Sing America

Amazon.com
An ideal vehicle for teaching the art of songs as national stories, Sing America is both enjoyable for its musical selections and educational for kids and those who aren't. The standard fare is here in the form of Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man," LeAnn Rimes singing "God Bless America," and Cher singing the national anthem. Each song is compellingly rendered and entertaining enough to enchant and instruct, as are the range of other pop items. Frank Sinatra's here, as is Paul Simon, the latter singing "Graceland," which, with Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke," serves up a lesson in American popular culture as history. An inclusive collection, Sing America also encourages an open-minded look at American history, including O'Landa Draper's Associates singing a medley of "American the Beautiful" and "We Shall Overcome" and Peter, Paul & Mary piping in with "This Land Is Your Land." If nothing more, Sing America provides an excellent opportunity to consider and discuss the way America tells its stories through songs, and adults and children alike will benefit from that. --Andrew Bartlett

Sing America,Various Artists,Warner Bros / Wea,Adult Contemporary,Folk-Rock,Pop,Pop/Rock,Popular Music,Rock,Rock/Pop Collections,Singer/Songwriter,Soft Rock,Traditional Pop

---

Average customer rating: F is for Fantastic! Pretty Good All-time favorite DVD for kids Fun for Kids and their Grown-ups! My daughter loves it!!!!

Here Come the ABCs [CD/DVD Combo] They Might Be Giants Manufacturer: Disney ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Children's Music | Styles | Music Disney | Children's Music | Styles | Music Educational | Children's Music | Styles | Music Sing-A-Longs | Children's Music | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Disney Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: No! For The Kids Bed, Bed, Bed (They Might Be Giants) Mary Had a Little Amp Jazz for Kids: Sing, Clap, Wiggle and Shake ASIN: B000BEZPSC Release Date: 2005-10-25

Tracks:

1. Here Come The ABC's
2. Alphabet Of Nations
3. E Eats Everything
4. Flying V
5. Q U
6. Gor For G!
7. Pictures Of Pandas Painting
8. D & W
9. Fake - Believe
10. Can You Find It?
11. The Vowle Family
12. Letter / Not A Letter
13. Alphabet Lost And Found
14. I C U
15. Letter DHapes
16. Who Put The Alphabet In Alphabetical Order
17. Rolling O
18. L M N O
19. C Is For Conifers
20. Fake Believe (Type B)
21. D Is For Drums
22. Z Y X
23. Goodnight My Friends
24. Clap Your Hands
25. Here In Higglytown (Theme To Disney's Higglytown Hero's)
26. Hovering Sombrero '05
27. I Never Go To Work

Amazon.com

No stranger to the realm of children's records, They Might Be Giants have seen success with their CD No! and the book-and-CD combo Bed, Bed, Bed. Their latest CD, Here Come the ABCs, offers up 25 alphabetically themed songs. However, as is their charming way, the two Johns (Flansburgh and Linnell), use the letters as merely the connective tissue, allowing them to pursuit intriguing flights of fancy that consider everything from the relative power of letters and sounds to animal hijinks. Just as they've always done, there are wistful ballads and high octane rockers. TMBG have always been a family-friendly band, and this disc works just fine for adult fans, who can rightfully consider this simply their newest release. --David Greenberger

Customer Reviews:

F is for Fantastic!.......2007-07-27

I cannot rave enough about Here Come the ABCs! These lessons in the ABCs are quirky yet educational, silly yet sophisticated, and truly speak to the mind of a child. Oh, and I love to listen to them too!

My favorite track is Fake-Believe, while my children heartily enjoy E Eats Everything. This is much more than typical children's music or corny songs about the alphabet -- it is They Might Be Giants in everyway. Blending silliness with sophistiaction is the m.o. of tmbg, and the two Johns definitely hit the mark with this dvd/cd. You and your children will come back to this over and over, you might even beg for more!

Pretty Good.......2007-07-23

My son of 18 months likes this. The DVD is good, the CD loses a little something since some of the songs need the visual clues (like where is the letter). My wife just finds it strange :-)
Dan

All-time favorite DVD for kids.......2007-07-18

My family loves this DVD. All of the songs and accompanying animation is very creative, while teaching kids the alphabet. The songs are not annoying like some kids music, and my husband and I find ourselves going around singing the songs all the time. The CD that comes with the DVD is great for taking along in the car.

Fun for Kids and their Grown-ups!.......2007-06-10

I bought "Here Come the ABC's" for a friend for her birthday after she watched it with my son. She adores the set. They Might Be Giants performs wonderfully catchy songs that are both easy to remember and challenge thinking. My son, who is 2, enjoys the puppets and the vivid and sometimes strange animation sequences. Favorite songs in our household include "Alphabet of Nations" (me), "E Eats Everything" (my son), and "Alphabet Lost and Found" (my husband). This set is one that I would recommend to anyone who interacts with young children learning to play with language. It grabs their attention, and they don't mind at all.

My daughter loves it!!!!.......2007-05-30

At least once a day my daughter asks to watch the video. I don't mind because the songs are fun, origional, and educational. I find myself singing along!

Average customer rating: "There are no flowers, no not this time." Maturity in the Misery A good CD, but its just not AFI. Masterpiece my favorite

Sing the Sorrow A.F.I. Manufacturer: Dreamworks ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Goth | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk Revival | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Emo | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk-Pop | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Decemberunderground All Hallow's EP Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge Very Proud of Ya Shut Your Mouth & Open Your Eyes ASIN: B00008GQVU Release Date: 2003-03-11

Tracks:

1. Miseria Cantare (The Beginning)
2. The Leaving Song Pt. 2
3. Bleed Black
4. Silver and Cold
5. Dancing Through Sunday
6. Girl's Not Grey
7. Death of Season
8. The Great Disappointment
9. Paper Airplanes (Makeshift Wings)
10. The Celluloid Dream
11. The Leaving Song
12. ...But Home Is Nowhere

Amazon.com

Starting life as the most competent Misfits tribute band to not actually play Misfits songs, San Francisco Bay Area punks A.F.I. have not only discovered how to write their own snarling melodies, but have developed the confidence to play them without a cloak. Sing the Sorrow marks the band's first major-label release and the difference from their indie albums is in the details: songs freely shift gears and tempos, singer Davey Havoc flexes his pristine vocal abilities by breaking into the occasional falsetto, and sugary tracks like "The Leaving Song" and "The Great Disappointment" now take a place next to more standard nuclear-charged mosh-pit fare like "Bleed Black" and "Dancing Through Sunday." Longtime fans might take it like a kick to the head, but this band is clearly moving toward bigger things. --Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

"There are no flowers, no not this time.".......2007-04-19

AFI has been around for a while. I haven't heard anything they made before this album, but apparently it was different enough to alienate a lot of fans. In any case, I like it. They make quite capable pop punk with catchy choruses, a high voiced vocalist, and pretty normal guitars. It's not exceptional, but it's solid. Why I really like them is the bombast. Just the tone of the album is a little mightier and significant-seeming than most other stuff in the genre, starting with the opening song's war-cry esque vocals. They do a good combination of the singer's lone voice and several people shouting in unison, and it has the same feel as a general leading his troops into battle.

It could have been front loaded, with all of the singles in the first half, but it maintains quality throughout. The songs do kind of blend together as it goes on, but it's catchy enough that it's hard to care too much. It ends strongly, with the second to last track (which is oddly the first part of the two-part song that ends on the second track), which is a nice softer song, before the epic finale "...But Home Is Nowhere". It has one of the better anthems in it, than after it ends, there's a short silence before a sequence of voices progressing in age tell a creepy story backed up by a minimal piano tune. It then finishes with a stripped-down, well performed capper of a hidden track. Sing the Sorrow is a pretty good punk album helped out by elements that go deeper than the music.

Maturity in the Misery.......2007-03-27

With their rather bold major label debut AFI submerged themselves in oceans of dense production and studio polish; ambitiously expanding their sound into the bittersweet darkly romantic horizon merely hinted at in their previous outings. Yet with all of the overdubs and electronic effects, the band doesn't get lost in the murk as they perform with the same firey intensity that them such an outstanding punk band. The detailed, well thought out album flirts with both mainstream pop and edgy punk with an adult intelligence and adventerous attitude not regularly found in either genre. Each of the songs are distinctive and unique with the band seemingly introducing a new trick with each track; making for a very exciting, unpredictble listen that never sacrifices the overall mood.

Guitarist Puget often slows the tempo into aggressive but steady marches of what could only be described as anthetmic melancholy, his warm riffs and atmospheric melodies absent of blazing heroics but no less memorable and distinctive. His work more or less providing a dense backdrop for the band's emotional center, vocalist Davey Havok. Evolving into one of the best and most unique song writers around, Davey's poetic lyrics are mysterious, romantic, catchy, and heavy on gothic imagery without falling into cheesy cliche . His vocal melodies are often at the forefront as he plays off backing chants and vocals as well as his own different personas to create memorable sing a longs. Though not blessed with the strongest of voices, his frail nasal wail is convincly vunerable and at times even deeply moving, his emotional belts are full of fire without tough guy posing, and his spaciously used low breathy singing voice is sincere and seductive.

The melancholy but upbeat anthems "Leaving Song II" and "Silver and Cold" are superb introductions to the band's unique blend of autumn day atmosphere, pop appeal, and punk energy. The big mainstream single "Girls Not Grey" and "Bleed Black" would almost be catchy pop punk if it wasn't for the mature restraint of the performances, smooth dynamics, and the incredibly dense haunting sound. The experimental "Death of Seasons" not only features what may be the band's first venture into hardcore of the metal kind, but dance music and string arrangements. The beautiful lyrics of "This Celluloid Dream" climaxes the album with a triumphant stuttering gallop that isn't easy to get out of one's head. The hidden track that follows "..But Home is Nowhere" is the band at there most experimental and successful. Spoken word poetry, light piano and heavy studio effects gradually shimmer away to unveil the band's most naked and revealing ballad. Davey gives the best vocal performance of his career as he quietly croons with convincing regret in his real voice. The song gradually soars to a powerful climatic high before fading away into a droning sea of what sounds like backwards violin/guitar loops. This is the band at the height of the their huge potential and hopefully not the peak of their powers.

A good CD, but its just not AFI........2007-01-29

This is a good CD, many great songs that are dark and mysterious in their own cool little ways. AFI after Shut your mouth and open your eyes became much more serious. If you listen to Decemberunderground and than to Answer that. You couldnt really tell any similarities between the two. Not even Havok's voice sounds the same. But whatever it works.

Masterpiece.......2007-01-21

I really cannot put into words just how great this album is. All of the songs are deep and meaningful with great instrumentation and lyrics. The singing and back-up singing is amazing as well. I have heard all of AFI's other albums, and they were amazing, too. Although their other albums are great, none of them can hold a candle to the classics here.

Miseria Cantare-Starts the album off with haunting and dark tones and chanting.
The Leaving Song Part II.-Picks up the pace and adds great guitar sounds.
Bleed Black-Another great guitar song with great back-up vocals.
Silver and Cold-An album favorite, this song with amazing lyrics and vocals.
Dancing Through Sunday-Great guitar solo and vocals.
Girl's Not Grey-Very catchy singing and nice drums.
Death of Seasons-Amazing bass intro, a lot of good screaming.
The Great Disappointment-Best guitar on the album, good drumming, amazing vocals.
Paper Airplanes (Makeshift Wings)-Very catchy guitar riffs, unique sounding.
This Celluloid Dream-Amazing harmony between all the instuments and vocals, some of the best lyrics.
The Leaving Song-A ballad, and it fits right in. Vocalist sings while only the guitar plays, very powerful.
...But Home Is Nowhere-Great high vocals, interesting chanting and screaming, agian great harmony between band members.
Spoken Word Poem-I skip this sometimes, because sometimes I'm not in the right mood to hear it, but I still appreciate it for its beauty.
This Time Imperfect-The deepest song with powerful lyrics with great vocal and instrumental value.

I have listened to this album for a solid 3 years, and don't plan on stopping any time soon, as it's my favorite album. It really is an amazing CD with great variety and no weak points. All of these songs belong with classics like God Called in Sick Today and The Days of the Phoenix. This is basically a Greatest Hits Album.

my favorite.......2007-01-09

AFI is my favorite band and I believe this is their best album they've ever put out.

Average customer rating: much better than anticipated Similar Sounds not what i was expecting Best album I bought last year # 1 Costa fan in Vegas

Songs We Sing Matt Costa Manufacturer: Brushfire Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music Similar Items: Fly Between Falls Move by Yourself Lemonade A Brokedown Melody Some Live Songs ASIN: B000EGFV4A Release Date: 2006-03-28

Tracks:

1. Cold December
2. Astair
3. Sweet Thursday
4. Sunshine
5. These Arms
6. Ballad Of Miss Kate
7. Sweet Rose
8. Songs We Sing
9. Yellow Taxi
10. I Tried
11. Behind The Moon
12. Oh Dear
13. Wash Away

Amazon.com

Sincere but not too sincere, cute but not gorgeous, and smart enough to know to steal from the very best, former skateboard pro Matt Costa signed to surfer Jack Johnson's label on the strengths of some very workman-like pop songs and a smooth, appealing voice. Goldilockses of the world are bound to find Costa's unassuming songs just right--and if his work fails to find its way onto the soundtracks of all the hottest television shows, there is little justice in the world. Costa may croon that "These are the songs that I sing/To make the day better," but these really aren't songs so much as they're rock & roll equations. The dude combines the anglophilic sonority of Belle & Sebastian and Donovan with a taste of Elliott Smith's gorgeous downer vibe, heaping doses of the Beatles thrown in throughout. It's pleasantly chiming enough stuff to be sure: it'll just be far more interesting to see what happens once Costa has worked his way through his influences. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

much better than anticipated.......2007-06-18

A great first album, both the brushfire version and the original. It's too bad 'whiskey and wine' was taken off of the brushfire release, it's a catchy song. Either way certainly worth a listen.

Similar Sounds.......2007-04-11

This CD is very Jack Johnson, Beatles and Phish all in one. I enjoy it, but was very surprised by the close sounding similarities to the Beatles. It is a good mellow CD that I would recommend buying if you enjoy artists such as Jack Johnson, Beatles and Phish.

not what i was expecting.......2007-02-06

After hearing cold december on the radio and loving it i decided to purchase this cd. none of the rest of the songs on the cd compare to the first track. albums that i don't love right off the bat usually get several rounds of play before i warm up to them but i could barely make it through listeining to this album from beginning to end once.
if you are into folkish music this cd is for you..for me it was not

Best album I bought last year.......2007-01-10

I bought dozens and dozens of CDs last year and Costa's Songs We Sing was my favorite acquisition. If you're enjoying that trendy, troubadour sound of barefoot, pensive guys strumming their accoustic guitars to licks that hook you, this is as upbeat, clear, and good-mood-provoking as they come. A friend and peer of Jack Johnson's, Costa is coming into his own a bit less produced (very welcome, indeed!). His melodies stick with you. I'm looking forward to more great stuff from Costa.

# 1 Costa fan in Vegas.......2006-12-19

I happened upon Cold December and bought Songs We Sing. I can't stop listening to it! I love (and know by heart) every song. All my friends are getting this album for Christmas, and I think I want to marry Matt Costa ;)

I would try to compare to other groups/artists - but really it is too original (unlike the vibe you get from the Amazon review) and this album deserves an objective listen - just get it!

Average customer rating: Worse than BW 1 and 2 We love it! Beethoven's Wig 3 Good overview of orchestral instruments Fun exposure to classical music

Beethoven's Wig 3: Many More Sing-Along Symphonies Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD 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 General | Couperin, François | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( 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 Michael Haydn | Haydn, Michael | ( 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 General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Strauss | Strauss, Richard | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Telemann, Georg Philipp | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Character Pieces | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Tone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Telemann, Georg Philipp | 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 General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music French Horn | Brass | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Trombone | Brass | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Organ | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Recorder | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Cello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Harp | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Mandolin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Children's Music | Styles | Music Sing-A-Longs | Children's Music | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Novelty Music | Comedic Music | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Beethoven's Wig, Vol. 2: More Sing-Along Symphonies Beethoven's Wig: Sing Along Symphonies World's Very Best Opera for Kids... in English! Mozart's Magnificent Voyage Beethoven's Wig ASIN: B000F1IPPQ Release Date: 2006-05-02

Tracks:

1. Bull in a China Shop
2. Chap in a Cap
3. Play My Song
4. A Manly Man
5. Whistling Happily
6. Where Oh Where
7. Silver Winds
8. They're There
9. Here Lies Homer Jones
10. How to Succeed as Royalty
11. King Henry
12. Sawdust
13. Ramona
14. When the Angels Play
15. Anybody In There?
16. Take Me to Your Leader
17. Toreador Song from Carmen
18. Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major
19. Work for Mandolin WoO 44a
20. Elephant from Carnival of the Animals
21. William Tell Overture
22. Funeral March of a Marionette
23. Dance of the Reed Flutes from The Nutcracker Suite
24. The Sorcerer's Apprentice
25. Fossils from Carnival of the Animals
26. The Trophy from 4th Book of Harpsichord Pieces
27. Recorder Concerto in C major
28. Gavotte from Cello Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012
29. Minuet & Trio from Concerto in D Major
30. Harp Concerto in Bb
31. Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
32. Also Sprach Zarathustra

Product Description

This CD is a Grammy Award nominee and winner of 40 national awards for the series, Beethoven's Wig. Beethoven's Wig celebrates the instruments! With more zany lyrics set to the greatest hits of classical music, these Sing Along Symphonies feature a variety of different instruments from the familiar to the fascinating. The instrument performance of each piece is also included without lyrics. A fun foundation for classical music that will last a lifetime. Includes songs such as Bull in a China Shop (Cornet: Toreador Song from Carmen), Chap in a Cap (French Horn: Horn Concerto No. 4 in E flat major), and Whistling Happily (English Horn and Flute: William Tell Overture).

Amazon.com

Outside of Kidz Bop and Disneymania!, you won't find a lot of kids' series racking up the kind of sales that merit three installment, which is why the creators of Beethoven's Wig ought to step out of the orchestra pit and take a bow. Not only have they made it to No. 3, they've done it with a concept that veers sharply and unswervingly into educational territory. From the toot of the first cornet to the timpani's final thump, not a tired note has surfaced yet. For newcomers, here's a primer: Head wig-flipper Richard Perlmutter leads a respectable-sounding ensemble of singers and musicians in the loopy lyricizing of classic symphonic pieces. Everything from Handel to Rossini gets the word treatment. Instead of random witticisms, though, the lyrics he ascribes are meant to impart something memorable about the music. Thus, Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 4 is wedded to a charming ditty called "Chap in a Cap" and Bizet's "Toreador" song from Carmen comes to life with images of a bull in a China shop. Where Beethoven's Wig 3 differs from the others is in its focus on individual instruments--clarinets, mandolins, bassoons and basses all get the Wig equivalent of a shout-out. Otherwise, it's a return to form: Liner notes crammed not only with lyrics, but with fun questions and answers (How many fingers do harpists use when they play? Eight), a second half devoted to unsullied versions of the sung symphonies, and blasts of familiar sound leeched of stuffiness. Cue it up for anybody under 12 and keep your fingers crossed. With any luck, Perlmutter and company will come through with a fourth volume. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

Worse than BW 1 and 2.......2007-05-21

I am big fan of Beethoven's wig 1 and 2 but this number 3 is not as good.
Looks more like leftovers compiled from failed BW 1 and 2 songs to me. I gave even 3 starts mostly out of respect to the artist. BW 1 and 2 are always in CD holder of our family van. Number three will not be there (However, if I decide to make them mp3, I would add one on two songs from BW3 to the playlist).

We love it!.......2007-03-09

Great for kids and moms also! I have a 4 yr old and 7 yr old and we have listened to this many times.

I would not choose this exclusively to teach classical music and such - our kids first listened to a lot of classical music and opera before adding this for fun.

Beethoven's Wig 3.......2007-01-05

This series is a great first way to introduce kids to classical music. There is no question that being familiar with something makes it more enjoyable, this is a fun and light-hearted way to do just that. Beethoven's Wig #3 is the best of the Beethoven's Wig series - we actually got it first, and loved it so much we then bought the other two, which were not as strong overall. There are some absolutely great songs on the #3 CD - and a few that are mediocre, but overall it is well worth the money if only for a good laugh!

Good overview of orchestral instruments.......2007-01-03

This is a good resource for introducing the intruments of the orchestra. The songs are just as entertaining as the first volume in this series. My dd enjoys this cd very much and has learned to recognize intruments and composers through listening to it.

Fun exposure to classical music.......2006-08-30

I bought Beethoven's Wig 1 and 2 last year, and my children (ages 6 and 10) begged me to get this one! Richard Perlmutter's voice is a little nasal (every once in a while you're reminded of Barney sing-a-longs) but the other voices that are on the CD are nice. This is an awesome way to familiarize children with classical music themes. I'm hoping that as my children grow up, they will be attracted to some classical music because they will have some familiar melodies in their memory banks. I highly recommend this CD to anyone with young children.

Average customer rating: Buy This CD! Great Wonderful Traditional CD - A Must Have Love It!

God Bless the U.S.A.: Kids Sing Songs for America The St. John's Childrens Choir Manufacturer: Madacy Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Children's Music | Styles | Music Sing-A-Longs | Children's Music | Styles | Music Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music CDs Under $7 | Children's Music | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Children's Music | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Children's Music | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | 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: Patriotic Songs & Marches Songs of America America's Favorite Patriotic Songs Our America: 15 Patriotic Songs by Our Children Gospel Kids Present...Patriotic Songs ASIN: B00005QVZF Release Date: 2001-09-16

Tracks:

1. God Bless The U.S.A.
2. America The Beautiful
3. You're A Grand Old Flag
4. God Bless America
5. This Land Is Your Land
6. America, My Country 'Tis Of Thee
7. Yankee Doodle
8. Home On The Range
9. Battle Hymn Of The Republic
10. This Is My Country
11. The old Red White & Blue
12. Pledge Of Allegiance/The Star Spangled Banner

Customer Reviews:

Buy This CD!.......2007-07-13

If you are even browsing for a childrens/adult friendly CD with traditional songs about America, buy this CD. Almost every song brought back memories of myself in elementary school during the bicentennial. My 2, 4 and 6 years old all love it and ask to play it all the time. Be warned, however, after listening to it for 2 hours straight in the car, parents may tire of even the best songs.

Great.......2007-01-09

I bought 2 copies of this CD. One for our school and one for home. My children, (2 4 year olds and a 3 year old) just love listening to this in the car and they are now learning all the words to some great patriotic songs. Children relate very well to this music because it is young children singing rather than the typical adult choir. I would recommend this CD for any family with young children who want them to sing and be musically active!

Wonderful Traditional CD - A Must Have.......2005-09-30

This CD is wonderful. The songs are traditional versions of all the classic America sounds like This Land is Our Land. The kids that sing on the CD do a great job and the songs are easy to sing along with. My 10 yr old and 5 yr old beg to listen to it in the car and at home. The CD ends with the Pledge of Allegance which has taught my 5 yr old how to say it perfect. I highly recommend this CD for any house. I only wish it was split track.....it's not!

Love It!.......2002-12-01

This cd is wonderful. We have three generations that love this cd. The songs are great as well as the singing. Highly recommend it!

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

Instruments of the Orchestra Various Artists Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra | ( M ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra | ( H ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music London Philharmonic Orchestra | ( L ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra | ( M ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Op34; Simple Symphony Op4 The Mahler Symphonies: An Owner's Manual (includes 1 CD) The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (Book & CD) Study of Orchestration, Third Edition What to Listen for in Music ASIN: B00006O0NT Release Date: 2002-12-03

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Average customer rating: The Best Single Disc To Get Benny's Apex Is the Pope Catholic? Great collection; Hall of fame band If you buy only 1 Benny Gooman CD, this is the one

Sing, Sing, Sing Benny Goodman Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Jazz | 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: The Very Best of Benny Goodman Glenn Miller - Greatest Hits Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert Begin the Beguine Tommy Dorsey - Greatest Hits [RCA] ASIN: B000002W8S Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. King Porter Stomp
2. Sometimes I'm Happy
3. Basin Street Blues
4. If I Could Be With You
5. Goody Goody
6. Christopher Columbus
7. Sing Me A Swing Song
8. Anything For You
9. These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You
10. Down South Camp Meeting
11. Bugle Call Bag
12. Goodnight My Love
13. He Ain't Got Rhythm
14. I Want To Be Happy
15. Ron Em'
16. Thanks For The Memory
17. Don't Be That Way
18. One O'clock Jump
19. Ti-Pi-Tin
20. Sing, Sing, Sing
21. Goodbye

Customer Reviews:

The Best Single Disc To Get.......2007-07-03

Hardcore Goodman fans will always quibble about the song selection on a "greatest hits" package, but if you have to live with just one Goodman disc this is IT. Very good song selection showing from what was his best band. I know there are folks who have a very high opinion of his 40's band, but it just never had the snap and raw excitment of his 30's band.
There are no trio or quartet sides, but there are several good collections of those available and you need to get them anyways to have a reasonable big band collection.

Benny's Apex.......2004-06-07

Wow! What a gold mine of classic Benny music. If you are just beginning to sample Benny Goodman, this is a good place to begin. This set would serve as a worthy introduction to the King of Swing in his glory years.

What a marvelous collection this is, showcasing Benny Goodman's golden years, 1935-1937. All of his greatest swing classics are included on this compilation, including some non-hit songs like "Bugle Call Rag," one of the best-ever Goodman recordings. Listen to "Roll 'Em", one of Goodman's absolutely mesmerizing standards. The arrangement and instrumentation here are awesome. This is a song you can listen to 1,000 times and never weary of it. Benny's primary vocalist of these years was Liltin' Martha Tilton, and she sings her great hit Goody Goody. Her rendition of this classic should be the standard by which all others are judged.

Goodman fans will have all these songs on other compilations, but if you're just getting into Benny's band, this is an excellent first disc purchase. When you hear Benny, Gene, Teddy, Harry and the boys really kickin' it, you'll fall in love. A stellar album!

Is the Pope Catholic?.......2003-01-11

Well, no question about it. Benny Goodman was one of the world's greatest clarinetists, right?

So, buy it!

Great collection; Hall of fame band.......2000-10-31

I would agree that this is a great one disc collection of Benny Goodman at his height. The sound quality is excellent for 1930s recordings, but make no mistake these are monaural -- your mind will have to fill in what your ears are missing. This does not affect my rating of the album, but if you are not accustomed to older recordings you will hear more hiss (occasionally) and lower fidelity than you would on even first-rate mono albums from the 1950s.

That said, I would strongly recommend this to anyone wanting an introduction to Goodman. The songs are well selected ('King Porter Stomp', 'Roll Em' and several others are Goodman staples, and 'Sing, Sing, Sing' qualifies as a Big Band Era anthem.) More importantly, the roster of musicians is like a Big Band hall of fame. Harry James (trumpet), Gene Krupa (drums), Ziggy Elman (trumpet), Zeke Zarchy (trumpet), Vido Musso (saxophone) and of course Goodman's clarinet -- James and Krupa went on to start their own bands, with some success. Vocalists? A very young Ella Fitzgerald and Jimmy Rushing, as well as Helen Ward, are pleasant surprises.

The music, if you can get past the low fidelity, is superb. Benny Goodman is credited with launching the Big Band Era by playing music that swung. While a lot of 1930s music has not aged well, the selections here sound great 60+ years later. Aside from the previously mentioned classics, there are standards such as 'Don't Be That Way', 'These Foolish Things Remind Me of You' and the Basie classic 'One O'Clock Jump'.

My advice: put away all of the modern techno-beat music for a day and play this CD. Focus on the remarkable solos and the way the ensemble just swings together and has a great time. Once your ears are accustomed to monaural, the rest is a a real treat.

If you buy only 1 Benny Gooman CD, this is the one.......1999-12-09

These are the classic late 30's sides. Most of this material has never sounded better. They have added no echo at all and the music has the power it's supposed to have. Some noise from the master discs is present, but that shows they didn't get carried away with the resoration.

Average customer rating: Bravo! Mo' Mo' Mo' This is a must have for any music lover! wonderful collection of music awesome music selection They Left Out The Best Song

Three Mo' Tenors Thomas Young , Roderick Dixon , and Victor Trent Cook Manufacturer: RCA Victor ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Puccini | Puccini, Giacomo | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classic | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Cook, Dixon, & Young: Volume 1 Three Mo Tenors Cook, Dixon & Young: In Concert Vol. 1 The Three Tenors Christmas The Best of the Three Tenors ASIN: B00005LVVC Release Date: 2001-07-24

Tracks:

1. La Donna e Mobile
2. Let the Good Times Roll
3. Make Them Hear You
4. Ah! Mes Amis.
5. Ellington Medley
6. The Jazz Cat & Minnie the Moocher
7. Twisted
8. Nessun Dorma
9. Today I Sing the Blues
10. Soul Medley
11. Have You Heard / Glory
12. Were You There
13. America The Beautiful
14. Gospel Medley

Amazon.com

Inspired by the astoundingly popular The Three Tenors series, Broadway director Marion J. Caffey conceived and directed Three Mo' Tenors, bringing greater visibility to the classically trained African American voice. Starring seasoned tenors Roderick Dixon, Thomas Young, and Victor Trent Cook, Three Mo' Tenors is a theatrically staged concert set taped for public television's Great Performances. A companion to the taped show, the disc features just over an hour of live music from it. The phenomenal showmanship of Dixon, Young, and Trent Cook takes shape in the styles of opera, Broadway, blues, jazz, soul, spirituals, and gospel. The three virtuosos hit high C's with clarity and brilliance; scat with grace and grit; belt, bend and hold a note to beat the band. They move the audience to a state of near-ecstasy performing the traditional "Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)" and Puccini's glorious "Nessum Dorma." Other standouts include the jazz classic "Twisted," a rollicking version of "Today I Sing the Blues," and the salty "Minnie the Moocher." Boisterous, bold, and bountiful, Three Mo' Tenors is a modern classic. --Paige LaGrone

Customer Reviews:

Bravo! Mo' Mo' Mo'.......2006-05-13

The word "Mo'" in the title got my attention. I bought the CD to compare it to the already popular "Three Tenors" (Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras). Wow! Was I surprised. I had expected an all opera, classical and possibly spiritual repetoire. But, the music varies from "Nessun Dorma" to "Love Train" was truly, truly delightful. I enjoyed the wonderful voices of Thomas Young, Roderick Dixon, and Victor Trent Cook and the variety of musical selections so much that I purchased several other copies for my family and friends. Then, several months later, I saw their performance on PBS. I immediately ordered the VHS offered by the TV station, paying way, way over the retail price. But, I had to have it. It was, and is, the most exciting musical performance that I have seen. Later, when I put the tape into the player at my son's house, my 5-year-old granddaughter Ciara stood next to the sofa to watch. I expected her to move away soon, but, she stood there, during the entire playback of the performance, and I do mean from beginning to end. I left the tape there so that son could see it later. The following day, and for most days during the next several weeks, Ciara asked to have the tape played, until she later was taught to handle it herself. The family has since replaced my VHS with the DVD so that now, when Ciara visits me, we can watch the show again (and again). "Three Mo' Tenors" was so surprisingly wonderful- with great voices, charismatic personalities, terrific orchestral arrangements, lively and precisely choreographed routines, and just an overall feeling of mutual admiration and respect among the three gentlemen. The beautiful cinematics, with frequently interspersed shots of the enthusiatic audience, contributes to the feeling that I am actually there at the concert. Every time I watch it, I see and hear something new. When I first heard the CD, I was not fascinated by the countertenor voice. After seeing Victor Trent Cook's heartwarming performance on the DVD, and hearing his comment about his mother's definition of a countertenor, I have been granted a new appreciation for his voice. Here it is, years later, and I'm still enamored, remembering Roderick Dixon's "Make Them Hear You" elicits tears, Thomas Young's "Twisted" makes me laugh, and the duet with Victor and Thomas (see, I'm now on first-name basis with them) is so beautiful. I could to on and on. In fact, it's time for another listen.

This is a must have for any music lover!.......2006-01-07

I would rate this CD more than five stars if I could! I picked up this CD not knowing anything about these guys, but, knowing that I liked some of the songs contained on it. I was absolutely blown away by this collection! These guys have it all. Voices, talent, showmanship, style, technique, etc. Everytime I listen to it, I feel like I'm sitting right there in the theatre. I am a huge fan of opera, jazz and gospel. This CD covers it all! Although my favorite tracks are La Donna e Mobile, Make Them Hear You, and Nessun Dorma, they are all so good! I wouldn't hesitate to buy this again. You have to hear them to believe them!

wonderful collection of music.......2005-08-23

A good album is one that can't be categorized neatly. Three Mo' Tenors tackles classic opera, Broadway tunes and other genres with ease. They have beautiful voices, and the music they choose to interpret is so universal that even my toddler girl loves listening to it! Their technical expertise combined with their stage presence and charisma makes for an enjoyable cd. Highly recommended - especially if you are looking to introduce yourself or your children to different musical genres.

awesome music selection.......2005-08-02

These are amazing musical selections and amazing vocalists; a must-have for any well-rounded music collection. This trio can really sing!

They Left Out The Best Song.......2004-11-11

One of my most favorite performance DVD's, but how, or why, on earth did they leave off the most stiring single number on the CD - "A Song For You," by Rodrick Dixon?

Put it in, and it's a "five."

Average customer rating: Another masterpiece by Kristin DIZZY MISS KRISTI Kristin Hersh Sings Like a Star A carefully crafted yet compulsively delivered gem. I am in love!

Learn to Sing Like a Star Kristin Hersh Manufacturer: Yep Roc Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: This Hungry Life The Good, the Bad & the Queen Volta We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank Free Music ASIN: B000JJRXGG Release Date: 2007-01-23

Tracks:

1. In Shock
2. Nerve Endings
3. Day Glow
4. Christian Hearse
5. Ice
6. Under The Gun
7. Piano 1
8. Sugar Baby
9. Peggy Lee
10. Piano 2
11. Vertigo
12. Winter
13. Wild Vanilla
14. The Thin Man

Amazon.com

Her seventh solo album in the books, Kristin Hersh now has a body of work stretching back two decades to when her band Throwing Muses tossed the angst-ridden teenager directly into the indie-rock spotlight. Hersh has made great personal strides since branching off on her own, each record of engaging pop music serving as a reflective document of her impulsive lifestyle, each song allowing her voice to grow from young and girlish to broadly mature. She plays most of the instruments on all 14 songs, several of which deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (Hersh once lived in New Orleans) and a personal misfortune in her own home. Heartbreak practically drips from Hersh's voice when she vows that "getting up is what hurts" in the commanding rocker "Day Glow" or admits that "nervous energy keeps us busy" in the pensive "Ice." As usual, the turbulently talented musician picks herself off the mat with the self-deprecating instrumental "Christian Hearse," the Nirvana-like "Under the Gun," and "Winter," complete with tubular bells, strings, and an Irish-tinged chorus that is as triumphant as the artist herself. --Scott Holter

Customer Reviews:

Another masterpiece by Kristin.......2007-04-26

I was fortunate to see her playing this album last night at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC with The McCarricks. Full of energy and with a voice that will chill your soul.

DIZZY MISS KRISTI.......2007-04-20

Being a junkie for Kristin Hersh can be a tricky business. Inevitably rewarding but at times it's a bit of a chore. Reading some of the reviews posted here I feel a bit cheated. Like I got a different album altogether.

"Learn To Sing..." has proven to be the most difficult listening in Hersh's canon, for me. It's bleak & depressing. That's nothing new for her, I realize...but it was always bathed in a radiant swirl before. The emotions conjured here end up feeling like a noxious hangover.

I don't expect her to regurgitate "The Real Ramona" time & again, but the gentle beauty of "Hips & Makers" has turned into a dizzying stream of mournful dirges. There is a very ugly sound here that even the exquisite strings on the first track cannot cover-up. Her voice, also seems immersed in muck.

After several listenings I've found only "Vertigo" to be bearable. It would've been a perfect title for this disc. It's disorienting, and not in a good way.

I wish I could feel as positive about this as some of the other reviewers here, but this one will be collecting dust on my shelf.

Kristin Hersh Sings Like a Star.......2007-03-16

This is by far the best KH album since Hips and Makers. It's amazing to see her journey over the years, experimenting with each album. Every song on this record is catchy and I feel reflects a certain serenity and happiness/calmness in her life. Thank you Kristin for some great new tunes. I HIGHLY recommend this album, and everyone I've exposed it to has had nothing but good things to say about it.

A carefully crafted yet compulsively delivered gem........2007-03-10

The emo kids should lend an ear to Kristin Hersh if they want their music with dollops of misery.

It is never more eloquently done than on "Nerve Endings", the agonised lyrics set against uncomfortable chord changes, with only the elegant string arrangement to provide any balm.

"Getting up is what hurts," she wails on "Day Glo", and sings of being "twisted in slo-mo by angry water". (Having had the misfortune to name her last band 50 Foot Wave just before the Asian tsunami, and then mourning the flood disaster in New Orleans, Hersh's own home suffered a burst pipe so destructive that it used up the family savings and forced her to sell up.)
As Hersh's spiky work goes, this is less fraught, the sourness of that cracked voice balanced by the sweetness off the strings.
Still, it's never exactly easy listening.

I am in love!.......2007-03-10

I think this is some of her best work yet, although that is hard to say about such a talented singer/songwriter. I have been playing it over and over since it arrived.

Average customer rating: A great duo! It is as if you are there Simply outstanding and highly recommended Go to a concert ,already, but if you can't buy this CD.....

My Best Day Trout Fishing in America Manufacturer: Trout Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Folk | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Children's Music | Styles | Music Folk Music | Children's Music | Styles | Music Sing-A-Longs | Children's Music | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Merry Fishes to All Big Trouble Family Music Party inFINity It's a Puzzle ASIN: B000H2M2AW Release Date: 2006-09-12

Tracks:

1. I've Got A Friend (and He Wont Be Quiet)
2. My Hair Had a Party Last Night
3. My Best Day
4. Simon Says
5. Sailing
6. It's a Puzzle
7. Fill it up
8. Alberta Postcard
9. Bob and Bob
10. Day Care Blues
11. Alien In My Nose
12. Something Sweet
13. My Pants Fell Down
14. Murrell's
15. Beans and Weenies

Album Description

My Best Day captures the fun and energy of a live Trout concert covering a range of topics and themes, from odes to friends whom we love despite the fact that they talk too much, to alien nose invasions and snowflakes named Bob. The songs are kid friendly, but smart and musically sophisticated.

Customer Reviews:

A great duo!.......2007-03-21

Keith Grimwood and his tall friend Ezra Idlet have been performing for over 30 years as Trout Fishing in America. They write the songs which they perform and they are truly an entertaining pair. Audiences will identify with the universal experiences in "My Hair Had a Party Last Night" and "I've Got a Friend (and He Won't Be Quiet)". My personal favorite is the song entitled "Bob And Bob" which is about two identical snowflakes (thus repudiating Keith's elementary school teacher who taught that no two snowflakes are alike.) Their songs have wide appeal and children will enjoy them as well as adults. These are two very creative and entertaining musicians who are lots of fun whether they are appearing in person or on a CD.

It is as if you are there.......2006-12-14

I've followed Keith and Ezra for years and years - seen many of their shows and own all their recordings. Before now, as great as their albums have been, I never felt they captured the magic of their live performances.

"My Best Day" changes all of that. I have no idea how he did it, but somehow Fred Bogert has managed to bottle the excitement and exuberance of this performance and made it available to all of us on demand with this album. Amazing job.

You should still take your kids to see a live performance if you get a chance. The whole family will come out smiling.

Simply outstanding and highly recommended .......2006-11-06

"My Best Day" is the latest CD album of children's music to be released by the Grammy Award nominated group, Trout Fishing In America (otherwise known as guitarist Ezra Idelt and bassist Keith Grimwood, who have been playing together and making music to delight and entertain children for more than 30 years). This simply outstanding and highly recommended contribution to family and community library music collections for young listeners was recorded before a live audience in an event sponsored by the Arkansas Educational Television Network where Ezra Idelt and Keith Grimwood were joined by multi-instrumentalist performer and Trout record producer Fred Bogert. "My Best Day" is almost like being in the front row of a Trout Fishing In America concert and includes the performances of I've Got a Friend - and he Wont Be Quiet (3:19); My Hair had a Party Last Night (2:57); My Best Day (3:37); Simon Says (4:48); Sailing (2:50); It's a Puzzle (2:41); Fill It Up (4:05); Alberta Postcard (4:55); Bob and Bob (3:47); Day Care Blues (5:30); Alien in My Nose (3:36); Something Sweet (2:11); Beans and Weenies (2;25); Murrell's (4:10; and My Pants Fell Down (2:13).

Go to a concert ,already, but if you can't buy this CD............2006-09-15

This is recording of a live concert they did in Conway, Ar.
Live concerts are absolutely what they do best.
If you are anywhere close to where they are performing-GO SEE THEM. We have driven 15 hours, walked three miles in the snow and braved 100 degree Texas heat to see them live.
I don't care if you are 4 or 40 -you'll have a great time.. They'll have you quacking like a duck, spinning around by your seat, craving Mexican condiments, putting up your Little Bunny Foo Foo ears, wishing you could juggle, saying tongue twisters, hugging your kids to sleep and counting in roman numerals (I am going to make my youngest a T-Shirt that says "I can count to 18 in Roman numberals and I'm only VI)."

So Grammy gods, are you listening.. this is a another great CD...

Fred Bogart plays with Keith and Ezra and adds a wonderful dimension to the music- a fullness and richness that enhances the fun.
"Fill It Up" is especially gorgeous with his guitar playing adding to an already lovely song. And who can imagine "Murrel's" without his jazzy piano?

Listening to the CD, it is obvious that the audience is having a blast-laughing, clapping, singing along. Don't forget later, you'll be able to buy the concert DVD and SEE that the audience is having a blast). The intros to the songs are very funny and get a great responses. I especially love the intro to "Day Care Blues". You'll have to buy it to see what Keith says.

There are two new songs on the CD which show that they haven't lost their touch. The songs are as funny and clever as their previous offerings. Of course, this just tantalizes us a little bit- an offering of completely new material would be wonderful. Or how about a dual kids/adult release?

Do not let the fact that some of the songs are on previous releases deter you from buying this- they have many new takes on the old favorites. "Day Care Blues" particulary stands out in this regard- it is a wonderful rendition. You can feel that kid's pain. "Sailing" is also a lot of fun with an audience and "Simon Says" is a quintessential audience participation song. We were having a great time getting very dizzy.

As usual, I am giving a shout-out to their wonderful musicianship. I defy you to listen to "Beans and Weenies" and tell me that's just three guys playing. Ezra's guitar playing rocks on "Day Care Blues" and Keith's voice sounds particularly nice on "Something Sweet".

So, all in all, a nice selection of songs. A nice way to catch a Trout concert and a fun time was had by all.

UPDATE DEC. 2006...
This has indeed been nominated for a Grammy. Congrats to the guys- they deserve it.

Meditation Music:

1. Songs for the Spirit
2. Spin [Enhanced] [Import]
3. Spirit Pop [Enhanced]
4. Star Wars Party
5. Start the Machine
6. Stinky Feet
7. Sweet Sounds of the Sixties
8. Take My Breath Away/Fly [CD-single]
9. The Annoying Music Show's The Annoying Music Show CD [Import]
10. The Family Way - Original Sound Track [Soundtrack] [Import]

Meditation Music

meditation music

Meditation Music

Cycle Delic Sounds Of...

Choral Music of Morton Feldman & Stefan Wolpe

Bach: Suite Nr. 1 G-Dur für Violoncello Solo

Music: Tanz Mit Mir-Das Partyalbum

Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts [Enhanced] [Import]

Bizarre Fruit 2 [Import]

Celtic Colours International Festival 2000

Coquelicot Asleep in the Poppies: A Variety of Whimsical Verse

Back to the Island

Beethoven: Fidelio

Best of [Import]

Bailando Todos Los Ritmos [Import]

A Boniatillo Limpio

Looking Up

The Best of Howard Jones