China: Classical Music

1. Liushui

2. Gaoshan Linshui

3. Hangong Qiu Yue

4. Shimian Maifu

5. Zhegu Fei

6. Sishang Xiang - Tu Chunxi, ,

7. Ting Song

8. Ying Diao

9. Yimeng Shan

10. Qionghan Ge

11. Dalang Tao Sha

12. Xiu Hebao - Wang Yifu

13. Liu Yao Jin

14. Fei Fua Dian Cui

15. Haiqing Ge - Wang Boyun,

16. Changmen Yan - Xia Fuxi

17. Pu'an Zhou

China: Classical Music,Various Artists,Ocora,China,China / Japan / Korea,Chinese,Chinese Classical,Int'l & World Music,Pop,World Music

Average customer rating: Quite enjoyable and varied Enjoyable and lovely, but "traditional"? Where is it? Excellent Chinese Orchestrial Music Great Music for T'ai Chi

Phases Of The Moon: Traditional Chinese Music Various Artists Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music China | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music China | Far East | Compilations | International | Styles | Music General | Far East | Compilations | International | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | International General | International | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | International General | International | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Far East & Asia | International | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Far East & Asia | International | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Classical Chinese Folk Music Masterpieces of Chinese Traditional Music Chinese Bamboo Flute Music Eleven Centuries of Traditional Music of China Spirit on Two Strings ASIN: B0000025JB Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. The Moon Mirrored In The Pool
2. The Moon On High
3. Days Of Emancipation
4. Dance Of The Yao People
5. Peking Opera Melody: Flowing Water - Trad. Inst. Orch. Of The Central Conservatory
6. Tashwayi - Orch. Of The Shanghai Phil.Society/Peking Opera Society Of Shanghai
7. Spring In The Pamir Plateau - Li Tatong
8. Purple Bamboo Melody - Orch. Of The Shanghai Phil.Society/Peking Opera Society Of Shanghai
9. Dancing In The Moonlight
10. Song Of The Herdsmen - Trad. Inst. Orch. Of The Central Conservatory
11. Spring on A Moonlit River

Customer Reviews:

Quite enjoyable and varied.......2007-08-04

I wanted some music to accompany a slide show I was making of China trip photos. I am happy with this purchase. Many of the songs are very old and take an educated palate to appreciate (not a palate weaned on American pop tunes) but I also found some snappy ditties that work fine for any audience, and work well with my slides.

Enjoyable and lovely, but "traditional"?.......2007-07-27

This delightful CD is surprisingly melodic and Western. It is "traditional" only in the sense that the instruments are traditional. Otherwise it sounds heavily influenced by the Occident. Which is not to detract from its beauty or the virtuosity of the musicians. One would have appreciated more informative liner notes.

Where is it?.......2007-04-02

I bet I'd enjoy this CD, but one month after ordering it, I am still awaiting delivery.

Excellent Chinese Orchestrial Music.......2007-02-14

If you're only going to get one album of Chinese music, this is the one for you. Most all of the pieces on this album are winners.
After a while this music all blends together in that one piece sounds like an extension of another, but I love this album.

Great Music for T'ai Chi.......2006-08-27

I was looking for appropriate background music for practising T'ai Chi and this album was pretty good. The best cut for my purposes was "The Moon Mirrored in the Pool". It is smooth and slow, just right for T'ai Chi.

Average customer rating: The way Chinese ensemble should be played Frequency and Dynamic Range Not one of the best... Brought me back to my childhood Best of Genre

Masterpieces of Chinese Traditional Music Chinese Instrumental Ensemble Manufacturer: Wind Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD China | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music China | Far East | Compilations | International | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Phases Of The Moon: Traditional Chinese Music Classical Chinese Folk Music Eleven Centuries of Traditional Music of China Chinese Bamboo Flute Music Tortoise: Chinese Feng Shui Music ASIN: B000005ARL Release Date: 1995-09-30

Tracks:

1. Dancing Song Of The Yao Tribe
2. The Moon Over Wall Gate In Frontier
3. The Moon Is High In The Heavens
4. Parting At Yang Guan
5. Spring Rivers And Flowers Under The Moonlight
6. Melodys From The Night Fisherman
7. A Legendary Couple: Scholar Liang And Lady Chou

Customer Reviews:

The way Chinese ensemble should be played.......2006-06-05

Except for the insertion of the cello which is obviously not a chinese trad instrument, the ensemble plays all pieces masterfully. Even with the cello the emotion of these chinese masterpieces are most beautifully performed on this cd. The sound quality is superb. I feel nauseated when listen to mixmatched traditional instruments with modern big sound westernized electrically special effected symphonized performance. There's places for improvisation and places for masterpieces. For oriental musics, art is a (only) way to express mood and emotion (culturally those people don't express their feelings in any other way). When listen to these musics I would suggest the listener let their feeling go with the music. Better yet if the story behind the music is understood. This is another aspect of the beauty of this cd, you could even feel the whole ensemble move as one unified sound from serene to excitement to lamentation to joy to sorrow to nostalgic to strength. Yet, true to its oriental tradition, each individual instrument clearly expresses its own beauty in each piece. It is not lounge music. It is not symphonic music. It is traditional chinese masterpiece.

ps. imagine people in asia would say the same thing about western symphonic music: that they are for elevator, oh no, elevator is not that popular in those poor third world countries so, they are for sleepy time :)

Frequency and Dynamic Range.......2004-05-12

If you prefer easy listening music or music with a minimum of high and low pitches and a minimum of loud and soft passages, much like music played in lounges, this album should please you. If you like Beethoven symphonies or Mingus jazz you would probably be happier with these albums: "Phases of the Moon"(full orchestra), "Classical Chinese Folk Music" or even "Music from the People's Republic".

Not one of the best..........2002-03-27

I dissapointed in quality of album, songs too modern, not tradition enough. For real fan of chinese classical, sound not enough Chinese!!! Much song too westernized. You should like to try album of the title "Rain Dropping On The Banana Tree". It has the old songs actually record in old time, not much western influence, is more traditional opera and chamber music. Earliest date for song recorded on that album is 1903!!!!

...

Brought me back to my childhood.......2001-04-10

Those songs reminded me of my young schooling days sitting next to a musical hall, where beautiful trad Chinese music was practiced non-stop. Little did I know that those days influenced me well into my adulthood, was I lucky to have day dreamed away in my math class, being carried away with those fabulous musical pieces. Thank heavens.

Best of Genre.......2000-08-21

This CD is everything you could hope to find in an example of traditional Chinese music. It soothes, exites, and stirs the imagination. Buy this one first.

Average customer rating: Successful crossing over from East to West One of the best solo guitar albums I have ever heard Virtuoso playing and an unusual repetoire

Si ji (Four Seasons) Manufacturer: Gsp Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Romance de Amor Paul Galbraith: French Impressions Mel Bay presents Ana Vidovic: Guitar Virtuoso David Russell: Art of the Guitar A Jug of Wine and Thou ASIN: B000AXWHEY Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

1. Wang Huiran: Yi Dance
2. He Luting: Shepherd Boy with Flute
3. Dietmar Ungerrank: Intonation & 4 Sound-and-Image Compositions - Intonation
4. Dietmar Ungerrank: Intonation & 4 Sound-and-Image Compositions - Long Out-stretched Pier with its Shadows
5. Dietmar Ungerrank: Intonation & 4 Sound-and-Image Compositions - Wind on The Hill
6. Dietmar Ungerrank: Intonation & 4 Sound-and-Image Compositions - Waiting for Guests
7. Dietmar Ungerrank: Intonation & 4 Sound-and-Image Compositions - Land Circus
8. Traditional - Heavenly Bird
9. Tradional - Lantern Song
10. Traditional - Mayila
11. Evan Hirschelman: Meditation No.2
12. Evan Hirshelman: Meditation No.1
13. Stephen Goss: The Blue Kite
14. Stephen Goss: Yellow Earth
15. Stephen Goss: Farewell My Concubine
16. Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 1 T'ai
17. Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 3 Lin
18. Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 4 T'ung len
19. Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 5 Huan
20. Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 6 K'uei
21. Carlo Domeniconi: I Ching - 7 Chieh
22. Stephen Funk Pearson: South China Sea Peace
23. Thierry Rougier: Four Seasons - Spring
24. Thierry Rougier: Four Seasons - Summer
25. Thierry Rougier: Four Seasons - Autumn
26. Thierry Rougier: Four Seasons - Winter

Customer Reviews:

Successful crossing over from East to West.......2007-07-06

Nowadays many classical musicians move to 'cross-overs' between Western classics to exotic works, and Chinese musicians and composers pioneer in cross-overs from Chinese music to Western.
Alas, not all attempts are successful. Either there has not been enough nurturing in the Chinese repertoire, or the western playing style has not yet been fully developed.
Ms. Yang is a young classical guitarist. Gathering from what she said in her own introduction to this disc, she is a musician with a great ambition. It is true that the classical guitar may not have a substantial repertoire as other western instruments like the violin and piano. Hence drawing materials from other culture in a guitarist's repertoire is both a necessity and an endeavour.
A guitarist from Beijing, Ms. Yang is familiar with classical Chinese instruments like the gu qin, the zheng and the pipa. These ancient Chinese instruments are like the guitar- all are played by plucking strings set on wooden surfaces. So as Ms Yang herself noted - the guitar originated from the Middle East, a 'cross-over' area of Eastern and Western culture.
In many of the modern works recorded in this disc, Ms Yang played the guitar to the effect of those ancient Chinese instruments, and this is quite stunning. Her familiarity with the Eastern musical style is fully demonstrated, adding the requisite flavour of authenticity to her interpretation. There are a number of great compositions of the gu qing, the zheng as well as the pipa, and I truly look forward to Ms Yang's transcriptions of those to the guitar in due course.
A highly recommended recording for guitar players, guitar lovers and Chinese music fans alike.

One of the best solo guitar albums I have ever heard.......2006-10-06

One of the most original CDs I've ever heard. This CD is full of incredible music. Yang XueFei plays with sensitivity, creativity and passion.
When I played this CD for my guitar teacher, he commented that it was rare for him not to have heard at least one piece on any particular classical guitar CD, yet all these pieces were new to him. Carlo Domeniconi (who wrote the masterpiece "Koyunbaba") has composed an outstanding suite based on the I Ching. The 3 pieces by Stephen Goss, which are based on Asian films, are themselves cinematic: "The Blue Kite" is a work of minimalist beauty. There are many other talented composers lending their gifts to this CD. Most of the selections are either composed for Yang Xuefei or are arrangements by her. All are inspired by Chinese culture and music. My favorite piece is "Long Outstretched Pier with its Shadow" (by Dietmar Ungerrank); it is elegantly written and the execution is sensual and rich.
Yang XueFei's technical agility, especially the right hand, (as in "Yi Dance") goes beyond that of her contemporaries. As impressive as this is, the passion she imbues into each work is what connects her to the songs and ultimately to the audience. Technique is there to help her express what is inside of her. It is as if the guitar is her lover. This just isn't a great guitar album; it is a great album period. Its emotional complexity deepens with each listening. Buy it!
I've also purchased "Romance de Amor" which is extremely good as well (listen to her version of "Requerdos de la Alhambra" as compared to one of her heroes, John Williams on "The Guitarist"), but "Si Ji" is totally unique. Don't miss it.
As an aside, If you do end up buying and enjoying this CD, you might listen to Lily Afshar. The influence of her Persian heritage is similar in effect to "Si Ji" by Yang XueFei. Both artists have breathed life into the modern repertoire of guitar music.

Virtuoso playing and an unusual repetoire.......2005-10-26

I am a classical guitar student, and an over-the-top consumer. So I have a lot (many dozens) of classical guitar CDs. They are for the most part quite good, but they tend to blend. I might be able to distinguish Tennant's Rodrigo or Barrueco's Scarlatti, but too many guitarists play an awful lot of the same repetoire, and they play it quite similarly.

This CD is quite different. The pieces are all Asian in flavor and by composers I had never heard of. And they are quite beautiful. Ms. Yang appears to be quite young, so this could be the start of a long and interesting career. But at least one of the pieces was written for her, so she has already apparently developed a solid reputation.

Average customer rating: Lecuona Plays Lecuona Lecuona the Cuban pianist is Great! The Cuban Chopin Lecuona, the musical genious . . . . . LECUONA IS NO LIGHTWEIGHT

Ultimate Collection Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Lecuona | Lecuona, Ernesto | ( L ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Latin Music | Styles | Music Latin Pop | Latin Music | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Always in My Heart-Domingo sings Songs of Ernesto Lecuona Juana Zayas:A Treasury of Cuban Piano Classics Lecuona Sinfónica / Morton Gould and His Orchestra Ernesto Lecuona: The Complete Piano Music, Volume 1 Ernesto Lecuona Piano Music: Piano Solo ASIN: B000003G71 Release Date: 1997-02-11

Tracks:

1. Malaguena
2. Andalucia
3. Ante el Escorial
4. San Francisco el grande
5. Siempre en mi corazon
6. Maria la O
7. Siboney
8. Noche azul
9. La comparsa
10. Danza negra
11. Danza lucumi
12. A la antigua
13. Canto del guajiro
14. Canto del guajiro
15. La habanera
16. Damisela encantadora
17. Crisantemo
18. Romantico
19. Rosa la china
20. Como arrullo de palmas
21. Palomitas blancas
22. Poetico
23. Estudiantina
24. Cordoba
25. Music Box
26. Mazurka en glisado
27. Polichinela
28. Gitanerias
29. Aragon
30. Valencia mora

Tracks:

1. La brisa y yo
2. Devuelveme el corazon
3. Preludio en la noche
4. Yo te quiero siempre
5. Pavo real
6. Vals de las sombras
7. Bell Flower
8. Zambra gitana
9. Por eso te quiero
10. Vals azul
11. Vals en si mayor
12. Muneca de cristal
13. Mi amor fue una flor
14. Vals en re bemol
15. Apasionado
16. Amorosa
17. Ahi viene el chino
18. Al fin te vi
19. Por que te vas?
20. Mientras yo comia maullaba un gato
21. Por que te vas?
22. Amorosa
23. Los minstrels
24. No hables mas
25. Dame tu amor
26. Vals en re bemol
27. La 32
28. Mis tristezas
29. En tres por cuatro
30. Munequita
31. Burlesca
32. La paloma
33. Music Box

Amazon.com

This collection includes Ernesto Lecuona's complete 1954 recordings plus a series of 78s made in 1927-28. Ten of the recordings were previously unreleased. This is a lot of lightweight Cuban piano music to deal with at once, but it's definitely worth doing. Lecuona's music, which is having a major revival, may not be important. But it's consistently charming and entertaining. The 78s, which sound surprisingly good, reveal even more of a virtuoso than do the later recordings, but throughout we hear playing that expresses the spirit of the music extremely well. And yes, the famous Malagueña is here, sounding very sexy. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Lecuona Plays Lecuona.......2007-05-12

Oh Boy! What can I tell you about this magnificent collection of musical jewels from our Maestro Lecuona. I bought the original Long Playing Record back in the 50's in my country.
I purchased it again shortly after my arrival to the US, and I was lucky enough to buy it on DVD from Amazon, once I found out they had it.

Joseph L. Alcover
Miami, FL

Lecuona the Cuban pianist is Great!.......2005-08-17

In my opinion this is one of the best CD's from Lacuona, Most of his piano compositions are recorded here (original ones), What, Ms. Leslie Gerber forgot to mention is that Mr.Lecuona was a band leader,"Lecuona and the Cuban Boys", remembers him? Or maybe she does not have sufficient information about him. The music from Lecuona still is very well alive today. I came across his recordings on my own, no one ever told me about this great pianist. I happened to hear the Malague?a by another great Cuban composer and band leader Perez Prado (The Real Mambo King) in one of his albums and Lecuona was the author. That got me interested in him. I'm pretty sure that Ms.Leslie Gerber does not mean any harm trying to put this composer down. It's just that maybe all she knows is Gerber baby food stuff!

The Cuban Chopin.......2004-06-18

What a great album and great value. There is music here that will make you smile, break your heart, inspire you, and Lecuona's skill is breathtaking. If you enjoy classical piano music (with a Cuban/Spanish influence), you'll love this. No, it doesn't display the virtuosity, complexity or seriousness of Lizst, Chopin or Beethoven, but it's fun, beautiful, dramatic yet accessible. You'll love it.

Lecuona, the musical genious . . . . ........2002-10-16

I feel compelled to identify myself first. I am Cuban born who arrived in the US in 1960 at the age of 16 years old. I am a US citizen since 1965 and a US Army Veteran of Viet Nam. I will die defending the right Ms. Leslie Garber has of expresing her opinions. But what I will not condone is her ignorance. To say that Lecuona writes "lightweight Cuban piano music" and that "Lecuona's music may not be important" is to show ignorance. A musician that composes GREAT music in several genres of the music world, a musician that in all genres has highly succesful pieces, and, a musician that after many years, (70-80 years) is still heard and admired can not be called other than MUSICAL GENIOUS and a CLASSICAL MUSICIAN. His music is so beautiful that it will live forever. From his Afro-Cuban compositions, to his romantic popular boleros, to his valses, to his Zarzuelas, Lecuona demonstrates once and again, time after time his immense musical talent. His Afro-Cuban "Cafetal", his romantic boleros "Noche Azul" and "Amapola", His vibrant and colorful "Comparsa" and "Andalucia", his classical Valses, just to mention a few things, makes Lecuona to stand together with the great musicians of the world. The fact that Hollywood made a film around "Estas en mi corazon" and that great singers, like Placido Domingo, want to sing Lecuona's music speaks immensely well of Lecuona/s greatness. The fact the popular instrumental orchestras like Faith, Conniff, Mantovani, Cugat have arranged and interpreted a lot of Lecuona's music also says a lot about Lecuona's versatility in his work. Lecuona is probably important to many millions of people and his music is certainly not lightweight. And if the only thing Ms. Garber can say about "Malaguena" is that "it sounds very sexy" is to demonstrate that she does not know a thing about music. It definitely does not give her the priviledge of commenting about Lecuona's music.

LECUONA IS NO LIGHTWEIGHT.......2002-02-27

Lecuona is one of the most important composers of Latin-America. He is by no means the "unimportant" and "lightweight" Leslie Gerber (whomever that may be) claims, having been hailed for performances of his earlier (and "less mature") works by the likes of Maurice Ravel.

In my opinion the highlight of the set is the devilish "La 32". It's also interesting to compare his interpretations of the same works at different times in his career, like the two recordings of "Por que te vas?" and "Amorosa", especially keeping in mind that Lecuona seldom notated and improvised quite frequently, leaving the transcription work to his students.

Average customer rating:

From The Heart [China] Katherine Jenkins Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Premiere Serenade Live at Llangollen All Angels La Diva ASIN: B000O5908Y Release Date: 2007-05-28

Tracks:

1. Nella Fantasia
2. (Quello Che Faro) Sara Per Te -Everything I Do I Do It For You
3. Time To Say Goodbye/Con Te Pariro
4. Flower Duet (Ft Dame Kiri Te Kanawa)
5. Caruso
6. Nessun Dorma
7. Amore Sei Tu (I Will Always Love You)
8. Vide Cor Meum
9. Prayer
10. Il Canto
11. Chanson Bohme
12. Hymn To The Fallen
13. Canto Della Terra
14. Cinema Paradiso (Se)

Album Description

2007 album from Katherine Jenkins, the classically-trained Welsh mezzo-soprano with the dazzling voice. She has become one of the UK's top female singers and has sold 1.5 million albums in the last 18 months alone. Jenkins has recorded several albums which feature arias, popular songs, hymns and classical crossover music and has performed in a large number of concerts around the UK and other countries, including the USA and Australia. 14 tracks including 'Nella Fantasia', 'Sara Per Te', and 'The Flower Duet'

Album Details

2007 Configuration of Recordings by the Operatic Diva, Including her Renditions of "Nella Fantasia", "Time to Say Goodbye", "The Flower Duet" (Performed with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa), "Nessun Dorma", "The Prayer", "Cinema Paradiso" and Many More.

Average customer rating: Absolutely Pure & Beautiful Symphonic Rock pleasant easy listening Excellent CD luke

Symphonic Rock Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Music of ABBA, Beatles & Queen Kashmir: The Symphonic Led Zeppelin Us and Them: Symphonic Pink Floyd Riders on the Storm: The Doors Concerto The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Plays the Hits of Pink Floyd ASIN: B0002T7ZM0 Release Date: 2004-09-07

Tracks:

1. Come Away With Me (originally by Norah Jones)
2. Yellow (originally by Coldplay)
3. Here With Me (originally by Dido)
4. Millennium (originally by Robbie Williams)
5. Hero (originally by Enrique Iglesius)
6. What Can I Do (originally by The Corrs)
7. Flying Without Wings (originally by Westlife)
8. Everybody Hurts (originally by REM)
9. Every Breath You Take (originally by The Police)
10. Let It Be (originally by The Beatles)
11. A Whiter Shade Of Pale (originally by Procol Harum)
12. Nights In White Satin (originally by The Moody Blues)
13. Candle In The Wind (originally by Elton John)
14. Imagine (originally by John Lennon)

Tracks:

1. Beautiful Day (originally by U2)
2. Champagne Supernova (originally by Oasis)
3. Handbags & Gladrags (originally by Stereophonics)
4. Why Does It Always Rain On Me (originally by Travis)
5. Livin' On A Prayer (originally by Bon Jovi)
6. Layla (originally by Derek & The Dominos)
7. Stairway To Heaven (originally by Led Zeppelin)
8. Bat Out Of Hell (originally by Meat Loaf)
9. Run To You (originally by Bryan Adams)
10. China In Your Hand (originally by T'Pau)
11. Torn (originally by Natalie Imbruglia)
12. Bittersweet Symphony (originally by The Verve)
13. Good Vibrations (originally by The Beach Boys)
14. Bohemian Rhapsody (originally by Queen)

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Pure & Beautiful.......2005-10-31

If you buy no other classical music, buy this collection. CD 1 (Relax) is perfect for dinner, quiet entertaining or just soft music while you're working. From "Come Away With Me", to "Whiter Shade of Pale" to "Knights in White Satin"... each piece is it's own movement - and moved you will be... Perfect for a romantic evening. CD2 is more robust, but equally entertaining. "Layla", "Livin On A Prayer", Stairway to Heaven", "Run to You" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" - you owe it to yourself to hear these licks performed by the RPO.

Symphonic Rock.......2005-07-25

It really isn't rock, but it is a very pleasant presentation of popular music, rendered in creative ways by a full symphony orchestra. It sounds like the orchestra had a great time making these CD's.

pleasant easy listening.......2005-07-19

It's not extremely interesting music, but nice background, relaxing and pleasant with full orchestra. Not a bad buy at all!

Excellent CD.......2005-03-20

I received this as a present and at first I wasn't sure if I would like it because I don't like some of the original songs, but there's something about hearing the orchestra play that makes me like all of them. Just try it out.

luke.......2004-12-12

well, if you like elevator music then you should get this cd. if not then dont waste your time, its lame. big time lame. just listen to the audio samples im so glad i didn't waste my money on this piece of crap.

Average customer rating: Great Movies have Great Soundtracks! Only Disc 1 Is Worth Anything More of a propaganda CD Great selection of Film Hits! Older recordings, main themes only

Paramount 90th Anniversary Collection: Scores Various Artists Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Television Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Star Trek | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Soundtracks | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Varese Sarabande 25th Anniversary Celebration Simply the Best Movie Themes Hollywood's Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 The Essential Elmer Bernstein Film Music Collection The Incredible Film Music Box ASIN: B000068TN9 Release Date: 2002-07-02

Tracks:

1. Saving Private Ryan 'Hymn To The Fallen' - John Williams
2. Double Indemnity 'Prelude' - Miklos Rozsa
3. The Lost Weekend 'Finale' - Miklos Rozsa
4. The Heiress 'Departure/Morris Suggests Love/The Proposal/Finale' - Aaron Copland
5. Sunset Boulevard 'Prelude' - Franz Waxman
6. The Ten Commandments 'Prelude' - Elmer Bernstein
7. Breakfast At Tiffany's 'Moon River' - Henry Mancini
8. Hatari! 'Baby Elephant Walk' - Henry Mancini
9. Rosemary's Baby 'Main Title (Vocal)' - Christopher Komeda
10. Romeo & Juliet 'Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet' - Nino Rota
11. Once Upon A Time In The West 'Once Upon A Time In The West' - Ennio Morricone
12. Love Story 'Theme From Love Story' - Francis Lai
13. The Godfather 'Main Title (The Godfather Waltz)' - Nino Rota
14. The Godfather 'Love Theme From The Godfather' - Nino Rota
15. Chinatown 'Love Theme From Chinatown (Main Title) - Jerry Goldsmith
16. The Godfather - Part II 'End Title' - Nino Rota
17. Star Trek: The Motion Picture 'End Title' - Jerry Goldsmith
18. Raiders Of The Lost Ark 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark' - John Williams
19. Terms Of Endearment 'Theme From Terms Of Endearment' - Michael Gore
20. Flashdance 'Love Theme From Flashdance' - Giorgio Moroder
21. Beverly Hills Cop 'Axel F' - Harold Faltermeyer

Tracks:

1. Witness 'Building The Barn' - Maurice Jarre
2. Children Of A Lesser God 'Main Title' - Michael Convertino
3. The Untouchables 'The Strength Of The Righteous (Main Title)' - Ennio Morricone
4. Fatal Attraction 'Fatal Attraction' - Maurice Jarre
5. The Addams Family 'Main Title' - Marc Shaiman
6. Dead Again 'Winter 1948' - Patrick Doyle
7. Indecent Proposal 'Flashback & Photos' - John Barry
8. The Firm 'How Could You Lose Me?-End Title' - Dave Grusin
9. Clear And Present Danger 'Main Title/A Clear And Present Danger' - James Horner
10. Braveheart 'For The Love Of A Princess' - James Horner
11. Primal Fear 'Courtroom Montage' - James Newton Howard
12. Mission: Impossible 'Zoom B' - Danny Elfman
13. Star Trek: First Contact 'End Credits' - Jerry Goldsmith
14. Titanic 'Hard To Starboard' - James Horner
15. The Rugrats Movie 'Baby Shower Happenings' - Mark Mothersbaugh
16. The Talented Mr. Ripley 'Italia' - Gabriel Yared
17. Rules Of Engagement 'Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful)' - Mark Isham
18. Mission: Impossible 2 'The Bait' - Hans Zimmer
19. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider 'Main Titles' - Graeme Revell
20. Vanilla Sky 'To The Roof' - Nancy Wilson
21. The Sum Of All Fears 'The Mission' - Jerry Goldsmith
22. Forest Gump 'I'm Forrest...Forrest Gump' - Alan Silvestri

Amazon.com

Granddaddy of the Hollywood studios, Paramount Pictures is rightfully proud of its century of contributions to both American cinema and the art of film scoring. But the first disc of this 43-track double-CD anthology merely hints at the studio's musical peaks, blithely skipping through its first seven decades in just 17 tracks. Indeed, the package as a whole seems more interested in marketing its post-'70s catalog of hits and blockbusters than it does in paying real homage to history and roots. Even rarities like Double Indemnity and The Lost Weekend are served up via modern budget-line rerecordings, as is Ennio Morricone's epochal Once upon a Time in the West). Contemporary recordings of Aaron Copland's rare score to The Heiress and Franz Waxman's great Sunset Blvd. fare better, but soundtrack fans may miss the originals. The studio's rich pop-crossover successes in the '60s are documented via Breakfast at Tiffany's "Moon River" and excerpts from Romeo and Juliet and Love Story, while successful franchises like Star Trek and Raiders also get their due. Too often the '90s-focused second disc only underscores some uncomfortable trends in contemporary scoring--orchestral nervous tics punctuated by booming crescendos, treacly piano Muzak--and makes one wonder if the music of The Rugrats Movie and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider are really film music milestones. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Great Movies have Great Soundtracks!.......2007-05-10

If you love movies and movie music, you can't go wrong with this two cd Paramount Anniversary set.

Only Disc 1 Is Worth Anything.......2006-07-19

Normally I have a lot to say in my reviews, but not this time. The main problem with this collection is that all the most memorable film scores are just on one disc, with the second used mostly to play out stuff from the last ten years that, really, musically isn't very memorable and only includes three pieces anyone will recognize just because, like the movies they come from, they're based on old TV shows - The Addams Family, Star Trek, and Mission: Impossible.

And that brings up another problem. With all due respect to the late Jerry Goldsmith, who has provided some truly great classic movie scores, was it REALLY necessary to include TWO versions of the SAME Star Trek march in this collection? This seems evocative of the milk-it-for-all-its-worth attitude Paramount has had lately toward its now-tarnished crown-jewel franchise. Where's James Horner's theme music from Star Trek II and III? If they're gonna put Star Trek on here twice, they should have provided a little diversity. It wouldn't have taken much, I'm sure.

I'm sure that Paramount's had other films with far more memorable music (even Harold Faltermeyer's Top Gun Anthem could have helped on Disc 2). This just seems like a lazy attempt at something that really could have been great.

More of a propaganda CD.......2002-10-30

There are some really great songs on this 2 CD set. However, those really great songs seem to be lightly interspersed amongst a large number of forgettable songs whose main purpose seems to be to remind you of those movies you enjoy(ed) so much.

It seems a little odd to me that out of 90 years of film making the most memorable scores have been largely released within the last few years. I was pleased to find themes from the Godfather, Indiana Jones and Witness. I was perplexed with the inclusion of songs from Rugrats, both Mission Impossible movies (one would have been more than enough) and Tomb Raider (memorable???).

This is my own personal bias, but I do prefer movie soundtracks that evoke a feeling of excitement. With this collection I just couldn't get excited. I kept finding myself being let down by songs that didn't in some way complement the preceeding song.

There are certainly some great tracks here, but overall I was disappointed. My advise would be to look elsewhere.

Great selection of Film Hits!.......2002-09-25

This one was a pleasant surprise! I thought- how could any CD that had "Baby Elephant Walk" be all that good? This one is. Lots of great scores- classics and a few hidden treasures. After hearing the beautiful title score for "Children of a Lesser God", I had to buy the entire soundtrack - very soothing. There are a few that may seem too overplayed ("Love Story", "Raiders of the Lost Ark",), but most are a welcome addition to any compilation. Try NOT loving "Building the Barn" from "Witness" or the "Hymn to the Fallen" from "Saving Private Ryan". Hours of great listening.

Older recordings, main themes only.......2002-08-27

This is a great album concept, but I really wish Paramount had re-recorded these scores as they deserve to be heard. The tracks range from 1944 to the present, and the older recordings sound just like the cleaned-up older recordings that they are.

I would also personally have enjoyed more "secondary" music themes (otherwise it becomes like reading book summaries that always only quote the opening paragraph), and I could easily have done without the "pop" tunes (like Baby Elephant Walk and the Rugrats theme). In fact, it would have been very nice to listen to an album comprised of tracks chosen for their strong musical value rather than apparently for their box office and/or hit song popularity. But, to be fair, that may be precisely what draws some people to this CD set.

Film score music constitutes the single most significant body of classical music of our time. I hope some of these tracks will entice listeners to buy entire soundtracks and listen to some of these works as a whole.

Average customer rating: American Music of Hope and Glory Unbridled spiritual energy

The Shapenote Album John P. Reese , Stephen Jenks , C. Dingley , William Billings , Seaborn McDaniel Denson , Jeremiah Ingalls , Lucius Chapin , Paine Denson , Nehemiah Shumway , The Tudor Choir , and Doug Fullington Manufacturer: Loft Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Folk Songs | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Rivers of Delight (American Folk Hymns From the Sacred Harp Tradition) Sacred Harp Singing Early American Choral Music, Vol. 1 Early American Choral Music, Vol. 2 Southern Journey, Vol. 10: And Glory Shone Around - More All Day Singing From The Sacred Harp ASIN: B00005NHNL Release Date: 2001-09-04

Tracks:

1. Montgomery
2. Windham
3. Sweet Prospect
4. China
5. Soar Away
6. The Better Land
7. Weeping Mary
8. White
9. Mortality
10. Eternal Day
11. Heavenly Union
12. Expression
13. Evening Shade
14. Kedron
15. Love The Lord
16. Condescension
17. All Is Well
18. Africa
19. Traveling On
20. Happy Land
21. New Jerusalem
22. Primrose
23. Hallelujah
24. Peace And Joy
25. Schenectady

Customer Reviews:

American Music of Hope and Glory.......2007-04-09

Although I have known about Sacred Harp Music for many years, this album utterly overwhelmed me in its power, beauty and expression of pure American strength and faithful surety. I grew up in the churches of Christ, one of the few American denominations that uses only a capella four-part harmony vocal music in their worship services. Shape notes were known to me since I was able to understand a musical staff, and we used shape notes for each note on the scale (a few more than The Sacred Harp Tradition). Alas, over time, the immense power and beauty of true Sacred Harp music was "homogenized" into congregational singing that remains quite beautiful, but no longer has the vigor of The Sacred Harp tradition. (The churches of Christ still, to this day, occasionally have "Sings" - an all afternoon singing festival with food and fellowship, as do Sacred Harp "Singing Classes" today). This album above all speaks - rather SINGS to the immense faith of Frontier America, and the absolutely majesterial beauty of music well-sung from the human heart, which is, of course, The "Sacred Harp". To any who want to experience a new (and very old) musical tradition, this recording will be one that you will never forget. All choral music singers and admirers should own this marvelous album. (Having a copy of the "1991 Sacred Harp Hymnal" in hand will make your enjoyment all the better!)

Unbridled spiritual energy.......2005-01-01

Anyone who saw "Cold Mountain" and was struck by the vitality and energy of the hymn singing in that one brief scene in church will be immediately impressed with this stunning album. The album's only flaw is that, unfortunately, it does not include that hymn that was in "Cold Mountain" (it is titled "I'm Going Home").

Otherwise, it is pure joy to listen to. The singing is full of that same raw passion that makes it sound so primitive. I've heard other albums where the sound is polished, concert-hall like, and as a result very dead. This is not that way; it moves and stirs as good spiritual music ought to.

This is a new field of music for me, even though I've sung in church choirs for years and listened to all kinds of classical music. Hearing this album makes me want to go find the sheet music and start singing it myself, it is so infectious.

Average customer rating: CHINOISERIE FROM THE HIGH SPHERES Vangelis version of China China by John Vangelis profoundly brilliant - ahead of its time One of my favourites

China Vangelis Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Electronic | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | New Age General | New Age | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | New Age General | New Age | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Dance General | Dance & DJ | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Opera Sauvage Spiral The City Albedo 0.39 Heaven and Hell ASIN: B000001F4J Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Ching Kuo
2. The Long March
3. The Dragon
4. The Plum Blossom
5. The Tao Of Love
6. The Little Fete
7. Yin & Yang
8. Himalaya
9. Summit

Customer Reviews:

CHINOISERIE FROM THE HIGH SPHERES.......2006-09-07

Writing this review is a double pleasure for me, because in its subject matter two of my passions merge into one. I've been a devoted listener and admirer of Vangelis' work and ethos for many years; and my interest in Chinese language and culture ultimately took me to China, where I've been living for almost 7 years now.

I don't know whether Vangelis himself had ever been to China before he got the inspiration for his thematic album or not.
If he had actually been in China before, and experienced some close contact with the country and its culture, then his album "China" should be regarded as nothing less than an example of what an outstandingly gifted musician is capable of accomplishing in terms of, say, "stylistic evocation" of a foreign musical tradition.
If he'd never been to China at all -thus having to rely entirely on "secondary sources" as raw material for this work-, then I'm afraid that "China" could be considered as an early and sufficient proof of Vangelis' right to be called "GENIUS".

This album is a an astounding musical "chinoiserie", in the best sense one could find for this term; Vangelis' has produced here a pastiche of the highest order, lovingly and respectfully utilizing the elements of his own unique sonic language to somehow capture and render -in what seems to me a feat of exacerbated musical sensitivity- what we may dare to call the `Geist', the `spirit', or the general `manner' of Chinese music, its colors and textures; for it seems to me evident that what Vangelis was trying to do, rather than to vainly struggle for some unattainable aboriginal exactness or submissive copycat resemblance, was to apply yet again his inveterate spontaneous approach to musical creation, letting himself take an intuitive leap into the vast but finite world of Chinese musical conventions. However mild and scattered these impressions may appear within the album, an undeniably appropriate "feel" permeates the whole effort. The pieces in tracks 4 and 5 ("The Plum Blossom" and "The Tao of Love")could be mention as highlights. The exhilarating sinuosity of track 3 ("The Dragon") , be that of a Dragon or -as other review suggests- of the dragon-shaped creatures of the folkloric "lion dance", is also full of exact colors and timbres, swirled along amidst its joyful convolutions.

Yes, of course Vangelis displays through this brief set of pieces a candid array of "clichés"; but these "clichés" he conveys (or rather: skilfully mimics) are also exactly that for the Chinese THEMSELVES: those are some of the rutinary devices of their music, their musical commonplaces, so to speak.

"China" could well be, in some of its best moments (which the listener should find by him/herself, and FOR his/herself), quite a beautiful musical instance of what the ancient greeks called MIMESIS, not a mere servile imitation of a given model but the delicate rendition of a much more subtle likeness...
Without ceasing to "be" and "sound" like Vangelis at anytime, nevertheless, "China" is also there, everywhere, "with" Vangelis, "through" him...At least for 40 odd minutes. (However, I do agree with other reviewer whose analysis implied that the most conventionally "Chinese-sounding" touches are somewhat concentrated in only some of the pieces. I would also agree that the powerful, outlandish -and yet majestically earthly- "Himalaya" track is THE ("purely") Vangelis' signature piece of the entire album; somehow emotionally and aesthetically departing from the Chinese world/reverie constructed in the first seven pieces, it plunges the listener's ear and mind into a journey through a path way up those thundering snowy heights of immemorial stone, continuously swept by gigantic blasts of wind, which roaring swoosh I personally find both ominous and eerily soothing. And a ceaseless rattling, tinkling sound weaves fleeting passages of piano, and keeps the pace of the...ascent? I'm not exactly a confident believer in the achievements of the so-called "programatic" approaches to music, but this bold, haunting soundscape that Vangelis manages to portrait through your ears and right into your mind strikes me with quite distinct images every time I listen to it. Clear your mind and listen this track at the right (high) volume, and I think you will SEE what I mean (what Vangelis meant). This ten-minute timeless trek across the Himalayas leads onto (or, rather, ethereally blends into) "The Summit", ninth and last piece of the album; at this point we're definitely fully delving into Vangelis exclusive realm of creation, closing the album in this time-frozen contemplative mood, where every reference to the world below (?) , whether Chinese or not, has been suspended, or rather obliterated from the sound, which melts into a vanishing dreamy acustic mist, strangely icy and warm at the same time...Until everything fades away.)

One day some time ago, while I was listening to Vangelis' "China" (I don't remember exactly which of the tracks was playing at that moment), my wife (she is Chinese) happened to be at home too and casually overheard the music. She didn't have any idea of who Vangelis was and she hadn't heard anything by him before. She earnestly asked me what was the music I was listening; she said she liked it, but she felt weird to find me listening to some "CHINESE MUSIC" (sic!) she'd never heard before! It didn't even occur to her that the author/s of the music I was listening was/were not even Chinese at all!

Maybe some day, as the exchange between the West and China enhances and deepens, more and more Western listeners will be able to appreciate the deegre up to which Vangelis succeeded in this creative endeavour (yet another stroke of his generous and indefatigable genius, guided again, perhaps, by his faithful and equally hard-working Muse).

Vangelis version of China.......2006-06-14

My Profile: 42 yo (2006) sales engineer.

I first heard this hallucinating album at the end of the 70's in its vinyl form. Vangelis is not an easy artist to get adquainted with, so it did take some time to fully understand the visions of China he interpretates. Its also one of those albums wher you can feel the classical maestro he is at the piano... sit back, enjoy a good cabernet and start the journey

China by John Vangelis.......2006-05-26

Most are not aware that Chung Kuo, from John Vangelis' album, "China" was the music used behind a commercial for a car called the "Lynx". I think it was a Ford product.

The music so caught my attention, I contacted the corporation and it responded with the desired information. That led me to buy the vinyl album, and it is in my collection to this day (2006).

The song, "Chung Kuo" was the one used to advertise the car. I am happy to say, I bought the song, and not the automobile. Sorry Ford, but you don't hold a candle to the music I love.

I knew if the music on the album was close to what I heard on the commercial, this would be a home run. It was. The songs he composed for "China" are top drawer.

So I played "Chung Kuo" for my infant daughters. I told them it was the 'Cat Song'. They loved it too.

The oldest is in graduate school now, planning to see where Psychology takes her. She has considered music/therapy as a possible vocation.

I know the 'Cat Song' will be on her list of helpful tunes.

The youngest is an Irish dancer, and studying the nursing field. She loves animals, which began with the 'Cat Song'.

Nice going, John. Thanks. And my family still hears the strains you wrote for the world, a few years ago.

Dan Wilson
Oroville, CA

profoundly brilliant - ahead of its time.......2006-02-27

I had the good fortune of being introduced to China on vinyl, my second exposure to vangelis.

This album will upset a lot of people. Firstly the title implies some literal interpretation of chinese themes - it is not. Secondly it defies any classification as to style of music: It is too lively to be ambient, it is too organic to be electronic. Thirdly, it is epic yet far too short!

This album is music charged with epic imagery, and together with the titles of the songs evokes magnitude in both timelessness and space, hence it is one of my favourite relaxing albums. It is one that for decades has constantly been in my the turntable and more recently cd player. This album does not age.

For the musical purists, the music appears at first listen to be slightly cliched, even chaotic, and not quite culturally genuine. But gradually the profound compositional depth of this work reveals itself. Vangelis has always been a master of melodies that are complex and beautiful, and is equally skilled in arranging a multilayered synthetic orchestra or a single piano. The melodic theme of the grand opening track "Chung Kuo" inadvertently transforms into a solo piano piece that is a masterpiece in its own right.

"The Dragon" is a strangely synchopated piece that altough it is played with very electronic sounds, still has a very earthy and organic feel. It shows Vangelis' mastery of unusual time signatures - something he integrates subtly throughout the album, and gives it a unique other-worldy flow.

Then there are hipnotically beautiful minimalist compositions like "The Plum Blossom", "The Tao of Love" and "The Little Fete". A kind of musical zen garden hidden between the more epic pieces.

The album closes with a double piece that in spite of its short duration appears to be almost infinite. "Himalaya" evokes a lengthy march through altitude, wind, rocky valleys and ice. It transforms into the closing track "Summit" that evokes the conclusion to the journey, the breathtaking view, and above all, complete inner and outer calm.

Altough the music is definitely nothing striclty chinese it evokes -through melody and use of eastern scales- a kind of monastic peace. To me this is still one of Vangelis' best works, it has stood the test of time. I cannot think of any other piece of music that is a worthy follow-on after hearing the closing notes of "China", except total silence, to allow the last notes to linger in the memory undisturbed...

One of my favourites.......2005-03-08

This album ties with Spiral as my second favourite Vangelis album after Albedo 0.39. It has a good range of moods from stirring to contemplative. Obviously it offends one music snob round here but I think that judgement is far too harsh. Just because an album is called China it doesn't mean it has to be an authentic rendition of Chinese music!

For those that like their Vangelis exciting - Buy It!! For those who like his boring stuff - don't!

Average customer rating: Disappointing as music, performance and recording. Sheng's pieces are a collection of pseudo-ethnic ... brilliant modern cello Wow........ The Kodaly is Brilliant

Solo Yo-Yo Ma , Bright Sheng , David Wilde , and Mark O'Connor Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Kodály, Zoltán | ( K ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Sheng, Bright | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Alexander Tcherepnin | Tcherepnin, Alexander | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by O'Connor | O'Connor, Mark | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Cello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Ma, Yo-Yo | ( M ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Portrait of Yo-Yo Ma Made in America The New York Album Paris La Belle Époque Silk Road Journeys: When Strangers Meet ASIN: B00000K4II Release Date: 1999-09-21

Tracks:

1. Appalachia Waltz
2. Seven Tunes Heard In China: I. Seasons
3. Seven Tunes Heard In China: II. Guessing Song
4. Seven Tunes Heard In China: III. Little Cabbage
5. Seven Tunes Heard In China: IV. The Drunken Fisherman
6. Seven Tunes Heard In China: V. Diu Diu Dong
7. Seven Tunes Heard In China: VI. Pastoral Ballade
8. Seven Tunes Heard In China: VII. Tibetan Dance
9. The Cellist Of Sarajevo (A Lament In Rondo Form For Solo Cello, Op.12)
10. Suite For Solo Cello: I. Quasi Cadenza (Quarter Note = 80)
11. Suite For Solo Cello: II. Quarter Note = 96
12. Suite For Solo Cello: III. Eighth Note = 42
13. Suite For Solo Cello: IV. Vivace (Quarter Note = 104)
14. Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 8: I. Allegro maestoso ma appasionato
15. Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 8: II. Adagio
16. Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 8: III. Allegro molto vivace

Amazon.com

Born in Paris of Chinese parents, educated and anchored in America, performing on every continent, Yo-Yo Ma is a true citizen of the world by heritage, disposition, and choice. Dauntlessly adventurous, he has explored musical styles from baroque and classical to bluegrass, jazz, and electronic; now he has embarked on a study of the cultural traditions of the peoples along the historic Silk Road that brought Asia and Europe together. This disc is the first step on that journey of discovery; it is fascinating, and Ma is the perfect guide. Sheng's Seven Chinese Tunes are beautiful and each has its own character; the cello is tuned down for sonority. Wilde's lamentatious The Cellist of Sarajevo honors the cellist who played in that city's streets every day to commemorate the dead. Tcherepnin's rhapsodic Suite in three contrasting movements has a distinctly Chinese flavor. O'Connor's Appalachia Waltz was originally written for three instruments; with double stops and drones, it sounds perfectly self-sufficient. Indeed, Ma's playing throughout is stunning: it often seems impossible that one man and one instrument can create such a wealth of sounds. His tone is invariably pure and beautiful, sonorous as an organ on the low strings, radiant on top; he negotiates the most hair-raising pyrotechnics with apparent ease, his palette of colors is unlimited, and he is at home in every style and idiom. He even gives the fiendishly difficult Kodály sonata--with its incredible sound effects and fireworks--musical and emotional expression, making it sing, speak, shout, whisper, dance, and cry. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing as music, performance and recording........2003-08-18

What a huge disappoinment this disc is, on every level and in every way, as music, performance and recording. I'm just grateful I didn't pay full retail price for it.

First, the music. There's one masterpiece on the disc, the Kodaly solo cello sonata and four (much) lesser works. The Kodaly is a favourite piece of mine and is (in my unlearned opinion) the finest piece written for solo cello in the past 200 years.

The Sheng pieces have some interesting moments and could have been colourful, with its conjuring of oriental instruments and occasionally attractive harmonics. Tcherepnin's suite could also have been colourful, - the Gramophone reviewer referred to "a spicy charmer". It doesn't charm and it isnt spicy.

The two shorter fillers have even fewer moments of interest. The O'Connor Appalachian Waltz is meant to be soulful (I think) and contains some nice drone-sounds but is in no way a waltz, - at least I couldn't catch a 3/4 rhythm. The "Cellist of Sarajevo" is a picture of Vase Miskina's playing in memorium of those killed in the Sarajevo bread queue bombing, but I can't imagine that Miskina played only dirges on his cello.

The recording helps none of these pieces. I found it far too close, generating a quite uncomfortable and distracting level of background rumble in the O'Connor and an equally irritating close focus on Ma's flaring nostrils in the Kodaly. In some respects it's quite cleanly recorded and pizzicatos in particular are very real and sometimes stunning, but the closeness and relative dryness of the sound rob the instrument and the music (especially the O'Connor piece) of warmth and air. For a Sony DSD/SBM recording this is a huge disappointment, - and compares very unfavourably to the more musical treatment they give Murray Perahia's piano. I constantly felt that, rather than being in a small recital hall, my head was being held halfway between the bridge of Ma's instrument and the bridge of his nose (which supplements his cello with woodwind and percussive sounds aplenty).

The performance is even worse news. I didn't know the other works at all before hearing this disc but regularly felt short-changed. However, I do know the Kodaly well and have several other readings, not the least of which is an old LP of Janos Starker (on Saga) and a much more recent Delos CD by Starker, as well as two discs by other fine cellists (Michejew on Nimbus and Claret on Harmonia Mundi). The Starker is the benchmark not just for me but for reviewers far more professional than me (though the good CD Guide prefers the Maria Klegel version on Naxos, which I haven't heard). Ma comes nowhere close to either Kodaly or Starker.

The CD's booklet note refers to the sonata as being by turns "joyously soulful, astringent and darkly lyrical" and it is, but not in this performance. Ma's emphasis is on dynamic extremes, portamento and the highlighting of passing notes, on giving a virtuoso performance that I find superficial, self-regarding and self-conscious (so in that regard its a good match for some of the other music as well as the recorded sound). He skates across the surface of the sonata, exploring extremes here and detail there, without ever exploring the music's heart and soul. The Gramophone reviewer put it very well when he wrote that Ma is "patronizing the music rather than penetrating its spiritual core". I just wish I'd found the review before I bought the disc, rather than after.

What a shame, - Ma used to be a musician rather than merely a virtuoso with pretensions, and I can remember a time when his recordings weren't accompanied by four or five narcissistic photos of the great man (which in this instance take up 5 out of 11 cover and booklet panels compared to the four and a half given over to the music) looking by turns profound, quizzical, surreal and self satisfied. And DSD doesn't have to be about dry, over-close and in-your face sound, and the Kodaly is a great piece deserving of better than this and even the other pieces, slight as they are, probably have a little more to offer than here.

Save your money. I'm going to recoup a fraction of mine by selling this disc immediately.

Sheng's pieces are a collection of pseudo-ethnic ..........2002-03-20

Sheng's pieces are an example of pseudo-ethnic commercial opportunistic music. The rest is worth listen to.

brilliant modern cello.......2001-09-21

a caveat-- i bought this album two days before the destruction of the wtc. i keep going back to it as waves of grief roll through me in the aftermath.
that being said, this is a stark, remarkably beautiful album. mr. ma is sometimes maligned for being overly romantic in his approach to the modern cello, but i would argue that, as this album attests, it is not romanticism, ie., emotion for the sake of emotion ungrounded in reality, but rather finding the raw emotion within the expression of the music. case in point-- "the cellist of sarajevo." this one piece captures the tragic story it represents--a single cellist returning to the spot of a massacre at the exact time each day to memorialize the event. mr.ma at once captures the grief, but also the muted hope and apsiration of the human spirit wrestling with the existential reality of death. the rest of the album is similarly powerful, taking us through some possibly unfamiliar composers. the two sonatas are moving, dark, but gorgeous. the chinese folk songs remind us of mr. ma's heritage, and the reprise of "appalachian waltz" as a solo piece remind us of our own heritage as americans. together they form a portrait of not only mr. ma, but also of each us as persons of history, creativity, and love. thank you, yo yo ma.

Wow...............2000-08-11

I can't help but applaud Yo-Yo Ma's move away from standard cello music-he's doing a fine job at it. This CD features wonderful (and original) pieces. Mark O'Conner's Appalachian Waltz is very...well..cool (how often do you hear unmetered waltzes?). However, what makes this CD shine is Zoltan Kodaly's Sonata. The performance of this wonderful piece is impeccable. This is a fantastic CD.

The Kodaly is Brilliant.......1999-11-08

Ever since I heard the Kodaly live I have profound respect for anyone who tries to tackle this technical giant of a work. Ma's recording has surpassed any other performance of this work in my opinion.

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2. Come Dance with Me In Ireland: Classic Irish Dance Music
3. Con la Musica por Dentro
4. Cuisine Non-Stop: Introduction to the French Nouvelle Generation
5. Das Leben Ist Grausam [Import]
6. Dedicato a Milva Da Ennio Morricone [Import]
7. Dejame Entrar [Import]
8. Essentials [Import]
9. Essentials [Import]
10. Ethiopiques, Vol. 5: Tigrigna Music

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Hard Trance Anthems [Import]

If Only, Pt. 1 [CD-single] [Import]

La Parola Ai Testimoni [Import]

Hip Hop Story [Import]

Knights of Fantasy/Night Cruiser

Honegger: Regain, suite No2; Regain, suite from film score

Ill Communication [Import]

Live [Live]

Kings of Pleasure

Great Arias & Ensembles from Your Favorite Operas

Joy Spring