Music from the Mountain

1. Time to Return

2. Holiday Shopping Bag Rag

3. The Sukkah in our Yard

4. The Miracle

5. It's Chanukah-Ole'!

6. Plant a New Life

7. The Ballad of Mordechai & Esther

8. The "I Ate Too Many Hamentashen" Blues

9. Passover Prairie Polka

10. Look into the Light

11. The Fiftieth Day

12. The Home

13. A Niggun

14. Shabbat Shalom

Music from the Mountain,The Soul Tune Singers,Mindymusic,A celebration of the Jewish year for the whole family... Country, klezmer, jazz, reggae and more... "That's funny, it doesn't SOUND like Jewish music"...but it just may be the best Jewish Holiday Music that you and your family have ever heard...

Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition, A Night on Bald Mountain, and Other Russian Showpieces [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

Desert Island Disc!
Great way to exercise
Wow!
Strauss and Mussorgsky
Hybrid SACD Mussorgsky: Pirctures at an Exhibition, Night on Bald Mountain

Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition, A Night on Bald Mountain, and Other Russian Showpieces [Hybrid SACD]
Modest Mussorgsky , Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Alexander Borodin , Dmitry Kabalevsky , Mikhail Glinka , and Fritz Reiner
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Stravinsky: Song of the Nightingale [Hybrid SACD]
Richard Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra; Ein Heldenleben [Hybrid SACD]
Brahms, Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos [Hybrid SACD]
Dvorák's New World Symphony and Other Orchestral Masterworks [Hybrid SACD]
Respighi: Pines of Rome; Fountains of Rome; Debussy: La mer [Hybrid SACD]

ASIN: B0002TKFRM
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Tracks:

Promenade
Gnomus
Promenade
Il Vecchio Castello
Promenade
Tuileries
Bydlo
Promenade
Ballet Of The Chicks In Their Shells
Samuel Goldenburg And Schmuyle
The Marketplace At Limoges
Catacombae, Sepulchrum Romanum
Con Mortuis In Lingua Mortua
The Hut On Fowl's Legs
The Great Gate At Kiev
Marche Miniature (From Suite No. 1 In D-Minor, Op. 43)
A Night On Bald Mountain - Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Prince Igor: Polovtsian March
Marche Slave
Colas Breugnon, Op. 24: Overture
Russian And Ludmilla: Overture - Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Desert Island Disc!.......2007-06-20

This sacd is positively stunning. I am young. I was raised on gizmos, gadgets and hi-tech this and that...and for the life of me I can't understand how these engineers back in the 50's and 60's produced such astoundingly detailed recordings. With two or three mics for the hall and some tube equipment and wham...there you have it...a recording of impressively powerful pieces of music with enough separation and detail within the mix to keep the listener busy for hours and hours on end. That and the emotional wallop packed by this recording is second to none. Even if you have copies aplenty of Pictures, or Night on..., such as I do myself, please do not hesitate to pick up this recording as it is worth every dime. If you are looking for an interesting counterpoint to Reiner's reading of Pictures or Night pick of Jose Serebrier's recording on Naxos.

Great way to exercise.......2007-06-13

Such great music. Exercise and listening
to this one is a great combination.
Time seems to fly by and before you know
it. Times up!

Wow!.......2007-04-02

How can something older than me sound so good? The recording is top notch. Dont be fooled into thinking it is "just stereo", the ambience of symphony hall comes thru as though it were recorded in surround. Exquisite detail and perfect tempo. Timpani has realistic impact. And all the other music with Pictures makes this a real bargain!

Strauss and Mussorgsky.......2007-03-24

They sound good, without the 'edge' often associated with CDs. CDs are a Fourier Transform of the analog source - that is to say a subset of it.

Hybrid SACD Mussorgsky: Pirctures at an Exhibition, Night on Bald Mountain.......2007-01-14

Great value. Great performances. On my krell sacd player, I found small differences between the SACD layer and the regular. The recordings are outstanding. Consider the price and that this is a 2 lp set, this is a deal.

Average customer rating:

pure genius
Another great Yo-Yo Disc
first disc great- second a flop
Encore
The Versatile Yo-Yo Ma

The Essential Yo-Yo Ma

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Appassionato
Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone
Vivaldi's Cello
Classic Yo-Yo
Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon

ASIN: B000A7Q29G
Release Date: 2005-08-16

Tracks:

Prde from Suite No. 1 in G Major for Cello, BWV 1007
II. Largo from "Winter", Op. 8, No. 4, RV 297 from the Four Seasons
Jesus, bleibet meine Freude (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring), BWV 147
Schafe kn sicher weiden (Sheep May Safely Graze), BWV 208
Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Sleepers Awake), BWV 645
The Swan from Carnival of the Animals (Chamber Version)
Havanaise, Op. 83
Mtation from Tha
Liebesfreud Instrumental
Allegro ben ritmato e deciso from Three Preludes
Vocalise Vocal
IV. Allegro from Sonata in D minor for Cello and Piano, Op. 40
Andante Cantabile for Cello Solo and String Orchestra, Op. posth.
IV. Rondo alla Zingarese. Presto from Quartet No. 1 in G minor for Piano and Strings, Op. 25
III. Finale. Allegro moderato from Concerto in B minor for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 104

Tracks:

Cristal
A lenda do caboclo
Chega de Saudade Live
Wapango Live
Libertango
Appalachia Waltz Solo Cello Version
Butterfly's Day Out
1B
Pickin' from Three Pieces for Solo Cello
Simple Gifts
The Mission
Gabriel's Oboe
The Falls Album Version
The Eternal Vow from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
The Cellist of Sarajevo - A Lament in Rondo Form for Solo 'Cello, Op. 12
Chi passa per'sta strada
Mido Mountain (Chinese Traditional)
Mohini (Enchantment)
Baroque in Rhythm from Suite for Cello and Jazz Piano Trio
Anything Goes Instrumental
I Could Have Danced All Night Extended version

Amazon.com

Here are three dozen pieces of music, all played by Yo-Yo Ma, culled from his extensive discography. Aside from the technical mastery and beautiful tone that are absolutes in all of his playing, one is dazzled by his curiosity and ability to adapt to so many forms and types of music. His Bach and Vivaldi are pellucid and played with non-sentimental crispness, his tango music gritty and rhythmically pungent, his jazz seemingly spontaneous, the "Meditation" from Thais simply ravishing, "Anything Goes" a romp, and the Appalachian music performed with both respect and a great twang, while the traditional Chinese music is fascinating. It's really a matter of how much Ma loves whatever he plays here, how entirely he becomes involved in it, and what a fine partner he invariably is to other musicians. This collection is a doozy--it is truly "essential." --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

pure genius.......2007-05-21

No instrument asks more from the soul of an artist as the cello does.
Yo Yo Ma shows to be master of the instrument and his interpretations en technique are pure genius. Everyone should have this album in his (or hers of course) basic classical collection

Another great Yo-Yo Disc.......2007-05-15

The set-up with the classical pieces on the first disc and the other on the second is excellent.

first disc great- second a flop.......2007-04-12

the first disc is awesome. the second disc is weird and boring.

Encore.......2007-03-31

Incredible. My young cellist (son) loves it. Beautiful music. The album is well organized and each song transitions nicely.

The Versatile Yo-Yo Ma.......2007-03-29

I've found this collection to be extremely delightful! It gives you a sense of the versatility of Yo-Yo Ma like no other, with one disc being dedicated more to his classical side, while the other explores jazz and world music venues. Not your typical "greatest hits" collection.

Classic Mountain Songs from Smithsonian Folkways

Average customer rating:

Classic Mountain Songs from Smithsonian Folkways
Terrific sound recordings!
Truly Classic!

Classic Mountain Songs from Smithsonian Folkways
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Smithsonian Folkways
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Classic Bluegrass From Smithsonian Folkways
Classic Old-Time Music
Classic Railroad Songs from Smithsonian Folkways
Mountain Music Of Kentucky [2-CD Set]
Hand-Picked: 25 Years Of Bluegrass On Rounder Records

ASIN: B00006JTG5
Release Date: 2002-10-22

Tracks:

Omie Wise - Doug Wallin
Sugar Baby - Dock Boggs
I Am a Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow - Old Regular Baptists
Sixteen Tons - George Davis
John Henry - Lesley Riddle
Lost Indian - Marion Sumner
Southbound - Doc and Merle Watson
High on a Mountain - Ola Belle Reed
Coal Creek March - Pete Steele
Coal Miner Blues - Hazel Dickens/Alice Gerrard
Railroad Blues - Sam McGee
Cuckoo Bird - Clarence Ashley
Conversation with Death (Oh Death) - Berzilla Wallin
Lone Prairie - Wade Ward
Rain and Snow - Dillard Chandler
Mole in the Ground - Bascom Lamar Lundsford
Moonshiner - Roscoe Holcomb
Wildwood Flower - Kilby Snow
Barbry Ellen - Jean Ritchie
Daniel Prayed - Watson, Price and Howard
Wreck of the Number Nine - Pop Stoneman
Red Jacket Mine Explosion - The Phipps Family
Kingdom Come - Norman Edmonds
Amazing Grace - Horton Barker

Album Description

Riding the wave of the renewed interest in traditional American music, Classic Mountain Songs From Smithsonian Folkways Recordings showcases a handful of the greatest mountain ballads as performed by some of the most influential folk singers and songwriters of the 20th century. This collection features many classic performances from a wide variety of regional instrumental and song styles. These diverse styles and songs types from the mountain communities of North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee include old-time fiddle and banjo pieces, early bluegrass, and traditional ballads, with a special emphasis on Appalachian vocal traditions. Doc and Merle Watson, Roscoe Holcomb, Clarence Ashley, and Dock Boggs are just a few of the revered roots artists who appear on this stellar compilation. This is an essential album for both old and new fans of American mountain music. Compiled and annotated by Jeff Place.

Customer Reviews:

Classic Mountain Songs from Smithsonian Folkways.......2007-07-15

I love Appalachian Folk Music and this CD included most of the best. It was true blue original recording of this music.

Terrific sound recordings!.......2006-11-07

Great recordings of a wide variety of songs. Entertaining, great to just listen to, or to learn music from. Nice variety of classic sounds.

Truly Classic!.......2003-02-14

The spate of worthy compilations riding on the coattails of O Brother, Where Art Thou? continues with Classic Bluegrass From Smithsonian Folkways, 25 tracks of serious bluegrass untarnished by rock, pop or other corrupting influences. Recorded between 1956 and 1992, it includes three numbers from what's purportedly the first bluegrass LP ever, Folkways'American Banjo: Three-Finger And Scruggs Style. Dashing mandolin runs by Earl Taylor (and his Stoney Mountain Boys) and bluegrass patriarch Bill Monroe (with Peter Rowan) open and close this crisp disc while Ralph Stanley, singing with older brother Carter, offers clawhammer banjo picking.

Many of the performers - Red Allen, Doc Watson and Hazel Dickens, for example - grew up with the music. The Harley Allen-Mike Lilly Band (Harley being Red's son) shows how the genre's trademark tight harmonies can turn smooth (in an Osborne Brothers style) rather than sharp, without sacrificing the essence of true bluegrass. The New Lost City Ramblers' The Little Girl And The Dreadful Snake as well as The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover's Neath That Cold Grey Tomb Of Stone evince mountain music's darkness, but then a wildfire fiddle breakdown such as David and Billy Ray Johnson's Grey Eagle comes along to show its fun side. It's a well-balanced set of early bluegrass highlights.

Beethoven's Wig, Vol. 2: More Sing-Along Symphonies

Average customer rating:

Greatest baby gift ever
Great for the whole family
More Great Fun
One is better but this is still awesome!! Gotta have it!
Absolute joy, and endless fun!

Beethoven's Wig, Vol. 2: More Sing-Along Symphonies

Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Beethoven's Wig: Sing Along Symphonies
Beethoven's Wig 3: Many More Sing-Along Symphonies
Mozart's Magnificent Voyage
World's Very Best Opera for Kids... in English!
Mr. Bach Comes To Call

ASIN: B0001I2C8O
Release Date: 2004-03-16

Tracks:

Stuck In The Saddle Again (Light Cavalry March, Suppe)
Sing Verdi Very Loud (La donna e mobile, from Rigoletto, Verdi)
Its The Same Every Verse (In The Hall of The Mountain King, from Peer Gynt Suite, Grieg)
Musical Bs (Hungarian Dance #5, Brahms)
Dont Play That Violin (Violin Concerto #2, Paganini)
Schuberts Trout (Trout Quintet, Schubert)
Dvorak The Czechoslovak (Humoresque #7, Dvorak)
A Fan of Chopin (Prelude 7, Op. 28, Chopin)
Please Do Not Tease The Viennese (Blue Danube Waltz, Strauss)
Its Spring! (Spring, from The Four Seasons, Vivaldi)
Wow What a Wedding Cake (Wedding March, from A Midsummer Nights Dream,. Mendelssohn)
Instrumental Performances:
Light Cavalry March, Suppe
La donna e mobile, from Rigoletto, Verdi (with vocals)
In The Hall of The Mountain King, from Peer Gynt Suite, Grieg
Hungarian Dance #5, Brahms
Violin Concerto #2, Paganini
Trout Quintet, Schubert
Humoresque #7, Dvorak
Prelude 7, Op. 28, Chopin
Blue Danube Waltz, Strauss
Spring, from The Four Seasons, Vivaldi

Amazon.com

From a pure-pleasure standpoint, the first Beethoven's Wig was nothing to flip over, and the second disc in the series follows suit. However, that is not to say that this is not a valuable and possibly ingenious record. Those unfamiliar with the premise will quickly get the picture: Producer/writer/lead singer/chief clever guy Richard Perlmutter gathers a bundle of important classical works (Paganini's "Violin Concerto #2," Strauss' "Blue Danube Waltz") and makes up silly, catchy lyrics to lay over them, informing the listener about the piece or its composer. Standing out for their offbeat brilliance this time are "Dvorak the Czechoslovak" ("Humoresque #7," Dvorak) and "Wow What a Wedding Cake" (Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Mendelssohn). Few stabs at mixing education with entertainment succeed so well. As a bonus, the second half of the CD repeats the symphonies straight up, presenting a neat opportunity to quiz kids 5-12 on what and who they've just heard. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

Greatest baby gift ever.......2007-03-15

Both of my grandchildren (and their parents and grandparents) are hooked on this CD and all of the silliness and beauty it brings into our lives. We sing to it, dance to it, and find ourselves thinking about it at odd times. Who can't love singing Verdi VERY LOUD? I've now started giving this as a simple baby gift, especially to those with older siblings. They are already equipped with clothing and nursery gear, and Beethoven's Wig invites the whole family to gather round...even if it is just on short car rides.

Great for the whole family.......2007-01-04

My husband, 18 month old daughter and I all love this CD. It's a staple in the car. One caveat- these lyrics will get stuck in your head and I now find myself singing the "words" to these songs when I hear them in a store or commercial! I'm hoping this means my daughter will recognize these songs as she gets older.

More Great Fun.......2006-03-13

Like the first volume, this CD encourages young children to enjoy classical music. The silly lyrics sometimes impart factual information on the composer or the piece. There are 11 sing-along symphonies and then the 11 symphonies are replayed without the lyrics--total of 22 tracks. Booklet with lyrics and trivia is included. All our children (aged 2-12) enjoy this CD, as do we.

One is better but this is still awesome!! Gotta have it!.......2006-01-10

My children loved Beethovens Wig 1. I checked this one out at the library. Then, we decided we had to have this one too.
Yes, one is the best but 2 is still wonderful.
Save yourself the shipping and order both at the same time.
We all thoroughly enjoy it. My 4 yr old can name these classicals when he hears them elsewhere and he can hum these beautiful songs. Much better than kiddie rhymes and Disney jingles. Culture your children the funniest way!!

Absolute joy, and endless fun!.......2005-11-15

The tunes and word stay with you and before you know it, you are signing them along. My two kids (ages 9 and 7) ask me to put the CD on as soon as we get into the car. What a wonderful and fun way to get them to love classical music!

Average customer rating:

Good selection
thunderous applause
Good Music at a Great Price
You will like this!
Good for the novice

25 Thunderous Classics

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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25 Classical Favorites
Symphony (25) Favorites
25 Tchaikovsky Favorites
25 Mozart Favorites
25 Beethoven Favorites

ASIN: B00004Y6SQ
Release Date: 2000-09-05

Tracks:

Also Sprach Zarathustra (Sunrise) - R. Strauss
Mars (The Planets) - Holst
Overture 1812 - Tchaikovsky
Entry Of The Gladiadtors - Fucik
Sabre Dance - Khachaturian
Procession Of The Sardar - Ippolitov Ivanov
Night On Bald Mountain - Mussorgsky
Anvil Chor (II Trovatore) - Verdi
The Thunderer March - Sousa
Thunder & Lightening Polka - J. Strauss
Prelude To Act III : Lohengrin - Wagner
The Ride Of The Valkryies - Wagner
Montagues & Capulets (Romeo & Juliet Ballet Suite) - Prokofiev
The Storm: Symphony No. 6 In F Major, 'Pastorale' - Beethoven
Rondeau - Edward Carroll
Overture: Fireworks Music - Handel
March To The Scaffold: Symphonie Fantastique - Berlioz
LesToreadors - Bizet
William Tell Overture: Finale - Rossini
Revolutionary Study - Abbey Simon
Fanfare For The Common Man - Copland
Sym No. 1 'Titan' IV Sturmisch Bewegt (Excerpt) - Mahler
Augurs Of Spring From Rite Of Spring - Stravinsky
Russian Dance From Petrouchka - Stravinsky
The Great Gate At Kiev From Pictures At An Exhibition - Mussorgsky

Customer Reviews:

Good selection.......2005-10-02

I bought this CD to use in my classroom as listening examples. I'm not just a super big fan of some of the performances, but they are all good and for the price you can't beat it. That's why I gave it 5 stars. It's worth more than it costs by far.

thunderous applause.......2005-08-31

This is a who's-who of great pieces of music you have heard all of your life, and never knew the names and stories! I listened to it over and over in the car and had my own concert! A friend borrowed it to add music to his Home Movies and it was perfect!

Good Music at a Great Price.......2004-03-06

I bought this CD mostly for "Entry of the Gladiators," which everyone will recognize as classic circus music. The performance on this CD (by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops) is the best available version of Entry of the Gladiators. The rest of the CD offers mostly excerpts of classical music.

You will like this!.......2004-02-19

I had purchased an abundance of the "Favorites" collection and some were better than others.

This CD is at the top of them all. They may be short, but not that short. Wondrous music.

I can almost guarantee that you will like this music.
Well worth the price!

Good for the novice.......2002-06-08

The recordings on this disc are pretty good. However, the editors selected only the *loud* parts, as indicated by the title. I was pretty disappointed to find that the pieces are, in many cases, edited to reflect the most famous themes, etc, instead of including the whole work. In general, I would recommend this to the classical music novice, or someone who wants to expand their knowledge of classical music in general. Those who already are familiar with these pieces will probably feel gypped.

Walt Disney's Fantasia: Remastered Original Soundtrack Edition

Average customer rating:

Mickey mouse on cover, elevator music for 70 year olds
Optical soundtrack recording limitations
Review of soundtrack Fantasia issues
Fantasia
low-fi fantasia

Walt Disney's Fantasia: Remastered Original Soundtrack Edition

Manufacturer: Disney
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Fantasia 2000: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
Fantasia (60th Anniversary Special Edition)
Fantasia
Fantasia 2000
Classic Disney: 60 Years of Musical Magic

ASIN: B000001M4K
Release Date: 2001-07-31

Tracks:

Toccata And Fugue In D Minor - (by Bach)
The Nutcracker Suite Op.71A: Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy
The Nutcracker Suite Op.71A: Chinese Dance
The Nutcracker Suite Op.71A: Dance Of The Reed Flutes
The Nutcracker Suite Op.71A: Arabian Dance
The Nutcracker Suite Op.71A: Russian Dance
The Nutcracker Suite Op.71A: Waltz Of The Flowers
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Rite Of Spring

Tracks:

Symphony No.6 ('Pastoral') Op.68: I. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Symphony No.6 ('Pastoral') Op.68: II. Andante Molto Mosso
Symphony No.6 ('Pastoral') Op.68: III. Allegro/IV. Allegro/V. Allegretto
Dance Of The Hours (From The Opera 'La Gioconda')
A Night On Bald Mountain
Ave Maria Op.52 No.6

Amazon.com essential recording

It's hard to believe now that Walt Disney's bold 1940 impressionistic experiment in wedding then-state-of-the-art animation with classical music was a rather resounding failure upon its release. The cliché proves the rule: Fantasia was decades ahead of its time (Disney even launched a "psychedelic"-themed rerelease campaign in the late '60s). It's even harder to fathom that then-Disney management spent over a million dollars in the early '80s replacing the muscular Leopold Stokowski score with a digitally recorded clone, then another undisclosed fortune to digitize Leo and put him back alongside Mickey at the conductor's podium in the '90s! This much-traveled Stokowski score will gain no points for subtlety (a symphonic Shaq attack is more like it), but it was Walt's first--and only!--choice and has never sounded better. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Mickey mouse on cover, elevator music for 70 year olds.......2007-06-04

I bought it a couple of years ago looking at the cover but was extremely disappointed when my 18-month old insisted on "Mickey" today and I chucked it into my DVD player. Our baby started crying aloud suggesting "what is this rap?" Disney folks ought to know better not try and market elevator music for 70-year olds to little toddlers regardless of how fantasia the cover looks like!

Optical soundtrack recording limitations.......2007-03-05

The soundtrack recordings for "Fantasia" were provided
to the theaters of 1940 as optical tracks on the side
of the film being shown. Such recordings cannot be
compared to the magnetic tape recordings made after WWII
(using captured or "liberated" German machines at first),
to say nothing of the current digital technology.

An analog optical soundtrack on motion picture film was
bad enough, but the film itself was nitrate, notorious
for disintegrating over a relatively short period of time,
as well as for its flammability. The prints in
circulation wore out until "the sound had gotten so bad,
theaters were refusing to book the film" according to a
Disney spokesman quoted in the New York Times of March
11, 1982.

Stokowski knew what a difference stereo recording made,
compared to mono, because almost a decade earlier, he and
the Philadelphia Orchestra participated (without the
players' knowledge) in a series of experimental high
fidelity and stereo disc recordings made by Bell
Telephone Labs. At the time, Bell Labs and Western
Electric tried to interest several manufacturers of
phonographs in the new technology, but the Great
Depression was underway, and the idea of marketing
phonographs with two stylii and two loudspeakers was
deemed unfeasible. (The Bell system had 33-1/3 rpm
discs with two parallel grooves, requiring two stylii
for playback.)

The Fantasound process, as I understand it, required a
theater to install a single loudspeaker behind the screen
and three loudspeakers along each of the two side walls,
resembling somewhat today's "surround sound." But the
idea was not to produce true stereo sound, but rather
the "ping-pong" stereo concept, with the sounds from the
loudspeakers following the cartoon characters as they
moved back and forth across the screen.

I sometimes wonder if the original recordings were made
with discs, not on soundtrack film -- in which case they
might still exist somewhere in the Disney archives. The
many thousands of original cartoon animation cels used to
create the film images were not treated as archival
material, such as the original Technicolor negatives
of "Gone With The Wind" which were stored in underground
Kansas caves, where the temperature remained steady for
decade after decade. Instead, the cels were either
destroyed or individually distributed to interested
parties. All told, it's remarkable that the film and
soundtrack have survived almost seventy years in the
shape they're in.

Stokowski was not thrilled with the end product
of "Fantasia" because, reportedly, Disney engineers
played with his recording, snipping off beats to match
the animation and enhancing crescendos. Stravinsky --
the only composer represented who was still living at
the time -- also was appalled at Stokowski's rearrangement
of his work (which Stravinsky sold to Disney for $5,000
because he needed the money at the time), to say nothing
of the dinosaurs prancing about to his ballet. The 1940
audiences were either outraged (the purists), puzzled or
bored (the general public), or snickering that Disney
had "lost it" (the film industry). But some of us loved it.

Yet "Fantasia," like "The Rite of Spring," proved far
more durable than its critics could imagine. At the
time, I was familiar with the music of Beethoven's Sixth
Symphony, Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker", Bach's "Ave Maria,"
and even Ponchielli's "Dance of the Hours," but "The Rite
of Spring," and "The Sorceror's Apprentice," and "Night on
Bald Mountain" as well as Bach's "Toccata and Fugue" were
revelations for me. I didn't know then that Stokowski
tinkered with those scores, but now I have a large number
of various performances of all of them in my recording
collection. My "Fantasia" recordings were issued on LPs
in the 1970s and are treasured as historic artifacts.

In effect, that is what this two-CD album is. It's a
mistake to listen to it as performances comparable to
modern digital recordings. Enjoy them for what they are
- historical efforts to popularize classical music.

Richard Q. Hofacker, Jr., Basking Ridge, NJ

Review of soundtrack Fantasia issues.......2007-02-16

Thanks to the other reviewers for honest opinions on sound quality of this product issue. The FANTASIA soundtrack deserved better, and fortunitely, I once bought a 2-volume cassette edition of Fantasia, remastered original soundtrack edition, purchased at Tomorrowland souvenir shop at Disneyland back in 1990. Still have it, in great condition box set, and even the new boom boxes sold in todays market, feature cassette and cd play. Muchos grac!

Fantasia.......2007-01-10

I am satisfied that the CD is of the original production of Fantasia, which I feel is superior to the current DVD. I hope that a DVD version of the original version will be made available at some time. The sound quality leaves a little to be desired, however.

low-fi fantasia.......2007-01-10

I was disapointed with the low-fi recording. I realize the soundtrack is from the 1940's, but I assumed it has been re-mastered. Rather muddy sound.

Average customer rating:

Who is this, it's not the Live I know
Unsuccessfully Revisiting Themes Of The Past!
Brilliant!
good but different
Not great, but still satisfying.

Songs From Black Mountain
Live
Manufacturer: Epic / Red Ink
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Awake: The Best of Live
Awake: The Best of Live (Deluxe Version - CD/DVD)
Mental Jewelry
The Distance to Here
Secret Samadhi

ASIN: B000ELJAZG
Release Date: 2006-06-06

Tracks:

The River
Mystery
Get Ready
Show
Wings
Sofia
Love Shines (A Song For My Daughters About God)
Where Do We Go From Here?
Home
All I Need
You Are Not Alone
Night of Nights

Amazon.com

Live is continuing to grow into their ambitions, as "Love Shines (A Song for My Daughters About God)" indicates, but they remain invigorated on their seventh studio recording. They deserve some credit for that as they've been at this rock thing for awhile now, forming in 1988 and releasing debut Mental Jewelry in 1991. Although there's nothing as epic here as 1994's fist-pumping anthem "I Alone," Songs from the Black Mountain still reaches for the skies--or at least the back row of the arena. Frequently taken to task for their idealism and "preachiness," the Pennsylvania quartet isn't likely to convert any non-believers this time around. Then again, the very qualities that some find precious and silly, like brow-crinkling seriousness, strike others as passionate and spiritual. Live aren't taking any risks on this outing, unless the pro-soldier "Home" is considered a risk, but nor are they phoning it in. Well, not exactly. As always, Ed Kowalczyk sings it like he means it, but his songwriting relies too heavily on clichés and the occasional space-filling "Ooo baby" ("the River") and "Oh, yeah" ("Where Do We Go from Here?"). Rather, Live has produced a solid, respectable effort, which neither advances nor jeopardizes their cause. Can you say "holding pattern"? --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews:

Who is this, it's not the Live I know.......2007-06-27

When I saw this album on Amazon I wondered why I hadn't heard it on any of the radio stations that usually play Live. So I bought it and found out why. This album is crap. About 4 years ago Ed found God. I personally think that's great but it's had a horrible impact on his music. This album is some wierd cross between adult contemporary and christian rock. Both are fine, they just aren't my thing. It's really sad because Live really used to bring it. Now, well...I'd tell you to see for yourself but don't bother.

Unsuccessfully Revisiting Themes Of The Past!.......2007-06-24

15 years after their debut and 10 years after the peak of their popularity, Live's seventh studio album entitled "Songs From Black Mountain" was released on June 6, 2006. The quartet changed their label and abandoned the formula that earned them popularity for a more quiet and less ambitious approach. Though songwriter Ed Kowalczyk revisits themes such as the futility of war, spiritual pursuits and the love of his daughters, this time around, he is unsucessful in his attempt in creating anything substantial. Although it is only natural for a band such as Live to mature and adopt a low-key approach, "Songs From Black Mountain" is a stale release both lyrically and musically. This has resulted in the weakest U.S. sales in Live's career. For a true representation of Live's potential, please see the following albums: "Throwing Copper," "Secret Samadhi," "The Distance To Here" and "Birds Of Pray." Below, please find the rating for each song individually:

The River - 8/10

Mystery - 7/10

Get Ready - 5/10

Show - 5/10

Wings - 5/10

Sofia - 2/10

Love Shines (A Song For My Daughters About God) - 7/10

Where Do We Go From Here? - 5/10

Home - 6/10

All I Need - 5/10

You Are Not Alone - 5/10

Night Of Nights - 7/10

Brilliant!.......2007-05-04

I live in Europe and cannot always keep up with bands that are primarily popular in the United States, but this time I heard "The River" on an Internet radio station, loved it, and started to look into the band. "Live" is a really sucky name for a group which anyone wants to find on Google, but that's beside the point. The music is phenomenal, and I particularly enjoy the voice of lead singer Ed Kowalczyk. To me he sounds a lot like another one of my all-time favorite singers, the country singer Chris Cagle. The songs on this album are poppish, yes, but they tell stories and are beautifully orchestrated. Love it, love it, loooooooooooove it!

good but different.......2007-03-28

different from previous stuff. not as much rock but still good if you like LIVE.

Not great, but still satisfying........2007-03-07

I've loved Live ever since "Throwing Copper" came out, and although their best days are obviously well behind them, they're still putting out decent material on the whole. This, their newest album, continues in the more straight-ahead pop rock fashion of "Birds of Pray", and doesn't really offer anything new, but still manages to be pretty enjoyable for what it is.

The two singles, "Mystery" and "The River", are both rousing anthemic tunes, and "Get Ready" and "All I Need" are excellent melodic rock. "Love Shines" is kind of cheesy, but still very catchy, and although writing a song for your children (and about God, no less) is totally un-rock and roll, it's still a nice gesture. The rest of the album, for the most part, is just kinda there, but luckily it ends strong with "Night of Nights", which I think is easily one of the best songs they've done in years. With its haunting melodies, tasty time changes, and killer drumming, it's just a great ending to a mostly so-so album. It even sort of sounds like it could be an outtake from "Secret Samadhi".

So anyway, this album probably won't win over too many new fans (go with the older stuff instead), but for those who've already loved the band for years, it probably won't disappoint. Roughly half the album is pretty solid material, so that's not bad (and "Night of Nights" is almost worth the purchase by itself). Also, while the band's studio material may not be what it used to be, in concert they're still as great as ever. I saw them for the third time a few months ago, and they were absolutely amazing. So definitely go see them at all costs, if you get the chance. They don't call them "Live" for nothing. Plus, hearing some of this material live really increased my appreciation for this album (although unfortunately, they didn't do "Night of Nights").

So yeah, in conclusion, this isn't so bad. Just don't expect "Throwing Copper", and you're bound to find some worth.

Average customer rating:

Love This Mountain Music!
Another Great CD By Tim O'Brien
BACK TO OUR MOTHER THE MOUNTAIN
Disappointed
Wonderful music

Songs From the Mountain
Tim O'Brien , John Herrmann , and Dirk Powell
Manufacturer: Sugarhill [Country]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Cold Mountain
Songcatcher II: The Tradition That Inspired the Movie
Songcatcher: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture
Back Roads to Cold Mountain
Songcatcher

ASIN: B000068TJ4
Release Date: 2002-07-09

Tracks:

Mountain Air/Washington's March/Bonaparte's Retreat
Cluck Old Hen
Raleigh And Spencer
The Blackest Crow
Stobrod's Tune
When I Die I'll Live Again
The Drunkard's Hiccups (Jack Of Diamonds)
Backstep Cindy
Wayfarin' Stranger
Skillet Good And Greasy
Mole In The Ground
Claire Dechutes
Cherokee Trail/Glory In The Meeting House
Bow Down
Lonesome John
Fair Margaret And Sweet William
Hard Times
Angel Band

Amazon.com

Songs from the Mountain is an album of passionate restraint, befitting the Appalachian heritage it celebrates and the novel that inspired the collection. The story--which may itself pass into folk legend--is that fiddler Dirk Powell and multi-instrumentalist and vocalist extraordinaire Tim O'Brien were so taken with Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain that they decided to do a companion CD with banjoist John Herrmann. The result is a superior collection of traditional tunes that echo the book's imagery and action--from songs of rebellion and revelry such as "The Drunkard's Hiccups" to the keen longing embodied in "Wayfarin' Stranger" and "The Blackest Crow." The liner notes capitalize on the music's links to the novel and vice versa. But this CD's intimacy and immediacy will transport even those unfamiliar with Frazier's debut. --Kerry Fried

Customer Reviews:

Love This Mountain Music!.......2007-06-20

I am from the Appalachian foothills in eastern Kentucky, and love the mountains. The music on this CD reminds of music I heard while growing up in a small mining camp in the 1950s. The music is simple, raw, and emotional. It is the kind that you might have heard performed by a family or friends gathered on the porch at the end of a hard week's work. My favorite tunes are The Blackest Crow, Angel Band, When I Die I'll Live Again, Wayfarin' Stranger, and Bow Down. (My least favorite is Fair Margaret.) Several good instrumentals on here, as well.

Another Great CD By Tim O'Brien.......2007-05-05

This is a collection of old-time Appalachian/Mountain ballads. You will not find a bluegrass cut on this project. Tim O'Brien is an awesome performer of traditional music. I have seen him several times in concert. All songs are out-standing, and the two gospel numbers will bring shivers down your spine. (Especially Wayfaring Stranger-As close to true Appalachian singing that you will get-that high lonesome sound.)

BACK TO OUR MOTHER THE MOUNTAIN.......2006-06-19

Since my youth I have had an ear for roots music, whether I was conscious of that fact or not. The original of that interest first centered on the blues, then early rock and roll and later, with the folk revival of the early 1960's, folk music. I have often wondered about the source of this interest. I am, and have always been a city boy, and an Eastern city boy at that. Nevertheless, over time I have come to appreciate many more forms of roots music than in my youth. The subject of the following review is an example.

This is music that was performed, and meant to be performed for a live audience on Saturday night after a week's hard work, or early in the morning looking out over the mountain at nature's handiwork, or at any time to evoke the loneliness of the mountains and the hardness of life. And the music brings to life all those sentiments. Certainly this is music to entertain in a time before radio.

A note on subject matter- The bulk of the songs concern home, hearth lovesickness and religion as might be expected from mountain people. And that is okay. The following is something on the order of a discalimer I feel a need to mention. This reviewer, although not a religious man, can appreciate the simple, fundamentalist but very personal religion evoked here. Not to romanticize the simple rural folk of the past but I do not believe that the religious sentiments expressed here are the same as those of religious fundamentalists today.

Disappointed.......2006-05-30

I looked forward to this album as a number of my favorite songs were on it but I was disappointed that songs like "Hard Times" and "Lady Margaret" were not sung all the way to the end. Both left off about two thirds of the way through the song. I mean if you aren't going to sing the complete song, why bother?

Wonderful music.......2005-11-03

Wonderful music and extraordinary musicianship. Beautiful harmonies, make-ya-wanna-dance tunes, make-ya-wanna-harmonize along songs. Old songs beautifully rendered in voice and instruments. I have a lot of bluegrass and "traditional/roots" music and this is one of my favorites. Highly recommend

Average customer rating:

Sublime
Try to find a better recording than this. Go ahead, I'll wait.
Fire and Ice: Fritz Reiner's Legacy Lives On
Mountaintop Experience
"Mysterious Mountain" has aged badly, but the Stravinsky and Prokofiev live on

Hovhaness: Mysterious Mountain

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Alan Hovhaness: Symphony No. 22 ("City of Light"); Cello Concerto
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Music of Alan Hovhaness

ASIN: B000003FMX
Release Date: 1995-03-14

Tracks:

Mysterious Mountain, Op. 132 (Symphony No. 2): Andante
Mysterious Mountain, Op. 132 (Symphony No. 2): Double Fugue: Moderator maestoso
Mysterious Mountain, Op. 132 (Symphony No. 2): Double Fugue: Allegro vivo
Mysterious Mountain, Op. 132 (Symphony No. 2): Double Fugue: Andante espressivo
The Fairy's Kiss: Divertimento: Sinfonia
The Fairy's Kiss: Divertimento: Danses suisses
The Fairy's Kiss: Divertimento: Scherzo
The Fairy's Kiss: Divertimento: Pas de deux
Lieutenant Kije - Symphonic Suite, Op. 60: The Birth Of Kije
Lieutenant Kije - Symphonic Suite, Op. 60: Romance
Lieutenant Kije - Symphonic Suite, Op. 60: Kije's Wedding
Lieutenant Kije - Symphonic Suite, Op. 60: Troika
Lieutenant Kije - Symphonic Suite, Op. 60: The Burial Of Kije

Amazon.com

Most people became acquainted with Hovhaness's greatest symphony, Mysterious Mountain (Symphony 2), through this recording when it appeared on vinyl during the Stone Age. It plays like an extended prayer and is oddly structured. It was an immediate hit when it appeared in 1955. Stravinsky's The Fairy's Kiss is a 1928 ballet commission that, quite intentionally, recalls Tchaikovsky and was written to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his death. Last here is a bang-up reading of Serge Prokofiev's classic Lieutenant Kije Suite. If you want to turn a young person onto classical music, play this disc. Worked with me. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

Sublime.......2007-07-01

Taking into account Mysterious Mountain. There are some noticable crackling early on, which I attribute to the age of the recording, but the performance is great. Very grand.....inspirational.

Try to find a better recording than this. Go ahead, I'll wait........2007-04-24

At the moment I have over 1000 cd's of music of every sort though mostly western classical, and I have no problem recommending this before any of them. This piece of music by Alan Hovhaness is easily the most simply beautiful thing I have ever heard and never fails to inspire and uplift upon repeated listenings. The performance here by Reiner and The Chicago Symphony is virtuosic and sensitive, revealing the hidden details of this seemingly simple piece of music. This is THE recording to own of this work, no competition. However, don't let this be your only recording of music by Hovhaness. Don't let shallow comments like "All his music sounds the same" or he "re-wrote this symphony 60 more times," keep you from further explorations of Hovhaness' music. Odd that those same criticisms aren't raised with the music of Haydn and Mozart... The performance of the Stravinsky work is equally impressive. The superb solo and ensemble playing of the Chicago musicians under Reiner reveal the characters and colors of this lesser known Stravinsky work. This is a recording I have treasured for years and I have no doubts that you will as well. Highest Recommendation!

Fire and Ice: Fritz Reiner's Legacy Lives On.......2006-05-09

For many of us some of the most thrilling recordings during the 1950s and 1960s were those made by Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The magic that happened between conductor and orchestra is legendary. Fortunately we are seeing more of his recordings remastered and made available to a new audience on CD.

This CD remastering of the old 1955 recording is a terrific example. This is probably the most eloquent recorded performance of Armenian American Alan Hovhaness' Symphony No.2 (better known as 'Mysterious Mountain'). Hovhaness created some lushly atmospheric works that have somehow slipped into the realm of 'old style' and therefore are not performed frequently. But this performance of Symphony No. 2 should bring back some to the fold. The recorded sound of this extended poem is lush and full-bodied and Reiner moves the blocks of strings movements like few others can.

Keeping in line with his penchant for embracing new and old works this CD includes an abbreviated but well played 'Divertimento', Stravinsky's own symphonic suite from his Tchaikovskyesque ballet 'The Fairy's Kiss'. This is not one of Stravinsky's more memorable scores and is far better represented in the violin/piano transcription, but Reiner makes it work well in the few moments he includes here.

Prokofiev's suite from 'Lieutenant Kije' fares very well in Reiner's bristling and tongue in cheek reading. This is a romp of a performance and one that should please even the most 'anti-contemporary music' friends you may have! But the glory of the recording is the respect Reiner pays to Hovhaness and for this it is worth the purchase. Grady Harp, May 06

Mountaintop Experience.......2006-04-26

For many, climbing a mountain (or a hill) is more than a physical exercise. Amercian composer Alan Hovhaness recognized that there is a spiritual quality to being on top of a mountain, perhaps going back to the Biblical example of the three disciples who joined Jesus Christ on a mountain. Simon Peter said, "Lord, it is good for us to be here." Mountains can be a place for meditation and reflection.

In his second symphony, which he called "Mysterious Mountain," Alan Hovhaness imagined a mountain where one could indeed have a spiritual experience. Perhaps this was his vision of an IDEAL mountain, certainly a place to get away from things and spend time in contemplation. There's no doubt that the symphony, which was premiered by Leopold Stokowski and the Houston Symphony in 1955 (on NBC television), is an uplifting piece. It is also very majestic and profound at times, setting a pattern for Hovhaness in the numerous symphonies he wrote in the years after 1955.

Fritz Reiner's remarkable recording of "Mysterious Mountain" was one of a series of incredible stereophonic recordings that RCA Victor made in Chicago's Orchestra Hall between 1954 and 1962. Using just three microphones and a triple-track tape recorder, RCA achieved outstanding results with a greater clarity than had been accomplished in earlier recordings. This particular recording remains a "high water" mark and is probably the definitive version of a magnificent work that can be quite inspirational. Yes, Hovhaness does represent a mountaintop experience and, some years later, he celebrated yet another mountain in his "Mount Saint Helens" symphony, recorded by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra to celebrate the volcano's violent 1980 eruption.

The lighter work on this disc is a top-notch performance of Igor Stravinsky's tribute to Peter Tchaikovsky, a divertimento drawn from the ballet "The Fairy's Kiss." Much in the same vein as Tchaikovsky's "Sleeping Beauty," this is magical, delightful, and enchanting music that is given a very fine interpretation by Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony. Although there are a few obvious quotes from the music of Tchaikovsky, much of the score is a homage to the earlier composer that represents his considerable imagination and musical abilities.

Stravinsky (1882-1971) once said, "Of all of us, Tchaikovksy was the most Russian." Stravinsky once glimpsed Tchaikovsky, just before the premiere of the sixth symphony in 1893, and was left forever with an image of a tragic but very gifted composer/conductor. Reiner's recording is a very good representation of this musical tribute.

One of the first recordings this writer ever heard by Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony was their performance of the orchestral suite that Sergei Prokofiev prepared from his film score for "Lt. Kije," based on a classic Russian tale of a mythical Russian Army officer created by a bureaucratic error. The satirical qualities of the story were not lost on Prokofiev, who readily composed music that suited the various episodes of the lieutenant's supposed life.

Reiner's interepretation of this delightful music was thoroughly enjoyable, even if it omits the baritone solo in the original score (included in Seiji Ozawa's Deutsche Grammophon recording with the Boston Symphony).

The score begins with a mysterious, haunting theme representing the birth of Kije; this music is later repeated, in a somewhat altered version, for Kije's death. Along the way, we hear a delightful, appropriately martial, march; an exquisite and intense love theme; a grandiose, pompous wedding celebration; and a furious sleigh ride. All of this is played extremely well by the Chicago musicians and, once again, the ground-breaking stereophonic recording still has a remarkably modern sound.

"Mysterious Mountain" has aged badly, but the Stravinsky and Prokofiev live on.......2006-01-17

On LP the original pairing was Hovhaness's Mysterious Mountain (Sym. #2) and the Divertimento that Stravinsky put together form his full-length ballet tribute to Tchaikovsky, The Fairy's Kiss. The title echoes the plot of Sleeping Beauty, and Stravinsky reaches out of bounds, exchanging everything modernist for an affectionate tunefest mildly in the style of The Firebird's quiet bits. Frankly, it's a bit cloying even in this abbreviated suite. Reiner helps things by condcuting with sober precision and giving us sugar substitute instead of sugar.

The Hovhaness work is from 1955 (Reiner's account came two years later, although the RCA Living Stereo sound could be from yesterday), and it proved to be the composer's fifteen minutes of fame. Writing the same piece twice is excusable, but Hovhaness went on to write Mysterious Mountain dozens of times over, never advancing by a single jot or tittle beyond its modal string harmonies, simple fugues, plangent prayers to heaven, and a noticeable aversion to modernity. These qualities went down very well for a brief period, and here he gets the superstar treatment from Reiner and the CSO. If I had been Hovhaness, I would have played this recording every day of my life.

The Lt. Kije Suite comes from 1958 and is so famous that there's not much to say. Reiner always played Prokofiev without a Slavic accent, and although the CSO sounds totally mid-West here, their virtuosity, even in simple movie music like this, is thrilling.

Passion - Most Famous Orchestral Spectaculars [20 CD Set]

Average customer rating:

A good gift for novice

Passion - Most Famous Orchestral Spectaculars [20 CD Set]

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Classical Evolution: Spanish Guitar Music

ASIN: B00012QLTQ
Release Date: 2003-12-09

Album Description

Music can be both calming and relaxing, or invigorating and passionate...this phenomenal 20-CD set is definitely the latter. This amazing collection brings together for the first time the most passionate music of all time, from Ravel's Bolero, Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, Wagner's Magic Fire Music to Ravel's La Valse, Orff 's Carmina Burana and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. This is a must have collection for every passionate music lover.

Customer Reviews:

A good gift for novice.......2007-05-12

This was a good gift for somebody learning about Classical music in Japan.

Christian Music: