The Köln Concert [Import] [Live]

The Köln Concert [Import] [Live]

Track Listings

1. Part One

2. Part Two

3. Part Three

4. Part Four

5. Part Five

6. Annotated History of Slapstick

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Japanese edition of 2000 release from experimental/electronica act. Includes one exclusive bonus track, 'An Annotated History Of Slapstick'.

Tracks:

Part I
Part II a
Part II b
Part II c

Amazon.com essential recording

A musical chameleon, pianist Keith Jarrett was at his finest when he recorded these sustained solo improvisations in a German concert hall in 1975, the first lasting 26 minutes, the second 40. Melodies and rhythmic figures arise fluidly from his fingers as he moves from one idea to another, while his strong left hand is often used for repeated motifs that generate a rolling hypnotic power. This couples with strongly consonant harmonies to impart the flavor of gospel music at times, dance musics and Debussy at others. Above all, it's Jarrett's ability to knit all of his moods and wanderings into an almost seamless tapestry of warm and tuneful ideas that gives this music its enduring appeal. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews:

this is really cheesy music..........2007-06-23

...and it's as pure piano playing it's absolutely awful. Nothing but ENDLESSLY repeated riffs overlaid with harmonically elementary noodling. No harmonic tension, no structure, no imagination, no technique. It might make decent background music at an all you can eat buffet, however. Pure kitsch from beginning to end.

One of my favorites EVER!.......2007-04-23

I first heard this in the late 70s and thought it was nice, but a bit boring. Then I heard it again and liked it more. Gradually I have fallen completely in love with it. I am captivated by the way the different tracks build and grow and fall back again, but mostly it's the emotional energy you feel from Jarret himself. I also have "La Scala" and some other things he has done, but nothing quite matches this for me. I don't know how many times I have given it to people or recommended it.

Good music!.......2007-03-19

I like the consert and its variations of sound. It is rare to hear musicans reaction to his work.

Ageless Sounds.......2007-02-18

The Koln Concert's improvisations highlight Jarrett's skills and passion. Truly ageless music that continues to provide pleasure to the lovers of jazz piano.

All surface.......2007-01-15

The playing on this album is pretentiousness masquerading as profundity. Jarrett can set a nice groove, but then he simply falls in love with it, and self-indulgently persists to a point where I want to scream "Get off of it!" He tosses in some pretty decorations along ther way, and a few shouts and grunts now and then to show us how moved he is by this music, but it all adds up to an immensely forgettable experience.

Average customer rating:

Just an alert
Great music well played.
Sounds as fresh as ever.
Magical discsý
HIP and Alive

Heinichen: Dresden Concerti
Johann David Heinichen , Musica Antiqua Köln , and Reinhard Goebel
Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Telemann: Bläserkonzerte (Wind Concertos)
Johann David Heinichen: Concerto & Sonatas
Heinichen: Dresden Wind Concertos /Fiori Musicali * Albert
Telemann String Concertos Musica Antiqua Koln Goebel
Telemann: Sinfonia spirituosa; String Concertos

ASIN: B0000057E8
Release Date: 1993-09-14

Tracks:

Concerto In F Major, Seibel 234: 1. Vivace
Concerto In F Major, Seibel 234: 2. Adagio
Concerto In F Major, Seibel 234: 3. Un poco Allegro
Concerto In F Major, Seibel 234: 4. Allegro
Concerto In F Major, Seibel 235: 1. Vivace
Concerto In F Major, Seibel 235: 2. Andante
Concerto In F Major, Seibel 235: 3. Presto
Concerto In F Major, Seibel 235: 4. Alla breve
Concerto In F Major, Seibel 235: 5. Allegro
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 215: 1. Andante e staccato
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 215: 2. Vivace
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 215: 3. Largo
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 215: 4. Allegro - 2-4
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 214 (Darmstadt 1715): 1. Vivace
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 214 (Darmstadt 1715): 2. Largo
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 214 (Darmstadt 1715): 3. Allegro
Concerto In D Major, Seibel 226: 1. Allegro molto
Concerto In D Major, Seibel 226: 2. Adagio
Concerto In D Major, Seibel 226: 3. Allegro
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 213: 1. Allegro
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 213: 2. Larghetto
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 213: 3. Allegro
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 213: 4. Entree
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 213: 5. Loure. Cantabile
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 213: 6. Tempo di Menuet - Air italienne

Tracks:

Concerto In F Major, Seibel 233: 1. Allegro
Concerto In F Major, Seibel 233: 2. Andante piu tosto un poco Allegro
Concerto In F Major, Seibel 233: 3. Presto
Concerto In C Major, Seibel 211: 1. Allegro
Concerto In C Major, Seibel 211: 2. Pastorell
Concerto In C Major, Seibel 211: 3. Adagio
Concerto In C Major, Seibel 211: 4. Allegro assai
Concerto In F Major, Seibel 231: 1. Vivace
Concerto In F Major, Seibel 231: 2. Arioso
Concerto In F Major, Seibel 231: 3. Allegro
Concerto In F Major, Seibel 232: 1. Allegro
Concerto In F Major, Seibel 232: 2. Andante
Concerto In F Major, Seibel 232: 3. (Allegro)
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 217: 1. Allegro
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 217: 2. Largo e staccato
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 217: 3. Grave
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 217: 4. Allegro
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 214 (Venezia 1715): 1. Vivace
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 214 (Venezia 1715): 2. Andante e staccato
Concerto In G Major, Seibel 214 (Venezia 1715): 3. Vivace
Serenata di Moritzburg In F Major, Seibel 204: Allegro - Adagio - Allegro
Sonata In A Major, Seibel 208: 1. Allegro
Sonata In A Major, Seibel 208: 2. Adagio e staccato
Sonata In A Major, Seibel 208: 3. Allegro
Concert Movement In C Minor, Seibel 240: Vivace

Amazon.com

Heinichen's Dresden Concertos created quite a stir when they were first released a couple of years ago, and for good reason. This is vital, colorful music scored for a large and varied ensemble. Like most composers of his day, Heinichen spent the majority of his compositional talent in the service of vocal music, for either the opera house or church. These pieces represent his only surviving set of concertos, and anyone who enjoys, for example, Bach's Brandenburg Concertos or the orchestral works of Zelenka will certainly want to hear these as well. These performances are simply the last word in style and virtuosity. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Just an alert.......2007-07-08

Before you click "buy" check elsewhere on Amazon. This set has already been re-released at mid-price!

Great music well played........2006-10-24

I hadn't heard of Heinichen until I got a bonus CD (celebrating 25 years of Music Auntiquita Koln) with something. The first track, which really hooked me, was the first concerto on this set, and so I bought it.

Two discs of concertos by somebody is a lot of their music, but I find myself playing both of these through at a single sitting quite often - there is something about the way that Heinichen keeps the musical ideas flowing that I find very satisfying. He also manages to use a lot of different sounds - I can't imagine much more contrast than between the first movement of that first concerto that I heard - tightly clustered strings playing in a very controlled sprightly manner and, a movement on the second disc that is played on something like bagpipes with sliding notes.
MAK of course give an excellent performance as usual.

This was a doubly excellent find: a new composer (to me at least) and a great CD. However, I now have two other discs of Heinichen wind concertos and sonatas on CPO which are also very good, and which I also recommend.

Sounds as fresh as ever. .......2005-06-22

It's a few years since this set won the Gramophone Award, but hearing it again very recently, it still provides a thrilling listening experience.
I'm not normally a lover of prominent brass instruments in early music where the sonorities are often too lean and bright for my taste. Well, there's plenty of brightness here, but it all comes from the sparkle and energy of an orchestra at the very top of its form.
I wouldn't say this is a set to listen to at one sitting. Better to pick and choose two or three concertos at a time. Or better still, go for the excitement of progamming just the allegros and hold on to your seat as the rhythms and stratospheric brass catapult you into the midst of the hunt.
Great stuff.

Magical discsý.......2003-11-10

Heinichen is the Deep Purple of baroque music! Forgotten, but clearly GREAT! This music is easily as enjoyable as Bach, Vivalidi, Handel and Telemann. If you enjoy baroque, this is surely a collection you ought to own. The flawlessness of these recording is breathtaking. It has a kind of richness that I don't find in compact disc recordings. These recordings force you to sit down and just listen. The compositions may not be as complex and "deep" as Bach or Handel, but its very enjoyable and clearly more relaxing. The incredible Dresden Concerti (period instruments) performed flawlessly under Goebel. What an unsurpassable job in bringing Heinichens curiously abandoned works back into the catalog. Two or three hundred years from now Deep Purple will get their due as one of the important artists in rock music history.

PS: If you like baroque wind music, you will fall in love with this collection.
This is a must for the Baroque fan.

HIP and Alive.......2000-12-26

This is a superb recording. The performances are vibrant and the quality of the recording is stunning. There is a warmth and fullness that is often missing in recordings of period instruments. The ensemble sounds HUGE. I particularly like the second movement of the Concerto in F (S. 234). Oboes are used instead of strings as the accompaniment to the flute solo.

Tracks:

Part I
Part II a
Part II b
Part II c

Amazon.com essential recording

Customer Reviews:

this is really cheesy music..........2007-06-23

One of my favorites EVER!.......2007-04-23

Good music!.......2007-03-19

I like the consert and its variations of sound. It is rare to hear musicans reaction to his work.

Ageless Sounds.......2007-02-18

The Koln Concert's improvisations highlight Jarrett's skills and passion. Truly ageless music that continues to provide pleasure to the lovers of jazz piano.

All surface.......2007-01-15

Charpentier: Musique Sacrée (includes Bonus CD)

Average customer rating:

Absolute Delight
Lost and Found

Charpentier: Musique Sacrée (includes Bonus CD)

Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Nonets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Septets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Delalande - Te Deum /Gens * Piau * Steyer * Fouchecourt * Piolino * Correas * Les Arts Florissants * Christie
Ouvertüren: Music for the Hamburg Opera
Heinichen: Dresden Concerti
Lully - Ballet Music for the Sun King / Mary Enid Haines · Aradia Baroque Ensemble · Kevin Mallon
Telemann: Sinfonia spirituosa; String Concertos

ASIN: B0000CGV01
Release Date: 2003-11-11

Tracks:

Marche De Triomphe Pour Les Violons, Trompettes, Timbales, Flutes Et Hautbois H.547/1
Kyrie Pour Tous Les Instruments/Kyrie Pour Les Pretres/Kyrie Pour Les Hautbois/Kyrie Pour Les Pretres/Kyrie Pour Les Violons Du Petit Choeur//Kyrie Pour Les Pretres/Kyrie Pour Les Flutes Douces Et Les Flutes Allemandes/Kyrie Pour Les Pretres/Kyrie Pour...
Gloria In Excelsis Deo (Celebrant)/Et In Terra Pour Tous Les Instruments/Laudamus Te Pour Les Pretres/Benedicimus Te Pour Les Hautbois/Adoramus Te Pour Les Pretres/Glorificamus Te Pour Les Violons/Gratias Pour Les Pretres/Domine Deus Pour Les Flutes...
Offerte A Deux Choeurs
Sanctus Pour Tous Les Instruments
Fanfare For Two Trumpets
Offertory For Woodwinds, Strings And Basso Continuo
Ouverture
Tantum Ergo
Quand Les Pretres Avront Chante Tantum Ergo
Quand Les Pretres Avront Chante Genitori Amen
Allemande Grave
Overture For Flutes And Strings
Ouverture Des Qu'on Voit La Banniere
Pange Lingua A 4 Parties De Violons
In Supremae Pour Le Petit Choeur
Tantum Ergo Pour Les Violons - Amen Pour Les Violons
Offertory For Woodwind And Strings
Prelude
Allemande
Sarabande En Rondeau
Gigue Anglaise
Gigue Francaise
Passecaille
Overture For A Ceremony For The Feast Of Corpus Christi For Flutes, Strings And Basso Continuo
Air For Trumpets, Woodwinds, Timpani, Strings And Basso Continuo

Tracks:

Dresden Concerti
Dresden Concerti
Dresden Concerti
Dresden Concerti
Bradenburg Concertos Etc.
Bachiana: Double Concertos
Marian Cantatas & Arias
Bachiana: Music By The Bach Family
Blaserkonzerte
Blaserkonzerte
Blaserkonzerte
Alt-Bachisches Archiv
Canon & Gigue
Brandenburg Concertos Etc.
Brandenburg Concertos Etc.

Customer Reviews:

Absolute Delight.......2006-08-09

This is one of the best recorded CDs I have heard. After listening to this you would feel that Charpentier undoubtedly ranks among the best of baroque composers--with a little twist of his own in his compositions. The first and last pieces in this CD have beautiful Timpani accompanyment with trumptet, violin and flute making some of the incredible and cute cascading that is perky and extremely delightful. In particular, the last piece (26, fanfare) has the thunderous underscoring of timpani. On a review elsewhere someone wrote that this piece has a "rowdy" tone to it--I would say that it is a beautiful and "Pleasantly-Classical-Rowdy" piece.

The bonus CD that comes within this package contains some selected pieces from other CDs made by Music Antiqua Koln and is equally superb. In particular, the performance of Goebel's group for the Easter Oratoria of JS Bach (BWV 249 Sinfonia) deserves superlative praises. WOW! WOW! WOW!--adinfinitum. I could feel the sincererity, dedication and the sheer emotional involvement that seems to come out as you follow each instrument's tonal quality, depth and synchronization, is something that I have never felt in listening to the other recordings that I have listened to, and will probably never see in any group other than Goebel's. There seems to be a sense of strong reverence toward the composer which is built up by the troupe as they play the pieces.

Dear Goebel and his troupe: Many roses from me for making a wonderful performance and recording.

If you are a lover of Bach, Vivaldi, Telemann, Heinichen, Handel then you will enjoy these CDs very much.

Lost and Found.......2004-11-23

Very little is known about Charpentier's life (1643-1704). The main source of information is an obscure rival composer named de Brossard. According to de Brossard, Charpentier was originally from Paris but studied music in Rome under the composer Carissimi. In 1696 he beat out de Brossard for the post of choirmaster at the Sainte Chapelle Cathedral in Paris, where he remained until his death in 1704. As Goebels writes in the album liner notes, there are several reasons for Charpentier's neglect as a composer. First, he has traditionally been relegated to that band of other composers who were "Lully's imitators". Secondly, his music is "not easy listening, being neither instantly memorable nor readily digestible. Rather it is highly demanding and not always accessible to every listener from the outset." However, it is related that even de Brossard paid tribute to him, praising him as the "most profound and learned of modern composers."

Even if you love baroque music, gaining an appreciation of this music will take some time. But once you have put forth the effort, and assuming you do enjoy period baroque, you will not want to remove this disc from your changer, it is so amazingly good, no small thanks to Goebel and the Musica Antiqua Koln. And if that's not recommendation enough, included in this album is a bonus disc which celebrates 25 years of Musica Antiqua Koln on the Archiv Produktion label. Here's what's included on that disc: Heinichen's Concerto in F major, J.S. Bach's Suite in B minor, J.C. Bach's Andante de Molto, Handel's Haec est Regina virginum, J.S. Bach's Sinfonia from the Concerto in D after BVW 249, Telemann's Concerto for three oboes, three violins and basso continuo in B-flat major, G.C. Bach's Cantata `Siehe, wie fein und lieblich' (This is an astonishingly beautiful piece!), Vivaldi's "La Follia", and lastly Bach's Third Brandenburg Concerto.

Average customer rating:

Excellent Music and Recording
This Uncultured Yahoo Loves It
Nice selection of Bach

Mad About Bach

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Inventions | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Mad About Baroque
Mad about Vivaldi
Mad about Piano
More Mad About Mozart
Mad About Tchaikovsky

ASIN: B000001GKE
Release Date: 1993-07-13

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major: Movement I
Oboe Concerto In D Minor: Oboe Concerto In D Minor - Adagio
Zion Hears The Watchmen Singing
Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor: Orchestral Suite No. 2 In B Minor - Badinerie
Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major: Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major - Air On A G String
Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major: Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major - Gavotte I - II
Concerto In D Minor For 2 Violins: Concerto In D Minor For 2 Violins - Largo ma non tanto
Suite In G Minor: Suite In G Minor - Bourree
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major - Allegro assai
Concerto For Oboe And Violin In C Minor: Concerto For Oboe And Violin In C Minor - Adagio
Gavotte In E-Flat Major
Partita No. 3 In E Major: Partita No. 3 In E Major - Preludio
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major - Presto
Sonata No. 1 In G Major: Sonata No. 1 In G Major - Adagio
Mass In B minor: Mass In B Minor - Et resurrexit
Two-Part Invention No. 8 In F Major
Italian Concerto In F Major: Italian Concerto In F Major - Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 In D Major: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 In D Major - Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Music and Recording.......2005-10-04

It is a better recording than other classical music CD's I've had, and is an impeccable execution of Bach's work. It led me to buy other "Mad About" series CD's of which I'll comment elsewhere. "Mad About Bach" is a fabulous CD of which I never tire. It is motivating. I have been listening to this "Mad About Bach" CD music for 8 years and still love it as one of my favorites.

This Uncultured Yahoo Loves It.......1999-12-13

I own and enjoy a good number of classical CD's but am far from an expert on what constitutes good and faithful performances. However, I can say that this CD is thoroughly enjoyable to me. My experience has been like lemur@earthling.net's, as many of these songs stay in my head, too, which is a great thing. A good bargain, too.

Nice selection of Bach.......1998-01-13

It's nice to hear a variety of pieces (guitar, harpsichord, etc) on one CD. Some of these tunes I can't get out of my head. :-) END

Average customer rating:

It's all true
Breathtaking
Really good (and fast)
The most exciting Brandenburgs ever!
Goebel's Brandenburg performance

Panorama: Johann Sebastian Bach, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

A great panorama of classical music
Panorama: Antonio Vivaldi
Panorama: Johann Sebastian Bach, Vol. 2
Panorama: Ludwig van Beethoven, Vol. 2
Panorama: Ludwig van Beethoven, Vol. 3

ASIN: B00004W3IL
Release Date: 2000-09-26

Tracks:

Concerto No. 1 In F Major, BWV 1046: 1. [Allegro moderato]
Concerto No. 1 In F Major, BWV 1046: 2. Adagio
Concerto No. 1 In F Major, BWV 1046: 3. Allegro
Concerto No. 1 In F Major, BWV 1046: 4. Menuetto - Trio I - Polacca - Trio II
Concerto No. 2 In F Major, BWV 1047: 1. [Allegro moderato]
Concerto No. 2 In F Major, BWV 1047: 2. Andante
Concerto No. 2 In F Major, BWV 1047: 3. Allegro assai
Concerto No. 4 In G Major, BWV 1049: 1. Allegro
Concerto No. 4 In G Major, BWV 1049: 2. Andante
Concerto No. 4 In G Major, BWV 1049: 3. Presto
Concerto No. 5 In D Major, BWV 1050: 1. Allegro
Concerto No. 5 In D Major, BWV 1050: 2. Affettuoso
Concerto No. 5 In D Major, BWV 1050: 3. Allegro
Concerto No. 6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: 1. [Without Temp Indication]
Concerto No. 6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: 2. Adagio ma non tanto
Concerto No. 6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: 3. Allegro

Tracks:

Concerto No. 3 In G Major, BWV 1048: 1. [Allegro moderato]
Concerto No. 3 In G Major, BWV 1048: 2. Allegro
Concerto For 4 Harpsichords And Strings In A Minor, BWV 1065: 1. [Without Tempo Indication]
Concerto For 4 Harpsichords And Strings In A Minor, BWV 1065: 2. Largo
Concerto For 4 Harpsichords And Strings In A Minor, BWV 1065: 3. Allegro
Concerto for Harpsichord And Strings In D Minor, BWV 1052: 1. Allegro
Concerto for Harpsichord And Strings In D Minor, BWV 1052: 2. Largo
Concerto for Harpsichord And Strings In D Minor, BWV 1052: 3. Allegro
Concerto For Violin And Strings In A Minor, BWV 1041: 1. [Without Tempo Indication]
Concerto For Violin And Strings In A Minor, BWV 1041: 2. Andante
Concerto For Violin And Strings In A Minor, BWV 1041: 3. Allegro
Concerto For Violin And Strings In E Major, BWV 1042: 1. Allegro
Concerto For Violin And Strings In E Major, BWV 1042: 2. Adagio
Concerto For Violin And Strings In E Major, BWV 1042: 3. Allegro assai

Amazon.com

Performed on original instruments, this two-CD collection includes some racy performances of Bach's concerti. Although the recordings themselves were made more than 10 years ago, they are very clear and lively, and they're performed by leading exponents of period performance. For those who are new to "authentic" performances, aside from the differing sound quality and articulation, one might be surprised by the fact that the speeds of the various movements are much quicker than one might think. Also immediately apparent is the phrasing by Reinhard Goebel and the Musica Antiqua Köln in the Brandenburgs, which conveys a beautiful line that is hard to achieve on these types of instruments. There are indeed some other stunning highlights: the Adagio from Brandenburg No. 1, the technically demanding trumpet obbligato from No. 2, the almost uncomfortably quick Allegro from No. 3, and the superb violin virtuosity of No. 4. Overall, the performances compare very favorably with the many others on the market. If you want a more conservative interpretation, try the Tafelmusik version on Sony. --Dominic Sewell

Customer Reviews:

It's all true.......2002-11-19

Bracing Bach! Bouyant and breezy, with lots of air. Tempi are quite rapid, but the secret to their success, I believe, is that Goebel et_al. give a strong beat at the beginnings of measures and are much lighter on the secondary beats, creating the illusion of cutting the pulse of the music "in half", as when shifting to a higher gear a car moves faster but the engine noise lowers to a more relaxed pitch. What might seem at first breathless, as one grows more aware of its charms, feels absolutely right, and as observed in earlier appraisals, the results are "breathtaking", and "very expressive" indeed.

Breathtaking.......2001-04-14

Quite simply, the best recording of the Brandenburgs out there. The solos are stunning (especially Goebel's violin solo in Concertos 1 and 4), the sound of the ensemble is warm and full (unlike the thin, bland sound of most British groups such as the English Concert or the Academy of Ancient Music), and the recording quality is spectacular. This CD has become famous among early music aficionados for its rather unorthodox choices for tempi; I once read a review which referred to this recording as "Punk Barock." Admittedly, the tempi are considerably faster than most other recordings of this work, but where is it written that Baroque music has to be played in a standard, plodding, unoriginal, and unexciting way? Goebel and his group bring these pieces alive and the music sparkles. But in spite of the brisk tempi, it never seems as if it is fast just for the sake of being fast--Goebel never loses the musical lines within each piece. Even in the last movement of Brandenburg 3--probably the most "over-the-top" movement in the set--the group still brings out the little intricacies which make the Brandenburgs a masterpiece. And hey, as I've always said: if you've got it, flaunt it. Just because other ensembles can't play as fast doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with Goebel's interpretation. And don't be fooled by the large number groups in recent years who have tried to imitate Goebel's "go-for-broke" approach--Il Giardino Armonico comes to mind, for example. Musica Antiqua Koln did it first and it did it much better. So if you want a typical boring and uninspired version of the Brandenburg Concerti, then go out and buy the versions of Boston Baroque or the English Concert. If you want an exciting version of these works, buy the Giardino or the Camarata of the 18th Century version. But if you want to be taken into a completely different realm of music-making, buy the Musica Antiqua Koln recording. It is as perfect a performance of music as you will ever find.

Really good (and fast).......2001-03-24

I think this is my favorite copy.

This is my fourth copy of the Brandenburg contertos. The other ones are by conducted by Christopher Hogwood (good), Benjanmin Britten (also good), and a version by Boston Baroque (which was just pathetic, I had to throw that away not to subject anybody else to it!).

If you're tired of sappy, long winded, boring, and vibrato-rich romantic interpertations of baroque music, you'll like this version. But just so you get a feel for the speed, they did fit 5 concetos on one cd. The extra concertos on the second cd were also good (and didn't feel so fast).

Concerto #2 is my favorite and they do a really good job. The trumpet was not predominant but rather a part of the team. There were a lot of lines that you normally don't pay attention to in other versions (probably because the trumpet dominates). These are highlighted here. Play it loud though because the flute is very sweet sounding and soft and so it can easily be lost in the background.

Number five had a few spots which were uncomfortably fast though. I didn't know someone can play the harpsichord that fast. It's still expressive.

Number six felt like it was the fastest but it was really good.

Don't let the speed fool you, the performes were very expressive.

So far this is my favorite version.

The most exciting Brandenburgs ever!.......2001-02-09

The energy, passion and virtuosity of these performances are truly beyond compare. I don't know how many recordings and live performances of these Bach favorites I've been exposed to over the years - but I fell in love with these from first hearing. Nothing else like them - buy, buy, buy!!!!

Goebel's Brandenburg performance.......2000-10-10

I've been so many years listenig to baroque music; in fact now I enjoy performing it. As a baroque 'listener', I always pretend to find the best performance of the works I'm looking for. I had listened to many preformances of the Brandenburg Concerti, but I was never happy whith them: sometimes it was the tempo, the instruments were not ancient ones, or even I could find really boring ways of performing them! One day I found By chance Goebel's version, and I knew that it was going to be the performance I had been looking for it since many years ago. I strongly recomend them to anyone interested in this kind of music, and specially, in German baroque.

John Cage: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 4 (Pieces 1950-1960)

Average customer rating:

Hardcore Cage

John Cage: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 4 (Pieces 1950-1960)

Manufacturer: MD&G Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

John Cage: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 10
John Cage: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 6 (Pieces 1960-92)
John Cage: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 8 (Hommage à Satie)
John Cage: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 5 (Two Pianos)
John Cage: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 2

ASIN: B00002R31B
Release Date: 2000-01-11

Tracks:

Winter Music
Arolsen, February 8, 1998
For M.C. And D.T.
For P. Taylor And A. Dencks
TV Koeln
Waiting
Seven Haiku: For Elsa
Seven Haiku: Merce Armitage
Seven Haiku: Aghavni Vomini
Seven Haiku: For Richard Lippold
Seven Haiku: For Maro
Seven Haiku: For Willem De Kooning
Seven Haiku: For Sonia Sekula
Haiku: For My Dear Friend, Who
Haiku: What Stillness
Haiku: The Green Frog's Voice
Haiku: The River Phurabelle
Haiku: [No Title]
Music Walk

Tracks:

Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
Solo
34 Minutes 46.776 Seconds

Customer Reviews:

Hardcore Cage.......2005-01-24

There are some wonderfully marvelous items on these Disks,more the Hardcore Cage period the Fifties streaming into the Sixties. The Fifties is when Cage discovered Zen and chance processes but also trapsed into areas of performance art, something he introduced the Europeans to, The 'Water Music' is a wonderfully inventive example. The piece is about 8 minutes and is performance art where a single pianist plays a radio(turns it off and on it is not continuous,plays abrupt chords on the keyboard(, blows three different whistles into a bowl of water, (duck, warbler, and penny whistle)then shuffles a deck of cards with the sustaine pedal down for resonance, and proceeds to deal the cards into the piano hitting the open exposed strings to marvelously ideterminate pointillistic actually pings,tings. The audience also looks on at the large seven foot score.

The 'Winter Music' as well,for one to twenty pianos I recall a story of a performance in Italy where the audience inhabits a typical European aristocratic courtyard at a music school, and the surrounding two tier buildings (in a rectangle) have pianos that creates a wonderful antiphonal effect. Here you cannot get that, the piece comes across with intense convolutions, and indeterminate-ness,the work is very difficult to listen to, each event is unto itself, not related to anything anytime, other than the here an now of what is known or was known.Zen.

TV KOLN is a graphic work where you the pianist has options to play other noises or timbres, or sounds, usually a radio is used, or the human voice.KOLN was the music center of the avant-garde in the Fifties continuing to today in many respects. You can also tap different parts of the piano box body, and it is up to the pianist performance to discovered the registers of the piano fully. "MusicWalk" is like "Water Music"only for a "travelling" pianist who must walk within the performance space to make noises elsewhere than center stage; you can use differing timbres.The pianist here uses his voice as his extended timbres.

The "Concert for Piano" and Orchestra was/is a seminal work, it is not really a "Concerto" it simply means musicians can co- inhabit a place to play together or not. The music is a virtual encylopedia of graphic notation processes, playing arpeggiations, horizontal and vertical distributions of tones, clusters, tremoli, rolls, also playing the piano's insides. The best way to play this and again only a live performance will give you the import of it, is like Bach or Xenakis, where you simply 'flip a switch', turn on the sound. playing as if there is no one else in the world. very provate. The result can be mysterious, magical,fascinating, disorienting, also boring and tedious, but mixtures of these gestures as well is part of this piece.

Much of the playing here seems much too much the same, I would think if you are going to ambitiously mount entire swabbs entire tomes of Cage's piano music that you bring a large spectrum of what the music can be and you introduce as much variety as possible.I would have liked to have more "theatre" for performance art was born here. The radio is a wonderful instrument.Also electronically altered,morphed timbre is perfectly allowable in this music,contact microphones would have brought another dimension to these works, and you then get outside the box of the stereo renderings of CD and there was none of that to be found. Here the readings are hardcore,there is no right or wrong, merely interesting and uninteresting.

Average customer rating:

A Must for Dick Twardzik Fans

Köln Concert Featuring Dick Twardzik
Chet Baker Feat. Dick Twardzik
Manufacturer: Rlr Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Cool Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Lost Holland Concert September 18 1955
Complete Recordings
On the Road: Live in LA and Boston '54
Complete Studio Sessions with Dick Twardzik
On the Road: Live in California

ASIN: B000CNGE2S
Release Date: 2006-02-13

Tracks:

Announcement - Chet Baker, Gigi Campi
Exitus
Announcement - Chet Baker
Tommyhawk
Imagination
Chet Baker Presents Dick Twardzik's Solo Feature - Chet Baker Quartet, , Richard Twardzik
Yellow Tango
Someone to Watch Over Me
C.T.A.
My Funny Valentine
Announcement: Campi Introduces Hans Koller and Willi Sanner
Cool Blues
I'll Remember April
Exitus (Closing Words by Chet Baker)

Album Description

Previously unissued in any form!!!! Contains the complete legendary October 9, 1955 concert at the Köln Börsensaal!! Recorded twelve days before Twardzik's tragic death in Paris! Includes an extended booklet with rare photos, memorabilia and insightful liner notes. Featuring Jimmy Bond & Peter Littman. RLR. 2005.

Customer Reviews:

A Must for Dick Twardzik Fans.......2006-08-19

This is an entire live show recorded on the Chet Baker Quartet's 1955 tour of Europe. The show is recorded in decent sound for 1955. Obviosly, it's in mono. The horns, piano and drums are well heard. The bass is maybe a bit muddy. Probably a little better sound than Bird at the Hi-Hat. Maybe a little lower fidelity than the Konitz with G. Mulligan Quartet, (Pacific-Blue Note), disc. If you never heard of Dick Twardzik, figure that Bird performed with Twardzik and dug his playing. (That's a testimonial likely to stir me to want to listen). Chet Baker announces Yellow Tango, (one of Twardzik's compositions) as a feature for Twardzik and rhythm section, Pete Littman (d) and 007 (b). The quartet also has guest saxophonists, one of them being Hans Koller, joining the quartet for the last few tracks. There is a little bit of tape garble/distortion/drop out during a few seconds of the sax solo during one of those ensemble pieces. The liner notes are rather critical of the performance. I personally believe, Twardzik's efforts are nascent avante garde and the fans and critics wern't quite ready in 1955. (Be reminded Cecil Taylor's, first album was in 1956.)

All that being said, this cd presents a decent performance by a highly talented working jazz group near their collective peak in respectable sound. Sadly, the young pianist with the quartet, Dick Twardzik, wasn't long for this earth. He died October 21 of that year. This cd presents a welcome addition to the Twardzik trio material previously available on the Pacific label and the Chet in Paris Vol. 1 material featuring Twardzik previously available on the Barclay label.

Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Dimitri Mitropoulos

Average customer rating:

Impassioned conductor/Uneven results/Poor sonics
A great musical imaginaiton poorly served by ragged playing
"an event in the history of music...."
Dramatic Music-Making by Dimitri
Outstanding Mahler and Berlioz

Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Dimitri Mitropoulos

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Fritz Reiner
Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Evgeny Mravinsky
Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Hermann Scherchen
Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Artur Rodzinski
Igor Markevitch

ASIN: B00006J3L9
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Tracks:

I. Allegro Energico, Ma Non Troppo. Heftig, Aber Markig
II. Scherzo. Wuchtig - (Trio) Altvaterisch. Grazioso
III. Andante Moderato
IV. Finale. Sostenuto - Allegro Moderato - Allegro Energico

Tracks:

I. Introduction. Combats - Tumulte - Intervention Du Prince: Allegro Fugato
II. Romeo Seul - Tristesse - Concert Et Bal - Grande Fete Chez Capulet: Andante Malinconico E Sostenuto - Larghetto Espressivo - Allegro
III. Scene D'Amour: Allegretto - Adagio
IV. La Reine Mab, Ou La Fee Des Songes: Scherzo. Prestissimo
VI. Romeo Au Tombeau Des Capulets - Invocation - Reveil De Juliette: Allegro Agitato E Disperato - Largo - Allegro Vivace Ed Appassionato Assai
I. De L'aube A Midi Sur La Mer: Tres Lent
II. Jeux De Vagues: Allegro
III. Dialogue Du Vent Et De La Mer: Anime Et Tumultueux
Dance Of The Seven Veils Danse Des Sept Voiles

Customer Reviews:

Impassioned conductor/Uneven results/Poor sonics.......2007-05-29

While I'm glad I own this disc and like the series from which it comes, I suppose I'm a dissenting voice amongst the universal praise for these recordings. The Mahler is passionate but the WDR Sinfonieorchester of Cologne can barely keep up with the conductor. The recordings with the NY Philharmonic are less sloppy but tend toward a rushed, overblown style with wild dynamic leaps and explosions that the poorly mastered mono sound can barely handle.

Trying to be openminded, I'm left feeling that Mitropoulos was probably a conductor best heard live. As for being a "Great Conductor of the 20th Century"? Well, the competition from Furtwangler, Walter, Beecham, Szell, Reiner, Bernstein, Ancerl, Klemperer and a few other heavyweights looks pretty tough.

A great musical imaginaiton poorly served by ragged playing.......2005-11-24

Mitropoulos was unlucky to die (on the podium, like Giuseppe Sinopoli after him) at the premature age of 64. His commercial recordings have more or less disappeared, leaving it to pirate recordings and live performances to sustain his renown. Many, many have come out, and although one admires his instinctive gifts and his improvisatory approach--which greatly influenced his protoge Leonard Bernstein--Mitropoulos lays claim to being the sloppiest of all great conductors, excepting only Hermann Scherchen and Jascha Horenstein.

His gifts and defects shine brightly on CD 1, which is devoted to a very alive, sympathetic Mahler Sixth from 1959. It perfectly shows off DM's imaginative sense of Mahler style; everything is so fresh and direct one could swear the music is being invented before our eyes. But the Cologne radio orchestra is far from being able to execute Mahler with technical security (good broadcast stereo for its day, however). If technical defects don't bother you, this performance deserves six stars.

CD 2 comes from studio recordings with Mitropoulos's own NY Phil. and is afflicted with many fewer mishaps. Execution is still fairly slapdash, though. Lovers of imaginative conducting won't care. In excerpts from Berlioz'a Romeo and Juliet(1952) we hear Berlioz on an expressive level to rival and surpass Munch and Monteux. Everything is light, flexible, and seductively musical. La Mer from 1950 is in more detailed sound, although all these mono recordings sound a bit tinny. Mitropoulos's Debussy is eerie, mysterious, and powerful. Mitropoulos was a fierce Strauss conductor, and his 1956 Dance of the Seven Veils is probably the most nerve-wracking you'll ever hear.

Overall, despite the caveats about sound and sloppy orchestral work, few conductors in this series have emerged sounding so inspired. Five stars, without a doubt.

"an event in the history of music....".......2005-01-05

... is how Michael Tanner describes this performance of Mahler's 6th in the sleeve notes. I bought this disc for the Mahler and also recently bought the Barbirolli version, which is equally greatly admired; I prefer the Mitropoulos version and listening to it can understand why Tanner is so strong in his appreciation: my five stars are for the Mahler.
Others have commented rightly on occasional imperfections of the playing, but it is the overall intensity and commitment of this performance that impress me. I feel that Mitropoulos, uncommonly perhaps, understood this music from the inside and what we get here is more an experience than a performance: for me this is, in a manner of speaking, 'unmahlerisch' Mahler, and all the better for it. The Finale is astounding, as shattering here as Mahler surely intended for it to be.
This is, incidently, a 'live' performance, though the audience is inaudible; Mitropoulos omits the exposition repeat in the first movement and plays the Scherzo as the second movement. The recording quality is very good, especially considering that it was originally Mono; there is to my ears a bit of 'glare', but that is quickly forgotten: this is one of those rare discs one feels grateful and privileged to listen to and to possess. I leave others to comment on the Berlioz, etc. which for me are a bonus to a Mahler disc which deserves more than 5 stars.

Dramatic Music-Making by Dimitri.......2004-09-20

The great thing that Mitropoulos brought to the table as a conductor was his innate sense of the drama of music. As noted by other reviewers, Mitropoulos' approached every score afresh without reference to how anybody else did it, achieving remarkable results which were never stale. Nowhere is this more evident than in the remarkable recording of the Mahler Sixth included here. This performance is also available on a more expensive imported collection, but to have it available in this price range makes this a recording no Mahler fan should be without! I reviewed this performance in that collection, but to recap: The clarity of line and detail in this performance, even though it is in mono, is unsurpassed by any recording of this music I have heard. That's not always a virtue, as the first horn of the Cologne Radio Symphony is noticeably off-key in the opening, but Mitropoulos gets right by that and roars through a first movement that's truly astounding. His tempi are flexible, heightening the musical drama. Instead of the prophecy of Nazi jackboots we hear all too frequently in the opening march, Mitropoulos gives of the groans of 19th Century Europe being dragged kicking and screaming into the full horrors of the industrial age. It's a brilliant conceptualization, and probably a lot closer to what Mahler intended. There is more humor to the scherzo here, as well, that what we're used to hearing, but it is all dark, cynical gallows humor. Mitropoulos uses the offstage horns in the adagio not to evoke the calls of pastoral herdsmen, but rather the haunting of the spirits of a way of life already lost forever. Mitropoulos correctly conveys this music's sense of Europe at the crossroads, but it is the crossroads of an older man returning to his home after a long absence, only to find no one he recognizes and nothing to take solace in. In the Sixth, Mahler mourns a world which accomplishes so much materially and technologically at the expense of spiritualty, and that is exactly what Mitropoulos finds in the score and converys better than any other conducter I have heard.
Likewise, the Berlioz and Debussy performances contained here are full of dramatic tension, which Mitropoulos holds onto as long as he can, waiting until the very end to release it. Unfortunately, this dramatic approach to music-making is not so successful with the Strauss selection, taking it to extremes of melodrama which verge on camp.
Nevertheless, get this for the Mahler Sixth! It may not be definitive, but it is nothing short of AMAZING!

Outstanding Mahler and Berlioz.......2004-06-13

From start to finish, this is a superb Mahler 6 by Mitropoulos. And, the recording lets you hear every note, which is generally a plus with one exception---the sometimes less than accurate playing of the principal hornist of the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra. Neverthelesss, this does not prevent Mitropoulos' stunning performance from making every point that needs to be made. Phrasing and emotional impact come across in truly revealing fashion. For example, in the first movement, despite a relatively close sound perspective, Mitropoulos is still able to make the supposed quieter mysterious moments sound effectively mysterious. In the second movement, he is exceptionally convincing in the grotesque passages. In fact, in situations like this with Mahler, I don't know that I've heard any conductor do better. Moreover, this IS the best interpreted scherzo of the Sixth I have ever heard....On the second disc, all selections are performed by the New York Philharmonic. Though I'm not particularly enamored with Berlioz, I do enjoy Mitropoulos' dramatic portrayal of the excerpts from Romeo and Juliet. Regarding the Debussy La Mer, I prefer the more poetic and atmospheric approaches of Tilson Thomas and Van Beinum, and the well played version by Munch. I have little interest in the Strauss Dance of the Seven Veils....If it's mainly the Mahler you're after, then get this set.