Beautiful My Child

Amazon.com
Electronic music has always been most interesting when DJs and artists get adventurous, wrapping their particular obsessions around those familiar fat beats. In recent memory, it has been done well (see Everything But the Girl's Temperamental) and badly (U2's Pop misstep) but Toronto guitarist Ken Ramm has done a more than decent job of it with Euphoria, melding his space-rock guitar riffs with the loose structures, atmospherics, and danceability of techno (some have called this style "guitronica," as if we need yet more sub-genre definitions in dance music), Ramm's songs still stay songs, even while floating out on the wandering edge of trance and trip-hop. His decidedly acoustic touch sets off the contrasts inherent in this kind of mind-meld and makes little instrumental whispers like "Desert Drive" more interesting on the 10th listen than the first. There's an almost rootsy hue to songs like "Cactus," as Ramm's slide guitar ambles through the melody like a tumbleweed. Vocal enhancements from gospel singer Maddie Willis (who also made contributions to the band's self-titled debut record) and Gayle Day's R&B-laced pipes light up other songs like "By the Sea" with welcome doses of soul. Finally, Garry Hughes' production sheen dresses it all up in silky smooth electronics and lazy, shoegazing textures. The whole package manages to be experimental and instantly appealing all at once. --Matthew Cooke

Product Description
Euphoria are pioneers of the unique sound dubbed 'guitronica.' Euphoria's new album Beautiful My Child, features the group's signature combination of acoustic slide guitar and propulsive beats. Their latest single, "Sweet Rain," builds upon their success at radio (and the impressive retail response generated by "Delirium," last year's breakout instrumental from Euphoria), with sustained airplay in Denver, Boulder, San Francisco, Seattle and Minnesota yielding strong sales in those markets.

Euphoria comprises Toronto-based composer/instrumentalist Ken Ramm, as produced by Garry Hughes (producer of Vitamin C, who's also worked with Art Of Noise, Garbage, and Sly & Robbie); the group's profile was recently enhanced by the use of their music in the Infiniti SUV ad campaign.

Beautiful My Child

Tracks:

Brandenbutg Concerto No.3 In G First Movement
Overture No.3 In D Second Movement
Violin Concerto In E First Movement
Prelude In C minor
Jesu Bleibet Meine Freude (Chorus From Cantata No.147)
Overture No.2 In B minor Minuet And Badinerie
Oboe Concerto In D minor Second Movement
Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Third Movement
Musical Offering - Fuga canonica
Easter Oratorio - Overture
Minuet In D minor
Kommst Du Nun, Jesu, Vom Himmel herunter(From Choral Prelude BWV 650
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Second Movement
Art Of The Fugue - Contrapunctus 9
Concerto For Flute, Violin, Harpsichord And Strings. Triple Concerto - Third Movement
Overture No.4 In D - Réjouissance
Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
Water Music - Alla Hornpipe
Xerxes - Ombra Mai Fu (Largo)
Messiah - And The Glory Of The Lord
Concerto Grosso In A Minor, Op. 6, No. 4 - Larghetto Affettuoso
Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 4 Allegro
Water Music - Air
Messiah - For Unto Us A Child Is Born
Concerto Grosso In B flat, Op. 3, No. 2 - Largo
Salomon - Sinfonia, Act 3
The Choice Of Hercules - While For Thy Arms
Water Music - Allegro (Suite No. 1)
Suite No. 5 In E - Air With Variations
Jephtha - How Dark, O Lord
Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 5 Alla Siciliana - Presto
Mi Palpita Il Cor (Solo Cantata) S'un Di M'adora
Water Music - Andante Allegro Da Capo
Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra in E-flat: First Movement
Symphony No. 94 in G: Surprise Symphony-second movement
Concerto for Violin No. 2 in D: Third Movement
Flute Trio No. 31 in G: Second Movement
Symphony No. 31 in D: Hornsignal-First Movement
String Quartet No. 17 in F, Op. 3, no. 5: Serenade Quartet-Second Movement
Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat for Violin, Cello, Oboe, Bassoon and Orchestra-Third Movement
Concerto for 2 Horns & Orchestra in E-flat: Second Movement
Symphony No. 88 in G: Fourth Movement
String Quartet No. 77 in C: Kaiser Quartet-Poco adagio cantabile
Notturno No. 1 in C: Second Movement
Symphony No. 98 in B: Londoner No. 4-Fourth Movement
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - first movement
Piano Concerto in A - second movement
Flute Concerto in D - Rondeau
Serenade - Minuet
Violin Concerto - first movement
Symphony No. 40 in G minor - first movement
Clarinet Concerto - second movement
Turkish March
Divertimento - Minuet
Horn Concerto No. 3 in E-flat - first movement
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67-First Movement
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27, no. 2: Moonlight Sonata-First Movement
Overture
O welche Lust (Prisoners' Chorus)
Ha, welch ein Augenblick (Pizarros's Aria)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: Second Movement
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 61: Third Movement
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13: Pathétique-Second Movement
Sympony No. 6 in F, Op. 68: Pastorale-First Movement
Fantasy for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra in C minor, Op. 80: Choral Fantasy - Finale
German Dance No. 1 In C
Impromptu Op. 90, No. 3 In G-Flat
Heidenroslein
Ave Maria
Der Lindenbaum
Quintet In A 'Trout Quintet' - Andante
Mass No. 6 In E-Flat - Kyrie
Die Schone Mullerin Des Mullers Blumen
German Dance No. 2 In G
Piano Sonata In B-Flat
Nachtgesang Im Walde
Winterreise - No. 15: Die Krahe
German Mass - Zum Sanctus (Heilit, Heilig Ist Der Herr)
Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished' - Second Movement
Waltz No. 1 in E-flat, Op. 18 Grande Valse brillante
Nocturne in E-flat, Op. 9, no. 2
Etude in G-flat, Op. 10, no. 5
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21-Second Movement
Mazurka in D minor, Op. 33, no. 2
Prelude in D-flat, Op. 28, no. 15 Raindrop
Etude in C, Op. 10, no. 1
Nocturne in D-flat, Op. 27, no. 2
Impromptu No. 4 in C-sharp minor, Op. 66 Fantasy Impromptu
Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20
Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35-Third Movement
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 - Third Movement
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor - first movement 113.String Seranade - Waltz
Violin Concerto - second movement
The Sleeping Beauty - Waltz
Capriccio Italien, Op. 45
Swan Lake - Waltz
Eugene Onegin - Polonaise
The Nutcracker - Waltz of the Flowers
Orchestral Suite No. 4 - Mozartiana - Third Movement
Swan Lake - Dance of the Swans
Symphony No. 6 in B minor - Pathétique - Third Movement
Hungarian Dance No.5
Lullaby
Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op. 68 - Third Movement
Intermezzo in E-flat, Op.117, no. 1
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 77 - Third Movement
Waltz, Op. 39, no. 15
Concert for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in B-flat, Op. 83 - Second Movement
String Quintet in G, Op. 111 - Second Movement
Symphony No.4 in E minor, Op. 98 - Third Movement
Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 76, no. 7
Hungarian Dance No.1 in G minor
German Requiem Selig sind die Toten (Final Chorus)
Die Fledermaus - Overture
Kaiser Waltz, Op.437
Thunder And Lightning Polka, Op. 324
Roses From The South Waltz, Op. 388
AnnenPolka, Op. 117
Vienna Blood Waltz, Op. 354
Eljen A Magyar Polka, Op. 332
Wine, Women and Song Waltz, Op. 333
On The Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 134
Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg - Overture
Tannhauser - Die Pilger sind's (Pilgims' Chorus)
Tannhauser - O du mein holder Abendstern (Wolfram's Aria)
Lohengrin - Act 3 Prelude and Bridal Chorus
The Flying Dutchman - Jo-ho-he Traft ihr das Schiff (Senta's Ballad)
The Flying Dutchman - Steuermann, lass die Wacht (Sailors' Chorus)
Die Walkure - Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond (Siegmund's Aria)
Die Walkure - Ride of the Valkyries
Siegfried Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Schmiede mein Hammer (Siegfried's Forging Song)
Tristan und Isolde - Liebestod
Thus sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (excerpt)
Don Juan, Op. 20
Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64, I.Nacht
Don Quixote, Op.35, first movement: Introduction
Salome, Op. 54, Dance Of The Seven Veils
Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59, Finale: Hab' mir's gelobt ihn lieb zu haben
Piano Concerto 2 In C minor, Op. 18 - First Movement
Vocalise, Op.34, No. 14
Prelude In G Sharp minor, Op. 32, No. 12
Piano Concerto No. 4 In G minor, Op. 40 - Third Movement
Symphony No. 2 In E minor, Op. 27 - Third Movement
Piano Concerto No. 1 In F sharp minor, Op. 1 - Second Movement
Rhapsody, Op. 43 On A Theme By Paganini
Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
Liebestraum No.3 in A-flat
Piano Concerto No.1 in E-flat - third movement
Angelus
Mephisto Waltz No.1 (Dance in a Village Tavern)
Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H
Dante Symphony - Finale. - Purgatorio - Magnificat
Les Préludes
Boléro
Daphnis et Chloé first movement: Nocturne
Rhapsodie Espagnole
Shéhérazade - first movement: Asie
Ma Mère l'Oye - fourth movement: La Belle et la Bête
Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet, and String Quartet
La Valse
Slavic Dance No. 1 in C, Op. 46, no.1
Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World' - second movement
Humoresque, Op. 101
Slavic Dance No. 8 in G minor, Op. 46, no. 8
Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 22 - second movement
Romance for Violin and Orchestra In F minor, Op. 11
Symphony No. 7 in D minor - third movement
Melodie (Songs My Mother Taught Me)
Carneval Overture, Op. 92
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B minor, Op. 104 - third movement
Symphony No.4 In A, Op. 90. Italian - First Movement
Frühlingslied In A, Op. 62, No. 6
Wedding March (From A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61)
Duetto In F, Op.30, No.6 (From Songs Without Words)
String Symphony No.9 In C. Schweitzer Symphony - Third Movement
Concerto For Violin, Piano And String Orchestra No. 1 In D minor - Second Movement
Symphony No.3 In A minor, Op.56 Scottish - Third Movement"
Notturno (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
Rondo Capriccioso, Op.14
String Symphony No. 12 In G minor - First Movement
Venetian Gondola Song In F Sharp minor, Op.30, No.6
Scherzo (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
Violin Concerto In E minor, Op.64 - Third Movement
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - Morgenstimmung
Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - I. Prelude. Allegro vivace
Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - IV. Air. Andante religioso
Arietta, Op. 12, no. 1
Homage March from Sigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 56
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Solveig's Song
Wedding Day at Troldhauen, Op. 65, no. 6
The Last Spring, Op. 34, no. 2
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op 46 - Anitra's Dance
Nordic Melody Op. 63
Notturno, Op. 54, no. 4
Elegie, Op. 47, no. 5
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Arabic Dance
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 - Allegro
Symphony No. 3 in E flat, Op. 97 - Rhenish - first movement
Traumerai (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)
Mondnacht (from Eichendorff-Liederkreis, Op. 39)
Aufschwung (from Fantasietucke, Op. 12)
Triolett, Op. 114, no. 2
Tanzlied (No. 1 from Duets, Op. 78)
Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 - second movement
Frühlingsgruss
Abschied (from Waldszenen Op. 82)
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Im wunderschonen Monat Mai
Manfred Overture, Op. 115
Romance in F sharp, Op. 28, no. 2
Die Rose stand im Tau
Liebesgarten (from Four Duets, Op. 34)
Warum? (from Fantasiestucke, Op. 12)
Kennst du das Land, Op.79, no. 29 (from Lieder der Mignon, Op. 98a)
Von fremden Landern und Menschen (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)

