| 1. Mountain Stream |
| 2. View |
| 3. Distant Drums |
| 4. Seventh Of April |
| 5. Winters Dawn |
| 6. Kosciusko |
| 7. Autumn Rain |
| 8. You're All I Want |
| 9. Silent Fortress |
| 10. Melting Snow |
Mountains,Steve Deal,Mve,New Age
Average customer rating:
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King of the Mountains
Rodney Carrington Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000NJXCAI Release Date: 2007-04-03 |
Tracks:
- Intro
- Tee Off
- Massage
- TV Show
- Shopping On Rodeo Street
- Real Fancy Place
- Give It A Try
- Zoo
- Yoga Class
- Boxing
- Christmas With The Kids
- Home Movie
- Short Arms
- Wheel Of Fortune
- Travel Pillow
- The Apple
- Fun
- Changes
- Baby Back
- Fat Girl
- Put Your Clothes Back On
- Rap Star
- Rhymes With Truck
- Show Them To Me
- Baby Back
- Rhymes With Truck
- Rap Star
- Show Them To Me
- Tribute To Barry Martin
- Angel Friend
Customer Reviews:
Funny, funny, funny.......2007-06-27
Another Good Collection.......2007-06-19
Rodney is also known for his songs. These are usually scattered throughout his albums but in this one, they are all concentrated at the end. First come the live performances and then there are some repeats using studio recordings.
Its not a bad collection
Absolutely hilarious!!! .......2007-06-11
Funniest Man In Comedy!.......2007-06-05
Rodney almost does it again........2007-05-21
Average customer rating:
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Silk Road Journeys: When Strangers Meet
Yo-Yo Ma , and Silk Road Ensemble Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000641CG Release Date: 2002-04-16 |
Tracks:
- Mongolian Traditional longsong
- Legend of Herlen (Byambasuren Sharav)
- "Blue Little Flower" (Chinese Traditional)
- "Mido Mountain" (Chinese Traditional)
- Moon over Guan Mountain (Zhao Jiping)
- "Miero vuotti uutta kuuta" from Five Finnish Folk Songs (Michio Mamiya)
- "Joiku" from Five Finnish Folk Songs (Michio Mamiya)
- Avaz-e Dashti (Persian Traditional)
- Habil-Sayagy (In Habil's Style) for cello and prepared piano (Franghiz Ali-Zadeh)
- Blue as the Turquoise Night of Neyshabur (Kayhan Kalhor)
- Chi passa per'sta strada (Filippo Azzaiolo)
- Desert Capriccio (Music from the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon/Tan Dun) (Bonus Track)
Amazon.com
This disc introduces Yo-Yo Ma's latest and most ambitious adventure, the Silk Road Project. It explores the cultures that flourished along the Silk Road, the ancient trade route that for centuries connected Europe and the East. Founded by Ma in 1998, the project aims to create connections, mutual trust, and cultural interchange between people from different parts of the world through their only shared language: music.This recording includes music from Mongolia, China, Persia, Japan, Iran, Azerbaijan, and an improvisation on an Italian Renaissance street song, performed by musicians from all those countries, as well as America, on both Eastern and Western instruments. Ma, who participates in every piece either as soloist or part of the ensemble, plays cello and a Mongolian "horse-head fiddle." There is also a Mongolian soprano, who sings a traditional song native to her region. For the uninitiated Western listener, the music requires some getting used to. Much of it is based on rhythmic ostinatos. The melodies use Oriental scales; the intonation is untempered; the music seems all color, texture, and atmosphere, without what might be called themes; and repetition takes the place of development. Contrast is achieved through sudden change, buildup by adding instruments. However, the music is often beautiful, delicate, dreamy, or peaceful; every listener will find his or her own favorite pieces. The playing is splendid, with much inventive improvisation. Inevitably, Ma's tone and personality stand out, but he never dominates in fact or spirit. The booklet offers essays by Ma and the project's musicologist, Theodore Levin, photographs of the players, and drawings of the Eastern instruments. --Edith Eisler
Customer Reviews:
The Versatile Yo-Yo Ma .......2007-07-24
As always, the versatile Yo-Yo Ma is quite soulful and technically brilliant in his musical exploration of the "Silk Road". The music, to me, captures the feeling of Asia. The liner notes are very educational in providing a context to the project.
I find Asian music to be very different from our "Western" traditions, but given time and an even chance, I think that you will find this CD to be very nice and enjoyable.
Not for the average listener.......2007-03-20
I was looking forward to this, but the music is plodding in many parts,
like a dreary symphony. There are fine moments, but I was looking for something a bit more accesible, rhymic, and lyrical. This is a mixed bag that seems to miss more often than hit.
A thoroughly enjoyable trip through Central Asia and a few other places........2007-03-15
Silk Road Journey.......2007-02-19
A Detailed Review From A Non-expert Music Lover.......2007-01-12
To anyone who has heard of the Silk Road in Ancient China, the title of this CD immediately brings up images of exotic peoples and their cultures in your mind. I think Yo-Yo Ma's efforts in creating such a culturally diversified recording are definitely welcomed in this era of globalization.
But after listening through this CD I felt that something was missing from the selections. One of the most important areas on the Silk Road is the Uyghur region in northwestern China. Their music is quite unique. Inclusion of their music in this CD would be really interesting. Also in this CD not all of the selections are chosen from those regions directly related to the Silk Road. So I guess the title is just a metaphor of "when strangers meet", but is not directly about the cultures along the Silk Road.
Now I will review each of the selections.
1. Mongolian Traditional Long Song
I am somewhat familiar with their culture and land. So to me this song is very beautiful and enchanting. One of the most important factors in conducting any cross-cultural communications is context! You really cannot take it out of context. The Mongolian Long Song might sound monotonous and drawling to a person who is more used to the Western tradition of chant, choral, or opera music. Yet if you know the traditional nomadic lifestyle of the Mongolian people on the vast rolling greens of the Mongolian grassland embellished with winding creeks and rivers, you would probably hear such long-singing voices reverberating between the green of the grass and the blue of the sky. The Mongolian people have some of the most beautiful songs that I know of.
2. Legend of Herlen
There are probably two broad categories of non-western ethnic musics. One is the authentic folksong tradition of the people, the other is westernized works composed by westernized local musicians. I guess Legend of Herlen might fall into the second category. It has some interesting tunes in it. But the overall listening experience is too dramatic. I guess the dynamics used in this piece might even go beyond the ppp and fff. In the Mongolian traditional music, dynamics are sometimes used quite dramatically, with sharp difference between two adjacent notes or phrases. So this piece here is probably not very surprising. Nonetheless I find it a little too dramatic, sometimes even disturbing. Again I am not familiar with the background of this piece, so that might explain the unusual drama.
3. Blue Little Flower
I am not sure what fusion should really sound like. But in this piece it does seem to me that a lot of musical traditions are intertwined in it: western music, Chinese folksong from Shaanxi, and probably Iranian or Indian drums. Somehow the only part of this song that I liked is the beginning line. It's very beautiful and delicate, reminding me of the theme music from the Couching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. But it is westernized, not authentic Chinese folksong. If this is still not a problem, then the drum used in this piece does cause a lot of funny effects. The drum sounds so distinctive and it represents some of the central or western Asia cultures. The images such drum beats conjure up are very incompatible with this northwestern Chinese folksong. So in this piece there are at least three threads: western, Chinese, and Iranian/Indian (I am not sure which one). But they do not converge. There is also the funny part of the singing included in this piece. It is out of place and unnecessary. The singing itself is just too frivolous to me.
4. Mido Mountain
I like this piece, especially the part played by the Sheng. Again there are some elements that sound a little bit too foreign to me, especially the percussion part. They use the same percussion/drum in this piece as in the previous one. But the overall effect of the arrangement does sound authentic and pleasant to me.
5. Moon Over Guan Mountains
If you know that Zhao Jiping is famous for his scores for films, you will probably understand this piece better. But of course understanding does not mean you will like it. This piece falls into the second category that I described above. For a lot of non-Western countries, the influence of western music is definitely immense. Many local composers are trained in both the western tradition and the local tradition. But there is probably a general feeling among composers in these countries that western music is richer in theory and methods. Many of these composers will use themes from folk songs to compose westernized music. I will give this piece a B+. It does include some themes from northwestern China, which sound really unique. As I said in this CD there is no selection from the Uyghur region in China, this piece might make up for that, since some of the themes seem to me to be from that region. But this piece is still too dramatic too, like a film score.
6. Five Finnish Folksongs No. 3
I love this one! The theme melody is so beautiful, and maybe a little bit nostalgic, and maybe a little bit romantic also? But this piece is straightly western music. There is nothing ethnic about it.
7. Five Finnish Folksongs No.5
This one is ok, but not very impressive. The overall structure of this piece sounds like very loose. There is not memorable melody either. But it does not have the maddening drama like in the two pieces I have just talked about. This is good.
8. Avaz-e Dashti
I am not familiar with Persian music. But there are indeed some very Persian melodies in this piece. The instruments used in this piece are all traditional Persian instruments. Maybe this is why it sounds so authentic to me. I like the haunting, floating tunes in this piece. They sound very ethereal to me.
9. Habil-Sayagy
Again this piece falls into the second category like the Legend of Herlen and Moon Over Guan Mountains. Such music is probably interesting to the performers, since they can let loose their inner floodgate of emotions and resort to pure artistic connections. But the problem for such music is that they are just too dramatic, and it's really hard to understand them without fairly good knowledge of the context and their unique cultural backgrounds. I am sure all these three pieces might sound profound, meaningful, and artistic once we know the cultural backgrounds better. But for the general listener, they are too abstract and too emotionally charged. Another problem for such western-traditional combination pure art form of music is that tradition might be distorted and represented in the wrong way.
10. Blue as the Turquoise Night of Neyshabur
I like this one better that the previous one, especially the middle part beginning at around 5 min 30 sec into the music. The melody is quite unique, and memorable. The bassline is very interesting too. It conjures up the image of merchants traveling on camel back through the desert. The pulse of the bass sounds like the steps of camels walking. One the instruments used, I am not sure which one, santur or kemancheh, is quite successful in bringing out the authenticity of the music style.
11. Chi passa per'sta strada
This one has the same problem as the Blue Little Flower: it does not sound like anything! It is not Italian, nor is it Iranian, nor Chinese, nor anything else. What is it? Who knows. The ethnicity of world music is tied to their unique musical instruments closely. I remember there was one year the Chinese traditional orchestra had a New Year's Concert at Vienna, and when they played the Radetzky March at the end of the concert, I was quite unimpressed.
12. Desert Capriccio
Tan Dun is similar to the composers I mentioned above like Zhao Jiping. Tan's music is unique and interesting to both western and Chinese audience, because of the same thing: they are both unfamiliar with Tan's music. To the Chinese audience, his music sounds western, but to the Western audience, his music sounds exotic. Nonetheless I still like some of this music, like the Couching Tiger and Hidden Dragon. Some of the melodies are really great. Again this piece makes up for the lack of Uyghur music in this album, since the "desert" in this piece is in the Uyghur region. But the music is not Uyghur at all.
There you have it. That's all for my detailed review of this CD. I would give it a B+ for its efforts and some of the really good tunes. As I am not an expert, I might be wrong in many of the points that I make in this review. So feel free to comment on my review.
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Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon
Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0007TFHEI Release Date: 2005-04-05 |
Tracks:
- Mohini (Enchantment)
- Oasis
- Distant Green Valley
- Akhalqalaqi Dance
- Echoes Of A Lost City
- Mountains Are Far Away
- Yanzi (Swallow Song)
- Battle Remembered
- Summer In The High Grassland
- Kor Arab (The Blind Arab)
- Shikasta (Minstrel's Song)
- Night At The Caravanserai
- Gallop Of A Thousand Horses
- Tarang (Currents)
- Sacred Cloud Music
Amazon.com
It is a perilous proposition when genres clash--and no such collaboration is more potentially fraught than when improvisation-trained folk musicians sit in with Western classical instrumentalists, who are taught to interpret a printed score. The renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma has devoted much of his professional life to such intercultural experiments. But the traditions of nations situated along the ancient Silk Road, which began in the Far East, meandered through Asia and terminated in Europe, are especially dear to him. These lushly arranged pieces range from moody scenic vistas to percussive Turkish hip-shakers and they make very pleasant listening. If they owe more to the European canon than the ethnic sources that inspired them, they are also the result of respectful give-and-take between a team of acknowledged masters. And nobody is more of a team player than Maestro Ma, an impassioned, fearless musical seeker and a gracious, deferential colleague. --Christina Roden
Interview with Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma speaks about his latest adventures involved in this new installment of the ongoing Silk Road Project--an epoch-making collaboration among musical colleagues. Read our special interview to learn more about Ma's musical philosophy.
Amazon.com
It is a perilous proposition when genres clash--and no such collaboration is more potentially fraught than when improvisation-trained folk musicians sit in with Western classical instrumentalists, who are taught to interpret a printed score. The renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma has devoted much of his professional life to such intercultural experiments. But the traditions of nations situated along the ancient Silk Road, which began in the Far East, meandered through Asia and terminated in Europe, are especially dear to him. These lushly arranged pieces range from moody scenic vistas to percussive Turkish hip-shakers and they make very pleasant listening. If they owe more to the European canon than the ethnic sources that inspired them, they are also the result of respectful give-and-take between a team of acknowledged masters. And nobody is more of a team player than Maestro Ma, an impassioned, fearless musical seeker and a gracious, deferential colleague. --Christina Roden
Interview with Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma speaks about his latest adventures involved in this new installment of the ongoing Silk Road Project--an epoch-making collaboration among musical colleagues. Read our special interview to learn more about Ma's musical philosophy.
Customer Reviews:
delightful experience.......2007-07-04
Excellent Compilation with Marvelous Tracks.......2007-01-20
Beyond the first Silk Road CD.......2006-11-23
The tracks are ordered into three parts: Enchantments (1-5), Origins (6-9) and New Beginnings. First track is strangely familiar (like it was used in some film, but there is no mention of this). In third track this theme gets Chinese interpretation. The style from one track to the other changes, so you can't get bored or overexcited. Second is simply very nice, the fourth great intro of Armenian wind instrument duduk (played by famous Gevorg Dabaghyan), accompanied by percussion mostly, albeit the piece is short. 5 is gentle with cello and xun (Chinese ocarina), 6 orchestral from slow to cool, 7 again gentle with cello and vocal, 8 starts with yearning duduk and turns into orchestral battle, 9 cello and percussion. Track 10 is the only one with prominent vocal (love song) and introduces us to the last part of CD, which are more like jam sessions of all instruments. 11 and 13 are very lively. The last one, track 15, brings us a new interpretation of very ancient Chinese melody played on pipa.
Some would probably say this CD is commercialized. Personally I don't see any wrongdoings in this as long the music stays a high quality one. For the more authentic Silk Road one can always buy The Silk Road: A Musical Caravan.
Excelent!!!.......2006-01-15
One of the Best !.......2005-12-06
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Mountains
Lonestar Manufacturer: Bna Entertainment ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000ICLTHS Release Date: 2006-10-17 |
Tracks:
- Mountains
- Nothing To Prove
- Long Lost Smile
- Thought It Was You
- Hey God
- I Wanna Do It For You
- Cowboy Girl
- What She Had To
- One Of Those Nights
- Careful Where You Kiss Me
- Always In The Band
Amazon.com
Inspirational power ballads with soaring harmonies dominate the ninth album by this veteran Texas quartet. Whether singing of the everyday, character-building challenges faced by ordinary folks in the title track, celebrating the comforts of domestic bliss in "Nothing to Prove," or thanking a higher power in "Hey God," much of the material has a thematic uplift that matches the music. Two of the songs, "Long Lost Smile" and "What She Had to Do," tell the story of a heroic woman who runs away from an abusive or neglectful relationship. Yet the band shows a sexier side with the double entendre of "Cowboy Girl," the sensual "One of Those Nights," and the steamy "Careful Where You Kiss Me." While songs name-check rock idols like Van Morrison and Bob Seger, the closing "Always in the Band" makes Lonestar sound more like the Journey of contemporary country. --Don McLeeseCustomer Reviews:
Mountains.......2007-01-11
stolen song.......2006-12-25
Lonestar's Predictable But Likeable "Mountain".......2006-10-22
With the surging successes of Rascal Flatts, Carolina Rain and Heartland, these four lads may no longer be the lone star of tight harmonies over adorning radio-wooing grooves. Hence, the stakes are higher as evidenced by Lonestar's less than successful predecessor disc "Coming Home." As a result, this multi-Grammy nominee has one of two options: either to give themselves a sonic makeover or to continue to charter the same course that had brought them success thus far. For album number 9, "Mountains," they have chosen the latter. Rifled with their trademark power ballads performed with a bombastic flair and thumbing country pop rockers with the occasional fiddling, "Mountains" is what fans have come to expect and love. However, as virtuous as consistency is, there's a predictability to these tracks that can come across as dull and even trite. Further, their often over-the-top polished production with jarring guitars and ear-numbing drums, courtesy of helmsman Mark Bright, pilfers from the boys' performance a tepid earnestness.
This does not mean that there are songs that deserve widespread circulation. Most ardent and performed with a transparent agony comes at the encore of the disc: "Always in the Band." Never have the boys sounded more genuine when they sing about the sacrifices they have had to make as itinerant entertainers. Also, fetching is the piano-based ballad "Hey God"--a stark theological treatise of trying to make sense of suffering in the light of God's sovereignty--these guys really know how to articulate such a profound issue within the short confines of this song in a winsome way. Similarly uplifting is the vanguard single "Mountains," an inspirational ballad about overcoming life's obstacles, performed with those patented high notes a la their hit "Amazed." Much less optimistic is "What She Had To" which deals with the struggles of an abused mother absconding with her children, a slice of life so acerbically captured in song.
However, the rest of the album in no way comes close to the abovementioned cuts. Despite the mention of cowboys, boots, rodeo, and everything western, "Cowboy Girl" is a loud 70s rocker that suffers far too much from its ear-destroying drums. Cut first by Andy Griggs, the guitar-imbued "Careful Where You Kiss Me" is only as interesting as the title suggests. Also, known for their share of empowering women type of songs, "Long Lost Smile," though noteworthy for its sentiments, is performed with an artifical sheen as if these boys are more out to please their legions of female fans than performing something that means something to them. Further, the presence of round the clock Nashville current hot shot writters such as Brett James, Bill Luther, Jason Sellers, and Tom Shapiro usually show promise. But, somehow Lonestar has been serviced with many of their leftovers or paeans written to fill up their punch cards. Perhaps, a track or two from the more seasoned writers such as Paul Overstreet, Pat Alger, Victoria Shaw or Angela Kaset might have salvaged a little some of this mess.
While their previous album "Coming Home" was a return to a more organic earthy sound, "Mountains" brings them up the slope to a heavy produced slick package. Though not all is doom, these boys still do know how to croon a power ballad to great effect, they are often let down when the tempo perks. After 9 albums of this pop-country road, if these guys want to stay on the country music scene in the long haul, perhaps a detour may be redemptive. Nevertheless, for those who are at averse to change, there's enough here to satisfy longtime fans and thus far with the title cut climbing up the charts, no mountain seems insurmountable yet.
What She Had To.......2006-10-20
What you have come to expect from Lonestar..........2006-10-20
I am eagerly also waiting for Sugarland and Keith Urbans new albums to be relased on November 7th.
Oh, Lonestar has not released this album to be downloaded. I dont know why this is but I guess it is because they want the public to buy their music and not get it for free. I am glad I bought the cd. Now to listen, record and pass it on to another fan.....
A die hard fan in St Louis - GO CARDINALS!!!!
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Grieg: Lyric Pieces (Performed on Grieg's Piano)
Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005UUOC Release Date: 2002-03-12 |
Tracks:
- No.1 Arietta
- No.2 Waltz
- No.6 Norwegian Melody
- No.5 Folk Melody
- No.8 Canon
- No.6 Elegy
- No.7 Waltz
- No.3 Melody
- No.3 March Of The Trolls
- No.4 Notturno
- No.2 Gade
- No.3 Illusion
- No.6 Homesickness
- No.6 Homeward
- No.4 The Brook
- No.5 Phantom
- No.1 Sylph
- No.5 Cradle Song
- No.6 Wedding Day At Troldhaugen
- No.4 Evening In The Mountains
- No.3 At Your Feet
- No.2 Summer Evening
- No.6 Gone
- No.7 Remembrances
Amazon.com
Grieg's 66 Lyric Pieces range from simple pretty tunes like the early "Arietta" that opens this disc to more extended pieces like the dashing "Wedding Day at Troldhaugen" to impressionistic miniature tone poems like the late "Summer Evening." Here, Andsnes plays 24 of them, well-chosen to cover a representative selection from the complete sets. He plays them beautifully, with a lovely tone, virtuoso polish when such is called for, as in the express ride of "March of the Trolls," and poetic depth of feeling, as in "The Brook," where in his interpretation you can almost smell the grass and see the light ripples of the water. Gilels's selection on DG, with minimum overlap, is still unmatched, but Andsnes's well-recorded recital is a source of endless pleasures. Of added interest, the recording was made at Grieg's home, now a museum, on his 1892 Steinway. --Dan DavisCustomer Reviews:
Andsnes the piano man.......2007-01-08
Sensitive modern pianism.......2006-01-19
Yet, while a catalog with Horowitz' Scarlatti, Gould's Bach, Kempff Schubert, Bolet's Liszt, Pollini's Chopin, Michelangeli's Schumann, Gieseking's Debussy, Schnabel's Beethoven, Casadesus' Ravel, Seeman's Mozart and Backhaus' Brahms has set historic standards that are hard to equal or surpass, a cd of standard regularly performed repertoire like this one refutes any fear that we have reached the day that the music died.
For starters, piano technique has significantly improved over the last 25 years. Likely due to the standards that the aforementioned pianists set, the next generation is of superior dexterity. While I grew up in times that Horowitz' performances of Liszt, his own Carmen Fantasy and Stars and Stripes transcriptions, and Gould's highly articulate light speed Bach were considered supernatural phenomena, these times are long past. And although the former's sense of tone and the latter's feel for counterpoint may not yet have found their match, most participants in any of the endless number of competitions have basic skills that are just as high and in many cases repertoires that are much wider.
Before coming to the review of this disc, one more personal side note. Since the piano is an instrument that anyone with two functional hands can master to such a degree that quite a number of masterpieces in the repertoire are within reach, I expect recordings to reflect technical mastery. As such, I do not belong to the group of those pianophiles who consider Fischer's Bach "acceptable", Cortot's Chopin "monumental" and Horowitz "live in Moscow" version of his standard Scriabin etude "earth shattering".
Thus we come to the present disc, which I consider a prime example of contemporary pianism. Playing on Grieg's own euphonic, but decidedly mellow piano, in the composer's own "piano room" that imposes significant sonic limitations on the resulting recording quality, his fellow country man Leif Ove Andsnes revisits his juxtaposition of the modern and the authentic that we encountered earlier in his superior Haydn piano concerto disc. While the orchestral part in that recording had clear "authentic" traits, the piano and its performance were truly 21st century. Especially in the light of earlier performances of these Grieg pieces by the likes of Gilels and Gavrilov, Andsnes approach is more restrained and, based on credible historic documentation that comes to use by oral history, less authentically romantic.
Is there something like "the importance of being authentic"? Based on the movement that initially tried to ban all professional musicians from performing baroque music, there certainly is. Nobody will argue that it is of importance to have a good understanding of the performance practices of a particular era. Yet, the mere fact that Bach is still performed worldwide more than 2.5 centuries after his death clearly refutes the notion that his music could only be appreciated within a certain set of parameters. Leaving aside the great dichotomy between the fervor with which the "authentics" have defended "the rules" and the clarity and precision with which they were committed to paper centuries ago, there is no convincing argument that a contemporary should not be able to enjoy Gould's Bach on the piano over Leonhardt's "authentic" performances on the harpsichord.
Released of the shackles of authenticity, aware of the historical record, and fluent in Grieg's lingo from early childhood Andsnes has made a both highly sensitive and textually very accurate reading of the Norwegian's small scale character pieces. Helped by a technique, that is at least as good as all of the luminaries that I mentioned in the second paragraph, this recording shows the virtues of the "less is more" approach. Previous reviewers have harped on the Gilels comparison. While I admire the late Russian lion's performances, I greatly prefer Andsness. Although, Gilels could play fast and slow, soft and loud I considered his technique often of the lazy kind. Especially when it came to use of the sustain pedal he often chose to correct with his right foot, that what he preferred his hands/fingers to save energy on. While some consider this over-pedaling to be an essential part of the romantic mysticism, I am glad that the new generation of pianists does no longer need it to suggest fluency.
Limiting the use of the right pedal often leads to a much better characterization of a composer's sonic signature and this recording is no exception. While it is clear that Grieg was aware of contemporaries like Schumann, Brahms, Chopin and Liszt, Andsnes like no other "nails" the Norwegian's own distinctive voice. What results is a restrained, yet highly sensitive and intimate reading. While the room limits the clarity in the louder passages, it does provide a historically correct context for these lyric pieces.
Andsnes, without a doubt, is one of the stars of the next generation. While mediocre clowns like Lang Lang may entertain the circus crowds, it is comforting to know that musicians like the young Norwegian will keep the eternal flame alive and are likely to add chapters to an as of yet never ending history.
Suspicious Reviewer.......2005-10-19
By the way, I can't help questioning the intention of one of the reviewers named Dag Johansen. He is proactively reviewing most of Andsnes' CDs and giving them very poor rating. In fact, all he is reviewing are Andsnes', no other.
I don't mind that if it is truly his honest opinion but there's something fishy here... why does he keep buying Andsnes' CDs if he hates his playing so much? It's as if he is trying to damage the artist's reputation... Shady....
I have not actully heard this CD or any of Andsnes'. Just felt I needed to report on this.
A great pianist?.......2005-02-27
A voyage to the coast of Norway!.......2003-05-09
Average customer rating:
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Mendelssohn: Elijah
Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0002XV31A Release Date: 2005-02-15 |
Tracks:
- Introduction: As God The Lord Of Israel Liveth
- Overture
- No.1 Help, Lord! Wilt Thou Quite Destroy Us?
- No.2: Lord! Bow Thine Ear To Our Prayer!
- No.3: Ye People, Rend Your Hearts
- No.4: If With All Your Hearts
- No.5: Yet Doth The Lord See It Not
- No.6: Elijah! Get Thee Hence
- No.7: For He Shall Give His Angels Charge Over Thee
- Recitative: Now Cherith's Brook Is Dried Up
- No.8: What Have I Do To Do With Thee?
- No.9: Blessed Are The Men Who Fear Him
- No.10: As God The Lord Of Sabaoth Liveth
- No.11: Baal, We Cry To Thee: Hear And Answer Us!
- No.12: Call Him Louder, For He Is A God!
- No.13: Call Him Louder! He Heareth Not!
- No.14: Lord God Of Abraham, Isaac And Israel!
- No.15: Cast Thy Burden Upon The Lord
- No.16: O Thou, Who Makest Thine Angels Spirits
- No.17: Is Not His Word Like A Fire?
- No.18: Woe Unto Them Who Forsake Him!
- No.19: O Man Of God, Help Thy People!
- No.20: Thanks Be To God!
Tracks:
- No.21: Hear Ye, Israel; Hear What The Lord Speaketh
- No.22: Be Not Afraid, Saith God The Lord
- No.23: The Lord Hath Exalted Thee
- No.24: Woe To Him, He Shall Perish
- No.25: Man Of God, Now Let My Words Be Precious
- No.26: It Is Enough; O Lord Now Take My Life
- No.27: See, Now He Sleepeth
- No.28: Lift Thine Eyes To The Mountains
- No.29: He, Watching Over Israel, Slumbers Not
- No.30: Arise, Elijah, For Thou Hast A Long Journey
- No.31: O Rest In The Lord
- No.32: He That Shall Endure To The End, Shall Be Saved
- No.33: Night Falleth Round Me, O Lord!
- No.34: Behold! God The Lord Passed By!
- No.35: Above Him Stood The Seraphim
- No.36: Go, Return Upon Thy Way
- No.37: For The Mountains Shall Depart
- No.38: Then Did Elijah The Prophet Break Forth
- No.39: Then Shall The Righteous Shine Forth
- No.40: Behold, God Hath Sent Elijah
- No.41: But The Lord, From The North Hath Raised One
- No.41a: O Come Everyone That Thirsteth
- No.42: And Then Shall Your Light Break Forth
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful, but not my first choice.......2007-04-07
Fischer-Dieskau roughens up his voice for the role, and therein lies a problem. The voice spreads and his diction suffers because of it; that and his unidiomatic pronounciation, with far too many rolled "r"s. He does the drama well, but what works well in lieder works here less well on the large scale. Odd, given his success as on opera singer (check out his Iago), that here he frequently comes off blustery.
Dame Gwyneth Jones belies her reputation and gives a contolled, dramatic performance, using her "edge" to advantage in "Hear Ye, Israel". Gedda's diction is amazing, with exactly the right color for this literature, and projecting a little more blood than an English tenor.
Dame Janet Baker is my star in this performance. Dramatic, heart-rending when need be, and in wonderful voice. She'll chill your blood when she tells the people of Baal to "slaughter him, do what he hath done!".
And as for the people of Baal, the Philharmonia Chorus is wonderful. Incisive and dramatic, with beautiful tone. I could do without the trick of the boy choir for "Lift Thine Eyes", and I miss the small ensembles, but all in all a fine performance, and good recording, circa 1968.
First choice in English, Daniels/Terfel: better Elijah in Terfel, better recording, more authentic orchestra, small vocal ensembles (as per the score) but inferior women (including Fleming: beautiful tone, but where's her head?). In German, it's Sawallisch/Adam all the way.
But if you're singing Elijah, and have a score, this is a good choice.
THE BEST recording of the BEST oratorio ever..........2006-08-15
This recording is in every way wonderful. Starting with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. He IS Elijah to me. His singing is perfection. He has amazing phrasing and his diction makes it possible to understand the lovely, inspired libretto to this heavenly music. There are so many pieces that are ephemeral, but a couple of my favorites are: #14, Lord God of Abraham and #37, For the Mountains shall Depart. Dieskau does a great job of what I think of as compassionate, heartfelt singing. His interpretation sounds like the voice of God himself. It has a quality of kindness and yet he sounds just as convincing reprimanding the people of Baal. He is the true highlight of this recording.
That said, the rest of the cast is wonderful as well. Gwyneth Jones has a lovely, silvery voice that has a clarion bell-like tone that rings over the large orchestra with ease. She has occasional "misfire" but is a consistent performer. Dame Janet Baker and Nicolai Gedda both perform at a consistently lovely level. The orchestra and chorus are both wonderful. #15, Cast thy Burden upon the Lord, #32 He that Shall Endure to the End, and #38 Then Did Elijah are all highlights.
All said, for me the main reason to get this recording is Dieskau's Elijah- after all, he's the main character. But don't forget the lovely music. This story is exciting and passionate and sacred all at the same time. For me, it's the best oratorio that has a moving story and great music too.
Too bad there are so few recordings of Elijah.......2006-07-03
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Choral Masterpieces
Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000003CTR Release Date: 1990-10-25 |
Tracks:
- Hallelujah
- Ave Verum Corpus K.618
- Kyrie Eleison
- Passion Chorale
- The Shepherds' Farewell
- Lift Thine Eyes To The Mountains
- He Watching Over Israel
- Dona Nobis Pacem
- Hallelujah
- Worthy Is The Lamb
- Sanctus
- Bogoroditse Devo
- Wie Lieblich Sind Deine Wohnungen
- The Heavens Are Telling
- Rex Tremendae
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding.......2007-01-12
The heavens are telling.......2005-10-21
kanmi ogundipe
Uncle Abe rattles the house with this thing.......2004-11-22
Sir Robert with ASO and Chorus at their Best!.......2003-11-16
On both this newer release of TELARC and the older Recording of The Christmas Nativity, there are Bach's Chorale, Break Forth, Dona Nobis Pacem from the B-Minor Mass, Handel's Hallelujah! Plus the exquisite, Shepherds's Farewell to the Holy Family of Berlioz's The Infant Christ!
Those who may not be familiar with Berlioz from both recordings, will be richly rewarded by hearing them plus the Rex Tremendae from Berlioz''s Requiem and the other Kyrie from the Bach B-Minor! Absolutely, no other Christmas Music can ever approach these two splendid recordings, which are the basis of the ASO celebrating every Christmas with "Robert Shaw in the Spirit!"
Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood
Celestial melodies.......2001-05-27
Unfortunately, Nobody can be told what this heavenly experience is like. You have to listen to it yourself.
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Mulholland Drive: Original Motion Picture Score
Angelo Badalamenti , and David Lynch Manufacturer: Milan Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005PJ9K Release Date: 2001-10-09 |
Tracks:
- Jitterbug
- Mulholland Drive
- Rita Walks/Sunset Boulevard/Aunt Ruth
- Diner
- Mr. Roque/Betty's Theme
- The Beast
- Bring It On Home
- I've Told Every Little Star
- Dwarfland/Love Theme
- Silencio
- Llorando (Crying)
- Pretty 50s
- Go Get Some
- Diane And Camilla
- Dinner Party Pool Music
- Mountains Falling
- Mulholland Drive/Love Theme
Amazon.com
Director David Lynch's affection for kitschy lounge music and emotionally overwrought mid-century pop has long since proven to be more than trend or irony; indeed, it's often the uneasy spiritual axis of his films. The soundtrack of Mulholland Dr. turns on the usual Lynchian motifs (the brooding atmosphere of Angelo Badalamenti's ominous synth-and-orchestra cues tossed with a dash of Lynch's own off-center compositions), yet manages to evoke a sense of foreboding that's distinctly its own. Badalamenti leads off with a curve, the nervous orchestra swing-romp "Jitterbug," before descending into a dark soundscape that becomes murkier and more avant-goth at every turn. Bubbling through that morass are pop nuggets variously cheesy (Dave Cavanaugh's lounge-ready "The Beast"), lugubriously bluesy (Sonny Boy Williamson's take on Willie Dixon's "Bring It On Home"), and alternately innocent ("I've Told Every Little Star") and liturgical ("Llorando"). Three tracks of the director's own (cowritten with John Neff) skulking Lounge Music from Hell ratchet up the tension even further; it's the perfect garnish for this darkly delicious film-music cocktail. --Jerry McCulleyCustomer Reviews:
In this dream, you are Betty Elms.......2007-01-13
Badalamenti does it again........2006-11-17
Take a drive through David Lynch's musical hell and deluding darkness..........2006-06-26
David Lynch's movies are always heavy set on atmosphere, and this is partly caused by the director's long time musical collaborator Angelo Badalamenti. From the jazzy, loungy tunes for the t.v. series "Twin Peaks" to the dark overtones of "Blue Velvet", Badalamenti knows wich buttons to push to make an eerie composition, a few notes of estrangeness and give the audience an unsetteling feeling.
"Mulholland Dr." is filled with music. Most of it is purely on the soundrack with Badalamenti's score coming very close to high quality dark ambient acts like Lustmord, Raison d'Etre or Hazard, others are sung "live" in the movie, like Linda Scott's sweet bubblegumish "I've told every little star", two very hip tunes ("The beast" by Milt Buckner and Sonny Boy Williamson's "Bring it on home") and of course Rebekah Del Rio's acapella performance of "llorando", the Spanish version of Roy Orbison's evergreen.
But the greatest surprise to me were three tracks by David Lynch himself in collaboration with one John Neff. And these three pieces are to be find on a solo cd by David Lynch called "Blue Bob".
I never knew before seeing "Mulholland Dr." that David Lynch is also a guiter player and singer. Now I know and I must say that his song "Mountains falling" is the most brooding, creeping, swirling and erotic sounding piece of electric guitar music I have ever heard.
So play this album and hit the road, Jack. And pray that indeed you will come back...
dark and (often) beautiful.......2005-11-25
A dark journey through the sphere of horror........2005-10-26
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Going Back to the Blue Ridge Mountains
The Country Gentlemen Manufacturer: Smithsonian Folkways ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000OQF6SQ Release Date: 2007-05-22 |
Tracks:
- Going Back to the Blue Ridge Mountains
- Going to the Races
- Azzuro Campana
- Dark as a Dungeon
- Copper Kettle
- Billy in the Low Ground
- I Saw the Light
- Tom Dooley # 2
- Brown Mountain Light
- Electricity
- Daybreak in Dixie
- Mary Dear
- Sad and Lonesome Day
- Cripple Creek
- Don't This Road Look Rough and Rocky?
- Muleskinner Blues
Album Description
Modern bluegrass was born on July 4, 1957 when the original Country Gentlemen took the stage at the Admiral Grill in Baileys Crossroads, Virginia. The foursome heard on this disc is the "classic" Country Gentlemen-Charlie Waller, John Duffey, Eddie Adcock, and Tom Gray, one of the greatest ensembles in bluegrass history. This reissue of the Gents' 1973 album catches the band in its prime. 28-page booklet, 16 tracks, 46 mins.Customer Reviews:
classic music, but not the classic line-up.......2007-06-13
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Colonial America
Manufacturer: Maggie's Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000C9Z9X Release Date: 2003-09-01 |
Tracks:
- Rickett's Hornpipe/ Fishers Hornpipe
- Maiden Lane/ Jack O' Lent/ Chestnut/Bonny Broom
- Parting Friends/Primrose
- Flowers of Edinburgh/East Neuke of Fife
- Prelude / La Catherine
- Planxty Browne/Planxty Burke
- Cutie Clat Her
- John Come Kiss me Now
- Scots Tune
- Carolan's Farewell to Music
- A Port
- Yeil, yeil
- Kedron/Saint's Delight/Promised Land
- Gird the Logie
- La Belle Cavalier
- La Luxillier/La Balanje
- Federal Overture
- Death & Life
Album Description
Spirited new sounds from across the sea to the shores of the New Land. From the first colonists to the American Revolution and the birth of our republic Hesperus Early Music Ensemble's music reflects a time of new ideas, freedom and vitality. In town and village, parlor and ballroom, from the Appalachians to the great concert halls hear the musical pulse of early American music performed on a wide variety of folk and early music instruments. Includes: lively country-dance tunes, evocative Shape Note Hymns, old time Appalachian fiddle tunes, graceful European parlor music, French cotillions, divisions and improvisations. Introduction -The English Colonies in America were a patchwork-not just of territories whose boundaries became state lines, but of people from different places and classes with widely different values and experiences. This recording presents music from that patchwork; from England, the Colonial homeland; Scotland and Ireland, the homes of the largest groups of immigrants outside England; and France, the ally of the Patriots, and music written in the United States. More recordings by HESPERUS from Maggie's Music are Celtic Roots featuring Scottish fiddler, Bonnie Rideout and Early American Roots. Hesperus Ensemble is THE sought after musical group for period music that is both authentic, and most important fun, lively and spirited. They are frequent performers at the Smithsonian's Institute of American Music and can be heard on the soundtrack or the Paramount film with Johnny Depp entitled Sleepy Hollow! Excerpts from liner notes:2.A Set of English Country Dance Tunes: Maiden Lane, Jack O'Lent, Chestnut, Bonny Broom - The visionary London music publisher John Playford first published his English Dancing Master in 1651. It was reprinted 18 times over the next 77 years and is still popular today. 3. Parting Friends/Primrose - These tunes have come down to us in choral arrangements called shape-note hymns .Customer Reviews:
GREAT!.......2007-05-20
Try not to daydream too much while driving as i had done several times..lol..it's hard not to with this cd..:)
Perfect for a colonial reenactment or party.
A relaxing journey into our Colonial past.......2006-03-16
Fantastic!.......2004-03-04
It was an incredible journey from the past that has stayed with me since, and every day I drive that one hour back and forth to work. This music has changed everything about the trips, and I can't wait for more.
Thanks to Amazon.com I was able to buy all three CD's, including "Early American Roots," "Colonial America" and the incredible "Celtic Roots" with the most beautiful violas imaginable.
Thank you Hesperus! Please play more!
Cold Mountain type music that's great.......2003-11-15
Meditation Music:
- Music for Yoga
- Musical Massage: Rainy Day State of Mind and Desert...
- Nature's Harmony
- Nature Recordings: Loons on Mirror Lake
- Pachelbel: Forever by the Sea
- Past/Present Future
- Peaceful Evening
- PORTAL Richard Burdick Solo Multi-phonic French horn In An Environment of drones & overtones
- Pure Movies
- PYRAMIDS
Meditation Music
Music Review: 10+2:12 American Text Sound Pieces
Music: Jewels Of The Polish Baroque
DPGC: U Know What I'm Throwin' Up [Clean]
Is There Anybody Out There [Live]
Live in Hoff Alter Banhoff 1981 [Import] [Live] [Original recording remastered]
Il Turco in Italia (Complete): Milan, 2/25/58
It's a Great Day for the Irish