The Simple Gifts Collection [Box set]

The Simple Gifts Collection [Box set]

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Barry Pillips' previous recordings include Gourd's Shaker Trilogy (co-produced with William Coulter): Simple Gifts, Tree of Life, and Music on the Mountain. He also composed and produced The World Turned Upside Down in 1990, which was featured in the PBS production of Ken Burns' Thomas Jefferson.

Guitarist William Coulter has been recording and performing traditional music since 1981. He has performed with the bands Isle of Skye, Orison and, currently, with the Coulter-Phillips Ensemble. He has recorded two solo albums-Celtic Sessions and Celtic Crossing-as well as three albums of traditional Shaker melodies with cellist Barry Phillips-Simple Gifts, Tree of Life and Music on the Mountain-all on the Gourd Music label. William has appeared on compilations produced on the Narada label, Windham Hill and Hearts of Space. Four of these recordings have appeared on Billboard magazine's “top ten” lists.

In 1998 William produced Celtic Requiem for Windham Hill Records, which features vocalist Mary Mc Laughlin. He was recently featured on a sampler produced by the Columbia Record Club featuring violinist Hillary Hahn and Máire Ní Bhraonáin, the lead singer of Clannad.

As well as performing and recording, William works as a producer and recording engineer, and teaches guitar at the University of California, Santa Cruz. During the summer he teaches at a number of music camps including the National Guitar Summer Workshop and Alasdair Fraser's Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School.

Product Description
Gourd Music is proud to present a box set of its three critically acclaimed recordings of the music of the Shakers. The set is composed of Simple Gifts, Tree of Life and Music On The Mountain arranged and produced by guitarist William Coulter and Cellist Barry Phillips.

Exuberant dance tunes, lively marches and reverent hymns were part of the daily lives and worship of the Shakers, who flourished in mid-19th century America.

Like their highly-prized crafts, the Shakers' music was an outward expression of their faith and celebrated their ideals of simplicity and love.

Tracks:

Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major
Prelude
Fear Tango
Butterfly's Day Out
Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan
Slavonic Dance No. 2 in E minor, Op.72
Three Preludes
Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
American Collection Theme
Sonata for Cello and Piano in F Major, Op. 99
IV. Allegro molto
The Eternal Vow from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Erbarme dich (Matthdus-Passion)
Quartet for Piano & Strings No. 2 in G minor, Op. 45
IV. Allegro molto
Vocalise
Libertango
Simple Gifts
Appalachia Waltz

Amazon.com

Except for one "previously unreleased" recording and two new ones, this is a compilation of segments taken from older Yo-Yo Ma CDs, perhaps to whet listeners' appetite to hear the entire records. The disc represents a triumph of performance over material. The program consists of short pieces and single movements of long ones and serves to display Yo-Yo Ma's extraordinary versatility, his spectacular instrumental and musical gifts, and his remarkable ability to invest everything he plays with the same commitment and emotional concentration. There is no logic to the sequence, except that it begins and ends with solo cello. Bach, whom Ma plays tuned normally when unaccompanied and tuned low with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, may justify the CD's title but seems out of place. Moreover, juxtaposing him with O'Connor and Piazzolla is jarring, though the Tangos are beautiful. The transcription of Dvorák's lovely E-minor Slavonic Dance, despite the participation of violinist Itzhak Perlman and his golden tone, sounds like a movie soundtrack: all bravura and cheap effects. The playing's the thing, and it is stunning, not only Yo-Yo Ma's, but that of all his collaborators, from vocalists Bobby McFerrin and Alison Krauss to pianist Emanuel Ax, Ma's duo partner of 25 years. Ax joins Ma for the Finale of Brahms's second cello sonata; that is what you may find yourself humming at the end. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

New Yo-Yo Fan.......2006-07-09

I had never listened to Yo-Yo Ma before (that I knew of) and then I was at a dance recital a few months ago. Two little ballerinas danced to "Simple Gifts" with Alison Kraus, and I had to have that song. I really enjoy playing this album when my family is just hanging out reading or playing with the baby in the living room. Each piece is unique and beautiful in its own way. Simple Gifts is still my favorite piece on the album, I only wish it were longer!

Simply wonderful!.......2006-06-04

I recently got this CD as a birthday gift. I've been wanting this CD for a while. The first track is a wonderful song in all reality the entire CD is a wonderful experience. The prelude by Gershwin is unique sounding with the cello. The jazz quality is still there and has a bit of classical influence intertwined among it. Yo-Yo Ma's recording of Simple Gifts is a good song and when they had the lyrics sung by Alison Krauss it was a wonderful choice. Her vocals matched the cello incredibly well. Track 8 is a wonderful song that I love to hear being played on the cello. For any person who loves classical music or cello music this CD is a good choice to buy. It will be well worth your money.

Awesome.......2004-08-20

While most people on this site see the "classic" in the title of the album as referring to classical music only, they are mistaken. Classic Yo-Yo refers to his style, not the genre into which his music choices fall. The list of tracks alone should have been a big enough clue that the music isn't all classical. Judging this album, or any album for that matter, on just its title is simply foolish. And while this is technically a solo album, the way Yo-Yo brings in guest artists to perform with him shows his flexibility as an artist. His version of Simple Gifts is so much more than a school chorus; it is an amazing cellist playing the accompaniment on a song that is meant to be sung.

On a more positive note, I found every track beautiful, from the elegant solo cello in the Bach cello suite to the haunting vocal line in the Bobby McFerrin piece. Yo-Yo Ma gathered a wide range of intriguing pieces to make this fantastic album.

What is this?.......2004-02-10

This is a compilation of many different styles; look Yo-Yo can play bluegrass! Not really "Classic" Yo-Yo.

Great if you're not familiar with Yo-Yo Ma.......2002-12-27

This CD is a good sample of what yo-yo ma has acheived in his musical career, if you want a more in depth listening of his talents than I suggest getting the simply baroque CD. The only thing that I didn't like about this cd was that the compositions were to mixed up in the genres. There was a bit of classical, some movie works, a great song by John Williams, and some of The Tango series music. If you would rather listen to one genre, get a CD that just has Classical or Contemerary, don't get a jack of all trades cd.

Average customer rating:

The Simple Gifts Collection
William Coulter & Barry Phillips
Manufacturer: Gourd Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Celtic New Age | New Age | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

New Age | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

Fusion | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

Folk | Box Sets | Stores | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Gentle Words: Shaker Songs
The World Turned Upside Down
Celtic Crossing
Simple Gifts: Shaker Chants and Spirituals

ASIN: B00004X0E7
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Tracks:

Simple Gifts/Lovely Love - William Coulter/Barry Phillips/Esther Landau/Robin Petrie/Kaila Flexer/Mike Marshall
Square Check Tune/When Cheer Fills The Hearts Of My Friends - William Coulter/Barry Phillips/Kaila Flexer/Mike Marshall
O Lord Protect Thy Chosen Flock/My Carnal Life I Will Lay Down - William Coulter/Barry Phillips/Kaila Flexer/Mike Marshall/Shelley Phillips
Back Manner Tunes - William Coulter/Barry Phillips/Robin Petrie/Neal Hellman/Kaila Flexer/Mike Marshall
And Now My Dear Companions - William Coulter/Barry Phillips/Shelley Phillips
My Robe Is New/Mother Ann's Song - William Coulter/Barry Phillips/Neal Hellman/Kaila Flexer/Mike Marshall
Father James's Song/Treasures Of The Gospel/I Will Bow And Be Simple - Shelley Phillips/Barry Phillips
Mother Ann's Song - Barry Phillips/Esther Landau/Kaila Flexer
Come Dance And Sing/Quick Dance - William Coulter/Barry Phillips/Kaila Flexer/Mike Marshall/Robin Petrie/Neal Hellman
The Saviour's Universal Prayer/And Again Heavenly Father - William Coulter/Barry Phillips/Kaila Flexer/Mike Marshall
Hop Up And Jump Up/Simple Gifts (Reprise) - William Coulter/Barry Phillips/Esther Landau/Robin Petrie/Kaila Flexer/Mike Marshall

Tracks:

I Will Walk With My Children/Welcome Gospel Kindred - William Coulter/Barry Phillips/Mike Marshall/Kaila Flexer/Esther Landau/Lars Johannesson...
The Rolling Deep/Faithful Soldiers Travel On - Mike Marshall/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
Mother Has Come With Her Beautiful Song/Love Oh Love - Lars Johannesson/Esther Landau/Shelley Phillips/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
I Want To Gather Down/The Earthquake - Mike Marshall/Barry Phillips/William Coulter/Robin Petrie/Neal Hellman/Shelley Phillips
Voyage To Canaan/Bow Down O Zion - Shelley Phillips/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
Living Souls/Good Believer's Life - Mike Marshall/Robin Petrie/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
Tree Of Life - Robin Petrie/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
Holy Order Tune/How Beautiful, O Zion/Shaker March - Mike Marshall/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
The Humble Heart/I'm On My Way To Zion - Shelley Phillips/Kaila Flexer/Robin Petrie/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
Pleasant Walk/F.M.'s March/Star Of Purity - Lars Johannesson/Shelley Phillips/Neal Hellman/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
Love Is Little - Lars Johannesson/Shelley Phillips/Neal Hellman/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
Welcome Gospel Kindred/I Will Walk With My Children (Reprise) - Kaila Flexer/Mike Marshall/Lars Johannesson/Robin Petrie/William Coulter/Barry Phillips

Tracks:

O Little Children/By Freedom Invited - Lars Johannesson/Laurie Hart/Neal HellmanWilliam Coulter/Barry Phillips
Shuffling Song - Laurie Hart/Mike Marshall/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
A Cup Of Rejoicing/Primitive Dance Tune - Laurie Hart/Mike Marshall/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
Like Pretty Birds/Come Life, Shaker Life - Shelley Phillips/Neal Hellman/Robin Petrie/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
Music On The Mountains - Lars Johannesson/Shelley Phillips/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
'Parting Glass' March - Laurie Hart/Mike Marshall/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
Canterbury Solemn Song - Laurie Hart/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
The Burning Day - Lars Johannesson/Mike Marshall/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
Heavy Cross/Mount Lebanon Solemn Song - Lars Johannesson/Shelley Phillips/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
South Union Marches - Laurie Hart/Neal Hellman/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
The Savior's Watchword - Laurie Hart/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
Good Evening, My Friends/Mount Lebanon March - Deby Benton Grosjean/Mike Marshall/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
The Ancients Song Of Mourning - Lars Johannesson/Shelley Phillips/Barry Phillips/William Coulter
Step Tune/Who Will Bow And Bend Like The Willow - Lars Johannesson/Laurie Hart/Robin Petrie/William Coulter/Barry Phillips
O Little Children (Reprise) - Lars Johannesson/Mike Marshall/Neal Hellman/William Coulter/Barry Phillips

Album Description

Gourd Music is proud to present a box set of its three critically acclaimed recordings of the music of the Shakers. The set is composed of Simple Gifts, Tree of Life and Music On The Mountain arranged and produced by guitarist William Coulter and Cellist Barry Phillips.

Exuberant dance tunes, lively marches and reverent hymns were part of the daily lives and worship of the Shakers, who flourished in mid-19th century America.

Like their highly-prized crafts, the Shakers' music was an outward expression of their faith and celebrated their ideals of simplicity and love.

Tracks:

Die Frau Ohne Schatten: Act Two: Vater, Bist Du's? Through Zeige Dich, Vater!

Tracks:

Knoxville: Summer Of 1915
Ernani: Ernani, Involami
Song
Louise: Depuis Le Jour
Tosca: Vissi D'arte
Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di
Standchen
Im Abendrot
Elfenlied
Freundliche Vision
Songs Of The Auvergne: Passo Pel Prat
Songs Of The Auvergne: Berceuse (Soun, Soun, Beni, Beni)
Songs Of The Auvergne: Fibilou Par Una Sera
The Telephone: Telephone Aria
Old American Songs: Long Time Ago
Old American Songs: Simple Gifts (Shaker Song)
Nancy Hanks
Whistle And I'll Come To You
Danny Boy

Customer Reviews:

The "Monster" Concert Live.......2000-03-28

Those of us who are Stebermaniacs know that the October,1958 Carnegie Hall concert preserved in this live recording captured Eleanor Steber at the height of her popularity and vocal artistry. In her autobiography, she admits that she planned the most spectacular program she could conceive, and she blows away the enthusiastic audience with her stamina, technique, versatility and emotion coupled with control and musicality. Every review of this concert I have ever read selects a different "high point;" the spectacular Strauss segment from "The Woman without a Shadow," "Qui la Voce" from I Puritani, the multiple aria encores, Barber's "Knoxville," the Berlioz song cycle: the sheer quantity of glorious singing makes this a collector's item. An additional bonus is a more subdued, but warm 1956 song recital containing selections never before available. The sonic values are excellent in the 1958 concert, a bit less so in the earlier concert. Nevertheless, these are treasures, especially in the light of the few Steber concert recordings in existence.

Average customer rating:

Three CD Box Set

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000AV1N7I
Release Date: 2004-11-02

Product Description

Disc 1- CLASSIC YO-YO Disc 2- SOUL OF TANGO Disc 3- PLAYS ENNIO MARRICONE

Telarc Celebrating 25 Years: Classic Collect

Average customer rating:

Disappointing presentation of great music

Telarc Celebrating 25 Years: Classic Collect

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

Star Wars | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00006879K
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Tracks:

Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite: Introduction and The Firebird and Her Dance
Gustav Holst: First Suite in E-flat major, Op. 28, No. 1: March
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Op. 49 (excerpt)
Modest Moussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition: The Hut on Fowl's Legs and The Great Gate of Kiev
Georges Bizet: Carmen Suite No. 2: Danse Boheme
Camille Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78 "Organ," Mvt. 2 (excerpt)
Johann Sebastian Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 (excerpt)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73, Mvt. 2 (excerpt)
Antonio Vivaldi: The Four Seasons: Presto from L'Estate (Summer), Op. 8, No. 2/RV 315
Aaron Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection," Mvt. 5 (excerpt)
Sergei Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet: Montagues and Capulets (excerpt)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major "Eroica," Mvt. 4 (excerpt)
Frank Proto: Introduction
Hector Berlioz: Requiem, Op. 5 (Grand Messe des Morts): Dies irae (excerpt)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525, Mvt. 1, Allegro (excerpt)
Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata in C-sharp minor, Op. 27/2, Mvt. 1, Adagio sostenuto
Holst: The Planets, Op. 32: Mars, the Bringer of War (excerpt)
Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Trepak (Russian Dance)
Bach: Italian Concerto, BWV 971: Presto

Tracks:

Richard Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (excerpt)
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Vespers (All-Night Vigil) - Mass for Unaccompanied Chorus: Bogoroditsye Devo, Raduisya (Rejoice, O Virgin)
Richard Wagner: Das Rheingold: Ride of the Valkyries (excerpt)
Giovanni Gabrieli: Canzon septimi toni No. 2
Elmer Bernstein: The Magnificent Seven
P.D.Q. Bach: Oedipus Tex (dramatic oratorio for soloists, chorus and orchestra), S.150. "Howdy there"
Mozart: The Magic Flute: Aria No. 17: "Ach, ich Fuhl's" from Act Two
George Frideric Handel: Messiah: No. 7. "And He shall purify" from Part One
William S. Gilbert: The Pirates of Penzance: No. 13: Song: "I am the very model of a modern Major-General" from Act One
Ottorino Respighi: Church Windows: St. Michael the Archangel
Claude Debussy: La fille aux cheveux de lin
Maurice Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe: Scene 3
Rachmaninoff: Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 36 (revised 1931 edition): Mvt. 3, Allegro molto
Beethoven: Quartet in A minor, Op. 132, Mvt. 5, Allegro appassionato
Nicholai Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Op. 35, Mvt. 1, The Sea and Sinbad's Ship (excerpt)
Isaac Albeniz: Suite espanola, Op. 47, Asturias (excerpt)
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana: In taberna quando sumus
Mahler: Symphony No. 5, Mvt. 4, Adagietto: Sehr langsam (excerpt)
Jean Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Mvt. 4, Allegretto moderato (excerpt)
Shaker Hymn Tune: Simple Gifts

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing presentation of great music.......2002-08-04

I recently received this as a present but I was already familiar with many of these recordings, having owned the complete versions of the works presented. Yes, these are great recordings but if you settle for this compilation you will be missing out big time on great music. I own Fennell's recording on the Holst suite--while the March from the suite is very good, you will miss out on the beautiful 'Song Without Words' and the 'Fantasia on the Dargason,' which are the seond and fourth movements of the suite, respectively. If you get the original CD from which this movement was taken you will be able to enjoy the wonderful playing of members of the Cleveland Orchsestra as they play Holst's First suite and a wonderful rendition of Handel's Fireworks Music.

Maazel's Pictures at an Exhibition is excellnt, precise with excellent blends and fantastic orchestral playing, but you can hardly feel the power of the Great Gate of Kiev without the promenades and pictures that preceed it--you loose the whole sense of climax and fulfillment following the half hour of difficult music that preceeds the Great Gate. Beethoven's Emperor concerto is top-notch music but I think you might rather hear the second movement between the first and third movements which are full of powerful orchestral playing and keyboard virtuosity. Robert Spano's recording of Scheherazade that was released just a few months ago is brilliant. It's his first recording with the Atlanta Symphony and it's great--and you should own the complete thing which comes on a CD with the beuatiful Russian Easter Overture.

Spend some time looking for these complete recordings and you will be rewarded. What makes the compilation even worse is that in many cases the CD does not even present a full movement but just a part of a movement.

Tracks:

Adeste Fideles - Suzanne Ciani
Snow Shadows - Sean Harkness
Joy To The World - Jim Brickman
Winter Fire - Janis Ian
Greensleeves - George Winston
Omwoyo - Will Ackerman/Samite
In Bethlehem City - Paul McCandless
Forevergreenman - Liz Story
Angel Child - Samite
Oh Holy Night - Suzanne Ciani
Upon A Winter's Morn - Lisa Lynne
New Trees At Knockaun - Nightnoise
Welcome Christmas - Sean Harkness

Amazon.com

Simple. Sweet. That nicely sums up Simple Gifts, another holiday compilation released under the Windham Hill banner. Long-time fans of the label will be pleased to discover this package that, outside of the two vocal tracks involving Ugandan musician Samite, largely exudes a classic Windham Hill feel--meaning minimal schmaltz, refined folk-pop-classical compositions, and thoughtful performances. Highlights: A lovely solo piano take on "Joy to the World" by Jim Brickman (an alternative to the orchestrated version he includes on The Gift); a small slice of regal romanticism from pianist Liz Story ("Forevergreenman") that hints at her grand Solid Colors period (more, please); and a warm, wonderful duet on acoustic guitar by Janis Ian and Philip Clark ("Winter Fire"). George Winston takes a slight left turn with a melancholy, jazz-tinged version of "Greensleeves" in another nod to Vince Guaraldi. Only three tracks are overtly holiday related, and pianist-keyboardist Suzanne Ciani applies a benevolent, atmospheric sheen to two of them ("Adeste Fideles/Come All Ye Faithful" and "Oh Holy Night"). The packaging is bare-bones and not every piece is a gem, but enough of them are to make Simple Gifts a worthwhile seasonal addition. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews:

Not Bad Not Great.......2000-12-30

I own a few of the Windham hill Christmas collections and this is fair. If you don't already own it, I would recommend either Carols of Christmas (the original NOT the second one) and or Winter solstice ( either the original or Winter Solstice VI). These are similar records in style but are just much better recordings than this one.

Fireside and mulled wine.......2000-12-20

I first heard this CD at a friend's house, and had to have it. If you're looking for the perfect Christmas music to go along with a warm hearth and warmer mulled wine, this is it. The holidays should not be stressful!