No Equal

Track Listings

1. Undisputed

2. I'll Make It Alright

3. Is It Still Good

4. Out of My Mind

5. I Specialize

6. Heartbreaker

7. From the Back

8. I'm Sorry

9. If Only for One Night

10. Whatever You Need

11. Nothin' I Wouldn't Do for You

12. Jesus Is Real - Michael Speaks,

13. You Don't Have to Cry [Remix][*] - Adina Howard, Michael Speaks

No Equal,Michael Speaks,Elektra / Wea,Pop,R&B,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Urban

No Equal

Tracks:

Marche pour la ceremonie des Tures (Jean-Baptiste Lully)
Improvisations sur les folies d'Espagne (Marin Marais) - extraits
Prelude pour Mr. Vauquelin (Improvisation d'apres le Prelude en Sol mineur de Mr. de Sainte Colombe le fils)
Gavotte du Tendre (Mr. de Sainte Colombe)
Une jeune fillette (melodie populaire- arranged by Jordi Savall)
Les Pleurs (Mr. de Sainte Colombe) - solo version by Jordi Savall
Concert a deux violes " Le Retour" (Mr. de Sainte Colombe)
La Reveuse (Marin Marais) 4th book of Pieces de viole
Troisieme Lecon de Tenebres a 2 voix (Francois Couperin)
L'Arabesque (Marin Marais) 4th book of Pieces de viole
Fantaisie en Mi mineur (arranged by J. Savall d'apres Mr. de Sainte Colombe le fils)
Le Pleurs (Mr. de Sainte Colombe) version for 2 viols
Le Badinage (Marin Marais) 4th book of Pieces de viole
Tombeau pour Mr. de Sainte Colombe (Marin Marais)
Muzettes I-II (Marin Marais) 3rd book of Pieces de viole
Sonnerie de Ste. Genevieve du Mont-de- Paris (Marin Marais)

Album Details

The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to the Film by Jordi Savall.

Customer Reviews:

Beware - this is NOT the right version!.......2007-07-07

This is a fantastic CD and all, but as of July '07, what they're shipping is not the "10 Years After" (Dix Ans Apres) version, which includes a bonus disc and has all 33 pieces listed on this page. I got a single 16-song disc, the same one I bought 3 or 4 years ago. Buyer beware.

Disc one is great....disc two doesn't exist...beware.......2007-07-05

I have the original 16-track version of this recording and couldn't agree more with the glowing comments left by others. However, this listing is somewhat misleading as the reviews mention that it is a newer release with a bonus disc containing 17 extra tracks. Since other reviews and the Alia Vox website itself mention that such a thing exists, I went ahead and ordered it, only to receive the same single disc version I already had. Amazon tells me the double one isn't available, so beware.

It's still great music though.

Hauntingly Beautiful.......2006-06-11

I was introduced to this utterly, utterly gorgeous soundtrack via a "friend of a friend", to whom I am eternally grateful. I listened to this on cassette tape too many times to count. The music is hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric, dark and moody, tragic and deep. This is music from the Baroque period but nothing like Bach, or Purcell, or Handel.

Vive Savall and M. Sainte Colombe .......2006-04-27

I saw the film and was enthralled by the portrayals of Sainte Colombe and Marin Marais. (Depardu was superb as always.) Some reviewers thought the film dull or tedious. I suppose in today's film culture where there is so much action without much substance there are those who would concur. I thought is was an excellent study of the characters and the music, which is rarity even in films about musicians.

French Baroque Performed by The Absolute Master of the Viola Da Gamba.......2005-10-09

In addition to French Baroque being generally and wrongly relegated to secondary status compared to Italian or German Baroque, there are probably less than 200 professional players who specialize in the viola da gamba as an instrument which was used mostly by French Baroque composers. Out of those few 200 performers, Jordi Savall is the undisputed master of his craft not only in performing French Baroque but really any Baroque piece for the viola da gamba. This soundtrack is a fine example on the diversity and depth of not only the viola's range but on works of various composers during the French Baroque period: especially the works of Marais and Sainte-Colombe. This album is also a great sample of the simply exemplary talent of Jordi Savall as a violist.

The double album primarily contains solos or duets for viola da gamba by Marais and Sainte-Colombe but has pieces by other contemporaries such as Lully. This album is a great sample of the variety of works and composers of the unique French Baroque tradition that continued to use the viola while other musical styles in Europe had virtually abandoned it for the cello. The viola da gamba has a lot more range, depth, and resonance than the cello and so the music is moodier and more contemplative than cello works such as Bach's magnificent cello suites. Solo music for viola from the French Baroque also allows freer interpretation than conventional compositions for orchestra or other chamber pieces. The jewel in this album is Marais' haunting but divine Sonnerie de Ste-Genevieve in which the dynamics of the violas and violins are truly a spiritual voyage into one's soul; at points serenely docile to demonically ferocious as if phantasms both luring and forbidding the listener to follow. The intricate complexity and resonance of this exquisite piece makes it one of the most spiritually moving Baroque sonet variations I have ever heard and it's one of my personal favorites. Both Marais and Sainte-Colombe were probably the pinnacle of achievement in terms of expressive techniques for the viola da gamba during the French Baroque period while later contemporaries such as Forqueray and Couperin became more formulaic although no less accomplished.

Jordi Savall has many priceless performances apart from this soundtrack and he is really the only competent artist for both viola da gamba specifically and primarily all French Baroque interpretations. There are no other viola players who can even compare to Savall as they really sound as little else than amateurs in comparison to his applied skills and passion of playing. I strongly recommend for anyone looking for music for viola da gamba or really any French Baroque to buy Savall/Le Concert Des Nations' performances exclusively as there's simply nothing else to look for or find that's in his caliber. Apart from a few other performnances by groups such as Les Arts Florissants, I guarantee you that the performances of all others in this style will rise to no further than being mediocre at best such as Harncourt or even Koopman who often plays with Savall. Most other viola performers quickly descend to atrocious standards in comparison to those of Savall. Even though Savall's recordings tend to be on the more expensive side, he's worth every penny take my word for it: you won't regret it! What you will regret is having bought a mediocre viola peformance after you hear Savall's as the differences will be very significant.

Average customer rating:

Masterpiece
Equally as beautiful as the book
"Two Treasures of Pure Pleasure"
Compulsory reading
Truly Equal!

Vikram Seth: An Equal Music

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

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An Equal Music
Bach: The Art of Fugue
Two Lives
From Heaven Lake: Travels Through Sinkiang and Tibet
Indivisible by Four: A String Quartet in Pursuit of Harmony

ASIN: B00003OO0L
Release Date: 2000-08-22

Tracks:

Partita No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006: Preludio
String Quintet in C minor, op.104: Allegro con brio
String Quintet in C minor, op.104: Andante cantabile con variazioni
String Quintet in C minor, op.104: Menuetto: Quasi allegro
String Quintet in C minor, op.104: Finale: Prestissimo
Quartet in A major, op.20 no.6, Hob.III-36: Allegro di molto e scherzando
Quartet in A major, op.20 no.6, Hob.III-36: Adagio: Cantabile
Quartet in A major, op.20 no.6, Hob.III-36: Menuetto: Allegreto
Quartet in A major, op.20 no.6, Hob.III-36: Fuga a 3 soggetti: Allegro
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 1
Sonata for piano and violin in E minor, K304-300c: Allegro
Sonata for piano and violin in E minor, K304-300c: Tempo di Menuetto
Quartettsatz in C minor, D703: Allegro assai

Tracks:

Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': Allegro vivace
Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': Andante
Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': Scherzo: Presto
Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': Theme & Variations: Andantino
Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': Finale: Allegro giusto
String Quintet in C major, D956: Scherzo: Presto - Trio: Andante sostenuto
'Manchester Sonata' No. 1 for violin and piano in C major, RV 3: Largo
Piano Quintet In A Major, D667 'The Trout': The Lark Ascending
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 1

Amazon.com

Vikram Seth's novel An Equal Music is as evocative a portrait of the world of chamber music as you could wish for, but Seth is the first to say that words "can only attempt to describe what cannot truly be described." This two-CD set adds the inevitably missing dimension to a great book, with performances of works featured in the story. They include the world-premiere recording of Beethoven's String Quintet in C minor, an obscure work that is central to the plot.

This piece, like the other selections, is beautifully played and recorded, for this is not a collection of second-rate recordings cobbled together to suit the theme. Vikram Seth himself has chosen the performances, and with performers of the stature of Iona Brown and Andras Schiff, the playing is as good as it gets. Included in the selection is Schubert's celebrated Trout Quintet. If the book gives a taste for the music, and vice versa, these CDs will also get us delving further into this delightful and infectious repertoire. --Keith Clarke

Customer Reviews:

Masterpiece.......2006-11-11

The book is a masterpiece of literature on music, and the music itself are masterpieces

Equally as beautiful as the book.......2006-03-17

A beautiful collection of music ideal for lovers of Seth's stunning novel - a perfect introduction to classical music .

"Two Treasures of Pure Pleasure".......2004-09-21

I purchased the book "An Equal Music" by Vikram Seth, not knowing that there existed a CD that was meant to accompany it. I was about a third of the way through the book, and Vikrams story was so captivating, that I longed to hear the musical pieces that his characters where so passionate about. So I set forth on a quest of my own trying to track down and put together each piece of his repertoire. During my search, I discovered this CD, purchased it, and stopped all reading until its arrival. I slipped it into the disc player, settled in with liner notes in hand, closed my eyes, and found a new appreciation and passion for the classical genre. Exceptional was track 8 of disc 2, "The Lark Ascending" composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams, an absolutely enchanting piece! Not to say that the other tracks are not of equal caliber, they are, just of a different mood.

This compilation is a brilliant companion to the book, yet alone, it stands proudly on its own merits. Bach, Beethoven, Hayden, Schubert, Vivaldi, and of course Williams are all featured on this CD, names all renowned in the world of classical music. The difference between this CD, and say another classical compilation, is that through the inspiration and support of the book, what once one could not identify nor differentiate between in the works of the above, begins to unfold with a keen grasp of each. This assemblage will definitely help you to recognize and feel each composer's unique style.

In the book, the Maggiore Quartet members expose to you, through beautifully interpreted prose, their driving passion behind performing each piece as they become consumed in each note. This caused me to listen intensely not only to each composition, but also to the individual score of each instruments harmonious part. Bringing a deeper connection with not only the characters in this book along with the featured musical selections, but also with the professional musicians themselves whose lives are music.

Mr. Seth should be commended for this creative marriage of fervent fodder. A brilliantly moving novel enhanced and brought to life through this CD. My next stop, an evening out savoring a live performance!

Compulsory reading.......2004-03-30

This amazing book MUST be read by any person who is even slightly interested in music. if you have ever been in a string quartet, you will love the way that this book perfectly captures the delicate balance of emotions within such a close kint group. the love story is alternated with lyrical and descriptive passages, often about something of little significance. The book is a rich and heartwrenching story of love, music and loss. absolutely fabulous!

Truly Equal!.......2004-02-03

Vikram Seth casts a melacholic spell with his novel. This is the first time I am reading a work of fiction woven around chamber musicians, which leads one to explore the inner workings of their thoughts.
The accompamying CD is truly marvellous. Listen to Iona Brown soar away in Vaughan Williams 'Lark Ascending'. The others are also truly 'equal'.

Tous les matins du monde [Bande Originale du Film] [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

A wonderful and ethereal work!

Tous les matins du monde [Bande Originale du Film] [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Alia Vox Spain
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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All the Mornings of the World (Tous les matins du monde) Two-Disc Edition
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Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition, A Night on Bald Mountain, and Other Russian Showpieces [Hybrid SACD]

ASIN: B00064X3KY
Release Date: 2006-03-06

Tracks:

Marche Pour La Ceremonie Des Tures
Imorovisations Sur Les Folies D' Espagne
Prelude Pour Mr. Vauqelin
Gavotte Du Tendre
Une Jeune Fillette
Les Pleurs
Concert A Deux Violes "Le Retour"
Reveuse ( Marin Marais ) 4eme Livre De Pieces De Viole
Troisieme Lecon De Tenebres A Voix
L' Arabesque ( Marin Marais ) 4eme Livre De Pieces De Viole
Fantaisie En Mi Mineur
Les Pleurs ( Mr. De Sainte Colombe ) Version A 2 Violes
Le Badinage ( Marin Marais ) 4eme Livre De Pieces De Viole
Tombeau Pour Mr. De Sainte Colombe ( Marin Marais ) 2eme Livre De Pieces De Viole
Muzettes I-Ii ( Marin Marais ) 3eme Livre De Pieces De Viole
Sonnerie De Ste. Genevieve Du Mont-De-Paris ( Marin Marais )

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful and ethereal work!.......2005-03-30

THis album is as stunning and beautiful as the film. The operatic works and the pieces for Viol are absolutely some of the best. Jordi Savall is wonderful.

Sainte-Colombe: Concerts a deux violes esgales, Vol. 1: Concerts I à XVIII

Average customer rating:

Sainte-Colombe: Concerts a deux violes esgales, Vol. 1: Concerts I à XVIII

Manufacturer: Atma Classique
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Sainte-Colombe: Concerts a deux violes esgales, Vol. 2
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Sainte-Colombe: Concerts a deux violes esgales, Vol. 4
L'Ange Marais: Pièces á trois violes
C Simpson: The Seasons, The Monthes & other divisions of Time, Vol 1 /Watillon * Heumann * Franklin * Spaeter * Guglielmi

ASIN: B0000CAOC1
Release Date: 2003-09-30

Sainte Colombe: Retrouvé & Change - Hille Perl

Average customer rating:

Marvellous performances. Fine recording.
A touch of class
Impressive...
Refreshing interpretions, played with much verve and emotion
My favorite viola da gamba album!

Sainte Colombe: Retrouvé & Change - Hille Perl

Manufacturer: BMG/deutsche harmonia mundi
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Doulce Memoire
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Marin Marais: Pièces de Viole du Second Livre, 1701

ASIN: B000001TZK
Release Date: 1997-06-17

Tracks:

Prld A 7 Cordes
Les Couplets
Le Retrouve
La Conference
Le Change
Tombeau Les Regrets
Le Raporte
Le Majestueux
Le Precipite
Le Varie
L' Infidelle

Amazon.com

If you saw the movie Tous les Matins du Monde (All the Mornings of the World) you have some idea of the factually obscure but highly influential life of 17th century French composer Sainte Colombe. His innovative writing for viol is celebrated here by virtuoso Hille Perl and her colleagues, who perform on the lute, Irish harp, triple harp, and organ. There are some wonderful discoveries and imaginative arrangements here-and the sound is exemplary. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Marvellous performances. Fine recording........2002-10-15

This is a fine disc. The viol is complemented beautifully by the plucked strings and the whole project shimmers with quality. Perl is a performer of the top rank, displaying plenty of flair without resorting to superficial, excessive gestures. Splendid stuff.

A touch of class.......2000-08-19

Retrouve et Change; retrieve and modify. The title reflects Hille Perl's long-held interest in the music of the mysterious M. Sainte Colombe; retrieving his compositions from dusty archives and modifying their presentation. The modifications reflect a version of his music as might be performed in a court salon instead of in a hut at the bottom of Sainte Colombe's garden.

Hille Perl is clearly a rising star in the Baroque music firmament. Ultimately, she is likely to replace the Olympian Jordi Savall as the foremost interpreter of the 17th Century viola de gamba music. Clearly, however, she is not an imitator. This CD presents Perl's own refreshing interpretations of this genre. Sainte Colombe's music is always rich with feeling [see the film for a concept of why this should be so], which Perl, Duftschmidt, Lawrence-King, and Santana deliver with style and grace. This CD exhibits finely balanced standards of performance among the players, given the original compositions were for a single instrument. This CD is a welcome addition to any Baroque collection. Perl has achieved a triumph in this initial offering. More of her work is eagerly awaited.

Impressive..........2000-04-15

Impressive says it all. Wonderful tones. Creative interpretation.

Refreshing interpretions, played with much verve and emotion.......1999-11-13

Definitely worth listening to if interested in French Baroque musi

My favorite viola da gamba album!.......1999-10-25

Thrilling renditions of this 17thC genius. Sonorous, sensual, contemplative, mysterious & above all, soulful pieces with flawless playing. The hipness of this recording is evident by the Jerry Garcia quote openning the accompanying pamphlet re:magic, bliss, religion & music.

Six degrees of tonality: A well-tempered piano

Average customer rating:

Interesting
A real ear-opener

Six degrees of tonality: A well-tempered piano

Manufacturer: Gasparo Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005B7GY
Release Date: 2001-04-24

Customer Reviews:

Interesting.......2006-05-12

Like the previous reviewer, I have only recently learned about all the different temperaments. Honestly I have to say that the differences between the equal vs. Prelleur Fantasie are very subtle; perhaps I haven't listened for a long enough time to pick everything up.

I'll have to say, however, that I don't find the 1/4 comma meantone version bland at all, but rather very interesting because of how hilariously off it can sound at times. That was a difference I picked up right away, (well, I guess I have to admit that 41 cents is a pretty big interval to be off by... ), which pretty much overshadows the "habit-forming" pure thirds.

A real ear-opener.......2004-05-26

I'm a lifelong music lover, but just recently started learning about the history of temperaments (as in Stuart Isacoff's entertaining book on the subject). I got this CD to see if I could really hear the difference between Meantone, well temperaments, and equal temperament. At first I wasn't sure, but the more I became familiar with the compositions and the pianist's style, the more surprised I became at the marked contrasts in tone and coloration.

The Mozart Fantasie recorded successively in Meantone, Prelleur (a graduated well temperament), and equal temperament is the best basis for comparison. It demonstrates in brilliantly conclusive fashion how superior the well temperament is for Mozart's compositions. The other two tunings sound dispirited and bland by comparison. The generations of musicians and listeners who have been restricted almost exclusively to equal temperament are the poorer for it.

Customer Reviews:

Soaring voices.......2002-11-07

While many instruments vie for best expressing the language of love, St Colombe's seven-string version of the viola da gamba is clearly among the leaders. It has been described as the "best imitator of the human voice." In this album, two excellent gambists and a lutenist support the resplendent voice of Suzie LeBlanc in presenting three 17th Century French composers. Lambert, Le Camus, and St Colombe represent the finest musical traditions of the era of the Sun King, Louis XIV, in dealing with the "Tender Land" of love and desire. In selecting the pieces comprising this album, this group demonstrates a fine sense of feeling for the time. As the notes attest, a mid-17th Century ten volume novel, Cecile, typified the courtier's approach to the mysteries of "amour." Love was a consuming topic for poets, essayists, but particularly musicians. The selections are comprised of six instumentals and seven accompanied vocals, all exquisitely performed.

History and literature aside, it is the performance offered to the listener that makes this CD extraordinary. Suzie LeBlanc's voice can only be called radiant. Pure and unblemished, her singing carries the mood of each song with soaring resolution. Such voices are rare, especially among sopranos, her singing captures the listener's attention, evoking a range of emotions. Clear, unaffected and forceful, LeBlanc's performance here is among her best offerings for lovers of voice.

LeBlanc's instrumental companions include Les Voix Humaines and lutenist Stephen Stubbs. Les Voix Humaines, Susie Napper and Margaret Little bring well-honed talents for the Baroque da gamba to this collection. Their virtuoso duet performances provide an elegant background for LeBlanc in addition to several outstanding instrumental selections. The duet amply express why the da gamba was considered the equal of the human voice in expressing emotion.

No Equal
Average customer rating:

Album title Alone is enough

Under Rated

A great singer

HE IS MUSIC ALL OVER BECASUE HIS GOT THE GREATEST VOICES

HE IS MUSIC ALL OVER BECASUE HIS GOT THE GREATEST VOICES

No Equal
Michael Speaks
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | R&B | Styles | Music
General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
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Praise at Your Own Risk

Serious

ASIN: B000002HI5
Release Date: 1995-08-01

Tracks:

Undisputed
I'll Make It Allright
Is It Still Good?
Out Of My Mind
I Specialize
Heartbreaker
From The Back
I'm Sorry
If Only For One Night
Whatever You Need
Nothin' I Wouldn't Do For You
Jesus Is Real
You Don't Have To Cry (Remix)

Customer Reviews:

Album title Alone is enough.......2004-11-08

In the fabulous and lucrative world of R&B you can imagine and understand how many artists are overlooked. The gentleman that gave his all on the No Equal album is no exception. It's so disgraceful to see the talentless go about with record deals and have people like brotha speaks go hardly without notice. I remember hearing Whatever you need back in 95 and seeing the video. I can recall seeing him on the Keenon Ivory Wayans show when it was airing. To say Mr. Speaks himself is an R&B artist would rob him. He surely can be classified as entertainer. His voice is raspy but at the same time smooth. His power behind it is undoubtedbly one from on high. Mr. Speaks himself said he once was homeless and you can hear his eagerness on the tracks when he sings as if to say I wanted food and shelter and now I'm giving it. Jesus Is Real has to be one of the most played and celebrated modern versions of the song with good reason. His prowess over the song can be felt because he truly had something to sing about. NO EQUAL is undoubtedly just that and will surely suffice the appetite of musical fans anywhere. From his R&B to his Gospel he truly has No Equal when it comes to his voice.

Under Rated.......2004-02-11

Michael Speaks is seriously underated. He has talent, and the skills to compete with the best of them. This c.d is a very good soulful cd. He really showcases his voice range on this c.d.

A great singer.......2002-12-23

I first heard micheal on adina howards album.They used to be on teh same record label.He is on her album called do you want to ride, on track 9. That is a beautiful song and one of my all time favorites till this day. its a very uplifting song.I had to hear him more and brought his cd no equal.I wasnt dissappointed, he has a powerful voice and can compete with anybody in the industry.This cd is a must have pretty good.

HE IS MUSIC ALL OVER BECASUE HIS GOT THE GREATEST VOICES.......1998-11-17

M.SPEAKS' C.D IS ONE OF THE BEST OUT THERE IN TERMS OF VOICE AND THE WAY THE SONGS ARE PROGRAMMED.I WILL REALLY LOVE HIM TO BE AROUND BECAUSE HE HAS TALENT JUST LIKE THE REST OF THEM : R.KELLY, JOHNNY GILL, BIG BOB,AARON HALL ETC.

HE IS MUSIC ALL OVER BECASUE HIS GOT THE GREATEST VOICES.......1998-11-17

Average customer rating:

Cinema Classics 6

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Prelude To Tristan And Isolde: Excalibur - Johannes Wildner
Adagio From Serenade No. 10 In B Flat, K. 361: Amadeus - German Wind Soloists
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61: Scherzo: A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy - Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra
Tombeau 'Les Regrets': Tous Les Matins Du Monde - Spectre De La Rose
Prelude, Op. 28, No. 4: Five Easy Pieces - Idil Biret
Passacaglia In C Minor From BWV 582: White Nights - Johann Aratore
Firenze E Come Un Albero Fiorito From Gianni Schicchi: A Room With A View - Johannes Wildner
Poco Allegretto From Symphony No. 3 In F Major, Op. 90: Goodbye Again - Alexander Rahbari
Presto From Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major, BWV 1049: Slaughterhouse-Five - Capella Istropolitana
1812 Overture, Op. 49: The Music Lovers - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Tracks:

Overture To The Force Of Destiny: Jean de Florette - Verdi
Waltz Of The Flowers From The Nutcracker: Fantasia - Tchaikovsky
Allegro vivace From Piano Concerto In A Minor Op. 54: Madame Sousatzka - Schumann
Adagio From Oboe Concerto In D Minor: Anonimo Veneziano - A. Marcello
Allegro vivacissimo From Violin Concerto In D Major Op. 35: Exposed - Tchaikovsky
Dammi tu forza From La Traviata: Pretty Woman - Verdi
Minuetto From String Quintet In E Major G 275: The Ladykillers - Boccherini
Ave Verum Corpus K. 618: Lorenzo's Oil - Mozart
Allegro moderato From Piano Trio In B Flat Major Op. 97: Swing Kids - Beethoven

Tracks:

Overture To Tannhauser: Meeting Venus - Wagner
Nocturne No. 2 E Flat Major Op. 9: Man Trouble - Chopin
Largo From Serse: Dangerous Liaisons - Handel
Gymopedie No. 1: My Dinner With Andre - Satie
Allegro vivo - Appassionato From String Quartet No. 1 In E Minor: Sneakers - Smetana
Moment Musical No. 2: Au revoir les enfants - Schubert
Misere: Chariots Of Fire - Allegri
Adagio From Piano Concerto No. 2: A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy - Mendelssohn
The Sorcerer's Apprentice: Fantasia - Dukas

Tracks:

Overture To The Marriage Of Figaro K. 492: Trading Places - Mozart
Waltz No. 15 In E Minor Op. Posth.: Sneakers - Chopin
Andantino semplice - Prestissimo From Piano Concerto No. 1 In B Flat Minor Op. 23: The Music Lovers - Tchaikovsky
Siegfried's Death And Funeral March From Gotterdammerung: Excalibur - Wagner
Anvil Chorus From Il Trovatore: A Night At The Opera - Verdi
Allegro assai Form Piano Sonata No. 23 In F Minor Op. 57 'Appassionata': Madame Sousatzka - Beethoven
Allegro - Andante From Water Music: Dead Poets Society - Handel
Blues (Moderato) From Violin Sonata: Un coeur en Hiver - Ravel
Courante From Partita No. 4 In D Major BWV 828: Exposed - Bach
ANdante un poco mosso From Piano Concerto No. 5 In E Flat Major Op. 73 'Emperor': Picnic At Hanging Rock - Beethoven
Dance Of The Hours From La Gioconda: Fantasia - Ponchielli

Tracks:

Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba From Solomon: Heartburn - Handel
ANdante con moto From Piano Trio No. 2 In E Flat Major D. 929: Barry Lyndon - Schubert
Andante - Allegro non troppo from Violin Concerto In E Minor Op. 64: A Month In The Country - Mendelssohn
Sonnerie de Sainte Genevieve du Mont de Paris: Tours les matins du monde - Marais
Allegro From Organ Concerto No. 13 In F Major: Dangerous Liaisons - Handel
ANdante nobilmente e semplice Frm Symphony No. 1 In A Flat Major Op. 55: Greystoke: The Legend Of Tarzan, Lord Of The Apes - Elgar
Prelude No. 2 In A Minor Op. 28: Autumn Sonata - Chopin
Et resurrexit From Mass In B Minor BWV 232: Man Trouble - Bach
Troika From Lieutenant Kije: Love And Death - Prokofiev
Il mio tesoro From Don Giovanni K. 527: Kind Hearts And Coronets - Mozart
A Night On The Bare Mountain: Fantasia - Mussorgsky

Average customer rating:

A very inconsistent Cage collection
Expertly rendered Cage

Litany for the Whale
Cage , Riley , Hillier , and Theatre of Voices
Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00006AFMG
Release Date: 2002-08-13

Customer Reviews:

A very inconsistent Cage collection.......2003-11-22

Paul Hillier, formerly of the Hilliard Ensemble, is best known for his performances of early music and of the so-called holy minimalists. In this disc he directs an eclectic collection of Cage performances, with distinctly mixed results.

Litany for the Whale takes the form of a call and response between two antiphonally divided singers. The text uses just the letters of "whale" and only five pitches. The first singer sings variations on the original articulation of these pitches--which become more extensive as the work progresses--while the second singer responds to these by repeating the original five notes unmodified. It's a haunting work, though I find 26 minutes of unaccompanied monody a little too much to take.

The two Arias bring very opposite results. I like Hillier's vocal histrionics in the second Aria, and the electronic effects and storm recordings are very much to the point. However, the recording of the first Aria is a disaster. For some reason Hillier decides to split the performance between seven voices, thus ruining the consistent flow of the work, whose effect very much depends on the fact that no single singer could possibly perform the whole work idiomatically. Nobody has yet rivalled Cathy Berberian in this seminal work, and this performance doesn't even come close.

The rest of the works are rather slight. Five impresses in its slow, meditative textures, while Solo for Voice #22 is an intriging exploration of electronically modified breathing sounds. The Wonderful Widow of Eighteen Springs and The Year Begins to be Ripe are two short songs, using the same three pitches and the sound of a performer tapping on a closed piano. They don't outlast their charm, unlike the irritating mock-Irishry of Experiences #2.

Of the entertaining poetry cycle 36 Mesostics re and not re Marcel Duchamp, Cage later turned 15 to music using the same three notes of the two songs earlier mentioned. This performance features Terry Riley (yes, him) reading the unset poems and Hillier singing the musical ones. The result is slight, and rather gimmicky.

This is a very uneven disc. If you want Litany for the Whale, it can be recommended, but there are so many other, superior Cage discs on the market that have a much better claim on any listener's attention.

Expertly rendered Cage.......2003-06-21

John Cage is known for being a raucous composer, but he had a gentler side as well, and both sides are present on this marvelous recording. It begins with what is the disc's highlight, in my opinion: the remarkable "Litany for the Whale." The longest piece on this disc, it is scored for two voices, and has a call and response structure to it. The two male singers, recorded in a resonant chamber, are given five pitches to sing, one assigned to each letter in the word "whale." This is calm, spare, meditative music, unlike anything in the modern repertoire that I have heard. It is really beautiful.

"Five" is another "quiet" Cage piece. In it five men and women sing wordless, sustained pitches, reminiscent at times of Ligeti's "Lux Aeterna." "The Wonderful Widow of Eighteen Springs" is one of my favorite Cage songs. It's a melodic work that features text by James Joyce and has the singer tapping a closed piano, as if a percussion instrument. "Experience #2" is a similar work, melodic and without percussive sounds. A female voice sings a lovely text, penned by ee cummings, which is set off by some lyrical humming as well.

Cage's whackier, more comical side is on display here as well, in the "Arias" and the "Solo for Voice." These voice stretching pieces are fascinating, and expertly rendered here, the electronics integrated in a polished and smooth manner. I can't emphasize enough how entertaining these pieces are.

Paul Hillier's group is ordinarily associated with Renaissance and Baroque era music (as well as music by Arvo Part). It is thrilling to hear these rarefied voices in this avant garde repertoire. More please!

Soul Music:

Soul Music

soul music

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