Spheres

Spheres

Track Listings

1. Mind Reflections

2. Mulitple Beings

3. Level of Perception

4. Aurian Eyes

5. Soul Search

6. Personal Energy

7. Voices from Within

8. Spheres

9. Changing Perspectives

10. Phileas

11. Demise of Time

Tracks:

Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet
Song To The Moon
Komm Mit Mir Ins Chambre Separee
Etude From Op.10 No. 3 In E Major
O Mio Babbino Caro (O My Darling Boy)
Londonderry Air (Danny Boy)
Violin Concerto No.3 In G Major, K.216: Adagio
Spharenklange (Music Of The Spheres)
Giuditta: Meine Lippen, Sie Kussen So Heiss
Plaisis D'amour
Wiener Lied (Viennese Song)
Adagio From Clarinet Concerto In A Major, K.622
Serenata
Die Letzte Rose (The Last Rose)
The 'New World' Symphony: Far From Home, Largo
Romeo & Juliet: Love Theme

Amazon.com

Set the table, open the wine, light some candles. Slip on this disc. Let the gentle sounds of André Rieu's slippery fiddle and fur-tipped orchestra lull you with classical music's most memorable soothers, from "O Mio Babbino Caro" and "Plasir D'Amour" to the largo from Dvorák's New World Symphony and Nino Rota's "A Time for Us," which opens and closes the collection. Lightweight stuff, yes, but ingenuously arranged and performed, and the ribbon of reverb that surrounds the orchestra will please erstwhile Mantovani fans. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Romantic Moments.... Andre Rieu.......2007-02-24

Love this music & Andre Rieu is popular with not only my husband & myself but with our children & parents. It's fun & a wonderful way to introduce the classics to any & all lovers of music.

Andre Rieu - Romantic Moments.......2006-08-31

Oh, So beautiful---- every track!!!!! My personal favorite has to be the soothing SERENATA. So, get comfy, put on the headphones so you won't miss a single note...... Andre Rieu's violin is magical!!!!!

Decent playing, lousy arrangements.......2005-11-11

Well, apparently I'm in the minority, but I found this CD disappointing. I bought it because I fell in love with "Song to the Moon" when I heard it on the radio, but this track and possibly the "Londonderry Air" are the only ones worth listening to. Although the melodies chosen for this album are indeed beautiful, the arrangements (Rieu's own) are poorly done. I would much more highly recommend Joshua Bell's Romance of the Violin, which has a similar theme, albeit restricted to classical tunes.

Forget the hype, this is great music.......2005-08-04

Try not to think about the cheesy "Andre Rieu in Tuscany" PBS special. This is a very pleasing program of selections of great romantic melodies, beautifully arranged. Few people are going to purchase a CD of Dvorak's Rusalka just to hear "Song to the Moon" so this is the place to hear it. And it's even better on Rieu's violin than in the original vocal version. Rieu plays perfectly in tune (not always easy in the higher registers of the violin) and has exquisite phrasing that brings out the musicality of even the most over-recorded selections.

Rhieu's arrangements (with Jo Huijts) have hints of "beautiful music" (think Ray Coniff) but only hints, and the result is very tasteful. For example, the piano obligato under the strings on "O mio babbino caro" makes you wish that Puccini had thought of that.

This is a wonderful album to listen to while relaxing and would make a great gift for someone who appreciates classical music but doesn't have specific preferences.

Music That Will Touch Your Heart.......2004-12-05

This one is one of my favorites of Andre Rieu. It's very romantic. It reminded me of my honeymoon in Vienna. I like to play it at home a lot. It lifts the spirit and touches the heart. Made me cry one time.

Chords of the Cosmos: Harmonies of the Zodiac with Crystal Bowls for Chakra Balancing, Meditation & The Healing Arts

Average customer rating:

I liked it, but this is not for everyone!
each tract a meditation
EXPLORING INNER SPACE
Should have listened for myself before purchasing
WONDERFUL CD

Chords of the Cosmos: Harmonies of the Zodiac with Crystal Bowls for Chakra Balancing, Meditation & The Healing Arts
Deborah Van Dyke , and Crystal Voices
Manufacturer: Crystal Voices
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Seven Metals Singing Bowls of Tibet
CRYSTAL VOICES: The Harmonic Vibrations of Crystal Singing Bowls

ASIN: B0000CH8A0
Release Date: 2003-09-01

Tracks:

Aries - C G E
Taurus - C# F G#
Gemini - D F #A
Cancer - D# G A#
Leo - E G# B
Virgo - FAC
Libra - F# A# C#
Scorpio - G B D
Sagittarius - G# C D#
Capricorn - A C# E
Aquarius - A# D F
Pisces - B D# F#

Album Description

Serene waves of crystal bowl tones echo the beautiful musical harmonies of the constellations that Pythagoras called the 'Music of the Spheres'. CHORDS OF THE COSMOS fine tunes our entire body to the musical order of the universe with a deeply healing sound journey around the zodiac wheel. This first-of-its-kind recording provides a new level of therapeutic sound with harmonic chords for each astrological sign. It facilitates the alignment and balancing of the chakras and the auric field. The perfect healing companion for meditation, joy, massage and all healing arts.

"Deborah Van Dyke is a beautiful woman with a beautiful soul. Chords of the Cosmos is a set of 12 deep overtone compositions tuned to the signs of the zodiac and Pythagorean progression. Each piece is designed for Chakra meditation to balance a specific body part. Meditation with this CD aligns listeners with the resonance of the cosmos.

This disc is pure overtone bliss. Deborah's techniques on the bowls are flawless. There is no need for looping, layering and/or processing. The bowls' natural overtone properties simulate those effects and stimulate introspection, relaxation and healing. Deep listening is a wonderful experience. It allows listeners to go to their "happy places" for ultimate relaxation.

This is a special CD from a special lady. It is the overtone CD among overtone CDs." Jim Brenholts, Music Reviewer

Customer Reviews:

I liked it, but this is not for everyone!.......2004-12-30

I have done exercises of toning in the past with Quigong, and this was very similar for me. I found the tones beautiful and melodic, and simply that, sustained and harmonized tones. If that is what you are looking for, then yes, you may indeed enjoy this. While I don't know whether the cords used are balancing for the zodiac or of the areas mentioned, I do know that I liked the meditative properties of the drawn out harmonies for myself.

This album though, is not for everyone. The pieces here might be compared to the musical sounds made by a harmony of fine crystal glassware at dinner. For some people this style of sounding may be annoying at best, and unpleasant at worst. If you are looking for clear crystal harmonics, you may very well enjoy this CD. If, however you are looking for soothing, musical composition I suggest checking out some Dean Evenson and passing on the Crystal Bowls.

My advice: always listen to a few of the provided samples first. That is what they're there for!

each tract a meditation.......2004-08-16

I think that Chords of the Cosmos is a wonderful resource for anyone seeking sustained meditative work. I also study astrology and enjoy selecting sequences of the different tracts to 'tune in' to the various notes revealed for each sign or season, what a great way to open one's consciousness to the subtle music of creation! And because a whole tract is dedicated to each zodiacal sign, one can create meditative 'sessions', such as for the four elements, the three qualities, or any array thereof.

Another example would be to arrange or program the tracts into the Chaldean order of planets (based on the signs that each planet occupies within one's own horoscope) to feel the flow of harmony or changes from the Sun to Mercury and Venus to Earth (the sign opposing the 'Sun Sign'), followed by a rendezvous in the sign of the Moon... then meditatively guide one's consciousness outward through Mars to Jupiter and Saturn using the harmonies of these signs of the Zodiac. As the Sun is the "heart" of our solar system model, this meditation could be considered a "heart-centered" approach for guiding the flow of consciousness from the source of light and warmth and then outward through each planet... and back again!.

The chord arrangements for each sign are beautiful, each tract is a meditation in itself!
I've read how Pythagorus studied number and notes with his monochord, how Einstein would play his violin for inspiration while solving his equations. _Chords of the Cosmos_ makes it possible to engage in similar meditative journeys, the possibilities are endless. With this gift one can literally craft their own meditative vehicle through the beautiful vibrancy of the crystal bowls, played in layers of harmony to resonate with the seasons of time.

EXPLORING INNER SPACE.......2004-08-06

Pythagoras, Rudolph Steiner and other leaders in the field of consciousness have all talked of the connectivity between outer space and inner space, the macrocosm/the microcosm. Chords of the Cosmos is unique in its use of musical triad chords created with crystal bowl tones, that mirror the tones of the constellations.

Make no mistake, this is a seriously therapeutic CD, not intended for mere listening pleasure, although the serene, perfectly tuned chords are beautiful indeed to hear. But there is much more to this CD, that, to the uninitiated ear, may not be appreciated on first listen. Anyone interested in deepening their meditative experience will find immense value in using this CD to fine-tune their body instrument. And the more one works with it, the further one goes. Within the first five minutes I slip into alpha state and thereafter, far beyond.......

Chords of the Cosmos creates a bridge of tonal sounds that enable you to experience the subtle fields of energy of the constellations, while simultaneously accessing the deeper fields within your inner space. A remarkable tool for higher consciousness and healing!

Should have listened for myself before purchasing.......2004-05-18

Should have listened for myself before purchasing the special price package. Traveling The Sacred Sound Current is pleasant and Chords of the Cosmos drives me and others who heard it... nuts.

WONDERFUL CD.......2004-01-02

I do listen to this recording at least once a day - sometimes with headphones, sometimes I just let it play in the background. When I listen to it with headphones, I feel the sounds reverberating first in my head and then spreading throughout the rest of my body, re-arranging, harmonizing and aligning my energy field and by body from the top of my head, all the way to the tips of my toes. Then, I feel ready to embrace the day, balanced, nourished, strengthened.

Hindemith Conducts Hindemith: The Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon

Average customer rating:

Hindemith conducts Hindemith
Hindemith continues the musical traditions of the Germanic schools
Phenomenal performances
Lean, clean and unadorned, as Hindemith intended
Hindemith Himself

Hindemith Conducts Hindemith: The Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000U1NHE
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Customer Reviews:

Hindemith conducts Hindemith.......2006-11-10

The musician's musician, the most versatile, skilled and knowledgeable composer of the 20th Century can be heard with delight in this excellently remastered Deutsche Grammophon recording of him conducting the Berlin Phiharmonic Orchestra in definitive renditions of some of his own masterpieces. Hindemith by and large was the best interpreter of his own works. Under his direction pure, unadulterated, joyfull music-making of great vitality prevails, thoroughly unpedantic, yet devoid of vanity, pretentious display or exaggeration. The rendition of the Mathis Symphony is, of course, definitive and the nowadays most frequently perfomed Symphonic Metamorphosis is done with gusto. But we would like to call special attention to such an inexplicably neglected masterpiece as the thoroughly delightful, but substantial Symphonic Dances and the unique and profound Konzermusik for piano, brass & harp. What neo-Baroque, roaring twenties exhuberance displayed in the Concerto for Orchestra and what a gem of human insight "The Four Temperaments",
here definitively rendered! ER

Hindemith continues the musical traditions of the Germanic schools.......2006-08-19

Hindemith is a far too overlooked composer, and I daresay that in decades to come people will realize the greatness of his compositions, a Hindemith renaissance will take place. I for one enjoy his music greatly and this box set is a perfect introduction to his music. Contrapuntally Hindemith stands apart from most 20th composers, indeed his music speaks the 20th century idiom, however as one will recognize immediately Hindemith speaks his own language. In fact this composer is one of the most original of his time. Contrapuntally he continues and adds to the great traditions harkening back to the Renaissance. His conducting is no nonsense and gets to the heart of his music. I find this music to be riveting, exciting, intellectual and heartfelt. Hindemith has his place in Music history.

Phenomenal performances.......2006-03-07

Hindemith may not have been a Schoenberg or Stravinsky, but at his most inspired he was certainly way up there near the top of the heap, among the greatest composers of the late lamented 20th Century. What these recordings tell us, however, and to me this comes as something of a shock, is that he was also a truly great conductor. All the performances in this set are in my opinion truly extraordinary, among the very best orchestral performances I've ever heard -- of any music by any composer of any period.

Everything one would expect of a superlative performance is here, the tempi, the balances, the shadings, accents, nuance, intonation, attention to detail, attention to overall structure, sweep, authority, intensity, even expressiveness (YES, expressiveness!) and passion (yes, passion too).

To get a sense of how remarkable a conductor Hindemith is, listen carefully to the slow movement of Mathis. With tempi this slow (and this is the slowest I've heard for this piece, extremely slow), it's very difficult to maintain interest, not to mention control. However, in the hands of Hindemith and this remarkable orchestra, with whom he's obviously established an extraordinary rapport, the tempo works beautifully and the piece takes on an almost Mahlerian intensity I'd never heard before.

As if this weren't enough, the set contains one of the most remarkable pianistic performances I've ever heard, from Hindemith's composition student, Hans Otte. The "Four Temperaments" begins in typical middle period Hindemithian style, with a statement of the rather steady, bland and predictable theme, but with the entry of the piano for the first variation, all is transformed -- and suddenly we are back in the world of early Hindemith, one of the most inventive and masterful composers since Bach himself. The pianism is simply beyond belief here, just stunning in its verve, precision, virtuosity, nuance and phrasing. With the entry of the piano the piece just takes off, soars into the stratosphere, thanks to composer and pianist both. Otte was hand picked by Hindemith for this performance so possibly what we hear is at least in part due to careful coaching. But it's hard to understand how mere coaching could produce such marvels of nuance and such complete control of the instrument and total musical involvement in passage after passage. If you ever want to inspire a young performer with the possibilities of his art, you would do well to play your student this recording.

As for the more mundane details, even they are all good. The sonics are fantastic for a recording of this vintage, clear, even vibrant, with lots of body and power when called for. The orchestra itself is superb and in perfect rapport with its director. Even the piano selected for these recordings is a marvel, simply one of the finest instruments of its kind I've ever heard.

I know, it's easy to be skeptical in the face of all these superlatives, but I assure you I'm not usually this enthusiastic. These recordings truly are gems, trust me. HAH!

Lean, clean and unadorned, as Hindemith intended.......2006-02-04

Hindemith jumped at the chance to record his major works with Deutsche Grammophon when it was offered in the early 1950s.

First, was his theory of conducting. He felt the conductor should, as much as possible, be "transparent" and not add anything to the music, i.e., through not gesticulating (especially wildly), etc.

Second, he had seen and heard conductors do just that to his works. And he had heard this result in what he considered overconducting.

Now, that doesn't mean that Hindemith wanted some "native" style of conducting, or even people conducting his works as sight-reading exercises. He expected a piece to be properly understood so that such overconducting was unnecessary.

The result is to be heard here. Now, by "lean and clean," we're not not talking Boulez. But, compared to his day and age, to the Furtwaenglers and others, we are talking something almost that spare.

When you hear these CDs, you'll immediately understand why Hindemith thought that other composers made his music sound too muddy.

These are mono recordings, but in studio in the early and mid 1950s with the Berlin Philharmonic, the baseline sound quality was quite good and the CDs have been well-engineered.

This is an outstanding buy of a great 20th-century composer.

Hindemith Himself.......2005-02-24

"Hindemith Conducts Hindemith: The Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon" is another essential release in Universal's "Original Masters" series. This 3CD set features the composer himself conducting some of his best known works, including his two Symphonies, Symphonic Metamorphosis, Concerto for Orchestra, and Konzertmusik with Monique Haas on piano. All of the recordings hail from 1954-57 and while they are in mono, the DG sound is clear as a bell. Previously I owned a dozen or so CDs featuring various Hindemith works (performed by conductors Abbado, Bernstein, Blomstedt, Goossens, Kletzki, Kubelik, Szell, etc.), but only one with Hindemith himself conducting his own music (the Violin Concerto with David Oistrakh -- see my review). Well if you like a composer and have the ability to hear them conduct their own music, then you should do it, whatever the cost. I mean what would you give to have the opportunity to hear Beethoven or Mozart perform! Luckily in this case you don't have to fantasize, you just have to buy this affordable, budget-priced box set.

Average customer rating:

Another stellar performance by Kleiber and the VPO
The Finest Gypsy Baron Overture
The Finest J. Strauss Recording - Ever?

1992 New Year's Concert

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Carlos Kleiber Conducts Strauss
New Year's Concert 2003
New Year's Concert 2005
New Year's Concert (2002)
2007 New Year's Concert

ASIN: B0000027ZT
Release Date: 1992-04-21

Tracks:

Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor
Stadt und Land
Dorfschwalben aus Osterreich
Vergnugungszug
Der Zigeunerbaron
Tausend und eine Nacht
Neue Pizzicato-Polka
Persischer Marsch
Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka
Spharenklange
Unter Donner und Blitz
An der schonen, blauen Donau
Radetzky-Marsch

Customer Reviews:

Another stellar performance by Kleiber and the VPO.......2002-06-03

Carlos Kleiber once said that he wanted to be "the next great Strauss conductor after Herbert von Karajan." He's achieved it. This is another amazing performance. The energy is his interpretations is palpable. I'm a huge Strauss fan, and a huge von Karajan fan, but this just might be one of those rare cases of the pupil outdoing the master.

The Finest Gypsy Baron Overture.......2000-05-23

I've heard that when Carlos Kleiber rehearses an orchestra, they get rehearsed thoroughly. Such is the case concerning this timeless recording of Strauss music. The Gypsy Baron Overture is given the best performance I have ever heard, live or on recordings. The opening string passage couldn't have been played any better, even by gypsys themselves. The finesse and clarity that the Vienna musicians play with is remarkable. And if one can unglue themselves enough from listening to the Gypsy Baron more than once, the Thunder and Lightening Polka can easily takes its place. Who else has attempted this polka at such a break-neck speed but has also kept the spirit of the music just as intense? Carlos Kleiber wins here!

The Finest J. Strauss Recording - Ever?.......1999-12-19

As I write (1999), this 1992 performance has become the stuff of legend, and with good reason. Carlos Kleiber, perhaps the premier conductor of his generation, achieved a stupendous feat in grafting his extraordinary musical intelligence to pure, unabashed glee to create what may be the finest single Strauss performance ever. There isn't a single note which doesn't communicate verve, wit, and joy, nor is there a better argument for the case that Johann Strauss, while not a profound composer, was, in his idiom, a GREAT one. (It's interesting to note that the strength of his abilities was perhaps the only thing upon which Wagner and Brahms agreed.)

The Vienna Philharmonic has never sounded better, and the occasion - the 1992 New Year's concert - brings the ultimate Strauss audience to the proceedings as a participant. In short, this is a stupendous recording, and it should serve as a cornerstone of any music lover's collection.

Strauss: An der schönen, blauen Donau Waltz Op314; Kaiser Walzer Op437
Average customer rating:

Definitive Compilation of Strauss Waltzes

Best set of waltzes

Boskovsky's Secret

Good! But... what is in it?

Strauss: An der schönen, blauen Donau Waltz Op314; Kaiser Walzer Op437

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Dvorák: Cello Concerto; Tchaikovsky / Karajan, Rostropovich,

ASIN: B000004244
Release Date: 1995-02-14

Tracks:

An der sch blauen Donau
Frsstimmen
Sphn-Kle
Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald
Du und Du
Wein, Weib und Gesang
Tausend und eine Nacht
Wo die Zitronen bl
Liebeslieder

Tracks:

Wiener Blut
Wiener Bonbons
Krleben
Morgenbler
Dorfschwalben aus terreich
Rosen aus dem S
Kaiser-Walzer
Accellerationen

Customer Reviews:

Definitive Compilation of Strauss Waltzes.......2001-09-30

For many years Willi Boskovsky, concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic, led his orchestra in its annual New Year's Day Concert series. I believe this splendid collection is recorded from many of these concerts, featuring both familiar and lesser known Strauss waltzes. Boskovsky was a superlative technician at the podium, but also one with much emotion, capturing the essence of Strauss' light-hearted music. Those in search of a definitive Strauss waltz collection need look no further.

Best set of waltzes.......2001-09-26

I have had this set for almost 2 -3 years now. This set easily betters most other sets of waltzes I have heard. Highly recommended

Boskovsky's Secret.......2001-09-07

Before purchasing this two-CD set last year ..., I did considerable shopping for the "perfect" Strauss collection. Even at the time of purchase, all the Boskovsky hype left a nagging concern that these pieces might reflect too much Willi and not enough Strauss.

No need for concern. This offering is a treasure.

Part of Maestro Boskovsky's secret seems to be a perfect mix of technique and technicality -- a blend to please the romantic, the purist, and even us music lovers who are a little of both. His conducting reflects feeling and passion but without crossing the line and affecting the integrity of the music.

And the selection is great. Not only do we get the usual "suspects" but some slightly lesser known waltzes as well. Don't miss the energetic performance of Morning Papers, with its memorable brass passages played here to perfection.

Don't worry that it isn't a DDD recording; it's great digital stereo. Besides, it's the Vienna Philharmonic and Boskovsky! Highly recommended.

Good! But... what is in it?.......2000-03-05

I find the selection excelent but I regret that the titles are in German. Unless you speak German there is no way to learn the title of any of the waltz. A real pitty. The 3 stars I give it is because of the lack of English titles.The amazing thing is that the publishing company is British! Bloody mess!

Average customer rating:

"Charmingly Misanthropical"
a beautiful album
Believe it, It's true.
This is real music
just an amazing album

Icarus
The Forms
Manufacturer: Three Spheres
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Spirituality

ASIN: B00005UN14
Release Date: 2003-02-25

Tracks:

Stel
Stel
Innizar
Innizar
Sunday
Sunday
Seagull
Classical
Stravinsky
Black Metal

Customer Reviews:

"Charmingly Misanthropical".......2005-05-10

First and foremost, I'd like to say that I am truly upset by the way this album is being sold under the "used" and "new" (cheap CDs for the people who have little faith in what such an album could do for them) section, for two dollars and ninety six cents, none the less. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!? This album, in its enitrety, is a masterpiece. In fact, it is one of the few albums that I own that I can say there is absolutely nothing wrong with (among such winners as Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon", Neutral Milk Hotel's "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea", Wilco's "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", and so on). To point out how moving, and wonderful this album is, I shall retell my story of how this album came to be my favorite album of the passed summer.
Now, (skipping all the crap before this) a good friend of mine who has always recommended contemporary materpieces to me, burned me a copy of this album (along with the Desert Fathers, which is another fantastic band you should be aware of. But that's beside the point) after I showed a slight interest in the guitar work I had heard briefly. So, when I arrived at home late at night, I placed this album in my CD player and just let it play. At first, well, I wasn't at all impressed. The vocals were messy, the guitar was far too distorted, and it just seemed to be nothing special (but keep in mind, I was still excited for the Warped Tour at this time, blach). I also felt like the recording was horrid... "it sounded like it was recorded in someones garage in the 80's," was my initial response. Little did I know that this album was recorded by Steve Albini... If I had known this at the time, I may have paid more attention to the album the first time around. Now, don't let this discourage you, because I did say it is one of my favorite albums of all time. So, after the album was over (oh, yeah... the album is about the length of an average EP/Singles Set: a record eighteen minutes and nineteen seconds), I decided to play it again since I had felt as though I'd missed the entire thing. So, I played it again. This time, a few things caught my attention: a few melodies in certain songs, the accented piano in 'Stravinsky', the way Ecco Terres (Alex Tween) wailed and screamed like an emo artist with an adrenaline kick, and even the bass made me smile a bit. It was slightly resonant of SDRE's (Sunny Day Real Estate for all you uneducated "music enthusists.") Well, since I still felt like I wasn't getting the full effect of this album, I kept listening. And on and on I went, replaying this CD in its entirity until I "got it". Now, I still struggled with Stel (parts I and II) but all and all, it was wonderful. I had never felt so much passion when Ecco Terres screamed in "Black Metal", or how well put together the album is. I had never fully comprehended how complicated the guitar rythms were, or how perfectly the basslines complimented the pattern and ascencion of the drums. The time signatures were extrordinary in certain areas, and the vocals, along with the lyrics were so foreign but warm and inviting. They floated atop the flowing melodies and breezy harmonies. Needless to say, I ate this album up. And to this day, I still force it into my girlfriends CD played and pretend I am Ecco Terres or one of the Kenny brothers as the moving bassline in "Innizar (pt. II)" comes in after being faded out, then simply climax's with Ecco almost exhaling an unidentifiable sound. In a sense, I almost believe him to be a siren (greek mythology), coaxing you into the music and giving you a little taste of Forms excellence, yet prolonging pure, exquisite bliss until the very last few chords. If you have ever listened to the entire "Icarus" album, at the end of "Black Metal", there's a build up (not a climax... "Classical" does that), and then suddenly, it fades out, then back in to three chords that end the album, making you feel complete. There's nothing else to say, this album makes me feel infinate; like I am an untouchable child, again. Look, I've said enough. The Forms rule. This album rules. Please, please.. heed my advice: Buy this album (from Threespheres).

a beautiful album.......2004-01-25

i bought this album because i liked the cover art, and i haven't stopped listening to it. it takes everything i like about indie rock, distills everything i don't like about it, and then throws in some new innovations of its own (song structures, rhythms). the recording is spectacular (obviously steve albini gets some credit for that), and the singer is great. this album is only 20 minutes long, but i don't think it needs to be any longer. more records should be this length, scrapping the bad songs so people don't have to skip over them. all in all, a great record.

Believe it, It's true........2003-06-20

Believe all of the excitement generated by this release, the countless cooing reviews and word of mouth are not to fall on deaf ears. This is music at it's best, three ordinary men who have the power to play from their guts and make you feel it in yours. A true return to the vehemence of smaller bands who do what popular "musicians" of today could not even fathom. Get this record and pay attention to The Forms for they deserve it.

This is real music.......2003-06-09

If you don't like music(meaning you listen to radio bands) don't buy this album. If you are a true music fan, and you know who you are, get this. If you don't like it at first, then listen to it over and over again, you should like it after the second or third time through. You will love this album!!

just an amazing album.......2003-04-15

What separates this band from pretty much every other band is the rhythm - so intricate but so fluid to the point where you don't even notice how unusual it is. And the music somehow manages to be ridiculously catchy too. The song "Stel" is a masterpiece. Get this album right now.

Average customer rating:

Nice, entertaining at times but a bit too thin to my ears.
twisted masterpiece

The Spirituality
The Desert Fathers
Manufacturer: Three Spheres
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Icarus

ASIN: B0000C9JEW
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Tracks:

Agnus Dei
Practical Joke
Peace in That
Evolution
Art of Reason
Gloria in Excelsis Deo
Pitbulls
Focus
Life After Life Everlasting
Transmorph

Customer Reviews:

Nice, entertaining at times but a bit too thin to my ears........2003-12-16

This is a good Indie Rock album, nothing more. This is by no means essential. However it is worth buying if you like hearing varied rock albums that can't be pigeonhold into a genre(Indie Rock is a very vague term to me). The band themselves see their sound containing elements of Led Zeppelin, Shudder to Think and My Bloody Valentine. This is vaguely helpful but, to it's credit, the album has it's own personality.
The songs themselves can be entertaining, but to me they don't pack an exciting or emotional OOOOMMMPPPPHHH factor. Some of the songs seem a little undeveloped, kind of minimalistic and don't really go anywhere further than where they were in the first 30 seconds (such as 'Pitbulls'). Also the album lasts only 29 minutes. The first track ('Agnus Dei') is merely voice; a kind of monastic chorus, this may not be your cup of tea. It sets the scene for the album well, but like half of the songs is only nice at best. Tracks two ('A Practical Joke') and three ('Peace in That') are more traditional songs, with cool sounding guitar and track 2 is sung by a woman with a beautiful voice. Track 4 (Evolution) is one of the short pieces that doesn't really have an impact on me. Track 5 ('The Art of Reason), like tracks 2,3 + 4 is another guitar song and it is one of the good tracks. Track 6 ('Gloria in Excelsis Deo') is an interesting electronic(it sounds electronic anyway)loop drone piece, this is a track which doesn't evolve very much but it does have an eerie quality. Track 7 is 'Pitbulls'. Track 8 + 9 ('Focus' and 'Life after Life Everlasting') go together in my opinion, a light guitar piece goes into a hypnotic My Bloody Valentine-esque track. Track 10 ('Transmorph') is probably the weakest track, that has no effect on me.

In conclusion, tracks 2,3,5,8+9 are very good. 6 and 7 are nice, unusual but not very substantial and 1,4 and 10 don't really do anything for me.

twisted masterpiece.......2003-11-13

this is a jarring album, in a good way. a really good way. it has some of the coolest guitar sounds i've ever heard. the song pitbulls is amazing. this record is probably the best thing i've heard this year.

Neujahrskonzert In Wien (New Year's Concert)

Average customer rating:

Still A Splendid New Year's Concert Recording from the Wiener Philharmoniker and Herbert von Karajan
A great and moving valedictory
The best Strauss collection on CD
Missing Battle? :-(
Kathleen Battle's "Rite of Spring was indeed the highlight.

Neujahrskonzert In Wien (New Year's Concert)

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000001G84
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Die Fledermaus- Overture
Sphnkle Op. 235: Music Of The Spheres Op. 235
Anna Polka op. 117
Delirium op. 212
Pleasure- Train op. 281
Pizzicato-Polka
Beloved Anna Polka op. 137
Thunder And Lightning op. 324
Voice Of Spring op. 410
Without Cares op. 271
The Blue Danube op. 314
Radetzky March op. 228

Amazon.com

For the lightness and lilt, one need look no farther than Herbert von Karajan's New Year's Day 1987 offering with the Vienna Philharmonic. Playing to the manner born, the Viennese are on their very best behavior for Karajan and summon every last nuance out of the music. Kathleen Battle sings the Voices of Spring exquisitely, and every one of the performances vibrates with life. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Still A Splendid New Year's Concert Recording from the Wiener Philharmoniker and Herbert von Karajan.......2007-04-11

In 1986 the Wiener Philharmoniker decided to invite annually a guest conductor to conduct its popular New Year's Day concerts, which still do garner interest from devout classical music fans around the globe. The first conductor so honored, Herbert von Karajan, made the concert his own memorial tribute to the Strauss family (Johann Strauss, Johann Strauss II and Josef Strauss), emphasizing such popular pieces as the "Die Fledermaus" overture and "Voices of Spring" waltz, featuring an elegant solo from acclaimed American soprano Kathleen Battle. It still remains one of the finest concert recordings in the history of the Wiener Philharmoniker's annual concerts, holding its own against recent recordings featuring the likes of Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Mariss Jansons, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta and Riccardo Muti among others. Devout fans of the Strauss family, Wiener Philharmoniker and Herbert von Karajan won't be disappointed with this memorable concert performance, which this single CD has captured almost virtually in its entirety.

A great and moving valedictory.......2007-02-16

Despite his long association with the Vienna Phil., I don't believe Karajan was invited to conduct a New Year's concert until this event in 1987. He wasn't a beloved personality, but as the DVD shows, he seemed tiny and frail that night, and he delivered the traditional New Year's greeting to the audience with obvious emotion. Death was not far from anyone's mind. For me, Karajan is the pre-eminent conductor of Johann Strauss in his generation, and all his recordings of waltzes and polkas, going back to an EMI disc made literally in the rubble of post-war Vienna, are must-listens. Here he's not as lively or alert as in the past, but the orchestra still plays beautifully and thhere's a patina of nostaliga in every bar.

Musically the high point is a ravishing Voices of Spring sung by Kathleen Battle in her most magical style. Look to other Karajan recordings for more sparkle and zest; look to this one for a once-in-a-lifetime event.

The best Strauss collection on CD.......2001-06-02

If you're looking for a single CD of the Strauss family's music, look no further than this recording of the 1987 New Year's Day concert (which is also available on DVD, and is perhaps the most recommendable Karajan concert film).

Every work is marvellously conducted, played, and recorded. Highlights include the wonderful Fledermaus Overture, Spharenklange (Music of the Spheres), and Fruhlingsstimmen (Voices of Spring, with Kathleen Battle in superb voice). As for the Blue Danube, has it ever been played more magically than on this record?

The only snag is the absence of any notes in the fold out booklet.

Missing Battle? :-(.......2000-02-29

I am a big fan of Kathleen Battle and the Vienna Philharmonic. The quality of the recording was excellent as is the case for all the New Year's Day concerts. The main reason I purchased this Cd was to hear Kathleen Battle. Although she is said to perform 3 selections this is not the case. Miss Battle only is present on one selection-Voices of Spring.

Kathleen Battle's "Rite of Spring was indeed the highlight........1999-06-18

Of the entire Strauss repertoire presented, none could compare to the splendid soprano solo by Kathleen Battle on "Rite of Spring." Ms. Battle demonstrates why, despite her Met dismissal, her colloratura remains unequalled in classical music, past and present. Certainly there has never been and will never be a soprano who can match her voice control and tonal precision. Without a doubt, hers is one of the greatest soprano voices of the century.

Average customer rating:

Most valued KJ
A hidden treasure!
why not the whole thing?
6 Stars!
If you only own one piece of music in your life...

Spheres
Keith Jarrett
Manufacturer: Ecm Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000261JN
Release Date: 2000-05-09

Tracks:

Spheres (1st Movement)
Spheres (4th Movement)
Spheres (7th Movement)
Spheres (9th Movement)

Amazon.com

Hymns/Spheres, the original double LP from which the four pieces here are drawn, was perhaps too long and somewhat self-indulgent, and ultimately risked tedium. Yet the album contained some of the most transcendent music Keith Jarrett has recorded. In 1976, he came upon the mighty Trinity Organ, built by Karl Joseph Riepp (1710-1775) at the Benedictine Abbey in Ottobeuren, and proceeded to extend its already awesome capabilities by experimenting with partial openings of its stops. The result was an array of eerie tonalities with which he could accomplish a memorable contribution to the long tradition of organ improvisation. The opening section of the nine-part "Sphere" (four selections of which comprise this release) is a grand, piercing, and elevating summoning of shadowy recesses of the spirit, and of their liberation in devotion to whatever one's gods. --Peter Monaghan

Customer Reviews:

Most valued KJ.......2003-07-25

At first I laughed when hearing Spheres, expecting something different from KJ with a German 1800C organ. Now I rate it top5 of my nearly 50 KJ CD's. I can never find the end of this piece, listening to it for days over and over again, repeat is a highly valued key on the CDPlayer when this is inside. Try reading Inferno by James Nachtwey, tasting Kopke 1995 Vintage port and palying Spheres - your on the way ;-)

A hidden treasure!.......2003-01-12

Everyone's review is right on the money--this CD is an overlooked masterpiece. I bought it in 1997 and it has been my favorite record ever since. Track down the double CD with all 9 movements as well as "Hymn of Remembrance". The entire collection is beautiful. The music is sublime--I've never heard music like it in my life. At the same time, its energy stems from the same place that all of Keith's musical energy comes from. Fans of classical organ music might also find this CD interesting for its technical ingenuity.

why not the whole thing?.......2002-05-25

Yes, this is really an amazing performance. Shards of sound, whispers of melody, great atmospherics. At times the music reminds me of Ligeti pieces like "Atmospheres"; music that is more about color and dynamics rather than melody and counterpoint. Jarrett coaxes just about every imagineable sound out of a baroque organ, with its myriad of tone colors and strange intonation.
This CD is actually a severely truncated version of the LP set "Hymns/Spheres", which was at least twice the length of this release (only 4 of 9 movements of "Spheres" are on the CD, and the two lengthy "Hymns" are missing). I would assume that the reason is that ECM figured not enough people would buy the complete set on CD, but this is my official request for them to
release this set in its entirety.

6 Stars!.......2001-12-07

This CD is so entirely awsome, that I cannot find words to express it. I've heard it probably a hundred times already. The music is so atmospheric, that you believe you're in a different World. If I had to, I would sell my entire Collection against this CD.

If you only own one piece of music in your life..........2000-04-10

This is it. I originally purchased the Hymns/Spheres 2 LP set in the 80s in a used record store while looking for some of Jarrett's jazz titles. When I listened to it I found a work so phenomenal and inspiring that it changed my musical tastes forever. I have been listening to this recording off and on for years, yet its depth and complexity only seem to improve with age. Initially almost atonal to the uninitiated, the familiar ear sees only the purest serenity. This is easily my favorite work (by anyone, any genre) of all time. If anyone at EMI is listening, please do the right thing and release a remastered, unedited version again.

Average customer rating:

A waltz lovers delight:

Wiener Musik

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0009U55QK
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Customer Reviews:

A waltz lovers delight:.......2007-02-11

If you love to listen to Viennese waltz music, you'll find this 12 disc set a wonderful experience. Highly recommended.

Music Info: