In Bangkok", purchase the Broadway recording instead; you'll be much happier with the performance by Phillip Casnoff rather than Murray Head.

Average customer rating:

Middle of the road wedding music
just what I was looking for
Most Chosen Selections
Another Great Reference CD
A Nice CD

Bride's Guide to Wedding Music

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bride's Guide to Wedding Music, Vol. II
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ASIN: B000002SOG
Release Date: 1993-09-14

Tracks:

Three Lute Dances: Prelude: Courante
Sonata In E-Flat: Prelude: Adagio
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G: Prelude: Allegro
Water Music: Prelude: Suite No. 1- Air
Processional: Trumpet Voluntary (The Prince Of Denmark's March)
Te Deum: Processional: Prelude
Processional: Canon In D
Processional: Trumpet Tune
Lohengrin: Processional: 'Wedding March'
Cantata 147: Ceremony: 'Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring'
The Four Seasons: Ceremony: 'Spring' - Allegro
Ceremony: 'Ave Maria'
Five Mystical Songs: Ceremony: 'The Call'
Ceremony: 'Sheep May Safely Graze'
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Recessional: 'Wedding March'
Solomon: Recessional: 'Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheeba'
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F: Recessional: First Movement
Organ Symphony No. 5: Recessional: Toccata

Customer Reviews:

Middle of the road wedding music.......2007-01-20

I bought this cd because I had everything in my wedding planned to the last tiny detail except the ceremony music. All the songs on the cd are nice traditional wedding songs. I did not use any of the music from the cd, but I am glad I bought it because it helped me realize that traditional wedding music was not what I wanted. All and all a nice classical music cd but not for brides who really want a personal ceremony. BTW I went with Enya and Lorena McKennitt.

just what I was looking for.......2007-01-10

We wanted traditional wedding music and found it in this CD. I'm no music expert, but the arrangements and performances seemed fine. I would definitely recommend this CD for any bride looking for a concise collection of traditional wedding pieces.

Most Chosen Selections.......2006-03-13

As a wedding officiant, my wife and I are often asked to assist the couple with other services for their ceremony, such as music. For this, we have a very large selection in our music library to choose from. We have put together a catalog of cd's that we loan out to the couple for their review, and most often, their selections come from BRIDE'S GUIDE TO WEDDING MUSIC.

If you're planning a traditional or formal wedding on a budget, this cd has it all. There are even two selections of Wagner's "Wedding March" to choose from. Only two of the selections have vocals, the rest are all extraordinary instrumental selections.

Often, even around the house or in my car, I find myself listening to this cd. The music is soothing, refreshing, uplifting and most enjoyable. I recommend this cd over all other wedding music cd's.

Another Great Reference CD.......2006-01-09

This is a great compilation, CD, along with Bride's Guide to Wedding Music Volume 2, to use as a reference for some of the more popular wedding songs; just about everything on here is standard fare for weddings. All of the musicians are generally superb, and the sound quality is very good. However, this is most useful if you are playing the CD at your wedding, or using it as a reference CD to talk over potential music selections with an organist, a string quartet, etc. Like my review for Volume 2, I only gave it four stars based on practicality, not on quality. If it were just quality, I would give it five stars. I purchased this CD since I am in the process of making my own wedding CD (I am a professional, freelance violinist), and this was nice to listen to, even just as background music for dinner. BTW: beware of reviewers who don't use their names, especially "A music fan." This is most likely the producer of the "Wedding Traditions" CD and he slanders other CDs so his will look better. You'd think that in the wedding music business people would have better ethics, but unfortunately, that's not always the case. The best advice I can give, as a classical musician myself, if to take time to listen to the sound clips, and if possible, try to find them on iTunes where they might sound higher quality. This is the only real way of knowing whether the CD is right for you.

A Nice CD.......2005-12-30

This is a very nice CD.
Our daughter used some of the songs on this CD
and some of the songs that are on the
"Classical Wedding Traditions" CD for the wedding.
She also used many of the songs on the
"New Wedding Traditions Volume I" CD
Amazon is a great place to find good wedding music

The Knot Collection of Ceremony and Wedding Music Selected by the Knot's Carley Roney

Average customer rating:

Makes selecting your wedding music easy!

