Our Town

Our Town

Track Listings

1. Going to the West

2. Home

3. Old Country Stomp

4. In Between Dreams

5. Showerhead Reel/The Twisted Arm/Big John McNeil

6. Too Late, Too Late

7. Bramble and the Rose

8. Our Town

9. Twilight Is Stealing

10. Curtains of Night

11. Queen of the Earth and Child of the Stars/Roving on Last Winter's Night

12. Henry and the True Machine

13. Won't You Come and Sing for Me

Tracks:

Fanfare For The Common Man
From Four Dance Episodes From 'Rodeo': Saturday Night Waltz
From Four Dance Episodes From 'Rodeo': Hoe-Down
From Old American Songs: Simple Gifts
Appalachian Spring: Variations On A Shaker Hymn
From Music For Movies: Grovers Corners (From Our Town)
From Billy The Kid: Introduction - The Open Prairie
From Billy The Kid: Street In A Frontier Town
From Billy The Kid: Mexican Dance
From Billy The Kid: Gun Battle
From Billy The Kid: Celebration (After Billy's Capture)
From Billy The Kid: The Open Prairie Again
From Billy The Kid: El Salon Mexico
Appalachian Spring: Very Slowly
Appalachian Spring: Allegro
Appalachian Spring: Moderato: The Bride And Her Intended
Appalachian Spring: Fast: The Revivalist And His Flock
Appalachian Spring: Allegro: Solo Dance Of The Bride
Appalachian Spring: Meno Mosso
Appalachian Spring: Doppio Movimento: Variations On A Shaker Hymn
Appalachian Spring: Moderato: Coda

Customer Reviews:

Best of the the popular Copland..........2004-12-26

Here's a great introduction to the popular music of Aaron Copland. When "Fanfare for the Common Man" begins, sparks of recognition will fly for most listeners. This song has been everywhere: presidential inaugurations, the olympics, commercials, movies, etc. Some flatten it as hopelessly clichéd, while others find it moving and inspiring. Copland also reprised it in the finale of his Third Symphony. Arguably Copland's most famous piece, "Appalachian Spring" closes the CD. In between, more great Copland: excerpts from 'Rodeo' (apparently the beef lobby has appropriated "Hoe-Down" as one of their themes); a great vocal rendition of "Simple Gifts" and a large chunk of another of Copland's best known works: "Billy the Kid". The only confusing piece is the "Variations on a Shaker Hymn" from Appalachian Spring when the entire Appalachian Spring is already included. Seems slightly redundant.

Though most of the pieces on this CD were written in the 1930s and 1940s, they tend to evoke the old west. With titles such as "Rodeo" and "Billy the Kid" this shouldn't surprise too many people.

Copland went on to compose more dissonant and twelve tone compositions later on in his career. These obviously weren't as popular with the public in general as the pieces on this CD. Nonetheless, if this disc whets the appetite, a foray into Copland's less popular works will yield much. It will help to expose the totality of Copland's output. This disc only represents a small portion of his work. Regardless, this disc is a great starting point for getting to know one of the United States' best known composers of the twentieth century.

A Great American Album.......2004-02-13

This is a great album representing true patriotic American music. Songs like "Hoe-Down" are lively and energetic and give rememberance to what one can imagine as the true American spirit.

Must have this one..........2002-09-17

I like all types of music, I wanted this album because I liked the song "RODEO" that is used on the beef commercials. This CD has made me into a Copland fan. It has many great songs. If you want a CD that says "I am an American." This is it. I am sending copies to a friend in Bombay and Tel Aviv. This is who I am put to music.

Average customer rating:

GREAT!
A relaxing journey into our Colonial past
Fantastic!
Cold Mountain type music that's great

Colonial America

Manufacturer: Maggie's Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Music of the American Revolution: The Birth of Liberty
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ASIN: B0000C9Z9X
Release Date: 2003-09-01

Tracks:

Rickett's Hornpipe/ Fishers Hornpipe
Maiden Lane/ Jack O' Lent/ Chestnut/Bonny Broom
Parting Friends/Primrose
Flowers of Edinburgh/East Neuke of Fife
Prelude / La Catherine
Planxty Browne/Planxty Burke
Cutie Clat Her
John Come Kiss me Now
Scots Tune
Carolan's Farewell to Music
A Port
Yeil, yeil
Kedron/Saint's Delight/Promised Land
Gird the Logie
La Belle Cavalier
La Luxillier/La Balanje
Federal Overture
Death & Life

Album Description

Spirited new sounds from across the sea to the shores of the New Land. From the first colonists to the American Revolution and the birth of our republic Hesperus Early Music Ensemble's music reflects a time of new ideas, freedom and vitality. In town and village, parlor and ballroom, from the Appalachians to the great concert halls hear the musical pulse of early American music performed on a wide variety of folk and early music instruments. Includes: lively country-dance tunes, evocative Shape Note Hymns, old time Appalachian fiddle tunes, graceful European parlor music, French cotillions, divisions and improvisations. Introduction -The English Colonies in America were a patchwork-not just of territories whose boundaries became state lines, but of people from different places and classes with widely different values and experiences. This recording presents music from that patchwork; from England, the Colonial homeland; Scotland and Ireland, the homes of the largest groups of immigrants outside England; and France, the ally of the Patriots, and music written in the United States. More recordings by HESPERUS from Maggie's Music are Celtic Roots featuring Scottish fiddler, Bonnie Rideout and Early American Roots. Hesperus Ensemble is THE sought after musical group for period music that is both authentic, and most important fun, lively and spirited. They are frequent performers at the Smithsonian's Institute of American Music and can be heard on the soundtrack or the Paramount film with Johnny Depp entitled Sleepy Hollow! Excerpts from liner notes:2.A Set of English Country Dance Tunes: Maiden Lane, Jack O'Lent, Chestnut, Bonny Broom - The visionary London music publisher John Playford first published his English Dancing Master in 1651. It was reprinted 18 times over the next 77 years and is still popular today. 3. Parting Friends/Primrose - These tunes have come down to us in choral arrangements called shape-note hymns .

Customer Reviews:

GREAT!.......2007-05-20

This cd travels everywhere with me and you can easily imagine a ball at Monticello given by Mr. Jefferson when you hear it.
Try not to daydream too much while driving as i had done several times..lol..it's hard not to with this cd..:)
Perfect for a colonial reenactment or party.

A relaxing journey into our Colonial past.......2006-03-16

I bought this CD to provide me with another dimension to my studies of period events. It truly contains a wealth of music, and takes it place as an important addition to my musical library. Living in the Mt Vernon area, I often travel with the CD playing while visiting historical places, and it provides a wonderful companion to "set the mood" for the myriad locations in the area. The quality of the sound is remarkable, the musicians superb, and the breadth of song selection provides a musical landscape for the period. Highly recommended!!

Fantastic!.......2004-03-04

I first heard the "Colonial America" CD by Hesperus when I visited Monticello recently (the home of Thomas Jefferson) where they were playing the songs in the gift shop. Imagine my dismay to find that only one cassette tape was left of the fabulous music of Hesperus; however, that tape held me spell-bound all the way home, from Virginia to North Carolina.

It was an incredible journey from the past that has stayed with me since, and every day I drive that one hour back and forth to work. This music has changed everything about the trips, and I can't wait for more.

Thanks to Amazon.com I was able to buy all three CD's, including "Early American Roots," "Colonial America" and the incredible "Celtic Roots" with the most beautiful violas imaginable.

Thank you Hesperus! Please play more!

Cold Mountain type music that's great.......2003-11-15

Novels and movies like Cold Mountain, Oh Brother Where Art Thou? and Song Catchers are showing the growing interest in traditional music and this recording hits the mark. It is music from the days of early America--the time when the first colonists come to America. You can hear the fiddle playing tunes still popular in the Appalachian mountains today and also hear shape note music arranged by Hesperus as wonderful instrumentals. The music takes you to a time when folks were making music in their homes-before TV, before the internet! This recording is good for teachers or educational purposes too- with informative liner notes. All the music is played on folk and early music instruments and it's lively and an enjoyable listen.

Average customer rating:

Its okay
outstanding!
Aaron Copland: the Norman Rockwell of film scoring
Great recording of definitive American film music
Leonard Slatkin conducts Copland

Copland: Music for Films

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Copland Collection: Orchestral & Ballet Works, 1936-1948

ASIN: B000003FHI
Release Date: 1994-04-12

Tracks:

The Red Pony: Morning On The Ranch
The Red Pony: The Gift
The Red Pony: Dream March
The Red Pony: Circus Music
The Red Pony: Walk To The Bunkhouse
The Red Pony: Grandfather's Story
The Red Pony: Happy Ending
Our Town
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Music For Movies: Barley Wagons
Music For Movies: Sunday Traffic
Music For Movies: Grovers Corner
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Amazon.com essential recording

This is a great series of recordings. Leonard Slatkin has generally chosen the right balance of music for the composers used in the series (with terrific cover art from Thomas Hart Benton). This disc is devoted to Copland's film music. The treat here is a version of The Heiress Suite reconstructed by Arnold Freed. Copland's talent for writing for films rested in his ability to identify and maintain themes, at the same time not slacking on the transitional details. This belongs in any Copland collection. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews:

Its okay.......2007-05-13

I was disappointed and don't listen to it much. I like certain songs, but not the rest.

outstanding!.......2006-01-21

one of slatkins best recordings.with copland hes on, the sound on this cd is ok,not as good as his telarc recordings witch i think are his better recordings but this one is one of them to.

Aaron Copland: the Norman Rockwell of film scoring.......2004-06-14

When I purchased this collection I was already very familiar with Mr. Copland's more popular fanfaric motifs. I was astounded at how much I enjoyed the wonderful division of both sweeping dramatic themes and friendly, home-grown melodies. His film scores for the 1939 'Of Mice and Men' and the 1940 'Our Town' are a testament to classic films set in simpler times. The 'Red Pony' tracks for which the compilation is named are a magical digression from the listener's pre-conceived notions of Copland western fare. When one expects "Rodeo" (arguably one of Copland's most famous themes) one instead receives a gentler and sometimes powerfully moving score. The crowning jewel of this collection, however; is the beautiful suite from his Academy Award winning score for William Wyler's 1949 film of 'The Heiress.' When listening to this magnificent piece of musical history I am reminded how so many great scores are unavailable to listeners of today, and only through recreation and re-recordings can we re-capture those glimpses of film score artistry. I can only hope that many lost or hard to find works continue to be found or recorded so that film score and music lovers in general can continue to discover and rediscover the joy and beauty of our masters in film composing.

Great recording of definitive American film music.......2004-04-08

In a way, filmgoers have been listening to Copland's film scores nearly every time they go to the cinema, since film composers have been shamelessly ripping off Copland for the last half-century or so. When you listen to the "Our Town" suite, do you get the nagging feeling that you have heard this music somewhere before? No doubt you have, in dozens of derivitave film scores from the 1980's and 1990's, sometimes (shamelessly) right down to the exact chord progressions.

How nice it is then to be able to go back to the source, and have rendered in so superb a fashion as it is by Slatkin & the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Slatkin, as usual, upholds his reputation as one of the leading interpreters of American music.

This CD contains the premier recording of "The Heiress Suite," which is a delight to listen to, and of course the fairly well-known "Red Pony" music. Is their a more quintessential piece of "Western" music than the "Walk to the Bunkhouse?" How does a jewish boy from Brooklyn nail it on the head so perfectly, anyway?

Other selections include "Music for Movies," a collection of bits & pieces from an assortment of Copland-scored movies that Copland arranged in 1943, and "Music for Radio," an earlier composition that isn't really "movie music," but fits well with the rest of the compositions on this CD.

Instead of wasting your time on movie soundtracks that are nothing more than just derivitave hack jobs, listen to music by a composer who had truly mastered his craft.

Leonard Slatkin conducts Copland.......2000-11-14

This album is worth it just to get the world premiere recording of "The Heiress Suite" reconstructed by Arnold Freed. Also of note are Walk to the Bunkhouse from "The Red Pony" and New England Countryside. Leonard Slatkin conducts these pieces with great emotional feel that states that this is the same America that Copland wanted to us to embrace.

Copland: Our Town; The Red Pony Suite; El Salón México; Danzón Cubano; Three Latin American Sketches

Average customer rating:

Copland conducts Copland
Profound
review and comparison with Slatkin's CD
Great music, bad orchestras
Red Pony Review

Copland: Our Town; The Red Pony Suite; El Salón México; Danzón Cubano; Three Latin American Sketches

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000026GF
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Our Town
The Red Pony Suite - Morning On The Ranch: I. Morning On The Ranch
The Red Pony Suite - Morning On The Ranch: II. The Gift
The Red Pony Suite - Morning On The Ranch: III. Dream March And Circus March
The Red Pony Suite - Morning On The Ranch: IV. Walk To The Bunkhouse
The Red Pony Suite - Morning On The Ranch: V. Grandfather's Story
The Red Pony Suite - Morning On The Ranch: VI. Happy Ending
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Three Latin-American Sketches: Paisaje Mexicano
Three Latin-American Sketches: Danza de jalisco

Customer Reviews:

Copland conducts Copland.......2003-11-27

Aaron Copland was, admittedly, NOT a great conductor. Nevertheless, musicians enjoyed working with him, possibly because he was so exuberant and enthusiastic. One friend said Copland might tell musicians to "hit a home run." He certainly wanted the musicians to have fun and it's clear that usually happened. Along the way, Copland did manage to give his interpretations of his own music, setting a standard of how it should be played.

It's very apparent in Copland's numerous recordings for Columbia (now available on Sony) that the composer left an important legacy. Among the more original American composers, Copland was distinctly American. He enjoyed a fine musical education from Nadia Boulanger in Paris that gave his compositions some added depth. Initially, Copland followed George Gershwin's example and made considerable use of jazz and blues in his works. Copland himself said he felt he soon exhausted the possibilities of popular music and then turned to American folk music.

A trip to Mexico, where he met and befriended Carlos Chavez, resulted in Copland's first great musical triumph, "El Salon Mexico." It became the only Copland work to ever be conducted by Arturo Toscanini with the NBC Symphony Orchestra. On this CD one has a chance to hear the composer himself conducting this 1936 triumph.

This writer has long enjoyed Copland's wonderful music for the 1948 Technicolor western "The Red Pony," an adaptation of the John Steinbeck story by Lewis Milestone that starred Myrna Loy and a young Robert Mitchum. The music is such an important ingredient in this classic film. Fortunately, Copland extracted a concert suite from the film score and it is included in this CD.

Copland wrote other film scores, too, and we get to hear some of the music he wrote for the 1940 film adaptation of Thornton Wilder's very American play, "Our Town."

The CD includes some additional Latin-influenced works, "Danzon Cubano," which rivals Gershwin's "A Cuban Overture," and "Three Latin American Sketches." These are very colorful, exciting works.

Perhaps, as some have said, the London Symphony Orchestra and the New Philharmonic Orchestra were not up to par in these recordings. Some of that may have been Copland's fault. Still, these are competent performances and they convey what the composer wanted.

Profound.......2003-10-31

Forget what the guy above says about the London Symphony Orchestra's recording of "Our Town." Hands down, the most beautiful piece of music I have ever heard. Moving, surreal, profound. Truly a once in a lifetime experience.

review and comparison with Slatkin's CD.......2003-05-10

It does seem (and I have heard from professional conductors) that performance standards of orchestras in the 1960s and 70s were not what they are today, but I would not necessarily hold that fact against this CD. While Leonard SlatkinÕs more recent recording with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (on the RCA label) is much more pristine, and the musicians sound much more in tune, I find something in CoplandÕs own interpretation of his music that is missing from SlatkinÕs (still very capable) rendition.

Comparing the two versions of ÒOur TownÓ, for example, the difference in character is striking. With Copland the tempo is much slower, the intensity is proportionally much greater, and Copland, with a composerÕs sense of intimacy with his score and the music intended behind it, derives more musicality out of each phrase and note than I hear in SlatkinÕs faster-paced performance. The same can be said for the rest of CoplandÕs CD--what the older recording might lack in technical musicianship, it makes up for in greater interpretive depth. While it is aggravating sometimes to hear instruments out of tune (and I am only assuming that what sounds out of tune to me today was equivalently considered out of tune back then), the tradeoff may be worth it for some.

Great music, bad orchestras.......2000-06-13

While this is some of Copland's best (and most under-recognized) work, the orchestras represented on the CD are, as a whole, awful. Even the London Symphony orchestra had an off day on "Our Town," and the New Philharmonia Orchestra does a good job of butchering the rest of the CD, particularly "Danzon Cubano." The recording of "Danzon" is quite possibly the worst I've ever heard any symphony orchestra play. While it may be worth the money as a bargain CD, do NOT pay full price for this.

Red Pony Review.......2000-01-05

I am currently studying my A-Levels, including a music tehcnology course. One homework was to compose a piece. I played this piece two years ago, and remembered the incredibly difficult timing, and then the satisfaction of getting it right at the start of the Walk to the Bunkhouse. Since I first heard it I kept noticing new sounds, and parts to it. I love it, and keep listening to it again and again, hearing new life in it. Buy this Now!

Average customer rating:

Inspirational!
hymns we sang in church

Abide With Me

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000024236
Release Date: 1996-06-10

Tracks:

Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
All Glory, Laud and Honour - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Day of Resurrection - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
O God, Our Help in Ages Past - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Praise to the Holiest in the Height - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Praise to the Lord - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Church's One Foundation - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Crown Him With Many Crowns - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Now Thank We All Our God - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Abide with Me - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
O Praise Ye the Lord - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Drop, Drop, Slow Tears - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
Glory Be to Jesus - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
There Is a Green Hill Far Away - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
According to Thy Gracious Word - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
Holy Father, Cheer Our Way - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
Glory to Thee, My God, This Night - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks

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Onward, Christian Soldiers - Huddersfield Choral Society, Wyn Morris
Lord's My Shepherd - Huddersfield Choral Society, Wyn Morris
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah - Huddersfield Choral Society, Wyn Morris
All People That on Earth Do Dwell - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
Forty Days and Forty Nights - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
Head That Once Was Crown'd With Thorns - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
Rock of Ages - Choir of King's College, Maurice Vinden
Eternal Father, Strong to Save - Choir of King's College, Maurice Vinden
All Things Bright and Beautiful - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
Be Thou My Vision - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
Be Still, My Soul - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
King of Love My Shepherd Is - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
Let Us With a Gladsome Mind - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
For All the Saints - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
O Worship the King - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus - Choir of King's College, George Guest
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence - Choir of King's College, George Guest
Spirit of Mercy, Truth, And Love - Choir of King's College, George Guest
Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us - Choir of King's College, George Guest
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise - Choir of King's College, George Guest
Jesu, Lover of My Soul - Choir of King's College, George Guest
Jerusalem - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Choir of King's College, ,

Album Details

Compiled Here Are Fifty of the Most Beloved Hymns Performed by Three of England's Most Distinguished Choirs. Every Selection Here is Sung in an Appropriately Dignified Manner and If You're Up for Over Two Hours of Consistently Well-rendered Quintessentially English Treatments of These Vernacular Favorites it Simply Doesn't Get Any Better Than This.

Customer Reviews:

Inspirational!.......2004-10-08

Majestic hymns sung with British accents. A great combination! I haven't noticed any objectionable sounds on my copy.

hymns we sang in church.......2003-02-16

i grew up in a traditional presbyterian church that had a pipe organ. i wanted a cd of many of the hymns that we sang in church sung by a choir and accompanied by a pipe organ. this cd fulfilled my wishes perfectly. the hymns are performed in a very straight-forward fashion with no show-boating or excess flourishes which is exactly what i wanted. this is not gospel music but what i refer to as liturgical music to indicate that it is religious music but not gospel music. i would give it 5 stars but there is a slight hiss. other than that the recording quality is very good.

Average customer rating:

The picture

100 Hymns & Songs of Inspiration

Manufacturer: Castle Music UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00008GEKT
Release Date: 2003-04-14

Tracks:

Love Divine All Loves Excelling - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Father Hear the Prayer We Offer - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Now Thank We All Our God - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
This Day, The First of Days - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Stars of the Morning So Gloriously Bright - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
God Save the Queen - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Day of Resurrection - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
God Rest You Merry Gentlemen - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Of the Father's Heart Begotten - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
O Come All Ye Faithful - Choir Of Gloucester Cathedral
Awake My Soul and With the Sun - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
Thine Arm O Lord in Days of Old - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
All People That on Earth Do Dwell - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
Good Christian Men Rejoice and Sing - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
There Is a Green Hill - Choir Of Norwich Cathedral
Lord of Beauty - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral
Rejoice Today With One Accord - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral
New Every Morning - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral
Lead Us Heavenly Father Lead Us - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral
O God Our Help in Ages Past - Choir Of Sheffield Cathedral

Tracks:

Morning Has Broken - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Happy Are They - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
In Christ There Is No East or West - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Silent Night - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Be Thou My Guardian - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Ye Servants of the Lord - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
At the Name of Jesus Every Knee Shall Bow - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
To Thee O Lord Our Hearts We Raise - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Behold the Great Creator Makes - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Rejoice the Lord Is King - Choir Of Marlborough College Chapel
Creator of the Stars of Night - Ely Cathedral Choir
He Comes With Clouds Descending - Ely Cathedral Choir
O Little Town of Bethlehem - Ely Cathedral Choir
Alleluya Alleyluya Alleyluya - Ely Cathedral Choir
This Is the Day the Lord Hath Made - Ely Cathedral Choir
How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds - Ely Cathedral Choir
Lord Thy Word Abideth - Ely Cathedral Choir
Jesus Lord We Look to Thee - Ely Cathedral Choir
O Lord Our God Arise - Ely Cathedral Choir
Lord of All Hopefulness - Ely Cathedral Choir

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Soldiers of Christ Arise - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Lift Up Your Hearts - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Holy Father, Cheer Our Way - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Maker of the Sun - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
O King Most High - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
O Praise Our Great and Glorious Lord - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
We Love the Place O God - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Let Us With a Gladsome Mind - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Give Rest O Christ - Choir Of Wakefield Cathedral
Come Holy Ghost Our Hearts Inspire - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
O Thou in All Thy Might So Far - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
O Christ, Who Art the Light and Day - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
O God Thy Soldiers' Crown and Guard - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
Strife Is O'er the Battle Done - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
O Christ Our Hope, Our Hearts' Desire - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
Jesus Shall Reign - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
God of Love My Shepherd Is - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
O Jesu Saviour of Mankind - Choir Of Truro Cathedral
Immortal Invisible God Only Wise - Choir Of Truro Cathedral

Tracks:

Ride on Ride on in Majesty - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
All Glory Laud and Honour - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Come Rejoicing - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
God Is Love and Where True Love Is - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Magnificat: The Great Advent Antiphons - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Come, Christ's Beloved - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Children of the Hebrews (Palm Procession) - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Veneration of the Cross/The Reproaches (Veneratum and Reproaches) - Choir Of All Saints - Margaret Street, London
Once in Royal David's City - Choir Of Keble College
God Be in My Head - Choir Of Keble College
O Thou Who Camest from Above - Choir Of Keble College
Judge Eternal Throned in Splendour - Choir Of St Edmunsbury Cathedral
Christ the Lord Is Risen Again - Choir Of St Edmunsbury Cathedral
For All the Saints - Choir Of St Edmunsbury Cathedral
Thy Hand O God Has Guided - Choir Of St Edmunsbury Cathedral
Christ the Dawn of Our Salvation - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
I Was Glad - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Locus Iste - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Praise My Soul the King of Heaven - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel

Tracks:

Stand Up! Stand Up for Jesus! - The Choir of the Abbey School, Tewkesbury
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks - The Choir of the Abbey School, Tewkesbury
O Worship the King - The Choir of the Abbey School, Tewkesbury
O Heavenly Word of God on High - Choir Of The Collegiate Church Of St Mary
Praise to the Lord, The Almighty - Choir Of The Collegiate Church Of St Mary
Jesus Christ Is Risen Today - The Choir of York Minister
First Nowell - The Choir of York Minister
Abide with Me - The Choir of York Minister
Breathe on Me Breath of God - Choir Of Keble College
Rock of Ages - Choir Of Keble College
On This Day, The First of Days - Choir Of Keble College
Jesu Sweet and Mary - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
O Quam Gloriosum - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Ye Holy Angels Bright - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
O for a Closer Walk With God - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Prayer of St Patrick - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Lord's Prayer - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Blessed Be the God and Father - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Day Thou Gavest Lord Is Ended - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel
Jerusalem (And Did Those Feet in Ancient Times) - Choir Of Eastbourne College Chapel

Album Description

Full Title - 100 Hymns & Songs Of Inspiration. UK box-set featuring 100 tracks performed by Britain's finest Cathedral Choirs including, Gloucester Cathedral, Norwich Cathedral, Sheffield Cathedral, & many more. Five standard jewel cases housed in a slipbox. Castle Pulse. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

The picture.......2006-12-11

I haven't purchased the CD but the picture of the inside of a church on the cover is not of a British church, like one would assume since it says its a recording of British choirs. This picture is of Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Just thought i'd let you know. I'll be honest; I'm one to judge things by it's cover and if the company took such care to choose a 'British' church for their British choir CD, I'm willing to bet the music is equally well selected... I'm being sarcastic. But I gave the product 5 stars because I didn't want to hurt its ratings just because i'm cynical. But check out the church if you're ever in Montreal, it's truly beautiful... here I'm not being sarcastic.

Average customer rating:

his best CD in at least 20 years
Don't buy from these sellers for this price!

Freedom's Road
John Mellencamp
Manufacturer: Best Buy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Freedom's Road (CD/DVD)
Downtown: Journey of a Heart
10 Days Out (Blues from the Backroads)/ (CD/DVD)
Stand in the Fire
My Name Is Buddy

ASIN: B000MVIZ7W
Release Date: 2007-01-23

Tracks:

Someday
Ghost Towns Along the Highway
Americans
Forgiveness
Freedom's Road
Jim Crow
Our Country
Rural Route
My Aeroplane
Heaven Is a Lonely Place

Tracks:

Ghost Towns Along the Highway [Acoustic][*]
Someday [Acoustic][*]
Rural Route [Acoustic][*]
Americans [Rough Mix][*]

Product Description

Limited Edition includes an Exclusive Bonus Disc featuring 4 Alternate versions. Track listing: CD ONE: (1) Someday, (2) Ghost Towns Along The Highway, (3) The Americans, (4) Forgiveness, (5) Freedom's Road, (6) Jim Crow - duet with Joan Baez, (7) Our Country, (8) Rural Route, (9) My Aeroplane, (10) Heaven Is A Lonely Place CD TWO: (1) Ghost Towns Along The Highway - acoustic, (2) Someday - acoustic, (3) Rural Route - acoustic, (4) The Americans - rough mix

Customer Reviews:

his best CD in at least 20 years.......2007-03-08

I went to Best Buy and bought this extended edition for $10 and I love it. The songs are great. Mellencamp takes no prisoners on this CD--he tackles racism, sexual abuse, cover-ups, beatings, etc. and makes no excuses. I think this is his best writing in years, maybe ever, and the melodies are top-notch, reminiscant of his great 80's 'anthem rock' period. Truth be told, I bought this CD because I fell in love with "Our Country," the truck commercial and I found the melody infectious. In a recent interview, I heard him say that he 'sold' "Our Country" to Chevrolet because he felt it was the only way anyone would hear his music, since top 40 radio doesn't play much Mellencamp these days. I don't blame him and I think he's right. The best thing is the acoustic CD--the acoustic version of "Someday" is better than the full band version.

The only thing maddening is that no tour is currently planned. It's his best CD in years, he's very pleasantly surprised at how well the CD has been received, and no tour is planned. Go figure. At any rate, I am hoping he will tour. In the meantime, I love this CD.

Don't buy from these sellers for this price!.......2007-01-25

This new John Mellencamp album gets 4 stars in my opinion (see my review over at that page or in my "all reviews" if you like) and this 2 disc set is surely worth having. The acoustic cuts are great, and those songs are almost better versions in that form than in their album versions. But Best Buy is offering this same item for $9.99 it's first week out (1/23/07). Then it will presumably go back to its standard price of around $14, periodically going on sale. There is no reason to spend $19.99 plus shipping and handling to get it from these sellers, unless you are reading this quite awhile after this album's initial release, or Best Buy has sold out of this initial run of prints and the only way you can acquire this version of the album is from these sellers. In that case it may be worth it; otherwise, I just wanted to give potential buyers a fair warning that these sellers most likely picked this item up for far less than what they are charging - and you could too.

One Hand, One Heart - Bernstein's Greatest Love Songs / Carreras, et al

Average customer rating:

Not such a great sampling....
nice but operatic

One Hand, One Heart - Bernstein's Greatest Love Songs / Carreras, et al

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00003XAGP
Release Date: 2000-01-11

Tracks:

West Side Story: Something's Coming
West Side Story: Maria
West Side Story: Tonight (Balcony Scene)
West Side Story: One Hand, One Heart
West Side Story: I Feel Pretty
West Side Story: Somewhere
West Side Story: I Have A Love
Wonderful Town: A Quiet Girl
Wonderful Town: A Little Bit in Love
Wonderful Town: It's Love
On The Town: Gabey's Coming - Pickup Song
On The Town: Taxi Number : Come Up To My Place
On The Town: Lonely Town
On The Town: I Can Cook Too
On The Town: Lucky To Be Me
On The Town: Ya Got Me
On The Town: Some Other Time
Candide: Oh, Happy We
Candide: Candide's Lament
Candide: You Were Dead, You Know
Candide: My Love (Governor's Serenade)
Candide: Make Our Garden Grow (Finale)

Customer Reviews:

Not such a great sampling...........2001-01-21

Some of these songs are really stretching for a romantic mood. Especially some of the On the Town songs. It's not that they're not good though....All of this music is from other CDs that have been already been released. Don't limit yourself to just these songs. Go ahead and buy the other recordings. Deutsche Grammophon did the On the Town recording along with West Side Story and Candide. I'd recommend a different recording of West Side Story though. The one of Wonderful Town is the kinda newly released complete version of the musical. It's a good but expensive one. Also, this recording left out some of THE greatest love songs from Peter Pan (Dream of Me, Peter Peter), Trouble in Tahiti (Well of all people, There is A Garden, Finale), 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (Seena, Lud's Wedding), and Quiet Place (There is so much, too much). I think this recording, though okay, is a stumbling block to finding out about the real Bernstein saga of musicals. And if you are still getting this recording, the sound quality is really good. West Side Story is done by the masters of the opera so they sing it that way. Candide is operetic too, but then again it is an operetta. That's about all I have to say on this recording.

nice but operatic.......2000-02-23

This is a nice collection of Bernstein miscellany. Note however that the West Side Story, On the Town, and Candide are the "operatic" versions, with Te Kanawa and Carreras, Von Stade and Hampson, and Jerry Hadley, respectively. Bernstein conducts WSS and Candide and Tilson Thomas OTT. The surprise is the bits from Wonderful Town, which was recorded on JAY, not DG like the others. Featuring Ron Raines and Rebecca Luker, it's probably the most authentically "Broadway" of this set.

CBS Masterworks Dinner Classics: American Picnic

Average customer rating:

An American Picnic
Worth It

CBS Masterworks Dinner Classics: American Picnic

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Dinner Classics: The Sunday Brunch Album
CBS Dinner Classics: Cocktail Party
Dinner Classics: The French Album
CBS Dinner Classics: Romance
CBS Dinner Classics: Sunday Brunch, Vol. 2

ASIN: B0000027X9
Release Date: 1992-04-07

Tracks:

Summertime - Jean-Pierre Rampal
Simple Gifts - Aaron Copland
Saturday Night Waltz - Aaron Copland
Hoedown - Aaron Copland
Maple Leaf Rag - Jean-Pierre Rampal
On The Trail - Ferde Grofe
Very Slowly; Allegro - Aaron Copland
Bethena - A Concert Waltz - Jean-Pierre Rampal
Andante con moto e poco rubato - Jean-Pierre Rampal
Bess, You Is My Woman Now - Jean-Pierre Rampal
A Ragtime Two Step - Jean-Pierre Rampal
The Story Of Grover's Corners - Scott Joplin
Souvenir D'Amerique, 'Yankee Doodle,' Op. 17 - Henri Vieuxtemps
Andante - George Gershwin

Customer Reviews:

An American Picnic.......2002-08-11

I have three of the Dinner Classics. "Dinner For Two" "Romance"
and "A Cocktail Party" All are wonderful cd's and I would like to find more, other than what is listed here. "An American Picnic" is good but I like "Dinner For Two" the best.

Worth It.......1999-11-29

This album is one of the "must haves" in the great "Masterworks Dinner Classics" series. Beautiful!

Joshua Bell ~ Bernstein - West Side Story Suite

Average customer rating:

Superb, Magical!
A Match Made in Heaven
This is what virtuosity sounds like
I also got one for my doctor--
I also got one for my doctor--

Joshua Bell ~ Bernstein - West Side Story Suite
Leonard Bernstein , David Zinman , Joshua Bell , and Philharmonia Orchestra
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Joshua Bell - Gershwin Fantasy
Voice of the Violin
Romance of the Violin
The Essential Joshua Bell
Mendelssohn & Beethoven: Violin Concertos

ASIN: B00005KIZN
Release Date: 2001-06-19

Tracks:

West Side Story Suite
Lonely Town
Make Our Garden Grow
-8. Serenade
New York, New York

Amazon.com essential recording

This all-Bernstein disc includes four compositions in addition to the title piece, of which only the "Serenade" was originally written for solo violin and orchestra. John Corigliano made the arrangement of "Make Our Garden Grow," the famous final song from Candide, and William David Brohn, who had long been close to Bernstein's music, arranged two songs from On the Town. His West Side Story Suite is a free adaptation rather than an arrangement; he calls it the greatest adventure of his musical life.

However, the real hero of the recording is Joshua Bell, for whom Sony commissioned the Suite; he collaborated closely with Brohn in its creation and contributed one of the two cadenzas. Not surprisingly, its violin part, as well as those of the other arrangements, are written to his strengths, which seem to be growing and expanding all the time. His virtuosity is breathtaking and he revels in it with unbridled exuberance. His tone is ravishingly beautiful, intense, focused, pure; it can generate a warm glow and a radiant shimmer. His facility and silvery sound in the violin's topmost register have always been particularly striking and are displayed throughout to terrific effect. He handles Bernstein's multifaceted style, rhythm, and idiom with easy, natural mastery. His love and respect for the music come through in his ability to identify with its swiftly changing moods and in his strongly felt, direct expressiveness. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Superb, Magical!.......2002-07-28

I have been fortunate enough to have seen Joshua Bell perform this piece live! He interprets the piece so well, playing tenderly, magically, casually, and with a in-your-face quality that outlines the character of this piece so well. West-Side Story has been interpreted beautifully into a suite almost resembling a Violin Concerto.
The sound quality in this recording is superb and sparkling, as if live.
This is a must-have for any music library.

A Match Made in Heaven.......2002-04-11

Bell and Bernstein seem made for each other as one can hear in this wonderful recording. Bell's playing somehow is absolutely "right" in it's evocation of Bernstein's spirit and no more so than in the "West Side Story" suite. Special mention should go to Brohn (the arranger on this record) for raising the often disparaged technique of "mere" arranging to high art indeed! More than just a medley of tunes, Brohn creates a virtual violin concerto out of Bernstein's unforgettable melodies all without distortion of the source material. The transitions between the sections are astonishing in terms of sheer invention while retaining absolute fidelity to the composer- a remarkable feat! Joshua's playing soars and exalts and his no-holds barred romantic approach cannot fail to connect emotionally with the listener. The hair on the back of my neck stood up during the "Tonight" section both times I heard it. The rest of the CD is very good too. This CD manages the rare trick of creating a commercially succesful offering that is a real and satisying work of art.
Absolutely terrific!

This is what virtuosity sounds like.......2001-12-27

When violin virtuoso Joshua Bell released this album, many in the classical community bemoaned the death of true classical music. Here was one of their foremost musicians "crossing over" into what they termed "pop" music. Such a dismissal does a great disservice to Bell, and, indeed, to Leonard Bernstein.

"West Side Story" may not be a Sibelius concerto, but it is still a beautifully rendered, worthwhile piece of music. Bell's emotive musicianship raises the piece to a new height. His technique is unparalleled, and the pathos he creates during "Maria" and "Somewhere" is just stunning. His gorgeous cadenzas seem like they belonged in "West Side Story" all along, and his playing evokes an impressive range of emotions.

This retooling of "West Side Story" also attests to Leonard Bernstein's staying power. While classical purists mired in the 19th century aim to dimiss Bernstein as just a flash in the pan, the "West Side Story" suite suggests that his music will endure. This is one "crossover" that's worth buying.

I also got one for my doctor--.......2001-10-17

When we saw The Red Violin and we fell madly in love with the film and the music we had to own it. And we do. Then we saw Joshua Bell doing something from the West Side Story CD on Today and had to buy the album. Today I bought another and we're looking to buy more. There are no words to describe this genius. There is nothing to compare the beauty of the sounds that eminate from his talent. He is incomparable. No one ever could equal him. No one has and no one will. We thank him for hours of sheer enchantment found nowhere else. And with all that has happened since September 11, this is the only thing that has rescued us from the depths of hell. Thank you Joshua Bell. May you ring forever and ever and ever.

I also got one for my doctor--.......2001-10-17

Music Review: