Planets

1. Mars, The Bringer Of War

2. Venus, The Bringer Of Peace

3. Mercury, The Winged Messenger

4. Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity/Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age

5. Uranus, The Magician/Neptune, The Mystic

Tracks:

Canon - Pachelbel
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik-Andante - Mozart
Fur Elise - Beethoven
String Quartet #1 - Tchaikovsky
Clair De Lune - Debussy
Idyl for Strings - Adagio - Janacek
Adagio in G Mnor - Albinoni
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair - Debussy
Air on a G String - Bach
Greensleeves - Vaughn Williams
Largo from Xerxes - Handel
Prelude in C - Bach
The Planets - Venus - Holst
Goldberg Variations - Aria - Bach
Adagio for Strings - Barber

Tracks:

Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun - Debussy
Fur Elise - Beethoven
Holberg Suite - Sarabande - Grieg
Valse Triste - Sibelius
Concerto in F Minor - Largo - Bach
Serenade for String - Moderato - Dvorak
Liebestraume - Liszt
Ave Maria - Bach/Bounod
Etude in E Major - Chopin
String Quartet No 2 - Nocturne - Borodin
Arabesque - Debussy
Pavane for Dead Princess - Ravel
The Four Seasons - Largo - Vivaldi
Gymno0pedie 1 - Satie
Moonlight Sonata - Adagio - Beethoven
Piano Concerto No 21 - Andante - Mozart "Elvira Madigan"

Customer Reviews:

the most relaxing classical music in the university.......2007-05-12

All my favorites. I can start the CD player, which is wired to speakers in every room of my house, and just let it play, along with "The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the World" and "The Most Relaxing Classical Guitar in the World." I enjoy an awareness of familiar and beautiful strains of my favorites all day long and never get tired of it.

My brother visited me recently and noticed it right away. That will be another order for this fabulour music.

Relaxing Classical Music.......2007-01-08

I was not really a classical music fan but I am now. I purchased this cd for my 14 year old grand-daughter, not knowing we would both enjoy the music so much. She has always enjoyed classical music along with all of the other teen music, rap, rock, country, etc.
Also, it really helped being able to listen to parts of the music before purchasing.

Stress-freedom.......2006-03-14

Perfect music to end the work day. After listening to this I can face the evening. If the morning is hard, a little at lunch time gets me through the afternoon.

Greatly enjoy!.......2006-02-23

I first developed a taste for this music a number of years ago when my daughter started playing in the orchestra. The reason I made this purchase however, was because I have a great deal of difficulty with anxiety and I was looking for ways to find help. I love these CDs. It helps so much to sit and close my eyes and enjoy the music. The CDs are full of beautiful music.

the most relaxing classical music in the universe.......2005-09-21

it's the best next to the first one...

Average customer rating:

Wonderful! And with thanks to John Williams for introducing this listener to "The Planets!"
Streaming Space
ALMOST A REFERENCE RECORDING
It Doesn't Get Much Better
A fine CD at a friendly price

Holst: The Planets

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000050AQC
Release Date: 2001-04-10

Tracks:

The Planets: Mars, The Bringer Of War
The Planets: Venus, The Bringer Of Peace
The Planets: Mercury, The Winged Messenger
The Planets: Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity
The Planets: Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age
The Planets: Uranus, The Magician
The Planets: Neptune, The Mystic
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind: Suite
Star Wars: Main Title

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful! And with thanks to John Williams for introducing this listener to "The Planets!".......2007-05-07

I bought this CD after a Tanglewood concert a few years ago where John Williams, focusing on movie music including his own compositions, also conducted "The Planets." I recognized "Jupiter" as the theme music for a WQXR (the New York Times radio station) "New York at 6" program. It was a treat to find out where that piece came from. When I listened to this beautifully performed CD, I was pleasantly surprised to see Mr. Williams' movie music included -- a brilliant move on the part of this item's producers (just listen to "Mars" and then to "Star Wars"). As another reviewer has suggested, it's not clear why his music was included, but there are similarities here which I'd love Mr. Williams to discuss some day. I've since become an avid amateur astronomer, and so the themes, musical and otherwise, projected in the works of Holst and Williams have become a special treat for the mind as well as the ear.

Streaming Space.......2006-11-17

Music to travel by - to the market, the mountain top - anywhere.
Beautiful music performed beautifully. A treat for the ears and
the soul.

ALMOST A REFERENCE RECORDING.......2006-11-10

Very good recording of The Planets. I like it even better than the Sir Alexander Gibson recording, although that was my previous favorite. This piece needs to be played dynamically, and Mehta certainly does that. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a certain amount of bombast and a decent workout for their woofers.

It Doesn't Get Much Better.......2006-09-26

This is the fourth recording of "The Planets" I've purchased, and I am extremely pleased. The Los Angeles Philharmonic was at its best here, and much of that was owed to the genius of its then director Zubin Mehta. Crisp arrangements, and a full orchestral sound is how you achieve the full effect of "The Planets." Other conductors should take note. Not my favorite, that honor still goes to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, under the leadership of Leopold Stokowski. But you definitely can't go wrong with this one.

A fine CD at a friendly price.......2006-09-01

I've heard several recordings of "The Planets," and I like this one very much. The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (with Zubin Mehta conducting) and the Los Angeles Master Chorale (Women's voices) do a fine job of capturing the drama of the work. And I think it was a good idea to couple it with a little of the outer-space-related music of John Williams.

Holst wrote selections about all eight planets, except for the Earth. But what about Pluto? Oh, wait, it got demoted last week! It's only a dwarf planet. Or maybe just a big rock. In any case, we hear some imaginative musical descriptions of the remaining planets.

I recommend this excellent performance.

Average customer rating:

Good selection
thunderous applause
Good Music at a Great Price
You will like this!
Good for the novice

25 Thunderous Classics

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004Y6SQ
Release Date: 2000-09-05

Tracks:

Also Sprach Zarathustra (Sunrise) - R. Strauss
Mars (The Planets) - Holst
Overture 1812 - Tchaikovsky
Entry Of The Gladiadtors - Fucik
Sabre Dance - Khachaturian
Procession Of The Sardar - Ippolitov Ivanov
Night On Bald Mountain - Mussorgsky
Anvil Chor (II Trovatore) - Verdi
The Thunderer March - Sousa
Thunder & Lightening Polka - J. Strauss
Prelude To Act III : Lohengrin - Wagner
The Ride Of The Valkryies - Wagner
Montagues & Capulets (Romeo & Juliet Ballet Suite) - Prokofiev
The Storm: Symphony No. 6 In F Major, 'Pastorale' - Beethoven
Rondeau - Edward Carroll
Overture: Fireworks Music - Handel
March To The Scaffold: Symphonie Fantastique - Berlioz
LesToreadors - Bizet
William Tell Overture: Finale - Rossini
Revolutionary Study - Abbey Simon
Fanfare For The Common Man - Copland
Sym No. 1 'Titan' IV Sturmisch Bewegt (Excerpt) - Mahler
Augurs Of Spring From Rite Of Spring - Stravinsky
Russian Dance From Petrouchka - Stravinsky
The Great Gate At Kiev From Pictures At An Exhibition - Mussorgsky

Customer Reviews:

Good selection.......2005-10-02

I bought this CD to use in my classroom as listening examples. I'm not just a super big fan of some of the performances, but they are all good and for the price you can't beat it. That's why I gave it 5 stars. It's worth more than it costs by far.

thunderous applause.......2005-08-31

This is a who's-who of great pieces of music you have heard all of your life, and never knew the names and stories! I listened to it over and over in the car and had my own concert! A friend borrowed it to add music to his Home Movies and it was perfect!

Good Music at a Great Price.......2004-03-06

I bought this CD mostly for "Entry of the Gladiators," which everyone will recognize as classic circus music. The performance on this CD (by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops) is the best available version of Entry of the Gladiators. The rest of the CD offers mostly excerpts of classical music.

You will like this!.......2004-02-19

I had purchased an abundance of the "Favorites" collection and some were better than others.

This CD is at the top of them all. They may be short, but not that short. Wondrous music.

I can almost guarantee that you will like this music.
Well worth the price!

Good for the novice.......2002-06-08

The recordings on this disc are pretty good. However, the editors selected only the *loud* parts, as indicated by the title. I was pretty disappointed to find that the pieces are, in many cases, edited to reflect the most famous themes, etc, instead of including the whole work. In general, I would recommend this to the classical music novice, or someone who wants to expand their knowledge of classical music in general. Those who already are familiar with these pieces will probably feel gypped.

Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)

Average customer rating:

THIS WAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WAVE FOR '93
10 Stars (The Best Hip-Hop Album I Own)
1 of a kind
4.5 stars: They could have ruled if there wasn't a group called A Tribe Called Quest.......
They Changed Your Boogie 'Cause Your Boogie Had To Change {5 Stars}

Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)
Digable Planets
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000000W31
Release Date: 1993-09-27

Tracks:

It's Good To Be Here
Pacifics (From The Soundtrack To The Motion Picture 'N.Y. Is Red Hot')
Where I'm From
What Cool Breezes Do
Time & Space (A New Refutation Of)
Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)
Last Of The Spiddyocks
Jimmi Diggin Cats
La Femme Fetal
Escapism (Gettin' Free)
Appointment At The Fat Clinic
Nickel Bags
Swoon Units
Examination Of What

Amazon.com

Digable Planets deliberately disavowed the toughness of hip-hop culture: the trio's leader called himself Butterfly, his foil Ladybug purred like Eartha Kitt, and they produced hooks out of lines like "We're just babies, man." Despite occasional flashes of sorrow (like the pro-choice recitation "La Femme Fétal"), the group's happy and laidback on this debut, with tracks made out of old jazz records and finger-snaps, and words that draw on 50s hipster slang. Reachin' spawned the Grammy-winning single "Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)," and after this album, their joyous Blue Note-and-black-lights bounce lost some of its novelty. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews:

THIS WAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WAVE FOR '93.......2007-01-25

this album was a sigh of relief at the time along with MIDNIGHT MARAUDERS. i was tired of the west coast stuff by this time. then i hear this bass solo on this night mix. at first i thought it was some straight ahead jazz thang, and then i heard WE LIKE THE BREEZE FLOW STRAIGHT OUT OF OUR LIDS...............and i was like whahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. i was hooked from then on. this album was like coke instead of kool aid at dinner for me. it is a jazzy, breezy, and flowing brand of hip hop that i had not heard before. yes, they were obviously inspired by ATCQ, BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT in that they seem to dig deeper...........into the planet. from beginning to end i love it.......though it wanes a bit in the middle. at the end it picks back up where the first couple of songs began. i hated that they broke up when they did. i think that they could've done some groundbreaking things in hip hop. i wonder what they could've done had they started their own label and had all the control that they desired.

10 Stars (The Best Hip-Hop Album I Own).......2007-01-21

Yes, indeed, the title says it all. Many reviewers may think that that's a bold statement, but yo, it is what it is. Digable Planets IS hip-hop. Listening to this album, and their follow up "Blowout Comb", just gives me a feeling that I just dont get listening to other hip-hop records. DP gives me a feelin that I dont even get from the greats: Biggie, Jay, Nas, Pac, etc. I think the main reason is because their sound is just so different. Not only is this hip-hop, this is MUSIC!! The way DP brings the world of hip-hop with jazz is just genius. I love the beats, the instruments, their lyrics, their flow, and their voices. I just hate that I slept on these cats back in 93-94, but hey, it wasnt entirely my fault. The west coast had the game locked back then. But yo, I'm elated that I finally woke up, albeit 12 years later.
I love the follow up, "Blowout Comb" (the album that actually turned me on to DP; I heard Blowout Comb first) but I would have to say that "Reachin" is slightly better. The two albums are different to me. "Reachin" is just "feel good", jazzy hip hop, and "Blowout Comb" is "chill", jazzy hip hop. I prefer "Reachin" cause, even though I'm a laid back cat, I rather "feel good" than to "chill". "Reachin" is #1 for me as far as hip hop goes, and "Blowout Comb" is 1A.

1) It's Good To Be Here--9.5/10- What a way to get things jumpin off
2) Pacifics--9.5/10- This track is "red hot"
3) Where I'm From--10/10- My favorite joint on the album. It just feels so good.
4) What Cool Breezes Do--10/10- So chill, i love the instruments
5) Time and Space--8/10- didnt feel it initially, now i love it!
6) Rebirth of Slick--10/10- this joint is just classic like that
7) Last of the Spiddyocks--9/10
8) Jimmi Diggin Cats--8.5/10
9) La Femme Fetal--9/10-This isnt a song, it's just like a poem to a cool beat. Butterfly gets deep on this one.
10) Escapism--10/10- i love it. so funky, yet so chill
11) Appointment at the Fat Clinic--7/10
12) Nickel Bags--10/10- you'll be high off DP after this joint
13) Swoon Units--10/10- "Run and tell yo mama bout this"
14) Examination of What--9/10

1 of a kind.......2007-01-05

just listen.

just listen again.

let it sink in

good positive vibes
mathematics
love peace, freedom

4.5 stars: They could have ruled if there wasn't a group called A Tribe Called Quest..............2006-12-25

Tribe ruled jazz rap, so there was little room for late comers. Digable had some good joints though and great mc chemistry.

Top Joints:
New York
Last of the Spiddyocks
Cool Like Dat (CLassic)
Escapism (Gettin' Free)
Nickel Bags of Funk (CLassic)
Swoon Units

They Changed Your Boogie 'Cause Your Boogie Had To Change {5 Stars}.......2006-12-09

When three unknown cats from NY dropped this jewel in '93, they changed the way people approached hip hop jazz. They weren't the first to do it, but they dropped one of the best albums in the entire sub genre. Tracks like "Jimmi Diggin' Cats", "Nickel Bags", "Where I'm From" (which has an even better remix), and "Swoon Units" are easily classics while "Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat)" is one of those songs where you remember exactly what you were doing the first time you heard it. There's no denying the quality of this album. The album is produced entirely by Butterfly (now known as Cherrywine) and the beats are nothing less than perfection. This joint is easily a classic. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Despite what some other reviewers are telling you, there is NOTHING wrong with this album. It's flawless from top to bottom. Actually, now that I think about it, forget about standout tracks, the whole album is tight.

Reachin' is one of those albums that are so great that they're practically impossible to duplicate. The vibe captured on this album still holds up great 13 years after it's release. This is a hip hop must have. If you dig the marriage of hip hop and jazz, then do yourself a favor and grab this album. You should also check out their 2nd LP (Blowout Comb). Though it sounds nothing like this album, it's just as tight. They would disband after their sophomore release, but they certainly made magic while they were together. I recommend making this a collection piece.

Standout Tracks: La Femme Fetal, Where I'm From, Nickel Bags, What Cool Breezes Do, Swoon Units, Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat), Jimmi Diggin' Cats (My Favorite), Escapism (Gettin' Free), Time & Space (A New Refutation Of), and Appointment At The Fat Clinic

Average customer rating:

Holst
Good music, iffy CD
Good for the average listener

Holst: The Planets
Holst
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000065AR0
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Tracks:

Mars, The Bringer Of War
Venus, The Bringer Of Peace
Mercury, The Winged Messenger
Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity
Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age
Uranus, The Magician
Neptune, The Mystic

Customer Reviews:

Holst.......2007-04-02

I purchased this product for a gift. The person that I gave it to loved it. They said that they use it to go to sleep. They are really happy with the product.

Good music, iffy CD.......2007-03-08

For the price, this is actually a very good, dynamic rendition of The Planets. The production quality of the actual media may be iffy, though - when I went to rip it for MP3 the quick way, the brand-new CD introduced many, many gaps. It ended up taking EAC 5 hours on secure mode to finally make a rip without errors.

Good for the average listener.......2003-01-13

Good recording by the London Symphony here, under Geoffry Simon. I don't care for the "creative" variations on The Planets that I've heard, and this one seems to hold pretty true to what I consider the "real thing". (which I admit is subjective since I was born half a century after it's original performance)

There is a very large range between the soft and loud passages, which makes it difficult to listen to in noisy environments, but it's all the more emotionally moving that way when heard on a real stereo or when I've got good headphones on.

Nothing particularly sectacular, but a solid performance. If you're not looking for any one CD in particular, this is a good one to have.

Gustav Holst: The Planets, Op 32
Average customer rating:

Andre Previn-The Planets by JHA

Sometimes it's brilliant, sometimes it's not--but what did you expect with an interpretation of 'The Planets'?

Incredible music

Can't wait to go see it live!

From Mercury to Neptune...

Gustav Holst: The Planets, Op 32

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by Holst | Holst, Gustav | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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Symphonie Fantastique

ASIN: B000003CU0
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

l. Mars, The Bringer Of War
ll. Venus, The Bringer Of Peace
lll. Mercury, The Winged Messenger
lV. Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity
V. Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age
Vl. Uranus, The Magician
Vll. Neptune, The Mystic

Customer Reviews:

Andre Previn-The Planets by JHA.......2007-04-06

I did not rate this #5, but it came very close. Any musical work that involves Andre Previn can be relied on to be outstanding, and this one was no disapointment.. Gustav Holst created the musical images and Andre Previn brought gave them life.. A most enjoyable CD..

Sometimes it's brilliant, sometimes it's not--but what did you expect with an interpretation of 'The Planets'?.......2006-10-01

There are so many recordings of this work. I often wonder how Gustav Holst would have felt if he were to have come to realize just how many people would treasure his beloved suite, `The Planets.' And so, as we begin the Twenty-first Century, we retain the legacy of this work through its myriad interpretations. And many would agree that no one recorded interpretation perfectly satisfies our respective views of how the suite should be performed. In essence, there exists in the grand multiplicity of recordings of this work no single, definitive edition. It is therefore necessary for the devoted fan of Holst's most masterful suite to collect as many versions as feasible in order to hear different aspects of the work performed to his or her native expectations.

And so we come to Andre Previn's interpretation of the suite. Overall, I believe Previn's is a competent performance. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra consistently produces satisfactory material (dare I mention Louis Clark's work with this orchestra on the Hooked On Classics series, a collection of albums for which many enthusiasts keep their deep affection a closely guarded secret), and Previn leads them very well in this recording. The best way to describe his performance here is that it offends no one--his tempi are within the range most people deem "acceptable," he does not emphasize any particular section within the orchestra, and he does not take any glaring liberties with the score. For that reason, I would say that Previn is a very good place for those who are searching for their first recording of `The Planets.'

However, we all have our preferences; some will find other versions far more enjoyable than Previn/RPO, and others will cite this one as the definitive recording. As for myself, I would have to say I fall in the middle. Previn's is a very good interpretation, but it is not my favorite. So far, James Levine/Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Charles Dutoit/Montreal Symphony Orchestra split that honor.

What follows is a detailed description of the five tracks to which I regularly listen. Note that my comments are restricted purely to Previn's interpretation of the suite; I assume my readers will have heard the work and are searching for a suitable recording.

"Mars, The Bringer Of War" - Previn is somewhat staid in this movement. Of course, my objectivity is somewhat compromised in that I have heard the Levine recording of the suite--one feels like he has just removed cotton balls from his ears when he hears the savage treatment the Chicago Symphony Orchestra brass give Holst's melodies. Previn takes a slightly faster tempo in this movement than that to which I am accustomed. The orchestra plays flawlessly, everything is exactly in place, yet the overall effect seems somewhat lost. The dynamics are too compressed, I believe. Even so, the brass section has a very nice tone, and the balance between sections is very nice. My final verdict is that you have not heard this movement performed to its full effect until you have heard Levine/CSO.

"Venus, The Bringer Of Peace" - Maestro Previn does better in this movement. The overall mood is captured beautifully, even though I prefer the soloists in Dutoit's recording (they are not bad here; it's just personal preference on my part for which I will not take away any points). Previn excels at delicate, pensive passages in exactly the manner that Levine does not. Levine is all about power and pomp, which shows on his interpretation of "Venus"--it sounds aimless and rushed. Even though I have praised Previn here, Dutoit/MSO remains the authority on this movement.

"Mercury, The Winged Messenger" - Yes! Previn does it here. His interpretation of this piece is superior to that of either Levine or Dutoit. The section beginning around the one-minute mark, where soli are passed between instruments, is beautiful in the extreme. The dynamic shifts throughout the movement are musical and pleasing. The balance between sections--especially important in this movement--is very well handled. Based on this performance, Previn sounds to me as though he might interpret Mendelssohn well (I should look into that).

"Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity" - This is by far my favorite movement in the suite. For me, the middle section of this movement ties with the haunting theme from the second movement of Dvorak's Ninth Symphony as the most beautiful melody in all music. Previn really delivers in this section. Of the three recordings I have, I would have to say that Previn's middle section is my second favorite (after Dutoit, even though he meddles with the score somewhat with some omissions of instruments). It would be my favorite if it were not for the flat, lifeless production. I will comment on the production later on in the review. As for the remainder of the piece, Previn brings to the surface many elements which often go unnoticed in other versions. In particular, Dutoit's version is bereft much of the interesting background instrumentation that is heard loud and clear in Previn's version. Previn takes a somewhat slower tempo than I have usually heard for this movement, perhaps to facilitate greater accuracy. In that capacity he succeeds brilliantly; technically, this is the finest recording of the three I own. Overall, this is a very solid recording of one of my favorite movements in all classical music.

"Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age" - This is yet another shining moment for Previn. The dynamics are divine, the tempo is perfect, and the brass sounds particularly rich and wonderful. Previn voiced this section particularly well in this movement. The strings are smooth, the woodwinds expressive, and the percussion is spot-on. While the Dutoit recording might be just a little better (simply because of the soul-vibrating bass at the end of the movement--unequaled in any other recording), the distance between the two is so small that, on some days, I prefer Previn.

As for the next two movements, my objectivity fails. This is possibly because I have not heard either of them in over seven years. They are both far too abstract for my liking.

And now we come to the production quality. I cannot attest to the quality of other Telarc productions, but this one is absolutely pitiful. The high ranges sound dull and lifeless, the midrange is muddy and unfocused, and there seems to be a peak somewhere around the 130 to 160 Hz range that makes the music sound bloated. Additionally, the dynamics seem compressed somewhat (perhaps it is Telarc, and not Andre Previn, that has truncated the dynamic flow of "Mars"), and the recording level is very low (one must set the volume on the playback device to near maximum to experience an acceptable level). The poor quality actually mars my enjoyment of the suite and my evaluation of Previn's work. This is particularly apparent to me in "Jupiter", possibly because this is my favorite movement in the suite. As I said before, the middle section in Previn's interpretation would be my absolute favorite were it not for this lamentable production. Of the three recordings I own, Levine's is the best sonically. One could really believe he is in the hall listening to a live performance. Dutoit's is acceptable (it is a little weak in the bass and the strings sound a little harsh), considering that its sonic imperfections do not detract considerably from the experience.

Of course, that is my opinion. Your miles may vary.

However, despite the poor production, I would still recommend this recording as a solid reference as to how the suite should be performed. For the prospective buyer it would make an excellent first recording of the work, and it is also a fine supplementary purchase, even though it is fairly expensive. I would also recommend the other two recordings I have periodically mentioned: James Levine/Chicago Symphony Orchestra (on Deutsche Grammophon) and Charles Dutoit/Montreal Symphony Orchestra (on Decca/Penguin Classics). Beyond these are Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker, Leonard Bernstein/New York Philharmonic, and Sir Adrian Boult's various recordings with different orchestras. I have heard none of these, but they are considered to be fine recordings of the suite.

Incredible music.......2006-07-31

I first heard "The Planets" at a barn concert in Wisconsin's Door County (an orchestra of high schoolers). As soon as I could get to a computer I ordered this opus recording and it is very good. The live performance was better than this recording but aren't they always??

Can't wait to go see it live!.......2006-07-04

I love the Planets, possibly my favorite Classical symphony. Holst was the best at what he did! From the highly rythmic section of mars, to the more lyrical section of Jupiter, to the strange sections of Uranus. It's great! Even better is the Rockford Symphony is doing this in Feb. I can't wait to see it! Go listen to this!

From Mercury to Neptune..........2006-02-03

I'd have to say that this is the finest recording of Gustav Holst's "The Planets" I've ever heard. Previn handles the tempi and the aggression/coolness of every segment very well. The Royal Philharmonic does a good job with the passion and power of Holst's most famous piece. Absolutely a must.

Passion - Most Famous Orchestral Spectaculars [20 CD Set]

Average customer rating:

Wonderful set of orchestral music for an amazing price
A good gift for novice

Passion - Most Famous Orchestral Spectaculars [20 CD Set]

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sarah Vaughan 3 CD Set (LP edition packaging)

ASIN: B00012QLTQ
Release Date: 2003-12-09

Album Description

Music can be both calming and relaxing, or invigorating and passionate...this phenomenal 20-CD set is definitely the latter. This amazing collection brings together for the first time the most passionate music of all time, from Ravel's Bolero, Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, Wagner's Magic Fire Music to Ravel's La Valse, Orff 's Carmina Burana and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. This is a must have collection for every passionate music lover.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful set of orchestral music for an amazing price.......2007-08-05

I will admit that when I first ordered this 20 cd set from Amazon I was very skeptical and hesitant. I figured what kind of quality am I going to get for $16.97?! But when I got it in the mail and started listening to some of the cd's I was more than pleasantly surprised. The music contents on each is cd has the complete versions of the each song or theme. You know how a lot of cd sets just have the short versions or arrangemnts of songs to cut down on the price, but not on this set. Every cd runs anywhere from 1 hour to 2 hours of listening time. Even though the box set is called orchestral spectaculars if you like piano music there is a Liszt cd in the set with The Fantasy on Beethoven's The Ruins of Athens for piano, Malediction for piano and orchestra and Grande Fantasie Symphonique on Berlioz's Lelio for piano and orchestra. There is also a Rachmaninov in the set with his First Piano Concerto in F Sharp Minor and the original full length 30 minute version of his Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Even if you listen to mostly piano music there are many versions based on them. For example, Brahms 21 Hungarian Dances that were written for solo piano, but in this set they are orchestrated. I had never heard the pieces like that before. It was nice to get a different perspective of the music. The same goes for Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition also written for piano, but here it is in a symphonic form and I enjoyed it just as much as the solo piano version. If you love opera, but are maybe someone that likes the orchestral part more than the singing there are many cd's in this set for that as well. There are 2 cd's of Wagner's music with my favorite prelude of all time Isolde's Love Death from Tristan and Isolde. Overtures from all of Rossini's and Rimsky Korsakov's operas. I think this cd would be a great place to start for someone who is new to classical music and doesn't want to spend a lot of money or if you love classical music as I do and want to hear new versions of your favorite pieces or just want to add to your cd collection you can do that for under $1.00 a cd. How many times have we all spent more than the price of this set for only one cd? I highly recommend this set. The sound quality and choices of music are excellent. Anyone who buys this will not be disappointed.

A good gift for novice.......2007-05-12

This was a good gift for somebody learning about Classical music in Japan.

Average customer rating:

Music of The Spheres
SOUNDS FINE TO ME
Goosebumps!
The way Holst was meant to be performed
...Celestial

Holst: The Planets

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird (Complete Ballet, 1910) / Alexander Scriabin: Prometheus - The Poem of Fire - Valery Gergiev / Kirov Orchestra, St. Petersburg / Alexander Toradze
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Holst: Planets, suite for orchestra (or pianos) Op32
Ravel: Bolero; Debussy, Mussorgsky / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Panorama: George Gershwin

ASIN: B0000041S7
Release Date: 1987-01-30

Tracks:

Mars, the Bringer Of War
Venus, the Bringer Of Peace
Mercury, the Winged Messenger
Jupiter, the Bringer Of Jollity
Saturn, the Bringer Of Old Age
Uranus, The Magician
Neptune, the Mystic

Amazon.com

Charles Dutoit often sounds better on disc than he does live. The reason for this is simple: he loves to play to the audience, and the result is all kinds of wild gesticulating that the orchestra knows perfectly well to ignore. Sometimes they ignore him completely, to the peril of the performance at hand. In the studio, however, there is no audience and the conductor is free to focus on the music. Dutoit has a real affection for The Planets and his performance is vital, insightful, and recorded in resplendent digital sound. The Montreal Symphony has a particularly powerful trombone section, which adds just that extra drop of energy to "Mars,"Jupiter," and "Saturn." A fine disc. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Music of The Spheres .......2007-07-21

Gustav Holst (1874-1934) was an English composer and music teacher of Swedish heritage, he composed his most famous piece of music, the orchestral suite "The Planets"- completed in 1916. Generally I don't like classical music (I like classic and indie-rock) I find a lot of it abstruse and pompous but occasionally I have to make an exception such as with The Planets or for Igor Stravinsky's: The Rite of Spring. I'd have to say that The Planets is my favorite and most beloved composition of classical music by a long shot. I generally like the composers of the early 20th century with their thoroughly modernist sensibilities and sense of experimentation that has resulted in some truly beautiful music.

Mr. Holst composed a lot more music than The Planets alone and I think he would be rather peeved that most of his oeuvre is overshadowed by his major orchestral accomplishment, but it can't be helped. The various movements of the music (Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) flow into one another slowly building into an exhilarating and glorious crescendo. The first movement rises up in a spirit of jubilation and triumphalism then the music slowly winds down again almost to a heartbeat. And the last movement is slow and melodic with a haunting orchestral choir singing in the background; it completes the suite on a gentle note. The Planets was inspired by Gustav Holst's interests in astronomy and astrology influenced by his long time friend Clifford Bax, he was also a student of ancient Hindu literature and language. If you are just getting interested in classical music "The Planets" is a good place to start, it is highly romantic yet thoroughly modern and relatively easy on the ears.

SOUNDS FINE TO ME.......2004-12-05

Most reviews I have read of this disc seem pretty pleased with both performance and recording. On the other hand I am just slightly influenced by some thoughtful comment I have seen that expresses a few reservations regarding the balance -- to me reviews are 'useful' if they show independent judgment, not if they support my preconceptions which are quite strong enough not to need reinforcing. What this account definitely is is vivid. The orchestral detail is very clear, but if I ask myself whether this is quite how The Planets sounds in the concert hall, then I'm not so sure. I like it this way, but this is not a piece where I am hard to please the way I am about performances of the Viennese classics or Ravel or Sibelius or Elgar or Walton. In general this is a very effective reading of The Planets. The tempi sound about right to me, no doubt because they are much what I am used to, and the playing and orchestral discipline are superb. This is the only disc of The Planets that I own or plan to own because it's not a work I'm fussy about, but connoisseurs may want to consider whether the effectiveness has been slightly overmanipulated by the recording technicians.

Goosebumps!.......2004-11-01

I get goosebumps just THINKING about this CD! I bought it almost 15 years ago, only interested in "Mars - The Bringer of War." At the time it was the only piece I was familiar with. At the time, I had also recently rediscovered the album, "Emerson, Lake and Powell" who did a rock version of "Mars...".

As I am so fond of saying in my reviews, the whole CD blew me away. There were such a wide range of moods included in these pieces from the power of "Mars..." to the sadness of "Saturn..." to the "Uranus..." which makes me feel I'm walking through a foggy wood, these songs still make me smile today.

The way Holst was meant to be performed.......2003-12-19

This is probably my alltime favorite orchestral work, and my most overplayed CD. The Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal does a superb job of interpreting Holst's most famous work.

Mars, for example, with its wide dynamic range, beginning with a very low pianissimo and hitting its climax later (as this movement should), is captured with all the tension and intensity worthy of "The Bringer of War." I played this CD at work one time, and one of my passing co-workers quipped, "boy, this sounds like Star Wars." I don't think he was aware of how appropriate of a description it was!

I also need to mention the segue between Tracks 6 and 7, the transition between Uranus and Neptune. The change is barely perceptible. Uranus ends very quietly, and Neptune begins equally so -- almost to the point where I can't tell one from the other. I have to respect an ensemble that can make this transition in this manner.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable album. If you've never heard this work before, I'd tell you to begin here.

...Celestial.......2003-04-14

Considering that this recording of Holst's most popular works is among a pioneer in digital recordings, it still outshines rival versions. Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra have a natural feeling for mood, rhythm and colour that transpire into the "Planets Suite" that have stood up through the years. The inspiration for "Planets Suite" started with just the simple facination Holst had with astrology that would transcend into music that never existed in english music before and is undoubtedly the most famous of large scale compositions and deservely so because it's a masterpiece in imagination.

Earth being excluded and Pluto yet not discovered, the seven planets would bare original character traits associated with the planets. Mars, the bringer of war starts off thunderously. Venus, the bringer of peace a nostalgic glance with his infatuation with Wagner. Mercury, the winged messenger submerged completely in impressionism, everything is dabs and dashes of sounds. Jupiter, the bringer of jollity, Holst's love of english folksong and dance would be adapted for a patriotic hymn. Saturn, the bringer of old age a procession that winds unrelentlessly. Uranus, the magician a nightmarish version of Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice. Neptune, the mystic is pure impressionism, a blank picture, all atmosphere...one of the most awe inspiring intimations of the infinite. It ends hauntingly with the receding voices of the Montreal's women chorus.

Blowout Comb
Average customer rating:

G*d Save the DP's

Just the best hip-hop album ever.

The Quintessential Hip-Hop Album!

PUT THIS IN YOUR STEREO AND GET BLOWN OUT!

Beats giving life like air...

Blowout Comb
Digable Planets
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)

Beyond the Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles

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Midnight Marauders

ASIN: B00000HFM2
Release Date: 1994-10-18

Tracks:

Slowes' Comb: The May 4th Movement Starring Doodlebug
Slowes' Comb: Black Ego
Slowes' Comb: Dog It
Slowes' Comb: Jettin'
Slowes' Comb: Borough Check
Slowes' Comb: Highing Fly
Agent 7 Creamy Spy Theme: Dial 7 (Axioms Of Creamy Spies)
Ny 21 Theme: The Art Of Easing
Ny 21 Theme: K.B.'s Alley (Mood Dudes Groove)
Ny 21 Theme: Graffiti
Ny 21 Theme: Blowing Down
Ny 21 Theme: 9th Wonder (Blackitolism)
Ny 21 Theme: For Corners

Amazon.com

In 1993, the Digable Planets, a trio of New York MCs with happy insect monikers (Doodlebug, Butterfly, and Ladybug) and nonthreatening auras, created manna for the pseudo-beatnik crowd. On Reachin': A New Refutation of Time and Space they melded jazz records, hip-hop beats, and rhymes--like Gang Starr and the Dream Warriors before them. Much to their dismay, the single "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)," which combined their be-boppy flows with a catchy Art Blakey loop, captured the clove cigarette contingent. Their sleeper follow-up, Blowout Comb was a De La Soul-esque reaction to their pop success. They forsook the bohemians (and probably scared them as well) by waxing poetic about the Black Panthers and Fidel Castro and giving shout-outs to their peeps in the Five Percent Nation of Islam. Loaded with live instrumentation, the album includes "Black Ego," an interpolation of a popular Meters composition laced with nice guitar plucks, and "K.B.'s Alley," where a schizophrenic trombone perfectly complements their wordplay. Despite strong guest spots by vet female DJ Jazzy Joyce, Guru, and Jeru the Damaja, it's the hidden messages, somber mood, and understated beats of "9th Wonder (Blackitolism)" or "Dial 7 (Axiom Of Creamy Spies)" that outshine the gloss of their debut. --Dalton Higgins

Customer Reviews:

G*d Save the DP's.......2007-04-28

Got this album when it first came out, then let someone borrow it and never saw it again. I just recently picked it up again. After listening to the whole thing through, I realized that this has to be the most nuanced hip-hop album ever made. It's almost depressing to listen to because this album makes you realize just how incredibly horrible hip-hop has become since. Of course, there's the ever-present but useless debate about which DP album is better but it just doesn't matter anymore. The DP's are artists in every sense and each track on this album is lovingly crafted and the whole thing just resonates with fierce creativity and a sensitivity not found anymore in this once groundbreaking genre that isn't so groundbreaking anymore.

Just the best hip-hop album ever........2007-02-12

Well this is the fourth time I've bought this album, but if something happens to this copy I will be happy to buy it again. It's just that good! This album is a must have for anyone who likes real hip-hop.

The Quintessential Hip-Hop Album!.......2007-02-11

I first got hooked on this abum in my college days in the mid 1990's. It's awesome: rap, jazz, hip hop and infectious grooves all mixed together. I loved it and went to their subsequent concert. The concert was an out-of-this world experience.

The first of this album that I bought was a cassette tape which got played so much that it broke. I then went out and bought a CD: it got played so much that my CD player damaged it. I've yet gone out and bought the CD yet again and this time play it on MP3. This is the only album that I've ever bought a record 3 times! It's that good.

Now years later, I have yet to hear anything quite like this.
Long live the Dig P's!

PUT THIS IN YOUR STEREO AND GET BLOWN OUT!.......2006-07-27

I FIRST HEARD THIS ALBUM BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN IT CAME OUT. I WAS HONEST TO MY FRIEND WHO BOUGHT IT, ABOUT THE FACT THAT I DID NOT REALLY FEEL THIS ALBUM THEN. IN 1991-1992, I LISTENED TO GROUPS LIKE "TRIBE CALLED QUEST", " DE LA SOUL" AND "MAIN SOURCE" AND THEY HAD THAT JAZZ FEEL, BUT THEN SUCH HARDCORE ACTS FROM 1993 AND ON LIKE "SNOOP DOGGY DOGG", "DR.DRE", "ONYX", "BLACKMOON", "WU-TANG CLAN" AND MORE ECCLECTIC ACTS LIKE, "JERU THE DAMAJA" "PUDGEE THE PHAT BASTARD", AND "THE ALKAHOLIKS" WERE PLAYING IN MY STEREO.

I WASN'T USED TO THE JAZZY SMOOTH BEATS OF A "COOL LIKE DAT" TYPE OF HIP-HOP GROUP FOR A WHILE. AFTER ABOUT 1 MORE YEAR, GANGSTA/STREET RAP WERE THE LEAST FAVORITE OF RAP, AND THE SMOOTH JAZZ FLOWED BACK THROUGH MY HEADPHONES AGAIN. SO I TOOK MY FRIENDS ADVICE AND BOUGHT "BLOWOUT COMB". I AM HONEST TO SAY, THAT THIS ALBUM HAS NOT BEEN OUT OF MY STEREO SINCE THEN.

THE GROUP CONSISTS OF THREE INDIVIDUALS,
1. BUTTERFLY - Ishmael Butler, Brooklyn, New York, USA
2. LADYBUG - Mary Ann Vierra, Silver Springs, Maryland, USA
3. DOODLEBUG - Craig Irving, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

THE THREE ALL LIVED IN DIFFERENT STATES, BUT MET UP, AND LOVED EACH OTHERS STYLES, SO GOT TOGETHER AND RECORDED. EACH MC'S FLOWS ARE ON POINT, YET DIFFERENT. ALL HAVE SINCE GONE ON TO MAKE THEIR OWN SOLO CAREERS, AND RELEASE A 2005/06 ALBUM CONSISTING OF 3 NEW TRACKS, AND REMIXES OF THEIR OLD BANGING TRACKS.

THIS ALBUM IS GOOD FOR EVERYTHING. RELAXING, SMOKING WEED, WAKING UP, FALLING ASLEEP, IN YOUR CAR, IN YOUR HOME, ETC. BELOW IS THE TRACK LISTING, WHICH IS THE ENTIRE ALBUM, AND NOT ONE OF THESE TRACK, SHOULD BE SKIPPED, BECAUSE THERE IS
1. NO FILLER
&
2. NO MEDIOCRE TRACK

1. The May 4th Movement Starring Doodlebug
2. Black Ego
3. Dog It
4. Jettin'
5. Borough Check
6. Highing Fly
7. Dial 7 (Axioms Of Creamy Spies)
8. The Art Of Easing
9. K.B.'s Alley (Mood Dudes Groove)
10.Graffiti
11.Blowing Down
12.9th Wonder (Blackitolism)
13 For Corners

MY PERSONAL FAVE IS TRACK 8. I HOPE THIS HELPED. PEACE.

Beats giving life like air..........2006-07-24

Once upon a time a group called Digable Planets released a debut album that was original, fresh and promising. Many people wondered...can it be topped? Such fears were laid to rest when this same group, a short time later, released what is arguably the best hip hop album of the 90s (and is undisputably in the top 5). When Blowout Comb came out, as is often justifiably the case when a group follows up a debut album with an even stronger second album, many people were probably thinking "oh yeah, the Planets are here to stay". But then...nothing. After this amazing album they literally disappeared. Why? Butterfly, Doodle, Ladybug...what happened? In a sea of mediocrity and straight up bad, violence glorifying crap-hop you three stood out and lit the way for a promising, peaceful beat-loving generation of "funk in all its forms", and then you vanished, leaving the stage open for all the bling bling crap that followed. In the time since nobody has really stepped up to take your place, and it saddens me. Hip hop has so much potential, and nowhere, to my knowledge, has that potential been so fully realized as in your two albums, and I can't help but wonder what happened.

Holst: The Planets/John Williams: Star Wars/Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra

Average customer rating:

The planets are magnificent, and the cd is excelent
Lovely
If you like John Williams soundtracks, you'll love this!
You gotta love it! Perfect for the Sci-Fi fan.
Out of This World

Holst: The Planets/John Williams: Star Wars/Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Holst: The Planets / R. Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on Bald Mountain
The Planets in Full Score
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ASIN: B0000042G5
Release Date: 1998-01-13

Tracks:

The Planets: I - Mars, The Bringer Of War
The Planets: II - Venus, The Bringer Of Peace
The Planets: III - Mercury, The Winged Messenger
The Planets: IV - Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity
The Planets: V - Saturn, The Bringer Of Old Age
The Planets: VI - Uranus, The Magician
The Planets: VII - Neptune, The Mystic
Close Encounters Of The Third Kind: Close Encounters Of The Third Kind - Suite

Tracks:

Also Sprach Zarathustra: Introduction
Also Sprach Zarathustra: Of The Backworldsmen
Also Sprach Zarathustra: Of The Great Longing
Also Sprach Zarathustra: Of Joys And Passions
Also Sprach Zarathustra: Song Of The Grave
Also Sprach Zarathustra: Of Science
Also Sprach Zarathustra: The Convalescent
Also Sprach Zarathustra: Dance Song
Also Sprach Zarathustra: Night Wanderer's Song
Star Wars - Suite: I - Main Title
Star Wars - Suite: II - Princess Leia's Theme
Star Wars - Suite: III - The Little people
Star Wars - Suite: Cantina Band
Star Wars - Suite: IV - The Battle
Star Wars - Suite: V - The Throne Room And End Title

Customer Reviews:

The planets are magnificent, and the cd is excelent.......2007-01-09

I love the Planets Suite, and I was looking for a cd of the Planets to buy. When I saw this one with the Star Wars Suite. Close Encounters of the Third Kind, AND Also Sprach Zarathustra at this low of a price, I was hooked

Lovely.......2006-11-04

I've thoroughly enjoyed both CD's. I do wish the Holst and Strauss pieces were a little louder, but I guess that's my radio's problem.

If you like John Williams soundtracks, you'll love this!.......2003-12-19

Okay, so the album isn't all John Williams. However, I think the selections to create this album were superb! You get the best of outer space soundtracks with this double CD set!

I should mention that I enjoy this album merely because of the works used to put it together. Some of the interpretations left a bit to be desired (hence, the reason why I give this only four, instead of five, stars). For example, I felt the horn player in "Mars" (the first movement of "The Planets") was too overbearing (I thought he/she overdid the vibrato, among other things), rather than subtle (as done in the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal's version, ASN# B0000041S7 -- check out my review of that album). Additionally, I wasn't too crazy about "Cantina Band" in "Star Wars" -- it's not that I don't like the piece (I do!); rather, the fade out by the sound engineer was unnatural and inappropriate for an orchestral work. (C'mon, shouldn't a fine group led by the great Zubin Metha be able to perform a decrescendo ending without any electronic help?)

Criticism aside, let me say that I LOVE this album! Even though I might attack the performance quality, I loved how the works were selected and organized. If you're a fan of sci-fi or action/adventure soundtracks, you'll thoroughly enjoy what you hear!

You gotta love it! Perfect for the Sci-Fi fan........2002-11-28

This is a great CD for the Sci-Fi fan. It has all of the music that you could want. It has the classic "Star Wars Suite" from " Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope," but it also includes the "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" suite from Lucas' director buddy, Steven Spielberg.

The compilers got another bull's-eye by including Holst's "The Planets," which is the source for the themes of Star Wars. For example, play "Mars," then listen to the themes associated with the Empire. Or play "Venus" and compare that to "Princess Leia's Theme." And the similarities between "Mercury" and "The Little People" are too obvious to state.

"The Cantina Theme" is strong, except for the bridge. In the original recording there were steel drums that are conspicuously absent.

For some reason, the entire "Also Sprach Zarathustra" was included on the CD. The introduction was made famous by "2001: A Space Odyssey," but the rest of the opus has been forgotten. I think they just had extra space on the CD, so they included the rest of the composition. Whatever reason, we are better for hearing all of the music that was based on Nietzsche's philosophical book of the same name.

The recording is clear and sharp, and I have had no technical problems with the CD skipping. The cover-art has some of those unusual pictures from the Hubble Telescope that gives the entire product that sense of otherness we all crave.

Out of This World.......2002-06-30

This is the version of "Star Wars" you want. It has the raucus, almost bawdy victorious power you remember from the movie.

Likewise are the other pieces. Besides being the themes from "Star Wars", "2001: A Space Odyssey", "Close Encounters", there is the classical classic (can I say that?) work, "The Planets" by Holst.

I think the them to 2001 ("Thus Spake Zarathustra") also was the intro the famous Macintosh commerical (1984 Superbowl?).

These are more than pop-culture favorites that happen to be orchestral works. They are sophisticated and poetic, with more than easy melodies sweeping occasionally.

These are the complete suites. You might remember the glorious intro to 2001, but enjoy with this CD the full piece: almost 33 minutes.

The pace and range of the music undulates from serene, almost pastoral quietude to raging, fist in air excitement.

I fully recommend "Holst: The Planets/John Williams: Star Wars/Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra."

Anthony Trendl

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