Works for Band

1. Toccata Marziale, for military band in B flat major
Composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams

2. Suite No. 1, for military band in E flat major, Op. 28/1, H. 105
Composed by Gustav Holst

3. Suite No. 2, for military band in F major, Op. 28/2, H. 106
Composed by Gustav Holst

4. Theme and Variations, Op 26
Composed by Walton O'Donnell

5. Songs of the Gael, Op 31 "A Gaelic Fantasy"
Composed by Walton O'Donnell

Works for Band,Vaughan Williams,Holst,Bandleader (UK)

Average customer rating: They were right--there is NO business like the show business they did way back when !!! One of the best cds I ever bought. Never Sounded Better Somewhere Over The Rainbow "Hollywood Musicals of the Golden Age are still among us"

Somewhere over the Rainbow: The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals Various Artists Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Ultimate Broadway Only Broadway CD You'll Ever Need The Best Of Broadway (Cast Recording Anthology) Greatest Hits: Broadway That's Entertainment!: The Best Of The M-G-M Musicals - Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology ASIN: B000066RO5 Release Date: 2002-06-04

Tracks:

1. Singin In The Rain - Gene Kelly
2. Theres No Business Like Show Business - Betty Hutton, Howard Keel, Keenan Wynn & Louis Calhern
3. 'S Wonderful - Gene Kelly & Georges Guetary
4. Thats Entertainment! - Fred Astaire, Jack Buchanan, Nanette Fabray & Oscar Levant
5. Stranger In Paradise - Ann Blyth & Vic Damone
6. Easter Parade - Judy Garland & Fred Astaire
7. Lullaby Of Broadway - Winifred Shaw, Dick Powell & Chorus
8. Get Happy - Judy Garland
9. Night And Day - Fred Astaire
10. True Love - Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly
11. Honeysuckle Rose - Lena Horne w/ Benny Carter & His Orchestra
12. They Cant Take That Away From Me - Fred Astaire
13. Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet - Nancy Walker & The M-G-M Studio Chorus w/ Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
14. Baby, Its Cold Outside - Esther Williams & Ricardo Montalban
15. For Me And My Gal - Gene Kelly & Judy Garland
16. Puttin On The Ritz - Clark Gable & Co.
17. Hallelujah! - Tony Martin, Vic Damone, Kay Armen, Ann Miller, Debbie Reynolds, Clark Burroughs & Co.
18. Bless Yore Beautiful Hide - Howard Keel
19. Taking A Chance On Love - Ethel Waters & Eddie "Rochester" Anderson
20. As Time Goes By - Dooley Wilson w/ Elliot Carpenter (Bonus Track)
21. Laras Theme (Main Title) - The M-G-M Studio Orchestra (Bonus Track)

Tracks:

1. Over The Rainbow - Judy Garland
2. Its A Most Unusual Day - Jane Powell
3. Wunderbar - Kathryn Grayson & Howard Keel
4. Cant Help Lovin Dat Man - Ava Gardner
5. Going Hollywood - Bing Crosby
6. The Trolley Song - Judy Garland, The M-G-M Studio Chorus
7. Gigi - Louis Jourdan
8. I Got Rhythm - Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney & Co.
9. Aba Daba Honeymoon - Debbie Reynolds, Carleton Carpenter & M-G-M Studio Chorus
10. The Lady Is A Tramp - Lena Horne
11. The Best Things In Life Are Free - June Allyson & Peter Lawford
12. Cheek To Cheek - Fred Astaire
13. A Kiss To Build A Dream On - Louis Armstrong
14. Put 'Em In A Box - Doris Day & The Page Cavanaugh Trio
15. If Swing Goes, I Go Too - Fred Astaire
16. Almost Like Being In Love - Gene Kelly
17. Lets Face The Music And Dance - Fred Astaire
18. Be A Clown - Gene Kelly & Judy Garland
19. Embraceable You - Connie Francis
20. On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe - Judy Garland & Co.
21. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) - Fred Astaire

Amazon.com

The "Golden Age" referred to here spans The Jazz Singer and the advent of the talkies to the death throes of the old studio system in the 1960s. So vast was the era's musical landscape that even this 42-track, double-disc anthology can't encompass all its peaks. Not surprisingly, the bulk of this collection originated with the Tiffany's of the screen musical, M-G-M, a body of work whose riches here encompass both pop-cultural bedrock ("Over the Rainbow," "Singin' in the Rain," "There's No Business Like Show Business," etc.) and some less familiar, if equally delightful star turns: Clark Gable gamely "Puttin' On the Ritz"; the sassy, 1948 original of "The Lady Is a Tramp" by Lena Horne; and a loopy duet of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban. Fred Astaire's elegant, epochal reign at RKO and M-G-M is represented by "Night and Day," "Let's Face the Music and Dance," and three others, while Metro mainstays Gene Kelly and Judy Garland share equal time and billing. It's not perfect--Cagney's "Yankee Doodle Boy" and/or some Sinatra seem more logical choices than the odd "bonus" duet of Casablanca's "As Time Goes By" and "Lara's Theme" from Dr. Zhivago that close out disc one--but it's a stunning, surprisingly comprehensive primer on the Hollywood film musical nonetheless. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

They were right--there is NO business like the show business they did way back when !!!.......2006-11-18

Everything that happens in life
Can happen in a show
You can make 'em laugh
You can make 'em cry
Anything
Anything can go....

The clown with his pants falling down
Or the dance that's a dream of romance
Or the scene where the villain is mean
That's entertainment!

The lights on the lady in tights
Or the bride with the guy on the side
Or the ball where she gives him her all
That's entertainment!

The plot and the hot simply teeming with $ex
A gay divorcee who is after her ex
It could be Oedipus Rex
Where a chap kills his father
And causes a lot of bother

The clerk who is thrown out of work
By the boss who is thrown for a loss
By the skirt who is doing him dirt

The world is a stage,
The stage is a world of entertainment!

This two CD set amply proves that the musical melodies and lyrics from the golden age of the Hollywood musical remain unsurpassed to this day. This generous two CD set offers 42 incredible songs from Hollywood classic musicals. Most of these fine numbers are indeed from MGM, as Amazon correctly notes; but there are some RKO numbers and even a little from Warner Brothers. Thank goodness, though, that most of these songs came from MGM movies; MGM was the only studio that could boast that it truly had "more stars than there are in the heavens."

I love so many songs on these two CDs. Of course, there's the unforgettable classic "Over The Rainbow" sung by Judy Garland; she also performs "Easter Parade" and "Get Happy" on this two CD set and she carries most of the tune for "I Got Rhythm" even though Mickey Rooney helps her a little. I love "Baby, It's Cold Outside" for its' romantic overtones; and Lena Horne's "The Lady Is A Tramp" is flawless! We also get a rare chance to hear Clark Gable sing in "Puttin' On The Ritz;" and Bing Crosby's "Going Hollywood" may be brief but it's a fun song anyway.

There are two "bonus" tracks on the first CD: "As Time Goes By" from Casablanca and "Lara's Theme" from Doctor Zhivago. "As Time Goes By" is a good choice; it is another unsurpassed classic song that brings back memories and touches even the hardest of hearts. "Lara's Theme," however, is from the mid 1960s and I don't consider this period to be part of the "golden age" of Hollywood musicals.

The liner notes are excellent and they offer wonderful photos of the stars as well. The cover art is well done and the reverse cover art tells which movie each song is from and who is performing each song. Moreover, the quality of the sound is excellent especially when you consider that these numbers were recorded quite a few decades ago.

In short, this superlative two CD highlights the glory of the Hollywood musical when a certain type of sophistication dominated professional movie production. I highly recommend this CD for fans of Hollywood musicals, classic pop vocals and fans of the artists and actors who perform on this two CD set.

One of the best cds I ever bought. .......2006-06-07

What an amazon collection of songs! This is bar none my favorite cd just because of the variety and the quality of songs on it. I love music from this era, and this cd is the perfect companion to my life. Love it! Buy it, you won't regret it for a moment!

Never Sounded Better.......2006-03-16

Apart from the great selection of soundtracks, what really makes this compilation top value is the quality of the sound processing. Executed with finesse, these tracks sound better than when first issued and many are unedited, fuller versions: like "Singing In The Rain", for example. Throw in the great price, and this double disc set is a "must have" for all lovers of classic movie music.

Somewhere Over The Rainbow.......2006-02-24

A Sensational CD with Lots of Showtunes that Keep You Happy and makes You Want To Sing Along With!!!

"Hollywood Musicals of the Golden Age are still among us".......2005-07-13

Rhino Records and Turner Classic Movies Music present - "SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW: THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS", some of the long ago musicals and stars that will never be forgotten...a 2-CD-Set covering several decades from 1935-1965 with many of the show stoppers of that time...some rare moments from entertainers that you haven't heard or thought of in sometime.

The lineup is fantastic and gives the listener a variety of what musicals were all about in the "Golden Age of the Hollywood Musicals"
June Allyson, Kay Armen, Louis Armstrong, Fred Astaire, Ann Blyth, Jack Buchanan, Louis Calhern, Bing Crosby, Vic Damone, Doris Day, Nanette Fabray, Connie Francis, Ava Gardner, Judy Garland, Kathyrn Grayson, Georges Guetary, Lena Horne, Betty Hutton, Louis Jourdan, Howard Keel, Gene Kelly, Grace Kelly, Peter Lawford, Oscar Levant, Ann Miller, Ricardo Montalban, Page Cavanaugh Trio, Debbie Reynolds, Winifred Shaw, Nancy Walker, Ethel Waters, Esther Williams, Dooley Williams and Keenan Wynn.

On Disc One 21 Classic Songs from great musicals with songs in alphabetical order:
AS TIME GOES BY - Dooley Wilson with Elliot Carpenter, pianist (1942)
BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE - Esther Williams & Ricardo Montalban (1949)
BLESS, YORE BEAUTIFUL HIDE - Howard Keel (1954)
EASTER PARADE - Fred Astaire & Judy Garland (1948)
FOR ME AND MY GAL - Gene Kelly & Judy Garland (1942)
GET HAPPY - Judy Garland (1950)
HALLELUJAH! - Tony Martin, Vic Damone, Kay Armen, Ann Miller, Debbie Reynolds, Clark Burroughs (for Russ Tamblyn) (1955)
HONEYSUCKLE ROSE - Lena Horne with Benny Carter & His Orchestra (1943)
LARA'S THEME (MAIN TITLE) - M-G-M Studio Orchestra (1965)
LULLABY OF BROADWAY - Winifred Shaw & Dick Powell (1935)
MILKMAN, KEEP THOSE BOTTLES QUIET - Nancy Walker with Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra (1944)
NIGHT AND DAY - Fred Astaire (1934)
PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ - Clark Gable & Company (1939)
'S WONDERFUL - Gene Kelly & Georges Guetary (1951)
SINGIN' IN THE RAIN - Gene Kelly (1951)
STRANGER IN PARADISE - Ann Blyth & Vic Damone (1955)
TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE - Ethel Waters & Eddie "Rochester" Anderson (1943)
THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT - Fred Astaire, Jack Buchanan, Nanette Fabray & Oscar Levant (1953)
THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS - Betty Hutton, Howard Keel, Keenan Wynn & Louis Calhern (1950)
THEY CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME - Fred Astaire (1949)
TRUE LOVE - Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly (1956)

On Disc Two more memorable performances from the Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals:
A KISS TO BUILD A DREAM ON - Louis Armstrong (1951)
ABA DABA HONEYMOON - Debbie Reynolds & Carleton Carpenter (1950)
ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE - Gene Kelly (1954)
BE A CLOWN - Judy Garland & Gene Kelly (1948)
BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE - June Allyson & Peter Lawford (1947)
CAN'T HELP LOVIN' DAT MAN - Ava Gardner (beautiful woman, who my youngest grandaughter is named after...Avalon) (1951)
CHEEK TO CHEEK - Fred Astaire (1935)
EMBRACEABLE YOU - Connie Francis (1965)
GIGI - Louis Jourdan (1958)
GOING HOLLYWOOD - Bing Crosby (1933)
I GOT RHYTHM - Judy Garland & Mickey Rooney (1943)
IF SWING GOES, I GO TOO - Fred Astaire (1946)
IT'S A MOST UNUSUAL DAY - Jane Powell (1948)
LADY IS A TRAMP - Lena Horne (1948)
LET'S FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE - Fred Astaire (1936)
ON THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND THE SANTA FE - Judy Garland & Company (1946)
ONE FOR MY BABY (AND ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD) - Fred Astaire (1943)
OVER THE RAINBOW - Judy Garland (became her theme song for the rest of her life) (1939)
PUT 'EM IN A BOX - Doris Day & the Page Cavanaugh Trio (1948)
THE TROLLEY SONG - Judy Garland & MGM Studio Chorus (1944)
WUNDERBAR - Kathryn Grayson & Howard Keel (two of MGM's favorite singing duos) (1953)

It was once said by the songwriters of that era - "There are two artists you want perform your songs on the big screen, they are Fred Astaire and Judy Garland they sing it just the way we wrote it, for which you will have a guaranteed hit on your hands"...well, this collections certainly has some merit to that statement...because with Judy Garland and Fred Astaire performing seven songs each, there must be something to it.

This collection of musicals still has the magic that we remember from those bygone years...but as long as we have the labels and networks who play and show these wonderful films of yesteryear, they will never be forgotten...hats off to Rhino Records, George Feltenstein (producer) and Doug Schwartz (engineer) and Turner Classic Movies for sharing those 42 selections from 42 films...celebrating decades of the tunes and artists that gave it their all...from what it commonly called "The Hollywood Dream Factory"...The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals is still among us...gotta love it!

Total Time: 2-CD-Set ~ Rhino Records 78323 ~ (6/02/2002)

Average customer rating: Fabulous for any Broadway-lover Top Shelf TERRIFIC CD'S Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs Great Compilation!

Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series) Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Porter | Porter, Cole | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Weill | Weill, Kurt | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mancini | Mancini, Henry | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Musicals | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Best of Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series) Broadway: The American Musical Broadway: The American Musical Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series) Somewhere over the Rainbow: The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals ASIN: B00064ADMK Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

1. Give My Regards To Broadway- Joel Grey
2. Swanee- Al Jolson
3. When The Moon Shines On The Moonshine- Bert Williams
4. A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody- John Steel
5. My Man- Fanny Brice
6. Fascinating Rhythm- Fred Astaire, Adele Astaire
7. If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie)- 78rpm Version Eddie Cantor
8. Someone To Watch Over Me- Gertrude Lawrence
9. Bill- 78 rpm Version Helen Morgan
10. Ol' Man River- Paul Robeson
11. Ain't Misbehavin'- Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra
12. Ten Cents A Dance- Ruth Etting
13. Body And Soul- Libby Holman
14. Brother, Can You Spare A Dime- Bing Crosby
15. Night And Day- Fred Astaire
16. Heat Wave- Ethel Waters
17. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes- Tamara
18. You're The Top- Ethel Merman
19. Summertime- Anne Brown
20. September Song- Walter Huston
21. My Heart Belongs To Daddy- Mary Martin
22. It Never Entered My Mind- Shirley Ross
23. Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered- Vivienne Segal
24. Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning- Irving Berlin
25. Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'- Alfred Drake

Tracks:

1. New York, New York- Cris Alexander,Adolph Green,John Reardon
2. If I Loved You- John Raitt,Jan Clayton
3. Come Rain Or Come Shine- Ruby Hill,Harold Nicholas
4. There's No Business Like Show Business- Ensemble
5. How Are Things In Glocca Morra? From "Finian's Rainbow"- Ella Logan
6. Once In Love With Amy- Ray Bolger
7. Wunderbar- Alfred Drake,Patricia Morison
8. Some Enchanted Evening- Ezio Pinza
9. Lost In The Stars- Todd Duncan
10. Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend- Carol Channing
11. Luck Be A Lady- Robert Alda,Guys
12. Getting To Know You- Gertrude Lawrence
13. Who Cares?- Jack Carson,Betty Oakes
14. Stranger In Paradise- from " Kismet" Doretta Morrow,Richard Kiley
15. Ballad Of Mack The Knife- Gerald Price
16. Hey There- from "The Pajama Game" John Raitt
17. Whatever Lola Wants- Gwen Verdon
18. I Could Have Danced All Night- Julie Andrews
19. Standing On The Corner- from "The Most Happy Fella, 1956" Shorty Long,John Henson,Alan Gilbert
20. The Party's Over- Judy Holliday
21. Glitter And Be Gay- Barbara Cook
22. Tonight- Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence

Tracks:

1. Seventy-Six Trombones- Robert Preston
2. I Enjoy Being A Girl- from "Flower Drum Song, 1958" Pat Suzuki
3. Everything's Coming Up Roses- Ethel Merman
4. My Favorite Things- from "The Sound Of Music" Mary Martin
5. Put On A Happy Face- from "Bye Bye Birdie" Dick Van Dyke
6. Try To Remember- Jerry Orbach
7. Camelot- from "Camelot" Richard Burton
8. Love Makes The World Go 'Round- Anna Maria Alberghetti
9. I Believe In You- Robert Morse And Co.
10. The Sweetest Sounds- Diahann Carroll,Richard Kiley
11. Comedy Tonight- Zero Mostel
12. What Kind Of Fool Am I?- Anthony Newley
13. As Long As He Needs Me- Georgia Brown
14. Hello, Dolly!- Carol Channing,Cast
15. People- Barbra Streisand
16. Anyone Can Whistle- from "Anyone Can Whistle" Lee Remick
17. If I Were A Rich Man- Zero Mostel
18. Night Song- Sammy Davis, Jr.
19. The Impossible Dream- Richard Kiley
20. If My Friends Could See Me Now- Gwen Verdon
21. Open a New Window- from Mame Voice

Tracks:

1. Willkommen- from "Cabaret" Joel Grey
2. Let The Sunshine In- James Rado,Lynn Kellogg,Melba Moore,Cast
3. I'll Never Fall In Love Again- Jill O'Hara,Jerry Orbach
4. The Ladies Who Lunch- from "Company" Elaine Stritch
5. Tea For Two- Roger Rathburn,Susan Watson
6. I'm Still Here- Yvonne De Carlo
7. I Don't Know How To Love Him- Yvonne Elliman
8. We Go Together- Adrienne Barbeau,Barry Bostwick,Walter Bobbie,Cast
9. Corner Of The Sky- John Rubinstein
10. Send In The Clowns- Glynis Johns
11. Ease On Down The Road- Stephanie Mills,Tiger Haynes,Ted Ross,Hinton
12. One- from "A Chorus Line" Cast
13. All That Jazz- Chita Rivera,Ensemble
14. Tomorrow- Andrea Mcardle
15. Don't Cry For Me Argentina- Patti Lupone
16. Come Follow The Band
17. Lullaby Of Broadway- Jerry Orbach
18. And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going- Jennifer Holliday
19. The Bells Of St. Sebastian- Raul Julia

Tracks:

1. Memory- Betty Buckley
2. I Am What I Am- George Hearn
3. Move On- Bernadette Peters,Mandy Patinkin
4. Do You Hear The People Sing?- Michael Maguire,Cast
5. The Music Of The Night- Michael Crawford
6. You're Nothing Without Me- James Naughton,Gregg Edelman
7. The American Dream- Jonathan Pryce,Cast
8. Doctor Jazz- Gregory Hines,Company
9. With One Look- Glenn Close
10. On Broadway- Adrian Bailey,Frederick B. Owens,Ken Ard,Victor Trent Cook
11. Le Jazz Hot- Julie Andrews,Ensemble
12. Seasons Of Love-
13. Hakuna Matata- Max Casella,Tom Alan Robbins,Scott Irby-Ranniar,Jason Raize
14. I Wanna Be A Producer- Matthew Broderick,Ensemble
15. Dancing Queen- Louise Plowright,Jenny Galloway
16. Good Morning Baltimore- Marissa Jaret Winokur
17. Movin' Out- Michael Cavanaugh,Band
18. I Go To Rio- Hugh Jackman,Company
19. Defying Gravity- Kristin Chenoweth,Idina Menzel

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous for any Broadway-lover.......2007-01-30

Packs into 5 CD's a sampling of Broadway tunes from the 20's thru (almost) today, mostly from original cast recordings. Includes not just well-known hits, but also some lesser-known gems. Sound quality is first rate, booklet is informative too. Have given this as a gift to several friends with rave reviews.

Top Shelf.......2007-01-04

This is THE definitive collection of Broadway hits. I have other collections, and none of them measure up. A great deal of care was obviously taken in compiling and presenting this box set. It covers a lot of ground, starting with some long-forgotten but still very enjoyable hits from the days of yore, and finishing with present-day favorites. To the best of my knowledge, the recordings are by those who made them famous. You won't be disappointed.

TERRIFIC CD'S.......2006-03-23

THESE BROADWAY MUSICALS CD'S ARE A BROADWAY LOVERS DREAM. WITH EACH SONG, MEMORIES COME FLOODING BACK. BOTH THE FAMILIAR AND THE FORGOTTEN SONGS ARE A TRUE LISTENING PLEASURE. IF YOU LIKE BROADWAY, YOU'LL LOVE THIS SET.

Great Collection of Broadways greatest Songs .......2005-06-14

This Collection was perfectly made it has almost all the most famous Broadway songs on this 5 cd set. The Music is great and has Broadways greatest treasures like "Memory""People""With One Look""Give my regards Too Broadway" just to name a few of this numerous cd set with over 100 songs. This is a great buy if you like musicals or The music of Broadway

Great Compilation!.......2005-01-17

If you are a fan of the Broadway Musicals, this is a collection that you should purchase. Since I got the 5 disc set I've enjoyed listening to it. The majority of the songs are done by the original singers. The collection is priceless considering that you will have over 100 songs from popular musicals since the beginning of Broadway

Average customer rating: Music and the Great War How a Century Has Change Our Perception of War Excellent Recording! Good music, bad title

The Great War: Classical And Popular Selections From The Time Of World War I (National Public Radio Milestones Of The Millennium) Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Septets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Berg | Berg, Alban | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Copland | Copland, Aaron | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Elgar | Elgar, Sir Edward | ( E ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mahler | Mahler, Gustav | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schoenberg | Schoenberg, Arnold | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Stravinsky | Stravinsky, Igor | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Prokofiev | Prokofiev, Sergei | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music New York Philharmonic Orchestra | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Great War Over There - Songs From America's Wars Words and Music of World War II The Roaring Twenties Songs That Got Us Through WWII ASIN: B00000HXKX Release Date: 1999-01-12

Tracks:

1. Military March No. 1 In D Major, Op. 39: Pomp Ad Circumstance
2. Waltz Fom Der Rosenkavalier Suite
3. 'Von der Schonheit' From Das Lied von der Erde
4. 'De l'aube a midi sur la mer' From La Mer
5. Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25 'Classical Symphony': III. Gavotta. Non troppo allegro
6. L'histoire du soldat Suite - IV. The Royal March
7. L'histoire du soldat Suite - V. The Little Concert
8. Le tombeau de Couperin - V. Menuet
9. Le tombeau de Couperin - VI. Toccata
10. Sinfonia From Pulcinella Suite
11. Walzer From Funf Klavierstucke, Op. 23
12. Interlude From Wozzeck, Act III
13. Prologue From Music Ffor The Theatre
14. 'Shine On Harvest Moon'
15. 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' - Irving Berlin
16. 'Over There'
17. 'How You Gonna Keep'em Down On The Farm (After They've Seen Paree)?'
18. 'The Man I Love' From Stride Up The Band
19. 'West End Blues'

Amazon.com

The first two-thirds of this disc is a fascinating cram course in concert music around the time of World War I. The programmer has put together some fascinating juxtapositions--for example, Strauss's Rosenkavalier leads almost seamlessly into Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde, and Schoenberg sounds out of context with everybody (including Berg). The selections are all short, and performance quality runs from great to mediocre, but this is still a thought-provoking educational experience, even though Bartók and Ives are conspicuously missing. The popular selections are less interesting, often campy, and although vintage recordings are used, they aren't always the right vintage. And someone missed a point by separating Copland's jazzy "Music for the Theatre" from Louis Armstrong, who could have followed immediately. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Music and the Great War.......2007-05-14

This is a fascinating compendium of popular and classical music from the World War One period. It evokes all the turmoil, anguish, and also humor, of the age, and is a vital CD to own if you have an interest in the Great War and the music it inspired or was inspired by.

How a Century Has Change Our Perception of War.......2005-10-29

War. Tough subject these days - tough subject since the beginning of time. Yet Americans tend to mend wounds and gradually allow the atrocities of yesteryear to fade into coated cases that signal more memories of 'how things used to be' rather than learning from the tragedies with which war has scarred the planet. National Public Radio issued this excellent memoir at the turn of the millennium and one wonders if it now has the same response that greeted it in 1999.

Linda Kobler reconstituted this mix of classical and popular music with a keen sense of history. The CD is twice divided (in both the classical and the popular music) into 'Before the War' 1901 - 1917, 'During the War' 1917 - 1922, and 'After the War' 1922 - 1928. In the first era are the works of Elgar ('Pomp and Circumstance'), Strauss (a waltz from 'Der Rosenkavalier'), Mahler (excerpt from 'Das Lied von der Erde'), and Debussy ('La Mer') joining the songs 'Shine On Harvest Moon' and 'Alexander's Ragtime Band'. The War period is represented by Prokofiev's 'Symphony No. 1', Stravinsky's 'L'histoire du soldat', and Ravel's 'Le tombeau de Couperin' in tandem with 'Over There'. After the war include Stravinsky ('Pulcinella Suite'), Schoenberg (Waltz from 'Five Piano Pieces'), Berg (excerpt from 'Wozzeck') and Copland ('Music from the Theatre') with popular songs 'How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm', 'The Man I Love', and 'West End Blues'.

The excerpts selected for this survey are exceptionally good: orchestras include NY Phil, LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra, London Symphony, and the Columbia Symphony under such batons a Ormandy, Bernstein, Salonen, Tilson Thomas, Schippers and Stravinsky; soloists include Glen Gould, Robert Casadesus, Lili Chookaskian, Louis Armstrong, et al. The sonics are very fine and the performances are each from significant full recordings remaining in the catalogue.

The booklet accompanying this concert of memories is written by Linda Kobler who uses each selection as a pivotal point in the atmosphere of the globe that accompanied the Great War: it is very well written and informative. This is one of those recorded collections that goes far beyond an accumulation of bits and pieces and instead gives food for thought about how our political and social actions intertwine with the arts in a prophetic way. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, October 05

Excellent Recording!.......1999-03-13

(It was called The "Great" War, because nobody knew about WWII at the time and it was the biggest war anyone had ever seen.)

I think this CD may be a bit choppy to "easy" listeners, but for anyone who has a sincere interest in delving into the musical senses of earlier generations it's VERY good! I recommend the entire NPR Milestones of the Millennium series to such aficionados.

Good music, bad title.......1999-02-11

Since when is war great? Life in the trenches waiting for the germans to attack you worrying about whether mustard gas is gonna loft your way isn't exactly like sipping chablis.

Average customer rating: Magic of love Filled with musical gems TOO LONG !!!!!!!!!!! GERSHWIN'S TALENT Ga Ga for Gershwin

An American in Paris (1951 Film Soundtrack) George Gershwin , Gene Kelly , and Oscar Levant Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music 1990s | By Decade | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Cabaret | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Singin' in the Rain (1952 Film Soundtrack) (Deluxe Edition) Singin' in the Rain (1952 Film Soundtrack) Gene Kelly At Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: 'S Wonderful - Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology Easter Parade: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack M-G-M's Brigadoon: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1954 Film) ASIN: B0000033JE Release Date: 1996-07-16

Tracks:

1. Main Title (An American In Paris/'S Wonderful/I Got Rhythm) - MGM Studio Orchestra
2. Paris Narration/Left Bank (Themes From An American In Paris) - MGM Studio Orchestra
3. Nice Work If You Can Get It (Outtake) - Georges Guetary
4. Embraceable You - MGM Studio Orchestra
5. By Strauss - Gene Kelly, Georges Guetary, Mac MacLain, Grace Stark, Pete Roberts
6. Street Exhibit - MGM Studio Orchestra
7. I Got Rhythm - Gene Kelly, MGM Children's Chorus
8. But Not For Me - Benny Carter & His Orchestra
9. Medley: Do, Do, Do/Bidiin' My Time/I've Got A Crush On You/Love Is Here To Stay - MGM Orchestra
10. Someone To Watch Over Me - Benny Carter & His Orchestra
11. Medley: My Cousin In Milwaukee/A Foggy Day/The Half-Of-It Dearie Blues/But Not For Me (Outtake) - Oscar Levant
12. Tra-La-La - Gene Kelly, Oscar Levant
13. I'm No Enemy (Love Is Here To Stay) (Outtake) - MGM Studio Orchestra
14. Love Is Here To Stay - Gene Kelly
15. Medley: What Time Is It?/Love Is Here To Stay (Reprise) - MGM Studio Orchestra, Gene Kelly
16. (I'll Build A) Stairway To Paradise - Georges Guetary
17. I've Got A Crush On You (Outtake) - Gene Kelly
18. Love Walked In (Outtake) - Georges Guetary, Oscar Levant
19. Medley: We Would Get Married (Love Walked In) (Outtake)/I Don't Think I'll Fall In Love Today... - Oscar Levant, MGM Studio Orchestra
20. Concerto In F (3rd Movement) - Oscar Levant, MGM Studio Orchestra

Tracks:

1. Painting Montage (Tra-La-La/Love Is Here To Stay) - MGM Studio Orchestra
2. Kiss Me (Outtake) - MGM Studio Orchestra
3. 'S Wonderful - Gene Kelly, Georges Guetary
4. Lise, I Love You ('S Wonderful/Love Is Here To Stay) - MGM Studio Orchestra
5. Strike Up The Band (Extended Version) - MGM Studio Orchestra
6. Liza (Complete Version) - Oscar Levant
7. Medley: Oh, Lady Be Good/'S Wonderful - MGM Studio Orchestra
8. Medley: That Certain Feeling/Clap Yo' Hands - MGM Studio Orchestra
9. I've Got A Crush On You (Outtake) - MGM Studio Orchestra
10. I Got Rhythm (Extended Version) - MGM Studio Orchestra
11. Tra-La-La (Outtake) - MGM Studio Orchestra
12. But Not For Me - Georges Guetary
13. Utrillo Did It (Love Is Here To Stay/An American In Paris/Nice Work If You Can Get It) - MGM Studio Orchestra
14. An American In Paris Ballet (Extended Version) - MGM Studio Orchestra
15. Finale (An American In Paris) - MGM Studio Orchestra
16. Painting Montage (An American In Paris) (Deleted Version) - MGM Studio Orchestra
17. Main Title: An American In Paris (Alternate Version - Outtake) - MGM Studio Orchestra
18. Adam Cook Monologue (How Long Has This Been Going On?) (Extended Version) - Oscar Levant
19. Nice Work If You Can Get It (Partial As Used In Film) - Georges Guetary, Oscar Levant
20. Third Prelude (Outtake) - Oscar Levant
21. My Cousin In Milwaukee (Outtake) - Oscar Levant
22. A Foggy Day (Outtake) - Oscar Levant
23. The Half-Of-It Dearie Blues (Outtake) - Oscar Levant
24. But Not For Me - Oscar Levant
25. Bidin' My Time (Outtake) - Oscar Levant, Saul Chaplin
26. 'S Wonderful (Reprise) (Outtake) - Gene Kelly
27. Finale (Alternate Version - Outtake) - MGM Studio Orchestra

Amazon.com essential recording

This is a considerably expanded version of the soundtrack album to Vincente Minnelli's Oscar-winning film. With two discs and 100 minutes of music (much of which is presented for the first time), these original session masters are highlighted by the MGM Studio Orchestra, Oscar Levant, Benny Carter, and Gene Kelly, all of whom perform such memorable Gershwin tunes as "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Love Is Here to Stay," and "S'Wonderful." Just about all of the material has a monotonously mono sound, but Levant's version of "Concerto in F" is included here for the first time in true stereo. Along with several Levant improvisational piano solos based on Gershwin's music, there are also some outtakes as well as extensive production and historical notes. --Joseph Lanza

Customer Reviews:

Magic of love.......2007-03-10

Nothing but Gene and George: the hard work and the happiness in music, conducting by the magician Vince.
Noone is better, noone could do better.
American masterpiece with european feelings.

Filled with musical gems.......2004-02-17

This comprehensive edition is a must have for fans of the movie and of the Gershwins. The outtakes, contrary to the first review above, are excellent. Gene Kelly offers a wonderful vocal of "I've Got a Crush on You" and his short riff on "'S Wonderful" is almost like an acoustic version, much different than the over-the-top duet in the movie. And the Oscar Levant piano pieces are as close to George sitting down at the keys as we're going to get.

TOO LONG !!!!!!!!!!!.......2002-06-17

I would not suggest buying this version of this sondtrack!!! The underscores and the extra tracks that are not featured in the film are not neccesary. Rhino records puts the extras out to jack up the price of the CD (making one LP into 2 CDs).
I would buy the ORIGINAL CAST SOUNDTRACK released by MGM records. You will enjoy this version ever so much more without all the extras!!!

GERSHWIN'S TALENT.......2001-08-12

Many agree that the talented George Gershwin is a fabulous pianist, and alongside Ira, he helped to create some of the most beloved music ever. After viewing the movie that was filled with song and dance, I was pleased to discover that the soundtrack was readily available. The plot of An American in Paris mainly focuses on the lives of three friends and their dreams in addition to the romance that they encounter in the most popular European city. Gene Kelley is a struggling artist who soon falls in love, and the many songs in this cd express his emotions. Who wouldn't want to dance to Gershwin's spectacular tunes such as "Embraceable You?" These original songs included in this two cd set are well worth the price. Furthermore, "I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise" is a true favorite with unique lyrics. Don't miss out on this must have cd collection.

Ga Ga for Gershwin.......2000-12-13

Nearly every popular Gershwin tune is represented here, either as an instrumental, a vocal, or a production number. I am not a big fan of the film, but the soundtrack is fabulous. There are some stereo tracks here, too. Yet another triumph in the Turner/Rhino soundtrack collection of MGM films.As a sidenote I would like to thank Rhino for their extremely co-operative staff. When I bought this CD I opened up the very extensive booklet and was disappointed to find that due to an error on the assembly line I had received an insert that had some pages repeated and others deleted. I contacted Rhino and they sent me a new booklet which arrived within a week! That's what I call excellent customer service. The really neat thing is the fact that I have both booklets. The flubbed copy is sort of a collector's item to me.

Average customer rating: I am in a Box with Berlioz Box Sets A superb set, well worth the price! all the overtures *NOT* A wonderful collection of Berlioz

Berlioz: Complete Orchestral Works Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Allen, Thomas | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music Bargain Box Sets | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Bargain Box Sets | Opera & Vocal General | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Opera & Vocal General | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Liszt: Works for Piano and Orchestra Strauss: Orchestral Works Bruckner: The Complete Symphonies Grieg: Complete Music with Orchestra Debussy, Ravel: Orchestral Works ASIN: B0000041MZ Release Date: 1997-09-16

Tracks:

1. Symphony Fantastique, Op. 14: 1. Rries, Passions (Largo - Allegro agitato ed appassinonato assai)
2. Symphony Fantastique, Op. 14: 2. Un bal (Valse: Allegro non troppo)
3. Symphony Fantastique, Op. 14: 3. Sc aux champs (Adagio)
4. Symphony Fantastique, Op. 14: 4. Marche au supplice (Allegretto non troppo)
5. Symphony Fantastique, Op. 14: 5. Songe d'une nuit du Sabbat (Larghetto - Allegro- Ronde du Sabbat: Poco menu mosso)
6. Tristia, Op 18 (excerpts): 3. Marche fune pour la derni sc d'Hamlet (Allegretto moderato)
7. La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24 (excerpts): Menuet des follets
8. La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24 (excerpts): Marche hongroise

Tracks:

1. Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 1. Le peur (Goethe, Duboys)
2. Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 2. Choeur d'ombres (Berlioz)
3. Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 3. Chanson de brigands (Berlioz)
4. Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 4. Chant de bonheur (Berlioz)
5. Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 5. La harpe ienne - Souvenirs
6. Lo ou Le retour a vie, Op. 14b: 6. Fantasie sur la Temp de Shakespeare (Berlioz)
7. Grande Symphonie fune et triomphale, Op. 15: 1. Marche fune (Moderato un poco lento)
8. Grande Symphonie fune et triomphale, Op. 15: 2. Oraison fune (Adagio non tanto - Andantino un poco lento e sostenuto)
9. Grande Symphonie fune et triomphale, Op. 15: 3. Apothe (Allegro non troppo e pomposo)

Tracks:

1. Harold en Italie, Op.16: 1a. Harold aux montagnes (Adagio)
2. Harold en Italie, Op.16: 1b. Harold aux montagnes (Allegro)
3. Harold en Italie, Op.16: 2. Marche des prins (Allegretto)
4. Harold en Italie, Op.16: 3. Snade (Allegro assai - Allegretto)
5. Harold en Italie, Op.16: 4. Orgie de brigands (Allegro frenetico - Adagio - Allegro, Tempo I)
6. Les Troyens arthage: Prelude From: Les Troyens arthage: Part II, Act III
7. Les Troyens (Act IV): No. 29: Chasse royale et orage - Pantomime
8. Les Troyens (Act IV): No. 32: Marche pour l'entrde la reine; No. 33: Ballets
9. Les Troyens (Act IV): -A: Pas des Alm
10. Les Troyens (Act IV): -B: Danse des esclaves
11. Les Troyens (Act IV): - C: Pas d'esclaves nubiennes
12. Rrie et Caprice, Op.8

Tracks:

1. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part I, Introduction
2. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part I, Prologue: 'D'anciennes haines endormies'
3. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part I, Strophe 1: 'Premiers transports que nul n' oublie'
4. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part I, Strophe 2: 'Heureux enfants aux coers de flamme'
5. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part I, Rtatif et Scherzetto: 'Bientot de Romeo' - 'Mab! la messagere' - Bientot la mort est souveraine'
6. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part II, Romseul - Tristesse - Concert eet bal
7. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part II, Grande f chez les Capulets
8. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part III, 'Ohe! Capulets! Bonsoir, bonsoir!'
9. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part III, Sc d'amour

Tracks:

1. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Scherzo: La reine Mab ou la fdes songes
2. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Convoi fune de Juliette: 'Jetez des fleurs pour la vierge expiree!'
3. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Romau tombeau des Capulets
4. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Finale. Choeurs et Rtatif du P Laurence: 'Quo! Romeo de retour!'
5. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Finale. Air du P Laurence: 'Pauvres enfants que je pleure' - 'Mais notre sang rougit leur glaive'
6. Romeo et Juliette, Op. 17: Part IV, Finale. Serment de rnciliation: 'Jurez donc'

Tracks:

1. Beatrice et Benedict
2. Benvenuto Cellini
3. Overtures: Le roi Lear, Op. 4
4. Les Francs - juges, Op. 3
5. Waverley, Op. 1
6. Le corsaire, Op. 21
7. Carnaval romain, Op. 9

Amazon.com

Berlioz was the first Romantic master of the orchestra. His music hasn't been surpassed in terms of sheer brilliance and accuracy of effect. This set includes all of the overtures, the Symphonie fantastique, Harold in Italy, the Royal Hunt and Storm from Les Troyens, orchestral music from The Damnation of Faust and Romeo and Juliet, and the completely insane Grande Symphonie funebre et triumphale. Davis achieved his reputation as a conductor as a Berlioz specialist, and he proves an expert advocate on behalf of this stimulating, bizarre, and totally original genius. The recording quality, so critical in such colorful music, is also very good. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

I am in a Box with Berlioz Box Sets.......2004-02-22

First I ordered Hector Berlioz Complete Orchestral Works (Box Set) in a 6-CD set by Sir Colin Davis because orchestral is what I like best. That was in 2002. Now I have ordered The Berlioz Edition (Box Set)in a 24-CD Box Set by Sir Colin Davis because I like what I have heard of Berlioz by Davis. I will put this up for sale, and if it doesn't go I will consider putting The Berlioz Edition up for sale after I have heard it. As I said I am in a Box with Berlioz Box Sets and can't afford both.

A superb set, well worth the price!.......2002-08-16

For those of us who grew up in the 1950s and '60s, the music of Berlioz means Munch and Toscanini: Munch for his incendiary performances of "Symphonie Fantastique," "Romeo et Juliette," "Damnation of Faust," the Requiem and the overtures (among others), Toscanini primarily for his gorgeous reading of "Harold in Italy" but also for his versions of the Roman Carnival Overture and (for those who could find it) the "Romeo" with Gladys Swarthout. These readings had one thing going for them, which was a rhythmic impetus that made even the slow movements exciting. Unfortunately, for those of us who read scores, when we checked these versions against the music we found that Toscanini and Munch had fiddled a bit with tempi and bowing accents in an attempt to make the music more exciting. Is this so bad? Not necessarily, because these conductors had this music in their blood, they were presenting Berlioz as they had processed him over a lifetime of love, and so their fast tempi had little in common with the rattly, jangly readings often turned out by John Eliot Gardiner.

Sir Colin Davis was, and of this reading remains, the greatest Berlioz interpreter of the stereo/digital era. This is no mean feat when one realizes that he now has several competitors in the field, among them James Levine and Charles Dutoit, but in my view only the wonderful John Nelson (whose recordings of the Te Deum and "Nuits d'Ete" with Susan Graham are so wonderful) really comes close. And what makes Davis so great is that, like those legendary conductors of old, he really gets under the skin of Berlioz and makes him exciting while maintaining score tempi. Listen, for instance, to his "Symphonie Fantastique," still the benchmark modern recording after nearly 30 years. Davis also excels in his readings of the Overtures, music from "Les Troyens," and the Symphonie Funebre et Triomphale which grabs the listener and pulls him/her into its vortex of sound.

In the other two symphonies, "Harold in Italy" and "Romeo et Juliette," I sense a lapse of sorts: the slow music is conducted not necessarily too slowly, but with a certain Romantic mushiness bordering on easy listening. This, for me, robs the "Romeo alone" and "Scene d'amour" of its passion, though of course it is wonderful to hear the score in modern stereo instead of Munch's cramped mono, and for me Toscanini's second movement of "Harold," with its peculiar yet engaging walking gait, shall never be surpassed--and, unlike Munch, Toscanini somewhat transcended his mono sound because of the wonderful clarity and transparency of his orchestra. Nevertheless, if I were forced to I would live with this Davis set over my Munch and Toscanini recordings because of their overall warmth and excellent sound.

Other highlights include excerpts from "Lelio" sung superbly by pre-leukemia Jose Carreras (listen to him ascend fearlessly to those high notes--he hasn't done that in nearly a quarter-century!), dramatically astute singing by Patricia Kerns and John Shirley-Quirk in "Romeo," and marvelous interpretations of the Overtures (oh, and you can forget "Rob Roy"...Berlioz decided after one performance that he would never publish it or even bother revising it, hence it is not here). I do question the omission of the Requiem and Te Deum (after all, they ARE "orchestral works"), but with so many riches at such a low price, who cares? Liner notes are sparse, and this is a slimline box which means paper sleeves and no jewel boxes, but so what? For this much Berlioz, so beautifully sung and conducted, the composer himself would gladly have plunked down ...

all the overtures *NOT*.......2001-05-04

This isn't a "complete" recording of Berlioz' orchestral music - what about the 'Rob Roy' overture? Granted it recycles some of Harold in Italy, but still...

A wonderful collection of Berlioz.......2000-08-15

This incredible six CD set features all of Hector Berlioz's purely orchestral music conducted by the great Sir Colin Davis, widely regarded as one of the greatest living Berlioz interpreters. In addition to favorites such as Symphonie fantastique, Harold en Italie and Romeo et Juliette, the set also includes the lesser known Lelio and several other works. The works were recorded between 1965 and 1980, and the sound is wonderful and rich. His interpretations are also lively and full of energy, especially in the overtures.

The Romeo et Juliette included in this set is my favorite of all the recordings of it that I've heard, although I haven't yet heard Sir Colin's more recent recording with the Vienna Philharmonic. The recording of Lelio is also well done. Jose Carreras and Thomas Allen are the featured singers in Lelio's song movements, and the fantasy on Shakespeare's Tempest at the end of the work is fascinating indeed. If you've only heard Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique and want to hear more of his works, or are looking for a nice collection of classic Berlioz recordings, then take a good look at this set.

Average customer rating: Bought this for Concerto for Clarinet Aaron Copland: Populist and Conductor Tribute to Lincoln A great way to get your dose of Copland.... Well balanced retrospective, -or- Listen to this!

The Copland Collection: Orchestral & Ballet Works, 1936-1948 Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Copland | Copland, Aaron | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Concertinos | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Piano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Clarinet | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Copland, Aaron | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Copland Collection: Orchestral Works, 1948-1971 Copland: Music for Films A Copland Celebration Vol. 3 A Copland Celebration Vol. 1 Samuel Barber / Thomas Schippers ASIN: B0000027BJ Release Date: 1991-01-18

Tracks:

1. El Salon Mexico
2. An Outdoor Overture
3. Billy The Kid: Introduction: The Open Prairie
4. Billy The Kid: Street In A Frontier Town
5. Billy The Kid: Prairie Night (Card Game At Night)
6. Billy The Kid: Gun Battle
7. Billy The Kid: Celebration (After Billy's Capture)
8. Billy The Kid: Billy's Death
9. Billy The Kid: The Open Prairie Again
10. Quiet City
11. John Henry
12. Our Town
13. Las Agachadas
14. Fanfare For The Common Man

Tracks:

1. Rodeo (Four Dance Episodes): I. Buckaroo Holiday
2. Rodeo (Four Dance Episodes): II. Corral Nocturne
3. Rodeo (Four Dance Episodes): III. Saturday Night Waltz
4. Rodeo (Four Dance Episodes): IV. Hoedown
5. The City: New England Countryside
6. Of Mice And Men: Barley Wagons
7. The City: Sunday Traffic
8. Our Town: Grovers Corners
9. Of Mice And Men: Threshing Machines
10. Appalachian Spring (Suite From The Ballet): Very Slow
11. Appalachian Spring (Suite From The Ballet): Fast
12. Appalachian Spring (Suite From The Ballet): Moderato
13. Appalachian Spring (Suite From The Ballet): Fast
14. Appalachian Spring (Suite From The Ballet): Still Faster
15. Appalachian Spring (Suite From The Ballet): As At First (Slowly)
16. Appalachian Spring (Suite From The Ballet): Calm And flowing
17. Appalachian Spring (Suite From The Ballet): Moderato; Coda
18. Letter From Home
19. Danzon Cubano

Tracks:

1. Lincoln Portrait: Lento
2. Lincoln Portrait: Subito Allegro
3. Lincoln Portrait: 'Fellow Citizens, We Cannot Escape History...'
4. Symphony No. 3: I. Molto Moderato-With Simple Expression
5. Symphony No. 3: II. Allegro Molto
6. Symphony No. 3: III. Andantino Quasi Allegretto
7. Symphony No. 3: IV. Molto Deliberato
8. Concerto For Clarinet, Strings, Harp, & Piano

Amazon.com

Aaron Copland made numerous recordings of his own music, including an extensive series for CBS during the 1960s and '70s, mostly with London orchestras. He was not an especially proficient conductor--consequently, the performances he conducted often lacked pace and rhythmic punch. His last recordings of his most popular scores have been reissued by Sony on an exceptionally well-remastered 3-CD set. These accounts do a good job of conveying the overall shape of the pieces, and they deliver telling characterizations of many episodes. Details emerge that are lost in some other accounts, and there is an appealing gentleness and sweetness to the approach. But the readings do not have as much grip as those of Bernstein and Slatkin, among others, and in spite of the authority they automatically possess, they are not necessarily preferable. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Bought this for Concerto for Clarinet.......2007-07-14

The sum is greater than the parts. This is a great Copland collection and shows his diversity. Yet as divers and the three CD are they are all distinctively Copland. Benny Goodman is usually associated with jazz yet he was also diverse in his career. "Concerto for Clarinet, Strings, and Harp & Piano" is a mantra that will carry you to a timeless place.

An added plus is the many other popular pieces that you know you heard but did not realize it was Copland especially the music from movies.

You may have to play the set a few times before being able to recognize the different tracks by name. The down side is many of Copland's works are outside of the date range of this collection.

Aaron Copland: Populist and Conductor.......2005-03-29

If you want a prime collection of Copland's more accessible works, this is it. Yes, it's true that Bernstein's recordings of individual pieces are often bolder and livelier; but this set offers the composer's own authoritative view of his work, and for that reason alone it is priceless. In addition, it includes virtually all the orchestral pieces he composed during his "populist phase," from El Salon Mexico (1936) to the Clarinet Concerto (1948). You won't find some of these lesser-known gems, such as An Outdoor Overture (1938) or Letter from Home (1944, written--like Rhapsody in Blue--for Paul Whiteman), on typical single-disc Copland compilations. I'd even go so far as to claim this as one of the four indispensable compilations of American instrumental music from the first half of the twentieth century (the others on my list--in case anyone cares--are Joshua Rifkin playing Scott Joplin, Oscar Levant playing Gershwin, and the Blanton-Webster band recordings of Duke Ellington).

What amazing riches flowed from Copland's pen during the period covered by these three discs! Billy the Kid (1939), Quiet City (1940), Our Town (1940), Fanfare for the Common Man (1942), Rodeo (1942), Lincoln Portrait (1942), Appalachian Spring (1944), and the Third Symphony (1946)--all are here. Some of this music is so familiar, so deeply ingrained in America's cultural consciousness, that we might be tempted to take it for granted. But imagine how much poorer the American concert repertoire would be without it. It's almost impossible, at this point, to conceive of a time when this wonderful music--which is to America roughly what Mussorgsky's music is to Russia, Grieg's to Norway, and Falla's to Spain--didn't exist. It was during the dozen years covered by this collection that Copland pulled away from the pack of his talented contemporaries (Hanson, Thomson, Harris, etc.) and, in a way, but with greater technical sophistication, filled the void left by the tragically early death of Gershwin, whose heyday, 1924-1935, immediately preceded the composition of the works on this collection.

The ballet music is all presented here in the familiar orchestral suites Copland arranged. Most of the selections are played by the London Symphony Orchestra, although the New Philharmonia and the just-plain Philharmonia get cracks at a few key works. The last-named orchestra, for instance, takes on the biggest piece on the program, Copland's Third, the closest thing American music has to a Beethoven's Ninth (although the work's sublime rhetoric has never completely convinced me--it's neither my personal favorite by Copland nor my favorite American symphony . . . but it sure has its moments). In addition to the fine orchestral playing, another treat is that Henry Fonda narrates the Lincoln Portrait--an almost inevitable pick, given the virtually mythic way his acting style embodied the American spirit and the fact that he had portrayed the sixteenth president in John Ford's classic film Young Mr. Lincoln (1939).

The set concludes with what, over the years, has become my favorite work by Copland, the Concerto for Clarinet, Strings, Harp, & Piano, written for and performed here by surely the last century's greatest clarinetist, Benny Goodman. This work effects a concise synthesis between Copland's mature style and his earlier jazz stylings from the 1920s; in addition, the searing eloquence of the opening slow movement seems to me the most profound lyrical writing Copland ever achieved. Stoltzman's recording, ironically enough, swings harder than the king of swing's, but this collaboration between the composer and the man who commissioned it is for the ages.

The only major "populist" scores written after the period this collection covers are the film scores to The Red Pony (1948) and The Heiress (1949). Both can be acquired on an essential Leonard Slatkin CD for RCA. And since this collection doesn't include chamber music, the great Violin Sonata (1943), a kind of more intimate counterpart to Appalachian Spring, will have to be sought elsewhere. (One good option is Gil Shaham/Andre Previn on DG.) A serious Copland collector will also want to grab the other two volumes of the Copland Collection itself. The early set features important works such as the Organ Symphony (1924), Music for the Theater (1925), and the Short Symphony (1932)--but both of the other collections also include long, thorny pieces like the early Symphonic Ode and the late Connotations that can be rather difficult for the average enthusiast to enjoy.

Most of the essential, universal Copland is to be found on this second installment of the Copland Collection, and I would definitely recommend it as the place to start exploring Copland's magnificent contribution to American music. It has been a wonderful and treasured companion of mine for many years, and it also serves to conjure up a timely and inspiring vision of open prairies, nocturnal cityscapes, and the populist, humane values that America should, ideally, epitomize.

Tribute to Lincoln.......2001-10-28

I purchased this set of Copeland CD's because I wanted the Tribute to Lincoln narrated by Henry Fonda. This is a masterful recording especially for Americans in this time. The Tribute sends chills down my spine whenever I her it. My greatest joy however, was how much I have enjoyed all of the CD's in the set. I tend to be much more of a classical listener. I have heard Copeland but not in any organized fashion. This set has brought a new and delightful experience to my listening options.

A great way to get your dose of Copland...........2000-06-30

The 2nd of this three CD collection is wonderful. My favorite though is the third one. Doesn't mean this isn't good. This Sony Copland Collection set is worth the money for. Copland is sooo much more then Appalachian Spring, Fanfare for the Common Man, Rodeo, etc... But you get a lot of typical Copland on these CDs. Songs we all know and love. But there are some unfamiliar good ones too. Concerto for Clarinet took me by storm. So did Letters from Home. Good quality, good booklet, good recording, good playing (how Copland got the London Symphony to play something right I will never know), good everything. It's not perfect because it doesn't compete with THE best Copland like the third CD set of this collection, or the The Tendeer Land. Oh, these three CD sets don't cover all Copland, but it does for the most part. It doesn't have many chamber works, two choral works, and his two operas. You can cover some of those with the full version of Tender Land and of Second Hurricane (which also comes with the choral work, In the Beginning). But this is a good series. I highly recommend it!

Well balanced retrospective, -or- Listen to this!.......1999-08-11

Mr. Copland's works, as always, are exceptional This album, which consists of his work both as a composer and as a conductor, brings his music to life in a way no other conductor can. This is a well mastered and well produced work and worth the listen. To hear Arron Copland's music as he intended is wonderfull.

Average customer rating: Witty and Charming

Ill-Conceived PDQ Bach Anthology Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bach, P.D.Q. | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schickele | Schickele, Peter | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Percussion | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Wurst of P.D.Q. Bach 1712 Overture & Other Musical Assaults P.D.Q. Bach: The Short-Tempered Clavier Music for an Awful Lot of Winds and Percussion P.D.Q. Bach in Houston - We Have a Problem! ASIN: B00000FDBK Release Date: 1998-11-24

Tracks:

1. This Is Professor Pete
2. 1712 Overture (S. 1712)
3. Introduction
4. II. Aria With Chorus: 'Howdy There'
5. Recitative: 'It Wasn't Long'
6. III. My Heart
7. Recitative: 'When Oedipus Heard'
8. VI. Chorale And Finale
9. Introduction
10. Love Me
11. WTWP Station ID
12. Oo-La-La Introduction
13. Oo-La-La: Cookin' French Like The French Cook French - Dana Krueger
14. Introduction: The Musical Sacrifice (S. 50% Off)
15. I. Fuga Meshuga - Susan Palma
16. Introduction
17. Classical Rap (S. 1-2-3) - Grandmaster Flab
18. Introduction
19. I. C Major - Christopher O'Riley
20. Introduction
21. II. Simply Grand Minuet
22. Introduction
23. Little Bunny Hop Hop Hop
24. Introduction
25. Minuet Militaire
26. Enough Already

Customer Reviews:

Witty and Charming.......2000-08-15

This CD is fun and action packed as much as you could hope for in a CD. He uses quotes from many famous folk and classical songs and implements them into his own compositions with a bit of a twist. For example, in Classical rap, where he raps about being the best rapper in the world with terrific brass interludes between the verses. The orchestra plays a clip from Vivaldi's "Spring" and then he twists it into a record "wicky-wicky" to the same tune. He introduces every peice before it is played in a hilarious manner in which he talks about the peice and something else that was going on in the composers mind as he wrote the peice. Starting at the begining-

This is Professor Pete- Peter Schickele introduces himself as well as P.D.Q.

1712 Overture- A takeoff of the 1812 overture of course, with snatches of some famous folktunes thrown in here and there.

Oedipus Tex- A parady of the Greek Myth Oedipus Rex where he murders his father who is the King. Oedipus Tex lives a life like his brother but in Texas style.

The next tracks are more comedy than exactly music like the WTWP station giving options over the phone about how you would like to hear a certain peice of music. Cooking French... is a woman cooking a French gourmet meal but flubbing up the entire time.

What I have already said pretty much sums it up. The rest of the tracks are equally hilarious and as witty as all the others. If you buy this CD you will not regret it no matter what type of music you listen to.

Average customer rating: Rich, Soulful, Crisp Piano Work Just 88 keys, but a lot of soul.. If you like piano, you will LOVE this CD! Best solo piano recording in ages Solo Piano that touches the soul

Forever Blue Chuck Leavell Manufacturer: Terminus Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music Piano | Blues | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Southscape The Best of Sea Level What's in That Bag? Thin Places Between Rock And A Home Place ASIN: B00005MPQM Release Date: 2001-04-24

Tracks:

1. Forever Blue
2. Song For Amy
3. Blue Rose
4. Comin' Home
5. Ashokan Farewell
6. A Lotta Colada
7. Just Before Dawn
8. Walk A Little Closer
9. Higher Ground
10. Georgia On My Mind

Amazon.com

Chuck Leavell admits to three passions: his family, his tree conservation, and his music. A bluesman to the core who's worked with the Allman Brothers Band, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Gov't Mule, the Georgia-based piano player touches the hearts of listeners here with solo performances of mostly original material. The title song pleases with Leavell's improvisations on blues sequences, his references to the history of blues piano tied together with an impressive craftsmanship. Genre-bender "A Lotta Colada," which he originally wrote for his blues-rock-jazz group Sea Level, displays even more of his creative musical mind. Leavell's "Song for Amy" points to the sunny jazz piano of Vince Guaraldi, and his ardor for life comes across most effectively on his Crescent City-directed boogie takeoff on the gospel staple "Walk a Little Closer." --Frank-John Hadley

Customer Reviews:

Rich, Soulful, Crisp Piano Work.......2003-12-08

I recently heard Chuck Levell on Piano Jazz with Marion McPartland and he played some of the best piano blues and standards I have heard in a long time. It was a wonderful show so I thought I 'd explore his solo recordings. I bought and love this album. It is all instrumental which in a way is too bad because Chuck has a nice singing voice. A one star hit from me due to the length. Many releases these days are similarly scant, but at only 37 minutes I had a need for more when it ended after a sweet rendition of "Georgia On My Mind." The music that is there is wonderful.

Just 88 keys, but a lot of soul.........2002-09-05

According to Chuck's liner notes, Forever Blue's opening title track was a quick improvisation he dashed off while the engineer was setting up to record. It's a simple basic blues tune, but brightly performed with some spirited embellishments and a light overall playfulness. This sets the tone for the rest of the record nicely; it's not groundbreaking, but it doesn't try to be anything other than 37 minutes of fun ivory-tickling. Never mind the grim bleakness of the cover, it's quite a cheerful little gem. We've got some upbeat boogie ("Walk a Little Closer"), some Southern gospel ("Higher Ground"), and a few beautiful meditative moments made for quiet reflection. And for mood-lifting sunniness, the joyous "A Lotta Colada" stands out as the brightest offering here. As his history (Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones) attests, Chuck's musical personality is permanently tied to the blues, but the blues aren't always meant to be sad. This shows the joyful side of the coin, and it's one of the nicest quaint treasures I've discovered in a good long time. I'll be getting some mileage out of this.

If you like piano, you will LOVE this CD!.......2002-07-25

When you hear this album you will have a hard time beliving this is solo piano. It is not what you might expect. Not rock based but blues, jazz and N'orleans styles. It is more than the hard piano rifts from Sea Level and Gov't mule. Totally entertaining! So enjoyable you'll want to go out and "spread the word". Chuck is a master and I hope he does more solo work.

Best solo piano recording in ages.......2001-08-23

What a refreshing thing for the ears! Leavell has put together a diverse and satisfying set of tunes that gets better with every listening. The styles range from melodic to latin to boogie, all with a thread of the blues (thus the title). This is a classic, and if it doesn't get a grammy, there is no justice! Buy more than one copy! CAL

Solo Piano that touches the soul.......2001-07-10

Chuck Leavell is a superstar Rock and Roll pianist, his work has been heard shining through on albums and tours by the Allman Brothers, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Gov't Mule, and tons of other superstars. He steps out with this release on his own, with only his piano to express the deep soul that has enhanced the music of so many high profile bands.

This CD is a must have for fans of Rock and Roll, Jazz, R&B, and soul.. I recommend it 100%.

Average customer rating: A Holst CD Not To Be Missed!! " Nax-HOLST " . . . Brilliant compositions by Holst!

Holst: Orchestral Works Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Cello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Holst: St. Paul's Suite Holst: The Cloud Messenger; A Choral Fantasia; Part-Songs Frederick Delius: Orchestral Works Rorem: Flute Concerto; Violin Concerto Howard Hanson: Organ Concerto; Fantasy Variations; Nymphs and Satyr; Summer Seascape; Pastorale; Serenade ASIN: B000007N5X Release Date: 1998-05-26

Tracks:

1. Somerset Rhapsody
2. First Dance
3. Second Dance
4. Finale: In The Street Of The Ouled Nails
5. Invocation For Cello And Orchestra
6. Fugal Overture
7. Egdon Heath
8. Hammersmith

Amazon.com

There is much more to Holst than The Planets, and the music gathered on this excellently played and recorded disc gives you some of his very best orchestral music at a budget price. If you're a Planets fan, then the next logical piece to try is Beni Mora, a luscious Oriental rhapsody in three movements that reveals the same interest in rhythm and orchestral color that characterizes it's more famous astrological big brother. Holst considered Egdon Heath (a symphonic poem after Thomas Hardy) to be his best piece, and it's certainly one of his most evocative--a study in bleakness and silence very much like Debussy's Nuages (Clouds) from the Nocturnes. In short, there's a lot of fine music to discover here, and at the price it's a low risk investment. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

A Holst CD Not To Be Missed!!.......2004-01-12

The other reviewers here have correctly given praises to David Lloyd-Jones and his excellent English orchestra for their fine, affordable performances of Holst's lesser known orchestral works. Lloyd-Jones is a fine, sensitive conductor who expertly shapes and conducts each piece, eliciting expert sounds and music from the orchestra.

The "Fugal Overture" has some very interesting tone clusters in it. It is a short piece, and it showcases Holst's eerie, fascinating sonorities quite well.

"Egdon Heath," considered by Holst himself to be his finest work, is a dark, brooding piece that haunts the listener. Lloyd-Jones and the orchestra capture these moods perfectly.

My personal favorite on the CD is the "Beni Mora" suite, Holst's brush with orientalism. It sounds somewhat like the orchestral works of Borodin at times. The drone in the last movement is really catchy (Holst heard an Algerian native intone it for over two-and-a-half hours!!).

Tim Hugh plays the "Invocation" with beauty and expression, receiving great support from the orchestra.

If you would like to augment your Holst collection, you should purchase this CD. I would recommend it even at full value!

" Nax-HOLST " . . ........2002-05-29

Holst: Orchestral Works [Naxos 8553696]

A wonderful cd program with Lloyd-Jones conducting a competent orchestra. The choice offers some lesser-known compositions by the man who brought the 20th century with great music, such as the original Suite 'The Planets' and the 'St.Paul's Suite'. To my knowledge, there aren't that many recordings of these works. Thanks to Naxos some fine pieces are made available again to the public.

For the orchestration of a version for two pianos of his 'Planets', Holst (who died in 1934 due to health problems) has had the helping hand of two fellow faculty members at St.Paul's School : Nora Day and Vally Lasker (renown as pianist, arranger and teacher, both have worked closely with the composer). Lasker has been in touch with some of Holst's smaller works as well, and she did collaborate with Ralph Vaughan Williams, among others. Here and there, the influence of English folk tradition is striking : Is it a bequest from the folk song collecting outbursts of the early 20th century---led in England by Cecil Sharp---or a souvenir of the "Field Days" with Vaughan Williams? The folk idiom is particularly obvious in 'Somerset Rhapsody' and the 'Fugal Overture'.

You can almost walk through the soothing pastoral peace of the English countryside and smell the air (around the instruments!) when listening to the small but worthwhile pieces from this cd. The 'Somerset Rhapsody', the bold 'Beni Mora' and the typical beauty of 'Egdon Heath' (which Holst's colleagues and friends have welcomed with much praise) are part of the musical travelogue ; every minute of the program is pleasant---not much complaint about the playing, very good if not excellent on the whole. The orchestral elements were developed meticulously---as it seems to me---in respect to the nuances, phrases and colors of that genuinely charming British music. David Lloyd-Jones is virtually remarkable in his role of conductor. The music exposes a facet of Gustav Holst's musical persona ; it seems analogous to some works by Finzi, Bax or VW. Those orchestral works are also quite different from the Eastern-influenced or more "mystical" compositions (the operatic work 'Savitri', for instance).

Again, this is a very good album albeit not entirely blameless : Richard Hickox on Chandos (CHAN 9270) brings a strong challenge, although i wouldn't venture to say which one is clearly the better. Sir Adrian Boult (on Lyrita, SRCD222) is aptly regarded as a paragon in that specific repertoire. However, considering price versus quality of performance (plus quality of sound), this cd is a laudable bargain, and it inserts a couple of works which were not included on the outputs of Hickox and Boult.

Brilliant compositions by Holst!.......2001-01-13

This magnificent CD reveals that the great British composer Gustav Holst was no one-hit wonder. Holst's peculiar talent for making epic statements in any musical setting and in any musical length is much in evidence in this collection. Featured, in part, are the wonderful 1909-1910 "Beni Mora" suite, an "oriental" exercise in minimalism that renders modern efforts in the same vein beneath consideration; the 23rd-century-sounding 1923 "Fugal Overture," with its astounding orchestration and uniquely overlapping counterpoint; and the 1906-1907 "Somerset Rhapsody," featuring folk-song quotations and composed at the prompting of Cecil Sharp. These are enriching and challenging pieces, very well performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

Once again, the Naxos label has provided a superb product at an unbelievably low price. They deserve our business!

Average customer rating: Not just monumental, but momentous Spectacular Performances of Wind Band Classics

Monumental Works for Winds Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Copland | Copland, Aaron | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Grainger | Grainger, Percy Aldridge | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Persichetti | Persichetti, Vincent | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Stravinsky | Stravinsky, Igor | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Walton | Walton, Sir William | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Czech | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Jazz | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Winds of Nagual Orff: Carmina Burana Suite; Bird: Serenade for Wind Instruments; Reed: La Fiesta Mexicana Strike Up the Band! Persichetti: Divertimento; Masquerade; Parable Collage: A Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Peabody Institute 1857-2007 ASIN: B000I2IUX4 Release Date: 2006-10-31

Tracks:

1. Aida: Triumphal March
2. Symphonies Of Wind Instrumentals
3. Adagio-Allegro
4. Adagio Sostenuto
5. Allegretto
6. Vivace
7. Schwanda The Bagpiper: Polka And Fugue
8. Emblems
9. Over The Hills And Far Away-Children's March
10. Crown Imperial-Coronation March

Customer Reviews:

Not just monumental, but momentous.......2007-03-09

This display of virtuosity from "The President's Own," the U.S. Marine Band, now ranks right alongside the extensive discography of the Eastman Wind Ensemble with Frederick Fennell in my pantheon of wind ensemble/wind band/concert band recordings. Start with the Persichetti Symphony #6, where all discussions of transcendent 20th Century wind ensemble writing must start -- this actually surpasses Fennell in my estimation, because there is not a ragged bar in it (once or twice, the Eastman rushes a little as it transmits its enthusiasm for this great work). But then add in Stravinsky's Symphonies of Wind Instruments and the other great performances on this disk and you a stupendous, fulfilling piece of programming and consummate performance.

Spectacular Performances of Wind Band Classics.......2006-11-12

I'm not quite sure why this album is entitled 'Monumental Works for Winds.' Why 'monumental'? Be that as it may, most of the works included here are among the most popular and most often played by good (emphasis on the word 'good') wind bands. Of course, some of them are actually transcriptions. The works here originally written for wind band are Copland's 'Emblems', Persichetti's Symphony No. 6, Grainger's 'Children's March' and Stravinsky's 'Symphonies of Wind Instruments'. The other works are orchestral pieces that in their originals have a preponderance of wind/brass sonorities.

The first track, Verdi's 'Triumphal March' from Aida, was transcribed by that bandmaster of a bygone era, Giuseppe Creatore (now mostly remembered as 'the great Creatore', so-called by Professor Harold Hill in 'The Music Man.') It is indeed a monumental piece if only because one cannot hear it without thinking of an opera stage crowded with elephants, soldiers and Egyptian dancing girls. It is given a terrific performance by the United States Marine Band who let us know immediately that they are among the very best such ensembles in the world.

Stravinsky's great neoclassic 'Symphonies of Wind Instruments' is given in its original 1921 version. The playing here is extremely subtle, with conductor Michael J. Colburn fashioning a flexible, almost impressionistic rendition. One becomes aware of just how expert this band is. The clarinet section is one of the best I've ever heard with their ability to play softly and smoothly very much like a good violin section might.

Perschetti's mighty symphony for band, his No. 6, has been recorded many times and is surely one of the greatest works for wind band ever written by an American. The rhythmic snap of the Marine band must be heard to be appreciated, and again the clarinets are peerless in the Adagio movement. Weinberger's 'Polka and Fugue' from his opera Schwanda the Bagpiper is well-known from its initial full-orchestra recording by Felix Weingartner. The transcription by Glenn Cliffe Bainum is expert. The upper winds are given complex pianissimos to perform and acquit themselves admirably. The flute and piccolo pianissimos are breathtaking. The brass are stupendous in the final moments of the fugue.

I had never heard Copland's 'Emblems' before, although I'd read of it. It is an eleven minute work written in 1963 and is typical of his more knotty abstract style. However, his use of 'Amazing Grace' as a recurring theme gives it an unmistakably folkloric American cast. It's a brilliant piece given a brilliant performance.

The final two tracks, Grainger's 'Children's March' from Over the Hills and Far Away, and Walton's 'Crown Imperial March' are British to the core, arising as they do from the strong and deep current of British wind band music. The Grainger (actually written when Grainger was serving as a musician the US Army!) is given a winsome performance while the Walton, written for the coronation of King George VI (and transcribed for band by W.J. Duthoit) is suitably noble, and nobly played.

Make no mistake, this is a superb CD from beginning to end and stands among the best wind band recordings of recent times.

Scott Morrison

Track Listings:

1. 24 Preludes / Scherzo / 3 Mazurkas / Polonaise
2. 5 Pieces, Opus 5
3. 6 Symphonies
4. Bands & Pipes from the Borders
5. Bedrich Smetana: String Quartets/Josef Suk: Meditation On The Old Czech Hymn St. Wencelas, Op. 35a
6. Benjamin Britten: Overture "Paul Bunyan" / Piano Concerto, Op. 13 (original version) / Robert Saxton: Music to Celebrate the Resurrection of Christ - Joanna MacGregor / English Chamber Orchestra / London Symphony Orchestra / Steuart Bedford
7. Benjamin Britten: String Quartet in D / Simple Symphony / String Quartet No. 1 - The Britten Quartet
8. Benjamin Britten: The String Quartets 2 & 3 - The Britten Quartet
9. Birds, Beasts, and Battles
10. Birtwistle: Antiphonies for Piano and Orchestra/Nomos/An Imaginary Landscape

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Arena [Extra tracks]

Gloria [Import]

Brightest Smile in Town

Music: Signs of Home

Elements Of Friction

Hot & Tight

Division Rock

Fantasies Symphoniques / Bouquet of Flowers

Ernie Sings & Glen Picks

Buen Viaje [Enhanced]

If God Will Send His Angels [CD-single] [Import]

Dreams [Import]

Electric Kama Sutra [CD-single]

Scott Joplin: Piano Works, 1899-1904

The Ladykillers