The Knot Collection of Ceremony and Wedding Music Selected by the Knot's Carley Roney
Yo-Yo Ma , and Wynton Marsalis
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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25 Wedding Favorites
A Bride's Guide to Wedding Music
Classical Wedding
A Day to Remember - Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day
The Complete Wedding Album

Product Features:

wedding music
the knot collection of ceremony
the knot's carley's roney

ASIN: B0009IN2DA
Release Date: 2006-05-02

Tracks:

Air - Ton Koopman
Bist Du Bei Mir - E. Power Biggs
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Ton Koopman
Sheep May Safely Graze - Ton Koopman
Serenade - Lazar Gosman
Pachelbel's Canon - Raymond Leppard
Air - Jeanne Lamon
The Prince Of Denmarks March - Wynton Marsalis
Prelude From Deum - Wynton Marsalis
Trumpet Voluntary - Wynton Marsalis
Rondeau - Wynton Marsalis
Bridal Chorus (Here Comes The Bride) - Anthony Newman
Arioso - Stephen Taylor
Meditation - Kathryn Stott
O Mio Babbino Caro - Joshua Bell
Simple Gifts - Utah Symphony
One Hand, One Heart - Peter Hofmann
Ode To Joy - Anthony Newman
La Rejouissance - Chamber Soloists Of Washington
Hallelujah Chorus - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Trumpet Tune & Ayre - Edward Caroll
Spring/Allegro - Andrea Marcon
Wedding March - The Cleveland Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Makes selecting your wedding music easy!.......2007-03-27

This CD includes a nice selection of classical wedding music. When I ordered, I had no idea of what music I wanted or even how to select appropriate music. The accompanying guide breaks down each part of the ceremony and makes it easy to select the right song(s), from the prelude to the postlude, and everything in between. It even includes tips for music during the ceremony, if you so desire. Worth buying even if you plan to hire a DJ!

Average customer rating:

Not my favorite
I locked you in this body, I meant it as a kind of trial; you can use it as a weapon, or to make some woman smile.
Marred by a few lackluster songs
Poetry in motion
A step up for Cohen

New Skin for the Old Ceremony
Leonard Cohen
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Various Positions
Songs of Love and Hate
Recent Songs
I'm Your Man
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ASIN: B000002AZZ
Release Date: 1995-02-07

Tracks:

Is This What You Wanted
Chelsea Hotel #2
Lover Lover Lover
Field Commander Cohen
Why Don't You Try
There Is A War
A Singer Must Die
I Tried To Leave You
Who By Fire
Take This Longing
Leaving Green Sleeves

Customer Reviews:

Not my favorite.......2007-03-26

I have grown into quite the Leonard Cohen fan, but this particular CD goes to the bottom of the growing pile of my Cohen collection. I can't even remember why, just that I wasn't interested in listening to it again, unlike all of his others, which I play over and over, seemingly never tiring of them.

I locked you in this body, I meant it as a kind of trial; you can use it as a weapon, or to make some woman smile........2005-12-09

In terms of the individual songs on this album, they are varied but all strong and coherent. This album really breaks away from Cohen's other early works in terms of production values. It has a bright sound, and slightly fuller instrumentation on some tracks. I would also say that with this album, Cohen ends his classic early period epitomized by his first four or five albums. As an explanation to some confused reviewers, the song "Who by Fire" is derived from a Jewish prayer recited on Yom Kippur, with Cohen's english translation not mirroring the original, but capturing its' prescience.

Marred by a few lackluster songs.......2002-11-06

I must admit, Leonard Cohen bounces back and forth between my #1 and #2 spots on my "best musicians of all time" list (he and Tom Waits switch places depending on my mood). Yet with the exception of his first album I find it hard to give any of his albums five stars. Typically Cohen includes a few songs that simply aren't as evocative or haunting as the masterpieces that peek out between them. On this disk that slot is taken by the songs "Why Don't You Try" and "Is This What You Wanted?". Both songs limp along ably enough to their finishes; it is just that in contrast to the genius displayed elsewhere by Cohen, they come off as filler songs that push the total track number up high enough to call this an album. These are songs that lesser lyricists would be happy to call their best, but with my higher standards for Cohen I am still holding out for an album as consistent as his first.

