MacDowell & Griffes, Vol. 3

On this CD:

1. Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor ("Eroica"), Op. 50
Composed by Edward MacDowell
Performed by James Tocco

2. De Profundis for piano
Composed by Charles Tomlinson Griffes
Performed by James Tocco

3. Piano Sonata (1918), for piano, A. 85
Composed by Charles Tomlinson Griffes
Performed by James Tocco

Tracks:

Bach: Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Vivaldi: Largo Winter
Bach: Air On A G String
Torelli: Trumpet Concerto
Bach: Sheep May Safely Graze
Handel: Let The Bright Seraphim
Handel: Pastoral Symphony
Boccherini: String Quintet, Minuet
Mendelssohn: On Wings Of Song
Liszt: Dream Of Love
Rachmaninov: Vocalise
Debussy: Claire De Lune
Satie: Gymnopedie No.1
Gluck: Dance Of The Blessed Spirits
Debussy: Arabesque
Bizet: Intermezzo
Elgar: Salut D'amour
Debussy: Prelude A L'apres - Midi D'un Faun

Tracks:

Wagner: Bridal Chorus
Clarke: Trumpet Voluntary
Handel: Royal Fireworks Music, Overture
Gabrieli: Canzon V
Charpentier: Te Deum
Purcell: Trumpet Tune
Mussorgsky: Promenade
Pachebel: Canon In D
Handel: Larghetto
Vivaldi: Guitar Concerto In D Major, Largo
Handel: Water Music, Air
Macdowell: To A Wild Rose
Beethoven: Pathetique Sonata, Adagio
Melchior: Adagio
Gounod: Ave Maria
Schubert: Ave Maria
Franck: Panis Angelicus
Faure: Pie Jesu
Rachmaninov: Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini
Schumann: Romance For Violin And Piano
Massenet: Meditation

Tracks:

Mendelssohn: Wedding March
Vivaldi: Concerto For Two Trumpets In B, Allegro
Telemann: Trumpet Concerto In D, Allegro
Vivaldi: Spring, Allegro
Telemann: Trumpet Concerto In B, Allegro
Handel: Concerto Grosso, Hornpipe
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.4, Allegro
Handel: Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba
Schumann: Piano Quintet In E Flat Major
Widor: Toccata
Dubois: Toccata
Walton: Crown Imperial
Bach: Cantata No.51. 'Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen.' Alleluia
Mozart: Exsultate Jubilate, Alleluia
Handel: Water Music, Hornpipe
Chopin; Variations On A Theme From 'La Cenerentola'
Faure: Sicilienne
Offenbach: Barcarolle
Faure: Berceuse
Saint-Saens: The Swan
Brahms: Waltz In A Flat
Grieg: Wedding Day At Troldhaugen

Album Description

The process of choosing music for a wedding day can certainly be a daunting process for any couple. There are many choices and the questions can be endless. Traditional music or something off the beaten path? Will your Mom cry (and not in a good way) if you do not come down the aisle to the traditional Wedding March from Wagner, or are you eager to try something new? This collection is designed to give the bridal couple some key pointers to navigate the world of classical music for their wedding day. The package includes over 3 1/2 hours of music on 3 CDs for all portions of the wedding service, all from the Naxos classical label (known for high-quality recordings at inexpensive prices). Wedding day favorites are there, along with new discoveries and tunes you may have never considered for a wedding. All pieces are hand selected by professional wedding musicians and consultants. As a bonus, the 20 page booklet will lead you through the process of choosing music, from hiring musicians to sample programs. Everything you need to create your own unique personal wedding soundtrack.

Customer Reviews:

GREAT WEDDING MUSIC!.......2007-01-24

I used these CD's for my wedding, and I was so happy I did. You need to buy this CD if you like having a traditional wedding! :)

Good Music.......2006-07-05

I bought these CDs for my wedding, in ceremony and reception. Also, when I created my own wedding video, I used it as background music.

A very complete selection of ceremony music!.......2005-02-02

I am getting married in several months and we couldn't decide what music we wanted at our wedding ceremony. This three disk compilation reminded us of all the great ones- including new options we hadn't thought about. I really enjoyed hearing the organ and strings versions of the songs. If you're someone who hears a classical or baroque piece of music, but can't remember the name or the precise tune, this is a must-have to jog your memory and trigger the tear ducts!

