B-Day [Limited Edition] [Import]

B-Day [Limited Edition] [Import]

B-Day [Limited Edition] [Import]

Track Listings
 
1. Notorious Scum
2. Rectifier
3. Need Money For Beer
4. Ugly, Fat And Still Alive
5. Underground
6. Voodoo Box
7. Sunscars
8. Zero Dude
9. New Liver Please!
10. Rundown Quarter
11. Alcoholic Nightmares

B-Day,Tankard,Afm,Heavy Metal
B'day
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • No matter how many re-releases an album has, if it isn't good it just isn't
  • Zorro!
  • Beyonce - B'Day Deluxe Edition & Video Anthology Album
  • I especially like Flaws and All...
  • Great CD
B'day
Beyoncé
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary BluesContemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
Contemporary R&BContemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | R&B | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
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  5. My December

ASIN: B000NDIAWO
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

  1. Beautiful Liar
  2. Irreplaceable
  3. Welcome To Hollywood
  4. Greenlight
  5. Kitty Kat
  6. Upgrade U
  7. Flaws And All
  8. "Still In Love" (Kissing You)
  9. Get Me Bodied (extended mix)
  10. Freakum Dress
  11. Suga Mama
  12. Deja Vu
  13. Ring the Alarm
  14. Resentment
  15. ListenHidden Bonus - Worldwide Woman

Tracks:

  1. Amor Gitano
  2. Listen (Oye)
  3. Irreplaceable (Irreemplazable)
  4. Beautiful Liar (Bello Embustero)
  5. Beautiful Liar (Remix)
  6. Beautiful Liar (Spanglish) featuring Sasha AKA Beyonce'
  7. Irreplaceable (Irreemplazable - Nortena Remix)

Amazon.com

History may prove Beyoncé's B'Day to be a rare double-whammy of an achievement. Not only is it destined to hold up as one of the thumpingest, most polished-sounding discs of 2006, it's also bound to loose a new phrase into the popular lexicon: a "freekum dress" (n.), as described on a same-named track halfway through this excellent CD, is a "right-fittin'" garment owned by every woman; "when they act wrong, that's when you put it on." Linguistic hijinks aside, here is Beyoncé as the public rarely sees her: fully liberated and artistically fearless. "Ring the Alarm," a big-banging, fire-alarm-clanging wake-up call to a cheating man, finds her seething; "Kitty Kat," a feline-like size-up of a stale relationship helped along by the still innovative Neptunes, shows her spurned; the womanly, fire-in-the-belly come-on "Suga Mama" gets her way, way worked up; and the crackling, vocally volcanic "Resentment" steeps her in Aretha-caliber soul. For all the disc's solo trailblazing, though, where it really soars is on one of two duets with Jay-Z: While "Up Grade U" chugs along entertainingly enough about the good life ("I'm talkin' spa bags and fly pads and rooms at the Bloomberg"), opener "Deja Vu" blasts out a bomp-bomp beat nobody with a head to nod could resist. Cake, candles, and Cristal or no, B'Days rarely get this good. --Tammy La Gorce

More from Beyoncé and Destiny's Child


Dangerously in Love, Beyoncé


#1's, Destiny's Child


Destiny Fulfilled, Destiny's Child


Survivor, Destiny's Child


Live in Atlanta (DVD), Destiny's Child


Destiny's Child: The Platinum's on the Wall (DVD)

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars No matter how many re-releases an album has, if it isn't good it just isn't.......2007-08-01

What happened to Beyonce? Why did she want to change her style so much? Why did she totally sell out to pop industry? What happened to her fresh 'Crazy in love' sound?.

When I first listened to this album I was expecting two things: Hearing Beyonce's great voice with new and fresh beats, and listening to what Hip Hop and R&B power couple had to offer. With an industry full of fake hip hop MCs, and R&B opportunists I thought that the power couple could offer something fresh and Real!. But this wasn't. All the songs simply shout out loud: I am great! I am amazing! Love me! I can produce trashy songs and still be the queen of R&B!!!!.

Irreplaceable is the only good song in the album, she did a nice effort to get close to the Hispanic community by singing songs with two of the best top Latin artists, the colombian Shakira and the mexican Alejandro Fernandez. But still, this record isn't good.

I saw all the videos she released for this new album, and they weren't good... at all. They looked cheap and most of all with no imagination or creativity. It was as if one day the label decided it and just recorded in the same set with similar hair styles similar backgrounds and no plot at all.

Again Irreplaceable is the only good song in this record and the rest is the type of album you expect from any other trash one record hit wonder artist. Where did the real Beyonce go????

4 out of 5 stars Zorro!.......2007-08-01

I bought this CD because it contained the lead song from my favorite Spanish soap opera: Zorro, "Amor Gitano". I also enjoy listening to the rest of the other songs. Beyonce is a great songstress. Good double CD!

5 out of 5 stars Beyonce - B'Day Deluxe Edition & Video Anthology Album.......2007-07-05

I love Beyonce! And this new Deluxe Edition is HOT!! It features "Beautiful Liar" with Shakira. Also 2 new songs "Flaws and All," and "Still In Love (Kissing You)." The Video Anthology is great too! All Beyonce videos I love!

5 out of 5 stars I especially like Flaws and All..........2007-07-03

I'm a fan of Beyonce and I liked the original version of this album from the moment I heard it. I could identify with alot of the songs and they are great to dance and work-out to. I watched the videography and decided that I would buy this cd with the added songs mainly because of the song Flaws and All. This songs speaks to me in a very personal and lovely way and that's why I love Beyonce..lol..So I gave it 5 stars, and stamp that it's a very good cd, but I'm a fan.

5 out of 5 stars Great CD.......2007-06-09

Very good CD and with the extra disc you get more bang for your buck
B'day
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • good
  • I only liked 2 songs
  • Outstanding, Beyonce has done it!
  • 2-1/2 stars -- "B" is for "berserk"
  • Pretty Good
B'day
Beyoncé
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary BluesContemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
Contemporary R&BContemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | R&B | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
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  1. FutureSex / LoveSounds
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ASIN: B000H0MKGA
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Tracks:

  1. Deju Vu
  2. Get Me Bodied
  3. Suga Mama
  4. Upgrade U
  5. Ring The Alarm
  6. Kitty Kat
  7. Freakum Dress
  8. Green Light
  9. Irreplaceable
  10. Resentment

Amazon.com

History may prove Beyoncé's B'Day to be a rare double-whammy of an achievement. Not only is it destined to hold up as one of the thumpingest, most polished-sounding discs of 2006, it's also bound to loose a new phrase into the popular lexicon: a "freekum dress" (n.), as described on a same-named track halfway through this excellent CD, is a "right-fittin'" garment owned by every woman; "when they act wrong, that's when you put it on." Linguistic hijinks aside, here is Beyoncé as the public rarely sees her: fully liberated and artistically fearless. "Ring the Alarm," a big-banging, fire-alarm-clanging wake-up call to a cheating man, finds her seething; "Kitty Kat," a feline-like size-up of a stale relationship helped along by the still innovative Neptunes, shows her spurned; the womanly, fire-in-the-belly come-on "Suga Mama" gets her way, way worked up; and the crackling, vocally volcanic "Resentment" steeps her in Aretha-caliber soul. For all the disc's solo trailblazing, though, where it really soars is on one of two duets with Jay-Z: While "Up Grade U" chugs along entertainingly enough about the good life ("I'm talkin' spa bags and fly pads and rooms at the Bloomberg"), opener "Deja Vu" blasts out a bomp-bomp beat nobody with a head to nod could resist. Cake, candles, and Cristal or no, B'Days rarely get this good. --Tammy La Gorce

More from Beyoncé and Destiny's Child


Dangerously in Love, Beyoncé


#1's, Destiny's Child


Destiny Fulfilled, Destiny's Child


Survivor, Destiny's Child


Live in Atlanta (DVD), Destiny's Child


Destiny's Child: The Platinum's on the Wall (DVD)

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars good.......2007-07-17

i think beyonce did a pretty good job on this. she matured on this. it is funky and jazzy. and she looks so beautiful on the album pics; very Brigitte Bardot and Saint Tropez (always did thought she looked like a black Bardot). i like Get me bodied. it sounds a bit like soul in the '50's mixed with the music of today. it's nostalgic. she does sound angry on some songs though. my fave is Upgrade You. thats a great song! it's funky and catchy. although i don't know why Irreplaceable became such a big hit. i am annoyed of it! people have that as their cell phone ring everywhere i go!

2 out of 5 stars I only liked 2 songs.......2007-07-13

Beyonce had two new radio hits with this cd "Deja Vu" and "Irraplaceable." Unfortunately those are the only good songs on the album. I was dissapointed with Beyonce and I'm gald I didn't buy this album. The rest are filler tracks and are not reccomended to anyone. I do like Beyonce but was dissapointed with this album. Sorry B but I give this a thumbs DOWN!

5 out of 5 stars Outstanding, Beyonce has done it! .......2007-06-27

I love this entire CD. Every song is different from each other and the Cd keeps you moving. This is a must have to your collection. It's also great for a long car ride. If you have seen any of the videos that accompany these songs you could appreciate this Cd even more!

2 out of 5 stars 2-1/2 stars -- "B" is for "berserk".......2007-06-14

Beyoncé undoubtedly has unquestionable talent, and even though all of Destiny's Child's albums (and B's own Dangerously In Love) fell victim to mixed reviews, Beyoncé was still able to triumph, vocally and on the charts. Well, it's not the same story with her latest offering, B'day.

Actually, maybe the chart comparison isn't valid any more because ever since she released "Irreplaceable" and the Shakira duet "Beautiful Liar", sales soared to double platinum certification and now she's made videos for just about every song on here. But as everyone knows by now, this album was made in only a few weeks and contains very few songs, and the songs aren't very exciting. I mean, Beyoncé can still sing, but she doesn't have to SCREAM. As I said in my review title, she goes a little overboard, especially in the obligatory song-with-my-partner, "Déjà Vu". And "Ring the Alarm" has to be one of the most annoying songs I ever heard.

The rest of the songs aren't that great either. Jay-Z shows up again to kick a dry verse on an already trite "Upgrade U". "Green Light" and both versions of "Get Me Bodied" are club tracks that are so disposable that they could have been done by ANYone. And am I the only one that thinks "Freakum Dress" and "Kitty Kat" are stupid?

As everyone else said, the only real saving graces to this album are "Resentment", "Listen" (from Dreamgirls) and the aforementioned "Irreplaceable". The rest of the album should be left alone, and it's too bad because we all know that Beyoncé has much more talent than this. B'day will make you wish that nightfall will come soon.

Anthony Rupert

3 out of 5 stars Pretty Good.......2007-05-15

I have to say this is my first Beyonce CD. I knew a song or two, so I bought it. I found a few songs right away that I liked, and made it worth the price. After listening to is a few times more though, it really is a variety of sounds and I'm glad I made the purchase.
Brand New Day
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Absolutely Brilliant
  • The worship project, too!
Brand New Day
Jonathan Butler
Manufacturer: Maranatha
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Jazz | Styles | Music
Jazz FusionJazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music
Smooth JazzSmooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
GospelGospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
Praise & WorshipPraise & Worship | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | R&B | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000PSJDB4
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

  1. Brand New Day
  2. Redeemed
  3. Gonna Lift You Up
  4. Mercy -- w/ Jodie Butler
  5. You Are My Everything
  6. Do You Still Love Jesus?
  7. I Believe
  8. I Love To Worship
  9. We Love To Praise Your Name
  10. He Said He Would
  11. Magnify The Lord

Album Description

This collection, written entirely by Jonathan, celebrates the blessing of life and the power of God's faithfulness on the journey. The title track, "Brand New Day," sets the tone, expressing the joy of a man fulfilled. Brand New Day is a treat for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Absolutely Brilliant.......2007-07-12

Jonathans' all so positively inspiring lyrics, outstanding vocal range and capabilites, his brilliant acoustic fluidity and musical arrangement, on Brand New Day, are truely to be admired. Jonathan and all involved take it nice and easy on 'You Are My Everything', 'He Said He Would', 'I Love to Worship', 'Tell Me (Do You Still Love Jesus), I Believe, and the beautiful duet with one of his sweet sounding songbird daughters Jodie, titled 'Mercy'. Jonathan continues his infectious devotion to God with the upbeat memoriable 'O, Magnify The Lord', 'Brand New Day', 'Gonna Lift You Up', 'Let The Redeemed Say So' and 'We Love To Praise Your Name'. This is a wonderful CD, to listen to in your car, or just listen to with your loved ones(children included), in good times or bad. Judiciously absorb each positive word, and note, of Jonathans' 'Brand New Day' and I'm sure you'll agree, it is absolutely brilliant. Thank you God, for Jonathan Butler.

5 out of 5 stars The worship project, too!.......2007-06-16

"Forget all your problems. Forget all your worries;" those are a few words of the title track, "Brand New Day" and after absorbing this spirited musical effort from Jonathan Butler into your spirit, you will find it easier to do just that.

Brand New Day is Jonathan Butler's second full solo offering of inspirational music. The project could have easily been titled "The Worship Project Too" or "The Worship Project 2" for it is a glorious rendering of inspiring and uplifting compositions that I find are love songs to Jesus Christ and music with a message for the rest of us.

The South African born Butler, known in some circles as an accomplished smooth jazz guitarist and vocalist/R&B artist, is absolutely unashamed with sharing his personal relationship with Christ with the masses. Just as he so fervently did on his previous inspirational effort, he again demonstrates his ministry in song here. Butler is more than a guitar playing genius - he is an outstanding vocalist, accomplished writer, arranger and producer. Jonathan is from a very musical family and being the last born of 12 children, it appears that perhaps, God saved the best for last?

Brand New Day offers you 13 wonderful tracks and assisting Jonathan in the production area is the very capable, Luther "Mano" Hanes. who also assisted in the expert engineering of this project. My faves on this work include, "Brand New Day", "Mercy" (featuring Jonathan's daughter, Jodie), "Let The Redeemed Say So", "We Love to Praise Your Name" and " He Said He Would."

Jonathan Butler: "Brand New Day" - a blessing from beginning to end.
[...]
Beethoven for Babies
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Beethoven for Babies
  • Nicest classical CD I have found for my baby (& me)
  • Ode To Beethoven
  • Pseudoscientific crap, but some of the music is good here
  • Nicest classical music CD I've found for my baby (& me)
Beethoven for Babies

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

BalletsBallets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000009OU6
Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

  1. Six National Airs With Variations, Op. 105: The Cottage Maid (Welsh)
  2. Six National Airs With Variations, Op. 105: The Last Rose Of Summer (Irish)
  3. Six National Airs With Variations, Op. 105: Chiling O'Guirg (Irish)
  4. Six National Airs With Variations, Op. 105: English Bulls (Irish)
  5. Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: St. Patrick's Day (Irish)
  6. Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: O Mary, At The Window Be (Scottish)
  7. Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Oh, Thou Are The Lad Of My Heart (Scottish)
  8. Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Fur Elise
  9. Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 8 In C Minor ('Pathetique') - Adagio cantabile
  10. Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: String Quartet No. 13 In B-Flat - Alla Danza Tedesca. Allegro assai
  11. Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 7 In D - Menuetto (Allegro)
  12. Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: The Creatures Of Prometheus - Finale. Allegretto
  13. Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 18 In E-Flat - Menuetto (Moderato e grazioso)
  14. Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 20 In G - Tempo di menuetto
  15. Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Symphony No. 8 In F - Allegro scherzando
  16. Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Symphony No. 9 In D Minor ('Choral') - Ode To Joy
  17. Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 15 In D ('Pastoral') - Rondo (Allegro ma non troppo)
  18. Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Symphony No. 6 In F ('Pastoral') - Hymn Of Thanksgiving

Amazon.com

For the parent looking to ease their child into a familiarity with classical music, this is a very well chosen set of Beethoven works. It begins with a generous selection of airs composed late in the composer's life. The presence of the flute as the lead instrument on these selections has a soothing quality that moves the ear in an ideally subtle way, especially as it gives way to the more excited piano sonata pieces. Zoltán Kocsis's reading of "Pathétique" is followed by Claudio Arrau's take on the 7th, 15th, and 18th sonatas and Sviatoslav Richter's lyrical take on the 20th ("Pastoral"). Programmed amidst the piano pieces, which are great studies in dynamics and musical spacing, are some fine orchestral snippets, none longer than five minutes. The collection does a fine balancing act, condensing works that don't inherently lend themselves to shortened renditions and carefully managing moods, entry, and egress to each segment. This is fine anthology work. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Beethoven for Babies.......2007-05-21

My baby and I really enjoy this CD. It is so fun to feel the baby get excited when I play it. I have a pillow speaker and just place it right up against my stomach. It evens helps me to get in a nap or just rest for a while.

5 out of 5 stars Nicest classical CD I have found for my baby (& me).......2005-09-01

This is a very pleasant CD to listen to, and I think the quality of the music is excellent. I enjoy listening to this with my 10 month old son, and we also listen to the radio and lots of modern music. I recently purchased 5 of the classical "Baby Einstein" CDs and I consider them to be inferior to this Beethoven for Babies CD. The Baby Einstein are very synthesized sounding and I think they are annoyingly mellow and kind of dopey. This Beethoven CD is beautiful. In fact I'm going to buy 1 or 2 more from this series.

5 out of 5 stars Ode To Beethoven.......2005-05-13

The actual reason I bought this cd is for "Fur Elise" but it turned out to be much more than I bargained for. Before road rage sets in while sitting in a traffic jam during rush hour, play this. If you need to take it easy and escape from your reality, play this. Need something to play at work that's not explicit or offensive, play this. Of course, it's not Beethoven himself, but if you need some quiet time, play this. Even while you read, you could play this. If you want some authenticity to your collection, get Beethoven for Babies.

3 out of 5 stars Pseudoscientific crap, but some of the music is good here.......2004-05-27

The 3 stars is only because the hucksters that put this together at least had the decency to tracks featuring Arrau & Richter on this CD. A lot of these "turn your baby into a genius with classical music" CDs and tapes feature only lousy musical performances from hack musicians you have never heard of.

That having been said, if you are stupid enough to believe any of this "Mozart Effect" horse manure --- which continues to have no support in any sort of controlled test environment --- then your babies will probably inherit your limited intellectual capacities & no amount of Beethoven & Mozart will ever be able to help them.

If, on the other hand, you are introducing Junior to classical music, you could do worse --- but you could also do better. Go get Arrau's complete Beethoven sonatas & concerti, get the Berg Quartett's complete Beethoven quartet cycle, and get John Eliot Gardiner's complete Beethoven symphonies --- just for a start. Also, don't stop with Beethoven & Mozart. My 9-month old daughter gets a diverse exposure to a thousand years of music, and very little is off limits. She got acquainted with the Bartok Quartets within her first couple of months, and it doesn't look like we have created an axe murderer or anything like that.

Anyway, if you want to create a classical music lover, do it right and go the distance, rather than doing it piecemeal with CDs like this. Your baby may still be a moron, but at least will be a moron with exquisite taste.

5 out of 5 stars Nicest classical music CD I've found for my baby (& me).......2003-11-23

This is a very pleasant CD to listen to, and I think the quality of the music is excellent. I enjoy listening to this with my 10 month old son, and we also listen to the radio and lots of modern music. I recently purchased 5 of the classical "Baby Einstein" CDs and I consider them to be inferior to this Beethoven for Babies CD. The Baby Einstein are very synthesized sounding and I think they are annoyingly mellow and kind of dopey. This Beethoven CD is beautiful. In fact I'm going to buy 1 or 2 more from this series.
Around the World in a Day
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • And now that I'm an icon let's make some art
  • Around the World in a Day...
  • Uncompromised
  • This album is so beautiful.
  • Welcome to Paisley Parc, The World of Prince!
Around the World in a Day
Prince & the Revolution
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Neo-PsychedeliaNeo-Psychedelia | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | R&B | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music
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Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000002L7R
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Around The World In A Day
  2. Paisley Park
  3. Condition Of The Heart
  4. Raspberry Beret
  5. Tamborine
  6. America
  7. Pop Life
  8. The Ladder
  9. Temptation

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars And now that I'm an icon let's make some art.......2007-03-16

For all of the earthshattering impact that Purple Rain had on the popular music universe, Around the World in a Day seems to be the Prince album that means the most to me these days. "Condition of the Heart" is really the core of the album for me. We have the Indian influenced title track and then the Beatles-inspired "Paisley Park" and "Condition of the Heart" just changes everything up totally. I've had some deep conversations with a good musical friend about this track and what it means and how the operatic quality of it totally meshes with the lyrical content. It's saddening and deep and meaningful and helps hyperintellectual cats like myself find connection with the sadness and blues and Spirits that we wrestle with when we meditate on the frustrations of love.

And the rest of the album is pretty good too. "Tambourine" is an oft-overlooked track, but it hangs will with future spare funk jams like "Housequake". "Pop Life" and "Raspberry Beret" are the two killer singles. "America" is really filler to me and stuff like "Partyup" on "Dirty Mind" puts it to shame.

This album is not as airtight as "Purple Rain" from a pop perspective. But Prince showed a lot of audacity going for a sound like this after The Industry expected him to just keep cranking out singles like Michael Jackson went "Bad" after "Thriller".

And to think in one of my previous musical philosophical incarnations I though Prince was profane and I couldn't dig it...

Ashamed to think about that looking back....

5 stars

--SD

3 out of 5 stars Around the World in a Day..........2007-02-15

Bought this remastered ($7US). This album for me yielded two tunes:

1. Raspberry Beret (good song...weak video)
2. Pop Life (an interesting song, if I do say so...)

Still, this is Prince. No one could really match the body of work that the man had put out up until this disc. Three stars!!

5 out of 5 stars Uncompromised.......2006-04-04

It's amazing that a musician as sonically adventurous as Prince would become one of the biggest pop stars in the world, but in the 1980's that's just what happened. And yet at the height of his popularity, Prince never seemed to try to cater to the masses. "Around the World in a Day", which followed the runaway success of "Purple Rain", is evidence of Prince's uncompromised vision. Easily the most experimental album of his career, Prince combines Beatles-like psychadelia (the title track), classical music ("Condition of the Heart"), political protest ("America"), standard Prince libido ("Tamborine") and good old-fashioned pop ("Raspberry Baret"). "ATWIAD" is second only to "Sign 'o the Times" as my personal favorite Prince album.

5 out of 5 stars This album is so beautiful........2006-01-19

I love Prince music. Some looked at this album as a step down from Purple Rain but that is complete b.s. It is more of a creative artistic move from Prince and The Revolution. My personal favorite track is The Ladder. The back up vocals are superb from Wendy, Lisa, Susannah, and Taja Sevelle. I love it.

5 out of 5 stars Welcome to Paisley Parc, The World of Prince!.......2005-11-29

After the albums 1999 and Purple Rain, Prince was already multi-selling superstar and he could basically do what he wanted, he went one step further again and released a album that is pop-psychedelic with songs simular to Beatles "Sgt. Pepper" but with more pop. This album wasn't the biggest hit and critics often critisize it for it differences from previous albums. However, they're all wrong. This album is fantastic, both musically since it feautures loads of fascinating instruments and lyrically it explores new levels of Prince's brillianct song writing. The colourful cover of this album is a good way of descibing it's versatility. "Around the World In One Day" is too unique too not be enjoyed.

It starts with the title track, it got both African percussion, flutes and a whole lot off odd instruments. It stands for a good intro to what is coming. "Paisley Parc" his second song was also his new label. Musically it gives a good preview on the psychedelia. The song is about an utopia, (an alternate world) where everything is good and people get along. "Condition of the Heart" is a ballad, it starts with piano 2:30 minute before he starts singing. This melancholy song is exceptionally long, no hit single but good ballad. "Raspberry Baret" was the big hit from this album! And listening to it you can understand why, it's cathcy as hell. "Raspberry beret, The kind U find in a second hand store
Raspberry beret, And if it was warm she wouldn't wear much more"

"Tambourine" is really odd, but coming from Prince and this album in particular I'm not surprised. "Close my eyes what's it like,What's it like inside your tamborine?" and "All alone by myself Me and I play my tamborine". "America" is funky as hell (Especially it's riff), the song itself critisise political America and it's fight to destroy communism in the 80's instead of taking care of it's own citizen. We can draw paralles today to the Iraq War that's been a political priority. "Pop Life" is my favorite pick of this album, it's a very cathcy song and it's about how celebrity status can change people's life for the worse. So true.

"The Ladder" is simply amazing, it a slow paced song that feautures saxophone, it's starts spoken where Prince desribes a king from the land of sinapeny that didn't deserve to be. He doesn't do anything right and does not know where he comes from. Neither the love from Electra is adeqaute for him, all he wants is "The Ladder". The song is about finding yourself I think, and finding the right path in life. Something that is very difficult, for everyone. If you wanted something very heavy, the you got it with "Temptation". It feautures horns and heavy guitar riffs. The song is about what the title suggest.

Overall, A diffrent but fantastic album, Prince had the guts to record a very unique album, both musically and lyrically. The album is not as much about tabu's and sex as other album, this one's more political and personal. Before you listen to critics, listen to the album yourself and you should enjoy this other side of Prince.
The Essential Yo-Yo Ma
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • pure genius
  • Another great Yo-Yo Disc
  • first disc great- second a flop
  • Encore
  • The Versatile Yo-Yo Ma
The Essential Yo-Yo Ma

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Appassionato
  2. Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone
  3. Vivaldi's Cello
  4. Classic Yo-Yo
  5. Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon

ASIN: B000A7Q29G
Release Date: 2005-08-16

Tracks:

  1. Prde from Suite No. 1 in G Major for Cello, BWV 1007
  2. II. Largo from "Winter", Op. 8, No. 4, RV 297 from the Four Seasons
  3. Jesus, bleibet meine Freude (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring), BWV 147
  4. Schafe kn sicher weiden (Sheep May Safely Graze), BWV 208
  5. Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (Sleepers Awake), BWV 645
  6. The Swan from Carnival of the Animals (Chamber Version)
  7. Havanaise, Op. 83
  8. Mtation from Tha
  9. Liebesfreud Instrumental
  10. Allegro ben ritmato e deciso from Three Preludes
  11. Vocalise Vocal
  12. IV. Allegro from Sonata in D minor for Cello and Piano, Op. 40
  13. Andante Cantabile for Cello Solo and String Orchestra, Op. posth.
  14. IV. Rondo alla Zingarese. Presto from Quartet No. 1 in G minor for Piano and Strings, Op. 25
  15. III. Finale. Allegro moderato from Concerto in B minor for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 104

Tracks:

  1. Cristal
  2. A lenda do caboclo
  3. Chega de Saudade Live
  4. Wapango Live
  5. Libertango
  6. Appalachia Waltz Solo Cello Version
  7. Butterfly's Day Out
  8. 1B
  9. Pickin' from Three Pieces for Solo Cello
  10. Simple Gifts
  11. The Mission
  12. Gabriel's Oboe
  13. The Falls Album Version
  14. The Eternal Vow from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
  15. The Cellist of Sarajevo - A Lament in Rondo Form for Solo 'Cello, Op. 12
  16. Chi passa per'sta strada
  17. Mido Mountain (Chinese Traditional)
  18. Mohini (Enchantment)
  19. Baroque in Rhythm from Suite for Cello and Jazz Piano Trio
  20. Anything Goes Instrumental
  21. I Could Have Danced All Night Extended version

Amazon.com

Here are three dozen pieces of music, all played by Yo-Yo Ma, culled from his extensive discography. Aside from the technical mastery and beautiful tone that are absolutes in all of his playing, one is dazzled by his curiosity and ability to adapt to so many forms and types of music. His Bach and Vivaldi are pellucid and played with non-sentimental crispness, his tango music gritty and rhythmically pungent, his jazz seemingly spontaneous, the "Meditation" from Thais simply ravishing, "Anything Goes" a romp, and the Appalachian music performed with both respect and a great twang, while the traditional Chinese music is fascinating. It's really a matter of how much Ma loves whatever he plays here, how entirely he becomes involved in it, and what a fine partner he invariably is to other musicians. This collection is a doozy--it is truly "essential." --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars pure genius.......2007-05-21

No instrument asks more from the soul of an artist as the cello does.
Yo Yo Ma shows to be master of the instrument and his interpretations en technique are pure genius. Everyone should have this album in his (or hers of course) basic classical collection

4 out of 5 stars Another great Yo-Yo Disc.......2007-05-15

The set-up with the classical pieces on the first disc and the other on the second is excellent.

3 out of 5 stars first disc great- second a flop.......2007-04-12

the first disc is awesome. the second disc is weird and boring.

5 out of 5 stars Encore.......2007-03-31

Incredible. My young cellist (son) loves it. Beautiful music. The album is well organized and each song transitions nicely.

5 out of 5 stars The Versatile Yo-Yo Ma.......2007-03-29

I've found this collection to be extremely delightful! It gives you a sense of the versatility of Yo-Yo Ma like no other, with one disc being dedicated more to his classical side, while the other explores jazz and world music venues. Not your typical "greatest hits" collection.
Working (Original 1978 Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • An underrated musical
  • Wonderful Lesser Known Gem
  • Keep Working!!!
  • a good, if obscure CD
  • off the beaten path
Working (Original 1978 Broadway Cast)

Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Studs Terkel's Working (Broadway Theatre Archive)
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  4. Working: Vocal Selections
  5. Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)

ASIN: B00005LZSR
Release Date: 2001-07-10

Tracks:

  1. All The Livelong Day (Schwartz)
  2. Lovin' Al (Grant)
  3. The Mason (Carnelia)
  4. Neat to Be a Newsboy (Schwarz)
  5. Nobody Tells Me How (Rodgers-Birkenhead)
  6. Un mejor Dia Vendra (Taylor-Daniele-Landers)
  7. Just A Housewife (Carnelia)
  8. Millwork (Taylor)
  9. If I Could've Been (Grant)
  10. Joe (Carnelia)
  11. It's an Art (Schwartz)
  12. Brother Trucker (Taylor)
  13. Fathers & Sons (Schwartz)
  14. Cleanin' Women (Grant)
  15. Something to Point To (Carnelia)
  16. I'm Just Movin' (Schwartz) (from the L.A. Theatre Works complete recording of the 1999 revised version)
  17. Hots Michael at the Piano (Carnelia) (previously unreleased demo recording performed by the composer)
  18. The Mason (Carnelia) (previously unreleased demo recording performed by the composer)
  19. Joe (Carnelia) (previously unreleased demo recording performed by the composer)
  20. Lovin' Al (Grant) (previously unreleased demo recording performed by the composer)
  21. Fathers & Sons (Schwartz) (performed by the composer)

Amazon.com

The original 1978 Broadway cast recording of Stephen Schwartz's Working has long been awaited on CD, and this great-sounding 2001 release proves it was worth the wait. Surely one of the more unlikely sources for a musical was Studs Terkel's 1972 book that compiled interviews of American working people discussing their jobs and what they liked and disliked about them. Schwartz transformed these interviews into a series of songs written by himself, Craig Carnelia, Mary Rodgers and Susan Birkenhead, Micki Grant, and pop singer James Taylor, and accordingly the variety of songs is as great as the variety of the workers featured. There's the lyric beauty of "The Mason," the rueful "Just a Housewife," the retiree's wry "Joe," the waitress's lilting "It's an Art," Taylor's pop-country "Brother Trucker," and the powerful emotion of "Fathers and Sons," realized by a compelling cast that features David Patrick Kelly, Joe Mantegna, Bob Gunton, and Lynne Thigpen, among others.

Six bonus tracks include a new version of the grocery checker song written for the 1999 L.A. Theatreworks production, Carnelia and Grant performing their own songs (unfortunately, Grant's track comes from a poor-quality audio source), and Schwartz's moving performance of "Fathers and Sons" from 1999's The Stephen Schwartz Album. Also welcome are 2001 notes from Schwartz paired with 1978 notes from Terkel, and a detailed listing of the composers and performers of each song. Working was filmed for American Playhouse in 1982. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars An underrated musical.......2006-03-16

This musical seems to be very underrated, because it isn't done in a traditional style. There is no set storyline or characters. It is essentially a grouping of songs about different people and the work they do in their lives. Some of the songs are very powerful, like "Millworker", and some are just fun, like "Lovin' Al". Some songs date the recording, as songs like "Brother Trucker", while good, have a bit of a synthesized 70's feel. The majority of the songs are more traditional.

I saw this show done by my high school years ago, so maybe it holds a bit of nostalgia for me, but it is definitely worth checking out.

4 out of 5 stars Wonderful Lesser Known Gem.......2005-12-26

I have never seen Working, but would love to, and I would love to perform it so as to revive interest in it. I found out about this recording from an online site, and I fell in love with it. It's a very modern style musical although from 1978. Were it on Broadway today, it would still be revelent to today's working class. My favorite number probably has to be "It's An Art", just because of its sheer fun. I could listen to that song all day and never get bored with it. I do, however, find "Brother Trucker" to be a bit tiring, and "Neat To Be A Newsboy" is just plain old, outdated, and ANNOYING! Other than that, wonderful ablum for an almost forgetten show.

5 out of 5 stars Keep Working!!!.......2004-06-12

I had the privilege of seeing a production of this wonderful musical at L.A. Valley College in May 2004. I quickly fell in love with the songs and the entire premise of the musical. Now, with this CD, I can finally sing along to all the brilliant songs over and over again, belting them out like there is no tomorrow.

What makes Working so special is that anyone can relate to the lyrics, they are powerful, beautiful, touching, and extremely real. Anyone who has ever worked a day in their life will feel the lyrics hit close to home. Whether you're a housewife, a valet parker, a fireman, a millworker, a teacher, a cleaning woman, or even a hooker, this musical has a place for you, no matter what job you do.The emotion, sincerity, and love expressed in the songs are amazing, and they are all extremely unique and a pure joy to listen to.

All the songs are fantastic but the stand-outs have to be "All the Live Long Day," "Just a Housewife," "If I Could've Been," "It's An Art," "Father's and Sons," "Cleaning Women," and "Something to Point to." I also have a soft spot for "Brother Trucker" and "I'm Just Movin" from the 1999 revival, which I am so grateful is included in this CD. This is a terrific, feel-great album everyone should listen to. Give Working a chance, it's worth it.

4 out of 5 stars a good, if obscure CD.......2003-09-26

i admit that this is an obscure musical, but nevertheless i found myself in a production of WORKING as Grace, the millworker. upon listening to the cd, i found that each song characterized the character well. the newsboy song is NOT annoying and my favourite songs are "its an art", "cleaning women", "if i could've been" and "lovin al". I would only recommend this CD for a real musical theatre afficionado, as those who don't appreciate the beauty of a musical won't understand these songs.

5 out of 5 stars off the beaten path.......2003-07-10

I had never heard of this show until I stage managed a musical revue that included "If I Could've Been." That song grew on me, and I finally had to check out the rest of the soundtrack. All of the music on this CD is fantastic, and the lyrics feel sincere, creating beautiful moments for each character. Stephen Schwartz's best decision with this show was collaborating, allowing different composers to bring their own talents and specialties to the music, thus making it more real and less "Broadway." My only criticism is that the liner notes are slim.
Les Miserables (Highlights from the 1987 Original Broadway Cast)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • BEST OPERA MUSIC EVER
  • Time well spent.
  • Great Score, But Highlights Missing Critical Songs
  • Buy the full version, please
  • Argh Matey!
Les Miserables (Highlights from the 1987 Original Broadway Cast)
Alain Boublil , Claude-Michel Schonberg , and Colm Wilkinson
Manufacturer: Decca U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000084TRM
Release Date: 2003-01-28

Tracks:

  1. Overture/Work Song
  2. I Dreamed a Dream
  3. Who Am I?
  4. Castle on a Cloud
  5. Master of the House
  6. Stars
  7. Do You Hear the People Sing?
  8. A Heart Full of Love
  9. One Day More
  10. On My Own
  11. A Little Fall of Rain
  12. Drink with Me
  13. Bring Him Home
  14. Javert's Suicide
  15. Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
  16. Wedding Chorale/Beggars at the Feast
  17. Finale

Amazon.com

While not overly generous at 55 minutes, the highlights album of the 1987 original Broadway cast recording of Les Miserables is intelligently selected and likely to prove satisfying to most fans. It includes the best-loved numbers of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's score, beautiful ballads ("Bring Him Home," "I Dreamed a Dream") and rousing anthems ("One Day More," "Do You Hear the People Sing?") alike, but eliminates some choral numbers ("Lovely Ladies"), redundancies ("Red and Black"), and connective tissue that propels the plot along ("Valjean Arrested," "Come to Me (Fantine's Death)"). Sure, a more perfect selection could have lasted longer than half of the two-disc set's 104 minutes by adding "At the End of the Day" and "In My Life," among others, but it's still a good representation on a convenient single disc. Of course, those who always want to re-create the theatrical experience will never be satisfied with a highlights album.

Re-creating their roles from the London production, Colm Wilkinson plays the heroic Valjean and Frances Ruffelle is the despondent Eponine. Randy Graff (Fantine), Terrence Mann (Javert), David Bryant (Marius), Judy Kuhn (Cosette), Michael Maguire (Enjolras), and Leo Burmester and Jennifer Butt (the Thénardiers) fill out the cast. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars BEST OPERA MUSIC EVER.......2006-11-03

This is the BEST!! I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes this kind of music!

5 out of 5 stars Time well spent........2005-09-14

Each member of the Les Miserables cast stands to deliver this musical to its audience. Within moments we are transported to France during their Restoration. We experience sadness, laughter and, indeed, want to join in their crusade. The music and deliverance, in my opinion, is excellent.

4 out of 5 stars Great Score, But Highlights Missing Critical Songs.......2005-08-05

Composers Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's score for "Les Miserables" is simply brilliant and the spectacular Broadway cast, led by Colm Wilkinson, Randy Graff, Terrence Mann, and Frances Ruffelle, help bring this incredible music to life!

While I normally enjoy "highlight" cds, this one clocks in at a mere 55 minutes and could have easily included a couple of additional tunes (thus losing one star). Most notably missing: "At The End Of The Day", "Come To Me", "Red And Black", and "In My Life". The show's most memorable songs, however, are included.

Best tracks:

I Dreamed A Dream
Master Of The House
Stars
Do You Hear The People Sing
On My Own
A Little Fall Of Rain
Bring Him Home
Empty Chairs At Empty Tables

Great cast, great score ... even a good buy. But I would suggest the full double-disc score instead.

2 out of 5 stars Buy the full version, please.......2005-01-20

Highlights are never worth it. You will never get the little in-between songs which make a show complete, montages will be cut together badly instead of being full songs as they should be...so much is left out. This is a fantastic show and deserves to be heard in full.

5 out of 5 stars Argh Matey!.......2004-11-22

"Highlights" albums are not the full show, blah blah blah... THIS TAKES UP ONLY ONE SPACE IN YOUR CD RACK INSTEAD OF TWO LIKE THE FULL RECORDING. I rest my case.
The Music of St. Paul's Cathedral
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • IMPRESSED
  • St. Paul's Cathedral ImpressiveCollection of Anglican Hymns
  • Excellent Cathedral Organ & Choral
  • LACK OF DICTION?!!!
  • Marred by lack of diction
The Music of St. Paul's Cathedral

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. Abide With Me

ASIN: B00004U2KC
Release Date: 2000-08-15

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars IMPRESSED.......2007-05-21

AS A FIRST TIME BUYER AT AMAZON,I AM IMPRESSED AT THE QUALITY OF CD AND TIME OF SERVICE

5 out of 5 stars St. Paul's Cathedral ImpressiveCollection of Anglican Hymns.......2007-01-24

St. Paul's Cathdral is the second largest cathedral church in the basilican style, exceeded only by St. Peter's Rome. New York City's St. John the Divine is larger than St. Paul's, but with decidely gothic elements. All three cathedrals have fine choirs, but St. Paul's and St. John's continue the noble and unique sound of boys and men in the English tradition. St. Paul's great organ is one of the world's finest, with a decay of seven seconds. The great hymns are all here, conducted by John Scott, only recently appointed organist of St. Thomas' Church, Fifth Avenue, New York City. This is a recording will a be prized addition to your library of choral music. You will not be disappointed.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent Cathedral Organ & Choral .......2006-02-24

This selection of recordings by The Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral contains pieces representative of traditional Anglican musical liturgy. The technical aspects of this production on compact disk seem to be outstanding, but beware that the original recordings were in some cases less than stellar. Another reviewer points out that on some tracks the lyrics sung by the choir are overwhelmed by the superb organ playing, which no doubt occurred due to inadequate microphone placement during the recording sessions. That said, I nevertheless rate this presentation of the St. Paul's Choir highly. It provides a mixture of musical types. In addition to the choir, the CD presents the work of four organists, including a marvelous organ solo, as well as several pieces sung a cappella by the choir and its boy treble soloists. I especially recommend this choir's rendetion of Gregorio Allegri's "Miserere," which features the voices of two boy trebles, a boy alto and a bass, which yeilds a mesmerizing experience. Unless one is acquiring full sets of the St. Paul's Choir's music, this compact disk should delight anyone interested in traditional cathedral organ and choral music.

5 out of 5 stars LACK OF DICTION?!!!.......2003-11-12

Obviously the individual who wrote the review including the "marred by lack of diction" remark is not too familiar with the traditional boychoir sound. I am moved to sickness that they were so openly compared with the sound of the all-too-familiar MTC. THOSE WERE ADULTS!!! These are boys! Boys cannot give the kind of sound of the MTC because their voices are not developed enough. The greatest hope a boychoir has of wowing audiences is in their contrast in dynamics. They model this beautiffully in their acapella pieces. In their accompanied pieces, I feel they hold their own above the (sometimes blearing) organ.
Know the genre a little better before you slander a great performance.

3 out of 5 stars Marred by lack of diction.......2003-04-22

The singing is beautiful, melodious and full of harmony. The organ would make Bach proud.

But the lyrics do not stand out. In fact, they are obliterated by the surrounding melodies.

I hate to do this, but I am comparing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. These little boys would learn from them.

It is a pity that these grand lyrics should be obscured by inept singing by a choir of young boys and men.
Instruments of the Orchestra
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 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

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  1. Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Op34; Simple Symphony Op4
  2. The Mahler Symphonies: An Owner's Manual (includes 1 CD)
  3. The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (Book & CD)
  4. What to Listen for in Music
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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:

5 out of 5 stars 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!

5 out of 5 stars 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!

5 out of 5 stars 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!

3 out of 5 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.

5 out of 5 stars 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.

Music Info:

  1. Back With a Vengeance [Import]