The Greatest Piano Collection

On this CD:

1. Rhapsody in Blue for piano & orchestra (orchestral version by F. Grofé)
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Christopher O'Riley
Conducted by Barry Wordsworth

2. Gymnopédies (3), for piano, complete (also orchestrated by Debussy)
Composed by Erik Satie
Performed by Ronan O'Hora

3. Gymnopédies (3), for piano, complete (also orchestrated by Debussy)
Composed by Erik Satie
Performed by Ronan O'Hora

4. Gymnopédies (3), for piano, complete (also orchestrated by Debussy)
Composed by Erik Satie
Performed by Ronan O'Hora

5. Concerto for piano & orchestra
Composed by Michael Nyman
Performed by Peter Lawson
Conducted by Jonathan Carney

Tracks:

Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
Preludes, Book One: The Girl with the Flaxen Hair
Two Nocturnes: Fetes
Preludes, Book One: The Sunken Cathedral
Suite Bergamasque: Claire de lune
Children's Corner Suite: Golliwogg's Cake-Walk
Reverie
Iberia: Le Matin D'un Jour De Fete
Deux Arabesques: Arabesque No. 1: Andante Con Motto
Martyrdom Of Saint Sebastian: Prelude To The Council Of The False gods
String Quartet In G Minor, Op. 10: Scherzo. Assex Vif Et Bien Rythme
La Mer: I. De L'aube A Midi Sur La Mer
La Mer: II. Jeux De Vagues
La Mer: III. Dialogue Du Vent Et De La Mer

Customer Reviews:

Probably the best compilation of a single composer's works. Ever!.......2007-05-06

Claude Debussy is perhaps the most understated composer in the history of man. His ability to compose both on the piano and for orchestra is unmatched, in my humble opinion. The fact that Debussy was able to also arrange many contemporary and previous composers' works just adds to his resume. He had a gift, pure and simple.

Although this album doesn't (well, honestly it couldn't) contain all of Debussy's catalog, it does certainly contain some of his best work. There is actually only one track on this CD that I don't care for; that would be Golligwogg's Cake-Walk; it is just a bit annoying to me.

Beyond my dislike for that one track, the entire CD is a beautifully aranged, beautifully played, well recorded compilation with good sound mixing and it is a respectful tribute to a truly great composer.

"Claire de Lune" (Moonlighting) is perhaps one of the most gorgeous pieces of music ever composed; this is the orchestrated version, which I prefer, but the piano version is nice. "Arabesque No. 1" is superb. "Fetes" is both haunting and airy. "Reverie" is the best piano piece I have ever heard. "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair" is also a wonderful piano piece. "The Sunken Cathedral" is dark and mysterious, a true wonder.

The rest of the album is fantastic. Listed above are just my personal favorites from the disc. I listen to this CD at least once a week, but often more. It is perfect for relaxation, for listening while reading, or for my personal favorite use, to block out noise while I am writing.

I would recommend this to any classical lover.

If you have not heard Debussy's music, you must get this CD; it will have you ordering more of his compositions almost immediately.

The man was a genius.

This is a brilliant assembly of Debussy. .......2006-07-08

After listening to his "Greatest Hits," I know why he is considered one of the best.

THIS IS THE STUFF RIGHT HERE!.......2005-09-12

I BOUGHT THIS BECAUSE I WAS TRYING EXPAND MY HORIZONS, YOU KNOW? CULTURALLY AND MENTALLY, YOU KNOW? SERIOUSLY THOUGH I WAS IN THE SHOP AND I WAS HAVING A GAZE AROUND THE PLACE AND THEN THIS PICTURE JUST JUMPS OUT AT ME, AND I PICKED IT UP AND IT WAS THIS DEBUSSY CHAP AND ID HEARD ABOUT HIM ON THE BBC LEARNING ZONE SO I THOUGHT ;why not?; SERIOUSLY THOUGH I DRAGGED IT HOME AND I POPPED IT IN THE OLD CD PLAYER AND IT FLOORED ME.......I MEAN SERIOUSLY THIS THING...AMAAZING STUFF..I MEAN TODAYS MUSIC HAS NOTHING, NOTHING NOTHING ON THIS STUFF RIGHT HERE.

SOME GOOD TRACKS ARE:
TRACK 1 IS THE BEST. THE OPENING FLUTE ON THE TRACK IS TOTALLY CHILLED AND COOL, REMINDS ME A BIT OF TRACK 13 ON ILL COMMUNICATION BY THE BEASTIE BOYS...A COINCIDENCE???

THE ONLY WEAK TRACK ON THE ALBUM IS TRACK 6, THE UNFORTUNATELY TITLED "CHILDRENS CORNER SUITE: GOLLIWOGGS CAKE WALK" THE MUSIC IS JUST DATED MAN, JUST AS DATED AS THE TITLE.

OVERALL THOUGH THIS IS A QUALITY ALBUM, WITH CHILLS, SPILLS AND THRILLS. SERIOUSLY THOUGH A FINE EFFORT.

Debussy is the best. Ever........2004-07-23

I love Debussy and all of his brilliant work. I barely listen to any other classical music, so I am not an authority, just an honest lover of music. I play piano and love piano music, so I was not disappointed at a piano Flaxen-Haired Girl. I've never heard an orchestrated version and don't need to. This is a good introductory CD to Debussy's work, I love it! The only thing I don't care for is the Arabesque #1 (Track 9). The horn is kind of grating and clunky to hear in such an otherwise beautiful piece. Still, its interesting and different. Everything Debussy made is purest gold.

i am dumb.......2004-07-01

And I'm a doomass because I didn't proof-read my other review and I wrote that Clair de Lune was performed by piano on this disc, which it isn't. Anyway, the piano version is better.

Average customer rating:

The Complete Songs, Vol. 4

Manufacturer: Albany Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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The Complete Songs of Charles Ives, Vol. 3
The Complete Songs of Charles Ives, Vol. 2
The Complete Songs of Charles Ives, Vol. 1
Charles Ives: Songs
114 Songs by Charles Ives

ASIN: B0000049MN
Release Date: 1995-08-10

Tracks:

The Innate
The Collection
Premonitions
Grantchester
Thoreau
West London
Serenity
On The Counter
Hymn
August
September
December
Cradle Song
'Paracelsus': Excerpt
Disclosure
Maple Leaves
La Fede
The Indians
Two Slants: Duty
Two Slants: Vita
'The Incantation': Excerpt
An Election
At Sea
The Last Reader
The Greatest Man
The Housatonic At Stockbridge
Resolution
Two Little Flowers
Evening
Immortality
Yellow Leaves
Ann Street
Peaks
The White Gulls
1, 2, 3
Majority
Remembrance
The One Way
The Rainbow (So May It Be!)
The Side Show
A Sea Dirge
In The Mornin'

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Thirty-Six All-Time Greatest
ROGER WILLIAMS PIANO & ORCHESTRA
Manufacturer: Timeless/Traditions Alive
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
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20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Roger Williams

ASIN: B000F7KDVY
Release Date: 2006-11-21

Product Description

This 3 CD set contains 36 of the world's greatest love songs performed by Roger Williams on piano with his orchestra.

Floyd Cramer Plays Town 'n' Country Favorites (World's Most Beautiful Melodies From Reader's Digest)

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Floyd Cramer Plays Town 'n' Country Favorites (World's Most Beautiful Melodies From Reader's Digest)

Manufacturer: Reader's Digest Music
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Binding: Audio CD

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Great Romantic Piano Favorites (Reader's Digest Music)

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Great Romantic Piano Favorites (Reader's Digest Music)

Manufacturer: Reader's Digest Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000FC8Q6I

Product Description

4 CD set from Reader's Digest Music featuring 75 songs from such master pianists as Henry Mancini, Roger Williams, Floyd Cramer, Ronnie Aldrich, and many more!

Average customer rating:

WORKS:

Debussy's Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Â© 1984 CBS Inc. / CBS Masterworks
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000DS1H
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Customer Reviews:

WORKS:.......2006-01-13

Works:

Claude Debussy / Suite bergamasque, for piano, L. 75: Clair de Lune 5:05
Performed by: Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra

Claude Debussy / Children's Corner, suite for piano (or orchestra), L. 113: Golliwog's Cakewalk 2:50
Performed by: Philippe Entremont, Piano

Claude Debussy / Rêverie, for piano, L. 68 6:12
Performed by: Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra

Claude Debussy / Arabesque, for piano No. 1 in E major, L. 66/1 5:41
Performed by: William Smith, Philadelphia Orchestra

Claude Debussy / Préludes (12) for piano, Book I, L. 117: The Girl with the Flaxen Hair 3:00
Performed by: William Smith, Philadelphia Orchestra

Claude Debussy / Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun), for orchestra, L. 86 10:25
Performed by: Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic

Claude Debussy / Fêtes, for orchestra (Nocturne No. 2), L. 91/2 5:54
Performed by: Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic

Claude Debussy / La mer est plus belle, song for voice & piano, L. 81/1: Dialogue of the Wind and the Sea 8:18
Performed by: Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic

Average customer rating:

Brass at its Best Ever.
Almost the first collection

The Canadian Brass: Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

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Canadian Brass: More Greatest Hits
Best of the Canadian Brass
Bolero & Other Blockbusters
Red Hot Jazz: The Dixieland Album
The Essential Canadian Brass

ASIN: B000003ENK
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Toccata And Fugue in d
Rondeau (Theme Of 'Masterpiece Theatre')
Water Music: Allegro Maestoso
Fanfare 'Albason' (Theme Of CBS' 'Sunday Morning')/Trumpet Voluntary (Prince Of Denmark's March)
Canon
A Sousa Collection
Carnival Of Venice
Handful Of Keys
Lounging At The Waldorf
Grandpa's Spells
The Flight Of The Bumblebee
Hallelujah Chorus - John Grady

Customer Reviews:

Brass at its Best Ever........2005-10-22

A few years ago, I couldn't get enough of the Canadian Brass music. They were a delight to watch and to hear. They put so much spirit and talent into each performance, it was a wonder to behold. In this collection, there is a stirring Sousa grouping, Carnival of Venice, Pachelbel: Canon, and The Flight of the Bumblebees. It's a fantastic selection; they've recorded jazz and silly songs. For an obvious reason, the brass section is my favorite in any band or orchestra; two of my sons played the same trombone several years apart in the Pulaski school bands. Although Jeff, the flutist, was concertmaster his last year, I loved the way Zach and Justin mastered the trombone. Kenny's specialty was the trumpet (as was Chuck Southcott's), which shines through the brass section and is usually the star instrument.

These talented performers use comedy and fun to overshaow their fantastic performances. Hear them just once, and you will be hooked.

Almost the first collection.......2004-10-25

This album is the recording of the Canadian Brass's first collection. Very old one, and here's the memeber list: Bb Trumpet - Ron Romm, C trumpet - Fred Mills, Frech Horn - David Ohanian, Trombone - Gene Watss, Tuba - Chuck Daellanbach. This recording might seem boring, but the performance are so superb that you can hardly wait to listen to it again.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Compilation of French Piano Classics

Piano French Masters Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Chopin: The Complete Nocturnes And Impromptus
Chopin: Favorite Piano Works
Taking The Long Way

ASIN: B0000029PQ
Release Date: 1996-05-14

Tracks:

Suite Bergamasque: Clair de lune
Trois Gymnopedies: I. Lent et douloureux
Trois Gymnopedies: II. Lent et triste
Trois Gymnopedies: III. Lent et grave
Arabesque No. 1
Reverie
Pavane pour une Infante defunte
Le petit Negre, Cake-Walk: Le petit Negre. Cake-Walk
Preludes, Book 1: The Girl With The Flaxen Hair
Preludes, Book 1: The Sunken Cathedral
Children's Corner: Golliwogg's Cake-Walk
Le tombeau de Couperin: I. Prelude
Le tombeau de Couperin: IV. Rigaudon
Le tombeau de Couperin: VI. Toccata
Miroirs: Alborada del gracioso
9 Preludes For Piano, Op. 103: Prelude No. 1 In D-Flat Major
9 Preludes For Piano, Op. 103: Prelude No. 3 In G Minor
9 Preludes For Piano, Op. 103: Prelude No. 5 In D Minor
Dolly, Op. 56: I. Berceuse
Dolly, Op. 56: II. Mi-a-ou
Dolly, Op. 56: VI. Le pas espagnol

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Compilation of French Piano Classics.......2006-06-10

This is a thoroughly enjoyable collection of well-known piano classics by four late-nineteenth and early twentieth century French composers - Faure, Debussy, Satie, and Ravel - as interpreted by five different pianists.

Seven of the twenty-one selections are performed by Paul Crossley. Even if you already own most or, for that matter, all of these pieces on other CDs, if you do not have any recordings of Crossley's interpretations of these works, this is an excellent introduction to this pianist. Crossley's performances are as precise, luminous, and refined as finely etched Baccarat crystal. They virtually glow with a flawless sense of of timing that brings out the beauty of every single note. I was especially moved by his performance of "La Cathedrale Engloutie" (The Sunken Cathedral) by Debussy, which I consider the most achingly beautiful interpretation of this piece that I have thus far heard, even better than the already exquisite performances by Rubinstein and Michelangeli. Listening with headphones to Crossley's performances on this CD has been a wonderful experience.

The performances by the other four pianists - Riri Shimada, Philippe Entremont, and Robert and Gaby Casadesus - are also excellent. All the tracks on this compilation, ADD as well as DDD, are very clear. Recommended with pleasure. Playing Time = 74:06.