You may be wondering now why I count Cohen as my first-or-second favorite artist after I have expressed such opinions about his music, and the reason is simply this: that when he's good, he's so good that he blows everyone else away. One of his greatest songs is on this album: "Chelsea Hotel #2". This song at first drove me, like Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #12 and 35", to wonder where the first version of "Chelsea Hotel" had gone. but after one listen to the song, I decided it was irrelevant. The version Cohen has here is flawless. I have heard that this song was written for Janis Joplin, but personal details become unnecessary in the face of such a heartfelt and powerful song. One does not need to have had the exact experience Cohen describes to understand the feelings he is converying; you only need to have one "fallen robin" in your past and his song can mutate into your story, told better than you ever could tell it. The song also contains a bitter and ironic last verse that rivals "Dress Rehearsal Rag" on "Songs of Love and Hate" for reversal of audience expectations.

But don't think that's the only good song here. "A Singer Must Die" is a poignant allegory, one even more relevant as we witness loss of traditional civil liberties in the US and in other parts of the world. "Who By Fire" is justly ranked among Cohen's best also, detailing what I hear as a list of different ways to die, though I would welcome remarks from anyone with a different interpretation of the meaning of this song. "Who by Fire" also demonstrates the proper way for Cohen to integrate the choir of females he employs as back-up singers into his songs in a tasteful manner. In later albums he seems to abuse their existence, allowing them to upstage his mellow, despairing voice. But here they blend perfectly. Finally, "There is a War" foreshadows Cohen's explicitly political turn in his later album "The Future". All in all, this ranks among Cohen's better recordings, and it is worth wading through the mediocre tunes to get to his true gems.

Poetry in motion.......2002-07-12

New Skin For The Old Ceremony is a masterpiece, and one of Leonard Cohen's best albums. It's a truly great effort, and too often overlooked. Although his first three albums - particularly the first and third - are all certified masterpieces, this one, his fourth, was his first attempt to move beyond them in scope. Incorporating background vocalists and a wider array of instrumentation than he employed on those sparse first three efforts, Cohen creates here an album broader, more epic in scope than its predecessors. He also began, for the first time, to lighten up on the subject matter of his lyrics: incorporating some - albeit rather dark - humor into several of the songs here, Cohen creates an album - which, along with its broader musical pallette - that is a much easier listen this his first three, which were at times so depressing as to lend themselves to the status of "mood" albums. That said, Cohen is Cohen, and his themes remain the same; he has a lighter touch here at times, is all. Although the opening track, Is This What You Wanted?, features lyrics like "You were K.Y. Jelly/I was Vaseline" much of the rest of the album is pervaded with a deep and dark sense of self-loathing: Cohen places himself on a pedastal and de-construcs his persona as he did on "Avalanche", but in a much less abstract, far more direct and disturbing way. Cohen at this time was going through a period of extreme personal depression and writer's block (which would culminate in the Phil Spector collaboration on Death of A Ladies' Man), and songs such as Field Commander Cohen and A Singer Must Die attest to his state of mind at the time. A deep, dark, driving masterpiece with just the right amount of light touch, New Skin For The Old Ceremony is a great album, and an essential purchase for any admirer of Leonard Cohen.

A step up for Cohen.......2001-11-12

"You were Marlon Brando, I was Steve McQueen/You were K.Y. Jelly, I was Vaseline/You were the father of modern medicine, I was Mr. Clean/You where the (...) and the beast of Babylon, I was Rin Tin Tin," Leonard Cohen sings on "Is This What You Wanted," a song that displays the much-needed dose of humor added to his lyrical exercises in regret and self-depreciation on his fourth album, 1974's New Skin for the Old Ceremony. New Skin's more varied instrumentation, looser vocal approach and added wit make it Cohen's best album yet. Although he was always a finely skilled and richly tender poet, one could only endure so much of Cohen's earlier albums as spirit-stomping and disheartened as they were. Although the main subject matter of New Skin is still grief, Cohen confronts life's tragedies with a different approach. He abandons the mournful wailing of songs like "Bird on a Wire" or "Stories of the Street" and the somber expressions of "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" or "The Stranger Song" and dons a type of charisma, classified somewhere between crooner and beatnik, and stands in a mock-confrontational pose, challenging both the complicated nature of society ("A Singer Must Die," "Field Commander Cohen," "There is a War") and distressing predicaments with another cast of abusive, self-destructive, yet intoxicating women ("I Tried to Leave You," "Chelsea Hotel #2," "Leaving Green Sleeves") with a fistful of clever irony and satire. Cohen's tongue being placed in his cheek does not, however, equal the complete loss of the intimate, folk rock beauty of his music. "Who by the Fire" is as striking, moving and poignant any song the man has written and "Take This Longing" is one of his most ardent, elegantly expressed requests. Generally, the album keeps the solemn and dignified air of Cohen's previous works. Its added whimsical flair only makes his music more entertaining and invigorating.

Average customer rating:

Nothing but hits

Essential Hyperion, Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

The Essential Hyperion (Label Highlight Compilation)
Essential Purcell

ASIN: B00004RITB
Release Date: 2001-01-09

Customer Reviews:

Nothing but hits.......2001-01-31

As with their first collection of label highlights, Hyperion's new two-disc collection provides a broad sampling of their exceptional catalogue and performers. Particularly rewarding are the selections from Beethoven (Scherzo from String Trio in C minor, op 9 no 3, performed by the Leopold Trio) and Thomas Tallis (Salvator mundi I, performed by the Winchester Cathedral Choir), but experienced and novice listeners alike will find much to enjoy on these discs. It's also a good value--more than 2 1/2 hours of music for less than $10.

Average customer rating:

Excellent instrumental CD for your wedding
My Wedding Music
very elegant and calming
Beautiful!
The Perfect Ceremony CD

For Your Wedding Ceremony

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Wedding Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Wedding Music | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

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Wedding Music | Miscellaneous | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Set Your Wedding to Music
Classical Wedding Traditions
A Day to Remember - Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day
Classical Wedding
The Ultimate Wedding Album

ASIN: B00005NZE8
Release Date: 2001-06-01

Album Description

Favorite Wedding Classics with a Contemporary Touch 15 inspiring and emotional productions of classical wedding favorites recorded with traditional elegance, yet a touch of today's sounds and arrangements. These outstanding selections are of film "soundtrack" quality and will accommodate any length processionalb&perfect for all parts of the wedding ceremony. Included are fresh new versions of the BRIDAL CHORUS, WEDDING MARCH, and favorites such as AVE MARIA (with beautiful angel voices), AIR ON THE G STRING, JESU, TRUMPET VOLUNTARY and more.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent instrumental CD for your wedding.......2007-05-12

This CD features classical, instrumental music suitable for the moderne wedding. It was a perfect addition to our DJ collection.

My Wedding Music.......2006-07-12

After listening to this CD we were disappointed in the limited number of songs on it. I should have paid more attention before I bought it of course, however I was expecting a little more and got a whole lot less

very elegant and calming .......2006-03-01

i would recommend this CD to all couples that are planning a wedding.

Beautiful!.......2004-01-29

I looked in so many locations for music for my daughters wedding and in particular Pachelbel's Cannon D. Sounded easy but to find it well done is another hurdle to jump! This CD is wonderfully done, smooth and easy to listen to, something for everyone. We love it and used this one for the church and pieces of the CD Ultimate Wedding to fill in other areas. Thanks Amazon!

The Perfect Ceremony CD.......2002-06-07

There are many classical wedding CDs, but this one is different. It's really special! Instead of big overblown orchestras and choirs, or tinny organs and trumpets, or some horrible performance on a synthesizer, these versions are elegant and beautifully arranged and performed. I feel lucky that I found this CD. I was wavering between live music and Cds, because I couldn't find the right one until now. I decided against live music, because many times it's so badly played. I didn't want someone bumbling through one of the most important moments of my life. By using this CD I felt like someone "scored" my wedding ceremony exactly as I had dreamed!

