In Sight

In Sight

Track Listings

1. Watered Down

2. It Takes Love

3. Alone

4. The Way You Wait

5. Nothing Like Love

6. Silent Eye

7. Songman

8. Back Down

9. The Fighter

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
David Shepherd Grossman's softest CD to date.

A very popular CD to relax with.

Released in 1997, this cd is all acoustic music with harmonies by the Box Set Duo of Jim Brunberg and Jeff Pehrson. Anne Reed (aka Enna Deer) also appears on this CD.

Tracks:

God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
Angels We Have Heard On High
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
How Unto Bethlehem?
The Boar's Head Carol
O Tannenbaum
Masters In This Hall
My Dancing Day
Away In A Manger
Good Christian Men, Rejoice
The Holly And The Ivy
Good King Wenceslas
Wassail Song
Bring A Torch, Jeannette, Isabella
Fum, Fum, Fum
Mary Had A Baby
Hacia Belen Va Un Borrico
Christ Was Born On Christmas Day
March Of The Kings
Coventry Carol
Deck The Halls
The Cherry Tree Carol
We Three Kings Of Orient Are
Toruo-Louro-Louro!
So Blest A Sight
I Saw Three Ships
What Child Is This?
Susanni
In The Bleak Midwinter

Customer Reviews:

Much Anticipated.......2007-01-26

I have been looking for this CD for years!! Our family had a Shaw Chorale LP which contained almost all the songs on this CD. We had a number of excellent holiday albums and played all of them often, but we wore the Shaw Chorale album out! Not only are the musical renditions excellent and very similar to earlier Shaw recordings, the nostalgia evoked for this listener is incomparable!

A Taste of Heaven.......2007-01-18

I received this recording on cassette from a choral teacher, and played it so often that I wore it out! I especially appreciate the purity of sound and the arrangements in this recording. Lovers of choral music will feel as though "Songs of Angels" brings them a taste of heaven!

The Energizer Bunny.......2007-01-18

Alas that Robert Shaw is no longer with us. Throughout his long and varied career he gave us choral music with exactness,good pacing,and proper execution though not all musicologists would chose his renditions.
In "Songs of Angels" recorded in 1994 he shows us that even in later years he just kept going and going. Giving us stellar performances of masterpieces such as "Elijah","The Creation" and other large choral works. Yet in this album he shows the same attention to detail and
enraptures us with that special beauty of tone and ensemble which was
was to be Shaw's watermark on his life's offering.

Great Seasonal Album.......2006-01-16

This is one of the most impressive period albums I own. Wonderful for the holiday season. Will miss it during the rest of the year.

The Most Beautiful Sounds I Have Ever Heard.......2003-02-04

A fluid and seamless piece of heaven that transcends all classical and holiday music. This is an OUTSTANDING non-traditional Holiday CD!!! Many voices come together as one in these enchanting verses sung in languages other than English. It is just enough language mix to appease and intrigue the soul but not too much so that the listener does not understand the lyrics. For example, the English verse is sung then a verse in German and then back to English. Emmanuel is written this way. Other languages include French (Angels we Have Heard on High) and even Catalan which is a dialect of Spain.

Several of the songs were not traditional Holiday songs (at least for my generation), yet they were intriguing to learn and now I feel I know them just like the traditional ones. This CD offers a healthy mix of traditional and non-traditional songs on this CD.

If you can picture the most beautiful sounds you have ever heard you can come close to the joy this CD will bring you. It is February and I can't stop listening to it. You will not regret purchasing it&the only regret you may have is not buying all of Robert Shaw's holiday CDs.

Tracks:

In A Stone Circle
In Sight Of The Minaret
In A Black Box
In The Grip Of Stronger Stuff
In Maternal Grace
In The Moneylender's Temple
In Defence Of Faiths
At Their Father's Knee
En Afrique
In The Olive Garden
In The Pay Of Spain
In The Times Of India (Bombay Valentine)

Customer Reviews:

A collection of great instrumentals.......2006-08-10

Ian Anderson has always been known for his flute. What we have here is a flute player arranging and playing some very innovative flute.
The entire album is instrumental, so we miss out on Anderson's outstanding lyric writing talents.
Ian trades his lyrics in for some of the finest flute music you will ever want to hear.
There is not a bad song on the CD. The highlights for me include, In a Stone Circle, In the Grips of Stronger Stuff, and in defence of Faiths. These 3 compositions are not only outstanding but will stand the test of time, which in my mind is the only true test of music. You will never hear Ian Anderson compose anything more solid. The rest of the CD is basically elevator music with occasional highlights.
Ian plays the flute in his patented style and is in top form.
This is much better than its predecessor Walk into Light.
If you are a Jethro Tull fan this should interest you.

Less Than Divine.......2006-07-28

For the record, I've been a huge fan of Jethro Tull since 1968 and a great admirer of Ian Anderson's recent work, such as "The Secret Language of Birds." Anderson is, in my estimation, one of the more significant composer/musicians of our day, and his post-Jethro Tull work has been quite wonderful.

Having said that, I am disappointed with his Twelve Dances with God. The music is pretty, in a generic way, but it lacks the compositional intricacy that is the hallmark of Anderson's work. There are few, if any, key modulations, which Anderson does so well in other works. The pieces are all instrumental - flute together with orchestral instruments and the occasional keyboard. They are all pleasant, in a "new age" sort of way, but lacking musical substance. Nice background music for the office or at home, perhaps.

My chief disappointment is that all twelve pieces sound monotonously similar. I assumed that the theme of this album is the diversity of expressions as humans attempt to dance with God. Leaving the theological aspects aside (this is, after all, an album of music not a theological text), I would have expected a greater diversity of rhythm and tune. However, each track seems to flow into the next. Perhaps this is reflective of "new age spirituality" where truth and deity are rather elastic, but that would take some elucidation from Ian Anderson himself. The music itself doesn't seem to have much to say. If these are twelve dances with God, perhaps it would be better to let Him take the lead.

completely satisfied..........2004-08-09

I have been a long time Tull fan and consequently, Ian Anderson.
As mentioned in earlier reviews on this page, this is a true gem and a tribute to Ians ability to be musically creative, fluid and expansive in a musical genre distinctly different from his rock and blues roots.

Magical.......2004-05-19

This album holds me in rapt fascination whenever I play it. Each song is Anderson's interpretation of the spirit of one of Earths religions. The 12 songs are unique in their own right, but somehow mesh with each other, like they are all really dancing with the same God. Each time I listen to this work I hear more or feel something different. It is a masterpiece.

Magical.......2004-05-19

Average customer rating:

Robert King deserves to be famous in America, too
Bargain-priced first-class overview

Essential Handel

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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

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

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music

$6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The King's Consort Collection
Essential Purcell
Essential Vivaldi: 20 Greatest Masterpieces
The Very Best of Victoria de los Angeles
Handel - Concerti Grossi, op. 6 (Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 11) / AAM · Manze

ASIN: B000A7XJQA
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Customer Reviews:

Robert King deserves to be famous in America, too.......2006-07-23

Robert King and his King's Consort have made dozens of recordings, establishing themselves in London as a pre-eminent Baroque group. They benefit greatly from King's unflagging energy and musical insight. Twenty years ago you couldn't say that the period movement had attracted the best musicians and conductors. That situation has changed radically, and this sampler CD from King's complete recordings exhibits first-class playing throughout. Baroque singing is at a high level, too, but you couldn't say that his singers are of Met or Royal Opera House quality--even so, they are very good.

As an indicator of the strides that period performance has made, this is an eye-opening CD, but it's also engaging for the general listener, like me, who only dips into Handel's many, many operas and oratorios occasionally.

Bargain-priced first-class overview.......2006-05-01

This is a great CD for beginners, but also for those who already have a few Handel CDs. So often samplers have all the favourites which you already have on other CDs. But this set has a few well-known tracks, such as Zadok the Priest, See the Conqu'ring Hero Comes and La Rejouissance from The Fireworks, but mostly wonderful music, superbly played which is not extremely well known.

Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

I don't care what allmusic.com says...
77s become Seventy Sevens & Keep Their Heads Way Above Water
The Absolute Best 77s CD Ever!
Not worth throwing a life saver
Great CD

Drowning With Land in Sight
Seventy-Sevens
Manufacturer: Ocean -- Word --
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

A Golden Field Of Radioactive Crows
Tom Tom Blues
Seventy Sevens
Sticks & Stones
Real Men Cry

ASIN: B00000316Q
Release Date: 1995-11-28

Tracks:

Nobody's Fault But Mine
Snowblind
Snake
Indian Winter
Film At 11
Mezzo
Cold Cold Night
Dave's Blues
Sounds O' Autumn
The Jig Is Up
Alone Together
For Crying Out Loud

Amazon.com

This darkly brilliant collection of songs takes a number of left turns designed to keep the "establishment" at a distance--just when the band was entering the Christian-music mainstream. Some worked. The label back-masked the phrase "kicked my ass" on "Dave's Blues," completely missing the tribute to guitarist David Leonhardt, who gave his all on Drowning despite undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's disease at the time. Band leader Mike Roe's Alice Cooper impersonation on "Snake" is creepy and beguiling, and the band's note-for-note cover of Led Zeppelin 's "Nobody's Fault but Mine" makes no pretense about "stealing it back" for Blind Willie Johnson. --Brad Caviness

Customer Reviews:

I don't care what allmusic.com says..........2005-08-12

... I think this is a great album.

Why? Because I don't get tired of it. I've had it for a very long time now, and I find it an album that has stood the test of time on my rack. Many others have ceased to sound 'fresh' to me. Despite the largely prevalent 'grunge' sound, there is enough variety among the songs, and enough pungency to the lyrics ("Alone Together", "Film At 11", "For Crying Out Loud"), that I keep coming back.

Michael Roe was apparently going through some very difficult times, and didn't hold anything back - but it still doesn't feel egocentric.

77s become Seventy Sevens & Keep Their Heads Way Above Water.......2004-02-09

The "Sevens" aren't drowning here. They're walking on water. Just take into account the difficult circumstances behind the scenes while most of this collection was assembled. An EP called "Snake" slithered out to radio, and should've scored the "Sevens" an overdue hit on their excellent cover of Zep's best cut from the equally tumultuous sessions and dregs assembled for Zep's Presence. Roe's Plant comes close to Out Planting Plant. That's no small feat when you consider the odd lyric like life, self induced guilt (read: blame) present in Plant's delivery on Fault. He was beating himself up because he was absent when his young son died. But that's a different story, and that's Zep. Multiply the reasons to buy this recording by counting every great cut. Then, add Seventy Seven. That's a lot of reasons you'll love this CD.

The Absolute Best 77s CD Ever!.......2003-11-06

This is the absolute best 77s CD ever released (with the possible exception of 'Sticks and Stones'). The CD begins with a Led Zeppelin cover tune, which is VERY well done. From there, the band is all over the spectrum from a type of Seattle Grunge sound, to straight ahead rock and roll, to an Alice Cooper sound w/'Snake', to their usual 77s sound with Film at 11.

In my opinion there is not a bad song on this whole CD. While this CD is not an earlier work, like Sticks and Stones, or Eighty Eight, it is still as fresh, and seems to demonstrate great growth in their song writing abilities. This is just good music for anyone who loves great rock and roll.

Not worth throwing a life saver.......2003-01-29

Although the 77's have had great accomplishments in the past, this is not one of them. A big let down from their self titled album, and I think I was asking a lot when I first heard that album. Of course, I am still waiting for the re-release of the album on CD again. However, this is not anything like that and although I don't like to put down music, I think I would tell people to pass on this one in search of some of their better CDs.

Great CD.......2002-02-06

All the 77s do is put out HIGH QUALITY music and this CD is one of thier best! A note for note cover of "Nobody's Fault But Mine" is mind-blowing. Snake and Dave's Blues are worth the cost of the CD alone. ENJOY!

Tracks:

Dixit Dominus
Welcome As The Dawn Of Day
Harlequinade & Aeolus
Who Is Like Unto Thee, O Lord?
Musette
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Esurientes implevit
To God Who Made The Radiant Sun
Hear My Prayer, O Lord
Andante From Trio Sonata In D Minor
Oh! Fair Cedaria
In Jehovah's Awful Sight
In furore iustissimae irae
Alla Hornpipe
Be Welcome Then, Great Sir
Country Dances I And II
Erbarme dich
Overture To The Summer's Absence Unconcerned
La Rejouissance
Salvator noster
Dona nobis pacem

Customer Reviews:

Going for Baroque.......2003-01-09

Here lies master collection from ten years and fifty discs of examples from baroque era performed by choirs, soloists and instrumentalists.

Conducted by energetic Robert King and his King's Consort, this is just superb!

It will introduce one to baroque or add to one's enjoyment. Especially enjoyed Purcell's "Hear my prayer, O Lord" and Gabrieli's "Salvator noster."

The End Is Not in Sight
Average customer rating:

The Greatest Singer You're Not Listening Too

Blue-Eyed Soul

An astounding album!

Can't Describe It

Best country soul album in years

The End Is Not in Sight
Russell Smith
Manufacturer: Muscle Shoals
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music
General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music
New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music
General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

How the Hell Do You Spell Rhythum?

Two Classic Albums from The Amazing Rhythm Aces: Stacked Deck/Too Stuffed to Jump

The Amazing Rhythm Aces

Nothin' But The Blues

Toucan Do It Too/Burning the Ballroom Down

ASIN: B00006358N
Release Date: 2002-03-26

Tracks:

Old School
The King Is In His Castle
The Road
Walk These Hills
Look Heart, No Hands
Don't Go To Strangers
We're Gettin' Outta Here
What I Learned From Loving You
Heartbeat In The Darkness
Third Rate Romance
Jesse
Keep It Between The Lines
The End Is Not In Sight

Customer Reviews:

The Greatest Singer You're Not Listening Too.......2003-01-25

Why, in the name of all that's holy, isn't Russell Smith a contemporary country superstar and household name? He's been around for years, both as a solo act and as the voice of The Amazing Rhythm Aces. The Aces have had their moments, and ever so often Smith releases a solo album. But everytime, the mass audience greets his work with a yawn. "The End is Not is Sight" is Russell Smith's latest work and it's beautiful. This collection of mostly new material (with a few nods to the Aces with the title track and "Third Rate Romance") showcases Smith's soulful lyrics and distinctive voice. Smith's style is a dose hill-billy boogie, a dash of blue-eyed soul, a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll, all stirred up in a toe-tapping stew that's mmmmmm-mmmmmm good. Whether it's the rocking rhythms of "Jesse" and "We're Gettin' Out of Here," or the sad-sweet ballads like "Walk These Hills" and "Look Heart, No Hands," Smith nails every track. Russell Smith is the greatest singer you're not listening to right now, and you should. And so should everyone who enjoys great lyrics, great music and inimitable vocals.

Blue-Eyed Soul.......2002-11-02

Russell Smith keeps putting out great records. His latest is addictive! "Old School" opens with a sweet soulful midtempo track about a high school reunion. Russell croons with satisfaction on the acoustic "The King Is In His Castle," "He ain't got diamonds, she ain't got pearls, But God's in his heaven & all's right with their world." "The Road" wails with some tasty electric guitar. "Walk These Hills" & "Look Heart, No Hands" are ballads with pretty melodies. "We're Gettin' Outta Here" is a peppy midtempo rocker, "We'll never get outta this world alive; So we might as well have us some fun!" "What I Learned from Loving You" is a tear-in-your-beer country weeper. "Heartbeat in the Darkness" is one of my favorite tracks, a real upbeat toe tapper. "Third Rate Romance" brought to mind the version I love by Rosanne Cash as piano keys pound on this trailer park love song. "Jesse" is great outlaw rock. Russell saves the very best for last with the title track with its pulsing bass line, "Like a bird without a nest, like the stranger in the night & my soul cries out for rest & the end is not in sight." This CD is one to seek out because the songs are consistently strong. Smith varies the tempo, goes from soul to blues to country, all unified by that expressive voice. U Snooze U Lose! Wow!

An astounding album!.......2002-10-26

The luminary musicians that have been assembled to help with the production of this album are testimony to what a talent Russell Smith is. The resulting album doesn't disappoint, with a range of songs lovingly fleshed out by (mostly) sparse productions that allows the vocals of Smith to shine through. The voice is a little deeper than it was back then, but the songwriting is, if anything, better. There are some awesomely good songs here, with satisfying twists to old themes. "Old School" is a good take on cheating songs, and "The Road" reworks views about...well, the road! My favourites are "Don't go to strangers" and especially "What I learned from loving you", which as with so many of Smith's songs resonates with experiences that I can empathise with.I also enjoyed the version of "The end is not in sight", and it bears comparison with a versions that he's recorded elsewhere. A look at the musician name checks suggests that everybody down at Muscle Shoals wanted a piece of this action, including Spooner Oldham and James Hooker.Put starkly, this is an album that whatever your musical tastes you ought to think about listening to, it's that good. Oh, and by the way, there's no mention anywhere in the packaging of the Amazing Rhythm Aces!

Can't Describe It.......2002-07-09

Oh my word! This guy is just remarkable and this CD is a masterpiece. If you even remotely liked the Aces just order it now. The first five songs (all I've heard so far) are incredible. Got to see him live about a year ago and it seemed like he still had it even though the musicianship of the Aces had gotten a little thin. No such trouble here - a studio full of great players and the best singer/songwriter in the business.

Best country soul album in years.......2002-06-18

This a masterpiece of country soul...if you like Dan Penn and Music from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, you will love this..*****

Purcell: Songs & Airs / Argenta, North, Boothby, Nicholson, Toll

Average customer rating:

Nice Collection
PERFECT!
Great singing and excellent value for money
More than two hours of beautiful 17th century 'ayres'

Purcell: Songs & Airs / Argenta, North, Boothby, Nicholson, Toll
Henry Purcell , Nancy Argenta , and Nigel North
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Purcell: The Fairy Queen
Essential Purcell
Purcell: Odes for St. Cecilia's Day - Music for Queen Mary / Taverner Consort
Bach: Cantatas
Gabrieli · Monteverdi · Vivaldi - Venetian Church Music / Taverner Consort, Choir & Players · Andrew Parrott

ASIN: B000059LOH
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Tracks:

O Solitude - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
Ah! How Sweet It Is To Love - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Not All My Torments - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Paul Nicholson
Stripp'd Of Their Green - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Tell Me, Some Pitying Angel - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
If Music Be The Food Of Love - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Hark! Hark! The Echoing Air - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
The Fatal Hour Comes On Apace - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
Incassum, Lesbia - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Paul Nicholson
Sweeter Than Roses - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby
Cupid, The Slyest Rogue Alive - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
From Silent Shades - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Dear Pretty Youth - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby
From Rosy Bow'rs - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Now That The Sun Hath Veil'd His Light - Nancy Argenta/Paul Nicholson
Beneath A Poplar's Shadow - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby
I Attempt From Love's Sickness To Fly - Nancy Argenta/Paul Nicholson
Let Us Dance - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Fairest Isle - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
O Solitude - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby

Tracks:

Nymphs And Shepherds - Nancy Argenta/Nicholas Robinson/Fiona Huggett/Trevor Jones/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Amidst The Shades And Cool Refreshing Streams - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
Love In Their Little Veins Inspires - Nancy Argenta/Rachel Becket/Marion Scott/Richard Boothby/Nigel North
Fly Swift, Ye Hours - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
They Tell Us That Your Mighty Powers - Nancy Argenta/Nicholas Robinson/Fiona Huggett/Trevor Jones/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
The Plaint: O Let Me Weep - Nancy Argenta/Pauline Nobes/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
In The Black, Dismal Dungeon Of Despair - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/John Toll
See, Even Night Herself Is Here - Nancy Argenta/Nicholas Robinson/Fiona Huggett/Trevor Jones
Why Should Men Quarrel? - Nancy Argenta/Rachel Becket/Marion Scott/Richard Boothby/John Toll
Seek Not To Know - Nancy Argenta/Paul Goodwin/Sophia McKenna/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Retir'd From Mortals' Sight - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
To Arms, Heoric Prince - Nancy Argenta/Mark Bennett/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
O Lead Me To Some Peaceful Gloom - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Halcyon Days - Nancy Argenta/Paul Goodwin/Pauline Nobes/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Bid The Virtues - Nancy Argenta/Paul Goodwin/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Lord, What Is Man? (A Divine Hymn) - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Music For A While - Nancy Argenta/John Toll
If Music Be The Food Of Love (1st Setting) - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/John Toll
Sawney Is A Bonny Lad (A Scotch Song) - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
When I Have Often Heard Young Maids Complaining - Nancy Argenta/Nicholas Robinson/Fiona Huggett/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Ah! Cruel, Bloody Fate - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/John Toll
Thy Hand, Belinda... When I Am Laid In Earth - Nancy Argenta/Nicholas Robinson/Fiona Huggett/Trevor Jones/Richard Boothby/Nigel North

Customer Reviews:

Nice Collection.......2007-03-05

I have many collections of Purcell's Music. This collection stands up to them at half the price. Solid buy.

PERFECT!.......2006-10-26

There is only a word with which I can describe this set of discs: perfect!
The only flaw there is, is not related to the singing or playing: no text enclosed.

Great singing and excellent value for money.......2004-09-19

This is probably one of the best anthologies of Purcell songs around, and not just because it's two-for-one pricing means it contains twice as much music (CD1:74'24" & CD2: 77'41")! Nancy Argenta has an irrepressible sense of style and crystal clear diction. But unlike Emma Kirby, whose vocal purity can become tiresome, these renditions radiate warmth. She is also, I have found, more consistently involving than any one of the singers in Hyperion's three disc survey of Complete Secular Songs (recently reissued as a single set). One marvels at how she judiciously balances restraint and emotional forthrightness. The accompaniments (archlute, viola da gamba, harpsichord, and organ) are well judged and blend with the voice, all helped by an excellently defined recording acoustic. This is an absolute winner at any price!

More than two hours of beautiful 17th century 'ayres'.......2001-08-02

Two CDs, totaling more than 150 minutes of sparsely-arranged (never more than 3-5 instruments at a time), sweetly-sung, 350 year old 'ayres' (a typically English form of secular music). Nancy Argenta's soprano voice is lovely, silvery indeed as her name implies. The instruments are a discreet but friendly accompaniment to her solo voice. Perhaps the instruments are a little too discreet -- there are times when I wish they were a touch more prominent. But that is a very, very minor complaint. A beautiful collection, and quite well worth the money.

Average customer rating:

Great Music from Elizabeth's time

Elizabethan Songs and Consort Music
Peter Wendland , and Innocenzio Alerti
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Treasury of Elizabethan Music
Dowland: Consort Music
Byrd: Consort and Keyboard Music; Songs and Anthems
Elizabethan Consort Music
Armada: Music from the Courts of England and Spain

ASIN: B00003Q40F
Release Date: 2000-01-25

Tracks:

Fantasia
Ah, Alas You Salt Sea Gods
A Song Of Mr Robert Parsons
The Song Called Trumpets
O Death, Rock Me Asleep
In Nomine
In Nomine
Pour Down, You Pow'rs Divine
Ut Re Mi
Quis Me Statim
In Nomine No, 14 'Reporte'
Penelope That Longed
In Nomine No. 20 'Crye'
Send Forth Thy Sighs
Climb Not Too High
De La Court
Eliza, Her Name Gives Honour
Pavin Of Albarti
Gallyard
O Jove, From Stately Throne
A Solfing Song
Ah, Silly Poor Joas
In Nomine
Ye Sacred Muses

Customer Reviews:

Great Music from Elizabeth's time.......2002-09-13

This is an exceptional disc of music in height of popularity at
the court of Elizabeth I, and a bargan on the Naxos label(they
have several titles of early music available). The songs are all of high performance quality, and highly recomended to those interested in Elizabeth and her world. Several tracks for me stand out, including "Pour Down,You Pow'rs Divine", "Climb Not To High", and "Eliza, Her Name Gives Honour", this last composition written in celebration and honor of the queen, and beautifuly sung by Catherine King. The Rose Consort Of Viols are
also featured, the "grandfathers" of the modern bowed string
instruments were highly in vogue at the time for voice accompany or alone. For those with an interest in Elizabeth, or have seen the movie, this CD is highly recomended!

Average customer rating:

Fine reissue of a classic set

Purcell: Theatre Music

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Cantatas for Solo Countertenor
Purcell: The Fairy Queen
Purcell: Songs & Airs / Argenta, North, Boothby, Nicholson, Toll
Monteverdi - Madrigali guerrieri ed amorosi / Concerto Köln, Jacobs
Lawes: The Consort Setts for 5 & 7 viols and organ

ASIN: B0001Y4JHA
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Customer Reviews:

Fine reissue of a classic set.......2006-05-24

Think about the stupidest, most formulaic Hollywood movies you can think of: cheesy action pictures, fluffy, unfunny comedies, big but stiff epics. Now imagine that one of the greatest living composers was working in Hollywood, turning out astonishing, hauntingly beautiful and stirring musical scores for these throwaway movies. That's what you get with this set: music Henry Purcell composed for some two dozen often utterly forgettable plays (trust me--I've read a number of them!) Occasionally, when he teams up with a playwright worthy of his stature, such as John Dryden, Aphra Behn, or William Congreve, the results are even better, but for the most part you can enjoy the music here without knowing anything about the original plays.

This set originally appeared as separate LPs in the 70s and 80s, and has been long out of print. That's a pity, since Purcell spent a good deal of his short professional life in the theatre, either writing the incidental music contained on these CDs, or the music for his larger works, the semi-operas (King Arthur, The Fairy Queen, and the like). Almost all of these works are enjoyable gems; certainly, they represent a pinnacle of English 17th century music. Purcell had a genius for spinning musical gold out of the most leaden lyrics (check out his Odes and Welcome Songs on Hyperion if you don't believe me), and he does the same with the song texts in these plays.

Hogwood and the AAM offer clean, listenable performances, and the sound on these old analog discs has been cleaned up and brightened--although they were pretty good, even in the late 70s. As with most Hogwood, emotional extremes are kept to a minimum, so the "otherworldly" nature of late 17th century music, so often emphasised in more recent Baroque performances, doesn't come across here. It would be interesting to see what a group like The King's Consort would do with this music, but this set fills the major gap in the Purcell canon quite nicely.

My only beef with the reissue, as with many reissues, is that the liner notes are rather thin for a 6-cd set--the lyrics to the songs, for example, are especially missed. Still, it's a worthwhile set, and a must for fans of Purcell, English Baroque music, or anyone who just wants to experience a taste of the last days of the Restoration stage.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Recommended Music:

In Da Mix 1st Fix [Import]

The Greatest Voice in Opera: Highlights from I Puritani

Sinfonia Astral: Acuario

Mosaic Select: Art Pepper

Slide Along Side [CD-single] [Import]

Special Christmas

Sacred 2000

Skylarking

Prince of Egypt (Nashville) [Soundtrack]

Piel de Barro

Singles Collection [Import]

Paixao [Import]

Release the Pressure [CD-single] [Import]

Prokofieff: Sonata in F minor, Op. 80; Sonata in D major, Op. 94a; Five Melodies, Op. 35bis

Soldier's Hymn