Ravel, Faure and Debussy

On this CD:

1. Children's Corner, suite for piano (or orchestra), L. 113
Composed by Claude Debussy
Performed by Nikita Magaloff

2. Impromptu No. 2, for piano in F minor, Op. 31
Composed by Gabriel Faure
Performed by Nikita Magaloff

3. Impromptu No. 3, for piano in A flat major, Op. 34
Composed by Gabriel Faure
Performed by Nikita Magaloff

4. Valses nobles et sentimentales for piano (or orchestra)
Composed by Maurice Ravel
Performed by Nikita Magaloff

5. Le tombeau de Couperin, for piano
Composed by Maurice Ravel
Performed by Nikita Magaloff

Ravel, Faure and Debussy, Music, Claude Debussy, Gabriel Faure, Maurice Ravel, Nikita Magaloff, Classical, Classical Music, Impromptu for Keyboard, Keyboard, Keyboard Work with Descriptive or Unclassified Title, Music for Keyboard, Suite/Partita for Keyboard
Bedtime Beats: The Secret to Sleep
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Not exactly....
  • Not what I expected.
  • Excellent relaxing music and sleep aid
  • nice try...
  • Bedtime Beats: The Secret to Sleep
 Bedtime Beats: The Secret to Sleep

Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Pillow Music - Natural Deep Sleep
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  3. The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!
  4. Beethoven at Bedtime: A Gentle Prelude to Sleep
  5. Delta Sleep System

ASIN: B000GH3PQ8
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Tracks:

  1. Vivaldi: Concerto in D Major, "Largo" -- Sharon Isbin
  2. Ravel: Piano Cto. in G Major, "Adagio Assai" -- Anne Queffelec
  3. Vaughan Williams: Greensleeves -- Davis/BBC Symphony Orchestra
  4. Satie: Gymnopedie No. 1 & 3 -- Sado/Orchestre Des Concerts Lamoureux
  5. Beethoven: Piano Cto. No. 5, "Adagio Un Poco Mosso" -- Pierre-Laurent Aimard
  6. Ravel: Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte -- Nagano/lyon National Opera Ochestra
  7. Puccini: Chrysamthemums -- Helsinki Strings
  8. Mozart: Adagio for Violin and Orchestra in E Major -- Thomas Zehetmair
  9. Chopin: Piano Cto. No. 2, "Larghetto" -- Maria-Joao Pires
  10. Resighi: Villanella -- Scimone/I Solisti Veneti
  11. Faure: In Paradisum -- Corboz/Berne Symphony Orchestra

Tracks:

  1. J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations, "Aria" -- Jill Crossland
  2. Tchaikovsky: Andante Cantabile -- Alexander Kniazev
  3. Debussy: The Girl With The Flaxan Hair -- Lily Laskine
  4. Mozart: Piano Cto. No. 21, "Andante" -- Karl Engel
  5. Chopin: Nocturne In E flat Major -- Elisabeth Leonskaja
  6. J.S. Bach: Harpsichord Cto. In F Minor, "Adagio" -- Sharon Isbin
  7. Mozart: Clarinet Quintet, "Larghetto" -- Karl Leister
  8. Saint-Saens: The Swan -- Gennadi Rojdestvenski
  9. Albinoni/Giazotto: "Adagio" -- Sharon Isbin
  10. Faure: Pavane Pour Orchestre -- Jordan/Orchestre De Chambre De Lausanne
  11. Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14, Moonlight "Adagio Sostenuto" -- Nikolai Lugansky

Album Description

Created to meet the needs of more than 40 million sleep sufferers and light-eyars beyond lullabies, Bedtime Beats: The Secret To Sleep is the first classical music collection available as a true sleep remedy, an effective alternative to medication and sleepless nights. Carefully programmed in accordance with recent research from Case Western Reserve University--which discovered that classical and soft jazz music played at 60-80 beats per minute induces sound sleep.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Not exactly...........2007-05-14

This cd wasn't exactly what I was looking for, it does not really help you fall asleep. Some of the music can be annoying and it could have been more soothing.

2 out of 5 stars Not what I expected........2007-04-26

I should have paid attention to the two negative reviews. This CD doesn't put me to sleep at all--in fact, it keeps me awake. I find myself listening to the music instead of going to sleep.

