Flute & Company: Flute music by Katherine Hoover

Track Listings

1. Dances & Variations (flute and harp): Entrata

2. Dances & Variations: Adagio

3. Dances & Variations: My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free

4. Winter Spirits (solo flute)

5. Divertimento (flute violin, viola, cello): Allegro giocoso

6. Divertimento: Adagio-Vivace

7. Reflections (solo flute)

8. Canyon Echos (flute and guitar): Dance

9. Canyon Echos: Serenade

10. Canyon Echos: She Mourns

11. Canyon Echos: He Returns

Editorial Reviews
Lehman, American Record Guide
particularly delightful, brimming over with serene high spirits… Like everything on this exceptionally rewarding release, these are nicely performed."

Randy Nordschow, NewMusicBox, American Music Center, online review
Katherine Hoover's exuberant and joyful writing is completely unrestrained during the lighthearted Divertimento. Dances and Variations is buoyantly tuneful

Album Description
Katherine Hoover (b. 1937, Elkins, West Virginia) is the recipient of a National Endowment Composer's Fellowship and many other awards, including an Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Composition. Four of her pieces have won the National Flute Association's Newly Published Music Competition. Her tone poem Eleni: A Greek Tragedy, has been performed by 13 orchestras; her Cello Concerto was performed by Sharon Robinson with the Long Beach (California) Symphony; and her Clarinet Concerto was premiered by Eddie Daniels and the Santa Fe Symphony. Ms. Hoover conducted the premiere of her Night Skies, a 25-minute work for large orchestra, with the Harrisburg Symphony. Deborah Novak chronicled the creation and premiere of Hoover's Dances and Variations in the public television documentary New Music, which won three national awards. The Montclaire and Colorado Quartets; Dorian, Sylvan, and Richards Quintets; and Huntingdon, Verdehr, and Eroica Trios have featured Hoover! 's works, and The New Jersey Chamber Music Society premiered her Quintet (Da Pacem) for piano and strings at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center. Julius Baker, Eugenia Zukerman, Carol Wincenc, and Metropolitan Opera bass John Cheek have also presented her work. This CD was recorded in Huntington, West Virginia by Denny Chandler. Post Production by Denny Chandler, Marnie Hall and Jonathan Marcus. This CD is made possible by The West Virginia Commission for the Arts and The New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, with other support provided by Marshall University's College of Fine Arts, Graduate School Research Committee, Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Cover: Williams River, courtesy of the West Virginia Division of Tourism. Graphic Design: Marnie Hall. © 2001 Leonarda Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. Made in the U.S.A.

Flute & Company: Flute music by Katherine Hoover

Tracks:

Aqualung
Cross-Eyed Mary
Cheap Day Return
Mother Goose
Wond'ring Aloud
Up To Me
My God
Hymn 43
Slipstream
Locomotive Breath
Wind-Up
Lick Your Fingers Clean
Wind-Up (Quad Version)
Excerpts From The Ian Anderson Interview
Songs for Jeffrey
Fat Man
Bouree

Amazon.com

After veering sharply from the blues inluences of their debut, This Was, Jethro Tull's sound quickly coalesced around jazz-tinged English folk influences and the antics of frontman/flautist Ian Anderson. But it was guitarist Martin Barre's swaggering riff off the title track of the band's fourth album that would become Tull's indelibly clichéd trademark--and the band's entrée into a long reign as arena-rock perennials. But there's a lot more to Aqualung than the riffage of that cut and its cousins, "Cross-Eyed Mary" and "Locomotive Breath." In an era when pseudo-Christian spirituality was a de rigueur, if cheap, musical commodity (from the overblown operatics of Jesus Christ Superstar to one-hit pop wonders such as "Spirit in the Sky" and "Put Your Hand in the Hand"), Anderson and company openly challenged the value of organized religion with a thematic album savvy enough to layer its thought-provoking lyrics between heavy strata of FM-friendly guitar bedrock. A cliché, perhaps; a landmark, no doubt. And a record many maintain is still Tull's finest hour. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Great album, quality of sound re-production weak.......2007-07-12

Gotta love this album but very disappointed in the volume level it was reproduced at...granted my hearing has diminshed however you have to crank the stereo to the the highest levels ....:(

Bill

a classic, rythmical, mature piece of art.......2007-06-30

Luis Mejia (son) - This wasn't the first Jethro Tull album I heard; is really difficult to classify them depending on the album's era you heard, but when I first listened to it I considerated it nice, but not as a masterpiece as I'm telling here. Later, when I heard Thick As A Brick and the compilation Living In The Past, I started comprehending more and more their trayectory. Then I played it again, and how graceful it was to hear it! everything was cleared. This is such a masterpiece, so many aspects to say about it, so many comparisons.

Well, for starting the music composition is so incredible, in every song is expressed how they can change with grace from a blues-like face into more progressive rock and more experimentation, 'cause I think of it as progressive rock but there are so many styles in every song that it is difficult to classify, from the soft but firm sounds in Wondering Aloud, Mother Goose and the excellent Wind Up, to the fast, incredibly composed and more enjoyable sounds of Aqualung, Cross Eyed Mary, Up To Me, Locomotive Breath and Hymn 43.

The instrumentation is certainly the best one that the band ever had; mainly because they don't exagerate putting songs in a one instrument structure, they just added the sound perfectly, Ian Anderson's flute goes with the rythm of every song, Bare's guitar collaborates equally with all the other instruments, Clive Bunker may be one of the best batterists Jethro ever had, and Hammond organ is a key instrument in most of the tracks, mainly Aqualung, Cross Eyed Mary and Up To Me. Another excellent aspect is that Anderson's voice is at its perfect stage, you'll recognize it if you've heard later and earlier works.

When it comes to the album structure, I don't know why they had so much speculations about being a concept album about religion; as I know Anderson denied it and that's why they released Thick As A Brick, for stopping the anxiety about the concept album.

In conclussion this is certainly Jethro Tull's best album, I hope they release some day another one like this, apart from Thick As A Brick but I doubt it. The only not-so-good aspect is about the remastered version; not because of the sound sustractions is mainly because they shouldn't ruin such a great album adding such common bonus tracks.

