title: Sparking sound for some classic sessions

text:
Typically wonderful Mosiac set which includes really amazingly clear masterings of the 1936-1937 quintette material. If you only know these sessions (which include great versions of "Charleston" and "Chicago" among many other) from the JSP label CDs, or from issues on Chronological Jazz Classics or from any of a million generic European labels, it's like hearing them without a pillow in front of the speaker. Most masterings I've heard of the 1930s quintette with Stephane Grappelli suffer from too much noise reduction, often used to mask the fact that that the source material (commercially-issued 78s from private collections) isn't as good as it could be. Mosiaic was apparently able to get in some cases the original metal stampers used in the production of the 78s ("original metal parts" in the lingo of the record-collecting world), as they were working with (and paying license fees to) the corporate descendants of the record companies that originally issued these records.

I love the work JSP did in the early-mid 1990s to put out the best-sounding and most comprehensive editions of the QHCF that they could, but they were limited by their source material and were not able to do the kind of remastering job Mosaic accomplished here. Unfortunately, Mosaic did not include in this set the great 1938-39 sessions for Decca records recorded in London and Paris, nor the 1934-35 sessions on Ultraphon and Decca, and for those, I still listen to my JSP masterings and dream of someone doing a remastering job on the material like the one in this box.

The 1940s material has many of Django's finest compositions (including the first versions of Nuages), and documents the years when he fronted a small group with drums and clarinet inspired by Benny Goodman, and also a few sessions as a soloist in a big-band context. The war years were a time when he was at his greatest level of fame in France, and the big band sessions reflect his increasing fame and prestige (though musically speaking, they are among his least essential work). There is good music to be found on all six discs, but the first two are the most special for me.

* * * *

Here's a first-hand account of the great April 1937 sessions included in this boxed set:

Hugues Panassié, "The Quintet in the Studio" (Douzes Annees de Jazz 1927-1938 / Souvenir, 1946)

The success of the Hot Club Quintet has grown consistently since the group was founded. Several of their records have been released in England. They were so well sold that the British company, His Master's Voice, sent instructions to Paris in order that eighteen of the Quintet's pieces be especially recorded for customers in England. The titles to be recorded were usually specified, accord¬ing to a regrettable custom, although it may have been better to leave to inter¬preters a certain latitude in their choice of pieces to record. This custom forces the musicians to interpret pieces that they do not like and subsequently people are astonished to have mediocre records that lack inspiration.

By contrast, His Master's Voice, had an idea that immediately seemed superior to me: they wanted that of the eighteen pieces, two to be recorded not by the Quintet but by Django alone on the guitar.

When he learned the list of songs that they wanted him to record, Django grimaced. During the course of recent rehearsals, the Quintet had developed some original pieces and he wanted to record those. He was right, but it was necessary to take into account the desires of those in London. They finally settled on a compromise: they would record a good part of the songs requested but the worst would be replaced by pieces that Django chose.

Fewer than four recording sessions were necessary to complete the eighteen pieces. The sessions took place in April of 1937, on the 20th, 21st, 26th, and 27th of the month, at the studio on the Avenue de la Grande-Armee. Moreover, during these sessions, the Quintet recorded the first four songs for the "Swing" label.

The Quintet had often made good records, but I believe that they surpassed themselves with these sessions. Django and Grappelly were in brilliant form; almost all of their solos were full of inspiration. This would have been the best series of records made by the Quintet, apart from one recording error that slightly marred them: the guitars were recorded too loud relative to the violin; most of Grappelly's solos and some of Django's were covered by the rhythm guitar accompaniment. This is very bothersome in 'Hot Lips', 'You're Driving Me Crazy', and 'The Sheik of Araby'. Even the pieces in which one can easily follow the violin part, the resonant volume is not completely sufficient to satisfy the ear.

The musicians who accompanied Django and Stephane on these records were Joseph Reinhardt, Pierre Ferret on the guitar, and Louis Vola on the double bass. They recorded about five songs per day and the sessions often lasted more than twelve hours.
If the orchestra had not rehearsed before coming into the studio, they developed an arrangement, which took more or less time depending on the difficulties encountered. To be sure, jazz includes a lot of improvisation, but beyond the passages that it was essential to go over, it often occurred that one or more of the musicians did not know the pieces to be recorded and it was thus necessary to teach them the harmonies.

Next, they recorded a take. The musicians listened immediately in order to hear the way their performance sounded and to correct possible faults. If this take indicated that major changes were necessary, a new arrangement would be developed, followed by a new take in order to see if they had, this time, obtained the desired result.

They moved on to the final take. But one of the musicians occasionally made a mistake and they had to interrupt the recording immediately in order to do another take, an incident that could be repeated four, five, or more times if it was an arrangement bristling with difficulties.

Sometimes, once the final take was made, the musicians had the impression that they had not played as well as they could have and they wanted to make another. They wanted to listen to the take in question, which had the effect of rendering the wax on which it was recorded unusable. Sometimes, when this take revealed itself to be much better than the musicians imagined, they regret¬ted listening to it because it was no longer possible to repair the damaged wax.

It would be eminently desirable if, for important records, all of the recording companies adopted the following system, obviously more costly, but also more sensible: record on a double turntable in order to allow for two takes of the same performance. The musicians can listen to one and know with certainty what the recording is worth; then they know, without risking the loss of the good take, if it is beneficial to try again or not.

Apart from the work of the musicians, there was, of course, that of the engi¬neers who must find the perfect place for each instrumentalist relative to the microphone, which is not always easy because each orchestra has its own partic¬ular sound balance. Once the musicians are in place, it is necessary to listen to them in the sound booth (where, contrary to what goes on in the studio, one listens to the musicians by microphone, as one hears them later on the record), during which they warm up and change places according to this first listening experience. Then, it is necessary to make them play the piece in full, first to see if it is of the desired length (that is to say if it lasts at least two-and-a-half minutes but not more than three minutes and twenty seconds, for records of twenty-five centimeters), then also in order to be able to face the technical difficulties that could be created in a fortissimo or pianissimo passage. Also, the improvisation that is abundant in jazz is an additional difficulty for the engineers because they can never fully anticipate what will happen during the course of the performance. For example, a saxophonist who had played a solo somewhat softly during the course of the first take played it louder during the course of the second, which forces the modification of the sound perspectives. In addi¬tion, the musicians must separate themselves from the group and bring themselves closer to the microphone when they have a solo. But they don't always come to the exact place that was assigned to them, so it sometimes was necessary to place a handkerchief or other object on the floor to mark the designated spot.

An electric bell is held up to announce that the recording is going to begin soon. Three regular rings sound, and then a red bulb lights up and this is the signal to begin: the musicians must attack the piece. Many imagine that they can still talk or make noise until the red bulb comes on. But, silence must actually reign from the moment that the bell sounds for the first time. I cannot count the number of false starts that can be attributed to the infraction of this rule. We would never finish up if we wanted to enumerate all of the incidents that hinder a recording session, making it annoying and exhausting for the musicians and those who are recording them.

During the course of the Quintet's sessions, some pieces were recorded in less than a quarter of an hour while others required well more than half an hour. Among these, 'Mystery Pacific' made life particularly difficult for the Quintet. It is a classic imitation of a railway: the train leaves, is going at highest speed until at the end there is an accident. This piece, played at top speed, demanded much virtuosity on the part of the musicians, and there was now one, now the other musician who committed an error during its execution. I don't know how many times it was necessary to restart this piece; at least the final take was excellent.

The performances that I judge to be the most successful were 'You're Driving Me Crazy' and 'Miss Annabelle Lee', taken at an excellent tempo and in which Django and Grappelly were especially at ease. These two would count among the best songs of the Quintet, if the accompanying guitars had not been recorded too loudly.

Django recorded with much spirit. He threw himself into the most audacious improvisations and totally modified his solos from one take to another. One should have seen him listening to the final demos: when he heard one of his dazzling phrases — which he had already forgotten — his enthusiasm grew, he emitted cries of joy, like a child astonished with his own exploits. Grappelly and the other guitarists also showed their satisfaction in a demonstrative way. The engineers were impressed with all of this joy: "Well, they are happy with what they have done!" one of them said to me. Evidently, this attitude contrasted with that of the musicians who usually recorded; they lis¬tened to their demos with a worried air, applying themselves more and more to capture the performance judged to be the ideal, fixed once and for all. Here, there was nothing like that: each take represented a creative effort, accomplished with joy and enthusiasm; the musicians lived each phrase intensely; each note surprised and excited them mutually. In one of Django's explosions of joy at one of his phrases, one could not see any pride: Django listened to himself as he would listen to another musician: he did not know of what he was capable, he was sincerely staggered by the phrases that he had found almost without suspecting, which had come from obscure regions of his subconscious. He did not stay in place, he laughed, he repeated his favorite expressions: "Oh, my mother, my mother!" or "It's not possible, not possible!"

Though less expressive, Stephane was no less amused. His contentment trans¬lated itself particularly through his constant smile and the sparkling of his lively and mischievous eyes. He gave himself up more than ever to a staggering twitch that dated back to time immemorial. Already in 1929, the Revue de Jazz had alluded to it in the following way: "The thin Grappelly is affected with a singular twitch. When he speaks, eats, plays cards, gets angry, he invariably moves his chest with a movement of a seesaw that causes seasickness to sensi¬ble people." To be more exact, this movement consisted of inclining the chest in front and then bringing it back to vertical, without breaks but with a continuity so obsessive that after having seen Grappelly balance in this way one night, I remember the next day that I could not prevent myself from uncon¬sciously imitating him in a good moment, to the great worry of my family.

During the sessions, Stephane "sustained" himself by drinking glasses of cinzano, one of his preferred cocktails. There was a bistro close to the studio. One of his friends would come and go unceasingly, bringing glasses of cinzano. Finally, it seemed more convenient to purchase the bottle. They put it on the piano so Stephane could serve himself with frequent glassfuls. Though he drank well, he was never drunk. I never saw him lose control of himself. Even so, he was a little tipsy at the end of the last session when he said to me in his working-class accent: "Should send a letter to Mr. Cinzano to thank him. Some credit goes to him for this excellent beverage!" Then, with the last song finished, translating in a comic way the general weariness of the musician at the end of such a great number of recordings in so little time and looking at the engineers in the sound booth, he said: "We are finished with it! This is not unhappy!"

