Música Iberoamericana [Import]

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 2 ("Sinfonía india")
Composed by Carlos Chavez
Performed by Spanish National Radio Orchestra
Conducted by Enrique Garcia Asensio

2. Concerto for violin & orchestra
Composed by Rodolfo Halffter
Performed by Spanish National Radio Orchestra
Conducted by Enrique Garcia Asensio

3. Estancia, ballet, Op. 8
Composed by Alberto Ginastera
Performed by Spanish National Radio Orchestra
Conducted by Enrique Garcia Asensio

4. Chôros No. 10, for chorus & orchestra, "Rasga o Coraçao" (also ballet, "Jurapary"), A. 209
Composed by Heitor Villa-Lobos
Performed by Spanish National Radio Orchestra
Conducted by Enrique Garcia Asensio

Tracks:

Sayuri's Theme
The Journey To The Hanamachi
Going To School
Brush On Silk
Chiyo's Prayer
Becoming A Geisha
Finding Satsu
The Chairman's Waltz
The Rooftops Of The Hanamachi
The Garden Meeting
Dr. Crab's Prize
Destiny's Path
A New Name... A New Life
The Fire Scene And The Coming of War- John Williams
As The Water...
Confluence
A Dream Discarded
Sayuri's Theme And End Credits

Amazon.com

Director Rob Marshall hired three of Asia's most fabulous stars (Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh, and Gong Li) for this Japan-set movie, so one wonders why he didn't put in a call to a local composer as well. Was Tan Dun's line busy? Was Joe Hisaishi otherwise engaged? In any case, John Williams won the assignment, and he didn't end up with egg on his face. Mercifully, Williams left the bombast at home and put cellist Yo-Yo Ma and violinist Itzhak Perlman to good use in this sensitive score. The lovely "Sayuri's Theme" resurfaces at regular intervals, and it's good to hear Williams keep his showier instincts in check through a good chunk of the movie, as he delivers a more subdued sound. One of the most dramatic moments happens during "The Fire Scene and the Coming of War." By then Williams has basically reverted to the familiar, brooding mode he uses for ominous scenes, when suddenly the track integrates an excerpt from "The Folding Fan as a Target," a traditional piece for voice and the Japanese lute known as biwa. Though Williams is right to err on the side of low key, it would have been nice to get more of these stark sounds in his competent but ultimately unmemorable compositions. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful !.......2007-06-08

I loved the movie. I also ordered the book to read. And now I've got the music. There is not a track that I don't just love. This is my most listened to CD of late ! If you loved the movie this is a must have !!!

GREAT PRODUCT.......2007-04-07

the product was purchased in a 5 minute easy step process. The CD has come in an immaculate packing.

In INdia this soundtrack was a little difficult to source. Not surpisingly, Amazon had it.

Thank you Amazon. The product is great.

great soundtrack.......2007-04-04

a great soundtrack to a great movie. the string solos (violin, cello, etc.) were especially great...too bad they didn't have more wind solos! but either way, sounds awesome and beautiful melodies. you can't get tired of this soundtrack

Memoirs of a geisha.......2007-02-20

there are some hauntingly beautiful melodies and some which are not. I like to listen on my PC where it is easy to select the tracks I prefer; but, the entire cd is not very nice. If one recalls the movie, the are some music passages which fit the movie, but by themselves are not particularly pleasant

Memoirs of a Geisha.......2007-01-21

Excellent music to accompany the film, takes you there without seeing the film , this is such a beautiful film as well and music excellent

Average customer rating:

Marvelous
Pretty Good
the music
Good incidental music but not great listening music - except the classical pieces
Great classical music accompanies bland original score

Master and Commander
Christopher Gordon , and Richard Tognetti
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Musical Evenings With The Captain
Musical Evenings With The Captain, Vol. 2
Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World (Widescreen Edition)
Musical Evenings in the Captain's Cabin
A Sea of Words, Third Edition: A Lexicon and Companion to the Complete Seafaring Tales of Patrick O'Brian

ASIN: B0000DG07D
Release Date: 2003-11-11

Tracks:

The Far Side Of The World
Into The Fog
Violin Concerto No. 3 'Straussburg' K.215, 3rd Movement
The Cuckold Came Out Of The Amery (Traditional) 5. Smoke N' Oakum
Fantasia On A Theme - Barry Wordsworth 7. Adagio From Concerto Grosso Op. 6. No. 8 In G Minor Christmas Concerto - Arcangelo Corelli Listen Listen Listen
The Doldrums
Prelude (From The Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1 In G Major, BWV 1007 - Yo-Yo Ma
The Galapagos Listen Listen Listen
Folk Medley: O'Sullivan's March/Cuckold Came Out Of The Amery/Mother Hen/Mary Scott/Nancy Dawson - Jim Walker
The Phasmid
The Battle
Boccherini La Musica Notturna Delle Strade Di Madrid No. 6, Op. 30
Full Circle

Product Description

A trio of noted Australian musicians--Iva Davies, Richard Tognetti and Christopher Gordon--composed the film's score. They previously collaborated on "The Ghost of Time," a piece commissioned for the Millennium celebrations in Sydney, which came to the attention of Peter Weir. The director was so impressed, he played the piece on the Master And Commander set throughout production, and he asked its creators to write the music for his movie. The score interweaves "Old World" and "New World" music, reflecting the talents and backgrounds of its composers. Iva Davies hails from both pop and classical traditions; Richard Tognetti, one of the world's great violin virtuosos, taught Russell Crowe the ins and outs of the instrument; and film/television composer Christopher Gordon brought orchestral texture to the project. Given the period, it comes as no surprise that the score is infused with source music from Bach (Cello Suite) and Mozart, among other great classical composers. Percussion dominates portions of the score. "Drums signal the forward movement of the ship," says Davies, "that it's on a mission. It brings you back into the action." The score's biggest surprise comes with its use of synthesizers. "Peter doesn't make films in the expected way," says Davies, "and for that reason we wanted the score to be not what everyone expected. Peter wanted some scenes to have what I call a kind of 'futuristic' sense"--conveying the idea that these 19th century sailors were cutting-edge explorers.

Customer Reviews:

Marvelous.......2007-02-12

A marvelous collection of compositions which greatly enhanced this fantastic film. This CD is marvelous on its own. It did not leave my CD player for weeks.

Pretty Good.......2006-12-14

I purchased this soundtrack because I really enjoyed this music while watching the movie. But I was a little disappointed at the CD. Some soundtracks allow you to follow the entire plot like through the music (such as the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack). But this CD doesn't provide that. Several of the songs are recurring in the film but are only played once in the soundtrack. I would have liked the soundtrack to reflect the music for the whole film rather than just excerpts.

I give the music 5 stars and the CD 2-1/2 stars.

the music .......2006-11-10

The music is excellent . Flows well Better than the movie score

Good incidental music but not great listening music - except the classical pieces.......2006-11-09

The soundtrack for Master and Commander contains two distinct types of music. First there is the incidental music for the film. These pieces are heavy on the bass side of the orchestra and are often emphasized with bass drums and tympani. This music is very effective and appropriate for the scenes in the film, and I commend the composers for making a soundtrack that so seemlessly and effortlessly invokes the moods and excitement of the visuals. Unfortunately, these pieces are quite moody and slow moving - great as incidental music but not so interesting to listen to as straight orchestral music.

The second type of music is much more enjoyable to listen to. Those that have seen the film know there are several scenes in which people are playing music - for example, Aubrey and Maturin in the captain's cabin performing a cello-violin duet, or the sailors on deck playing sea shanties on tin whistles. The pieces chosen for the film range from Bach to traditional folk music, and are a welcome addition to the soundtrack. The performances are very good (including a cello solo by Yo Yo Ma), and the recording quality is excellent. Deserving special mention is the Boccherini piece (La Musica Notturna Delle Strada di Madrid), which serves as a second unofficial theme song for the movie. The piece itself is presented in its entirety, and there is a callback to the piece in the incidental music as well, which is a welcome ray of levity in an otherwise oppressive piece.

People purchasing this disc run the real risk of being disappointed - the incidental music works so well in the context of the film that you are likely to think (as I did) that the music is itself worth listening to alone. Unfortunately, I don't find this is the case, but the classical music that is included makes this a soundtrack worth having, especially for the Boccherini piece.

Great classical music accompanies bland original score.......2006-09-27

The original music to this film is dull, repetitive, and only offers the hint of good music at certain points during it's lengthy tracks. But what about all the good music you heard in the film? That was all classical music, which was used in the film incredibly well. There are three tracks in particular that save this album. The piece by Corelli is used as something the captain and doctor play together. It is one of the most beautiful pieces of baroque music of which I am aware. A second piece, Vaughn Williams "Fantasia" is the piece heard when the crewmen have to cut the line that might save their friend who fell overboard. It's a tragic scene and accompanied perfectly by the heart-breakingly glorious piece. The original piece of music is quite a bit longer than the version on the CD, but the original version also tends to drag a little in places. All the best parts are on the version of the piece in the film. The third classical piece from the album that saves it is the cello solo by Bach that plays as a theme for the galapagos islands. This solo is performed perfectly by Yo Yo Ma. These tracks make the album worth purchasing. If you already have them, avoid the album because the rest is not very enjoyable. If you wonder about this one, watch the film and listen for the music. It speaks well for itself in the film.

Lauridsen: Lux Aeterna, etc. / Salamunovich, Los Angeles Master Chorale

Average customer rating:

Review of Lauridsen: Lux Aeterna/Salamunovich, Los Angeles Master Chorale
So beautiful that it hurts.
Excellent
Great CD
Glorious, but not Perfection

Lauridsen: Lux Aeterna, etc. / Salamunovich, Los Angeles Master Chorale
M. Lauridsen
Manufacturer: Rubeda Canis Musica
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Eric Whitacre: The Complete A Cappella Works, 1991-2001
Morten Lauridsen: Lux aeterna
O Magnum Mysterium
Eric Whitacre: Cloudburst and other choral works
Lauridsen: Northwest Journey

ASIN: B000006OF1
Release Date: 1998-05-19

Tracks:

Introitus - Lux Aeterna
In Te, Domine, Speravi - Lux Aeterna
O Nata Lux - Lux Aeterna
Veni, Sancte Spiritus - Lux Aeterna
Agnus Dei - Lus Aeterna - Lux Aeterna
En Une Seule Fleur - Les Chansons Des Roses
Contre Qui, Rose - Les Chansons Des Roses
De Ton Reve Trop Plein - Les Chansons Des Roses
La Rose Complete - Les Chansons Des Roses
Dirait - On - Les Chansons Des Roses
Ave Maria - Ave Maria
MID WINTER SONGS: Lament For Pasiphae - M. LAURIDSEN
MID WINTER SONGS: Like Snow - M. LAURIDSEN
MID WINTER SONGS: She Tells Her Love While Half Asleep - M. LAURIDSEN
MID WINTER SONGS: Mid-Winter Waking - M. LAURIDSEN
MID WINTER SONGS: Intercession In Late October - M. LAURIDSEN
O Magnum Mysterium - O Magnum Mysterium

Amazon.com

Modern choral music for amateur singers may be America's biggest musical underground. That's the only explanation of why Grammy-nominated composer Morten Lauridsen can claim that his works are some of the most often-performed new pieces in years, although few among the East Coast intelligentsia have ever heard of him. Like the similarly popular John Rutter, Lauridsen inhabits an extremely conservative style directed simply and single-mindedly at showing off the beauty of choral singing while it illustrates inspiring texts. Unlike many of his fellow neo-Romantic conservatives, Lauridsen displays a brand of conservatism that is completely convincing and sincere. His music also has range, from the spellbindingly rapturous Lux aeterna to his playful settings of Rilke's poems about the beauty and thorniness of roses in Les chansons des roses. There is, moreover, a Coplandesque streak heard in his Mid-Winter Songs, which are settings of poems by Robert Graves. Though the Los Angeles Master Chorale has a suitably red-blooded sound, the music would be better served with more precise diction. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

Review of Lauridsen: Lux Aeterna/Salamunovich, Los Angeles Master Chorale.......2007-05-13

This is a fabulous CD! I have sung at least one of the compositions on the CD in a choral society to which I belong. I am also familiar with the composer and love his music. The Los Angeles Master Chorale is a wonderful music group!

So beautiful that it hurts........2007-04-27

Two days ago I had never heard of Morten Lauridsen (shame on me). Our local PBS station (WITF in Harrisburg, PA) opened its morning show a few days ago at 9 AM with his lovely "Sure on This Shining Night," a segment of a poem by James Agee. I could not work for an hour after hearing it. Students entered my office and left quickly at the sight of my dazed look. I immediately purchased three recordings, and this one, "Lux Aeterna," is my favorite. The music is so beautiful that it hurts.

Buy this album now. The music is truly exquisite. The performance is outstanding. The CD is a masterpiece. After one hearing of Lauridsen's "Lux Aeterna," I tell you the truth: I could not sleep the entire night. The music was with me all night, and it continues to resonate through my soul.

Excellent.......2007-04-06

Excellent recording - Lauridsen music represents the best choral composers of this age. This CD captures as many of his best compositions as one can expect - Great buy.

Great CD.......2007-02-17

I purchased this CD a couple of years ago when my daughter was working up a couple of Lauridsen works for an audition recording she was doing for her college application (she got in). Besides the sentimental association with that time, this CD has remained a treasured part of out listening library. These are truly 20th century masterpieces of choral music. The recording is among the very best of any type that I have heard. Even if you don't normally like choral music this is a CD to treasure.

Glorious, but not Perfection.......2007-01-20

Morten Lauridsen has a style as distinctively recognizable as Mozart or Beethoven--if you have heard or sung a few of his works, an unfamiliar title will still sound like an old friend. I have to admit I love the aural world which Lauridsen creates.

This recording displays Lauridsen at his best--the long-standing working relationship between the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the composer give these performances an authority and credibility which would be the envy of any group. The Chorale voices display a depth and maturity (particularly in the Bass and Alto sections) which I miss in college choirs, yet the control is perfect.

The works are recorded in the Sacred Heart Chapel of Loyola Marymount University--a very live acoustic, which contributes to the wonderful sense of blend and sonic depth in these pieces. This sonorous glory does have a price, however. The wonderful texts are quite frequently muddled a bit. The enunciation and diction are not as clear on this recording as one might have expected from this group. That is a small cavil, however--intonation and interpretation are flawless.

Buy this, put it in your CD player, turn it up, and enjoy it. If you love choral music, you need to own this disc.

The Mozart Effect - Music for Babies - Playtime to Sleepytime

Average customer rating:

Nice....
still great 6 years later
A wonderful CD
Works as advertised-
Works Like A Charm

The Mozart Effect - Music for Babies - Playtime to Sleepytime

Manufacturer: Children's Group
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Mozart Effect: Music For Babies: Nighty Night
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ASIN: B00000DA1O
Release Date: 1998-10-13

Tracks:

Toy Symphony II - Janos Sebestyen
Excerpts From 12 Variation Oh Ah Vous Dirai-Je Maman K.265 - Janos Sebestyen
Toy Symphony III, Minuet - Ensemble Villa Musica
Flute Quartet In C Major, K.171: Andantino - Ensemble Villa Musica
Rondo-Allegro Ma Non Troppe From Serenade No. 9 In D Major, K.320 - Mozart
Flute Quartet In C Major K.171: Andantino - Ensemble Villa Musica
Symphony No. 25 In G Minor, K.183 II: Andante - Capella Istropolitana
Organ Music Variation On K.265 Ah Vous Dirai-Je, Maman - Janos Sebestyen
Adagio (III) From Quartet No. 20 In D Major K.499 'Hoffmeister' - Eder Quartet

Product Description

The Mozart Effect - Music For Babies - Playtime To Sleepytime Cd

Customer Reviews:

Nice...........2006-11-10

My baby boy just like it..... and my wife is enjoying it toooo.... It is a very soothing CD to listen to. It is definitely worth the $$...

still great 6 years later.......2005-03-02

I bought the "Mozart Effect" CD and a few other classical CD's; Bach and another Mozart after my daughter was born in late 1998. We had a difficult time getting her to sleep at night and decided to try playing music to soothe her. The "Mozart Effect" CD worked every time. As soon as she heard the Toy Symphony play she would relax and just listen to the music until she fell asleep. It's been more than a year since we played the CD, and recently when she was ill, she asked to listen to "her music". It still has the same calming effect. Regardless of the controversy surrounding Mozart's ability to make babies more intelligent, I think this music is very comforting and enjoyable.

A wonderful CD.......2003-06-01

I received several classical music CD's as gifts before my daughter was born, and out of all of them (also including classical CD's I had already owned) this is definitely my favorite. It stands out because it is not full of simply "traditional" arrangements but rather is very light and playful - there are all sorts of cute little chirping and whirring noises that add to it as well. It is just a lot of fun, and provides the perfect background for cuddling with your new little one.

There is one comment below from someone who thought the music was too simple and was of poor quality. I would agree that the music is very simple (not a bad thing), but disagree with the notion that it is poor quality. Anyway, this should be just one CD in a library of different types of music, classical and other, to help your child's music appreciation develop. If it happens to expand other developmental skills as well, even better!

Works as advertised-.......2003-05-23

The Mozart Effect - Music for Babies is a pretty good disc. Admittedly not the best Mozart recordings around, but then my child is not exactly picky. I prefer Genie's Angels All Around as a lullaby CD but either The Mozart Effect or Angels All Around would make excellent baby shower gifts.

Works Like A Charm.......2003-04-03

This is a must have for all infants and a terrific baby shower gift. My son is 14 months old and he has been listening to this CD for about 10 months. It has a TERRIFIC soothing effect on him. I think Mozart has become a musical comfort object for him, much like his soft blankie has become a comfort object. If he is cranky in the car and trying to unwind for a nap, I pop this CD in and he is automatically soothed. It's like magic.

Tracks:

Sakura, Sakura
Chin-Chin-Chidori
Yamanakabushi
Toryanse (Children's Song)
Chidori No Kyoku
Defune
Oharabushi
Shimabara No Komoriuta
Imayoh
Imayo
Chugoko-Chino-No-Komoriuta
Jogashima No Ame
Haru No Umi
Sakura, Sakura

Customer Reviews:

Perfect background.......2007-04-02

Not only does the music appeal to dinner, but just sitting and reading or doing a crossword puzzle it allows your mind to relax, just enjoy! All the tracks are pleasant.

Super-relaxing.......2007-03-05

A very good introduction to koto music and a lot less cheesy than the concept would suggest. The first track is by far the best.

One of the Best Japanese Music Album's I've found.......2006-11-04

Beautiful selection of Japanese music. Very calming and soothing music. Mainly slow, but does include some quicker pieces of music. Great variety of instruments used such as flute, violin and harpsichord. CD also includes recipe for a Japanese dinner. Great background music for a dinner party. If you like the Soundtrack to Memoirs of a Geisha, you'll enjoy this.

Softener for the ears..........2006-08-26

I am not satisfied with this version of traditional Japanese music at all. In my opinion traditional Japanese music is much more impressive and intense when played on original Japanese instruments. The best example is "Sakura, sakura", one of the most famous Japanese songs. When it is played on Koto and Shakuhachi (Japanese flute) instead of transverse flute it has a different feel and much better quality of expression.

The whole CD is like a softener for an audience which might not be used to a non western sound. At the same time it will get a wrong idea about what Japanese music is and will miss its real quality.

Beautiful and Relaxing!.......2005-07-29

A gentle sample of fine, traditional Japanese music at its best. Highly recommended for the novice - "1st timer" - as well as those of more cultured taste. Hauntingly beautiful.

György Ligeti Edition 3: Works for Piano (Etudes, Musica Ricercata) - Pierre-Laurent Aimard

Average customer rating:

A nice mico-view of Ligeti's work
Very Nice Piano Studies. Not the best Ligeti
Perfect Ligeti.
good cd
Ligeti on cd, hooray

György Ligeti Edition 3: Works for Piano (Etudes, Musica Ricercata) - Pierre-Laurent Aimard

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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György Ligeti Edition 1: String Quartets and Duets - Arditti String Quartet
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Ligeti: Mechanical Music
The Ligeti Project II: Lontano / Atmosphères / Apparitions / San Francisco Polyphony / Concert Românesc - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Jonathan Nott

ASIN: B0000029P0
Release Date: 1997-01-21

Tracks:

Piano Etudes (Book One): I. De'sordre - Molto vivace, vigoroso, molto ritmico
Piano Etudes (Book One): II. Cordes a' vide - Andantino con moto, molto tenero
Piano Etudes (Book One): II. Touches bloque'es - Presto possibile, sempre molto ritmico
Piano Etudes (Book One): IV. Fanfares - Vivacissimo molto ritmico, con allegria e slancio
Piano Etudes (Book One): V. Arc-en-ciel - Andante molto rubato, con eleganza, with swing
Piano Etudes (Book One): VI. Automne a' Varsovie - Presto cantabile, molto ritmico e flessibile
Piano Etudes (Book Two): VII. Galamb borong - Vivacissimo luminoso, legato possibile
Piano Etudes (Book Two): VIII. Fe'm - Vivace risoluto, con vigore
Piano Etudes (Book Two): IX. Vertige - Prestissimo sempre molto legato, sehr gleichmassig
Piano Etudes (Book Two): X. Der Zauberlehrling - Prestissimo, staccatissimo, leggierissimo
Piano Etudes (Book Two): XI. En suspens - Andante con moto, (avec l`e'le'gance du swing)
Piano Etudes (Book Two): XII. Entrelacs - Vivacissimo molto ritmico, sempre legato, con delicatezza
Piano Etudes (Book Two): XIII. L'escalier du diable - Presto legato ma leggiero
Piano Etudes (Book Two): XIV. Coloana infinita' - Presto possibile, tempestoso con fuoco
Musica ricercata: I. Sosenuto - Misurato - Prestissimo
Musica ricercata: II. Mesto, rigido e cerimoniale
Musica ricercata: III. Allegro con spirito
Musica ricercata: IV. Tempo de Valse (poco vivace - a' l'orgue de Barbarie)
Musica ricercata: V. Rubato. Lamentoso
Musica ricercata: VI. Allegro molto capriccioso
Musica ricercata: VII. Cantabile, molto legato
Musica ricercata: VIII. Vivace. Energico
Musica ricercata: IX. Adagio. Mesto - Allegro maestoso
Musica ricercata: X. Vivace. Capriccioso
Musica ricercata: XI. Andante misurato e tranquillo
Piano Etudes (From Book Three): XV. White on White

Customer Reviews:

A nice mico-view of Ligeti's work.......2007-03-11

In the notes that accompany this CD, Ligeti explains that his piano compositions are the way he made up for his inadequacies as a player. It's hard to argue that he didn't reach his goal. These superbly-performed pieces provide a clear view of many aspects of Ligeti's work--his humor, his lyricism, his ear, and sometimes his little obsessions.

The most obvious technical requirement of this music is touch. In some of the etudes, complex voicings are required at very low dynamic levels. In others, the ability to bring out multiple voices is paramount. Aimard is perfect. His technique is so assured that we can easily get to the music and not be sidetracked by prowess.

Those who know Ligeti's music know how protean he could be. Like a good athlete, he was willing to take on enormous risks. Sometimes the result felt intellectualized and tiresome. But more often than not, the music soared. This is certainly true of the Etudes on this disk. They are studies in the truest sense of the word--one may focus on a particular set of intervals, another on a texture, yet another on a rhythm. Each one is fascinating and the collection holds together nicely. There are even hints of Nancarrow!

Ligeti himself felt ambiguously about the "Musica Ricercata", and it isn't hard to see why. The first piece is based on only two pitches (with octaves); the second on three and so on. It sort of proves a point, but what point? By the time you get to the fourth piece, it starts to get good, but the listener has to regain some flagging energy. The third piece is actually the basis of the opening of "6 Bagatelles for Wind Quintet".

So while I have little quibbles, I still recommend this disk strongly. It's great music, beautifully played.

Very Nice Piano Studies. Not the best Ligeti.......2006-09-02

Volume 3 of the Gyorgy Ligeti Edition on Sony has gotten a boatload of very positive reviews, above, from people who probably know a lot more about music, especially piano music, than I do, but I maintain, from my position as a rank amateur who just happens to like listening to a wide range of classical music, that this disc is neither the very best piano music nor the most interesting Ligeti.

Don't get me wrong. I think almost all of the studies on these tracks are good, maybe even almost as good as Chopin and Liszt, but I don't think so. We don't hum Ligeti etudes the way some people hum Chopin etudes or dances for piano. And, a few of the passages sound like the scene from 'Ghostbusters' where Bill Murray tickles the very high keys on Sigourny Weaver's piano as they enter her apartment to track down some particularly awesome apparitions of Zuel (sic) and Gozer (sic sic).

If you are looking to touch only the high points of Ligeti's music and don't have the compulsioin to own everything, you can pass on these and not be missing too much of the good stuff. Check out his choral and a capella works for the really hot stuff.

Perfect Ligeti........2005-10-19

The own György Ligeti was asked about who was the pianist more complete in his piano works; he talked about Pierre-Laurent Aimard, whose a close relation with the XXth Century music is very well known (Boulez, Messiaen, Berg, Schönberg, Carter...) all around the world. He talked too about Volker Banfield, who has recorded some of the Etudes for Wergo, but not so good as Aimard recordings, in my opinion.

What we find in this CD, 3rd of an outstanding series, is the technical perfection made piano playing, in the hands of Aimard, who plays absolutely all the notes full of perfection, sense and correction, from the dynamic to the tempo, from the correct attack to the prodigious use of the pedal. If you are used to a romantic piano you can feel this versions a little cold or dry, but this is because Aimard goes directly to the heart of the XXth Century style of piano playing, in the line that comes from Schönberg-Berg-Webern and that goes in a different way of playing than the century before, so you can be lost in some sense about the way he understand the use of the piano, the playing, the technique, the echoes, the silences...

You'll find in this CD the Musica Ricercata, a work from Ligeti's first period, very easy to understand for those who are not used to listen this kind of "modern" music. It has many folk motives, used in a way very close to Bartók's style. One of this pieces (Musica ricercata: II. Mesto, rigido e cerimoniale) was taken by Stanley Kubrick for his last film Eyes Wide Shut, with an outstanding presence in the film associated to the worries and pressure over the main character; Ligeti says about this piece that it was a knife against the stalinist regime because of this style of music, sinister, innovative and forgiven in the communist Europe. The film's version is slower than this by Aimard, more "cinematographic" but slower than the score asks. Aimard's version in this piece and in the full pieces are outstanding.

The rest of the CD it's based on the Etudes, books I & II, both of them complete. Those are pieces much more modern than the Musica Ricercata, some of them, in the words of Ligeti with some links and inspiration on Nancarrow's works. We are listening in this case some of the most complex works for piano written in the XXth Century, and many of them authentic jewels of the genre. The Aimard versions for Sony are the better I know from the French pianist, who have recorded some of them in other CDs, like his great recording from de Carnagie Hall (Warner), but not so good like this outstanding CD.

So, if you are looking for perfection in Ligeti's piano music performances don't doubt about this CD; if you want to discover the piano of the XXth Century this could be a great door to go into, because of the music, because of the performing and because of a perfect recording and booklet.

good cd.......2005-08-23

This is a great cd if you are interested in piano music. I personally enjoyed "Mesto, rigido e cerimoniale", which was most famously used in the Kubrick film, Eyes Wide Shut. The rest of the cd is very enjoyable as well.

Ligeti on cd, hooray.......2005-08-01

We all owe Stanley Kubrick a big debt of gratitude for exposing us to Ligeti who, with Cage and Stockhausen among others, influenced the evolution of popular music while maintaining a continuum to our classical past.

The recording quality in this series is outstanding, and it is a delight to see the breadth of this series. Having many works of Ligeti from the Wergo vinyl catalog of the 70's, I selected the piano works for the fun of discovery.

Those of you who enjoy this piano stuff should try to find Nina Deutsch's recording of Charles Ives: Solo Piano Music.

Average customer rating:

A great introduction to Baroque music...
Good "best of" CD, but nothing more.
Phenomenal Collection of Music
Phenomenal Collection of Music
DEFINES "CLASSIC"

Pachelbel Canon and Other Baroque Hits

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Only Classical CD You'll Ever Need!
Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: The Ultimate Canon
Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: Canon in D
Mozart: Greatest Hits
Beethoven: Greatest Hits

ASIN: B000003F5Y
Release Date: 1991-09-06

Tracks:

Canon
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3: Allegro
Messiah: Overture
The Four Seasons: Spring: Allegro (Danza pastorale)
Orchestral Suite No. 2: Menuet & Badinerie
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Guitar Concerto in D: Adagio
Xerxes: Largo
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2: Allegro Assai (Theme From 'Firing Line')
Orchestral Suite No. 3: Air On The G String
Royal Fireworks Music: Overture (excerpt)
Water Music: Hornpipe
Brandenberg Concerto No. 5: Allegro
Adagio
The Four Seasons: Winter: Allegro non molto
Rondeau (Theme from 'Masterpiece Theatre')

Customer Reviews:

A great introduction to Baroque music..........2005-10-04

This CD contains a great sampling of Baroque music. Some of the best known songs of the period are included. Listeners will likely instantly recognize many of the songs (you've likely heard them before, you just didn't know their names). An excellent rendition of Pachelbel's Canon starts off the CD. Then plenty of music from big names such as Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi fill out the disc's 72 and a half minutes of music.

The demographics of this disc point to an intended mainstream audience. For example, the track listing includes references to which songs served as themes for television shows. For example, Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 includes the byline "Theme from 'Firing Line'" and Mouret's Rondeau says "Theme from 'Masterpiece Theater'". So this collection does represent a popular collection of Baroque songs. And it plays that role very well.

Other standout tracks include: 2 movements from Vivaldi's justifiably famous "The Four Seasons", Bach's amazing "Air on the G String" and Handel's "Xerxes". The disc includes no vocal tracks. "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" from Bach's Cantata No. 147 gets performed on a solo organ (the original has vocals and a string arrangement). So those uneasy with "classical style singing" will find no problems here.

All in all, this disc serves as a good introduction to a great period of music history. It could also serve as a starting point for selecting a favorite composer or as a guide for building a classical music collection.

Good "best of" CD, but nothing more........2001-09-27

This CD does what it says it does: it gives you a brief, excellently recorded overview of the Baroque. But remember, this is just bits and pieces of a great store of music.

This CD will whet your appetite. You'll need to buy more, after you've heard the excerts of the great works here.

Phenomenal Collection of Music.......2001-09-19

Pachelbel's Canon in D is always good but the rest of the tracks shine as well. This is a superb collection of classical music. If you're new to classical music and love strings, purchase this CD. You'll be glad that you did.

Phenomenal Collection of Music.......2001-09-18

Pachelbel's Canon in D is always good, but the rest of the tracks shine as well. This is a superb collection of classical music. If you're new to classical music and love strings, purchase this CD. You'll be glad that you did.

DEFINES "CLASSIC".......2000-05-26

We have all heard the infinitely moving Canon in D by Pachelbel hundreds of times - it is not surprising that it has appeared, in one form or another, in commercials, films (most notably Ordinary People, which used the main theme as the underscoring for the entire film) - it is perfect, simple and incredibly, undeniably moving. But you are in for more treats on this basic Baroque sampler, which features many popular themes you may know, despite the fact that you may not be a hard-core classical music buff. The joy of each and every one of these cuts lies in their simple, enduring melodies and the gorgeous musical settings provided here. They sound fresh, new and as contemporary as anything you might hear on the radio. This album has a holiday after-effect as well; the fanfares, hymns and exciting instrumentation (horns, harps, strings galore) make you feel as if it is Christmas every day.

Music For The Mozart Effect, Volume 2, Heal the Body

Average customer rating:

one 3rd of the greatest album of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Music for concentration and focus
good news, bad news

Music For The Mozart Effect, Volume 2, Heal the Body

Manufacturer: Spring Hill
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Music For The Mozart Effect, Volume 1, Strengthen the Mind
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The Mozart Effect: Tapping the Power of Music to Heal the Body, Strengthen the Mind, and Unlock the Creative Spirit

ASIN: B000006Q4E
Release Date: 1998-04-28

Tracks:

Piano Concerto #21 In C Major, K 467: Andate
String Quartet #16 In Eb Major, K 428: Andate con moto
Concerto For Flute And Harp In C Major, K 299: Andantino From The Concerto For Flute And Harp In C Major, K 299
Flute Quartet In D Major, K 285: Adagio From The Flute Quartet In D Major, K 285
Violin Sonata In C Major, K 296: Andante sostenuto From The Violin Sonata In C Major, K 296
Piano Concerto #20 In D Minor, K 466: Romance
Clarinet Quintet In A Major, K 581: Larghetto From The Clarinet Quintet In A Major, K 581
'Posthorn' Serenade #9 In D Major, K.320: Concertante- Andante grazioso
Andante In C For Flute, K 315
Divertimento In D Major, K 205: Adagio
Sonate #1 For Organ And Orchestra In Eb Major, K 67

Customer Reviews:

one 3rd of the greatest album of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2005-08-18

this is the 1st ever musical geniuses slow collection.it was designed by a scientist who recognized musics power on the mind and harnessed it.this album has been proven to stimulate the same part of the brain that relaxes you.or for you brainy types,it gets your dopamine flowing.then theres the fact that this music is like pure ear sweetness.it will send all your nuerons off to dreamland and you will feel a dramatic physical change.my favorite song on this one is the violin concerto.extremely relaxing and great for the soul.everybody with anything from a cramp to cancer should put this one on.besides all that,its exquisitely beautiful youll fall instantly in love!an abselute tresure and blessing to music and the world!

Music for concentration and focus.......2001-05-14

I first read the research on the positive effects of classical music at 60 beats per minute many years ago. With no commercial options available then, I made my own tape from excerpts of world class recordings I own, largely of Mozart. I rarely tolerate background music while I work because it distracts and diffuses focus. The slow Mozart movements have an astonishingly opposite and positive effect, enhancing concentration and mental clarity. For listening pleasure, I prefer the complete works with all movements, as a prior reviewer noted. However, for calmed focus and concentration, by removing the alternate movements this recording serves that purpose with excellence.

There is sufficient variety to avoid monotony, and while the musicianship will not garner critical acclaim it is competent and acceptable for the purpose of this recording. I enjoy it immensely. It is one of the rare pieces I will play in the background while doing work that requires serious focus.

good news, bad news.......2000-07-23

Good news: contains famous works of Mozart for a very small cost. The music is eloquent and perhaps stimulates the brain with the Mozart effect. It is definitly good to listen while commuting and stuck an a traffic jam.

Bad news: These music are so well known that to many, it feels redundant. These are not world-class performers or conductors, so the music doesn't have a new intereptation or anything out of the ordinary. Also, I tend to like to have the entire three (or four) movements of the song, not just one movement. And practically all of these songs are the slow movement so it gets redundant.

Tracks:

Amore E Musica
Magia Sara
You Raise Me Up
Il Gladiatore
L' Te Vurria Vasa
I Believe
La Fiamma Sacra
You'll Still Be There For Me
The Alchemist
Pray For The Love
C'E Sempre Musica
I'll Walk With God
We Will Stand Together

Amazon.com

Russell Watson's Amore Musica is his first since recent throat surgery--and his fans need not worry. While his sound remains somewhat manufactured (the engineers deserve credit for equalizing his tone), he knows how to put across a heart-rending melody whether he's crooning ("cooing" would not be an inappropriate word either) or using a darker, fuller tone. The inspirational "You Raise Me Up" contains great examples of both. He's backed by a chorus in a song made up of a medley of tunes from the film Gladiator. Lara Fabian joins him in a duet called "The Alchemist." He wrings every bit of emotion out of "I'll Walk with God" from The Student Prince. A tune based on Elgar's "Nimrod" sits very high, and Watson occasionally sounds as if he's shouting. Purists might argue with the many breaks in his voice between registers, while his fans love precisely these tics, but by now those who love him will know that they want this CD and will not be disappointed. Opera lovers--or even Bocelli fans--need not apply. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Very Nice.......2007-03-25

He appears to have lost the sound and confidence of invincibility that was apparent in his previous works. The feeling that he could hit any note and nail it with attitude and aplomb is no longer there. It's a subtle loss. The album also appears to have been made by different producers, musicians, and audio technicians. The accompaniments dont have the grandeur and fullness of past albums. It also sounds like he's using a different mic/pre-amp set-up and effects unit to record his vocals in the studio. This results in a voice devoid of the typical sheen, fullness, spatiality, and "airy-ness" we grew used to hearing from him. I think it has little to do with his voice surgery since in his most recent album "That's Life", the vocal tone exhibited from his first two albums has returned.

Not Quite the Same.......2006-10-11

I am a strong fan of Watson and have all of his CDs but I was somewhat disappointed in this latest one. While I still enjoyed listening to it, it seemed to me that his voice was not as strong as before--perhaps because of the surgery. I was also not as impressed with his choice of selections as on his previous CDs. I very much liked the mix of songs previously--both opera and popular. This group of songs seemed bland by comparison although they were all very pleasant. I hope his next album will be more like the earlier ones because on those he exhibited a truly powerful and beautiful voice.

Russell Watson - Amore Musica.......2006-03-23

Softer than his work before the surgery but every bit as enjoyable.

It's more than good - it's breathtaking!.......2006-03-22

I think I've seen Russell Watson just about everywhere. He does indeed have one of the most beautiful voices in the world. However, over saturation made me wonder if he had staying power.

Oddly enough, until now, I've never bought one of his CD's.

Today I came across "Amore e Musica"-, bought "I Believe" and it got hold of me. Thus, I bought the entire project.

There are some remarkable choices made on this project, as well as sequencing that is nailed tight. If you know music, no matter what you record, sequencing is everything.

Not only has Russell Watson's voice and phrasing matured for the better, but with this project, he will make you cry. That doesn't happen to me unless I'm listening to someone who has that something extra others don't have - and Russell Watson has it all.

I don't think it's important to have a so-called "hit single" on a project to sell units - as long as the overall project is good. The public will always be there for you as long as it comes from a place of integrity, and as long as you listen to your heart.

Finally, as a former classically trained vocalist, I know how frightening it is to sing nearly 365 days a year. It's only flesh, not a machine.

Here's hoping they give Russell time to rest when he needs it to save that gorgeous voice.

He's won another fan in me with "Amore e Musica."

The entire CD is more than good - it's breathtaking.

Welcome back to Russell Watson! We're still here.

Inspirational uplifting thrilling and surprising.......2005-10-28

This music was being played in a shop where I was trying on clothes, and I kept breaking out in chillbumps from being thrilled with the music - which was bizarre because I have NEVER listened to this kind of music - but this man's voice and the arrangement of the music thrilled me deeply. I went directly from that shop and bought the cd; the whole selection is wonderful. This is deeply affecting music (and it can't be the lyrics because they are mostly in Italian). And his voice is so full, warm, and sensitive.

Cecilia Bartoli - The Vivaldi Album / Il Giardino Armonico

Average customer rating:

Cecilia Bartoli brings Baroque music to life
A Revelation
The best work of Cecilia Bartoli
The art of singing, still with us
Great music, but disappointment

Cecilia Bartoli - The Vivaldi Album / Il Giardino Armonico
Antonio Vivaldi , Giovanni Antonini , Cecilia Bartoli , and Il Giardino Armonico
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00002CF52
Release Date: 1999-10-26

Tracks:

Dell'aura al sussurrar
Dopo un'orrida procella
Di due rai languire costante
L'Orlando finto pazzo: Qual favellar? ... Andero, volero, gridero
Zeffiretti, che sussurrate
La fida ninfa: Alma oppressa
La fida ninfa: Dite, oime
Giustino: Sventurata navicella
Giustino: Sorte, che m'invitasti ... Ho nel petto un cor si forte
L'Olimpiade: Tra le follie ... Siam navi all'onde algenti
Farnace: Gelido in ogni vena
Anch'il mar par che sommerga
Teuzzone: Di trombe guerriere

Amazon.com

Mezzo Cecilia Bartoli could easily rest on her laurels as one of today's most charismatic, characterful singers for her lively portrayals of Mozart and Rossini heroines. But it's been particularly exciting to observe her growth as an artist in exploring the exuberant world of baroque opera, with its range of pyrotechnic demands--both vocal and emotional. Bartoli's show-stopping virtuosity in a Vivaldi aria from her Live in Italy recital gave a tantalizing sample of her finesse in that style. For The Vivaldi Album, Bartoli conducted extensive research into the composer's manuscripts, (a documentary tracing her quest is planned for subsequent international screening). Although he's best known for his concertos--in typically baroque fashion, two of the arias in fact recycle material from The Four Seasons--Vivaldi was a ferociously prolific composer of operas for the cutting-edge theaters of his time, and the arias gathered here demonstrate the word-painting magic of his music, from the sylvan setting of dueting flageolets in "Di due rai languire costante" to the storm-tossed passions of "Anch'il mar par che sommerga," where Bartoli spins out ripples of rapid-fire coloratura with a gravity-defying accuracy that will leave your head spinning. In addition to many such examples of vocal acrobatics, Bartoli brings exquisite nuance and limpid tone to the delicate echo effects of "Zeffiretti, che sussurrate," and there's no better test for the remarkable flexibility of her range--full and dusky at the bottom and thrilling at the top--than the huge intervallic leaps of "Dopo un'orrida procella." With her naturally large voice, Bartoli can at times tend to histrionic excess (in the recitative to the short aria from "L'Orlando finto pazzo"), but the expressive color of her phrasing is wonderfully matched throughout by the Giardino Armonico's lively panache. All power to Bartoli in her goal of reviving this neglected aspect of Vivaldi's output. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Cecilia Bartoli brings Baroque music to life.......2005-08-24

This album is so good that it has converted me to liking Vivaldi! I'm a fan of other Baroque composers such as Bach, Telemann, Couperin and Handel but had never really appreciated Vivaldi until I heard this album. Cecilia's technical experise and her intense interpretation makes this album a delight to listen to. She brings Vivaldi's arias to life as I've heard no other performer manage to do so. A brilliant album that I listen to again and again.

A Revelation.......2003-11-05

I was amazed with this album of super fine music. I had known all my life that Vivaldi wrote tons of operas, but finding them, or the scores of them, was nearly impossible. In time I found a few, and was I ever amazed and disappointed. The published scores that were available were what was common practice of that time: there were the vocal lines and a figured bass and nothing more. There were no indications of orchestration. Even with that little bit, I was shocked with the intensity and complexity of this vocal writing. This man knew how to write for the voice. Until singers are willing to research his works, we, the public, will know him for a very orchestra suites and nothing more. The result will be a very stilted view of what the man had to offer.

Now getting to the performance by Bartoli. She really loves this music, as you can tell. Yes, she is mannered in some of the things she does, but that is her way of seeing the music. Her technical skills are amazing, and her interpretations (the "drama" behind the music) is just as intense. Some think Bartoli has a strong voice. Actually, her voice is very small, if you have heard her in performance (they weren't even sure she would be heard when she sang at the Met), and it has a very delicate quality, even when being "brash." Recordings give you the impression she has a much larger sound than she does, but that is because small voices record truer and better than large ones (the industry still can't capture large voices at all). However, even with a small voice, in performance she is breathtaking. She makes the music live. She has weird mannerisms one sees that to American trained singers are completely unacceptable (weird facial expressions, strange things done with he mouth and teeth, head bobbing, etc), but that has never distracted from her overall intensity. Yes, she is intense. You are literally taken away with her interpretation, and her skills. Interestingly, she is more famous in music circles for her cancelations (she cancels more performances in a year than she actually sings). I love this recording, not only because of the music, but because I have seen her sing some of this music live. She really LIVES what she sings, and that comes across in this recording.

A special note: in the little booklet that comes with the recording, Bartoli herself writes her impressions of this music. It is extremely insightful. Whether you like her or not, you have to admire the work she has done to make this music live and be as authentic in interpretation as she can. It is her love of this music that has caused her to record this album. I am thankful she did, for now, I can take those old scores I have and get a better understanding of what the composer was doing. Would that more singers would explore new/old works, and I think it would be far more interesting to have them write their impressions of the music they are singing than the standard academic essays we must read. Reading about how she came to this music, in her own words, gave a different dimension to listening. Now I was listening to see if she was successful in communicating what she felt this music had to offer. SHE WAS.

The best work of Cecilia Bartoli.......2003-08-15

This is simply the best work of Cecilia Bartoli. Her voice is a delicatessen and Il Giardino Armonico sounds very very well. I think that I don't need to say anymore. Simply: BUY IT!!

The art of singing, still with us.......2003-02-09

Even if you disdain Vivaldi in the Stravinsky way, do yourself
a favor, and get this record. Music hidden in some obscure
library for centuries, brought to pulsating life by a minor
voice, here used with passion and artistry reminding one of
vocal artists of the past. An enriching experience for anyone
enjoying the art of singing.

Great music, but disappointment.......2002-10-01

I thoroughly enjoy classical music but found this cd to be a disappointment by a heavy vocal performance. It was shocking to hear the heaviness and darkness in Cecilia's voice, whom I had remembered to be lighter and more playful. My only good thought about this cd is "At least it was a gift" because if I had actually purchased it I would be thoroughly disgusted.

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