Light of Day, Day of Darkness

Light of Day, Day of Darkness

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Full title - Light Of The Day, Day Of Darkness. Immensely epic in scope, blasting through dark passages of swollen, over-distorted guitars to serene, idyllic moments of acoustic & choral enchantment, this release will surely go down in history as one of the most progressive, innovative albums to ever see the light of day. More than 30 musicians were involved into this epic project, including full opera & children's choirs, classical composers, saxophonists, church organists & a lot more. This highly complex work of art was recorded using 150 tracks & almost 600 samplers. The End Records.

Tracks:

Messiah: Part One - 1. Sinfony (Grave - Allegro moderato)
Messiah: Part One - 2. Accompagnato : Comfort Ye My People
Messiah: Part One - 3. Air : Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
Messiah: Part One - 4. Chorus : And The Glory Of The Lord Shall Be Revealed
Messiah: Part One - 5. Accompagnato : Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts
Messiah: Part One - 6. Air : But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming
Messiah: Part One - 7. Chorus : And He Shall Purify
Messiah: Part One - 8. Recitative : Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive
Messiah: Part One - 9. Air and Chorus : O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings
Messiah: Part One - 10. Accompagnato : For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover
Messiah: Part One - 11. Air : The People That Walked In Darkness
Messiah: Part One - 12. Chorus : For Unto Us A Child Is Born
Messiah: Part One - 13. Pifa (Pastoral Symphony)
Messiah: Part One - 14. Recitative: There Were Shepherds Abiding In The Field - Accompagnato: And Lo, The Angel Of The Lord - 15. Recitative: And The Angel Said Unto Them - 16. Accompagnato: And Suddenly There Was With The Angel
Messiah: Part One - 17. Chorus : Glory To God In The Highest
Messiah: Part One - 18. Air : Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion
Messiah: Part One - 19. Recitative : Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind
Messiah: Part One - 20. Air : He Shall Feed His Flock
Messiah: Part One - 21. Chorus : His Yoke Is Easy, His Burthen Is Light
Messiah: Part Two - 22. Chorus : Behold The Lamb Of God
Messiah: Part Two - Air : 23. He Was Despised

Tracks:

Messiah: Part Two - 24. Chorus : Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
Messiah: Part Two - 25. Chorus : And With His Stripes We Are Healed
Messiah: Part Two - 26. Chorus : All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
Messiah: Part Two - 27. Accompagnato : All They That See Him
Messiah: Part Two - 28. Chorus : He Trusted In God
Messiah: Part Two - 29. Accompagnato : Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
Messiah: Part Two - 30. Arioso : Behold, And See If There Be Any Sorrow
Messiah: Part Two - 31. Accompagnato : He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land
Messiah: Part Two - 32. Air : But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul
Messiah: Part Two - 33. Chorus : Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates
Messiah: Part Two - 34. Recitative : Unto Which Of The Angels
Messiah: Part Two - 35. Chorus : Let All The Angels Of God Worship Him
Messiah: Part Two - 36. Air : Thou Art Gone Up On High
Messiah: Part Two - 37. Chorus : The Lord Gave The Word
Messiah: Part Two - 38. Air : How Beautiful Are The Feet
Messiah: Part Two - 39. Chorus : Their Sound Is Gone Out
Messiah: Part Two - 40. Air : Why Do The Nations So Furiously Rage
Messiah: Part Two - 41. Chorus : Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder
Messiah: Part Two - 42. Recitative : He That Dwelleth In Heaven
Messiah: Part Two - 43. Air : Thou Shalt Break Them
Messiah: Part Two - 44. Chorus : Hallelujah
Messiah: Part Three - 45. Air : I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
Messiah: Part Three - 46. Chorus : Since By Man Came Death
Messiah: Part Three - 47. Recitative : Behold, I Tell You A Mystery
Messiah: Part Three - 48. Air : The Trumpet Shall Sound
Messiah: Part Three - 49. Recitative : Then Shall Be Brought To Pass
Messiah: Part Three - 50. Duet : O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?
Messiah: Part Three - 51. Chorus : But Thanks Be To God
Messiah: Part Three - 52. Air : If God Be For Us
Messiah: Part Three - 53. Chorus : Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain --- Amen

Amazon.com essential recording

This is a terrific performance of Messiah. Not only are the soloists all superb, but Trevor Pinnock completely contradicts the image of many period instrument performances as small-scale, scrappy affairs. Indeed, he invests the choruses with as much genuine Handelian pomp as Beecham at his most extravagant. The trumpets really blaze, and the timpani thunder, and everyone simply has a great time. A joyous performance, just right for the holiday season. --David Hurwitz

Amazon.com

Trevor Pinnock meets with mixed success in this account of the Messiah with the English Concert & Choir and soloists Arleen Auger, Anne Sofie von Otter, Michael Chance, Howard Crook, and John Tomlinson, recorded and released in 1988. Its strengths are the strengths of the early-music movement in general. The size and distribution of the instrumental and vocal forces are optimal, which means that textures are clear and balances apt. Rhythms are nicely pointed, though often, in Pinnock's case, not quite well enough sprung. Tempos are well chosen; for example, "All we like sheep"--which turns out to be one of the set's best numbers--is a real bourré, and Pinnock animates it in just the right way. But the performance often seems workmanlike and unemotional, weighed down in too many instances by the humdrum work of the chorus. The alto section in particular, which is half male and half female, sings timidly and is constantly swallowing its entrances. Bass soloist John Tomlinson is a further drag on the effort. He has the right idea--that there's an Italian opera hiding behind all this biblical imagery--but his cottony sound is out of place, a misguided attempt to mimic Nicolai Ghiaurov. His usable range is less than a tenth (he croaks the low G's and F-sharps), and his diction is horrible. "Thus spake the Lord" is strangled, and when, in "The trumpet shall sound" Tomlinson gets to the words "we shall be changed," one can't help wishing that he had been changed too, right before the sessions started. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Ladies & gentleman: The Lord'n Savior, God Almighty.......2007-06-13

Handel's Messiah is my favorite piece of classical music. Of the two versions that I had I only have left this one, and it is not the best (the other had been a cheap recording whose author's name I forgot too). This version seems to lack a little enthusiasm from the voices; too melancholic. Anyway, this is the first review of any music that I write, and probably will be the last too, so I just want to leave my impression of how I feel when I hear these solemn and heavenly sounds. One feels so raised to the heavenlies... I can almost sense the presence of the Lord Almighty up yonder among the clouds, and me being carried in solemnity to meet Him. Far away are the buzzing sounds of earthly chores. The air is fresh and clean as we are raised above the valleys, and we come to meet God's elected amid the singing, stronger and stronger. Jubilant, bathed in the glorious rays of the Savior's Light, we come together and sing: Glory to God, glory to God, praise and glory for He is coming...

So Fashionable, and So Disappointing.......2007-02-01

This would be a great 21st Century Reader's Digest version of Messiah, if such a thing existed any more. Handel did as much as he could, but really, the performers still have to do something besides posture, which, by the way, seems to me to characterize many performances these days. Fashionable, but musically deficient.

Specifically: John Tomlinson sings like he thinks he IS God, instead of singing about Him. Heavy, cumbersome, and overblown. May I add boorish?

Arleen Auger has a very sweet voice. And??

Despite the program notes insisting that certain segments of this Messiah are given to "the contralto", Anne Sofie von Otter is NOT a contralto. Not even close.

The male alto can barely sustain a legato line - why he insists upon throwing in those complicated, badly-performed embellishments I can't figure. Well, I can, but I'd really rather not say.

Wake up, choristers!! It's 'For Unto Us A Child Is Born," not "Oy, I have to go to the grocery store today."

Boy do I regret having spent almost $40 on this one. Thank goodness I have the Colin Davis to console me.

A nice combination of period nad tradiitonal.......2006-12-17

This 1988 recording sits between the euqally English, euqally period-ifnluenced Hogwood and Garidner. Of the three, Hogwood sounds more 'authentic' because it uses boys in the chorus and singers schooled period practice. By comparison, Pinnock's soprano, Arleen Auger, and mozeeo, Von Otter, are essentially modern singers--gorgeous ones, of course, Gardiner is far more anemic in his conducting and uses a scrwny-sounding orchestra, so if that's more authentic, so be it. Of the three, Pinnock gives us more traditional music values in his emotional expression and instrumental timbres.

The competiiton is mushc stiffer now than in 1988, but Pinnock's reading has survived the test of time. He is not a genuinely inspired conductor--sadly, Messiah has become a cottage industry that excludes most big-name talents--but neither are Gardiner and Hogwood. (For sheer musicality, I tend to put my money on Andrew Parrott, Robert King, Marc Minkowski, Niklaus Harnoncourt, and Rene Jacobs.) But he's certainly good eough. The reason I haven't given five stars is that the male soloists aren't first-rate, and in particular the Wotan voice of John Tomlinson sounds cavernous in the bass arias. Add to that Pinnock's tendency toward tepidness, and what you end up with is a very good but not great performance.

Wait! Before you buy..........2006-05-28

... This Messiah has recently been re-released at a much cheaper price. Go back and look for the DG "The Originals" release, which is being sold new for under $12.

La mas bella y fidedigna interpretacion que se pueda obtener.......2004-12-29

Soy uno de los mas fanaticos seguidores de Handel y de su obra El Mesias... He escuchado muchas versiones de esta genial e impresionante obra del maestro Handel y, sencillamente no me queda mas que recomendar esta interpretacion, bajo la batuta del maestro Trevor Pinnock. Se nota la exigencia con que esta version se interpreto, dentro el contexto del arte barroco y la magnificencia de la pronunciacion del ingles de la epoca. La orquesta se luce impresionantemente desde la obertura... y le da a cada movimiento, toda aquella fuerza y a la vez delicadeza requerida en el sentimiento que aplica en cada uno de los textos biblicos escogidos por el guionista Jennens. El Coro del English Concert es arrebatador y demuestra maestria en la interpretacion de cada una de las arias que le corresponde. La soprano Arleen Auger, la puedo definir como un angel cantando y resulta ser una caricia a los oidos, a la vez que es capaz de arrancarle a uno las lagrimas por lo excelso de su magia interpretativa. El tenor Crook, aunque no es un tenor con tesitura para canto barroco, es realmente habil y agil al momento de interpretar los melismas caracteristicos de este brillante periodo musical. El contratenor Michael Chance, es fenomenal y quiera Dios que yo tenga el honor de conocer a este genio del canto: "But who may abide..." interpretado por Chance en esta version, es como para caer en extasis. La contralto Anne Sophie von Otter..., tiene una voz oscura y redondeada..., tambien resulta una caricia a los oidos y su "If God be for us..." es desbordante, capaz tambien de hacerle a uno derramar lagrimas por su belleza interpretativa. El bajo Tomlinson..., es barbaro!!! (Soy bajo-baritono en el Coro de la Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Costa Rica...) A pesar de su voz tan oscura, es tremendamente agil cuando le toca cantar los melismas y es genial al alcanzar la tonalidad brillante en las partes de notas altas y agudas...; por ejemplo: "The people that walked in darkness..." y "Why do the nations..." Tengo seis años de experiencia, interpretando musica coral y tengo que decir que espere esos seis años, desde 1999, para felizmente cantar esta obra "El Mesias". Ha sido fantastico finalmente lograr este objetivo..., la espera valio la pena y debo admitir que mi inspiracion ha sido sin duda alguna, la version que puede usted encontrar en este disco compacto. Doy gracias a todos los que intervinieron en esta grabacion (al maestro Trevor Pinnock, al English Concert and Choir y a los solistas ya mencionados), en nombre mio y en nombre del maestro Handel.

Average customer rating:

A COMEPLETE MASTERPIECE - In every sense of the word...
a differant, but equally intersting green carnation
A prog-metal epic that lives up to the hype!
could have been better.
Great CD

Light of Day, Day of Darkness
Green Carnation
Manufacturer: The End Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Acoustic Verses
The Quiet Offspring
Blessing in Disguise
The Mantle
Second Life Syndrome

ASIN: B00005UK1F
Release Date: 2002-01-08

Tracks:

Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness

Album Description

Full title - Light Of The Day, Day Of Darkness. Immensely epic in scope, blasting through dark passages of swollen, over-distorted guitars to serene, idyllic moments of acoustic & choral enchantment, this release will surely go down in history as one of the most progressive, innovative albums to ever see the light of day. More than 30 musicians were involved into this epic project, including full opera & children's choirs, classical composers, saxophonists, church organists & a lot more. This highly complex work of art was recorded using 150 tracks & almost 600 samplers. The End Records.

Customer Reviews:

A COMEPLETE MASTERPIECE - In every sense of the word..........2007-05-17

'Light of Day, Day of Darkness' is a complete album in every possible way: Not only is the album one continuous song; it is one whole composition, fitted together with all the necessary components that make for a complete masterpiece!!!
The epic nature of this song is really hard to describe in words. Although I have listened to it multiple times in its entirety I am always amazed by its brilliance. The band utilizes a full orchestra with their powerful riffs to create climactic build-ups within the composition. The intensity of these developments sometimes lead straight into another guitar sequence of even more epic proportions. The male vocals on this composition are perfectly suited to the mood and flow of the piece, sung mostly in a baritone type range, with some operatic sections and minimal yelling. The female chanting/singing in the middle section of the song is wonderfully appropriate followed by a lengthy guitar solo that is completely euphoric.
The tones used for many of the riffs are a high-pitched metallic sound that immediately result in serious head-banging. The great thing about this piece is how some of the riffs are recurring throughout while also incorporating newer soundscapes into the composition as it unfolds, thus creating a complete song - unlike other bands who seem to combine multiple songs into one just for the sake of creating a single song.
No amount of words can ever do this album justice - it quickly became one of my favorite albums ever upon hearing it a few times through. If you like epic progressive metal this is a must have!

RECOMMENDATION: If you want to hear other metal of epic and progressive nature then check out Aghora's album 'Formless'. The riffage will not disappoint you!

a differant, but equally intersting green carnation.......2006-10-18

This album if you have not yet gathered consists of one peice of music. On some editions the peice has been split into tracks , but it is still just one peice of music.
It starts off with some samples and acoustic guitars, light drums and clean vocals. This sets the mood for the album. It is a dark reflective peice of music, yet this is not doom metal, nor does it get particularily heavy or fast at any point.
The Song is a series of passages and twists and turns. Passages are repeated and referred back to in various places so the listener can grab some sense of familiarality, and it ends much like it finishes. But inbetween there is many parts, some good riffs and some nice vocal parts, both clean and black metal inspired.

This peice however is not about choruses and riffs, it is about atmosphere and mood and it creates these very well.A dark reflective song it can engulf the listener as it evolves and changes, builds up to false climaxes and unexpected changes.
It could be perhaps more varied, yet like i said the peice sets a mood and it does so very well. Even so, there is a fair amount of textures and dynamics here, ranging from picked acoustic guitars, to double pedals and distorted guitars, to (original) clean vocal, to black metals vocals, to tense string-like riffs even to saxaphone solos and female scat singing.
The lyrics are about the fall into insanity which add to the musical depth of the album.

this album is worth buying if you are into intelligent metal at all, opeth, agalloch, black metal, katatonia etc...

In short, this is not a novelty project, it is a complete peice as a whole (even though it is part 1 of a later sequal) with a varied soundscape and use of dynamics. Heavy at times, darkly beautiful at others.

worth hearing if you are into metal / rock / experintal or just have an ear for good music

thankyou

A prog-metal epic that lives up to the hype!.......2006-04-22

I realize a lot of people give extra high ratings to concept albums, especially single song concept albums. Most of the time the ratings are totally undeserved. However, this album really is interesting. I was very skeptical because with the exception of Jethro Tull's Thick as a Brick, most of these projects fall woefully short of a 5 star rating.

In all honesty, so does this recording. It isn't an "absolute, must have or your life will be unfulfilled" kind of recording. However, it is better than most skeptics like myself would have thought. Even my "metal-phobic" friends and co-workers enjoyed this effort. It's got enough metal to have a bite when needed and enough prog to draw you into their world. I've only listened to the album 7 times since buying it a couple weeks ago, so I'm not too deeply involved into the lyrics and story. Then again, I rarely pay attention to lyrics unless they are audaciously bad.

I'm not going to go into minute by minute detail other than to say as others have said that the female vocalist's solo in the middle of the song is not only bad, but it is also out of place and ill-fitting the rest of the music. Personally, I ripped this into a sound editor, removed that section, and reassembled the track. That alone puts it in the 4.5 star category. All in all, this is well worth the $12 investment and will definitely provide a lot of musical enjoyment in the years to come.

could have been better........2005-10-08

I don't know why some people compare this album to anything Pink Floyd has done, because quite honestly this album doesn't compare. It is an admirable effort and overall pretty decent, but not even in the same ballpark in terms of greatness as The Wall, or Dark Side of the Moon.

I decided to put the 60 minute opus on while I write this review. There are some great riffs at the start, and indeed, throughout most of the first 30 minutes, but that's about where it ends. Kjetil Nordhus' voice kind of reminds me Jonas Renkse, the singer from Katatonia. It's very pleasant, and has a sad, lamenting quality that doesn't sound overdone.

It's pretty obvious that the 60 minute track is actually several different songs tied together, and in that respect it's not written very well. Good progressive music is beginning at one point and arriving at an entirely different point and not being able to explain exactly how you got there because it sounds so natural. An example would be Agalloch's brilliant song In The Shadow of Our Pale Companion. This track isn't like that. It's not arranged very well, but it's not bad either. It's just not something I get lost in.

There are some great moments in this album, though. Great riffs, but most of them happen before minute 33. Indeed, it's when you're cruising along to a kickass riff that the song drops off a frickin' cliff and goes into a quiet passage. The vocals change, and the woman kind of reminds me of Lisa Gerrard from Dead Can Dance, although less impressive. This halfway point is usually where I start the CD over, because as I said before everything up to that point is really, really good. The song just loses a ton of momentum at the halfway point, and even though I've heard the whole thing on more than a couple occasions, I can't be arsed to review it proper. So I'm just going to say it was less impressive than the first half, although there's some good stuff happening around minute 44-55.

The quiet passage just doesn't work for me at all, which is unfortunate because it cuts the song in half. It would've been better to end quiety with it, because then the arrangement would've at least made some sense.

If you're a fan of progressive music, or if you are interested in this band/CD soley on the strength of the bands it is associated with (like me), then you'll probably dig it. It's certainly not epic SOUNDING, nor is it life-changing, so as long as your expectations are in check you'll be okay.

Great CD.......2005-08-25

This album is definitely different than anything I've ever heard. I'm a huge metalhead & love all things heavy. This CD is actually kind of mellow, with heavier parts. When it comes to the more mellow music, it takes a lot to really get me, most of it just gets really boring. This is a very good one, sort of psycedelic actually. A great one to get stoned to. It has some hints of heavier metal that really adds a lot to it also. One of my favorite things about it is that it's only 1 song, a song that lasts an hour. That's something you don't see too often. If you can get into the more melodic Opeth stuff you'll like this CD for sure.

Average customer rating:

Old Fashioned Sincerity
One of the worst recordings ever made
Pete's Dad

Handel's Messiah

Manufacturer: Golden Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00013ND8M
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Tracks:

Overture
Comfort Ye My People
Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
And the Glory of the Lord
Thus Saith the Lord of Hosts
But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming?
And He Shall Purify the Sons of Levi
Behold a Virgin Shall Conceive
O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion
For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover the Earth
People That Walked in Darkness
For Unto Us a Child Is Born
Pastorale Symphony
There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Field
Glory to God in the Highest
Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion
Then Shall the Eyes of the Blind Be Open'd
He Shall Feed His Flock Like a Shepherd
His Yoke Is Easy, His Burden Is Light
Behold the Lamb of God

Tracks:

He Was Despised and Rejected of Men
Surely, He Hath Borne Our Griefs
And With His Stripes We Are Healed
All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
All They That See Him, Laugh Him to Scorn
He Trusted in God That He Would Deliver Him
Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
Behold, And See If There Be Any Sorrow
He Was Cut Off Out of the Land of the Living
But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul in Hell
Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates
How Beautiful Are the Feet of Them
Why Do the Nations So Furiously Rage
Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder
He That Dwelleth in Heaven
Thou Shalt Break Them With a Rod of Iron
Hallelujah - London Philharmonic Chorus
I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
Since by Man Came Death - For as in Adam, Even So in Christ
Behold, I Tell You a Mystery
Trumpet Shall Sound
Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain
Amen

Customer Reviews:

Old Fashioned Sincerity.......2006-12-30

This is not the best recording of Messiah but it is by no means a disaster. Susskind was an able conductor with a valid view of this great piece. The recording from the 1950s is more than adequate (there is some roughness in the treble but it is full and clear - though some edits are very obvious indeed). The orchestra is excellent and the choir sing well. The soloists - all of them - are superb, among the very best in any version of Messiah! Susskind's tempos are slow by modern standards but there is good rhythmical bounce and a genuine sense of the greatness of the piece. If you can adjust to the broad tempos and the big scale conception then you will discover important aspects of this masterpiece in this performance - and the set costs next to nothing!

One of the worst recordings ever made.......2006-05-10

This is only my second one star review. And I am rather generous with stars. But this recording is just horrible, especially considering that all of the participants are legendary musicians. First of all, this is extremely old fashioned Handel. The textures are way too heavy for music of the baroque. But worst of all, the performance just sits there like mud on your tires that won't come off. Yes, the price is very low, but whatever you do, do not buy this recording.

Pete's Dad.......2005-12-11

I have had a CD of the London Philharmonic version of the Messiah conducted by Fredrick Jackson for several years and enjoyed listening to it. However, the quality of the recording leaves something to be desired.

Average customer rating:

Finally a Messiah with fervor!
Great recording!
Good and Bad
This is a great recording!

Handel: Messiah

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Christmas at Trinity

ASIN: B00002R16A
Release Date: 1999-11-30

Tracks:

Messiah: No. 1 Overture
Messiah: No. 2 Arioso For Tenor
Messiah: No. 3 Air For Tenor
Messiah: No. 4 Chorus
Messiah: No. 5 Recitative For Bass
Messiah: No. 6 Air For Bass
Messiah: No. 7 Chorus
Messiah: No. 8 Recitative For Alto
Messiah: No. 9 Air For Alto And Chorus
Messiah: No. 10 Arioso For Bass
Messiah: No. 11 Air For Bass
Messiah: No. 12 Chorus
Messiah: No. 13 Pifa (Pastoral Symphony)
Messiah: No. 14a Recitative And No. 14b Arioso For Soprano
Messiah: No. 15 Recitative For Soprano
Messiah: No. 16 Arioso For Soprano
Messiah: No. 17 Chorus
Messiah: No. 18 Air For Soprano
Messiah: No. 19 Recitative For Alto
Messiah: No. 20 Air For Alto And Soprano
Messiah: No. 21 Chorus
Messiah: No. 22 Chorus
Messiah: No. 23 Air For Alto
Messiah: No. 24 Chorus
Messiah: No. 25 Chorus
Messiah: No. 26 Chorus

Tracks:

Messiah: No. 27 Arioso For Tenor
Messiah: No. 28 Chorus
Messiah: No. 29 Recitative For Tenor
Messiah: No. 30 Air For Tenor
Messiah: No. 31 Recitative For Tenor
Messiah: No. 32 Air For Tenor
Messiah: No. 33 Chorus
Messiah: No. 34 Recitative For Tenor
Messiah: No. 35 Chorus
Messiah: No. 36 Air For Alto
Messiah: No. 37 Chorus
Messiah: No. 38 Aria For Soprano
Messiah: No. 39 Chorus
Messiah: No. 40 Air For Bass
Messiah: No. 41 Chorus
Messiah: No. 42 Recitative For Tenor
Messiah: No. 43 Air For Tenor
Messiah: No. 44 Chorus
Messiah: No. 45 Air For Soprano
Messiah: No. 46 Chorus
Messiah: No. 47 Recitative For Bass
Messiah: No. 48 Air For Bass
Messiah: No. 49 Recitative For Alto
Messiah: No. 50 Duet For Alto And Tenor
Messiah: No. 51 Chorus
Messiah: No. 52 Air For Soprano
Messiah: No. 53 Chorus
Messiah: Amen

Customer Reviews:

Finally a Messiah with fervor!.......2005-10-20

I've hunted a thrilling performance of The Messiah through 240 versions so far. This is the best I've found. Some are self-conscious, dutifully singing as instructed. Some are almost childish in their lilt. Some are overblown with so much bombast that you can barely hear the heart of the music. Some are concentrated on faithfulness to the original instruments. If you want a performance that will make you shiver with the power and joy of the music, this is the one. The singers are singing about GLORY. They sound as if they are ecstatic. The musicians are at one with the music and they create a virtual cathedral wherever this CD is played, just close your eyes. Or, let your own imagery, be it celestial, or of great oceans...carry you away.

Great recording!.......2003-09-22

There are so many performances of the Messiah out there that it is very difficult to point to a difinative one, but I'd put this in the catagory of the "very good" ones. As other reviewers have said, every performance is different and has its own character. Each has stronger and weaker points. Here the conductor and musicians have made good, solid musical choices. There is an amazing attention to detail which is not so obvious the first listen through but which makes the piece shine. The tempos seem to be right on, and there is no frivolous over-embellishment by the soloists. There is no attempt to be showey. The dramatic dynamics in the first section of the overture are interesting, but seem to work after you hear it a few times. This performance also includes sections which are often omitted (Second half of "He shall feed his flock," "Thou art gone up on high," "Great was the company of the preachers," and "Death where is thy sting"). I prefer the more intimate quality of a small ensemble of musicians to the mega-performances by the London Philharmonic, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, etc.. As with this performance, the smaller group lends a clarity to the music, where the larger ensembles can get a little "muddy" at times. Just my personal preference. Overall, this is a very good performance, and certainly the low price (being on the Naxos lable) makes this a clear choice.

Good and Bad.......2000-04-09

I was more interested in "The Messiah" for the religious content than as a music critic, but this was too much. The strings are tinny. The orchestra is plodding. The soloists and choir are thankfully very good and seem to understand the meaning of the words. It is a shame the sound mix is uneven. The male parts come across loud and clear, but the poor women. For instance, No. 9 Oh thou that tellest..., the soloist sounded like she was singing in an echo chamber far from the mike. This is one of the most disappointing versions of "The Messiah" I have heard in a long time.

This is a great recording!.......2000-02-11

I was really surprised with the new that the Messiah's New World premiere was held at Trinity Church in October 1770, twenty-eight years after it was written. This fact only will make one proud in having this CD among his collection.

Anyhow, this is nothing more than a historic detail and would not count if this recording had not an outstanding first-rate ensemble of singers. Without doubt there is no definitive version of Messiah. Each one has its own distinctive touch and feeling and exploring it is always a pleasant journey through imagination.

As stated by the conductor: "we must concede that performing Messiah with twenty singers and an appropriately balanced instrumental ensemble represents, at best, an imperfect comprimise", it will be easy to understand that this recording does not stand among the greatest and will probably carry some imperfections. I will mention two that kind of disppointed me a little bit. The Overture and the Chorus Worthy is the Lamb, for some reason misses the habitual vigor and strenght. Everything else is great and this is definitely a worth buying.

Light of Day, Day of Darkness
Average customer rating:

Music by the Gods

Light of Day, Day of Darkness
Green Carnation
Manufacturer: Prophecy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Goth | Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000I5YR42
Release Date: 2006-11-20

Tracks:

Light of Day, Day of Darkness

Customer Reviews:

Music by the Gods.......2006-12-23

This is the CD I would take on a long trip if I was limited to one item. It is a fabulous kaleidoscope of sounds that captivate your senses through this marathon, one hour(YES 60 MINUTES)song/album. The Gods surely whispered in Tchort's ear(the band leader and composer)while he wrote this masterpiece, for it smacks of divine intervention. What is amazing is the fact that it manages to hold your interest (it really absorbs you) and keep you coming back for more. In fact when I first listened to it I was in my car and it mesmerized me. I wouldn't stop driving because I didn't want to stop the music. I keep driving for an hour even though I only went to the post office 2 miles away.

Light of Day, Day of Darkness
Now what about the music? It is impossible to describe this music but I will try. A soft synth starts out this masterpiece which is soon joined by a subtle tea kettle whistle and some light guitar and drum work at the two minute mark. A childs voice can be heard in the background as the vocalist starts his agonized, melancholy singing about the 2:40 mark. This continues for about a minute and then after a heavy metal interlude is joined by a choir, then after another minute a very crunchy guitar comes in with the singer until the 6:30 mark, whereupon we slow down again and get reflective for about two minutes when the guitars and choirs very heavily chime in. At about 10:50, as good as the music is so far, Green Carnation is just getting warmed up, the music gets even better and we've barely gotten started.

I haven't mentioned the symphonic orchestra yet but their presence, mostly in the background, is invaluable. At the eleven minute mark the guitars, choirs and orchestra come together for a half minute leading to a drum and guitar interlude. Violins join in and take over at 12:40 and then the singer comes in joined by the crunchy guitars, singing "I think therefore I am, You are a fantasy made by me, I dream this world, When I end, the world will end with me, I am everything you are".

We are now at the 18 minute mark, at a slow heavy guitar part where the male choir sings for about two minutes and then solo for another minute culminating at one of my favorite parts. At twenty-two minutes and counting Green Carnation puts on their Pink Floyd hats for about five minutes and then becomes Green Carnation again until halftime(about 32 minutes).

At the 32 minute mark, a seemingly unrelated five minute section with a solo saxophone and lady singer makes it's appearance. I love lady singers but not this one and I find this section jarring and distracting in a most flawless performance otherwise.

At the 38 minute mark we return to the dark brooding passages that we experienced at the 18 minute mark, then a nice keyboard section that sounds slightly Pink Floydish again. This section also contains a great whining guitar solo. Now at 44 minutes(only three quarters of the way through), the music gets reflective again via our great singer and a plunking guitar changing to an organ at 46:30, then the pace picks up with the crunchy guitar a minute later.

At the 50 minute mark, the singer and both choirs join the crunchy guitar with a little up tempo section which leads us back to our half time singer and the full orchestra doing they're exceptional imitation of 'Salome' sitar and all. Back to the familiar G.C. sound and beat at 53:30 for a couple a minutes, then slow acoustic guitar and violins, leading to an ethereal sound and a baby talking. Then the Grand Finale and it is wonderful. If you think this sounds like a symphony or an opera, IT IS!!

Average customer rating:

Classical Christmas

Manufacturer: Laserlight
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
ASIN: B0000DELAH
Release Date: 2001-01-01

Tracks:

O Come All Ye Faithful - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
O Little Town of Bethlehem - Andrea Vigh
Joy to the World - Janos Balint, Deborah Sipkai
Carol of the Birds - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Angels We Have Heard on High - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
O Holy Night
O Tannenbaum
First Nowell
Lippai/Upon the Mountain
Jingle Bells - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Silent Night - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Tracks:

Symphony (Grave - Allegro Moderato)
Accompagnato: Comfort Ye My People - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Aria: Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
Chorus: And the Glory of the Lord Shall Be Revealed - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Accompagnato: Thus Saith the Lord of Hosts
Aria: But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming - Andrea Vigh
Chorus: And He Shall Purify - Janos Balint, Deborah Sipkai
Recitative: Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive - Janos Balint, Deborah Sipkai
Aria: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings - Andrea Vigh
Chorus: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings - Andrea Vigh
Accompagnato: For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Aria: The People That Walked in Darkness - Janos Balint, Deborah Sipkai
Chorus: For Unto Us a Child Is Born - Marion Hofmann
Pifa (Pastoral Symphony) - Marion Hofmann
Recitative: There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Fields - Andrea Vigh
Chorus: Glory to God in the Highest - Janos Balint, Deborah Sipkai
Aria: Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion - Andrea Vigh
Recitative: Then Shall the Eyes of the Blind - Andrea Vigh
Aria: He Shall Fed His Flock - Janos Balint, Deborah Sipkai
Chorus: His Yoke Is Easy, His Burden Is Light - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Chorus: Hallelujah! - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Tracks:

Prelude in C - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Largo - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Pastorale (Andantino Dolce E Scorrevole) - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Largo (From Concerto BWV 1056) - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Andantino Espressivo (From Sonata in C Minor) - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Prelude in C Minor - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Adagio in B Major - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Passacaglia in G Minor - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Tic-Toc Choc in F Major - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Nocturne in E Flat Major - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Dream - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Variations in E Flat Major - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Apres un R - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Impromptu in D Flat Major - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Clair de Lune - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's

Tracks:

Dominus Dixet Dominus - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Christus Natus - Benedictine Monks of St. Michael's
Christie Redemptor
Angelus Ad Pastores
Organ Voluntary: So That We'll Remember - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Allelilia Dies Sanctificatus
Ave Regina
Ave Maria Stella
Dominus Jesu Christie
Organ Voluntary & Chorale: Variations on a Theme, IV
In Paradisum Angeli
Alleluia
Kyrie
Office de Noel
Organ Voluntary: So That We'll Remember Reprise - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Salve/Gloria - Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Alleluia Domino Benedicamos
Ave Maria
Church Windows

Tracks:

Chorale Prelude "In Dulci Jubilo"
Fantasy on Two Well-Known Christmas Carols: The First Nowell/Good King
Christmas Pastorale: Hodie Christus Natus Est/Corde Natus/Adeste ...
Angels We Have Heard on High
Quem Vidistis, Pastores
Away in a Manger
Fantasia on Old Christmas Carols: What Child Is This?/The Man ...
Silent Night
Chorus of Shepherds
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Venite in Bethlehem
Adeste Fideles

Average customer rating:

Bland, bland, bland...
Delightful
Cheap for a reason

Messiah Highlights

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Opera & Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

Under $7 | Today's Deals | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music

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

4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000001V6E
Release Date: 1994-05-03

Tracks:

Messiah: Part 1: Symphony (Grave - Allegro moderato)
Messiah: Accompagnato: Comfort ye My People
Messiah: Aria: Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
Messiah: Chorus: And The Glory Of The Lord Shall Be revealed
Messiah: Accompagnato: Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts
Messiah: Aria: But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming
Messiah: Chorus: And He Shall Purify
Messiah: Recitative: Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive
Messiah: Aria: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings
Messiah: Chorus: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings
Messiah: Accompagnato: For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover
Messiah: Aria: The People That Walked In Darkness
Messiah: Chorus: For Unto Us A Child Is Born
Messiah: Pifa: Pastoral Symphony
Messiah: Recitative: There Were Shepherds Abiding In The Fields
Messiah: Chorus: Glory To God In The Highest
Messiah: Aria: Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion
Messiah: Recitative: Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind
Messiah: Aria: He Shall Feed His Flock
Messiah: Chorus: His Yoke Is Easy, His Burden Is Light
Messiah: Part 2: Chorus: Hallelujah!

Customer Reviews:

Bland, bland, bland..........2005-03-30

Trust the MUSICIAN'S comments below...he knows what he's talking about. This is just a lackluster and unmusical performance that is not worth your time. Find another recording. Almost ANY other recording would be preferable!

Delightful.......2002-12-21

I've been a fan of Handel's Messiah for years, and I've listened to many, many collections. This one is my favorite. I like this one because in most other performances, the conductor is trying to put some "twist" on the performance, or to somehow make it "new" and "different." This collection does not do that. The insrumentals and vocals are very moving and draw the listener in, and the music does not have any modernistic reinterpretations or by this or that big name conductor. With respect to another reviewer (who did not enjoy the performance of the instument he himself plays), I find this collection to be very well balanced and skillfully performed. Of the many versions of the Messiah that I own, this one alone is worn out and needs replacing. ('Nuf said.)

Cheap for a reason.......2001-10-20

I purchased this CD wanting something inexpensive to practice the bass solos with and because it was available locally. Big mistake. The Bass soloist is horrid--extremely wide vibrato that obscures the melismatic passsages. None of the soloists are exceptional, the soprano being the best. Wish I had listened to the samples here first.

Average customer rating:

A FANTASTIC RECORDING
Fantastic Avant Garde!

Rorem: Organ Works

Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000006WZ
Release Date: 1992-12-11

Tracks:

A Quaker Reader: First-Day Thoughts
A Quaker Reader: Mary Dyer Did Hand As A Flag...
A Quaker Reader: Evidence Of Things Not Seen
A Quaker Reader: There Is A Spirit That Delights To Do No Evil
A Quaker Reader: The World Of Silence
A Quaker Reader: Bewitching Attire Of The Most Charming Simplicity...
A Quaker Reader: A Secret Power
A Quaker Reader: No Darkness At All...
A Quaker Reader: One Sigh Rightly Begotten
A Quaker Reader: Return Home To Within
A Quaker Reader: Ocean Of Light
Views From The Oldest House: Sunrise On Sunset Hill
Views From The Oldest House: Elms
Views From The Oldest House: The Nest In Old North Church
Views From The Oldest House: Spires
Views From The Oldest House: Rain Over The Quaker Graveyard
Views From The Oldest House: Sunday Night

Customer Reviews:

A FANTASTIC RECORDING.......2005-07-02

Top notch music played impeccably by one of the 20th century's greatest organists. Highly recommended to add to your Rorem collection, or as an introduction.

I would have to disagree with another reviewer who finds "Views from the Oldest House" inferior. It's just different. Unless slightly more accessible is inferior.

I would have to agree that the organ isn't all that satisfying. It's rather brittle to the point of not musical, in addition to what the other reviewer said. However, it certainly has clarity, if you want to study the score, and certainly Crozier does a good job overcoming the instrument's restraints.

I also would give the recording five stars, except for the organ. Five stars for the performance, though!

Fantastic Avant Garde!.......2004-03-08

This CD is such a delight!

Ned Rorem is one of America's foremost contemporary classical composers. This compact disc displays his most spiritual and mystical work: "A Quaker Reader," wich teaches us great lessons in the Anglo-American spirituality of the Quakers. The music though is not in Quaker style. It's in Ned Rorem style, that is to say a great and ellaborate world of sounds, simplistic as well as highly complex. Titles such as: "A Secret Power" and "Mary Dyer did hang as a flag" reveal to us that Rorem had something diffrent to tell than most other composers.
The latter is a very strange piece of music wich tells the story of a Quaker who is hung on the gallows. The tundering reverbs in the pedals illustrate the spastic shaking of the feet of Mary Dyer (what an idea!).

The second work that can be heard is "Views from the Eldest house". Though somewhat inferior in comparison to "A Quaker Reader", it are some nice paintings of the setting of the rural American country life.

Catherine Crozier has a great and almost perfect way of performing. Every note is hit with an exact ammount of precision. Although Crozier has long passed her seventies, she plays like a bazooka! There's not a passage that's to agressive for her, nor a passage where she laks in overall balance.

It would have rated this CD with 5 stars if it weren't for the lousy organ itself. The music gets much to flat, crushing the entire imagination of the listener. Sounds drown in themselves and other chords, chamades are to much on the foreground and don't even get me started about the Pedal-organ! it is way to soft to compete with the music on the manuals (no 32's!).