Water From the Well

1. Lots of Drops of Brandy

2. Bean an Fhir Rua (The Red-Haired Man's Wife)

3. Jack of All Trades

4. Within a Mile of Dublin/The Old Blackthorn

5. Dusty Miller

6. Lovely Sweet Banks of the Moy

7. Poc Ar Buile (The Mad Puck Goat)

8. Dingle Set

9. Planxty George Brabazon

10. Donegal Set

11. May Morning Dew

12. Kilfenora Set

13. Buinnean Bui (The Yellow Bittern/The County)

14. Ballyfin

15. Casadh an Tsúgáin (The Twisting of the Rope)

16. Live from Matt Malloy's Pub

17. Gaoth Aneas

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
On Water from the Well, Paddy Moloney and the Chieftains return to the traditional Irish music that first made their reputations in the early 60s. Unlike most of their recordings from the 1990s there is nary a rock star, folk singer, or symphony orchestra to be found. Instead the Chieftains have chosen to play with some of Ireland's finest musicians, including Barney McKenna, Seamus Begley, Altan, and the Kilfenora Ceili Band. Here the Chieftains cover the entire spectrum of Irish traditional music, from a stately version of "Planxty George Brabazon" with the Belfast Harp Orchestra to a raucous session in flautist Matt Molloy's pub to a number of ballads sweetly sung by Kevin Conneff. The Chieftains have always performed at the highest level, but on Water from the Well the combination of familiar tunes and great musical guests seems to have inspired them to some of their best playing in years. --Michael Simmons

Tracks:

Pie Jesu from Requiem
My Lagan Love
In Trutina (from Carmina Burana)
Panis Angelicus
Amazing Grace
Just Wave Hello
La Pastorella (The Little Shepherdess)
She Moved Through The Fair
Ave Maria
Dream A Dream (w/ Billy Gilman)
The Flower Duet
Haba
The Prayer (w/ Josh Groban)
All Love Can Be
It's The Heart That Matters Most
Tantum Ergo
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Sancta Maria

Amazon.com

Need more evidence of the record industry's obsession with youth? Consider that budding Welsh diva Charlotte Church was a ripe, old 16 when this, her first greatest-hits anthology was released. Spanning her first four releases, as well as some outside collaborations and unreleased material, this 18-track collection underscores the soprano's seemingly boundless potential--as well as some potential career obstacles ahead. Her crystalline, still-maturing voice is best showcased on classically oriented works like Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Pie Jesu," Franck's "Panis Angelicus," and her now-ubiquitous rendering of Delibes' "Flower Duet." She also excels on folk traditionals such as "She Moved Through the Fair" and "My Langan Love." But overwrought productions like the already-dated "Dream a Dream" and "Habanera," a faux-flamenco take on Bizet, nearly get the best of her. Still, her promising duet with fellow young phenom Josh Groban on "The Prayer" and her mature, dreamy reading of A Beautiful Mind's "All Love Can Be," as well as strong performances on the previously unreleased "It's the Heart That Matters Most" and "Bridge over Troubled Waters," are ample evidence of her potential for rewarding pop crossover--if she doesn't retire by 21. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

A Beautiful, Relaxing Project.......2007-06-15

My only other experience with Charlotte Church was seeing part of a PBS special on her, where she sang songs like "Some Enchanted Evening". I actually enjoy her voice on this style of music.

I love her rendition of "Amazing Grace". She also did good on covering "Bridge Over Troubled Water", though I was disappointed she didn't try the high note on the verses as Garfunkel did. My favorite on the project was "It's the Heart That Matters Most".

If I want some beautiful sounding music to relax to while I'm working, this would be a very good project for that.

It just cannot be the end for Charlotte's classical career! :(.......2006-08-20

I'm just shocked that Charlotte has decided to end her classical career with this mediocre assortment of her most loved pieces from her other albums! I wish that she had re-sung all of the pieces to make them sound better than ever with her mature voice! To me, it seems disgusting that anyone would want to end their career with a last album that sounds the way this album does!

Her beginning pieces (Pie Jesu, My Lagan Love, In Trutina, Panis Angelicus, and Amazing Grace) were sung at the beginning of her classical career, and you can hear her flat vowels and shaky low notes. You can also hear it in "She Moved Thru the Fair". It's really annoying!

La Pastorella is a beautiful song to sing, and Church masters it beautifully! Just Wave Hello - the Ford Anthem, is also a beautiful piece, with amazing work from the orchestra.

Ave Maria is a complete annoyance! Church lays on the high notes too much, putting too much emphasis on them, and it's an annoyance! Her vowels are also flat on the high notes - I just hate it!

Dream a Dream is a very nice piece, leaning more towards the pop scene. Church still seems to make it work, and I would listen to it all day!

The Flower Duet is a beautiful song, but Church's vocals are strained, which makes it hard to listen to with a smile on your face! It's still beautiful!

The Prayer (w/ Josh Groban) is a very nice piece, originally sung by Celine Dion. She's still a little bit flat here!

