Concert for New York (Multi/Stereo) [Live] [SACD]

Concert for New York (Multi/Stereo) [Live] [SACD]

Track Listings
Disc: 1

1. America - David Bowie

2. Heroes - David Bowie

3. Livin' on a Prayer - Bon Jovi

4. Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi

5. It's My Life - Bon Jovi

6. Izzo (H.O.V.A.) - Jay-Z

7. American Girl - Goo Goo Dolls

8. Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway) - Billy Joel

9. New York State of Mind - Billy Joel

10. Emotion - Destiny's Child

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Mike Moran FDNY [Spoken Word] - Mike Moran

2. Who Are You - The Who

3. Baba O'Riley - The Who

4. Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who

5. Come to My Window [Live] - Melissa Etheridge

6. Born to Run - Melissa Etheridge

7. Fire and Rain - James Taylor

8. Up on the Roof - James Taylor

9. Peaceful World - John Mellencamp

10. Pink Houses - Kid Rock, John Mellencamp

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Tracks:

Appalachian Spring: Very Slowly
Appalachian Spring: Allegro
Appalachian Spring: Moderato
Appalachian Spring: Fast
Appalachian Spring: Subito Allegro
Appalachian Spring: As At First (Slowly)
Appalachian Spring: Doppio movimento
Appalachian Spring: Moderato - Coda
Rodeo: Buckaroo Holiday - Allegro con spirito
Rodeo: Corral Nocturne - Moderato
Rodeo: aturday Night Waltz - Introduction - Slow Waltz
Rodeo: Hoe-Down - Allegro
Billy The Kid: Introduction. The Open Prairie
Billy The Kid: Street In A Frontier Town
Billy The Kid: Mexican Dance And Finale
Billy The Kid: Prairie Night (Card Game At Night)
Billy The Kid: Gun Battle
Billy The Kid: Celbration (After Billy's Capture)
Billy The Kid: Billy's Death
Billy The Kid: The Open Prairie Again
Fanfare for the Common Man: Molto deliberato

Amazon.com essential recording

Happy is the composer who has an advocate as passionate and talented as Leonard Bernstein. These Copland performances have been the preferred versions since they were first issued--better even than the composer's own, later recordings. Originally they were spread over two discs, but thanks to the extended playing time of the compact disc, you can now get all three great Copland ballets together, along with the ever popular Fanfare for the Common Man. Bernstein brings to this music the right sharpness of rhythm but also a typically open-hearted warmth. He coaxes a virtuoso response from the New York Philharmonic, which knows this music as well (or better) than anyone. Self- recommending. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

What more could one ask for?.......2007-06-27

Aaron Copland's masterful works are here interpreted by Bernstein. Nothing says the American sound like Copland, and there is no better interpreter than Bernstein. This recording is one of the best in my collection. I would recommend this to anyone (even non-classical music fans).

Definitive Is Right.......2007-02-27

I have the SACD version of these recordings (except for the "Fanfare" which, in this case, is the version taken from Bernstein's recording of Copland's Third Symphony) and I must agree with others here that the performances are definitive. The "Rodeo" has more energy than any other recording I know of, in fact it can almost go over the top! "Billy the Kid" is quiet and tender, dramatic and bold and "Appalachian Spring" is dead-on. The last section of this ballet is one of my very favorite pieces of music and Bernstein's tempo and phrasing here could well be called perfect.

Definitive Recordings of Copland's Popular Ballet Scores From Bernstein, NYPO.......2007-02-11

Without question, this splendid CD is my favorite recording of some of Aaron Copland's most popular orchestral ballet scores. In Leonard Bernstein he had both a good friend and a devout ally, who successfully championed Copland's music, helping to ensure his reputation as one of the greatest - if not the greatest - 20th Century American composer. Sony has done a superb job in digitally remastering this recording, offering some of the best sound I've heard from a vintage Leonard Bernstein/New York Philharmonic recording. But more importantly than the recording's superb sonic quality is the quality of these performances of Copland's scores. Bernstein leads in New York Philharmonic in these virtuoso performances, replete with lush, vibrant playing from the winds, horns and strings. His warm, truly heart-felt interpretation of "Applachian Spring" is truly mesmerizing, and the best I have heard from a recording. And yet, I am am just as impressed with his conducting of both "Rodeo" and "Billy the Kid"; the latter replete with superb solos from the orchestra's timpanist. An elegant performance of "Fanfare for the Common Man" closes out this CD recording. Fans of Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra shouldn't hesitate in acquiring this superb CD.

American Music at its Highest .......2007-02-04

If I was forced to recommend one CD of American music, I would feel very safe in backing this one. These interpretations have yet to be surpassed, and not even Copland himself could muster the same type of perfection that Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic did in this recording. Bernstein's way with Rodeo is unbelievable, and this alone is worth the price of the disc. The music on this recording has a lot to do with why, as Americans, we can all be proud of our place in the history of western music.

With 39 reviews under me, I will dispense with the adjectives to try and describe each interpretation of each piece on this disc, and simply say that these performances have been recommended by almost everyone (professional critics included of course) since they appeared; get it and find out why.

The best of Copland.......2007-01-09

For the Aaron Copland fan, this CD has the essentials: the most popular and easy listening of the Copland body of creations. Enjoy!

Copland: Appalachian Spring/Fanfare For The Common Man/El Salón México/Danzón Cubano

Average customer rating:

Universal music
Long-Time Favorite
Best Copland Album I've Ever Listened To
Test of Time--Passed with honors!
the PERFECT Bernstein recording

Copland: Appalachian Spring/Fanfare For The Common Man/El Salón México/Danzón Cubano

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue/An American In Paris
Copland: Rodeo/Billy The Kid
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on Bald Mountain
Aaron Copland: Billy the Kid and Rodeo Suite; Ferde Grofé:Grand Canyon Suite
Barber's Adagio

ASIN: B0000025MO
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Appalachian Spring: Very Slowly
Appalachian Spring: Allegro
Appalachian Spring: Moderato
Appalachian Spring: Fast
Appalachian Spring: Subito allegro
Appalachian Spring: As At First (Slowly)
Appalachian Spring: Doppio movimento (Shaker Melody 'The Gift To Be Simple')
Fanfare For The Common Man
El Salon Mexico
Danzon Cubano

Amazon.com

If Copland's own recordings of his music have the warmth of a soft summer night, those by Leonard Bernstein convey the blazing heat of noon. In his later remakes of several of these scores for Deutsche Grammophon, Bernstein exhibited a tendency toward overly-nuanced readings. But his earlier accounts with the New York Philharmonic, recorded by CBS in the late 1950s and early 1960s, are still incomparable in their vitality and impetus. Bernstein's way with the Western ballets is exuberantly personal and persuasive. He has the ability to move between delicacy and brashness, always getting the gestures right, and he delivers magical characterizations of both scores. The Phiharmonic's playing, while sometimes a bit raw, is confident and rhythmically secure; there is certainly nothing to apologize for here. There is a wonderful sense of immediacy to Bernstein's account of the Appalachian Spring Suite, in which the New Yorkers give a virtuosic account of themselves, playing in a rhythmically incisive fashion that puts Copland's account with the London Symphony in the shadows. The couplings are a mixed bag, however. Bernstein always had the measure of El Salon Mexico, and gives a rousing account of it here. But the so-called Fanfare for the Common Man is lifted from his recording of the Third Symphony; its beginning is not the same as that of the real fanfare. Both recordings have been wonderfully remastered by their original producer, John McClure, and have excellent presence and a palpable sense of atmosphere in the quiet pages. --Ted Libbey

Amazon.com

Leonard Bernstein was a friend of Aaron Copland's, and he approaches this music with rare flair and verve--as well as with sympathy and warmth--and, we can assume, with a good idea of the composer's intentions regarding it. This is a classic album, containing several of the works in the essential Copland oeuvre; the sound is not as good as you'll find in a more contemporary recording, but for most listeners the spirit will make up for that. --Sarah Bryan Miller

Customer Reviews:

Universal music.......2006-07-14

This recording, aside of bringing back great memories of a live performance of Mr. Bernstein more than 25 years ago directing Mexico State Philarmonic Orchestra playing Salon Mexico, is of grand quality and Aaron Coplands music selection is escellent as is performed and recorded. My mom (77) and my daughter (8) enjoy it just the same.

Long-Time Favorite.......2005-03-16

When I was in the fifth grade, there was a district-wide competition called music memory, and one of the pieces I had to memorize for the competition was the last movement of Appalachian Spring. And I fell in love with that song. I went and bought the cassette of Appalachian Spring with Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic, and I listened to it almost every night before going to sleep. I even remember that one night I was listening to that final movement through my walkman as I was laying in bed. Evidently, I was humming along without realizing it, and I woke my parents, who slept downstairs and across the house, with my humming. Anyway, that's how good this recording is. And I'm still amazed at what great taste I had at that age. Now, eleven years later, I have upgraded to a CD, but I still listen to Copeland's masterpiece just about as much. I've heard a lot of great music in those intervening years, but I've still never heard anything quite this perfect. I doubt I ever do.

Best Copland Album I've Ever Listened To.......2004-05-15

I love Appalachian Spring Suite! When I went out to buy the music CD, I got This one because of the cool newspaper cover and it turned out to be the best one out there. I've listened to other recordings of Appalachian Spring performed by other orchestras, they just aren't as good. This is the absolute best one. Not only is this one of my favorite classical albums of all time, it's one of my favorite albums period. Every single track on this CD is money.

Test of Time--Passed with honors!.......2003-07-21

I have been a fan of Aaron Copland's from an early age--in fact, so early that I can hardly remember not knowing "Fanfare for the Common Man". As I became older, my appreciation grew and deepened. I still remember my first exposure to the "Gift to Be Simple" section of Appalachian Spring...it was in history class, played as part of a presentation. I can't even remember the subject of the presentation anymore--all I remember is that at that wild, joyous crescendo, I was not in the room. I was somewhere far away, flying. That is the power in a piece like this, and the standard to which I hold any musical recording.

When I began seeking a full version of Appalachian Spring for my own collection, I had the good fortune to get a "recommendation" of sorts for the definitive recording: Richard Wright, keyboardist of Pink Floyd, has more of a Copland influence than you might suspect. When I read his article in Record Collector Magazine, the particular rendition he recommended was this one--the 1962 recording for CBS, of which he seemed to have the original LP. Imagine my surprise and delight to find that it was still in print and easy to find in stores!

