A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 4

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In 1993, Windham Hill Records released its fourth album of seasonal music recorded by the label's artists and unavailable in any other collection. Only a few of the tracks on A Winter's Solstice IV lend credence to the label's unfair stereotype as the home for new age background music. Many of the musicians come from such respected jazz bands as Oregon and the Freddie Hubbard Quartet, and from such respected folk bands as the David Grisman Quartet. Several tackle such classical pieces as Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze" (the Modern Mandolin Quartet), Purcell's "Trumpet Tune" (solo guitarist Alex de Grassi) and Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" (the Turtle Island String Quartet). From Liz Story's "Carol of the Bells" to Nightnoise's "Wexford Carol," this is rigorous instrumental music for the most part, no matter how quiet and pretty it may seem at first listen. --Geoffrey Himes

A Winter's Solstice, Vol. 4,Various Artists,Windham Hill Records,80's,Adult Alternative,Ambient,Chamber Jazz,Christmas,Christmas / Chanukkah,Christmas Music,Contemporary Instrumental,Electro-Acoustic,Folk-Jazz,Neo-Classical,New Acoustic,Pop,Post-Bop,Progressive Alternative,Progressive Bluegrass,Progressive Electronic,Solo Instrumental,Space,World Fusion,Xmas Vocal Collections

Tracks:

Carol Of The Bells - Windham Hill Artists
Silent Night - Steve Erquiaga
Crystal Palace - Oystein Sevag
Winter Bourne - Paul McCandless
Dona Nobis Pacem - Michael Manring
Wexford Carol - Nightnoise
Just Before Dawn - Will Ackerman
We Three Kings - Barbra Higbie
Angels We Have Heard On High - Mike Marshall
Sheep May Safely Graze - Modern Mandolin Quartet
Trumpet Tune - Alex De Grassi
Three Candles - Scott
The Rain From The Four Seasons - Turtle Island String Quartet
Christmas Hymn - Billly Childs
Asleep The Snow Came Flying - Tim Story

Amazon.com

In 1993, Windham Hill Records released its fourth album of seasonal music recorded by the label's artists and unavailable in any other collection. Only a few of the tracks on A Winter's Solstice IV lend credence to the label's unfair stereotype as the home for new age background music. Many of the musicians come from such respected jazz bands as Oregon and the Freddie Hubbard Quartet, and from such respected folk bands as the David Grisman Quartet. Several tackle such classical pieces as Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze" (the Modern Mandolin Quartet), Purcell's "Trumpet Tune" (solo guitarist Alex de Grassi) and Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" (the Turtle Island String Quartet). From Liz Story's "Carol of the Bells" to Nightnoise's "Wexford Carol," this is rigorous instrumental music for the most part, no matter how quiet and pretty it may seem at first listen. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

Timeless classic.......2006-10-12

This is superb music, and that it is supposed to be "Christmas" music is almost beside the point. Yeah, it wouldn't be Christmas without it, but for me this disc can be a salve against the hostilities of an uncaring world. Such "therapy" need not always take place in December.

So relaxing... perfect after a long stressful day!.......2005-12-01

Windham Hill artists have a long tradition of coming up with very relaxing, chill renditions of holiday favorites as well as their own original seasonal music. All the music on this album brings to mind the most peaceful images of the winter season - a warming fire away from the bleak chill of winter; a snowy winter wonderland; simply being with the people you love most. This album is perfect for a quite evening away from anything and everything.

Excellent CD........2005-09-04

Continuing in the beautiful series of Winter's Solstice music, this CD contains traditional and non-traditional Christmas music. However, it should be played year around for its soothing and beautiful sounds.

Fine Christmas Collection!.......2004-12-15

The Windham Hill series (Winter Solstice) fhas been outstanding, featuring a sampling of their artists. You get a wide range of performers (Nightnoise, Turtle Island String Quartet, etc.) that you might not run into otherwise. The result is a superior collection for the holiday season, but not so overtly Christmas that you can't play it at other times.
I particularly like Øystein Sevåg's contribution. I can't rave enough about the beauty of these pieces. It's wonderful to play while entertaining, or to get you in the Christmas-card-writing mood, or just sit and soak it up while gazing at your twinkling tree lights.

The last "good" Winter's Solstice .......2004-11-06

The first four Winter's Solstice recordings are simply outstanding. Unfortunately, something about the series went suddenly wrong starting with Vol. 5.

Back to Vol. 4. I'm particularly fond of Øystein Sevåg's piece. The ensemble's Carol of the Bell's is great, too--great bass and piano, especially.

Vol. 2 remains my favorite of the series. I live in California, but when I play it late at night, it feels like there's a fresh blanket of snow around my house.

Average customer rating:

Bartók for Children

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

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

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Bartók: Mikrokosmos, Books 1-6
Bartók: Out of Doors
Bartók: Piano Music, Vol. 2
Bartók: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-3
Bartok: Piano Music, Vol. 1

ASIN: B0008JEKBI
Release Date: 2005-05-17

Tracks:

No.1 Children At Play: Allegro/No.2 Children's Song: Andante/No.3 Quasi Adagio
No.4 Pillow Dance: Allegro/No.5 Play: Allegretto/No.6 Study For The Left Hand: Allegro
No.7 Play Song: Andante Grazioso/No.8 Children's Game: Allegretto
No.9 Song: Adagio/No.10 Children's Dance: Allegro Molto/No.11 Lento/No.12 Allegro
No.13 Ballad: Andante/No.14 Allegretto/No.15 Allegro Moderato
No.16 Old Hungarian Tune: Andante Rubato/No.17 Round Dance: Lento
No.18 Soldier's Song: Andante Non Troppo/No.19 Allegretto/No.20 Drinking Song: Allegro/No.21 Allegro Robusto
No.22 Allegretto/No.23 Dance Song: Allegro Grazioso/No.24 Andante Sostenuto/No.25 Parlando
No.26 Moderato/No.27 Jest: Allegramente/No.28 Choral: Andante/No.29 Pentatonic Tune: Allegro Scherzando
No. 30 Jeering Song: Allegro Ironico/No.31 Andante Tranquillo/No.32 Andante/No.33 Allegro Non Troppo
No.34 Allegretto/No.35 Con Moto/No.36 Drunkard's Song: Vivace/No.37 Swineherd's Song: Allegro
No.38 Winter Solstice Song: Molto Vivace/No.39 Allegro Moderato
No.40 Swineherd's Dance: Allegro Vivace
No.1 Allegro/No.2 Andante/No.3 Allegretto/No.4 Wedding Song: Andante
No.5 Variations: Molto Andante/No.6 Round Dance I: Allegro/No.7 Sorrow: Andante/No.8 Dance: Allegro Non Troppo
No.9 Round Dance II: Andante/No.10 Funeral Song: Largo
No.11 Lento/No.12 Andante Rubato/No.13 Allegro
No.14 Moderato/No.15 Bagpipe I: Molto Tranquillo/No.16 Lamnet: Lento/No.17 Andante/No.18 Teasing Song: Sostenuto- Allegro Vivace
No.19 Romance: Assai Lento/No.20 Game Of Tag: Presto
No.21 Pleasantry: Allegro Moderato/No.22 Revelry: Molto Allegro
No.23 Andante tranquillo/No.24 Andante/No.25 Scherzando: Allegretto
No.26 Peasant's Flute: Andante Molto Rubbato/No.27 Pleasantry II: Allegro
No.28 Andante, Molto Rubato/No.29 Canon: Allegro Non Troppo/No.30 Bagpipe II: Vivace
No.31 The Highway Robber: Allegro/No.32 Peasante/No.33 Andante Tranquillo
No.34 Farewell: Adagio/No.35 Ballad: Moderato
Nos.36-37 Rhapsody: Parlando, Molto Rubato - Alegro Moderato
No.38 Dirge: Lento/No.39 Mouning Song: Lento

Average customer rating:

A truly master still forgotten

Louis Kentner Plays Bartók and Liszt

Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005NG61
Release Date: 2001-08-28

Tracks:

Pno Con No.3: Allegretto
Pno Con No.3: Adagio Religioso
Pno Con No.3: Allegro Vivace
Excerpts From For Children, Book 1: No.22
Excerpts From For Children, Book 1: No.31
Excerpts From For Children, Book 1: No.30
Excerpts From For Children, Book 1: No.40
La Leggierezza
Un Sospiro
Feux Follets
Waldesrauschen
Gnomenreigen
Paganini Etude No.2 in E flat
Paganini Etude No.3 (La Campanella)
Paganini Etude No.5 (La Chasse)
Au Bord D'une Source
Le Prophete: Illustration No.2: Les Patineurs

Customer Reviews:

A truly master still forgotten.......2004-05-21

Louis Kentner was a pioneer in Liszt's music and Bartok too. His recordings about Liszt in the middle of the sixties were a must reference for everyone. Still now, his sound is very original, and together with Sandor and Nyireghihazi this trio are the superlative level im pianism in the first half of XX century.
This recordings has a lot of virtues.
First at all the Bartok no. 3 is extraordinary. Historically it's a collector item because it was the European premiere of this concerto.
The recording is widely worthy. Boult conducts Bartok with authority and a very close rapport with Kentner.
If you want to get the four best recordings of the third concerto, just try with this one, Sandor Ormandy from the forties and Sandor Gielen from the fifties, and finally one very hard to find recording with Anne Fisher and Fricsay from 1955.
Listening his Liszt you'll find a convincing and powerful color. Kentner is not well known in United States, because he decided to live in England, but if you are able to get all what you can from this original artist, just do it.

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