Ancient Echoes

Amazon.com
This collaboration between healing-music artist Steven Halpern and harpist Georgia Kelly is a pleasant exercise in aimless musings that relax the soul and clear the mind. Halpern, long recognized for his educational work with New Age music, brings a starry Rhodes electric piano and synth to Kelly's swirling, gentle harp as the two try to recreate the ancient ritual of spiritual healing through music. While Halpern's electric piano may be a bit too drippy-dreamy, his synth is expansive and forms a soulful background for Kelly's plucking. "The Oracle at Delphi" stands out for its droning effect and hint of Muslim chant while "From Eleusis" attracts with a melodious flute sound. Halpern and Kelly create a relaxed atmosphere that, in the hands of these two experienced New Age artists, is enchanting. --Karen K. Hugg

Ancient Echoes,Steven Halpern,Inner Peace Music,Ambient,Contemporary Instrumental,Electro-Acoustic,Electronic,Ethnic Fusion,Healing,Leader,Meditation,New Age,New Age / Meditation,Pop,Progressive Electronic,Space,Spiritual,World Music

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Ancient Echoes: Languid Reveries and Perfect Stillness
Wonderful for coven work
Relaxing my eyesight improvement students for 15 years!
Enchanting
Deja vu and mystery!

Ancient Echoes
Steven Halpern
Manufacturer: Inner Peace Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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Inner Peace

ASIN: B000003IUW
Release Date: 1994-03-28

Tracks:

Ancient Echoes
Apollo's Lyre
From Eleusis
Sphinx Synergy
Sand Dance
Dharma Duet (Part 1)
Dharma Duet (Part 2)
Crotona
Ode For Orpheus
Pythagoras
The Oracle At Delphi

Amazon.com

This collaboration between healing-music artist Steven Halpern and harpist Georgia Kelly is a pleasant exercise in aimless musings that relax the soul and clear the mind. Halpern, long recognized for his educational work with New Age music, brings a starry Rhodes electric piano and synth to Kelly's swirling, gentle harp as the two try to recreate the ancient ritual of spiritual healing through music. While Halpern's electric piano may be a bit too drippy-dreamy, his synth is expansive and forms a soulful background for Kelly's plucking. "The Oracle at Delphi" stands out for its droning effect and hint of Muslim chant while "From Eleusis" attracts with a melodious flute sound. Halpern and Kelly create a relaxed atmosphere that, in the hands of these two experienced New Age artists, is enchanting. --Karen K. Hugg

Customer Reviews:

Ancient Echoes: Languid Reveries and Perfect Stillness.......2006-10-10

This may come as a surprise to someone just discovering this wonderful CD, but it is actually 25 or so years old. I originally had this on tape, back in the early eighties...but that tape disappeared during one move or another, some number of years ago. I was delighted to find this now on CD, and couldn't wait to hear the familiar evocative music, with new digital clarity.

The edition I got of this CD was not the one you are looking at here, with the eleven wonderful and familiar songs, but an anniversary edition, which is beautifully packaged, and has a gorgeous blue CD. You should know that this anniversary edition has three extra tracks on it. These new tracks are: Terra Shanty, which appears as the fifth track, Ceremony, which is track eleven, and Temple Priestess, which is track number twelve. Terra Shanty fits in easily with the whole, being a slowly paced harp and keyboard mix, with the minimalism that allows each note to connect with the listener...tapping what is familiar, and adding what is suggestive and mysterious, while Ceremony has a heart-like slowly paced deep drum beat, accompanied by a warm, contemplative flute. It is the 12th track on this new anniversary version, "Temple Priestess," which gives me pause. It seems to me, to be out of sync with the rest of the CD; with fingers tapping and beating a drum, along with a woman's voice, a bass, and a touch of synthesizer. These elements add up to a more African sound, than the rest of the CD. I think it lacks the elegant minimalism and restful, introspective feel of the other compositions. This is my response to it, anyway. .
If you want that very restful pace and the languid reveries that the original inspired, you might find this one track a tad intrusive. It is a matter of taste.

Of the three new tracks on the anniversary CD, I find Terra Shanty to be the most intriguing, as it adds something very interesting to "Ancient Echoes," that being a slightly ominous tone, or maybe just wariness, that is eventually resolved in a glissando passage, as Kelly's fingers swirl over the harp repeatedly; a sound that suggests to me transformation and becoming. It is a thought provoking, hold you in your spot, kind of song.

The literature that comes with the CD mentioned that it is a crime...in the sense of karma, as well, to burn CDs, but if you find the original release to be absolutely perfect, you will definitely feel inclined to do a burn, and leave off one or more of the new songs. I made just such a version for myself, and play that when I want that expansive sound that is not controlled and defined by beats.

I like both versions, but it is good to know what you are getting, so do be aware that there are two versions out there.

I had one of my sweetest, most relaxed, and memorable times of perfect rest, while listening to my old tape of "Ancient Echoes," back in the eighties. It was a very stressful time in my life, and I was living in a very hot NYC apartment, and it was one of those sweltering, humid, August afternoons. I decided that I would not try to fight the heat, but instead I drew a hot bath, and put on this tape. I had one of those loooong tubs, and was laying pretty much flat out in it, just giving myself over to the heat and the music, which spoke to me of long lost times,still reaching out to me in heat shimmers, and the bending edge of dream, and undefined memories, almost within grasp. My Persian cat joined me in the bath, stepping onto my chest, and laying there, as he often did. His fur was floating out, all around him, like grey/blue silk, as we both remained motionless for the duration of the tape. To me, this was one of the most perfect moments of my life; the heat, the music, the absolute peace and stillness, the lack of longing for anything, outside of that very moment. The timelessness of this music was a big part of that...it was and is an unbelievable sweetness. Oh yeah, I recommend it!

Wonderful for coven work.......2005-02-09

This is my favorite Halpern CD. His musical synthesis with Georgia Kelly is profoundly appealing. Their musical imagery conjures sacred acts, sacred rites and sacred beings. I would highly recommend this for any ritual related to Aphrodite or Venus.

Relaxing my eyesight improvement students for 15 years!.......2002-01-21

I have played many of the tracks on this excellent CD for background music in my classroom for the last 15 years. I have never found any other music that so perfectly provides the background relaxation music I want in my classes, which are based on relaxation, without being intrusive. This is a unique CD. Thanks, Steven!

Enchanting.......2001-01-21

I have had this CD for several years and I love the magical and relaxing elements that it evokes. I have listened to this CD over and over again. I use it for gentle movement and stretching in my yoga/movement classes or for backround/unwinding. The music creates for me a peaceful journey through 'ancient' vibrations. i love it and i celebrate it and i am soo happy i just happened upon it!

Deja vu and mystery!.......2000-12-01

This is an enchanting composition reminiscent of ancient Greece, and Egypt. The harp and keyboard evokes a sense of mystery. This is my favorite Steven Halpern CD so far. I find I can listen to it during the day as it is more uplifting. It has "higher" notes which wake you up, but are still relaxing.

Steven Halpern's music is spiritually uplifting, is very pleasant to listen to and you will find yourself immediately feeling more relaxed while listening to this CD. Steven has sold over 4 million albums world wide and I can see why.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

Average customer rating:

Glorious
Awesome... heavenly... ethereal Russian Choral Music
The Might of the Russian Male Choral Sound
Compare These 3
Quite genuine but lacking in contemplative mellowness

Ancient Echoes

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

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Basso Profondo From Old Russia
Russian Medieval Chant
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ASIN: B000003FTV
Release Date: 1995-03-14

Tracks:

Nine Sili Nebesniye
Vo Iskhode Israileve
Slava. Edinorodnii Sine
Maloie Slavosloviye
Retche Gospod Gospevi Moyemu
Slava Vo Vishnikh Bogu
Voskliknite Gospodeve
Velikoye Slavosloviye
Khvalite Imya Gospodne
Gospod Prosveshcheniye Moyo
Deva Dnes
Veriu
Slava Vo Vishnikh Bogu
S Nami Bod

Customer Reviews:

Glorious.......2006-07-31

I have listened to a great deal of Orthodox music and I think this is by far one of the most beautiful collections I have ever heard. Actually, it is one of the most georgeous pieces of music of any kind I have heard.

Awesome... heavenly... ethereal Russian Choral Music.......2006-05-21

This Awesome, ethereal, heavenly ANCIENT ECHOES was a gift of my friend, Dick Talley last year. Seldom does my early awakening miss listening to these choral chants of the Orthodox Monastery!

If I could choose the more interesting, comforting, fasinating polyphonic chants, they would be No.3 "The Only Begotten Son" of Golovanov, No.5 "The Lord Speaketh" and No.6 "Glory be to God in the highest" both by Bortnyansky!

Only Russian Choral Treasures are equally awesome, spiritually refreshing. When I awaken every morning around 4:00, I began listening to both these recordings, before reading or praying for friends, such as, Dick and Anita Talley.

Upon becoming 75 years of age, I tend to simplify my habit of listening to Choral Music. Most fondly reviewed by Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood, "Barbara377" (Fayetteville, GA USA)

The Might of the Russian Male Choral Sound.......2005-10-03

The Russian liturgical music, especially that for the high holy days of Christmas and Easter, owns a mystery all its own. This splendid recording by the Chorovaya Akademia conducted by Alexander Sedov is a fine a sound as any produced on recording. Though few of the composers (with the exception of Tchaikovsky and Grechaninov) are well known outside Russia, the works are all beautifully composed and hauntingly performed. There is somewhat of a sameness to these religious works (little variation in tempi, expressive range, dynamics) but the overall effect is one of humble spirituality.

This is a fine example of the Russian choral music that is growing in popularity one the recorded repertoire and it is for this listener one of the best. Grady Harp, October 05

Compare These 3.......2004-04-19

There are 3 different CD's about Russian Choir "A Cappella" music which can be discussed & reveal a certain enjoyment to different people with different needs or means:

"Ikon" sung by the Holst Singers on Hyperion is the middle ground that gives a well balance & beautiful music from an English choir group. If you did not know they were English, you would think of them as Russian. Most songs are Russian classics from Sviridov, Gretchaninov, Kalinnikov, & Tchaikovsky with modern versions from Part, Gorecki, & Nystedt. The highlight is from the female sopranos which give an angelic & awl inspiring spiritual uplift that must not be missed.

"Sacred Treasures" sung by several groups including The Russian State Symphony Cappelle, The Leningrad State Academic Choir, The Bulgarian National Choir, & a few other groups on Hearts of Space give the most authentic Russian that to English ears may sound slow & uneventful. Yet to a person that knows Russian, this CD will cause the most goose bumps due to its rightful intensity with music from Rachmaninov, Bortniansky, Kedrov, Gertchaninov, Tchaikovsky, Christov, Turchaninov, & Lvovski.

"Ancient Echoes" sung by the Chorovaya Akademia on RCA Victor may give the best first impression due to its well made production that will give a serious work out to any professional stereo system, yet with further study will reveal an over dramatized style that may get in the way. Songs from the composers Sheretiev, Nikolsky, Golovanov, Strokin, Bortnyansky, Grechaninov, Riutol, Tchaikovsky, & Chesnokov.

If your into Russian "A Cappella" music, give these 3 CD's a try & decided for yourself.

Quite genuine but lacking in contemplative mellowness.......2004-01-05

The fantastic cover of this cd notwithstanding (the monk in red habit is a Catholic monk, probably a Carthusian, Orthodox monks wear a different habit), this is a cd of authentic Russian religious music for Christmas and Easter composed in the last 200 years and sung by an all-male choir: the Choravaya Akademia under the direction of Alexander Sedov.

The total length of this recording is 63:25 minutes.

Compared with other such cds available on Amazon.com like Sacred Treasures I and II, Ancient Echoes has a more vigorous and folk-song style. I do not want to sound sacrilegious or cynical in the least but many of the chants sound like Red Army songs.

So if you are looking for something virile and robust, something to bolster your resolution for moral rearmament, this is the kind of music that will delight you. If on the other hand you are looking for something tenderly contemplative, buy Sacred Treasures I or II or Rachmaninoff's Vespers by the Robert Shaw Festival Singers.

Ancient Echoes
Average customer rating:
Ancient Echoes
Savae
Manufacturer: World Library Publications
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Wa y'daber Elohim (And God Spoke)
Tubwayhun Layleyn D'Khafnin W'tseyn (Blessed Are Those Who Hunger & Thirst)
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Phoenician Flu and Ancient Ocean
Residual Echoes
Manufacturer: Holy Mountain
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Residual Echoes

ASIN: B000B5XT0C
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

Death Comes for the Archbishop
Lorelei
Knowe, Pt. 1
Motametrik Canopy Entry
Greetings Ancient Ocean
Blue Eyes

Average customer rating:

Celtic Secrets, Vol. 2
Greg Joy
Manufacturer: Ancient Echoes Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000056QFU
Release Date: 2001-01-09

Tracks:

Lowlands Of Holland
The Cuckoo
Black Mountain
McBurney's Jig
Carolan's Welcome
The Enchantress
Misty Mountain Lady
Mist Covered Mountains Of Home
Let No Man Steal Your Thyme
Rights Of Man
Wild Mountain Thyme
Twin Lakes

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Celtic Impressions
Greg Joy
Manufacturer: Ancient Echoes Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000056QFY
Release Date: 2001-01-09

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Cold, Haily, Windy Night
Lady Guinevere
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DADGAD Delight
Toye For Nishka
Scarborough Fair
A Beggin I Will go
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Drifting On The Moors
Saucy Sailor
Long A Growing
John Barleycorn

Average customer rating:

Best I've ever heard

Antonín Dvorák: The String Quartets

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Tracks:

Str Qrt no. 1 in A, op. 2B.8: Andante - Allegro
Str Qrt no. 1 in A, op. 2B.8: Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato
Str Qrt no. 1 in A, op. 2B.8: Allegro scherzando - Trio
Str Qrt no. 1 in A, op. 2B.8: Finale: Allegro animato
Quartettsatz: Andante appassionato in a: en la mineur (con sordino)

Tracks:

Str Qrt no. 2 in B-flat, B.17: Allegro, ma non troppo
Str Qrt no. 2 in B flat, B.17: Largo
Str Qrt no. 2 in B flat, B.17: Allegro con brio
Str Qrt no. 2 in B-flat, B.17: Finale: Andante-Allegro giusto-Allegro animato
2 Walzees, op.54 B.105: Moderato
2 Walzees, op.54 B.105: Allegro vivace
Str Qrt in F, B.120 (fragment): Allegro vivace

Tracks:

Str Qrt no. 3 in D, B.18: Allegro con brio
Str Qrt no. 3 in D, B.18: Andantino
Str Qrt no. 3 in D, B.18: Allegro energico - Trio
Str Qrt no. 3 in D, B.18: Finale: Allegretto

Tracks:

Str Qrt no. 4 in e, B.19: Velmi pohiblive a razne (Assai con moto ed energico)
Str Qrt no. 4 in e, B.19: Andante religioso
Str Qrt no. 4 in e, B.19: Allegro con brio
Str Qrt no. 5 in f, op. 9, B.37: Moderato
Str Qrt no. 5 in f, op. 9, B.37: Andante con moto quasi allegretto
Str Qrt no. 5 in f, op. 9, B.37: Tempo di valse
Str Qrt no. 5 in f, op. 9, B.37: Finale: Allegro molto

Tracks:

Str Qrt no. 6 in a, op. 12, B.40: Allegro ma non troppo
Str Qrt no. 6 in a, op. 12, B.40: Poco allegro
Str Qrt no. 6 in a, op. 12, B.40: Poco adagio
Str Qrt no. 6 in a, op. 12, B.40: Finale: Allegro molto
Str Qrt no. 7 in a, op. 16, B.45: Allegro
Str Qrt no. 7 in a, op. 16, B.45: Andante con moto
Str Qrt no. 7 in a, op. 16, B.45: Allegro scherzando
Str Qrt no. 7 in a, op. 16, B.45: Finale: Allegro con brio ma non troppo

Tracks:

Str Qrt no. 8 in E, op. 80, B.57: Allegro
Str Qrt no. 8 in E, op. 80, B.57: Andante con moto
Str Qrt no. 8 in E, op. 80, B.57: Allegro scherzando
Str Qrt no. 8 in E, op. 80, B.57: Finale: Allegro con brio
Str Qrt no. 9 in d, op. 34, B.75: Allegro
Str Qrt no. 9 in d, op. 34, B.75: Alla Polka
Str Qrt no. 9 in d, op. 34, B.75: Adagio
Str Qrt no. 9 in d, op. 34, B.75: Poco allegro

Tracks:

Str Qrt no. 10 in E-flat, op. 51, B.92, "The Slavonic": Allegro, ma non troppo
Str Qrt no. 10 in E-flat, op. 51, B.92, "The Slavonic": Dumka - Elegia
Str Qrt no. 10 in E-flat, op. 51, B.92, "The Slavonic": Romanza
Str Qrt no. 10 in E-flat, op. 51, B.92, "The Slavonic": Finale: Allegro assai
Str Qrt no. 11 in C, op. 61, B.121: Allegro
Str Qrt no. 11 in C, op. 61, B.121: Poco adagio e molto cantabile
Str Qrt no. 11 in C, op. 61, B.121: Scherzo: Allegro vivo
Str Qrt no. 11 in C, op. 61, B.121: Finale: vivace

Tracks:

Str Qrt no. 12 in F, op. 96, B.179, "The American": Allegro, ma non troppo
Str Qrt no. 12 in F, op. 96, B.179, "The American": Lento
Str Qrt no. 12 in F, op. 96, B.179, "The American": Molto vivace
Str Qrt no. 12 in F, op. 96, B.179, "The American", Finale: Vivace ma non troppo
Str Qrt no. 13 in G, op. 106, B.192: Allegro moderato
Str Qrt no. 13 in G, op. 106, B.192: Adagio, ma non troppo
Str Qrt no. 13 in G, op. 106, B.192: Molto vivace
Str Qrt no. 13 in G, op. 106, B.192: Finale: Andante sostenuto - Allegro con fuoco

Tracks:

Str Qrt no. 14 in A-flat, op. 105, B.193: Adagio, ma non troppo - Allegro appassionato
Str Qrt no. 14 in A-flat, op. 105, B.193: Molto vivace
Str Qrt no. 14 in A-flat, op. 105, B.193: Lento e molto cantabile
Str Qrt no. 15 in A-flat, op. 105, B.193: Finale: Allegro, non tanto
Cypresses B.152: 1. Ja vim, ze v sladke nadeji: Moderato
Cypresses B.152: 2. V tak mnohem srdci mrtvo jest: Allegro ma non troppo
Cypresses B.152: 3. V te sladke moci oci tvych: Andante con moto
Cypresses B.152: 4. O, nasi lasce nekvete to vytouzene stesti: Poco Adagio
Cypresses B.152: 5. Zde hledim na tvuj drahy list: Andante
Cypresses B.152: 6. O, zlata ruze spanila: Andante con moto
Cypresses B.152: 7. Kol domu se ted potacim: Andante con moto
Cypresses B.152: 8. Zde v lese u potoka: Lento
Cypresses B.152: 9. O, duse draha, jedinka: Moderato
Cypresses B.152: 10. Tam stoji stara skala: Andante maestoso
Cypresses B.152: 11. Nad krajem vevodi lehky spanek: Allegro scherzando
Cypresses B.152: 12. Ty se ptas, proc moje zpevy: Allegro animato

Customer Reviews:

Best I've ever heard.......2006-04-12

The Prague String Quartet's maniacal precision in its performance of String Quartet No. 12 [the "American" Quartet] seems to me the finest chamber performance I've ever heard.