Slow [CD-single] [Limited Edition]

Product Description
Exclusive Japanese pressing of her first single lifted from the 2003 album 'Body Language'. The title track is backed with four non-LP tracks, 'Slow' (Extended Mix [Exclusive], Medicine 8 Remix, Radio Slave Mix), & 'Soul on Fire'. Copy Controlled. EMI. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Ave Maria (new recording)
La Wally (from Time To Say Goodbye)
Winter Light (new recording)
Anytime, Anywhere (from Eden)
Alhambra (new recording)
Lascia Ch'io Pianga (from Eden)
Dans La Nuit (new recording)
Serenade/How Fair This Place (from La Luna)
O Mio Babbino Caro (new recording)
La Luna (from La Luna)
Pie Jesu (new recording)
Figlio Perduto (from La Luna)
Nessun Dorma (new recording)
Bailero (from Eden)
Time To Say Goodbye (New solo version--previously unavailable)

Amazon.com

Have some friends who still haven't discovered what the Sarah Brightman fuss is all about? You'll find the perfect introduction to make converts of them all in Classics, so they'll have no more excuses to remain clueless. Sporting a Botticelli-inspired image of the platinum-selling soprano on the cover, Classics is a classy anthology including highlights from three of Brightman's chart-topping releases along with seven new tracks. Songs personally selected by the diva as her favorite classical interpretations are culled from her previous blockbusters: Time To Say Goodbye, Eden, and La Luna. And whether you're a fan already in the fold or one in the making, the new material here shows the diva at the top of her form, in new renderings of "O Mio Babbino Caro" and "Nessun Dorma" (accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic)--fascinating displays of the operatic confidence she's developed over her career. Other new offerings include a touching version of Schubert's "Ave Maria,' "Winter Light," a fresh take on her signature song "Pie Jesu" (from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem). "Alhambra" and "Dans La Nuit"--a real treat, bathing the listener in Brightman's silky, sensuous vocalism--add two original titles to her famous adaptations of classical melodies to new lyrics (using Chopin's haunting E major Etude in the latter case). All told, a lovely affirmation of the directions Brightman has boldly taken in her career to date. -Sarah Chin

Amazon.com

Sarah Brightman Photos

More from Sarah Brightman

Time to Say Goodbye
Diva: The Singles Collection
Eden

Diva: The Video Collection
Live from Las Vegas
La Luna (Live in Concert)

Customer Reviews:

Sarah's Best Easy Listening CD.......2007-03-15

Sarah Brightman's talent is limitless. Her soprano and/or alto voice is among the best and she lets it show in 'CLASSICS'. CLASSICS is a beautiful, easy listening, and peaceful CD. CLASSICS is one to listen to in tranquil or relaxing moments. "CLASICS" is a collection of great pieces of music written by great composers (Shuburt, Handel, Chopin, Puccini, and the like). I have listened to CLASSICS about 15 times now and it always puts me in a quiet and peaceful mood (I am ~50 years old).

Best Brightman CD.......2007-02-07

A classical composition which showcases the beautiful voice of Sarah Brightman. A timeless CD which will continue to be a favourite over the years.

Sarah Brightman is a Classic.......2007-01-02

Sarah Brightman is at her best in "Classics." From Dvorak's "Rusalka" (Opera B.203) to Beethoven's haunting Op 52, slow movement (Symphony #7), Brightman's voice and lyrical style are a joy. I particularly enjoy her performances of Schubert's Ave Maria and Andrew Lloyd Weber's Pie Jesu. This is a great add to my collection of serious music.

Not The Best - Not the Worst - From Sarah Brightman.......2006-12-30

After purchasing this CD for my iPod for iTunes, I must say that I'm a little bit dissapointed. 7 new recordings and 8 old ones, ones that I already happen to have. I do like the fact that they're all on one CD! Some of her new recordings, including, "Ave Maria", "Winter Light", "Alhambra", "Dans La Nuit", and the new recording of "Pie Jesu" are just too breathy for my taste. It seems as with every changing CD, Sarah's voice changes. I'm not saying that the result is bad; it actually gives the songs more of a dream like quality, but I'm used to the younger, more Andrew Lloyd-Webber integrated Sarah. Scooping continually occurs in new recordings of "O Mio Babbino Caro", and "Nessun Dorma". In some tracks from La Luna, like "Figlio Perduto", Sarah's voice is TOTALLY dominated by harmonizing recordings that sound almost mechanical.

OVERALLY - The new songs sound O.K. and the old recordings are just as good as they were back then. This album is still a great buy!