It was during these sessions that the first four songs for "Swing" were recorded: two songs by the Quintet, 'Chicago' and 'Charleston', which did not count among their best; and two violin solos by Grappelly accompanied by Django alone on the guitar: 'Alabamy Bound' and 'I've Found a New Baby'. I was the one who chose this last piece. I was persuaded that Grappelly would interpret it particu¬larly well. But it was taken at too rapid a tempo and when the record came back from the factory, I was a little disappointed and preferred not to release it but rather wait for an occasion to have it rerecorded by Stephane, which was done a few months later as we shall see.

I have stated that the company *His Master's Voice* of London demanded two songs by Django alone on guitar. Django had little desire to give in to this demand. He had never made such a record and wasn't sure what to play. Finally, Delaunay told him: "You only have to improvise something, this will surely be fine, so go ahead." Django decided quickly and told the engineers to prepare themselves. He had me take out my watch and give him a signal when it approached the third minute of recording, so that he could make his provi¬sions to terminate in the required time.

Thus was recorded the admirable solo aptly titled 'Improvisation', which eludes the categories of jazz music to rejoin at times the spirit of the gypsy, the Andalusian: Django abandoned himself completely in the moment, threw him¬self into a suite of phrases, of most beautiful harmonies, one after the other. Standing two steps from him, I followed attentively on my watch the evolution of the second hand. Fifteen or twenty seconds before the three minutes, I raised my hand to show Django that he had to terminate soon. Without rousing, he continued his improvisation for some seconds and then brought it to a conclusion so logical that one would have sworn that he had skillfully prepared it. All the people who were in the studio begged Django not to listen to this take, guessing that he would never again do something as good. Django accepted our advice. This little masterpiece was thus recorded in only one take.

There remained the second song. Django asked me to take up my watch again. This time, he helped himself with a charming theme from his composition, 'Parfum', and executed it in a jazz tempo, but his method was so light, so imper¬ceptible that we barely noticed it. Naturally, he embroidered around this theme for a while, and as he was particularly spot on that day, he issued another masterpiece. As with 'Improvisation', this recording was made without rehearsal and it was recorded in one take.

No admirer of Django would go without this record, certainly one of his most beautiful. We doubtlessly have trouble believing that these performances could have been improvised, they are so coherent and homogenous and there is so much continuity in the harmonic and melodic development. The unknowing listener always imagines that Improvisation is a work long matured, meditated, that the slightest effects have been carefully calculated. Such is its appearance. This is one reason of many to admire the creative genius of Django, who was capable of giving us, with a rough outline, a work so calm, so rich, so charged with substance.


title: The Bourbon Street gig was magic

text:
There isn't much need to make an argument that these recordings are important in the context of Jim Hall's discography or really, in the context of jazz guitar itself. I'll just add a few observations and quotations.

Pat Metheny zeroes in on why this record is so successful in an interview published in the liner notes to this set: "If I had to pick one Jim record, it would be [Jim Hall Live!]....That was the ideal band, the ideal tunes, the ideal setting. Although Jim's had great periods all through his career, there was something going on right around that time that was incredible in his abilities, even on the instrument. There's stuff that he was playing right around that era that you really can't find him playing like before or after....It's a real portrait of that band. The whole thing with Don and Terry is so special , and it always has been for Jim. He's really affected by who he's playing with. Don is such a good soloist. You get to hear Jim comp a lot, which is great. Terry really understands how to play with guitar. That's something that is lost on a lot of drummers. It's not the same as playing with a tenor player. It's not the same as playing in a piano trio. Terry's always been great at that."

The more I listen to these recordings, the more I notice the little ways Terry Clarke stimulates Jim Hall with tiny fills that keep the music buoyant and Hall on his toes. As others have noted, this is a trio in the tradition of the Bill Evans trio with Scott Lafaro and Paul Motian, in which there is a constant "conversation" going on between the three players rather than the less interactive model of a featured artist being backed up by a rhythm section.

The setting, as Metheny noted, is also key to the recording. The club was a low-pressure environment where the band got to play over several nights in a row and really tune itself up. You get the sense from the recordings themselves and from the interviews in the liner notes that a significant portion of the audience was treating the trio as background music for drinking, dining and conversation (not unlike the audience for the famous Bill Evans Village Vanguard recordings of 1961), and this allows the musicians to not worry about crowd pleasing and to start playing more for each other. Compare these recordings to the same trio recorded a year later in Tokyo in a concert setting--the "Live in Tokyo" set (a bit hard to find, unfortunately) is clearly about playing to the audience, is more extroverted and showy, and is to my mind, less interesting overall (despite a few wonderful moments). This isn't to say that everything on the Bourbon Street recordings is introverted or cerebral. Hall gets bluesier and funkier on these recordings than any others of his that I've heard. He stretches out on "Secret Love" and "Fly Me to the Moon" in ways that bring John Scofield instantly to my mind. I've always heard bits of Hall in Scofield's playing, but here, it's almost like I'm hearing bits of Scofield in Hall's playing (I'm not literally suggesting Sco was an influence on Hall in 1975 of course!). Hall bends strings a bit here and there and does the occasional bluesy-avant-garde kind of licks that I associate more with the generation of jazz guitarists who came of age after the 60s.

A couple of discographical notes:

Apparently those who purchased this set from Artists Direct were provided with mp3s of 7 more tunes (4 alternate takes, and 3 tunes that are not included on "Vol. 2-4") from this Bourbon Street gig: Spring Is Here, Moonlight in Vermont, and Two's Blues, plus alternates for Emily, Prelude to a Kiss, Fly Me to the Moon, and Careful. At this point, it looks like the only way to purchase "Vol. 2-4" is as mp3s from Amazon's competitor (rhymes with "Zapple"). The bonus tracks aren't available as far as I can tell. A shame--I'd really love to hear "Spring Is Here" and "Moonlight in Vermont."

Also, there is a little confusion regarding when exactly this club date took place. In the liner notes to this boxed set, Don Thompson writes "These recordings were made in October 1974," but the same liner notes say the recording took place on June 11-13, 1975. Some of the online reviews like the one at All About Jazz cite 1974 as the year of recording, but this seems to be mistaken. The original Horizon A&M LP says 1975 as well.

A more interesting observation from Don Thompson concerns the way the bass was recorded:
"It's hard to remember what I used for mics, but I seem to remember having a Beyer M160 on my bass....I had a DI [direct input to tape recorder from a pickup instead of a microphone] on the bass just in case I needed it, which proved to be a mistake, because when Ed Michel mixed the original LP, he just took a pass on the bass mic and went with the DI--thus effectively ruining the LP for me. I don't like the DI sound and I think I only mixed it in on one track ("Careful") of the new stuff. The bass (mic) track was generally really strong." (Don Thompson, June 28th, 2012)


title: CBS Masterworks Edition - more music than Sony issue, half the price

text:
This 1988 Horowitz set contain all the music on the Sony 1965/1966 Carnegie Hall set, with the exception of the Polonaise - Fantaisie In A Flat Major, Op. 61: Allegro maestoso. It also includes Horowitz's 1968 Carnegie performance, which the later set does not. And it's currently selling for about half the price. It's a great place to start if you want to check out this master for the first time.

Contents:

1965 concert.

- Toccata in C major, BWV 564 / J.S. Bach ; arr. Busoni (17:21).

- Fantasy in C major, op. 17 / Robert Schumann (30:57).

- Sonata no. 9, op. 68 (9:15) ; Poem in F-sharp major, op. 32, no. 1 (3:26) / Alexander Scriabin.

- Mazurka in C-sharp minor, op. 30, no. 4 (3:53) ; Etude in F major, op. 10, no. 8 (2:33) / Fre'de'ric Chopin.

- Serenade for the doll : from Children's corner suite / Claude Debussy (3:21).

- Ballade in G minor, op. 23 / Fre'de'ric Chopin (8:47).

- Etude in C-sharp minor, op. 2, no. 1 / Alexander Scriabin (3:03).

- Etude in A-flat major, op. 72, no. 11 / Moritz Moszkowski (1:28).

- Tra'umerei = Dream : from Kinderszenen : op. 15 / Robert Schumann (2:58)

1966 concert.

- Sonata in F major / Joseph Haydn (14:00).

- Blumenstu'ck : op. 19 = Flower piece / Robert Schumann (7:28).

- Sonata no. 10, op. 70 / Alexander Scriabin (12:13).

- L'isle joyeuse / Claude Debussy (5:56).

- Sonata no. 11 in A major, K. 331 / Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (18:00).

- Nocturne in E minor, op. 72, no. 1 (4:49) ; Mazurka in B minor, op. 33, no. 14 (4:31) / Fre'de'ric Chopin.

- Valle'e d'Obermann : from Anne'es de pe'lerinage : Suisse / Franz Liszt (13:00)

1968 concert.

- Ballade in G minor, op. 23 (8:46) ; Nocturne in F minor, op. 55, no. 1 (5:10) ; Polonaise in F-sharp minor, op. 44 (10:16) / Fre'de'ric Chopin.

- Sonata in E major, L. 23 (3:11) ; Sonata in G major, L. 335 (2:02) / Domenico Scarlatti.

- Arabesque, op. 18 / Robert Schumann (7:09).

- Etude in D-sharp minor, op. 8, no. 12 / Alexander Scriabin (2:12).

- Tra'umerei = Dream : from Kinderszenen : op. 15 / Robert Schumann (2:44)

- Variations on a theme from Bizet's Carmen / Vladimir Horowitz (4:04).


title: The GREATEST soundtrack!

text: Loved the movie and think all the songs are genius and fun to sing along with!


title: Would recommend it to friend

text: Rare CD to be found. Sound quality is not that great but I love it.


title: Great (Greeks) for character building!

text:
This is a delightful book that, unfortunately, is out of print and hard to find.  I became aware of it as General Stanley McChrystal mentioned it prominently and favorably in his book “Leaders:  Myth and Reality.”  The book is a gem, covering 25 ancient mythic hero stories, by my count, 24 Greek and 1 Roman (Romulus and Remus).  Along with each story is its graphic rendition, usually in 4-6 panels.  The stories themselves are rather whimsical renditions of their classic originals, and likely need a somewhat literate (or handy with a dictionary) adult to read to the “tiny tots” at heart.  Examples:  Pygmalion works on a statue of a “beautiful young lady with plump-up cheeks and a retroussé [turned-up] nose.”  Bellerophon kills the “wild and anthropophagous [flesh-eating] old dragon, called the Chimaera.”  Regardless, almost everyone will enjoy the several witty nuggets inserted into every story:  eg, the book’s version of Perseus’ story ends with his giving Andromeda a five-pound box of chocolates every morning for breakfast.

Originally published in 1929, the book will hopefully one day see new life in either a new edition or moving into the public domain.  BTW, in the meantime, if one is looking for heroes and examples for character-building, I might suggest one of my own books:  [[ASIN:1537323377 George Washington's Liberty Key: Mount Vernon's Bastille Key – the Mystery and Magic of Its Body, Mind, and Soul]], a best seller at Mount Vernon.


title: Great music

text: Just good music


title: It is an excellent experience dealing with Amazon

text: The hymn book was exceptional


title: Five Stars

text: excellent edition for real collectors.THANKS


Finally! I’ve bought many editions of the BEATLES  over the years. But, only with this CD did I finally find what I was looking for—all  tracks in good sound! So, if sound quality matters to you, look no farther; this is the one to get.


title: only with this CD did I finally find what I was looking for—all tracks in good sound! So


title: Five Stars

text: I LOVE IT


title: Five Stars

text: i LOVE IT


title: Five Stars

text: great edition


title: Five Stars

text: i LIKE THIS compulation


title: Five Stars

text: I LOVE THIS ALBUM!!!


title: Five Stars

text: GREAT


title: Five Stars

text: I LOVE THIS CD


title: Five Stars

text: o.k


title: Five Stars

text: i love this hits


title: Five Stars

text: I loved this set so much


title: Finally found my lost Beatles love songs! I have this on vinyl but no ...

text: Finally found my lost Beatles love songs!<br />I have this on vinyl but no longer have a turntable. So excited to find this on a CD! (Lyrics are in Japanese but it doesn't matter I remember all the words anyway!)


title: Five Stars

text: Great product and Great service! I'm a happy Client!


title: Beautifully made!

text: Absolutely slick slip mats.  Beautifully made!!!

user_id: AHHVVERNPVMRYDDUEOMZLEJCCCMQ


title: The Title Says it All

text: Eclectic!  I had heard some of her other stuff and liked it but as it was unavailable, I purchased this and one other CD.  It's an interesting compilation of stuff.  I'm not in love with it but I like it.


title: CD open and loose inside case

text: The holiday CD came completely unwrapped and I could hear it was loose in the case. I opened it up and the center circle that holds the disc securely is completely broken. I won’t be buying from this seller again.


title: Five Stars

text: Great music, good condition thanks


title: Great performances and recording

text: This is really good. Well recorded, interesting music, and authentic. The recordings were done in the field, various locations in Xinjiang. Interesting and beautiful.


title: REALLY deserves a CD

text:
I've had this record for years, but didn't get around to digitizing it until this week. Wow. I've really been missing a treat. It's a wonderful album, made with spirit and creativity, and I hope some record company notices the reviews here and does a good and careful mastering to CD.

It's well recorded. I used an analog-to-digital converter to record the album at 24 bits, 96kHz directly to my computer, and the sound is excellent. It's worth searching out a clean copy of this.


title: Outstanding recording

text:
I've enjoyed Hindemith's "Mathis der Maler" symphony since being introduced to it in the mid-1970s. Only recently did I learn that the music was taken from this opera.

There's something about this recording that makes it stand out. Sound quality is excellent, orchestra playing is excellent, singers are great. The ensemble beomes more, though, in how they all work together. It's a complex work, but that doesn't faze the performers. They range from the quiet parts to the most complex with skill and verve.

The music itself is magnificent. Parts of the opera challenge my taste; I came to opera through Handel oratorios, so this is something of a stretch. The lucid performance here makes the stretching easier, and there are many truly beautiful parts. The whole "Temptation of St. Anthony" section is sublime. It's very much worth the stretch.


title: Class act in band organ recordings

text:
Of the various band organ CDs I have bought, this is the best. It's well recorded, and the band organ is well maintained and really sings. The only thing better than this is standing next to a real band organ, and how many often does that happen?

The music presented here is sophisticated and bears repeat listening. It goes beyond the "band organ" categorization and is honest music, well done.


title: my dad made this

text: this is my dads album


title: good

text: great shipping. Only issue is that if with the clip on, if you look at another vehicles tint you see purple.


title: Five Stars

text: GREAT ONE OF MY FAVORITE SYMPHONIES


title: Five Stars

text: WORTH IT JUST FOR THE SOULFUL STRUT SLICKER JOE SUCKS


title: Four Stars

text: firsr three songs sucked the rest are gold


title: Wonderful sound.

text: Quality always shines!


title: Yes~

text: Came as described


title: Arrived on time, sealed, brand new, perfect condition

text: Dvorak is my fav composer


title: Always liked "Ride, Cowboy Ride" as I have family in ...

text: Oh, my.  Always liked "Ride, Cowboy Ride" as I have family in Arizona and have often visited.  For "This Peaceful Sod" and "My Love" I hit "replay" over and over again, before forcing myself to move along, then I listen for them on the next play-through, and hit "replay" over and over again.  Love 'em.


title: Euphoria for the aging ravers out there

text: Fantastic mix! I missed this era of trance. Someone invent a time machine already!


title: An overview by the originator

text:
This short CD (45 minutes) by Seena Frost describes the various aspects
and the process of creating SoulCollage which she originated based on
concepts of archetypes of human beingness derived from the work of Carl Jung,
using images from printed media that appeal to the unconscious of
the individual who is engaged in the process of making a SoulCollage.
This is a concise introduction that gives the listener a taste of what can
be developed and received from engaging in the process.


title: Well Worth The Price

text: Great Value.  There are so many great Duran Duran song and the ones on this CD pretty much cover most of the ones I listen to the most.


title: Two out of four

text: Worthwhile for Discs 3 and 4. The first two discs: the Dead sound tired. However, this set takes off in the aforementioned Discs 3 and 4. Trust me on this. 3.5 stars.


title: Very good music, great remaster

text: CD perfect.


title: Five Stars

text: Beautiful music....cds in perfect conditions


title: This is good

text: Love this CD, I think it was 6 bucks back in the day.<br />Seriously all tracks


title: Music CD's

text: Arrived fine and on time . Played fine . But they need a little more packaging , the post office does NOT treat packages well , and the cases are always cracked  and or broken .


title: LOVE THIS ALBUM!

text: This is an amazing album by a personal friend of mine. I need to replace the one that was stolen from me, but $70 some bucks is not in my budget.


title: AMAZING ALBUM

text: Karmin perfectly fused astrology and music together in this wonderful and cohesive album! Every song is so good. This album honestly deserved so much better! Leo Rising is my favorite Karmin album before Qveen Herby.


title: No Strings Fun!

text: More mixes to satisfy your dance remix cravings! This Import CD single features the Original Version, full length Josh Harris Elektrik Mix, Josh Harris Elektrik Radio Edit as well as two additional mixes from Moto Blanco and WIP. This release differs from it's US counterpart in that it contains the Moto Blanco and WIP mixes, but is missing the Peter Presta and Mykonos-Simpson mixes. The US release contains the Original Radio Edit, full length Josh Harris Elektrik Mix, Peter Presta Big USA Room Mix and Mykonos-Simpson Mix. (See my review for the US CD Single for more details) The Moto Blanco Mix is a cool new take on the song in addition to the already great mixes that have been released. Let's just call it a light, fluffy and care-free dance rendition. (Think Moto Blanco's mix of Mary J. Blige's "Be without you," or their mix of Rihanna's "SOS") The WIP mix is also a good mix, however I feel it's VERY reminiscent of the Josh Harris Elektrik Mix. I'd say they sound very alike. This Import CD is a great purchase as it gives you great additional mixes to an already great song!


title: Five Stars

text: Perfect


This is the classic western songs by the great Marty Robbins. Great selection, but I was disappointed in the sound quality.


title: Five Stars

text: Great rock/metal from the 80s.  Search for them on youtube to hear a sample.


title: Five Stars

text: Found this at good price.  Nice to play at the Holidays


title: Prompt shipping

text: This was a gift.


title: Great product!

text: Great product!


title: Great easy listening!

text: So much similar to the 50 Guitars of Tommy Garrett.......but obviously fewer guitars!  Love the arrangements!


title: In Total Agreement

text: I agree completely with C. Wilson's review. This CD is a gem. I remember when I first watched the film...I was hooked by the soundtrack. I would put the disc into the player and go right to the end credits and just listen. Awesome! I also agree it is a better film than many reviewers state. Despite the historical inaccuracies, it is a fun ride. I believe the movie won an Academy Award for it's sound effects. It should have won for it's musical soundtrack as well in my opinion.


title: Great Selections On This One

text: This CD is excellent. I have two other albums, but this one is so far my favorite.


title: I own this book and I love it. I bought it years ago at Barnes ...

text: I own this book and I love it. I bought it years ago at Barnes & Noble.It has to weigh about 5 lbs. Well made and lovely photos.


title: So happy I found this!

text: Had been one of my favorite albums in 1978, and I have looked and looked for it again.<br />Wish it was available in cd, but am loving the album.


title: Awesume

text: absolutly love it love listening to their music will by more of their cd's in the future enjoy it very much


title: Love it!!

text: Amazing!! Edited tho so everyone knows!!


title: Trend setter

text: This is a mood setter,can be played at any time anywhere around the house,in a restaurant,or in any public places as background music.<br />Excellent selections exposing to different cultural traditions of Indian music.


title: Lovers of Sarod

text:
I am trying to understand and analyze this type of hindustani music as I never paid much attention earlier. This CD came as a recomendation
from a reviewer of a magazine and am really surprised at the music,playing style of this period native instrument unique to classical music.
Further listening should broaden my  interest and appreciation.


title: Foe yourpleasure and relaxation.

text: the nightingale is a mellifluous,melodious voice unique God given gift,nobody anywhere in the world can challenge that


title: Beautiful Song

text: I had never heard of this group until I came across this song. They are a wonderful group and I listen to it everyday!


title: Love it!

text: Love it!


title: It's all good man

text: It doesnt say it comes with the poster but since it was on the picture I thought it came with it, I bought the version o, v, and e for around $20 so I don't know why this one was more but honestly I probably would've bought it anyways so 10/10


title: Five Stars

text: An amazing DVD set! A must-have! Life-changing!


title: Five Stars

text: Although this should only get 4-1/2 stars for using Pat bleeping Boone's version of Crazy Little Mama.  Heinous!!!!!!


title: Laaz Rockit Rules

text:
Everyone always said these guys are thrash but their really speed/thrash.This is their most thrashiest album,if you like Annihilation Principle then you will like this album.This is a thrash album,Laaz rockit is such an amazing band.
It starts off with In The Name Of The Father And The Gun...
which is a pure thrash song(the song is amazing).The last song Necropolis is an instrumental.
Here are all the song names on the album in order.
1.In The Name Of The Father And The Gun
2.Into The Asylum
3.Greed Machine
4.Too Far Gone
5.Curiosty Kills
6.Suicide City
7.The Enemy Within
8.Nobody's Child
9.Silence Is A Lie
10.Necropolis
This album rules and it's worth the money,(even though it is to much money)buy this album,it's amazing.