One of the pieces has irritating and dissonant passages mingled with relaxing, soothing passages. Also the music changes tempo and volume quite often, which would wake me up if I did start to drift off.

Since I expected something that would put me to sleep, listening to this is upsetting, because I wasted my money.

However, since it works well for most reviewers, I figure I must hear things differently, or have a harder time falling asleep than most. Maybe if I listened to it enough to get used to it, it might work better.

I would like to find something totally soothing and relaxing--maybe I need actual recordings of water or rain, but I prefer music. Any suggestions?

5 out of 5 stars Excellent relaxing music and sleep aid.......2007-04-10

This CD collection is so effective that I still have not made it through the first CD to listen to the second one. It's very relaxing music and helps me fall asleep every night.

5 out of 5 stars nice try..........2007-02-06

but no silver bullet. FOR ME. Lovely selection of tunes, and I find them quite enjoyable and relaxing, but they just don't "knock me out". I own a variety of "sleep CD's" but real music seems to be just too stimulating when I am having trouble sleeping. I do better with guided imagery. Yesterday, though, I brought it over to my mom's place and laid down to listen to it with her, because she was so stressed out. She was asleep before the third number!

5 out of 5 stars Bedtime Beats: The Secret to Sleep.......2007-01-29

My son has a hard time falling asleep at night. The CD's have helped significantly in allowing him to have a good nights sleep. Highly recommended!
Christopher Parkening - The Great Recordings ~ By America's Preeminent Guitar Virtuoso
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent recording
  • Highly Recommended!
  • Amazing
  • A gentleman musical agreement!
  • Extreme virtuosity
 Christopher Parkening - The Great Recordings ~ By America's Preeminent Guitar Virtuoso
Johann Sebastian Bach , François Couperin , Gabriel Fauré , Isaac Albeniz , Anonymous , Francisco Tarrega (y Eixea) , Silvius Leopold Weiss , Claude Debussy , Maurice Ravel , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Gordon Young , Georg Philipp Telemann , Heitor Villa-Lobos , Manuel de Falla , Manuel Ponce , Enrique Granados , Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco , Andrew York , Fernando Sor , Gaspar Sanz , Joaquin Rodrigo , and Christopher Parkening
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

DuetsDuets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by J.S. BachAll Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Couperin, François | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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Villa-Lobos, HeitorVilla-Lobos, Heitor | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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PreludesPreludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Character PiecesCharacter Pieces | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Telemann, Georg Philipp | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
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GeneralGeneral | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Villa-Lobos, Heitor | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000002RTR
Release Date: 1993-09-14

Tracks:

  1. Fugue From Violin Sonata No. 1, BWV 1001 - J S Bach
  2. Estudio brillante
  3. Etude No. 1 In E Minor
  4. Recuerdos de la Alhambra
  5. Leyenda
  6. Romance
  7. Rumores de la Caleta
  8. Capricho Arabe
  9. Cantata 147: Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
  10. Well-Tempered Clavier: Prelude No. 1
  11. Well-Tempered Clavier: Prelude No. 6
  12. Cantata 140: Sleepers Awake
  13. Prelude, Fugue, And Allegro: Allegro
  14. Cantata 208: Sheep May Safely Graze
  15. Les Barricades mysterieuses
  16. Preambulo & Allegro vivo: Preambulo And Allegro vivo
  17. Passacaglia
  18. The Girl With The Flaxen Hair
  19. Gymnopedie No. 1
  20. Empress Of The Pagodas
  21. Afro-Cuban Lullaby

Tracks:

  1. Fourth Lute Suite: Praludium
  2. Fairest Lord Jesus
  3. Praise Ye The Lord, K. 339
  4. Simple Gifts
  5. Hymn Of Christian Joy
  6. Cantata 29: We Thank Thee, Lord
  7. Cantata 156: Arioso
  8. Cantata 99: What God Hath Done
  9. Canon
  10. Dolly Suite: Berceuse
  11. La Vida breve: Spanish Dance No. 1
  12. Terezinha De Jesus
  13. Prelude (In The Baroque Style)
  14. Goyescas: Intermezzo
  15. Prelude & Fugue No. 4 In E: Fugue
  16. Evening Dance
  17. Variations On A Theme Of Mozart
  18. Canarlos
  19. La Maja de Goya
  20. El Noi de la Mare
  21. Concierto de Aranjuez: Adagio - J. Rodrigo

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Excellent recording.......2007-05-12

If you are a fan of classical guitar than this is a must own set. I enjoy every moment.

5 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended!.......2006-12-23

I would recommend this CD to anyone who loves music--period! Christopher Parkening is unquestionably one of the greatest classical guitarists of all-time. He embodies personal excellence like no other and is a brilliant artist. This CD is a must-have for any classical enthusiast. My favorite pieces include: Tárrega's "Recuerdos de la Alhambra," "Romance," Bach's "Prelude No. 6," and Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez." There are other versions of these pieces as well, but I always prefer Parkening's renditions, as they are oh so extraordinary--especially the recording of Aranjuez!! Other guitarists never seem to capture the essence of Rodrigo's musical masterpiece (e.g., Göran Söllescher in "Mad About Guitars"). But Parkening did! And the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was a perfect accompaniment.

This CD is definitely worth buying. Included is a CD booklet, which illustrates the history of Parkening's illustrious career, interesting tidbits about all 25 recorded pieces, and several photos of his early life to his "breathtaking performance" at Rodrigo's 90th birthday celebration at the Royal Festival Hall in London, 1992.

5 out of 5 stars Amazing.......2006-05-08

I am not going to go into great detail. I am working on a degree in classical guitar and I can say this is something to strive for. His musical interpretation of the peices represented here are some of the best I've heard. His tone,color, and phrasing is incredible.

5 out of 5 stars A gentleman musical agreement! .......2006-03-16

In guitar ` s playing there have been many renowned performers, gifted of exuberant technique. But curiously the Apollonian playing is not by itself strictly enough. The guitar is the instrument which is closer to heart as any other one. It demands from you passion and sentiment. There have been three well known guitarists, one of them from England and the other one from Spain and the third one from Japan whose sensibility was totally absent in their performances.

But fortunately for us, there have been notable interpreters that have been maintained a desired balance and contrast between brain and heart, achieving great distinction and total acknowledgement around the world. I would name seven primordial names along the instrument `s story. First of all: the mythic soloist Andres Segovia, Regino Sainz de la Maza, John Williams, Alirio Diaz, Manuel Berrueco, Siegfried Behrend and Christopher Parkening, among the most representative ones of a great list.

Christopher Parkening `s career has made a brilliant colorist, an impeccable and sensitive interpreter of this well reduced repertoire. His profound artistic conviction and convincing phrasing has been a perpetual motive of constant invitations and presentations around the world.

5 out of 5 stars Extreme virtuosity.......2005-09-25

CP has become my chief inspiration to improve as a classical guitarist. His performances here are, without exception, phenomenal. He makes the most difficult pieces sound effortless. I prefer CP over John Williams because, while Williams is also unquestionably a master, he sounds a bit robotic to me at times. CP, on the other hand, never sacrifices musicality to precision. He sublimely maintains both.
A Bride's Guide to Wedding Music
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • GREAT WEDDING MUSIC!
  • Good Music
  • A very complete selection of ceremony music!
  • Comprehensive Classical Selection
  • Just one note...
 A Bride's Guide to Wedding Music

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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GeneralGeneral | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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GeneralGeneral | Telemann, Georg Philipp | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00005YD53
Release Date: 2002-02-19

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

  1. Wagner: Bridal Chorus
  2. Clarke: Trumpet Voluntary
  3. Handel: Royal Fireworks Music, Overture
  4. Gabrieli: Canzon V
  5. Charpentier: Te Deum
  6. Purcell: Trumpet Tune
  7. Mussorgsky: Promenade
  8. Pachebel: Canon In D
  9. Handel: Larghetto
  10. Vivaldi: Guitar Concerto In D Major, Largo
  11. Handel: Water Music, Air
  12. Macdowell: To A Wild Rose
  13. Beethoven: Pathetique Sonata, Adagio
  14. Melchior: Adagio
  15. Gounod: Ave Maria
  16. Schubert: Ave Maria
  17. Franck: Panis Angelicus
  18. Faure: Pie Jesu
  19. Rachmaninov: Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini
  20. Schumann: Romance For Violin And Piano
  21. Massenet: Meditation

Tracks:

  1. Mendelssohn: Wedding March
  2. Vivaldi: Concerto For Two Trumpets In B, Allegro
  3. Telemann: Trumpet Concerto In D, Allegro
  4. Vivaldi: Spring, Allegro
  5. Telemann: Trumpet Concerto In B, Allegro
  6. Handel: Concerto Grosso, Hornpipe
  7. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.4, Allegro
  8. Handel: Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba
  9. Schumann: Piano Quintet In E Flat Major
  10. Widor: Toccata
  11. Dubois: Toccata
  12. Walton: Crown Imperial
  13. Bach: Cantata No.51. 'Jauchzet Gott In Allen Landen.' Alleluia
  14. Mozart: Exsultate Jubilate, Alleluia
  15. Handel: Water Music, Hornpipe
  16. Chopin; Variations On A Theme From 'La Cenerentola'
  17. Faure: Sicilienne
  18. Offenbach: Barcarolle
  19. Faure: Berceuse
  20. Saint-Saens: The Swan
  21. Brahms: Waltz In A Flat
  22. 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:

5 out of 5 stars 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! :)

5 out of 5 stars 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.

4 out of 5 stars 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!

5 out of 5 stars 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.

4 out of 5 stars 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.

Beautiful, but perhaps not so suitable for a wedding.
Guitar Adagios
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • relation through beautiful music
  • A Great Find!
 Guitar Adagios

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Cello Adagios
  2. Baroque Adagios
  3. Violin Adagios
  4. Movie Adagios
  5. Piano Adagios

ASIN: B00028DNCW
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Tracks:

  1. Adagio In G Minor - Dominic Miller
  2. The Deer Hunter - Goran Sollscher
  3. Largo - Eduardo Fernandez
  4. Prelude - John Williams
  5. Apres Un Reve - Steve Erquiaga
  6. Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte - Steve Erquiaga
  7. Courante - Pepe Romero
  8. Torija (Elegia) - Segovia
  9. Andantino - Piu Mosso - Primo Tempo - Julian Bream
  10. Andaluza - Pepe Romero
  11. Granada (Serenata) - Pepe Romero
  12. Bachians Brasileiras No.1 - Alexandre Lagoya
  13. Andante Cantabile - Segovia
  14. Cancion De Cuna - Eduardo Fernandez
  15. Arioso - Steve Erquiaga
  16. Romance D'Amour - Goran Sollscher
  17. Adagio - Christine Pendrill
  18. Qui Tollis - Dominic Miller

Tracks:

  1. Air On A G String - Dominic Miller
  2. Largo - Alexandre Lagoya
  3. Andante Sostenuto - Alexandre Lagoya
  4. La Maja De Goya - Pepe Romero
  5. Romance De Los Pinos - Pepe Romero
  6. Sarabande - John Williams
  7. Sonata, Op.16 - Pepe Romero
  8. Recuerdos De La Alhambra - Eduardo Fernandez
  9. Barcarolle - John Williams
  10. Bourees I & II - John Williams
  11. Sarabande - John Williams
  12. Andante - Alexandre Lagoya
  13. Oriental - Alexandre Lagoya
  14. Cantabile - Alexandre Lagoya
  15. Adagio Ma Non Troppo - Alexandre Lagoya
  16. Andante - Alexandre Lagoya
  17. Canzone In E Minor - Alexandre Lagoya
  18. Sicilienne - Steve Erquiaga
  19. Clair De Lune - Alexandre Lagoya

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars relation through beautiful music.......2005-10-02

This is arguably the most relaxing music anywhere. It is lovely to take a nap to, fall asleep to..... use your imagination to......

5 out of 5 stars A Great Find!.......2004-08-02

These are wonderful cds. They include Andres Segovia,Julian Bream, John Williams, Presti/Lagoya and Pepe Romero among other guitarist's. This two cd set has a rare performance of Segovia with the "Symphony Of The Air"performing Boccherini's "Cello Concerto in D". John Williams performing Bach's "Cello Suite In D" at seventeen years old. Also Ida Presti and Alexandre Lagoya performing Debussy's "Clair de Lune" and Granado's "Spanish Dance No.2 The Oriental". Presti/Lagoya's music has long been out of print and to the best of my knowledge this is the first time their music has been available on cd.These cd's have over 2 and a half hours of music and are well worth the money.
Masters of the Bow
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Perfect
  • Outstanding
 Masters of the Bow

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Romance of the Violin
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  5. The Art of Violin

ASIN: B000060O2V
Release Date: 2002-03-19

Tracks:

  1. Introduction And Rondo Capriccioso For Violin And Orchestra - Itzhak Perlman
  2. Violin Concerto No.2 In D Minor, Op.22: Romance (Andante) - Gil Shaham
  3. Zigeunerweisen, Op.20 - Ruggiero Ricci
  4. Violin Concerto No.2 In B Minor, Op.7: Rondo A La Clochete 'La Campanella' - Salvatore Accardo
  5. Thais: Meditation - Joshua Bell
  6. Partita No.3 In E, BWV 1006: Preludio - Nathan Milstein
  7. Partita No.3 In E, BWV 1006: Gavote And Rondo - Gidon Kremer
  8. The Four Seasons: Concerto No.2 In G Minor, RV 269 'Summer': Presto - Pinchas Zukerman
  9. Sonata No.4 In G Minor, Op.1 'The Devil's Trill' - Gil Shaham
  10. Violin Sonata No.3 In D, Op.9 No.3: Tambourin (Presto) - Henryk Szeryng
  11. Minuet In G, WoO 10 No.2 - Arthur Grumiaux
  12. Songs Without Words: Spring Song, Op.62 No.6 - Christian Ferras
  13. 24 Caprices For Solo Violin: Caprice No.9 In E Major - Shlomo Mintz
  14. 24 Caprices For Solo Violin: Caprice No.17 In E-Flat Major - Ruggiero Ricci
  15. 24 Caprices For Solo Violin: Caprice No.24 In A Minor 'Tema Quas' - Salvatore Accardo

Tracks:

  1. Violin Concerto In D, Op.35: Canzonetta (Andante) - Nathan Milstein
  2. Polonaise No.1 In D, Op.4 - Leila Josefowicz
  3. Ave Maria, D 839 - Christian Ferras
  4. Hungarian Dance No.1 In G Minor - Samuel Sanders
  5. Humoresque, Op.101 No.7 - Arthur Grumiaux
  6. The Legend Of Tsar Saltan: Flight Of The Bumblebee - Henryk Szeryng
  7. Hebrew Melody, Op.33 - Ruggiero Ricci
  8. Salut D'amour, Op.12 - Phillip Moll
  9. Waltz 'La Plus Que Lente' - Henryk Szeryng
  10. Three Old Viennese Dances: Liebesfreud - Joshua Bell
  11. Three Old Viennese Dances: Liebesleid - Phillip Moll
  12. Baal Shem: Nigun - Arthur Grumiaux
  13. Berceuse, Op.16 - Anne-Sophie Mutter
  14. Tzigane - Concert Rhapsody For Violin And Piano - Gerhard Oppitz
  15. Danzas Espanola, Op.37: Andaluza (Dance No.5) - Arthur Grumiaux
  16. Hora Staccato - Christian Ferras
  17. Six Romanian Folk Dances, Op.Sz 56 - Henryk Szeryng

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Perfect.......2005-02-15

I love classical music but I dont own very much of it, so I thought I would start my collection with Masters of the Bow. What a beautiful selection it was. I just love the sound of a Violin, Joshua Bell is my favorite,I would love to hear more from him. This collection really helps you get to know the masters. Lovely Lovely!

5 out of 5 stars Outstanding.......2004-08-17

I love the violin and this collection is one of my favorites. A great choice for someone like me who doesn't know enough about music and never knows what to buy. It has introduced me to some artists and pieces that I knew nothing about and will help me know what to look for in violin music in the future. This is my favorite but I would also recommend The Cello and Voice CDs in the "Masters of" series. I can't wait for more in this series.
Romances for Saxophone
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Love the soprano sax
  • Incredibly Musical Peformance
  • Just a small point of rectifition
  • What am I missing?
  • Beautiful!!
 Romances for Saxophone

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000026EH
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. L'Isle Joyeuse
  2. Pavane
  3. Arabesque No. 1
  4. Vocalise
  5. Pastorale
  6. Emmanuel
  7. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5
  8. Gymnopedie No. 3
  9. Prelude
  10. Piece en forme de Habanera
  11. Sicilienne
  12. Serenata
  13. The Old Castle

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Love the soprano sax.......2007-05-18

If you don't already love the soprano sax, this should do it for you.

5 out of 5 stars Incredibly Musical Peformance.......2006-03-20

In my opinion, this is one of the best Classical CDs ever produced. I listen to it often and I am amazed at what an incredibly MUSICAL performance Branford Marsalis had. If you like saxaphone, I think you will love it. If you don't, I think you will still find it valuable because the technique, the phrasing are quintissential.

3 out of 5 stars Just a small point of rectifition.......2004-12-28

None of the works presented here precede the invention of the saxophone. Please look this up. You will find the saxophone invented around 1840, yes early romantic. And in addition, I believe many of the composers here used the saxophone at least once in their music. This is certainly true of Stravinsky, Debussy, Ravel and Villa-Lobos. (Villa-Lobos used the saxophone in at least 40 works!)

2 out of 5 stars What am I missing?.......2003-12-19

I think it is very admirable that Marsalis has attempted to produce a classical CD, however, this is not the sublime, masterpiece that so many previous reviewers have labelled it. His tone is particularly unstable, and not very even, his soprano playing is miles better than his alto however. This is a real shame, as the primary solo instrument in the saxophone family is the alto, anyone beginning study in classical saxophone would need to get this sorted first. His tuning is barely acceptable, but only for a jazzo, he would be shot if he played so out for a real saxophone teacher. Please have a listen to some real repertoire for saxophone, played by a real player, such as Bornkamp, Rousseau, Delangle, Fourmeau, Michat, Londeix, etc. This is a good INTRODUCTION to classical music, if for the first time, but please don't accept this as being the be all and end all of classical music, and of saxophone.

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful!!.......2003-03-17

I hae been a fan of Branford Marsalis for a while, but I had no idea that he had created a classical album. All of the songs are beautifully rendered. This CD is a treasure at any price.
Ernest Ansermet: Decca Recordings 1953-1967
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • A memento of a conductor lost in the golden age
  • Remembering Ansermet in style
  • Ansermet is Awesome, and...
 Ernest Ansermet: Decca Recordings 1953-1967

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000JU7N7Y
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A memento of a conductor lost in the golden age.......2007-06-20

This 6-CD set gives uninitiated listeners a fair introduction to a conductor they never knew while he was alive or in his heyday. Ernest Anserment (1883-1969) was born in Switzerland and was a contemporary of both Furtwängler and Klemperer, although he was of a far different school of music than either German. Originally a mathematician, Ansermet founded Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (Swiss Radio Orchestra) during World War I, toured with them worldwide after the war, and rose to prominence after World War II when he and the orchestra developed a recording contract with Decca Records.

Ansermet was most at home in coolorful scores, 20th century French music, in the works of his countrymen Honegger (born French but spent time in Zurich) and Frank Martin, and in the Russians Stravinsky and Rimsky-Korsakov. But, as represented here, his expertise began with Bach and went well into the 20th century.

Ansermet's strengths were clarity in execution and delivery, strict adherence to original scoring (he opposed Stravinsky's tendency to revise his own works), and a romantic bent that was in vogue in the postwar years. Stated another way, Anserment's work captured the essence of what today might be characterized as a "romantic period performance" style whose chief proponent may be Martin Perlman in Boston.

For me, Ansermet's conducting in the mainstream German classics was equally engaging. He was expert in capturing the full blown romance of Brahms, Beethoven and other romantics through the rigors of exposing every instrument in the orchestra and ensuring all contrapuntal lines could be heard. His Beethoven set included a dazzling performance of the Symphony No. 2 and a draft of the "Choral" symphony most collectors would enjoy today (it's still avaiable in Japan).

While recordings of Ansermet's Rimsky-Korsakov and Stravinsky have rightly stayed in the catalog and been hailed by critics for decades, his greatest recording of romantic repertoire, in my opinion, is neither included in this box nor avaialable anywhere worldwide. That is his pairing of the Franck D Minor Symphony and the St. Saens "Organ" Symphony which Decca paired early in the CD era on a Weekends Classic recording. It has been out of print everywhere for some time and is a great loss for all of us.

Still today, I treasure Ansermet's box of Beethoven symphonies (also out of print everywehere; No. 4, is represented here) for its clarity, romance and elocution. I will never forget buying this box at my local LP store about 1972; what a revelation it was after exposure to the Beethoven of all the high cholesterol German romantics! Ansermet's combination of score adherence, clarity in orchestral detail, and blooming romance in interpretation led to my most satisfying performances of the most recorded symphonies in history during the period when the greatest conductors of the recording era were all represented in this repertoire.

The latter point is, I believe, the linchpin to Ansermet's career. I don't think there's any question that, if a conductor came along today with his combination of skills, sensitivity and technique, he or she would be regarded as a wunderkind combining the best traits of the current and bygone eras. In his lifetime, however, Ansermet was never regarded in this way. I think that's because he existed on a plane or two below all the acknowledged giants of the podium that were active or in their prime in his day.

While Ansermet was making the recordings in this box, Wilhelm Furtwangler was conducting the Berlin Philharmonic, dying, and being replaced by an up and coming German named Karajan that would go on the become the most recorded conductor in history. Klemperer was one of the giants in Germany with Bohm, Jochum and others sharing the spotlight. Among Europe's rising stars of the day were Colin Davis and Bernard Haitink, who had recently taken over for Beinum in Holland. Elsewhere, Leonard Bernstein was in the midst of his titanic career on the other side of the Atlantic and other American orchestral posts were manned by Ormandy, Szell, Solti, Mehta, Monteaux and another young, up and coming condcutor, Lorin Mazzel. Stokowski was in his prime making stereo recordings in this era, too.

This was the epoch of Ansermet's maturity. He was in the same position as a number of great conductors of his era such as Rudolf Kempe -- great men at the podium cast in the shadow of giants. While Ansermet was a member of the Decca stable, he nonetheless was cast in a secondary role as Decca also had new recordings by Solti and Maazel that were outselling anything Ansermet put forth. Simultanously, collectors could also find all the recordings of legendary conductors including Toscanini, Bruno Walter and Beecham. It was surely a crowded time in the record business and the most difficult time in history for a conductor to make his name.

In baseball terms, Ansermet had some of the affect of Sammy Sosa, whose 600 home runs came in the shadow of Mark McGwire's record-breaking season in 1998 and while Barry Bonds would first break the all-time single season record and, second, chase Hank Aaron's home run record. The metaphor may not be competely satisfactory for Ansermet was probably not the third greatest conducting home run hitter of his day.

But he was one of the great conductors with his own orchestra, a unique style, a broad repertoire, and a delivery mechanism underrated due to the shadow cast on him by other greats of the day. We are fortunate, living in the late digital era, to have this testament of his work before us. Now a new generation of listeners can hear what many did a half-century ago with new ears developed in the period performance practice era.

Of the contents of this set, my favorites are the Haydn Symphony 22, Stravinsky Pulcinella Suite, the orchestrated Schumann Carnaval (which I had never heard before), both Resphigi suites -- Pines of Rome and Rossiniana -- Honneger's Pacific 231 and Frank Martin's Concerto for 7 Wind Instruments, Timpani, Percussion and String Orchestra, an interesting, powerful and lively 20th century concerto. I agree with an earlier reviewer that said this set cherry picks certain pieces, teasing you with portions such as the Borodin Polovtsian Dances and Dukas La Peri selections. Still, there's enough here to satisfy both Ansermet enthusiasts and newcomers to the conductor.

4 out of 5 stars Remembering Ansermet in style.......2007-03-01

Ernest Ansermet was one of Decca's most prolific artists, to whom