Classic Tull.......2007-06-10

One of the best CDs I could have bought. Its a true classic with tunes that will forever be tied to the artist Jethro Tull, even if he has moved on to other modes of expression. I like this CD. It was a real classic in my time.

Bristling With the Anger of Youth.......2007-06-09

In retrospect, the masses are right. This is Jethro Tull's finest moment. The music has a real sense of immediacy and even urgency to it. At a point in his life that Ian Anderson was writing his best songs, he took on a giant-sized and very unusual topic - the asinine nature of the religious beliefs that most humans have and persist in.

It's a BIG album. And most of the songs on it are really quite great. My kudos to Mr. Anderson for his level of ambition. Glad it paid off.

I read complaints below about the fidelity on this issue, but it sounds just like the vinyl did back in the day - I suspect it's not possible to improve the sound, that's all there is. Anderson's liner notes refer to them having a heck of a time getting clarity and cleanliness at the studio they recorded this in.

"Wind Up" is a great, underheard song. "My God" is another great one. "Hymn 43" I sing in the shower all the time, it's a great blues screamer guaranteed to get a reaction from others. "Locomotive Breath" and "Cross-Eyed Mary" and the title track are fine stuff. Youthful anger and questioning here were focused here into something timeless.

Jethro Tull - Not Their Best But Still A Classic.......2007-06-08

"Aqualung" would turn out to be Jethro Tull's biggest studio album of their career. It contains the band's two huge classic rock anthems "Locomotive Breath" and the title track "Aqualung" that probably get as much airplay today on classic rock radio as they did back when they were released. The album was a bit of a transition for Tull. Their previous stuff had been mainly blues based, while this album moved the band in a more progressive / arena rock direction. Guitarist Martin Barre really comes to the fore front on this one and creates some of his all time best work. Ian Anderson begins to introduce his acoustic / folk leanings as well which would become an even bigger part of the overall Tull sound on later albums like "Songs From The Wood". The album is divided into two halves. The first have entitled "Aqualung" are songs themed around homelessness and general down and out characters of Aqualung himself and others like Cross Eyed Mary. The second half of the album entitled "My God" mostly concerns religion and Ian Anderson's reaction to it. The album is not really conceptual (especially when compared to later albums like "Thick As A Brick"), but has these central themes running through them. Many consider this disc their all time classic. For me I think that the band did better albums, but this certainly ranks up near the top. For a beginner looking to explore Tull I would think this would be an excellent place to start. One quick word on the recording, early Tull albums was not recorded very well. This re-master is better, but it is still not what I would consider great from an audio perspective.

Average customer rating:

Great for kids!
Mediocre Sound Quality
I was pleased
The Most Famous Opera Arias
Okay But.... - a review of "The Most Famous Opera Arias"

The Most Famous Opera Arias

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002SCE
Release Date: 1994-07-19

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Rigoletto: Act I - Caro nome
Rigoletto: Act III - La donna e mobile
Gianni Schicchi: O mio babbino caro
Carmen: Act I - Habanera: La voila...L'amour est oiseau rebelle
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La Boheme: Act I - Che gelida manina
Die Zauberflote: Act II-Die Holle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen

Customer Reviews:

Great for kids!.......2007-06-27

I'm generally not a fan of music "samplers," but opera can be tough to introduce to children. And hey--even adults played cards, ate, and talked through the recitative sections of the early operas while they waited for the next aria! So I feel that getting kids hooked on opera through great arias probably can't hurt (the next 10 years or so will determine whether I'm right or not). My 4-year-old loves this CD; it's a delight to watch her imitate Anna Moffo (the sincerest form of flattery, for sure). Highly recommended resource for introducing young kids to opera. More top picks: Siberell's Bravo! Brava! A Night at the Opera, and the Black Dog Opera Library CDs.

Mediocre Sound Quality.......2007-03-31

If you note the album was released in 1994, and includes selections from many years prior, you will understand that the quality of the sound engineering is not going to dazzle your ear.

It's a very nice collection to hum along to, but don't expect shivers down your spine as the sound quality is not sufficient to reproduce the dynamic range of these voices.

I was pleased.......2007-02-18

I am by no means an opera expert, but found this to be a wonderful CD. Along with the songs I already knew I liked (such as a song from Carmen,) I found many others I enjoyed. In fact, Samson et Dahlila turned out to be my favorite. If you are just getting started or at any point in your adventure of opera, I would recommend this one.

The Most Famous Opera Arias.......2007-01-05

I was completely surprised in the product as well as the time in which it was delivered.

I would not only refer this seller but I will come back myself.

Okay But.... - a review of "The Most Famous Opera Arias".......2006-08-18

My daughter (6 y.o.) and I like opera; but sitting for two hours to watch Turandot is just not within the realm of possibilities for my 4 year old son right now... so I was looking for an opera CD for the car. He will sit and listen to short arias.

This was the first we purchased and it is okay but not great.

Problem #1 - where is Wagner. No Wagner?
Problem#2 - Elena Obraztsova - she sounds like Carmen's grandmother. Rather matronly for a vixen (imho--lol)

Three Stars. [C+] Great Price and good sound quality for the car. The operatic styles of some of the performers are antiquated and frilly sounding, but I would probably buy this CD again.

Note: We purchased and really preferred "The # 1 Opera Album". It has more selections and better artists in our opinion. Also it's a two CD set. Just something to consider.

