Then & Now

Franz Joseph Haydn: The Creation
Mendelssohn - Elijah / Terfel, Fleming, Bardon, Ainsley, Fulgoni, Paul Daniel
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) / Auger, Stilwell, Atlanta SO, Robert Shaw
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem [A German Requiem]

ASIN: B0002XV31A
Release Date: 2005-02-15

Tracks:

Introduction: As God The Lord Of Israel Liveth
Overture
No.1 Help, Lord! Wilt Thou Quite Destroy Us?
No.2: Lord! Bow Thine Ear To Our Prayer!
No.3: Ye People, Rend Your Hearts
No.4: If With All Your Hearts
No.5: Yet Doth The Lord See It Not
No.6: Elijah! Get Thee Hence
No.7: For He Shall Give His Angels Charge Over Thee
Recitative: Now Cherith's Brook Is Dried Up
No.8: What Have I Do To Do With Thee?
No.9: Blessed Are The Men Who Fear Him
No.10: As God The Lord Of Sabaoth Liveth
No.11: Baal, We Cry To Thee: Hear And Answer Us!
No.12: Call Him Louder, For He Is A God!
No.13: Call Him Louder! He Heareth Not!
No.14: Lord God Of Abraham, Isaac And Israel!
No.15: Cast Thy Burden Upon The Lord
No.16: O Thou, Who Makest Thine Angels Spirits
No.17: Is Not His Word Like A Fire?
No.18: Woe Unto Them Who Forsake Him!
No.19: O Man Of God, Help Thy People!
No.20: Thanks Be To God!

Tracks:

No.21: Hear Ye, Israel; Hear What The Lord Speaketh
No.22: Be Not Afraid, Saith God The Lord
No.23: The Lord Hath Exalted Thee
No.24: Woe To Him, He Shall Perish
No.25: Man Of God, Now Let My Words Be Precious
No.26: It Is Enough; O Lord Now Take My Life
No.27: See, Now He Sleepeth
No.28: Lift Thine Eyes To The Mountains
No.29: He, Watching Over Israel, Slumbers Not
No.30: Arise, Elijah, For Thou Hast A Long Journey
No.31: O Rest In The Lord
No.32: He That Shall Endure To The End, Shall Be Saved
No.33: Night Falleth Round Me, O Lord!
No.34: Behold! God The Lord Passed By!
No.35: Above Him Stood The Seraphim
No.36: Go, Return Upon Thy Way
No.37: For The Mountains Shall Depart
No.38: Then Did Elijah The Prophet Break Forth
No.39: Then Shall The Righteous Shine Forth
No.40: Behold, God Hath Sent Elijah
No.41: But The Lord, From The North Hath Raised One
No.41a: O Come Everyone That Thirsteth
No.42: And Then Shall Your Light Break Forth

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful, but not my first choice.......2007-04-07

I believe this was the first recording of Elijah in English that used an "international" conductor and some international singers. Fruhbeck gives a good, dramatic sweep to the piece, with some wonderful dramatic moments. This is an old fashioned performance, with only a solo quartet, and if there is a semi-chorus, I can't tell the difference. This means that the soprano is the Widow, and an Angel, the mezzo the Angel and Queen Jezabel, etc. You really should have a libretto, but you don't get one at this price.
Fischer-Dieskau roughens up his voice for the role, and therein lies a problem. The voice spreads and his diction suffers because of it; that and his unidiomatic pronounciation, with far too many rolled "r"s. He does the drama well, but what works well in lieder works here less well on the large scale. Odd, given his success as on opera singer (check out his Iago), that here he frequently comes off blustery.
Dame Gwyneth Jones belies her reputation and gives a contolled, dramatic performance, using her "edge" to advantage in "Hear Ye, Israel". Gedda's diction is amazing, with exactly the right color for this literature, and projecting a little more blood than an English tenor.
Dame Janet Baker is my star in this performance. Dramatic, heart-rending when need be, and in wonderful voice. She'll chill your blood when she tells the people of Baal to "slaughter him, do what he hath done!".
And as for the people of Baal, the Philharmonia Chorus is wonderful. Incisive and dramatic, with beautiful tone. I could do without the trick of the boy choir for "Lift Thine Eyes", and I miss the small ensembles, but all in all a fine performance, and good recording, circa 1968.
First choice in English, Daniels/Terfel: better Elijah in Terfel, better recording, more authentic orchestra, small vocal ensembles (as per the score) but inferior women (including Fleming: beautiful tone, but where's her head?). In German, it's Sawallisch/Adam all the way.
But if you're singing Elijah, and have a score, this is a good choice.

THE BEST recording of the BEST oratorio ever..........2006-08-15

Okay, I'm gonna admit I'm biased- I first sung in the chorus of Elijah when I was 14 and it made a BIG impression on me!
This recording is in every way wonderful. Starting with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. He IS Elijah to me. His singing is perfection. He has amazing phrasing and his diction makes it possible to understand the lovely, inspired libretto to this heavenly music. There are so many pieces that are ephemeral, but a couple of my favorites are: #14, Lord God of Abraham and #37, For the Mountains shall Depart. Dieskau does a great job of what I think of as compassionate, heartfelt singing. His interpretation sounds like the voice of God himself. It has a quality of kindness and yet he sounds just as convincing reprimanding the people of Baal. He is the true highlight of this recording.

That said, the rest of the cast is wonderful as well. Gwyneth Jones has a lovely, silvery voice that has a clarion bell-like tone that rings over the large orchestra with ease. She has occasional "misfire" but is a consistent performer. Dame Janet Baker and Nicolai Gedda both perform at a consistently lovely level. The orchestra and chorus are both wonderful. #15, Cast thy Burden upon the Lord, #32 He that Shall Endure to the End, and #38 Then Did Elijah are all highlights.

All said, for me the main reason to get this recording is Dieskau's Elijah- after all, he's the main character. But don't forget the lovely music. This story is exciting and passionate and sacred all at the same time. For me, it's the best oratorio that has a moving story and great music too.

Too bad there are so few recordings of Elijah.......2006-07-03

This is a good recording of an oratorio that deserves more attention. The chorus and soloists are very good--I just wish Fischer-Diskau wouldn't slide around so much in singing the title part!

Now And Then: Music From The Motion Picture

Average customer rating:

Lovely tunes...
Fun all the way!
I`m listening to it now!
This music has a place in my heart
buy it! buy it!...

Now And Then: Music From The Motion Picture
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Now and Then
My Girl: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
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More Music from Coyote Ugly

ASIN: B000002BCR
Release Date: 1995-10-17

Tracks:

Sugar, Sugar - The Archies
Knock Three Times - Tony Orlando & Dawn
I Want You Back - Jackson 5
Signed, Sealed, Deliverd I'm Yours - Stevie Wonder
Band Of Gold - Freda Payne
Daydream Believer - The Monkees
No Matter What - Badfinger
Hitchin' A Ride - Vanity Fare
All Right Now - Free
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me - Diana Ross & The Supremes
I'll Be There - Jackson 5
Now And Then - Susanna Hoffs

Customer Reviews:

Lovely tunes..........2007-04-21

I love this soundtrack. I never saw the film (it seemed like a coming of age/chick flick, which is always a bad sign), but I love the artists here. Sugar Sugar by The Archies, Hitchin' a Ride by Vanity Fare, and Band of Gold by Frenda Payne are all here. Oh, yeah, and Daydream Believer, a wonderful Jon Stewart tune performed by the wonderful Monkees. The rest of the songs are lovely, too. Picking this up is a lot cheaper than buying the songs seperately. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful...

Fun all the way!.......2005-06-21

You can listen to this soundtrack any time of the year and it's bound to cheer you up, it's a marvellous accompaniment to a fab film. Although it might lack Nancy Sinatra's classic song 'These Boots Were Made For Walking' thats no reason to overlook the great collection of songs that have been brought together in this great CD. A purchase wouldn't be a waste of money by any stretch of the imagination it's really worth every penny. (or cent as the case may be)

I`m listening to it now!.......2005-05-27

I listen to this soundtrack all the time. Everyone loves it as you can see. I mean who can`t? It`s a great soundtrack. Possibly the best? Who knows? I find it great and if you listen to the samples or buy the cd I bet you`ll love. If you don`t just click no under the helpful review thing, but I bet you anything that everyone will find this helpful. I love the movie and the songs in it so I bought the cd, well my mom did and I am so thankful for it. If you like the movie you need to listen to this. It`s what you need to do. If you like the samples or the cd you must see the movie. It`s PG-13 because of sexual reffrences, laungue, and audult themes. You should be at least 9 to see it. I saw it well when I was ten and it was a little over my head as my mom calls it. Anyway I`m not here to talk about the movie, I`m here to talk about the soundtrack that rocks. Like I said earlier this is a soundtrack you will love and listen to all the time.

Thank`s for your time,
Vicki

This music has a place in my heart.......2005-02-27

I liked the movie, but I really love this soundtrack. It's what I put on when I'm tired of being an adult. The Archies, The Jackson Five, Stevie Wonder... they were all a part of my childhood... back when I took my allowance to Woolworth's every week and to buy a 45. If you remember those days fondly, you'll love this album. It's full of bubblegum favorites that still bring a smile to my face.

buy it! buy it!..........2004-11-19

this movie changed my life! it was like me and my friends when i was younger. and when i found the soundtrack i always listen to it. its like im in the movie. this soundtrack is the best! it has all the great songs from the late 60's early 70's, please buy this soundtrack believe me it will not diapoint you!

Average customer rating:

Excellent Collection
best cd ive bought
Wow
This CD is the Best!!!
Great CD, A re-recording notice woulda been nice though.

Then and Now: The Hits Collection
Tracy Lawrence
Manufacturer: Mercury Nashville
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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For the Love
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III
It Just Comes Natural

ASIN: B000AXWGQ8
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

Used To The Pain
Paint Me A Birmingham
If I Don't Make It Back
If The World Had A Front Porch
Sticks And Stones
Is That A Tear
Time Marches On
I See It Now
How A Cowgirl Says Goodbye
Alibis
Today's Lonely Fool
Can't Break It To My Heart
Lessons Learned
Texas Tornado
Stars Over Texas
My Second Home
If The Good Die Young

Amazon.com

Country's honey-voiced hopeless romantic gleans his career with this satisfying collection featuring rerecordings of 14 hits, his original version of "Paint me a Birmingham," and two new numbers. He's made fresh gold with "Used to the Pain," which sounds like a classic Tracy Lawrence ballad, full of regret over a heartbroken past, yet dappled with hope for the future. There's also "If I Don't Make It Back," a sentimental male-bonding story of a departing soldier's words to his buddies with a tearjerker ending. The older tunes, like "Birmingham" and "Today's Lonely Fool," stand time's test, as does the undiminished emotional palette of Lawrence's voice. Although most of these numbers are sad or starry-eyed honky-tonk, the set ends with the rowdy "If the Good Die Young," a rocker with the kickin' line "I'm gonna live forever if the good die young." But with more #1 hits than Glen Campbell, Ernest Tubb, and a host of other legends, Lawrence has already attained his own brand of longevity. --Ted Drozdowski

Album Description

There are 17 songs in this hits collection. I re-recorded 14 of my past hits, included the original version of "Paint Me A Birmingham," and recorded two brand new songs. In making this record, I got the chance to study myself as a vocalist and as a person. I listened to what I did with "Sticks And Stones" all the way through what I did with "Paint Me A Birmingham." It was pretty educational to go back through 14 years of my life and pick myself apart. I learned a lot about myself.

We were intent on recapturing the magic for this CD. I wanted the cuts to be as close sonically to the original recordings as we could make them. We matched tempos, snare sounds and guitar licks--everything. I even sang along with the originals to try to get my phrasing as close as possible. We did all that we could, short of stepping back in time, to get as close to reliving the moments those records were recorded.

We worked with a lot of the same players that played on my original recordings. We talked about the studios we played in. We cut up and reminisced about all of the good times on the road during those years. We talked about the path my music had traveled with different producers. I could hear my growth and I could hear the strain in my voice during the times when there was pain in my life. It brought it all back to life for me. In a lot of ways I found the whole process healthy and therapeutic.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Collection.......2007-07-15

Great collection of Tracy's songs. There's really nothing on this CD that I didn't like.

best cd ive bought.......2007-04-18

I really think this is the best cd I've ever bought. Every single song on the cd is amazing. This is definitely an excellent purchase.

Wow.......2007-04-04

What can be said about this album? It is WONDERFUL!!!!! I've been a fan of his for 16 years and will be one for many more years to come. His songs are great and his live shows are FANTASTIC!!! He makes you feel like a friend during his shows. His music is terrific!!!!!!!

This CD is the Best!!!.......2007-03-11

Six months ago I didn't even know who Tracy Lawrence was, and I kept hearing one of his songs on the radio and finally through much effort searched him out and bought this CD. It is my favorite! I have listened to it to and from work every day since I bought it (four months ago). I love all of the songs.

Great CD, A re-recording notice woulda been nice though........2006-06-05

I have to give this CD 3 stars only because there was no notice anywhere on the CD cover mentioning that this CD contains new recordings of his old songs instead of being a true "Greatest Hits" collection CD. In fact, the sticker on the cover leads you to believe otherwise. None-the-less, the recordings are extremely close to the originals and he does include the original "Paint Me A Birmingham" which makes it an ok buy.

Average customer rating:

An early stage of fresh album
Bought this for one song. They played it.
Still Blossoming But With A Hiccup Or Two....
Short, but sweet
Great Remake of Classics

Now & Then
The Carpenters
Manufacturer: A&M
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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A Song for You
Horizon
Close to You
Carpenters
As Time Goes By

ASIN: B00000G3WU
Release Date: 1998-12-08

Tracks:

Sing
This Masquerade
Heather
Jambalaya (On The Bayou)
I Can't Make Music
Yesterday Once More
Fun, Fun, Fun
The End Of The World
Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)
Deadman's Curve
Johnny Angel
The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
Our Day Will Come
One Fine Day
Yesterday Once More (Reprise)

Customer Reviews:

An early stage of fresh album.......2007-07-02

I listened to the music of Carpenters in various ways, but a quality of them appears this CD most.
Unfortunately there is not sound quality of recording despite best.
However, Carpenters must be DUO superior in U.S.A.

Bought this for one song. They played it........2007-05-13

Forgot how bad they were for the most part.

Still Blossoming But With A Hiccup Or Two...........2007-01-25

After the phenomenal success of "A Song For You," which was still burning bright into 1973, the Carpenters had to come up with something new. The previous years had seen a sudden 'revival' of oldies, partly an outgrowth of the infamous Ricky Nelson "Garden Party" incident. Doing their part, the Carpenters made their contribution on both sides of this classic LP.

I note a number of five star reviews, and I considered doing that myself. The reason I didn't can be summed up in two words: opening song. The opening song of a recording sets the stage - at least on a well-done album - for all that is to follow. The Carpenters opt for another Leon Russell tune to open the album but, unfortunately, "This Masquerade" - while a good song and done in fabulous Carpenter fashion - is just not the kind of tune to open an album. It segues into a number three hit, "Sing," from the TV show "Sesame Street" - the source of countless number one songs like "It's Not Easy Being Green."

We then get the first taste of Carpenter greatness with an abbreviated version of "Yesterday Once More" - and by abbreviated, I mean only the first verse and the closing chorus. Following the successful pattern of "A Song for You," we get another Richard Carpenter instrumental, "Heather."

The upbeat "Jambalaya" is another remake, this of a 1952 Hank Williams classic. But the Carpenters make it their own with a great performance capped by the traditional Carpenter overdub sound. "I Can't Make Music," a melancholy melody by Randy Edelman closes out the first side. Karen's vocal carries it well.

The second side is an ode to the oldies. Starting with Richard's new composition, "Yesterday Once More," the Carpenters go on a twenty minute tear of rock 'n' roll classics. They start with "Fun, Fun, Fun" by the Beach Boys and are interrupted by a 'hip' DJ (Tony Peluso, author of the "Goodbye To Love" guitar riff). It segues into "The End of the World," the Skeeter Davis Classic. Following are "Da Doo Ron Ron" (Crystals), "Dead Man's Curve" (Jan and Dean), "Johnny Angel" (Shelley Fabares), "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" (Bobby Vee), "Our Day Will Come" (Ruby and the Romantics" and close out with a rapid fire acceptable version of "One Fine Day" (Chiffons). Interspersed are the DJ interacting with his audience including a 'Guess The Golden Goodies Group Contest.' The caller, Mark Rudolph, gets it wrong and the DJ mocks him.

The second side is, in its own way, a classic. Rather than a note-for-note remake of these songs, the Carpenters put their stamp on some of the classics and all of the versions are more than acceptable. Indeed, they make the album a must hear classic for all Carpenter fans.

The cover art is also, in my view, the best of all the Carpenter albums. You probably can't see it on the screen, but Richard is in the driver's seat and Karen in the passenger side.

Two smash hits and an entire side of Carpenter versions of classics? What are you waiting for? Get it today.

Short, but sweet.......2006-06-12

This is one of Carpenters' better albums, I think. It's true that there's not much of it (The first half includes five whole songs, one of which is an instrumental, the second is, apart from 'Yesterday Once More', entirely composed of a hits medley), but what is here is loads of fun. Of all their albums, with the possible exception of Passage and A Kind of Hush (I know many will disagree with me about those), I think this is the most fun to listen to.

On the first half, there is the hit 'Sing', which may not be the greatest song, but it was a hit for a reason; it's very listenable. Then there is their sultry, jazzy version of 'This Masquerade', which is lovely, and predicts the direction their music will take by the end of the decade. The aforementioned instrumental, 'Heather', might be taken for filler, but it's actually very good. The upbeat 'Jambalaya (On The Bayou)', which was a hit in the U. K. and the Netherlands, is another fun, feel-good song, in true Carpenters fashion, themed around a celebration in the Deep South. 'I Can't Make Music' is a very good song about disappointment and lonliness. Then, there is the mostalgic mega-hit 'Yesterday Once More', which is beautiful, and bookends a medley of classics from the early 60s, including the Beach Boys' 'Fun, Fun, Fun', the Crystals' 'Da Doo Ron Ron', and the Chiffons' 'One Fine Day'. I think it works well, and it's great to hear those songs in the Carpenters' sound. For those who have suggested the existance and length of the medley imply that they were short on things to record, I'm pretty sure the medley was intended from the beginning. My only regret about it is that it is just that, a medley. It would be great to her them do the songs in their entirity, and maybe a few others ('Be My Baby', 'Up On The Roof', for example).

All in all, this is a good album for anyone interested in Carpenters. Good songs, great singing by Karen (Particularly on 'This Masquerade', 'I Can't Make Music', and 'Yesterday Once More'), and lovely backup arranged by Richard. However, be warned that the tone is pretty light and upbeat throughout the album, and if you're into slow, serious ballads, I'd check out Horizon or A Song For You, instead.

Great Remake of Classics.......2006-03-29

This is a fantastic Carpenters album....My favorite track is "Yesterday Once More"....Shhhaaa La La La...A Carpenter classic!....Also like "Sing"...its great song and Karen sings it very well ...Yesterday Once More and Sing were the only two singles released from the album and they both charted at #2 on Billboard Singles.....Other highlights from the album include..The End Of The World,Johnny Angel,and One Fine Day....Make sure you pick a copy of this up today and as well as the rest of the Carpenters classic albums.

1776: The New Broadway Cast Recording (1997)

Average customer rating:

From someone who despises American musical theater
A Mans Show
Who knew Mr. Data had it in him?
I Love It!
SURPRISINGLY TERRIFIC

1776: The New Broadway Cast Recording (1997)

Manufacturer: Tvt
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000000GU0
Release Date: 1997-12-16

Tracks:

ACT I: Sit Down, John - Brent Spiner/Michael X. Martin/Richard Poe/Tom Aldredge/John Herrera/Tom Riis Farrell...
ACT I: Piddle, Twidle and Resolve - Brent Spiner/Orch/Mark Mitchell
ACT I: Till Then - Brent Spiner & Linda Emond/Orch/Mark Mitchell
ACT I: The Lees of Old Virginia - Merwin Foard/Pat Hingle & Brent Spiner/Orch/Mark Mitchell
ACT I: But Mr. Adams - Brent Spiner/Pat Hingle/Paul Micheal Valley/John Herrara & Daniel Marcus/Orch/Mark Mitchell
ACT I: Yours, Yours, Yours - Brent Spiner & Linda Emond/Orch/Mark Mitchell
ACT I: He Plays The Violin - Lauren Ward/Pat Hingle & Brent Spiner/Orch/Mark Mitchell
ACT I: Cool, Cool, Considerate Man - Michael Cumptsy/Orch/Mark Mitchell
ACT I: Momma Look Sharp - Erik J. McCormack/Macintyre Dixon & Joseph Cassidy/Orch/Mark Mitchell
ACT II: The Egg - Pat Hingle/Brent Spiner & Paul Michael Valley/Orch/Mark Mitchell
ACT II: Molasses to Rum - Gregg Edelman/Orch/Mark Mitchell
ACT II: Compliments - Linda Emond/Orch/Mark Mitchell
ACT II: Is Anybody There? - Brent Spiner/Orch/Mark Mitchell

Customer Reviews:

From someone who despises American musical theater.......2007-06-04

Okay... wow.

In the Brent Spiner Fangirl Legal Contract, it specifies that said fangirl must purchase any and all vocal recordings containing said Brent Spiner (and that she will not, in any way or at any time, mention how much he sounds like Judy Garland on steroids). Which is why I purchased this CD.

He... ripped... into... this... part. That's the only way I can put it. I was floored from start to finish.

The work, as a whole, is something of a consuming thing. Be prepared to sit in silence for a few minutes after you're done with this one, because after hearing the whole thing, silence will be the only followup that does it justice.

A Mans Show.......2006-07-24

For anyone looking for male songs, or a male show to put on, this is the soundtrack for you. It has great ballads as well as big chorus numbers for the male sex. However the subject matter just didnt grab me by the throat and make me love it. History isnt my thing. That being said, the music and lyrics are great, and worth the money. This is a good one to get if your interested in broadway, but not the Rodgers and Hamerstein style. My favorite songs are "Molasses to Rum" and "Momma Look Sharp."

Who knew Mr. Data had it in him?.......2006-07-05

I saw this musical in NYC and have never been so moved by a Broadway show before. Brent Spiner has a lovely yet commanding voice that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck in parts - you so believe in the rightness of his convictions as Adams. All the performances are first rate, but Spiner really shines.

The argument can be made that this musical was "of its time" meaning the 1960's, but I think the songs still hold up as they entertain as well as educate us. Much of the lyrics and dialogue are authentic.

Highly recommended.

I Love It!.......2006-02-27

The soundtrack will make you laugh, cry and sing along. You'll have goosebumps as you hear the songs of the men and women involved in the creation of our country.

SURPRISINGLY TERRIFIC.......2006-02-23

As a PURIST fan of ORIGINAL musicals, and not one who enjoys all the revivals (which indicates a lack of current writers...no surprise), I was AMAZED at how GOOD this revival is on recording. I am sorry I missed the show in New York.

Average customer rating:

Mad about Baroque
The beauty of the songs brings tears to my eyes
Brilliant
Be Welcome then, great Sirs (and Mesdames).
Brilliant Purcell Disc

Essential Purcell
Henry Purcell , New College Choir Oxford , King's Consort , Robert King , Roy Goodman , Charles Daniels , John Mark Ainsley , James Bowman , Peter Buckoke , Jane Coe , Rogers Covey-Crump , Gillian Fisher , Michael George , Miles Golding , Jane Norman , Barbara Bonney , Mark Caudle , William Carter , King's Consort Choir , Helen Gough , Paul Nicholson , Angela East , Barry Guy , Tessa Bonner , Jerome Finnis , Rupert Bawden , Lucy Howard , Richard Campbell , Susan Addison , James O'Donnell , and Stephen Saunders
Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

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Purcell: Full Anthems & Organ Music

ASIN: B000002ZDU
Release Date: 1995-04-10

Tracks:

Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol. 5: Welcome, Welcome Glorious Morn. Symphony And Opening Chorus
Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol. 3: Be Welcome Then, Great Sir
Complete Secular Solo Songs Vol.1: Oh, Fair Cedaria
The Choir Of The King's Consort: Hear My Prayer, O Lord
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Complete Anthems And Services Vol.1: Let Mine Eyes Run Down With Tears (Part 1)
Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.4: The Sparrow And The Gentle Dove
Complete Secular Solo Songs Vol.1: If Music Be The Food Of Love (First Setting)
Complete Anthems And Services Vol.5: Rejoice In The Lord Always ('The Bell Anthem')
Complete Anthems And Services Vol.3: Hosanna To The Highest
Complete Anthems And Services Vol.7: Thou Knowest, Lord, The Secrets Of Our Hearts
Mr. Henry Purcell's Most Admirable Composures: Fairest Isle, All Isles Excelling
Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.6: Mark, How Readily Each Pliant String
Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.8: Sound The Trumpet
Complete Secular Solo Songs Vol.3: She Loves And She Confesses Too
Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.8: O How Blest Is The Isle
Complete Anthems And Services Vol.3: Remember Not, Lord, Our Offences
Complete Anthems And Services Vol. 11: An Evening Hymn
Complete Church Music Vol.2: Vouchsafe, O Lord, To Keep Us This Day
Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.2: With Rapture Of Delight... Hail Bright Cecilia

Amazon.com essential recording

The "Essential" Purcell? Well, you could get a bunch of critics to argue about that for a few days, but in the meantime, here is a sampler of highlights from the King's Consort's three admirable Purcell series: the Complete Odes and Welcome Songs, Complete Anthems and Services, and Complete Secular Solo Songs. There are, of course, some of Purcell's most-performed pieces (which probably are "essential"): Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas, "Sound the trumpet" from Come, ye sons of Art, Rejoice in the Lord alway (the "Bell Anthem," named for the string figure at the opening that sounds like pealing bells), the gently patriotic "Fairest isle, all isles excelling" (sung by a miscast James Bowman), and a selection from the funeral music for Queen Mary. There are also some delightful surprises--particularly among the little-known secular songs and church music. The plaintive "O fair Cedaria" gets a lovely performance by Barbara Bonney (a singer not usually associated with Purcell); tenor Rogers Covey-Crump (possibly the ideal high tenor for Purcell) sings the enchanting "If music be the food of love"; the church anthems "Let mine eyes run down with tears" and "Remember not, O Lord, our offences" have some startling harmonies as daring as any Monteverdi ever wrote. If you're unfamiliar with Purcell, this reasonably priced disc is a good place to start exploring without a big initial investment. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

Mad about Baroque.......2007-02-12

This is a terrific CD. The music is breathtaking. Just buy IT !!!!!

The beauty of the songs brings tears to my eyes.......2002-08-21

Absolutely beautiful baroque music! The arrangament, singing and instrumentation is superb. It is too bad that Henry Purcell is not as widely known as Bach, because he should be recognized equally well."The Sparrow and the Gentle dove" is alone worth the price of the album! I can not stop playing it!

Brilliant.......2001-10-31

Like in his renditions of Handel's oratorios, Robert King manages to bring a freshness and strenght to Purcell's music that I had seldom heard before. This CD also features some of the best performers of early music in the world. My favourite tracks are Oh, Fair Cedaria, sung by the multi-talented Barbara Bonney; Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas, sung by Gillian Fisher; She Loves and she Confesses too, sung by the wonderful Susan Gritton; and Welcome, Welcome Glorious Morn, sung by Rogers Covey-Crump. The only track I didn't find absolutely wonderful is Fairest Isle, sung here by James Bowman. Don't get me wrong, I generally love Mr Bowman, I think that his performance in Mr Purcell's Most Admirable Composures (also conducted by Robert King) makes it another essential Purcell recording; but I find that Fairest Isle was much better done elsewhere, particularly by Christopher Hogwood and Barbara Bonney.

These songs aren't only beautiful, they're also poignant, sweet and unpretentious. I think that it will be very clear to anyone who listens to this recording that Mr Purcell was one of the finest composers that ever lived.

Be Welcome then, great Sirs (and Mesdames)........2001-10-20

If anyone has benefitted from the reversion in the last three or so decades to period instruments and historical reconstruction, it is Henry Purcell. Before, he was merely great, the peerless word-setter in the English language, a virtuoso of boundless range, a professional composer whose offical commissions were always imbued with personality and invention. But period instrumentation has added to this a greater depth, an other-worldly texture of sound. With his intricate, multi-part vocal writing, his preference for low, rumbling instruments such as the bass viol and the strange and remarkable theorbo, as well as his often sombre and low-key subject matter and treatment, Purcell creates a round, glowing, humming sound as pregnantly full as dub reggae.

This has an extraordinary effect on the listener. Whereas Bach, with his mathematical abstractions, sounds universal and timeless, Purcell's music takes the listener back 300 years, back to different ways of thinking about, feeling about and addressing things we still think etc. about today - death, love, friendship. The emotion is timeless, but the music's beauty is alien, THEIRS, hence its preciousness.

A lot of intelligence has gone into the unity of this compilation, beginning with two Welcomes (to the dawn and to the listener, in this case a King), and ending with thoughts of evening, death and a Baroque 'Thank you for the music'. These are bright, fanfare-like works, but the predominant mood is slow, ruminative, quiet. The selection covers the wide range of Purcell's oeuvre, from opera and funeral marches to secular songs and odes, and includes his most famous vocal works - Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas, sung by Gillian Fisher, and never more evocative of pagan loss and death; the massive 'Bell Anthem', with its ingenious opening symphony and joyful antiphon; and a miraculously serene 'Evening Hymn', Dido's opposite, death indicating hope, the treble voice swirling over the heavy ground bass like the soul released from the inert body.

it might seem quixotic to choose highlights from an exemplary collection of highlights, but the entry of the strings washing over the serene repetition of 'Be Welcome then, great Sir' always makes my heart stop still, while the musical picture of 'Bold Honour', the 'noisy Nothing, stalking shade', blocking the poet's amorous intentions in 'She loves and confesses too', adds a chilling hint of life's transience to a bouyantly bawdy song.

Brilliant Purcell Disc .......2000-11-30

With this album director and Purcell expert Robert King provides the listener with an excellent introduction to the composer's vocal works. The pieces presented here were taken from Mr. King's recordings of 'The Complete Odes and Welcome Songs', 'The Complete Anthems and Services', 'The Complete Secular Solo Songs' and diverse anthology discs. King, his wonderful soloists and musicians do the brilliance of Purcell's music fully justice. Whether he was commissioned by royalty, the church or theatre, Purcell shone in all areas. This disc certainly demonstrates the variety and originality of his craft, not to speak of his uncanny ability of setting words to music.

An outstanding Purcell offering. With a beautiful perfomance by Barbara Bonney of 'Oh, fair Cedaria'. Susan Gritton is equally captivating in 'She loves and she confesses too'. Gillian Fisher's rendition of the famous 'Dido's Lament' is haunting and poignant. Further an intelligent and brilliant 'Hosanna to the highest' by Michael George. James Bowman and Michael Chance sparkle in the countertenor duet 'Sound the trumpet' (from 'Come Ye sons of Art away'). And I should not forget to mention the joyous, luminous performance of the beautiful 'Bell Anthem'. To name but a few favourites, only James Bowman's 'Fairest Isle' was a disappointment.

Those who are familiar with Purcell's music will get an excellent disc with some of his most beloved works. If you are new to Purcell, this is, as already said a great introduction. Which might be the incentive to further explorations of Purcell.

by stardustraven

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