Music for 88

Track Listings
1. Eighty–Eights    
2. Mersenne Numbers    
3. Multiplication Table    
4. Pascal’s Triangle    
5. Euler’s Harmonies    
6. Abundant Numbers    

Editorial Reviews
Gérard Condé, Paris 1985
“Tom Johnson enjoys demonstrating that a new complexity arises there where we thought we had reached the ultimate simplicity.”

Mathias Osterwold, Berlin
“Tom Johnson is the master of a logical music, the essence of which involves the complete revealing of its premises.”

Album Description
Simplicity and clarity have always been among Tom Johnson's chief concerns as a composer. That concern led him to research number theory, particularly by Pascal, Fermat, and Euclid, and these sources suggested musical structures somewhat more complicated than those that he had used before. Music for 88 is the result of these researches. It contains nine sections (six of which are on this recording), each of which is a musical demonstration of a mathematical phenomenon.

Music for 88

Music for 88, Music, Tom Johnson
Martha Argerich Plays Chopin: The Legendary 1965 Recording
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Lost is Found, finally
  • Martha Argerich CD
  • Fabulous recording
  • Excellent
  • A restored jewel in the Argerich catalog
 Martha Argerich Plays Chopin: The Legendary 1965 Recording
Martha Argerich
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Debut Recital / Martha Argerich
  2. Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 / Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23
  3. J.S. Bach: Toccata, Partita, English Suite 2/ Martha Argerich
  4. Chopin, Liszt: Piano Concertos / Martha Argerich, London Symphony Orchestra
  5. Chopin: 26 Préludes, etc / Martha Argerich

ASIN: B00000IWVS
Release Date: 1999-05-18

Tracks:

  1. Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: I. Allegro maetoso
  2. Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: II. Scherzo: Molto vivace
  3. Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: III. Largo
  4. Piano Sonata No.3 In B Minor, Op.58: IV. Finale: Presto, non tanto
  5. Mazurka No.36 In A Minor, Op.59 No.1
  6. Mazurka No.37 In A-flat, Op.59 No.2
  7. Mazurka No.38 In F-sharp Minor, Op.59 No.3
  8. Nocturne No.4 In F, Op.15 No.1
  9. Scherzo No.3 In C-sharp Minor, Op.39
  10. Polonaise No.6 In A-flat, Op.53

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

Record-label politics prevented this awesome recording of Argentinean pianist Martha Argerich from being released for 34 years. The spitfire musician delivers a powerful set of Chopin's best-loved works that still sounds riveting today. Intense and gorgeous. --Jason Verlinde

Amazon.com essential recording

How can it be that a recording by one of today's indisputably unequaled pianists performing some of her prime repertory--made fresh within months of her triumph in the 1965 Warsaw International Chopin Competition--could languish for decades in the vaults before its official release? Chalk it up to the exclusivity clauses of rival recording companies and legal constraints from which not even Wotan with the help of Loge could extricate himself. Thankfully this belated EMI release--recorded in a few sessions at the Abbey Road studios--is finally available.

It's a significant complement to Argerich's other accounts of Chopin on disc. From the white-hot intensity of Argerich's way with the composer, you can easily extrapolate a sense of what had recently wowed the jury in Warsaw. The Argentinean pianist undertakes the Third Sonata as a vast, big-voiced, far-reaching statement that encompasses both molten power and moments of almost unbearably intimate lyricism (listen closely to her gestures of illumination in the Largo). With a characteristically unforced spontaneity, Argerich sounds the shattering chords that launch the finale (recorded in one take); her sense of flow in the Nocturne No. 4 is a perfect mesh for the illusion of improvising that is so central to Chopin. She commands the logic--both emotional and musical--of the composer's skittish turns in the Scherzo No. 3 and crafts three of the mazurkas into perfectly chiseled character pieces. The sheer force of Argerich's personality might seem overwhelming to those accustomed to a tamer Chopin--listen to how she dives into the A-flat Polonaise--but it's always at work dusting off tired clichés and uncovering the music's expressive wealth. For those who know about Argerich's artistry, this disc is indispensable; anyone who has yet to make that enviable discovery will find it (together with the Argerich anthology in Philips' Great Pianists series) a great place to begin. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Lost is Found, finally.......2007-07-08

This Argerich Chopin performance, recorded by EMI in 1965 while she was actually under contract to DG is formidable for an artist so early in her career. Both the artistry and sound are superb and it's a shame we fans had to wait so long for this recording to appear. These Chopin performances completely justify the competition judges decision to award her the grand prize at the 1965 Warsaw International Chopin Competition. It's a collection must have!

5 out of 5 stars Martha Argerich CD.......2007-06-12

Excellent service -- speedy, just as described, well-packaged. I'd definitely buy from this seller again.

5 out of 5 stars Fabulous recording.......2007-04-12

A most interesting history in the liner notes and a fabulous recording. One of the best for a piano CD collection.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent.......2007-04-12

Only one word: Excellent.
Though someone might have different feeling, I'm crazy on this 1965 recording.

5 out of 5 stars A restored jewel in the Argerich catalog.......2006-09-03

If I had to pick a single CD to win awed admiration for Martha Argerich, this Chopin recital would be it. Only 24 when she made these long-suppressed recordings, Argerich's musicality and dazzling technqiue defy belief. Every ounce of praise for her Third Sonata is deserved--it's spontaneous, flexible, intense, by turns tender and declamatory. The most blessed quality is that she doesn't bang or harangue us--not always the case in later years. Her sense of urgency doesn't become eckless; the bursts of excitment aren't oerly explosive.

My only caveat would be for audiophiles. Although an Abbey Road studio recording, you get the feeling somewhat that Argerich is performing in a boomy hall. Also, in the loudest fortes there's mircophone shatter. For many listeners these drawbacks won't matter a whit, not in the face of an undisputed keyboard genius.

Dvorák: The Symphonies
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Heartfelt, passionate versions
  • Great Recording
  • Great set of music!
  • Kertesz or Kubelik in the Dvorak symphonies?
  • Amazing performances
 Dvorák: The Symphonies

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Mendelssohn: 5 Symphonies; 7 Overtures
  2. Schubert: 8 Symphonies
  3. Schubert: The Piano Sonatas
  4. Schumann: The 4 Symphonies
  5. Johannes Brahms: The Symphonies

ASIN: B0000041WV
Release Date: 1992-02-11

Tracks:

  1. Symphony No. 1 In C Minor 'Zlonicke zvony': I: Allegro
  2. Symphony No. 1 In C Minor 'Zlonicke zvony': II: Adagio molto
  3. Symphony No. 1 In C Minor 'Zlonicke zvony': III: Allegretto
  4. Symphony No. 1 In C Minor 'Zlonicke zvony': IV: Finale - Allegro animato
  5. Symphony No. 2 In B Flat Major, Op. 4: Allegro con molto

Tracks:

  1. Symphony No. 2: II: Poco adagio
  2. Symphony No. 2: III: Scherzo: Allegro con brio
  3. Symphony No. 2: IV: Finale: Allegro con fuoco
  4. Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op. 10: I: Allegro moderato
  5. Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op. 10: II: Adagio molto
  6. Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op. 10: III: Finale: Allegro vivace

Tracks:

  1. Symphony No. 4 In D minor, Op. 13: I. Allegro
  2. Symphony No. 4 In D minor, Op. 13: II. Andante sostenuto e molto cantabile
  3. Symphony No. 4 In D minor, Op. 13: III. Allegro feroce
  4. Symphony No. 4 In D minor, Op. 13: IV. Allegro con brio
  5. Symphony No. 5 In F Major, Op. 76 (Beginning): I. Allegro ma non troppo
  6. Symphony No. 5 In F Major, Op. 76 (Beginning): II. Andante con moto
  7. Symphony No. 5 In F Major, Op. 76 (Beginning): III. Scherzo: Allegro scherzando

Tracks:

  1. Symphony No. 5 (Conclusion): IV. Finale: Allegro molto
  2. Symphony No. 6 In D Major, Op. 60: I. Allegro non tanto
  3. Symphony No. 6 In D Major, Op. 60: II. Adagio
  4. Symphony No. 6 In D Major, Op. 60: III. Scherzo (Furiant): Presto
  5. Symphony No. 6 In D Major, Op. 60: IV. Finale: Allegro con spirito
  6. 'V prirode', Op. 91: In Nature's Realm

Tracks:

  1. Symphony No. 7 In D Minor, Op. 70: I. Allegro maestoso
  2. Symphony No. 7 In D Minor, Op. 70: II. Poco adagio
  3. Symphony No. 7 In D Minor, Op. 70: III. Scherzo: Vivace - poco meno mosso
  4. Symphony No. 7 In D Minor, Op. 70: IV. Allegro
  5. Symphony No. 8 In G Major, Op. 88: I. Allegro con brio
  6. Symphony No. 8 In G Major, Op. 88: II. Adagio
  7. Symphony No. 8 In G Major, Op. 88: III. Allegretto grazioso
  8. Symphony No. 8 In G Major, Op. 88: IV. Allegro ma non troppo