Nice Cover.......2006-12-27

I'm a heterosexual guy who's not an opera aficionado - I only mention these facts because I seem to be right in the bull's-eye of the target market for this product. Sarah B. has a nice voice and she's pretty. Both of these are featured prominently on this CD. The cover and several pages in the insert are devoted to what must have been a very long and expensive photo shoot (and Photoshop) of a semi-clad Sarah looking marvelous. (The CD also comes with a flyer so you can buy various Brightman "Classics" apparel - perhaps not for the heterosexual male).

As far as the music goes: not bad, not great. I don't claim to have the most discerning ears for this sort of music, but everything was OK by me. However, the pieces on the CD with which I'm somewhat familiar, such as "O Mio Babbino Caro," didn't sound quite as good as other versions I've heard (and that includes by Charlotte Church, not just opera stars). Also, the solo version of "Time to Say Goodbye" didn't sound nearly as good to me as the duet with Bocelli.

In sum, there were 3-4 songs I liked enough to rip to MP3s - which is enough so that I didn't feel ripped myself...

Average customer rating:

Took awhile for this one to grow on me
No, no, no, no, no
I'm in love with David Gray...
Captivating Sound
Great CD

Life In Slow Motion
David Gray
Manufacturer: Ato Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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White Ladder
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ASIN: B000AA305M
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

Alibi
The One I Love
Lately
Nos Da Cariad
Slow Motion
From Here You Can Almost See The Sea
Ain't No Love
Hospital Food
Now And Always
Disappearing World

Amazon.com

On his seventh album (and first for Dave Matthews' ATO label), David Gray refines his sonic palette with wonderful results. The first record made in a "real" studio and the first done with an outside producer (MOR hotshot Marius De Vries), it's a nice improvement over 2002's lukewarm, sparsely electronicized New Day at Midnight. There's quite a bit of diversity afoot; "Hospital Food" begins with a sheen of '80s-cheese keyboards, while "Alibi" has an orchestral pop arrangement that brings to mind Rufus Wainwright collaborating with Jeff Lynne (and yes, that's a good thing). The album's title seems to refer as much to the fact that the album took three years to appear as the way the songs unfold glacially. With his band really fortifying him throughout, parts sound like Coldplay unplugged. But where that band's lyrics start with self-doubt and burrow inwards from there, Gray seeks absolution, something beyond himself. He also seems to have a sense of humor. It's too bad Six Feet Under is off the air; this entire album would make a great soundtrack for a special episode. Slow Motion is, in its subtle way, a huge step: the blue eyed folk-soul singer's first truly stadium-ready album. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

Took awhile for this one to grow on me.......2007-07-28

When i first got this album listened and thought, this is ok, but nothing special. Put it aside. Found the song Hospital Food popping up randomly on my iPod and feel in love with it. Played it to death. Even my wife who doesn't like too many modern artists wanted me to keep repeating it.

Then a couple more months passed and decided one day at work to just play the entire album in the background. I've been hooked ever since. The beauty and depth of the lyrics grabs me. My favorite song is Nos Da Cariad, but I love them ALL! One of my favorite albums now from start to finish.

No, no, no, no, no.......2007-06-12

Why, please someone tell me, would one of the best guitarists on the scene keep turning out mediocre piano tunes? I would lead David away from the keyboard and then smash the danged thing to smithereens. Then I would hand him a guitar and return to the audience. I mean, would you go see Richard Thompson if you knew he was going to play piano? Or Tony Levin play French Horn? Come on David, knock us out with six strings. Leave the ivory keys to Chris Martin. And the sea thing? We didn't like Christopher Cross when he did it. Why would we like it any more now? Now do what I say, David, and play son, play!

I'm in love with David Gray..........2007-05-23

If anyone can sound hot on their album, it would have to be David Gray. Cadence, gritty tone, deliberate phrasing of each line-- you can really FEEL what he's singing. This album (from what I understand) is heavier instrumentally, and has an orchestral sound. In my opinion, a beautiful accompaniment to Gray's voice, which can stand prefectly stand alone as well. A must buy!!!

Captivating Sound.......2007-05-21

Enjoyed the passion of the songs and the powerful music. Lyrics are interesting. What David writes about his lyrics and his new style of music was interesting. Just a good, emotionally moving, but mellow compilation of songs that may cause you to pause and think.

Seeing the lyrics were helpful, because his enunciation is not good at all times. I fell asleep while watching TV and the title song "Life in Slow Motion" was playing on an "ER" episode and the melody and passion behind the lyrics awoke me from my sleep.

Great CD.......2007-05-19

I love this CD and every song that is on the CD!! David Gray is not sold at Target stores in my area. To find the time to track a Borders or a Barnes and Knoble that sells CD's is too much of my time wasted in my day. So I went to Amazon.com and ordered the CD on a Thursday night. I selected standard shipping and received my CD on Monday. I am planning on purchasing more of his CD's and will do so on Amazon.com.