Average customer rating:

Lively and comforting CD!
Baby loves this music!
Baby Mozart
great gift - thank you
Great music for baby AND mom

Baby Mozart
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Buena Vista
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Baby Einstein: Lullaby Classics
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ASIN: B000065VCG
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Tracks:

Tune Up And Fanfare Based On Themes From 'The Magic Flute'
Piano Sonata In C, K545, 1st Movement
Piano Sonata In C, K330, 1st Movement
Variations On 'Ah Vous Dirai-je, Maman,' No. 1, 8, And 11, K265/300e
Piano Sonata In D, K576, 3rd Movement
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Piano Sonata In A, K331, 3rd Movement
Piano Sonata In C, K545, 2nd Movement
Sonata In D For Two Pianos, K448, 1st Movement
Piano Sonata In C, K330, 3rd Movement
Divertmento No. 17 In D
Piano Sonata In B Flat, K570, 3rd Movement
Piano Sonata In F, K533, 3rd Movement
The Magic Flute, K620, Papageno Arias No. 2 And 20
Symphony No. 41 In C, K551, 4th Movement

Product Description

Recipient of the National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval, Baby Mozart music CD is a 15-track, 28-minute collection designed as a playful introduction to the genius of Mozart, the child prodigy from Salzburg. Bring to life the Classical Period (1750-1830) with the brilliance and grace of classical music by Wolfgang Mozart and enrich your child's life by exposing them to melody, harmony in this audio journey of some of Mozart's best work. Re-orchestrated for little ears, this collection is sure to bring joy to your little one's playtime or bedtime. Tracks from this delightful CD are featured on our Baby Mozart video and DVD.Musical Selections:1. Tune up and fanfare based on themes from ?Ç£The Magic Flute?Ç¥2. Piano Sonata in C, K545, 1 st movement3. Piano Sonata in C, K330, 1st movement4. Variations on ?Ç£Ah vous dirai-je, maman?Ç¥, No. 1, 8 and 11, K265/300e5. Piano Sonata in D, K576, 3rd movement6. Concerto for Flute and Harp in C, K299, 1st movement7. Piano Sonata in A, K331, 3rd movement8. Piano Sonata in C, K545, 2nd movement9. Sonata in D for Two Pianos, K448, 1st movement10. Piano Sonata in C, K330, 3rd movement11. Divertmento No. 17 in D12. Piano Sonata in B flat, K570, 3rd movement13. Piano Sonata in F, K533, 3rd movement14. The Magic Flute, K620, Papgeno Arias No. 2 and 2015. Symphony No. 41 in C, K551, 4th movementAge: birth +Product Award: Billboard Magazine Top Midline Classical Albums (#1) - 2004

Amazon.com

Of all the reasons you'll click the Add to Shopping Cart button next to Baby Einstein's Baby Mozart--and there are many--the best one is that playing this record for babies doesn't feel weird. Instead of subjecting tiny, tender ears to the kind of Mozart that can make adult classical fans wilt when tackled by a maestro who means business, this is Mozart lite, mixed and mastered by a dad, Bill Weisbach, who's clearly hung around for his share of crib-side cooing. The slightly tinny sound of a child's piano sweeps the sting out of Piano Sonata in B Flat's third movement; the first movement of Concerto for Flute and Harp in C floats by, birdlike; variations on "Ah vous dirai-je, Maman" translate to a fancy-sounding (but adorable) "Twinkle, Twinkle"; and Piano Sonata in F's third movement snuggles so deeply into its childlike setting that if you close your eyes, you'll see a pastel parade of animals floating by overhead. Other pieces (more aptly called fragments, since only one track stretches beyond the three-minute mark), like Symphony No. 41's fourth movement, wander into more robust Mozart territory, but it's here the claims about classical music enhancing young kids' abstract reasoning skills and spatial intelligence crystallize. Babies strapped in for a roller coaster of sounds that gracefully dips, swerves, and high-jumps like this version, do have to process what they're hearing somehow (and a case could be made that the instruments Weisbach's chosen--the vibraphone, glockenspiel, and music box among them--make it more appealing for them to do so). Followers of Julie Aigner-Clark's Baby Einstein empire, many of whom opted out of the fan club once Disney bought the company in 2001, won't trip over a single Mickey Mouse-ified sound here. This is pure, plugged in, and muted Mozart, and if it doesn't make your baby smarter, it'll at least sound awfully sweet issuing from your nursery's speakers. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

Lively and comforting CD!.......2007-06-12

This CD is inspiring and comforting! I have listened to it a lot since I got it and will continue to share it with junior when he arrives.

Baby loves this music!.......2007-02-17

Puts our 6-week old daughter to sleep. What more could you ask for!

Baby Mozart.......2007-02-14

Although the selection of music was good, I was disappointed at the synthesized sounds of the music. I have heard much of the "Mozart Effect" for stimulating learning in young minds, but why market it this way? Just turn on your radio to your local classical music station and give your child the benefit of the real thing without having to put more money in Disney's pockets.

great gift - thank you.......2007-01-18

thankyou - I gave this as a gift - they loved it

Great music for baby AND mom.......2006-04-18

I bought this CD with a gift card, because I wanted some soothing music for my daughter's naptime. In looking at the titles of the pieces, I didn't recognize very many, but in listening to the CD I found that I recognize much of the music. I was pleased at how calming it was and found myself humming various pieces throughout the day.

I would recommend this CD, and plan to purchase other Baby Einstein music!

Mozart for Mothers-To-Be: Tender Lullabies for Mother and Child

Average customer rating:

Wonderful
Great for putting kids to sleep!
Very Relaxing
A Must Have for all Parents of Little Children !!!
Inspire the baby-within

Mozart for Mothers-To-Be: Tender Lullabies for Mother and Child

Manufacturer: Philips
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Binding: Audio CD

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More Mozart for Mothers-to-Be

ASIN: B0000041EV
Release Date: 1996-04-09

Tracks:

Divertimento In B-Flat (Adagio)
Cassation (Final-Musik) In G - Adgio
Divertimento In G Minor (Andante)
String Quartet No. 12 In B-Flat - Adagio
Divertimento In D, KV 131 - Adagio
'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' - Romance (Andante)
Divertimento In D, KV 136 - Andante
Serenade In B-Flat 'Gran Partita' - Adagio
Prelude No. 3 In F
String Quartet No. 1 In B-Flat - Adagio
Violin Concerto In D - Andante cantabile
Divertimento In B-Flat - Adagio

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful.......2007-06-26

I bought this CD to listen to at work (I am 6 months pregnant). The quality is awesome and the choice of songs is perfect I can listen to it over and over.

Great for putting kids to sleep!.......2007-06-08

I absolutely love this CD! In fact this is our second one because we wore out the first since we played it so much. It is very soothing, and in fact we used it to help both our kids (now 4 and 18 mo) go to sleep since they were babies. I highly recommend it!

