Ceremony

1. Sacred Smoke

2. Sea of Change

3. Eagle Spirit

4. Thunder Dancer

5. Calling to You, Great Spirit

6. Grandfather's Voice

7. Yaton'te Dream

Ceremony,Dik Darnell,Etherean,Electro-Acoustic,Ethnic Fusion,New Age / Meditation,Pop,Spiritual

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Average customer rating: A Beautiful Wedding Wonderful! Good CD for Wedding A Day To Remember--Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day, O'Neill Brothers great choice!

A Day to Remember - Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day O'Neill Brothers Manufacturer: O'Neill Brothers ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | New Age | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: A Day to Remember vol II Classical Wedding 25 Wedding Favorites Heart Beats: Now & Forever - Timeless Wedding Songs I Will Be Here: 25 of Today's Best Wedding & Love Songs ASIN: B000066RG3 Release Date: 2002-04-25

Tracks:

1. Falling in Love - Tim and Ryan O'Neill
2. Wachet Auf - J.S. Bach
3. Air on a G String - J.S. Bach
4. Air (from Water Music) - Handel
5. Reminiscent Joy - Tim and Ryan O'Neill
6. Canon in D - Pachelbel
7. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - J.S. Bach
8. The Wedding Song (There is Love) - Stookey
9. Ave Maria - Schubert
10. I Will Be Here - Steven Curtis Chapman
11. The Gift of Love (Water is Wide melody)
12. Spring (from The Four Seasons) - Vivaldi
13. Ode to Joy - Beethoven
14. From This Moment On - Shania Twain
15. The Way You Look Tonight - Kern
16. Forever in Love - Kenny G

Album Description

After performing at more than 200 weddings, Tim and Ryan O'Neill recorded this beautiful CD of favorite wedding songs. It features a full hour of instrumental piano, string quartet, flute, and guitar music that can be played at your ceremony or reception.

It also gives suggestions for music at your wedding, including a special bridal website!
*Over 1,000 song titles listed
*Listen to samples of songs
*More ideas for each part of your ceremony, reception, and dance

Customer Reviews:

A Beautiful Wedding.......2007-07-10

This CD made all the difference in our wedding celebration. The songs were simply beautiful. The CD was delivered promptly. I would definitely buy from this vendor again.

Wonderful!.......2007-03-23

This is exactly what I was looking for for my wedding day. It's a beautiful cd, absolutely perfect.

Good CD for Wedding.......2007-03-21

All great music for weddings. It really does have all the music I want to use!

A Day To Remember--Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day, O'Neill Brothers.......2007-02-07

The music was just perfect for our wedding--not too formal, not too simple.

great choice!.......2007-01-10

There are so many different songs to choose from on this cd and it's a great buy. whether you want to play it while eating dinner at the wedding, to walking down the isle, it's wonderful!!!!

Average customer rating: This should never have worked at all A GREAT AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED MUSICAL FROM THE 80-IS Chess One of my favorites! Concepts get better with practice

Chess Bjorn Ulvaeus , and Tim Rice Manufacturer: Decca Broadway ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Contemporary Musicals | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Chess (1988 Original Broadway Cast) Miss Saigon (Original 1989 London Cast) Evita (1978 Original Broadway Cast) A Little Night Music (1973 Original Broadway Cast) Sweeney Todd (2005 Broadway Revival Cast) ASIN: B000002GLR Release Date: 1996-07-23

Tracks:

1. Merano - The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas/Murray Head
2. The Russian And Molokov/ Where I Want To Be - The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas/Tommy Korberg/Denis Quilley
3. Opening Ceremony - The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas/Bjorn Skifs
4. Quartet (A Model Of Decorum And Tranquility) - Elaine Paige/Tommy Korberg/Denis Quilley/Bjorn Skifs
5. The American And Florence/Nobody's Side - Elaine Paige/Murray Head
6. Chess - LSO/Anders Eljas
7. Mountian Duet - Elaine Paige/Tommy Korberg
8. Florence Quits - Elaine Paige/Murray Head
9. Embassy Lament - Tommy Korberg/The Ambrosia Singers/Anders Eljas
10. Anthem - Tommy Korberg

Tracks:

1. Bangkok
2. One Night In Bangkok
3. Heaven Help My Heart
4. Argument
5. I Know Him So Well
6. The Deal (No Deal)
7. Pity The Child
8. Endgame
9. Epilogue: You And I / The Story Of Chess

Amazon.com

Chess is a musical that sounds like it shouldn't work but instead succeeds surprisingly well. This is the original concept album that was recorded before the musical was staged in London. Chess is the story of a love triangle told against the backdrop of an international chess tournament during the height of the cold war. The composers are Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus (the Bs in ABBA) and the lyrics are by Tim Rice, who supplied the words for Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, as well as Disney's Aladdin (with Howard Ashman), The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast. The six-member cast does a beautiful job with the songs, which are a combination of ballads, rock, and operatic choruses. Murray Head's version of "One Night in Bangkok" became a surprise hit in the mid-'80s and it still turns up on the turntables in dance clubs around the world. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

This should never have worked at all.......2007-06-18

And on that basis alone, you've got to cut it some slack. Fortunately, not all that much slack turns out to be necessary.

While "Chess" may be a document of an era that no longer exists, there's a lot more going on than the surface metaphor. It holds up very well indeed. When it aims for humor, it generally succeeds, and likewise when it aims to devastate. What more can you ask for?

A GREAT AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED MUSICAL FROM THE 80-IS.......2007-03-04

`Chess' is a musical that should be counted among the best of what the 1980-is had produced: side by side with `Cats', `The Phantom of the Opera', `Les Miserables' or `Miss Saigon'. The score as heard on this concept album, written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (formerly of ABBA) and with the exceptional lyrics written by Tim Rice, stand proof to this. And yet, due to various reasons, like the changing of the director half way through London staging; a heavy rewrite for Broadway and a pan review from Frank Ritch (a.k.a. `The Butcher of Broadway'), `Chess' seems to be unjustly neglected.

This concept album is the main reason why the show has so many ardent fans until this day. Tim Rice wanted to write the show with the main plot revolving around chess for years and after his long time partner Andrew Lloyd Webber remained uninterested, he found the new collaborators in Ulvaeus and Andersson. The subject matter follows two international chess players in a championship, a Russian (Tommy Körberg) and an American (Murray Head) and a woman called Florence (Elaine Paige) who is a manager to the American but falls in love with the Russian. The story also draws a parallel between the game of chess and the cold war/real life situations.

This concept album was recorded in 1984, two years before the original London production took place. As the authors noted in the accompanying booklet, it was a work in progress and thusly the story is not quite readable here from the musical numbers alone. Despite that fact (which is amended by the synopsis included in the booklet), this album remains a winner. The score (played here by the London Symphonic Orchestra) itself makes an intriguing bland of the famous ABBA sound, the classical; the rock and the pop enhanced by the orchestral solo passages and the strong choral parts. The lush orchestrations add an epic touch to it and on the whole it is melodic and hummable, packed with great tunes. Some of the songs achieved huge success outside the musical: `I know him so well', a duet between Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson, held the number one spot on the UK singles charts for 4 weeks in February 1985 and won Ivor Novello Award as the Best Selling Single; Murray Head's `One night in Bangkok' became one of the biggest dance hits of its time, often heard today. Some other notable tunes include `The Anthem' (Russian's deliberation on his homeland); the soaring rock songs `Where I want to be' and `Pity the child' (in the former, the Russian reflects upon his life under the spotlight; in the latter, the American ponders about his own unhappy childhood) or the gentle `Heaven help my heart' (in which Florence weighs up her relationship with the Russian).

A special reference must be made to Tim Rice's excellent lyrics. With `Chess' he managed to keep up to the high standards he set himself in `Jesus Christ Superstar' and Evita'. Again in this case he shows he is a lyrical wizard, with his familiar cynical touch. `The story of chess', in which he gives a history of the game in a couple of crafty verses, is a pure masterpiece. The same can be said of the song `I know him so well', where the two women reexamine their relationship with the same man. As a whole, `Chess' owes a lot of its appeal to Tim Rice's written word.

The cast on this album ranks the high standard of the material. The principal parts (sung by Elaine Paige, Tommy Körberg and Murray Head) are delivered in a strong and impeccable fashion.

This 2-disc edition comes with a booklet containing a note from the authors, a text about chess, a full synopsis and a libretto, together with the photos of the principal singers.

Anyone interested in the modern musical theatre should find `Chess' to be a great score with great lyrics, which should be enough to satisfy any aficionado.

Chess.......2007-01-15

A magnificent musical, i have enjoyed the music since i first heard it and read the storyline. Had been unable to find it in our local music stores.Very pleased to find it on your site.

One of my favorites!.......2007-01-12

I love "Chess"! I still remember the first time I heard the single "One Night in Bangkok" on my car radio. I thought it was so unusual and so very cool, so I tracked down the album and bought it. Then I taped it onto a cassette, which is what I've been listening to for years, so I finally broke down and got it on CD. Of course, it's on my iPod now. I've seen the musical, and I loved that, too.

Concepts get better with practice.......2006-11-27

I love this show! That said, I do not care for this version of it. The inclusion of the word "concept" in the title means it is just that. This was, thankfully, not the final version of the show that would later spawn the hit song, "One Night In Bangkok".

With most Broadway musicals, the musical numbers tell the basic story of the show. If you listen to the recordings of Phantom, Mama Mia, Beauty and the Beast, you can discern the basic storyline of the show. Listening to this particular recording of Chess, though, will leave you wondering "What was that?" The Broadway arrival of Chess saw a much needed reworking of the storyline and arrangement of the musical numbers. This recording seems too much like a mish-mash of songs that don't really relate to each other.

For musical fanatics (like myself), I say "yes, you should have this recording in your collection", if only to understand how much work went into the show before it opened on Broadway.

If you are only buying the album because of "One Night In Bangkok", purchase the Broadway recording instead; you'll be much happier with the performance by Phillip Casnoff rather than Murray Head.

Average customer rating: Makes selecting your wedding music easy!

The Knot Collection of Ceremony and Wedding Music Selected by the Knot's Carley Roney Yo-Yo Ma , and Wynton Marsalis Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Bernstein | Bernstein, Leonard | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Charpentier | Charpentier, Marc-Antoine | ( 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 Franz Joseph Haydn | Haydn, Franz Joseph | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mendelssohn | Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Pachelbel | Pachelbel, Johann | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Purcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Stanley | Stanley, John | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Vivaldi | Vivaldi, Antonio | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Trumpet | Brass | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | 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 Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Te Deum | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Sony | Computers Brands | Computers Features | Electronics | Desktops | Monitors | Networking | Notebooks Similar Items: 25 Wedding Favorites A Bride's Guide to Wedding Music Classical Wedding A Day to Remember - Instrumental Music for Your Wedding Day The Complete Wedding Album Product Features: wedding music the knot collection of ceremony the knot's carley's roney ASIN: B0009IN2DA Release Date: 2006-05-02

Tracks:

1. Air - Ton Koopman
2. Bist Du Bei Mir - E. Power Biggs
3. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Ton Koopman
4. Sheep May Safely Graze - Ton Koopman
5. Serenade - Lazar Gosman
6. Pachelbel's Canon - Raymond Leppard
7. Air - Jeanne Lamon
8. The Prince Of Denmarks March - Wynton Marsalis
9. Prelude From Deum - Wynton Marsalis
10. Trumpet Voluntary - Wynton Marsalis
11. Rondeau - Wynton Marsalis
12. Bridal Chorus (Here Comes The Bride) - Anthony Newman
13. Arioso - Stephen Taylor
14. Meditation - Kathryn Stott
15. O Mio Babbino Caro - Joshua Bell
16. Simple Gifts - Utah Symphony
17. One Hand, One Heart - Peter Hofmann
18. Ode To Joy - Anthony Newman
19. La Rejouissance - Chamber Soloists Of Washington
20. Hallelujah Chorus - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
21. Trumpet Tune & Ayre - Edward Caroll
22. Spring/Allegro - Andrea Marcon
23. Wedding March - The Cleveland Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Makes selecting your wedding music easy!.......2007-03-27

This CD includes a nice selection of classical wedding music. When I ordered, I had no idea of what music I wanted or even how to select appropriate music. The accompanying guide breaks down each part of the ceremony and makes it easy to select the right song(s), from the prelude to the postlude, and everything in between. It even includes tips for music during the ceremony, if you so desire. Worth buying even if you plan to hire a DJ!

Average customer rating: Middle of the road wedding music just what I was looking for Most Chosen Selections Another Great Reference CD A Nice CD

Bride's Guide to Wedding Music Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Charpentier | Charpentier, Marc-Antoine | ( 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 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mendelssohn | Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Pachelbel | Pachelbel, Johann | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Schubert | Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Stanley | Stanley, John | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vaughan Williams, Ralph | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Vivaldi | Vivaldi, Antonio | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wagner | Wagner, Richard | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Concerto Grossi | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Vaughan Williams, Ralph | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Trumpet | Brass | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music Cantatas | 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 German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Wedding Music | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music 1990-1999 | Decades | Compilations | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music 1990s | By Decade | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Bride's Guide to Wedding Music, Vol. II 25 Wedding Favorites Classical Wedding Modern Bride Presents the Wedding Album The Knot Collection of Ceremony and Wedding Music Selected by the Knot's Carley Roney ASIN: B000002SOG Release Date: 1993-09-14

Tracks:

1. Three Lute Dances: Prelude: Courante
2. Sonata In E-Flat: Prelude: Adagio
3. Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G: Prelude: Allegro
4. Water Music: Prelude: Suite No. 1- Air
5. Processional: Trumpet Voluntary (The Prince Of Denmark's March)
6. Te Deum: Processional: Prelude
7. Processional: Canon In D
8. Processional: Trumpet Tune
9. Lohengrin: Processional: 'Wedding March'
10. Cantata 147: Ceremony: 'Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring'
11. The Four Seasons: Ceremony: 'Spring' - Allegro
12. Ceremony: 'Ave Maria'
13. Five Mystical Songs: Ceremony: 'The Call'
14. Ceremony: 'Sheep May Safely Graze'
15. A Midsummer Night's Dream: Recessional: 'Wedding March'
16. Solomon: Recessional: 'Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheeba'
17. Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F: Recessional: First Movement
18. Organ Symphony No. 5: Recessional: Toccata

Customer Reviews:

Middle of the road wedding music.......2007-01-20

I bought this cd because I had everything in my wedding planned to the last tiny detail except the ceremony music. All the songs on the cd are nice traditional wedding songs. I did not use any of the music from the cd, but I am glad I bought it because it helped me realize that traditional wedding music was not what I wanted. All and all a nice classical music cd but not for brides who really want a personal ceremony. BTW I went with Enya and Lorena McKennitt.

just what I was looking for.......2007-01-10

We wanted traditional wedding music and found it in this CD. I'm no music expert, but the arrangements and performances seemed fine. I would definitely recommend this CD for any bride looking for a concise collection of traditional wedding pieces.

Most Chosen Selections.......2006-03-13

As a wedding officiant, my wife and I are often asked to assist the couple with other services for their ceremony, such as music. For this, we have a very large selection in our music library to choose from. We have put together a catalog of cd's that we loan out to the couple for their review, and most often, their selections come from BRIDE'S GUIDE TO WEDDING MUSIC.

If you're planning a traditional or formal wedding on a budget, this cd has it all. There are even two selections of Wagner's "Wedding March" to choose from. Only two of the selections have vocals, the rest are all extraordinary instrumental selections.

Often, even around the house or in my car, I find myself listening to this cd. The music is soothing, refreshing, uplifting and most enjoyable. I recommend this cd over all other wedding music cd's.

Another Great Reference CD.......2006-01-09

This is a great compilation, CD, along with Bride's Guide to Wedding Music Volume 2, to use as a reference for some of the more popular wedding songs; just about everything on here is standard fare for weddings. All of the musicians are generally superb, and the sound quality is very good. However, this is most useful if you are playing the CD at your wedding, or using it as a reference CD to talk over potential music selections with an organist, a string quartet, etc. Like my review for Volume 2, I only gave it four stars based on practicality, not on quality. If it were just quality, I would give it five stars. I purchased this CD since I am in the process of making my own wedding CD (I am a professional, freelance violinist), and this was nice to listen to, even just as background music for dinner. BTW: beware of reviewers who don't use their names, especially "A music fan." This is most likely the producer of the "Wedding Traditions" CD and he slanders other CDs so his will look better. You'd think that in the wedding music business people would have better ethics, but unfortunately, that's not always the case. The best advice I can give, as a classical musician myself, if to take time to listen to the sound clips, and if possible, try to find them on iTunes where they might sound higher quality. This is the only real way of knowing whether the CD is right for you.

A Nice CD.......2005-12-30

This is a very nice CD.
Our daughter used some of the songs on this CD
and some of the songs that are on the
"Classical Wedding Traditions" CD for the wedding.
She also used many of the songs on the
"New Wedding Traditions Volume I" CD
Amazon is a great place to find good wedding music

Average customer rating: Not my favorite I locked you in this body, I meant it as a kind of trial; you can use it as a weapon, or to make some woman smile. Marred by a few lackluster songs Poetry in motion A step up for Cohen

New Skin for the Old Ceremony Leonard Cohen Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Canada | North America | International | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Folk General | Folk | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Folk General | Folk | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Folk Rock | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Folk Rock | Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Oldies | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 International | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Various Positions Songs of Love and Hate Recent Songs Songs from a Room The Songs of Leonard Cohen ASIN: B000002AZZ Release Date: 1995-02-07

Tracks:

1. Is This What You Wanted
2. Chelsea Hotel #2
3. Lover Lover Lover
4. Field Commander Cohen
5. Why Don't You Try
6. There Is A War
7. A Singer Must Die
8. I Tried To Leave You
9. Who By Fire
10. Take This Longing
11. Leaving Green Sleeves

Customer Reviews:

Not my favorite.......2007-03-26

I have grown into quite the Leonard Cohen fan, but this particular CD goes to the bottom of the growing pile of my Cohen collection. I can't even remember why, just that I wasn't interested in listening to it again, unlike all of his others, which I play over and over, seemingly never tiring of them.

I locked you in this body, I meant it as a kind of trial; you can use it as a weapon, or to make some woman smile........2005-12-09

In terms of the individual songs on this album, they are varied but all strong and coherent. This album really breaks away from Cohen's other early works in terms of production values. It has a bright sound, and slightly fuller instrumentation on some tracks. I would also say that with this album, Cohen ends his classic early period epitomized by his first four or five albums. As an explanation to some confused reviewers, the song "Who by Fire" is derived from a Jewish prayer recited on Yom Kippur, with Cohen's english translation not mirroring the original, but capturing its' prescience.

Marred by a few lackluster songs.......2002-11-06

I must admit, Leonard Cohen bounces back and forth between my #1 and #2 spots on my "best musicians of all time" list (he and Tom Waits switch places depending on my mood). Yet with the exception of his first album I find it hard to give any of his albums five stars. Typically Cohen includes a few songs that simply aren't as evocative or haunting as the masterpieces that peek out between them. On this disk that slot is taken by the songs "Why Don't You Try" and "Is This What You Wanted?". Both songs limp along ably enough to their finishes; it is just that in contrast to the genius displayed elsewhere by Cohen, they come off as filler songs that push the total track number up high enough to call this an album. These are songs that lesser lyricists would be happy to call their best, but with my higher standards for Cohen I am still holding out for an album as consistent as his first.

You may be wondering now why I count Cohen as my first-or-second favorite artist after I have expressed such opinions about his music, and the reason is simply this: that when he's good, he's so good that he blows everyone else away. One of his greatest songs is on this album: "Chelsea Hotel #2". This song at first drove me, like Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #12 and 35", to wonder where the first version of "Chelsea Hotel" had gone. but after one listen to the song, I decided it was irrelevant. The version Cohen has here is flawless. I have heard that this song was written for Janis Joplin, but personal details become unnecessary in the face of such a heartfelt and powerful song. One does not need to have had the exact experience Cohen describes to understand the feelings he is converying; you only need to have one "fallen robin" in your past and his song can mutate into your story, told better than you ever could tell it. The song also contains a bitter and ironic last verse that rivals "Dress Rehearsal Rag" on "Songs of Love and Hate" for reversal of audience expectations.

But don't think that's the only good song here. "A Singer Must Die" is a poignant allegory, one even more relevant as we witness loss of traditional civil liberties in the US and in other parts of the world. "Who By Fire" is justly ranked among Cohen's best also, detailing what I hear as a list of different ways to die, though I would welcome remarks from anyone with a different interpretation of the meaning of this song. "Who by Fire" also demonstrates the proper way for Cohen to integrate the choir of females he employs as back-up singers into his songs in a tasteful manner. In later albums he seems to abuse their existence, allowing them to upstage his mellow, despairing voice. But here they blend perfectly. Finally, "There is a War" foreshadows Cohen's explicitly political turn in his later album "The Future". All in all, this ranks among Cohen's better recordings, and it is worth wading through the mediocre tunes to get to his true gems.

Poetry in motion.......2002-07-12

New Skin For The Old Ceremony is a masterpiece, and one of Leonard Cohen's best albums. It's a truly great effort, and too often overlooked. Although his first three albums - particularly the first and third - are all certified masterpieces, this one, his fourth, was his first attempt to move beyond them in scope. Incorporating background vocalists and a wider array of instrumentation than he employed on those sparse first three efforts, Cohen creates here an album broader, more epic in scope than its predecessors. He also began, for the first time, to lighten up on the subject matter of his lyrics: incorporating some - albeit rather dark - humor into several of the songs here, Cohen creates an album - which, along with its broader musical pallette - that is a much easier listen this his first three, which were at times so depressing as to lend themselves to the status of "mood" albums. That said, Cohen is Cohen, and his themes remain the same; he has a lighter touch here at times, is all. Although the opening track, Is This What You Wanted?, features lyrics like "You were K.Y. Jelly/I was Vaseline" much of the rest of the album is pervaded with a deep and dark sense of self-loathing: Cohen places himself on a pedastal and de-construcs his persona as he did on "Avalanche", but in a much less abstract, far more direct and disturbing way. Cohen at this time was going through a period of extreme personal depression and writer's block (which would culminate in the Phil Spector collaboration on Death of A Ladies' Man), and songs such as Field Commander Cohen and A Singer Must Die attest to his state of mind at the time. A deep, dark, driving masterpiece with just the right amount of light touch, New Skin For The Old Ceremony is a great album, and an essential purchase for any admirer of Leonard Cohen.

A step up for Cohen.......2001-11-12

"You were Marlon Brando, I was Steve McQueen/You were K.Y. Jelly, I was Vaseline/You were the father of modern medicine, I was Mr. Clean/You where the (...) and the beast of Babylon, I was Rin Tin Tin," Leonard Cohen sings on "Is This What You Wanted," a song that displays the much-needed dose of humor added to his lyrical exercises in regret and self-depreciation on his fourth album, 1974's New Skin for the Old Ceremony. New Skin's more varied instrumentation, looser vocal approach and added wit make it Cohen's best album yet. Although he was always a finely skilled and richly tender poet, one could only endure so much of Cohen's earlier albums as spirit-stomping and disheartened as they were. Although the main subject matter of New Skin is still grief, Cohen confronts life's tragedies with a different approach. He abandons the mournful wailing of songs like "Bird on a Wire" or "Stories of the Street" and the somber expressions of "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" or "The Stranger Song" and dons a type of charisma, classified somewhere between crooner and beatnik, and stands in a mock-confrontational pose, challenging both the complicated nature of society ("A Singer Must Die," "Field Commander Cohen," "There is a War") and distressing predicaments with another cast of abusive, self-destructive, yet intoxicating women ("I Tried to Leave You," "Chelsea Hotel #2," "Leaving Green Sleeves") with a fistful of clever irony and satire. Cohen's tongue being placed in his cheek does not, however, equal the complete loss of the intimate, folk rock beauty of his music. "Who by the Fire" is as striking, moving and poignant any song the man has written and "Take This Longing" is one of his most ardent, elegantly expressed requests. Generally, the album keeps the solemn and dignified air of Cohen's previous works. Its added whimsical flair only makes his music more entertaining and invigorating.

Average customer rating: Splendid Saint-Saens The real gem here is the Oratorio beautiful recording! Worth Adding to Your Christmas Collection Budget recording - not very good, but the only one available

Saint Säens: Christmas Oratorio/Britten: Ceremony of Carols Manufacturer: Delta ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Britten | Britten, Sir Benjamin | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Classical Instrumental | Holiday | 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 CDs Under $7 | Holiday Music | Miscellaneous | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Holiday Music | Miscellaneous | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Classical Instrumental | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Under $7 | Today's Deals | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music ASIN: B000001VMU Release Date: 1990-10-11

Tracks:

1. Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12: Prelude
2. Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12: Et pastores errant - Gloria in altissimis Deo
3. Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12: Expectans, expectavi Dominum
4. Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12: Domine, ergo credidi - Qui in hunc mundum venisti
5. Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12: Benedictus, qui venit in nomine Domine
6. Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12: Quare fremuerunt gentes?
7. Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12: Tecum principium
8. Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12: Alleluia
9. Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12: Consurgo, Filia Sion
10. Christmas Oratorio, Op. 12: Tollite hostias
11. A Ceremony Of Carols, Op. 28: Introduction
12. A Ceremony Of Carols, Op. 28: Willkumm, Jul!
13. A Ceremony Of Carols, Op. 28: Es is kein Ros
14. A Ceremony Of Carols, Op. 28: Wann hub dies Kindlein
15. A Ceremony Of Carols, Op. 28: Bubaideli
16. A Ceremony Of Carols, Op. 28: Wie Tau im Aprill
17. A Ceremony Of Carols, Op. 28: Der kleine Knab
18. A Ceremony Of Carols, Op. 28: Intermezzo
19. A Ceremony Of Carols, Op. 28: In kalter Wintersnacht
20. A Ceremony Of Carols, Op. 28: Fruhlingschor
21. A Ceremony Of Carols, Op. 28: Adam lag gebunden
22. A Ceremony Of Carols, Op. 28: Hodie Christus natus est

Customer Reviews:

Splendid Saint-Saens.......2006-05-17

I don't usually disagree with prior reviews but here I have to. I have owned this CD for at least 8 years, maybe longer. And I love it. The Saint-Saens is a very special piece of music and I am totally dumbfounded why nobody ever plays it. It does not sound difficult, so a church chior and orchestra could easily take a stab at it. Instead, we get one Handel Messiah after another at Christmas. And this performance sounds just perfect to me. True, there are no texts but remember, this a super budget CD and your are lucky to get performer's names sometimes. As for the Britten, it is a piece I have little love for. And so I will not comment on the performance.

The real gem here is the Oratorio.......2005-12-30

I think this album is worth buying for the Oratorio alone. Saint-Saens' Oratorio is way too underrated and underperformed, and I hadn't heard of it myself until my fine arts program put on a production of it this semester. It's a small scale work written only for strings, harp and organ (and chorus and soloists of course), nevertheless it is absolutely gorgeous. Even the recitative is beautiful! My personal fav's are the Soprano and Baritone duet (in which the soprano hits a high C without shattering the windows), the Tenor, Soprano and Baritone Trio which in itself is one of the most beautiful and haunting pieces of music that I've heard, and the Quartet for Alto, Soprano, Mezzo, and Bass. I don't know anything about Britten's ceremony of carols, but I would still buy this album even if it were solely for the Oratorio. And regardless of what others have said, I think this particular recording of it is marvellous.

beautiful recording!.......2005-03-02

I don't find anything wrong on these recording. Both the Christmas Oratory and Britten's carols are beautifully performed.It is of special interest Saint-Saens Christmas Oratory since personally, I had never heard it before, but after listening to it I can fully recomend it.

Worth Adding to Your Christmas Collection.......2003-12-06

Having had no previous experience of either piece of music, I'd say this recording is well worth its low price. Sound quality is very high for a budget recording. If this is still the only recording of the St. Saens oratorio, I'd say don't think twice - just grab it, before it goes out of circulation.

I can see how it might come across as uninspired, as the previous reviewers mentioned, but I think the gentle approach suits the music well in most spots.

Budget recording - not very good, but the only one available.......2002-12-04

This bargain-basement recording has more than its share of shortcomings. A competent but uninspired performance of the Saint-Saens is by far the highlight. But Britten's _Ceremony of Carols_ is sung in German instead of the original Middle English, and it comes off as something of a fiasco.

The absence of liner notes means that you won't know what the choir or soloist is singing at any given time, so much of the subtle word-painting will be lost on most listeners. All vocal soloists are unidentified.

I've recommended this recording only because it is at present the only one of the Saint-Saens available. But it's high time for something better. Naxos, are you listening?

Average customer rating: just ok

Harp Adagios: Over Two Hours of the World's Most Relaxing Music Various Artists Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Carl Philipp Emman. Bach | Bach, Carl Philipp Emman. | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( 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 Britten | Britten, Sir Benjamin | ( 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 Dittersdorf | Dittersdorf, Karl Ditters | ( 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 Falla | Falla, Manuel de | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Gliere, Reinhold | ( G ) | 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 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Part | Part, Arvo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Rota, Nino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Concertinos | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Improvisation | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | 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 Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Oboe | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Guitar | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Harp | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Guitar Adagios Bedroom Adagios Heavenly Adagios Evening Adagios Cello Adagios ASIN: B000A87K0K Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

1. Adagio - Marisa Robles
2. Andantino - Werner Tripp
3. Andante Allegro - I Musici
4. Larghetto - I Musici
5. Andante - Annie Challan
6. Andante Lento - Catherine Michel
7. Tema Con Variazioni: Andante - Osian Ellis
8. Larghetto - Marisa Robles
9. Andante - Catherine Michel
10. Theme, Variations And Rondo Pastorale - Marisa Robles

Tracks:

1. Prelude No.1 In C Major, BWV 846 - Marisa Robles
2. Adagio - Heinz Holliger
3. Prelude In D Flat, Op.28 No.15 'Raindrop' - Marisa Robles
4. Mazurka In B Flat Major, Op.7 No.1 - Marisa Robles
5. Clair De Lune - Naoko Yoshino
6. Lullaby, Op.49 No.4 - Marisa Robles
7. Danza Del Corregidor - Marisa Robles
8. Impromptu-Caprice, Op.9 - Marisa Robles
9. Romance: Adagio - Naoko Yoshino
10. Sicilienne Variee - Naoko Yoshino
11. Contemplation - Naoko Yoshino
12. The Nightingale - Deborah Henson-Conant
13. Interlude - Marisa Robles
14. Il Padrino - Naoko Yoshino
15. Spiegel Im Spiegel - Gidon Kremer

Customer Reviews:

just ok.......2006-12-05

This is good at times but mostly it's just ok. First, the sound quality ranges from awfull to good but never excellent. There are quite a bit of analog recordings on here and most of the stuff on here was recorded in the 60s. There isn't a lot new to anyone that has been collecting music featuring the harp. In fact, there seem to be very few classical recordings available featuring the harp as there is. the performances are ok but are old fashioned in the way they play as expected from old recordings.

Average customer rating: Beautiful Robert Shaw Chorale a perfect Ceremony of Carols! Brilliant compilation Didn't care for it that much

A Robert Shaw Christmas - Angels on High Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Britten | Britten, Sir Benjamin | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Howells, Herbert | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Kopïlov, Alexander | ( K ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Lauridsen | Lauridsen, Morten | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Michael Praetorius | Praetorius, Michael | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Thompson | Thompson, Randall | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Hymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Partsongs | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | 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 CDs $7 - $10 | Holiday Music | Miscellaneous | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Holiday Music | Miscellaneous | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Easy Listening | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Opera & Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music $7 - $10 | Today's Deals | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Songs of Angels - Christmas Hymns and Carols A Festival Of Carols / Robert Shaw Chorale The Many Moods of Christmas (1963 RCA Victor Version) Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra Carols from Trinity O Come All Ye Faithful: Christmas Carols at King's College, Cambridge ASIN: B000003D2M Release Date: 1997-09-23

Tracks:

1. O Come, Emmanuel
2. Alleluia
3. The First Nowell
4. The Carol Of The Birds
5. Allon, Gay Bergeres
6. A Hymn To The Virgin
7. O Magnum Mysterium
8. Christmas Oratorio: Rejoice And Sing
9. Ave Maria
10. What Is This Lovely Fragrance?
11. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
12. Sing Lullaby
13. While By My Sheep
14. Christmas Oratorio: Break Forth, O Wondrous Heavenly Light
15. Heavenly Light
16. Adeste Fideles
17. Ceremony Of Carols: Procession - Hodie Christus Natus Est
18. Ceremony Of Carols: Wolcum Yole!
19. Ceremony Of Carols: There Is No Rose
20. Ceremony Of Carols: That Yonge Child
21. Ceremony Of Carols: Balulalow
22. Ceremony Of Carols: As Dew In Aprille
23. Ceremony Of Carols: This Little Babe
24. Interlude (Harp Solo)
25. Ceremony Of Carols: In Freezing Winter Night
26. Ceremony Of Carols: Spring Carol
27. Ceremony Of Carols: Deo Gracias
28. Ceremony Of Carols: Recession: Hodie Christus Natus Est

Amazon.com

In this beautifully chosen program of mostly a cappella arrangements, Robert Shaw and the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers deliver the Christmas story in tones of gentle and moving splendor. The carols and sacred settings recorded here are all of an intimate sort, and the rapturous, gently expressive realizations Shaw and his singers give them prove unfailingly appealing. Particularly moving is the newest work on the disc, a setting of "O magnum mysterium" by the American composer Morten Lauridsen. Franz Biebl's "Ave Maria" is another gem, as is the arrangement by Healy Willan of the French carol "What Is This Lovely Fragrance?" The offering includes a pair of chorales from Bach's Christmas Oratorio and two wonderful Christmas works by Benjamin Britten: "A Hymn to the Virgin" and A Ceremony of Carols, both well done, even if the sound of sopranos and altos (rather than boy trebles) in the latter takes some getting used to. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2007-02-16

The music is beautiful of course. The Robert Shaw Chorale is a high quality group of singers, and the arrangements they sing are really nice. Because of the age of the recording today's standards of equpment and tonal quality simply weren't available but the upgrade from analog vinyl was well-done. I shall look for more of these.

Robert Shaw Chorale.......2007-01-10

This is an excellent ablum. The music is lovely and quite varied. While there are many of the familiar favorites, there are also many new and different songs and the whole CD is a delight to listen to.

a perfect Ceremony of Carols!.......2005-12-22

This is the finest recording of Britten's A Ceremony of Carols I've ever come across, and there are plenty of versions to choose from. The King's College Choir rendition suffers from overstuffed acoustics, a constant with that choir, and their recording of Ceremony of Carols falls short in the requisite rhythmic clarity and intensity. The Christ Church, Oxford version is plodding, and lacks sparkle. Harry Christopher's The Sixteen come close, with marvelous sonics and ecstatic diction, but fall apart in the exacting 'This Little Babe' round with uneven cohesion, and strange stressed notes that ruin the waterfall effect so felicitously construed by Britten. I've not heard Britten's own conducted version, but he scrupulously insisted on boy trebles, and it's difficult if not impossible to conjure a more perfect rendering than the one given here by Shaw and his Chamber Singers. 'This Little Babe' is incomparable in each and all of its rapid fire contours, which is no mean feat. Mezzo-soprano Nanette Soles deserves special mention for incandescent singing on 'That Younge Child". The luminous pacing of 'There is no rose of such virtue' is notable, and to his credit Shaw employs the ecclesiastical pronunciation of the various Latin passages, unlike The Sixteen (and most other English choir recordings of this piece) who insist on an idiomatic British pronunciation of Latin, which offers nothing but distraction. Some will prefer boy treble singers, an attractive option, but for high musical values and the art they inevitably enshrine, it's impossible to be disappointed with this profoundly wrought version of Ceremony of Carols. Bach's 'Break Forth, O beauteous heavenly light' is just right, and I'd not heard 'Heavenly Light' by Aleksandr Kopylov; both are favorable additions to an excellent recording. Recommended.

Brilliant compilation.......2005-03-16

This is an absolutely outstanding collection of carols - some of them well-known, some of them obscure. As a choral singer, I've had the pleasure of singing many of these pieces, and I was delighted when I found them all in one place, and done by an ensemble so accomplished as the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers! It just isn't Christmas for me without this recording.

Didn't care for it that much.......2004-12-27

I prefer to hear the voices and the words of the carols, and this one has too much other sound (maybe even the use of massed voices); I have a hard time hearing what they are singing.

Average customer rating: Nothing but hits

Essential Hyperion, Vol. 2 Manufacturer: Hyperion UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Septets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Arne | Arne, Thomas Augustin | ( A ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Arnold | Arnold, Malcolm | ( A ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. 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$10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music $6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Arne, Thomas Augustin | ( A ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Arnold, Malcolm | ( A ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Britten, Sir Benjamin | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Byrd, William | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Chausson, Ernest | ( C ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Dufay, Guillaume | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Elgar, Sir Edward | ( E ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Mendelssohn, Felix | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Monteverdi, Claudio | ( M ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Purcell, Henry | ( P ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Schubert, Franz | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Tallis, Thomas | ( T ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Vivaldi, Antonio | ( V ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Essential Hyperion (Label Highlight Compilation) Essential Purcell Beethoven - The Complete String Quartets / Alban Berg Quartet ASIN: B00004RITB Release Date: 2001-01-09

Customer Reviews:

Nothing but hits.......2001-01-31

As with their first collection of label highlights, Hyperion's new two-disc collection provides a broad sampling of their exceptional catalogue and performers. Particularly rewarding are the selections from Beethoven (Scherzo from String Trio in C minor, op 9 no 3, performed by the Leopold Trio) and Thomas Tallis (Salvator mundi I, performed by the Winchester Cathedral Choir), but experienced and novice listeners alike will find much to enjoy on these discs. It's also a good value--more than 2 1/2 hours of music for less than $10.

Average customer rating: A Bountiful Gift of Britten's Choral Works

Britten: Ceremony of Carols Choir of Christ Church Cathedral Oxford , and Grier Manufacturer: Asv Living Era ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The John Rutter Christmas Album Hildegard von Bingen: Canticles of Ecstasy ASIN: B0000CEONG Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

1. Procession
2. Wolcum Yole!
3. There Is No Rose
4. That Younge Child
5. Balulalow
6. As Dew In Aprille
7. This Little Babe
8. Interlude (Harp Solo)
9. In Freezing Winter Night
10. Spring Carol
11. Adam Lay I-Bounden
12. Recession
13. Te Deum In C
14. Hymn To St Peter, Op. 56A
15. Hymn To The Virgin
16. Hymn To St Cecilia, Op. 27

Customer Reviews:

A Bountiful Gift of Britten's Choral Works.......2006-11-14

Grateful we should be to ASV Living Era label for re-releasing this 1982 recording of what must be the finest performance of Benjamin Britten's A CEREMONY OF CAROLS on record. As performed by the Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford under the direction of Francis Grier this delicate, otherworldly and penultimately Christmas work is sung by boys with the fine harp accompaniment by Frances Kelly. The ambience of the cathedral is captured in great beauty and the work, a model of simplicity and innocent devotion, is sung with exquisite sound and enunciation. The solos are by Edward Harris, Mark Slater, and Andrew Olleson and remind us of why this work was written for children's voices and not the women's choruses who try to imitate the beauty of prepuberal sound!

Included on this CD are Britten's rarely heard but very evocative TE DEUM in C major, HYMN TO ST. PETER, HYMN TO THE VIRGIN, and the ever-popular HYMN TO ST. CECILIA. The Organ accompaniment is in the capable hands (and feet) of Harry Bickett. Each of the works on the recording is superb and as a collection they are unbeatable, especially at the extremely low cost!

As the holidays approach there can be no more subtle way to greet them than with this recording of A CEREMONY OF CAROLS, breaking the usual routine of music that abounds. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, November 06

Meditation Music:

1. Christmas, Vol. 1
2. Cielo Y Tierra
3. Classical Music for an Intimate Mood
4. Colours [CD-single]
5. Conversations with God
6. Corazon Espanol (Spanish Heart)
7. Crossroads
8. Das Ohr - Gitarre Solo
9. Day Without Rain [Import]
10. Earth Dance

Meditation Music

meditation music

Meditation Music

Destroy Rock'n'roll [Import]

Already Gone

Barockmusik für Zwei

Music: Foggy Mountain Breakdown [Import]

Albatross Pt.1 [CD-single] [Import]

A Much Better Tomorrow [Original recording remastered]

84/94 V.1 [Import]

Back to Back Hits [Explicit Lyrics]

Akustycznie [Import]

Aaron Copland; Les Six: Works for Clarinet & Piano

All Is Full of Love [CD-single]

Bercy 98 [Import]

And in This Corner...

Live at the BBC

Sextant