Edge of a Dream

Edge of a Dream

Track Listings

1. On the Edge of a Dream

2. All This Remains

3. What Is on Your Mind

4. Sweet Death

5. I Cannot Keep from Crying

6. Luna

7. Gypsy Dave

8. Walking This Road

9. Quiet Joys of Brotherhood

10. Black Cat Blues

11. Bright Sunny Morning

Tracks:

Cowboy's Dream
Canyon Sonata
All the Pretty Horses
Purty Dad Gum Good
After the Rain
Mild Cello Blues
Malarki Opus in D Major
John Grady's Angel
Edge of the World
Get My Boots
Strawberry Tango, Pt. 1-2
King of Horses
Far Away (Alejandra's Phone Call)
Porque
Love Montage
Ain't That a Drag
My Last Days on Earth/What's It Like to Be Dead?
Long Journey Home
Candles and Lies
Rainy Room
Far Away
Far Away (Reprise)
Cowboy's Dream/All the Pretty Horses [Medley]

Amazon.com

Novelist Cormac McCarthy's literary vision of the wild west is given wide-screen treatment by maverick director Billy Bob Thornton and a cast that includes Matt Damon, Penelope Cruz, and Bruce Dern. Professional country music journeyman Marty Stuart has performed with father-in-law Johnny Cash, Earl Scruggs, and Doc Watson, in addition to a successful solo career. In his soundtrack scoring debut, he provides short, meditative instrumental pieces that are subtly explosive--rife as they are with strains of old-school country and bluegrass. Cinematic strings and orchestral percussion add a welcome menacing edge, augmenting the rustic approach without crossing over into a compromised "countrypolitan" sound. If anything, it might be nice to hear these themes extended. As it stands, the 23 listed tracks are covered in a little under 50 minutes, with many of the cuts barely lasting more than a minute or two. They stand as a new genre of cinematic country minimalism. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews:

Great western soundtrack.......2004-02-28

This is a must buy for fans of western soundtracks.It mixes beautifully symphonic music with Guitar music and spices it up all together with a south of the border flavor. Haunting music that will make you want to never take it out of your cd changer. It also
Features two vocal pieces, the first a spanish song sung by the very talented Raul Malo of the country group the mavericks, the second song is a beautiful ballad sung by Marty Stuart. Though I never owned any cd's of Marty Stuart he earns my respect with composing this film score.(cowboy hats off to you Mr.Stuart)

a very memorable cd.......2003-07-04

I thoroughly enjoyed this soundtrack cd. It soars high on ambiance, romance, and easy listening.

a very memorable cd.......2003-07-04

I thoroughly enjoyed this soundtrack cd. It soars high on ambiance, romance, and easy listening.

a very memorable cd.......2003-07-04

I thoroughly enjoyed this soundtrack cd. It soars high on ambiance, romance, and easy listening.

Truly Incredible.......2003-03-12

This album is a masterpiece. Within the first strums of the guitar, you feel as though you are among the southwestern hills. It has immediately become one of my favorites of all-time. The songs are filled with beautiful imagery, enchanting tunes, and haunting melodies. The shortness of the songs in unnoticable, as each song blends into the next, and the album itself serves as one epic journey. It is not meant to be listened to a song at a time, but as a whole. As I said, it is truly incredible. I would recommend it to absolutely anyone.

Average customer rating:

Oh dear...they've taken their eye off the ball
Stunningly beautiful music
Better then R&B
Very good, yet not comparable to Diva Dance
Opera Today

Operatica: Shine

Manufacturer: E-Magine Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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O: Operatica, Vol. 1
The Fifth Element: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Myth of Red
Etterna
Trance Opera: The Complete Masterworks - Classic Meets Pop

ASIN: B000060OXN
Release Date: 2002-05-21

Tracks:

Solvejg's Song
Mon Amour
Shine
Kokab
Standing On The Edge Of The World
Lost In Someone Else's Dream
Khodoya
Je Crois Entendre Encore
Passepied
Under The Desert Sky
Kokab (Extended Grooveshaman Remix) (bonus track)

Customer Reviews:

Oh dear...they've taken their eye off the ball.......2007-01-08

This is not much like their first album (which was a mostly clever, sometimes ham-handed combination of operatic arias and modern electronic instrumentation).

But Shine is pretty much the same ethno-electronica that was pervasive throughout the 90s. Think Deep Forest, Anubian Nights, Enigma, B-Tribe, and even Sting's "Desert Rose". Yawnnnnnnnnnnnn.

Their first album was good mostly because of its orginality (operatic arias are definitely a challenge), but any old fool can slap a "cool" Middle Eastern chant over a modern beat.

What bugs me about both albums is that they don't maintain that singularly operatic quality--it seems to be a sonic delicacy reserved only for a few tracks.

So, with a very few exceptions, this album is a bit contrived.

Stunningly beautiful music.......2004-11-29

I would describe this music as a mellow and unusal mix of music where Enya meets Maria Callas, and I am a fan of both, so that's a good thing. It is so good that Billboard Music called it the best classical crossover of the year!

I would call this music techno opera scene from the future with beautiful opera singing, just to give you an idea of what this music is like! Also, the singer from the Fifth Element soundtrack, Inva Mula sings the song "Mon Amour".
Also singing on this cd is a singer named Shakila. She sings on "Kokab" and "Khodoya". These three are my favorite tracks. Though the cd in whole is a joy to listen to.

We'll say that "Operatica-Shine" succesfully bridged the Middle East to Europe via southern Spain.

So if you're a nu music dj, pick up this cd, so you can really spin an eclectc mix of music - Savannah Skye aka DJ Dakini-NYC...

Better then R&B.......2004-04-16

My wife and I are always looking for new music to cuddle up to, while either watching the sunset, or getting a little heated. I think this album is a great replacement for Barry White, or some other R&B that people often equate with mood music.

These sounds will actually get your heart pounding and blood pumping without forcing you to constantly skip over songs that just get too rowdy.

Very good, yet not comparable to Diva Dance.......2004-03-12

Let me start out by saying that i love this cd. i bought it thinking that it would be like the song Diva Dance from the Fifth Element. It is most certainly one of my favorite cd's but it is nothing like the Diva Dance song. All of the tracks are much slower, focusing more on the opera part, as opposed to the techno/pop. i would still give this cd a splendid 4 out of 5 stars, but i would just like to get across the point that it doesn't have the type of songs that are advertised. thanks.

Opera Today.......2003-08-24

I just bought Operatica:Shine. It is my favorite CD, I strongly recomend it to enyone who enjoys opera! If you like "THE DIVA DANCE" in The Fifth Element you will love this CD!

Average customer rating:

Major Triumph For This Orchestra Star
A great edition to any double reed player's library!!

Three Concerti

Manufacturer: New World Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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John Corigliano: Creations And Other Works
Rorem: Flute Concerto; Violin Concerto

ASIN: B0000030J9
Release Date: 1995-04-25

Tracks:

Concerto For English Horn And Orchestra: Preamble And Amble
Concerto For English Horn And Orchestra: Love Letter
Concerto For English Horn And Orchestra: Recurring Dream
Concerto For English Horn And Orchestra: Perpetual Motion
Concerto For English Horn And Orchestra: Medley And Prayer
Concerto For English Horn And String Orchestra, Op.137: Con Fantasia
Concerto For English Horn And String Orchestra, Op.137: Amabile
Concerto For English Horn And String Orchestra, Op.137: Spiritoso
The Edge Of The Olde One

Customer Reviews:

Major Triumph For This Orchestra Star.......2004-03-27

There is so much in the symphony reportoire which depends on a great, solid EH artist. None quite like the exceptional Thomas Stacy of the NY Philharmonic.

Here he delights with three concertos written for him and his instrument. Each different and adding to the growing collection of works for this solo workhorse.

Rorem's Concerto is just outstanding, especially the 2nd Movement named Love Letter and 3rd named: Recurring Dream. Its sonorous overtones are well suited for the EH, backed by nicely balanced orchestration of lilty, floating horns, strings, flute.

Persichetti's Concerto for EH and String Orchestra is directed again for Stacy's talents and showcases them magnificently. An opener of fantasia is followed by the robust second "Amabile" which bustles and rustles with circulating lightness into the "Butterfly Song." The third move is a favorite of the CD, Spiritoso which zooms and shifts gears allowing Stacy to enter and exit from and around the strings, emanating a dancelike finish.

Hodkinson ventures into the unknown. Imagine, electrified English Horn with reverb, modulation. Perfect for a piece meant to resemble mind journey... meandering, then clear, then muddled and complexed, then darting. Tedious at points. Eruptive. Gradually moves to bursts where we can identify this is really English Horn distorted sounds. Least of the three for me.

A great edition to any double reed player's library!!.......1999-03-14

Tom Stacy is one of the foremost English Hornist of our time.He has more than 50 solo performances with the New york Philharmonic, and other major orchestras around the country.This CD shows both Tom's technical mastery of the instrument, and his sensitive musicality. The CD also demonstrates three comtemporary composers at there best.

Average customer rating:

A century of British art songs to delight those who love them

English Song

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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A Treasury of English Song
Favorite English Songs
Silent Noon
Songs by Roger Quilter
Bryn Terfel - The Vagabond & other songs by Vaughan Williams, Butterworth, Finzi & Ireland

ASIN: B0002JEG6I
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Tracks:

A Soft Day - Bernadette Greevy
Irish Skies - Bernadette Greevy
Cherry Ripe - Janice Watson
Mustard And Cress - Neal Davies
The Lily Of A Day - Janice Watson
Henry King - Neal Davies
Fain Would I Change That Note - Graham Johnson
In Summer-Time On Bredon - Christopher Maltman
The Lads In Their Hundreds - Christopher Maltman
Among The Rocks - Graham Johnson
It Was A Lover And His Lass - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
The Water Mill - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
On Wenlock Edge - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
The Call - Graham Johnson
Silent Noon - Graham Johnson
Now In These Fairylands - Philip Langridge
The Dream-City - Philip Langridge
Margrete's Cradle Song - Susan Gritton
The Heart Worships - Christopher Maltman
Take, O Those Lips Away - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal - Graham Johnson
Love Calls Through The Summer Night - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
I Will Go With My Father A-Ploughing - Graham Johnson
The Rio Grande (Capstan Shanty) - Ian Partridge
Theodore, Or The Pirate King - Ian Partridge
A Long Time Ago (Hilliard's Shanty) - Ian Partridge
Oh Dear, What Can The Matter Be? - Bernadette Greevy

Tracks:

The Grenadier - Richard Edgar-Wilson
The Young Lover - Richard Edgar-Wilson
Betty And Johnny - Richard Edgar-Wilson
Rise Up And Reach The Stars - Richard Edgar-Wilson
The Bells - Nik Hancock-Child
Ann's Cradle Song - Nik Hancock-Child
As I Lay In The Early Sun - Nik Hancock-Child
The Cherry Tree - Nik Hancock-Child
Dusk - Nik Hancock-Child
Peter Warlock's Fancy - John Constable
The Frostbound Wood - John Constable
Chopcherry - John Constable
A Sad Song - John Constable
Rutterkin - John Constable
Bethlehem Down - John Constable
Wapping Old Stairs - Felicity Lott
Long Steel Grass - Martyn Hill
Tango-Pasodoble - Martyn Hill
Popular Song - Martyn Hill
Beatriz's Song - Felicity Lott
Lay Your Sleeping Head, My Love - Philip Langridge
Early One Morning - Felicity Lott
The Foggy, Foggy View - Philip Langridge
Now The Leaves Are Falling Fast - Philip Langridge
Tell Me The Truth About Love - Della Jones
The Choirmaster's Burial - Philip Langridge

Customer Reviews:

A century of British art songs to delight those who love them.......2006-06-26

These 53 songs have been collected by Naxos from their extensive acquisitions from Collins Classics, and perhaps other British sources now out of business. There's a steady cottage industry, year after year, producing the typical English art song, which is usually based on folk songs, but even in more modern idioms is profuondly conservative and nostaligic. Half these songs, not to mention half the composers, are totally unknown to American audiences, but the familiar names of Vaughan Williams and Britten represent high quality, and the lesser lights, such as Warlock and Quilter, are mainstays in this repertoire.

I'd challenge all but the most addicted listener to make it through more than ten songs at a sitting, and many of these pieces are tepid, offering comfort rather than inspiration. The singers are among the best, but Graham Johnson and Steuart Beford, who do most of the accompaniments, are lackluster. I know that won't be a popular comment, yet if you compare any of these songs with rendiitons done by Janet Baker, John Shirley-quirk, and most recently Bryn Terfel and Ian Bostridge, you immediately notice how much more intensity and drama is pesent than htis colleciton reveals.

Average customer rating:

Build Another Bland
enjoyable if undistinguished
Bert Jansch continues to amaze

Edge of a Dream
Bert Jansch
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Black Swan

ASIN: B00006JTH1
Release Date: 2002-10-08

Tracks:

On The Edge Of A Dream
All That Remains
What Is On Your Mind
Sweet Death
I Cannot Keep From Crying
La Luna
Gypsy Dave
Walking This Road
The Quiet Joys Of Brotherhood
Black Cat Blues
Bright Sunny Morning

Customer Reviews:

Build Another Bland.......2003-06-29

Bert's Yamaha sounding mellow and true as ever. That said, "Edge" is an album for the collector, not for the fan with any expectations.

We're getting used to these Jansch family productions: son Adam on reliable bass, wife Loren's vocals transforming otherwise routine songs.

Sweet Death: teamed (at last) with the incomparable Dave Swarbrick whose bow the the notable Mark O'Connor has yet to prove worthy to rosin.

I Cannot Keep From Crying: bless him, but Bert can be one of the great non-interpreters of others' songs - Hardin's 'Carpenter', 'Singing the Blues' - and it's happened here. OK, I'm under the spell of Davy Graham's stunning and jaunty treatment, but I found Bert's dull and soul-less to the point of genius. As clearly did 2nd guitar Bernard Butler, whose leaden slide work makes one yearn for the glass bottle effect of the much-missed Bobby Barton.

La Luna: In his cover notes Bert admits to Johnny Hodge possibly not believing that he'd ever record this. Nor can we, and the result leaves us ever baffled. Even Pentangle at its best, with McShee at her tunefulest, would have been pushed to make sense of this elusive ditty.

Black Cat Blues: a Paul Wassif on slide guitar, achieving the almost impossible, of clogging a potentially decent tune with expert sludge.

Bright Sunny Morning: a clearly sincere reaction to the Sept 11 horror, so I need to tread carefully. This is possibly one of the most shy-making offerings to make disk. To quote even one line would appear cruelly satirical. Yes it's heartfelt and sincere, but boy the imagery is mawkish and embarrassing past description.

This is an Emperor's Clothing album that devoted fans like me will buy and try hard to love.

enjoyable if undistinguished.......2003-03-07

Edge of a Dream is a pleasant excursion and by no means a bad record. On the other hand, it isn't an especially inspired one, either. Except for the chilling "Bright Sunny Morning" -- of September 11, 2001 -- there is little to distinguish Bert Jansch's originals from others that he's done before and better. The traditional blues "I Cannot Keep from Crying" has been in his repertoire for a long time, and Richard Farina's "The Quiet Joys of Brotherhood," never much of a song to start with, finds no new depth of meaning in Loren Jansch's vocal. I defy anyone to figure out what "Joy" is supposed to be about, beyond some vaguely hippie/New-Age musing about a time, undocumented by history, when "love was lord of all." Yes, it's a great melody, but you can thank Irish tradition for that.

Still and all, if you like Bert Jansch -- I've been a fan since the late 1960s -- you'll forgive Edge's shortcomings. Jansch's wonderful guitar playing and charmingly eccentric singing will carry the day for at least the hard-core fan. In the end what's important is that Jansch is back in the game. We can all be grateful for that as we look forward to his next and, we hope, more rewarding album.

Bert Jansch continues to amaze.......2002-12-01

The second cd of work to come out of Bert's home studio. Recorded produced and engineered by the man himself. The sound is more uniformed and has transparent depth that Crimson Moon lacked. This album runs smoother. "Sweet Death" ranks up with the best of his work. The guest artists are top notch and sit well with Jansch's playing most notable Hope Sandoval. One can only hope for a full length collaboration between these two. A nod to Dave Swarbrick as well, whom Bert mentions in the notes they do plan to work togather again soon.

Customer Reviews:

full tracks.......2007-06-13

1. Big Ben~~~2. Thunder~~~3. De Ja Vu~~~4. An Eye for An Eye~~~5. Jai's Groove~~~6. Orbit~~~7. Shaman~~~8. Trapped~~~9. On the Edge of a Dream.

Average customer rating:

A Great Soundtrack For a Great Movie!

The Brave Little Toaster

Manufacturer: Percepto
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Brave Little Toaster
The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue
The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars

ASIN: B000A2H1XW
Release Date: 2005-07-12

Tracks:

Main Title
They All Wake Up
Blanket's Dream
Air Conditioner Blows
They Decide to Go
They Look for Transportation
Out into the World
City of Lights
Blanket Looks for a Place to Sleep
Pond/Busby Berkley/The Meadow
Toaster's Dream
Storm
Blanket Is Blown Away
Waterfall
Vacuum Rescues the Group
They Sink in the Mud
In the Shop
Blender's Motor Is Sold
It's a 'B' Movie
Radio Is Stalked
Happy Travel
Into the City
Cutting Edge
Junkyard Montage
Worthless
Finale
End Title

Customer Reviews:

A Great Soundtrack For a Great Movie!.......2006-04-26

This is probably one of the most complete scores you will ever find for an item, and the songs are all well-written and unique from each other. I will review a few specific tracks:

1. Main Title-The Brave Little Toaster has one of the creepiest intros, panning through the dark woods to find an empty cabin full of seemingly lifeless appliences. This haunting track works very well with it.

3. Blanket's Dream-I'm not keen on them leaving in the dialogue here, as you don't get the whole fantasy scene unless you've seen it. Still, Lampy and Radio's amusing lines are here, which is good.

4. The Air Conditioner Blows-For anyone who was terrified of this scene as a kid, this frantic track does the whole thing justice, with a grim ending.

6. Again, the dialogue and sound effects are left in, but they actually help the humor in this track. Lampy's voice is awsome.

8. City of Light-This is my favorite of all the songs. It's a bright and optimistic ballad-ish song when the appliences set out. They're all good singers, even though Lampy speaks a few of his lines. Very catchy.

10. The Pond-This one has to be heard to be believed. It's sound effects of the pond create lovely music, and the highlight is the opera singing fish (don't ask).

11. Toaster's Dream-I just have to say, this is a really scary track to accompany the scene that probably scared me the most when I was younger. That clown...

19. It's a 'B' Movie-This is a spooky number, and will remind you of Rocky Horror Picture Show. Preformed by the junkshop appliences (and a bit by the core group), it's the first showstopper.

22. Into the City-A Beautiful instrumental version of City of Light.

23. Cutting Edge-A techno number sung by the mean appliences that replaced the old ones. It has great lyrics and sounds just like some commercials from that era.

25. Worthless-A disco style song belted out by the poor cars at the junkyard before they all meet their "deaths" at a trash compactor. Catchy and sad at the same time, and a favorite of many.

26. Finale-A seven minute long song. Ranges from hopeful to frantic to a happy ending.

27. End Title-A very happy song to end the soundtrack.

Buy it now. It's everything you've ever dreamed of on the edge...and more!

Average customer rating:

Skintrade [Japan Import]
Skintrade
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000LK1QFC

Product Description

1993, Polydor records Japan. Superb hard rock debut from this Scandinavian powerhouse group, fronted by none other than M. Alfonzetti (earlier with Jagged Edge UK). 11 tracks. Out of print.

Takemitsu: To the Edge of Dream / Folios for Guitar / Toward the Sea / Transcriptions for Guitar

Average customer rating:

Not very impressive material, and some of what's good is available elsewhere better and more economically
Interesting Sound Pictures
Austere, Humble Beauty

Takemitsu: To the Edge of Dream / Folios for Guitar / Toward the Sea / Transcriptions for Guitar
Toru Takemitsu , Esa-Pekka Salonen , and John Williams
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Toru Takemitsu: Quotation of Dream (20/21 series) - London Sinfonietta / Oliver Knussen
Takemitsu: Requiem; Twill by Twilight
Takemitsu: A Flock Descends into the Pentagonal Garden
Takemitsu: I Hear the Water Dreaming
Takemitsu: A Flock Descends into the Pentagonal Garden

ASIN: B0000027CT
Release Date: 1992-01-28

Tracks:

To the Edge of Dream
Folios for Guitar: I . (1.4 = 68 ---72) 3'02
Folios for Guitar: II. ( 1.8 = 96 -- 120) 2'36
Folios for Guitar: III. ( 1.8 = 120 --- 146) 2'41
Toward The Sea For Alto Flute And Guitar: I. The Night
Toward The Sea For Alto Flute And Guitar: II . Moby Dick
Toward The Sea For Alto Flute And Guitar: III . Cape Cod
Transcriptions For Guitar: Here, There and Everywhere (Lennon and McCartney)
Transcriptions For Guitar: What a Friend (Converse)
Transcriptions For Guitar: Amours Perdues (Kosma)
Transcriptions For Guitar: Summertime (Gershwin)
Vers, l'arc-en-ciel, Palma

Customer Reviews:

Not very impressive material, and some of what's good is available elsewhere better and more economically.......2007-02-26

This Sony disc features several of Toru Takemitsu's guitar-centric works in performance by John Williams and the London Sinfonietta conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. All of the works here, with the possible exception of the "Folios", are from Takemitsu's late period when he had left behind avant-garde stylings in favour of slow drifts of timbre.

"To the Edge of Dream" for guitar and orchestra (1983) is a typical example of Takemitsu's late style. Gentle rising waves of orchestral material, sprinkled with light percussion, are contrasted against the soloist's somewhat faster remarks. While the guitar part is actually quite clever and engaging, the ensemble writing succumbs like most other orchestral works of this late period to a stylistic stagnation. That's true also of "Vers, l'arc-en-ciel, Palma" for oboe d'amore, guitar and orchestra (1984), a homage to the Catalan painter Joan Miro. Again while the solo guitar part, and even more so the oboe part are highly engaging, the stale orchestral writing drags everything down. The only late Takemitsu orchestral works I've found satisfying are those collected on Deutsche Grammophon's QUOTATION OF DREAM disc, everything else has been a disappointment.

The three "Folios" for guitar (1974) are fairly unusual in Takemitsu's output in being completely tonal, able to even end with a Bach chorale with no outright feeling of collage. Virtuosic pieces, they have gained a wide following among classical guitar fans, and with their romantic flair they are certainly the composer's most accessible pieces. While I very often find classical guitar in works by Tan Dun and Per Norgard had to "get", and I generally find common-practice tonality dry, the Folios are quite likeable indeed. It's really a thrill to see Takemitsu writing at faster tempos, and with a strong edge. Williams' performance, with its excellent sound and confidence, certainly beats the old recording by Kiyoshi Shimura (1974 on DG, reissued in the "Echo 20/21" series in 2005).

"Toward the Sea" for alto flute and guitar (1981) was written for Greenpeace's "Save the Whales" campaign, and is in three movements titled "The Night", "Moby Dick" and "Cape Cod". The flute's melodic line often exhibits a raising three-note phrase S-E-A (German notation having "Es" for "E flat"), while arpeggios on the guitar give a gently undulating touch like the surface of the ocean. Takemitsu's late chamber works work far better than his orchestral works, and I enjoy this piece, but I find a lack of confidence in the playing. The Naxos chamber works disc is a better place to hear "Toward the Sea".

Four songs are excerpted from Takemitsu's "12 Songs for Guitar" (1977), arrangements of popular tunes. Here were have the Beatles' "Here, There and Everywhere", Charles C. Converse's What a Friend", Joseph Kosma's "Amours perdues", and George Gershwin's "Summertime". These are totally insubstantial and are the deadest of the dead weight on the disc. It may seem snobbish to say, but if I wanted popular music, I'd buy recordings of the original versions, but on a disc by a usually rigourous composer, one expects more.

The liner notes are fairly decent, but fans of the composer would do well to seek out Peter Burt's THE MUSIC OF TORU TAKEMITSU, published by Cambridge University Press and recently out in paperback. I praise the disc's excellent sound, from the Henry Wood Hall in London. I'd recommend this disc to classical guitar afficionados or Takemitsu completists. Certainly those whose favourite Takemitsu are his early works or his wild avant-garde styles of the late '60s and early '70s will find little memorable here except for the "Folios" and "Toward the Sea", which latter work should be had on Naxos.

Interesting Sound Pictures.......2005-09-27

If Takemitsu's career is any indication, the best thing about being a self-taught composer is that you don't have to slavishly adhere to any school but can be a musical tiger, changing your compositional stripes as maturity peels away one layer of influence after another. Takemitsu began his career as a committed modernist, a champion of Webern and Schoenberg, but as he matured, he rediscovered his Asian roots, and this apparently allowed him to discover an affinity with Debussy and other musical Impressionists, who in turn learned much from Asian music. In terms of influence, it all fits together nicely, especially since for Takemitsu a renewed interest in Asian musical tradition went hand in hand with an interest in capturing the natural world in sound.

That Takemitsu found the guitar a natural medium for explorations of his musical roots is expressed in his praise of the instrument's "simplicity." This comes across in much of the music on the current recording. Takemitsu eschews the athletic writing for the instrument of many contemporary composers, well documented in Sharon Isbin's recordings. Instead, in his music for guitar and orchestra, Takemitsu creates quiet waves of sound to which the guitar contributes brief, jewel-like splashes of color. I find these two orchestral works more attractive than the earlier Folios for solo guitar, where the writing is almost too spare to sustain interest even over the modest span of these short pieces.

More attractive as well are the transcribed songs, where Takemitsu emphasizes qualities he finds submerged in the music, whether it is the jazzy, bluesy thing he creates of the old hymn tune "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" or in the loneliness he injects in the open chording of Gershwin's "Summertime." These are two refreshing highlights of the CD.

In "Toward the Sea," Takemitsu characteristically chooses the alto flute as partner for the guitar and creates some suitably watery music through passages of flutter-tonguing. The same could be said for his use of the oboe d'amore in 'Vers, l'arc-en-ciel, Parma." Again, the middle register where this instrument lives adds a sober, reflective voice to the proceedings. I'm not sure how this work pays homage to the memory of painter Joan Miro, but it creates a series of quietly lovely sound pictures that are quite satisfying.

John Williams is the intended artist in all of this music, so he owns it in a very real sense, and he is ably supported by the other soloists and by Salonen, who seems to have a real sympathy for Takemitsu. Nice bright sound as well from the obviously lively surround of Henry Wood Hall in London.

Austere, Humble Beauty.......2000-06-22

I would like to encourage the sale of this CD for selfish reasons: I would like for it to remain in print for years to come so that I might purchase it at any time for my guitarist friends. The music Takemitsu composed for guitar--nearly ALL of his music, in fact--cannot be praised enough. This is exquisite, austere, humble music that is even more subtle and carefully-wrought than, say, Debussy's best piano music. If you like Debussy, there is a good chance you will love Takemitsu--not so much for the harmonic flavor, etc., as for the admirably restrained aesthetic attitude (quite unlike the bombast of other contemporary composers such as Rautavaara). "Toward the Sea" is one of those small masterpieces of understatement that one listens to again and again (Takemitsu also re-wrote it for harp and flute + string orchestra). And the arrangements of Lennon/McCartney, etc., are revelations. If you like this music, check out some of Takemitsu's other work--e.g., his gorgeous "From Me Flows What You Call Time" (you'll just have to pardon the odd titles!). There are elements of dodecaphonic expressionism in certain of his works that are not altogether to my taste (e.g., in "A Flock Descends into the Pentagonal Garden"), but I can't think of another contemporary composer whose oeuvre matches Takemitsu's in visionary refinement. If this is the direction music is taking, it is a great time to be alive indeed.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

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