State of the Arts

Track Listings

1. Intro

2. God of Rap

3. Power Skit #1

4. Pusha - Afu-Ra, Royce da 5'9"

5. Prankster

6. Livin Like Dat - Afu-Ra, Masta Killa

7. Rumble

8. Power Skit #2

9. Why Cry - Afu-Ra,

10. Ghetto Hell

11. Cry Baby - Afu-Ra,

12. Dynamite

13. Sucka Free

14. Deal Wit It - Afu-Ra, , Kardinal Offishall

15. BK Dance

16. Only U

17. Poisonous Taoist

18. Power Skit #3

State of the Arts,Afu-Ra,Decon Inc,East Coast Rap,Hardcore Rap,Hip-Hop,Pop,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop

State of the Arts

Tracks:

In C

Amazon.com

Sometimes simplicity is the mother of invention, and with In C, Terry Riley composed nothing short of a classic. A cornerstone of minimalism, Riley's 1964 composition is little more than a loose guideline for musicians. Driven by the repeated pulses of even octave eighth notes played on the top two C keys of the piano, each member of the ensemble runs through 53 simple phrases at a self-determined pace. Gradually, swarms of instruments find themselves playing in unison, always to be overtaken by the perfect pacing of the pulsing piano. The entire composition gradually moves from C to E to C to G and, when performed correctly, the effect is otherworldly.

This recording from 1968 features Riley himself on saxophone and a small ensemble of musicians from the New Music Center in Buffalo, New York. Overdubs were employed to keep the flow going and the effect of all this repetition is nothing short of mesmerizing, albeit slightly clinical. An even jazzier recording of this composition exists, the 25th Anniversary Concert on New Albion. On that live recording, a larger ensemble of jazz and classical's elite (including members of Kronos and Rova) invigorate In C with a full sound and plenty of gusto. --Jason Verlinde

Album Description

Terry Riley's In C, one of the most influential compositions of the past quarter century, has been played by almost every conceivable combination of instruments; however, the Shanghai Film Orchestra's version ranks as one of the most exciting and exotic interpretations. It marks the 25th anniversary of the piece, and represents the first time a Western new music piece has been recorded in China. In C is a rhythmic, energetic work, but it also echoes the mystical, embroidered music of the Near East and India. By staying in or around the key of C, this 1964 work creates a model sound that can be seen as a forerunner of today's minimalist and world music styles.

The Shanghai Film Orchestra plays this contemporary Western work on traditional Chinese instruments. The tuning is different, and the tone colors of the ancient Chinese bells and strings lend a new vibrancy to the piece. The construction of this version is equally striking. Instead of following the score straight through, earlier parts are brought back and woven into a tapestry of sound even more mesmerizing than Riley's original recording.

The talented Chinese-American composer, David Mingyue Liang, contributes two works that extend the orchestra's range to include the ethereal sounds of bowed vibes and the haunting resonance of China's only complete set of mangluo gongs. This remarkable recording, the result of a cultural openness in China, proves that the East and West have much to say to each other.

Customer Reviews:

fresh .......2006-11-16

I am not shure if any of the reviewers here are reffering to this recording... This is not the "original" recording of In C - this is a performance od Shanghai Film ORchestra, adding another two "eastern" compositions to the CD.

This performance is extraordinary, a flowing of soundscapes, real musical streams, In C sounds even more like some ethereal far-eastern music when played by all those chinese instruments and the other two compositions fit together with it perfectly. I think this is a really gorgeous contemporary music.

Still the Best Recording.......2005-12-30

Minimalism has produced five masterpieces: Philip Glass' "Music in Twelve Parts" and "Einstein on the Beach," La Monte Young's "The Well-Tuned Piano" (good luck finding that one!), Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians," and Terry Riley's "In C." Although there are several recordings of "In C", each with a different orchestration, this one is probably still the best recording after all is said and done. (I only wish Mr. Riley would make a much longer recording, AT LEAST two hours long.)

Different but Classic.......2005-07-01

In C is a launch pad for a group of students form New Yock and is composed by the great Terry Riley.For some reason this album is good to listen to on a rainy day,the clutter of insterments playing and interweaving the musical bits and pieces together is soothing to. Also good to fall asleep on. For the length of the album it never gets tirering and the funny thing is the c note on the piano begins,plays all the way though and ends the piece but the string is broken.I recommend this to anyone wanting something new to listen to.

Hard to listen to.......2002-12-04

So...it seems that this record, along with Henry Cow's "Western Culture", sparks a lot of controversy among the crowd at amazon. But unlike some of my fellow reviewers, I am actually going to DESCRIBE the music insted of argue about it.

From the beginning you can tell that this recording has suffered from the ravages of age (either that or they're using a very cheap piano). That's really too bad, because this might have been a very good performance, were we only able to hear it better.

"In C" is a very hard piece to play, both mentally and physically. The subtle, ever-shifting patterns demand that you not "listen", to the music, but just play it in the background, "tuning in" from time to time. But I have a problem with Riley's instrumentation: he always uses way too many woodwinds and mallet percussion, making the piece sound like an indonesian gamelan orchestra. If you like the gamelan sound, then you won't have any problem with that, but if you find it somewhat annoying, then watch out.

Instead of this album, I would recommend the superb version recently released by Bang on a Can. They eliminate the gamelan effect and almost all of the wind instruments, using mostly strings such as Double Bass, Mandolin, and Electric Guitar.

Listen for Jon Hassel playing trumpet on this release (with the mouthpiece on, I presume), sixteen years before his collaboration with Eno on "Fourth World Possible Musics". Hmmm. Interesting.

A minimalist classic.......2002-04-16

The first time I heard this recording, some twenty-five years ago, I was a bit shocked - it was utterly unlike anything I had experienced in "classical" music. But after a few listening sessions it began to grow on me. The repetitions and subtle pattern changes will either enthrall or bore you; one person's trance is another's monotony. Whatever the case, there is much to admire in Terry Riley's classic experiment with structure and instrumentation.

Tracks:

Symphony No. 9 In D: 1 Feierlich, Misterioso
Symphony No. 9 In D: 2 Scherzo-Trio. Bewegt, lebhaft
Symphony No. 9 In D: 3 Adagio, Langsam, Feierlich
Symphony No. 94 In G: 1 Adagio
Symphony No. 94 In G: 2 Andante
Symphony No. 94 In G: 3 Menuet-Trio. Allegro molto
Symphony No. 94 In G: 4 Finale, Allegro di molto

Average customer rating:

A Historically Significant Box Set with Lasting Significance
Amazing performance of the 14th
Great set, but Symphony 14 sounds a little off
Great Recordings of Great Music at a Great Price.
fine

Shostakovich: Complete Symphonies

Manufacturer: Teldec
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Dvorak & Saint-Saens: Cello Concertos
Mahler: The Complete Symphonies
Sibelius: The Complete Symphonies & Tone Poems
Bruckner: The Complete Symphonies
Prokofiev, Shostakovich: Violin Concertos no 1 / Rostropovich, Vengerov

ASIN: B000005824
Release Date: 1998-01-13

Tracks:

Symphony No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 10: Allegretto
Symphony No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 10: Allegro
Symphony No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 10: Lento
Symphony No. 9 In E Flat Major, Op. 70: Allegro molto
Symphony No. 9 In E Flat Major, Op. 70: Allegro
Symphony No. 9 In E Flat Major, Op. 70: Moderato
Symphony No. 9 In E Flat Major, Op. 70: Presto
Symphony No. 9 In E Flat Major, Op. 70: Largo
Symphony No. 9 In E Flat Major, Op. 70: Allegretto

Tracks:

Symphony No. 2 In B Major, Op. 14: Largo
Symphony No. 2 In B Major, Op. 14: Quarter Note = 152
Symphony No. 2 In B Major, Op. 14: Poco meno mosso - Allegro molto
Symphony No. 2 In B Major, Op. 14: Chorus: 'To October'
Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op. 20: Allegretto
Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op. 20: Piu mosso - Allegro
Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op. 20: Andante
Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op. 20: Allegro - Allegro molto
Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op. 20: Andante - Largo
Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op. 20: Chorus: 'The First of May'

Tracks:

Symphony No. 4 In C Minor, Op. 43: Allegretto poco moderato - Presto
Symphony No. 4 In C Minor, Op. 43: Moderato con moto
Symphony No. 4 In C Minor, Op. 43: Largo - Allegro

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5 In D Minor, Op. 47: Moderato - Allegro non troppo - Largamente - Moderato
Symphony No. 5 In D Minor, Op. 47: Allegretto
Symphony No. 5 In D Minor, Op. 47: Largo
Symphony No. 5 In D Minor, Op. 47: Allegro non troppo

Tracks:

Symphony No. 6 In B Minor, Op. 54: Largo
Symphony No. 6 In B Minor, Op. 54: Allegro
Symphony No. 6 In B Minor, Op. 54: Presto
Symphony No. 12 In D Minor, Op. 112: Revolutionary Petrograd
Symphony No. 12 In D Minor, Op. 112: Razliv
Symphony No. 12 In D Minor, Op. 112: Aurora
Symphony No. 12 In D Minor, Op. 112: The Dawn Of Humanity

Tracks:

Symphony No. 7 In C Major, Op. 60 'Leningrad': Allegretto
Symphony No. 7 In C Major, Op. 60 'Leningrad': Moderato (poco allegretto)
Symphony No. 7 In C Major, Op. 60 'Leningrad': Adagio
Symphony No. 7 In C Major, Op. 60 'Leningrad': Allegro non troppo

Tracks:

Symphony No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 65: Adagio - Allegro non troppo
Symphony No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 65: Allegretto
Symphony No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 65: Allegro non troppo
Symphony No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 65: Largo
Symphony No. 8 In C Minor, Op. 65: Allegretto

Tracks:

Symphony No. 10 In E Minor, Op. 93: Moderato
Symphony No. 10 In E Minor, Op. 93: Allegro
Symphony No. 10 In E Minor, Op. 93: Allegretto
Symphony No. 10 In E Minor, Op. 93: Andante - Allegro

Tracks:

Symphony No. 11 In G Minor, Op. 103: The Palace Square
Symphony No. 11 In G Minor, Op. 103: The Ninth Of January
Symphony No. 11 In G Minor, Op. 103: In Memoriam
Symphony No. 11 In G Minor, Op. 103: The Tocsin

Tracks:

Symphony No. 13 In B Flat Minor, Op. 113 'Babi Yar': Babi Yar: Adagio
Symphony No. 13 In B Flat Minor, Op. 113 'Babi Yar': Humour: Allegretto
Symphony No. 13 In B Flat Minor, Op. 113 'Babi Yar': In The Store: Adagio
Symphony No. 13 In B Flat Minor, Op. 113 'Babi Yar': Fears: Largo
Symphony No. 13 In B Flat Minor, Op. 113 'Babi Yar': Career: Allegretto

Tracks:

Symphony No. 14, Op. 135 For Soprano, Bass And Chamber Orchestra: De profundis: Adagio
Symphony No. 14, Op. 135 For Soprano, Bass And Chamber Orchestra: Malaguena: Allegretto
Symphony No. 14, Op. 135 For Soprano, Bass And Chamber Orchestra: Lorelei: Allegro molto
Symphony No. 14, Op. 135 For Soprano, Bass And Chamber Orchestra: The Suicide: Adagio
Symphony No. 14, Op. 135 For Soprano, Bass And Chamber Orchestra: On Watch: Allegretto
Symphony No. 14, Op. 135 For Soprano, Bass And Chamber Orchestra: Madam, Look!: Adagio
Symphony No. 14, Op. 135 For Soprano, Bass And Chamber Orchestra: At The Sante Jail: Adagio
Symphony No. 14, Op. 135 For Soprano, Bass And Chamber Orchestra: The Zaporozhian Cossack's Answer To The Sultan Of Constantinople: Allegro
Symphony No. 14, Op. 135 For Soprano, Bass And Chamber Orchestra: O Delvig! O Delvig!: Andante
Symphony No. 14, Op. 135 For Soprano, Bass And Chamber Orchestra: The Poet's Death: Largo
Symphony No. 14, Op. 135 For Soprano, Bass And Chamber Orchestra: Conclusion: Moderato

Tracks:

Symphony No. 15 In A Major, Op. 141: Allegretto
Symphony No. 15 In A Major, Op. 141: Adagio - Largo - Adagio - Largo
Symphony No. 15 In A Major, Op. 141: Allegretto
Symphony No. 15 In A Major, Op. 141: Adagio - Allegretto - Adagio - Allegretto

Amazon.com essential recording

Mstislav Rostropovich was a friend of the composer, and his performances of the 15 Shostakovich symphonies are uniquely authoritative. It's true that as a conductor the great cellist has had his ups and downs, but unlike so many far less musical personalities, he has only recorded the music that he feels most passionately about, and the results have been generally impressive. His performances of Symphonies Nos. 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 14 are really among the best ever, and there isn't as single performance among the rest that isn't at least very good. The National Symphony Orchestra of Washington in particular plays with real guts and conviction. An essential set for fans of the composer. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

A Historically Significant Box Set with Lasting Significance.......2004-10-03

This set of 12 CDs is a recording of all fifteen symphonies of Dmitri Shostakovich by the cellist/conductor Mstislav Rostropovich. Not only is this survey of Shostokovich's very important symphonic output one of the few times we are able to listen to all the symphonies with as few variables as possible, allowing us to truly hear the course of thought and creativity and turmoil of Shostokovich, but it also fulfills a promise between the composer and his pupil (Rostropovich) to create this project. Rostropovich premiered some of these symphonies and had direct instruction from the composer as to the interpretation of them all. All of these facts make this a compendium of recordings that belong in the libraries of music lovers devoted to the genius of Shostakovich.

Now if only the individual performances were as solid as the project itself! While we may be hearing these works with the knowledge that the composer sanctioned them, they are variable in success. Part of this is due to the variable quality of sound the conductor elicits from the three orchestras involved (the National Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Members of the Academic Symphony Orchestra Moscow). The tempi are less successful than those chosen by better conductors performing these works today, and the usual degree of excitement obtained by other batons is missing. But the performances of all 15 symphonies are never less than interesting and are indeed at times illuminating. In all, this is an important body of recordings and belongs in collections of all those who appreciate the significance of Dmitri Shostakovich.

Amazing performance of the 14th.......2001-08-10

I currently own 5 versions of the 14th symphony (Kondrashin, Bernstein, Barshai (a relay of the preimiere in Moscow), Haitink, and another Rostropovich version on the Russian Revelation label. The Bernstein is saggy and contrived, the Haitink fails to excite, the earlier Rostropovich is in terrible audio, The Kondrashin is excellent and full of white heat, and the Barshai is even more hair raising.

And where does this version of the 14th belong? Among the very best. This perfomance's soloists were the original soloists Shostakovich intended (Vishnevskaya and Rhestin). The orchestra though different from the primiere is still excellent. When listening to the Haitink, the orchestra plays with emotional reservation. Not the case here

Great set, but Symphony 14 sounds a little off.......2001-07-26

Rostropovich's performance is very good, but I haven't particularly liked the 14th (my favourite!). Comparing this recording to the other two I own (Bernstein with the NY Philarmonic and Haitink with the Concertgebouw -- this last has lyrics in each poem's original language, which I like better), I found the performance sub-par. It seems the orchestra is not performing cohesively during some piano passages.

Also, it is a shame (or should I say a sham) that not all the CDs are sold individually. I tried to buy the series one-by-one across 3 countries (US, Brazil and Chile), and haven't found Symphony No. 7 so far...

Great Recordings of Great Music at a Great Price........2000-03-31

I feel bad for those of you who have passed by this title and have not ordered it. Buy it now or else buy a gun and shoot yourself because you don't know what you're missing! Great recordings of great music at a great price. Buy it now!

fine.......2000-03-17

Sorry,I cannot write or speak English well.

Average customer rating:

acording to me not that good!!!!!!!!
"Listen to the brother who gets rugged and raw"
the young buck from 93' brings his 3rd Lp to a new level of music!
Worth Buying

State of the Arts
Afu-Ra
Manufacturer: Decon Inc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

East Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Gangsta & Hardcore | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Body of the Life Force
Life Force Radio
Perverted Monks
A Tear for the Ghetto
Roots of Evil

ASIN: B0009AM6PI
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Tracks:

Intro
God of Rap
Power Skit #1
Pusha - Afu-Ra, Royce da 5'9"
Prankster
Livin Like Dat - Afu-Ra, Masta Killa
Rumble
Power Skit #2
Why Cry - Afu-Ra,
Ghetto Hell
Cry Baby - Afu-Ra,
Dynamite
Sucka Free
Deal Wit It - Afu-Ra, , Kardinal Offishall
BK Dance
Only U
Poisonous Taoist
Power Skit #3

Customer Reviews:

acording to me not that good!!!!!!!!.......2005-12-19

his first album will always be number #1....second album to me is better than state of the art....long as his afu ra,im sure that he will make nice hits...try this if you want!!!...its up to you!!!!

"Listen to the brother who gets rugged and raw".......2005-07-28

I was suprised at how much I enjoyed this cd. Afu Ra hits you with an impeccable variety of music, which is hard to turn down. He makes underground music that *GASP* actually has rhythm and you can sometimes sing along with! I was actually singing with tracks like "Rumble" and "Ghetto Hell" (standout tracks) the VERY FIRST time I listened to them. While his lyrics may be flawed for some of the tracks, other tracks he is right on point.
"God of Rap" kicks it off, and is nothing noteworthy. Just a fun track, not too serious on the lyrics...but it doesn't make a strong claim to that title. Next, Afu and Royce the 5'9" rock heads on "Pusha" over an APOCALYPTIC beat. The track is very nice, and the beat rang in my head for days. Then he and Masta Killa slay you on "Livin' Like That," which is a standout song. I love Masta Killa. After that is the rock-fueled "Rumble," which is exhilirating and my favorite song here. I'll say it again: "Rumble"=best song on this album! I played that for my Death Metal-head friend, and he was like, "Whoa! That's from a Judas Priest song."
Like another reviewer, I was suprised how there were three serious songs in a row in the middle of this album. If you look at it though, they are all GREAT songs (#9-11)! Plus, they all have different flavors. #9 has reggae (and it's not often that Hiphop and reggae sound so good together), #10 has a bluesy/soft-rock feel, and #11 is melodic Hiphop with a little R&B/soul on a song about the state of Hiphop (a la Common "I Used To Love HER"). #12 is upbeat, and propelled by a jazzy chorus and good even though the lyrics aren't too serious. "Sucka Free" is a nice battle track helmed by none other than DJ Premier. The song after is light on the lyrics, but kinda fun and fueled by some reggae as well. #15 is okay, but unmemorable, and #16 *eyes roll* is melodic, yet a "tired"(PUN) concept and doesn't sound like he's trying to hard lyrically. Afu finishes it off with the sharp "Poisonous Taoist," which is old-school, and can be considered a standout.
Overall, this album has too many styles of music to be contained! Although he fails AT TIMES in the lyric department, I still enjoy it when each song sounds different than the other. He's gotta watch out for rhyming lines with the same words...nothing bugs me more than that! However, I'm not saying that he can't bring the knowledge and skills when needed, because he definitely can. And unlike Mos Def, he doesn't have to completely dilute his game when adjusting to a track of a different genre. Rock, blues, Hip Hip, soul, jazz, REGGAE!, it's all here, and most importantly it doesn't seem forced. Some obvious filler and a few lapses in the lyrics make this a four-star album, but songs like #4,6,7-11(maybe 7-13), and 17 are reason enough to make the purchace. The dude's been around for awhile, but I don't see signs of him fading any time soon...

the young buck from 93' brings his 3rd Lp to a new level of music!.......2005-06-24

Afu-Ra's 3rd album in his career "State Of The Arts"\
IS QUITE the adventure production wise , rock , reggae , But hey if you dont already know about afu you woulnt be readin this and everyone knows afu is one of the only True Hip-Hop artists that can mess with rock and make a sick cut! His 3rd album comes with more consistency musicly than his second Lp but his lyrical content has dropped in some tracks but others he brings it right back up! All in all a VERY GOOD ALBUM with SO MANY DIFFERENT STYLES OF TRACKS TO ATTRACT ANY MUSIC FAN TO THIS LP. Many standout tracks but where this album faulters is in its track arrangement there are 3 slow thoughtful tracks right in the middle of the lp! That would have been far better if they were spread out so you dont get congestion on the lp most will end up skipping the tracks because of similarity! Only 2 tracks that I would hold off this Lp and thats BK dance and Deal Wit It both very unlyrical and lack in substance!
Great 3rd lp by Afu-Ra!!! Looks like he has dropped 3 solid lp's unlike his once master jeru the damaja who fell off the map once he lost premo! afu only has 1 premo track on this Lp and its still pure heat and only 2 tracks on his previous Lp aswell!!!! This shows Afu's persistance and knowledge of beats to use and those not to! CHECK THIS ALBUM OUT!!!

2.God of Rap - awsome intro track crazy beat not afu lyrics 7.5/10
4.Pusha - Dope collabo better lyrics needed by afu at the start of the cut royce kills it 7.5/10
5.Prankster - mid range beat decent flow 7.5/10
6.livin like dat - amazing beat by new WU affiliate Bronze nazarath masta killa and afu ra a combo that cant be reconned with 10/10 KILLER TRACK
7.Rumble - hype beat like hiphop from his second lp if your about to fight play a sport or just get rejuvinated this cut is crazy 8/10
8. Why Cry - decent beat good chorus decent lyrics 7/10
10.ghetto hell - alright beat great lyrics just stuck in a rut in the lp as to many of the same type of tracks are side by side it hurts the listenin experiance but the track lyrically is dope 7.5/10
11.cry baby - the rut continues cant get into the track unless i listen to it by itself and dont listen to the other 2 previous tracks before 6.5/10
12.Dynamite - Horns are crazy lyrical party real hiphop party music 8/10
13.sucka free - vintage premo vintage afu just tooo sick 10/10
14.deal wit it - cool beat weak guests weak verse 6/10
15. Bk dance - weak period 5.5/10
16. only you - grass heads stand up crazy cut 9.5/10
17.Poisonous taoist - crazy beat afu kills it 10/10

Worth Buying.......2005-06-19

Not many people recognize the true talent of Afu-Ra. he deserves just as much recognition in the rap game as any other rapper. State of the Arts, his fourth effort, was excellent. Although, not as great as much of a success as his sophmore effort, Life Force Radio, this album shows Afu-Ra at his best. With guest MCs like Royce da 5'9", Masta Killa, and Kardinal Offishall, the album expressed Afu-Ra's true talent. Although he didn't recieve as much production from DJ Premier than on his last album, the beats are the nonetheless fresh. I especially enjoyed "Pusha" and "Deal Wit It."

Average customer rating:

Fritz Kreisler - Early Recordings

Manufacturer: Music & Arts Program
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000G50M
Release Date: 2006-01-01

Tracks:

Violin Concerto in D, Op.61: I Allegro ma non troppo
Violin Concerto in D, Op.61: II Larghetto
Violin Concerto in D, Op.61: III Allegro
Violin Concerto In E, Op.64: I Allegro molto appasionata
Violin Concerto In E, Op.64: II Andante
Violin Concerto In E, Op.64: III Allegretto non troppo; Allegretto molto vivace

Tracks:

Violin Concerto In D, Op.77: I Allegro ma non troppo
Violin Concerto In D, Op.77: II Adagio
Violin Concerto In D, Op.77: III Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace
Op.62, No.1: Song Without Words
Romanze In A
Violin Concerto No.4 In D, K218: I Allegro
Violin Concerto No.4 In D, K218: II Andante Cantabile
Violin Concerto No.4 In D, K218: III Andante grazioso; Allegro ma non troppo
Sonata No.1 In G For Unaccompanied Violin, BWV 1001: Adagio

Average customer rating:

Excellent Extended Booklet Notes, Mostly Fine Performances
An Excellent 'Portrait' of Shostakovich!!!

Dmitry Shostakovich: A Portrait

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Testimony - Tony Palmer's Story of Shostakovich / Ben Kingsley
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Shostakovich Symphonies and Concertos - An Owner's Manual: Unlocking the Masters Series (Unlocking the Masters)
Not Too Late

ASIN: B000E8ZLU2
Release Date: 2006-03-21

Tracks:

Prelude And Fugue In C Major, Op.87 No.1 - Dmitry Shostakovich
Fantastic Dance In C Major, Op.5 No.3 - Konstantin Scherbakov
Movement I: Allegretto - Slovak Philharmonic Chorus
No.2: Adagio - New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
No.8: General Dance Of Enthusiasm And Apotheosis - Russian State Symphony Orchestra
Prelude In E Flat Minor, Op.34 No.14 - Konstantin Scherbakov
Movement 2: Moderato Con Moto - Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Movement 4: Allegro Non Troppo - Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Movement 3: Scherzo - Vermeer Quartet
Movement 3: Allegro Non Troppo - Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Movement 2: Allegro Non Troppo - Stockholm Arts Trio
Movement I: Allegro - Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Movement 3: Passacaglia - Ilya Kaler
Excerpt From A Radio Address By Shostakovich - Dmitry Shostakovich

Tracks:

Prelude In F Sharp Major, Op.97 No.13a - Konstantin Scherbakov
Movement 4: Andante-Allegro - Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Movement 3: National Holiday - Ukraine National Symphony Orchestra
Movement 2: Andante - Michael Houstoun
Movement 5: Largo - Eder Quartet
Movement 2: Humour - Peter Mikulas
Movement 4: Largo - Russian Philharmonic Orchestra
Movement I: Moderato-Allegretto - Eder Quartet
Movement 9: O Delvig, Delvig! - Peter Mikulas
Movement I: Allegretto - Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Movement I: Moderato - Julius Drake
Fugue In D Minor, Op.87 No.24b - Dmitry Shostakovich

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Extended Booklet Notes, Mostly Fine Performances.......2006-04-29

Presumably the purpose of this two CD set (at a marvelous budget price) is to acquaint those unfamiliar with Shostakovich's music with as broad a range of his output as possible. The excerpts are all full movements and they are presented in chronological order with some minor exceptions. The booklet text, very clearly written by Richard Whitehouse, is not only informative, it is even-handed in the way it lays out some of the controversies surrounding Shostakovich's life and works. He not only makes comments about and sets out the historical context of the works presented, but also mentions others that are not included, so that one gets rather a fuller picture of his oeuvre than the music tracks would suggest.

Included are movements from nine of his fifteen symphones -- Nos. 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14 & 15; nothing from No. 7, the 'Leningrad' is included. Several of his piano preludes and fugues are presented, including the opening track which is from Shostakovich's own recording of No. 1 in C. Konstantin Scherbakov is heard in the others, plus a piece I don't recall hearing before, the brief, humorous 'Fantastic Dance in C, Op. 5, No. 3.' Several movements from ballet/movie suites are here -- from 'The Golden Age', 'The Bolt', 'The Gadfly', and 'Hamlet.' Only two string quartet movements are included, not enough in my opinion as his string quartets are among the glories of twentieth-century music, even though he came to the form rather late. We hear excerpts from the Piano Quintet in G Minor and the Piano Trio No. 2, Op. 67 (not the Adagio, but the second movement Allegro). Ilya Kaler plays an incandescent Passacaglia from the First Violin Concerto, Annette Bartholdy plays the first movement of the Viola Sonata beautifully, and Michael Houstoun equally so in the Andante from the Second Piano Concerto (the one Shostakovich wrote for his son Maksim).

Quality of the performances varies a bit. I've never been terribly fond of the complete symphonies as recorded by Slovak Radio Symphony under Ladislav Slovak -- let's face it, this is not a top-tier orchestra. But the movie/film excerpts, played by other east European orchestras, are fine. As for the chamber works and piano works, they are excellent. Konstantin Scherbakov, a really fine pianist, is heard in several of the preludes and fugues, and another excellent Russian pianist, Boris Berman, is heard with the Vermeer Quartet in the Piano Quintet excerpt. The Stockholm Arts Trio is slightly less fine in the Op. 67 piano trio excerpt. The string quartet excerpts (from Nos. 8 and 12) are played wonderfully by the Eder Quartet.

For lagniappe there is a brief 1941 recording of Shostakovich making a radio address -- in Russian, of course, but with an English translation in the booklet.

I would go so far as to suggest that Richard Whitehouse's 92-page booklet is very nearly worth the price of the two-CD set, particularly for those who have not read much about the composer previously.

Scott Morrison

An Excellent 'Portrait' of Shostakovich!!!.......2006-03-22

I've been waiting for a release of this nature for a long time - a near-definitive collection that captures the very essence of the great Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-75). With 2006 being the 100th anniversary year of the composer's birth, what better time to release a collection like this than now.
The "Portrait" collection is packed to its limits with defining musical moments from Shostakovich's repertoire. Excerpts from his famous "24 Preludes and Fugues", his epic symphonies, string quartets and violin concerto are all included here in uncut movements. Of special interest is the Preludes and Fugues that bookend the set because these were performed by Shostakovich himself from recordings made in the early 1950s. Also of interest is a short extract from a radio address in 1941 that features Shostakovich announcing (in Russian) work on his monumental Seventh Symphony (aka the "Leningrad Symphony").
The 100-page booklet that accompanies the CD-set features an excellent detailed essay on Shostakovich that gives an in-depth look at the composer's life and music as well as historic photos.
The only real downfall to the collection is the fact that excerpts from some of Shostakovich's best known works are missing here. There isn't any music from his famous "Leningrad" Seventh Symphony nor is there any from the equally famous Eleventh ("The Year 1905"). Also missing is music from the Cello Concerto and the famous "Festive Overture". Of course to include these pieces would have meant to extend from double-CD to a triple set. Since both CDs in this set are filled to their limits at 79 minutes each, I guess the omission of the above important works can be accepted. Besides what we do have here is some excellent music to begin with.
With this said, "A Portrait" of Dmitri Shostakovich is an excellent beginners guide to this dynamic yet controversial composer. I personally cannot think of a better introduction to his music than this.
Bravo to Naxos for this excellent release and a happy 100th to this great Russian musical genius.

Average customer rating:

Orff: Carmina Burana

Manufacturer: Arts Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000BIM5
Release Date: 1996-06-18

Haydn: Symphony No94; Bruckner: Symphony No9, WAB109

Average customer rating:

Haydn: Symphony No94; Bruckner: Symphony No9, WAB109

Manufacturer: Music & Arts Program
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00002602B
Release Date: 1996-02-20

Tracks:

Symphony No. 9 In D: 1 Feierlich, Misterioso
Symphony No. 9 In D: 2 Scherzo-Trio. Bewegt, lebhaft
Symphony No. 9 In D: 3 Adagio, Langsam, Feierlich
Symphony No. 94 In G: 1 Adagio
Symphony No. 94 In G: 2 Andante
Symphony No. 94 In G: 3 Menuet-Trio. Allegro molto
Symphony No. 94 In G: 4 Finale, Allegro di molto

Average customer rating:

Young Richter:full of technique!!

Richter Plays Liszt, Live-1956-1961

Manufacturer: Music & Arts Program
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001OHV
Release Date: 1996-11-19

Tracks:

Transcendental Etudes: 1. Preludio
Transcendental Etudes: 2. Etude - Study In A
Transcendental Etudes: 3. Paysage - Landscape, In F
Transcendental Etudes: 5. Feux follets - Will-o'-the-wisps
Transcendental Etudes: 11. Harmonies du soir
Polonaise S 223 No. 2 In E Major
Hungarian Fantasia For Piano And Orchestra
Piano Concerto No. 2 In A: Piano Concerto No. 2 In A: I Adagio sostenuto assai-Allegro agitato: II. Allegro moderato: III. Allegro deciso, etc.
Funerailles (No. 7 From Harmonies poetiques et religieuses): Funerailles

Customer Reviews:

Young Richter:full of technique!!.......2001-06-02

This cd shows us Richter in his young years in an all-live recital(the coughs and the few wrong notes do not lie to us).

I would say that the two well known 'feux follets and harmonies du soir' were more thrilling on the Sofia recording which is never equaled.Noneless these other etudes are worth having in one's collection for they do not appear elsewhere.

The concerto is already known as well as the 'funérailles'

Tracks:

Sym No.5 in B flat: Intro. Adagio/Allegro
Sym No.5 in B flat: Adagio. Sehr Langsam
Sym No.5 in B flat: Scherzo/Trio. Molto Vivace
Sym No.5 in B flat: Finale. Adagio/Allegro Moderato

Amazon.com

Eugen Jochum's 1938 Bruckner Fifth, reissued here for the first time since the early LP era, documents the first of the conductor¹s five published recordings of a symphony particularly close to his heart. The engineering is unusually refulgent and well-balanced for its vintage, conveying a more cogent and proportioned orchestral image than the close-up immediacy distinguishing Karl Böhm's pioneering Bruckner Fifth with the Dresden Staatskapelle from two years earlier. The Hamburg State Philharmonic may have been considered a second-string orchestra in relation to their first-tier Dresden colleagues in the late 1930s, but Jochum consistently secures richer, more expressive string playing and better-blended brass (especially in the Finale's chorale) from his Hamburg forces. More significant, Jochum's spacious conception and his penchant for organlike instrumental blends are similar to his later readings. His carefully plotted tempo changes cover a slightly wider parameter here, although the conductor eschews doubling the wind parts as he did in his later commercial recordings (but not in his valedictory 1986 Concertgebouw broadcast on Tahra).

Finicky historic-CD collectors may carp at the high degree of surface noise and inelegant side joins at times, yet Music and Arts' transfer is thankfully true to the timbre of the original 78s. Mark Kluge's superb annotations offer well-researched and lucid perspectives on the performance in hand. While Jochum's radiant 1980 Dresden EMI Bruckner Fifth benefits from ravishing stereo sound and the Dresden Staatskapelle at their full-throated apex, specialist collectors interested in Jochum, Bruckner, or both will find much to admire in the conductor's 1938 Fifth. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Warning - ponderous performance, dull sound........2004-04-30

I must caution readers against the previous misleading review. Only the scherzo is brisk in the Furtwängler tempo. The 3 big movements are all slower than Jochum's later recordings (except the final 1986 Concergebouw) and slower still than Furtwängler, with which it scarcely bears comparison. In this '35 version Jochum whips up the last 1½ minutes of the first movement in the way Furtwängler did, but the previous twenty are comparatively stodgy. The sound doesn't help matters as the dull, slightly muffled quality robs the music of much textural detail.
The best representatives of Jochum in this work are the 1958 DG Bavarian RO and the 1964 Philips Concertgebouw recordings. This issue is for "completists" and Jochum fans only !

An important reissue.......2002-03-31

Bruckner's Fifth Symphony was reportedly a work especially close to Eugen Jochum; this is he first of four commercial recordings which he did of this work. The latter recordings all have the advantage of modern stereo sound. However, from what I remember of the second recording with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, this earlier effort is more impulsive, less sleek and streamlined than the latter version. The Hamburg State Philharmonic may not have been a name orchestra like the Berlin or Concertgebouw, but under Jochum they play with tremendous drive and momentum. The conductor begins with the broadest of Introductions and follows with a fiery First Movement which is almost as furious as Furtwaengler's devastating 1942 account. Jochum then provides the most spacious of Adagios, and a Scherzo that goes like the wind. This sense of drive is carried to its greatest lengths in the Fugal Finale, with a huge broadening for the Chorale in the Coda. The recorded sound is somewhat more distant than most of the Telefunkens of this period (Telefunken 78's must have been the best of all time!), but is otherwise very clear and full, with rich string and brass sound. As a performance, I place this alongside the aforementioned Furtwaengler as a "must" for every lover of this symphony.

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