Average customer rating:

2 1/2 stars-- not quite as bad as its reputation.
Underrated
different
Some maturity is in this one.
The Cult falls into mediocrity

Ceremony
The Cult
Manufacturer: Beggars UK - Ada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Beyond Good and Evil
The Cult - Live Cult (Music Without Fear)
Live at Marquee London 1991
High Octane Cult
Open Up and Say...Ahh!

ASIN: B000026I1Y
Release Date: 2000-03-07

Tracks:

Ceremony
Wild Hearted Son
Earth Mofo
White
If
Full Tilt
Heart Of Soul
Bangkok Rain
Indian
Sweet Salvation
Wonderland

Album Description

Domestic reissue, digitally remastered from the original masters with expanded artwork which includes new photos & liner notes. Beggars Banquet.

Customer Reviews:

2 1/2 stars-- not quite as bad as its reputation........2006-04-12

Generally reviled as the worst album that the Cult ever recorded (although that title is often times-- unfairly-- reserved for its followup), "Ceremony" is one of those records that, while not really fantatic, is perhaps not quite as bad as initially perceived. The band, now reduced to vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy with studio musicians as a supporting cast, entered the studio to record a followup on top of "Electric" and "Sonic Temple" and while "Sonic Temple" was driven by Duffy, this one was driven by Astbury, who has a long-standing concern for the plight of Native Americans, and the album appears to be a chance to exorcise some of those feelings.

What this yields is extraordinarily passionate vocal performances-- pretty much throughout, Astbury is explosive, powerful and energetic, and often times Duffy and the music match him (the utterly superb and melodic "Heart of Soul", fierce "Wild Hearted Son" and propolsive "Earth Mofo" are the best examples, but also check out "Sweet Salvation"-- the song itself is somewhat weak, but Astbury's power carries it). The problem is, most of the songwriting is a big subpar ("White"), many of the performances are a bit unmemorable ("Bangkok Rain"-- I just listened to this record, and I can't recall what it sounds like) or suffer from many poor choices ("Indian"-- a superb acoustic ballad with cello laying counter to Astbury until he decides to start moaning "high" over and over again).

Still, it's not unlistenable, it's just not fantastic. Newcomers to the Cult are better guided to "Love" (for gothic-like material) or "Sonic Temple" (hard rock), but this one does have some reasonable material.

Underrated.......2005-12-29

I've never listened to "Sonic Temple" which I frequently see this album compared too (I've only previously listened to "Love"
& "Electric") but listening to this album, I noticed that (while it's not their best album) They did improve lyrically from their previous efforts. Ian Astbury's vocals and lyrics are better; Billy Duffy's guitar playing is about the same. But, it's still a semi improvement. Well, I feel that "Love" is easily their best album give this one a chance.

1. Ceremony-5/5-Lyrics are smarter than previous albums; Ian Astbury still sings with the same voice and Billy Duffy guitar sounds the same. The song is pretty catchy too.
2. Wild Hearted Son-5/5-Another good song. They got an indian-theme going here.
3. Earth Mofo-5/5-The title of the song is great; Billy Duffy goes crazy on his guitar.
4. White-5/5-Some of the best lyrics of any Cult song.
5. If-5/5-One of my favorite Cult songs. This song is awesome; Lyrically it's good and it's one of the catchiest on the album so far.
6. Full Tilt-5/5-The guitar and the bass on this song are killer!
7. Heart of Soul-5/5-It's not the best song on the album, but at this point in Ian Astbury's carreer it was more like "Heart Full of Heroin."
8. Bangkok Rain-4/5-Not my favorite song on the album. Duffy's guitar is great though.
9. Indian-5/5-Continuing with the whole indian theme, there's this poignant song. This song is freaking sweet, the lyrics are in the top 10 of Astbury's greatest.
10. Sweet Salvation-4/5-This song's OK. It's kind of catchy, but that's about it.
11. Wonderland-4/5-This song is kind of Astbury talking and singing. It's weird and not that great.

A-

different.......2005-10-30

This album was not well liked. I love it . I love the different feel on this album. I seem to like albums that dont get popular.

Some maturity is in this one........2005-07-08

White, Wonderland, hardly mediocrity in my opinion. Another amazing full length CD by one of the most original bands in rock.

The Cult falls into mediocrity.......2005-04-28

I remember when this was issued in 91. I was a college junior who was eagerly expecting this new Cult release. I could not wait to see what Astbury and Duffy would come up with next. My expectations were too high. After falling in love with the gothic spiritualness of Dreamtime, the psychedelic blues based rock of Love, the full on no frills rock assault of Electric and the combination of all that was great about the Cult in Sonic Temple, I anxiously popped in my new copy of Ceremony. After listening all the way through, I thought "what happened?"

The first track, Ceremony, tries to hard for arena rock anthem status. Track two, the first single, Wild Hearted Son appeared to me to be The Cult trying to rewrite Sonic Temple's Firewoman. That in itself is not a bad thing, as Firewoman is a great song, but Wild Hearted Son is just, dare I say, average. Earth Mofo is the first track that got my attention. Simply put, it rocks, and the ending is great with the "funky" lyric followed by a ripping Duffy riff. White, the 4th cut, is in my opinion, the strongest cut on the album. It makes me think of Nez Perce braves in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the dead of winter. Great imagery and one of the best closes to a Cult track on any release. The next 4 cuts, "If", "Full Tilt", "Heart of Soul"=Power Ballad, and "Bangkok Rain" are all very average tracks from such a great band. I am not sure that they would have made it onto any other Cult release. The band does redeem itself with two of the last three tracks, "Indian" and "Wonderland". "Indian" is a beautiful acoustic number sang passionately by Ian and "Wonderland" is a great album closer with a big, epic feel to it.
As a huge Cult fan, and one that owns everything done by the band and its principal components, I highly advise that you try another Cult release first. The band was definitely in the valley here, but would climb out with another astonishing album, 1994's self titled The Cult album.

Average customer rating:

The Old Ceremony - "Our One Mistake"
Love has Never been so Dark
Pop Noir?
Music for anytime, anywhere

Our One Mistake
The Old Ceremony
Manufacturer: Sonablast
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Be He Me
The Trials of Van Occupanther
West
Revolver [UK]
Back to Black

ASIN: B000J4QWCM
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Tracks:

Talk Straight
Poison Pen
Papers in Order
Get to Love
Our One Mistake
Reservations
Radio Religion
Believer
Bao Qian
Hearts Were Made
Prove Me Wrong
Baby, What is Going On

Customer Reviews:

The Old Ceremony - "Our One Mistake".......2007-06-22

This is a magnificent recording with vocals and harmony slightly reminiscent of the darker side of the Beatles and Stones. Chilling and often unsettling in its depth and feeling this is something to play alone in contemplative mood. Truly one of most brilliant recordings of the decade.

These young men are musicians of the highest order with something powerful to say.

Love has Never been so Dark.......2007-06-07

Wow! Just saw these guys at Joe's pub after reading and seeing a clip on the All Songs Considered e-letter. Hey, it's hard to start loving a band when you see them on a 2-inch square screen....but the lyrics, the arrangements, the tune (Talk Straight) just stuck immediately.
So, loved 'em at Joe's Pub,,,, Django is the REAL DEAL {amazing presence, great singer, and such a cool guitarist - not a guitar god, but the man knows what he's doing),,,,pianist had some injury to his hand, and was THE BEST one-handed-keys-guy ever....well, you get it - a very tight/hot/cabaret-like/am I in nyc or pre-wwII Berlin or Tokyo kinda feel.

Now - what's going on with this band and how they view love and romance and relationships is friggin exciting. Check out the lyrical twists in the songs Reservations and Get To Love.

A definite Beatles-noir for the post-modern world.

Pop Noir?.......2006-11-02

It's difficult to characterize this music - definitely connected with the Pop Noir traditions of the 30's and 40's but with an on target edge for today. This is a group to watch. Honing their style and getting better all the time. Django Haskins "smokey" voice is appealing. I love the connections with jazz and the addition of the cello and violin.