Tracks:

  1. Symphony No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 'Z Noveho sveta': I. Adagio - Allegro molto
  2. Symphony No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 'Z Noveho sveta': II. Largo
  3. Symphony No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 'Z Noveho sveta': III. Molto vivace
  4. Symphony No. 9 In E Minor, Op. 95 'Z Noveho sveta': IV. Allegro con fuoco
  5. 'Karneval' Overture, Op. 92
  6. Scherzo capriccioso, Op. 66
  7. 'Domov muj' Overture, Op. 62

Amazon.com essential recording

For decades, there were only three complete collections of Dvorák's symphonies: this one; Rowicki's with the same orchestra; and Kubelik's with the Berlin Philharmonic. Kertész offers the most rustic, gutsy interpretations of all. Famous for his dislike of rehearsals, he allows the London Symphony to make a much rougher sound than his colleagues tolerate, and though not the last word in polish, the results have a spontaneous charm that's pretty hard to resist. More to the point, Dvorák's early symphonies (Nos. 1 to 5) remain sadly neglected, and each one of them is full of gorgeous tunes cloaked in mellifluous orchestration. At budget price, this set now costs less than it did on LP in the 1960s. How can you do better than that? --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Heartfelt, passionate versions.......2007-06-23

The late Istvan Kertesz continues to amaze, with this spectacular reissue of his 1960s Dvorak symphonies cycle. These versions each compare well with or exceed the legendary recordings by Ancerl, Szell, Talich, et al. Sound quality is excellent, and the mix on the orchestra is almost always just right, balancing strings, brass, and percussion. Compared to some Czech recordings, the woodwinds volumes are a bit weak, which is unfortunate because woodwinds are one of Dvorak's specialties. If you have no other set of Dvorak symphonies, or have 10 copies of "From the New World" and no copies of Symphonies 1, 2 or 3, then this is a must-have set. From the opening bars of Symphony No. 1, you'll agree you're in the presence of greatness.

5 out of 5 stars Great Recording.......2007-06-03

Friends and CD-guides told me this was the best. And they were right.

5 out of 5 stars Great set of music!.......2007-05-24

Along with Piotr Tchaikovsky, Antonin Dvorak was probably the most prolific composer of the Romance period. He composed for just about every genre of classical music except ballet, and is known for a wide variety of works. Some of his most famous are his symphonies. He wrote 9, out of respect for Beethoven, and like the German master, the last one is the most widely recognized. But like Beethoven, all 9 symphonies are incredible pieces of music in their own right. This set has all 9 symphonies, along with several other popular orchestral works. The sound quality is good, the orchestration is great, and the choice of music is great. All the pieces are dramatic, with melodies that range from powerful to awe-inspiring to melancholy. Every piece of music in this set is purely in the Romantic style; full of emotion, and many are inspired by folk tunes from Eastern Europe. All in all, a great set, and for a great price.

5 out of 5 stars Kertesz or Kubelik in the Dvorak symphonies?.......2006-05-03

Although decades old, the two analog sets of Dvorak symphonies from Kertesz and Kubelik remain the front-runnters. From the mid-Sixties onward Decca has been so satisfied with the groundbreaking Kertesz cycle, the first to bring Sym. 1-6 to the general listening public outisde Czechoslovakia, that the company has rarely re-recorded any but the last three, most famous symphonies. DG, on the other hand, didn't release Kubelik's Sym. 1-6 until the digital era (1988, I believe), keeping them in the vualts and out of competiiton with Kertesz.

Now both sets are offered at basically the same price on 6 mid-line discs, with deep discounts on the used market. The difference between the two is quite marked musically, however. Kertesz comunicates the thrill of discovery in the early symphhonies. Amazingly, he had never conducted them before, and their vibrancy and inner life lift my spirits every time I hear them. The LSO didn't know these pieces, either, but play with rousing commitment and vivacity.

By comparison, Kubelik sounds rather correct and staid. He often chooses marginally slower tempos, and his enthusiasm for letting the dance rhytyms become exciting is limited. The Berlin Phil. seems not to catch on to the Slavonic folk idiom, which gets played far too straight (Dvorak had the same problem with Greman orchestras in his lifetime and was only accepted in Vienna and Berlin at first as a kind of naive, folk-flavored Brahms). As to sonics, the Decca set holds up well, being a bit bright at times but otherwise detailed and forward. DG, unforunately, gave Kubelik's later symphonies (#7-9) harsh, glaring sound that makes his readings sound brash; there's an unpleasant sting to the sound at higher volumes. This problem seems less in the earlier symphonies (the cycle was recorded over a longer period than Kertesz's and thus has more variable sound). I do not know if the current re-issue also includes remastering.

It's regrettable that in the interest of economics Decca has cut out several of Kertesz's most interesting fillers, such as the Hussite Over., though they can be found on other CDs from him. We get the Carnival Over. on both sets, after which Kertesz gives us the "My Homeland" and "In Nature's Realm" Over., while Kubelik offers the Scerzo capriccioso and The Wild Dove tone poem, both performed by his Bavarian State Orchestra rather than the Berliners.

As msut be obvious by now, I don't feel the two sets are competitive artistically. Kubelik was a major conductor and dedicated to Dvorak, but his best work isn't here. Kertesz, though not native born to the composer as Kubelik was, found a special affinity for Dvorak, and his cycle is one of the small miracles of Sixties recording. Perhaps not so minor considering that no one has bettered him in the early symphonies for forty years.

5 out of 5 stars Amazing performances.......2005-03-28

This orchestra really has a rich, powerful sound, but can still give deep emotional sounds, all of which are needed to perform Dvorak. I doubt one can find finer performances of these symphonies, and the other works included in the set are very well chosen. The performances of each symphony are incredible, the sound quality is very good, and as I said before, the orchestra is wonderful. Highly recommended.
Perpetual Motion
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Amazing and beautiful
  • Another Bela Fleck Masterpiece!
  • Definitely a Winner
  • Soul Food
  • AN AMAZING WORK ! ! !
 Perpetual Motion
Bela Fleck , Edgar Meyer , Evelyn Glennie , Joshua Bell , Gary Hoffman , John [guitar] Williams , Domenico Scarlatti , Johann Sebastian Bach , Claude Debussy , Fryderyk Chopin , Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Johannes Brahms , Niccolo Paganini , and Ludwig van Beethoven
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005OSX6
Release Date: 2001-10-02

Tracks:

  1. Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in C Major K. 159
  2. Bach: Two-Part Invention No. 13
  3. Debussy: "Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum" from Children's Corner
  4. Chopin: Mazurka in F-sharp Minor
  5. Bach: "Prelude" from Partita No. 3 for Solo Violin
  6. Chopin: Etude in C-sharp Minor
  7. Chopin: Mazurka in F-sharp Minor
  8. Bach: Three-Part Invention No. 10
  9. Tchaikovsky: Melody in E-flat
  10. Brahms: "Presto in G-Minor I after Bach"
  11. Bach: "Prelude" from Suite for Unaccompanied Cello 1
  12. Bach: Three-Part Invention No. 15
  13. Paganini: Moto Perpetuo
  14. Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in D Minor K. 213
  15. Bach: Two-Part Invention No. 6
  16. Beethoven: "Adagio sostenuto" from "Moonlight" Sonata
  17. Bach: Two-Part Invention No. 11
  18. Beethoven: Seven Variations on "God Save The King"
  19. Bach: Three-Part Invention No. 7
  20. Paganini: Moto Perpetuo (Bluegrass version)

Amazon.com

Bela Fleck is one of the greatest five-string banjo players performing today. Beginning in the 1970s, he honed his lightning-fast chops performing bluegrass, then moved on to contemporary jazz and fusion sounds. With this album, he broadens his horizons once again by performing an entire program of classical music transcriptions. Reminiscent of classical guitar albums by John Williams (who makes a guest appearance here), the disc traverses a wide range of repertoire--from Chopin mazurkas to Bach's Two and Three Part Inventions. Throughout, Fleck displays a feathery touch on his banjo, and his instrument offers a pleasant, brassy tone with very little twang. The technique he displays on Perpetual Motion is astounding and a refreshing change of pace from the smooth grooves found on the banjoist's Flecktones recordings. The arrangements are generally minimalist and understated, but violinist Joshua Bell, bassist Edgar Meyer, mandolinist Chris Thile, and percussionist Evelyn Glennie join in on this groundbreaking disc. Bluegrass purists may be disappointed (this is a far cry from the free-spirited, folksy abandon found on Sony's Short Trip Home and Appalachian Journey CDs), but classical fans will be astounded by how perfectly natural Fleck's banjo sounds on these works. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Amazing and beautiful.......2007-01-02

Fleck's 2001 disc `Perpetual Motion' is by far his most ambitious foray into virtuosity, performing classical works by Bach, Scarlatti and Chopin.

And he does it without really showing off. He only tackles mazurkas, fugues and Bach classical inventions on the five-string banjo, a simple instrument for which this music was never conceived.

I once flirted with playing the banjo, and it wasn't an easy task, even trying to play 'Uncle Pen'.

But the man must be possessed to play it like Bela does. Alternating between delicate and complicated, slow to fast, Fleck gets about as much out of the humble banjo as anyone possibly could. He plays it precisely and with a light touch, with respect for the music and his instrument.

Some reviewers think it pretentious of Fleck to attempt a banjo foray into the classical genre. That's bunk. How is virtuosity measured, after all? By playing many genres: classical, bluegrass, pop, jazz, Indian, fusion. And by playing them well.

Fleck wasn't awarded a Grammy for this recording just by looking pretty. He earned it.

5 out of 5 stars Another Bela Fleck Masterpiece!.......2006-09-17

Who knew there could be classical banjo. It may sound dumb to some of you, but Bela Fleck pulls it off perfectly. I prefer the jazz fusion of his work with the Flecktones, but that does not mean this is not brilliant. Technically speaking, Bela and all of his collaborators are the best around, and who can argue with the songwriting of the classical composers(no one openly insults Mozart). If you haven't heard Bela Fleck, here's some advice. Get one of his Flecktones albums if you're into jazz, rock, or funk, this if you like classical, and his Newgrass Revival, Strength in Numbers, or Sam Bush stuff if you're a bluegrass fan.

5 out of 5 stars Definitely a Winner.......2006-07-05

It is apparent to my ears why this CD won a Grammy. It takes familiar classical music pieces and puts the distinct Bela Fleck style on them. The pairing of the banjo with different instruments makes this album texturally interesting for the ear and one does not tire of the selections, even if they are familiar. My favorite pairing is the marimba with the banjo. The liner notes are interesting, as is Bela's story on how difficult it was to make the album. It was definitely worth his time and the listener's .

5 out of 5 stars Soul Food.......2006-01-30

This is exquisite! The best of human experience encoded on a simple CD disk.

5 out of 5 stars AN AMAZING WORK ! ! !.......2005-11-12

I was searching a classical music CD for a long time which is something different.Which consists variety of instruments. Like guitar,violin,banjo,mandolin...for example.Something different and also exiting music.This CD fullfills my wishes. The music like this doesn't come up very often I suppose!
Béla Fleck did a great job by working with people who is masters of their instruments like John Williams etc. This causes the CD to be more joyful.You won't get bored to listen it again and again!
Anyway ,either you are a fan of classical music or not, you won't be dissapointed with this.I guarantee :)
An Introduction to Der Ring des Nibelungen
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Ring introduction critique
  • FASCINATING STUDY FOR NOVICES AND AFFICIONADOS ALIKE
  • Welcome back to a classic analysis
  • Essential for Understanding Wagner's Ring Cycle
  • Very Functional
 An Introduction to Der Ring des Nibelungen
Deryck Cooke , Georg Solti , Wiener Philharmoniker , Anita Valkki , Berit Lindholm , Birgit Nilsson , Brigitte Fassbaender , Christa Ludwig , Claire Watson , Claudia Hellmann , Dame Gwyneth Jones , Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau , Eberhard Wächter , George London , Gerhard Stolze , Gottlob Frick , Grace Hoffmann , Gustav Neidlinger , Hans Hotter , Helen Watts , Helga Dernesch , Hetty Plumacher , Ira Malaniuk , James King , Jean Madeira , Joan Sutherland , Kirsten Flagstad , Kurt Böhme , Lucia Popp , Marga Höffgen , Marilyn Tyler , Maureen Guy , Oda Balsborg , Paul Kuen , Régine Crespin , Set Svanholm , Vera Little , Vera Schlosser , Waldemar Kmentt , Walter Kreppel , and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Wagner's Ring: Turning the Sky Round
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  5. Ring of the Nibelung

ASIN: B00000424H
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

  1. Of All Great Musical Compositions... (Examples 1-4)
  2. The Fundamental Symbol... (Examples 5-11)
  3. Returning Now To The Nature Motive... (Examples 6, 12-16)
  4. A Number Of Further Motives... (Examples 5, 17-21)
  5. A Second, Much Smaller Family... (Examples 22-25)
  6. So Much For Nature. (Examples 26-38)
  7. The Cause Of The Deterioration... (Examples 39-44)
  8. The Other Transformation... (Examples 45-48)
  9. Several Other Motives... (Examples 49-52)
  10. Two Further Motives... (Examples 41, 53-61)
  11. The Basic Motive Associated With The Spear... (Examples 62-68)
  12. Along Another, More Complex Line... (Examples 69-72)
  13. In Act Two Of Walkure... (Examples 69, 73-75)
  14. Returning Now To Act Two Of Walkure... (Examples 76-79)
  15. Love Is Another Of The Central Symbols... (Examples 80-83)
  16. Later In The Same Scene... (Examples 84-87)
  17. Freia's Motive Has Two Independent Segments... (Examples 88-91)
  18. The Label 'Flight'... (Example 92)
  19. When Fasolt, In Scene Two Of Rhinegold... (Examples 93-98)
  20. A Little Later In The Interlude... (Examples 99-103)

Tracks:

  1. The Other New Motive... (Examples 104-109)
  2. There Are Several Independent Love-Motives... (Examples 110-114)
  3. The Characters In Whose Lives... (Examples 115-120)
  4. One Further Motive Belongs... (Example 121)
  5. The Sword Motive Recurs... (Examples 122-130)
  6. Ironically, This Phrase... (Examples 131-135)
  7. Closely Associated With Gutrune's Motive... (Examples 136-140)
  8. Here We Come To The End... (Examples 141-146)
  9. Complemtary To This Symbol... (Examples 147-149)
  10. One Last Central Symbol... (Examples 150-157)
  11. One Further Motive Connected... (Examples 158-161)
  12. There Are One Or Two Motives... (Examples 162-168)
  13. These Motives Of Alberich And Mime... (Examples 169-171)
  14. Quite A Number Of The Subsidiary Motives... (Examples 172-176)
  15. Besides This Family Of Motives... (Examples 177-180)
  16. Our Final Example... (Examples 10, 181, 182)
  17. In The Final Scene Of Gotterdammerung... (Examples 181-183)
  18. Even More Masterly... (Examples 184-188)
  19. Now If We Return... (Examples 189-191)
  20. This Masterly Way... (Examples 192, 193)

Amazon.com

When Wagner set the Ring to music, he intended the orchestra to act in the fashion of a chorus from a classic Greek tragedy--setting the mood and commenting on the action. In order to allow a nonverbal musical line to reflect on the plot, Wagner developed a psychologically and musically complex symbology to communicate his thoughts to the listener. From the beginning the Ring has spawned numerous written commentaries on the relationships of the motif structure, but by using examples from the Decca Ring recording, Deryck Cooke's thoughtful spoken commentary is by far the most accessible guide for either the fledgling Ring enthusiast or the seasoned veteran. --Christian C. Rix

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Ring introduction critique.......2006-11-04

This is very worthwhile, at the same time it requires time, patience and attention, but it does provide some keys to better enjoyment of a sensational piece of music.

5 out of 5 stars FASCINATING STUDY FOR NOVICES AND AFFICIONADOS ALIKE.......2006-08-16

This may look an intimidating, daunting and dull prospect - a 2+ hour lecture on the motifs in the Ring. Don't be put off. Whether you're a relative novice to the Ring and want to find out what it's all about, more experienced with a desire to understand the composer's methods better or an afficionado who thinks he knows it all inside out, there is great pleasure as well as elucidation to be had from this set. Originally made to accompany the Decca Solti Ring, it contains a multitude of musical illustrations taken from those recordings as well as some specially recorded by Solti just for this Introduction.

It wasn't the first time this has been tried. The famous HMV sets from the late 20's also included recorded examples of over 100 motifs. (These, by the way, are available as part of the Pearl reissue of those wonderful HMV recordings). What that set lacked was the wonderful insights as well as the approachability of the talk by Deryck Cooke. Cooke was a great and much missed musicologist - a Mahler expert responsible for the performing edition of the Tenth Symphony still most played today, a fascinating explorer into the nature of music's basic building-blocks in his excellent book, The Language of Music, and an inspiring and elucidating critic of Wagner's work as shown by the fascinating book he left unfinished at his death, I Saw the World End.

