| 1. Play To The Music |
| 2. This Could Really Happen |
| 3. It's Time For... |
| 4. Into Something |
| 5. Good To Go |
| 6. Autosave Us |
| 7. Last One Home |
| 8. Florettas Horns |
| 9. Nurega |
| 10. Always The Sun |
Last One Home,Organic Audio,Nettwerk Records,Dance Music,Electronic,Pop
Average customer rating:
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The Notebook
Various Artists Manufacturer: New Line Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00023B1E4 Release Date: 2004-06-08 |
Tracks:
- Main Title
- Overture
- "I'll Be Seeing You" Performed by Billie Holiday
- "Alabamy Home" Performed by Duke Ellington
- Allie Returns
- House Blues/The Porch Dance/The Proposal/The Carnival
- Noah's Journey
- "Always And Always" Performed by Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
- "A String Of Pearls" Performed by Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
- On The Lake
- "Diga Diga Doo" Performed by Rex Stewart And The Ellingtonians
- "One O'Clock Jump" Performed by Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
- "I'll Be Seeing You" Performed by Jimmy Durante
- Noah's Last Letter
- Our Love Can Do Miracles
Amazon.com
Based on Nicholas Sparks' novel, director Nick Cassavetes film spins the bittersweet tale of a 60-year romance, as seen from the polar perspectives of its promising youth and the travails of an old age cursed by Alzheimer's. Its soundtrack effectively echoes those polar dramatic concerns, with composer Aaron Zigler's gentle orchestral score largely giving voice to the character's melancholy present, while a rich, well-chosen slate of vintage material by Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller imparts a restless energy to their youth. There's a certain schmaltz to much of Zigman's work here, yet cues like "House Blues/The Porch Dance.." and "Noah's Journey" argue he's achieved something more elusive than mere melodramatic wallpaper with the deceivingly difficult task at hand; it can't be easy to have your work seasoned with the likes of Ellington's sassy "Alabamy Home" and Goodman's still-vibrant "One O'Clock Jump." Sharply contrasting versions of "I'll Be Seeing You" by Holiday and Jimmy Durante bookend the soundtrack, perfectly evoking the story's alternating shades of hope and fading nostalgia and framing Zigman's understated work in the bargain. --Jerry McCulleyAlbum Description
Based on the best selling novel by Nicholas Sparks ("A Walk To Remember", "Message In A Bottle"), "The Notebook" is the story of Noah and Allie, teenage lovers torn apart by WWII and Allie's parents' demands to marry a respectable lawyer. After 14 years apart, they meet again and rekindle their true love. Starring Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner, and Gena Rowlands. The soundtrack is a propelling force. In addition to classic WWII era pieces, Aaron Zigman's score suites enhance the record with beautifully dramatic themes. Score performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony.Customer Reviews:
Touching.......2007-07-04
It say's go for the "true love", settle for nothing else no matter what may be in store, because love that is "true" and as beautiful as their's was, is a rare thing!
I absolutely loved the ending.
I also loved that a movie CAN be truly wonderful, beautiful and touching WITHOUT grafic "sex scenes!" Also sadly a rare thing in movies today.
Ever seen "Hanover Street?" Equally beautiful. No SEX scenes either!
Angelfish
Pays music a complement. I love the classical pieces!.......2007-05-27
the Notebook soundtrack (Audio CD).......2007-05-13
Very Nice.......2007-03-30
A sweeping, emotional standout!.......2007-01-11
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The Science Fiction Album
Various Artists Manufacturer: Silva America ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000066HE5 Release Date: 2005-02-08 |
Tracks:
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- Aliens
- Sound Effect - The Nostromo
- Alien
- A.I.
- Armageddon
- Sound Effect - Apollo 13 Lift-off
- Apollo 13
- Back To The Future
- Battle Beyond The Stars
- Battlestar Galactica
- The Black Hole
- Contact
- Capricorn One
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind
- The Day The Earth Stood Still
- Dune
Tracks:
- Galaxy Quest
- Sound Effect - Dogfight in Space
- Enemy Mine
- Ghostbusters
- Gremlins
- Heavy Metal
- Independence Day
- E.T.