All That Love can Be is sung beautifully, completely smooth and connected. The vocals are flawless and have a mezmerizing effect.

It's the Heart that Knows is a pop piece that Church sings with strong vocals. It's just showing us that she's ending her career as a classical superstar!

Tantum Ergo, Bridge Over Troubled Water, and Sancta Maria, are all beautiful pieces!

I am a Charlotte Chruch fan, no doubt, but I really didn't like this album! I still wish that she would stay with opera, but I guess dreams don't come true! I wouldn't advise you to buy this CD - but as long as you have Voice of an Angel, Charlotte Church (the Self Titled Album) and Enchantment, there's no need for this CD!

Sorry Charlotte!

Charlotte Church.......2006-07-29

Love that voice!! This is a great CD and any one who had not heard this young lady sing should buy it and prepare for some musical enjoyment.

Somewhat decent but still mediocre.......2006-06-07

I am well aware of Charlotte's age. However, I am also aware of her amazing vocals and powerful range. But these things don't make you a good singer. Charlotte chose to stick to opera in most of her songs. And face it, not just anyone can do opera.

Charlotte's voice is very well trained - maybe too trained. From a very young age she's been hitting the same notes as Sarah Brightman. But I feel that Charlotte's over-worked and not to mention overdone voice has been declining tremendously.

But I guess none of this really matters now because I haven't heard her do anything classical for a while. If you want to listen to Charlotte now, go find the song 'Crazy Chick.'

If you want to listen to other angel voiced sopranos, I'd go with Sarah Brightman or Renee' Fleming.

R&B For Charlotte .......2006-05-07

If a bird can be annoying as in a Rooster Crowing in the morning, some people will like it. A dog can bark in the nights we sleep, some People will like it. A human voice so light, so vibrated within their own dimensions, people will like it, but not I. I never really saw the beauty of opera, agitating to the ears, just like a Rooster calling on it's hens. With that said, Charlotte needs to turn to Blues Rock or R&B. Yes, Boogie style Blues Rock, she has the voice for it. No matter how many here perceive Opera or know what should sound good, no opera singer could ever sing Blues without a voice and a heart for it. Not One! So why should a girl with soulful music embedded in her, do the same? I say, "it's time to really Rock Charlotte!"

Average customer rating:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!
Beginner or Expert
Very Informative and Enjoyable
Frank's view
Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra

Instruments of the Orchestra
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006O0NT
Release Date: 2002-12-03

Tracks:

Overture To 'Tannhauser'
Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
Hungarian Dance No.7
The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
Csardas Music
The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
Tzigane
Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
Caprice No.24
The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
The Violin Muted
Clair De Lune
The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
The Pizzicato Violin
Pizzicato Polka
In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
Hungarian Dance No.4
Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
Bolero
Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
Elfenreigen

Tracks:

Introduction To The Viola
Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
Cypresses (No.9)
The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
The 'Period' Viola In Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
Elfentanz, Op.39
Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
The Protecting Veil (Opening)
A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
Flamenco
Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
Symphony No.9 (Finale)
Introduction To The Double-Bass
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
Elegy No.1 In D Major
The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
Capriccio Di Bravura
Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
Sa'Dawi
Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
Chamber Music No.II
The Piccolo - Aptly Named
La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
A Variety Of Techniques
Chamber Music No.II
Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
Naelden, Naelden
The Bachian Oboe
Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
The Swan Of Tuonela
The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
Bolero
The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
...And Quite Low.
Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
Introduction To The Saxophone
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
Bolero
The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
Sax-O-Phun
The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
Bolero
The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
Symphony No.3 (Opening)
The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
The Ceremonial Trumpet
Fanfare For The Common Man
Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
Billy The Kid
The Trumpet As Character Actor
Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
The Birth Of The Trombone
Aenmerckt Nu Hier
The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
Canzon 12 In Double Echo
The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
Hosannah
The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
The Trombone As Caricaturist
Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
The Horn And The Hunt
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
Walter Music (Minuet 1)
The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
Den Hoboecken Dans
Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
Gymnopedie No.2
The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
The Birth Of The Bongo
Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
Taking Advantage Of Tunability
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
Ravel And The Xylophone
Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
Introducing The Vibraphone
The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
Folk Dances
The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
Introducing The Tubular Bells
Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
Carmen Suite (Introduction)
But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Introducing The Celeste
The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
Petrushka (Russian Dance)
The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
Mahler's Sleighbells
Symphony No.4 (Opening)
A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
Nocturnes
Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
The Oboe As Duck
Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
A Thunderstorm In A Million
Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
Octet In F (Mvt 3)
The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
Canzon 28
Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
Symphony No.5 (Finale)
From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
Images (Gigues)
A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

Tracks:

Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Sheep May Safely Graze
Suite No.3 In D: Air On The G String
Xerxes: Largo
The Water Music: Air
Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus
Trumpet Voluntary (The Prince Of Denmark's March)
Solomon: Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba
Canon In D
Ave Maria
Panis Angelicus
Ave Maria
Because
West Side Story: One Hand, One Heart
Be My Love
The Water Music: Hornpipe In D
Fifth Symphony: Toccata
Trumpet Tune And Air
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Wedding March

Customer Reviews:

Ultimate Wedding Album.......2007-06-01

The perfect album for anyone planning a wedding. Both traditional and contemporary wedding favorites. Sound quality is excellent.