On these CDs he does much more than list the leitmotifs and identify them as calling-cards. He shows the amazingly integrated and organic growth of the musical material that Wagner uses throughout his vast work. He demonstrates how motifs can change their sense and meaning as they evolve through the drama. And he shows how the complex combinations of motifs can radically advance both the musical and the dramatic narrative of the piece. There are even places where he corrects the misinterpretation of some of the motifs that had become ingrained from early commentators' false labels.

This set should engage and enlighten anyone with an interest in Wagner's huge and inexhaustible tetralogy. Do give it a try - no matter how far down the road to Wagnerianism you are.

4 out of 5 stars Welcome back to a classic analysis.......2006-05-28

Deryck Cooke's lecture series upon THE RING is almost as much a classic by now as the Solti RING cycle, with which it was originally issued on LP, and from which it derives its musical examples. The difference is that whereas the Solti RING has been continuously in print ever since it was completed, and was among the first opera sets to benefit from the CD revolution, the Cooke analysis was for long almost totally unobtainable. Now we have it back. It should be welcomed: it is a classic. Cooke's mellow, deep voice with the hint of a Celtic burr - which made him ideal on BBC radio - patiently explains Wagner's melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic metamorphoses to such good effect that if you own this recording, you really require no other RING analysis. (A pity about the abrupt beginnings and endings of too many vocal and orchestral illustrations, though.) Musicology lost a fine, sensitive thinker with Cooke's premature death in 1976.

If all you want is dilettantish baby food, there are plenty of dumbed-down Wagner commentaries on the market, stretching from Anna Russell's famous monologue (which doesn't pretend to be anything other than a parody aimed at morons) to the latest standard-issue "Wagner-was-a-Nazi-boo-hiss" feuilleton (which, unfortunately, does). Without reasonable score-reading skill you will find Cooke useless, however diligently you have ploughed through Marx, Jung, Freud, or other gurus purportedly relevant to THE RING. Cooke expects you to use your brains and your musical sense. Quelle horreur. At today's BBC his "elitism" would render him unemployable.

5 out of 5 stars Essential for Understanding Wagner's Ring Cycle.......2006-05-15

I originally bought this set on vinyl in the early 70s when I discovered the Ring in college. I studied the records and booklet assiduously, and after about three run-throughs I finally started getting it. Wow! Thirty-five years later, I still remember Mr. Cooke's analyses of various motive families, and I don't know how I could have mastered and loved the Ring without him. I now own this set on CD and listen again on the rare occasion of attending a Ring performance. My wife calls me a "Ring nut," but of course I'm nuts about many other things as well.

Bottom line, buy this set and study it if the Ring has captivated you as it has countless others. The presentation is dry, but sticking with it brings measureless and longlasting rewards.

4 out of 5 stars Very Functional.......2006-03-19

This CD set is excellent for what it sets out to do: present the leitmotives of the Ring according to their relationship to one another and their role in developing both characters and plotlines. Deryck Cooke's lectures on each motive are very insightful, very helpful at cueing the listener into the semantic aspect of Wagner's orchestral writing. The one drawback is that the musical examples are a bit jarring. Without fade-ins or -outs, the engineering is quite barbaric. And though the orchestra was, I believe, conducted by Solti, and is beautifully done, the vocal performances can be quite unpleasant. Point being: this is not background music, but in accomplishing what it sets out to do, it is very successful, and I don't know of anything else like it.
Rhapsody in Blue - Ultimate Piano Collection [20 CD Set]
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Ultimate music for every time of day and every mood
  • Would give 5 stars if sound quality where better
  • Great collection for a great price
  • 20 Fabulous Discs
 Rhapsody in Blue - Ultimate Piano Collection [20 CD Set]

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00012QLSW
Release Date: 2003-12-09

Tracks:

  1. Concerto for Piano, Strings and Continuo No. 1 in a Minor BWV ... - Dora Milanova, Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble
  2. Concerto for Piano, Strings and Continuo No. 1 in a Minor BWV ... - Dora Milanova, Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble
  3. Concerto for Piano, Strings and Continuo No. 1 in a Minor BWV ... - Dora Milanova, Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble
  4. Concerto for Piano, Strings and Continuo No. 4 in a Minor BWV ... - Dora Milanova, Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble
  5. Concerto for Piano, Strings and Continuo No. 4 in a Minor BWV ... - Dora Milanova, Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble
  6. Concerto for Piano, Strings and Continuo No. 4 in a Minor BWV ... - Dora Milanova, Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble
  7. Concerto for Piano, Strings and Continuo No. 5 in a Minor BWV ... - Dora Milanova, Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble
  8. Concerto for Piano, Strings and Continuo No. 5 in a Minor BWV ... - Dora Milanova, Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble
  9. Concerto for Piano, Strings and Continuo No. 5 in a Minor BWV ... - Dora Milanova, Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble
  10. Concerto for Two Pianos, Strings and Continuo in C Major BWV 1061: ... - Julia Ganev, Konstantin Ganev, Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble
  11. Concerto for Two Pianos, Strings and Continuo in C Major BWV 1061: ... - Julia Ganev, Konstantin Ganev, Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble
  12. Concerto for Two Pianos, Strings and Continuo in C Major BWV 1061: ... - Julia Ganev, Konstantin Ganev, Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble

Tracks:

  1. Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K.467 Elvira Madigan: Allegro - Vilmos Fischer, Vienna Mozart Ensemble
  2. Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K.467 Elvira Madigan: Andante - Vilmos Fischer, Vienna Mozart Ensemble
  3. Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K.467 Elvira Madigan: Andante ... - Vilmos Fischer, Vienna Mozart Ensemble
  4. Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K.453: Allegro - Vilmos Fischer, Vienna Mozart Ensemble
  5. Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K.453: Andante - Vilmos Fischer, Vienna Mozart Ensemble
  6. Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K.453: Allegretto - Vilmos Fischer, Vienna Mozart Ensemble

Tracks:

  1. Piano Sonata in a Major K.331: Andante Grazioso: Thema/Variation 1 - Margarete Babinsky
  2. Piano Sonata in a Major K.331: Menuetto - Margarete Babinsky
  3. Piano Sonata in a Major K.331: Alla Turca (Allegretto) - Margarete Babinsky
  4. Piano Sonata in F Major K.332: Allegro - Margarete Babinsky
  5. Piano Sonata in F Major K.332: Adagio - Margarete Babinsky
  6. Piano Sonata in F Major K.332: Allegro Assai - Margarete Babinsky
  7. Piano Sonata in C Major K.330: Allegro Moderato - Margarete Babinsky
  8. Piano Sonata in C Major K.330: Andante Cantabile - Margarete Babinsky
  9. Piano Sonata in C Major K.330: Allegretto - Margarete Babinsky
  10. 12 Variations K.265: Ah, Vous Dirai-Je, Maman: Theme/Variation ... - Margarete Babinsky

Tracks:

  1. Concerto in C Major for Piano and Orchestra: Allegro - Capella Coloniensis, Maria Luisa Tanzini
  2. Concerto in C Major for Piano and Orchestra: Larghetto - Capella Coloniensis, Maria Luisa Tanzini
  3. Concerto in C Major for Piano and Orchestra: Rondo - Allegro - Capella Coloniensis, Maria Luisa Tanzini
  4. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G Major: Allegro Moderato - Nicolai Evrov, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
  5. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G Major: Adagio Cantabile - Nicolai Evrov, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
  6. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G Major: Rondo - Presto - Nicolai Evrov, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
  7. Concerto in C Major for Piano and Orchestra: Allegro Con Spirito - Ivan Drenikov, Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble
  8. Concerto in C Major for Piano and Orchestra: Adagio E Cantabile - Ivan Drenikov, Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble
  9. Concerto in C Major for Piano and Orchestra: Presto - Ivan Drenikov, Sofia Soloists Chamber Ensemble

Tracks:

  1. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5 in E Flat Major Op. 73 Emperor: - Anton Dikov, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
  2. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5 in E Flat Major Op. 73 Emperor: - Anton Dikov, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
  3. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5 in E Flat Major Op. 73 Emperor: - Anton Dikov, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
  4. Overture Coriolan Op.62 - Dresdner Philharmonic
  5. Overture Leonore No.2, Op.72 - Dresdner Philharmonic

Tracks:

  1. Op.13, No. 8 in C Minor Pathetique: Grave - Allegro - Di Molto E ... - Istvan Szekely
  2. Op.13, No. 8 in C Minor Pathetique: Adagio Cantabile - Istvan Szekely
  3. Op.13, No. 8 in C Minor Pathetique: Rondo - Allegro - Istvan Szekely
  4. Op.27, No. 14 in C Sharp Minor Moonlight: Adagio Sostenuto - Istvan Szekely
  5. Op.27, No. 14 in C Sharp Minor Moonlight: Allegretto - Istvan Szekely
  6. Op.27, No. 14 in C Sharp Minor Moonlight: Presto Agitato - Istvan Szekely
  7. Op.57, No. 23 in F Minor Appassionata: Allegro Assai - Istvan Szekely
  8. Op.57, No. 23 in F Minor Appassionata: Andante Con Moto - Istvan Szekely
  9. Op.57, No. 23 in F Minor Appassionata: Allegro Ma Non Troppo - Presto - Istvan Szekely
  10. Rondo a Capriccio Op.129: Die Wut er Den Verlorenen - Jennd

Tracks:

  1. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op.11: Allegro Maestoso - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Sandor Falvai
  2. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op.11: Romanze. Larghetto - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Sandor Falvai
  3. Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op.11: Rondo. Vivace - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Sandor Falvai
  4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op.21: Maestoso - Adam Harasiewicz, Warsaw Philharmonic National Orchestra Of Poland
  5. Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op.21: Larghetto - Adam Harasiewicz, Warsaw Philharmonic National Orchestra Of Poland
  6. Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op.21: Allegro Vivace - Adam Harasiewicz, Warsaw Philharmonic National Orchestra Of Poland

Tracks:

  1. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B Flat Minor Op.35: Grave - Doppio Movimento [Liv - Ivo Pogoreuch
  2. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B Flat Minor Op.35: Scherzo [Live] - Ivo Pogoreuch
  3. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B Flat Minor Op.35: Marche Fune. Lento [Live] - Ivo Pogoreuch
  4. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B Flat Minor Op.35: Finale. Presto [Live] - Ivo Pogoreuch
  5. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor Op.58: Allegro Maestoso [Live] - Garrick Ohlsson
  6. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor Op.58: Molto Vivace [Live] - Garrick Ohlsson
  7. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor Op.58: Largo [Live] - Garrick Ohlsson
  8. Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor Op.58: Presto Ma Non Tanto [Live] - Garrick Ohlsson
  9. Mazurkas Op.59: No. 1 in a Minor [Live] - Ivo Pogoreuch
  10. Mazurkas Op.59: No. 2 in a Flat [Live] - Ivo Pogoreuch
  11. Mazurkas Op.59: No. 3 in F Sharp [Live] - Ivo Pogoreuch

Tracks:

  1. Nocturne in B Major Op.9, No. 3 [Live] - Jean Marc Luisada
  2. Etude in G Flat Major Op.10, No. 5 [Live] - Jean Marc Luisada
  3. Etude in B Minor Op.25, No. 1 [Live] - Jean Marc Luisada
  4. Scherzo No. 1 in B Minor Op. 20 [Live] - Jean Marc Luisada
  5. Scherzo No. 2 in B Flat Minor Op. 31 [Live] - Jean Marc Luisada
  6. Waltz No. 1 in E Flat Major Op. 18 [Live] - Jean Marc Luisada
  7. Four Mazurkas Op.24: No. 1 in G Minor [Live] - Jean Marc Luisada
  8. Four Mazurkas Op.24: No. 2 in C Major [Live] - Jean Marc Luisada
  9. Four Mazurkas Op.24: No. 3 in a Flat Major [Live] - Jean Marc Luisada
  10. Four Mazurkas Op.24: No. 4 in B Flat Minor [Live] - Jean Marc Luisada
  11. Four Mazurkas Op.30: No. 1 in C Minor [Live] - Kemal Gekic
  12. Four Mazurkas Op.30: No. 2 in B Minor [Live] - Kemal Gekic
  13. Four Mazurkas Op.30: No. 3 in D Flat Major [Live] - Kemal Gekic
  14. Four Mazurkas Op.30: No. 4 in C Sharp Minor [Live] - Kemal Gekic

Tracks:

  1. Piano Concerto in a Minor Op.54: Allegro Affettuoso - Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Heidrun Holtman
  2. Piano Concerto in a Minor Op.54: Intermezzo. Andantino Grazioso - Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Heidrun Holtman
  3. Piano Concerto in a Minor Op.54: Allegro Vivace - Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Heidrun Holtman
  4. Introduction and Allegro Appassionato Op.92 - Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Heidrun Holtman
  5. Concerto Allegro With Introduction Op.134 - Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Heidrun Holtman

Tracks:

  1. Rustle of Spring Op.32, No.6 - Jennd
  2. Novelette in F Major Op.21, No.1 - Jennd
  3. Songs Without Words: E Major Op.19, No.1 - Jennd
  4. Songs Without Words: F Sharp Minor Op.30, No.6 - Jennd
  5. Songs Without Words: Duetto in F Major Op.38, No.6 - Jennd
  6. Songs Without Words: G Major Op.62, No.1 - Jennd
  7. Songs Without Words: Spring Song in a Major Op.62, No.6 - Jennd
  8. Intermezzo in a Major, Op.76, No.6 - Jennd
  9. Intermezzo in a Minor Op.76, No.7 - Jennd
  10. Intermezzo in a Major Op.118, No.2 - Jennd
  11. Intermezzo in E Flat Minor Op.118, No.6 - Jennd
  12. Lyric Pieces: Arietta Op.12, No.1 - Jennd
  13. Lyric Pieces: Folkevise Op.12, No.5 - Jennd
  14. Lyric Pieces: Butterfly Op.43, No.1 - Jennd
  15. Lyric Pieces: To Spring Op.43, No.6 - Jennd
  16. Lyric Pieces: Notturno Op.54, No.4 - Jennd
  17. Lyric Pieces: Bryllupsdag Pa Troldhaugen Op.65, No.6 - Jennd
  18. Saisons Op.37b, No. 6 Juin Barcarolle - Jennd
  19. Chant Sans Paroles: Souvenir de Hapsal Op.2, No.3 - Jennd
  20. Melody in F Op.3, No.1 - Jennd
  21. Humoresque in G Flat Major Op.101, No.7 - Jennd

Tracks:

  1. Impromptu in B Flat Major D.935, No.3: Theme: Andante - Jennd
  2. Impromptu in B Flat Major D.935, No.3: Variation 1 - Jennd
  3. Impromptu in B Flat Major D.935, No.3: Variation 2 - Jennd
  4. Impromptu in B Flat Major D.935, No.3: Variation 3 - Jennd
  5. Impromptu in B Flat Major D.935, No.3: Variation 4 - Jennd
  6. Impromptu in B Flat Major D.935, No.3: Variation 5 - Jennd
  7. Impromptu in B Flat Major D.935, No.3: Pito - Jennd
  8. 6 Moments Musicaux D.780: No. 1 in C Major - Jennd
  9. 6 Moments Musicaux D.780: No. 2 in a Flat Major - Jennd
  10. 6 Moments Musicaux D.780: No. 6 in F Minor - Jennd
  11. 4 Impromptus D.899: No. 1 in C Minor - Jennd
  12. 4 Impromptus D.899: No. 2 in E Flat Major - Jennd
  13. 4 Impromptus D.899: No. 3 in G Flat Major - Jennd
  14. 4 Impromptus D.899: No. 4 in a Flat Major - Jennd

Tracks:

  1. Sonata in a Major D.959: Allegro - Michael Endres
  2. Sonata in a Major D.959: Andantino - Michael Endres
  3. Sonata in a Major D.959: Scherzo: Allegro Vivace - Michael Endres
  4. Sonata in a Major D.959: Rondo: Allegretto - Michael Endres
  5. Sonata in B Flat Major D.960: Molto Moderato - Michael Endres
  6. Sonata in B Flat Major D.960: Andante Sostenuto - Michael Endres
  7. Sonata in B Flat Major D.960: Scherzo: Allegro Vivace - Michael Endres
  8. Sonata in B Flat Major D.960: Allegro Ma Non Troppo - Michael Endres

Tracks:

  1. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in B Flat Minor Op.23: ... - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Jennd
  2. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in B Flat Minor Op.23: ... - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Jennd
  3. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in B Flat Minor Op.23: ... - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Jennd
  4. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in a Minor Op.16: Allegro Molto ... - Daniel Gerard, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin
  5. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in a Minor Op.16: Adagio - Daniel Gerard, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin
  6. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in a Minor Op.16: Allegro Molto E ... - Daniel Gerard, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin

Tracks:

  1. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major Op.83: Allegro Non Troppo - Dimitris Sgouros, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
  2. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major Op.83: Allegro Appassionato - Dimitris Sgouros, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
  3. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major Op.83: Andante - Dimitris Sgouros, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
  4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B Flat Major Op.83: Allegro Giocoso - Dimitris Sgouros, Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra

Tracks:

