Hindu [Import]

1. Mundian to Bach Ke - Panjabi MC

2. Feel Good Vibe - Feel Good Productions

3. Husan - Bombay Sound System

4. Gandhi's Nightmare

5. Connected

6. Yaar Nach De [Re-Edit Mix-Sanj] - Labh Janjua, Sanja Of Delfini

7. Psycho Sitar

8. Ritual

9. Tutti Frutti Bali

10. India

11. Inde - Lawrence Hill

12. Mumbay

13. God's Mountain [Roni Winter Chill Mix]

14. Streets of Calcutta

15. Eh Yo - DJ Swami,

16. Fever [Steve Hillage Mix] - Stereo MC's

17. Aj Bhangra Punjabla Na Pauna - Achanak

18. Hindu - Bombay Sound System

19. Mundian to Bach Ke [Instrumental] - Panjabi MC

Tracks:

Vandanaa Trayee
Omkaaraaya Namaha
Vedic Chanting (One)
Asato Maa
Sahanaa Vavatu
Poornamadah
Gaayatri
Mahaa Mrityunjaya (Om Triambakam)
Veenaa-Murali (Music Interlude)
Geetaa (Karmanye Vadhikaraste)
Mangalam (Tala Mantra)
Hari Om (Music Interlude)
Svara Mantra
Vedic Chanting (Two)
Prabhujee
Sarve Shaam

Amazon.com essential recording

Mantram is Ravi Shankar's effort to set Sanskrit chants from ancient Hindu scriptures to music, and the result is a captivating mix of chant and music. Produced by George Harrison, this collection of mantras and prayers from the Vedas, Upanishads, and other scriptures powerfully transports the listener to a place of peace where it's possible to be one with the universe. It's as if a heavy, enveloping cloak of serenity falls from the dark, floating sounds of cello opening the CD. Shankar employs flute, tamboura, harp, and other instruments to accent the mighty "Om" thread that weaves itself through the cloth of this album, bringing together deep, ominous voices with delicate, earthly instruments. One looking for extensive Shankar sitar might be disappointed, but the beauty of this artist's creativity and spiritual vision sweeps one away into a larger, more meaningful listening experience. Highly recommended. --Karen Karleski

Customer Reviews:

Soul of Indian classical music - True Gem.......2007-08-06

The CD contains most devoted Hindu vedic mantras with very immersive and soul filling Indian classical music.
The vedic mantras in CD traces back to more than 5000 years Vedas, there is lot of valuable information over internet.
A true masterpiece in Indian classical music.

Classy Indian Chants.......2007-07-24

This is an excellent reproduction of some of the religious chants in the Indian classical music tradition. The recitation and diction is clear and quite precise. A great introduction to religious chants for a novice taking interest in Indian classical music.

Authentic Hindu Chants.......2007-06-14

This is the perfect CD for the beginner who wants to learn Hindu chanting. The words to each song are included in the jacket. The words are easy to understand for the most part given the complexity of the language. And most importantly, the music is hauntingly beautiful. I knew this was a winner when I saw Harrison as producer.

George and Ravi combine worship and melody for a one-of-akind experience.......2007-05-04

Ravi Shankar and George Harrison are two of this world's greatest composers and musicians, so it makes sense that a unified effort would be incredible. It is, but not just because of these two men... To backtrack a little, my Mom and Dad first bought this CD when I was about five; it had George Harrison's name under the word producer and (I think) they were beginning to be interested in the Hindu faith. In those days, and for many years, I had no idea what the words they were saying meant. I was simply captivated by the repeated, strange phrases and the beautiful music they were set to. The music is still one of my favorite parts of the CD and without it, the CD would barley be half of what it is, but now being much older I have had the opportunity to delve into the booklet inside the CD case. These words, whether traditional or written by Ravi Shankar are a beauty in and of themselves. Each one prays for spiritual enlightenment, better knowledge of a diety or knowledge and wisdom in general. The recurring theme of peace and safty/tranquility among all things is also welcome. An example of this earnest praying is "O,Lord lead me from the unreal to the real. Lead me from the darkness to the light [from ignorance to knowledge]. Lead me from death to immortality. May there be peace, peace and perfect peace" ( from track 4, Asato Maa.) Also to be carefully headed are those chants which dwell proper human action, such as "You have but the right to perform action; you have no hold on the results thereof. May you not seek the rewards of action and may you never engage in wrong action.[This is not an excuse for inaction!" ( track 9, Geetaa.) There are other varied but always interesting chants here: instructions by a guru or teacher for his students (track 3, Vedic Chanting One), chants praising certain gods, and most fascinating of all, chants wishing for peace and tranquility. These such as Mangalam (track 11) and Sarve Shaam (track 16 and a huge favorite), combined with beautiful instrumental interludes (those who have seen 'Concert for George' may be reminded of Arpan), and the exquisite instrumentation and production by George Harrison (rest in Son of Hari!) come together to make a sublime and deep, enlightening musical experience. This truly a gorgeous album, incredible to listen to (though to get it just for the beatiful instruments, or the name of the producer for that matter, would be to miss the point.) If I tried to list favorites I'd probably end up listing the whole album. Here are a few highlights: Vandanaa Trayee, the opening track and a beautiful combination of introductory music, three sepearte prayers and interludes, tracks 3 and 14, the two vedic chants, Mangalam, a prayor for peace, and the similar Sarve Shaam, Asato Maa, tracks 5, 7, and 8 (7/8 CAN get repetative after a while,12 and 13 ( atmospheric intstrumental trackss), Geetaa, and a Ravi Shankar original Prabhujee. This, track 15 of 16, is a wondefully melodic, well-produced and warming, beautiful prayer for divine enlightenment and is worth a good listen. Track 2 has an interesting concept to it as well. All in all, this album is a wonderful buy for those interested in Hindu chants, beatuiful music or just spritual enlightenment. Well produced, beautiful instruments, deep, depth-filled chants- what more can the open minded listen want!? 5/5. Om shaantih, Shaantih, Shaantih [Amen; May there be peace, peace and perfect peace.]

uplifting.......2007-04-06

Very peaceful and relaxing music. I got it because I am a George Harrison fan and have seen both George and Ravi Shankar in concert. I also wanted to experience more indian religous music.

Average customer rating:

Great Rocking Blues
An unpolished gem
Sounds a bit raw and hurried, but that's the whole idea
Fun blues covers from Zevon & R.E.M.
REM sings the blues!

Hindu Love Gods
Hindu Love Gods
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Stand in the Fire
The Envoy
Preludes
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon
Mutineer

ASIN: B000008GKL
Release Date: 1990-10-05

Tracks:

Walking Blues
Traveling Riverside Blues
Raspberry Beret
Crosscut Saw
Junko Partner
Mannish Boy
Wang Dang Doodle
Battleship Chains
I'm a One Woman Man
Vigilante Man

Customer Reviews:

Great Rocking Blues.......2007-04-27

This is one of my favorite blues records. At the first listen, it seems a bit rough I guess. But, boy, did it grow on me. Every one of these songs is great. I play this all the time now, and really, it's one my favorite records with Warren Zevon (I'm a huge fan.) Good, hard-driving, straight ahead blues; nothin' cool, nothin' fancy. WZ is a SUPERB blues front man. A friend recently sent me MP3s of the other HLG recordings. They are fun; but WZ shines as front man.

If you like rock, blues, or WZ (specifically), you won't be disappointed.

An unpolished gem.......2005-07-29

Warren Zevon and REM boys have some fun on this one and the joy is evident. Zevon's in excellent voice here and he rips through a number of the songs with as much power and passion as he brought to his solo work. Buck, Mills, and Berry supply a solid rhythm section and an occasional burst of creativity. This thrown together recording has an immediacy rarely found on live albums much less a studio work. There are a few standouts here, like the forceful cover of Johnson's "Walkin' Blues" and a wicked "Crosscut Saw" but the overall feeling is exactly what it should be, a group of talented musicians having some fun in the studio with some classic tunes. It is a good time.

Sounds a bit raw and hurried, but that's the whole idea.......2005-01-25

This incarnation of the cult band Hindu Love Gods saw three-fourths of REM--- guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and then-drummer Bill Berry---team up with late vocalist-pianist Warren Zevon for a wild studio romp consisting of various blue covers and their takes on some pop tunes.

Apparently, this set was recorded in a slap-dash, one take session, and the songs crackle with vigor as the band struts through one after the other track. The older blues numbers such as Robert Johnson's Walking Blues and Traveling Riverside Blues benefit from this treatment, and they take ownership of Junko Partner with this reading. But the covers of the newer material, including Raspberry Beret and Battleship Chains, are not that engaging (that said, I didn't like the originals as rendered by Prince and Georgia Satellites either). Mannish Boy and Wang Dang Doodle also sound almost perfunctory.

In short, this mixed bag may sound a bit raw and hurried, but that's the whole idea! It's actually refreshing to hear musicians who don't take themselves so seriously and who are clearly having fun. If you like this sort of energy and approach, you might also want to check out the Roger Chapman-fronted Riff Burglars.

Fun blues covers from Zevon & R.E.M........2003-08-09

This was recorded during the sessions for Warren Zevon's Sentimental Hygiene album, on which Messrs. Buck, Berry, and Mills guested for eight tracks. This wasn't meant for release, though Zevon's label at the time put it out anyway. For such off the cuff material, it sure sounds like the four Love Gods were having a ball. "Walkin' Blues" and "Raspberry Beret" are the high points.

REM sings the blues!.......2003-02-15

Most of the members of REM got together to express their love for great American roots music by cutting a blues album under the name Hindu Love Gods, and the result rocks! The content ranges from the classic blues Mannish Boy to Woody Guthrie's Vigilante Man to an outstanding cover of Prince's Raspberry Beret, but the quality shines through out. This is what happens when top flight commercial musicians come together to play what they love, not what they think will make them rich. A must for REM fans, and a surprising treat for blues fans.

Kreisler: Original Compositions & Arrangements

Average customer rating:

Kreisler: Original Compositions & Arrangements

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Fritz Kreisler Plays Kreisler
Kreisler plays Kreisler
The Kreisler Album
The Complete Concerto Recordings, Vol. 1: Beethoven & Mendelssohn
Heifetz Showpieces

ASIN: B000AQACW0
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

Caprice Viennois
Tambourin Chinois
Schon Rosmarin
La Gitana
Liebesleid
Liebesfreud
Polichinelle
Rondino
La Precieuse
Chanson Louis XIII & Pavane
Scherzo
Gavotte
The Londonderry Air
Ballet No.2
The Old Refrain
Poupee Valsante
Andante Cantabile
Humoresque
Serenade Espagnole
Larghetto
Midnight Bells
Chanson Hindoue
Lotus Land
Danza Espagnola

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The Bhagavad Gita
Nina Shaka
Manufacturer: Multimedia & Culture (MeC) - Paris
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Christopher Isherwood Reads Selections from the Upanishads
Scientific Healing Affirmations: Theory and Practice of Concentration
Kirtan: The Art and Practice of Ecstatic Chant
Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment

ASIN: B000M0JI7E
Release Date: 2007-04-30

Tracks:

Intro & The Battlefield, Field Of Truth
We All Shall Be For All Time
Perform Thy Task In Life
The Truth Of Pure Work
Rising Above The Two Contraries
The Greatest Of All Yogis
I Am OM
An Ever-Living Love
Supreme Mystery
Know That I AM
Reveal Thyself to Me!
The Best Yogis
This Body is Called the Field
Sattva, Rajas, Tamas
Spirit Supreme
Freedom from Fear, Purity of Heart
Three Kinds of Faith, Three Kinds of Food
I Remember My Light

Product Description

Deluxe Edition, (2) CDs, (1) colour 20-page booklet. The full-length unabridged text of the Bhagavad Gita as translated by Juan Mascaro / Mascaró (as published by Penguin Classics). It is presented in a new audio feature in English - Deluxe Edition (running time: 2 hrs 28 min.) Crystal Baschet organ by David Walters, Karma, Wisdom compositions by Just Isn't Music/Wayne Lotek Bennett. Voices by John Greaves, Alan Conway, Nina Shaka, Gonzague Huynh.

Average customer rating:

Superb
Gil Shaham Is Amazing!
Amazing virtuosity plus great fun.
Emotion and technique create perfection in this album
SHAHAM IS FINE, BUT--------

The Fiddler of the Opera

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Violin Romances
Dvorák For Two: Works For Violin & Piano
Schubert for Two (Dig)
Paganini for Two / Gil Shaham, Goran Sollscher
The Fauré Album

ASIN: B0000041KX
Release Date: 1997-09-16

Tracks:

The Barber Of Seville: Paraphrase On 'Largo al factotum'
The Magic Flute: Fantaisie sur 'La Flute enchantee'
Orphee et Euridice: Melodie (Dance Of The Blessed Spirits)
Tancredi: I palpiti (Theme With Variations) Op.13
The Love For Three Oranges: March
Der Rosenkavalier: Waltzes
Porgy And Bess: Summertime - A Woman Is A Sometime Thing
Porgy And Bess: My Man's Gone Now
Porgy And Bess: Bess, You Is My Woman Now
Porgy And Bess: It Ain't Necessarily So
Porgy And Bess: Tempo di Blues (Picnics Are Alright - There's A Boat Dat's Leaving Soon For New York)
Sadko: Hindoo Song (Song Of India)
Carmen: Fantaisie brillante

Customer Reviews:

Superb.......2005-02-15

Superb playing of clever virtuoso arrangements.

I do get sick of screechy virtuoso violin arrangements of famous pieces, but this CD is an exception. The arrangements are lot more interesting musically than usual.

The Gershwin bits in particular work really well.

Sound quality excellent too.

Gil Shaham Is Amazing!.......2002-01-28

I have never before heard a violinist capable of such expression. Shaham really makes the fiddle sing! He is an absolute virtuoso. Up till the time I heard Shaham... Heifetz was my favorite. Shaham outperforms Heifetz by far.

I recently watch "Amadeus". Gil Shaham is Mozart... everyone else is Salieri.

Amazing virtuosity plus great fun........2001-11-12

As an opera fan, I am always a little suspicious of albums that try to instrumentalize opera for the light-classical audience. But that is emphatically not the case here. This is not "1001 Strings" elevator music, but a series of arrangements by classical composers and/or violinists mainly for the purpose of demonstrating the violin's (and the violinist's) capabilities in a short form -- in other words, the kind of thing Heifitz might have played as an encore. I never tire of listening to this CD, which is executed with amazing skill and just the right touch of elan.

Emotion and technique create perfection in this album.......2000-09-23

I can't imagine anyone not enjoying and appreciating the music making on this album! Gil Shaham is an astonishingly accomplished and polished violinist whose ease at playing belies his amazing technique. Each time I listen to this CD, I am impressed by his impeccable tuning, note after note, even on the highest harmonics and most rapid cadenzas. However, even the best technique can not create true music. Shaham truly feels and conveys the emotion of the music he creates, allowing the music to touch the listener's soul. Akira Eguchi, pianist, is also notable in his ability to shine without overshadowing or dominating the solo violin. The selections on this album aren't necessarily compositions intended for violin and piano, but many are "familiar" to the lay listener. For that reason, I suggest this album to just about anyone, including those who aren't avid classical music fans.

SHAHAM IS FINE, BUT--------.......2000-07-11

Gil Shaham's violin playing, accompanied by Akira Eguchi on the piano, is superb, but can anyone tell me why we NEED an album of operatic arias which are "sung" by the violin and not by the voices for which they were written? The photo of Shaham on a bare stage done up in a "Phantom of the Opera" cape & silk scarf lends more cheesiness to this silly venture.

Average customer rating:

I have had quiet ears running down my cheeks on my way to
Stirring songs of Rumi
Gypsy Jazz
Powerful, soulful music
A Divine Note

This Love
Mirabai
Manufacturer: Singing Heart
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005UDIS
Release Date: 2001-10-15

Tracks:

Don't Go Back To Sleep
The Dark One
I Went Everywhere
Your Spring
The Clear Bead
This Love
Walk To The Well
Turning Night of Stars
Melting Snow
This We are Now
Entering The River

Album Description

An East/West caravan of interwoven melodies and exotic rhythms carries the timeless and ecstatic words of the Mystic poets, Rumi, Lalla, Ghalib, and the artist's namesake, 15th century Hindu poetess, Mirabai. In the company of world-class musicians, including Glen Velez, Steve Gorn, Eddie Daniels, and Bruce Dunlap; Mirabai's compositions are unique, yet familiar, blending the complexity of Western harmony with the lean melodic and rhythmic beauty of the Indian and Middle Eastern traditions.

Customer Reviews:

I have had quiet ears running down my cheeks on my way to.......2004-05-05

work listening to "this we are now". What a wonderful feeling this is. Melt down and openning of the heart.
A dear friend taught us this song on our pilgrimage in the Sahara desert but listening to it in all its glory with the womens' multilayered voices, strong and ecstatic, brought tears to my eyes. I do not exaggerate, I was ready to die that moment. It was perfect.
All the songs are truly inspired and I'd like to meet the creator of such emotions. Thank you Mirabai!

Stirring songs of Rumi.......2004-01-07

I recieved this CD as a gift and I have given it as a gift to several friends....all of whom have thanked me repeatedly. I am always inspired and uplifted when I listen to this CD. Mirabai's voice has a quality of depth and heart that I haven't heard in a while. Usually I am disappointed when I have heard people singing the words of Rumi...not so here..."This Love" truly captures the quality of the Sufi master in a very stunning combination of eastern music with elements of folk and jazz. I highly recommend it.

Gypsy Jazz.......2003-05-27

I have loved being awakened by Mirabai's music. With just the right mix of world music, jazz and folk, this CD has all the ingredients to make me dance, soothe my heart, and inspire my spirit. Mirabai has a unique and stirring voice, and her musical settings of some of the world's most beautiful mystical poetry deepen and enhance this poetry like no others I have heard. Many of my friends have thanked me for gifting them with this exciting and healing music. I whole-heartedly encourage people to listen to this CD.

Powerful, soulful music.......2002-08-27

This inspired and beautiful CD has a mesmerizing and trascendent quality, consistent with Rumi's writings. There is an immediacy to Mirabai's singing that is both palpable and stirring. She digs way down deep to draw out what she does. I find myself playing it over and over, hearing new elements each time in her delivery and in the jazzy, percussive music played by outstanding artists.

A Divine Note.......2002-08-04

If I want to start my day on a divine note, I cue up Santa Fe singer Mirabai's This Love.

Her renditions of the mystic poets tune me up and propell me between the crack of the daily and into the territory of Rumi,Ghalib, Lalla, and Mirabai, this singer's namesake. Her musical lineage, trained in both eastern and western tradtition, brings us the intimacy of a jazz club, the mystery of inside the tend, and the professionalism of the large stage, creating a genre all her own.

Tracks:

Godowsky, Toccata In G flat Major
Scriabin, Poeme Tragique
Hamelin, Etude No, 9 D'apres Rossini
Hamelin, Etude No. 10 D'apres Chopin ('Pour Les Idees Noires')
Feinberg, Bach Schubler Chorale No. 6 (Transcription)
Alkan, Andante From Sym. 94 (Transcription) From Esquisses Op 63
Alkan, No 46: Le Premier Billet Doux
Alkan, No 47: Scherzetto
Busoni, Fantasia Nach J S Bach
Rachmaninov, Moment Musical In E Flat Minor
Rachmaninov, Etude-Tableau In E flat
Scriabin, Deux Poemes, Op. 71. No. 1 Fantastique
Scriabin, Deux Poemes, Op. 71. No. 2 En revant...
Feinberg, Berceuse
Medtner, Improvisation No. 1 in B flat minor
Sorabji, Pastiche On Hindu Merchant Song From Sadko
Hamelin, Prelude And Fugue

Customer Reviews:

Virtuosic and inspired playing - a pianophile's wet dream.......2007-03-07

Most of us think of blistering bravura and gravity-defying virtuosity when we think of Marc-Andre Hamelin. After all, the guy is known for launching himself into the most difficult piano repertoire in the history of piano music (although he has yet to tackle Sorabji's monstrous Opus Clavicembalisticum). In the area of conquering technical demands, Hamelin is simply one of the greats, if not THE great. However, I believe he can often be a superb interpreter, too. Look at Alkan's Souvenirs Trois Morceaux Op. 15, Medtner's sonatas, and even the Schumann Symphonic Etudes. When he is passionate and intelligent with his introspections on the pieces he plays, the addition of his indomitable virtuosity makes him a colossus of a musician.

The numerous 3-star reviews below are rather baffling. I understand that some may dislike his overwhelming focus on technical supremacy. This has been an Achilles heel at times; his Alkan Op. 39, for instance, was a complete disaster and embarrassment because he went for technical perfection instead of full-blooded passion (like Jack Gibbons). On this recording, though, Hamelin fuses both technical superiority and subtle emotional details, producing some truly inspired renditions of these pieces. And the pieces here are really all over the place; most of these were new to my ears. The main highlights here are, in my opinion, the following: Scriabin's Poeme tragique, Haydn-Alkan's Andante from the Surprise Symphony, Busoni's Fantasia on JS Bach, and Medtner's Improvisation No. 1.

I agree with another reviewer here that it's ridiculous for Hamelin to pepper his own compositions, his etudes, throughout the disc, as if they have as much merit as Scriabin or Rachmaninov. However, I actually like Hamelin's etudes. Their dense polyphonic textures and dizzying passagework makes for wonderful musical escapades. His Prelude and Fugue is a tireless dissonant storm of notes, but there is also substance of musical interest as well. But Hamelin shines best in the works of other composers. His rendition of Scriabin's Poem tragique is both spirited and brooding; his ability to make the chordal bass accompaniment echo is quite satisfying. The Alkan transcription of Haydn's Andante from the Surprise Symphony is sheer delight. Alkan's fidelity to the endearing Haydn melody is pleasing, and his daring virtuosic episodes are marvelous.

The most profound work on this recording is Busoni's Fantasia on JS Bach. It's hard to believe this haunting music of extreme pathos is from Busoni's pen; when not ensconced in contrapuntal webs, the music sounds like late Liszt. There are scarcely any moments of fanfare or volatile passagework; instead, this cerebral music gently traverses through some Bach themes and various melancholy digressions. Thus I must restate my confusion regarding some of the other reviewers who lambaste Hamelin's performance. How can one not hear Hamelin's sincere emotional outpouring here? Such a heart-felt, sublime, and discerning execution is priceless.

The other works here are just as notable, but it would be exhausting for both myself and the reader to continue with commentary. Suffice it to say, his Medtner and Rachmaninov are outstanding; the Sorabji piece is peculiarly interesting and the Feinberg Berceuse extremely eerie and mysterious. In short, all of these pieces are pianistic treats. My only problem is the placement of Hamelin's etudes. I don't think his compositions are substantial enough to be placed side-by-side with Scriabin or Sorabji. I think he might have paid a better homage by giving us Henselt, Rubinstein, Lyapunov or Tausig pieces instead.

Bottom line: For pianophiles, this is an impressive powerhouse of a recording. On it, Hamelin showcases some splendid obscurities with a mighty unbeatable virtuosity and yes, even poetic feeling. Every piece here has something memorable or even great about it, so I have to disagree with some of the naysayers about the music's worth. Busoni's Fantasia alone is worth the price of this disc.

Marc "the composer" Hamelin.......2006-11-24

Hamelin has included repertory here which other pianists won't (and technically can't) touch and which is well worth getting to know: for example the Alkan Haydn transcription (oh, for a Naxos-type comprehensive series of the complete mad-scientist Alkan transcriptions, to upstage Marco Polo's Alkan series!), and the Godowsky Toccata (Marco Polo seems to have stopped its Godowsky project too soon).
Hamelin is an important pianist and it is well to hear him document in a perfect-recording format playing that can be assumed to be his ideal. What that ideal is is quickly apparent: many notes, many voices, great speed, and much sustain pedal to make notes and voices possible when they otherwise wouldn't be. Hamelin often realizes his ideal: listen to his Alkan transcription of the Beethoven c concerto on his Wigmore album. But more often his ideal is at the expense of the music: for example, his Alkan etudes are a vapid blur of notes, rather interesting, impressionistic...but not Alkan; if you want to hear Alkan listen to Jack Gibbons' recording of the op 39. As for this recording, the best points of comparison of Hamelin with other pianists are his Rachmaninoff and Scriabin tracks. And I think anybody who loves Rach and Scrib will prefer just about any other pianist to Hamelin's smeared, facile renditions.
Hamelin has included 3 of his own piano compositions on this recording: all 3 are all full of notes and many contrapuntal voices and played at great speed with cleverly helpful sustain pedal effects; all 3 are undistinguished in any other way. So here we get Hamelin as a composer, and it's good to have a sense of Hamelin as a composer, because quite astounding claims have been made for him as a composer.
It turns out that this cd is an adjunct to the book "The Composer Pianists" by Robert Rimm in which it is claimed for Hamelin a status as composer on a par with Busoni, Alkan, Rachmaninoff and other revered "composer pianists".
The claim is grotesque. Hamelin is a middleaged concert pianist who has (as far as I can tell) in his entire life of composing, produced a set of unpublished piano studies. And now he has presented this cd to document his own status as a "composer pianist". The fact that he seems to believe that he compares favorably as even a trancriber with the likes of Samuel Feinberg, to say nothing of comparing himself as a composer with Busoni, suggests a mental pathology far more serious than vanity.
So why my generous 3-stars (and generous it is)? Because this is a sumptuous Hyperion production, and because if you can get it in the used or sale bin it's worth having as a gentle freak: Hamelin is the colorless Spider-man of the piano; some of his repertory is still unavailable on any other recording; and of course some of his repertory may never be available on any other recording.

Nothing Special Here.......2006-07-29

He is a well educated pianist who indeed has a great technical capability, however I think his music lacks color, charisma and poetry. After listening Horowitz I would not listen him again, and if techical ability is a starting point I prefer Volodos better.

Some difficult repertoire.......2006-04-29

I have bought several Hamelin CDs recently - this one, Scriabin and Liszt. All are benchmarks for technique. Perhaps the ease with which he navigates the obstacles is the problem, I just don't get the feeling that his heart is in it. And I'm tired of hearing his recurring mantra about how virtuosity is artistry in itself. I don't agree. Perhaps I just don't "get along" with his style well enough. I think he's trying too hard to be different. If you want to hear breathtaking technical performance and excellent recorded sound, then by all means, this is a great choice. Most of the selections are either rhythmically or harmonically "angular" and may not be easy to listen to for first timers. If you are up for something different, this is a good choice to consider.

Astonishing listening.......2002-01-28

Hamelin is astonishing in his readings of these works- I especially enjoy the Scriabin, Busoni, Feinberg, and Medtner. His playing delivers subtle dynamics and the pure intensity of an inspired artist.
If you truly love to hear the most difficult piano works played the way they were envisioned by their composers, listen to Hamelin.

Average customer rating:

Pretty pieces, excellently performed, but not filling.
Don't let the samples fool you.
Scratching, popping, and hissing

Romantic Music for Flute and Harp

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

Harp Concertos
Music for Solo Harp
The Harmonious Harp
French Music for Harp and Strings
The Magic Of The Harp

ASIN: B0000013XH
Release Date: 1994-02-15

Tracks:

Carmen: Intermezzo
Thais: Meditation
1ere Valse in E flat, Op.83
Menuet in E flat
Petite Ste No.1: En Bateau
Vocalise-Etude En Forme De Habanera
Chaconne in a flat
Orfeo Ed Euridice: Ballet in d (Dance Of The Blessed Spirits)
Andante in C, K.315 (285e)
La Cenerentola, BI 9: Vars in E On The Theme 'Non Piu Mesta'
Mazurka in e flat, Op.12
Sadko: Hindu Song
Valse Sentimentale in f, Op.51, No.6
Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka, Op.214

Customer Reviews:

Pretty pieces, excellently performed, but not filling........2007-04-26

I bought this CD specifically for the Durand pieces, which do not disappoint. There is something about the overall choices that create a whole that is less than the sum of it's parts. Compared to other harp albums the entire program feels fluffy and unfilling. It could very well be that the pieces seem to be thrown together haphazardly, so that it does not feel like a program that is structured... just individual pieces, so that as a whole it feels forgettable. Of course, that is all a quibble with the CD presentation planning, not performance or production which are very fine.

As ballet is such a large component of the harp repertoire, this is a fine assortment of pieces that lean in that direction, which display a wide variety of sound and style - a fine calling card for the harpist. Aside from harp enthusiasts, a dancer would find the diversity here enjoiable - perhaps even preferable.

The pieces are excellently performed and taken individually, simply top notch. And the beautiful Durand pieces I have not heard elsewhere and are worth it alone. Definitely worth purchasing for those who like harp music as I do.

Don't let the samples fool you........2005-12-14

What a shame there has been only one review for this album, based purely on the samples. It would seem only fair that a reviewer should listen to the actual CD before panning it. I am glad I ignored the advice and ordered this lovely recording.

Scratching, popping, and hissing.......2005-05-30

If the samples are any indicator, these recordings should have been remastered before commercial release. Ouch!

Switched on Classics: Classics With a Beat

Average customer rating:

You call this electronic? BULL!

Switched on Classics: Classics With a Beat

Manufacturer: Madacy Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Mazurkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Inventions | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Hooked On Classics

ASIN: B000000LDT
Release Date: 1995-04-16

Tracks:

Flight Of The Bumble Bee, Hungarian Dance No. 5 - Light Cavallerie, Carmen: Flight Of Carmen
The Moldau, Sheherazade, Nabucco: Soul And Sound
Umbra Mai Fu, From Xerxes: Largo For Lovers
Air, Pathetique, Solveig's Song: Solveig's Air
Sonatas In C Major, A Major (Rondo Alla Turca): Amadeus Up To Date
Nocturne In E Flat Major, Prelude In A Major, Mazurka In A Flat Major Op. 9,2 - 28,7 - 24,3: Blue Hour With Frederic
Poem, Ave Maria: Mary's Poem
Etude In A Major Op. 10,3 - Moonlight Sonata Op. 27,2: Moonlight Fantasy
Trumpet Voluntary, Trumpet Tune In B Flat Major: Old Trumpet Sound
Ave Verum KV 618: Mozart's Prayer
Porgy And Bess: Summertime
West Side Story: America

Tracks:

Swan Lake, Capriccio Italien, Romeo & Juliet (Overture), Pathetique, Nutcracker Suite (Trepak, The Sugar Plum Fairy, The Reed Flutes), Romeo & Juliet (Finale): Russian Sounds
Preludes In C Major And Minor, Italian Concerto BWV 846, 847, 971: The Well - Tempered Bach
Emperor Waltz, Hunters Polka, Perpetuum Mobile, Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, Pizzicato Polka, Thunder & Lightining Op. 437, 373, 257, 214, 324: Vienna In Rhythm
In C Major, A Minor, B Flat Major BWV 772, 784, 785: John Sebastian's Inventions
Inpromptu In A Flat Major Op. 142,2: Always All Ready
Aida (Temple Scene & Romance) Rigoletto (Violetta): Aida In The Background
Aria In F Minor, March From 'Sciplo', Allegro In F Minor: Festive Baroque
Song Of India
Can't Buy Me Love
It Ain't Necessarily So
Nabucco Slave's Chorus, Gefangenchor - Tannhauser
For Elise, Symphony No. 9, Ode To Joy

Tracks:

A Fifth Of Beethoven
Reverie (Traumerei)
Serenade KV 330, Serenade From Sonata KV 284, Turkish March KV 331
Largo From Symphony No. 9: New World
Symphony No. 40 In C Minor
Can Can, Thunder & Lightning (Polka), Hungarian Dance, Galop, Medley, Staccato, Orpheus In The Underworld
Moonlight Sonata: Blue Moon
A Little Night Music
Also Sprach Zarathustra
Waltz In A Minor Op.39
From Tales Of Hoffmann: Barcarole
Toccata Spectrum
Melody In F
Fantasy
Serenade

Customer Reviews:

You call this electronic? BULL!.......2003-01-26

I think I know what electronic classical music is, considering I made an album called Kulture. This does not sound electronic, if it does, it uses drums = not good. It sounds way too classical.

Religious Chants From India: Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu

Average customer rating:

From Devotion's Heart
BORING

Religious Chants From India: Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Arc Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

India | India & Pakistan | International | Styles | Music

General | India & Pakistan | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

South Asia | Compilations | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music

India & Pakistan | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music

International | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Chants Of India: Ravi Shankar; George Harrison
The Music of Islam Sampler
Hymns from the Vedas and Upanishads, Vedic Chants
The Sounds of India
Dancing with Siva Mantra Music

ASIN: B00002SWP6
Release Date: 1999-11-23

Tracks:

Morning Prayer in Golden Temple
In Praise of Guru Nanak
Evening Prayer in the Main Buddhist Temple of Sarnath
Jayamangala Astagatha
Khampti Mask Dance
Baul Song
Mira's Bhajan
Temple Song in Raga Basant
In Praise of Rama
In Praise of Krishna

Customer Reviews:

From Devotion's Heart.......2007-03-18

These recordings are superb representatives of devotion, sung from the devotee's heart to the One Lord. Very touching is the recording especially of a father and his son singing on the street their love to God.

BORING.......2006-03-15

The chants on this tape were made quite a while ago so the sound quality is poor and the chants drone on and on and just aren't very lively, or even pleasant to the ears. If you want some wonderful chants go for Krishan Das instead...

Rock Music:

Rock Music

rock music

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