The Best!.......2007-05-24

Send this to every future bride and groom - yes. But even better, send a copy to the PARENT(S) of the future bride and groom!!! It gets everyone in the mood and filled with excitement! Also, it allows them to hear some choices other than "Here Comes the Bride." This CD can also be a lasting pre-wedding shower gift.

A beautiful CD - wedding or not.......2007-01-11

Whether you're getting married, attending a wedding or just want some sweet music to listen to - this album is it. A terrific collection of some of the most beautiful music ever written.

The best of my Wedding CD's.......2007-01-10

I purchased quite a few Wedding CD's but for me, this Album has the most elegant and classic pieces. Ultra modern, trendy girls...don't you dare go here. Classic, beautiful, refined women...this is your CD.

Pamela

When they say Ultimate, they mean it!.......2006-03-14

This album really is great. As of writing the review I haven't gotten married yet, but I am definetly using it in my June wedding. It has all of the classics that we always associate with weddings and only weddings ("Bridal Chorus" for the bridal processional, "Wedding March" for a recessional, etc.) PLUS plenty of other music for the wedding party processional, unity candle lighting, prelude music, etc. I purchased another CD, but only because that music was used in EVERY ceremony at my high school and it has sentimental value to me. I didn't need to, as the album cover even sorts the tracks by Prelude, Processional, Ceremony, and Recessional.

The songs are so peaceful, well performed, and just plain pretty. Those with organ truly remind me of being in church as a child. I plan to keep the CD in my IPod and listen to it when I need some "chill out" time. Those which are not AS specific to weddings ("Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," "Air on the G String," etc.) sort of make you feel like you're in a classy coffee shop or in a bakery in an Italian villa.

Overall, a very well-rounded album. You could get by with this CD alone for all of your ceremony music and save hundreds of dollars on hiring an organist and soloist. With a decent sound system at your ceremony site, guests who didn't know any better would wonder where the orchestra is.

Average customer rating:

Kudo's for Wendy Carlos
Difficulty in placing an order
interesting concept, skillful interpretation, but sounds very dated now
Great Album, but. . .
As good as I remembered it!

The Well-Tempered Synthesizer
Wendy Carlos
Manufacturer: East Side Digital
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Switched-On Bach
Switched-On Bach II
A Clockwork Orange: Wendy Carlos's Complete Original Score
Switched-On Brandenburgs
By Request

ASIN: B00005OKS2
Release Date: 2001-10-02

Tracks:

Monteverdi: Orfeo Suite
Scarlatti: Sonata In G Major
Scarlatti: Sonata In D Major
Handel: Water Music: Bourree
Handel: Water Music: Air
Handel: Water Music: Allegro Deciso
Scarlatti: Sonata In E Major
Scarlatti: Sonata In D Major
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto #4 in G Major: Allegro
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto #4 in G Major: Andante
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto #4 in G Major: Presto
Monteverdi: Domine Ad Adjuvandum
Stereo Alignment Tones
Well-Tempered Experiments

Customer Reviews:

Kudo's for Wendy Carlos.......2007-01-16

Wendy Carlos does an excellent job of updating all of the Classical pieces on this CD, as well as on all of her other CDs. I originally had this on Open Reel Tape, and am really happy that she has ported it over to the CD format! All of the selections on this CD can only be termed as "stirring" and it is enjoyable to hear each time it is played.

Difficulty in placing an order.......2007-01-04

Because I had difficulty navigating through the purchase process, I ended up receivibg two and I only wanted one. I gave one away. You need to review the purchase process and have a "done" or something to indicate that Amazon has received the purchase request and will act upon it. Or else I will find someone else with whom to do business!!!!

interesting concept, skillful interpretation, but sounds very dated now.......2006-12-26

As a performance, the music here is fantastic, and considering the challenges of monophonic sythesizers it is very impressively and skillfully performed. That said, if like me you were born after electronic music became commonplace, this will sound incredibly dated. The problem is that the sound programming abilities of the first moogs were limited, so the sounds are not very fitting to the music, creating a slightly comical kitschy mock-futuristic effect. Part of this effect is the womp womp womp beep beep beep sounds that now sound corny. While interesting, it sounds very anachronistic and less evocative than real instruments. I think I'll go back to orchestral performances of classical music. I'll keep this in case I ever want to make a campy future film spoof. Wow, I sure said "sound " a lot. Well, this really is all about the sounds.

Great Album, but. . ........2006-08-08

I have always enjoyed this album and Switched on Bach ever since they came out in LP form when I was young.
The thing that ruins the CD for me is the very last track on both albums, where Wendy discusses the making of the album, called Well-tempered experiments.
I think that is fun to listen to the first time you play it, but then it is obnoxious when you are playing it as you work around the house. Your home is filled with music, then suddenly, there is talking and some obnoxious noises. It just shouldn't be there.
And to do this to both albums is very disappointing. It is hard to ignore, as it is a 9 minute track!
I solved this by burning both albums onto another CD and eliminating the experiment tracks. But I would rather have the original CD's and eliminate those tracks.

As good as I remembered it!.......2006-03-03

I heard "The Well-Tempered Synthesizer" when it was first issued; like many people I was stunned by the strange, beautiful sound created by a "machine". Then I read about the difficulty of making the recordings, which took tremendous time and thoughtfulness, and this made me appreciate the human element more than the technology.

Imagine someone who, to cook breakfast, designs a henhouse, raises chickens, gathers the eggs, grinds wheat to make bread, picks fresh strawberries...all for a breakfast that could be made more easily using traditional sources or methods. Pardon the clumsy metaphor, but this is what Carlos had done: giving me Bach, by creating a new kind of chicken to get to the egg.

The sounds one hears in this recording are not as sophisticated as more modern synthetic voices, but they are still pristine and haunting. There is a sort of lonely, cosmic emptiness to the sound, but this is not discomforting; in fact, the music triumphs over the strangeness that no human hand or throat moved during the process, except at the keyboard and the 747-cockpit looking control panel of the Moog synthesizer.
Having a CD of this music is a joy, and the music delights.

Average customer rating:

THIS WATER RUNS DEEP
high praise for this one
Excellent Irish Folk Music
Could they get any better??
Water from the Well

Water From the Well
The Chieftains
Manufacturer: RCA Victor
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Celtic Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Best of the Chieftains
Tears Of Stone
Further Down the Old Plank Road
Long Black Veil
The Bells of Dublin

ASIN: B00004L8AZ
Release Date: 2000-02-22

Tracks:

Lots Of Drops Of Brandy
Bean An Fhir Rua
Jack Of All Trades
Within A Mile Of Dublin/The Old Blackthorn
The Dusty Miller
The Lovely Sweet Banks Of The Moy
An Poc Ar Buile
The Dingle Set
Planxty George Brabazon
The Donegal Set
The May Morning Dew
The Kilfenora Set
An Buinnean Bui/The County Tyrone/Newry Hornpipe
Ballyfin Polkas
Casadh An Tsugain
Live From Matt Molloy's Pub
An Gaoth Aneas

Amazon.com

On Water from the Well, Paddy Moloney and the Chieftains return to the traditional Irish music that first made their reputations in the early 60s. Unlike most of their recordings from the 1990s there is nary a rock star, folk singer, or symphony orchestra to be found. Instead the Chieftains have chosen to play with some of Ireland's finest musicians, including Barney McKenna, Seamus Begley, Altan, and the Kilfenora Ceili Band. Here the Chieftains cover the entire spectrum of Irish traditional music, from a stately version of "Planxty George Brabazon" with the Belfast Harp Orchestra to a raucous session in flautist Matt Molloy's pub to a number of ballads sweetly sung by Kevin Conneff. The Chieftains have always performed at the highest level, but on Water from the Well the combination of familiar tunes and great musical guests seems to have inspired them to some of their best playing in years. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

THIS WATER RUNS DEEP.......2006-10-03

THE CHIEFTAINS have been wowing audiences for decades with "authentic" Irish/Gaelic music long before it became "chic." The energy and gift of sharing so notable in their concerts comes through with gusto in their recordings. The selected CD WATER FROM THE WELL features The May Morning Dew that illustrates the long-standing effects of oppression with a nostalgic simplicity.

TOP PICKS: TEARS OF STONE (highly recommended) features such formidable female vocalists as Bonnie Raitt, Natalie Merchant; Joni Mitchell; Sinéad O'Connor; Loreena McKennitt; Akiko Yano and others.

Solid Ground
Sail Ã"g Rua
The Essential Irish Folk Collection

high praise for this one.......2005-11-25

I am not the biggest fan of the Chieftains later recordings, but when they do Irish traditional tunes I can't help but love it. This CD is full of great old traditional tunes and songs, with sets including such favorites as Dowd's No. 9, Tom Billy's, Star Above the Garter, and King of the Pipers, among others. Guests include such greats as Altan on the Donnegal set, and Tommy Peoples is among the Kilfenora Ceilidh Band members playing on the Kilfenora set. A great CD that is highly recommended for anyone who loves the Chieftains and/or Irish traditional music.

Excellent Irish Folk Music.......2005-01-26

Irish folk music sounds like you would expect it to sound; lots of pipes and fiddles and a distinctly Irish sound. However, just because you may think you know what Irish music sounds like because you have heard it on a sound track means little until you spin this CD.

The CD takes you right into an Irish jig with "Lots of Drops of Brandy," an enthusiastically played instrumental. Rather than fancy production in a studio, the group sounds as though it were sitting in a barn or a bar, playing for a crowd of people. This music is played as music has long been, without electronic trickery and lots of well-honed skill. The second track, "Bean An Fhir Rua," is another lovely instrumental featuring a harpsichord, a flute and Uilleann pipes, I think. This new-age sounding music may make some reconsider what they think Irish music may be.

"Jack of All Trades" is the first vocal on this CD. This short song sounds like a traditional Irish pub song. After this song is yet another instrumental, "Within a Mile of Dublin/The Old Blackthorn." This instrumental is predominantly fiddles, a banjo and flute; a spare folk tune that one might have heard at a local shop in days gone by. "The Dusty Miller" is a longer instrumental in a similar vein to the previous one, this time without the banjo. The flute intro on this selection leads to a fiddle solo followed by the Uilleann pipes. The instrumental increases in tempo and complexity after the first instruments take their turn. I like the flute in this traditional instrumental as it reminds me a lot of some of the style of Ray Thomas of the Moody Blues.

"The Lovely Sweet Banks of the Moy" is haunting, led by a flute. You can imagine the flautist sitting on the banks of a river, and then Kevin Conneff's vocals start, clear and simple. At the end of the vocals fiddles take over leading into harp and flute, a lovely faerie song for a bright summer day under the trees that can bring a tear to your eye.

The next song, "An Poc Ar Buile," is in contrast as it features more powerful vocals by guest vocalists. Portions of the song were recorded live and the recording fits well with the song's style, which again is another pub song. "The Dingle Set" is an instrumental with a fast pace that fits with the power of the previous song. This instrumental also features several guest instruments, including an accordion, concertina, banjo and fiddle.

The following instrumental, "Planxty George Brabazon," is light, quick and airy with support from Janet Harbison and the Belfast Harp Orchestra. The pace remains quick with "The Donegal Set," which again adds a number of guest instruments.

"The Morning May Dew" is another song with a mellow, contemplative theme. You can imagine the singer sitting in the early morning in a glade with tall grass, surrounded by woods, singing a song of pasts remembered and days gone by to the early morning sun. The pace then quickens to break the somber mood with the fast-paced instrumental "The Kilfenora Set." The rousing fiddles of this instrumental make you want to get up and move around, perhaps even dance a little dance. The fast-pace of the "The Kilfenora Set" changes quickly in the next instrumental, "An Buinnean Bui/The County Tyrone/Newry Hornpipe." This instrumental starts slowly by relying on a very slow harp, later joined by mellow fiddles. Near the end of this selection the pace picks up substantially, led particularly by a flute.

"Ballyfin Polkas" kicks the pace up a notch. You can hear the sound of dancing and occasional calls that indicate the live nature of some of this wonderful instrumental. This instrumental leads to one of the most interesting songs on this CD, "Casadh An tSugain." Even knowing that this song is based in Irish folk music, there are elements that sound as though there could be an Asian influence, perhaps showing that sometimes the development of music is based on the types of instruments available rather than a stylistic preference.

"Live from Matt Molloy's Pub" is just what is sounds like, a fast-paced, fun pub instrumental that was recorded live at the pub.

The CD ends with "An Gaoth Aneas," yet another haunting instrumental that has a new age flavor to it. Of course, new age is just another name for a type of music that has strong folk influence, and Irish music is one of those influences.

Irish music is like a lot of other genre music; you will either enjoy it, or you will dislike it. However, the skill of the musicians in this acoustic music is outstanding and this music has much to commend it to a discerning listener. You will find the roots of many styles of music in these Irish tunes, and for those with eclectic tastes, you will find these tunes to be an enjoyable addition to your music collection. For those who know they like the best music the world has to offer.

Could they get any better??.......2004-08-05

I don't know a mood this CD fails to convey. From the sprightly Dusty Miller and Lots of Drops of Brandy to the mournful May Morning Dew to the exquisite Planxty George Brabazon to the hilarious Jack of All Trades and An Poc Ar Buille, it's all here. And the exquisite musicianship and artistry of all of these incredibly blessed performers shines in every note.

Water from the Well.......2004-06-19

The Chieftains have long been regarded as Ireland's musical ambassadors. Since their first album in 1962 they have forged ahead more than any other Irish group, breaching the wall that had long existed between Celtic music and the rest of the world, simultaneously preserving and redefining it. But since Boil the Breakfast Early, also known as The Chieftains 9, they have diverged from their roots to pursue other Celtic traditions (such as those of Brittany in France and Galicia in Spain) and collaborations with anybody that was willing. 2000's Water from the Well, however, signaled a return to form after a decade filled with rock & rollers, symphony orchestras, and country western singers.

And what a way to end the past millennium! Water from the Well finds the Chieftains at the top of their game, and they're having a grand old time being there too. There are collaborations here as well, but not with folks like Van Morrison or Sting or Mick Jagger (excellent artists though they all are) - this time it's the Chieftains paired with some of the best traditional artists of our time. From the rollicking opener Lots of Drops of Brandy to the indescribably beautiful closer An Gaoeth Aneas (The South Wind) this album is spot on, both in instrumentation and in delivery. And the tracklist is as varied as the lineup. There is something for every fan of The Music, as it is called, here. From slow airs to blasting polkas and reels to sprightly jigs and hornpipes, from harp orchestras to live sessions at flutist Matt Molloy's pub in Westport, Co. Mayo, nothing on this CD is dragged down by distracting digression from the tradition or uninteresting arrangements. This is pure music - nothing more, nothing less. If you can listen and remain unmoved, you have no soul.

I own all but a few of the Chieftains' albums and dozens by other Irish artists, and to this day Water from the Well overall remains perhaps the most amazing listen in my collection. If you decide to get this record, it may well prove one of the most important Irish music purchases you will ever make. God only knows how it did for me.

Average customer rating:

Broadway: America's Music 1935-2005

Manufacturer: Decca Broadway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Musicals | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
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Grey Gardens - A New Musical (2006 Original Broadway Cast)
Broadway - The American Musical (PBS Series)
The Warmth of the Sun
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White Nights

ASIN: B000B8I93Q
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'
Summertime
I Could Write a Book
It Never Entered My Mind
I Can Cook Too
Make It Another Old Fashioned, Please
If I Loved You
My Heart Belongs to Daddy
Thou Swell
I Left My Heart at the Stage Door Canteen
There's No Business Like Show Business
South American Way

Tracks:

Shall We Dance
Ohio
Luck Be a Lady
Mack the Knife
There's a Small Hotel
Once in Love with Amy
Yodel Blues
Lazy Afternoon
There Must Be Somethin' Better Than Love
You're Just in Love
Now Is the Time

Tracks:

Impossible Dream
Love Makes the World Go 'Round
Try to Remember
Put on a Happy Face
I Say Hello
Happiness
She Loves Me
What Kind of Fool Am I?
Shy
Consider Yourself
Poor Little Person

Tracks:

Magic to Do
They're Playing My Song
I Don't Know How to Love Him
I Won't Send Roses
Good Morning Starshine
Don't Cry for Me, Argentina
Hard Candy Christmas
Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend
Won't You Charleston with Me?
Applause

Tracks:

Phantom of the Opera
Memory
On My Own
Muddy Water
How Could I Ever Know
American Dream
I Know Him So Well
Dr. Jazz
Me and My Girl
Suddenly Seymour

Tracks:

Mamma Mia!
Popular
Seasons of Love
Oh, the Thinks You Can Think
Whatever Lola Wants
Crazy
How Deep Is Your Love
Stars
People Like Us
I Go to Rio

Average customer rating:

Hearing the ancient tones
Wonderful soothing melodies
Beautiful and touching
Water from an Ancient Well

Water From an Ancient Well
Abdullah Ibrahim
Manufacturer: Tip Toe
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Africa | International | Styles | Music

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Bebop & Post-Bop | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Modern Post Bop | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

African Sun
Voice of Africa
Kollaps
African Marketplace
African Magic

ASIN: B000001Z86
Release Date: 1994-01-05

Tracks:

Mandela
Song For Sathima
Manenberg Revisited
Tuang Guru
Water From An Ancient Well
The Wedding
The Mountain
Sameeda

Customer Reviews:

Hearing the ancient tones.......2006-12-30

Sometimes we get to experience visual beauty by walking through a well-tended garden or viewing excellently composed art. In this album by Mr. Ibrahim he treats us to another form of beauty: he shares in his gift of melody. The individual passages he crafts in Water From an Ancient Well seem to tell the story of our lives. We hear them, they fill us with joy and gently move us with sadness. In these jewels we hear the ancient promise for a good tomorrow. My personal favorite: A Song for Sathima.

Wonderful soothing melodies.......2002-06-29

Although this cd has some African rhythms and influence, its sound is primarily western, showing a strong influence from Elington. The melodies are great, ranging from lively swing to mellow and contemplative. The Wedding is a wonderful piece, as is Tuang Guru - but the cd really has no low points. Ibrahim has a distinctive piano style, and the performance of the entire septet shines.

Beautiful and touching.......2002-04-29

This wonderful CD is one of my favourite. As usual, Ibrahim blends truly African music to the highly westernized music form, jazz. This truly is jazz, but it, more than any other jazz music i've heard, begs us to think for a moment of all the injustice some people have had to go through. It does this in a similar way as Benigni's "La vita è bella" does to confront the Third Reich - with beauty and humour.
The title, gives us an idea of the concept - we see members of an african community, walk to and fro an ancient well for water. Their ancestors used to do this, and on this ground, the ancestors of all humankind lived some 150.000 years before. Its in Africa were our history begins - and its there where some of the greatest crimes have been commited. Let's remember that Ibrahim is from South Africa.
I've mentioned beauty, and there's beauty here all right. I'm not surprised that another critic here deemed "The Wedding" good enough for his own wedding. I think that's a wonderful idea - maybe I do it. But The Wedding (as The Mountain) can be found on several other of Ibrahim's recordings. There is another gem here, and that's the title song - its in my opinion huntingly beautiful, symbolic (musical term: programmatic) and brings out tears in my eyes.
Seldom has jazz music flown so high!

Water from an Ancient Well.......2000-06-27

This Abdullah Ibrahim album is a beautiful example of how he has fused African rhythms, voicings, and melodies to the song forms of American jazz, particularly of his mentor, Duke Ellington. This amalgam is best exemplified on his earlier masterpiece, African Marketplace, but it shines on selections like Mandela and Tuang Guru. The Wedding is one of his most luscious melodies. (My wife and I got married to it.) This is jazz that is barely classifiable--and still pleasant. I highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

Hated it.

'N Love: Music for Your Wedding

Manufacturer: Compendia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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

Live in London and More...

ASIN: B00008ZZ5Y
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

Lost Without You - Allen & Allen
I Will Always Love You - Spectrum
Speak to My Heart - Hubert Powell
Hello - Spectrum
Devotion - Allen & Allen
You Mean the World to Me - Spectrum
Get Here - Buzz Worrell,
Love Is - Spectrum
When I Fall in Love - Evening Star Orchestra
With My Whole Heart - Hubert Powell

Tracks:

Air for the "G" String - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
On Wings of Song - Nancy Enslin & Deborah Benardot
Arioso
Prelude in C Major
Largo [From Xerxes] - London Festival Orchestra
Schubert's Ave Maria - Nancy Enslin & Deborah Benardot
Ave Maria - Nancy Enslin & Deborah Benardot
Sheep May Safely Graze - Philip Brunelle
Bridal March (Here Comes the Bride) [from "Lohengrin" (Here Comes]
Pachelbel's Canon in D Major - Collegium Aureum
Trumpet Voluntary - Lyn Larsen
Trumpet Tune in C Major - Carlo Curley
O Perfect Love - Nancy Enslin & Deborah Benardot
Lord's Prayer - Nancy Enslin & Deborah Benardot
Wedding March [from "A Midsummer Night's Dream] - London Festival Orchestra
Finale: Ode to Joy [from Symphony No. 9 "Choral"] - Nancy Enslin & Deborah Benardot
Rondeau [Masterpiece Theatre Theme]
Handel's Alla Hornpipe [from "Water Music" Suite] - London Festival Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Hated it........2003-08-21

Many songs sound as if they were recorded using a pan flute or cheap harp. I would stay away from this one.

Average customer rating:

The Essential Wedding Collection

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | 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

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
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Classical Wedding
Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings
25 Wedding Favorites
Introducing Joss Stone
Call Me Irresponsible

ASIN: B0001U0GCG
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Tracks:

Sheep May Safely Graze - Stuttgarter Kammerorchester
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Stuttgarter Kammerorchester
Aria (Air On The G String) - Stuttgarter Kammerorchester
Air - Academy Of St. Martin-In-The-Fields
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling - Richard Farnes
Canon in D major - Stuttgarter Kammerorchester
Bridal Chorus - Stephen Cleobury
The Prince Of Denmark's March - Michael Laird Brass
Trumpet Tune And Air - Peter Hurford
Panis Angelicus - Luciano Pavarotti
Ave Maria - Wandsworth School Boys' Choir, National Philharmonic Orchestra and Luciano Pavarotti
Exsultate, Jubilate, K. 165 - Leontyne Price
Water Music - Stephen Cleobury
Wedding March - Peter Hurford
The Lord's My Shepherd - Huddersfield Choral Society
Laudate Dominum - Wren Orchestra
Let The Bright Seraphim - Dame Joan Sutherland
Abide With Me - Anthony Way
Ombra Mai Fu - Anthony Way
On Wings Of Song - Utah Symphony Orchestra
Toccata - Stephen Cleobury
Praise, My Soul, The King Of Heaven - Richard Farnes

Tracks:

My Heart Will Go On - James Horner
I Will Always Love You - Dolly Parton
Love Theme - Nino Rota
Up Where We Belong - Will Jennings
As Time Goes By - Herman Hupfeld
Take My Breath Away - Giorgio Moroder
Can You Feel The Love Tonight? - Elton John
Evergreen - Barbra Streisand
Love Is All Around - Reg Presley
Maid Marian At The Waterfall (Everything I Do) I Do For You - Seattle Symphony Orchestra
Moon River - Henry Mancini
Where Do I Begin - Francis Lai
When A Man Loves A Woman - Andrew Wright
The Way We Were - Marvin Hamlisch
Unchained Melody - Hollywood Bowl Orchestra

Average customer rating:

wedding classics
Problem with Samples
Perfect Music for a Perfect Day

Wedding Classics

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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

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

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Knot Collection of Ceremony and Wedding Music Selected by the Knot's Carley Roney
Classical Wedding
25 Wedding Favorites
Classic Wedding Album
The Ultimate Wedding Album

ASIN: B000089HC4
Release Date: 2003-03-25

Tracks:

Air on the G String (J.S. Bach, arr. Stokowski) BBC Philharmonic/ Mathias Bamert
Largo (from 'Winter' of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons) Bournemouth Sinfonietta/ Ronald Thomas
Canon (Pachelbel) Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble
Sheep May Safely Graze (J.S. Bach, arr. Stokowski) BBC Philharmonic/Matthias Bamert
Apres un reve (Faure, arr. Peter Graham) Philip McCann (cornet)/Sellers Engineering Band/Roy Newsome
Bridal March (from Wagner's Lohengrin) Michael Austin (organ)
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba (from Handel's Solomon) Cantilena/Adrian Shepherd
Trumpet Tune (Purcell) Michael Austin (organ)
March (from Handel's Judas Maccabaeus) Collegium Musicum 90/Simon Standage)
Alla Hornpipe (from Handel's Solomon) The Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Sir Alexander Gibson
Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke) Michael Austin (organ)
I Was Glad (Parry) Roderick Elms (organ)/London Symphony Chorus London Symphony Orchestra/ Richard Hickox
God Is Gone Up (Finzi) The Finzi Singers/Paul Spicer
Panis Angelicus (Franck, arr. Gordon Langford) Phillip McCann (cornet)/Simon Lindley (organ) Boys of Leeds Parish Church Choir/Sellers Engineering Band/Roy Newsome
The Lord Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23) (Crimond, arr. H. Roberton) Rhos Orpheus Male Voice Choir/J. Glyn Williams
Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod, arr. Phillip McCann) Phillip McCann (cornet)/Lain Robertson (organ)
Ave Maria (Schubert, arr. Phillip McCann) Phillip McCann (cornet)/Malcolm Hicks (organ)
Come Down, O Love Divine (Vaughan Williams) Choir of Worcester Cathedral/Christopher Robinson
Praise My Soul the King of Heaven (Goss, arr. Gordon Langford) Besses O' Th' Barn Band
Greater Love Hath No Man (Ireland) Paula Bot (soprano)/James Oxley (tenor)/London Symphony Chorus/London Symphony Orchestra/Richard Hickox

Tracks:

Air (from Handel's Water Music) The Scottish Chamber Orchestra/Alexander Gibson
Priere Notre-Dame (from Boellmann's Suite gothique) Ian Tracey (organ)
Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, 2nd movement (J.S. Bach) Collegium Musicum 90/Simon Standage
Chanson de matin (Elgar) Bournemouth Sinfonietta/Norman Del Mar
Laudate Dominum (from Mozart's Solemn Vespers) Phillip McCann (cornet)/Simon Lindley (organ) Boys of Leeds Parish Church Choir
Salut d'amour (Elgar) Nigel Kennedy (violin) Steven Isserlis (cello)/Peter Pettinger (piano)
Meditation (from Massenet's Tha=EFs) Yuri Torchinsky (violin)/BBC Philharmonic/Yan Pascal Tortelier
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring (from Bach's Cantata 147) Michael Austin (organ)
Cantique de Jean Racine (Faur=E9, arr. John Rutter) Huddersfield Choral Society / BBC Philharmonic/Vernon Handley
Wedding March (from Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream) Michael Austin (organ)
Toccata in G (Dubois) Francis Jackson (organ)
Organ Sonata No. 2, 3rd movement (Mendelssohn) Piet Kee (organ)
Hallelujah Chorus (from Handel's Messiah) Collegium Musicum 90/Richard Hickox
Toccata (from Widor's Symphony No. 5) Ian Tracey (organ)
March triomphale - Nun danket alle Gott (Karg-Elert) Michael Auston (organ)
Andante (from Stanley's Trumpet Voluntary, Op. 6 No. 5) Richard Marlow (organ)
Finale (from Saint-Sains' Symphony No. 3) Gillian Weir (organ)/Ulster Orchestra/Yan Pascal Tortelier=

Customer Reviews:

wedding classics.......2007-06-18

a very useful collection of music for weddings. A pity that at least two of the samples let you hear the wrong music, i.e. other music than the title shows......

Problem with Samples.......2007-06-13

I am just reviewing to let people know that at least one of the audio samples is incorrect. I clicked the sample to listen to the sample of Meditation from Thais by Massenet but what played was the Entrance to the Queen of Sheba by Handel.

Perfect Music for a Perfect Day.......2003-04-02

What an excellent collection of music from the amazing Chandos catalog. All the selections are arranged into sections based on where in the ceremony the music would be heard. And there's more than just 'Here Comes the Bride' (although it is there) but all sorts of choices that any bride would love to make her wedding memorable and individual. 2 CDs that have all sorts of different music whether you're planning a traditional wedding or just a few friends in the park, there is something in it for anyone. I highly recommend this collection!

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