Members of the band.
Michael Coons-Vocals
Aaron Jellum-Guitar
Scott Sargeant-Guitar
Dave Chavarri-Drums
Scott Dominguez-Bass


title: INC Rocks!!

text: This is the best trash metal album from that fantastic Thrash band from the 80's INC, probably their best work to date and that's saying something because they have an amazing catalog of some fine music.


title: Great Jazz Singer

text: Nancy King is a rich and smooth Contralto jazz singer.Some of my favorite arrangements in the genre of vocal jazz. Mostly mellow with just the piano and voice but also exciting and upbeat. Very well done and musical.


title: Oriental Wisdom 1

text: I think Oriental Wisdom 2 is a little better.  Then, I'm not a big fan of zen music - only certain songs that I think are uniquely moving.  This is good, traditional spa music, but I didn't think there were any "standout" songs on this CD.


title: Cd skipping

text: The first 5 songs all skip kinda useless gave it as a gift and too late to return


title: I bought it by mistake. I thought I was ...

text: I bought it by mistake. I thought I was ordering the second season of the TV series. The first season was on Netflix, but the second series cannot be found anywhere else.


title: Not what expected.

text: I thought it was all African music without a, for lack of a better description, a speaking sermon.  Not bad if that is what you are looking for.  I was looking for all African music.


title: Lo maximo del flamenco

text: Es la musica q toca el alma y como miguel poveda ninguno


title: Hi is number one

text: MIGUEL POVEDA ,is the best Spanish singer, hi singer like from the soul.


title: I love

text: That is my music


title: Great Singer

text: One of the Greatest Female Voices of Our Time.


title: Wonderful

text: Love the Duets!


title: Beautiful Music but Short Cuts

text: Appears to get as many cuts as possible on the disc, many of the cuts just abruptly faded out in mid-song. Very disappointing.


title: Beautiful music

text: Very beautiful and relaxing music. Jim Fyhrie is one of my long time favorites. I first heard his music playing in a gift shop in the mountains, I loved it, and have been hooked ever since. I recommend his music to everyone.


title: I LOVE IT !!!!!!!

text: I had this on cassette tape along time ago, and I liked it so much that I got the cd.It Is so calming and relaxing and it reminds me of a mountain cabin with a wood burning stove. It's very beautiful and I would recommend It to anyone.


title: Five Stars

text: Very nice Christmas cd you could listen to all day.


title: MUST HAVE

text: ALL TIME GREAT IN NETWORK MARKETING


title: Beautiful music

text: This is the music that I listen to when I am upset and it instantly makes me feel better.  My favorite song is the Asato Mahithi. It is actually a Gujarati song that is asking God for guidance.  Aradhna has made the song even more beautiful with the lovely voice and music.


title: Not As Described

text:
Unfortunately, the product is not as expected. From the description, I was expecting the Beautiful Eyes cd only without a case. Instead I was sent a damaged Beautiful Eyes cd case. This was fine since I wasn't expecting a case anyways and didn't mind that it was damaged.

However, upon opening the case there was no cd. Instead there was the related DVD. This was very disappointing as I ordered the CD for a song that is only available through on the Beautiful Eyes CD.

Be careful ordering here as you may receive something different from what they have described.


title: Great CD

text: I bought this to replace the same CD that had broken.  My kids (and I) love this CD.  It includes many classic children's songs.  I love the versions/music.  Very entertaining!


title: very good product

text: Great product so far, arrived with no issues, kids enjoy it


I like the lot of the artist so I ordered it


title: Satisfied

text: Product as promised & on time!


title: Satisfied

text: As pictured& described. Received 11/14.


title: Satisfied

text: As described, Received on 11/14


title: Refreshing

text:
The song played on a streaming radio station on iTunes. The lyrics and music were catchy and infectious even on the first listen.
Enough to make me Shazam it, and then to search iTunes and Google, and now Amazon.
I really liked it. Now I just have to wait for it to get to the states.


title: Fantastic group...gone now?

text: This group excelled in harmony and their first CD may have been their best effort.  I am unsure why the price for this CD is ridiculously high unless it's in demand while being ridiculously rare.  I have a copy and plan to keep it...apparently the group is dissolved and that's a shame.


title: something fishy

text: Seems awfully strange that all of the positive reviewers are from "parents" who have only reviewed this one item!!!!  I tend to only trust reviews from people who leave multiple reviews.


title: Great record and delivery

text: Great selection of tunes


title: Prophetic and you'll want to dance!

text: All Scriptural.....you'll praise the Lord....dance before Him, and these songs will resinate in your Spirit for years to come!


title: Five Stars

text: Great music


title: Okay

text: This tribute is okay - not sure if I might just need to listen to it some more - not sure what's missing though.


title: HOW QUICK AMAZON IS

text: GREAT CD


title: Good

text: Happy with this item.


title: Totally satisfied !

text: Item arrived in excellent condition.


title: Excellent collection !

text: Some artists like to imitate other artists. NOBODY could imitate Pirela, his style and voice were unique. This is an excellent collection of "romantic boleros" from different stages of Felipe's career, and recording is very good too.


title: Hint to seller...

text: List the songs on the album. People like to know these things.


title: Package arrive on timd

text: CD sounds very good


title: Great Christian music

text: I listen to this all the time while riding in my car and take the day out and listen while studying Scriptures.


title: Thanks this was a rare find for me. I ...

text: Thanks this was a rare find for me. I had been searching for this cd for a lone time. Thanks.


title: very good value

text: arrived on time / very easy to set up /a very good value


title: Window Into Another Time

text:
Abbie Hoffman's only LP, "Wake Up, America!" was originally conceived as a means to raise money for his defense in the Chicago 8 (or 7, or 10, take your pick) trial that followed the antiwar demonstrations at the Democratic Convention held in the Windy City in 1968. The anarchic energy of the record is remarkable and exhilarating, as is its message of freedom and direct democracy. Left-wing public intellectuals like Hoffman have disappeared from modern (or should I say postmodern) society, much to its detriment. Hoffman's generous spirit and willingness to allow others to criticize him were a refreshing and distinguishing characteristic of the New Left, which laughed at the rigid, humorless orthodoxy of the Old Left. Indeed, Hoffman avoids preaching on this record, and it is remarkable how entertaining it is, coming from a man who was not an entertainer. While some might scoff and say that the fact that this record does not propound a political program is a sign of the New Left's fatal weakness, Hoffman and his ilk were to be commended for not shoving a program down the people's collective throat but, rather, for inviting them to join in a collective determination of the political, economic, and cultural route that they wished to take. This overarching democratic impulse was the essence of the New Left and what made them such a threat to both the capitalist and bolshevik establishments.

Listening to this record fills me with nostalgia, not for the 1960s but for a time that never was. The revolutionary and cultural movements of the 1960s all died out due to their near universal forswearing of the use of force and loose or nonexistant organization. The 1960s have had a superficial influence on our culture, but the seed that was planted at that time failed to take root, partly because of the faults of the those in the Movement but also because of the powerful resistance of the Establishment, with its tremendous resources of capital; its highly developed cultural, political, and economic institutions; and its capacity for long-range planning. While the New Left had some success in the cultural sphere, it completely failed in the political sphere, and its attempts at economic organization were limited to experiments in communal living that were often of a more reactionary than progressive character. Naturally, its commitment to democracy made long-range planning impossible. The future vaguely envisioned by the Movement thus failed to materialize. The New Left has largley taken refuge in academia and the alternative media and has produced a body of criticism that could be refered to in constructing a framework for a new society, but what is lacking today is the essential visionary element, which seems to have died out with Hoffman and much of his generation. The rallying cry of the French students in May 1968 was "All Power to the Imagination," but the courage to imagine a future that is not a mere repeat of the past is lacking in Americans today.


title: History at it's finest.

text:
My husband and I are both history buffs! We were thoroughly engaged in this GA Henty Adventure and anxiously await the arrival of the other productions. If you like thrills of battlefields with a little romance thrown in, you will LOVE this adventure as much as we did. It is a huge blessing to find GOD back in history.

The two CDs come in a tri-fold case with sturdy plastic holders.


title: Good if you can afford it

text: Good if you can afford it. Stop basing the rating of the product on the price it's still a great product.


title: Beautiful polyphony

text: Given to me by a friend who was in Chartres to walk the labyrinth and heard this choir.  It is a moving recording.


title: Sorry To Say

text:
The music is there, but it just doesn't sound very good.

A far sound from DTS HD MasterAudio on Blu-ray major brands.


title: A songwriters interpretations another songwriter

text: Excellent versions of these tracks. Great backing band and the awesome interpretation by Lucinda. A great inclusion to Lu's Jukebox. Lucinda opened for him on his 99 tour and they became good friends. Lucinda and Jesse Malin were guests watching backstage for Tom's last show at the Hollywood Bowl. Great tribute album.


title: Wonderful

text: Jimmy's voice has improved with age. Wonderful CD


title: Five Stars

text: Excellent!


title: Love

text: Very soothing! Love it


title: Great

text: Great album. It has so many things inside! Good price. Contact with seller was fast and smooth. Arrived extremely fast.


title: Nobody loves it. It's true. Not like you do.

text: Call it misplaced nostalgia for kitschy nostalgia. I've been collecting the original vinyl to all the songs I loved back in high school and college. However I wasn't a tv series music fan, I was a portishead fan. Sour times is just a great record and as you may or may not know that record samples the Danube incident. I've a vintage sampler or two and I try and reconstruct the songs. Great fun and great waste of time. This is an album of all the kitschy spy music that you simultaneously love and hate.


title: A Great Memorial

text: Sonny Clark, a gifted jazz pianist who died too early, made wonderful music with a variety of other important musicians, including Grant Green, John Coltrane and more. The Sonny Clark Memorial Quartet chose some of the best Clark compositions for this Limited Edition CD. I did find the alto sax player a little too quirky and intrusive for me, but I expect I'll get used to his playing and will sample other music from his catalog. The  47 minute remastered CD is top-notch and should be part of your music library. Act soon; the CD is getting more expensive every week!


title: Comes in a rough cardboard sleeve digipack------you will need a replacement case!

text:
I really hate these cardboard sleeves. They will scratch the discs ( sometimes before the recipient opens the package )  and make the disc difficult to remove.
The manufacturers should be ashamed of themselves. No music lover will ever consider this acceptable. My suggestion is cutting them to fit into a standard CD jewel case ( I have done it before ).
I also recommend emailing the artists whose music is packaged this way to inform them that this negatively impacts the public's perception of both them and their music.


title: Terrific instrumental music from Romantic Strings Orchestra ( appears to belong to Reader's Digest).

text:
This is one of Reader's Digest's Romantic Strings Orchestra collections. They must belong to Reader's Digest, because they aren't offered by any other music label.

Their performances are fantastic----nothing cheap about them. They are easy listening without being slow " elevator music ", so they fit in well with, for example, Floyd Cramer, Billy Vaughn, Bert Kaempfert, Henry Mancini, Percy Faith, Andre Kostelanetz, and others.

They perform popular songs, older and newer ( up through the 1990's).

They really rate with the very best !


title: Excellent collection of easy listening instrumental music.

text: Reader's Digest has produced many similar sets, with some being better than others,  and this is a very good one. It has a good variety of performers, mostly less recognized ones, but the performances are excellent.


title: 2.5 hours of Maria Callas

text:
This is a great survey of the nuanced vocal acting of Maria Callas and Puccini, presented with comfortable fidelity and clarity. Callas had a career long relationship with Puccini, and began her career in the early 40's and ended it in 1965 with Tosca. Some of the songs here Callas performed on stage repeatedly over her career but some, like Butterfly, she barely staged or never performed live. Here are 25 songs on 2 discs as recorded in 1957/1958 (apparently) lifted from the released LP masters. Maria Callas is 'backed' with either Coro e Orchestra del Teatro alia Scala, Milano under different baton or by the Philharmonia Orchestra.  Most songs are labeled 'remastered' and they may all be.  Notes are mostly complete but frustratingly light concerning the recording or performance details.
3 from Manon Lescaut (as Manon)
5 from La Boheme (as Mimi)
4 from Tosca (as Flora Tosca)
1 from Sour Angelica (as Sister Angelica)
6 from Madama Butterfly (as the 15 year old Butterfly) (with von Karajan)
1 from Gianni Schicci (as Lauretta)
5 from Turandot (3 as Turandot, 2 as Liu)


title: horrible

text: this is one of the worst CD's I have ever listened to in years. The quality is horrible- the comedy is horrible- any Roy D. Mercer lover will hate this.


title: Amazingly good singers...

text: I played this for a musically adept friend, and he was stunned (his word) by the quality of the recording, and the soprano's voice. He applauded when "O Holy Night" was finished. I have lived with this choir for years, and am only just now learning about music, so was startled by his extremely positive response. But when I listened again, I think this is absolutely wonderful music. I am glad to be associated with a church that values music so much!


title: Great album in great condition.

text: What it says on the tin. everything about this album is great, and it arrived with everything in good order. Cried a little bit over the strawberry Jonghyun photocard, but what can you do. Love it!


title: Quintessential Poopshovel

text: With hard rock highlights like "Earliness Factor," "Queller," "African Bees" and "Ouija Board" Rich, Dave, Peter and crazy Bill deliver some wonderful indy edged, proto-punked up metal tinged, comedy inspired RAWK that is hard to put down. Their records now give us a taste of what a sweaty night at O'Cayz Corral or the Club De Wash was like... Boozed up, Marshall stack on 11, Rickenbacker slaying, Crawford's trumpet and thoughtful yet playful vocals creeping in (I still use Earliness Factor as a term to explain to students how important being early is)... This is not Mike Clark's Poopshovel any longer, but a glorious band of rockers that left their print on Madison and elsewhere 'back in the day'. If you can find this record, you should click "buy" immediately - their series of releases on Comm 3 is fairly rare now.


title: Love it!!

text: Must be Duran Durans best album!


title: Good memories with this music

text: Love this music


title: Great album, psychedelic sounds!

text:
For all you Tomita lovers, this album is a must!

If you aren't familiar with his music & style, his psychedelic sounds and way with music is enough to carry you away to never-never land!


title: Songs From the Age of Sail!

text: This is one of the best sea shanty collections around. Produced by actual square rigger volunteers, it’s not overly produced. It’s just what you’d hear as a crew sweat lines (sans huffing and puffing!). If you’re ever lucky enough to find a copy of this recording, add it to your collection!


title: Tidy and uptight Janacek

text:
I'm not reviewing the Dvorak, frankly because the Janacek left me so depressed, I just couldn't. If you want Janacek's Sinfonietta presented as Mozart, shorn of it accents, wildness, edginess, then this is for you. Technically, it's quite an accomplishment to perform repertoire this difficult with such sensitivity, gentleness, and accuracy. Every not is exactly in place. These players have the technique, although string heft is in short supply.

What's missing is the essence of Janacek. His music can be gentle and caressing to wild and hair-raising. There are no hairs upright here. The wild and chimerical finale just sits there like an uninspiring diamond that you've swallowed and isn't going anywhere in your stomach--a cold lump. I found the music so inert that my heart lusted for Mackerras (any, but especially his Pro Arte and Czech Phil recordings), Nott, Cambreling, Belohlavek, and many more. Basically, if you have an ensemble that has the chops to play this piece and you don't constrain them and give decent tempi, this piece will be a success. Not here.

Engineering seems fine.


title: Good.

text: These are fine readings with an orchestra not yet up to snuff. The strings are fine, but the winds and brass aren’t quite there. These same forces would play remarkably better in even finer interpretations in recordings by Pony/Canyon, although sometimes Asahina’s demands on the brass finds them sometimes fallible. However the packaging here is vastly superior.


title: With the glowing tone of the SLSO, the methodical ...

text: With the glowing tone of the SLSO, the methodical pacing of Vonk, the magnificent control of dynamics and balances, this is a Buckner 7 to be reckoned with. Cymbal crash included.


title: so wanted it to be better

text: The conductor has some interesting ideas, but the orchestra... it's pretty scrappy, especially compared to the competition. I'd stick with Bohm or Mackerras.


title: excellent . . . if you follow the instructions!

text:
Sean is awesome.  This volume is just great.  I've been working out for awhile now, and this has been the ticket to get me through cardio.  It's worth a lot to have a voice that kicks your butt into gear.  Relying on your own music may work for some, but I wonder how much slack one is tempted to give themselves when there is nothing to hold them accountable?

Anyway, yeah, there are a few lines that are goofy, but they work.  He asks you the hard questions while you're working out.  And by golly, I've been religious about following the instructions to a "T" and in the last part of every workout, I'm giving him a great swearing for making me work so hard.  That's my test:  if I'm not cussing him out by minute 25, I'm not working hard enough!

BTW, I haven't seen anyone swear like a swear when they're working out to their own music :)


title: What a let down

text:
I think I might be better off with Brendel's first try on  Vox, scrappy orchestras, sound and all.
Beethoven's music is miraculous--especially the piano concerti.  There is a lot of magic to mine in the 4th, melodies and majesty in the 5th, charm in 1 (LvB charming??), etc.
What do I have here:  Rattle and the VPO and Brendel.  What should have been a dream version is marked by not that great sound for something recorded in the easy venues of the VPO, pedestrian conducting (AAACK!  Rattle pedestrian?  What's with THAT?), and piano playing that is fully competent, with some nice touches, but lacks total freshness.  That also describes the VPO's contribution.  Perfunctory.  Give me scrappy playing an poor sound any day if you can play it with freshness.  Delight.  SOMETHING.
How frustrating.  I still don't have THE set of LvB piano concerti.  Ashkenazy with Solti and Chicago (NOT Cleveland.  What a bore that mess was) is closest, although I'm still not in love with the engineering (seems chilly, and sometimes downright harsh).  At least in that set, you have the fire of Solti to goose Ashkenazy.
For No. 1, there is always Richter w/ Munch and the wonderful Bostoners.  Save that, I have no other recommendations.  Sigh. Maybe I should give Fleisher and Szell a go.


title: Beautiful!

text:
This is a Mahler 1 that is diametrically opposed to the Horenstein on Vox, another favorite.
Vonk has at his disposal an amazing ensemble.  But he has an innate ability to affect orchestral dynamics, control, and tempi  that is wonderful, and much more user friendly than, say, von Karajan,  could be.
His performances don't go for the easy emotional highs.  And  that's where this Mahler 1 is unique.  It is a blockbuster kind of  piece--the opening of the Finale should make you jump out of your seat.  Vonk makes you jump, undoubtedly, but it sure is a lot different than  Slatkin's Telarc recording with the same orchestra.
As you listen to this  performance (I was actually in the hall when it was recorded), you will be  astounded at the finesse of the orchestra, and the control that Vonk has.  You will also be happy to know that the orchestra seems very happy to give  it all to him.
So you have a beautiful Mahler 1st.  Noteworthy points:  the opening is surreal.  The placement of the instruments offstage seems  perfect.  The Scherzo, which in lesser hands can be quite annoying, is a  good romp.  The third mov't starts off with a world-weary bass solo, and  goes very well, although the "Jewish"-like sections, could go  more for broke (most conductors never do it the way I would!).  The Finale  is great.  From the opening crash, to the gorgeous big tune, it is a  fitting conclusion.
Is this apopalyctic performance?  No.  Is it worth  hearing? Most definitely.


title: An Unknown Gem -

text: I was fortunate that I know the late great  Johnny Hozey (may he RIP!) who plays guitar on this and turned me onto this album. Outstanding musicianship, vocals, writing arranging, and production.  Very cleary influenced by Steely Dan, this homage to the Florida gulf coast "redneck rivieira" is a unique 5 star gem. Greg is a successful nashville songwariter and gathered some of the best gulf coast musicians to pull this off.


title: Good product

text: My sister love it


title: Un disco no sirve

text: Solo uno de los dos discos sirve


title: On Time and Just Right!!

text: I have not seen this music on sale for many years... here it was and now its mine!! on time and just right


title: Five Stars

text: I love this artist and I love the Croatian songs!


title: One of my favorite singers and I didn’t have any of his music.