Album Description

An extraordinary 20-CD collection of great works by Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Ravel, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, J. Strauss, R. Strauss, Schumann, Wagner, Dvorak, Grieg and Liszt. It also features worldrenowned artists such as Sir Neville Marriner, Martha Argerich, Ivo Pogorelich, Hermann Prey, Reiner Goldberg, Sylvia Sass, Jochen Kowalski, Peter Schreler and many more. This exquisite, copper metallic, deluxe boxed set is the perfect gift for the classical music neophyte.

Customer Reviews:

Mill. Classical review.......2007-05-13

This is a great set of recordings for the money, the only problem was I've had to clean some of the CD's before they played correctly.

classical music for the unitiated.......2007-04-01

This set is a good way to start listening to classical music. It's very well produced and easy to listen to. I purchased it to use as part of my world history high school class. It would have been nice to have some bio information on the composers. However, the product is exactly as advertised and good value for the money. The students were intrigued by how many of the excerpts they had heard before.

Some little gems there that I had forgotten!.......2007-03-30

Although I studied classical music at school, I had all but forgotten it until I bought this set. I heard several tracks I haven't heard for over 30 years, and I had been humming Brahms's 'Hungarian Dance no. 5' for years without ever knowing what it was and it was on the disc, so that was nice.

I found it to be a very good selection overall, but I felt too much had already been heard on TV, which of course is what lots of newcomers to classical music might appreciate. I managed to find about 2 hours of tracks that I wanted to keep, which works out quite expensive per disc, but I did find some wonderful music I had completely forgotten about, so it was worth it. All in all, it represents good value, and I have only knocked one star off as so much of it had been used in adverts.

It is definitely a good introduction to classical music, and it has made me want to listen to more of it, so I don't regret this 'expensive' purchase one bit!

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

A very helpful collection.......2007-03-24

I define this set as an excellent way to find out who you like, and who you don't, among 20 of the important composers. It opens the door to purchasing more complete pieces by composers you do like, and can save a lot of time and money in the process.
To criticize the set for not containing more composers, or more than just snippets of those who are in the set, is missing the point: it is a helpful introduction to finding your way in the huge maze of classical music. It succeeds admirably in this.
Sound quality is uniformly very good on an audiophile system.
Highly recommended.

Excellent!.......2007-03-08

A great way to start a classical music collection. It's nice to have a full CD of each composer. It makes it easy to keep track of selections/composers I already have and what composers I still need to puchase to complete my collection.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful
A few bright spots, but also some disappointments
This CD Deserves SIX Stars!
every good adjective
Fabulous!

Peace Like a River
James Lucas , Janice Kapp Perry , John Rutter , Jean Sibelius , John Tavener , American Traditional , English Traditional , Spiritual Traditional , Mack Wilberg , Craig D. Jessop , Clay Christiansen , John Longhurst , Richard L. Elliott , Daron Bradford , and Meredith Campbell
Manufacturer: Mormon Tabernacle
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

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Consider the Lilies
Love Is Spoken Here
America's Choir
Mormon Tabernacle Choir: The Sound of Glory-Battle Hymn of the Republic
Choose Something Like a Star

ASIN: B00020H9W0
Release Date: 2004-06-22

Tracks:

Sweet Peace
Be Still, My Soul
Peace Like a River
All Things Bright and Beautiful
Lord Is My Shepherd
This Is My Father's World
Wayfarin' Stranger
Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Deep River
Lamb
Child's Prayer
It Is Well With My Soul
Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep
Gaelic Blessing
Thou Gracious God, Whose Mercy Lends
Come, Let Us Anew

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2007-06-14

This CD is a must have for any Mormon Tabernacle Choir fans. The music is very reverent and gentle, and should also appeal to those not from the LDS church, seeing as how most of the music is common to the wider Christian community. This CD is a fantastic addition to any music collection.

A few bright spots, but also some disappointments.......2007-01-19

It Is Well With My Soul is one of my favorite-favorites and that is the main reason why I bought the CD; it turned out to be a huge let down on this album, they rearranged it so much that I almost didn't recognize it. Be Still My Soul is another reason why I bought it and it's good, but not great. Swing Low Sweet Chariot is where it starts to get good. The last two songs "Thou Gracious God, Whose Mercy Lends"
and "Come, Let Us Anew" are very good reasons to buy this CD, they each have truely powerful passages and make the CD worth having. The Mormon Tabernacle Choirs 2006 release entitled Then Sings My Soul is by far the best that I've heard from them.

This CD Deserves SIX Stars!.......2005-11-05

However, the rating scale has a limit of five. I own over 700 CDs of virtually every type of music. Peace Like A River belongs in a class by itself! I've never written a review before but, after listening to this STUNNING performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, I feel compelled to share my praise with that of the five other reviewers. If I were limited to one word, I would use the word "SUPERB" to describe this beautiful and moving CD. SIX stars for Peace Like a River! BRAVO!!!

every good adjective .......2005-08-06

This album is all beauty and solace. The singing is pristine, the arrangements lush and often stirring--never saccharine. As with the previous reviewer, my first listing of "Peace Like a River" brought me to tears (especially "Peace Like a River," the sopranos in "Swing Low," and the bagpipes in "Thou Gracious God"). Buy this one.

Fabulous!.......2005-05-29

The perfect recording to help you recover from a long, hard day. Showcasing the MTC's "new" sound in contemporary choral arrangements with its own orchestra and conductor, "Peace Like a River" brought tears to my eyes in selection after selection during my first listen -- and I'm not normally an emotional person! The title song together with "Deep River," "Swing Low" and "Be Still My Soul" are alone worth the cost of the recording. Get this one!

Average customer rating:

My car's unofficial soundtrack
Simply Beautiful My Child
Sweet, sweet music
Take a listen
Music From CSI: Crime Scene

Beautiful My Child
Euphoria
Manufacturer: Six Degrees
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Euphoria
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ASIN: B00005ARFL
Release Date: 2001-04-03

Tracks:

Sweet Rain
Little Gem
In The Pink
Runaway Monday
Beautiful My Child
Desert Drive
By The Sea
Cactus
Devil May Care
Outside
1001 Dreams
Silky Delta

Amazon.com

Electronic music has always been most interesting when DJs and artists get adventurous, wrapping their particular obsessions around those familiar fat beats. In recent memory, it has been done well (see Everything But the Girl's Temperamental) and badly (U2's Pop misstep) but Toronto guitarist Ken Ramm has done a more than decent job of it with Euphoria, melding his space-rock guitar riffs with the loose structures, atmospherics, and danceability of techno (some have called this style "guitronica," as if we need yet more sub-genre definitions in dance music), Ramm's songs still stay songs, even while floating out on the wandering edge of trance and trip-hop. His decidedly acoustic touch sets off the contrasts inherent in this kind of mind-meld and makes little instrumental whispers like "Desert Drive" more interesting on the 10th listen than the first. There's an almost rootsy hue to songs like "Cactus," as Ramm's slide guitar ambles through the melody like a tumbleweed. Vocal enhancements from gospel singer Maddie Willis (who also made contributions to the band's self-titled debut record) and Gayle Day's R&B-laced pipes light up other songs like "By the Sea" with welcome doses of soul. Finally, Garry Hughes' production sheen dresses it all up in silky smooth electronics and lazy, shoegazing textures. The whole package manages to be experimental and instantly appealing all at once. --Matthew Cooke

Album Description

Euphoria are pioneers of the unique sound dubbed 'guitronica.' Euphoria's new album Beautiful My Child, features the group's signature combination of acoustic slide guitar and propulsive beats. Their latest single, "Sweet Rain," builds upon their success at radio (and the impressive retail response generated by "Delirium," last year's breakout instrumental from Euphoria), with sustained airplay in Denver, Boulder, San Francisco, Seattle and Minnesota yielding strong sales in those markets.

Customer Reviews:

My car's unofficial soundtrack.......2006-09-23

A night drive in the BMW with this cranked up and my riders say it's like being in a European movie. A fine and recommended experience.

Simply Beautiful My Child.......2004-09-15

Every time I play this CD I hear something new and exciting. The depth and breath of creativity displayed is simply amazing. Definitely not your run-of-the-mill chill or lounge CD.

Sweet, sweet music.......2002-08-04

Everytime I have seen "Beautiful My Child" on record shelves, I have been awfully curious according to the description on the album. "Guitaronica"? Eh, the label is awfully silly to call this lovely collection of trip hop, ambient, world music with acoustic guitar thrown in for good measure. Label or no label, the music I heard was music to my ears. I found songs like "Sweet Rain" and "1001 Dreams" soothing to listen to. The entire mood of this album is very gentle and relaxing. Most of the songs are instrumentals but there are a couple of tracks on the album with vocals. I did find the album albeit too short but otherwise the album is flawless.

Take a listen.......2002-02-16

This is a great Cd. Check out the standouts, "Sweet Rain," "Desert Drive" and "Devil May Care." Beautiful Atmospheric sounds.

Music From CSI: Crime Scene.......2002-01-06

I bought this album after hearing the second song,"Little Gem", on the hit CBS show CSI:Crime Scene. This is one of those bands that you hear all over the place(tv,films etc.)as their music seems to fit many moods. My favourite songs are the hypnotic "Desert Drive","1001 Dreams" and the Bert Jansch-Pentangle influenced "Devil May Care". Euphoria adds a very original approach,the slide guitar and beats, to a genre that needs a breath of fresh air.

Average customer rating:

Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00062FLI8
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Average customer rating:

"Lord, How Come Me Here"
WOW!
uhm......yeah right!!
scadalise my name
Broadway takes on the spiritual ...

Spirituals in Concert

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Kathleen Battle · Wynton Marsalis ~ Baroque Duet / Anthony Newman · Orch St. Luke's · Nelson
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The Best of Kathleen Battle

ASIN: B000001GDC
Release Date: 1991-03-08

Tracks:

In That Great Getting Up Morning
Sinner, Please Don't Let This Harvest Pass
Over My Head/ Lil' David
Oh, What A Beautiful City
Lord, How Come Me Here
I Believe I'll Go Back Home-Lordy, Won't You Help Me
Ride On, King Jesus
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot-Ride Up In The Chariot
You Can Tell The World
Scandalize My Name
Great Day
Oh, Glory
Calvary-They Crucified My Lord
Talk About A Child
Gospel Train
My God Is So High
There Is A Balm In Gilead
He's Got The Whole World In His Hand

Customer Reviews:

"Lord, How Come Me Here".......2007-06-18

I must add, to the praises above, that Kathleen Battle's "Lord, How Come Me Here" is the best "quick" explanation of the long-lasting effects of slavery that I can think of. The line, "They sold my children away," says it all.

And the VERY funny "Scandelize My Name" is also worth the price of the total album!

Alinde O'Malley

WOW!.......2007-03-22

You know, after owning both the CD and VHS of this performance, and having been coached by Sylvia Olden Lee herself, it is no wonder why spiritual mean so much to me. And these two ladies bare their souls and bring these masterpieces to life! WOW!!!

uhm......yeah right!!.......2006-06-21

Clearly you are mistaken. I don't know who that guy is-the person below recommended-but there is NO COMPARISON to JESSYE NORMAN AND KATHLEEN BATTLE!!!! Jessye Norman herself has *30* HONARY DOCTRATES from places like Harvard, Juliard, Yale, Cambridge....I mean HELLO!!!! That guy had no where near the ease, the musicality or even the breath support as these two veterans show!! It is a beautiful CD though it came out in 1991 and I HIGHLY recommend it.

scadalise my name.......2004-10-29

this isn't that good specially after hearing William Warfeild sing it. You can find him at www.wlym.com

Broadway takes on the spiritual ..........2004-01-29

... takes it on and puts it on the canvas by the end of the first round.

I'm going to be the dissenting voice here: thank goodness I signed this disk out of the public library 'cause I'm sure not going to listen to it twice.

There is nothing wrong with the performances. Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle sing beautifully, and there's no problem with the pick-up orchestra under James Levine.

The problem, and it's huge, is the conception of the show and the musical arrangements. To make the video marketable, I suppose, the producers decided that the concert had to be big: big names, big arrangements, big effects. So we have eighteen spirituals given the musical theatre treatment, with a philharmonic chorus providing chain-gang sound effects, big brass, and big percussion -- including a chinese gong. A chinese gong in a spiritual??? Spare me! Almost every track turns out sounding like either a curtain-raiser or a big, end-of-act production number with cute and predictable modulations between some of the stanzas and the sort of curly-cue orchestral ornamentation typical of Broadway shows.

Tracks:

Messiah: Part One - 1. Sinfony (Grave - Allegro moderato)
Messiah: Part One - 2. Accompagnato : Comfort Ye My People
Messiah: Part One - 3. Air : Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
Messiah: Part One - 4. Chorus : And The Glory Of The Lord Shall Be Revealed
Messiah: Part One - 5. Accompagnato : Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts
Messiah: Part One - 6. Air : But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming
Messiah: Part One - 7. Chorus : And He Shall Purify
Messiah: Part One - 8. Recitative : Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive
Messiah: Part One - 9. Air and Chorus : O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings
Messiah: Part One - 10. Accompagnato : For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover
Messiah: Part One - 11. Air : The People That Walked In Darkness
Messiah: Part One - 12. Chorus : For Unto Us A Child Is Born
Messiah: Part One - 13. Pifa (Pastoral Symphony)
Messiah: Part One - 14. Recitative: There Were Shepherds Abiding In The Field - Accompagnato: And Lo, The Angel Of The Lord - 15. Recitative: And The Angel Said Unto Them - 16. Accompagnato: And Suddenly There Was With The Angel
Messiah: Part One - 17. Chorus : Glory To God In The Highest
Messiah: Part One - 18. Air : Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion
Messiah: Part One - 19. Recitative : Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind
Messiah: Part One - 20. Air : He Shall Feed His Flock
Messiah: Part One - 21. Chorus : His Yoke Is Easy, His Burthen Is Light
Messiah: Part Two - 22. Chorus : Behold The Lamb Of God
Messiah: Part Two - Air : 23. He Was Despised

Tracks:

Messiah: Part Two - 24. Chorus : Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
Messiah: Part Two - 25. Chorus : And With His Stripes We Are Healed
Messiah: Part Two - 26. Chorus : All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
Messiah: Part Two - 27. Accompagnato : All They That See Him
Messiah: Part Two - 28. Chorus : He Trusted In God
Messiah: Part Two - 29. Accompagnato : Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
Messiah: Part Two - 30. Arioso : Behold, And See If There Be Any Sorrow
Messiah: Part Two - 31. Accompagnato : He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land
Messiah: Part Two - 32. Air : But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul
Messiah: Part Two - 33. Chorus : Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates
Messiah: Part Two - 34. Recitative : Unto Which Of The Angels
Messiah: Part Two - 35. Chorus : Let All The Angels Of God Worship Him
Messiah: Part Two - 36. Air : Thou Art Gone Up On High
Messiah: Part Two - 37. Chorus : The Lord Gave The Word
Messiah: Part Two - 38. Air : How Beautiful Are The Feet
Messiah: Part Two - 39. Chorus : Their Sound Is Gone Out
Messiah: Part Two - 40. Air : Why Do The Nations So Furiously Rage
Messiah: Part Two - 41. Chorus : Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder
Messiah: Part Two - 42. Recitative : He That Dwelleth In Heaven
Messiah: Part Two - 43. Air : Thou Shalt Break Them
Messiah: Part Two - 44. Chorus : Hallelujah
Messiah: Part Three - 45. Air : I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
Messiah: Part Three - 46. Chorus : Since By Man Came Death
Messiah: Part Three - 47. Recitative : Behold, I Tell You A Mystery
Messiah: Part Three - 48. Air : The Trumpet Shall Sound
Messiah: Part Three - 49. Recitative : Then Shall Be Brought To Pass
Messiah: Part Three - 50. Duet : O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?
Messiah: Part Three - 51. Chorus : But Thanks Be To God
Messiah: Part Three - 52. Air : If God Be For Us
Messiah: Part Three - 53. Chorus : Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain --- Amen

Amazon.com essential recording

This is a terrific performance of Messiah. Not only are the soloists all superb, but Trevor Pinnock completely contradicts the image of many period instrument performances as small-scale, scrappy affairs. Indeed, he invests the choruses with as much genuine Handelian pomp as Beecham at his most extravagant. The trumpets really blaze, and the timpani thunder, and everyone simply has a great time. A joyous performance, just right for the holiday season. --David Hurwitz

Amazon.com

Trevor Pinnock meets with mixed success in this account of the Messiah with the English Concert & Choir and soloists Arleen Auger, Anne Sofie von Otter, Michael Chance, Howard Crook, and John Tomlinson, recorded and released in 1988. Its strengths are the strengths of the early-music movement in general. The size and distribution of the instrumental and vocal forces are optimal, which means that textures are clear and balances apt. Rhythms are nicely pointed, though often, in Pinnock's case, not quite well enough sprung. Tempos are well chosen; for example, "All we like sheep"--which turns out to be one of the set's best numbers--is a real bourré, and Pinnock animates it in just the right way. But the performance often seems workmanlike and unemotional, weighed down in too many instances by the humdrum work of the chorus. The alto section in particular, which is half male and half female, sings timidly and is constantly swallowing its entrances. Bass soloist John Tomlinson is a further drag on the effort. He has the right idea--that there's an Italian opera hiding behind all this biblical imagery--but his cottony sound is out of place, a misguided attempt to mimic Nicolai Ghiaurov. His usable range is less than a tenth (he croaks the low G's and F-sharps), and his diction is horrible. "Thus spake the Lord" is strangled, and when, in "The trumpet shall sound" Tomlinson gets to the words "we shall be changed," one can't help wishing that he had been changed too, right before the sessions started. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Ladies & gentleman: The Lord'n Savior, God Almighty.......2007-06-13

Handel's Messiah is my favorite piece of classical music. Of the two versions that I had I only have left this one, and it is not the best (the other had been a cheap recording whose author's name I forgot too). This version seems to lack a little enthusiasm from the voices; too melancholic. Anyway, this is the first review of any music that I write, and probably will be the last too, so I just want to leave my impression of how I feel when I hear these solemn and heavenly sounds. One feels so raised to the heavenlies... I can almost sense the presence of the Lord Almighty up yonder among the clouds, and me being carried in solemnity to meet Him. Far away are the buzzing sounds of earthly chores. The air is fresh and clean as we are raised above the valleys, and we come to meet God's elected amid the singing, stronger and stronger. Jubilant, bathed in the glorious rays of the Savior's Light, we come together and sing: Glory to God, glory to God, praise and glory for He is coming...

So Fashionable, and So Disappointing.......2007-02-01

This would be a great 21st Century Reader's Digest version of Messiah, if such a thing existed any more. Handel did as much as he could, but really, the performers still have to do something besides posture, which, by the way, seems to me to characterize many performances these days. Fashionable, but musically deficient.

Specifically: John Tomlinson sings like he thinks he IS God, instead of singing about Him. Heavy, cumbersome, and overblown. May I add boorish?

Arleen Auger has a very sweet voice. And??

Despite the program notes insisting that certain segments of this Messiah are given to "the contralto", Anne Sofie von Otter is NOT a contralto. Not even close.

The male alto can barely sustain a legato line - why he insists upon throwing in those complicated, badly-performed embellishments I can't figure. Well, I can, but I'd really rather not say.

Wake up, choristers!! It's 'For Unto Us A Child Is Born," not "Oy, I have to go to the grocery store today."

Boy do I regret having spent almost $40 on this one. Thank goodness I have the Colin Davis to console me.

A nice combination of period nad tradiitonal.......2006-12-17

This 1988 recording sits between the euqally English, euqally period-ifnluenced Hogwood and Garidner. Of the three, Hogwood sounds more 'authentic' because it uses boys in the chorus and singers schooled period practice. By comparison, Pinnock's soprano, Arleen Auger, and mozeeo, Von Otter, are essentially modern singers--gorgeous ones, of course, Gardiner is far more anemic in his conducting and uses a scrwny-sounding orchestra, so if that's more authentic, so be it. Of the three, Pinnock gives us more traditional music values in his emotional expression and instrumental timbres.

The competiiton is mushc stiffer now than in 1988, but Pinnock's reading has survived the test of time. He is not a genuinely inspired conductor--sadly, Messiah has become a cottage industry that excludes most big-name talents--but neither are Gardiner and Hogwood. (For sheer musicality, I tend to put my money on Andrew Parrott, Robert King, Marc Minkowski, Niklaus Harnoncourt, and Rene Jacobs.) But he's certainly good eough. The reason I haven't given five stars is that the male soloists aren't first-rate, and in particular the Wotan voice of John Tomlinson sounds cavernous in the bass arias. Add to that Pinnock's tendency toward tepidness, and what you end up with is a very good but not great performance.

Wait! Before you buy..........2006-05-28

... This Messiah has recently been re-released at a much cheaper price. Go back and look for the DG "The Originals" release, which is being sold new for under $12.

La mas bella y fidedigna interpretacion que se pueda obtener.......2004-12-29

Soy uno de los mas fanaticos seguidores de Handel y de su obra El Mesias... He escuchado muchas versiones de esta genial e impresionante obra del maestro Handel y, sencillamente no me queda mas que recomendar esta interpretacion, bajo la batuta del maestro Trevor Pinnock. Se nota la exigencia con que esta version se interpreto, dentro el contexto del arte barroco y la magnificencia de la pronunciacion del ingles de la epoca. La orquesta se luce impresionantemente desde la obertura... y le da a cada movimiento, toda aquella fuerza y a la vez delicadeza requerida en el sentimiento que aplica en cada uno de los textos biblicos escogidos por el guionista Jennens. El Coro del English Concert es arrebatador y demuestra maestria en la interpretacion de cada una de las arias que le corresponde. La soprano Arleen Auger, la puedo definir como un angel cantando y resulta ser una caricia a los oidos, a la vez que es capaz de arrancarle a uno las lagrimas por lo excelso de su magia interpretativa. El tenor Crook, aunque no es un tenor con tesitura para canto barroco, es realmente habil y agil al momento de interpretar los melismas caracteristicos de este brillante periodo musical. El contratenor Michael Chance, es fenomenal y quiera Dios que yo tenga el honor de conocer a este genio del canto: "But who may abide..." interpretado por Chance en esta version, es como para caer en extasis. La contralto Anne Sophie von Otter..., tiene una voz oscura y redondeada..., tambien resulta una caricia a los oidos y su "If God be for us..." es desbordante, capaz tambien de hacerle a uno derramar lagrimas por su belleza interpretativa. El bajo Tomlinson..., es barbaro!!! (Soy bajo-baritono en el Coro de la Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Costa Rica...) A pesar de su voz tan oscura, es tremendamente agil cuando le toca cantar los melismas y es genial al alcanzar la tonalidad brillante en las partes de notas altas y agudas...; por ejemplo: "The people that walked in darkness..." y "Why do the nations..." Tengo seis años de experiencia, interpretando musica coral y tengo que decir que espere esos seis años, desde 1999, para felizmente cantar esta obra "El Mesias". Ha sido fantastico finalmente lograr este objetivo..., la espera valio la pena y debo admitir que mi inspiracion ha sido sin duda alguna, la version que puede usted encontrar en este disco compacto. Doy gracias a todos los que intervinieron en esta grabacion (al maestro Trevor Pinnock, al English Concert and Choir y a los solistas ya mencionados), en nombre mio y en nombre del maestro Handel.

Handel - Messiah / Vyvyan · Sinclair · Vickers · Tozzi · Royal PO · Beecham

Average customer rating:

Beecham's noisy Messiah
The Big Victorian Handel 'Messiah': Indulge Yourself!
Comfort Ye!
Familiarity hasn't bred much affection
Thanks to Jon!

Handel - Messiah / Vyvyan · Sinclair · Vickers · Tozzi · Royal PO · Beecham
George Frideric Handel , Sir Thomas Beecham , Jennifer Vyvyan , Monica Sinclair , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , Jon Vickers , and Giorgio Tozzi
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Handel - Messiah / Harper, Watts, Wakefield, Shirley-Quirk, LSO, C. Davis
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Samson

ASIN: B000003FB8
Release Date: 1992-07-14

Tracks:

Messiah: Overture - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Messiah: Recit: Comfort Ye, My People (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Air: Every Valley Shall Be Exalted (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Chorus: And The Glory Of The Lord - John McCarthy
Messiah: Recit: Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
Messiah: Air: But Who May Abide (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
Messiah: Chorus: And He Shall Purify - John McCarthy
Messiah: Recit: Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive (Contralto) - Monica Sinclair
Messiah: Air & Chorus: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings (Contralto) - John McCarthy
Messiah: Recit: For, Behold, Darkness Shall Cover (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
Messiah: Air: The People That Walked In Darkness (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
Messiah: Chorus: For Unto Us A Child Is Born - John McCarthy
Messiah: Pastoral Symphony - Royal Philharmonic Chorus
Messiah: Recit: There Were Shepherds Abiding (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
Messiah: Recit: And The Angel Said Unto Them (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
Messiah: Recit: And Suddenly There Was (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
Messiah: Chorus: Glory To God In The Highest - John McCarthy
Messiah: Air: Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
Messiah: Recit: Then Shall The Eyes (Contralto) - Monica Sinclair
Messiah: Air: He Shall Feed His Flock; Come Unto Him (Contralto & Soprano) - Monica Sinclair
Messiah: Chorus: His Yoke Is Easy - John McCarthy

Tracks:

Messiah: Chorus: Behold The Lamb Of God - John McCarthy
Messiah: Air: He Was Despised (Contralto) - Monica Sinclair
Messiah: Chorus: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs - John McCarthy
Messiah: Chorus: And With His Stripes We Are Healed - John McCarthy
Messiah: Chorus: All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray - John McCarthy
Messiah: Recit: All They That See Him (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Chorus: He Trusted In God - John McCarthy
Messiah: Recit: Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Air: Behold, And See If There Be (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Recit: He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Air: But Thou Didst Not Leave (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Chorus: Lift Up Your Heads - John McCarthy
Messiah: Air: How Beautiful Are The Feet (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
Messiah: Chorus: Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All Lands - John McCarthy
Messiah: Air: Why Do The Nations So Furious Rage (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
Messiah: Chorus: Lets Us Break Their Bonds Asunder - John McCarthy
Messiah: Recit: He That Dwelleth In Heaven (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Air: Thou Shalt Break Them (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Chorus: Hallelujah! - John McCarthy
Messiah: Part III - Air: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
Messiah: Chorus: Since By Man Came Death - John McCarthy
Messiah: Recit: Behold, I Tell You A Mystery (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
Messiah: Air: The Trumpet Shall Sound (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
Messiah: Chorus: Worthy Is The Lamb - John McCarthy

Tracks:

Messiah: Recit: Unto Which Of The Angels (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
Messiah: Chorus: Let All The Angels Of God Worship Him - John McCarthy
Messiah: Air: Thou Art Gone Up On High (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
Messiah: Chorus: The Lord Gave The Word - John McCarthy
Messiah: Recit: Then Shall Be Brought To Pass (Contralto) - Monica Sinclair
Messiah: Duet: O Death, Where Is Thy Sting? (Contralto & Tenor) - Monica Sinclair
Messiah: Chorus: But Thanks Be To God - John McCarthy
Messiah: Air: If God Be For Us (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan

Amazon.com essential recording

Sir Thomas Beecham's Messiah has become notorious among baroque purists (like this writer) for embodying the worst excesses of pre-1960 Handel performance: ponderous tempos, stentorian opera singers, huge lumbering choruses and orchestras, crashing cymbals, clanging triangles.... Well, we'll need a new straw man: this performance is WONDERFUL. Jon Vickers and Giorgio Tozzi negotiate Handel's writing surprisingly well; Jennifer Vyvyan takes to it naturally. The chorus and orchestra (yes, including trombones, tuba, triangle, and cymbals) may obscure the part-writing, but they fill the music with power, grandeur, and faith. If Mozart could re-orchestrate Messiah, why not Beecham? This may not be Handel's Messiah as such, it may even be a period piece itself--but it's magnificent. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

Beecham's noisy Messiah.......2006-12-23

Here's the famous Messiah from Thomas Beecham and forces that uses crashing cymbals, enhanced timpani and brass to make it sound like a collusion between classical forces, a rock band and Canadian Brass. Listen to second CD excerpt from "Hallelujah!" for the opening cymbal crash to get an idea of what's going on.

This performance has been debated for 40 years as to whether it is musically adept, musically correct, an exemplar of the English choral tradition, or just a big old batch of fun at Handel's expense. I first owned this during a time when I also owned a recording Handel's "Royal Fireworks Music" featuring 40 woodwinds. The two made roughly an equal amount of noise.

There isn't much question this performance is completely out of step with the way Handel is performed in most venues today. Check out the wonderful Jon Vickers' highly operatic opening aria, "Comfort ye", then compare that to any leaned-out period group you've heard. You'll get another idea of the dimension of Beecham's project.

While not on the agenda of the Flat Earth Society, the only real interest in a performance like this -- especially having to endure it on three CDs when just about everyone else puts it on two -- is nostalgia or history, whichever happens to be the case for you.

My personal favorite version is in the 4-CD box of "Messiah" and "Israel In Egypt" where Andrew Parrott leads his Taverner Choir & Players and some of the best early music singers including Emma Kirkby, Emily van Evera, Margaret Cable, David Thomas, and Joseph Cornwall. HIs Messiah isn't perfect -- it uses a countertenor for a bass in one aria -- but it is more moderate than most PPP recordings and has a wonderful romantic edge to most of the score. It comes with a top notch recording of "Israel in Egypt" and still costs less than the Beehcham.

The Big Victorian Handel 'Messiah': Indulge Yourself!.......2006-12-16

We live in an era when purity of intent and respect for composers' works is at an all time high. Not only are we blessed with superb 'authentic' performances on period instruments and with small choruses and countertenors and state of the art bel canto singers for Handel's evergreen "Messiah", there are many superlative recordings that are as polished as any one work on current recordings. Supposedly we are hearing Messiah the way Handel envisioned it. Perhaps so, but who is to say that had Handel the resources available today he wouldn't have jumped for joy at the drama of the old British Choral Societies version that Sir Thomas Beecham conducts on this anything but dusty recording from many years ago. The 'Old School' had its good points.

Beecham goes all out with an orchestration, while attributed to Sir Eugene Goosens is also probably some of Beecham's own inimitable tinkering, that adds instruments not only in numbers but also in color and depth of sound. Winds double strings, percussion includes the full battery instead of just tympani, the big cello and viola sound stand equally with the big violin sound, etc. The chorus is huge, and while this allows the big dramatic moments to be intense, the fine diction Beecham demanded remains solidly intact.

The soloists are in an operatic class of their own. Jennifer Vyvyan and Monica Sinclair were major singers when this recording was made and their singing is big and well ornamented. Jon Vickers and Giorgio Tozzi bring Verdi into the room and he is a welcome visitor to Beecham's vision of this work.

For this listener, who prefers the 'correct, authentic' performance, this recording and others even older that celebrate the BIG Messiah are a delight. And that just proves that performance standards, no matter the interpretation of the conductor, are paramount: Beecham gives a solid, convincing interpretation to the operatic Messiah. It is lush, and huge, and absolutely wonderful to hear again! Grady Harp, December 06

Comfort Ye!.......2006-10-30

If your not familiar with "Messiah" don't let the reviews scare you - this is certainly a great choice for your first or only recording. There is a lot of feeling in the playing and singing, and i feel it is quite respectful not only of the composer, but the subject matter. It includes a booklet with all the lyrics, and an essay by Beecham himself about the piece. It is a complete recording, with a "bonus cd" of extra verses not usually performed (as explained in the essay). The audio quality is great for the time it was recorded. Its much more worthy to be listened to and contemplated than to be put on as backround music at Christmastime. The price is certainly reasonable in light of the quality of the performance.

Familiarity hasn't bred much affection.......2005-11-02

I first became acquainted with this recording at the tender age of 12 when I received the original Soria edition as a Christmas gift. I remember being intensely disappointed at what seemed to me then as more circus than music. Time has mellowed that negative reaction and gives a more balanced assessment of Beecham's achievement - I bought the CD reissue after all. It still doesn't inspire much affection in yours truly although I can appreciate the soloists' contributions, particularly Tozzi. The lamented Vyvyan was in better voice with Boult. Here she has a rapid vibrato and a curious way of articulating the high notes. The orchestrations seem to maintain more of the clarity of the writing by concentrating on the bass and the top without clogging up the middle voices in the manner of the Victorians. There are three pieces where it just doesn't work at all to these ears: the brassy "All we like sheep," "Hallelujah" (which summons visions of Fucik's 'Entry of the Gladiators' every time I hear it), and the disintegration of the obbligato trumpet into flute noodlings in "The trumpet shall sound," in a lightweight performance that is at odds with the grandeur of the text. I'll also admit that the splashy brilliance of "For unto us a Child is born" and the surging drama of "Surely, He hath borne our griefs" are very satisfying.

In the forty some recordings I own (and the many performances I've attended) there's no best and no definitive. This is one I respect but don't care to hear very often.

Thanks to Jon!.......2005-03-08

This recording is worth having first of all beacause of the credible singing of Jon Vickers! Yes, he really sings on the words. The "Comfort Ye" and "Every valley..." have a knew dimension after Jons reading of the score. Of course I know that in tradition we want a very much more lyrical voice to this masterpiece. But he's not alone here, and now we are already into the problem; the choir! It's just terrible, yes terrible!
I'm just ending up with "Thanks to Jon!"

Handel - Messiah / McNair · von Otter · Chance · Hadley · Lloyd · Marriner

Average customer rating:

a voice teacher and early music fan
I really love this recording
Some very good parts
Great mezzo and trumpet
And He Shall Reign Forever and Ever, Amen.

Handel - Messiah / McNair · von Otter · Chance · Hadley · Lloyd · Marriner
George Frideric Handel , Neville Marriner , Anne Sofie von Otter , Michael Chance , Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields , Sylvia McNair , Jerry Hadley , and Robert Lloyd
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (The Historic 1955 Debut Recording)

ASIN: B00000414Y
Release Date: 1992-11-17

Tracks:

Messiah: Part I: Symphony
Messiah: Part I - No. 1 Accompagnato: Comfort Ye, Comfort Ye, My People
Messiah: Part I - No. 2: Air Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
Messiah: Part I - No. 3 Chorus: And The Glory Of The Lord
Messiah: Part I - No. 4 Accompagnato: Thus Saith The Lord
Messiah: Part I - No. 5 Air: But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming
Messiah: Part I - No. 6 Chorus: And He Shall Purify The Sons Of Levi
Messiah: Part I - No. 7 Recitative: Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive
Messiah: Part I - Nos. 8-9 Air And Chorus: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings
Messiah: Part I - No. 10 Accompagnato: For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover The Earth
Messiah: Part I - No. 11 Air: The People That Walked In Darkness
Messiah: Part I No. 12 Chorus: For Unto Us A Child Is Born
Messiah: Part I No. 13 Pifa: Pastoral Symphony
Messiah: Part I No. 14 Recitative: There Were Shepherds - And Lo, The Angel Of The Lord - And The Angel Said Unto Them - And Suddenly There Was
Messiah: Part I No. 15 Chorus: Glory To God In The Highest
Messiah: Part I No. 16 Air: Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion
Messiah: Part I No. 17a Recitative:Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind
Messiah: Part I No. 18a Duet: He Shall Feed His Flock
Messiah: Part I No. 19 Chorus: His Yoke Is Easy
Messiah: Part II No. 20 Chorus: Behold The Lamb Of God
Messiah: Part II No. 21 Air: He Was Despised
Messiah: Part II No. 22 Chorus: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
Messiah: Part II No. 23 Chorus: And With His Stripes We Are Healed
Messiah: Part II No. 24 Chorus: All We Like Sheep

Tracks:

Messiah: Part II No. 25 Accompagnato: All They That See Him
Messiah: Part II No. 26 Chorus: He Trusted In God
Messiah: Part II No. 27 Accompagnato: Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
Messiah: Part II No. 28 Arioso: Behold, And See
Messiah: Part II No. 29 Accompagnato: He Was Cut Off
Messiah: Part II No. 30 Aria: But Thou Didst Not Leave
Messiah: Part II No. 31 Chorus: Lift Up Your Heads
Messiah: Part II No. 32 Recitative: Unto Which Of The Angels
Messiah: Part II No. 33 Chorus: Let All The Angels Of God
Messiah: Part II No. 34a Air: Thou Art Gone Up On High
Messiah: Part II No. 35 Chorus The Lord Gave The Word
Messiah: Part II No. 36 Air: How Beautiful Are The Feet
Messiah: Part II No. 37a Arioso: Their Sound Is Gone Out
Messiah: Part II No. 38 Air: Why Do The Nations
Messiah: Part II No. 39 Chorus: Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder Let us break their bonds asunder
Messiah: Part II No. 40 Recitative: He That Dwelleth In Heaven
Messiah: Part II No. 41 Air: Thou Shalt Break Them
Messiah: Part II No. 42 Chorus: Hallelujah
Messiah: Part III No. 43 Air: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
Messiah: Part III No. 44 Chorus: Since By Man Came Death
Messiah: Part III No. Accompagnato: Behold, I Tell You A Mystery
Messiah: Part III No. 46 Air: The Trumpet Shall Sound
Messiah: Part III No. 47 Recitative: Then Shall Be Brought To Pass
Messiah: Part III No. 48 Duet: O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?
Messiah: Part III No. 49 Chorus: But Thanks Be To God
Messiah: Part III No. 50 Air: If God Be For Us
Messiah: Part III No. 51 Chorus: Worthy Is The Lamb - Blessing And Honour
Messiah: Part III: Amen

Customer Reviews:

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-10-21

The "Messiah" was composed by Handel at his London home in the late summer of 1741..Charles Jennens described his libretto for the 'Messiah' as a "Scripture Collection", because it consists of a cleverly-arranged selection of biblical texts. Musically speaking, the recitatives and arias are definately in a style derived from opera, supplemented by choruses of the type Handel has developed in his English odes and oratorios-the presentation of the story was unconventional. The work is divided into three acts or parts, but the narrative is largely confined to Part Two: Part One is mainly concerned with prophecy and its fullfilment and Part Three with commentary on the importance of the previous story. This recording of the famous 1992 performance at Dublin took place at the Point Theatre on the 250th anniversary of the work's premeire which took place in Dublin on April 13th 1742. It is an outstanding performance, especially chorally and instrumentally. The soloists: Sylvia McNair(soprano)-Anne Sofie von Otter(mezzo)-Michael Chance (alto) were superb!!! Personally I was not pleased by Jerry Hadley's interpretation of Handel; I have a recording of him singing show tunes, and I think he does that best! Robert Lloyd's (bass) diction was most peculiar and annoyed me. However, the last 2 comments may not be universally accepted. All in all, it's one of the best 'Messiahs' I have heard, and is actually my favorite of many that I own.

I really love this recording.......2005-03-26

While I haven't sampled that many different recordings of the Messiah, I really like this version. I sometimes find myself singing it, and this is the version I hear. One thing I don't like about it is that it is a 2-disc set, but the Messiah has three parts. Part II is divided -- the first half on disc 1 and the second part on disc 2. It would be nice if the parts weren't divided in the middle.

Some very good parts.......2002-12-14

This is my fifth Messiah disk and I had hoped my last. Von Otter is a real draw and she is truly great. Marriner's pacing is still good. But many aspects of this CD pull it down. I have a theory that the tenor (Jerry Hadley) was mad at Marriner and sang technically perfect with zero emotion. I don't how he was allowed to get away with this. I also did not like the baritone. While I think varying the size of the chorus in this piece has merit, this choir is generally on the small side and does not have the punch when needed. Messiah choirs carry a two edged burden, either the choir is large and it gets muddy in the delicate sections or it is small and can't punch the big sections. This disk errs on the small side. The recording quality is very good, something that dodges many Messiahs. The violins are too close to the soloist microphone (or poorly mixed) and come in much too loud. So whenever there is an sprite from the violins it jumps out at you and drowns the soloists.

The best Messiah for me is still Marriner's 1976 disk, much better overall rendition.

Great mezzo and trumpet.......2002-05-17

This is one of the better Messiahs, although not quite up to Westenberg's level.

Its world-beater aspects include mezzo Anne-Sophie von Otter, whose "He was despised" is well north of magnificent: Warmly mournful in the slow sections, snarling and spitting in the center section.

Trumpeter Mark Bennett does by far the best trumpeting on any of my 30 complete Messiahs. "Glory to God" and "Hallelujah" are as good as it gets -- no, better than any other recording gets.

Countertenor Michael Chance is quite good in "If God be for us" -- I say that as someone who doesn't like countertenors.

Some of the other choruses are also well done. But tenor Jerry Hadley seems to have thought he had more lucrative things to do with his time than to think about Messiah.

And He Shall Reign Forever and Ever, Amen........2002-01-01

This recording ranks itself on the top of the greatest recordings of Handel's Messiah. Being a live recording, it surpasses every other studio recordings of this piece in terms of interpretation and drama. The soloists are superb, the chorus are crisp and vital, and the ensemble plays with great virtuoso. My special remark goes to Miss McNair, I simply cannot grow tired of her! Her lyrical voice is simply destined for this work, especially in aria no 16 `Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion' - rejoice indeed! It is to Marriner we should all be grateful for producing this remarkable recording in the first place. Known mainly for his stupendous recordings of Mozart, it is not surprising that he's able to interpret in a true Handelian way. It's a pity that he seldom records works by Handel - I don't know if he performs them unrecorded.
There are actually two versions of this live performance, the one here and the other is available on LaserDisc. I believe that they were recorded on two different performance time, for on some arias the soloists have different style in singing the cadenza. Whichever you prefer, this is a recording you must simply own - even when your music library boasts a dozen or so of Handel's Messiah!!

Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit: Spirituals

Average customer rating:

a voice teacher and early music fan
I Feel the Spirit Too
just excellent
Saw the Moses Hogan chorale live in NYC and loved them!

Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit: Spirituals

Manufacturer: Channel Classics Nl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Give Me Jesus | Spirituals by Barbara Hendricks and The Moses Hogan Singers
Negro Spirituals - Derek Lee Ragin, Moses Hogan, Moses Hogan
Trouble I'Ve Seen: Eighteen Spirituals--Moses Hogan Chorale
Wade In The Water, Vol.1:African American Spirituals:The Concert Tradition
Go Down, Moses

ASIN: B000003UXS
Release Date: 1993-08-19

Tracks:

Ole Time Religion
Witness
Steal Away
Little David. Play On Your Harp
Deep River
Sometimes I Feel Like A Mouthless Child
Live A-Humble
Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen
Were You There
There's A Man Goin Round
I Don't Feel No Ways Tired
Heaven
Oh, What A Beatiful City
This Little Light Of Mine
Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit
Give Me Jesus

Customer Reviews:

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-09-22

The following quote is a good way to introduce this album; it is from the poem "The Singer" by Eva A. Jessye. "Because of ebon skin and humble pride,The world with hatred thrust the youth aside.....And through our grief we rise to nobler things....A well of sweetness there unbidden springs." This disc portrays the talents of two wonderful musicians: Moses Hogan,excellent pianist, creator of exciting arrangements of spirituals both for solo voice and choirs AND that countertenor
Derek Ragin with his truly lovely voice capable of great vocal technique and versatility. He has appeared in several operas; two with Michael Chance that are wondrous to listen to: Tamerlano and Agippina. Spiritual are not my favorite thing, but there are some ear-catching beauties on this one;namely:"Ole Time Religion" and "Give Me Jesus". Some others are: 'Steal Away'-'Little David Play on your Harp'-'This Little Light of Mine' and many more. Some are a cappela, some accompanied by the piano, and some by piano with choir back-up. You do not have to be a lover of spirituals to enjoy this disc. But if you are, you will be in heaven!!!!!!

I Feel the Spirit Too.......2006-08-17

Very beautiful voice, sometimes I forget that the soloist voice is that of a male singer. Would like to hear more of Moses Hogan on keyboard and his arrangements.

just excellent.......1999-06-30

Although I do not like spirituals too much, it is a must listening to this fantastic countertenor singing with Moses Hogan. For me, Derek Lee Ragin has such a brilliant voice, I never heard before in my life.

Saw the Moses Hogan chorale live in NYC and loved them!.......1998-10-16

Truly great spirituals, truly brilliant arrangements by Moses Hogan. I can't wait to collect all his CDs.

Average customer rating:

Old Fashioned Sincerity
One of the worst recordings ever made
Pete's Dad

Handel's Messiah

Manufacturer: Golden Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00013ND8M
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Tracks:

Overture
Comfort Ye My People
Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
And the Glory of the Lord
Thus Saith the Lord of Hosts
But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming?
And He Shall Purify the Sons of Levi
Behold a Virgin Shall Conceive
O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion
For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover the Earth
People That Walked in Darkness
For Unto Us a Child Is Born
Pastorale Symphony
There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Field
Glory to God in the Highest
Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion
Then Shall the Eyes of the Blind Be Open'd
He Shall Feed His Flock Like a Shepherd
His Yoke Is Easy, His Burden Is Light
Behold the Lamb of God

Tracks:

He Was Despised and Rejected of Men
Surely, He Hath Borne Our Griefs
And With His Stripes We Are Healed
All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
All They That See Him, Laugh Him to Scorn
He Trusted in God That He Would Deliver Him
Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
Behold, And See If There Be Any Sorrow
He Was Cut Off Out of the Land of the Living
But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul in Hell
Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates
How Beautiful Are the Feet of Them
Why Do the Nations So Furiously Rage
Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder
He That Dwelleth in Heaven
Thou Shalt Break Them With a Rod of Iron
Hallelujah - London Philharmonic Chorus
I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
Since by Man Came Death - For as in Adam, Even So in Christ
Behold, I Tell You a Mystery
Trumpet Shall Sound
Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain
Amen

Customer Reviews:

Old Fashioned Sincerity.......2006-12-30

This is not the best recording of Messiah but it is by no means a disaster. Susskind was an able conductor with a valid view of this great piece. The recording from the 1950s is more than adequate (there is some roughness in the treble but it is full and clear - though some edits are very obvious indeed). The orchestra is excellent and the choir sing well. The soloists - all of them - are superb, among the very best in any version of Messiah! Susskind's tempos are slow by modern standards but there is good rhythmical bounce and a genuine sense of the greatness of the piece. If you can adjust to the broad tempos and the big scale conception then you will discover important aspects of this masterpiece in this performance - and the set costs next to nothing!

One of the worst recordings ever made.......2006-05-10

This is only my second one star review. And I am rather generous with stars. But this recording is just horrible, especially considering that all of the participants are legendary musicians. First of all, this is extremely old fashioned Handel. The textures are way too heavy for music of the baroque. But worst of all, the performance just sits there like mud on your tires that won't come off. Yes, the price is very low, but whatever you do, do not buy this recording.

Pete's Dad.......2005-12-11

I have had a CD of the London Philharmonic version of the Messiah conducted by Fredrick Jackson for several years and enjoyed listening to it. However, the quality of the recording leaves something to be desired.

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