- Judge Dredd
- The Last Starfighter
- Lifeforce
- Sound Effect - Crash Landing
- Lost In Space
- Mars Attacks
- The Matrix
- Predator
- The Right Stuff
Tracks:
- Moonraker
- Robocop
- Silent Running
- Sound Effect - Alien Organism
- Species
- Stargate
- Starship Troopers
- Starman
- Star Trek - TV Theme
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture End Title
- Klingon Attack
- Sound Effect - Warp Drive
- Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
- Star Trek: Generations
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Tracks:
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
- Sound Effect - Transporter Crew
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Main Theme
- Star Trek First Contact
- Star Wars
- The Empire Strikes Back
- The Empire Strikes Back
- Return of the Jedi
- Sound Effect - Battle Stations
- Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace - The Flag Parade
- Anakin's Theme
- The Adventures of Jar Jar
- Duel of the Fates
- The Time Machine
- Things to Come
- The Thing From Another World
- War of the Worlds
- When Worlds Collide
- Total Recall
- You Only Live Twice
- Superman
Customer Reviews:
The penultimate collection ..........2006-12-07
I have always had a weak spot for (good, or maybe even intelligent) science fiction/fantasy and film music, especially its way of evoking mystery, grandure and wide open spaces. Call it a weakness if you want. But it was maybe really kick started off, for as far as I can remember, with Star Trek. But especially Star Trek II, III and IV - essentially a trilogy - because of their very romantic but very warm, human core, set on the broadest canvasses of unlimited and mysterious outer space. But then there was the music for adding that essential extra dimension of emotion and atmosphere. I am happy that much of the music on this album is from the Star Trek series and films, often equaling or sometimes even outclassing the original recordings.
This kind of music (for the movies) should be seen as an art on its own rights with its own merits and qualities. As such, the musical sequences on these CD's are a beautifully played cross section of some of the most evoking orchestral music for science fiction/fantasy film ever created. And I very much like the nicely blended, wide and deep orchestral soundpicture with enough reverberation to evoke a sense of wide open spaces.
I am quite thrilled by tracks like the evocative music from Dune, truly transporting one to the vastly sands of Arrakis (the music is wonderful, but to my great regret I think the movie itself is a flawed masterpiece at best, alas.). And then there is the very different, goofy music for Ghostbusters (memories of childhood), the spoofy but electrifying music from Mars Attacks (lovingly parodist music, this, with not a little touch of irony) and the happily adventurous, forward driving Theme from Galaxy Quest ('Never give up, never surrender!'), now also used for the internet-based fan-series Star Trek: The Hidden Frontier. On the other side of the spectrum we have the atmospheric music for Enemy Mine (an underestimated 'little' movie), the Theme from The Right Stuff (actually science FACT, not fiction, this film, just like Apollo 13, of course), the eerily attractive music for Species, the original End Title for Alien (not used in the theatrical version of the movie, where it was replaced by music from howard Hanson's Second Symphony), the exquisitely exotic music for Stargate, the sweet and warmly sympathetic, beautifully re-orchestrated, theme for Starman, the title cue for Star Trek: TOS (much more melodiously played than the original! If only a series nowadays could continue to be as thought provoking and as original as Star Trek was during its launch, fourty years ago ...) and a truly overpowering End Titles Suite from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. I especially like the thrillingly grandiloquent rendition here of the music for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. And how nice it is to hear the (thematic) similarities between James Horner's music for The Wrath of Khan, his great break-through as a film music composer, and his (two years) earlier music for Battle Beyond the Stars (which did indeed help him earn the job for writing the music for Star Trek II) ...