  1. Piano Concerto No. 2 in a Major Hungarian Fantasy: Adagio ... - Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Jennd
  2. Piano Concerto No. 2 in a Major Hungarian Fantasy: Allegro Agitato ... - Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Jennd
  3. Piano Concerto No. 2 in a Major Hungarian Fantasy: Allegro Moderato - Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Jennd
  4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in a Major Hungarian Fantasy: Allegro Deciso - Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Jennd
  5. Piano Concerto No. 2 in a Major Hungarian Fantasy: Marziale, Un ... - Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Jennd
  6. Piano Concerto No. 2 in a Major Hungarian Fantasy: Allegro Animato - Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Jennd
  7. Fantasy on Hungarian Folk-Tunes - Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Jennd
  8. Polonaise Brillante (After Weber) - Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Jennd
  9. Fantasy on Weber's FreischVilmos Fischer

Tracks:

  1. Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade. Allegro Giusto, Nel Modo ...
  2. Pictures at an Exhibition: Gnomus. Sempre Vivo
  3. Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade. Moderato Commodo Assai E Con ...
  4. Pictures at an Exhibition: Il Vechhio Castello (The Old Castle) . ...
  5. Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade. Moderato Non Tanto, Pesamente
  6. Pictures at an Exhibition: Tuileries. Allegretto Non Troppo, ...
  7. Pictures at an Exhibition: Bydlo. Sempre Moderato, Pesante
  8. Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade. Tranquillo
  9. Pictures at an Exhibition: Ballet of the Chickens in Their Shells. ...
  10. Pictures at an Exhibition: Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle. ...
  11. Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade. Allegro Giusto, Nel Modo ...
  12. Pictures at an Exhibition: Limoges. Le MarchThe Market Place) . ...
  13. Pictures at an Exhibition: Catacombae. Sepulcrum Romanum. Largo
  14. Pictures at an Exhibition: Cum Mortuis in Lingua Mortua. Adante ...
  15. Pictures at an Exhibition: The Hut on Fowls' Legs - Baba-Yaga. Allegro
  16. Pictures at an Exhibition: The Great Gate of Kiev - Allegro Alla ...
  17. Three Intermezzos Op.117: Intermezzo in E Flat Major. Andante Moderato
  18. Three Intermezzos Op.117: Intermezzo in B Flat Minor. Andante Non ...
  19. Three Intermezzos Op.117: Intermezzo in C Sharp Minor. Andante Con ...
  20. Piano Pieces Op.118: No. 1 Intermezzo in a Minor (Allegro Non Assai)
  21. Piano Pieces Op.118: No. 2 Intermezzo in a Major (Andante Teneramente)
  22. Piano Pieces Op.118: No. 3 Ballad in G Minor (Allegro Energico)
  23. Piano Pieces Op.118: No. 4 Intermezzo in F Minor (Andante - Allegretto
  24. Piano Pieces Op.118: No. 5 Romance in F Major (Andante - ...)
  25. Piano Pieces Op.118: No. 6 Intermezzo in E Flat Minor (Andante, ...)

Tracks:

  1. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in C Minor Op.18: Moderato - Bulgarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ivan Drenikov
  2. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in C Minor Op.18: Adagio ... - Bulgarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ivan Drenikov
  3. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in C Minor Op.18: Allegro ... - Bulgarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ivan Drenikov
  4. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G Minor Op.40: Allegro ... - Bulgarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ivan Drenikov
  5. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G Minor Op.40: Largo - Bulgarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ivan Drenikov
  6. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G Minor Op.40: Allegro ... - Bulgarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ivan Drenikov

Tracks:

  1. Prde Op.3, No.2 - Margarete Babinsky
  2. Mdie Op.3, No.3 - Margarete Babinsky
  3. Polichinelle Op.3, No.4 - Margarete Babinsky
  4. Moment Musical Op.16, No.3 - Margarete Babinsky
  5. Moment Musical Op.16, No.5 - Margarete Babinsky
  6. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op.42 - Margarete Babinsky
  7. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  8. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  9. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  10. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  11. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  12. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  13. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  14. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  15. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  16. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  17. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  18. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  19. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  20. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  21. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  22. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  23. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  24. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  25. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  26. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  27. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  28. Variations on a Theme by Corelli Op. 42 (Continued) - Margarete Babinsky
  29. Prde Op.23, No.5 - Margarete Babinsky

Tracks:

  1. Rhapsody in Blue - Cle Ousset, , Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart
  2. Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra: Allegro - Cle Ousset, , Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart
  3. Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra: Adagio. Andante Con Moto - Cle Ousset, , Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart
  4. Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra: Allegro Agitato - Cle Ousset, , Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart
  5. American in Paris - Cle Ousset, , Radio Symphony Orchestra of Stuttgart

Album Description

This amazing 20-CD set truly is the ultimate piano collection! With over 20 hours of the greatest piano classics, from Mozart's priceless Piano Concertos and Sonatas to Gershwin's legendary Rhapsody in Blue, this set is a must have for everyone's collection. So sit back, relax and drift away on the beautiful melodic waves of classical piano at its very best.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Ultimate music for every time of day and every mood.......2007-07-03

With 20 CDs in the collection, we have classical music for every mood and atime of day.

4 out of 5 stars Would give 5 stars if sound quality where better.......2007-06-30

This Classical collection is one of great length and breadth ,and is well worth purchasing ,if you want an abundance of music at a low price.The sound quality is decent,however it is not great.This set will not provide you with the crisp,clear sound quality of a RCA,CBS or other well known label,so some classical aficionados may not appreciate it much.It all depends on what your looking for ,I guess.

5 out of 5 stars Great collection for a great price.......2007-06-27

I did not expect much in buying this collection, but I was greatly surpeised. There were no reviews of the product at the time, and I bought the collection simply as a sampler of many great piano pieces. Most of the recordings are exquisite and of decent recording quality. This collection was well worth the price.

5 out of 5 stars 20 Fabulous Discs.......2007-06-08

I am surprised that this set has been out for 4 years and nobody reviewed it here yet. This is a lovely and occasionally amazing compilation. I was moved by many of the compositions. I really enhanced my classical music collection with this set. You have so many legends here to enjoy, from Bach to Brahms, Mozart to Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Gershwin, and more. If you love classical piano music and don't already have most of these works then this is a must buy for you. The price may go up, but I was fortunate to cash in on the $17.97 price. Quite a bargain for 20 fabulous discs.
Brahms: Complete String Quartets, Quintets & Sextets
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Very Good, but beware technical problems
  • This is how all Brahms should be played!
  • Mastery and joy
  • 9 CDs with THE AMADEUS: WHAT A BARGAN!
  • Exquisite music performed with exquisite artistry
 Brahms: Complete String Quartets, Quintets & Sextets
Karl Leister , Johannes Brahms , Christoph Eschenbach , Cecil Aronowitz , Norbert Brainin , Siegmund Nissel , and Amadeus Quartet
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

QuartetsQuartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
QuintetsQuintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
SextetsSextets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by BrahmsAll Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
Deutsche Grammophon: MusicDeutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Schubert: The String Quartets
  2. Brahms: Works for Solo Piano
  3. Beethoven - The Complete String Quartets / Alban Berg Quartet
  4. Beethoven: The String Quartets
  5. Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets / Emerson String Quartet

ASIN: B00008RWRG
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Very Good, but beware technical problems.......2007-05-26

Overall, I really enjoy these pieces. The playing is good, and the sound is quite live, which I enjoy. My favorite piece is the Quintet in G Major Op.111, though the sextet in Bb is a close second. I am a perfectionist, and my familiarity with these pieces led me to be a little dissapointed, which is why there is only 4 stars. My dissapointment stems from two facts:
1. In the first movement of the Brahms G Major Op.111, the string quintet elects not to take the repeat in m.56, so you will never hear the first ending on this recording and thus only get one shot at the awesome cello opening. I haven't listened closely enough to the other pieces on this set to discern if they avoided other repeats or not, but for the most part, they appear to be there.

2. There are technical printing problems. Though the recording is so live that you can hear the breath of the musicians and their fingers fall on the strings, there are some actual technical pops in the recording. Perhaps it was a transfer problem from analog to digital, as the recordings are old. Most of these pops are minor, but they are dissapointing for an audiophile such as myself. My CDs are pristine (no scratches at all), and even the first time playing them these pops were there. So, here's the list of what I've found thus far:

CD 3:
Track 6: Pops & clicks at 1:19 & 1:22.

CD 5:
Track 1: Pops at 6:01.
Track 2: Pops & clicks at 0:13, 3:56, & 6:16.
Track 5: Pop at 12:07.
Track 7: Pop & clicks at 6:11, 7:45, 7:51-7:52 (these are quite noticable), 7:59, 8:03, 8:11.
Track 8: Pop at 7:34.

It is a well-played set; hopefully they will get the printing correct on the next batch.

5 out of 5 stars This is how all Brahms should be played!.......2007-02-14

There isn't much to say about this set, but I'll say what there is to say: These players play the Brahms chamber music here with such emotion, musical understanding, and overall perfection that this set should be made into a must for all Brahms chamber music lovers. The Amadeus quartet, along with all of the other performers, including Eschenbach on the piano and Leister on the clarinet, really know what they're doing and play it so beautifully that the listener will want to hear the pieces again and again until the CD player is practically worn out. These Brahms works are some of the most sublime works of the later 19th century. For such quality music and great sound, especially for having been recorded in the 1960's, the price is also great. I recommend this set very highly, and hope you decide to get and enjoy it as much as I do.

5 out of 5 stars Mastery and joy.......2006-12-12



Because they lasted such a long time and toward the end didn't play at their best, I found reasons to overlook the Madeus Qt. But in this 9-CD set of the complete chamber music of Brahms, there are some sublime performances--I would especially point to both String Sextets, for example. In every instance the style of the Amadeus is full of vibrancy and joy, and their ensemble isn't baased on technical perfection but rather a kinship of musical taste and feeling (this puts them poles apart from the Emerson Qt., for me at least). I also love the Brahms chamber performances on Sony with Yo-Yo Ma, Isaac Stern, emanuel Ax, and friends, but this DG set is altogether sweeter and more lyrical.

Since Amazon neglects to list the additional players who join the Amadeus for the works that aren't soely for a string quartet, here's the run-down from Tower:

1. Quartet for Strings no 1 in C minor, Op. 51 no 1
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet

2. Quartet for Strings no 2 in A minor, Op. 51 no 2
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet

3. Quartet for Strings no 3 in B flat major, Op. 67
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet

4. Quintet for Piano and Strings in F minor, Op. 34
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Eschenbach, Christoph

5. Quintet for Strings no 1 in F major, Op. 88
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Aronowitz, Cecil

6. Quintet for Strings no 2 in G major, Op. 111
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Aronowitz, Cecil

7. Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano in A minor, Op. 114
Performer: Leister, Karl; Eschenbach, Christoph; Donderer, Georg

8. Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in B minor, Op. 115
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Leister, Karl

9. Sextet for Strings no 1 in B flat major, Op. 18
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Aronowitz, Cecil; Pleeth, William

10. Sextet for Strings no 2 in G major, Op. 36
Ensemble: Amadeus String Quartet
Performer: Aronowitz, Cecil; Pleeth, William

5 out of 5 stars 9 CDs with THE AMADEUS: WHAT A BARGAN!.......2005-10-04


This is a really nice set at a bargan price.

5 out of 5 stars Exquisite music performed with exquisite artistry.......2005-05-20

All the passion, majesty, pathos, and soul of his symphonies is in these 10 works of chamber music by Brahms:

3 string quartets;
2 string quintets;
2 string sextets;
a quintet for piano, 2 violins, viola, and violoncello;
a trio for piano, clarinet, and violoncello;
and a quintet for clarinet, 2 violins, viola, and violoncello.

All this wealth of extraordinary music is in a 5 CD set, performed by one of the finest chamber music ensembles in the world, with the added artistry of Christoph Eschenbach (piano), Cecil Aronowitz (viola), and Karl Leister (clarinet).

One CD is 50' 36 in length, 2 are in the low 60's, and 2 are in the low 70's.

I have an inexpensive CD player, but this music emerges from it with the sharpness of etched glass, the smoothness of warmed honey, and the softness of rivers of silver in moonlight.

This is music to celebrate the joy and the pathos of life, played with soul, sensitivity, and power. Buy it and treasure this gift to yourself.
Arthur Rubinstein plays Chopin [Box Set]
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • THE GREATEST OF CHOPIN PIANISTS
  • The greatest interpretation
  • Not such a great album
  • Love it.
  • RECORDING QUALITY IS A FACTOR
 Arthur Rubinstein plays Chopin [Box Set]

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

MazurkasMazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
PolonaisesPolonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
WaltzesWaltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by BeethovenAll Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by ChopinAll Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
NocturnesNocturnes | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
OverturesOvertures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
ScherzoScherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | 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
PianoPiano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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BarcarollesBarcarolles | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Beethoven, Ludwig vanBeethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Chopin, FrédéricChopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Opera & VocalOpera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Arthur Rubinstein: Ludwig Van Beethoven Piano Sonatas
  2. Arthur Rubinstein - Chopin 19 Nocturnes (Vol. 49)
  3. Great Recordings Of The Century - Dinu Lipatti
  4. Schubert: The Piano Sonatas
  5. Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos

ASIN: B000002S59
Release Date: 1994-03-15

Tracks:

  1. Piano Concerto No. 1 In E minor, Op. 11: Allegro maestoso risoluto
  2. Piano Concerto No. 1 In E minor, Op. 11: Romanze (Larghetto) -
  3. Piano Concerto No. 1 In E minor, Op. 11: Rondo vivace
  4. Piano Concerto No. 2 In F minor, Op. 21: Maestoso
  5. Piano Concerto No. 2 In F minor, Op. 21: Larghetto
  6. Piano Concerto No. 2 In F minor, Op. 21: Allegro vivace
  7. Waltz In C Sharp Minor, Op. 64, No. 2
  8. Nocturne No. 1 In B Flat Minor, Op. 9 No. 1
  9. Nocturne No. 2 In E Flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2
  10. Nocturne No. 3 In B Major, Op. 9 No. 3

Tracks:

  1. Nocturne No. 4 In F Major, Op. 15 No. 1
  2. Nocturne No. 5 In F Sharp Major, Op. 15 No. 2
  3. Nocturne No. 6 In G Minor, Op. 15 No. 3
  4. Nocturne No. 7 In C Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 1
  5. Nocturne No. 8 In D Flat Major, Op. 27 No. 2
  6. Nocturne No. 9 In B Major, Op. 32 No. 1
  7. Nocturne No. 10 In A Flat Major, Op. 32 No. 2
  8. Nocturne No. 11 In G Minor, Op. 37 No. 1
  9. Nocturne No. 12 In G Major, Op. 37 No. 2
  10. Nocturne No. 13 In C Minor, Op. 48 No. 1
  11. Nocturne No. 14 In F Sharp Minor, Op. 48 No. 2
  12. Nocturne No. 15 In F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1
  13. Nocturne No. 16 In E Flat Major, Op. 55 No. 2
  14. Nocturne No. 17 In B Major, Op. 62 No. 1
  15. Nocturne No. 18 In E Major, Op. 62 No. 2
  16. Nocturne No. 19 In E Minor, Op. 71 No. 1 (posth.)

Tracks:

  1. Waltz In A-Flat Major, Op. 34, No. 1
  2. Mazurka In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 6, No.1
  3. Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 6, No.2
  4. Mazurka In E-Major, Op. 6, No.3
  5. Mazurka In E-Flat Major, Op.6, No.4
  6. Mazurka In B-Flat Major, Op. 7, No. 1
  7. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 7, No.2
  8. Mazurka In F-Minor, Op. 7, No. 3
  9. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 7, No.4
  10. Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 7, No. 5
  11. Mazurka In B-Flat Major, Op. 17, No.1
  12. Mazurka In E-Minor, Op. 17, No. 2
  13. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 17, No. 3
  14. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 17, No. 4
  15. Mazurka In G-Minor, Op. 24, No. 1
  16. Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 24, No. 2
  17. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 24, No. 3
  18. Mazurka In B-Flat Minor, Op. 24, No. 4
  19. Mazurka In C-Minor, Op. 30, No. 1
  20. Mazurka In B-Minor, Op. 30, No. 2
  21. Mazurka In D-Flat Major, Op. 30, No. 3
  22. Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 30, No. 4
  23. Mazurka In G-Sharp Minor, Op. 33, No. 1
  24. Mazurka In D-Major, Op. 33, No. 2
  25. Mazurka In C-Minor, Op. 33, No. 3
  26. Mazurka In B-Minor, Op. 33, No. 4
  27. Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 41, No. 1
  28. Mazurka In E-Minor, Op. 41, No. 2
  29. Mazurka In B-Major, Op. 41, No. 3
  30. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 42, No. 4
  31. Mazurka In G-Major, Op. 50, No. 1
  32. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 50, No. 2
  33. Mazurka In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 50, No. 3

Tracks:

  1. Mazurka In B-Major, Op. 56, No. 1
  2. Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 56, No. 2
  3. Mazurka In C-Minor, Op. 56, No. 3
  4. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 59, No. 1
  5. Mazurka In A-Flat Major, Op. 56, No. 2
  6. Mazurka In F-Sharp Minor, Op. 56, No. 3
  7. Mazurka In B-Major, Op. 63, No. 1
  8. Mazurka In F-Minor, Op. 63, No. 2
  9. Mazurka In C-Sharp minor, Op. 63, No. 3
  10. Mazurka In G-Major, Op. 67, No. 1
  11. Mazurka In G-Minor, Op. 67, No. 2
  12. Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 67, No. 3
  13. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 67, No. 4
  14. Mazurka In C-Major, Op. 68, No. 1
  15. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. 68, No. 2
  16. Mazurka In F-Major, Op. 68, No. 3
  17. Mazurka In F-Monor, Op. 68, No. 4
  18. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. Posth. (A son ami Emile Gaillard)
  19. Mazurka In A-Minor, Op. posth. (Notre temps)
  20. Scherzi In B-Minor, Op. 20
  21. Scherzi In B-Flat Minor, Op. 31
  22. Scherzi In C-Sharp Minor, Op. 39
  23. Scherzi In E-Major, Op. 54

Tracks:

  1. Barcaolle In F-Sharp Major, Op. 60
  2. Berseuse In D-Flar Major
  3. Polonaise In C-Sharp Major, Op. 26, No. 1
  4. Polonaise In E-Flat Major, Op. 26, No.2
  5. Polonaise In A-Major, Op. 40, No. 1
  6. Polonaise In C-Minor, Op. 40, No. 2
  7. Polonaise In F-Sharp Major, Op. 44
  8. Polonaise In A-Flat Major, Op. 53 (Heroic)
  9. Polonaise In A-Flat Major, Op. 61 (Polonaise-Fantaisie)
  10. Andante splanato & polonaise brillante In E-Flat Major, Op. 22

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars THE GREATEST OF CHOPIN PIANISTS.......2007-03-01

These are the earlier discs of Rubinstein's Chopin, recorded by HMV in London during the 1930's. It is less complete than his later recordings for RCA - no Sonatas, no Ballades, no Etudes. The sound is naturally of its time - but in many ways more natural than the sharply-lit, slightly edgy piano sound RCA favoured in the 50's and 60's. Nevertheless, these are the Chopin performances I return to most.

Rubinstein's natural affinity with Chopin is legendary. He seemed always able to capture precisely the right degree of rubato at exactly the right moment in these pieces. And he had a unique ability in his countryman's music to balance the lyrical with the impassioned, what seems completely spontaneous with what is clearly deeply considered. The Nocturnes here are, I think, the best you'll hear anywhere on disc. In the greatest of them - the Opp.37 & 48 sets, for example - Rubinstein gets the contrast between the dreamy nocturnal outer sections with the darker, more impassioned central sections just right. These are not salon miniatures in his hands but big works, if not in length then in content. And no-one can match Rubinstein in the elusive diversity of this complete set of Mazurkas. The two Concerti both have Barbirolli as the sympathetic conductor, following Rubinstein's lead in the ebb and flow of phrases and whole sections of these gorgeous and often maligned works. Interestingly the recording of Concerto No.2 (actually the first composed) dates from before the pianist's famous withdrawal from public performance to reconstruct his technique and his approach, that of Concerto No.1 from after. Perhaps one can detect a touch more maturity and refinement in his approach to the latter, but they are both ravishing performances.

Many of the performances on these 5 discs are the greatest Chopin you're likely to hear. And the ear soon adjusts to the somewhat old-fashioned recorded piano sound. This is a highly desirable set for any lover of Chopin and/or great piano playing.

5 out of 5 stars The greatest interpretation.......2007-02-17

The interpretation is stunning. Mono - but no matter for solo piano - and a wee bit hissy but still quite superb.

1 out of 5 stars Not such a great album.......2007-01-12

This album was recorded from records as you can hear the scratches and skips. Don't recommend it!

5 out of 5 stars Love it........2006-06-22

This is my favorite album. I think that not even Rubinstein's later recordings attain this quality of musical involvment.

There is a fair amount of background noise, but the music helps to forget it rather quickly overall.

4 out of 5 stars RECORDING QUALITY IS A FACTOR.......2005-02-10

Otherwise, I would have given 5 stars. The fact that these have a hiss (and you can practically hear him close the piano on several numbers) should be mentioned. I guess we are spoiled to audio quality, but this is an expensive collection and this fact was glaringly omitted. That said, I have enjoyed the recordings, in spite of the very audible hiss.
Music for a Medieval Banquet
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Not Thrilling
  • Good CD
  • Re-release of Il Solazzo
  • A good, simple bargain, with a sweet reward
 Music for a Medieval Banquet

Manufacturer: Hmf Classical Exp.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005A3WX
Release Date: 2001-05-08

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Not Thrilling.......2007-01-05

I have been online for 3 hours tonight reading Amazon's reviews of various medieval CD's. I really wanted to find a Waverly Consort CD comparable to their marvelous, magical, exuberant "A Waverly Consort Christmas," but nothing seems to match that one. I have a dial-up modem and for some reason none of Amazon's musical selections will play even though I have no problems with video games and music uploads from other sources. Thus, I have to rely upon written reviews.

Among the many albums for which I read reviews tonight was one for "A Medieval Banquet" by the Newberry Consort. The title & group rang a bell so I checked my collection and found that it was originally called *Il Solazzo" (as others have already noted among these reviews). I bought it in early 1995 but never wrote any comments in the attached booklet, which is unusual for me.

I have now played the CD twice and understand why I made no comments: it was simply not thrilling. I am no musicologist -- just someone who loves early music because it makes my soul sing. This CD is "nice," but my soul goes ho-hum when I hear it. (The one exception is the #9 selection with rebec, vielle & lute -- and no voices.)

The instrumentals have a certain charm but they generally feel more Renaissance than medieval to me. The vocals leave me completely cold. In some of the reviews I read tonight I came across the concept of "operatic" applied to some of this early music. I had no idea what the authors meant since there was no opera at such an early period. But in playing this CD, I understood -- there is indeed a bloated, elaborate vocal quality that really does feel "operatic." It seems entirely unsuited to "Music for a Medieval Banquet."

If your soul wants to sing, this proably isn't the CD for you. Try the Waverly Consort's "Christmas" along with a glass of fine wine 4 out of 5 stars Good CD.......2004-04-30

One of the reasons why I bought this recording is the interesting choice of pieces, which range from the often-recorded instrumental dances to the less-known sung tracks.

When I played it, the first thing that struck me of this CD is the thinness of the sound in the dances. Although the performance is spotless, it lacks the body that other medieval-dance groups add to their sound - notably the older but still great Studio der Fruehen Musik. Is this an unfair statement? Perhaps - but these dances have been recorded so many times that it is only natural to compare versions.

Also, the use of percussion instruments would have been a nice touch, besides being perfectly historical. Then, a more varied instrumental arrangement may have been a good addition, especially in the longer numbers such as Chominciamento di gioia.

The other point that puzzled me is that in the first track (La Badessa), the singer sounds as if she is playing a losing game of catch-up with the instruments, which results in a mediocre performance of that particular piece. It is a pity, because the song is very catchy and the singer's voice is stylistically spot on.

Having said all this, the selections of songs and dances is first-choice, the performance is good and well researched and the CD remains one of the most played in my household.

4 out of 5 stars Re-release of Il Solazzo.......2002-10-10

Just a quick note on this CD: It's a re-release of the Newberry Consort's "Il Solazzo" disc without the texts and with less nice packaging. Since that disc can be hard to find, this CD is welcome, but if you can find the other release cheaper it's a better deal.

4 out of 5 stars A good, simple bargain, with a sweet reward.......2002-06-11

This simple little album reminds me of what it is that I love most about the Italian Renaissance - its barefaced passion and gut level power. So playful and raucous at times that I felt as if I were in a scene from Pasolini's irreverent "Decameron" and at other moments, so serene that I was in a chapter from Chaucer. The music is simple and unpretentious. Not resorting to gimmicks, they allow the music to be expressed in a way that it very probably was in the age when it reigned: unashamed, expressive, brazenly colorful and just a bit flamboyant.

So much for the performers. As for the producers...

On the downside, it is painfully obvious that they made this album on a shoe-string budget. That can be a good thing in forcing the artists to stick to the music's purity instead of hiring a team of sound engineers to make it "sound" better, but there is absolutely no documentation about the songs, other than their titles and playing times. A sickly-thin album insert has a blurb in English and Italian about polyphony, told in allegorical style, with each paragraph in an alternating language instead of one section in each language. Go figure! Maybe the AltaVista translator they used for free had a one-paragraph limit.

But it also has a variety of styles, both vocal and instrumental, so it gives a nice overall flavor of what life might have sounded like in that little part of the world, during that remarkable little slice of musical history.
Chopin: The Piano Works
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • My experience of this CD
  • Beautiful!
  • Well worth the money. Wonderful! Wonderful!
  • Best investment to make
  • A great pianist interpreting the most inspired composer ever !
 Chopin: The Piano Works

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

BoureesBourees | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
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