Very Relaxing.......2007-04-10

It is very soothing and really helps you relax. I enjoy listening to it in the car during my high stress commute.

A Must Have for all Parents of Little Children !!!.......2006-11-25

I bought this when my first baby was...well, a baby. That was 8 years ago. Now I am on my 4th copy of this cd (Mozart For Mothers to Be) and my 3rd child. Nothing works better. I'm on here to buy my 4th copy becasue I've worn them out over the years and have to keep replaceing them. My 8 and 3 year old still use it, and now the new baby, also. Make it part of your nightly bed time routine and you'll have good little sleepers in no time. I swear by it. It is very soothing, calming and not distracting so it won't drive you bonkers if you can hear it a little from the next room.

A truely great gift for new parents, or if you have a sleepless little one at home. Turn on the cd, turn down the lights and let it sooth them to sleep.

Inspire the baby-within.......2005-12-13

Beyond sheer musical appreciation and enjoyment, Mozart's music in general is ideal for gently stimulating the "creative centers" as well as instilling a sense well-being. While there is much academic disagreement about the extent or reality of the so-called "Mozart Effect," it doesn't take a genius to observe how Mozart's music puts most people (and probably babies-to-be) in a happy mood ready to take on the day's challenges. There is a simplicity - yet elegance and musical brilliance - in his music that is also well-suited for the youngest of children.

The selections on this CD are all excellent and represent a nice range of Mozart's compostions, emphasising those that are ideal for creating a pleasant backdrop for leisure, dining and social occasions ("divertimentos"). The recordings are from the creme of musicians famous for their Mozart. Few works are as elegant and soaring as the Serenade #10 for winds - an astonishingly beautiful tune made famous from the early scenes of the movie, "Amadeus." Mozart supreme gifts of music are even seen in such humble "background music" as these pieces. And such continuity of warm, leisurely tones as these over 70 minutes is ideal for inspiring the baby to-be if that is why you are considering this CD. Better to expose a baby to the gentile, lyrical music of Mozart than to the dissonant, loud and disturbing tones of some classical music written well after Mozart.

As the reviewer below rightfully notes, compilation CD's of various unrelated works like this one is not quite how classical music is best meant to be heard. But in a way it is better for many to start with such collections like this - especially for those who just want the more quiet selections that are unintrusive. In that respect, this collection can be satisfying for most anyone (not just moms or babies). I have a huge classical music collection, but still really enjoy listening to one full CD of similar-temperament music like this one that flows easily and smoothly that doesn't demand my attention but only seeks to delight. And, in the end, that was the simple and primary goal of many of Mozart's compositions - to be purely enjoyed and delighted.

Average customer rating:

How can you go wrong with Mozart?...Buy this and find out.
25 Mozart Favorites
Wonderful collection and price!
Nice Mozart selection - Nice price
Mozart Listener

25 Mozart Favorites

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ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000058HV
Release Date: 1996-08-20

Tracks:

'The Marriage Of Figaro': Overture
Symphony No. 29 In A, K. 201: ll. Andante
Symphony No. 25 In G Minor, K. 183: l. Allegro con brio
Piano Concerto No. 9 In E Flat, K. 271: ll. Andantino
Piano Concerto No. 17 In G, K. 453: l. Allegro
'The Magic Flute': Overture
Symphony No. 40 in G minor: l. Molto Allegro
Symphony No. 38 In D, K. 504 'Prague': lll. Finale: Presto
Serenade In B-Flat For 13 Winds, K. 361/370A 'Gran Partita': lll. Andante
Clarinet Concerto In A, K. 622: l. Allegro
Flute Concerto No. 2 In D, K. 314: ll. Andante ma non troppo
Clarinet Quintet In A, K. 581: ll. Larghetto
Piano Sonata In C Minor, K. 457: ll. Adagio
Piano Sonata In A Minor, K. 310: l. Allegro maestoso
Piano Concerto No. 23 In A, K. 488: ll. Adagio
Symphony No. 39 in E-flat, K. 543: lV. Finale: Allegro
Horn Concerto No. 3 In E-Flat, K. 447: lll. Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 21 In C, K. 467: ll. Andante
Sinfonia Concertante For Violin And Viola In E-Flat, K. 364: l. Allegro maestoso
String Quartet No. 17 In B-Flat, K. 458 'The Hunt': l. Allegro vivace assai
Violin Concerto No. 4 In D, K. 218: ll. Andante cantabile
Violin Concerto No. 5 In A, K. 219: ll. Adagio
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525: lV. Presto
Requiem, K. 626: Confutatis Maledictis
Exsultate Jubilate: Alleluia

Amazon.com

This is an astonishing collection of works - or parts of works - by Mozart that covers almost every aspect of his creative output: symphonic, religious music, concerti (for piano, horn, violin, clarinet, flute), chamber music, serenades (for strings; winds), a couple of opera overtures and more. Those who know and love Mozart's music will not need this, but it's a great introduction, a great overview. The selections are well-chosen and interestingly organized, with familiar pieces splrinkled among some not-so well known. A good primer. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

How can you go wrong with Mozart?...Buy this and find out........2007-05-13

I was extraordinarely ignorant when I purchased this recording. I thought,"WOW!! Look at all the music you get in this CD set. The price cannot be beat!" When I received the CD, I discovered that you don't really get any music at all. This is a great sample CD, and should be bought by a person brand new to classical music. However, if you have any experience with classical music, you will want to pass on this CD.

Each of the pieces are hacked apart to the point of it being comical. It's interesting to listen to the greatest music in the world, only to have the development cut. All of a sudden I was thrust into a new key, I thought my ears were going crazy. Perhaps an effort by a decent high school orchestra, but this music is not up to snuff with any other recording.

Do yourself a favor and go out and purchase real recordings of Mozart, and not watered down stereotypes.

25 Mozart Favorites.......2007-05-12

Very pleased with product, delivery, cost and service. Will use this vendor again.

Wonderful collection and price!.......2007-05-11

I found this to be a nice collection of favorites, especially to keep in the car and listen to. It is a variety of well known compilations. Although not encompassing, it is perfect as a review for driving, relaxing, and enjoyment. Plus, the price is right!

Nice Mozart selection - Nice price.......2006-09-24

Nice selection of Mozart work that give us inner peace...

Mozart Listener.......2006-08-31

This is a good CD if you like Mozart's music. It is not the best CD I ever purchased. It is nice to listen to it in the morning before I go to work. And I sometimes listen to it in the evening before I go to bed. It is relaxing and soothing. I am not a music major or therapist. This is the best review I can write. Mary Agnes Cross

Average customer rating:

Can't go wrong
Most Famous???
Only one song knew well
The Most Famous Opera Duets
Good selection of opera highlights

The Most Famous Opera Duets

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Ludwig, Christa | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Price, Leontyne | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Scotto, Renata | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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The Most Famous Opera Arias
The Best of Italian Opera
The #1 Opera Album
Nessun Dorma ~ 20 Great Tenor Arias / Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Bergonzi, Aragall, Björling, Di Stefano, Kollo, Corelli, Del Monaco...
Rapture: Opera's Most Heavenly Moments

ASIN: B000002SCA
Release Date: 1994-04-12

Tracks:

Les Peurs des perles Act 1 - Au fond du temple saint
Madama Butterfly Act 1- Vogliatemi bene, un bene piccolino
Le Nozze di Figaro Act III - Sull'aria - Le Nozze di Figaro
La Traviata Act I - Un di, felice, eterea
Lucia Di Lammermoor Act I - Ah! Verranna a te sull'aure
Tristan und Isolde Act II - O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe
Carmen Act I - Parle-moi de m
Die ZauberflAct I - Bei Mern, welche Liebe F
Lakmct I - Viens, Mallika
Rigoletto Act I - il sol dell'anima
Der Rosenkavalier Act II - Mir ist die Ehre wilderfahren
Don Giovanni Act I - Li darem la mano
La Boh Act IV - O Mimi, tu pi torni
Il Trovatore Act IV - Miserere...Quel suon, quelle preci

Amazon.com

This is a misnomer--not all of these duets are all that famous--but it's a fine compilation nonetheless. You'll hear selections from Bizet's The Pearl Fishers (Nicolai Gedda and Ernest Blanc at their most elegant French), Madama Butterfly (Carlo Bergonzi and Renata Scotto--an impassioned pair), Lucia di Lammermoor (a classy Alfredo Kraus and Edita Gruberova), the lovely Lakme duet, The Presentation of the Silver Rose from Der Rosenkavalier (with the earnest Christa Ludwig and the other-worldly Teresa Stich-Randall), and a fine Trovatore "Miserere" (with Leontyne Price and Franco Bonisolli singing up a storm). There are many others, too--a veritable cornucopia of couplings--and a treat for the opera lover. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Can't go wrong.......2007-07-14

This is a really great CD for the price. It has many of the famous Arias on it and although the singers may not be the best out there they are certainly very good. This is cheaper than the price of a take away lunch; you can't go wrong with this CD.

Most Famous???.......2007-05-14

The title of this cd is misleading and I found myself wondering whose list did they use. That is not to say that there aren't some real treasures included here. The duet from Lakme is lovely in every way, Mady Mesple in particular, very beautful and very french, and far superior to Sutherlands hooty approach. Scotto and Bergonzi are superb, the Tristan and Isolde of Vickers and Dernesch truly other worldly, and the presentation of the rose duet with the young Ludwig and the astonishing Teresa Stich- Randell had me playing it over and over and I still can't believe it, but the most famous??? This cd is definitly worth buying, and I hated giving it only 3 stars but if you're talking most famous you could fill a couple of cd's with Puccini, not to mention Verdi, Mozart, etc. before Bizet's Les Pecheurs des perles, beautiful as it is, made the most famous list.

Only one song knew well.......2007-05-14

I should have done more research. The last song is the only one I could easily recognize. Live and learn.

The Most Famous Opera Duets.......2007-01-05

This seller truly makes a purchaser confident in the product as well the time in which is promised.

Thanks again!!!!!

Good selection of opera highlights.......2006-11-04

Super performances by famous opera artists of the 20th century, most of them no longer performing and some of them deceased. I enjoy having their voices available at home.

The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!

Average customer rating:

Lives Up To The Title, Fine Variety Of Genre's.
Good for relaxing pregnant women
Too much opera
Does what it set out to do, very well
TRULY The most relaxing and beautiful music ever written.

The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!
Johann Sebastian Bach , Léo Delibes , Gabriel Fauré , Erik Satie , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Edvard Grieg , Johann Pachelbel , Claude Debussy , Felix Mendelssohn , Camille Saint-Saens , Henryk Gorecki , Antonio Vivaldi , Edward Elgar , Jocelyn Pook , Sergey Rachmaninov , Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni , Luigi Boccherini , Jules Massenet , Ludwig van Beethoven , Jacques Offenbach , Pietro Mascagni , Antonin Dvorak , Giacomo Puccini , Ralph Vaughan Williams , Alexander Borodin , Joaquin Rodrigo , and Samuel Barber
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Ever, Volume II
The Most Relaxing Piano Album in the World...Ever!
The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe
25 Classical Favorites
Best of the Millennium: Top 40 Classical Hits

ASIN: B00000I93Z
Release Date: 1999-03-30

Tracks:

Air 'On the G String' - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Morning - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Canon In D - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Gymnopedie No.1 - City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
II. Andante - Stephen Hough
Viens, Mallika - Mady Mesple
In Paradisum - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
Clair De Lune - Dame Moura Lympany
II. Andate - Yehudi Menuhin
The Swan - Osian Ellis
II. Lento E Largo - Tranquillissimo - Zofia Kilanowicz
II. Andantino - James Galway
II. Largo - Yehudi Menuhin
Nimrod - London Symphony Orchestra
Blow the Wind - Pie Jesu - Jocelyn Pook
Variation 18 - Cecile Ousset
Pavane Op.50 - Gareth Morris

Tracks:

Zion Hort Die Wachter Singen - South German Madrigal Choir
Adagio In G Minor - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Minuet - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
II. Largo - Andrei Gavrilov
Meditation - Hans Kalafusz
I. Adagio Sostenuto - Dame Moura Lympany
Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'amour (Barcarolle) - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
II. Andante - Nigel North
II. Adagio - Jack Brymer
Intermezzo - Philharmonia Orchestra
I. Moderato - London Chamber Orchestra
O Mio Babbino Caro - Montserrat Caballe
Fantasia On 'Greensleeves' - Sinfonia Of London
II. Adagio Sostenuto (Opening) - Cecile Ousset
Nocturne - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
II. Adagio (Opening) - Julian Bream
Adagio For Strings Op.11a - The Philadelphia Orchestra
Entr'acte To Act III - Orchestre National De France

Amazon.com

You want relaxing classical music that'll soothe your soul but won't lull you into sleep? Here's a double CD for you. The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World ... Ever! does its best to cover both well-worn classical favorites (Bach's "Air on the G String," Pachelbel's "Cannon," Debussy's "Clair de Lune") and some eclectic left-field choices (an excerpt from Górecki's Symphony No. 3, Jocelyn Pook's "Blow the Wind," and Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings. The performances of most of these excerpts are top-notch--artists include Sir Neville Marriner, James Galway, Jacqueline du Pré and the Philadelphia Orchestra--and there's enough variety here for everyone. --Edward Garabedian

Customer Reviews:

Lives Up To The Title, Fine Variety Of Genre's........2007-02-04

This CD is a great way to enjoy a large variety of Classical Composers & many of their best known pieces. Vivaldi's "Four Seasons," is an all time favorite. There are vocals, Piano pieces, & some fine Violins. I found the latter the most enjoyable. Here you can find Rodrigo & Pachelbell. Samuel Barber's haunting Adagio will make your skin tingle. This may not be to everyones taste, but if you wish to relax? Give this a couple of listens.

Good for relaxing pregnant women.......2007-01-17

I stumbled onto this album whilst searching bit torrent websites for classical music. I don't normally listen to classical music but thought it might be relaxing for my pregnant wife. After hearing the quality of the performances, the arrangement, and the recording I decided to buy the album from amazon. All the songs you would expect from a "best album in the world" are there and they are not boring to listen to like a lot of other classical albums. I now play this album in the car constantly and the wife requested it be played at the hospital during the birth.

Too much opera.......2007-01-10

If it wasn't for the opera this would be a great CD.

Does what it set out to do, very well.......2006-11-15

So i'm a classical music veteran, someone who prefers to collect a complete work, rather than classical compilations. I probably would not have listened to this album at all if my dad didnt buy it for me as a gift. By now, i own the complete works that over half of the excepts on this disc come from. I am a purist if ever there was one.

That said, i totally adore this set because i have learned to take it on its own terms. These discs weren't meant for expert classical listeners, so a review from that sort of mindset is useless. This set was meant for pure, easy listening, and for a basic starters kit for classical newbies. Most of all, it was just meant to do what the title says, to relax the average human being. classical expert or not.

Yes, some of these pieces have been altered or shortened, like Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto Andantino, but they have been edited for a good enough reason: the full versions would have been too long to flow with the rest of the album. And also, the full versions contain so much development that they don't become easy listening anymore. The shortened versions work in the context of the album. Most essentially, the shortened versions on the discs still convey the main flavor the composers were going for. The melodies and themes remain unchanged.

To sum up, it is true that when i want to actually listen deeply to classical music, this album would never be a choice. I would want to hear the complete works like the composers intended. But at certain times when i simply don't mind about that stuff, when i just need to loosen up and free my mind of stress with some nice melodies, this set does the job well enough.

Last but not least: being a purist and a classical buff, i am very particular about performance quality. I was very glad to find that EMI did not get lazy about this. All the artists are world-class, and all the performances are at least exceptional. Some performances are even quite excellent, like the Clair De Lune, which is one of the best i've heard. (Credit to Dame Lympany, the pianist.)

So once again, recommended for its stated purpose, to relax. I am a purist, a classical buff, and i still enjoy this disc. That says something.

TRULY The most relaxing and beautiful music ever written........2006-11-10

This album along with Volume 2 are now the two most valued albums in my music collection. I have all of the songs contained on these two albums but they are scattered through at least a dozen different albums and several are not performed by artists such as those that recorded this album and Volume 2.
SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL !!!!!!!!!!

Average customer rating:

She makes me wish I were deaf
excellent second album
Self-consciously coquettish overintellectualized indie schmuck
raw yet refined
Everything you don't expect and more...

Ys
Joanna Newsom
Manufacturer: Drag City
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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The Milk-Eyed Mender
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ASIN: B000I2K9M4
Release Date: 2006-11-14

Tracks:

Emily
Monkey & Bear
Sawdust & Diamonds
Only Skin
Cosmia

Amazon.com

Joanna Newsom's voice--a piercing flutter that's pitched somewhere between Björk and a hand brake--is an acquired taste. But to the uninitiated, it's not nearly as impenetrable as her cosmic poetry or, for that matter, baroque music. The 24-year-old Californian harpist's second album is a five-track concept piece loosely based on its namesake, the mythological drowned city of the Bretons. We say "loosely" because she leaves plenty of room for digressions on meteoroids and birds flying into windows. While Ys was recorded by minimalist Steve Albini (Nirvana, PJ Harvey), it includes lush string arrangements by Van Dyke Parks (Brian Wilson) and the final mix was done by sonic experimentalist Jim O'Rourke (Sonic Youth, Tortoise). The result is an album that sounds unlike anything else. And despite containing spectacularly beguiling songs that stretch out past 15 minutes, every second seems to drip with magic. You certainly don't get that with Ashlee Simpson. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

She makes me wish I were deaf.......2007-07-14

Here voice makes me want to stab my ears with and icepick until I die. Only hardcore avant-guard indie hipsters with a penchant for un-melodic, rhythmless non-music need apply. How anyone could like this is beyond me. Calling her the American Bjork is a tremendous disservice to the Icelandic Queen. Why is there not an option for zero stars?

excellent second album.......2007-07-01

Joanna Newsom has composed the music and wrote the lyrics that are complex, unique and beautiful. She is on the most talented new artists today and I was happy to discover her music. I would warmly recommend this album, as well as her first CD, "Milk-Eyed Mender".

Self-consciously coquettish overintellectualized indie schmuck.......2007-06-29

What is it with every woman in "underground" music insisting on being cute and smart and falsely weird? (The word "underground" is in quotes because any album that costs more than $250,000 to make and tops every single best-of list of its release year cannot really be considered under the radar.) It's like they have such horrible self-image problems that they must always wear a cute outfit, play an unexpected instrument, and sing in a disaffected manner, and they are absolutely GUSHED over in the press. This is just one aspect of the Pitchforkization of music, a faux democratization of taste that results in nothing but hype and backlash--no substance, all fear, just cycle after cycle like a dog who can't tell its own tail from a stick.

[ETA: It's appallingly obvious that, based on some of the responses to this review, we have not learned the lessons that those righteous and fearless feminists and punk rockers attempted, and bless 'em, how they tried, to instill in music fans. It's also obvious that the "sexism" portrayed above extends beyond this review into current "indie" culture, in that ugly dudes with beards can score hits, but there's nary a hairy female armpit on the scene these days, and women who fall into this trap by frilling themselves up in such a self-conscious way are doing nothing to further the cause against discrimination towards women. So if someone wants to be shocked by sexism, then be shocked by something that is actually hugely, poisonously sexist and stop throwing knives at amazon.com reviews written by those who are highly irritated that "feminism" is warped to defend all sorts of horrific things.]

Now that I've gotten that rant out of the way, onto the record: I've been listening to this for several months, and I cannot figure out why Newsom is creating what she is and why people (self included) are actually listening to it.

--Does she tell compelling stories? No, not really--the language is obscured and veiled, and even then you know exactly which side she's on in her morality tales. There's nothing complex or surprising about a bear being manipulated and taken advantage of by a monkey, even in Newsom's words, and the obvious plot ending solidifies the fact that Newsom cannot and will never be able to process the moral ambiguities that most great artists--including many that she professes to admire, like Neil Young--can create. Why should I care about a bear? Even if it is an allegory, and a piss poor one at that, I think the whole song should've spared us all and jumped into the water with Ursula.

--Does she use language in interesting ways? On occasion she does, I'll give her that. I have to say that "Sawdust and Diamonds" contains one of the loveliest descriptions of a birth this side of Patti Smith's "Kimberly"--"I was all horns and thorns, sprang up fully formed, knock-kneed and upright." (Funny, though, that when I think of the term "fully formed," being knock-kneed doesn't immediately come to mind.) But the rest of the song's trite meditation on puppeteering and meandering, uselessly vague pastoral imagery render that line, which might have been a good start to something far more interesting, absolutely pointless. And that's what so much of this is. She also has a terrible thesaurus addiction, and will drop an awkward passage without even reconsidering it. You know who else, more famous than Newsom and also praised in her early career, did this? That's right, Alanis Morissette. Perhaps Newsom should stand naked in the street for her next video to make the comparison more apt, because at least Alanis lets it all lyrically hang out while Newson gives none of herself to her art.

--Does it sound good? Well, not really. I used the word "meandering" earlier, and so much of the music on this record does just that. Poor Van Dyke Parks, trying to shine a turd. The composition is so self-aware and cloying, and if there were words to listen to and actual ideas on this record they wouldn't be allowed to breathe. Perhaps it's all a smoke screen to distract from the fact that Joanna Newsom has nothing to say.

Why do I think that Newsom is fraught with naught? Yes, this is only her second album, and yes, she is young and fresh out of creative writing school, but when I hear her sing the word "desire" there's absolutely none there. It's the audio equivalent of getting up every morning and going to work in an office about which you are ambivalent and apathetic. And even the least paid, least hip cubicle grunts know what desire is, surely! Hell, Rimbaud's career as a writer was over by the time he was 24, but his throwaways had far more depth than the best Newsom can do here.

So if I don't like it so much, why am I giving this two whole stars? Because Joanna Newsom is the same age as me, has recorded two albums, and has made enough money to buy a house, which is far more than I've been able to do in an equal amount of time (though unequal opportunities were available, which could lead me to a discussion of her connections and social status/economic disparities from which I will spare you). I suppose she deserves some credit for having her finances in order, without having to resort to grunt work. And yes, I am jealous that someone who created something so insipid is now famous and wealthy. So it goes.

raw yet refined.......2007-06-23

This is my second attempt at posting a review here. The first review had the phrase "my arse" in it (using the other word for "arse") so I can only assume that's why it didn't get posted. I am appalled at some of the things said of Joanna Newsom and her album on Amazon. Some people go so far as to personally attack the artist herself for being privileged (??), for playing a harp in an attempt to be different, and for wearing "cute dresses." Hmmm...

This album holds a special place in my collection. Never have I heard such ambitious, moving, and consistently powerful lyrics on a single album. This is a difficult album to understand for many people, but I find dissecting the lyrics and researching the musician's intent much more interesting and rewarding than anything on the radio these days. As for the music itself, being no music theory major, I can only say that it consistently pulls an emotional response from me; viscerally and intellectually, I find it cathartic, stimulating, raw (no thesaurus used here, guys and girls.) Joanna Newsom certainly does a terrific job on the harp, in composition and execution, and Van Parks' complementary pieces add a certain largeness of sound to the album that matches its largeness of vision.

The vitriol I have seen against Newsom in a few of the reviews here is unnerving and worrying. I would hope that those who do not like her album will in future attempt to logically explain why without succumbing to posting hateful and sexist insults. This does nothing to inform would-be buyers of the album's strengths and weaknesses (if you think the album has any--I personally think it doesn't: it is exactly what it should be.)

Five stars all the way.

Everything you don't expect and more..........2007-06-07

This is probably one of the most creative projects I've ever heard. Newsom plays the harp and writes epic song with lush orchestrations behind them. You hear every instrument and color on this album except what you expect to hear. Newsom's harp trickles through the chords while the songs are colored by lush strings, subtle brass and even an occassional banjo or jawharp. Newsom's songs are very different from traditional pop songs. She divorces the traditional song structure and gives each song a wider arc allowing her to tell the story at hand. The lyrics are very narrative and incredibly poetic. The texts drip with imagery poetic devices that just don't get used enough in mainstream music. This album is incredibly refreshing with its innovative instrumentations, lush orchestrations, masterful songwriting, poetic lyrics and fantastic production. Even with all of this I think that anyone may find fault with one particular aspect of the record:

Joanna Newsom's voice.

I'm not going to lie, it's kind of annoying. Her vocal quality is some kind of strange combination between abrasive and whinny. Images of a pre-pubescent Bjork may come to mind. One thing that I consistently noticed was that when Newsom sang the word, "and" or other words with a similar vowel sound higher in her regester, there was a very distinctive squeek of her voice, kind of like her vocal chords decided to do just a little bit of bumping and grinding. However, as absolutely bizarre as Newsom's voice is, I think it kind of works. Granted, she sounds like a crazy old lady gathering the village children around to sing them a story, but with the style of the music and the content of the lyrics, I think it is strangely appropriate.

Whether you like her voice at all, there is no denying that this project is incredibly unique and creative. You may have noticed that this album doesn't have a great rating from the pooled average of Amazon users. This is not from a consistent pile of mediocre reviews, but polarized reviews from people who adore this album and others who hate it. Obviously, I am one of the former. This album is very hit-or-miss. I've told you what I think, but the only way to tell what you really think about this very debated album is to take a listen for yourself and be the judge of your own tastes.

Average customer rating:

Deserves 10 stars
Excellent Bach Collection
Wonderful way to enjoy all of Bach
Bach
An Absolute Essential for any Classical Music Enthusiast

Bach: Complete Works - 155 CD Box Set

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Minuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Musettes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Canons | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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

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

Brilliant Classics | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B000HRME5U
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Customer Reviews:

Deserves 10 stars.......2007-07-18

I've been an amateur classical music enthusiast for decades with over 1000 CDs in my collection. I have listened to ALL of the CDs in this box now at least once, many of them twice and some three times, with headphones, on my stereo at home or in the car. I found all the recordings to be excellent. A couple of the vocal CDs with ADD recording are old and one could hear some background hiss with headphones but this was not noticeable playing them over the home stereo. I loved the performances. The only "disadvantage" is that all the keyboard works are played on the harpsichord, and I do prefer Bach sometimes on the piano. And one could argue whether some famous musician's interpretation of a piece is "better" than the one found here, but it's a little like arguing whether the food is better at one 5 star restaurant compared to another--both meals are delicious, and which one you enjoy more is more dependent on the context of the meal--how you feel that moment, what's going on in your life, etc.--than the food itself. But bottom line, this box contains endless treasures at an incredible bargain price, and I can't recommend it strongly enough.

Excellent Bach Collection.......2007-07-05

I am a professional musician, composer and teacher. this collection is wonderful, recorded in Europe, and all that one would expect from talent in that part of the world (which on this set includes Nordic countries as well).
If you are into studying bach, euro recordings, musicology, this is a good purchase.
Only criticism is on a few recordings the balance/mix is not the best. However, it all sounds wonderfully recorded.

Wonderful way to enjoy all of Bach.......2007-06-28

One reason to buy this set is simply to acquire recordings of all Bach's surviving Cantatas. The only downside I've discovered so far is that I would have preferred his harpsichord music played on a piano.

Bach .......2007-06-08

Arrived in excellent condition -price was higher that I liked by a little bit

An Absolute Essential for any Classical Music Enthusiast.......2007-05-22

This comprehensive collection of all known Bach works is simultaneously the easiest and the most difficult set to review. "Easiest" because in a single set of some 150 CD's, one immediately has the entire Bach repertoire at one's hands, with the majority of individual recordings consisting of solid performances and good recording quality. "Difficult" because, due to the sheer number of performances, it would take many pages to individually and meaningfully write up a description that accurately conveys the range of entries within the set. But in a sense, this entirely misses the point. It is simply impossible to understate what Brilliant Classics has done for the classical music world with the release of a set like this. For the first time, one can own a comprehensive Bach collection for little more than the price of a single, good restaurant meal for two people. The fact can hardly be overstated: this set makes acquiring such a collection no longer the domain of only the wealthiest amongst us. This is most certainly the "democratization" of classical baroque music.

Over the years, I have certainly spent what often feels like exorbitant amounts of money on individual, and sometimes, box sets, of classical music. There is no denying the human skill possessed at the major recording labels, including experiential knowledge of the proper placement of microphones, the best mixing techniques, the optimal types of equipment selected for use, and then, of course, access to the world's greatest performers. We would never wish to lose that combination of talent, and there is no attempt here at minimizing either the value or the enjoyment that can be experienced through such endeavors. Quite the contrary. Such undertakings are both an art form and a technical skill that provides immense value to the world at large. And we should give kudos to those major labels who in recent years have begun to reissue classic records in box sets at much lower prices (Detusche Grammophon's "Collector's Editions" immediately comes to mind, as well as Philip's "Duo Series," and many others, not the least of which also includes Philip's recent reissue of the "Complete Mozart Edition.") But what we have here completely surpasses these in every respect, and opens up new possibilities for the average listener who does not have mountains of disposable income to put towards the acquisition of a classical music collection. There can be no question in my own mind that the people who put this set together did it far more for the sake of classical music as an art form rather than a money-making exercise. It is truly a meaningful contribution to the music world at large.

And what of the quality of the performances and the recordings? For the discs which I have already played, there are simply no real disappointments here. Some of the performances are on par with the "best of the best," and many of them are absolutely gorgeous. With a set this large, it is beneficial to read the multiple reviews individuals are posting to get a better sampling of the various sections of the overall set, but I've been quite pleased with what I've heard so far. I will likely update this post with more specific comments over time, but for now,

1. Dances & Variations (flute and harp): Entrata
2. Dances & Variations: Adagio
3. Dances & Variations: My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free
4. Winter Spirits (solo flute)
5. Divertimento (flute violin, viola, cello): Allegro giocoso
6. Divertimento: Adagio-Vivace
7. Reflections (solo flute)
8. Canyon Echos (flute and guitar): Dance
9. Canyon Echos: Serenade
10. Canyon Echos: She Mourns
11. Canyon Echos: He Returns