Traditional Airs & Dances for Celtic Harp

Traditional Airs & Dances for Celtic Harp

Track Listings

1. King of Fairies/The Lilting Banshee Harp

2. Poll Ha'penny/Plains of Boyle/Cnon Na Gclarach Slides

3. O South Wind/Great High Wind

4. Wind Geese

5. Bonny Portmore

6. Morning Dew/The Ivy Leaf

7. Limerick's Lamentation/Give Me Your Hand

8. Drunken Sailor

9. Niel Gow's Lament for the Death of His Second Wife/Farewell to Craigie

10. Kerry Polkas

11. Fingal's Cave

12. Morris Tunes: Orange in Bloom (Sherbone) /Stepback (Field Town) /Idbury

13. Hide and Seek

Tracks:

'Carmen' Fantasie
Variations On Dark Eyes (Occhi Chornye)
Second Rhapsody
La Gitana
Zigeunerweisen
Gypsy Nocturne
Tzigane
Czardas Caprice

Amazon.com

Lara St. John often displays her anatomy on her CD covers, but she has more to offer than that. In this entertaining collection, she plays freely and on a very large scale, just what gypsy music requires. It may not take much intellect to play Waxman's Carmen Fantasy (I like Sarasate's better, anyway). But it does take intellect, and lots more, to play Bartók's Second Rhapsody as convincingly as she does here, with the very assertive collaboration of Ilan Rechtman. St. John doesn't make the difficulties of Ravel and Sarasate sound easy, but both musicians play with such flair it doesn't matter. Rechtman's gypsy arrangements are goofy and enjoyable. Wide-range sound. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

I liked the Bartok. The rest of it...meh.......2006-05-20

Overall, this wasn't a bad album, just a silly one. Most of these "gypsy" themed confections are throwaway encore pieces anyway, and one really cannot fill an album with nothing but encores. Thus, a few genuinely weighty compositions from Ravel & Bartok are necessary to fill out the album as a whole.

Sadly, she struggles at times with the Tzigane and gives an interpretation that I did not care for at all. What appears to be some overly close miking did not help matters, as one can at times hear her fingers hitting the strings & fingerboard, as well as occasional scratchy bowing.

The Bartok, however --- this gives me hope that perhaps some day Lara St. John can get away from dippy albums such as this and concentrate on making some real music. There is real, honest-to-goodness musical sophistacation to be found here. Why can't she do this all of the time?

The Gypsy-within .......2006-01-29

Its fair to say that violinist Lara St. John projects a public image that can be described as provocative, daring, uninhibited and free-spirited (forget the open top here - check out the bold leather blazer, confident hand on hip, daring look in her eyes and violin at the ready). While such an attitude may not be to the taste of all, it would seem ideally suited for bringing out the drama and passion of Gypsy-inspired music - a genre of music definately not for the timid or academic-at-heart. Indeed such music is far from the formal restraints of Bach which this Canadian violinist first made her mark. But judging from the tantilizing result here, Miss St. John's personna and talents are a great match for this music. Also a factor must have been her frequent trips in her youth to the epicenters of this tradition - Russia, Yugoslavia and Hungary - which perhaps awakened the Gypsy-within. Regardless, she is stellar in this Gypsy repertoire on this CD - as is her musical partner, Israeli pianist Ilan Rechtman.

While more-aquainted with music from Bach to Beethoven to Brahms, I was not too familar with the music of this genre before hearing this CD - so I had no idea what to expect. And I also cannot say how her readings here compare to X, Y or Z. But, I have to say every piece on the CD caught my interest and admiration and jazzed me. While Miss St. John is the cover star of this recording, pianist Rechtman is equally fabulous from the piano. I was impressed with his clear sense of direction and non-intrusive flair in the music - and especially his three original arrangements (the Gypsy Nocturne being particularly poetic and moving).

St. John and Rechtman show wonderful synergy here with crisp ensemble, elegance when needed (Chornye) and with the right intensity and bravura to ignite the spirit behind the compositions. Showmanship is a big part of Gypsy, and both these musicians step up confidently - but not in an annoying way - producing a most electrifying and satisfying result. St. John brings great nuance of color, inflection and flair to her lines that are sung with a similtaneous gorgeous and evocative quality (in Ravel and Bartok especially). Equally fascinating is her harmonics, pizacatto and bowing subtleties in Sarasate's "Zigeunerweisen" that are downright mezmerizing. Perhaps others may play some of the pieces more accurately to the score or with more of this or that, but I found each work musically fascinating, tonally gorgeous and with the ability to hold you in suspense throughout the piece. The range of selections is excellent: from the serene and rhapsodic "Gypsy Nocturne" ... to the graceful lyricism of Kriesler ... to the virtuostic and passionate Sarasate piece ... to the curiously-emotive modern works from Bartok and Ravel. The quirky Bartok number may be her most intelligently conceived effort of the program which she plays with great furvour. In all of these, St. John coaxes fascinating nuances of timbre along with a huge, powerful tone from her instrument, well-earning her merits as a "soloist par-excellence." Judging by the 4.5 star average rating for this CD, most others seem to agree as well.

Other highlights include a very compelling little history of the origins of Gypsy music (orginating from low-caste tribes from India) and a rather lengthy description of the HDCD and 56-bit digital signal processing technology used for this recording (Sonic Solutions). The technical talk here is not hype as the recording quality is indeed absolutely brilliant: super clear, super vivid and with a perfect balance between instruments. It really allows the music to come alive and out of the speakers. In fact, I would say it is one of the best-sounding CD's I have out of a few hundred. In summary, this fine duo find a marvelous spirit and rhythm within this music and give a most invigorating performance that commands as much attention as the violinist's cover photos. (In case you are wondering, Miss St. John is 34 this year). But, more should be said about the fine pianist, Ilan Richtman, whose spirited pianism creates a energetized backdrop for St. John's pyrotechnics (but who is unfortunately missing from the cover photo). Fascinating music, dazzling performances, super-realistic sound and a surprize favorite - 5 stars.

Rubbish.......2005-07-24

This is an excellent album if you subscribe to the school of thought where "virtuosity" in the violin essentially equates to "dragging notes and comprehencively ignoring what is written on the page in the name of expressionism". I have heard better playing at amateur recitals from violinists half her age. I find it rather sad that her label knows this and peddles it anyway, plastering her pretty face everywhere in a blatant publicity attempt.

one of the best albums ever.......2004-08-03

The violinist on this album is just out of this world. What an artist!!! Her technic is amazing, her musicality is breath-taking, her spirit is just one of a kind. Together with her pianist and arranger Ilaan Rechtman, they have created one of my very favorite CDs. I never get tired of the music. It is both easy to listen and yet, deep and most interesting. I highly recommend this to every type of a listener. My favorite track is Carmen Fantasy. It makes all the other Carmen renditions I've heard totally pale in comparison. Don't miss this great album.

Overshadowed by technique.......2004-02-04

There is no doubt that Lara St. John demonstrated her incredible talent and violin genius in this album. In doing so however, the improvs to show technique in some instances overshadowed the melody. Some portions of the famous traditional Occhi Chornye (Dark Eyes) were barely recognizable. If you would like to be impressed by violin virtuoso technique, this is the album for you. If you'd like to enjoy piano and violin gypsy combo however, I recommend Sergei Trofanov's "Gypsy Passion". Start with Tzigane Russe and I guarantee you'll hear piano and violin techniques which are awesome and yet, maintain the integrity of the composition for the true Gypsy violin lovers. _Raoul Watson

Average customer rating:

What about the dialogue?
Loved it!!!
great CD, but incomplete...
Fantastic Soundtrack
There comes a time when you find a soundtrack that's...

Kung Fu Hustle

Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Kung Fu Hustle (Widescreen Edition)
Kung Fu Hustle
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ASIN: B0007XT7T0
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Tracks:

Kung Fu 1 - Kung Fu 1
Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained - Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained
Fisherman's Song Of The East China Sea - The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra
Ambush From All Sides - The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra
Allegro Molto Vivace From Zigeunerweisen, Op.20 - Ivan Fischer
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Album Description

Set amid the chaos of pre-revolutionary China, small time thief, Sing, aspires to be one of the sophisticated and ruthless Axe Gang whose underworld activities overshadow the city. Stumbling across a crowded apartment complex aptly known as "Pig Sty Alley," Sing attempts to extort money from one of the ordinary locals, but the neighbors are not what they appear. Sing's comical attempts at intimidation inadvertently attract the Axe Gang into the fray, setting off a chain of events that brings the two disparate worlds face-to-face.

The exotic original score by Raymond Wong is complemented by the film's classical pieces, notably Sarasate's acclaimed "Zigeunerweisen" and Khachaturian's famous "Sabre Dance."

Customer Reviews:

What about the dialogue?.......2006-04-08

I have a question about the dialogue on this CD... is it interspersed on separate tracks between songs, or do they talk during the songs?

Loved it!!!.......2005-10-21

As a Chinese, I love this soundtrack and the movie very much! There is no more I can say. However, it's a good soundtrack and I love it very much.

great CD, but incomplete..........2005-09-20

This is the soundtrack released to the U.S. Just so you know, the soundtrack sold in Asia features a few more songs. Most notably missing is a song preformed by Huang Sheng Yi, called "Zhi Yao Wei Ni Huo Yi Tian" which comes toward the end of the movie. It might be my favorite song in the movie, and it's too bad it's missing from the U.S. soundtrack.

Fantastic Soundtrack.......2005-08-20

If you have seen this unbelievable movie, then you know how incredible the music is. It matches the mood of the movie and everything the previous reviewer said I agree with. It has great sweeping scores with an extremely cool "oriental/chinese" sound and presence to it. I mostly bought it for a few cool songs I fell in love with when I saw the movie and the whole album is great. You will recognize a few of the songs used in a lot of other chop socky/martial arts movies and you'll really enjoy having them along with all the other great music on this soundtrack and it goes without saying, but if you haven't seen or bought this movie yet, get it. We need to encourage Stephen Chow and support him in his endeavors to make more great movies instead of the same old rehashed formulaic, cookie cutter, boring(need I go on?)"Hollywood Entertainment" fare.

There comes a time when you find a soundtrack that's..........2005-06-14

...Absolutely perfect!

As a collector of various movie soundtracks, there are many times when I am utterly dismayed by how unrelated they are to the movies they are supposed to complement.

The Kung Fu Hustle CD, however, is far from any of that! I watched this movie four times in the theater, and every time, the music just mesmerized me from start to finish! The movie was great, and the music was even better!

I quickly ordered the soundtrack from Amazon.com, and when it arrived, I was far from disappointed. This CD is fantastic! It does not leave anything out. What you hear in the movie is what you hear in the CD from beginning to end. The tracks are even in order of which they appear in the movie!

If you enjoyed Kung Fu Hustle, then the soundtrack is definitely for you. Go forth! Purchase the soundtrack, and prepare to be pleasantly entertained by the delightful music!

Respighi & Casella: The Composer as Pianist

Average customer rating:

Respighi & Casella: The Composer as Pianist

Manufacturer: Pierian
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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The Composer as Pianist
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ASIN: B000BDH5EK
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Average customer rating:

Coulter does it again

The Crooked Road
William Coulter
Manufacturer: Gourd Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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Celtic Crossing
The Road Home
Celtic Sessions
Tree of Life
Music On The Mountain

ASIN: B00000JWCU
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Tracks:

Craigieburn Wood
Frieze Britches/Donnybrook Fair
Mna Na Heireann
The Crooked Road To Lisdoonvarna
Stor Mo Chroi
Farewell To Erin/Another Reel
Elanor Plunkett
Planxty Wilder
Though I Live Not Where I Love
St. Patrick's Day/Over The Moor To Maggie
Dog Leap Stairs
Kingdom Come
The Parting Glass

Amazon.com

William Coulter is an acoustic guitar player who has explored Celtic music for years, as on the exquisite Celtic Requiem CD with singer Mary McLaughlin. Coulter brings a chamber music sound to Celtic music on his latest foray. Taking traditional songs from Ireland, Scotland, and England, Coulter weaves them into original arrangements that include his frequent collaborators from the Santa Cruz and San Francisco area. Among them are cellist Barry Phillips and his wife, wind player Shelley Phillips; pianist Paul Machlis from Skyedance; and Northumbrian piper and concertina player Alastair Anderson.

Together these musicians weave a delicate embrace around familiar tunes like "Women of Ireland" and the devastatingly forlorn "Stor mo Chroi," as well as some lesser known but achingly beautiful songs such as "The Crooked Road to Lisdoonvarna," on which he adds the Turkish kaval to this Irish tune. The road may be crooked, but William Coulter makes it worth the trip. --John Diliberto

Album Description

Following up on the success of his previous recordings, Celtic Crossing and Celtic Sessions, William Coulter once again draws from the rich repertoire of airs and dances from Scotland and Ireland for this latest recording. Along with traditional works, Coulter has also selected a number of contemporary compositions for this recording, including a wonderful duet with concertina master Alistair Anderson on Anderson's "Dog Leap Stairs."

Coulter is joined on two tracks by virtuoso classical guitarist Benjamin Verdery. Together they perform the Sean Ó Riada classic, "Women of Ireland" and the beautiful Turlogh Ó Carolan air, "Elanor Plunkett." The result is a lyrical, emotional and enchanting listening experience.

Customer Reviews:

Coulter does it again.......2001-04-18

I have this little image in my head of how I would like to wind down after a tough day at work. The image goes like this-- I come home and plop down in a great big overstuffed sofa with a cup of hot tea, a good magazine, and I play a CD of soothing, wonderful music. Rarely (oh, heck-- never) do I actually get to live out this little dream. Life is just too hectic. However, if I were to snatch enough time to indulge myself, this CD would be the one I'd put on. It is simply beautiful Irish music played on guitar (with many assorted accompanying instruments). Coulter is a wonderful artist with a real feel for the soul of Irish music. So go home, find a comfy chair, sip your tea, and put on "The Crooked Road." You won't be disappointed.

Average customer rating:

Best of a Stellar Career
Gorgeous sound
a pinnacle
Stunning Vocals!
Astonishingly beautiful

Airs and Graces
June Tabor
Manufacturer: Shanachie
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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Echo of Hooves
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A Collection

ASIN: B000000E7K
Release Date: 1991-09-30

Tracks:

While Gamekeepers Lie Sleeping
Plains Of Waterloo
Bonny May
Reynardine
The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Young Waters
Waly Waly
The Merchant's Son
Queen Among The Heather
Pull Down Lads

Customer Reviews:

Best of a Stellar Career.......2004-12-10

This is Tabor's debut album and in many ways, hard to top. She's defined her style here: lush vocalization with ascetic arrangements. I think she does Eric Bogle better than Bogle himself. Her version of "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" is the best I have heard. She tackles out of the way topics with her own flair. "Pull Down Lads" talks of the crew of carnies who close a fair down. Her "Waly Waly" ("The Water is Wide" is also not-to-be missed. If you are considering Tabor, start with this album!

Gorgeous sound.......2002-11-06

June Tabor's voice is rich, beautiful, and extremely well suited to the material. Fans of traditional folk music will love this CD.

a pinnacle.......2001-04-03

June Tabor has been an admirably adventurous interpreter of songs traditonal, and otherwise, for three decades. Looking back over her career "Airs and Graces" remains its high water mark. Nowhere did her sumptous dark tone feel more moving and less monotonous than on this collection. She performs a number of familar and less familar traditional tunes with, on this disc, not only her trademark sense of purposeful gravity but a lightening grace of effort. Her intrepretive surety here even manages to breathe new drama in an old chestnut like "Waltzing Matilda." One track that remains, listen after listen, transcendent for me is "Pull Down Lads." In a deceptively simple reading of a tale that is ostensibly about the dismantling of a country carnival, Tabor manages to transmit a haunting and profound meditation on death, love and leave-taking. It is an interpretation that each time I hear it leaves me in a contemplative and still state of mind pondering --dare I say-- that which truly matters. It's a fully realized recording for any fan of traditional singing or anyone interested in the art of the song.

Stunning Vocals!.......1999-10-01

June Tabor has a voice and style unsurpassed by anyone in any musical category.If you are already a traditional music fan I suggest you buy all the recordings of her you can find.

Astonishingly beautiful.......1998-11-11

June Tapor's heavy old english accent only serves to enhance these classic folk songs. The music is pure and simple and elegant.

Average customer rating:

Inspiring--totally!!!!

The Voice of Wales

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 1992-10-28

Tracks:

God Bless The Prince Of Wales
David Of The White Rock
The Rising Of The Lark
All Through The Night
Hunting The Hare
Fantasia On Famous Welsh Airs
The Lost Chord
See The Conquering Hero Comes
The Ash Grove
Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Guide Me O Thou Great Jehova
Crimond
Praise Ye The Lord
Nobody Knows The Trouble I See Lord
The Messiah: And The Glory Of The Lord Shall Be Revealed

Customer Reviews:

Inspiring--totally!!!!.......2007-01-28

A friend recommended this CD after hearing a track played on classical radio. What a find! The choirs may not be quite as "polished" as some, but the raw edge adds a very refreshing element of heart and passion to the music. You get the impression they really believe what they are singing about. I especially appreciate "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" and "Crimond." These will lift you so high you will have to look down to see heaven!

Average customer rating:

CLAIM
Romantic-Styled Playing
The beauty as it is
Clearly Kennedy
An Interesting Concept, A Failed Production

Classic Kennedy
Antonio Vivaldi , Jules Massenet , English Traditional , Johannes Brahms , Fryderyk Chopin , Erik Satie , George Gershwin , Johann Sebastian Bach , Vittorio Monti , George Frideric Handel , Charles Gounod , Claude Debussy , Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov , William Kroll , Pablo de Sarasate , Joni Mitchell , English Chamber Orchestra , Nigel Kennedy , Osian Ellis , London Voices , John Anderson , David Thomas , Harold Lester , Andrew Crowley , and Charles Tunnell
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
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Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000026D4B
Release Date: 2000-02-01

Tracks:

Concerto No. 2 In G Minor: The Four Seasons - III Presto
Meditation from Thais
Scarborough Fair (Trad.)
Hungarian Dance No. 5
Nocturne in C Sharp Minor Op. Posth.
Gymnopedie (No. 2
Prelude No. 1
Air on the G String
Danny Boy
Czardas
The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Ave Maria
La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin
Gymnopedie No. 1
Prelude No. 2
The Flight of the Bumble-Bee
Banjo and Fiddle
Zigeunnerweiden
Urge for Going
Melody in the Wind

Amazon.com

Just in case you thought Nigel Kennedy--fresh from his Hendrix tribute album--had left the classical music repertoire for good, think again. On Classic Kennedy, the fiddler is situated with the English Chamber Orchestra in a program that spans from Bach to Satie. (Yes, you also get a Joni Mitchell tune; "Scarborough Fair"; and the fiddler's own forgettable "Melody in the Wind," too.) The sequencing is a bit disjointed--the summer storm from The Four Seasons is followed by Massenet's blissful "Meditation" from Thaïs--and Kennedy's performances range from good to fair. The English Chamber Orchestra does an admirable job on these diverse works (it deserves a lot of credit here), but it'll be up to the listener to decide whether he or she wants to hear "Air on the G String" followed by Kennedy's version of "Danny Boy." As with most Kennedy discs, you'll either love it or hate it. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

CLAIM.......2007-01-11

SOORY BUT WE DIDN'T RECEIVE THE PRODUCT YET, DESPITE WE PURCHASED ON NOV/10/2006.WATH'S HAPPENED ?

Romantic-Styled Playing.......2005-07-25

I came to love classical music through classical crossover, but have dumped crossover after listening to artists like Perlman and Hahn. So was very apprehensive going back to a “crossover” artist.

After a minute into his interpretation of Vivaldi’s third movement of Summer, I was hooked. Although Nigel may not play the pieces in a way that is considered “proper”, he brings his own style which is intense and highly emotional. The sound he can extract from his violin is engaging, and I always feel as if his violin is singing/crying to me. I’ve also heard several versions of “The Flight of the Bumble-Bee”, but this version just makes me giggle.

The only weakness for me is the mixing of main stream classical music. Songs such as the traditional songs like Scarborough Fair (a great song) and the Joni Mitchell song seem out of place. Perhaps it was EMI’s goal to show Nigel’s approach to different styles of music, but "this mixing things up" personally doesn’t work for me.

If you like the classical music on this CD, also pick up his Vivaldi CD’s which are fantastic. And if you like the traditional stuff, then get his “East to East” CD.

The beauty as it is.......2003-03-06

On a scale of love-hate, I love this CD. No: I -L-O-V-E- it. That is a masterpiece in itself. I'm neither violinist nor classical musician, not even very experienced classical listener - though I enjoy "Der Ring des Nibelungen" much deeper than "Love Me Tender". What strikes me in Nigel's playing, and on this album particularly, is his incredible technical brilliance. When he plays a note it is always THE NOTE he's meant to play. Not a 1/16 tone mistake, not a 1/10 millimeter shift. Few singers are capable of such exactness, much less violin players. With a brush like this, you can paint whatever picture you want. And the pictures of Nigel's are just incredible. The deepest of his feelings are portrayed in his music with such a delicacy and balance, and with great confidence. On to titles: my personal faves are Brahms, Chopin, Bach, Satie and Kroll's. "Banjo and Fiddle" is so ironic and courteous, "Zigeunerweisen" is heartbreaking, "Nocturne in C Sharp minor" makes you breathless of its sweet sadness. "Hungarian Dance 5" swept all other versions away: compared to Kennedy's brave, sharp, masculine, fiery rendition, any other version seems like glucose syrup compared to juicy meat. "Air on the G String" is so airy and transparent. And "Czardas" is probably the best thing I've ever heard in my life...

Flawless. Brilliant. Beautiful.

Clearly Kennedy.......2003-01-22

I had only heard Kennedy one other time and knew that this would be good, as it is. I'm not new to classical music and can say that Kennedy's playing is clear and beautiful. I don't know why others have such a hard time with it, but if it's talented and artistic violin music that you're looking for then this is for you...

An Interesting Concept, A Failed Production.......2002-09-07

A while back I had heard about a British violin soloist named Nigel Kennedy, who was working on transcribing songs by Jimi Hendrix for the violin. I had altogether forgotten his name until my friend lent me a copy of Kennedy's 1999 release 'Classical Kennedy', and when I saw the pictures of him with his Morrisey haircut, stubbly facial hair, and his leather jacket, I recognized this controversial figure, the so-called "Bad Boy" of classical music.

'Classical Kennedy' is an exploration of the violin not as the solo voice of a gargantuan half-hour concerto but, rather, the lead voice in a three to five-minute song, and it explores this concept from Bach to Joni Mitchell. Right away this poses a serious undertaking- it is difficult to achieve continuity in a classical album that practically spans the history of Western art music. However, this conflict is partly resolved by the consistency of the tracks' lengths.

Kennedy has a distinct sound, and his little "trick" is that he sometimes plays really hard and really fast. He occasionally draws an elegant and pure tone that listeners expect from a great soloist, but he also has the tendency to turn a beautiful phrase into a crude and apathetic statement. These days the idea of a violinist who isn't utterly predictable, and is willing to take liberties with the repertoire, is a pleasant muse, but Nigel Kennedy is certainly not the ideal solution.

Kennedy's gimmick becomes his fatal flaw- in classical music, the notes speak for themselves. He makes Bach and Brahms sound hoarse and nasal. Ask any professional violinist and they'll tell you that, though there isn't one exact way to play any piece, there are limits on what one should do with a phrase, and that rule is implicit through understanding the composition. It's a hard truth to face, and perhaps only a trained musician fully understands this phenomenon. Either way, there needs to be an intimacy between the performer and the listener. All in all, Kennedy's technique caves in on itself. He plays as if taking great liberties at every turn were in itself a good thing. He cuts off a note that should sing, his sense of tempo is awkward at best- he seems to be driven by self-indulgent whims rather than musical passion.

There are points in the album where I think that his approach does utter disservice to the piece. For example, his interpretation of Massenet's 'Meditations' simply does not compare to Itzhak Perlman's flawless, dramatic performance on 'A La Carte'. Kennedy's Chopin 'Nocturne in C#' (which really sounds better with just a piano) doesn't at all capture the emotion and power of Sarah Chang's performance on 'Sweet Sorrow'. I'm not saying that every single track on this album is a loser. But where he fails miserably in some regards is that his playing strays into avant-garde quirks, and it becomes somewhat ignorant to the music in the piece. Ivry Gitlis quoted in the DVD 'The Art of Violin' that 'of course it's an insult to music when somebody says 'that's the benchmark performance' or 'that's how it's supposed to be played''. But in a lot of classical works, the personality and individuality of the performer lay in the subtleties of the performance, not in urinating on the very things that made the piece wonderful and then hoping that the listener will somehow connect with it.

Nigel Kennedy, from a technical standpoint, is a musician to be envied, but I am certainly not one of his defenders. I am a violinist, and I have a life-long love and respect for some of these compositions. When I see these works become so utterly removed from the things that made them great in the first place, I become disappointed and depressed- but not because 'Classic Kennedy' has somehow offended me. Rather, these days it seems that classical record labels, big-shot corporate management, and major symphony orchestras, seem to think that a soloist with a clever gimmick is a cure for a disease effecting a dying genre. But classical music has upheld itself through discipline, conservation, and passion. In a lot of the pieces on this album, Kennedy abandons those values, and unfortunately the result is music that is surprisingly un-musical.

Jane Austen's Songbook
Average customer rating:

This CD is Nice..... But I like Jane Austen Companion Better

Beautiful vocal music

Jane Austen's Songbook

Manufacturer: Albany Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Jane Austen Companion

English Country Dances

Pride and Prejudice: The Original Soundtrack from the A&E Special Presentation

English Country Dances from Playford's Dancing Master 1651-1703 - The Broadside Band

Pride & Prejudice

ASIN: B0006OR15C
Release Date: 2004-12-28

Tracks:

'Tis in Vain, Alcanzor
William
Oh Nancy
The Irishman
The Joys of the Country
Go, and on my Truth
Plus ne veux jamais
Her Hair is Like
Sweet Transports
Airs de Ballets de la Caravane
Of Plighted Faith
The Soldier's Adieu
Je croyais ma belle
Sous un Berceau
From Night till Morn
Filles Charmantes
Catch: Joan said to John
La Danse
My Phillida
Chanson Bnoise
Thy Fatal Shafts
Lucky Escape
Think your tawny Moor
The Wedding Day
The Marseillaise March
Arietta Veneziano
Somebody
The Heaving of the Lead
Captivity
Queen Mary's Lamentation
The Poor little Gypsy
When the hollow Drum
Faint and Wearily
Collin's Ode
Begone, dull care
The Mansion of Peace
The Match Girl

Album Description

Julianne Baird writes: "Music and the social status it expressed was an integral part of Jane Austen's life. Her novels are replete with details of domestic musical activities. Accounts of public concerts and private balls as well as music programs with hired musicians fill her letters. A dedicated amateur herself, Austen ordinarily played at the pianoforte at least an hour a day before breakfast from the 8-book music collection now preserved in her home at Chawton. For nieces and nephews she practiced 'country dances,' a number of which appear in her collections. Austen painstakingly copied and bound music that especially interested her. Two books are in her own hand - one of piano pieces and the other (Book III), of vocal music, recorded here in its entirety. Some pieces contain her own suggestions for ornamentation. Prominent themes are naval affairs, country life, drinking songs, love, Turkish and Moorish motifs, female character pieces, and the French Revolution. The novels of Jane Austen reveal her as a keen observer of early 19th century English society. Now, through her Songbook, she herself springs to life: her special likes and dislikes, her boisterous sense of humor, her passions, the way she amused herself and what she was like relaxing with her family and friends." This is a very special album indeed.

Customer Reviews:

This CD is Nice..... But I like Jane Austen Companion Better.......2007-01-16

This CD is nice but not one that I will listen to often.
The fact that you get to hear what music Jane Austen liked is quite amazing. When you think I'm listening to music that Jane Austen listened to over 200 years ago.
However I'm not a great fan of Opera Music and that is probably why this CD is not one that I will listen to often.
But if you like listening to Opera Music. You will like this CD.

Beautiful vocal music.......2005-10-17

This collection is wonderful and gives us an opportunity to experience some of Austen's favorite music.

Sings Old Airs from Ireland Scotland and England

Average customer rating:

Sings Old Airs from Ireland Scotland and England
Susan Reed
Manufacturer: Collector's Choice
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music
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Susan Reed

ASIN: B000F2C8JE
Release Date: 2006-08-29

Tracks:

At The Foot Of Yonder's Mountain (Harp)
The Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow (Zither)
The Leprechaun (Harp)
He Moved Through The Fair ('Ever-Loving')
Bendemeer's Stream (Zither)
Irish Famine Song (Harp)
Wraggle Taggle Gypsies (Zither)
Seventeen Come Sunday (Harp)
The Foggy Dew ('Ever-Longing')
I Know My Love (Harp)
Must I Go Bound (Harp)
The Boreens Of Derry (Harp)
Wailie, Wailie (Zither)

Product Description

Black Is the Color
The Old Woman
I’m Sad and I’m Lonely
Drill, Ye Tarriers
Greensleeves
Go Away from My Window
A Mighty Ship
Mother, I Would Marry
Barbara Allen
Michie Banjo
Zelime
Gue, Gue
The Soldier and the Lady
Molly Malone
Three White Gulls
Venezuela
If I Had a Ribbon Bow
Miss Bailey
Danny Boy

Format: CD

Average customer rating:

yet another great Savall sampler
WOW - my two year old started doing ballet while listening

Harmonie Universelle II

Manufacturer: Alia Vox Spain
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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Harmonie Universelle
Carlos V
Isabel I: Reina de Castilla
Orient - Occident
Diáspora Sefardí

ASIN: B0002XNLZG
Release Date: 2005-01-11

Tracks:

Homentage Al Misteri D'Elx
Homenatge Al Misteri D'Elx
Homenatge Al Misteri D'Elx
Homenatge Al Misteri D'Elx
Isabel I De Castilla
Musicall Humors
Entremeses Del Siglo De Oro
Consort Music To The Viols
L'Orchestre De Louis XIII
Villancicos Y Danzas Criollas
Consort Sets In Five & Six Parts
Ostinato
Battaglia & Requiem
Tous Les Matins Du Monde
Pieces De Viole
Pieces De Viole
Bella Terra
Marquise
Ninna Nanna
Les Concerts Royaux
Farnace
La Viola Da Gamba In Concerto
Il Burbero Di Buon Cuore

Customer Reviews:

yet another great Savall sampler.......2005-12-20

Having purchased hundreds of dollars worth of Savall's CD's, I can say I too am a devoted fan of his. This is a great sampler of his more recent work and contains a huge variety of music. The individual pieces sound great and, as usual, the tone quality and spirit of his ensembles are perfect. If you are looking for a nice album of "early music," are interested in checking out Jordi Savall's work, or are already a Savall fan looking for a nice album to relax to, this inexpensive compilation is for you. It also comes with a color catalog of Alia Vox's current offerings.

WOW - my two year old started doing ballet while listening.......2005-06-28

Which is, of course, another story. But she liked the music. My wife insisted I not sell our copy (which I had no intention of doing). I even played it very loud and no one minded!

I am a Jordi Savall fan, so I saw this sampler of his stuff for such a great price and bought it. It has a nice variety - beautiful vocals, mostly nice instrumental pieces, but all very nice. Even the one (?) opera sounding piece was nice (and I don't like opera).

Anyway - for the price how can you go wrong? Read some of Jordi's other reviews and then jump on it! (Just my opinion)

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

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