"Aaron Copland's an American classical composer," summarizes Mr. Wright, "and [Appalachian Spring] is his most famous work...Like all of my favourite music there's something in his material that touches me; I think it's the chordal progression and the melodic lines just above them that do it for me here - and the fact that it's very peaceful. When I listen to a lot of the stuff that I've played over the years I feel I've been heavily influenced by Copland, albeit subconsciously." (Note to Pink Floyd fans: Comparing the basic approach in "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and Copland's "Quiet City" may prove interesting.)

I am in full agreement here...it is absolutely striking what Copland was capable of creating. In his hands, simple, traditional harmonies were transformed into breathtakingly original works that reflect the best of the American spirit...innovative, beautiful, optimistic, and slightly wild. It never ceases to amaze me how he could weave such a beautiful musical texture with so few notes at times--it is indeed a gift to be simple. But Copland's work is not boring by any means--he also knows the place for grand, sweeping statements and shockingly unique, beautiful chord changes that occur seemingly out of nowhere.

As soon as I heard this disc, in comparison to other recordings I'd sampled, it was immediately obvious why this one survived the test of time, why it was still so vivid in the mind of Richard Wright. Copland and Bernstein seem always to be a good match for each other, but there was something very special going on the night this was recorded. Even if you own other renditions of "Appalachian Spring", even if you are interested in no other composition on this disc, this is an absolute must-have.

As for the other pieces, recorded in the early 60s as well, there's a similar magic--even though the "Fanfare" version is radically different, it's a real ear-opener. The pitch changes are done with a shocking fluidity, but it brings new interest to the piece. It is no replacement for the original; it's probably best to treat it as a different song. "Salon Mexicano" and "Danzón Cubano" are also excellently rendered and timeless.

All in all, this is a fantastic album--a must for any classical collection.

the PERFECT Bernstein recording.......2002-12-16

I have heard A LOT and i mean A LOT of Bernstein recordings...and...as far as post-Beethoven works go...this is it...this may only be comparable to his multiple Beethoven 5th Symphonies...
If you own ANYTHING with Leonard Bernstein's name on it...one should say "Beethoven's Fifth Symphony" on it...and the other should be this disc.

Average customer rating:

the most sensetive music ever
Cool Camille
Astounding!!!
Great Selections, So-So Collection
Classical is the best

Saint-Saëns: Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Rimsky-Korsakov: Greatest Hits
Debussy's Greatest Hits
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Greatest Hits
Grieg: Greatest Hits
Ravel: Greatest Hits

ASIN: B000002C61
Release Date: 1995-11-14

Tracks:

Samson et Dalila: Bacchanale
Carnival Of The Animals (Chamber Version): No. 13. The Swan
Carnival Of The Animals (Chamber Version): No. 14: Finale
Dance Macabre, Op.40
Suite algerienne, Op. 60: Marche militaire francaise
Introduction and Rondo capriccioso, Op.28
Samson et Dalila: 'Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix'
Concert Piece For Horn & Orchestra, Op.94
Romance, Op.37
Piano Concerto No.2 In G Minor, Op.22: III. Presto
Symphony No.3 In C Minor, Op.78 'Organ': II. Allegro moderato - Presto - Maestoso - Allegro

Customer Reviews:

the most sensetive music ever.......2005-10-26

This music take me away from every day troubles and brings my soul to a beutiful world of music.Saint-Saent's vision of music is different, his creations are sensitive and intence. He is agreat talent.

Cool Camille.......2003-03-06

I think that the sound of Saint Saens Music is very unique. I think that anyone out there wanting to listen to some excellent writing I assure you that Saint Saens has written it. On behalf of Amazon I would definitely rate this music 5 stars. I thank Amazon for a perfect portrayal of his works. You shoppers out there might want to take a look at buying this.

RIGHT AWAY!!!
-Nick

Astounding!!!.......2000-10-06

I have come accross very few CD's that have 74 minutes of music that I enjoy. This CD is one of those. Mason Jones does a great job on Morceau, everyone likes danse bachannalle, the piano concerto is great, it's just a really enjoyable CD to own. I recommend it highly, it's one of my favorites.

Great Selections, So-So Collection.......2000-06-23

As all good elementary school music teachers know, Saint-Saëns could evoke emotions from a rock. I don't know if it's his masterful command (or creation) of the idioms of music, or whether it's the formal structure of his compositions, but there's never any confusion about how one feels when listening to this Apollo.

This Sony recording supposedly collects his best. It does and it doesn't. The "Danse Macabre"--a perennial Saint Saëns fave--is definitely better than any others on the market--crisper, livelier, and ... er... creepier. And the Bacchanale is also superbly done. (Don't take my word for it though--you can compare these yourself from the various samples.) But as great as these individual pieces are, Sony failed to bring to the "Swan" the rest of the zoo from "Carnivale des Animaux," and, worse, they forgot the "Aquarium," too! Plus, the "Organ Symphony" *must* be heard in its entirety to sound like the serious piece of music that it is.

I haven't found the noumenal Saint-Saëns collection yet. But this one surely isn't phenomenal.

Classical is the best.......2000-06-22

It's composition very good. Thanks Sony for this great album.

Average customer rating:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!
Beginner or Expert
Very Informative and Enjoyable
Frank's view
Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra

Instruments of the Orchestra
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Op34; Simple Symphony Op4
The Mahler Symphonies: An Owner's Manual (includes 1 CD)
The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (Book & CD)
What to Listen for in Music
Study of Orchestration, Third Edition

ASIN: B00006O0NT
Release Date: 2002-12-03

Tracks:

Overture To 'Tannhauser'
Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
Hungarian Dance No.7
The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
Csardas Music
The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
Tzigane
Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
Caprice No.24
The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
The Violin Muted
Clair De Lune
The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
The Pizzicato Violin
Pizzicato Polka
In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
Hungarian Dance No.4
Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
Bolero
Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
Elfenreigen

Tracks:

Introduction To The Viola
Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
Cypresses (No.9)
The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
The 'Period' Viola In Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
Elfentanz, Op.39
Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
The Protecting Veil (Opening)
A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
Flamenco
Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
Symphony No.9 (Finale)
Introduction To The Double-Bass
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
Elegy No.1 In D Major
The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
Capriccio Di Bravura
Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
Sa'Dawi
Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
Chamber Music No.II
The Piccolo - Aptly Named
La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
A Variety Of Techniques
Chamber Music No.II
Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
Naelden, Naelden
The Bachian Oboe
Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
The Swan Of Tuonela
The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
Bolero
The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
...And Quite Low.
Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
Introduction To The Saxophone
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
Bolero
The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
Sax-O-Phun
The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
Bolero
The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
Symphony No.3 (Opening)
The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
The Ceremonial Trumpet
Fanfare For The Common Man
Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
Billy The Kid
The Trumpet As Character Actor
Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
The Birth Of The Trombone
Aenmerckt Nu Hier
The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
Canzon 12 In Double Echo
The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
Hosannah
The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
The Trombone As Caricaturist
Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
The Horn And The Hunt
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
Walter Music (Minuet 1)
The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
Den Hoboecken Dans
Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
Gymnopedie No.2
The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
The Birth Of The Bongo
Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
Taking Advantage Of Tunability
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
Ravel And The Xylophone
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
Introducing The Vibraphone
The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
Folk Dances
The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
Introducing The Tubular Bells
Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
Carmen Suite (Introduction)
But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Introducing The Celeste
The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
Petrushka (Russian Dance)
The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
Mahler's Sleighbells
Symphony No.4 (Opening)
A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Nocturnes
Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
The Oboe As Duck
Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
A Thunderstorm In A Million
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
Octet In F (Mvt 3)
The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
Canzon 28
Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
Images (Gigues)
A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

Tracks:

America - David Bowie
Heroes - David Bowie
Livin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
Wanted Dead Or Alive - Bon Jovi
It's My Life - Bon Jovi
Izzo (H.O.V.A.) - Jay Z
American Girl - The Goo Goo Dolls
Miami 2017 - Billy Joel
New York State Of Mind - Billy Joel
Emotion - Destiny's Child
Gospel Medley - Destiny's Child
I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man - Eric Clapton
Operaman - Adam Sandler
Quit Playing Games With My Heart - Backstreet Boys
Miss You - Mick Jagger featuring Keith Richards
Salt Of The Earth - Mick Jagger featuring Keith Richards

Tracks:

FDNY - Mike Moran
Who Are You - The Who
Baba O'Riley - The Who
Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
Come To My Window - Melissa Etheridge
Born To Run - Melissa Etheridge
Fire and Rain - James Taylor
Up On The Roof - James Taylor
Peaceful World - John Mellencamp
Pink Houses - John Mellencamp (featuring Kid Rock)
Superman (It's Not Easy) - Five For Fighting
Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters - Elton John
I'm Down - Paul McCartney
Yesterday - Paul McCartney
Let It Be - Paul McCartney
Freedom (reprise) - Paul McCartney

Amazon.com

Less than six weeks after the attack on the World Trade Center, pop, rock, and R&B luminaries gathered at Madison Square Garden to pay tribute to the firefighters, police officers, and rescue workers who stepped to the fore following the catastrophe. The benefit, captured on this two-disc set, consequently has an immediacy and urgency rare among star-studded extravaganzas; the ruins of the twin towers, as well as the passions of the performers and audience, were still smoldering. With Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and David Bowie digging deep into their oeuvres to resurrect songs appropriate for the occasion (the likes of "Let It Be," "Salt of the Earth," and "Heroes" are truly stirring), and the Who delivering a stunningly urgent three-song set, rock's senior statesmen lead the way. Contributions from Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Destiny's Child, and others flesh out a collection that is never less than inspirational and is frequently inspired. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

9/11 Got Me Down, The Concert for NYC Made Me Up.......2005-11-01

September 11, 2001 was a devastating day for the US. But thanks to Paul McCartney, we were soon lifted up. The Concert for New York City gathered 9/11 victims, fand and an all-star musical line-up to raise money for the victims. Among those performing were Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, The Who, David Bowie, Elton John and James Taylor. These artists played very good sets, but it should have stopped there. Jay-Z should not have been invited, nor should Eric Clapton have. It is these mediocre performances that bring down my rating. But on the whole this is a very good and very helpful concert. And the proceeds go to help the victims. So it is a worthy buy.

"Too Cool".......2002-09-27

This one is a keeper with songs like, America by David Bowie, Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi, Izzo (H.O.V.A.) by Zayz, Miami 2017 by Billy Joel, Who Are You by The Who, and Freedom (reprise) by Paul McCartney. This one doesn't seem to leave anyone out.

Could've Been Great, Upflifting, and Amusing.......2002-09-16

This set of songs performed by various musicians in support of some of the heroes of the 9-11 terrorist attacks falls a tad short of being terrific.

First the good: Paul McCartney's set was unbelievably patriotic, emotional, and energy-charged. The version of "Let It Be" with Eric Clapton on guitar was definitely the musical highlight of the night (the real highlight was Hilly Clinton getting overwhelmingly and deservedly booed followed closely by the booing of Ricky Gere). The sets by the Who and Bon Jovi were also highlights as was the duo version of "Your Song" by Elton John and Billy Joel (curiously and annoyingly left off this cd release).

And that brings me to the primary complaint (and the reason for the three star rating): Too much good stuff left off and too much horrible stuff kept. Example: The booing of Hilly and Ricky. Should have been left on. The John/Joel duo. Should've been left on. The "performances" by the following "artists" should've been left off: Jay-Z, Destiny's LooooveChild, Adam Sandler, and the Backdoor Boys. Basically, disc one could be skipped altogether and replaced with the repeated booings of Hilly and Gerbil.

Overall, disc two is an emotional keeper and almost makes up for the horrible stuff on disc one. My advice: Buy the set and use disc one as a coaster, frisbee, or smash it up and mail it to someone special.

Fantastic........2002-09-09

This concert was truly amazing.. The All-Star lineup of bands {minus Jay-Z and the Backstreet Boys..That was terrible} and actors was fantastic. Probably one of my favorite CDs. I recommend this CD to absolutely everyone..

Why was the Hillary Clinton booing censored?.......2002-03-30

What a shame that VH1 saw fit to digitally remove the loud and lengthy booing Hillary Clinton received from the firemen and policemen. She is not one of us and never will be. She vilified NYC cops throughout her campaign and is universally despised by them. This lie will forever taint my recollections of an otherwise awesome concert.

Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring; The Firebird Suite (1919)

Average customer rating:

Three Le Sacres from Bernstein
WOW.
Commonplace "Rite"... and a TERRIFIC "Firebird"

Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring; The Firebird Suite (1919)

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on Bald Mountain
Bernstein Century - Copland: Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, etc / Bernstein, New York PO
The Rite of Spring in Full Score
Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 9
Bernstein: Candide; West Side Story; On the Waterfront; Fancy Free

ASIN: B0001ENYLM
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Tracks:

Introduction. Lento - London Symphony Orchestra
The Spring Divinations - Dances Of The Young Girls - London Symphony Orchestra
Mock Abduction - London Symphony Orchestra
Spring Round Dances - London Symphony Orchestra
Games Of The Rival Tribes - London Symphony Orchestra
Procession Of The Wise Elder - London Symphony Orchestra
Dance Of The Earth - London Symphony Orchestra
Introduction. Largo - London Symphony Orchestra
Mystical Circles Of The Young Girls - London Symphony Orchestra
Glorification Of The Chosen Victim - London Symphony Orchestra
Summoning Of The Ancestors - London Symphony Orchestra
Ritual Of The Ancestors - London Symphony Orchestra
Sacrificial Dance (The Chosen Victim) - London Symphony Orchestra
Introduction - Leonard Bernstein
The Firebird And Its Dance - Leonard Bernstein
Variation Of The Firebird - Leonard Bernstein
The Princesses' Round - Leonard Bernstein
Infernal Dance Of King Kashchei - Leonard Bernstein
Lullaby - Leonard Bernstein
Finale - Leonard Bernstein
I. Adoration Of Veles And Ala - Leonard Bernstein
II. The Enemy God And The Dance Of The Black Spirits - Leonard Bernstein
III. Night - Leonard Bernstein
IV. The Glorious Departure Of Lolli And The Procession Of The Sun - Leonard Bernstein

Amazon.com

Considering that Stravinsky's Rite of Spring has been around for nearly a century, it's surprising that even today, conductors literally get lost while attempting to beat through it--and that goes for some of the biggest names. Difficult as the piece is, conductors have no excuse for major lapses, now that this recording is available for study. Bernstein not only keeps complete control of the complex rhythms and constantly-switching meters throughout the work but he also interprets it with fire and sweep and emotional versatility. The Firebird is equally breathtaking. It's priceless, too, for the fabulous horn solo played by the New York Philharmonic's legendary James Chambers. --Gwendolyn Freed

Customer Reviews:

Three Le Sacres from Bernstein.......2005-10-01

In the Royal Edition of Bernstein's recordings with the NY Phil., there was a hair-raising Le Sacre dating from 1958 in vivid sound with lots of impact and incredibly virtuosic playing. This was followed by a surround-sound remake with the London Sym. in 1972 as the fflagship for Columbia's attempt to promote "quadraphoonic sound," which never cuaght on.

The first recording occasioned a "wow" from Stravinsky in one of his memoirs (no doubt in part being ironic). The second recordingt is just as splashy and extroverted, although I prefer the 1958 version as the more flexible and less blatant. Both are wonderful and show off Bernstein's exuberance at its best.

This is the second reading from 1972, now in stereo, the 1958 being out of print. The Israel Phil. version made for DG in the Eighties--I don't have the exact date since I threw away the CD--is a parody of the young Bernstein by the old one, and the orchestra is far from being able to master the score.

WOW........2005-09-13

This recording really is something. Considering how old this rendition is, the depth at which bernstein controls the LSO is remarkable. There are moments when he lets the LSO loose, like letting the animals come out of their cages. He knows exactly how and exactly when to create, what I can only describe as "chaos". Bernstein's love for this arresting piece shines through the second half.
I only complain of the sound quality and the firebird. It is NOT A GOOD FIREBIRD.

BUY IT

Commonplace "Rite"... and a TERRIFIC "Firebird".......2005-07-26

It's a pity for me for this album to put the 70s recording Lenny did with the LSO on Stravinsky's revolutionary "Rite of Spring" instead of the performance he did with the NYPO about a decade earlier.
The 60s recording (which sadly may be only available in the "Royal Edition" series) remains on of my favorite performance of the "Rite" (along with the "Fast and the Furious" Ozawa's with the CSO on RCA), because it has more brashness in the music, more savagery, more tension. His interpretation is far more extraordinary compared to this recording in this album. The extra "ornaments" Lenny added to further exxagerate the wildness and primitiveness in the 60s recording has competely disappeared in this performance, making a more commonplace, even tamed, performance. Same goes with the 80s performance on DG with the Isreal Phil.

Lenny's performance "Firebird" Suite, on the other hand... is an electrifying 5 Star performance... THE main attraction of the album, not the 70s "Rite". This recording was done in the 60s with the NYPO, so there is more youthness and vigor in the performance. While the sound quality is not at its best, the performace is as hot as it can get. You will especially love the climax of the "Infernal Dance" and the "Finale". The only other recording I equally love is Claudio Abbado's performance with the LSO on DG, powerful in its own way... and more crystal-clear).

Proikofiev's "Scythian Suite" (the Bonus tracks) is another plus in this album. The "Dance of the Dark Spirits" is especially thrilling, as Lenny actually takes the tempo a bit faster compared to most other performances, including Abbado on DG and Jarvi on Chandos.

P.S. - Do you notice the "Jaws" theme hidden under the movment?

Dvorak: Symphony No9; Carnival Overture Op92

Average customer rating:

Outstanding!
The Best one Edition of Dvorak Symphony No.9
Not as much as I expected, but fairly descent enough.
For Bernstein Fans
A CD full of ups and downs

Dvorak: Symphony No9; Carnival Overture Op92

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bernstein Century - Copland: Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, etc / Bernstein, New York PO
Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 8 "Unfinished" & 9 "The Great"
Bernstein Century - Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, etc
Bernstein Century - Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, etc.
Bizet: Carmen and L' Arlesienne Suites

ASIN: B00000C293
Release Date: 1998-09-29

Tracks:

Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95: I. Adagio - Allegro molto
Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95: II. Largo
Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95: III. Scherzo. Molto vivace
Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95: IV. Allegro con fuoco
Carnival Overture, Op. 92: Allegro - Andante con moto - Allegro
Slavonic Dance No. 1in C Major: 1. Presto
Slavonic Dance No. 3 in A-flat Major: 1. Poco allegro

Amazon.com

This, the first of Leonard Bernstein's two recordings of this symphony, is vastly superior to his remake on DG. It's a vital, impulsive performance, with a daringly fast tempo in the Scherzo, and a very satisfying culmination in the closing pages. It's simply another reminder of what a reliable, and above all musical, conductor Bernstein was. This mid-price series, called "Bernstein Century," is a real collectors' edition. Great stuff. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding!.......2007-03-06

This performance of the classic "New World" symphony, in my opinion, is the best available. First of all, the remastering is outstanding, the performance is absolutely complete (following all the composer's 'repeat' indications in the score (something rarely heard or adhered to). The only thing I find to be somewhat disappointing (although really not a complaint) is Bernstein's breakneck tempi; this is a pet-peeve of mine applicable to almost every present-day or recent conductor. Slow it down man! This recording is so far the only one I'd recommend to new listeners. BRAVO

The Best one Edition of Dvorak Symphony No.9.......2007-01-22

This record is so particularly than any other records of Dvorak Symphony No.9, especially its cello and double bass part. WOW! It's so clear and powerful.

Not as much as I expected, but fairly descent enough........2004-08-03

Bernstein has been one of my favorite conductor of all times, but as for many famed conductors, some performances, genre to genre, composer to composer, are quite outstanding, and others not so impressive. In the CBS/Sony Mahler's Symphony No. 1, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, and much of Copland's pieces and his own are among his highlights. I was quite disgusted, on the other hand by the poor somewhat empty performance (and some really 50's cinematic sound quality... quite shoddy), such as Respighi's Pines of Rome.

As for this album, I would categorize this performance of Dvorak's "New World Symphony" somewhere in between. There are some parts quite off the edge; many of Bernstein's recordings have somewhat unique interpretations, but I personally don't like some exposed in this piece. In the fourth movement especially, the instant change of tempo from fast to slow, and visa versa was a bit distracting. Other than than it's okay.

My ups, on the other hand, would be the ever-nailbiting first movement, the high tempo really prompts us for a eleven minute trek through the ocean... that was what I was imagining. The scherzo was quite fast too.

As for the "Going Home" theme, it is well-played, even though I still prefer Solti's and Karajan's which seems to touch me more, and Lenny's bit-slug-paced DG recording with the Isreal Phil, 18 minutes of a musical meditation.

Thumbs way up for the Carnival Overture! Packs quite a punch... my favorite performance of the piece, along with Zubie's (Zubin Mehta) collaboration with the same orchestra.

The selected Slovanic Dances are good, but Szell's complete set would be the one to look for.

Some ups and few downs, but that's only my taste. Listen to find out what you think.

For Bernstein Fans.......2003-06-25

This is a very good recording of Dvorak 9. It is not the best that I have heard (I can recall a late Karajan and especially the late 50s Szell/Cleavland SO) but Berntsein, the quintessential American conductor, very aptly caputres the spirit of this, a quintessential American symphony. I simply don't feel that Bernstein dedicated his whole self into making this the perfect recording. I can say this honestly because I've heard him come as close to perfection as is possible in several other recordings however I simply do not feel that energy here.

This is a very good recording, top 10 percentile, but it is neither the best example of Dvorak's work nor the best example of Bernstein's work.

A CD full of ups and downs.......2003-01-08

Dvorak's 9th is easily one of the most famous pieces of classical music, and certainly I share in the love that many have for this piece. I know it very well, and thus it's been hard to find a recording that truly agrees with me.

I hate to give such a difference of opinion here, but I really do not have the same opinion as most people seem to with this recording of Dvorak's 9th. The reason for this is mainly the second movement; for whatever reason, many conductors take this piece at a tempo that to my ears just seems very slow and pondering. Yes, it is an adagio, but it is also a very song-like melody that needs to flow, and Bernstein here simply does not put forth the forward movement that to me is needed here. In the 4th movement, also, he seems to slow and speed a bit too eclecticly that grates on me, though the music is marvelously played with wonderful brass.

On the flip side, there are the first and third movements. Simply put, this is the finest rendition of the first movement I've ever heard. It contains all the enegery needed, and what is possibly my favorite musical moment ever -- the spot where there is a low flute solo at the end of the exposition -- is so beautiful I want to melt. So to the third movement is great, though perhaps a bit TOO fast (better too fast than too slow in this case, though), and if it weren't for the second movement's problems I'd say that these two movements make this a must buy.

Tracks:

Tsar Saltan: Flight of the Bumblebee
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Alborada. Vivo e strepitoso
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Variazioni. Andante con moto
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Alborada. Vivo e strepitoso
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Scena e canto gitano
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34: Fandango asturiano
Sadko: Song of India
The Snow Maiden: Dance of the Tumblers
Le Coq d'or Suite: IV. Introduction and Bridal Procession
Mlada Suite: Procession of the Nobles
Tsar Saltan Suite, Op. 57: Farewell of the Tsar
Russian Easter Overture
Sheherazade Symphonic Suite: The Young Prince And The Young Princess
Sheherazade Symphonic Suite: IV. Festival at Bagdad - The Sea - Shipwreck

Customer Reviews:

A fine sampler.......2003-04-24

I purchased this CD to sample some of the pieces of Rimsky-Korsakov that I did not already own. The CD is a compilation of recognized conductors. The performances are competent, if not really inspired. Rimsky-Korsakov offers very listenable, approachable music and very rich orchestration. But this is a sampler, where most pieces are incomplete. If you are ready to jump in with both feet, purchase Scheherazade & Russian Easter Overture by Jose Serebrier, Scherazade & Cappricio Espanol by Mackerras/LSO, and Neeme Jarvi on Chandos ($$) for the rest.

I was first put off by the sonics of this CD, particularly the dynamic range, but this varies with each of the many recorded pieces.

In its favor, this CD is inexpensive, but don't expect to receive more than what you pay.

OUTSTANDING.......2002-09-16

This is a good selection of outstanding works of one of the best Russian composers. I enjoyed it very much.

Fun CD.......2002-01-29

I really appreciated the variety on this CD, from the light, bouncy bumblebee to the more bombastic pieces. I think this makes a really good intro to Korsakov's works.

Average customer rating:

Great Sound!
A pleasant surprise from the Army Band.
Altissimo! Finally Has a Winner!
Foward March! America's Great Marches
Forward March!

Forward March! Great American Marches
US Army Band
Manufacturer: Altissimo Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Three Hit Albums from the U.S. Military Bands
Sousa's Greatest Hits
Music of the U.S. Armed Forces
The United States Marine Band Performs Sousa Marches
The Military Band: Salute to the Services

ASIN: B00081925K
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Tracks:

The Rifle Regiment
The Boys of the Old Brigade
The Invincible Eagle
Commando March
Daughters of Texas
The Chimes of Liberty
Joyce's 71st N.Y. Regiment March
National Emblem
Washington Grays
Bravura
The Purple Carnival
National Spirit March
The Virginians
Washington Post March
AmericansWe
Barnum and Bailey's Favorite
The Stars and Stripes Forever

Customer Reviews:

Great Sound!.......2007-05-19

The sound quality is the best I've ever heard on a march CD -- bright and crisp -- no muffled cymbals here, but also no overly-brassy brass. I'm not too keen on some of the selections (The Virginians, Barnum and Bailey's), but others (like Americans We) are truly beautiful. Create your own playlist and go out for a walk to this music -- just great!

A pleasant surprise from the Army Band........2005-08-15

The Forward March CD is a great collection of marches. I have listened to the CD three times in the last few weeks and my students have replayed the CD over and over at the band room. A worthwhile addition to your library.

Altissimo! Finally Has a Winner!.......2005-08-02

Finally a CD from Altissimo! of decent length with a solid march program. Instead of the usual patriotic dribble that we normally get on this label at last we have some real marches!Many of the selections are well known, but there are a few gems here. The performances are first-rate as to be expected by this premier band. For a change it looks like Altissimo! put together a winner from the extensive library of the bands' recorded music. Most likely none of the pieces played here are current recordings, but are taken from the bands own library which is what Altissimo! does with all of their products. In other words this is not an original recording. Still, the material is good and worthwhile. The program notes are better than usual as well. Altissimo! is slowly getting more professional in their products. Its been a gradual process indeed!

Foward March! America's Great Marches.......2005-05-08

FORWARD MARCH!IS A NATIONAL TREASURE!

THE 17 GREATEST AMERICAN MARCHES? THEY ARE RECREATED ON THIS NEW CD BY THE U.S. ARMY BAND, "PERSHING'S OWN".

FOR 130 YEARS THESE 17 NATIONAL MARCHES HAVE "INSPIRED US, MARCHED TROOPS INTO FORMATION, CELEBRATED OUR NATIONAL PRIDE", AND ENTERTAINED US IN CONCERT. NOW FORWARD MARCH! SHOWCASES AMERICA'S GREATEST PATRIOTIC MARCHES-EACH MARCH WRITTEN WITH PRIDE BY AN AMERICAN AND PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY IN EVERY SENSE BY THE U.S. ARMY BAND UNDER LEADER AND COMMANDER COLONEL GARY F. LAMB.

COL LAMB HAS INCLUDED THE MARCHES THAT I THINK WOULD MAKE ANYONE'S "A LIST", SUCH AS OUR NATIONAL MARCH, SOUSA'S "STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER" AND THE ESSENTIAL "WASHINGTON POST". BUT SINCE A CONSTANT 120 BEATS PER MINUTE "MARCH TEMPO" CAN BECOME MONOTONOUS(IF YOU'RE NOT MARCHING!), COL LAMB HAS INCLUDED THE COMPLEX (AND DIFFICULT!) "COMMANDO MARCH" BY SAMUEL BARBER(WHOSE MUSIC WAS USED IN THE MOVIE PLATOON) AND THE VERY SLIGHTLY SLOWER PACED "WASHINGTON GRAYS" , THE OLDEST MARCH IN THIS COLLECTION(1861) TO CHANGE THE PACE-LITERALLY. "WASHINGTON GRAYS", LIKE "COMMANDO MARCH" IS A CONCERT MARCH. IT HAS MANY CONTRASTS IN MOOD AND DYNAMICS, WHICH COL LAMB AND THE BAND DEMONSTRATE SUBERBLY, USING ANY OPPORTUNITY THE MUSIC PRESENTS FOR CREATING CONTRAST AND INTEREST --VERY IMPORTANT WHEN THE CD CONTAINS ONLY ONE GENRE! EACH MARCH IS TREATED WITH THE SAME CARE AND IN SOME PASSAGES ALMOST REVERENCE. VIRTUOSITY IS EFFORTLESS---THE HARD SOUNDS EASY! EXAMPLES ARE THE FAMOUS PICCOLOS IN "STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER" , AND THE BARITONE/FRENCH HORNS(HEROIC INSTRUMENTS!) AS THEY ENJOY THE HIGH TESTOSTERONE OPENING FANFARE OF "THE VIRGINIANS" (THE LATTER MARCH IS THE YOUNGEST IN THE GROUP(1992), BUT IT CLEARLY DESERVES MEMBERSHIP.)

"THE CHIMES OF LIBERTY", "NATIONAL EMBLEM", AND "AMERICANS WE", WERE CLEARLY COMPOSED WITH NATIONAL PRIDE ---AND ON THIS CD THE PREMIER MUSICAL ORGANIZATION OF THE U.S. ARMY PERFORMS THEM WITH PARTICULAR PRIDE .

THESE "GREAT 17" MARCHES, OUR NATIONAL MUSICAL TREASURES, ARE HONORED ONCE MORE, AND INSPIRE US ONCE MORE THANKS TO THE SKILL AND DEVOTION OF THE U.S. ARMY BAND AND IT'S LEADER COLONEL LAMB. WELL DONE SOLDIERS!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND FORWARD MARCH!
RON BOWERS

Forward March! .......2005-05-04

FORWARD MARCH! is an enjoyable and stimulating album which provides an unusual mix of traditional marches and not often heard compositions.

The United States Army Band is magnificent in its superb technical presentation of the broad spectrum of music contained on the CD and that unquestionably makes it worth acquiring.

Altissimo! Recordings once again educates listeners, as it did in HAIL TO THE CHIEF, by exposing them to pieces which have historical as well as musical significance. It carefully points out those works which are parade marches versus concert marches --- describing the Washington Grays as the "forerunner" of the latter.

The documentation which accompanies the CD provides a brief but tantalizing sense of who or what prompted the composition. Consequently, a far better appreciation for each selection is the result. The overall effect is a noteworthy collection of thoroughly enjoyable music for all to hear!

FORWARD MARCH! is a must for those who enjoy the uplifting of spirit which the march as a style of music provides!

Average customer rating:

Great Intro to Modern American Classical Music

American Classics
Boston Pops Orchastra
Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD