Piano Solos

Track Listings

1. Andy

2. Change of Heart

3. December

4. Elegy

5. I Love You

6. January

7. Lost in Love

8. Mandy

9. Musicbox

10. Sappy

11. Seashore

12. Sky

13. Sunday

14. Time

15. Until Then

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
Joe began composing music for the piano at the age of four. His musical studies have taken him around the world. Joe is currently enrolled in a Master's in Music Education program at the University of Minnesota.

Product Description
A joyous and warm celebration of music for the heart. "Piano Solos" represents over fifteen years of compositional efforts by Joe Churchich. This collection of songs is perfect for an evening of relaxation or accompaniment in your daily activities.

Piano Solos,Joe Churchich,Joe Churchich,A joyous and warm celebration of music for the heart. "Piano Solos" represents over fifteen years of compositional efforts by Joe Churchich. This collection of songs is perfect for an evening of relaxation or accompaniment in your daily activities.

Piano Solos

Tracks:

Thanksgiving
Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head
Joy
Prelude
Carol Of The Bells
Night-Part One: Snow
Night-Part Two: Midnight
Night-Part Three: Minstrels
Variations On The Kanon By Pachelbel
The Holly And The Ivy
Some Children See Him
Peace
A Christmas Song
Sleep Baby Mine

Amazon.com essential recording

December holds the distinction of single-handedly putting Windham Hill on the map and being the new age album most likely to find its way into music collections of all ilk. In spite of being relentlessly overplayed during the holidays, the solo piano recording has aged quite well. Winston shapes holiday war-horses and original compositions into a captivating contemporary statement. His spare, understated style captures the feel of the dark season, employing ample resonance to evoke a reflective spaciousness. The album's straightforward simplicity conveys both the celebration and quietude that characterize the best of the Yuletide spirit. --Richard Price

Amazon.com

A quintessential example of George Winston's "folk piano" style, December speaks to the spirit of the season. Mixing traditional carols, a couple of classical works, and his own originals, Winston drops notes with icy clarity into a winter silence, rippling through "Carol of Bells" and coaxing dark, introspective moods from his own suite, "Night." The pianist's liner notes are also a trip as he cites the numerous sources for his music. Who would've thought that the gentle melodies of "Peace" were inspired by the soundtrack to TV's The Outer Limits? This 20th anniversary edition, which includes two bonus tracks, is a vast sonic improvement over previous releases. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

Twenty Years later... Still Excellent!.......2007-05-28

December, Piano Solos: 20th Anniversary Edition, by George Winston is about as close to perfect as you can get. Winston phenomenal interpretations and originals form a masterpeice. Classified as a Holiday album, I agree with many of the other reviewers that this is an album to enjoy all through the year. Although each selection here is very good, Variations On The Kanon By Pachelbel is simply a wonderful piece. I did have the pleasure of seeing George Winston in concert and I would receommend that any fan try to experience the music live with introductions by the pianist.

An outstanding 5 star CD.

a must have for a musical library.......2007-03-26

this cd album is extremely moving and has value because of the evocative power of some of the pieces it contains.

George Winston's December.......2007-03-09

I have a copy of the vinyl since it was released. Though I love the quality of the vinyl, I want to bring December with me wherever I go. The two additional cuts in the anniversary issue are lovely, but I would have been equally happy with the original.

Love this CD.......2007-03-08

Perfect for the holidays (but I listen to it all year)! Anything by George Winston is fabulous.

Multi-mood music.......2007-01-29

I love this CD! The best part about this music is that I can listen to it regardles of what mood I'm in and the music fits perfectly. The Sheet music for "Variations of the Kanon by Pachelbel" is a great bonus.

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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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.

The one complaint I have is the last CD. This deals with the orchestra. I wanted more of a tour of how the orchestra has been used through history up to the present. Instead, it was a tour of how different groups of instruments sound. I thought it could have been better. The other 6 CDs are excellent.

By Heart: Piano Solos
Average customer rating:

By Heart

Jim Brickman

a simplistic CD without all that noise

Jim Brickman's instrumental work at its best

Beautiful Melodies

By Heart: Piano Solos
Jim Brickman
Manufacturer: RCA Victor
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
General | New Age | Styles | Music
Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music
General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Picture This

Destiny

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Simple Things

ASIN: B000000NKR
Release Date: 1995-04-11

Tracks:

Angel Eyes
Lake Erie Rainfall
Looking Back
In A Lover's Eyes
Nothing Left To Say
Little Star
Sudden Inspiration
Where Are You Now?
If You Believe
On The Edge
All I Ever Wanted
By Heart

Amazon.com essential recording

"By heart" is a succinct and accurate appraisal of a lovely, low-key album of 11 piano solos (with occasional string embellishments) and a concluding vocal track. By Heart paints a picture of Brickman as a thoughtful, sometimes pensive, creative soul who quietly cherishes idyllic romantic notions yet reluctantly, realistically, acknowledges that they may forever lie just beyond his ever-hopeful grasp. Such a realization, though, does not blunt Brickman's expressive longing at the keyboard, and By Heart unfolds as a touching, clear-eyed chronicle of a restless but gentle heart. The title track, with little-known Laura Creamer handling vocals, offers some of the weakest production yet strongest emotional clout of nearly any vocal selection Brickman has since recorded. Revealing and rewarding listening. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews:

By Heart .......2007-03-13

Jim Brickman does it again with this CD. He is especially good at soulful melodies and pieces. I love this CD . I couldn't wait to listen to the next song. I hope that you will enjoy this CD as much as I have!!

Jim Brickman.......2007-02-16

It's an awesome cd. Saw him in concert here in Houston Feb. 13 '07
His magical fingers played blissfully on the piano. This cd is as always, beautiful romantic music. You won't be dissapointed!

SJE

a simplistic CD without all that noise.......2007-02-12

I love this CD! Relaxed and beautiful, his playing can take you to dream land. The background music doesn't take away from his beautiful piano playing, it enhances it. I love listening to this CD when I want to unwind. It is so beautiful that when I heard it on the radio, I just had to buy the CD.

Jim Brickman's instrumental work at its best.......2006-12-31

This is the best Jim Brickman's work I think. Vocals are at a minimum. Just his playing which is all I want. Highly recommended.

Beautiful Melodies.......2003-05-10

This CD has the depth to keep you refreshed and feeling romantic each time you listen to it. Following the quick-capturing first track, "Angel Eyes," Jim Brickman goes on making each track a beautiful melody to surround you with comfortable and intimate feelings.

My own favorite pieces in this CD include "Looking Back" which is in a calm retrospective sentiment, "If you believe" which I found uplifting, and "All I ever wanted" which is very soothing. The sixth track, "Little Star" is actually another version of the children song "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," which Jim Brickman has made it so serenading.

Tracks:

Colors/Dance
The Venice Dreamer (Part 2)
Living In The Country
The Cradle
Joy
Treat Street
Variations On The Canon By Pachelbel
Thanksgiving
Miles City Train
Corrina, Corrina
Hummingbird
Longing/Love
Cast Your Fate To The Wind
Sandman
The Snowman's Music Box Dance
Northern Plains
Sleep Baby Mine

Amazon.com

This CD is a sort of Reader's Digest version of George Winston's renowned solo piano discography. All the Seasons presents 13 abridged selections from Winston's seven solo recordings-- "radio edits" that were supervised, as the liner notes indicate, by the pianist himself. Four "bonus tracks" are also included, and two are quiet, impressionistic gems that compare favorably with Winston's classic Autumn to December period. "Sandman" is an instrumental version of a section from the Meryl Streep-narrated storybook album The Velveteen Rabbit, and "Northern Plains" is a hushed, contemplative jewel, though its abrupt conclusion is a bit odd. Perhaps this, too, is an advanced edit of a piece that will someday be more fully realized. Ultimately, this album is best-suited for listeners unacquainted with Winston's work, since fans are likely to be dismayed when favorites such as "Colors/Dance" and "Joy" travel to unexpected places. For Winston neophytes though, the album offers a decent overview of his first 25 years of recording. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews:

Get lost with George.......2004-11-07

This is a lovely cd of Mr Winston's that will take you away from stress and tension...I put it on for massage clients and off they go...music is a great way to set a mood and this is great to have on in the house to make it tranquil and HOME. Hard to explain but easy to experience....try it ....you won't be disappointed!

Awesome!.......2002-11-25

Since I love music, especially piano, this cd was a must-have! I love the music and it's so soothing to listen to-I listen to it just to relax and it really works! This is an awesome collection of piano solos!

from Solo Piano Publications.......2001-11-09

This compilation is a celebration of pianist George Winston's 25 years of recording. The selections from Winston's seven albums are good, but nearly all of the pieces have been edited - some by a few seconds, some by more than half. Winston shortened his pieces to make singles for radio air-play over the years, but it seems that these edited selections might also have been calculated to appeal to a more mainstream, pop-oriented audience. Gone are Winston's improvisations, which were the most frequent in his earlier albums and a Winston trademark. "Colors/Dance" is one of Winston's best-known pieces (and one of my favorites); it was originally 10:25 - this version is down to 3:14. "Longing/Love" was another landmark piece for Winston, and almost half of it is edited out. Why? If not for commercial reasons, why were some of Winston's best pieces chopped, but "Variations on the Canon by Pachelbel" included? Isn't everyone tired of that piece by now? I also question the inclusion of Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" at the expense of Winston's more original work. In concert, Winston alternates his better-known work with jazz and blues, so the inclusion of "Treat Street" and "Miles City Train" shows that aspect of his playing - important in a retrospective. There are also four "bonus tracks": "The Cradle" is a lovely ballad, expanded from "Forest"; "Sandman" from "The Velveteen Rabbit" is presented for the first time without Meryl Streeps' narration - a lovely lullaby; "Northern Plains" was inspired and influenced by fellow pianist/Montanan, Philip Aaberg - wide open spaces that both composers describe so well; and "Sleep Baby Mine", another tender lullaby. This is a really "nice", easy-to-listen-to album, but I question it as a true representation of George Winston's work over the past 25 years. Too much is missing.

Terrific for a sampler.......2001-09-06

These are well edited radio cuts of George Winston's work. For pure solo piano that isn't drowned out by orchestra or diluted by vocals and other musicians, I don't think George Winston can be beat. However, this album is for new listeners more than long time followers. True, there are four added cuts, one a new and live version of "The Cradle". However, many are shortened and therefore disappointing to his core audience. Again, if you're new to George Winston's music, this is a great starting point.

Just beautiful soundscapes.......2001-09-05

The ultimate in relaxation music. Mellow piano solos from his greatest seasonal albums. Music to work to, music to read the paper by on a rainy weekend, music to close your eyes and dream to, music to have a candlelight dinner while the kids are staying over at the grandparents house!!! I liked this so much I went out and got his Plains cd and thoroughly enjoyed it also.
A must have in any collection. Enjoy.

Average customer rating:

Piano Solos, Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Filter U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

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Piano Solos
Marie Antoinette
Push The Heart
Songs from Before
Pet Grief

ASIN: B000HIVOEG
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Tracks:

Piano Sonata, Opus 20
Piano Sonata, Opus 22
Piano Sonata, Opus 21
Piano Sonata, Opus 23
Piano Sonata, Opus 26
Piano Sonata, Opus 34
Piano Sonata, Opus 28
Piano Sonata, Opus 35
Piano Sonata, Opus 30
Piano Sonata, Opus 38
Piano Sonata, Opus 37

Average customer rating:

Beautiful music
A great artist for all seasons

Seasons: Piano Solos
George Winston
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Adult Contemporary | Pop | Styles | Music

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December, Piano Solos: 20th Anniversary Edition
Plains
Forest
Montana: A Love Story
Remembrance-A Memorial Benefit

ASIN: B0009LDNCW
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Tracks:

Colors/Dance
Woods
Longing/Love
Road
Moon
Sea
Stars
Too Much Between Us [*]
Rain

Tracks:

January Stars
February Sea
Ocean Waves (O Mar)
Reflection
Rain
Blossom/Meadow
Venice Dreamer, Pt. 1: Introduction
Venice Dreamer, Pt. 2
(Love Echoes in The) Pine Hills [*]

Tracks:

Living in the Country
Loreta and Desire Bouquet, Pt. 1
Loreta and Desire Bouquet, Pt. 2
Fragrant Fields
Garden
Spring Creek
Lullaby
Black Stallion
Hummingbird
Early Morning Range
Living Without You
Goodbye Montana, Pt. 1
Corrina, Corrina
Goodbye Montana, Pt. 2
Where Are You Now
Old Friends [*]

Tracks:

Rain [DVD][Live]
Cat & Mouse [DVD][Live]
Blossom/Meadow [DVD][Live]
'Opihi Moemoe [DVD][Live]
Kalena Kai [DVD][Live] - Keola Beamer, George Winston
Great Pumpkin Waltz [DVD][Live]
You're in Love, Charlie Brown [DVD][Live]
M.M.'s Dunk [DVD][Live]
Cradle [DVD][Live]
Corrina, Corrina [DVD][Live]
Peppermint Patty [DVD][Live]
Charlie Brown's All Stars [DVD][Live]
Cast Your Fate to the Wind [DVD][Live]
Woods [DVD][Live]
Pu'u Anahulu [DVD][Live] - Chet Atkins, George Winston
Waltz for the Lonely [DVD][Live]
Skating [DVD][Live]
Thanksgiving [DVD][Live]
Variations on the Kanon by Johann Pachelbel [DVD][Live]
High Plains Lullaby #19 [DVD][Live]

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful music.......2007-03-08

Excellent CD set that is full of stunning Winston piano music. Wouldn't think twice about buying this set.

A great artist for all seasons.......2005-12-01

I have always enjoyed George Winstons piano solo's. I grew up listening to December. My parents would play it and it was always one of my favorites. Its the only reason I gave this box set 4 stars for leaving that album out. I guess he figured everyone already had that one since its his best selling. As I got older I wanted to hear his other albums and they do not disappoint. Autumn is probably the best one in the set with the song Color/Dance being one of the best I have ever heard. Woods is also fantastic. Another reason I bought this set is for the DVD. It was shot at the fantastic/historic Ryman Aud (The Grand Ole Opry) in Nashville. It is cool to see George come out very casual in blue jeans and play his solo's. He also plays slack key guitar (W Chet Atkins) and you can see that it is a thrill for him to play with one of his hero's. He also plays a Harmonica solo but he is best when he is at the piano. For some reason he talks over some of the songs on the DVD which is a little strange but he doesn't do it too much and overall you get a good sense of who and what this guy is all about. A great artist.

Average customer rating:

Piano Solos

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Piano Solos, Vol. 2
Marie Antoinette
Push The Heart
My Beautiful Sinking Ship
Colour the Small One

ASIN: B000KJTG3S
Release Date: 2005-03-15

Album Description

Poignant and eerily lovely, PIANO SOLOS is the newest release from Dustin O'Halloran, one half of the creative mind behind the imaginative music of THE DEVICS. Prior to this US release, Piano Solos has been getting TONS of airplay on Southern California's 89.9 KCRW (Morning Becomes Eclectic, Weekend Becomes Eclectic) and in two months had sold over 260 full album downloads digitally. Mojo Magazine - 4 stars/Rolling Stone Italiano - 4 stars/front page of iTunes USA, Germany and Italy.

Average customer rating:

Complete Victor Piano Solos
Fats Waller
Manufacturer: Definitive Special Products
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

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Luckey & the Lion: Harlem Piano
Snowy Morning Blues
The Original James P. Johnson 1942-1945
Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1

ASIN: B000GFRJA8
Release Date: 2006-07-10

Tracks:

Blue Black Bottom
Handful of Keys
Numb Fumblin'
Ain't Misbehavin'
Sweet Savannah Sue
I've Got the Feeling I'm Falling [Take 2]
I've Got the Feeling I'm Falling [Take 3]
Love Me or Leave Me [Take 1]
Love Me or Leave Me [Take 2]
Gladyse [Take 1]
Gladyse [Take 2]
Valentine Stomp [Take 1]
Valentine Stomp [Take 2]
Waiting at the End of the Road [Take 1]
Waiting at the End of the Road [Take 2]
Baby, Oh Where Can You Be? [Take 1]
Baby, Oh Where Can You Be? [Take 2]
Goin' About [Take 1]
Goin' About [Take 2]
My Feelings Are Hurt
Smashing Thirds
My Fate Is in Your Hands
Turn on the Heat
St. Louis Blues - Benny Payne, Fats Waller
After You've Gone - Benny Payne, Fats Waller
African Ripples

Tracks:

Clothes Line Ballet
Alligator Crawl
Viper's Drag
Keepin' Out of Mischief Now
Stardust
Basin Street Blues
Tea for Two
I Ain't Got Nobody
Georgia on My Mind
Rockin' Chair
Carolina Shout [Take 1]
Carolina Shout [Take 2]
Honeysuckle Rose
Ring dem Bells
London Suite I: Piccadilly [*]
London Suite II: Chelsea [*]
London Suite III: Soho [*]
London Suite IV: Bond Street [*]
London Suite V: Limehouse [*]
London Suite VI: Whitechapel [*]
Poor Butterfly [*]
Saint Louis Blues [*]
Hallelujah [*]
Tea for Two [*]
Handful of Keys [*]
Swaltzing with Faust [*]

Album Description

This two CD collection brings together all the studio piano solos Waller recorded for Victor. It is an amazing corpus, and doubly interesting as Fats performs many of his numerous compositions. His most important solo recordings other than his Victor sides, are the movements of his 'London Suite', added here as a bonus on Disc Two. To round out this collection, we included all the piano solo tracks from an extended 1939 radio transcription session, on which he had previously recorded quintet, organ and vocal tracks. They present Fats Waller's only existing recorded renditions of the beautiful standard 'Poor Butterfly' and Handy's perennial 'Saint Louis Blues'. The last track, taken from another 1939 transcription session, shows Fats improvising on a popular opera number. Definitive. 2006.

Album Details

This Collection Brings Together all the Studio Piano Solos Waller Recorded for Victor. It is an Amazing Corpus, and Doubly Interesting as Fats Performs Many of his Numerous Compositions. His Most Important Solo Recordings Other Than his Victor Sides, Are the Movements of his "london Suite", Added Here as a Bonus on Disc 2. To Round Out this Collection, We Included all the Piano Solo Tracks from an Extended 1939 Radio Transcription Session, on which He Had Previously Recorded Quintet, Organ and Vocal Tracks. They Present Fats Waller's Only Existing Recorded Renditions of the Beautiful Standard "poor Butterfly" and Handy's Perennial "saint Louis Blues". The Last Track, Taken from Another 1939 Transcription Session, Shows Fats Improvising on a Popular Opera Number.

Average customer rating:

Etheral, boundless, beautiful music
WOW!
Absolutely Beautiful
Brilliant Beauty
from Wind and Wire, Issue 10

Sweet Dreams - Piano Solos
Mia Jang
Manufacturer: Narada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Water Circles
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Serenity
After the Rain

ASIN: B00000C2MK
Release Date: 1998-10-06

Tracks:

July 26th
Sleep Tight
First Spring Day
Second Chance
Night Song
Waiting
Secret Dream
Remember When
Sweet Dreams
Angel Hair
Blue Lantern
Loving The Unknown
No Return
Silent Song

Amazon.com

Perhaps seeking to replenish its artist roster with fresh piano talent following the recent departure of David Lanz, Narada brings us a full-length debut recording from Taiwan native Mia Jang, an artist first introduced to the public on a 1996 label sampler of unsigned pianists (First Light). Jang, who once studied at Taipei's Chinese Culture University under Yo-Yo Ma's father, now resides in the States and composes music unadorned with any noticeable cultural influences. Her 14 piano solos, pieces that had their origin as bedtime confections for her young children, are almost uniformly quiet, reflective, earnestly melodic, and easily digested. Jang perfumes her impressionistic compositions with a gentle spirit that endows them with an essence of instant familiarity; though to her credit, her musical structures convey an intelligence that elevates these pieces a notch above typical lullaby fare. In Jang's world, your dreams will be sweet, not sugar-coated. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews:

Etheral, boundless, beautiful music.......2005-03-11

Folks, get your thesaurus out, this music makes you speechless and at peace. I love this CD. I play it adnauseum. It's pretty music, even hard nose classical music fans can truly appreciate it. I wouldn't classify it as New Age music (it's the section you'll find it in) it's just nice beautiful music, well composed, well played. Mia Jang's feelings, soul and sincerity flows out of her, into her fingers tips and trips into the melodies of her music, you can feel it, buy it, highly recommend it!

WOW!.......2004-04-02

My only regret is that I haven't found this album sooner. Two words - soul stirring!! If any alterations, such as sound effects, back-up instruments, etc., had been added to the production of this album, the perfection of it's simplicity and beauty would have been disrupted. This solo album is not solo at all - for Mia Jang takes me along on the journey with her - with every keystroke.

Absolutely Beautiful.......2000-07-04

This music is difficult to categorize but it is absolutely beautiful. I like solo piano music and this is some of the best. It is NOT minimal (spacey), NOT jazzy, and NOT saccharine. Mia Jang has created a unique sound that bears up to repeated listening. She avoids the simplicity that pervades this genre and writes beautiful and original melodies. Her performance feels sincere and thankfully devoid of pretension. I wish I could play piano like this.

Brilliant Beauty.......2000-03-01

Sometimes I just pick a CD based on nothing but intuition. Sometimes I make mistakes. But when I discover a gift like Mia Jang, it makes all the mistakes worthwhile. This collection is a treasure. I listen to it daily. And the title track, Sweet Dreams, is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard. There is magic here and heart-pounding emotion and sweet melodies that take us to new places in the soul.

from Wind and Wire, Issue 10.......2000-01-27

This gentle, elegant solo piano debut is a real beauty! Classically-trained in performance, composition, and conducting, Mia Jang lets simple, heartfelt melodies tell her stories, and the results are warm and moving. Jang first appeared on Narada's First Light compilation of five new piano soloists in 1996, and the three pieces on that album are included on Sweet Dreams. The emotional content is rich but accessible, and I sense Jang feels most comfortable communicating through the piano. The free use of rubato throughout her compositions is mesmerizing in its natural ebb and flow of emotion and rhythm. Complex enough to hold up to many repeated listenings, and yet simple enough to get into right away, this is a CD that I will come back to for a long time.

Sweet Dreams maintains an even-tempered pace throughout, but each piece is a distinctive gem on its own. Several of the pieces were composed as lullabies for Jang's young children, which explains the tenderness of "Sleep Tight", "Night Song", "Sweet Dreams", and "Angel Hair". (I have to wonder if Jang's playing and composing style will become more turbulent as her kids approach the age of 12!) "First Spring Day" is a bit more up-tempo, and evokes visions of butterflies and fresh new-born flowers. "Remember When" is one of my favorites - still gentle and tender, but with just a slight nostalgic bite. "Sweet Dreams" is probably the most powerful of the 14 pieces - the use of rubato here is so effective in conveying the changing moods of the work as it crescendo's to its peak and then drops back into a peaceful reverie.

There are no weak tracks on this CD, and I strongly recommend it!

Piano Solos 1945 - 1955
Average customer rating:
Piano Solos 1945 - 1955
Errol Garner
Manufacturer: Universal/Saga Jazz
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000FG5PTU
Release Date: 2007-04-26