Planets

1. Also Sprach Zarathustra [Sunrise]

2. Night on Bald Mountain - St. Louis Symphony,

3. Fanfare for the Common Man - Dallas Symphony Orchestra,

4. Mars {from the Planets}

5. Venus {from the Planets}

6. Mercury {from the Planets}

7. Saturn {from the Planets}

8. Uranus {from the Planets}

9. Sympony No. 41 in C K. 551 "Jupiter" IV Molto Allegro - Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra & Chorus

10. Symphony No. 1 in D "Titan" IV Sturmisch Bewegt [Excerpt] - Harold Farberman, The London Symphony Orchestra

11. Firebird Suite Berceuse -

12. Firebird Suite Finale -

Planets,Various Artists,Spj Music,Classical Music,New Age / Meditation,Pop,Relaxation

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Average customer rating: the most relaxing classical music in the university Relaxing Classical Music Stress-freedom Greatly enjoy! the most relaxing classical music in the universe

The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe Johann Sebastian Bach , Ralph Vaughan Williams , George Frideric Handel , Gustav Holst , Samuel Barber , Edvard Grieg , Jean Sibelius , Antonin Dvorak , Franz Liszt , Charles Gounod , Fryderyk Chopin , Alexander Borodin , Maurice Ravel , Vivaldi, Antonio , Satie, Erik , and Various Artists Manufacturer: Denon Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pavanes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Albinoni | Albinoni, Tomaso | ( A ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. 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The Most Relaxing Piano Album in the World...Ever! More Of The Most Relaxing Classical Music In The Universe Mozart for Relaxation ASIN: B00008RH16 Release Date: 2003-04-08

Tracks:

1. Canon - Pachelbel
2. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik-Andante - Mozart
3. Fur Elise - Beethoven
4. String Quartet #1 - Tchaikovsky
5. Clair De Lune - Debussy
6. Idyl for Strings - Adagio - Janacek
7. Adagio in G Mnor - Albinoni
8. The Girl with the Flaxen Hair - Debussy
9. Air on a G String - Bach
10. Greensleeves - Vaughn Williams
11. Largo from Xerxes - Handel
12. Prelude in C - Bach
13. The Planets - Venus - Holst
14. Goldberg Variations - Aria - Bach
15. Adagio for Strings - Barber

Tracks:

1. Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun - Debussy
2. Fur Elise - Beethoven
3. Holberg Suite - Sarabande - Grieg
4. Valse Triste - Sibelius
5. Concerto in F Minor - Largo - Bach
6. Serenade for String - Moderato - Dvorak
7. Liebestraume - Liszt
8. Ave Maria - Bach/Bounod
9. Etude in E Major - Chopin
10. String Quartet No 2 - Nocturne - Borodin
11. Arabesque - Debussy
12. Pavane for Dead Princess - Ravel
13. The Four Seasons - Largo - Vivaldi
14. Gymno0pedie 1 - Satie
15. Moonlight Sonata - Adagio - Beethoven
16. Piano Concerto No 21 - Andante - Mozart "Elvira Madigan"

Customer Reviews:

the most relaxing classical music in the university.......2007-05-12

All my favorites. I can start the CD player, which is wired to speakers in every room of my house, and just let it play, along with "The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the World" and "The Most Relaxing Classical Guitar in the World." I enjoy an awareness of familiar and beautiful strains of my favorites all day long and never get tired of it.

My brother visited me recently and noticed it right away. That will be another order for this fabulour music.

Relaxing Classical Music.......2007-01-08

I was not really a classical music fan but I am now. I purchased this cd for my 14 year old grand-daughter, not knowing we would both enjoy the music so much. She has always enjoyed classical music along with all of the other teen music, rap, rock, country, etc.
Also, it really helped being able to listen to parts of the music before purchasing.

Stress-freedom.......2006-03-14

Perfect music to end the work day. After listening to this I can face the evening. If the morning is hard, a little at lunch time gets me through the afternoon.

Greatly enjoy!.......2006-02-23

I first developed a taste for this music a number of years ago when my daughter started playing in the orchestra. The reason I made this purchase however, was because I have a great deal of difficulty with anxiety and I was looking for ways to find help. I love these CDs. It helps so much to sit and close my eyes and enjoy the music. The CDs are full of beautiful music.

the most relaxing classical music in the universe.......2005-09-21

it's the best next to the first one...

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 Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Copland | Copland, Aaron | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Khachaturian | Khachaturian, Aram | ( K ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mahler | Mahler, Gustav | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mussorgsky | Mussorgsky, Modest | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sousa | Sousa, John Philip | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Strauss Jr., Johann | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Stravinsky | Stravinsky, Igor | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Prokofiev | Prokofiev, Sergei | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Tone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Minnesota Orchestra | ( M ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music St. Louis Symphony Orchestra | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: 25 Classical Favorites Symphony (25) Favorites 25 Tchaikovsky Favorites 25 Mozart Favorites 25 Beethoven Favorites ASIN: B00004Y6SQ Release Date: 2000-09-05

Tracks:

1. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Sunrise) - R. Strauss
2. Mars (The Planets) - Holst
3. Overture 1812 - Tchaikovsky
4. Entry Of The Gladiadtors - Fucik
5. Sabre Dance - Khachaturian
6. Procession Of The Sardar - Ippolitov Ivanov
7. Night On Bald Mountain - Mussorgsky
8. Anvil Chor (II Trovatore) - Verdi
9. The Thunderer March - Sousa
10. Thunder & Lightening Polka - J. Strauss
11. Prelude To Act III : Lohengrin - Wagner
12. The Ride Of The Valkryies - Wagner
13. Montagues & Capulets (Romeo & Juliet Ballet Suite) - Prokofiev
14. The Storm: Symphony No. 6 In F Major, 'Pastorale' - Beethoven
15. Rondeau - Edward Carroll
16. Overture: Fireworks Music - Handel
17. March To The Scaffold: Symphonie Fantastique - Berlioz
18. LesToreadors - Bizet
19. William Tell Overture: Finale - Rossini
20. Revolutionary Study - Abbey Simon
21. Fanfare For The Common Man - Copland
22. Sym No. 1 'Titan' IV Sturmisch Bewegt (Excerpt) - Mahler
23. Augurs Of Spring From Rite Of Spring - Stravinsky
24. Russian Dance From Petrouchka - Stravinsky
25. 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.

Average customer rating: Wonderful! And with thanks to John Williams for introducing this listener to "The Planets!" Streaming Space ALMOST A REFERENCE RECORDING It Doesn't Get Much Better A fine CD at a friendly price

Holst: The Planets Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Star Wars | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on Bald Mountain Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition Copland: Appalachian Spring/Fanfare For The Common Man/El Salón México/Danzón Cubano Prokofiev: Peter And The Wolf/Saint-Saëns: The Carnival Of The Animals Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue/An American In Paris ASIN: B000050AQC Release Date: 2001-04-10

Tracks:

1. The Planets: Mars, The Bringer Of War
2. The Planets: Venus, The Bringer Of Peace
3. The Planets: Mercury, The Winged Messenger
4. The Planets: Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity
5. The Planets: Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age
6. The Planets: Uranus, The Magician
7. The Planets: Neptune, The Mystic
8. Close Encounters Of The Third Kind: Suite
9. Star Wars: Main Title

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful! And with thanks to John Williams for introducing this listener to "The Planets!".......2007-05-07

I bought this CD after a Tanglewood concert a few years ago where John Williams, focusing on movie music including his own compositions, also conducted "The Planets." I recognized "Jupiter" as the theme music for a WQXR (the New York Times radio station) "New York at 6" program. It was a treat to find out where that piece came from. When I listened to this beautifully performed CD, I was pleasantly surprised to see Mr. Williams' movie music included -- a brilliant move on the part of this item's producers (just listen to "Mars" and then to "Star Wars"). As another reviewer has suggested, it's not clear why his music was included, but there are similarities here which I'd love Mr. Williams to discuss some day. I've since become an avid amateur astronomer, and so the themes, musical and otherwise, projected in the works of Holst and Williams have become a special treat for the mind as well as the ear.

Streaming Space.......2006-11-17

Music to travel by - to the market, the mountain top - anywhere.
Beautiful music performed beautifully. A treat for the ears and
the soul.

ALMOST A REFERENCE RECORDING.......2006-11-10

Very good recording of The Planets. I like it even better than the Sir Alexander Gibson recording, although that was my previous favorite. This piece needs to be played dynamically, and Mehta certainly does that. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a certain amount of bombast and a decent workout for their woofers.

It Doesn't Get Much Better.......2006-09-26

This is the fourth recording of "The Planets" I've purchased, and I am extremely pleased. The Los Angeles Philharmonic was at its best here, and much of that was owed to the genius of its then director Zubin Mehta. Crisp arrangements, and a full orchestral sound is how you achieve the full effect of "The Planets." Other conductors should take note. Not my favorite, that honor still goes to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, under the leadership of Leopold Stokowski. But you definitely can't go wrong with this one.

A fine CD at a friendly price.......2006-09-01

I've heard several recordings of "The Planets," and I like this one very much. The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (with Zubin Mehta conducting) and the Los Angeles Master Chorale (Women's voices) do a fine job of capturing the drama of the work. And I think it was a good idea to couple it with a little of the outer-space-related music of John Williams.

Holst wrote selections about all eight planets, except for the Earth. But what about Pluto? Oh, wait, it got demoted last week! It's only a dwarf planet. Or maybe just a big rock. In any case, we hear some imaginative musical descriptions of the remaining planets.

I recommend this excellent performance.

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 General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra | ( M ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra | ( H ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra | ( M ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music 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) Study of Orchestration, Third Edition What to Listen for in Music ASIN: B00006O0NT Release Date: 2002-12-03

Tracks:

1. Overture To 'Tannhauser'
2. Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
3. We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
4. Hungarian Dance No.7
5. The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
6. Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
7. But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
8. The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
9. The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
10. Csardas Music
11. The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
12. The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
13. Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
14. The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
15. Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
16. Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
17. The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
18. Tzigane
19. Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
20. Caprice No.24
21. 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.
22. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
23. Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
24. Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
25. Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
26. The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
27. The Violin Muted
28. Clair De Lune
29. The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
30. Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
31. The Pizzicato Violin
32. Pizzicato Polka
33. In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
34. Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
35. 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...
36. The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
37. 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
38. Hungarian Dance No.4
39. Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
40. The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
41. Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
42. Bolero
43. Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
44. Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
45. Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
46. Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
47. Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
48. Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
49. And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
50. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
51. The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
52. Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
53. The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
54. Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
55. Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
56. The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
57. Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
58. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
59. Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
60. The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
61. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
62. Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
63. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
64. Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
65. Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
66. To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
67. Elfenreigen

Tracks:

1. Introduction To The Viola
2. Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
3. Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
4. Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
5. Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
6. Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
7. 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.
8. Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
9. The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
10. Cypresses (No.9)
11. The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
12. Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
13. The 'Period' Viola In Bach
14. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
15. The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
16. Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
17. Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
18. Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
19. Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
20. Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
21. In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
22. Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
23. But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
24. Elfentanz, Op.39
25. Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
26. The Protecting Veil (Opening)
27. A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
28. Flamenco
29. Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
30. Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
31. It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
32. Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
33. 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.
34. Symphony No.9 (Finale)
35. Introduction To The Double-Bass
36. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
37. But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
38. Elegy No.1 In D Major
39. 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.
40. Capriccio Di Bravura
41. 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)
42. 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....
43. Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

1. The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
2. Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
3. The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
4. Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
5. The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
6. Sa'Dawi
7. Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
8. Chamber Music No.II
9. The Piccolo - Aptly Named
10. La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
11. From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
12. Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
13. A Variety Of Techniques
14. Chamber Music No.II
15. Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
16. The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
17. From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
18. Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
19. An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
20. Naelden, Naelden
21. The Bachian Oboe
22. Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
23. Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
24. Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
25. The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
26. The Swan Of Tuonela
27. The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
28. Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
29. Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
30. Bolero
31. 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...
32. 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)
33. As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
34. Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
35. 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).
36. The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
37. The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
38. ...And Quite Low.
39. Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
40. The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
41. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
42. But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
43. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
44. Introduction To The Saxophone
45. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
46. The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
47. L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
48. The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
49. Bolero
50. The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
51. Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
52. The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
53. Sax-O-Phun
54. The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
55. Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
56. The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
57. Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
58. Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
59. And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
60. Bolero
61. The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
62. Symphony No.3 (Opening)
63. The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
64. The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
65. Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
66. The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
67. The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
68. Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
69. The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
70. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
71. The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
72. Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
73. Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
74. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
75. The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
76. Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

1. The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
2. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
3. The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
4. Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
5. The Ceremonial Trumpet
6. Fanfare For The Common Man
7. Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
8. Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
9. The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
10. Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
11. 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
12. Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
13. The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
14. Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
15. The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
16. Billy The Kid
17. The Trumpet As Character Actor
18. Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
19. The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
20. Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
21. The Birth Of The Trombone
22. Aenmerckt Nu Hier
23. The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
24. Canzon 12 In Double Echo
25. The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
26. Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
27. 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.
28. Hosannah
29. The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
30. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
31. The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
32. The Trombone As Caricaturist
33. Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
34. The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
35. The Horn And The Hunt
36. Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
37. The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
38. Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
39. The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
40. Walter Music (Minuet 1)
41. The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
42. Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
43. Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
44. The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
45. Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
46. The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
47. Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
48. The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
49. Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
50. The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
51. Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

1. Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
2. Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
3. At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
4. Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
5. Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
6. Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
7. The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
8. The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
9. Den Hoboecken Dans
10. Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
11. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
12. 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.
13. Gymnopedie No.2
14. 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...
15. 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)
16. More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
17. Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
18. 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.
19. Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
20. A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
21. Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
22. The Birth Of The Bongo
23. Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
24. From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
25. Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
26. From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
27. Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
28. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
29. But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
30. Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
31. Taking Advantage Of Tunability
32. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
33. 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.
34. Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
35. Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
36. The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
37. Ravel And The Xylophone
38. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
39. Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
40. Introducing The Vibraphone
41. The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
42. The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
43. Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
44. Folk Dances
45. The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
46. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
47. Introducing The Tubular Bells
48. Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
49. A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
50. Carmen Suite (Introduction)
51. But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
52. Introducing The Celeste
53. The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
54. Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
55. Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
56. Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
57. 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
58. The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
59. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
60. The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
61. Petrushka (Russian Dance)
62. The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
63. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

1. The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
2. Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
3. A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
4. Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
5. Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
6. String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
7. The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
8. String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
9. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
10. String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
11. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
12. String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
13. The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
14. String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
15. The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
16. Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
17. Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
18. String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
19. The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
20. Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
21. Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
22. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
23. In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
24. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
25. In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
26. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
27. In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
28. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
29. Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
30. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
31. And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
32. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
33. The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
34. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
35. Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
36. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
37. A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
38. Octet In F (Mvt 3)
39. The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
40. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
41. Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
42. Canzon 28
43. Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
44. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
45. From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
46. Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
47. Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
48. The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
49. Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
50. When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
51. Images (Gigues)
52. A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
53. Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
54. The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
55. Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
56. Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
57. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
58. 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.

Average customer rating: Holst Good music, iffy CD Good for the average listener

Holst: The Planets Holst Manufacturer: Delta ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music $5.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classical | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $5.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Classical Evolution: Rite of Spring Classical Evolution: Famous Piano Works I Classical Evolution: Famous Piano Works II Classical Evolution: Waltzes Classical Evolution: Famous Gregorian Chants ASIN: B000065AR0 Release Date: 2002-05-07

Tracks:

1. Mars, The Bringer Of War
2. Venus, The Bringer Of Peace
3. Mercury, The Winged Messenger
4. Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity
5. Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age
6. Uranus, The Magician
7. Neptune, The Mystic

Customer Reviews:

Holst.......2007-04-02

I purchased this product for a gift. The person that I gave it to loved it. They said that they use it to go to sleep. They are really happy with the product.

Good music, iffy CD.......2007-03-08

For the price, this is actually a very good, dynamic rendition of The Planets. The production quality of the actual media may be iffy, though - when I went to rip it for MP3 the quick way, the brand-new CD introduced many, many gaps. It ended up taking EAC 5 hours on secure mode to finally make a rip without errors.

Good for the average listener.......2003-01-13

Good recording by the London Symphony here, under Geoffry Simon. I don't care for the "creative" variations on The Planets that I've heard, and this one seems to hold pretty true to what I consider the "real thing". (which I admit is subjective since I was born half a century after it's original performance)

There is a very large range between the soft and loud passages, which makes it difficult to listen to in noisy environments, but it's all the more emotionally moving that way when heard on a real stereo or when I've got good headphones on.

Nothing particularly sectacular, but a solid performance. If you're not looking for any one CD in particular, this is a good one to have.

Average customer rating: Andre Previn-The Planets by JHA Sometimes it's brilliant, sometimes it's not--but what did you expect with an interpretation of 'The Planets'? Incredible music Can't wait to go see it live! From Mercury to Neptune...

Gustav Holst: The Planets, Op 32 Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Moussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain/Pictures at an Exhibition Vivaldi: The Four Seasons Stravinsky: Rite Of Spring, Fireworks, Petrouchka / Ozawa, Tilson Thomas, Chicago Symphony Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition Symphonie Fantastique ASIN: B000003CU0 Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. l. Mars, The Bringer Of War
2. ll. Venus, The Bringer Of Peace
3. lll. Mercury, The Winged Messenger
4. lV. Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity
5. V. Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age
6. Vl. Uranus, The Magician
7. Vll. Neptune, The Mystic

Customer Reviews:

Andre Previn-The Planets by JHA.......2007-04-06

I did not rate this #5, but it came very close. Any musical work that involves Andre Previn can be relied on to be outstanding, and this one was no disapointment.. Gustav Holst created the musical images and Andre Previn brought gave them life.. A most enjoyable CD..

Sometimes it's brilliant, sometimes it's not--but what did you expect with an interpretation of 'The Planets'?.......2006-10-01

There are so many recordings of this work. I often wonder how Gustav Holst would have felt if he were to have come to realize just how many people would treasure his beloved suite, `The Planets.' And so, as we begin the Twenty-first Century, we retain the legacy of this work through its myriad interpretations. And many would agree that no one recorded interpretation perfectly satisfies our respective views of how the suite should be performed. In essence, there exists in the grand multiplicity of recordings of this work no single, definitive edition. It is therefore necessary for the devoted fan of Holst's most masterful suite to collect as many versions as feasible in order to hear different aspects of the work performed to his or her native expectations.

And so we come to Andre Previn's interpretation of the suite. Overall, I believe Previn's is a competent performance. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra consistently produces satisfactory material (dare I mention Louis Clark's work with this orchestra on the Hooked On Classics series, a collection of albums for which many enthusiasts keep their deep affection a closely guarded secret), and Previn leads them very well in this recording. The best way to describe his performance here is that it offends no one--his tempi are within the range most people deem "acceptable," he does not emphasize any particular section within the orchestra, and he does not take any glaring liberties with the score. For that reason, I would say that Previn is a very good place for those who are searching for their first recording of `The Planets.'

However, we all have our preferences; some will find other versions far more enjoyable than Previn/RPO, and others will cite this one as the definitive recording. As for myself, I would have to say I fall in the middle. Previn's is a very good interpretation, but it is not my favorite. So far, James Levine/Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Charles Dutoit/Montreal Symphony Orchestra split that honor.

What follows is a detailed description of the five tracks to which I regularly listen. Note that my comments are restricted purely to Previn's interpretation of the suite; I assume my readers will have heard the work and are searching for a suitable recording.


"Mars, The Bringer Of War" - Previn is somewhat staid in this movement. Of course, my objectivity is somewhat compromised in that I have heard the Levine recording of the suite--one feels like he has just removed cotton balls from his ears when he hears the savage treatment the Chicago Symphony Orchestra brass give Holst's melodies. Previn takes a slightly faster tempo in this movement than that to which I am accustomed. The orchestra plays flawlessly, everything is exactly in place, yet the overall effect seems somewhat lost. The dynamics are too compressed, I believe. Even so, the brass section has a very nice tone, and the balance between sections is very nice. My final verdict is that you have not heard this movement performed to its full effect until you have heard Levine/CSO.

"Venus, The Bringer Of Peace" - Maestro Previn does better in this movement. The overall mood is captured beautifully, even though I prefer the soloists in Dutoit's recording (they are not bad here; it's just personal preference on my part for which I will not take away any points). Previn excels at delicate, pensive passages in exactly the manner that Levine does not. Levine is all about power and pomp, which shows on his interpretation of "Venus"--it sounds aimless and rushed. Even though I have praised Previn here, Dutoit/MSO remains the authority on this movement.

"Mercury, The Winged Messenger" - Yes! Previn does it here. His interpretation of this piece is superior to that of either Levine or Dutoit. The section beginning around the one-minute mark, where soli are passed between instruments, is beautiful in the extreme. The dynamic shifts throughout the movement are musical and pleasing. The balance between sections--especially important in this movement--is very well handled. Based on this performance, Previn sounds to me as though he might interpret Mendelssohn well (I should look into that).

"Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity" - This is by far my favorite movement in the suite. For me, the middle section of this movement ties with the haunting theme from the second movement of Dvorak's Ninth Symphony as the most beautiful melody in all music. Previn really delivers in this section. Of the three recordings I have, I would have to say that Previn's middle section is my second favorite (after Dutoit, even though he meddles with the score somewhat with some omissions of instruments). It would be my favorite if it were not for the flat, lifeless production. I will comment on the production later on in the review. As for the remainder of the piece, Previn brings to the surface many elements which often go unnoticed in other versions. In particular, Dutoit's version is bereft much of the interesting background instrumentation that is heard loud and clear in Previn's version. Previn takes a somewhat slower tempo than I have usually heard for this movement, perhaps to facilitate greater accuracy. In that capacity he succeeds brilliantly; technically, this is the finest recording of the three I own. Overall, this is a very solid recording of one of my favorite movements in all classical music.

"Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age" - This is yet another shining moment for Previn. The dynamics are divine, the tempo is perfect, and the brass sounds particularly rich and wonderful. Previn voiced this section particularly well in this movement. The strings are smooth, the woodwinds expressive, and the percussion is spot-on. While the Dutoit recording might be just a little better (simply because of the soul-vibrating bass at the end of the movement--unequaled in any other recording), the distance between the two is so small that, on some days, I prefer Previn.

As for the next two movements, my objectivity fails. This is possibly because I have not heard either of them in over seven years. They are both far too abstract for my liking.


And now we come to the production quality. I cannot attest to the quality of other Telarc productions, but this one is absolutely pitiful. The high ranges sound dull and lifeless, the midrange is muddy and unfocused, and there seems to be a peak somewhere around the 130 to 160 Hz range that makes the music sound bloated. Additionally, the dynamics seem compressed somewhat (perhaps it is Telarc, and not Andre Previn, that has truncated the dynamic flow of "Mars"), and the recording level is very low (one must set the volume on the playback device to near maximum to experience an acceptable level). The poor quality actually mars my enjoyment of the suite and my evaluation of Previn's work. This is particularly apparent to me in "Jupiter", possibly because this is my favorite movement in the suite. As I said before, the middle section in Previn's interpretation would be my absolute favorite were it not for this lamentable production. Of the three recordings I own, Levine's is the best sonically. One could really believe he is in the hall listening to a live performance. Dutoit's is acceptable (it is a little weak in the bass and the strings sound a little harsh), considering that its sonic imperfections do not detract considerably from the experience.

Of course, that is my opinion. Your miles may vary.

However, despite the poor production, I would still recommend this recording as a solid reference as to how the suite should be performed. For the prospective buyer it would make an excellent first recording of the work, and it is also a fine supplementary purchase, even though it is fairly expensive. I would also recommend the other two recordings I have periodically mentioned: James Levine/Chicago Symphony Orchestra (on Deutsche Grammophon) and Charles Dutoit/Montreal Symphony Orchestra (on Decca/Penguin Classics). Beyond these are Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker, Leonard Bernstein/New York Philharmonic, and Sir Adrian Boult's various recordings with different orchestras. I have heard none of these, but they are considered to be fine recordings of the suite.

Incredible music.......2006-07-31

I first heard "The Planets" at a barn concert in Wisconsin's Door County (an orchestra of high schoolers). As soon as I could get to a computer I ordered this opus recording and it is very good. The live performance was better than this recording but aren't they always??

Can't wait to go see it live!.......2006-07-04

I love the Planets, possibly my favorite Classical symphony. Holst was the best at what he did! From the highly rythmic section of mars, to the more lyrical section of Jupiter, to the strange sections of Uranus. It's great! Even better is the Rockford Symphony is doing this in Feb. I can't wait to see it! Go listen to this!

From Mercury to Neptune..........2006-02-03

I'd have to say that this is the finest recording of Gustav Holst's "The Planets" I've ever heard. Previn handles the tempi and the aggression/coolness of every segment very well. The Royal Philharmonic does a good job with the passion and power of Holst's most famous piece. Absolutely a must.

Average customer rating: THIS WAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WAVE FOR '93 10 Stars (The Best Hip-Hop Album I Own) 1 of a kind 4.5 stars: They could have ruled if there wasn't a group called A Tribe Called Quest....... They Changed Your Boogie 'Cause Your Boogie Had To Change {5 Stars}

Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) Digable Planets Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music East Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Southern Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Blowout Comb People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm Jazzmatazz, Vol. 1 The Low End Theory 3 Years 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life of-- ASIN: B000000W31 Release Date: 1993-09-27

Tracks:

1. It's Good To Be Here
2. Pacifics (From The Soundtrack To The Motion Picture 'N.Y. Is Red Hot')
3. Where I'm From
4. What Cool Breezes Do
5. Time & Space (A New Refutation Of)
6. Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)
7. Last Of The Spiddyocks
8. Jimmi Diggin Cats
9. La Femme Fetal
10. Escapism (Gettin' Free)
11. Appointment At The Fat Clinic
12. Nickel Bags
13. Swoon Units
14. Examination Of What

Amazon.com

Digable Planets deliberately disavowed the toughness of hip-hop culture: the trio's leader called himself Butterfly, his foil Ladybug purred like Eartha Kitt, and they produced hooks out of lines like "We're just babies, man." Despite occasional flashes of sorrow (like the pro-choice recitation "La Femme Fétal"), the group's happy and laidback on this debut, with tracks made out of old jazz records and finger-snaps, and words that draw on 50s hipster slang. Reachin' spawned the Grammy-winning single "Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)," and after this album, their joyous Blue Note-and-black-lights bounce lost some of its novelty. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews:

THIS WAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WAVE FOR '93.......2007-01-25

this album was a sigh of relief at the time along with MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS. i was tired of the west coast stuff by this time. then i hear this bass solo on this night mix. at first i thought it was some straight ahead jazz thang, and then i heard WE LIKE THE BREEZE FLOW STRAIGHT OUT OF OUR LIDS...............and i was like whahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. i was hooked from then on. this album was like coke instead of kool aid at dinner for me. it is a jazzy, breezy, and flowing brand of hip hop that i had not heard before. yes, they were obviously inspired by ATCQ, BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT in that they seem to dig deeper...........into the planet. from beginning to end i love it.......though it wanes a bit in the middle. at the end it picks back up where the first couple of songs began. i hated that they broke up when they did. i think that they could've done some groundbreaking things in hip hop. i wonder what they could've done had they started their own label and had all the control that they desired.

10 Stars (The Best Hip-Hop Album I Own).......2007-01-21

Yes, indeed, the title says it all. Many reviewers may think that that's a bold statement, but yo, it is what it is. Digable Planets IS hip-hop. Listening to this album, and their follow up "Blowout Comb", just gives me a feeling that I just dont get listening to other hip-hop records. DP gives me a feelin that I dont even get from the greats: Biggie, Jay, Nas, Pac, etc. I think the main reason is because their sound is just so different. Not only is this hip-hop, this is MUSIC!! The way DP brings the world of hip-hop with jazz is just genius. I love the beats, the instruments, their lyrics, their flow, and their voices. I just hate that I slept on these cats back in 93-94, but hey, it wasnt entirely my fault. The west coast had the game locked back then. But yo, I'm elated that I finally woke up, albeit 12 years later.
I love the follow up, "Blowout Comb" (the album that actually turned me on to DP; I heard Blowout Comb first) but I would have to say that "Reachin" is slightly better. The two albums are different to me. "Reachin" is just "feel good", jazzy hip hop, and "Blowout Comb" is "chill", jazzy hip hop. I prefer "Reachin" cause, even though I'm a laid back cat, I rather "feel good" than to "chill". "Reachin" is #1 for me as far as hip hop goes, and "Blowout Comb" is 1A.

1) It's Good To Be Here--9.5/10- What a way to get things jumpin off
2) Pacifics--9.5/10- This track is "red hot"
3) Where I'm From--10/10- My favorite joint on the album. It just feels so good.
4) What Cool Breezes Do--10/10- So chill, i love the instruments
5) Time and Space--8/10- didnt feel it initially, now i love it!
6) Rebirth of Slick--10/10- this joint is just classic like that
7) Last of the Spiddyocks--9/10
8) Jimmi Diggin Cats--8.5/10
9) La Femme Fetal--9/10-This isnt a song, it's just like a poem to a cool beat. Butterfly gets deep on this one.
10) Escapism--10/10- i love it. so funky, yet so chill
11) Appointment at the Fat Clinic--7/10
12) Nickel Bags--10/10- you'll be high off DP after this joint
13) Swoon Units--10/10- "Run and tell yo mama bout this"
14) Examination of What--9/10

1 of a kind.......2007-01-05

just listen.

just listen again.

let it sink in

good positive vibes
mathematics
love peace, freedom

4.5 stars: They could have ruled if there wasn't a group called A Tribe Called Quest..............2006-12-25

Tribe ruled jazz rap, so there was little room for late comers. Digable had some good joints though and great mc chemistry.

Top Joints:
New York
Last of the Spiddyocks
Cool Like Dat (CLassic)
Escapism (Gettin' Free)
Nickel Bags of Funk (CLassic)
Swoon Units

They Changed Your Boogie 'Cause Your Boogie Had To Change {5 Stars}.......2006-12-09

When three unknown cats from NY dropped this jewel in '93, they changed the way people approached hip hop jazz. They weren't the first to do it, but they dropped one of the best albums in the entire sub genre. Tracks like "Jimmi Diggin' Cats", "Nickel Bags", "Where I'm From" (which has an even better remix), and "Swoon Units" are easily classics while "Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" is one of those songs where you remember exactly what you were doing the first time you heard it. There's no denying the quality of this album. The album is produced entirely by Butterfly (now known as Cherrywine) and the beats are nothing less than perfection. This joint is easily a classic. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Despite what some other reviewers are telling you, there is NOTHING wrong with this album. It's flawless from top to bottom. Actually, now that I think about it, forget about standout tracks, the whole album is tight.

Reachin' is one of those albums that are so great that they're practically impossible to duplicate. The vibe captured on this album still holds up great 13 years after it's release. This is a hip hop must have. If you dig the marriage of hip hop and jazz, then do yourself a favor and grab this album. You should also check out their 2nd LP (Blowout Comb). Though it sounds nothing like this album, it's just as tight. They would disband after their sophomore release, but they certainly made magic while they were together. I recommend making this a collection piece.

Standout Tracks: La Femme Fetal, Where I'm From, Nickel Bags, What Cool Breezes Do, Swoon Units, Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat), Jimmi Diggin' Cats (My Favorite), Escapism (Gettin' Free), Time & Space (A New Refutation Of), and Appointment At The Fat Clinic

Average customer rating: A good gift for novice

Passion - Most Famous Orchestral Spectaculars [20 CD Set] Manufacturer: Delta ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Chabrier | Chabrier, Alexis Emanuel | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Delibes, Léo | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Dvorák, Antonín | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Elgar | Elgar, Sir Edward | ( E ) | Featured Composers, 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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.

Average customer rating: The planets are magnificent, and the cd is excelent Lovely If you like John Williams soundtracks, you'll love this! You gotta love it! Perfect for the Sci-Fi fan. Out of This World

Holst: The Planets/John Williams: Star Wars/Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Tone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Star Wars | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Thunder & Lightning Holst: The Planets / R. Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on Bald Mountain The Planets in Full Score Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" ASIN: B0000042G5 Release Date: 1998-01-13

Tracks:

1. The Planets: I - Mars, The Bringer Of War
2. The Planets: II - Venus, The Bringer Of Peace
3. The Planets: III - Mercury, The Winged Messenger
4. The Planets: IV - Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity
5. The Planets: V - Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age
6. The Planets: VI - Uranus, The Magician
7. The Planets: VII - Neptune, The Mystic
8. Close Encounters Of The Third Kind: Close Encounters Of The Third Kind - Suite

Tracks:

1. Also Sprach Zarathustra: Introduction
2. Also Sprach Zarathustra: Of The Backworldsmen
3. Also Sprach Zarathustra: Of The Great Longing
4. Also Sprach Zarathustra: Of Joys And Passions
5. Also Sprach Zarathustra: Song Of The Grave
6. Also Sprach Zarathustra: Of Science
7. Also Sprach Zarathustra: The Convalescent
8. Also Sprach Zarathustra: Dance Song
9. Also Sprach Zarathustra: Night Wanderer's Song
10. Star Wars - Suite: I - Main Title
11. Star Wars - Suite: II - Princess Leia's Theme
12. Star Wars - Suite: III - The Little people
13. Star Wars - Suite: Cantina Band
14. Star Wars - Suite: IV - The Battle
15. Star Wars - Suite: V - The Throne Room And End Title

Customer Reviews:

The planets are magnificent, and the cd is excelent.......2007-01-09

I love the Planets Suite, and I was looking for a cd of the Planets to buy. When I saw this one with the Star Wars Suite. Close Encounters of the Third Kind, AND Also Sprach Zarathustra at this low of a price, I was hooked

Lovely.......2006-11-04

I've thoroughly enjoyed both CD's. I do wish the Holst and Strauss pieces were a little louder, but I guess that's my radio's problem.

If you like John Williams soundtracks, you'll love this!.......2003-12-19

Okay, so the album isn't all John Williams. However, I think the selections to create this album were superb! You get the best of outer space soundtracks with this double CD set!

I should mention that I enjoy this album merely because of the works used to put it together. Some of the interpretations left a bit to be desired (hence, the reason why I give this only four, instead of five, stars). For example, I felt the horn player in "Mars" (the first movement of "The Planets") was too overbearing (I thought he/she overdid the vibrato, among other things), rather than subtle (as done in the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal's version, ASN# B0000041S7 -- check out my review of that album). Additionally, I wasn't too crazy about "Cantina Band" in "Star Wars" -- it's not that I don't like the piece (I do!); rather, the fade out by the sound engineer was unnatural and inappropriate for an orchestral work. (C'mon, shouldn't a fine group led by the great Zubin Metha be able to perform a decrescendo ending witho