Comprehensive Classical Selection.......2004-04-15

I searched all over for a CD set that had a somewhat comprehensive list of classical selections that are traditionally played at weddings. When I found this 3 CD set, I was very pleased. It contains 61 works from almost as many composers. This set might not contain the "best recording ever" of each of the selections, however it is very well done and the quality is very good. I used it primarily to choose the pieces that I wanted to have played by the church organist, and so the actual recordings were more for my consumption rather than for use in the ceremony/reception itself. However, I would not have hestitated to use the CD's in the wedding itself if needed. The book inside includes a list of suggested songs for various wedding styles (formal, outside, morning, etc.). From the classical neophyte to the seasoned classical music expert, this CD set will meet if not exceed expectations.

Just one note..........2003-06-07

I have not heard this album, so I cannot rate it as a whole. (The form made me include a rating, but disregard that.) However, I want to point out that track 36, the Pie Jesu from Gabriel Faure's Requiem is - well, from a requiem, a mass for the dead. The Pie Jesu is a lovely, gentle movement, and it has a beautiful and pure sound that does seem to fit the mood of a wedding. The Latin words, however, mean "Merciful Lord Jesus, grant them everlasting rest," where "them" refers to the dead.

Tracks:

Crisantemi
Carmen: Micaela's Aria
Serendae For Strings In E Major, Op.22: II - Tempo Di Valse
KINDERSZENEN, OP.15: Traumerei: No.7
Two Elegiac Melodies, Op.34: II - The Last Spring
Hassan: Serenade
Fantasia On 'Greensleves'
Londonderry Air
Elegie
Souvenir d'un lieu cher, Op.42: Melodie In E-Flat Major, No. 3
Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo
I Love You
Woodland Sketches, Op.51: To A Wild Rose, No. 1
Henry V: Touch Her Soft Lips And Part: No.2
Pavane For A Dead Princess
Prelude To Irmelin
Rhapsody On A Theme By Paganini, Op.43: Variation XVIII: Andante Cantabile

Customer Reviews:

LOVE THIS CD !!!.......2007-03-11

I was looking for a recording of Londonderry Air performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandandy. After listening to several sample clips on this CD, I ordered it. The entire CD is beautiful and relaxing. It's become one of my favorites.

Average customer rating:

Not so bad
Simplicity, clarity, brevity.
AN ENCHANTING PARCEL OF NEGLECTED MACDOWELL

MacDowell: Piano Music, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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

Edward Macdowell: Piano Music, Vol. 2
Edward MacDowell: Piano Music, Vol. 3
Edward MacDowell: Piano Music, Vol. 4
MacDowell: Piano Concertos
MacDowell: Suites Nos. 1 & 2, Hamlet & Ophelia / Ulster Orchestra, Yuasa

ASIN: B00000DHTE
Release Date: 1998-10-27

Tracks:

Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: To A Wild Rose
Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: Will-O'-The-Wisp
Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: At An Old Trysting Place
Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: In Autumn
Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: From An Indian Lodge
Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: To A Water-Lily
Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: From Uncle Remus
Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: A Deserted Farm
Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: By A Meadow Brook
Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: Told At Sunset
Sea Pieces, Op. 55: To The Sea
Sea Pieces, Op. 55: From A Wandering Iceberg
Sea Pieces, Op. 55: A.D. MDCXX
Sea Pieces, Op. 55: Starlight
Sea Pieces, Op. 55: Song
Sea Pieces, Op. 55: From The Depths
Sea Pieces, Op. 55: Nautilus
Sea Pieces, Op. 55: In Mid-Ocean
Fireside Tales, Op.61: An Old Love Story
Fireside Tales, Op.61: Of Br'er Rabbit
Fireside Tales, Op.61: From A German Forest
Fireside Tales, Op.61: Of Salamanders
Fireside Tales, Op.61: A Haunted House
Fireside Tales, Op.61: By Smouldering Embers
New England Idyls, Op. 62: An Old Garden
New England Idyls, Op. 62: Mid-Summer
New England Idyls, Op. 62: Mid-Winter
New England Idyls, Op. 62: With Sweet Lavender
New England Idyls, Op. 62: In Deep Woods
New England Idyls, Op. 62: Indian Idyl
New England Idyls, Op. 62: To An Old White Pine
New England Idyls, Op. 62: From Puritan Days
New England Idyls, Op. 62: From A Log Cabin
New England Idyls, Op. 62: The Joy Of Autumn

Amazon.com

Many listeners will immediately recognize the opening piece on this disc, To a Wild Rose, one of MacDowell's best inspirations. However, even after a couple of hearings, they'll probably have trouble recognizing the rest of these pieces, none of which has the same kind of inspiration. MacDowell's deeply held belief that American music should copy European models was also his limitation. This music is historically important, but as a listening experience, it has the same effect as second-rate imitations of Grieg's Lyric Pieces. Barbagallo's lovely playing, a fine memorial to this regrettably short-lived artist, makes the music sound better than it really is, and the recorded piano tone is beautiful. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Not so bad.......2006-05-16

The Amazon reviewer (Gerber) is too condescending by half. No sensible listener would rate these pieces as the equal of efforts by the likes of Mozart or Schubert, and Macdowell never claimed they were. They are interesting period pieces, composed with a good deal of charm and skill. It is amusing that Gerber likens them to second-rate versions of the Grieg Lyric Pieces - as if those pieces were worth imitating. Even Macdowell knew better than to copy junk like that.

Simplicity, clarity, brevity........2001-08-17

These vignettes are not bravura performances (such as Chopin, Polonaise in A-flat), but short and brief tellings of a larger story.

The only criticisms I have is that pianist James Barbagallo played, "To a Wild Rose", a bit too fast for my taste, and MacDowell might have written a different, "From a Wandering Iceberg", had he lived to see the Titanic disaster.

AN ENCHANTING PARCEL OF NEGLECTED MACDOWELL.......2000-07-26

A master of the piano vignette, as these pieces aptly and beautifully illustrate, MacDowell (1860-1908) remains, for the most part, remembered solely as the composer of "To A Wild Rose," the first piece in his collection of Woodland Sketches, Op. 51, incomprehensible as it may seem.

MacDowell is a bit of a paradox. Musically schooled in Europe, admired by Liszt, taught by Raff, and having his own viewpoints about composition, nobody typifies, personifies or exemplifies what one might call the "New England School" like MacDowell does. He's rather the Thoreau of New England music, actually, and especially the piano vignette, of which he is a master.

Just look at the titles: Woodland Sketches, Fireside Tales, New England Idyls, Sea Pieces. For me, this music is New England. There's more nostalgia in these four sets than you can shake a stick at! But, you know, in this case, more is better, not less. This music has no whiff of the salon; it's of a particular place in America that calls to our very roots. It has a feel that cannot be accurately described. A mood. An ambience that resonates to the bottom of our consciousness. We become immersed in a dreamy reverie of our collected experiences, nostalgic yearnings, of people, places and things that have gone before... and are no longer. It's that kind of music.

It reminds me of my childhood, of late Autumn days, the smell of burning leaves as Halloween crept nearer, of rainy days, of places lost and found and lost again, walks on the beach at sunset, quiet evenings watching the embers fade in the fireplace, of first loves gone, of lighthouses... of sweet and bittersweet melancholy. That kind of music. The kind of music that one "knows" without ever having heard before, innate within us all, and reaching down to our very fiber. And that is the wonder, beauty and profundity of MacDowell.

[Running time: 63:49]

Average customer rating:

Blue Ridge Parkway

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

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

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Pacific Coast Highway
Autobahn
Route 66
Hovhaness: Mysterious Mountain/And God Created Great Whales
Blue Wheat

ASIN: B0009OUB1U
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Tracks:

Simple Gifts From Appalachian Spring - Philharmonia Virtuosi
To A Wild Rose From Woodland Sketches - The Philadelphia Orchestra
Lullaby - Juiliard String Quartet
Grover's Corner From Out Town (From Music For Movies) - Philharmonia Orchestra
Appalachia Waltz - Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra
A Trumpeter's Lullaby - Susan Slaughter
Appalachian Morning - Boston Pops Orchestra
Traditional; Red River Valley - Boston Pops Orchestra
Poem For Flute And Orchestra - Maurice Sharp
The First Day Of Spring - Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
Serenade For Flute, Harp, And Strings, Op. 35 - Alice Chalifoux
A Night Piece For Flute And Strings - Maurice Sharp
Symphony No. 2 - Mysterious Mountain - London Symphony Orchestra

Philip Smith, Principal Trumpet, New York Philharmonic

Average customer rating:

Philip Smith shines
Flawless
Good variety, superb performances
Top Notch!!
One of the finest trumpet-and-piano discs you'll hear.

Philip Smith, Principal Trumpet, New York Philharmonic

Manufacturer: Cala Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Orchestral Excerpts For Trumpet
David Hickman, Trumpet
From Moscow With Love
Trumpet in our Time
Thomas Stevens Trumpet Sonatas

ASIN: B00000FDEJ
Release Date: 1997-09-16

Tracks:

Concert Piece For Eight Trumpets
Intrada
Lnde
Triptyque: Scherzo
Triptyque: Largo
Triptyque: Saltarelle
To a Wild Rose
Amazing Grace
Someone To Watch Over Me
Festival Fanfare For Eight Trumpets
Brass Music: Rondo For Lifey
Brass Music: Fanfare For Bima
Song For Cornet
Trio In E-Flat For Trumpet, Violin And Piano: Andante
Trio In E-Flat For Trumpet, Violin And Piano: Allegro molto
Trio In E-Flat For Trumpet, Violin And Piano: Adagio
Trio In E-Flat For Trumpet, Violin And Piano: Allegro molto
Two Portraits: Psalm
Two Portraits: Incantation
There's A Great Day Coming For Six Trumpets

Customer Reviews:

Philip Smith shines.......2007-07-01

We have here yet another installment of the CALA New York Legends series, and it is no less beautiful and superb than any previous. Philip Smith, the principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic for over 20 years now, with this album, fully shows why he was both given that position and how he has been able to maintain it with the respect of trumpet players worldwide. Indeed I recommend any of the albums from that series, and I think it must be something in the water because these New Yorkers are all phenomenal musicians, from Glenn Dicterow, to Jeanne Baxtresser, and on to Philip Myers and Joseph Alessi.

Philip Smith begins the album with a concert piece for 8 trumpets featuring other fabulous trumpet players of whom great things have also been heard. He then continues on with the Intrada written by friend/composer/pianist Joseph Turrin, which is rapidly becoming a popular recital piece among trumpet players despite its youth. The album then proceeds to two pieces well known to trumpet players for both their aesthetic values and also their difficulty. Smith plays Legend by Enescu and the Tomasi Triptyque with enviable beauty and technique. We are then treated to an American tribute where Philip Smith brings beauty and grace to such famous tunes known to all Americans such as Amazing Grace and Someone to Watch Over Me. We then have another multiple trumpet piece which is here a fanfare which again features New York's finest. We are then given the 2 remaining movements of the Brass Music chamber piece written by Bernstein, and which the remaining movements are included on the albums by Philip Myers and Joseph Alessi. Philip Smith then delights us with a gorgeous song for cornet. The highlight of this album is indeed here where the Trio for Trumpet, Violin, and Piano by Eric Ewazen is taken and given such beauty that it redefines the word. Ewazen's name is known well to any brass player for his chamber music, and this is his largest rising piece and is performed very frequently for a piece less than 15 years old, and listening to this performance, you are left in no doubt why. This "recorded recital" finishes up with two portraits and a jazzy piece, the portraits again a gift to us by Joseph Turrin, and "It's a great day coming" for six trumpets a well-known piece that shows us that Philip Smith, master of the orchestral trumpet can also handle himself well enough in the jazz setting as well.

This album is a wonderful argument in favour of everything that the 20th and 21st century chamber trumpet is. You would be hard-pressed to find a more enjoyable or better performed disc of trumpet chamber music. Philip Smith's technique rivals that of any trumpet soloist (indeed he has soloed himself with the New York Philharmonic no less than 75 times in his career thus far), and his lyric playing is quite obviously supreme and seems almost to contain the beauty that one hears in the performance of a string master in his mastery of phrasing. Any trumpet enthusiast or performer should not under any circumstances be without this disc. Even if the trumpet isn't your cup of tea, I still recommend this disc, and indeed I have personally showed this one to people who do not like the sound of the trumpet who have themselves later gone and purchased this album for themselves. It's not the cheapest CD ever, this is true, but it is worth easily 4 or 5 other chamber trumpet CDs, so the price is still more than fair.

In short, an absolutely brilliant musical statement that is most essential to any brass player and highly recommended for any other chamber music enthusiast.

Flawless.......2006-04-06

Phil Smith's performance on this album is pure perfection. I have many albums that display a performer's dazzling technique, but few with equal artistry and musicality. Truly, this is a 'must have' for any collection.

Good variety, superb performances.......2005-08-12

Philip Smith collaborates with some other excellent trumpeters (including Fred Mills, Vince Penzarella, and Robert Sullivan) in this album. The Tomasi Triptyque is well executed, with good dynamics, articulation, and tone. Basically, you can't find fault with Smith's playing on any of these recordings. The Ewazen Trio is another good piece, showing off the warmth of Phil's playing. It's also good to hear the several large fanfare pieces, which allow all the guys to open up and blow. This cd will please trumpet aficionados and the regular listener.

Top Notch!!.......2002-06-12

This CD has quickly become one of my favorite trumpet CD's. Philip Smith is sensational. I particularly enjoyed the Enescu and the Ewazen. I heard the Ewazen on Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) and quickly called to find out where I could purchase the CD.

One of the finest trumpet-and-piano discs you'll hear........2001-07-13

This is superb trumpet playing in solo and ensemble settings. I've never heard the Enesco "Legende" played better. Smith has a long history as a cornet and trumpet soloist with Salvation Army bands. He can sound alternately brilliant and mellow, stident and serene. This disc has changed my trumpet playing for the better and given me lots of enjoyment. Smith takes a simple song like "Amazing Grace" and makes something truly memorable of it. Truly gorgeous tone production and phrasing.

Kudos also go to Joseph Turrin for his excellent accompaniment. His compositions are first-rate too, especially the first of his "Two Portraits."

Tracks:

Four Seasons: Spring
Butterfly, Op.43, No.1
Son No.24 in D: Allegro
Golliwogg's Cakewalk
March in G
Fant in g
Son No.3 in C: Allegro
Ov No.3 in D: Air
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Hornpipe
March Militaire, Op.51, No.1
Ste C: Courante
Ste No.2 Ov: Allegro
Prld No.7
Son No.12 in A: Andante
To A Wild Rose

Album Description

A delightful introduction to the classics for young children. Perfect music to go with creative play or relaxation. Filled with the joyful exuberance of a child's day!

Customer Reviews:

Bright, original treatment of classics...perfect for kids........1999-05-14

Bright, original treatment of classics...perfect for kids. Love the lighthearted approach.

Average customer rating:

excellent collection
A Classic Performance of Schuman!
American Masterpieces - For pleasure or music ed. resource

American Masterpieces

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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

4-for-3 Soundtracks | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

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

Ives: Holidays Symphony
Opera Overtures & Incidental Music
Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4 (The Mahler Arrangements)
Samuel Barber / Thomas Schippers
Sheherazade / Russian Easter Overture

ASIN: B0000029WJ
Release Date: 1997-07-01

Tracks:

Candide: Overture
Variations On 'America'
New England Triptych: Be Glad Then, America
New England Triptych: When Jesus Wept
New England Triptych: Chester
Adagio For Strings, Op. 11
American Salute ('When Johnny Comes Marching Home')
The Pleasure Dome Of Kubla Khan
Woodland Sketches, Op. 51: To A Wild Rose
Promenade
Cakewalk: Grand Walkaround
Jamaican Rumba
On Your Toes: Slaughter On Tenth Avenue
Acadian Songs And Dances: Sadness
Acadian Songs And Dances: Papa's Tune
Acadian Songs And Dances: The Alligator And The 'Coon
Acadian Songs And Dances: Super-Sadness
Acadian Songs And Dances: The Squeeze Box

Customer Reviews:

excellent collection.......2002-06-11

i'm just going to write about my favorite piece on here, which has been heard by all who saw Platoon. that is Barber's Adagio. hearing this piece conducted here by Bernstein sends chills down my spine, especially in the well done section using silence after the climactic rise in notes!

A Classic Performance of Schuman!.......2000-09-17

I must agree with the previous reviewer, that "American Masterpieces" comprises a very thoughtful collection yet suffers slightly from poor interpretation of certain pieces. But the presence alone of the classic performance of William Schuman's "New England Triptych" by Andre Kostelanetz and the New York Philharmonic makes this compilation all worth it. I have looked forward for this particular version of Schuman's work to be released on compact disc for several years, in the meantime not being entirely satisfied with other versions that have circulated, i.e. Howard Hanson/the Eastman-Rochester Orchestra on the Mercury Living Presence label, -very poorly executed with an off-key, off-timed horn in the first movement, or the version on the RCA label by Leonard Slatkin and the St.Louis Symph.Orch. which is very well done, yet to my ear still does not compare to the depth and lively energy with which Kostelanetz and the New York Philharmonic presents this work.

I was disappointed with the manner with which the first two pieces by Berstein and Ives were conducted. The "Candide Orchestra" lacked the sensitivity of the performance by Lukas Foss /Milwaukee SO on the Pro Arte label, while Slatkin does a much better job with the Ives piece for RCA.

But the remainder of colorful material following Schuman on this CD - even with the overdone "Adagio for Strings" by Barber - makes for a very rewarding listening experience, with the only disappointing exception of the third piece ( "A Narrative") curiously missing from Virgil Thomson's "Acadian Songs and Dances", yet present on an old scratchy, mono LP that I have on the Decca label (Thomas Scherman /the Little Orchestra Society). Did Thomson later revise this suite? Or did this CD run out of space? If the latter is true, one can only wish that Barber's overplayed "Adagio" would have been bumped to make room for the entirety of Thomson's superb "Acadian Songs".

American Masterpieces - For pleasure or music ed. resource.......2000-07-28

The American Masterpieces CD is an excellent compilation of music that is uniquely American. Much of the material is based on folk sources, and all of it is thoughtfully selected. The only negative is that some of the music is not the best version available, but I'm sure that's due to the limitations of the Sony label. The "Adagio for Strings," for example, is taken at a slightly fast tempo, lessening the dramatic impact of the build-up. The selections are a music educator's delight. Bernstein's "Candide Overture" is perfection. Ives' "Variations on America" is a wonderful study in the use of a familiar theme in an unusual manner. "When Jesus Wept" can be sung by a chorus and then compared with Schuman's treatment. Gould's "American Salute" is an exciting study in theme and variations on the familiar tune, "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." And, of course, Gershwin's "Promenade" is delightful, and an excellent follow-up for the Fantasia 2000 film. The reason I bought the recording was for the Gottschalk "Grand Walkaround" and "Jamaican Rumba" by Benjamin. Both are based on American folk materials (Sweet Potatoes - Louisiana, and Mango Walk, respectively). The original songs can be sung, compared, performed in an Orff arrangement, and then presented in the orchestral interpretations. The folk songs are both found in the McGraw Hill music series, Share the Music, Grade 5. If you like this CD, try the American Salute CD from Musical Heritage Society.

Average customer rating:

Relaxing and wonderful music
Excellent CD for bedtime

Classical Music

Manufacturer: Twin Sisters Prod.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Compilations | Children's Music | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Children's Music | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Traditional Lullabies
Nature Sounds
Hymns & Bible Songs
Softly We Sing
Baby's Best: Lullabies

ASIN: B000006MZI
Release Date: 1998-04-21

Tracks:

Canon In D
Fur Elise / Ode To Joy
Sonata In C Major - (Mozart's Lullaby)
On The Beautiful Blue Danube
Andante Con Variazioni
Two German Dances
Rondino
Sonata In C Minor
Largo
Minuet / Organ Fugue In G Minor
Waltz (Opus 39-No. 15)
Serenade
To A Wild Rose
Spring Song

Product Description

Studies prove that playing music to children at a young age will set them up for a lifetime of learning achievement. Play music to: Increase IQ Performance Enhance Spatial Reasoning Inspire Creative Development Watch Minds Grow Listen to original artistic arrangements of the renowned music of Bach, Mozart, Pachelbel, Beethoven, Strauss, Haydn, Brahms and other famous composers. Simple melody lines coupled with creative instrumentation provide children with a refreshing classical music introduction and experience. Perfect for playtime, dinnertime, travel time or bed time! Canon in D (Johann Pachelbel) Fur Elise/Ode to Joy (Ludwig Van Beethoven) Sonata in C Major/Mozart's Lullaby (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) On the Beautiful Blue Danube (Johann Strauss) Andante con Variazioni (Karl Maria von Weber) Two German Dances (Franz Joseph Haydn) Rondino (Antonio Diabelli) Sonata in C Minor (Domenico Scarlatti) Large (George Frederick Handel) Minuet/Organ Fugue in G Minor (Little Fugue) (Johann Sebastian Bach) Waltz (Opus 39-No.15) (Johannes Brahms) Serenade (Franz Schubert) To a Wild Rose (Edward MacDowell) Spring Song (Felix Mendelssohn) Approximate running time: 60 minutes

Customer Reviews:

Relaxing and wonderful music.......2002-12-11

I bought this cd when I was pregnant with my baby and listened to it frequently and I also used it during and after labor to help relax. It was the perfect thing. And I have played it for my baby ever since at naptime and bedtime. She is a year old now and it still relaxes her.

Excellent CD for bedtime.......2001-09-03

My daughter and I have listened to this CD hundreds of times since she was born. It is very soothing and great for bedtime and naptimes. The songs just flow along and put her (and sometimes me) right to sleep.

Average customer rating:

Absolute BEST music for rocking a baby to sleep!!!!
relaxing music

Brainy Music: Sleepy Baby

Manufacturer: Brainy Baby
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Brainy Music: Peaceful Baby
Brainy Music: Cheerful Baby
Brainy Music: Playful Baby
Brainy Music: Sing Along Songs
Brainy Music: Classical Tunes

ASIN: B00009IAYG
Release Date: 2003-05-20

Tracks:

Rockabye Baby
Bedtime
Sleep, Little Child
Sleep On, Little One
All Through The Night
Lullaby
Golden Slumbers
Ave Maria
Pavane
The Swan
Little Children
To A Wild Rose
Sleepytime

Customer Reviews:

Absolute BEST music for rocking a baby to sleep!!!!.......2006-01-25

I received the Sleepy Baby CD as a shower gift from a friend for our first child 2 1/2 years ago. We played the CD every night since she was an infant while rocking her to sleep and it worked LIKE A DREAM. It'll even put the parent to sleep!! We used the CD until she was about 20 months old. There's no need to try other music out there...this is by far the best. We're expecting our second child in March and have ordered another copy. (The first one was used so much it now skips on a couple of the tracks.) I hope soon to try the other titles in this series since I've been so happy with this one.

relaxing music.......2006-01-13

I was looking for a good sleeping/nap time CD for my 1 year old daughter. Actually her sister (she is 3 years old) loves this CD and called "Quiet time" music. So, now we can sit down and relax together with this CD!
Not for driving--coz make you sleepy!!

Average customer rating:

Ultra soothing unexpected tender gems of musical beauty

Unexpected Songs

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Julian Lloyd Webber plays Andrew Lloyd Webber
Gentle Dreams: The Best of Julian Lloyd Webber
Cello Moods
Lullaby
Angel Dances

ASIN: B000FQVY5O
Release Date: 2006-07-18

Tracks:

Lady D'Arbanville
Lenehan Oblivion
Marble Halls
Prelude In E Minor
In Haven
Chant Hindou
Trees
L'Heure Exquise
Kashmiri Love Song
Koyal
Sicilenne
Hushabye Mountain
Music When Soft Voices Die
Serenade
The Lea Ring
African Crib Carol
In Trutina
A Gift Of A Thistle
To A Wild Rose
Unexpected Song

Amazon.com

This is music to dream by. Designed to bring out the singing quality of the cello, the program comprises folk music of many lands, art songs, arias from opera and operetta, and instrumental pieces. All of the 20 numbers except Fauré's "Sicilienne," which the composer himself transcribed for cello, are arrangements. All are slow, lyrical, similar in mood and very repetitious, both motivically and strophically. The dynamics, except for an occasional mild build-up, are subdued; every piece ends in a fade-out. Contrast is limited to instrumental colors, including electronics, and idiomatic rhythms. Julian Lloyd Webber is a fine cellist; his style and temperament seem eminently well suited to this music. His tone is beguilingly sweet and flawlessly pure, but, staying mostly in the middle range of the cello, it lacks nuance and inflection. The intensity of his vibrato varies only in one piece, where he puts swells on all the long notes: Schubert's famous "Serenade," whose simple melody hardly calls for it. He is mightily abetted by some splendid partners, most notably harpist Catrin Finch and pianist John Lenehan, both of whom made several of the arrangements. The record's title comes from the closing number, part of a piece written for the cellist by his brother, Andrew Lloyd Webber, performed here as a song. --Edith Eisler

Album Description

With an overall calming and relaxing theme, and the repertoire ranging from the core classical to interpretations of contemporary writers, Unexpected Songs, his 40th album, will appeal to a wide audience. The title track is composed by his brother, Andrew, and part of the musical Song And Dance and features a special vocal guest appearance by multi-platinum recording artist Michael Ball. Another highlight is the cello arrangement of 'Koyal (Songbird)', originally by producer / songwriter / DJ and orchestral composer Nitin Sawhney, who established himself as one of the UK's leading scorers for film and television. Catrin Finch, the 'Queen of Harps' joins him on several tracks, providing an enchanting accompaniment.

Album Details

Widely Regarded as One of the Most Creative Musicians of his Generation, Julian Lloyd Webber Has Collaborated with an Extraordinary Array of Musicians from Yehudi Menuhin, Lorin Maazel and Neville Marriner to Stephane Grappelli, Elton John and Cleo Laine. On this Release from EMI Classics He Presents an Album of `unexpected Songs', a Collection of Favorites Ranging from Core Classical Works by Chopin, Elgar, Faure to More Contemporary Pieces Such as Cat Stevens' "lady D'arbanville". He is Joined on this Recording by the Harpist Catrin Finch and Pianist John Lenehan. The Title Track is Composed by his Brother, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, and is from the Musical `song and Dance' the Dance Numbers from which Originated from an Album He Had Written for Julian. The Song features a Guest Appearance from Britain's Leading Musical Theatre Star, and Multi-platinum Recording Artist, Michael Ball.

Customer Reviews:

Ultra soothing unexpected tender gems of musical beauty.......2007-05-21

The songs in this album are terrific. Nothing can be written to describe how great they are, so I suggest you listen to the samples.

I bought this album for my father's birthday and he tells me that he has to listen to it every single night to go to sleep.

What initially drew me to this album was a remake of "A Gift of Thistle" from the Braveheart soundtrack by James Horner. If you know that piece, listen to Webber's clip and you'll see how this arrangement flows so nicely and succeeds in accentuating the strengths of the piece. I usually don't like remakes of originals but this one is an exception.

All songs are acoustic except the title track "Unexpected Song".

Total of 20 tracks, well worth it.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Recommended Music:

Eurogenous Zones [Import]

Nocturne - Seven Songs of the Rubaiyat

Plays Bach & Couperin

Music: 83 West Records Presents The Collection

Robotech Perfect Soundtrack Album [Soundtrack]

Slow Pain Presents Old Town Mafia... [Explicit Lyrics]

Planet Waves

She's Got Issues Pt. 1 [CD-single]

Nothing Special

Nielsen: Springtime in Funen/Suite From Aladdin

Psychopathia Sexualis

Mirante [Import]

Rapmasters: From Tha Priority Vaults, Vol. 3 [Clean]

The Sky Is Crying

Kids: Playtime