But on the 'down side', if one is looking for - for example - the gorgeously expansively played End Titles from Cocoon, it is not included here: one has to acquire the album that 'kicked it all off', so to say, namely 'Space and Beyond', also on Silva Screen. I was very pleased also with the inclusion on that album of some of the music from the series Star Trek: The Next Generation, namely where one of the characters, Tasha Yar, in one of the episodes (Skin of Evil) is saying goodbye to her crewmmates: sweetly sentimental and simple music which I have always wanted to own on CD. I guess that a few cues from the other two sequals ('Alien Invasion: Space and Beyond II' and 'Space3: Beyond the Final Frontier') didn't make it onto this 4 CD collection-album as well, but I guess that it would be the 'better part of the bargain' to opt to buy this 'The Science Fiction Album' instead of buying all three albums separately. Well, of course it is for yourself to ultimately decide what you really want ;-)
If I were to nitpick (which is not easy with such a marvellous project as this one), then I would say that while all music is performed with magnificent grandure and with style, some of it is not performed as crisply and as technically 'on the spot' as some of the original recordings: ensemble is a little slack and the playing somewhat stilted sometimes, losing some of the edge and the originality of the writing. ET and Star Wars spring to mind, but then the soundtracks for Star Wars are traditionally recorded with the magnificent London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by maestro John Williams himself, and these superior recordings (especially the ones for Episode I, II and III) can't really be bettered, IMHO. Likewise for the music from Star Trek: The Motion Picture, I believe that in the end one really has to resort to the ultimate reference, namely the original recording (which is true in many other instances of 'original recordings'), and then the 20th anniversay colector's edition of this soundtrack on Columbia/Legacy (truly unmissable, this veritable classic of sci-fi/film music soundtracks!).
But all in all this 4CD-collection amounts to probably being the penultimate high quality sci-fi music album collection (I certainly know of no other project that comes as close quality as well as quantity wise), with some of the most memorable musical moments from classic to modern sci-fi/fantasy film captured in lavish orchestrations.
Collection-wise: five *stars*. Playing: generally four *stars*, sometimes more. The recording quality: five *stars*. The music (qualified on its own merits as film music) and its (re)orchestrations: generally five *stars*. In the end this is all highly recommended, and certainly not to be missed by science fiction and fantasy film music fans. Klaatu barada nikto.
Muisic of the Spheres.......2006-11-06
The Ulllllltimate Sci-Fi Music Collection.......2005-10-23
The moment I ripped off the shrink-wrap and popped it into my cd player was a moment of great trepidation. Believe me when I tell that I've seen my fair share of sub-par orchestral recording in my lifetime. Very often they are in those big super-packs of music, and suffer from poor direction, improper mastering, and sometime even pathetic orchestration (or worse yet have something sounding like a cheap synthesizer and a kazoo in place of a full orchestra). I needn't have worried though. This sucker is fantastic.
Many people who are not audiophiles will probably miss the point of this cd collection. It is not the original versions of the pieces. It is re-orchestrations, mostly by the phenomenal Prague Symphony Orchestra. Many of these themes didn't sound all that hot in there original versions because they were low budget films or were not recorded in high-fidelity. Here they are given the full treatment, mastered with the most loving care imaginable. Often the version found in these cds is SUPERIOR to the original.
Remember the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey? Of course you do. But how many times have you heard a cheap imitation of the original version from the movie, starting too low in volume and ending too high (and missing the essential pipe-organ that gives it that extra oomph)? Well, this first track in the entire collection is not only everything it should be instrumental and timing-wise, but it also has been oh-so-carefully adjusted during the mastering process so that at no time is the music either too low or too high in volume (surely a benchmark for every other recording ever to be made of the piece).
Or what about the theme from the (at-the-time) uber-creepy The Black Hole? The orchestration of this piece of music goes from tiumphant to terrifying and back again, with a splendor and cleanness that I CERTAINLY don't remember being in the original recording.
Then there's the new version of the theme from Independence Day, complete with a violin solo, a far more electrifying ending climax, and a chorus so thunderous that you feel like applauding at the end. Simply indescribable. Kind of like the MIND-BLOWING rendition of the theme from The Last Star Fighter. This has been one of my favorite themes for a long time now, but I've never heard it played like this. I think the original version of the theme is something like 1 minute long, but this new version doesn't just fade out (HAHAHAHA!!!!) THIS version is THREE minutes long, goes through the main theme THREE times, with the final strains being so triumphant and joyous I could not help but feel an electrifying charge the first dozen or so times (come to think of it, I still feel that way). This is superior to the original in EVERY way. AWESOME.
And let's not forget the incredible new rendition of Stargate with it's heavy use of clarinets (for Egyptian effect!) and a triumphant new ending (completely lacking the chanting from the original version. This version is so different that for the first minute it is very hard to tell that it is in fact Stargate. But then the main theme kicks in, and then you get this incredible flute solo for my favorite part of theme (the whole thing is played slower, but arguably more powerfully than the original). My goodness. At first I found the thing so different I didn't like it. But then I listened to it again. And again. And again.
I could go on and on, talking about the fantastic new rendition of Moon Raker, the ear-popping Battlestar Galactica, the classic Star Trek (First Contact has a minute or two of the theme from Star Trek:The Motion Picture before going into the main theme), or the sweet renditions of music from the Star Wars movies (or the music from E.T.).
I have to mention though that this collection was not picked based merely on what people want, or on what is popular. No, the people who made it obviously thought a GOOD music collection was better than a popular one. That's why you get a heartbreakingly beautiful theme from A.I. instead of the main theme. It's why you get music from movies that you probably never gave a second thought to the music (because the movie was lousy). It's why you get Armageddon, Judge Dredd, and Robocop (who would have guessed their music was so COOL when there was all that crazy action and bad-acting going on on-screen).
I said it before and I'll say it again. This cd-set was mastered with tender-loving-care, and it shows BIG-TIME. High-fidelity the likes of which I have not seen since the days when cds were brand-new in the world. Dolby Surround. Perfectly balanced. BEAUTIUFL orchestrations. About the only thing that makes me scratch my head is the weird sound-effect tracks (Oooookay.....). Other than that, it's PERFECT. Obviously they could not include every sci-fi theme ever (no one can), but this collection is REALLY GOOD. A lot of great themes that got away (forgotten gems :), new versions of old favorites, and under-appreciated classics aplenty, but ALWAYS the full and complete versions with nothing cut-out (the theme from Dune is quite extended).
If you love movie music (and sci-fi movie music in particular) you MUST buy this awesome collection). It is not the original recordings. Almost always the new ones are better (if they aren't better they're just equal). This is what you have been waiting for. I for one am going to be buying quite a few cds from this company in the future. Give your ears the treat they deserve. Buy it NOW.
SciFi Album gift.......2005-07-20
Away From to be a Collectible Peace.......2004-12-16
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The Star Trek Album
Various Artists Manufacturer: Silva America ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000DJYNZ Release Date: 2003-11-11 |
Tracks:
- Theme (TV Series)
- End Titles (The Motion Picture)
- Klingon Attack (The Motion Picture)
- Warp Drive (Sound Effect)
- Overture (The Wrath Of Khan)
- Bird Of Prey Decloaks (The Search For Spock)
- End Titles (The Voyage Home)
- Away Team (Sound Effect)
- End Titles (First Contact)
- Tasha's Farewell (The Next Generation)
- Theme (Deep Space Nine)
- He's Toast (Deep Space Nine)
- End Titles (The Final Frontier)
Tracks:
- End Titles (The Undiscovered Country)
- Theme (Voyager)
- Battle Stations (Sound Effect)
- Overture (Generations)
- One Last Visit (Deep Space Nine)
- End Titles (Insurrection)
- Dogfight In Space (Sound Effect)
- The Menagerie (The TV Series)
- Opening (Star Fleet Academy)
- Crash Landing (Sound Effect)
- Suite (Nemesis)
Customer Reviews:
Flawed Track Inclusion.......2007-07-29
Quite good, but not a stellar "Trek".......2007-05-18
IN GENERAL: For the purist looking for a "best of" compilation taken from the original soundtracks take note: this isn't that product. Rather, these are reproductions by Nic Raine conducting the City of Prague Philharmonic. That said, this is a quality group, and the general sound is professional and comes off quite well (for the most part..I'll mention a few exceptions). It is superior to the other releases I have heard from the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.
SELECTION: The biggest advantage here is variety of sources. The Trek feature films are all represented here, as well as the various series (except for the last one, "Enterprise"). The thouroughness seems to match or excel the oher Star Trek Compilation CDs that have been released. There are a few other offbeat additions..notably a four minute suite from the videogame Star Fleet Academy. Personally, I found this bland track to be four minutes of wasted disk space. The original series has many memorable moments (listen to the Amok Time/The Doomsday Machine soundtrack) which would be be more exciting and also a better fit on this album.
Jerry Goldsmith's standard Star Trek March is heard far too often on these 2 CDs. The march itself is terrific, but it has been used so much it has become the franchise's major theme and the album's producers rely on it by representing many movies by their "End Titles". Unfortunately, Goldsmith's end titles consistently use a three-section approach: two sections of the "standard" Star Trek March sandwich a middle section of music that is unique for that particular film. This is OK if you are listening to a single movie's soundtrack, but for a compilation album, the fourth or fifth time you hear the march, it is too much. It would have been a better idea to cut a few "End Title" performances in favor of other selections from the films' soundtracks.
PERFORMANCE QUALITY: For the most part it is very good and captures the spirit of the original soundtracks. Selections from Horner's scores for the second and third films stand out as particularly well done. The last movie, "Nemesis" also has a terrifically arranged suite, and most of the movie soundtrack reproductions are very good quality. The only exception is from "Klingon Attack" in which the awesome bass of the "blaster-beam" from the original cannot be matched by the comparatively hollow synthesized atempt here.
PERSONAL GRIPE: the inclusion of sound effects. Every so often a special effect like "Warp Drive" or "Dogfight in Space" pops up between tracks. This by itself would be extremely cheesy. Add to this that these are not the actual sound effects from the TV shows or movies and the cheesiness levels reach a level I think only a Wisconsin resident could appreciate. Sci Fi music (and Star Trek in particular) seems to inspire some labels to add special effects inclusions like this. Who knows why.
Love The Soundtrack.......2007-04-03
Best ST recording in the Alpha Quadrant.......2007-01-10
Opera is missing.
I must disagree.......2005-07-17
This collection has music you will not find anywhere else. The Tasha's Farewell track is beautiful and the only other place its avialable is the Edel "Best of Science Fiction" compilation from 1993, and while that was recorded by the same orchestra, it was with a different conductor, and comparing the two, you can tell that Nic Raine was more successful with Prague than William Motzing was. That said Edel release is also more than $30 here on amazon. Also this release is in HDCD Dolby which is a plus. There's also two cues from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; one of them is on The Best of Star Trek: 30th Anniversary Special, the other is not on any other album. In addition, there is music from Ron Jones "Starfleet Academy" video game which is pretty cool to listen to, and not availble anywhere else that I know of. Finally, Jerry Goldsmith's main theme can get boring after a while, I mean, its repetitive that it is in all the end credit suites, it would have been nice for Insurrection to have maybe an action cue instead of the end credits suite...And Nic Raine, did just that, only for Star Trek: Nemesis. Instead of the tradition end credit suite, Mr. Raine arranged a professional suite with the main Nemesis theme, some action cues, as well as the Goldsmith Star Trek march, and it is a wonderful 8 minutes. If you already have the 3 space and beyond albums, the Star Trek Nemesis track as well as Birds of Prey Decloaking from Star Trek III are the only new tracks on this CD.
This is a must-buy for fans of star trek in general, and hardcore star trek fans should buy this album for the aforementioned cues that aren't available anywhere else.
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Léhar: The Land of Smiles; The Merry Widow; The Count of Luxembourg (Highlights)
Manufacturer: Class. for Pleas. Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00009KHY2 Release Date: 2003-09-02 |
Customer Reviews:
Arguably "The Best" English "Merry Widow ".......2006-09-12
The "problem" is that this June Bronhill, Reid, and Hassel version is hard to find on CD. For example, this CD is made in Holland and "there is one left" so it says on Amazon. But, if you can find it, I think it would be very much worth a listen. Then, after hearing it, if you think there's a "better" Merry Widow, please let ME know! Thanks. Email:boland7214@aol.
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(Not) Your Standard Spike Jones Collection
Spike Jones Manufacturer: Collector's Choice ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00007JR3K Release Date: 2003-04-08 |
Album Description
Holiday blues comin' on? Well, put a spike in `em! Here's the zaniest, wildest and just plain sickest Collectors' Choice Music exclusive yet79 tracks from Spike Jones and his City Slickers! These represent Spike's complete Standard Transcription sides, but these tunes are anything but standard; Mr. Jones brought his full bag of tricks for these non-commercial recordings (made in Hollywood during the early `40s). Add to that the fact that most of these have never been on CD or even LP, and any lover of Spike's mayhem-filled mixture of laughs and hot licks is going to flip over this set! Notes and great pictures accompany this 3-CD walk on the wacky side from the greatest novelty band of all time.Customer Reviews:
Great set of wartime rarities.......2003-05-14
Cure for the Blues.......2003-04-25
Standard Transcription Collection.......2003-04-12
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Grieg: Peer Gynt; Piano Concerto; Songs
Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0002XV2XY Release Date: 2005-02-15 |
Tracks:
- Prelude: In The Wedding Garden - Joachim Ulbricht
- The Bridal Procession Passes - Staatskapelle Dresden
- Prelude: Abduction, Ingrid's Lament - Leipzig Radio Chorus
- In The Hall Of The Mountain King - Leipzig Radio Chorus
- Dance Of The Mountain King's Daughter - Staatskapelle Dresden
- Aase's Death - Staatskapelle Dresden
- Introduction: Morning - Leipzig Radio Chorus
- Arabian Dance - Leipzig Radio Chorus
- Anitras Dance - Taru Valijakka
- Solveig's Song - Taru Valijakka
- Prelude: Peer Gynt's Journey Home - Taru Valijakka
- Solveig's Cradle Song - Taru Valijakka
- I. Allegro Molto Moderato - John Ogdon
- II. Adagio - John Ogdon
- III. Allegro Moderato Molto E Marcato - John Ogdon
Tracks:
- Enticement - Geoffrey Parsons
- Mountain Girl - Geoffrey Parsons
- Bilberry Slopes - Geoffrey Parsons
- Tryst - Geoffrey Parsons
- Love - Geoffrey Parsons
- Kids' Dance - Geoffrey Parsons
- Evil Day - Geoffrey Parsons
- At The Mountain Stream - Geoffrey Parsons
- Hor' Ich Das Liedchen Klingen Op.39 No.6
- Der Fichtenbaum Op.59 No.2
- Wo Sind Sie Hin? Op.4 No.6
- Das Alte Lied Op.4 No.5
- Gruss Op.48 No.1
- Ich Stand In Dunklen Traumen Op.2 No.3
- Abschied Op.4 No.3
- Eingehullt In Graue Wolken Op.2 No.2
- Mein Sinn Ist Wie Der Macht'ge Fels Op.5 No.4
- Des Dichters Letztes Lied Op.18 No.3
- Des Dichters Herz Op.5 No.2
- Sie Ist So Weiss Op.18 No.2
- Morgenthau Op.4 No.2
- Jagerlied Op.4 No.4
- Lauf Der Welt Op.48 No.3
- Zur Rosenzeit Op.48 No.5
- Ein Traum Op.48 No.6
- Dereinst, Gedanke Mein Op.48 No.2
- Dein Rat Ist Wohl Gut Op.21 No.4
- Herbststimmung Op.26 No.5
- An Sie II Op.59 No.4
- An Sie I Op.59 No.3
- Der Jager (1905)
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Leonard Bernstein: The 1953 American Decca Recordings
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00067GKF6 Release Date: 2005-02-08 |
Customer Reviews:
It's wonderful to have Bernstein back, but the performances fall short.......2006-11-26
For me, the performances themselves fall short. They were often recorded in a rush, sometimes late at night after a summer concert. I know that the Stadium Sym. is actually the NY Phil., but they don't sound particularly fine, and Bernstein's interpreatations, though vigorous, often border on the slapdash. Plowing through Beethoven's 3rd, Dvorak's 9th, Schumann's 2nd, Brahms' 4th and Tchaikovsky's 6th, I found few sparks of originaity, much less genius. This is a tough admission from one of LB's geat admirers, but there you are. The original recorded sound is also a bit thin and harsh.
Come back Lennie, we need you.......2006-02-22
Then there are the performances. I'm not the biggest fan of mono symphonic recordings, but these positively leap down your ears, unmannered, committed and electric. It's hard to believe what was achieved under the hasty recording conditions described in the booklet. The sound is a little fierce, but good enough to make this set a wonderful gift for any open-minded but symphonically ignorant acquaintance. I can easily imagine it turning someone on to classical music.
For Bernstein enthusiasts, it's like owning a gold mine.......2005-06-19
The performances are a revelation, because they demonstrate conclusively that Bernstein did not always "exaggerate" or "overinterpret" great music, as critics frequently claim. His performances here are very, very direct and straightforward, more like Fritz Reiner or Toscanini than like Bernstein.
If this album contained only Bernstein's early performances of these symphonies, it would be interesting, but it might not really attract that much attention, since he re-recorded all of these pieces in stereo in later years, and with the same orchestra.
What makes this set so valuable is that it contains his long out-of-print lectures on these symphonies, and far from what the previous reviewer claims, they never become boring and monotonous. No musician in our time, or maybe even in the history of music, was a better or more articulate and sensitive lecturer on music than Leonard Bernstein. His legendary appearances on the "Young People's Concerts" did more for the appreciation of classical music than all the "Beethoven's Wig" albums combined. (If you don't know what "Beethoven's Wig" is, check it out and shudder at how far music appreciation has fallen since Bernstein's death.)
Bernstein had a unique ability to make classical music accessible to everybody, without ever condescending to the listener or cheapening the music. His lectures on this album, previously only available to 1950's Book of the Month Subscribers (except for part of the Beethoven lecture, which is the only one that Bernstein did re-record in stereo), are invaluable both to music students and to those who are willing to listen. All of the lectures included cover all four movements of the symphonies discussed, except for the Brahms; that one is just as extensive as the others, but it covers only the first movement of the symphony.
However--be warned, the lectures do have a flaw that the symphonies themselves do not, and that is why I have subtracted one star.
The symphony recordings are obviously remastered from magnetic tape, but the lectures have been transferred from LP's. Thus, you will be able to hear an occasional click or pop from time to time, and there is a clearly audible "skip" on the Brahms lecture. It is NOT the CD being defective, or the laser beam on your player skipping; it is clearly the lecture recordings themselves. Deutsche Grammophon, which released this CD set, is very honest about the source of the transfers to compact disc, and is to be commended for this. (They mention it in the last page of the accompanying booklet.) But this shouldn't deter anybody from buying this enormously important Bernstein set.
Bernstein's Early American Recordings.......2005-04-02
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Last One Home
Organic Audio Manufacturer: Nettwerk Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005BI5W Release Date: 2001-04-17 |
Tracks:
- Play to the Music
- This Could Really Happen
- It's Time for...
- Into Something
- Good to Go
- Autosave Us
- Last One Home
- Florettas Horns
- Nurega
- Always the Sun
Customer Reviews:
Rock on. Chill out. Get funky. All on the one, great album........2003-02-27
Fast and the Furious fans here it is...........2001-12-27
Zach Smith
deserves wider recognition.......2001-09-21
TERRIFIC FUNK AND FLASH.......2001-05-10
TERRIFIC FUNK AND FLASH.......2001-05-10
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Hey Mr. Producer!: The Musical World of Cameron MacKintosh
Martin Koch Manufacturer: Polygram ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000023ZUQ Release Date: 1998-08-25 |
Tracks:
- We Said We Wouldn't Look Back [Salad Days] - Martin Koch
- Cats Overture [From Cats] - Martin Koch
- Food Glorious Food [From Oliver!] - Workhouse Children
- Wouldn't It Be Loverly [From My Fair Lady] - Gillian Lynne, Liz Robertson, Company
- Quit Professor Higgins [From My Fair Lady] - Company
- Rain in Spain [From My Fair Lady] - Jonathan Pryce, Liz Robertson,
- Get Me to the Church on Time [From My Fair Lady] - Peter Bayliss, , Company
- I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face [From My Fair Lady] - Jonathan Pryce, Liz Robertson
- Introduction (Show Medeley) - Julie Andrews
- One Two Three [The Fix] - John Barrowman
- Little Shop of Horrors - Wendy Mae Brown, Dawn Hope, Femi Taylor
- Somewhere That's Green [Little Shop of Horrors] - Ellen Greene
- Suddenly Seymour [Little Shop of Horrors] - Ellen Greene, Teddy Kempner
- Day by Day [Godspell] - Company
- I Get a Kick Out of You [From Anything Goes] - Laurie Holloway, Marian Montgomery,
- Variations [Song and Dance] - Julian Lloyd Webber, , Company
- Unexpected Song [Song and Dance] - Bernadette Peters
- Nicer in Nice [The Boyfriend] - Jasna Ivir, Company
- I Love a Lassie [Lauder] - Scottish Power Pipe Band
- Five Guys Named Moe/Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? [Five Guys ...] - Trent Armand Kendall, , , ,
- Pick a Pocket or Two - Russ Abbot, , ,
- As Long as He Needs Me [From Oliver!] - Sonia Swaby
- Introduction - Julie Andrews
- I'm Martin Guerre - David Campbell
- How Many Tears? [Martin Guerre] - Maria Friedman
- Heat Is on in Saigon [From Miss Saigon] - David Campbell, , Lea Salonga, Company
- Wedding [From Miss Saigon]
- Last Night of the World [From Miss Saigon] - David Campbell, Lea Salonga
- This Is the Hour [From Miss Saigon] - Company
- American Dream [From Miss Saigon] - Jonathan Pryce, Company
Tracks:
- Phantom of the Opera [From The Phantom of the Opera] - Lisa Vroman, Colm Wilkinson
- Music of the Night [From Phantom of the Opera] - Colm Wilkinson
- Broadway Baby [Follies] - Maria Friedman, Julia McKenzie
- Oh, What a Beautiful Morning [From Oklahoma!] - Hugh Jackman
- Carousel Waltz/Ballet [From Carousel] - Dana Stackpole, Company
- Porch Scene [From Carousel] - Hal Fowler, Barbara King, Joanna Riding, Dana Stackpole
- You'll Never Walk Alone [From Carousel] - Joanna Riding, Company
- Introduction - Ned Sherrin
- Side by Side [Company] - David Kernan, Millicent Martin, Julia McKenzie, Ned Sherrin, Stephen Sondheim
- You Could Drive a Person Crazy [Company] - Maria Friedman, Ruthie Henshall, Millicent Martin, Lea Salonga
- Send in the Clowns (A Little Night Music) - Judi Dench
- Losing My Mind [Follies] - Michael Ball
- Being Alive [Company] - Bernadette Peters
- You've Gotta Have a Gimmick [From Gypsy] - Michael Ball, Judi Dench, Maria Friedman, Ruthie Henshall, David Kernan, , Dean Martin, Julia McKenzie, Bernadette Peters
- Introduction - Stephen Sondheim
- Duelling Pianos - Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim,
- Poisoning Pigeons in the Park [Tom Foolery] - Tom Lehrer
- Jellicle Songs [From Cats] - Brian Blessed, , Paul Nicholas, Company
- Memory [From Cats] - Elaine Paige
- At the End of the Day [From Les Miserables] - Company
- Stars [From Les Miserables] - Philip Quast
- Do You Hear the People Sing? [From Les Miserables] - Hal Fowler, Company
- On My Own [From Les Miserables] - Lea Salonga
- Bring Him Home [From Les Miserables] - Colm Wilkinson
- One Day More [From Les Miserables] - Michael Ball, Hal Fowler, Ruthie Henshall, Tammi Jacobs, Teddy Kempner, Philip Quast, Lea Salonga, Colm Wilkinson, Za
- We Said We Wouldn't Look Back [From Les Miserables] - Cameron Mackintosh
Album Description
Subtitled the Musical Word of Cameron Mackintosh. Import only 56-track collection. A live recording at the Lyceum Theatre in London, in the presence of her majesty the Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh. In aid of the Royal National Institute for the Blind and the combined theatrical charities. Universal.
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Symphony 9: Introduction to Dvorak
Dvorak Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000069HGK Release Date: 2002-09-17 |
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