Music for anytime, anywhere.......2006-11-02

Music by The Old Ceremony is anything but old. The band respects traditions (they even dress up for concerts and use "classical" instruments (violin and cello)), but they add so much more. To hear that more, you'll have to get the album. The best way I can sum it up is to say they are fun, just really fun, and you'll be tapping your toes and clapping your hands in no time. You'll find yourself huming tunes while you're walking down the street and standing in the elevator. You just won't be able to help yourself.

The first half of Our One Mistake is strongest, but the whole album is a great mix of contemplative and just plain fun tunes. The lyrics are great, and I love the mix of instruments--piano (which at times sounds like an old upright in a smokey New Orleans bar (I love that!)), vibraphone, cello (after listening to this album, everyone will want a cellist in their band), violin, guitar, bass, drums, and a few other instruments I don't know the names of.

It's a great band, a great album, and I, for one, am bookmarking their website, anxiously awaiting their next album.

Average customer rating:

King's College Classic
Britten Brilliance

Britten: Choral Works

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Britten: A Ceremony of Carols
Penderecki: Sacred Choral Works
A Robert Shaw Christmas - Angels on High
Britten - War Requiem / Vishnievskaya · Pears · Fischer-Dieskau · LSO · Britten
Britten: Ceremony of Carols

ASIN: B0001HAHHS
Release Date: 2004-03-23

Tracks:

I: In A Garden Shady This Holy Lady - Sir David Willcocks
II: I Cannot Grow - Sir David Willcocks
III: O Ear Whose Creatures Cannot Wish To Fail - Sir David Willcocks
I: Procession - Sir David Willcocks
II: Wolcum Yole! - Sir David Willcocks
III: There Is No Rose - Sir David Willcocks
IV: (a) That Yonge Child - Sir David Willcocks
(b) Balulalow - Sir David Willcocks
V: As Dew In Aprille - Sir David Willcocks
VI: This Little Babe - Sir David Willcocks
VII: Interlude (Andante Pastorale) - Sir David Willcocks
VIII: In Freezing Winter Night - Sir David Willcocks
IX: Spring Carol - Sir David Willcocks
X: Deo Gracias! - Sir David Willcocks
XI: Recession - Sir David Willcocks
I: Kyrie - Sir David Willcocks
II: Gloria - Sir David Willcocks
III: Sanctus - Sir David Willcocks
IV: Benedictus - Sir David Willcocks
V: Agnus Dei - Sir David Willcocks
Festival Te Deum Op.32 - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
Rejoice In God, O Ye Tongues - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
For I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffrey - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
For The Mouse Is A Creature Of Great Personal Valour - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
For The Flowers Are Great Blessings - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
For I Am Under The Same Accusation With My Saviour - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
For H Is A Spirit And Therefore He Is God - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
Hallelujah From The Heart Of God - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
Te Deum In C - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
Jubilate Deo - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge

Customer Reviews:

King's College Classic.......2004-10-11

Way back in the dark ages, before CDs roamed the earth, I purchased the LP of this recording. It remains my favorite performance of Britten's work. The voices of the choir, accompanied by one harp, weave an achingly beautiful tapestry of sound. It is a wonderful way to introduce children and friends to the English choral tradition of sacred music.

Britten Brilliance.......2004-09-28

Captivating from start to finish: EMI has programmed & remastered this bounty of Britten choral work superbly. The Choir of King's College, Cambridge performs with stunning sensitivity, ethereal, heartbreaking & transcendent. A just classic disc

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Matinee [CD-single] [Import]

Strauss: Sonata for cello & piano in F major; Honegger: Sonata for cello H32

Sixteen Stone

Listen Here [Hybrid SACD]

Apathy Is the New Black

Some Day We'll All Be Free [Import]

She Loves Me (1963 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording]

Richter - The Authorized Recordings: Bach

Splash!

Philip on Film [Box set]

Singing in the Rain [Import]

No Tiene Caso

Plante Bandera [Import]

Twist City

Pray For The Soul of Betty