Bach: Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio)

On this CD:

1. Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Vienna Concentus Musicus, Kurt Equiluz, Paul Esswood, Siegmund Nimsgern

Tracks:

Toccata And Fugue In D Minor: Toccata in D minor
Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major: Air
Prelude in C major
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major: Allegro
Goldberg Variations: Aria
Sleepers Awake: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Violin Concerto No.1 In A Minor: I Allegro moderato
Jesu, joy of man's desiring
Keyboard Concerto No.4: Allegro: I Allegro
Cello Suite No.3: Bourees I & II: Bourrees I And II
Concerto for Oboe & Violin In C Minor: Adagio
Mass In B minor: Crucifixus
Cello Suite No.1 in G Major: Praeludium
French Suite No.5 in G major: Gigue
Prelude in D Minor
Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major: III Allegro
Matthaus-Passion: St Matthew Passion

Tracks:

Brandenberg Concerto No.2 In F Major: I Allegro
Concerto For 2 Violins In D Minor: II Largo, ma non tanto
Lute Suite In E Major: Prelude
Cantata: Sheep may safely graze
Cello Sonata In G Minor: II Adagio (excerpt)
Italian Concerto In F Major: II Allegro
Weihnachtsoratorium: Pastoral sinfonia
Violin Concerto No.1 In A Minor: II Andante
Partita No.1 In B Flat Major: Gigue
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor: Menuet
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor: Badinerie
Oboe Concerto In F Major: Siciliano
Brandenberg Concerto No.3 In G Major: I Allegro
Violin Partita No.2 In D Minor: Allemande
Violin Partita No.2 In D Minor: Gigue
Keyboard Concerto No.2 In E Major: I Allegro (excerpt)
Cantata: Sanctify us by thy goodness
Keyboard Concerto No.5 In F Minor: II Largo
Concerto In A Minor: I Allegro

Amazon.com

It is not possible to fit 36 Bach masterpieces on two CDs, so what Essential Bach does is present individual movements from across a range of the composer's work. The anthology is clearly aimed at the newcomer, and the absence of booklet notes to put the music in context is disappointing. We are only given titles, performers, and what films the extracts have been featured in, from Rollerball to The English Patient.

On the plus side, most if not all of the music is instantly recognizable, by melody if not by name. Everything from the Brandenburg Concertos to "Air on a G String" to the B Minor Mass and St. Matthew Passion is represented. Performances range from 1960 to 1993, encompassing both early instrument and modern orchestra interpretations by a wide variety of forces, including Sir Neville Marriner with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and Raymond Leppard leading the English Chamber Orchestra. Given such diversity the result is unavoidably a patchwork, albeit one made from the finest materials, and as such is perhaps best treated as a sampler to aid exploration of the vast legacy of one of the very greatest composers who ever lived. --Gary S. Dalkin, Amazon.co.uk

Customer Reviews:

so amazing .......2006-06-14

I love this kind of playing. this is my favorite classical cd.

Essential Bach is OK.......2005-09-29

This is a good basic primer. A true Bach lover might find a better selection/orchestra.

Excellent collection of mostly recognizeable music.......2005-03-18

LOVE LOVE LOVE this 2-CD set. I bought I a awhile back and have enjoyed it very much. My toddler likes it too. I think it's a great value for the money and may have to get another copy if this one wears out.

Exquisite Essential Bach.......2005-02-01

Value and exquisite sampler of Bach on two CD's at an affordable price. Recorded by the likes primarily of Academy of the St. Martin-in-the-fields, Chicago Sympony, Boston Symphony, English Chamber Orchestra and with virtuoso performers as William Bennett, Heinz Hollinger, Pepe Romero, and Wolfgang Rubsam, one gets treated to wonderful Bach exerpts of all his fantastic breath and depth of chamber, symphony and choral works.

One will have to go to other places to find background on these marvelous compositions as the liner notes only list perfomer and date recorded.

Good.......2004-07-13

This is a good album but for information on real choral music visit www.freewebs.com/bachster67/

Bach at Bedtime: Lullabies for the Still of the Night

Average customer rating:

Great CD
Mellow, Sleepy, Wonderful
Soothing Bach
Great for kids!
My Kind of Bedtime

Bach at Bedtime: Lullabies for the Still of the Night

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

Beethoven at Bedtime: A Gentle Prelude to Sleep
Mozart for Meditation
Brahms at Bedtime: A Sleepytime Serenade
Baroque at Bathtime: A Relaxing Serenade to Wash Your Cares Away
Mozart at Midnight

ASIN: B0000041E0
Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

Sheep May Safely Graze
Violin Concerto No.1 In A Minor: Andante
Concerto In A For Oboe d'amore: Larghetto
Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor: Sarabande
Christmas Oratorio: Sinfonia
Violin Concerto No. 2 in E: Adagio
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G: Adante
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins: Largo ma non tanto
Concerto In F For Oboe: Siciliano
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 In D: Affetuoso
Sonata No. 1 In G For Cello & Piano: Andante
Sinfonia, Part II 'Easter Oratorio': Adagio
Partita In D Minor: Sarabande
Suite in D: Sarabande

Customer Reviews:

Great CD.......2007-06-14

Great music, soothing, calming and perfect for bedtime quality time.

Mellow, Sleepy, Wonderful.......2005-10-27

I bought this CD for myself, a 60 year old. I have trouble sleeping and have been buying CDs by this company. They are all wonderful. I'm asleep in about 15 minutes!

Soothing Bach.......2005-04-29

It would probably help to first clear up a potential misconception in the unfortunate subtitle which refers to "lullabies" - a term that brings to mind for most people simplistic, sing-songy music hummed to babies in a crib. Lullabies are wonderful and have their place, but the music on the CD is not this (and Bach would probably have cringed a bit at the thought of his music here being called "lullabies.") What is here is a most wonderful, high-quality collection of Bach's Baroque music that is most condusive to creating a quiet, peaceful mood. The selections here include many famous pieces from Bach played by an impressive, all-star line up of notable musicians. Some listeners might take comfort in knowing that all selections have a similar, gentle tempo and mood without those unwanted changes in loudness from soft to LOUD that can startle one (the baby?) from sleep or quiet contemplation. The sound quality is good for the purpose of this collection - to provide relaxing background music or Rx for insomnia. I listen to this CD often if I wake up at night.

Johan Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a devout German Lutharan who devoted much of his life to composing music for various church functions and events in his position of 'head music master" in his different appointments. As such, we see often in Bach's music a "pastoral" quality - whose effect is to encourage, comfort and renew the spirit. No piece (and title) is more demonstrating of this quality then the opening "Sheep May Safely Graze" which is perhaps the finest recording of this magnificant and comforting piece by the Stuttgart Orchestra who brings a most expressive quality to the music. Its inter-weaving and delicate melodies give rise to serene visions of carefree green pastures and the sense that all is well. So, perhaps in that vein, this music has some commonality to traditional lullabies.

But, even though the music is serene, there is much musically to hear in these tunes - for those still awake. Bach's genius is seen here for setting a lyrical solo instrument (violin, oboe, cello) against a stable, comforting background orchestra pulsing away in Bach fashion. Many of these works are a typical style of Bach music known as "fugues" - which is a type of music where two-three instruments simultaneously play different melodies that all blend together in splendid harmony. This consistent, calming rhythm with gently soaring melodies are part of what makes such music suitable for bedtime. Finally, one who is just nodding off can appreciate that the last two selections are the most peaceful with the fewest notes coming from the solo guitar of Pepe Romero. They end in a whisper which should be right about the time you fall asleep and the CD player quietly clicks off. This is a really wonderful compilation of Bach's music that should be pleasing to both those just looking for some nice, relaxing music - or even to the long-term classical collector who already has 30 CD's of Bach's music but values the variety and soothing qualities of such 'even-temperament' collections.

Great for kids!.......2001-11-29

I bought this CD for my daughter when she turned six. It's been a year and she still listens to it a lot. Yes, she also listens to Britney and Christina, but on many nights she will request Bach (aka: that one with no words). It's great to know that they selected soothing, relaxing pieces. It's a wonderful way to broaden my daughter's horizons while also getting her to sleep.

My Kind of Bedtime.......2001-10-17

This CD is lovely and soothing, and I have to take exception to R. Loam's contention that the entire CD is in the minor key. I can determine from listening to the samples that certainly #1 and #5 are in the major key, and there are probably more. The minor key does not have to invoke meloncholia - it is many times in the eyes of the beholder.

Average customer rating:

Coffee ? Eggs ? Bacon ? Bach ?
Gentle background music with lots of harp
Excellent Compilation of Brilliant Music for Home Listening
Bach for any meal!
Lovely!!!

Bach for Breakfast

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

Mozart for Morning Coffee: Freshly Brewed to Perk Up Your Day
Baroque at Bathtime: A Relaxing Serenade to Wash Your Cares Away
Tchaikovsky At Tea Time: A Refreshing Blend For Body And Spirit
Beethoven for Book Lovers: An Intimate Companion for Reading
Mozart for Meditation

ASIN: B0000041D9
Release Date: 1995-06-13

Tracks:

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D
Concerto In D Minor For Oboe, Strings & Continuo: Siciliano
Suite in D: Bourree I - II
Sonata In E-Flat For Flute & Harp: Sicilliano
Sonata In E-Flat For Flute & Harp: Allegro Moderato
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 In B-Flat: Adagio ma non tanto
Sonata In G minor For Flute, Harp & Cello: Allegro
Sonata In G minor For Flute, Harp & Cello: Adagio
Sinfonia: Christmas Oratorio
Orchestral Suite No. 1 In C: Forlane
Sonata In C For Flute & Harp: Andante-Presto
Sonata In C For Flute & Harp: Menuetto I - II
English Suite No. 3 In G Minor: Allemande
Brandenberg Concerto No. 2 In F: Andante
Suite In E-Flat For Harp: Gavotte en rondeau
Concerto In D Minor For Violin & Panpipes: Adagio
Concerto In A For Oboe d'amore, Strings & Continuo: Allegro moderato

Customer Reviews:

Coffee ? Eggs ? Bacon ? Bach ?.......2005-10-04

This recording is a delightful morning brew of Bach's most beautiful and atmospheric instrumental music, even making use of an instrument that most music scholars forget he even wrote music for - the harp, as in the SLonatas for Flute, Harp and Cello, which on this recording, sound positively radiant coming from the likes of Sir Neville Marriner's Academy of St Martin In The Fields or the English Chamber Orchestra. The opening track is the ever popular Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, mostly a featured piece in Wedding Ceremonies. The Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D, which I believe is marked "Overture" is regal and elegant. The English Suite No. 3 in G Minor is a lovely piece, as is the intimately slow andane of the Brandenbur Concerto No. 2. The Concerto for Violin and Panpies in D is a fresh new rendition. All in all, this is a very intimate CD, full of Baroque charm and romance. It is a fine way to start your day.

Gentle background music with lots of harp.......2005-06-26

In general, the Philips series "Set Your Life to Music" is one of the better, high-quality compilation series of classical music. This CD is a collection of Bach's Baroque-era music that is ideal for those unfamiliar to the often-intimidating world of classical music who mainly are looking for some pleasant and inspiring background music while learning a little about classical music. This Bach collection contains music that is rich in the soothing sounds of flute, harp, guitar and oboe along with a sampling of Bach's mild-mannered, songful orchestral music. Overall, the selections are all gentle and lyrical with a good sound quality. The concerto, oboe and orchestral works are some of Bach's finest compositions of sheer beauty and elegance and are performed by some of classical music's finest musicians. Some selections most everyone who has been ever been to a few weddings will recognize (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desire). And no piece is as haughtingly lovely as the flute sonata slow movement (Siciliano) on track 5 - a highlight of the disc.

While 'classical purists' may raise their brow because of the many flute/harp selections (citing that Bach never composed any music for the harp), the person buying this CD for inspiring and relaxing mood music should be be delighted just fine with these "transcriptions" from piano to harp. The harp has a special niche for creating the most serene of atmospheres which it does not fail to do here. The solo Suite in E-flat was originally composed for solo violin but sounds much more smooth and dreamy on the harp - a piece very well done. However, some pieces are so serene that you might fall asleep at the breakfast table - hence, the sub-title "A leisurely way to start your day." Actually, it could easily be titled, "Bach for Bedtime" as the selections are all pretty relaxed and on the quiet side. So, if the hyper-energy of Mozart symphonies is too much for your mornings or if the sharp surges of Beethoven's music unsettle you, then these calmer Bach selections should be a better way to ease into the day.

If you like the flavor of Baroque music, "Bach for Book Lovers" in the same series is a good choice and has more solo piano selections for the piano lover. "Bach for Bedtime" is also a wonderful (non-duplicating) collection of some of Bach's most serene music and is also recommended. Perhaps the most calming and sedating music in this Philip's series is "Baroque for Bathtime" which can easily put you to sleep - in a good way - with or without the bath. All are high quality with well-selected pieces from the treasures of classical music's most influential composer of the Baroque era - Johann Sebastian Bach.

Excellent Compilation of Brilliant Music for Home Listening.......2004-01-26

You will love this CD! Like many of the CD's from this series, the music was carefully chosen for home listening. I just love playing this CD at home.

The "songs" on this CD and from the series were chosen from the vast and excellent Phillips classical music catalog. The sound, performances, and song selections are world-class.

A lot of great classical music is great for an evening at the concert hall but not very good for listening at home. The crescendos can be loud and the themes too intense. I would rather listen to a breathtaking Mozart piano sonata (solo piano) at home than a grand Mozart symphony (large orchestra) at home. The music on this CD was chosen for home listening, such as when reading a book.

This music appeals to everyone. Classic musicians may snub this music because it's not grand like a full-blown opera. They ignore the fact that the great composers, like Bach recognized different musical genres such as chamber music for at home or the kings court, and grand symphonies for an evening at the concert hall.

The music on this CD is EXCELLENT for listening at home. It's both brilliant and mellow. When I listen to this music I marvel at the brilliance of Bach. I am very grateful for this music and other CD's in this series.

A fantastic CD!

Bach for any meal!.......2004-01-22

By far, one of the best "collection" CDs of Bach's music. On a couple of tracks, some liberties are taken, but overall, this is a must-have. It includes 6 tracks from the Flute Sonatas, and features a soloist with whom I was not familiar - Irena Grafenauer gives THE MOST EXQUISITE performances I have ever heard - Galway and Rampal, step aside!

Lovely!!!.......2002-04-06

Worth every penny! A must have in the car if you commute on busy highway daily to and from work -- help to ease road rage! It's great for relaxing after a long day of programming too!

Average customer rating:

The Very Best of Janet Baker is simply the very best!
Grace Incarnate
A Rare & Glorious Singer

The Very Best of Janet Baker

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

Great Recordings Of The Century - Janet Baker Sings Mahler / Barbirolli, et al
Philips and Decca Recordings, 1961-1979 (Limited Edition)
Very Best of
The Very Best of Lucia Popp
The Very Best of Victoria de los Angeles

ASIN: B00005UUOW
Release Date: 2002-04-09

Tracks:

Christmas Oratorio: Bereite Dich, Zion
Messiah: He Was Despised
Elijah: O Rest In The Lord
Alto Rhapsody
Ich Bin Der Welt Abhanden Gekommen
L'Invitation Au Voyage
Pie Jesu (From The Requieum Op.9)
Sea Pictures Op.37: I. Sea Slumber-Song
Sea Pictures Op.37: II. In Haven
Sea Pictures Op.37: III. Sabbath Morning At Sea
Sea Pictures Op.37: IV. Where Corals Lie
Sea Pictures Op.37: V. The Swimmer
The Angel's Farewell - Ambrosian Singers

Tracks:

Linden Lea
A Boy Was Born, Op.3: Corpus Christi Carol
Pretty Ring Time
Prison
Soir
Clair De Lune
Ave Maria (Ellens Gesang III)
Gretchen Am Spinnrade
Wiegenlied (Schlafe, Schlafe)
Die Forelle
Auf Dem Wasser Zu Singen
An Die Musik
An Sylvia
Nacht Und Traume
Heidenroslein
Du Bist Die Ruh'
Auf Flugeln Des Gesanges
Liederkreis, Op.39: Mondnacht
Frauenliebe Und -Leben Op.42: Du Ring An Meinem Finger
Geistliches Wiegenlied
Befreit
Morgen!

Amazon.com

While it is impossible to really squeeze The Very Best of Janet Baker onto just two CDs, this two and a half hour anthology is a fine portrait of the British mezzo-soprano. Central to CD 1 is Elgar's Sea Pictures, a definitive account with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. While other British music is represented by Vaughan Williams's "Linden Lea," Britten's "Corpus Christie Carol," and Warlock's "Pretty Ring Time," CD 2 balances the program with 10 Schubert songs accompanied at the piano by either Gerald Moore or Geoffrey Parsons, which range from "Ave Maria" to Shakespeare. The set lends equal weight to orchestral and more intimate song, as well as to works in English--a very moving reading of Handel's "He was despised" from Messiah--and European landmarks, including Mendelssohn's On Wings of Song and Brahms's Alto Rhapsody, the latter with a superlative London Philharmonic Orchestra under Sir Adrian Boult. In an age of technically dazzling but sometimes bland singers, this release is a reminder of emotionally intense musicianship that retains vocal clarity and commitment to the composer's intentions over superstar ego. The word great is often used all too easily, but it could not be more appropriate for this outstanding collection of a great singer. --Gary S. Dalkin

Customer Reviews:

The Very Best of Janet Baker is simply the very best!.......2005-02-09

This cd and this amazing musician are an absolute must have for any music lover or music snob alike! Her voice is amazing!

Grace Incarnate.......2002-09-02

If there is one singer who has ever truly been able to master the singer's art of interpretation, this is her. She is a gift to music, I truly believe this. A few words, or glowing adjectives could not accurately describe the singing of a woman who epitomizes art. And music. Grace and beauty.
Each track on this cd is a perfect union of poetry, melody and technicality. Dame Janet Baker fully immerses herself into each piece, and delivers highly commited, intelligent & emotional performances.

A Rare & Glorious Singer.......2002-06-10

This is a pretty good cross-section of Dame Janet's output from the prime of her career. There are few if any singers like her around today. There are many mezzos who can sing beautifully, with great articulation and finesse, but they lack the moral and musical integrity Dame Janet always brought to her singing. The voice is ardent, seeking, yearning, finding, exulting. Listen to the excerpt from "Dream of Gerontius" or the third of the "Sea Pictures" to see what I mean.
She does not sing to show off. She sings to enlighten, to illuminate, to reveal, to enter into. Her voice carries us off, near to Heaven.
Dame Janet has been neglected of late. This recording shows us why, in these perilous times, we need her more than ever.

Average customer rating:

Stokowski's famous romantic Bach delusions are a lot of fun
great Stokowski
Knockin on Heaven's Door
Magnificent
Heavenly Bach

Bach - Stokowski

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

Stokowski's Symphonic Bach, Vol. 2
Stokowski's Symphonic Bach
Stokowski: Bach Orchestral Transcriptions
The Fantastic Leopold Stokowski: Transcriptions For Orchestra
Debussy: Nocturnes No1-3; Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune

ASIN: B000002S9M
Release Date: 1997-03-18

Tracks:

Passacaglia & Fugue in C Minor, BWV 582
'Komm, susser Tod,' BWV 478
English Suite No. 2, BWV 807: Bourree
Violin Partita In B Minor, BWV 1002: Sarabande
Cantata No. 80, BWV 80: 'Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott'
Christmas Oratorio BWV 248: Shepard's Song
Little Fugue In G Minor, BWV 578
Orchestral Suite No. 3 BWV, 1068: Air On The G String
'Mein Jesu, was fur Seelenweh befallt dich in Gethsemane,' BWV 487
Violin Partita No. 3, BWV 1006: Preludio
Toccata & Fugue In D Minor, BWV 565

Customer Reviews:

Stokowski's famous romantic Bach delusions are a lot of fun.......2007-06-02

These recordings date from the late 1950's and still sound remarkably vivid and atmospheric. I'm not a big Stokowski fan but when the man was in his element, he could pull off some magnificient results. This CD in a case in point. The stunning string sound and gorgeous results that Stokowski summons here leave quite an impression. These are of course decadently Romantic readings of great Baroque music and many purists will run from the room when you put this on, but anyone who loves music can see that these transcriptions should not be heard as sins against an immortal master composer and instead are acts of love and dedication.

Even I can get annoyed at the schmaltzy antics of these recordings but they are not nearly as perverse as the later Decca Phase 4 versions Stokowski recorded. There have recently been plenty of conductors taking up Stokowski's transciptions but it's the original master who still stands the test of time.

The Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor was one instant where I was not fully in sympathy with Stokowski. The orchestral version here is far too dominated by the strings. If you listen to Ottorino Respighi's transcription which was recorded on a Chandos CD recently, you'll hear more instrumental color and variety in Respighi's version than with Stokowski. Furthermore, Stokowski's Decca Phase 4 record of the Passacaglia is so garish, grandiose and over the top, that it makes this earlier EMI version sound quite tame by comparison.

The rest of the music here was handled well but the saccharine sweetness of the strings can get tiresome. The big conclusion of the program is the famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor and rest assured, Stokowski does it proud. Unbelievably grand and imposing, it's an inspired performance without a doubt. All in all, a successful program and a good introduction to Leopold Stokowski's style of music-making.

great Stokowski.......2006-07-11

The Bach transcriptions written by Stokowski are among the most exciting presentations of Bach's music in the classical music repertoire. For one just hearing Bach for the first time this is a great introduction. For the serious listener it is pure joy. These, however, are not necessarily for the Bach purist.

Knockin on Heaven's Door.......2006-03-03

One of the greatest recordings in the cannon - even better due to the spectacular mix on this remastered issue. This soul-baring music must be heard, and heard at top, almost painful volume to realize how transcendent these transcriptions really are - earth-shaking and primal. Stokowski was one of the all-time, all-time greats - and to my ear - this recording is his best ever.

Magnificent.......2005-07-26

As a professional classical musician and deep lover of the works of J.S. Bach, I believe these transcriptions and performances of his works would have greatly pleased the master. This album is a magnificent work; especially, but not limited to, the incredible full orchestra arrangement of the most famous Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. It will simply take your breath away with its awesome majesty. You will not regret purchasing this!

Heavenly Bach.......2004-12-18

When I was 12 years old I was madly in love with Leopold Stokowski. Now I'm 74 and after hearing this CD I find I'm still in love with him. This is a whole new dimension of Bach. Stokowski's arrangements are lyrical and dramatic, refreshing and romantic. A totally delightful rendition of Bach's music that will soothe your heart and refresh your soul. To be listened to with an open mind. Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

A ***MUST HAVE*** ALBUM for lovers of CHORAL & SACRED MUSIC!
One of the best CDs of my several hundred CDs collection

Ave Maria

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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

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

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

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

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

A Cappella | Folk | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

The Ave Maria Album
Ave Maria
Kiri Te Kanawa - Ave Maria
Sacred Classics - Messiah, Ave Maria, Pie Jesu, Zadok the Priest, L'enfance du Christ
The Ultimate Sacred Christmas Album ~ Ave Maria

ASIN: B000001G5C
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Ave Maria
Mass In B Minor, BWV 232: Et incarnatus est
Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248: Shepherds' Music
Stabat Mater: Sancta mater istud agas
Ave Maria
Satbat mater Op. 58: Virgo virginum praeclara
Magnificat, BWV 243: Magnificat
Magnificat, BWV 243: Et exsultavit apiritus meus
Ruf zur Maria
Ave Maria
Ave Maria
Christmas Cantata: Sinfonia
Exsultate, Jubilate K. 165 (158a): Tu virginum corona - Alleluja

Customer Reviews:

A ***MUST HAVE*** ALBUM for lovers of CHORAL & SACRED MUSIC!.......2002-04-12

If you have a any appreciation at all for the human voice raised in song, you will absolutely LOVE this album!! I have had this album on cassette since 1990, but until three weeks ago, I'd never listened to the entire cassette. I had only listened to the first song on side A because I was that was the version of "Ave Maria" I was familiar with. THIS
ALBUM is the best compilation of choral music ever!!! It's not just different versions of "Ave Maria"; it is a compilation of songs whose theme is Maria. I particularly like the Giovanni Battista Pergolesi duet, "Stabat mater: Sancta mater istud agas". You would have to be DEAD not to fall madly, deeply and completely in love with this song. All the songs on this album are GEMS!!! I highly recommend this album. I'm buying the CD version myself, as I have been playing my cassette to death. Buy the CD already!!!!

One of the best CDs of my several hundred CDs collection.......1999-10-28

Unusually successful collection! Must have!

A Robert Shaw Christmas - Angels on High

Average customer rating:

Beautiful
Robert Shaw Chorale
a perfect Ceremony of Carols!
Brilliant compilation
Didn't care for it that much

A Robert Shaw Christmas - Angels on High

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Songs of Angels - Christmas Hymns and Carols
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O Come All Ye Faithful: Christmas Carols at King's College, Cambridge

ASIN: B000003D2M
Release Date: 1997-09-23

Tracks:

O Come, Emmanuel
Alleluia
The First Nowell
The Carol Of The Birds
Allon, Gay Bergeres
A Hymn To The Virgin
O Magnum Mysterium
Christmas Oratorio: Rejoice And Sing
Ave Maria
What Is This Lovely Fragrance?
Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming
Sing Lullaby
While By My Sheep
Christmas Oratorio: Break Forth, O Wondrous Heavenly Light
Heavenly Light
Adeste Fideles
Ceremony Of Carols: Procession - Hodie Christus Natus Est
Ceremony Of Carols: Wolcum Yole!
Ceremony Of Carols: There Is No Rose
Ceremony Of Carols: That Yonge Child
Ceremony Of Carols: Balulalow
Ceremony Of Carols: As Dew In Aprille
Ceremony Of Carols: This Little Babe
Interlude (Harp Solo)
Ceremony Of Carols: In Freezing Winter Night
Ceremony Of Carols: Spring Carol
Ceremony Of Carols: Deo Gracias
Ceremony Of Carols: Recession: Hodie Christus Natus Est

Amazon.com

In this beautifully chosen program of mostly a cappella arrangements, Robert Shaw and the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers deliver the Christmas story in tones of gentle and moving splendor. The carols and sacred settings recorded here are all of an intimate sort, and the rapturous, gently expressive realizations Shaw and his singers give them prove unfailingly appealing. Particularly moving is the newest work on the disc, a setting of "O magnum mysterium" by the American composer Morten Lauridsen. Franz Biebl's "Ave Maria" is another gem, as is the arrangement by Healy Willan of the French carol "What Is This Lovely Fragrance?" The offering includes a pair of chorales from Bach's Christmas Oratorio and two wonderful Christmas works by Benjamin Britten: "A Hymn to the Virgin" and A Ceremony of Carols, both well done, even if the sound of sopranos and altos (rather than boy trebles) in the latter takes some getting used to. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2007-02-16

The music is beautiful of course. The Robert Shaw Chorale is a high quality group of singers, and the arrangements they sing are really nice. Because of the age of the recording today's standards of equpment and tonal quality simply weren't available but the upgrade from analog vinyl was well-done. I shall look for more of these.

Robert Shaw Chorale.......2007-01-10

This is an excellent ablum. The music is lovely and quite varied. While there are many of the familiar favorites, there are also many new and different songs and the whole CD is a delight to listen to.

a perfect Ceremony of Carols!.......2005-12-22

This is the finest recording of Britten's A Ceremony of Carols I've ever come across, and there are plenty of versions to choose from. The King's College Choir rendition suffers from overstuffed acoustics, a constant with that choir, and their recording of Ceremony of Carols falls short in the requisite rhythmic clarity and intensity. The Christ Church, Oxford version is plodding, and lacks sparkle. Harry Christopher's The Sixteen come close, with marvelous sonics and ecstatic diction, but fall apart in the exacting 'This Little Babe' round with uneven cohesion, and strange stressed notes that ruin the waterfall effect so felicitously construed by Britten. I've not heard Britten's own conducted version, but he scrupulously insisted on boy trebles, and it's difficult if not impossible to conjure a more perfect rendering than the one given here by Shaw and his Chamber Singers. 'This Little Babe' is incomparable in each and all of its rapid fire contours, which is no mean feat. Mezzo-soprano Nanette Soles deserves special mention for incandescent singing on 'That Younge Child". The luminous pacing of 'There is no rose of such virtue' is notable, and to his credit Shaw employs the ecclesiastical pronunciation of the various Latin passages, unlike The Sixteen (and most other English choir recordings of this piece) who insist on an idiomatic British pronunciation of Latin, which offers nothing but distraction. Some will prefer boy treble singers, an attractive option, but for high musical values and the art they inevitably enshrine, it's impossible to be disappointed with this profoundly wrought version of Ceremony of Carols. Bach's 'Break Forth, O beauteous heavenly light' is just right, and I'd not heard 'Heavenly Light' by Aleksandr Kopylov; both are favorable additions to an excellent recording. Recommended.

Brilliant compilation.......2005-03-16

This is an absolutely outstanding collection of carols - some of them well-known, some of them obscure. As a choral singer, I've had the pleasure of singing many of these pieces, and I was delighted when I found them all in one place, and done by an ensemble so accomplished as the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers! It just isn't Christmas for me without this recording.

Didn't care for it that much.......2004-12-27

I prefer to hear the voices and the words of the carols, and this one has too much other sound (maybe even the use of massed voices); I have a hard time hearing what they are singing.

Sacred Classics - Messiah, Ave Maria, Pie Jesu, Zadok the Priest, L'enfance du Christ

Average customer rating:

A wonderful and varied compilation of Sacred Choral Works

Sacred Classics - Messiah, Ave Maria, Pie Jesu, Zadok the Priest, L'enfance du Christ
George Frideric Handel , Johann Sebastian Bach , Gabriel Fauré , Antonio Vivaldi , Charles Gounod , Johannes Brahms , Edward Elgar , Gioachino Rossini , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Franz Schubert , Giuseppe Verdi , César Franck , Hector Berlioz , Franz Joseph Haydn , Felix Mendelssohn , Gregorio Allegri , Conservatory Concert Society Orchestra , New Philharmonia Orchestra , Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields , London Philharmonia Orchestra , Halle Orchestra , Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra , Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra , Berlin Symphony Orchestra , Sir Charles Mackerras , Andre Cluytens , Riccardo Muti , David Willcocks , Philip Ledger , and Otto Klemperer
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The #1 Choral Album
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ASIN: B000000UWF
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Tracks:

Hallelujah - Ambrosian Singers
I Know That My Redeemer Liveth - Ambrosian Singers
Pie Jesu - Victoria De Los Angeles
In Excelsis Deo - Teresa Berganza
Jesu Bleibet Meine Freude - Choir Of King's College Cambridge
Ave Maria - Philip Ledger
Zadok The Priest - Coronation Anthem - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
Wie Lieblich Sing Deine Wohnungen - Phiharmonia Chorus
Sanctus Fortis - Richard Lewis
Agnus Dei - Dame Janet Baker
Cujus Animam Gementem - Robert Gambill
Lacrimosa - New Philharmonia Orchestra
Ave Maria - Gerald Moore
Ingemisco - Confutatis - Dies Irae - New Philharmonia Chorus

Tracks:

Panis Angelicus - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Herrscher Des Himmels, Erhore Das Lallen - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
Ouverture - L'Adieu Des Bergers - Choeurs Rene Duclos
Libera Me Domine - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Ave Verum Corpus, K618 - Swedish Radio Chorus
Die HImmel Erzahlen Die Ehre Gottes - Jose Van Dam
Komm, Holder Lenz! - Chor Der Deutschen Oper Berlin
Lord God Of Abraham - New Philharmonia Chorus
And Then Shall Your Light Break Forth - New Philharmonia Chorus
Miserere Mei, Deus - Stephen Cleobury
Erbarme Dich, Sein Gott - Julia Hamari
O Haupt Voll Blut Und Wundern - Julia Hamari
Ich Folge Dir Gleichfalls - Lisa Otto
Ach Herr, Lass Dein Lieb' Engelein - Lisa Otto

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful and varied compilation of Sacred Choral Works.......2001-08-13

This is a 2 CD set and is one of my favorites. While this CD contains several pieces that the general public probably hears often (Handel's Messiah, Bach's Jesu Bleibet mein freund) it also contains some not well known pieces. Of particular quality is the recording of Gregorio Allegri's MISERE MEI DEUS, a piece composed at the end of the Renaissance era. This piece, lasting roughly 13 minutes, is a master stroke of pure choral music. The piece is repetitive but Allegri builds up to a fantastic ending. Also of note is the glorious recording of Mozart's AVE VERUM CORPUS, Hadyn's DIE SCHOPFUNG, and Brahm's EIN DEUTCHES REQUIEM. A MUST for any choral music fan.

Average customer rating:

My favourite collection of sacred music
Battle at her glorious best
The music soars
Heavenly
Goddess in decline

Grace

Manufacturer: Sony
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Kathleen Battle at Carnegie Hall
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So Many Stars

ASIN: B0000029OC
Release Date: 1997-03-18

Tracks:

Rejoice Greatly - Handel
Schlafendes Jesuskind
Laudate Dominum - Mozart
O Had I Jubal's Lyre - Handel
Seufzer, Tranen, Kummer, Not - Bach
Schafe Konnen - Bach
Ave Maria
Laudamus Te - Rossini
Bist Du Bei Mir
Mein Glaubiges Herze - Bach
Pie Jesu
Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?
Flobt, Mein Heiland
Ave Maria

Customer Reviews:

My favourite collection of sacred music.......2006-03-31

For anyone who loves Kathleen Battle's voice, this is a real treasure, she never sounded better and more radiant.
This is a selection of well known sacred songs but they sound fresh and lovely when sung by Kathleen. She performs two Ave Marias, one very famous, by Bach, and another which is rarely performed, written by Mascagni, and this one is really stunning. Mozart's Laudate Dominum and Pie Jesu from Faure's Requiem are also oustanding. The spiritual "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" is another highlight. There are several movements from Bach cantatas, including the famous Bist du bei mir, and Handel's "O Had I Jubal's Lyre" and "Rejoice greatly", they will remind you of how incredible Battle is when she sings virtuosic Baroque music.
And isn't the cover just beautiful? But get this album for the music, and you will rejoice greatly.

Battle at her glorious best.......2005-03-14

While I agree with an earlier reviewer who recommends her Levine disk, I must disagree with the claim that this "Rejoice Greatly" is inferior to her two other recordings of it. Her conception is identical in all three performances, but to my ear this is by far the best. In her full Messiah with Andrew Davis, the recording has her so recessed there is no feeling of intimacy. In her Handel recital disk, she is better placed and in better voice, but her rhythm is insecure in the sixteenth-notes; she seems to be nervously pushing ahead of the beat. But on "Grace" she gets it just right. For whatever it may be worth, a fellow fan once had the chance to ask Battle herself about this, and as I understand it her response was, "Yeah, I don't know why, but I haven't been able to do Rejoice before or since as well as it went on Grace."

The music soars.......2004-07-23

Kathleen Battle's voice is exquisite and is suited for most of the pieces on the CD. Her rendition of Mascagni's Ave Maria is perhaps the best track, with the Schafe Konnen from Bach's Cantata No. 208 coming in a close second. Another highlight is the Laudate Dominum, delivered with so much skill and feeling.

Less successful was Rossini's Laudamus Te. Battle has a flexible, clear and delicate voice, but not one that's full-bodied enough to accommodate the style of music found in a piece as grand and strident as the Laudamus Te. There is a sense of strain when she sings it, though it is by no means entirely unsuccessful.

Heavenly.......2004-07-13

Kathleen Battle is one of the people whose lovely voice first turned me on to opera, a rather unaccessible art to the common American. It is true that you can hear her breathe, and that she tempers her notes so they are sometimes gentle, sometimes strong, but that is not a weakness. The racks are rife with stereotypical fat ladies with fat voices, bellowing with nothing but technique, but there records languish while Kathleen's sell.

The songs are all fairly main stream and include a dramatic range from happy to sad. Nothing outlandish here.

Ms. Battle has been called the most beautiful soprano voice and I would heartily agree. The clarity, the roundness, the beauty of her sound is pure femininity and grace. I studied opera and no one in school or anywhere else, has ever been on her level. Some are close, but she is magnificent. I recommend this to anyone, opera snob or first timer. You will be moved!

Goddess in decline.......2004-01-24

In her late forties when this CD was recorded, Kathleen Battle can't be expected to emit the meltingly beautiful sounds she made during her rise to international stardom in the 1980s. Yet, she still sometimes does. Her final ringing note in Mascagni's "Ave Maria" is nothing short of sublime, and her "Were You There..." is emotionally sung, particularly the repeat of the phrase, "Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?"

But several of the tracks on this CD have been recorded by Kathleen Battle before, and to much better effect. The opening track, "Rejoice Greatly," is impressive, but not compared to Battle's performance on her Handel album with John Nelson in which she sounds much fresher, or to her performance on the complete Messiah recording with Andrew Davis. On Grace, Battle uses the exact same ornamentation she's used on every other one of her renditions of "Rejoice," but without the accuracy and jubilation of past performances. I wonder what the point of recording a third version was, when it has nothing new to offer. The tempo feels rushed, yet the singer drags the ends of phrases ("O daughter of Zion." There's also an "h" in the first occurance of the word "Zion" - it comes out "Zi-huh-yon"). And there are some splat notes that could have been easily fixed with a bit of editing: the word "and" is dreadfully flat in the phrase, "And shout, shout!"

"Jubal's Lyre" was stunning on Kathleen's 1985 recording, "Saltzburg Recital." Grace's rendition again sounds too fast, too thin, and, dare I say, too cutesy (the ornamentation is a bit much). And the word "tuneful" is incomprehensible. Is she saying "Shhteeyoonful" or "tuneful?"

"Bist du bei mir" begins under pitch.

Battle races through Mozart's "Laudate Dominum" and annoyingly scoops many phrases. I wish you would linger, Kathleen! Let us hear you caress that ascending "Amen" instead of carelessly flitting up the scale.

There's also the issue of her gaspy, nearly shrieking breaths, which other reviewers have mentioned. Oddly, it sounds as though the microphone is pressed to her mouth when she breathes, yet that it is miles away when she sings: there is an oddly distant quality to the recording.

Tracks:

Jauchzet, frohlocket! (Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248)
Wie will ich mich freuen (Cantata BWV 146, Wir mussen durch viel Trubasal)
Sleepers, Awake! (Cantata BWV 140, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme)
Concerto and Alleluja (Cantata BWV 142, Uns ist ein Kind geboren)
Three Chorales: Nun lob', mein Seel', den Herrn; Wie schon leuchtet der Morgenstern; In dulci jubilo (Brass only)
In dulci julibo, BWV 129 (Organ solo)
Nun danket Alle Gott (Cantata BWV 79, Gott, der Herr is Sonn' und Schild)
Sinfonia (Cantata BWV 29 Wir danken, dir, Gott, wir danken dir)
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Cantata BWV 147, Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben)
Sinfonia (Easter Oratorio, BWV 249)
Allein Gott in der Hoh' sei Ehr', BWV 664 (Organ solo)
Three Chorales: Allein Gott in der Hoh' sei Ehr', Christ lag in Todesbanden, O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden (Brass only)
Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten (Cantata BWV 78, Jesu, der du meine Seele)
Shee May Safely Graze (Cantata BWV 208, Was mir behagt)
Wir glauben all' in einem Gott, BWV 680 (Organ solo)
A Mighty Fortress is Our God (Cantata BWV 80, Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott)

Customer Reviews:

Truly a Festival for the Ears, Hearts, and Soul!.......2007-01-04

I spent a looooooooong time hunting the "perfect" recordings of "Jesu..." and "Sinfonia" for our wedding. I knew just what I wanted but I had NO IDEA there were so many different (and substandard!) versions of these songs available. THIS one was EXACTLY it. The horns are simply fantastic. If you're a musician, you'll love it.

So You Thought Bach Couldn't Dance!.......2005-12-20

This recording is almost certainly the same as the one listed as Angel 47395, with the same title. Along with several others, I reviewed that CD, and for your convenience I echo my remarks below:

If you think of Bach as a dry-as-dust, longhair composer you should stay away from this album, for it will prove you wrong, time and time and time again. On the contrary, this is one of the most exciting recordings around, featuring matchless performances by the superlative Empire Brass (my favorite brass group) and the talented Douglas Major playing the great Aeolian-Skinner organ of the Washington Cathedral (in D.C.) in some of the best-loved works of the old master, Johann Sebastian Bach.

But unfortunately this disk seems not to be in EMI's (Angel's) current catalog, so if you want to enjoy it, you'll probably have to try to track down a used copy. If you like Bach and brass and organ as much as I, you'll find it worth the effort. And we may hope that it will be reissued again soon.

In general, the music here is lively, tuneful, and joyous in character, starting from the very first selection, a fully satisfying transcription of the well-known "Jauchzet, frohlocket" (Exult, rejoice) from the Christmas Oratorio. But there are a few more somber pieces, such as the chorales "Christ lag in Todesbanden," (Christ lay in the bonds of death) and "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden," (O bloody and wounded head).

The music features basically three kind of excerpts from Bach's cantatas: choral preludes, chorales, and sinfonia. The choral preludes were written as organ introductions to the sung chorales (here "sung" by the brass quintet alone); the sinfonias were instrumental interludes in the cantatas. Most of the choral preludes here are played by the brass with the organ, though there are a few played by the organ alone. This combination of performances by the brass alone, the organ alone, and the two together offers delicious variety.

As a glance at the program will show, most of the big favorites in this genre are included, the best known being titled in English, as "Sleepers, Wake," "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," and "Sheep May Safely Graze." The others are titled in Latin ("In Dulci Jubilo") or, mostly, German ("Nun danket Alle Gott," [Now let all thank God], "Wie schn leuchtet der Morgenstern," [How beautifully the morning star shines], and "Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten" [We hasten with feeble, but eager footsteps].

It is the last-mentioned piece that suggested the title of this review, for in interpreting the text Bach and the performing artists give us such a rhythmic and lively bit of music that I find it hard to sit still while listening. This piece rocks!

The recording is excellent in all respects: the balance between organ and brass is right, the sound quality is all you could want, and the acoustics of the Washington Cathedral provide about the right amount of reverberation. (You will, by the way, hear the brass players taking breaths at several points, especially in the chorales.

The sound of the Empire Brass seems uniquely fine to me; though there are several other excellent brass groups around, this one I can usually recognize almost immediately because of the quality of their sound. And the 10,650-pipe cathedral organ presents under Douglas Major's fingers all you could wish for.

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