text: To add to my music collection.,


title: LISTEN WHILE WATCHING (NOT W/O THE MOVIE)

text: This music works very, very well for the movie soundtrack, but as stand-alone music it's quite grating and jarring, not so fun to listen to.  Sorry, James Horner, it shouldn't have been sold apart from the movie.


title: A rare (and getting rarer) recording by Great Artists

text:
If you love vocal classical music and are a lieder nut like me, this is a must-have in your library.  It must be a rare disc (from 1973 originally) so get it while you can.  The artists (I was going to say singers, but not a good enough term) are the cream of the crop.  Remember, you have to like real lieder and this collection has music that is unlikely to be heard in concert because it is written as duet, trio and quartet. Some of the songs are  uncomplicated and each has its charm. How often to you get choral sounds like these from the best of the 20th century? Ameling, Baker, Fischer-Dieskau, Schreier!  (Gerald Moore at the piano, who else!) I've not heard of Brilliant Classics (says: "Made in the EU"), but thank God they rescued this early Deutsche Grammophon (1973) in 2010 and evidently it is still available.
 One star is missing because complete texts are not provided, just a brief (but uniformly interesting) comment on each selection by the British music critic Malcolm McDonald.
 P.S.  A special thank you to streaming radio station Viva la Voce in Washington D.C.-- where I originally heard a selection from this disc.
Would that KKHI here in S. Francisco would deign to add vocal music to their daily programing.


title: Christian PUnk Rock

text: Great Christian punk rock. Fast and loud. An old band from Houma, LA. I was so excited to find this.


title: Great Album!

text: Really like this album. It’s not like there older albums, but it’s really good. I think it’s a good change and hope to hear more like this from the pumpkins or maybe a mix of a little old and new sound.


title: Happiness on a record.

text: Grew up listening to the first album. Now introducing my 7month old to the follow up and I couldn’t be happier. I love every song and find myself singing along all the time. Great packaging and in perfect condition. Wonderful positive music experience for a child of any age or stage in life.


title: Nostalgia

text: Great music. Price lower than tv


title: Absolutely awesome!

text: I love this talented star his music is amazing! So talented!


title: Great record

text: Good quality and a great record.


title: Five Stars

text: love it


title: Sound Quality not Impressive

text: Nothing special in terms of audio quality. It is a nice collection of songs if you are a fan of this type if music. I bought it as a gift for my husband because the artist is his aunt. I thought he might want to pass it on to later generations. I also bought the kindle edition of Kaye's book. It is quite funny.


title: Five Stars

text: Beautiful music.


title: SOUNDS LIKE A BOOTLEG TO ME

text:
PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this version of the Illusion's IF IT'S SO is a bootleg or, at best, a very, very poor quality CD.

I purchased this item several years ago (from another source) and ended up returning it.  The sound quality was absolutely dreadful!  From the very start I could tell that this was a bad transfer from an extremely worn out vinyl album.  The beginning of the first song is actually cut off (like the needle skipped!) and the whole CD is full of pops and crackles and absolutely no better than an old, scratched vinyl album.  In fact, it sounds WORSE than the vinyl copy that I do own.  I love this album and would really like to have a decent digital copy of it, but this version is totally unacceptable.

I have waited for years to write this review but, until now, this item (in CD format) has never appeared on Amazon.  I would appreciate any comments anyone may have concerning this.  I would love to know that I am wrong and that there is indeed a good version of this CD available.


title: Fantabulous!!

text: He used to be the lead singer at a Bible camp that I went to and was great. His CD is amazing also. Stirs the soul, great praise music. Defiantly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a powerful cd.


title: Worth it!

text: Add this to ur collection!<br />Modern classical music


title: surprisingly easy to listen to

text: First heard this on [...] along with others and glad I found it. Has staying power and will look out for more from Ms. Lawson


title: Five Stars

text: Great merchandise, just as promised!


title: Five Stars

text: Wonderful, just as promised.


title: great service finding a specific song I needed for a class

text: I teach monthly history classes for adult Ed.  I taught a class on animals helping the US Military.  I go well beyond the normal explosive detecting dogs to include less famous animals.  Project in the 60’s had a spy cat trained and microphones in ear,  antennas embedded, along with a battery pack, in abdomen. On its first mission, cat stepped off curb, enroute to spy on a Soviet target,  and was run over by a taxi.  2002 a guy wrote a song about it.  The song Acoustic Kitty was on this CD and perfect supplement to my class.  Definitely check this vendor for unusual and very fairly priced music.


title: A work of Avant-garde Musical Philosophy

text:
First things first, this is not a work of Shinto Kagura ritual music.
This is metaphysics expressed through music and is best described as Avant-Garde.
If you are a fan of John Cage or John Zorn, this will be of interest to you.


title: Ordered them

text: Got em, good job


title: Highly satisfied!

text: The album is fantastic, no surprise there. The main thing I want to point out is the top-notch condition of the products. Not only was the poster kept safely in a strong cardboard tube, and thus not harmed in any way on its long journey across continents, but the album itself was wrapped in its original plastic packaging and had not a spot or dent on it anywhere. I am completely and perfectly pleased with my first IU official purchase! Thanks so much.


title: Great Tape

text: Item arrived before expected, and was as advertised. Will make a terrific Christmas gift for a friend of family member


title: This soundtrack is one of the best ever

text: I've always liked this music. Every track is different and each one is great. This rates with "Dances with Wolves" for one of the greatest soundtracks ever. I love it.


title: Five Stars

text: Love it as a replacement for my oringinal that was lost in a move. Thank you!


title: SLAAAAAAAAT

text:
Top 5

1. New Tank
2. Rockstar Made
3. Over
4. m3taphorphios1s
5. Stop Breathing

attachment_type: IMAGE


title: Don’t need no explanation

text: It’s just good. I love bts’s music! And I got V’s photo card


title: It's what it says it is, but...

text: Yeah its pretty much what it says, but it does NOT look like the picture! I bought this just because I love the design in the picture and was planning to put it on my wall, but its mostly a green similar to the shade of green on a frog. theres some black streaks in it but barley any blue! I'm very disappointed because it doesn't even look like the one in the picture!


title: very good

text: It is just what I wanted. very good It was in great shape, no scratches. Love the sound of it.


title: Wonderful ski. Songs

text: An album of funny ski songs from a bygone ramthat isn't really gone. These are great fun for skiers, and even for non-skiers who live in ski regions


title: My daughter listens to this every night to go to sleep

text: I’ve had to get a second copy of this because my kids have worn out the first. They LOVE these stories and I’ve come to think of Charlie and Lola as my favorite children’s story characters!


title: Awesome CD!  Every song rocks!!

text: If you're looking for some new, original hard rock, look no further!  These Norwegian rockers have captured the essence of the classic sound with fresh licks and a great variety of kick ass songs.  The perfect follow-up to their last great CD, "ROCKS".  The screaming solos and licks will thrill any hard rock guitar lover/player.  You will not be disappointed.


title: Great voice, has the song from White Nights.

text: I don't know Russian, but this makes me wish I did. Russian is great for emotional ballads like these.


title: A great purchase.

text: This album is so appealing to look at because of the plastic case that also serves as part of the print on the front; this is cool because it looks good and it also keeps the album safe. I love the things that come with the album, they’re so cute.


title: very disappointed.

text: could not play on my Blu Ray.  very, very disappointed.


title: A Feel-good Nostalgia Vibe

text: I can't tell you how great it was to hear "That's A-Plenty" again.  I wore out my vinyl copy years ago, and searched in vain for it on CD.  These songs nursed me through some lonely teenage years, and they sound better than ever in this version.


title: Five Stars

text: Brendel is THE artist for the impromptus. (And many others...)


title: Five Stars

text: Not warped or anything which is IMO the most important thing especially when ordering online.


title: Classic rock you've never heard...

text: This band has an awesome, blues-tinged roots rock sound. They should have been as well-regarded as the Blasters, the Del Fuegos and other good-time roots bands of the era, but for some reason, they never caught on quite as well. Too bad. "Black Water" is my favorite cut. I put it on mix tapes all the time, and everyone asks me, "Who are those guys?" I always tell them to buy "13 Ghosts" and find out.


title: Cody Jinks is awesome! Love it.

text: Love this cd! It’s awesome!


title: Great CD

text: If you like Coldplay it is one of there best CD's. All songs are great to listen to. I'd recommend.


title: Awesome!!

text: Love the movie. No problems, shipped VERY fast


title: Best price for this song

text: One of the few CD's available with the Ferry Aid benefit song Let it Be. Best price for this song.


title: Country Corn

text: Two discs of country comedy at it's best. It was great for me to get a Kenny Price song. He is from my hometown.


title: Excellent retro-pop that keeps making you hit 'Repeat'!

text: Take one part Allah Las, one part Black Keys, stir and you have the Murlocs...super catchy retro pop with reverb to spare and a bluesy core that just sounds...tough. Great record!


title: Track Listing.....

text:
Excellent CD.......

F.Y.I.

Track Listing :

1. Let Me Show You Where It’s At FREDDY CANNON
2. Tear For Tear GENE CHANDLER
3. Hangin’ On To My Baby TRACEY DEY
4. Eyes THE EARLS
5. Follow The Rainbow TERRY STAFFORD
6. Don’t Take Her From Me KRIS JENSEN
7. Not Me GARY U.S. BONDS
8. Will You Be My Baby  BOBBY RYDELL
9. Shook Up Over You   DEE CLARK
10. She’s New To You MOLLY BEE
11. Rome (Wasn’t Built In A Day) JOHNNIE TAYLOR
12. He’s Sure To Remember Me BRENDA LEE
13. GeeTO Tiger THE TIGERS
14. The Closest Thing To Heaven NEIL SEDAKA
15. Easy To Love (So Hard To Get) THE CHIFFONS
16. Gee Oh Gee THE ECHOES
17. A Handful Of Memories BABY WASHINGTON
18. The Train EDDIE RAMBEAU
19. Either Way I Lose GLADYS KNIGHT & PIPS
20. Big Girls Don’t Cry Limbo DAVID CARROLL
21. Let Us Make Our Own Mistakes BRIAN HYLAND
22. I’ll Find You VALERIE & NICK
23. Feminine Touch DORSEY BURNETTE
24. Go On And Have Yourself A Ball THE MAR-VELLS
25. Just Let It Happen THE ARBORS
26. I Know Better    THE FLAMINGOS
27. Pushin’ A Good Thing Too Far   BARBARA LEWIS
28. Put Away Your Teardrops   THE LETTERMEN
29. Fugitive    JAN DAVIS '
30. We Have Something More (Than A Summer Love) CONNIE FRANCIS
31. Impressions THE JONES BOYS
32. Magic Town   JODY MILLER


title: Five Stars

text: Love this CD!


title: You would not believe how many songs and words my ...

text: You would not believe how many songs and words my cockatiel bird has picked up from this tape. I give him a music lesson once a day with it and he now will follow along. People laugh so much when they watch him sing along.


title: Two Stars

text: Disappointed !


title: One of my favorite Jazz Artists

text: Love it


title: All the hits in one CD

text: [[VIDEOID:52ca30b08b83c00013db5f676a248c7f]] Amazing CD for the eurodance collection


title: Brave Heart CD - Kim Hill

text: Love this artist!  Glad I could find.  Great music!


title: Yela kills it on this mixtape! He is DEFINITELY ...

text: Yela kills it on this mixtape! He is DEFINITELY the most talented recording artist of this time, while the majority of hip hop artists (if I can even call them artists) are quickly killing hip hop as we know it.  This album is a must have if you appreciate talent!


title: Simply Amazing. An enchanting voice with a well produced album.

text:
Most of you will remember Sonia Santana as one of the Spanish pop group OLE OLE's many singers. She is actually one of the most vocally talented songstress from the group's long line of singers.

This her first solo attempt is a great mix of Cuban and Latin songs that sound fresh and simply delightful in her voice. Listed to it a few times and tell me if I am wrong. I think you will agree with me.

Great music CD from a very talented singer.


title: Five Stars

text: Great 40th birthday gift!


title: Five Stars

text: great


title: Great Compilation!

text: This album is full of great Brazilian and other Latin dance hits from the past year (2012). I can't stop listening to it. It's a two-album set and both have great songs. I highly recommend it!


title: L P Record

text: My church choir and I performed this cantata for Easter 1983.


title: Four Stars

text: Dope


title: Nice....needs to be on CD

text: I have this on LP, cassette, and a supposed reissue for its 20th anniversary, but when will it be "officially" re-released on CD??


title: Awesome Worship

text: Brandon Lake does a wonderful job of taking us into the throne of grace for worship.  Love, love, love this CD.


title: Life Changing Music

text: I love Bethel Music worship. It’s encouraging, uplifting and hopeful. All of the songs on this CD can lead one into the presence of the Lord.


title: Five Stars

text: Thanks


title: Powerful Performance

text: I bought this cd when it was originally released, and then I bought the remastered version. I have to confess that I'm confused by some of the reviews of the original cd that I read. "Smooth Jazz"? Not. Too much orchestra? Take a look at the lineup on the notes: Dave Holland, not to mention some of Metheny's original band members: Lyle Mays, Steve Rodby, and Paul Wertico. The vocals are something Metheny incorporated into a number of his albums, and seeing him in concert at least twice with his band and the vocalists I can say that it sends shivers through you. Are there members of the London Orchestra on this recording? Yes. But they don't override the music. This is one kick-a** performance--powerful, even in its mellower moments. And when Metheny solos the music flies. Ignore the naysayers. If you like Pat Metheny and have held off buying this disc, add it to your collection. You Will Not Be Disappointed.


title: Gretchen Menn rocks!

text:
I first encountered Gretchen Menn when I watched a video of her performing Led Zeppelin's "When the Levee Breaks" as the lead guitarist for Zepparella. I was blown away!  Gretchen is a true artist with the guitar, and (not to be sexist) she's one hell of a beautiful lady. I immediately sought out the only two albums she had done (at that time), and I ordered them directly from her website. She was kind enough to autograph them for me, and I really appreciate that. (I wrote to her and suggested she and Lzzy Hale do a duet album--or even just a couple of songs--together. One can always hope.)

This album is a bit different than her earlier work, but I think it showcases her talent to a much greater degree. Her guitar work here winds its way through the other instrumentation, making it that much more dynamic and lending a very real beauty to each piece. For those of you who really appreciate virtuoso guitar playing--both classical and pure rock--this is an album I would strongly suggest buying. I'm glad she stepped away from her earlier work a bit. It's allowed her talent to really show.


title: 50 Feet of Green Garbage

text: Purchased this several weeks ago and used today for the first time. Seemed like a nice hose but after using for 10 seconds I heard a loud pop and the hose bursted at the seams! I could not believe it! Went back to Amazon and read the reviews which confirmed that this is literally a poor product. Thankfully Amazon accepted the return due to the poor quality. Going to order another hose tonight that is from an established and reputable manufacturer. Anyone interested in purchasing this item, please move on, it is literally a waste of time and money.


title: This is a MUST OWN

text: If you are a fan of Thorn's, I'm in love with this album.<br />There is not a week that goes by that I'm not playing this album.


title: Torn box, No poster

text: I was so excited that my album came, but the box was kind of torn and damaged. So I was like okay, and I opened the box and the edges of the place where the album was were ripped. The CD paper was folded, and it was also ripped. It looked like it was used, and I didn’t get a poster either. I’m very disappointed.


title: Classic - love this CD

text: This product came brand new in the original wrapper.  Trip down memory lane listening to it


title: Fate is one of 5 CD's purchased Suhalia Salimpour -

text:
excellent music for classic tribal bellydancing+listening enjoyment.  The vendor was above par as well! I couldn't be happier with my purchases.

The vendor even sent a replacement immediately upon notification that one of the CD's purchased arrived in two pieces - didn't miss a beat (pun intended)!  Thanks - highly recommend!


Delivered as promised, great cd to won if you like classic HK songs.


title: Great album in great condition

text: Good  clean record, fast shipping


title: Rare record in great shape, fast shipping. thanks!

text: Great  album, super good condition.  Lovely rare find.  Thank you


title: Five Stars

text: Great music!


title: Llegó sin el papel film, o sea destapado y sucio

text: Llegó sin el papel film que lo recubre por fuera, por lo tanto llegó sucio. En verdad parece que el paquete llegó usado. No parecía nuevo! Algunas hojas del libro de fotos están despegadas!


title: FAKE POSTERRRRRR 😠😠😠

text: I give a 3 only because the poster i got is not the poster promised in the description.  Im suposed to the the poster that comes with the cd, not some random fanmade poster that has low quality pictures -___-  and the extra photocard that i got is the same as the last extra photo card i got.


title: The Best

text: Fabulous


title: Relaxing ,good

text: Very soothing ,very good pianist.


title: Ripped off

text: I received a used CD full of scratches.


title: Dvořák’s Oratorio

text:
Czech composer Antonín Dvořák had quite a bit of success in large-scale choral/orchestral music, particularly in Victorian Britain. His Requiem, Stabat Mater, Mass in D, and Te Deum show Dvořák’s ability with traditional choral settings, whereas The Spectre’s Bride and Saint Ludmila bend towards the dramatic Czech storytelling route.

Saint Ludmila is a religious tale of conversion, one close to Czech history, here told dramatically. Part 1 centers around many lustily sung choruses of pagan celebrations broken up by a lone missionary felling their golden idol. Part 2, which is told mostly through solos, has Ludmila searching for the missionary and the conversion of a hunter taken with Ludmila’s beauty. The final Part 3 climaxes with the marriage of Ludmila and the conversion of the people of Bohemia, a mix of solos and choruses of revelry. For the stalwart listener, Dvořák saves his finest melody and choral setting in the last part.

At 45 tracks and 145 minutes, Dvořák’s lone oratorio contrasts with the ghostly cantata Spectre’s Bride mostly through sheer length. Fortunately, conductor Gerd Albrecht keeps things moving at a springy pace and remains the most complete version on record as far as I know. The newer recording [[ASIN:B07PPQ9K57 on Naxos]] and some older Czech recordings employ reductions and cuts in the music.

Luckily, Orfeo’s presentation is excellently performed and recorded. The WDR SO of Cologne is a solid orchestra of tremendous ability and the WRD Radio chorus, enlarged by the Prague Chamber Choir, sing heartily. The mostly Eastern European soloists are excellent, although the Ivan (missionary) role seems just a tad agéd and wobbly. Saint Ludmila is completely sung in Czech with song translations provided in English and German in the physical media.

If you don’t mind the 2-1/2 hour runtime, Dvořák’s wonderful orchestrations and ability with voices is still fully on display. The sheer energy from Gerd Albrecht and his WDR performers in a complete recording of Saint Ludmila make this performance an easy first choice, although this would hardly be the place to start exploring the colourful music of Antonín Dvořák.

Highly Recommended!


title: Dvořák from the Old World

text:
Historically speaking, Czech composer Antonín Dvořák’s Moravian Duets were his first taste of success, I assume due to the ease of being able to perform them at home. There are many starry recordings of the Moravian Duets for two soloists, but this recording is for two-part chorus, here sung by the Prague-based Kühn Mixed Choir led by Pavel Kühn from the early 80’s.

You would think 45 minutes of two-part choral singing would wear wearily, yet their Czech inflections and woodsy stories carry the interest. Dvořák’s settings are simple, but contain enough gentle harmonic turns and varied tempos to maintain interest throughout.

It would all be for naught if the performers couldn’t sell it; the Kühn Mixed Choir have a ruddy, folksy sound that doesn’t approach this music academically. Despite their Slavic authority, the chorus has only the lightest of vibrato and are not overbearing at all. Pavel Kühn leads the singers with energy and warmth. Stanislav Bogunia’s piano is a delight as well.

No one is beating down the door to record Dvořák’s 23 Moravian Duets, so it is nice to have this fine choral version alongside different approaches on other recordings. At 47 minutes, the total running time is a bit slim, due to its LP origins I assume, but they are pleasant diversions. Recommended.


title: The Suk Trio plays passionately

text:
Czech composer Antonín Dvořák’s first two piano trios are not particularly early works, but find the composer at a more assured period of composition. These Suk Trio recordings, in two volumes compiled together elsewhere [[ASIN:B00005BIKA on Supraphon]], were set down in 1977 and still maintain a hold on these works.

Dvořák’s music is immensely tuneful and brimming full of interesting ideas. I daresay, of 1 & 2, I slightly prefer the earlier, but they are both very strong works. They are certainly ones that need not take second seat to their more famous brethren that came after, Piano Trios 3 & 4, found with these same players [[ASIN:B00000DSZA on Denon]] in Volume 2. Furthermore, much like Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov’s, Dvořák’s trios are larger than life, not dainty chamber works for polite society.

This aspect is amplified by the Suk Trio, who play with a raw intensity that immediately takes the listener’s ear. While this group can play with lyrical beauty, most necessary in Dvořák, their gear changes are abrupt and take no prisoners in the big moments.

Supraphon balances the three Czech performers spectacularly. The breadth and weight is fully given to the piano, while retaining the intensity, attack, and clarity of the string players. Really an all-around stupendous recording, a reference recording, perhaps, of these first two trios. Highly Recommended!


title: Orchestrated French song

text:
If you love the French songs of Debussy, Ravel, and Hahn, this recording of vocal works by Charles Koechlin is a must have. Despite conductor/oboist Heinz Holliger’s dedication to Koechlin’s music [[ASIN:B07574QX4Y on SWR]], there remains much unheard music yet to be released on record, and this album is notable for its premieres.

The music of Koechlin, whose opus numbers extend to 225, could sound acerbic in his late works, ones that are hit and miss for me. But these vocal numbers are all from his early career, with sumptuous, colourful orchestrations, and vocal lines that could be described as nothing else but French Romanticism, with no particular hint of modernism.

Juliane Banse’s soprano is a delectable dream, who molds her singing well to the texts. The majority of these poems are haunting and melancholy, so it is a boon to have Banse and her ability to vary the music as best she can, with some rather lovely inflections throughout and a strong range.

In addition to the solo vocal premieres, three purely orchestral works are presented; short, light, dainty creations with filigree substance. As icing on the cake though, Koechlin’s Chant Funèbre is included in this trio. Chorus is used as an orchestral voice, and it wrings the most overt drama, along with the markedly explosive Clair de Lune that opens the program.

If there is a deficit to this recording, it is the airy, atmospheric texture that pervades much of this music without much contrast, as well as the makeweight orchestral works, but it is pure nitpickery on my end as this music is all quite beautiful. The physical media includes all songs texts and translations as well. Highly Recommended!


title: Delights from Sweden

text:
Swedish composer Franz Berwald’s four symphonies are beautiful examples of the early Romantic Era. In the mid-1980’s, there weren’t too many cycles of Berwald’s symphonies, but Neeme Järvi with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra were forging ahead in the early CD era, and these remain fine recorded examples of his work. Surprisingly, this reissue ported from the 80's original set [[ASIN:B00000E31W on DG]], but largely ignored.

Berwald’s symphonies seem strongly attached to the German, Romantic Era school. Each move ahead with skittering, frothy motion and Berwald doubles and highlights the winds most winsomely. To my ears, Mendelssohn and Schumann come to mind in Berwald’s symphonic style.

It is the 3rd Symphony, the Singulière, where Berwald seems ahead of his time. His harmonies really take some left turns and there are some wonderfully memorable moments throughout. The others are all quite charming, and in general it appears Berwald prefers a lightweight, driving scherzo feel throughout.

Neeme Järvi and his Gothenburg ensemble sound quite lovely for an 80’s recording. Järvi gives these works inner life, but rarely do they seem rushed or run-through, despite swift tempos. Instead, Gothenburg shapes everything with loving attention, but relish any drama that comes their way.

Since this set came out, there are many others to consider. Dausgaard [[ASIN:B001716JQA on Brilliant]] and Ehrling [[ASIN:B0000264IU on Bis]] to top the list, Kamu on Naxos and Goodman [[ASIN:B0001ZXMOU on Hyperion]], Bolton [[ASIN:B000051L4Z on RPO]] and Montgomery [[ASIN:B000AMPZOY on Arte Nova]]. The famous 3rd Symphony has had airings by Markevitch [[ASIN:B000001H01 on DG]], and continues to be a reference performance.

Järvi isn’t as frantic as Goodman but not as broad as Bolton, and in general, I find Järvi’s performances of all four symphonies have a spirit and joy I don’t hear elsewhere. I like DG’s clear, sumptuous sound as well.

Highly Recommended!


title: Terrific collection of VW orchestral music

text:
This compilation of Vaughan Williams’ orchestral music is taken from the mid-to-late 80’s. The first five works originally came packaged together [[ASIN:B000025S2N on Chandos]], while the last two were both paired to a symphony from Bryden Thomson’s VW’s symphony cycle with the London SO, and collected together here separate from the symphonies.

These are extremely beautiful works from Vaughan Williams, some for string orchestra and harp. Each have a minor-keyed, modal folk-song feel to them, with a plaintive cold wind blowing through their loveliness.

Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1 and In the Fen Country are rarer early works, and I feel a pull from post-Romanticism, the latter ambling a bit, but both with folk songs nods throughout. The Fantasias, Variants, and Lark are more common, but are wonderfully played here. At 80 minutes, this is a full program too. If there is a deficit to this program, it is that these are all slow, moody works with not much variety between them, but I think that is mostly nitpickery on my part.

Chandos provides the London PO a plush depth with a strong bass line, giving these works a satisfying cinematic quality, aided by the cathedral recording locations. An intense majesty and grandiloquence occasion the many climaxes, but VW’s love of winds lends most of these towards the pastoral as well.

I really like Bryden Thomson’s portrayal of VW’s orchestral music, and I enjoy visiting his recordings of VW often. The Lark Ascending is particularly sonically delicious, with those ambivalent opening string chords a constant pleasure every time they appear, and Michael Davis’ singing violin quality a treasure.

There are a countless other VW series of note for comparison: Sir Neville Marriner [[ASIN:B000SLZEOI on Decca Eloquence]] has a little more music across 2CDs, and of course none are more loved than that by Sir Adrian Boult [[ASIN:B000002S2R on EMI]], among some others. But this Chandos collection of orchestral works, alongside Thomson’s Concerto compilation [[ASIN:B000000AUB on Chandos]], and for that matter his symphonies, also [[ASIN:B000000AQ2 on Chandos]], are an invigorating balm for the soul in splendid sonics.

Highly Recommended!


title: Choral Conspectus from the US

text:
SWR’s Choral Music of the World series, found boxed together [[ASIN:B086Y4C6FS on Hänssler]], begins with America. The neo-Romantic music of Copland, Bernstein, and Barber are contrasted with the more contemporary / experimental sounds of Steve Reich, John Cage, and Morton Feldman.

I was actually quite taken with Copland’s youthful Four Motets, although as student work, isn't associated with his stereotypical style. Beautiful they are nonetheless, with the opening motet quite fetching.

I like the constantly changing rhythms of Steve Reich’s minimalist Proverb, joined by vibraphones and synthesizers. The men’s voices take on an unusual Medieval / Renaissance quality that is most captivating. It was first released [[ASIN:B000005J4E on Nonesuch]] with the great choral leader Paul Hillier.

John Cage’s Five has occasional interesting combinations, but is mostly static. At five minutes, it doesn’t outstay its welcome, but nor, do I think, does it say much. Perhaps that is the point… This work was recently recorded by the Latvian Radio Choir with other Cage choral music [[ASIN:B09Y3TYB93 on Ondine]].

The 26-minute The Rothko Chapel is extremely atmospheric and meditative, until the final portion where the viola really gets some melody-making to woo the listener. I think this work would be most effective within the building it was designed for; its ethereal qualities would probably speak volumes there, but for me langured too long. Many recordings divide this work into 5 separate tracks, here it is only on one. This very same group previously recorded this work, with other Feldman choral pieces, [[ASIN:B00006JR0C on Hänssler]].

Missa Brevis is a fun, late work by Bernstein. All of those wonderful rhythms he was known for are here, and his choice of countertenor solo with a battery of percussion create a unique combination. A few have recorded this work before, including Robert Shaw with a larger chorus [[ASIN:B000003CV7 on Telarc]].

Samuel Barber’s A Stopwatch and an Ordnance Map is a miniature masterpiece. The addition of ‘marching’ timpani creates great dread, but the vocals are welcoming, yet modern. My favorite remains with Conspirare [[ASIN:B007X98RV0 on Harmonia Mundi]], paired with Barber’s cantata The Lovers.

The SWR Vokalensemble of Stuttgart are excellent under British leader Marcus Creed, and their work for Hänssler, plus their choice of choral repertoire, has been outstanding. I don’t much go for these random composer compilations, but there is a nice variety of the easy and the experimental, although nothing here is tough sounding at all.

The sonics are very good, although I detected a low frequency anomaly below the voices once in a while that distracted me, but it could be an artifact of my recording. Notwithstanding, this is a very fine recording of 20th Century composers from the US. Recommended.


title: Terrific Dons!

text:
Rudolf Kempe has long been the warden of everything Richard Strauss, and indeed, you can find a treasure trove of his contributions all packaged together [[ASIN:B07LD23LTS on Warner]]. This single release covers his Don Quixote, Don Juan, and the brief orchestral Dance of the Seven Veils from Strauss' opera Salome.

Don Quixote is an early, 50-minute symphonic poem featuring prominent cello/viola solos. While I have found Richard Strauss’ symphonic poems full of colour and glory, Don Quixote is one that has needed growing on, for me. His musical language here can be challenging in comparison to his other orchestral works, but great rewards await those who give this work the time to reap benefits with each listening.

Kempe’s performance of Don Quixote is a lean, biting read, far from the glowing majesty of Rostropovich and Karajan [[ASIN:B00002438Q on EMI]]. This is all to the good, for all of the visual chapters Strauss indicates in the music is characterized strongly. ‘Lean and biting’ is not to say that there isn’t romance and repose either, for Kempe evokes beautiful love scenes and Quixote’s retirement is breathtaking.

Paul Tortelier is an excellent Don on cello and Max Rostral on viola is an equal partner. Both are well heard alongside the orchestra and the performance is an unabashed winner.

Don Juan is a fun symphonic poem, similar to his Till Eulenspiegel, not the least for the ‘fat’ horns at its climax and the ‘Spanish’ oboe cavatina at its center. Kempe affords the work a lot of energy and colour and his performance easily sits alongside Szell [[ASIN:B0000025JH on CBS]].

The Dance of the Seven Veils is a short ditty of more overt exoticisms. The work is not a favorite of mine on its own, and I think there are others who have afforded it stronger readings, such as Ormandy [[ASIN:B000002915 on Sony]], who brings the percussion quite close to the listener and evokes a bit more sensuality.

All in all, though, this is a terrific recording, particularly for Don Juan and Don Quixote, and especially if you are not interested in investing in Kempe's collection of symphonic poems [[ASIN:B006LL02DM on Warner]]. Highly Recommended!