Average customer rating:

The Complete Piano Music of Scott Joplin
Another Performer Rewrites Joplin's Masterpieces
complete piano music of Scott Joplin on 4 CD's
Ragtime Marvel
Complete, but poor quality

Complete Piano Music of Scott Joplin

Manufacturer: Compendia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Scott Joplin: Piano Rags
The Greatest Ragtime of the Century
The Sting: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Rags to Riches: The Essential Hits of Scott Joplin
Joplin - Complete Rags for Piano (Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics) Vol. 2020

ASIN: B000003QWN
Release Date: 1997-01-28

Tracks:

The Crush Collision March
Combination March
Harmony Club Waltz
Original Rags
Maple Leaf Rag
Swipesy Cakewalk
Reacherine Rag
Sunflower Slow Drag
The Augustan Club Waltz
The Easy Winners
Cleopha
A Breeze From Alabama
Elite Syncopations

Tracks:

The Entertainer
The Strenouous Life
March Majestic
Something Doing
Weaping Willow
Patr Leaf Rag
The Favorite
The Sycamore
The Cascades
The Chysanthemum
Bethena
Bink's Waltz
The Rosebud March

Tracks:

Leola
Eugenia
Antoinette
The Ragtime Dance
Searchlight Rag
Gladiolus Rag
Lily Queen
Rose Leaf Rag
Heliotrope Bouquet
The Nonpareil
Fig Leaf Rag
Sugarcane
Pineapple Rag

Tracks:

Wall Street Rag (1909)
Solace (1909)
Pleasant Moments (1909)
Country Club (1909)
Euphonic Moments (1909)
Paragon Rag (1909)
Stop-Time Rag (1910)
Felicity Rag (1911)
Scott Joplin's New Rag (1912)
Kismet Rag (1913)
Magnetic Rag (1914)
Reflection Rag (1917)
Silver Swan Rag (1917)

Customer Reviews:

The Complete Piano Music of Scott Joplin.......2007-06-08

John Arpin does a great job with these pieces. The songs carry a consistent sound and are played very close to as-written, which comes and goes with old ragtime pieces. The stamping on Stop-Time Rag doesn't have a consistent sound to it, can be a little distracting. Everything else is great, overall I think that it's a great buy, I'm very happy with it.

Another Performer Rewrites Joplin's Masterpieces.......2007-05-31

Once again, another performer feels the need to rewrite the music of the King of Ragtime. Scott Joplin spins in his grave each and every time this recording is played.

Again, to those who believe that concert music is meant to be rewritten by each and every performer I ask, is the same treatment also acceptable for Chopin's and Rachmaninoff's music? Would "Moonlight Sonata" sound better if played at twice the tempo and with a reprise of the first Adagio movement thrown in at the end? Obviously, the answer to these questions is a resounding NO!, so why does one of America's greatest composers get such disrespect?

Interpretation is an integral part of every performance. Adding one's own notes, phrases and chords where none should be is not. Randomly changing the structure of the piece is not. Playing a piece at twice the indicated tempo is not.

One the plus side, the depth of this collection is outstanding. Joplin's lesser known pieces like "Harmony Club Waltz" really shine. The recording is decent in quality, although a bit bassy in places.

While its been stated before, I feel its worth repeating: Buy Joshua Rifkin's performances of Joplin in order to hear how the Master intended his pieces to sound.

complete piano music of Scott Joplin on 4 CD's.......2007-02-14

Although all of the music is terrific it is rather a lot of a similar sound. I think I would have preferred 2 CD's of selected piano works of Scott Joplin. But I did get the music at a good price.

Ragtime Marvel.......2005-10-09

This collection of Scott Joplin's piano music is outstanding. As a lover of ragtime which was a prelude to jazz, I am thoroughly enjoying this collection. If you are not a lover of jazz, you may be a lover of ragtime. Jazz can sometimes be grating on the nerves, whereas ragtime lifts the spirit.

Complete, but poor quality.......2005-09-25

I have been learning some ragtime and wanted to hear more to find other selections to learn. Listened to Maple Leaf Rag, my favorite, first and was disappointed. Listened to others and was more disappointed. Maple flies - much faster than anyone would play it, you can't make out some of the phrases. And talk about ad libs - Tempo, dynamics, embelishments, nuances - I really think he plays some wrong notes too because he's going so fast. It's really a poor recording - and that's just on Maple Leaf. Others with "intros" start quick and then there's a grand pause, not a rest, but nearly a five second break. It's hard to argue how Joplin would have played it, but this is hardly anything I want to try to imitate. The only qualitating factor is the number of songs for the price. A lot of variety of a poor interpretation is only worth 3 stars. if that. Look for Rifkin or a copy that is as written to listen to first, then go for the ad libs and "artistic interpretations"

