Great Day for the Race [Import]

Product Description
Debut album from Todd Wills and Sam Menter AKA Cities of Foam. They Collaborated with a number of vocalists and musicians in order to create the lush soundscape of the album, including London Jazz vocalist Nia Lynn (Out of Reach), Vibraphone player Jim Hart, and trombonist Eddie Rieband. Comparisons of their sound have been made to Zero 7 and Lemon Jelly. 2005.

Tracks:

Symphony: Allegro - Larghetto - Allegro - Andante Larghetto
1. Chorus: How Excellent Thy Name, O Lord
2. Air (Soprano): An Infant Raised By Thy Command - 3. Trio (Alto, Tenore, Basso): Along The Monster Atheist Strode
4. Soprano, Alto, Tenore, Basso: The Youth Inspired By Thee, O Lord - 5. Chorus: How Excellent Thy Name, O Lord
6. Recit & 7. Air (Michal): He Comes, He Comes! - O God-Like Youth! - 8. Recitative (Abner, Saul, David): Behold, O King, The Brave, Victorious Youth
9. Air (David): O King, Your Favours With Delight - 10. Recitative (Jonathan): Oh Early Piety!
11. Air (Merab): What Abject Thoughts A Prince Can Have! - 12. Recitative (Merab): Yet Think, On Whom This Honour You Bestow
13. Air (Jonathan): Birth And Fortune I Despise!
14. Recitative (High Priest): Go On, Illustrious Pair! - 15. Air (High Priest): While Yet Thy Tide Of Bood Runs High
16. Recitative (Saul, Merab): Thou, Merab, First In Birth, Be First In Honour - 17. Air (Merab): My Soul Rejects The Thought With Scorn - 18. Air (Michal): See, With What A Scornful Air - 19. Air (Michal): Ah, Lovely Youth, Wast Thou Designed
20. Symphony: Andante Allegro - 21. Recitative (Michal): Already See The Daughters Of The Land - 22. Chorus: Welcome, Welcome, Mighty King!
23. Accompagnato (Saul): What Do I Hear? - 24. Chorus: David His Ten Thousands Slew - 25. Accompagnato (Saul): To Him Ten Thousands - 26. Air (Saul): With Rage I Shall Start Burst His Praises To Hear
27. Recitative (Jonathan, Michal): Imprudent Women! - 28. Air (Michal): Fell Rage And Black Despair Possessed
29. Recitative (High Priest): This But The Smallest Part Of Harmony - 30. Accompagnato (High Priest): By Thee This Universal Frame
31. Recitative (Abner): Racked With Infernal Pains - 32. Air (David): O Lord, Whose Mercies Numberless
33. Symphony: Largo - 34. Recitative (Jonathan): 'Tis All In Vain, His Fury Still Continues
35. Air (Saul): A Serpent, In My Bosom Warmed - 36. Recitative (Saul): Has He Escaped My Rage?
37. Air (Merab): Capricious Man
38. Accompagnato (Jonathan): O Filial Piety! - 39. Air (Jonathan): No, Cruel Father, No!
40. Air (High Priest): O Lord, Whose Providence - 41. Chorus: Preserve Him For The Glory Of Thy Name
42. Chorus: Envy! Eldest Born Of Hell!
43. Recitative (Jonathan): Ah! Dearest Friend - 44. Air (Jonathan): But Sooner Jordan' Stream, I Swear
45. Recitative (David, Jonathan): Oh Strange Vicissitude! - 46. Air (David): Such Haughty Beauties Rather Move

Tracks:

47. Recitative (Jonathan): My Father Comes - 48. Recitative (Saul, Jonathan): Hast Thou Obeyed My Orders
49. Air (Jonathan): Sin Not, O King, Against The Youth - 50. Air (Saul): As Great Jehovah Lives - 51. Air (Jonathan): From Cities Stormed, And Battles Won
52. Recitative (Jonathan, Saul): Appear, My Friend - 53. Air (David): Your Words, O King, My Loyal Heart - 54. Recitative (Saul): Yes, He Shall Wed My Daughter!
55. Recitative (Michal): A Father's Will Has Authorised My Love - 56. Duet (Michal, David): O Fairest Of Ten Thousand Fair - 57. Chorus: Is There A Man
58. Symphony: Largo - Allegro
59. Recitative (David): Thy Father Is As Cruel - 60. Duet (David, Michal): At Persecution I Can Laugh
61. Recitative (Michal, Doeg): Whom Dost Thou Seek - 62. Air (Michal): No, No Let The Guilty Tremble
63. Recitative (Merab): Mean As He Was, He Is My Brother Now - 64. Air (Merab): Author Of Peace, Who Canst Controul
65. Symphony: Allegro
66. Accompagnato (Saul): The Time At Length Is Come - 67. Recitative (Saul, Jonathan): Where Is The Son Of Jesse?
68. Chorus: Oh Fatal Consequence Of Rage
69. Accompagnato (Saul): Wretch That I Am - 70. Recit - Accompagnato (Saul): 'Tis Said, Here Lives A Woman
71. Recitative (With, Saul): With Me What Would'st Thou - 72. Air (Witch Of Endor): Infernal Spirits
73. Accompagnato (Samuel, Saul): Why Hast Thou Forced Me From The Realms Of Peace
74. Symphony: Allegro
75. Recitative (David, Amalekite): Whence Comest Thou? - 76. Air (David): Impious Wretch, Of Race Accurst!
77. March: Grave
78. Chorus: Mourn, Israel
79. Air (High Priest): Oh Let It Not In Gath Be Heard
80. Air (Merab): From This Unhappy Day
81. Air (David): Brave Jonathan His Bow Never Drew - 82. Chorus: Eagles Were Not So Swift As They
83. Air (Michal): In Sweetest Harmony They Lived! - 84. Solo (David And Chorus): O Fatal Day! - 85. Recitative (Abner): Ye Men Of Judah, Weep No More!
86. Chorus: Gird On Thy Sword, Thou Man Of Might

Average customer rating:

A marvellous demonstration of Handelian ingenuity....
rare material, fine performance

Handel: Music for Royal Occasions

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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

Te Deum | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Samson
Handel - Coronation Anthems / Gritton, Blaze, M. George, Choir of King's College Cambridge, AAM, Cleobury

ASIN: B000002ZL8
Release Date: 1993-11-15

Tracks:

Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Alto Solo
Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Alto Solo: Chorus
Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Soprano Solo: Chorus
Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Alto Solo: Chorus
Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Alto & Bass Duet: Chorus
Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Soprano & Alto Duet
Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Soprano & Alto Duet : Chorus
Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Bass Solo: Chorus
Birthday Ode For Queen Anne: Eternal Source Of Light Divine, Alto Solo: Chorus
Te Deum In D Major ('Queen Caroline'): Te Deum In D Major, Alto, Tenor & Bass Solos And Chorus
Te Deum In D Major ('Queen Caroline'): Te Deum In D Major, Tenor Solo: Chorus: Bass Solo
Te Deum In D Major ('Queen Caroline'): Te Deum In D Major, Alto Solo And Chorus
Te Deum In D Major ('Queen Caroline'): Te Deum In D Major, Chorus
Te Deum In D Major ('Queen Caroline'): Te Deum iI D Major, Alto Solo
Te Deum In D Major ('Queen Caroline'): Te Deum In D Major, Chorus
Anthem For The Wedding Of Prince Frederick And Princess Augusta Of Saxe-Coburg: 'Sing Unto God': Sing Unto God, Alto Solo And Chorus
Anthem For The Wedding Of Prince Frederick And Princess Augusta Of Saxe-Coburg: 'Sing Unto God': Sing Unto God, Soprano Solo
Anthem For The Wedding Of Prince Frederick And Princess Augusta Of Saxe-Coburg: 'Sing Unto God': Sing Unto God, Bass Solo
Anthem For The Wedding Of Prince Frederick And Princess Augusta Of Saxe-Coburg: 'Sing Unto God': Sing Unto God, Chorus
Anthem For The Wedding Of Prince Frederick And Princess Augusta Of Saxe-Coburg: 'Sing Unto God': Sing Unto God, Tenor Solo
Anthem For The Wedding Of Prince Frederick And Princess Augusta Of Saxe-Coburg: 'Sing Unto God': Sing Unto God, Tenor Solo And Chorus

Customer Reviews:

A marvellous demonstration of Handelian ingenuity...........2006-09-07

I have immense feelings of joy when ever I listen to this CD. Some of the music on it was previously unknown to me before I had purchased the CD, but it is has now come to be a definite favourite.

As the title suggests, this is a collection of rather grand music, Handel at his most ceremonial. It is the style with which he became most associated in the years after his death, and an image of grandiose surrounded him, greatly sustained by the almost biblical status the Victorian age gave him. While it has some consensus now that this image probably wasn't helpful to Handel in the long run, it is still good to hear a rousing Handel anthem now and again.

King is at his best in these marvellous interpretations. He breathes new life into almost anything he conducts. Certainly this should be no exception. Of particular note, is the anthem 'Sing unto God'. After an admirable introduction on the violins, a lone counter-tenor sings but four introspectively powerful notes, before the full and breath-taking entry of the choir and orchestra combined, in massive block chords. It is a marvellous demonstration of Handelian ingenuity, in a deceptive appearance of simplicity. The entire anthem is incredible, and one can only imagine with what wonder the first audiences listened to it.

It's a shame also that the 'Anthem for the birthday of Queen Anne' isn't more well known. Handel's treatment is expansive, and the choral refrains are remarkably varied, the first being my personal favourite, with it's imposing entry, and highly skilled counterpoint.

I warmly and whole-heartedly recommend this CD to all, in what is a stunning example of excellence, and a triumph for Robert King.

rare material, fine performance.......2006-03-02

Beautiful work by the King's Consort and the Oxford choir, of some fairly hard-to-find and worthwhile works by Handel: Ode to Queen Anne's Birthday, Te Deum, Sing Unto God. I prefer a little more up-tempo on the first Ode aria, Eternal Source of Light Divine, but that's a personal quibble and I highly recommend this album to anyone interested in baroque in general, baroque vocal works, and Handel in particular.

Average customer rating:

solid album
a great find!
A Great Day For The Race

Great Day for the Race
Cities of Foam
Manufacturer: Dorado
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0007S67TS
Release Date: 2006-04-06

Album Description

Debut album from Todd Wills and Sam Menter AKA Cities of Foam. They Collaborated with a number of vocalists and musicians in order to create the lush soundscape of the album, including London Jazz vocalist Nia Lynn (Out of Reach), Vibraphone player Jim Hart, and trombonist Eddie Rieband. Comparisons of their sound have been made to Zero 7 and Lemon Jelly. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

solid album.......2006-06-21

This, their debut album, is a solid piece of chillout musica. Not every song is a knockout, of course, but at worst the songs are repetitively pleasant. At best, they're infectious and gorgeous! The layered instrumentation is nicely varied, with acoustic instruments and understated vocals appearing often, but also spiced up with plenty of electronic warbles and synth buzzing.

They won't win any awards for originality, but I give 5 stars for immense enjoyability.

a great find!.......2005-07-13

I downloaded this CD from iTunes on whim and wow! I'd never heard of Cities of Foam before and was just looking for something new. Very impressed - this is a great find if you are a fan of upbeat progressive/instrumental/electronic music.

"Last Man Standing" will probably show up in a commercial or in a movie somewhere. That's not a slam at all, just one of those tunes like "Days Go By" by Dirty Vegas that slips through the cracks until one day when it's everywhere. My other favorite is "Out of Reach."

5-stars!

A Great Day For The Race.......2005-05-13

Clocking in at just over an hour, Cities of Foam's debut long player is like an evening at a really excellent Lebanese restaurant. Generous platters of spicy nutritious food, heaped cushions, and a wide-hipped belly dancer who rubs your bald head and makes you dance. Each dish is piled high and, though the basic ingredients are familiar (beats , floaty guitars, languid vocals), judicious use of rare herbs and spices leave you feeling like you've been on a musical journey. Or a musical one. And what was in that hookah?

Some standout tracks - "Last Man Standing". Echoing guitars, space-cocktail keyboards and zero-gravity scatting, and all somehow evocative of a glittering sun hitting the sea. Midway through a heavy-lidded saxophone sidles its way into the mix, while a French starlet stares petulantly at said sunset and shrugs her perfect shoulders. "Barry Can't Do Flat Tops", a dubby hashish-fuelled jaunt through a Kasbah, announces itself with a reverb drenched snare roll, before shifting gear several times. Horns stab and shudder and noodle. Real horns, that is. "Without You": smoky vocals full of yearning and regret. "Under Stars" starts out American dustbowl and veers off into African savannah, courtesy of some exquisite singing from one Chartwell Dutiro (great name!). And finally, "Picking Up Tin Cans": slide guitars, ghostly insect sounds, a mournful cello, Satie-esque piano. Walking around a strange city at 4am, thinking.

Cities of Foam - Sam Menter and Todd Wills - write lovely, sad, joyful music that meanders and wanders about, but is never less than tuneful. Hold a gun to my head and I'd say their album reminds me of Air, The Orb, Röyksopp, Beth Orton and, it must be said, U2. If U2 replaced Bono with Lee Scratch Perry and moved to the French Riviera. And opened up a really excellent Lebanese restaurant.