God's Son [Explicit Lyrics]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Do we have to compare Nas to Jay-Z? Probably not, but skirmishes between New York's premier MCs make it difficult for us to stop. Nas's God's Son may fall victim to Jay Z's more polished Blueprint 2 on the battlefront, but as far as Nas releases go, this one's not that bad at all. In fact, there are some striking stand-out selections. "Made You Look" and "Last Real Nigga Alive" (Nas's inevitable "why Jigga is wack" track) are white hot for the streets, and the Alchemist-produced "Book of Rhymes" showcases the type of witty yet introspective rhymes that Nas fans crave. Still, one can't escape the impression that the album suffers from a bloated track listing and quite a few unnecessary guest appearances, including yet another "collaboration" with the long-dead 2Pac. We also could have done without the tired misogyny of the limited-edition bonus track, "P***y Kills." Oh, and Salaam Remi's beat on "Zone Out" deserves a doper rhyme than the one it supports. But for the most part, Nas's flow is on point. --Rebecca Levine

God's Son,Nas,Sony,East Coast Rap,Hardcore Rap,Hip-Hop,Pop,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop

God's Son [Explicit Lyrics]

Tracks:

Get Down
The Cross
Made You Look
Last Real Nigga Alive
Zone Out (feat. Bravehearts)
Hey Nas (feat. Kelis & Claudette Ortiz from City High)
I Can
Book Of Rhymes
Mastermind
Thugz Mansion (N.Y.) (feat. 2pac And J. Phoenix)
Warrior Song (feat. Alicia Keys)
Revolutionary Warfare (feat. Lake)
Dance
Heaven (feat. Jully Black)

Amazon.com

Do we have to compare Nas to Jay-Z? Probably not, but skirmishes between New York's premier MCs make it difficult for us to stop. Nas's God's Son may fall victim to Jay Z's more polished Blueprint 2 on the battlefront, but as far as Nas releases go, this one's not that bad at all. In fact, there are some striking stand-out selections. "Made You Look" and "Last Real Nigga Alive" (Nas's inevitable "why Jigga is wack" track) are white hot for the streets, and the Alchemist-produced "Book of Rhymes" showcases the type of witty yet introspective rhymes that Nas fans crave. Still, one can't escape the impression that the album suffers from a bloated track listing and quite a few unnecessary guest appearances, including yet another "collaboration" with the long-dead 2Pac. We also could have done without the tired misogyny of the limited-edition bonus track, "P***y Kills." Oh, and Salaam Remi's beat on "Zone Out" deserves a doper rhyme than the one it supports. But for the most part, Nas's flow is on point. --Rebecca Levine

Customer Reviews:

Nas's best effort since It Was Written.......2007-07-27

Yes, Nas is an incredible rapper, one of the best still around. In '94, he released the groundbreaking, Illmaitc. Two years later, he released an album that raised the mainstream bar a little, but **** it, it was genius. All of it. I Am... was okay, some nice cuts but nothing as a whole album. The same goes with Stillmatic. I won't speak about "the album", let's not go there. In 2002, we received an incredible album and his true comeback. Now let's break the album down...

"Get Down". Great track and Nas shows off his story telling skills here. Using a James Brown sample, he tells various storys. 9/10
"The Cross". Another solid track, good beat by Em. The title says it all. Just saying he's here to bring New York back. 8.5/10
"Made You Look". This is one of the best party, non-poppy tracks I've heard in awhile. Thank you Nas. 9/10
"Last Real N**** Alive" is an outlash to the time of hip-hop. Just amazing skills displayed by Nas here. 10/10
"Zone Out" is by far the worst song, so far. Its barely listenable. The album was flowing so smoothly then this came on. But I admit, BH display some nice lyrics. 6.5/10
"Hey Nas" is just another attempt by Nas to be a love man. Its a decent song and singing doesn't ruin it. 8/10
"I Can". You probably heard this by now. Nice attempt Nas to give back to the community and the kids. 8.5/10
"Book of Rhymes" returns the album on flow as the first four songs. Good concept by making it seem like he's rhyming out of different pages of rhymes. 10/10
"Thugz Mansion (N.Y.)" is basically the same song from 2pac's Better Dayz album but he removed 'Pac's first verse and put in his own. I won't hate on this. Nice touch. 9/10
"Mastermind". Nas puts some more solid lyrics here. 9/10
"Warrior Song" is another nice song to repeat. I didn't know Alica Keys produced, new to me. But she sang the chorus and produced this. Decent. 8.5/10
"Revolutionary Warfare" is one of my favorites on this CD. Unknown to the public rapper, Lake, makes an apperance. I love trading rhyme verses and this has that. 10/10
"Dance". I'm crying right now, thank you Nas...10/10
"Heaven". Chorus is annoying but it has a message. Flow is very nicely done by Nas. Lyrics are great. 9/10

Closing Comments: By no means is this a classic, but its a damn good album, the note of It Was Written. If you wanna get into Nas, I suggest Illmatic first. After that, It Was Written or this are good choices. Its filled with very nice cuts. Only one bad track. But Nas gave us a nice album in 2002, so I thank you Mr. Jones.

-Peace

Classic Nas Album for 2003 Hip-hop.......2007-05-03

I think that NaS is as strong as a MC as he ever was and I think that lyrically and idealistically, this album would be a 5 star. The only problem(s) that brings NaS down is the beats. I have always thought that you didn't need good beats to make a classic album,that you just needed the rhymes and skills on the mic,but boy was I wrong. The beats on this CD are just OK for NaS. I HATE the beat for "Mastermind" I think its too early 90s RNB sounding and his flow didn't go top the beat. I wasn;t feeling it at all. Other beats that I didn't like was the ALicia Keys produced "Warrior Song". It was just a off beat piano that sped up and was only on beat for the drum breakdown.Beats aside, NaS comes through lyrically as expected. His story telling skills on "Get Down" shine through gorgeously, while his street anthem "Made You Look" is something that you could just chill out to and nod ya head at the same time. NaS covers ideas such as spirituality on "Heaven" and tells all in his name dropping auto bio "Last Real Nigga Alive". His inspirational track "I Can" is OK,I suppose and "Zone Out"(feat Bravehearts) is just average,too. Jungle and Wiz don't prove to be anything above average for a commercial MC,while NaS completely KILLS the track(it has a sick beat too).Overall This CD is pretty good and is worth a listen if you're into supporting real rap,or if you're a NaS fan in general.

Top 5 tracks
1.Get Down
2.Heaven
3.Made You Look
4.Last Real Nigga Alive
5.I Can or Zone Out

"God's Son" - Best post-"Illmatic"/pre-"Hip-Hop Is Dead" Album.......2006-12-21

Alright people, I'm going to be blunt - "God's Son" is his best pre-"Hip-Hop Is Dead" album since his landmark debut album "Illmatic". Yes, the guest rappers (Jungle, Wiz, Lake and a posthumous appearance from Tupac) and singers (J. Phoenix, ex-City High songstress Claudette Ortiz, Alicia Keys and Nas' musically eclectic wife, Kelis) are more abundant than his previous releases, but this, along with the differentiating sounds the producers provide (Chucky Thompson, Salaam Reemi, Alchemist, etc.), is the reason "God's Son" is so great in the first place. Despite the abundance of guest artists, Nas' passionately ferocious delivery, skilful wordplay and thought-provoking lyrics continue to steal the show across the album's 14 tracks.

Another thing that makes "God's Son" better than most of its predecessors is its more meaningful sense of purpose - for those of you who don't know, this album was created in loving memory of his deceased mother. Thankfully, this album doesn't drown in pity and excessively sentimental depression - apart from the spiritual "Heaven" (feat. the soulful voice of songstress Jully Black on the hook) and the deeply heartfelt mother ode, "Dance", much of the remainder of "God's Son" sticks to the formula of previous albums - hard-hitting street anthems, politics, hustling and contemplative hood music, amongst other things.

Without a doubt, "Thugz Mansion (N.Y.)" would be the best track on the album. With Nas' & Tupac's compelling lyrics, J. Phoenix's smooth vocal hook and the song's laid-back acoustic guitar, it's the kind of s**t that forces you to relax and think at the same time. Songs like "I Can" & "Revolutionary Warfare" (feat. rapper Lake), with the help of minimalist production and youthful kiddie choir vocals, are mainly driven by Nas' honest delivery & insightful lyrics that aim to inspire and educate; the dark-toned "Last Real N***a Alive" documents Nas' rise to success & his legendary feud with Jay-Z; others songs like the dizzyingly wacky production of "Zone Out" (feat. rappers Jungle & Wiz), the sinisterly moody "Mastermind", the dreamy what-I-look-for-in-a-girl ladies cut "Hey Nas" (feat. Claudette Ortiz & Kelis) and the drum/piano-driven anthem "Warrior Song" (feat. Alicia Keys as producer and soulful hook crooner) provides the album with a slight variation in sounds without pushing the envelope too far; and album openers "Get Down" & "The Cross" deliver more of the same ol' same ol' without ever sounding tired out.

Is this album better than "Illmatic"? In my opinion, it is, but as a Hip-Hop album, "Illmatic" is better because, despite its jazz inflections, it's far more grounded into the streets and Hip-Hop's roots than "God's Son" is. Nonetheless, this is a very solid album and should be more than worthy of gracing your Hip-Hop collection. 5 stars!

5 Best Tracks (IMO) (In No Order):
"Thugz Mansion (N.Y.)" (feat. Tupac & J. Phoenix)"
"Dance"
"Heaven (feat. Jully Black)"
"Warrior Song" (feat. Alicia Keys)
"I Can"

3.5 stars: Not quite the follow up to Stillmatic that I was expecting....................2006-11-25

The God's Son joint is just okay, could've been better.

Top Joints:
Made You Look (Classic)
Book of Rhymes (Love it)
Last Real N*gga (Breaks down the battle for King of NY)
I Can (Deep, impressive- identical to BDP's "You Must Learn")
Heaven (For his Moms)
Zone Out
Mastermind (Indeed)

Marylandemcee.......2006-11-04

This album is worth the buy.But you can't injoy the full effect without knowing where he started. so Illmatic should also be on mind.
I have all but streets deciples. it's worth it ..very well done

Dowland - The Collected Works / The Consort of Musicke, Rooley

Average customer rating:

The greatest songs ever?
A musical treasure-box
a beautiful journey into melancholy

Dowland - The Collected Works / The Consort of Musicke, Rooley
John Dowland , Anthony Rooley , Emma Kirkby , Christopher Wilson , The Consort of Musicke , Colin Tilney , Anthony Bailes , Jakob Lindberg , Nigel North , Glenda Simpson , Peter Holman , and John Donne
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Dowland: Complete Lute Works, Vol.1-5
William Byrd: Consort Songs
Bach: The Landowska Recordings
Britten Conducts Britten
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ASIN: B000004CYV
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Tracks:

First Booke Of Songes: I. Unquiet Thoughts
First Booke Of Songes: II. Who Ever Thinks Or Hopes Of Love
First Booke Of Songes: III. My Thoughts Are Wing'd With Hopes
First Booke Of Songes: IV. If My Complaints Could Passions Move
First Booke Of Songes: V. Can She Excuse My Wrongs
First Booke Of Songes: VI. Now, O Now, I Needs Must Part
First Booke Of Songes: VII. Dear, If You Change
First Booke Of Songes: VIII. Burst Fourth My Tears
First Booke Of Songes: IX. Go Crystal Tears
First Booke Of Songes: X. Think'st Thou Then By Thy Feigning
First Booke Of Songes: XI. Come Away, Come Sweet Love
First Booke Of Songes: XII. Rest Awhile, You Cruel Cares
First Booke Of Songes: XIII. Sleep, Wayward Thoughts
First Booke Of Songes: XIV. All Ye, Whom Love Or Fortune Hath Betray'd
First Booke Of Songes: XV. Wilt Thou Unkind Thus Reave Me
First Booke Of Songes: XVI. Would My Conceit
First Booke Of Songes: XVII. Come Again: Sweet Love Doth Now Invite
First Booke Of Songes: XVIII. His Golden Locks
First Booke Of Songes: XIX. Awake, Sweet Love
First Booke Of Songes: XX. Come, Heavy Sleep
First Booke Of Songes: XXI. Away With These Self-Loving Lads

Tracks:

Second Booke Of Songs: I. I Saw My Lady Weep
Second Booke Of Songs: II. Flow My Tears
Second Booke Of Songs: III. Sorrow, Stay
Second Booke Of Songs: IV. Die Not Before Thy Day
Second Booke Of Songs: V. Mourn, Mourn, Day Is With Darkness Fled
Second Booke Of Songs: VI. Time's Eldest Son
Second Booke Of Songs: VII. Then Sit Thee Down
Second Booke Of Songs: VIII. When Others Sing Venite
Second Booke Of Songs: IX. Praise Blindness Eyes
Second Booke Of Songs: X. O Sweet Woods
Second Booke Of Songs: XI. If Floods Of Tears
Second Booke Of Songs: XII. Fine Knacks For Ladies
Second Booke Of Songs: XIII. Now Cease My Wand'ring Eyes
Second Booke Of Songs: XIV. Come Ye Heavy States Of Night
Second Booke Of Songs: XV. White As Lilies Was Her Face
Second Booke Of Songs: XVI. Woeful Heart
Second Booke Of Songs: XVII. A Shepherd In A Shade
Second Booke Of Songs: XVIII. Faction That Ever Dwells
Second Booke Of Songs: XIX. Shall I Sue
Second Booke Of Songs: XX. Toss Not My Soul
Second Booke Of Songs: XXI. Clear Or Cloudy
Second Booke Of Songs: XXII. Humour Say What Mak'st Thou Here

Tracks:

Third Booke Of Songs 1603: I. Farewell, Too Fair
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: II. Time Stands Still
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: III. Behold A Wonder Here
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: IV. Daphne Was Not So Chaste
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: V. Me, Me, And None But Me
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: VI. When Phoebus First Did Daphne Love
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: VII. Say, Love, If Ever Thou Didst Find
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: VIII. Flow Not So Fast, Ye Fountains
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: IX. What If I Never Speed?
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: X. Love Stood Amazed
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XI. Lend Your Ears To My Sorrow
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XII. By A Fountain Where I Lay
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XIII. O What Hath Overwrought
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XIV. Farewell, Unkind
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XV. Weep You No More, Sad Fountains
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XVI. Fie On This Feigning!
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XVII. I Must Complain
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XVIII. It Was A Time When Silly Bees
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XIX. The Lowest Trees Have Tops
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XX. What Poor Astronomers Are They
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XXI. Come When I Call

Tracks:

A Pilgrimes Solace: I. Disdain Me Still
A Pilgrimes Solace: II. Sweet Stay Awhile
A Pilgrimes Solace: III. To Ask For All Thy Love
A Pilgrimes Solace: IV. Love, Those Beams That Breed
A Pilgrimes Solace: V. Shall I Strive Wih Words To Move?
A Pilgrimes Solace: VI. Were Every Thought An Eye
A Pilgrimes Solace: VII. Stay, Time, Awhile Thy Flying
A Pilgrimes Solace: VIII. Tell Me, True Love
A Pilgrimes Solace: IX. Go Nightly Cares
A Pilgrimes Solace: X. From Silent Night
A Pilgrimes Solace: XI. Lasso vita mia
A Pilgrimes Solace: XII. In This Trembling Shadow Cast
A Pilgrimes Solace: XIII. If That A Sinner's Sights
A Pilgrimes Solace: XIV. Thou Mighty God
A Pilgrimes Solace: XV. When David's Life
A Pilgrimes Solace: XVI. When The Poor Cripple

Tracks:

A Pilgrimes Solace: XVII. Where Sin Sore Wounding
A Pilgrimes Solace: XVIII. My Heart And Tongue Were Twins
A Pilgrimes Solace: XIX. Up Merry Mates
A Pilgrimes Solace: XX. Welcome Black Night
A Pilgrimes Solace: XXI. Cease, Cease These False Sports
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Lachrimae Pavane
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Can Shee
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Paduana
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: The Frogge
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Frog's Galliard
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Pavana And Galiarda
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Paduana Lachrymae
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Can She Excuse
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Pavion Solus cum sola
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Dowland's Almayne
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Piper's Paven And Galliard
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Pavan Lachrymae

Tracks:

Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: I. The Lamentation Of A Sinner
Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: II. Domine ne in furore
Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: III. Miserere mei Deus
Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: IV. The Humble Suit Of A Sinner
Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: V. The Humble Complaint Of A Sinner
Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: VI. De profundis
Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: VII. Domine exaudi
Lachrimae: Lachrimae Antiquae
Lachrimae: Lachrimae Antiquae Novae
Lachrimae: Lachrimae Gementes
Lachrimae: Lachrimae Tristes
Lachrimae: Lachrimae Coactae
Lachrimae: Lachrimae Amantis
Lachrimae: Lachrimae Verae
Lachrimae: Mr. John Langton's Pavan
Lachrimae: Mr. Nicholas Gryffith His Galiard
Lachrimae: Sir John Souch His Galiard
Lachrimae: Semper Dowland Semper Dolens
Lachrimae: Mr. Giles Hobies Galiard
Lachrimae: The King Of Denmark's Galiard
Lachrimae: Sir Henry Umpton's Funerall
Lachrimae: Mr. Henry Noell His Galiard
Lachrimae: The Earl Of Essex Galiard
Lachrimae: Mr. Bucton His Galiard
Lachrimae: Mr. George Whitehead His Almand
Lachrimae: Captain Digorie Piper His Galiard
Lachrimae: Mr. Thomas Collier His Galiard
Lachrimae: Mrs. Nichols Almand

Tracks:

Sacred Songs: Sorrow, Come!
Sacred Songs: I Shame At Mine Unworthiness
Sacred Songs: An Heart That's Broken And Contrite
Psalms: Psalm 100: All People That On Earth Do Dwell
Psalms: Psalm 38: Put Me Not To Rebuke O Lord
Psalms: Psalm 130: Lord To Thee I Make My Moan
Psalms: Psalm 104: My Soul Praise The Lord
Psalms: Psalm 100: All People That On Earth Do Dwell
Psalms: Psalm 134: Behold And Have Regard
A Prayer For The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty
Instrumental Music: Solus cum sola pavan
Instrumental Music: Lachrimae
Instrumental Music: Galliard
Instrumental Music: Pipers Pavan
Instrumental Music: Lachrimae
Instrumental Music: Lady Rich Galliard
Instrumental Music: Earl Of Essex Galliard
Instrumental Music: If My Complaints
Instrumental Music: Lachrimae Doolande
Instrumental Music: Lord Willoughbie's Welcome Home
Instrumental Music: My Lord Chamberlaine His Galliard
Instrumental Music: Comagain
Instrumental Music: Pavan Lachrymae
Instrumental Music: Sorrow Stay

Tracks:

Lute Music: Preludium
Lute Music: Lachrimae
Lute Music: Can She Excuse
Lute Music: Dr. Case's Pavan
Lute Music: Melancholy Galliard
Lute Music: Sir John Smith, His Almain
Lute Music: Fantasia
Lute Music: A Dream
Lute Music: Almain
Lute Music: The Queen's Galliard
Lute Music: Coranto
Lute Music: Resolution
Lute Music: Mrs. Vaux Galliard
Lute Music: Almain
Lute Music: Mr. Dowland's MIdnight
Lute Music: Fantasia
Lute Music: Loth To Depart
Lute Music: The Most Sacred Queen Elizabeth, Her Galliard
Lute Music: The Earl Of Essex, His Galliard
Lute Music: Pavan
Lute Music: John Dowland's Galliard
Lute Music: Aloe
Lute Music: The Lady Clifton's Spirit
Lute Music: What If A Day
Lute Music: Mr. Giles Hobie's Galliard
Lute Music: Come Away (Song arrangement)
Lute Music: Galliard
Lute Music: Fancy (Fantasia)

Tracks:

Lute Music: Lachrimae (Basic Version)
Lute Music: Galliard To Lachrimae
Lute Music: [Jig]
Lute Music: Galliard On 'Wasingham'
Lute Music: Complaint (Ballad Setting)
Lute Music: Mignarda (Galliard)
Lute Music: Semper Dowland Semper Dolens (Pavan)
Lute Music: The Frog Galliard
Lute Music: A Fancy (Fantasia)
Lute Music: Fancy (Fantasia)
Lute Music: Piper's Pavan
Lute Music: Captain Digorie Piper's Galliard
Lute Music: Lady Laiton's Almain
Lute Music: Dowland's Galliard
Lute Music: Dowland's First Galliard
Lute Music: Tarleton's Jig
Lute Music: Walsingham (ballad Setting)
Lute Music: Lord Willoughbie's Welcome Home (Ballad Setting)
Lute Music: Sir Henry Guilforde, His Almain
Lute Music: Pavan (Related To 'Lachrimae')
Lute Music: Mr. Langton's Galliard
Lute Music: Mrs. Clifton's Almain
Lute Music: Galliard
Lute Music: Lady Hunsdon's Puffe (Almain)
Lute Music: Galliard
Lute Music: Go From My Window (Ballad Setting)
Lute Music: Fancy (Fantasia)

Tracks:

Lute Music: Pavana Johan Douland
Lute Music: Mrs. Brigide Fleetwood's Pavan (Solus sine sola)
Lute Music: La mia Barbara
Lute Music: Sir Henry Umpton's Funeral (Pavan)
Lute Music: Lachrimae
Lute Music: Farewell Fancy (Chromatic Fantasia)
Lute Music: Farewell (On The 'In Nomine' Theme)
Lute Music: The King of Denmark's Galliard
Lute Music: Mrs. Vaux's Jig
Lute Music: Mrs. Nichol's Almain
Lute Music: Galliard
Lute Music: Lord Strang's March
Lute Music: Mrs. Winter's Jump
Lute Music: Can She Excuse (Galliard)
Lute Music: The Shoemaker's Wife, A Toy
Lute Music: Mrs. Norrish's Delight
Lute Music: Galliard
Lute Music: Mrs. White's Thing (Almain)
Lute Music: Mrs. White's Nothing
Lute Music: The Frog Galliard
Lute Music: Solus cum sola
Lute Music: The Lord Viscount Lisle, His Galliard
Lute Music: Orlando Sleepeth (Ballad Setting)
Lute Music: Robin (Ballad Setting)
Lute Music: Galliard (On A Galliard By Daniel Bacheler)
Lute Music: Forlorn Hope Fancy (Chromatic Fantasia)

Tracks:

Lute Music: The Lady Russell's Pavan
Lute Music: Fancy (Fantasia)
Lute Music: Sir John Langton's Pavan
Lute Music: Earl Of Derby, His Galliard
Lute Music: A Coy Toy
Lute Music: Fortune My Foe
Lute Music: [Almain]
Lute Music: Mr. Knight's Galliard
Lute Music: Sir John Souch His Galliard
Lute Music: Tarletone's Riserrectione
Lute Music: The Lady Rich, Her Galliard
Consort Music: Lachrimae Pavan
Consort Music: Can She Excuse Galliard
Consort Music: Captain Piper's Pavan And Galliard
Consort Music: The Frog Galliard
Consort Music: Round Battell Galliard
Consort Music: Fortune My Foe
Consort Music: Dowland's First Galliard
Consort Music: Katherine Darcie's Galliard
Consort Music: Tarleton's Jigge
Consort Music: Almain a 2
Consort Music: Mistress Nichols Almain a 2
Fullsack And Hildebrandt: Auserlesener Paduanen und Galliarden: Susanna Fair (Galliard)
Haussmann: Rest von polnischen und andern Tanzen: Mistress Nichols Alman a 5
Opusculum: Mr. John Langton Pavan And Galliard
Opusculum: La mia Barbara Pavan and Galliard
Opusculum: Lachrimae Antiquae Novae Pavan and Galliard

Tracks:

Consort Music: Mistress NIchols Almain
Consort Music: Volta a 4 ('Ioh. Douland')
Consort Music: Were Every Thought an Eye
Consort Music: Lady If You So Spite Me
Consort Music: Pavan a 4
A Musicall Banquet: I. My Heavy Sprite (Anthony Holborne)
A Musicall Banquet: II. Change Thy Mind Since She Doth Change (Richard Martin)
A Musicall Banquet: III. O Eyes, Leave Off Your Weeping (Robert Hales)
A Musicall Banquet: IV. Go, My Flock, Go Get You Hence (Anon.)
A Musicall Banquet: V. O Dear Life, When Shall It Be? (Anon.)
A Musicall Banquet: VI. To Plead My Faith (Daniel Bacheler)
A Musicall Banquet: VII. In A Grove Most Rich Of Shade (Guillaume Tessier)
A Musicall Banquet: VIII. Far From Triumphing Court
A Musicall Banquet: IX. Lady, If You So Spite Me
A Musicall Banquet: X. In Darkness Let Me Dwell
A Musicall Banquet: XI. Si le parler et le silence (Pierre Guedron)
A Musicall Banquet: XII. Ce penser qui sans fin tirannise ma vie (Pierre Guedron)
A Musicall Banquet: XIII. Vous que le Bonheur rappelle (Pierre Guedron)
A Musicall Banquet: XIV. Passava Amor su arco desarmado (Anon. Spanish)
A Musicall Banquet: XV. Sta notte mi sognava (Anon. Italian)
A Musicall Banquet: XVI. Vuestros ojos tienen d'Amor (Anon. Spanish)
A Musicall Banquet: XVII. Se di farmi morire (Domenico Maria Megli)
A Musicall Banquet: XVIII. Dovro dunque morire? (Giulio Caccini)
A Musicall Banquet: XIX. Amarilli mia bella (Giulio Caccini)
A Musicall Banquet: XX. O bella piu (Anon, Italian)

Customer Reviews:

The greatest songs ever?.......2007-07-26

I heard 'clear or cloudy', from this recording, on the radio recently and had to purchase it. It is strange but it is the sort of song that makes life prior to listening to it different from life after. I find it sad that so many people haven't heard it. There are also many other wonderful works in this collection. Given you get twelve well recorded CDs with top quality performances, this has to be one of the bargains of the age.

Please buy it.

A musical treasure-box.......2006-09-10

Both the music and this actual product are masterpieces. John Dowland's collected works here - covering 12 compact discs - exhibit the depth and power of this composer, a composer who many now regard as suffering from clinical depression. I doubt that the issue of the diagnosis of Dowland's depression can ever be settled, however, it is certainly obvious from his music, so completely on display here, that he was a man with very dark depths and corners in his mind. Dowland's various manifestations and "takes" on his own tune, "Flow my tears"/"Lachrimae" are here. This tune has haunted me ever since I first heard it when I was a child. It seems to sum up Dowland's feelings - at least Dowland seems to have thought so.

The First, Second, Third and Fourth Bookes of Songes, A Musicall Banquet, the keyboard transcriptions, all the lute music, consort music are here and virtually everything else written or supposedly written by John Dowland. Anthony Rooley and The Consort of Musicke perform this music with style and feeling throughout. This 12 CD set is something of a monument to the ensemble - I only wish they'd finished their collection of Monteverdi madrigals, which was equally good (La Venexiana are currently doing a magnificent job of recording all Monteverdi's books of madrigals for the GLOSSA label).

This is an expensive set, however, you will probably never need to buy another John Dowland CD again after buying and listening to this collection.

I bought this CD set on a mild Summer evening of 1998 and listened to it while sitting in my sun room - which a glorious orange sunset in progress, and a glass of wine. It brought back so many memories.

a beautiful journey into melancholy.......2001-06-15

I'm amazed at how many people tend to associate John Dowland's music with a tragic sense of drama. While no doubt this is art highly based on sadness, the "tragic" sense of it is more a legacy from the Romantic period. During the Renaissance, however, sadness was undestood as a very aesthetic way of approaching life. That is also the reason why Shakespeare's tragedies appear more sophisticated than his comedies.

Tracks:

Sicut Cervus
Ave Maria
Justorum Animae
Jesu Rex admirabilis
Exultate Deo
Exultate Justi
Jesu,Dulcis Memoria
Ave Verum Corpus
Psalm 90
Psalm 96
Hodie Christus Natus Est
O Maria Virgo Pia
Tu Pauperum Refugium
O Sacrum Convivium
If Ye Love Me,Keep My Commandments
Hosanna To The Son Of David
O Quam Gloriosum
Selig sind die Toten
Heu Nos Miseros
Exaltabo Te
O Sing Joyfully
O Magnum Mysterium
Laudate Nomen
Cantate Domino

Amazon.com

Go right to the first track and prepare for one of the most masterful and stylish performances of Palestrina that you'll ever hear. It's not flashy music nor is the singing especially virtuosic, but the unified phrasing, ideal balance among sections, and overall ensemble technique is impressive, and Palestrina's little motet simply opens and displays itself like a beautiful flower. The rest of the program, which includes a variety of beautiful flowers from composers such as Josquin, Sweelinck, and Tallis, maintains the same standard. Anyone looking for an introduction to Renaissance sacred choral music will find much here to encourage further exploration--standards like Byrd's "Ave verum corpus" and Victoria's "O magnum mysterium"-- and lesser known tiny masterpieces such as Victoria's "Jesu, dulcis memoria." The Voices of Ascension ranks with the world's finest choirs, and this recording reflects both the highest standard of choral singing and the highest standard of choral composition during the Renaissance. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

Great literature... but thats about it.......2007-06-17

This cd was mildly dissapointing, to say the least. The literature is fantastic. Some of the greats are featured on here with some of their best works. No doubt a great taste of the Renaissance, especially for someone new to it. However, I'm sorry to say that the performance is second-rate, at best. Dennis Keene apparently is either unaware, or just simply understudied when it comes to the Renaissance. He shows an incredible lack of messa di voce, which was what drove the counterpoint of the Renaissance. His interpretations rob this music of its deeply personal purpose. I would suggest the Hilliard Ensemble over any ensemble for Renaissance literature, and find it dissapointing that so many people praise such emotionless, understudied Renaissance ensembels such as the Voices of Ascension, the Tallis Scholars, and the Oxford Camerata, just to name a few. Very good literature... But always pick the Hilliard Ensemble or Anthony Rooley's Consort of Musike when you have the option. It seems like Paul Hillier and Anthony Rooley are the only two true Renaissance scholars currently conducting ensembles.

Essential listening........2007-03-05

This was my first CD of Renaissance choral music, as it undoubtably has been for a great many people. It offers the best possible introduction to the genre for 2 main reasons: 1. No other CD of Renaissance choral music contains such a varied cross-section of early to late Renaissance sacred music styles. 2. The performance and recording quality are fabulous.

Keene uses a variety of different voicings and numbers of singers according to the needs of each particular piece, sometimes with only 2 on a part. The ensemble heard on this recording is a select professional core of The Voices Of Ascension, one of the best choral groups in the country. The voices are all very rich and resonant, and the intonation through the entire CD is unquestionably on par with the best in the world. The singing is, for the most part, completelly vibratoless and extremely smooth, which creates a gorgeous purity that allows this music to shine. However, it does become strident at times, which may put off some choral conductors who are strongly against straight-tone singing.

Of particularly high quality and beauty are the Viadana "Exultate Justi", Byrd's "Ave Verum Corpus", Tallis' "O Sacrum Convivium", and the Victoria and Sweelinck pieces. Another extraordinary track is Leonardo Leo's "Heu Nos Miseros", a late Baroque piece included because of its influence from earlier styles. It is a 9 part double choir piece full of extravigant dissonances and emotion, performed breathtakingly.

Captivating!.......2006-04-12

I was christened as a choral music fan once, as a college student, I heard the music of the Cambridge Singers. Inundated with classical music for years, how could I never have heard such music?! It was as if my musical senses were born anew: for it was with the same awe as a child encountering the world for the first time, that I discovered this novel and fascinating world of a cappella choral music. There were landmark discoveries along the way: Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge; Concordia Choir; St. Olaf Choir; the Dale Warland Singers; the Kansas City Chorale; Kantorei; the West Coast Mennonite Chamber Singers...and (as you expected!) I must end with the Voices of Ascension. The clarity of their pure voices can only be paralleled by the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge. Chant haters, do not avoid this CD - you will find no chants here! Chants hold absolutely NO intrigue for me and I cannot endure listening to them for long periods of time. By contrast, this music, aptly named "Beyond Chant," truly does uncover hidden musical treasures of the Renaissance for those who would ordinarily avoid such music. The intricately woven a cappella harmonies are captivating and satisfying. I highly recommend this CD to all choral music fans.

Lofty music.......2005-10-14

Some of the earliest pieces of Christian music are the various kinds of chant. These hearken back to synagogue singing; there were various kinds of chant, including Gregorian, Old Roman, Mozarabic, Cistercian and Anglican chant. These tend toward the monophonic, singing with a single 'tune' or lone. They are generally without regular beats or set meters. However, in the Renaissance, monophonic chant grew into a polyphonic form, and this is one of the most glorious eras of music. (My shelves at home are filled with CDs of this sort.) Composers in this era include many represented on this disc - Palestrina, Desprez, Victoria, Lassus, Byrd, Gibbons and Tallis were some of the leading lights of the time. Lesser known but still glorious include Tye, Viadana, Sweelinck, Hassler, Batten and Schutz.

One of the interesting features of this disc is that it includes three pieces by Sweelinck, two psalm settings and 'Hodie Christus Natus Est'. (Sweelinck is very under-represented in recording and performance today). Some pieces are very well known - Byrd's 'Ave Verum Corpus' is perhaps one of the most familiar pieces from this period, as is Palestrina's 'Exultate Deo'. This is a collection that draws from the breadth of the Western Christian tradition of music from this time, with composers from Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Spain.

The composers here wrote liturgical music for Masses and other worship services, as well as other pieces - motets and other kinds of new music. This disc represents music that is two or three steps removed from plainsong and basic forms of chant - some are quite a bit distant. Viadana's composition for 'Exultate Justi', for example, was actually composed later, and despite being done in a more Renaissance style, shows decided influences of the Baroque (this might also be part of the performance of the Voices of the Ascension that gives this impression).

The Voices of Ascension, under the direction of Dennis Keene, grew out of the choir of the Church of the Ascension in New York City. Many of the singers are active soloists in addition to being part of this group (whose numbers vary, but often around 40). Keene is a conductor, organist and teacher (not an uncommon combination). Trained at Juilliard, he has led the Voices of Ascension through many outstanding recordings and performances.

This is a performance that is definitely uplifting, and a good collection of music in its breadth to introduce the glories of Renaissance polyphony to those who with little exposure to it. The recording quality is very good, and the choir is quite full and well suited for the music. Some have commented upon the tempo, but this was not a concern for me, and did not stand out as unusual or a problem upon listening (indeed, there were a few points at which I might wish for it to be a bit faster, rather than slower).

A collection that soars!

Slow down Maestro !.......2004-01-04

Another reviewer writing about another album by Dennis Keene wrote:

"Yet the performance is not the slowly flowing honey usually served up by, say, the Tallis Scholars (as good as that is). Particularly in the Gloria and Credo of the Mass, Dennis Keene deliberately de-emphasizes the rise and fall of the different voices' lines in favor of a more naturally speech-like declamation of the long Latin texts. This means a surprisingly fast tempo--and some rhythmic spring and syncopation one might not expect in Palestrina. Some (not all) of the motets get a similar treatment: it works well in joyous pieces like the Pentecost motet Dum complerentur, but listeners might miss that melodic rise and fall in some of the slower works. The singers of Voices of Ascension are quite skillful, and the slight edge in their tone helps make the different melodies unusually audible. Very worthwhile, but not your father's Palestrina."

As a matter of fact, I used to like this album quite much although it was certainly not my favorite. That was until I listened to Robert shaw's "O Magnum Mysterium", which is amedley of Renaissance, negro spiritual, Russian and Western contemporary religious music. I was struck by Shaw's profoundly spiritual interpretation of the pieces by Victoria and Tallis that are also recorded on "Beyond Chant".

From then on I could no longer listen to this cd without feeling feeling increasingly dissatisfied. I tried to find a precise reason and not being a music specialist I was quite at a loss until I found the review above. Maybe the quick tempo is the key to my dislike.

I definitely feel that Dennis Keene and his singers do not have the depth of the Robert Shaw Festival Singers although the booklet accompanying the cd claims that the audience was spellbound by their performance, which took place in a cathedral in New York.

Tracks:

Music Of The Latin Rite: Ave Maria
Music Of The Latin Rite: Loquebantur variis linguis
Music Of The Latin Rite: Miserere mei
Haec dies
Music Of The Latin Rite: Ave verum corpus
Music Of The Reformation: If Ye Love Me
Music Of The Reformation: Hide Not Thou Thy Face
Music Of The Reformation: Lord, For Thy Tender Mercy's Sake
Music Of The Reformation: O Clap Your Hands
Music Of The Reformation: Bow Thine Ear
Music Of The Reformation: Hosanna To The Son Of David
Music Of The Restoration: Lord, How Long Wilt Thou Be Angry
Music Of The Restoration: Thou Knowest, Lord
Music Of The Restoration: Hear My Prayer, O Lord
The Anglican Revival And The Twentieth Century: Beati quorum via
The Anglican Revival And The Twentieth Century: This Joyful Eastertide
The Anglican Revival And The Twentieth Century: Sing Lullaby
The Anglican Revival And The Twentieth Century: A Spotless Rose
The Anglican Revival And The Twentieth Century: What Cheer?
The Anglican Revival And The Twentieth Century: O Taste And See
The Anglican Revival And The Twentieth Century: A Hymn To The Virgin
The Anglican Revival And The Twentieth Century: Jesus Christ The Apple Tree
The Anglican Revival And The Twentieth Century: Faire Is The Heaven
Anthems And Introits: Rejoice In The Lord
Anthems And Introits: Remember Not, Lord, Our Offences
Anthems And Introits: Come, Let's Rejoice
Anthems And Introits: When David Heard
Anthems And Introits: I Sat Down Under His Shadow
Anthems And Introits: These Are They That Follow The Lamb
Latin Motets: Christe Jesu, pastor bone
Latin Motets: O beatum et sacrosanctum diem
Latin Motets: Nunc dimittis
Latin Motets: O vos omnes
Latin Motets: Factum est silentium
Latin Motets: Justorum animae
Settings Of Hymns And Other Poetry: Hail, Gladdening Light
Settings Of Hymns And Other Poetry: A Hymn To The Mother Of God
Settings Of Hymns And Other Poetry: Hymn For The Dormition Of The Mother Of God
Settings Of Hymns And Other Poetry: They Are At Rest
Settings Of Hymns And Other Poetry: A Litany
Settings Of Hymns And Other Poetry: Nolo mortem peccatoris
Settings Of Hymns And Other Poetry: O nata lux
Settings Of Hymns And Other Poetry: Loving Shepherd Of Thy Sheep
Prayer Settings: The Lord's Prayer
Prayer Settings: In manus tuas
Prayer Settings: Bring Us, O Lord God

Customer Reviews:

My favorite album. English church music at its finest........2005-10-06

Whether you have a couple dozen albums of English choral music or whether you're looking for an introduction to English choral music, this two CD collection is a must. Here you will find a wide selection of sacred favorites, from Gregorian chant to Ralph Vaughan Williams. It's a misnomer to call it "Anglican," since this would exclude (in addition to, of course, the pre-Reformation Latin hymns) the likes of Thomas Tallis and William Byrd -- both Catholics that kept to the ancient faith despite Elizabeth's (albeit relatively mild) persecutions. Tallis and Byrd set the standard in the 16th century for the distinctive "Englishness" (as opposed to Continental European) style of English choral music, with its soaring majesty yet somehow coupled with a subtle and sustained beauty (as opposed to the Continental ups and downs and often tiresome exaggerations). For those of us in the English-speaking world, this is our heritage. Let's treasure it. As for the recording itself, the mixing is superb. While listening, it's quite easy to imagine yourself in the beautiful King's College Chapel or perhaps heaven itself.

The grand tradition of English music.......2005-09-23

Recorded in the Lady Chapel of Ely Cathedral, the Cambridge Singers under the direction of John Rutter produced a duo of discs dedicated to Music of the English Church previously issued as two separate discs, 'Hail, Gladdening Light', and its companion piece, 'Faire is the Heaven'. The discs here are straight copies of those discs; hence, if you have those already, there is no need to purchase this - on the other hand, if you do not have the other discs, this is a bargain.

--Music--
This is all unaccompanied music, sung in a cathedral chapel acoustically suited for such music. The first disc has four primary sections: Music of the Latin Rite; Music of the Reformation; Music of the Restoration; and Anglican Revival and the twentieth century. The most famous composers in English music history -- Tallis, Byrd, Gibbons -- combine with later masters such as Purcell, Stanford, Howells, Walton, Britten and Vaughan Williams to form a truly masterful collection. These are anthems, hymns and other liturgical pieces that have remained important in Anglican worship, and can be often heard in situ on Sundays around the world. However, the Cambridge Singers bring their special music talent to the task, producing a good standard bearer for music of the English Church.

On the second disc, there are six Latin motets, set by composers such as Taverner, Howells, Stanford, Vaughan Williams, Philips and Dering. Anthens and Introits include notables Tomkins and Purcell, and lesser-known composers such as Amner, Bairstow and Goss. Hymns span the range from old to modern, including a hymn by John Rutter himself. The disc ends with three prayer settings, including one by the underappreciated John Sheppard, and another from William Harris, whose hymn serves as the title to the companion disc. These anthems and hymns show a powerful range of music, yet show a consistent tone also that makes it rather distinctive of the music of the English church.

The group's power and grace is second to none, particularly when singing this kind of music in a place such as Ely Cathedral, arguably the most natural of settings possible.

--Liner Notes--
The notes for this recording include the titles and words of each anthem or hymn. The notes for each piece also includes brief biographical information of the composer, and unique information about each work, when particular composers are represented more than once. One thing conspicuously missing is much biographical information about John Rutter, or any descriptive information about the Cambridge Singers apart from the most basic of information.

--John Rutter--
Rutter was born in London and educated at Clare College, Cambridge. This was where his career as a composer, arranger and conductor began. His early work was with groups at King's College Chapel at Cambridge as well as the Bath Choir and Philharmonic Orchestra. He has worked for the BBC providing music for educational series such as 'The Archaeology of the Bible Lands', until in 1979 he began forming the Cambridge Singers, and has continued a remarkable career of performance and recording as their director ever since.

--The Cambridge Singers--
The Cambridge Singers are a mixed choir of voices, many of whom were members of choir of Rutter's college, Clare College, Cambridge. While they specialise in English and Latin liturgical pieces, they have a wide range of recordings that span from modern compositions (including a remarkable requiem by Rutter) to English folk songs of the Middle Ages. Many are former members of the choir of Clare College and other Cambridge collegiate choirs (hence the name, Cambridge Singers). In the quarter-century since the founding, the Cambridge Singers have produced an impressive body of recordings.

music of great beauty.......2005-04-24

Pop one of these CDs into your car stero, turn up the volume and feel yourself drift into a sublime peace. Can music manifest the existence of God?

Excellent Selection, Excellent Performance.......2004-07-28

This two-CD compilation by the Cambridge Singers is truly very good. The repertoire is very diverse and only the best representations of composers and time periods are performed. ALthough most of the pieces were not written with a mixed choir in mind, the Cambridge Singers sing it so well you would not have had any idea. Their performances are careful and exquisite.

Best all-in-one English music CD ever.......2004-04-20

This is a re-release, as one set, of two of my favorite CDs ever: "Faire is the Heaven" and "Hail Gladdening Light" by the Cambridge singers. This is a fabulous compilation of everyone's favorite works from the English Cathedral tradition, all the way from Taverner (16th century) to Tavener (21st century). The selection of works is great and touches all the most important genres. The performance is exquisite, elegant, faultless. The Cambridge Singers have a softer, less edgy sound than the Tallis Scholars, and are more expressive, which may make them easier for some people to listen to, especially for the more recent works. They are no less musical. The Parsons Ave Maria alone brings one to tears. If you want an introduction to English church music, this is the CD to start with. Also makes a great gift, if you already love this music and want to introduce someone else to it.

Average customer rating:

ISSUE RESOLVED ON THE EUPHRATES
Enjoiyable, but lacking, too.

Handel: Belshazzar

Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Minuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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Samson
Handel - Joshua / Kirkby, Bowman, Oliver, Ainsley, George, The King's Consort
Handel: Alexander's Feast
Handel - Deborah / Y. Kenny · Gritton · Denley · Bowman · M. George · The King's Consort · King
Handel: Radamisto

ASIN: B0001ZWGHY
Release Date: 2004-06-15

Tracks:

Overture
Vain, Fluctuating State Of Human Empire!
Thou, God Most High, And Thou Alone
The Fate Of Babylon, I Fear, Is Nigh
Lament Not Thus, Oh Queen, In Vain!
Behold, By Persia's Hero Made
Well May They Laugh/Oh Memory! Still Bitter To My Soul
Opprest With Never-Ceasing Grief
Dry Thoes Unavailing Tears
Be Comforted: Safe Though The Tyrant Seem/Methought, As On The Bank Of Deep Euphrates
Now, Tell Me, Gobrias
Behold The Monstrous Human Beast
Can You Then Think It Strange
Great God! Who, Yet But Darkly Known
My Friends, Be Confident
All Empires Upon God Depend
Oh Sacred Oracles Of Truth!
Rejoyce, My Countrymen
Sing, Oh Ye Heav'ns!

Tracks:

Let Festal Joy Triumphant Reign!
For You, My Friends
The Leafy Honours Of The Field
It Is The Custom, I May Say, The Law
Recall, Oh King! Thy Rash Command
They Tell You True
Oh Dearer Than My Life, Forebear!
By Slow Degrees The Wrath Of God
See, From His Post Euphrates Flies!
You See, My Friends, A Path
Amaz'd To Find The Foe So Near
To Arms, To Arms! No More Delay!
Ye Tutelar Gods Of Our Empire
Let The Deep Bowl Thy Praise Confess
Where Is The God Of Judah's Boasted Pow'r?
Call All My Wise Men

Tracks:

A Singony (Allegro Postillions)
Ye Sages! Welcome Always To Your King/Alas! Too Hard A Task The King Imposes
Oh Misery! - Oh Terror! - Hopeless Grief!
Oh King, Live For Ever!
No! To Thyself Thy Trifles Be
Yet, To Obey His Dread Command
Oh Sentence To Severe!
Oh God Of Truth! Oh Faithful Guide!
You, Gobrias, Lead Directly To The Palace
Oh Glorious Prince!
Alternate Hopes And Fears
Fain Would I Hope
Can The Black Aethiop Change His Skin?
My Hopes Revive
Bel Boweth Down!
I Thank, Thee, Sesach
A Martial Symphony
To Pow'e Immortal My First Thanks
Be It Thy Care, Good Gobrias
Great Victor, At Your Feet I Bow
Say, Venerable Prophet
Tell It Out Among The Heathen
Yes, I Will Build Thy City
I Will Magnify Thee

Customer Reviews:

ISSUE RESOLVED ON THE EUPHRATES.......2005-06-19

One question I might find among the more difficult in my life would be - which is my favourite Handel oratorio? I suspect that my answer would generally be 'the one I heard most recently', and that, as I write this, is Belshazzar. It is a magnificent thing, a heavenly thing. It has taken me longer than it should have to come to an appreciation of what makes Handel the phenomenon - as a genius, as an artist, as a craftsman - that he is, but I am comforted to reflect that no less a genius than Haydn, at the age of nearly 70 gaining a more thorough knowledge of Handel in performance, was driven to say that he felt a mere apprentice. In his sense of how to pace a dramatic narrative, in his instinct for how to use the human voice in song and above all in chorus, in the matchless flexibility and adroitness he displays at word-setting and in the audacity of his melodic and harmonic effects I can think of nobody who can approach Handel on his own terms.

Belshazzar was not a great success at the box-office, although this may have had more to do with difficulties in the casting than because it was deemed insufficiently biblical for oratorio, which seems to have been the fate of Hercules. It seems to me to be perfectly well described as oratorio in other ways too, with (for one thing) the extensive use of the chorus that we find in, say, Samson but not in Hercules. The one passage that cries out for visual effects is of course the apparition of the moving finger itself. Even here the composer can go a long way with sheer power of suggestion, by the strange unaccompanied violin figure creeping upwards and the frightened brevity of the vocal numbers. Otherwise for me Belshazzar is as much an oratorio as Samson is. It has the same librettist too, the crusty and formidable Jennens, who had also collaborated with Handel on Saul and on Messiah itself. Jennens' full text is not provided, but I think if you read the synopsis first and then follow the work from the headlines to each number you will have no difficulty in catching the words, so clear is the enunciation by soloists and chorus alike. As usual, Handel was driven to make alterations to the score for practical reasons. He had been a little concerned about its length, roughly 2 hours and 50 minutes in this performance, but where he wishes to be expansive he gives us full measure - two arias in Act I scene 4 take well over 7 minutes each. The liner-essay (a good one, by Anthony Hicks) goes into the issue of the version of the score used here, and I personally have no problem with it.

I have no faults to find with the performance in any way. Pinnock is an established specialist, the instruments are period instruments and vocal cadenzas at the end of the arias are kept minimal. Anthony Rolfe Johnson, James Bowman and David Wilson-Johnson are tried and trusted Handel singers and at their best here, and Nicolas Robertson and Richard Wistreich in the smaller parts are every bit as good. The part of Cyrus is a soprano part, taken by Catherine Robbin, and when I thought I heard just one touch of strain in `Destructive War' in the final scene she makes up for it instantly in her superb duet with Arleen Auger in the following number. Auger as Nitocris the mother of Belshazzar has the biggest part, and she covers herself with glory all the way through.

The recording is perfect, and when I saw an aria entitled `Destructive War, thy limits know' near the end I felt a sharp sense of irony in the year 2005. Cyrus, Handel, Jennens, you should all have been living at this hour.

Enjoiyable, but lacking, too........2004-08-16

This 3CD set of George Frederic Handel's (1685-1759) "Belshazzar", from Archiv Production, a division of Universal Music, is proof again that transfer from vinyl to tape to disc brings with it improvements in listening that make the purchase a worthwhile addition to anyone's listening library. Written in 1744, "Belshazzar" is an oratorio in the operatic style that is wonderful oratorio, but lacking the true depth one expects to hear in an opera. London opera audiences of Handel's day agreed, as both "Belshazzar" and Handel's other offering of the period in the same style, "Hercules", were not terribly successful. Instead of the scheduled 24 performances only 16 were given and Handel never offered a full season of oratorio again. The Libretto by Charles Jennens (1700-1773) is, as the production notes say, meant "not only to show the fall of Babylon but to show it as a fulfillment of divine prediction and to confirm the biblical testimony by reference to classical history." There's only one problem, as good a quality as the CDs are, it is not possible to follow the full libretto and the accompanying booklet includes no text, which is a shame. I think the listening experience would have been increased immeasurably if one was able to follow the text of what is being sung. Nonetheless the dramatic narrative is fluid and even, and the English Concert and Choir provide nice balance to the less full vocal passages, as in Disc 3s "Oh Glorious prince", cut 10. There is enough of this throughout to keep one's interest, but disappointing if what one expects is another ""Messiah".

Average customer rating:

Christmas Carols at there best
Nice Christmas CD
The Best Christmas CD Ever
A masterpiece.
You need one traditional Xmas cd - this is it.

Noel: Christmas at Kings

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

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Lullabies & Berceuse | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Christmas at Trinity

ASIN: B00000427N
Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

Hark! the herald angels sing
The first Nowell
While Shepherds Watched
I Saw Three Ships
Ding, Dong! Merrily On High
King Jesus Hath A Garden
In Dulci Jubilo
Unto Us Is Born A Son
O Come All Ye Faithful
Away in a manger
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
The Holly And The Ivy
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
See Amid The Winter's Snow
Past Three O'clock

Tracks:

Once In Royal David's City
The Sussex Carol
Rocking
Rejoice And Be Merry
Joseph Was An Old Man
The Three Kings
As With Gladness Men Of Old
A Great And Mighty Wonder
The Infant King
Balulalow
The Crown Of Roses
Christ Was Born On Christmas Day
Blessed Be That Maid Mary
Lute-book lullaby
Myn Lyking
Personent Hodie
In the bleak mid-winter
Coventry Carol
Shepherd In The Field Abiding
Torches
Fantasia On Christmas Carols

Customer Reviews:

Christmas Carols at there best.......2005-10-18

It does not get any better. This 2 cd set is outstanding.
As one reviewer notes the second disk has many carols not heard by most people in the USA. I heard them growing up, but most are hard to find on an album.

Christmas is not Christmas without King's College Choir singing carols.

A great collection... :)

Nice Christmas CD.......2004-01-10

In my haste for looking for some traditional and exuberant Christmas music, and in my blinding affinity for all things "King's", I purchased this cd. It is a nice compelation, although I, and I daresay many Americans, am not very familiar at all with most of the hymns/carols on the 2nd cd. Morever, I found most of the music lacking in pomp and circumstance. Of course, now, I understand that is not what this cd set is for. If you want big sound and more familiar tunes, try something else.

The Best Christmas CD Ever.......1999-12-19

If you are seeking a CD of traditional Christmas music to help you 1) focus on the true meaning of the holiday and 2)draw near to God, this is it. The choral arrangements are alternately beautiful and powerful, delicate and majestic. There is a rich heritage of European carols which 99% of Americans know nothing of. Broaden your horizons with this disc. You won't regret it.

A masterpiece........1999-01-04

David Willcocks has produced, without question, the most elegant and dignified collection of Christmas choral music available. This CD is a masterpiece.

You need one traditional Xmas cd - this is it........1998-11-30

Yes, most of the stuff was originally recorded in the 50's and 60's and it's not going to win prizes for signal to noise ratio. However, if you, like me break out in a sweat hunting for a xmas cd which won't contain some desperate wannabe modernised rehash of carols or a "listen to me aren't I a good tenor/diva and by the way here are some carols?" tracks, then this is your album.

Tracks:

Alleluja, I Heard A Voice - Christ Church Choir
Give Ear O Lord - Christ Church Choir
Evening Services For Five Voices: Magnificat - Christ Church Choir
Evening Services For Five Voices: Nunc Dimittis - Christ Church Choir
Evening Services For Five Voices: Hosanna To The Son Of David - Christ Church Choir
Evening Services For Five Voices: When David Heard - Christ Church Choir
Evening Services For Five Voices: O Lord, Grant The King A Long Life - Christ Church Choir
Evening Services For Five Voices: Give The King Thy Judgements - Christ Church Choir
Evening Services For Five Voices: Gloria In Excelsis Deo - Christ Church Choir
Ninth Service: Magnificat - Christ Church Choir
Ninth Service: Nunc Dimittis - Christ Church Choir

Tracks:

Missa Mater Christi: Introitus: Rorate coeli desuper - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Kyrie: Rex splendens - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Gloria - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Oratio: Deus, qui de beatae Mariae - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Epistola: Lectio Esaie prophete - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Alleluya, Ave Maria - Alleluya, Christus resurgens - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Sequentia: Ave mundi spes Maria - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Evangelium: Sequentia sancti evangelii secundum Lucam - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Credo - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Offertorium: Ave Maria - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Oratio Secreta - Praefatio - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Sanctus - Benedictus - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Canon - Pater noster - Pax Domini - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Agnus Dei - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Communio: Ecce virgo concipies - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Post Communio: Gratiam tuum quaesumus Domine - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Missa Mater Christi: Ite missa est - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Antiphon: O Wilhelme, pastor bone - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Antiphon: Mater Christi sanctissima - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC

Tracks:

Mass Propers For All Saints: Introitus: Gaudeamus omnes - Christ Church Choir
Mass For Five Voices: Kyrie - Christ Church Choir
Mass For Five Voices: Gloria - Christ Church Choir
Mass Propers For All Saints: Gradualis: Timete Dominium - Christ Church Choir
Mass For Five Voices: Credo - Christ Church Choir
Mass Propers For All Saints: Offertorium: Justorum animae - Christ Church Choir
Mass For Five Voices: Sanctus; Benedictus - Christ Church Choir
Mass Propers For All Saints: Communio: Beati mundo corde - Christ Church Choir
Mass For Five Voices: Agnus Dei - Christ Church Choir
Motet: Laudibus in Sanctis - Christ Church Choir
Motet: Laudate pueri Dominum - Christ Church Choir
Motet: Laudate Dominum - Christ Church Choir

Tracks:

Mass Propers For The Feast Of Corpus Christi: Introitus: Cibavit eos - Byrd
Mass for four voices: Kyrie - Byrd
Mass for four voices: Gloria - Byrd
Mass Propers For The Feast Of Corpus Christi: Gradualis: Oculi omnium - Byrd
Mass Propers For the Feast Of Chorpus Christi: Sequentia: Lauda Sion salvatorem (Plainsong) - Byrd
Mass for four voices: Credo - Byrd
Mass Propers For The Feast Of Corpus Christi: Offertorium: Sacerdotes Domini - Byrd
Mass for four voices: Sanctus - Benedictus - Byrd
Mass Propers For The Feast Of Corpus Christi: Communio: Quotiescunque manducabitis - Byrd
Mass for four voices: Agnus Dei - Byrd
Processional Hymn: Pange lingua gloriosi - Byrd
Hymn To The Blessed Sacrament: Ave verum corpus - Byrd
Hymn To The Blessed Sacrament: O salutaris hostia - Byrd

Tracks:

Propers For The Nativity: Introitus: Puer natus est nobis - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Mass For Three Voices: Kyrie - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Mass For Three Voices: Gloria - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Propers For The Nativity: Gradualis: Viderunt omnes fines terrae - Dies sanctificatus - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Mass For Three Voices: Credo - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Propers For The Nativity: Offertorium: Tui sunt coeli - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Mass For Three Voices: Sanctus - Benedictus - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Propers For The Nativity: Communio: Viderunt omnes fines terrae - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Mass For Three Voices: Agnus Dei - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Antiphon: Hodie Christus Natus est - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Hymn: Christe redemptor omnium - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Antiphon: O admirabile Commertium - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Hymn: A solis ortus cardine - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR
Response: O magnum misterium - CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL CHOIR

Tracks:

Music For Our Lady And Divine Office: Ex eius tumba: Sospitati dedit aegros - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Music For Our Lady And Divine Office: Dum transisset sabbatum (I) - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Music For Our Lady And Divine Office: Audivi vocem de caelo - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Music For Our Lady And Divine Office: Dum transisset sabbatum (II) - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Music For Our Lady And Divine Office: Kyrie le Roy - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Music For Our Lady And Divine Office: Alleluya V. Veni electa mea - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Music For Our Lady And Divine Office: Magnificat a5 - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC
Music For Our Lady And Divine Office: Ave Dei Patris filia - ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC

Tracks:

The Lord Even The Most Mighty - John Taverner
O Lord, Thou Hast Searched Me - John Taverner
I Will Love Thee - John Taverner
O Lord Our Governor - John Taverner
How Doth The City - John Taverner
Blessed Is He Whose Righteousness - John Taverner
Hear, O Heav'ns - John Taverner
Who Hath Believed - John Taverner
Out Of The Deep - John Taverner
Hear Me O Lord - John Taverner

Tracks:

The Lord's Prayer - Christ Church Choir
The Second Service: Magnificat - Christ Church Choir
The Second Service: Nunc Dimittis - Christ Church Choir
Gaude, gaude, gaude Maria - Christ Church Choir
Filie Ierusalem - Christ Church Choir
Reges Tharsis et insule - Christ Church Choir
Spiritus sanctus procedens - Christ Church Choir
Laudem dicite Deo nostro - Christ Church Choir
Hec dies - Christ Church Choir
Impetum fecerunt unanimes - Christ Church Choir
Libera nos, salva nos - Christ Church Choir

Amazon.com

It doesn't get much more authentic than this! These eight CDs present music by William Byrd, Thomas Weelkes, Henry Purcell, John Blow, Matthew Locke, the little-known Pelham Humfrey, John Sheppard, and John Taverner--all recorded in Dorchester Abbey, Oxford, England, and sung by the Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford's great all-male choir. Their heritage goes back to Taverner himself. Their sound is both pure and lush, their singing immaculate. This is music in the finest English tradition, beautiful, devotional music for all seasons. --Robert Levine

Average customer rating:

Alfred Newman's Final Epic Bow
Soundtrack, entire film score and composer ~ Alfred Newman

The Greatest Story Ever Told (Score)
Alfred Newman
Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Jesus of Nazareth (Score)
King of Kings
Ben-Hur - A Tale Of The Christ: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1959 Version)
Sodom & Gomorrah
The Egyptian

ASIN: B0002VESPU
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Tracks:

Jesus of Nazareth
Prophecy
Voice in the Wilderness
Come Unto Me
Great Journey
Time of Wonders
There Shall Come a Time to Enter
New Commandment
Hour Has Come
Into Thy Hands
Triumph of the Spirit (Handel's Messiah)

Tracks:

Overture - Main Title [#]
And the Word Was God/Trumpets Announce the Dawn/The Three Magi [#]
Nativity/The Infant Massacre [#]
Flight into Egypt [#]
Ophel Quarters [#]
Hosanna [#]
I Will Make You Fishers of Men [#]
Lilies of the Field [#]
Jerusalem, Jerusalem/Jesus on Lazarus' Porch/Matthew the Tax Collector
Rise and You Shall Walk [#]
Misty Night/Trimuphant Return to Capernaum [#]
Who Do Men Say That I Am? [#]
Jesus and His Mother [#]
Jesus Leaves Nazareth [#]
Prayer by the Jordan [#]
Lazarus Come Forth [#]

Tracks:

Entr'acte
Judas and Caiaphas/Judas Leaves Caiaphas [#]
Garden of Gethsemane/Aram, The First Witness [#]
I Am the Son of God/Jesus Before Pilate/Crown of Thorns [#]
Via Dolorosa [#]
Resurrection and Acension [#]
Exit Music [#]

Customer Reviews:

Alfred Newman's Final Epic Bow.......2004-10-12

Varese Sarabande has again done credit to the genre of great film scores with their recent release of the expanded (if not full) Alfred Newman score for George Stevens' production of "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (Newman and Stevens had also worked together on "Gunga Din," one of Newman's best efforts). The film title missed the mark a bit as far as the film is concerned. This is probably not the greatest of the Bible epics, but it is an interesting entry nevertheless. For those of us who live in the area of Lake Powell and southern Utah it is a trip to view this film with its very familiar Red Rock backdrops filling in for Palestine. And the acting was in many cases first rate. Newman's score was also an enormous plus. Perhaps not one of his best, it was certainly a great score. Based largely on a major theme that is clearly reminiscent of his earlier score for "The Robe," this is a major triumph, as is this three disc presentation. Nicely packaged and produced at an unbelievable price, this is a must for film score buffs. Disc one contains the original soundtrack recording (with updated sound)including Handel's chorus from "The Messiah" which Stevens' insisted upon using instead of Newman's own ending. Curiously, Newman's choral "Exit Music" would have been a much better fit for the film and is included here. Discs two and three include the majority of Newman's original score, as he intended it. It is really majestic stuff, although much of the score took a sombre tone. I cannot wait to enjoy this score driving down the Burr Trail. It is music that mataches the grand landscape, and the greatest story ever told.

Soundtrack, entire film score and composer ~ Alfred Newman.......2004-10-10

Varese Records presents Alfred Newman's score for "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (1965/196 mins), George Stevens directs an epic that shares the story and life of Jesus Christ ~ featuring Max Von Sydow [Jesus], Dorothy McGuire [Mary], Claude Rains [Herod the Great], Charlton Heston [John the Baptist], Angela Lansbury [Claudia], Donald Pleasence [Satan, the Dark Hermit], David McCallum [Judas Iscariot], Sidney Poitier [Simon of Cyrene], Telly Savalas [Pontius Pilate], Martin Landau [Caiaphas], Robert Blake [Simon the Zealot], Jamie Farr [Thaddaeus], Roddy McDowell [Matthew], Jose Ferrer [Herod Antipas] and John Wayne [Centurion] and many more with memorable performances ~ yet at the time of release, received low praises for the director and cast.

The music, yes the music is where this film shines...Alfred Newman, one of the most respected composers of his time was given the assignment ~ it was Newman who gave us the "20th Century Fox" fanfare theme...also a number of other film scores "Anastasia", "Diary of Anne Frank", "Captain from Castile", "Gunga Din", "How The West Was Won", "How to Marry A Millionaire", "The Keys of the Kingdom", "Man of Galilee", "Mark of Zorro", "Nevada Smith", "The Razor's Edge", "The Robe", "The Song of Bernadette" and "Wuthering Heights" ~ all of them were winners.

The Greatest Story Ever Told is here complete for the very first time and has everything from "Original Soundtrack Album" and then the "Entire Film Score" on the last two discs...making this a three disc "film-score-buffs" dream come true ~ completely remastered, with liner notes that will tell all the inside scoop from author, screenwriters, director and composer...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 3-CD-Set ~ Varese Records 66604 ~ (9/14/2004)

Average customer rating:

Glorious
Awesome... heavenly... ethereal Russian Choral Music
The Might of the Russian Male Choral Sound
Compare These 3
Quite genuine but lacking in contemplative mellowness

Ancient Echoes

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Basso Profondo From Old Russia
Russian Medieval Chant
Russian Easter
Russian Divine Liturgy
Russian Christmas

ASIN: B000003FTV
Release Date: 1995-03-14

Tracks:

Nine Sili Nebesniye
Vo Iskhode Israileve
Slava. Edinorodnii Sine
Maloie Slavosloviye
Retche Gospod Gospevi Moyemu
Slava Vo Vishnikh Bogu
Voskliknite Gospodeve
Velikoye Slavosloviye
Khvalite Imya Gospodne
Gospod Prosveshcheniye Moyo
Deva Dnes
Veriu
Slava Vo Vishnikh Bogu
S Nami Bod

Customer Reviews:

Glorious.......2006-07-31

I have listened to a great deal of Orthodox music and I think this is by far one of the most beautiful collections I have ever heard. Actually, it is one of the most georgeous pieces of music of any kind I have heard.

Awesome... heavenly... ethereal Russian Choral Music.......2006-05-21

This Awesome, ethereal, heavenly ANCIENT ECHOES was a gift of my friend, Dick Talley last year. Seldom does my early awakening miss listening to these choral chants of the Orthodox Monastery!

If I could choose the more interesting, comforting, fasinating polyphonic chants, they would be No.3 "The Only Begotten Son" of Golovanov, No.5 "The Lord Speaketh" and No.6 "Glory be to God in the highest" both by Bortnyansky!

Only Russian Choral Treasures are equally awesome, spiritually refreshing. When I awaken every morning around 4:00, I began listening to both these recordings, before reading or praying for friends, such as, Dick and Anita Talley.

Upon becoming 75 years of age, I tend to simplify my habit of listening to Choral Music. Most fondly reviewed by Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood, "Barbara377" (Fayetteville, GA USA)

The Might of the Russian Male Choral Sound.......2005-10-03

The Russian liturgical music, especially that for the high holy days of Christmas and Easter, owns a mystery all its own. This splendid recording by the Chorovaya Akademia conducted by Alexander Sedov is a fine a sound as any produced on recording. Though few of the composers (with the exception of Tchaikovsky and Grechaninov) are well known outside Russia, the works are all beautifully composed and hauntingly performed. There is somewhat of a sameness to these religious works (little variation in tempi, expressive range, dynamics) but the overall effect is one of humble spirituality.

This is a fine example of the Russian choral music that is growing in popularity one the recorded repertoire and it is for this listener one of the best. Grady Harp, October 05

Compare These 3.......2004-04-19

There are 3 different CD's about Russian Choir "A Cappella" music which can be discussed & reveal a certain enjoyment to different people with different needs or means:

"Ikon" sung by the Holst Singers on Hyperion is the middle ground that gives a well balance & beautiful music from an English choir group. If you did not know they were English, you would think of them as Russian. Most songs are Russian classics from Sviridov, Gretchaninov, Kalinnikov, & Tchaikovsky with modern versions from Part, Gorecki, & Nystedt. The highlight is from the female sopranos which give an angelic & awl inspiring spiritual uplift that must not be missed.

"Sacred Treasures" sung by several groups including The Russian State Symphony Cappelle, The Leningrad State Academic Choir, The Bulgarian National Choir, & a few other groups on Hearts of Space give the most authentic Russian that to English ears may sound slow & uneventful. Yet to a person that knows Russian, this CD will cause the most goose bumps due to its rightful intensity with music from Rachmaninov, Bortniansky, Kedrov, Gertchaninov, Tchaikovsky, Christov, Turchaninov, & Lvovski.

"Ancient Echoes" sung by the Chorovaya Akademia on RCA Victor may give the best first impression due to its well made production that will give a serious work out to any professional stereo system, yet with further study will reveal an over dramatized style that may get in the way. Songs from the composers Sheretiev, Nikolsky, Golovanov, Strokin, Bortnyansky, Grechaninov, Riutol, Tchaikovsky, & Chesnokov.

If your into Russian "A Cappella" music, give these 3 CD's a try & decided for yourself.

Quite genuine but lacking in contemplative mellowness.......2004-01-05

The fantastic cover of this cd notwithstanding (the monk in red habit is a Catholic monk, probably a Carthusian, Orthodox monks wear a different habit), this is a cd of authentic Russian religious music for Christmas and Easter composed in the last 200 years and sung by an all-male choir: the Choravaya Akademia under the direction of Alexander Sedov.

The total length of this recording is 63:25 minutes.

Compared with other such cds available on Amazon.com like Sacred Treasures I and II, Ancient Echoes has a more vigorous and folk-song style. I do not want to sound sacrilegious or cynical in the least but many of the chants sound like Red Army songs.

Tracks:

O Holy Night - Leontyne Price
Ave Maria - Luciano Pavarotti
In The Bleak Midwinter - Rosemary Joshua/Ian Bostridge
Coventry Carol - The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/David Willcocks
Away In A Manger - Mark Tinkler
Gabriel's Message - The Choir And Orchestra Of Clare College, Cambridge
Pastoral Sinfonia - Academy Of St Martin In The Fields/Neville Marriner
Il S'en Va Loin De La Terre - Acadamy And Chorus Of St Martin In The Fields/Neville Marriner
Panis Angelicus - Kiri Te Kanawa
Schlafe, Mein Liebster - Marilyn Horne
Wiegenlied - Renata Tabaldi
O Jesu So Meek - Simon Preston
While Shepherds Watched - Stephen Cleobury
Susser Trost, Mein Jesus Kommt - Agnes Giebel
Lute Concerto, RV 93: Largo - Eduardo Fernandez
Alma Redemptoris Mater - Julian Podger
O Magnum Mysterium - John Angelo Messana
Zastupnitse Userdnaya - St Petersburgh Chamber Choir/Nikolai Korniev
Iubi-Te-voi (I Will Love Thee, O Lord) - Angela Gheorghiu/Romanian National CHamber Choir 'Madrigal'/Constantin Marin
Once In Royal David's City - Robin Barter/David Briggs
O Tannenbaum - Vienna Boys Choir/Uwe Christian Harrer
O Little Town Of Bethlehem - The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/David Willcocks

Tracks:

Stille Nacht - The Bach Choir/David Willcockes
Gloria In Excelsis Deo - Katherine Fuge/Nicola Jenkin/Elinor Carter/Julian Podger
Winter, RV 297: Largo - Alan Loveday
The First Nowell - The Choir Of Kings College, Cambridge/David Willcocks
In Dulci Jubilo - The Bach Choir/David Willcocks
The Three Kings - Gerald Finley
Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen - Monteverdi Choir
Still, Still, Still - Ian Bostridge
The Crown Of Roses - The Choir Of Clare College, Cambridge/John Rutter
Christmas Concerto, Op.6 No.8: Largo Pastorale - Academy Of Saint Martin In The Fields/Neville Marriner
The Lamb - Monteverdi Choir/John Eliot Gardiner
Balulalow - Anthony Way/Lucy Wakeford/St Paul's Cathedral Choir/John Scott
Ave Maria - Leontyne Price
Mille Cherubini In Coro - Luciano Pavarotti
Vesperae Solennes De Confessore, K.339: Laudate Dominum - Kiri Te Kanawa
The Infant King - The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/David Willcocks
Lullaby My Jesus - The Choir Of Winchester Cathedral/David Hill
What Child Is This? - Anthony Way/Tom Finucane
The Tales Of Hoffmann: Barcarolle - L'Orchestra De La Suisse Romande/Richard Bonynge
See Amid The Winter's Snow - The Choir Of King's College, Cambridge/David Willcocks
The Blessed Son Of God - The Choir Of Winchester Cathedral/David Hill
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear - Leontyne Price
White Christmas - Kiri Te Kanawa/London Voices

Customer Reviews:

Christmas Adagios.......2007-03-03

This is the BEST Christmas collection that I have ever heard. I would like
to purchase 15 more to give as gifts this year; however, it appears that
Decca is out of stock or no longer releasing it. HELP!!

christmas adagios.......2007-01-14

this was one of the best assortment of classical holiday songs that i have ever heard. it contains a marvelous array of the best composers and performers that the world has to offer. if you are a fan of classical music, i think this cd will be a positive addition to your music collection

Nice Background for the Holidays.......2007-01-11

Beautiful Adagios and a rich selection for the price. Audio travels to Vienna, London, Cambridge etc

One of my very top 5 favorite holiday albums!.......2005-11-19

What a delightful surprise this 2 disc album was and I'm not a big fan of Christmas music. I loved all the selections and felt they were well performed. This is a true "must have" for any Christmas collection. Superior to many other compliations on the market. This one is a keeper! It is the one album I'll pick first to listen to after Thanksgiving.

Wonderful POCOCAT?.......2005-07-16

Great CD. The reviewer who calls him/herself POCOCAT says he/she is an opera singer. Wonder how much work an uninformed singer gets?
A "fast spinning" vibrato,as you describe Ms. Price, is not the same as a wide vibrato. The former is a speed issue, the latter a width issue. Therefore, 4 variables exist: fast, slow, wide, slim. Thus, 4 types of voice exist: fast/wide, fast/slim, slow/wide, and slow/slim. Most often a singer leans toward fast/slim or slow/wide, in varying degrees. A matter of taste, yes, but learn more about the voice before you expound.

Soul Music:

Soul Music

soul music

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