Heart Beats: Now & Forever - Timeless Wedding Songs

Average customer rating:

Dance music at wedding
classic
OK love song CD
Love songs - Wedding songs
A Helpful CD

Heart Beats: Now & Forever - Timeless Wedding Songs
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Modern Bride Presents the Wedding Album
Everlasting Love Songs
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Ultimate Wedding Songs

ASIN: B00000GC0W
Release Date: 1999-01-19

Tracks:

Here & Now - Luther Vandross
Tonight I Celebrate My Love - Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack
You're The Inspiration - Chicago
More Than Words - Extreme
Always And Forever - Heatwave
Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me - Gladys Knight & The Pips
Theme From Ice Castles (Through The Eyes Of Love) - Melissa Manchester
If - Bread
Could I Have This Dance - Anne Murray
You Are My Lady - Freddie Jackson
I Just Wanna Stop - Gino Vannelli
Through The Fire - Chaka Khan
Always - Atlantic Starr
Two Less Lonely People In The World - Air Supply
I'll Always Love You - Taylor Dayne
At Last - Etta James

Customer Reviews:

Dance music at wedding.......2007-06-08

Very good music for dance music at a wedding. Especially if you want slow songs and the Classic 40's and 50's music. Great!!!

classic.......2007-04-18

From the late great Luther Vandross to Etta James, this Cd has a Truly great Variety of classic wedding type songs. You can just about play it from beginning to end. Classics like "you're the best thing that's ever happened to me"is the perfect song for a couple that has been together for many years and is finally tying the knot!( ideal for an Anniversary song too! ) "At last" is a ditto and is perfect for the recessional..."Thru the fire" by Chaka Khan is a beautiful ode to the love of your life that says...U will have a partner thru thick and thin...another classic that must be mentioned is Anne murray's "could i have this dance"...mother/ son dance=this one is perfect for! Taylor Dayne's "I'll always love you" is as pretty of a song as i've ever heard aswell as "You are my Lady"...perfect for a first dance. "You're the inspiration" has been used for the father/daughter dance at several of my weddings ...Ok ...and of course it has Heatwave's "always and forever" on it too...a classic at any wedding. From top to bottom this Cd has Magic!

OK love song CD.......2006-10-04

Bought this CD for ideas for songs in my wedding. I was a little disapointed that it didn't give me good ideas for my wedding. It had better songs on it just for classic love songs.

Love songs - Wedding songs.......2006-02-26

Being a romantic person this is a great CD. Light the candles, serve with italian food, good red wine, with the CD playing and you will have a great combination. Even without the food this is a great CD to sing along to..at home or in the car. don't pass this one up!

A Helpful CD.......2006-02-03

This CD is OK and I did like the fact that
"At Last" by Etta James is on it
I also was glad to finally find on amazon
"A Song For My Son" for the mother groom dance and
"A Song For My Daughter" for our father bride dance.
I heard samples of these songs at www.new-wedding-traditions.com
Thanks amazon.com

Average customer rating:

Too Smooth for Blues
I'm Hooked
Keb Mo Slow Down
Is there any style of Blues Keb Mo' CAN'T play?!?
Too Modern For Me

Slow Down
Keb' Mo'
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

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Keb' Mo'
Just Like You
Keep It Simple
The Door
Peace...Back By Popular Demand

ASIN: B00000ADKI
Release Date: 1998-08-25

Tracks:

Muddy Water
I Was Wrong
Everything I Need
Henry
Soon As I Get Paid
A Better Man
I Don't Know
A Letter To Tracy
Slow Down
Rainmaker
Love In Vain
God Trying To Get Your Attention
I'm Telling You Now

Amazon.com

Guitarist and vocalist Keb' Mo' seems to be continuing in the direction suggested by his previous album, Just Like You, with this release. That is to say, mixed in with the country-blues style that dominated his self-titled debut are elements of soul, R&B, and rock (the opening "Muddy Water" sounds, in Keb' Mo's hands, a great deal like the Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Woman"). When this works, as it does on Slow Down's title track, it works very, very well. Some of the ballads, though, sound a little bland, and when the album returns to the tight, rock-inflected "Soon As I Get Paid" or the funky "A Letter to Tracy," it's refreshing. The real treats, however, come late in the album. With "Love in Vain" and "God Trying to Get Your Attention," Mo' gets down to the roots, and the sheer simplicity of the closing "I'm Telling You Now" is nothing short of beautiful, allowing Mo's considerable talent as a singer and guitarist to shine through. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

Too Smooth for Blues.......2006-11-14

Keb' Mo' came on the scene as a breath of fresh air for the blues. But, as his albums and output progress, it appears that he has elected to adopt a smooth, polished style that will turn-off many blues purists, who prefer the grit and pain of traditional blues. So, if you and yours are fans of Kenny G, Grover Washington Junior, Boney James, etc., then this stuff is for you. Oversimplified, safe, and at times quite boring. There are a handful of semi-precious gems on this album, including "I Was Wrong," "Henry," and "Rainmaker;" and the HDCD encoding allows for exception sound quality. Overall this is a nice, safe, happy, blues disc that lacks a certain something. But, if you need a present for Xmas, your mother would love to put this in rotation for her next Bookclub meeting.

I'm Hooked.......2006-09-01

I saw Keb Mo for the first time on a rerun of Austin City Limits. He was playing the song from this CD - "As Soon As I Get Paid". On the strength of that song alone, I went out and bought the CD the next day. It did not disappoint. I've been playing it over and over for months now. Keb Mo's is a consumate guitar player, song writer and story teller. Do yourself a favor, go out and buy this CD, grab a cold beer and enjoy some great blues.

Keb Mo Slow Down.......2006-03-22

This CD is fantastic. Every song is wonderful. I bought one as a gift for a friend and I have other friends requesting copies. I never get tired of listening to it.

Is there any style of Blues Keb Mo' CAN'T play?!?.......2005-09-24

WOW! This CD totally blew me away; I've loved the blues since I was twelve, listening to nighttime DJ Jimmy Rabbit on KLIF in Dallas playin' Jimmy Reed's "Bright Lights, Big City" more than 40 yrs ago, but when I heard this, it was like I was hearing the blues for the first time. Motown, Memphis, Mississippi delta, it's all here, and it's all GOOD. This is the kind of CD you can put on repeat and never get tired of it!

Too Modern For Me.......2005-07-17

Keb Mo is a wonderfull talent. But this album is not his best works. Unfortunately it is a very modern sounding CD. Seems like Keb lost his traditonal roots on this CD. Slowly doing away with the Delta slide, and importing more of he "electrified" side of the blues.
It would be nice if these talented artits wouldn't let money get in the way of their true talent. I know there are alot of fans out there who love the traditonal Delta sound.

Average customer rating:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!
Beginner or Expert
Very Informative and Enjoyable
Frank's view
Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra

Instruments of the Orchestra
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Op34; Simple Symphony Op4
The Mahler Symphonies: An Owner's Manual (includes 1 CD)
The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (Book & CD)
What to Listen for in Music
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ASIN: B00006O0NT
Release Date: 2002-12-03

Tracks:

Overture To 'Tannhauser'
Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
Hungarian Dance No.7
The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
Csardas Music
The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
Tzigane
Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
Caprice No.24
The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
The Violin Muted
Clair De Lune
The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
The Pizzicato Violin
Pizzicato Polka
In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
Hungarian Dance No.4
Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
Bolero
Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
Elfenreigen

Tracks:

Introduction To The Viola
Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
Cypresses (No.9)
The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
The 'Period' Viola In Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
Elfentanz, Op.39
Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
The Protecting Veil (Opening)
A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
Flamenco
Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
Symphony No.9 (Finale)
Introduction To The Double-Bass
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
Elegy No.1 In D Major
The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
Capriccio Di Bravura
Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
Sa'Dawi
Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
Chamber Music No.II
The Piccolo - Aptly Named
La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
A Variety Of Techniques
Chamber Music No.II
Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
Naelden, Naelden
The Bachian Oboe
Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
The Swan Of Tuonela
The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
Bolero
The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
...And Quite Low.
Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
Introduction To The Saxophone
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
Bolero
The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
Sax-O-Phun
The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
Bolero
The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
Symphony No.3 (Opening)
The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
The Ceremonial Trumpet
Fanfare For The Common Man
Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
Billy The Kid
The Trumpet As Character Actor
Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
The Birth Of The Trombone
Aenmerckt Nu Hier
The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
Canzon 12 In Double Echo
The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
Hosannah
The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
The Trombone As Caricaturist
Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
The Horn And The Hunt
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
Walter Music (Minuet 1)
The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
Den Hoboecken Dans
Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
Gymnopedie No.2
The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
The Birth Of The Bongo
Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
Taking Advantage Of Tunability
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
Ravel And The Xylophone
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
Introducing The Vibraphone
The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
Folk Dances
The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
Introducing The Tubular Bells
Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
Carmen Suite (Introduction)
But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Introducing The Celeste
The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
Petrushka (Russian Dance)
The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
Mahler's Sleighbells
Symphony No.4 (Opening)
A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Nocturnes
Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
The Oboe As Duck
Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
A Thunderstorm In A Million
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
Octet In F (Mvt 3)
The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
Canzon 28
Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
Images (Gigues)
A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

The one complaint I have is the last CD. This deals with the orchestra. I wanted more of a tour of how the orchestra has been used through history up to the present. Instead, it was a tour of how different groups of instruments sound. I thought it could have been better. The other 6 CDs are excellent.

Quiet Thoughts: Guided Meditation for Stress Reduction, helping you to slow down the thinking process
Average customer rating:

Wonderful and helpful!

Quiet Thoughts: The Mental Medicine Collection

Quiet Thoughts: Guided Meditation for Stress Reduction, helping you to slow down the thinking process
Pakvilai Sudhaswin M.A. , and Anton Mizerak
Manufacturer: Own label (Pure Land Productions)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sacred Moment: Guided Meditation for Stress Reduction, finding your present moment awareness

Non-thinking: Guided Meditation for Stress Reduction, helping you to experience the freedom of "non-thinking"

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ASIN: B000BGQWV4
Release Date: 2005-10-01

Product Description

Quiet Thoughts--A guided meditation to slow down the thinking process.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful and helpful!.......2006-04-09

The Quiet Thoughts CD, 1 of 4 audio CD's in the Mental Medicine Collection, gently guides me to focus and slow down my thinking. Her calming voice explains how to quiet my mind and how to be present with my environment. My entire body is relaxed as this occurs. It is truly a soothing and calming experience. I highly recommend it for anyone.

Quiet Thoughts: The Mental Medicine Collection.......2006-02-21

I've ordered all four of the audio CD's in the series - Sacred Moment, Sleep Ease, Non-Thinking and Quiet Thoughts. Described as " ... to heal and slow down a busy mind'. My reviews of each are similar in their praise and satisfaction. They are 4 terrific guided meditations. I've personally found it difficult to meditate without some assistance and rarely have time to go to a meditation center, many of which have limited sessions. What I was searching for was a guided meditation that could guide my positioning and mental focus and then provide soothing music to sit with. There are two components to each CD, talking with background music and then a period of just music. I've tried other similar CD's but didn't use them for long because, for some reason, I just couldn't get relaxed by the audio portion. That was not the case with these CD's. Pakvilai's gentle soothing voice is so beautiful and relaxing, I never tire of listening to it. The timing (about 30 minutes) on each CD is perfect for the morning before work and before going to bed at night. These CD's will work well for both beginners and experienced meditators. The music background on each CD is different and truly relaxing.

Quiet Thoughts focuses on learning how to slow down your thinking. It starts with basic guidance and flows into how to be present with what you are doing and your surroundings and how to quiet your mind and keep it at ease. She guides you on how to relax your entire body. As she speaks, she pauses just long enough for you to digest what's she's said and then moves on.

Non-Thinking focuses on learning the freedom of non-thinking. Pakvilai varies her introduction and guidance enough so that each CD is different and refreshing. In this CD she focuses on your mind and how to follow your thoughts at they arrive and leave, then how to focus on non-thinking - by focusing on breathing, your body feelings and the present moment. She guides you on how to detach from your thoughts during meditation, just by letting your thoughts gently flow in and out of your mind as you observe them arriving and leaving.

Sacred Moment focuses on finding present moment awareness. It starts with basic guidance and flows into a wonderful description on how to bring your focus to the present moment and keep it there when thoughts arise. She guides you to think about each moment as being sacred and how to feel still, calm and free.

Sleep Ease is all about getting you so relaxed you fall asleep. The introduction is different in that you are instructed to lay on your back. This CD focuses t getting you to relax your entire body. Pakvilai gets you to the point of feeling like you are as light as a feather and floating on a cloud. She slowly guides you to focus on your entire body, part-by-part, from head to toe. I've found this particular CD invaluable on those days when I'm under a lot of stress and can't easily fall asleep or sometimes when waking up in the middle of the night with a monkey mind, I listen to it to put me back to sleep.

Average customer rating:

"For all those who have eyes and ears, it is only He who can reduce me to tears."
Somewhat grim
Slow Train CD
Rolling Stone's Editor LOVED this album, folks. FWIW.
Jesus as mind-numbing drug

Slow Train Coming
Bob Dylan
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00026WU6O
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Tracks:

Gotta Serve Somebody
Precious Angel
I Believe in You
Slow Train
Gonna Change My Way of Thinking
Do Right to Me Baby (Do Unto Others)
When You Gonna Wake Up
Man Gave Names to All the Animals
When He Returns

Customer Reviews:

"For all those who have eyes and ears, it is only He who can reduce me to tears." .......2007-07-22

So Bob Dylan sings in the deeply moving "When He Returns," the closing song of his beautiful inspirational album Slow Train Coming, released in 1979. One of Dylan's greatest albums, Slow Train Coming is a collection of timeless spiritual songs that have continued to inspire and touch listeners for nearly three decades. Indeed, Slow Train Coming may very well prove to be Dylan's masterwork, a strong statement of faith that was sung without fear of what critics would think of him.

The album opens with "Gotta Serve Somebody," which earned Dylan a Grammy award for best vocal performance. "Precious Angel" is one of Slow Train Coming's best songs in which Dylan sings of his newfound faith in Christ and the woman who helped lead him down the narrow path. The only somewhat weak track on this album is "Man Gave Names To All The Animals," which sounds like a children's bible school song. Dylan was attending a bible class at the time and this likely inspired him to write it. The outtake "Ye Shall Be Changed" would have made a better album track.

I cannot recommend Slow Train Coming enough. It deserves all the praise it receives and more. Buy it and you will discover another masterpiece from Bob Dylan.

Somewhat grim.......2007-05-26

This notorious album opens with Gotta Serve Somebody, a slow edgy number with prominent female vocals in a genuine gospel style, whilst Precious Angel is a tuneful folky track. One of the most moving songs is I Believe In You, a description of the rejection often experienced by those who openly confess their faith, expressed in stirring poetic lyrics over a lovely melody line.

The title track Slow Train is a messy mid-tempo rock excursion infused with gospel backing vocals, certainly not the strongest offering on the album. Gonna Change My Way Of Thinking is a similarly downtempo rock number but with some nice organ flourishes, unfortunately a bit harsh in both sentiment and in sound.

The jerkily rhythmic Do Right To Me Baby is a pleasant enough rumination on the golden rule with some clever lyrical twists, whilst the meandering When You Gonna Wake Up is a call to repentence I suppose, but not particularly tuneful or memorable. The next one, Man Gave Names To All The Animals, is lighter and quite appealing with its gently lilting beat.

The album concludes with the stirring devotional When He Returns. One would have expected more of the Van Morrison type of mystical joyousness, but this album is often grim and uncompromising. Mercifully the aforementioned songs like Precious Angel, I Believe In You and When He Returns are lovely and comforting.

Of Dylan's religious albums, I think Shot of Love with its gems like Every Grain Of Sand and Lenny Bruce, and Infidels with tracks like Neighbourhood Bully and Jokerman are the best. Slow Train Coming is not bad at all but not an album that I often listen to. The thought of how it must have shocked the rock critics when it was released is however cause for mirth.

Saved

Time Out of Mind

Slow Train CD.......2007-05-13

I've listened to Bob Dylan since he started and I still listen. Great CD, great - great - great.

Rolling Stone's Editor LOVED this album, folks. FWIW........2007-04-09

I bought the issue of Rolling Stone with Jann Wenner's review of this album when it first came out. Wenner raved about it, loved it. FWIW. Maybe he didn't have his guard up, I don't know.

Jesus as mind-numbing drug.......2007-03-02

I do like the music on this album, but am so glad Dylan is over the Jesus thang.

Musically there are better Dylan albums but this one is a solid 3 stars.

Creating Calm In Your Life: A Guided Meditation and Stress Reduction CD

Average customer rating:

Great for beginners short on time!
Not meditation, but not bad for tension
Somewhat helpful
meditation is deeply personal
a little too hippie for my wife

Creating Calm In Your Life: A Guided Meditation and Stress Reduction CD
Rivka Simmons
Manufacturer: Floating Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Ease of Being: Guided Meditations for Centering and Healing
Guided Meditations: For Calmness, Awareness, and Love
Journey into Deep Relaxation
Relaxation Body Scan & Guided Imagery for Well-Being
Guided Meditations for Stress Reduction

ASIN: B0002TQZSK
Release Date: 2003-12-01

Tracks:

Mindfulness Meditation One (15 minutes)
Mindfulness Meditation Two (15 minutes)
A Progressive Muscle Relaxation (15 minutes)
A Body Scan Relaxation (15 minutes)

Album Description

Creating Calm In Your Life: A Guided Meditation and Stress Reduction CD contains 4 short, easy-to-do, 15-minute meditations: two mindfulness meditations, a progressive muscle relaxation and a body scan meditation. It is ideal for busy people looking for an easy way to incorporate meditation and relaxation into their lives. Rivka's soothing voice gently guides listeners to deep stillness and calm. Here's what some of Rivka's students have to say about Creating Calm: "I love Rivka's gentle voice" "Gives me a deep feeling of well-being" "Helps me to sleep peacefully" "A good introduction for beginners" "Perfect way to end a hectic day"

Customer Reviews:

Great for beginners short on time!.......2007-03-29

I've wanted to practice meditation for years and have been taking steps here and there to make it a part of my life. I figure this activity will probably be similiar to my process of losing weight or quitting smoking (which took me several tries to do successfully). So a few years back, I bought the audio book of Pema Chodron's The Places that Scare You. I don't think I was ready for it. I'm sure it's great, but it seemed too long for my purposes and honestly, I couldn't follow it. I think when I am further along my path of meditation, I will be able to return to Chodron.

So I listened to Creating Calm and I think it's perfect for where I am right now. I'm a true beginner in meditation. I'm short on time, but I have time to do 15-minute meditation exercises. There isn't any music on it, which I appreciate. It's all very concrete and body focused. Rivka Simmons takes a compassionate and gentle approach. I never felt like I was "doing it wrong."

She provides specific directions; she asks you to draw your attention to what you're doing; to notice what it feels like to be in your body. This may be too simple or easy for some people, but for a beginner like me with only 15 minutes to spare, it works!

Not meditation, but not bad for tension.......2007-03-03

This is not truly a "meditation" cd. The author guides you thru tensing and relaxing the various muscles in the body, from head to toe. Personally, I do find it helpful; but someone with more meditation experience will probably not get too much from this. There is no music or "white noise", and occasional background sounds can be heard, as if the cd were recorded in different environments at different times. The one thing I found particularly annoying was the author's way of interrupting my concentration by saying "Where is the mind now?"; however she only does this during the "Mindfulness Meditations". I recommend skipping those two and go directly to "Progessive Muscle Relaxation" exercise and the "Body Scan" exercise.

Somewhat helpful.......2007-02-16

Rivka Simmons' voice is very soothing and encouraging, but her "meditations" have been only so-so helpful in easing my "stress". Track 4, "Body Scan Relaxation" continues to leave me baffled. (*How* am I supposed to "breathe" from my feet?) Track 3, "Progressive Muscle Relaxation" has been more helpful.

meditation is deeply personal.......2007-01-18

i read the conflicting reviews of this CD and realized that different people want different things from a meditation CD. i chose this one. i personally find music distracting, so the fact that i can focus solely on a calm voice helps me get into that really relaxed place. i've also done plenty of meditation in yoga and writing classes where i was guided into a forest or cave or whatever... i really like that in these meditations i'm focusing on relaxing my mind and body without traveling all over. these are simple, straight-forward, short trips to a deeply relaxed place. works for me!!!

a little too hippie for my wife.......2007-01-10

she found the material good for helping her relax, and calm down when she feels stressed or nervous, but it was a little too hippie

Average customer rating:

Greatest Slow Jam, The Whispers
Classic group ;-)
Say Yes!
True Old-School Lovin'
Whispers - Greatest Slow Jams Volume One

Greatest Slow Jams
The Whispers
Manufacturer: The Right Stuff
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

Quiet Storm | R&B | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Greatest Slow Jams, Vol. 2
The Whispers - Greatest Hits [Capitol]
Love Songs
FOR YOUR EARS ONLY
Anthology

ASIN: B000002UFA
Release Date: 1996-06-11

Tracks:

Give It To Me
Love Is Where You Find It
Say Yes
Try It Again
In The Mood
Lady
Are You Going My Way
Do They Turn On You
Welcome Into My Dreams
A Song For Donny
Chocolate Girl
I'm Gonna Make You My Wife
Bonus Track 1: Love's Calling
Bonus Track 2: Living Together In Sin

Customer Reviews:

Greatest Slow Jam, The Whispers.......2006-02-25

Loved it. It took me back to the old slow jam days

Classic group ;-).......2006-01-25

These guys are such a great group. Their music, in my mind, is timeless and I still listen to it often. My favourite song of theirs is In The Mood and that's here on this cd as well as Chocolate Girl. This is some serious sexy music and something all romantics and lovers of good soul, old school r 'n' b would love, so you must get this if you want a definitive collection of their beautiful ballads. I highly recommend this.

Say Yes!.......2005-04-18

This is only part I! The Whispers had a way with silky smoothness that would melt a block of ice! These jams are both sensuous and sexy!

Classic, classic, mellow smooth slow jams from "Love is Where you Find it"...to "Living Together in Sin!" This is a must have for any smooth grooves collector!

True Old-School Lovin'.......2003-03-01

The bonus track "Love's Calling" is good enough for the entire price of this CD. The Whispers!! Amazingly sublime band. Honey-dip vocals that will take you back to the days when love's love, when the world was filled with chivalry and romance. Some of the greatest love songs ever recorded are all is this CD. Check this out and slow-groove to the days of true romancin'..

Whispers - Greatest Slow Jams Volume One.......2003-01-31

This CD really gets me in the mood. Some times I'll listen to it while at work - singing along and get in the mood. This is one of the best.

Album Review: