Day Three

Track Listings

1. I See

2. Day Three

3. Very Least of Us

4. Send Me

5. To Live Is Christ

6. Let the Rocks Keep Silent

7. If Not for the Old Rugged Cross

8. I Am Evidence

9. Prodigal Son

10. What I Believe

11. On the Wings of Faith

Tracks:

Wedding March (Lohengrin)
Allegro I (Water Music) - Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
Trumpet Voluntary
Minuet (Music For The Royal Fireworks)
Canon in D Major
Spring - Susan Lautenbacher
Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba (Solomon)
Air (Water Music) - Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
Sheep May Safely Graze (Cantana No. 208)
Arioso
Bist Du Bei Mir' (Anna Magdalena Notebook)
Panis Angelicus
Weichet Nur' (Wedding Cantata)
Silent Worship (Tolomeo) - Mary Ann Hart
Ave Maria
Sehet In Zufriedenheit' (Wedding Cantata)
Ave Maria
Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring
Air On The G String - Mainz Chamber Orchestra
Pastorale (Messiah) - Eastman Chorale
Nocturne - Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Wedding Day At Troldhaugen - Utah Symphony Orchestra
Hornpipe (Water Music)
Wedding March
Toccata (5th Symphony)

Customer Reviews:

Excellent resource for wedding planners.......2007-04-05

I work regularly with people planning church weddings who want the service to be dignified, traditional and formal. Often they have "ear memory" of music they've heard in other weddings, but no idea about its composer or title. This CD is the best compilation I've found of music that fits those requirements. Selections include great music and performances make it easy to imagine how they would sound in a particular church or other setting. Includes works by Protestant, Catholic and secular composers.

Great item!.......2007-03-29

Great CD! Perfect when planning your wedding music. There are a variety of songs from various composers.

Preview your wedding day.......2006-08-14

This CD was inexpensive, and provided a great way to preview songs for my wedding. The CD had a good song selection. My fiance and I were able to get a better idea of how the songs would be at our wedding. Definitely an inexpensive tool that is worthwhile.

25 WEDDING FAVORITES.......2006-07-20

My daughter had to move her wedding 3 weeks before the event and the music she had arranged could not be there. I purchased this CD and we were thrilled with the price, the selections on the cd and how quickly it arrived. Thanks for providing the music for a beautiful wedding.

25 Wedding Favorites.......2006-02-24

This is an excellent CD for a formal wedding, so-so for a casual one.

Average customer rating:

New Yo-Yo Fan
Simply wonderful!
Awesome
What is this?
Great if you're not familiar with Yo-Yo Ma

Classic Yo-Yo

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Vivaldi's Cello
The Essential Yo-Yo Ma
Obrigado Brazil
Soul of the Tango: The Music of Astor Piazzolla
Simply Baroque

ASIN: B00005OAY5
Release Date: 2001-09-18

Tracks:

Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major
Prelude
Fear Tango
Butterfly's Day Out
Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan
Slavonic Dance No. 2 in E minor, Op.72
Three Preludes
Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
American Collection Theme
Sonata for Cello and Piano in F Major, Op. 99
IV. Allegro molto
The Eternal Vow from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Erbarme dich (Matthdus-Passion)
Quartet for Piano & Strings No. 2 in G minor, Op. 45
IV. Allegro molto
Vocalise
Libertango
Simple Gifts
Appalachia Waltz

Amazon.com

Except for one "previously unreleased" recording and two new ones, this is a compilation of segments taken from older Yo-Yo Ma CDs, perhaps to whet listeners' appetite to hear the entire records. The disc represents a triumph of performance over material. The program consists of short pieces and single movements of long ones and serves to display Yo-Yo Ma's extraordinary versatility, his spectacular instrumental and musical gifts, and his remarkable ability to invest everything he plays with the same commitment and emotional concentration. There is no logic to the sequence, except that it begins and ends with solo cello. Bach, whom Ma plays tuned normally when unaccompanied and tuned low with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, may justify the CD's title but seems out of place. Moreover, juxtaposing him with O'Connor and Piazzolla is jarring, though the Tangos are beautiful. The transcription of Dvorák's lovely E-minor Slavonic Dance, despite the participation of violinist Itzhak Perlman and his golden tone, sounds like a movie soundtrack: all bravura and cheap effects. The playing's the thing, and it is stunning, not only Yo-Yo Ma's, but that of all his collaborators, from vocalists Bobby McFerrin and Alison Krauss to pianist Emanuel Ax, Ma's duo partner of 25 years. Ax joins Ma for the Finale of Brahms's second cello sonata; that is what you may find yourself humming at the end. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

New Yo-Yo Fan.......2006-07-09

I had never listened to Yo-Yo Ma before (that I knew of) and then I was at a dance recital a few months ago. Two little ballerinas danced to "Simple Gifts" with Alison Kraus, and I had to have that song. I really enjoy playing this album when my family is just hanging out reading or playing with the baby in the living room. Each piece is unique and beautiful in its own way. Simple Gifts is still my favorite piece on the album, I only wish it were longer!

Simply wonderful!.......2006-06-04

I recently got this CD as a birthday gift. I've been wanting this CD for a while. The first track is a wonderful song in all reality the entire CD is a wonderful experience. The prelude by Gershwin is unique sounding with the cello. The jazz quality is still there and has a bit of classical influence intertwined among it. Yo-Yo Ma's recording of Simple Gifts is a good song and when they had the lyrics sung by Alison Krauss it was a wonderful choice. Her vocals matched the cello incredibly well. Track 8 is a wonderful song that I love to hear being played on the cello. For any person who loves classical music or cello music this CD is a good choice to buy. It will be well worth your money.

Awesome.......2004-08-20

While most people on this site see the "classic" in the title of the album as referring to classical music only, they are mistaken. Classic Yo-Yo refers to his style, not the genre into which his music choices fall. The list of tracks alone should have been a big enough clue that the music isn't all classical. Judging this album, or any album for that matter, on just its title is simply foolish. And while this is technically a solo album, the way Yo-Yo brings in guest artists to perform with him shows his flexibility as an artist. His version of Simple Gifts is so much more than a school chorus; it is an amazing cellist playing the accompaniment on a song that is meant to be sung.

On a more positive note, I found every track beautiful, from the elegant solo cello in the Bach cello suite to the haunting vocal line in the Bobby McFerrin piece. Yo-Yo Ma gathered a wide range of intriguing pieces to make this fantastic album.

What is this?.......2004-02-10

This is a compilation of many different styles; look Yo-Yo can play bluegrass! Not really "Classic" Yo-Yo.

Great if you're not familiar with Yo-Yo Ma.......2002-12-27

This CD is a good sample of what yo-yo ma has acheived in his musical career, if you want a more in depth listening of his talents than I suggest getting the simply baroque CD. The only thing that I didn't like about this cd was that the compositions were to mixed up in the genres. There was a bit of classical, some movie works, a great song by John Williams, and some of The Tango series music. If you would rather listen to one genre, get a CD that just has Classical or Contemerary, don't get a jack of all trades cd.

Average customer rating:

Rutter Christmas Album
Unique and Beautiful!
Johh Rutter Chirstmas Album
Liked it enough to go through a lot of trouble to give it a review.
John Rutter and Cambridge Singers

The John Rutter Christmas Album
Cambridge Singers , Rutter , and City of London Sinfon
Manufacturer: Collegium
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

John Rutter Collection
Cambridge Singers Christmas Album
Christmas Star
Requiem & Magnificat/Rutter, Cambridge Singers
Be Thou My Vision

ASIN: B00006JJ4T
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Tracks:

Wexford Carol
Jesus Child
There Is a Flower
Donkey Carol
Wild Wood Carol
Angels' Carol
Nativity Carol
Mary's Lullaby
Star Carol
Candlelight Carol
Shepherd's Pipe Carol
Christmas Lullaby
Dormi, Jesu
Love Came Down at Christmas
Sans Day Carol
I Wonder as I Wander
What Sweeter Music
Joy to the World
I Saw Three Ships
Deck the Hall
Very Best Time of Year
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Silent Night

Album Description

Top of the British Classical Charts for 10 Weeks! Billboard Top Ten Classical Recording - December 2002! This album gathers together most of the carols I have composed over the years, plus a sprinkling of my arrangements of traditional carols, grouped to form a program which narrates, reflects upon, and celebrates the Christmas story. I have always enjoyed carols ever since I first sang them as a member of my school choir, and it was not long before I began to write carols of my own-in fact my first two published compositions were the Nativity Carol and the Shepherd's Pipe Carol. For any musician involved in choral music, Christmas is an especially joyous time, and I am indeed happy that it has played a part in my musical life for so many years- JOHN RUTTER

Customer Reviews:

Rutter Christmas Album.......2007-05-14

Great selection of music, and well presented. This is however older recordings that do not match the quality of Rutter's latest recordings such as the Te Deum or the Gloria.

Unique and Beautiful!.......2007-03-09

John Rutter, and his beautiful music, is such a gift to the world. This unique Christmas CD is magnificent! Especially touching are two of Rutter's original carols, "Christmas Lullaby" and the joyful "Angels' Carol." The musical selections speak to the soul, helping the listener connect to emotions of joy, peace, faith, hope, and love. This is a worthy addition to your collection of Christmas CDs.

Johh Rutter Chirstmas Album.......2007-02-19

If I were to choose only one Christmas album to ever own, this would be the one. John Rutter is an exceptional composer of religious music, with unusual harmonies. The music is difficult to sing, and because this is his own choir and he is directing it, the performance is flawless. Gives you goosebumps.

Liked it enough to go through a lot of trouble to give it a review........2007-02-07

Great music by John Rutter: Great performance!

John Rutter and Cambridge Singers.......2007-01-18

This is quintessential English cathedral music; beautifully sung. Reminds one of the English Christmas -- warm and serene -- that we've only experienced in our dreams!

Mozart for Morning Coffee: Freshly Brewed to Perk Up Your Day

Average customer rating:

why?
Wake Up To Mozart
Corny title - great CD
Absolutely splendid sampler (but its one disc not two)
Excellent Recording Quality!

Mozart for Morning Coffee: Freshly Brewed to Perk Up Your Day

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bach for Breakfast
Beethoven for Book Lovers: An Intimate Companion for Reading
Mozart for Meditation
Tchaikovsky At Tea Time: A Refreshing Blend For Body And Spirit
Mozart at Midnight

ASIN: B0000041FN
Release Date: 1996-08-13

Tracks:

Violin Sonata In G, K. 301: Allegro
Violin Sonata In C, K. 296: Andante sostenuto
Violin Sonata In B-Flat, K. 378: Allegro moderato
Violin Sonata In F, K. 376: Andante
Violin Sonata In C, K. 296: Allegro (Rondo)
Piano Trio In D Minor, K. 442: Tempo di minuetto
Violin Sonata In C, K. 303: Adagio-Molto allegro
Piano Trio In B-Flat, K. 254: Rondeaux (Tempo di menuetto)
Piano Trio In G, K. 496: Allegro
Piano Quartet In E-Flat, K. 493: Allegretto

Customer Reviews:

why?.......2005-10-28

Why do they keep making these "Mozart (and other composers) for..." CDs? I know I know. For idiots to buy them of course so the record company can make tons of money. But I feel it's an insult to classical music. No offense but Mozart wasn't thinking of you sipping a cup of joe when he wrote this music. He couldn't care less "how perky" your Starbucks is to tell you the truth. I think he'd be pretty mad seeing how his music is being commercially exploited these days. Why can't people just buy and listen to classical music as it was intended? Buy a set of Mozart's violin concertos or maybe Don Giovanni if you're so inclined. Don't be afraid - Mozart didn't write anything less than great. You won't be disappointed even if you go out on a limb and even buy one of his lesser known works. But don't get this "potpourri excerpts from his music" trash. Gosh, these kinds of CDs have gone too far. What's next - "Tchaikovsky for Taking a Dump"? Sheeesh....Don't suport this if you care about preserving art...

Wake Up To Mozart.......2005-09-25

This CD is from the many titles in the "Set Your Life To Classical Music" which feature such catchy themes as Tchaikovsky at Tea Time, Chopin and Champagne, Baroque For Beauty Sleep, Bach For Barbecue, Beethoven For Book Lovers, Bach for Breakfast, Puccini and Pasta, Debussy for Dreamers, Liszt for Lovers and many many others. This one is a collection of Mozart's more intimate, nevertheless lively and jingly Violin Sonatas and Piano Trios, as played by the Beaux Arts Trio with Grimmeaux on the violin. The music sounds fresh and is certain to wake you up as much as a strong cup of coffee would. While the Mozart For Your Brain (Mozart music raising a person's IQ level) was proven to be ineffective, this music should be taken as background music or elevator music in a sense, to wake you up or to drink your coffee with. It is lovely music to wake to, and I have tried it. It works! It's beautiful, classy and elegant and at the same time, lively and jovial. Mozart's music has a charming effect. It is ebullient and gentle, and perfect to hear in any occassion. This type of music never becomes too deep or complex and Mozart never intended it to. It's purely musical for the sake of being musical and thus makes us feel good while listening to it. While its not exactly party music, it nearly becomes festive in its mood. I highly recommend all the CD titles in the Series. They are also excellent, first-rate introductions to classical music for the novice. This is not heavy stuff like Wagner, Mahler or Bruckner. It is simpler music relying on the grace and classical balance of harmony and consistency of line that Mozart used. It's easily appreciated. The covers to these titles are also very friendly looking and cute.

Corny title - great CD.......2004-12-02

I first noticed this CD when I ran a query to find Arthur Grumiaux listings, but ignored it because of the title; thinking that it was a sampler of a variety of artists. When I ran across it in the store, though, I saw that Grumiaux and Klein perform on all Sonatas, and the Beaux Art Trio on all Trios! Strange that they decided to use their best artists on a low-price, mass-appeal compilation. So ignore the schmaltzy concept and definitely try this out - for the price you can't beat these great performances.

Absolutely splendid sampler (but its one disc not two).......2003-06-19

This is a lttle gem of a mozart chamber sampler...gentle pieces that show Mozart at his most gracious. The bargain (for casual classical listeners) is that you get a nice representative selection for a nice price (altho' please note this is ONE disc, not two)

For the the not-so-casual listener of Mozart, having Grumiaux and the Beaux Arts trio as performers means you get about the best Philips ever put on their catalogue. Much easier to shell out $$ for these selected performances by these musicians than to pay multiples of that to get the full sets. A "teaser...".

Excellent Recording Quality!.......1999-08-23

I now have about 4 of the "Mozart for ..." CD's, and I have found all of them to be of excellent sound quality, and I have a very discrminating sound system. The Signal to Noise ratios are very good, and the music is very dynamic without suffering from much compression. If you know little about classical but enjoy well recorded, popular tunes, this series is for you! Highly recommended!

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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Similar Items:

Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Op34; Simple Symphony Op4
The Life and Works of Ludwig van Beethoven
What to Listen for in Music
Study of Orchestration, Third Edition
The Life and Works of Frédéric Chopin

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:

You Are The New Day
Nouveau Poor
Three Times A Lady
What's In A Tune?
You'd Have To Be A Rosie
Can't Buy Me Love
Singapore Girl
'Sweet Charity': The Rhythm Of Life
The Gambler
It Was Almost Like A Song
Here Comes The Sun
Hush Little Baby, Don't Say A Word
'Grease': Money, Money, Money-Summer Nights
The Summer Knows
Could It Be Magic

Customer Reviews:

Great sound and great song!.......2007-05-19

I loved the song "A New Day" after hearing it on the radio. I tracked it down and ordered the CD. All the songs are terrific.

Along with the Good Vibrations are my favorites.......2007-05-15

Own it! It's all worth it!
"You are the new day" is my personal favorite song.

My dad loves it.......2007-02-13

If he likes it then I am happy. Not my cup of tea. I like the idea that there where some Beatles tunes. Dad is 57 I am 36 might be the difference in age. NOt sure. Just not my cup of tea

Great Album!.......2006-04-22

I was very amazed when I first heard this album. Their sound is like no other. They are so unique that you can't compare them to other acapella groups.

I can say that their sound is better than a mixed choir because even though the King's Singers is only composed of 6 members. Their sound volume can beat a 30 member choir due to the quality of their voice.

My favorite is "It Was Almost Like A Song" because of the countertenor's very light voice. The baritone part was also awesome as he dominated the scene when he took the melody.

Overall, great album. This has to be one of the King's Singers best albums released. All songs are great that you can't resist missing a moment on listening it.

Beautiful singing; clever arrangements.......2002-06-14

I have been a fan of The King's Singers since their debut recording thirty years ago. New Day is one of my favourite albums. It has the terrific optimistic song "New Day," but many other wonderful tracks.

"Can't Buy Me Love" is sung as if it had been written by one of the Renaissance madrigal writers when he was in a very good mood. There are other up tempo tracks like this one, including Abba's "Money, Money, Money" and "The Rhythm of Life," but the CD also includes some romantic, lush singing in songs such as "Three Times A Lady," "The Summer Knows" and "It Was Almost Like A Song."

The clever arrangement of Barry Manilow's "Could It Be Magic?" begins with an extract from a sombre Chopin Prelude in C minor.

Tracks:

The Three Ravens - Andreas Scholl/Andreas Martin
Barbara Allen - Andreas Scholl/Andreas Martin
Messiah: Air 'But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming?' - Andreas Scholl
Serse: Sinf - Andreas Scholl
Serse. Recitativo: Frondi Tenere - Andreas Scholl
Serse: Atto I, Scena 1. Aria: Ombra Mai Fu - Andreas Scholl
Cantate, RV 684 'Cessate, Omai Cessate': Largo E Sciolto: Cessate, Omai Cessate - Andreas Scholl/Ens 415/Chiara Banchini
Cantate, RV 684 'Cessate, Omai Cessate': Larghetto & Andante Molto: Ah Ch'infelice Sempre - Andreas Scholl/Ens 415/Chiara Banchini
Cantate, RV 684 'Cessate, Omai Cessate': Andante: A Voi Dunque Ricorro - Andreas Scholl/Ens 415/Chiara Banchini
Cantate, RV 684 'Cessate, Omai Cessate': Allegro: Nell'orrido Albergo Ricetto Di Pene - Andreas Scholl/Ens 415/Chiara Banchini
Messe in b: Agnus Dei - Andreas Scholl/Collegium Vocale/Philippe Herreweghe
Stabat Mater (Exc): Eja Mater, Fons Amoris - Andreas Scholl/Ens 415/Chiara Banchini
Stabat Mater (Exc): Fac Ut Ardeat - Andreas Scholl/Ens 415/Chiara Banchini
Stabat Mater (Exc): Amen - Andreas Scholl/Ens 415/Chiara Banchini
Maddalena Ai Piedi Di Cristo. Recitativo Amor Celeste: Di Miei Dardi Possenti - Andreas Scholl
Maddalena Ai Piedi Di Cristo. Aria Amor Celeste: Da Quel Strale Che Stilla Veleno - Andreas Scholl
Cantate 'Jubilate Domino' - Andreas Scholl/Friederike Heumann/Brigitte Gasser/Markus Markl/Karl-Ernst Schroder
Ach Liebste, Lass Uns Eilen - Andreas Scholl/Markus Markl/Karl-Ernst Schroder/ALix Verzier
Kunst Des Kussens - Andreas Scholl/Markus Markl/Karl-Ernst Schroder/ALix Verzier
Cantate Profane 'Hercules Auf Dem Scheidewege'. Aria Hercules: Treues Echo - Andreas Scholl
Matthaus-Passion. Aria: Erbarme Dich - Andreas Scholl/Collegium Vocale/Philippe Herreweghe

Customer Reviews:

Excellent introduction to this countertenor and well-rounded compilation of his work.......2007-04-02

If you're new to Andreas Scholl and want to dip a toe in the water of his recordings I think this would be an excellent choice - not only because it is mid-priced and because it has a generous 21 tracks. This countertenor singer has an unsurpassed voice, pure and beautiful but also strong and yet not overblown. Unlike many singers he doesn't (for me) ruin it by being excessively warbly but adds just the required variety to the tone.

This album contains a selection of tracks from several of his albums for the Harmonia Mundi label (he then switched to Decca and is now back with HM) which include a variety of styles and accompaniments. The first two tracks, for example, are English folksongs, then we have an Air from Handel's Messiah and three tracks (one instrumental) from Handel's Serse opera, some lively Vivaldi cantatas, there are a couple of German baroque songs, a JS Bach opera Aria from Hercules and finally the big guns (in my opinion), "Agnus Dei" from J S Bach's Mass In B Minor, Vivaldi's "Stabat Mater," a Buxtehude cantata "Jubilate Domino" and the incomparable recording of "Erbarme Dich" from the St Matthew Passion by Bach. That last track is so good I tend to feel I have to lie down afterwards and contemplate the world whilst waiting for the hairs on the back of my neck to settle down. The album price is worth it just for that one track.

The accompaniment on this album varies from just lute (in the folk songs), organ lute and cello on the German baroque songs, the Ensemble 415 with Chiara Banchini and several full orchestras. There's something here for everyone and none of the tracks is in any way disappointing (although I have my favourites, of course). The album was produced in 2000 and of course Andreas Scholl has done many more recordings and probably become an even better singer since this album but it's still an excellent album which can be played and enjoyed over and over again.

heavenly.......2006-12-10

andreas scholl does it again. the beauty of this "voice" is expressed in this lovely selection. so far my favorite scholl cd, with his pergolosi stabat mater as a close second. the highlight of this cd i felt was "da quel strale che stilla veleno" from the caldara work madalena ai pieda di christo. with the orchestra directed by his famous teacher rene jacobs this piece is a gem. absolutely heavenly is how i describe the heavenly side of the voice scholl portrays in this sacred opera. other highlights are bach's "agnus dei" from the mass in b minor, which scholl himself has referred to as the most beautiful piece for the countertenor voice. bach's "erbarme dich" from St. Matthews Passion, which he sings in his mother tongue, and his "ombra mai fu" which is the version i favor as opposed that that which appears on his "best of" cd, of which i also recommend. his version of "ah ch'infelice sempre" by vivaldi will give you chills. it is one of my favorites to sing as i am a countertenor as well. a must buy.

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-10-13

Andreas Scholl is regarded as one of the finest countertenors of our generation and has appeared throughout the world under the direction of many notable conductors. I personally think that the most important contribution he as has made is to the rediscovery of the German Baroque repertoire. There are two examples on this disc from his album :German Baroque Songs,which I think is one of his finest discs. He is also very interested in pop music and sound techniques. One can only hope that he doesn't decide to make an album of pop songs. He came close to it in that miserable disc: The Three Countertenors. However, I do think this is a very excellent collection of songs from his various recordings. I expecially liked the Vivaldi 'Cessate, omai cessate' and the 2 German Baroque songs: "Ach Liebste, lass uns eilen" by Johann Nauwach and "Kunst des Kussen" by Andreas Hammerschmidt.

Baroque My Heart.......2002-09-13

For a relatively young singer, Andreas Scholl has a surprising number of recordings. This attests to his amazing talent and the increasing popularity of music for countertenors. This CD is a sampler of Scholl's repertoire.

The English folksongs are interesting and pleasant, but for me, it is the Baroque works that truly shine. Scholl's voice is remarkably pure; his versatility and fluidity lend themselves perfectly to the currents of Baroque music. His take on Handel's Xerxes is incredible-this is music at its finest: pure joy, pure passion, raw emotion. It is heart-wrenching and soul-shaking. In "But who may abide the day of His coming?" from the Messiah, Scholl masters the balance between structured discipline and bravura "riffs" that demonstrate a singer's range and talent. Vivaldi's Sabat Mater, one of my favorite pieces of music, gets glorious treatment.

I'm glad that our civilized world had abolished the practice that creates a castrato, and I'm glad that there are rare talents like Scholl who can give us a sense of this musical genre.

The only downside to purchasing this CD is that you will immediately want to run out and purchase the complete version of each sample presented here!

If you enjoy listening to the magic of countertenors, I highly recommend Yoshikazu Mera, an amazing young Japanese artist. Start with his "Baroque Arias" CD, and I'm sure you will try more.

Sublime compliation of Scholl's Harmonia Mundi recordings.......2002-01-23

Andreas Scholl is the countertenor, nay, the *VOICE* of all time. None can match him for clarity, diction, tone, precise phrasing, or *passion* that he puts into every song that he performs. For me, Scholl's voice is the voice of a divine being, at once something mysterious, holy, achingly beautiful and otherworldly.

If you believe me to exaggerate, so be it. To each his own. Countertenors are not to everyone's tastes even though they are more visible and mainstream than thirty years ago. Yes, there is perhaps some novelty to be found for the uninitiated at the sound of a man singing falsetto. I did not say "singing like a woman" because I do not believe that to be the purpose. "Singing like a woman" in my book defines Brian Asawa and David Daniels, two popular American countertenors who, to my delicate ears, sound exactly like mezzo sopranos and not the otherworldly, decidedly masculine sound of a countertenor (with the exception of Dominique Visse, whose voice is extremely androgynous, especially in the higher registers). This is only my humble opinion.

I discovered Andreas Scholl three years ago and have collected many of his works since. My first Scholl song was "Ombra Mai Fu," a song that is present on this collection. I was in awe, in heaven even, at the first sound of his pure voice, that first gentle crescendo that hinted of sensuality, vocal purity, a past era of Bach, Handel, Hasse. Scholl's phrasing is lush, his singing is effortless, he makes sparing use of vibrato, spinning track after track of an unmatched vocal tapestry. At times Scholl and the orchestra match each other note for note, at other times his voice soars above into the heavens ("Cessate, omai cessate").

"The Voice" covers various styles from nine different Andreas Scholl Harmonia Mundi recordings (Deutsche Barocklieder, English Folksongs and Lute Songs, Kantate, St. Matthew Passion, Cantates Profanes, Maddalena ai piedi di Cristo, Ombra mai fu, Messiah, Stabat Mater). Andreas quit Harmonia Mundi in 1999 and signed a recording contract with Decca Classics, on which he has released five additional recordings (Nisi Dominus, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, Heroes, A Musicall Banquet, and Wayfaring Stranger).

It is my opinion that the best of Scholl's works up to the present were with Harmonia Mundi, as these 21 selections show. We have the pleasure of hearing Andreas sing English lute songs ("The Three Ravens," "Barbara Allen"), Baroque religious works by Bach, Handel, Caldara and Buxtehude ("Erbarme Dich," "Agnus Dei," "But Who May Abide," and "Jubilate Domino"), German Baroque songs, and other Baroque cantatas by Vivaldi and Bach.

Tracks:

Medley: Good Christian Men - Rejoice - Silent Night - Patapan - O Come - All Ye Faithful
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Shepherd's Carol
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
Medley: O Sanctissima - Joy To The World - Away In A Manger - Fum, Fum, Fum - March Of The Kings
I Wonder As I Wander
We Three Kings
My Dancing Day
Medley: What Child Is This? - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Bring A Torch - Jeanette - Isabella - Angels We Have Heard On High
Coventry Carol
God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming
Carol Of The Bells
Medley: Break Forth - O Beauteous Heavenly Light - The First Nowell - O Little Town Of Bethlehem - I Saw Three Ships - Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly

Customer Reviews:

Traditional Christmas Music .......2007-01-24

If you love traditional Christmas music, done in traditional style (i.e., no rock or jazz influence), this CD is for you. The Robert Shaw Chorale, the "gold standard" of quality choral music, sings much loved carols, with some lesser-known pieces as well. Some are a cappella; some include a full orchestral accompaniment. My favorites on this CD are "We Three Kings," "Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella," and "I Saw Three Ships."

The quintessential Christmas recording.......2005-12-09

This recording seems to elicit universal and heartfelt praise. Who am I to dispute that? The performance is terrific, just as described by the other Amazon reviewers, no doubt about it.

However, I do have one bone to pick with this recording. There just isn't enough of it. With material as good as this, that is a real loss!

A Top List Christmas CD.......2004-12-28

I bought this cd long ago, and have enjoyed it immensely each year. It is the perfect blend of celebration and meditation. Orchestra and choir combine in four distinct groupings, and a capella arrangements complete the masterful collection. The orchestral arrangements will make the hairs on your neck stand up, and your stomach quiver with all the excitement you ever felt as a child at Christmas. Adeste Fidelis is performed as few other ensembles have ever come close. The a capella arrangements will all, without exception, be on your yearly list of must-hear holiday arrangements. Truly a top list Christmas CD, essential for every family who celebrates this feast.

The best.......2004-01-02

I own approximately 35 Christmas choral CDs - including choirs and groups such as the Cambridge Singers and the King Singers. I also own two Christmas albums with Robert Shaw and the Atlantic symphony. This performance with the Robert Shaw Chorale is old but it is still my favorite. The arrangements are magnificent, the sound is brilliant, and the choir and orchestra are precise with wonderful volume control. Buy and enjoy!

How do you describe perfection?.......2003-12-14

This is my favorite Christmas CD. Nothing comes close. I thoroughly enjoyed learning much of the music in high school choir over 30 years ago. The music has never left me. The four medleys are the arrangements of Robert Russell Bennett titled "The Many Moods of Christmas". The arrangements seem to have a freshness about them even after listening numerous times.

Interspersed with the medleys are a cappella carols.

All of this music is wonderfully performed by the Robert Shaw Chorale, the a cappella selections recorded in 1957 and the medleys in 1963.

Four decades have proven that this is the standard in choral music. The clarity of text, the richness of tone, the beauty of harmony combine to present the message of Christmas in the manner that only music can do.

Tracks:

The Inside Out
Shim-Me-Sha-Wobble
Mae
Change Of Fortune
Weehawken Ferry
Cold Meat Party
All Prayed Out
Tillie's Downtown Now
Three Bucks Twenty
Corn Griffin
Shoe Polish
Londonderry Air
The Hope Of The Irish
Hooverville Funeral
Fight Day
Good As Murder
We've Got To Put That Sun Back In The Sky
No Contest
Pugilism
Bulldog Of Bergen
Big Right
9, 4, 2 Even
Cinderella Man
Turtle
Cheer Up! Smile! Nertz! - Eddie Cantor

Amazon.com

For this movie about 1930s boxer Jim Braddock (Russell Crowe), director Ron Howard interrupted his longtime collaboration with composer James Horner and teamed up with Thomas Newman. It's a wise decision: Newman has a lighter touch and his somber palette emphasizes the fact that Cinderella Man is more thoughtful drama than mere brawling flick (even a track titled "Pugilism" eschews obvious punchiness in favor of ominous, rolling tribal-like percussion. Elsewhere, "Weehawken Ferry" illustrates Newman's ability to write swelling, majestic music that's not bombastic. Typical of the subdued approach is Paul Giamatti's version of "Londonderry Air," which he delicately whistles. The score is interspersed with a few lovely Depression-era tunes such as Chicago tenor saxist Bud Freeman's "Tillie¹s Downtown Now," Roane's Pennsylvanians' "We've Got to Put that Sun Back in the Sky," and especially Eddie Cantor's wonderfully biting "Cheer Up, Smile, Nertz" ("Our judges are queer/Our banks disappear/And all the while they tell us to smiiiiile"). --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews:

The Soundtrack to Cinderella Man is great.......2007-01-11

Cinderella Man is one of my favorite movies of all time. And the soundtrack does not disappoint. They have all of the powerful songs heard on the DVD. It even has the songs that you could barely hear in the movie because they were simply background music to the scenes. For instance, when Mike Wilson and Jim Braddock sit down together after work and have a drink and discuss the troubled times their nation was facing during the depression, you can faintly hear a song called, "We've Got to Put that Sun Back in the Sky" by Roane's Pennsylvanians. That song is on here in its entirety.

The other example is found in the scene where Joe Gould is seen driving off after just speaking with Jim about his hopes of getting him another fight after Jim had defeated Corn Griffin. Joe is trying to leave before Mae can see him because he knows she would not approve of his talking with Jim and the potential of another fight for her husband. Anyway, just as he gets in the car, and as he drives off, you can here Bud Freeman's "Tillie's Downtown Now" being played--another great song from that era.

Every sound of Cinderella Man is found on this soundtrack. The lone downside to this CD is that the songs are not found in the order they appear in the movie. The first four songs are in order and the last five or so are in order, and the rest is thrown in the middle. They are all there, but as is typical for most soundtracks, they don't all coincide with the order presented in the picture.

This soundtrack is a terrific purchase for any fan of this movie. You will not be disappointed.

Another good score from Thomas Newman........2006-11-07

Thomas Newman is becoming quite the composer. He has such a unique style, but is able to use it to compliment the movies he scores without the music sounding out of place or out of period. The tracks "Turtle" and "Pugilism" are fun to listen to. The first track is short and yet somehow moving. There are enough songs from the period to lend the right flavor to the soundtrack (including a track of Paul Giamatti whistling "Londonderry Air"). This one's definitely worth having if you're a fan of Thomas Newman.

Very nice.......2006-08-03

I suppose this would have been better, like another reviewer said, if some of the tracks had been more than minute-long cuts of the music from Cinderella Man. Still, it's a fantastic soundtrack!--I don't know what "conventional" meant when someone called it that, but if you like sad and somber music, you'll certainly like this. Try it. It's almost better than the movie itself, and the movie was great. After this, I have to hear Thomas Newman's other work.

Why..........2006-07-11

I dearly loved the movie, "Cinderella Man," and the music in it. However, why on earth, on the CD, did they play only a minute, or less, of some of the best music? Like, "Hope of the Irish," I liked that so much, but 52 seconds dosn't do it. In the film it was at least 3 minutes or more. I have decided not to buy the soundtrack simply because of this.

A fairly conventional score for Thomas Newman, but enjoyable nonetheless.......2006-03-25

Cinderella Man is, in a way, a return to conventional scoring for Thomas Newman. For a long while we've heard world instruments and percussion banging it out before stopping to allow beautiful themes to grasp our souls, but in Cinderella Man the effort is more restrained. It is largely a score for piano and strings, and fans of Thomas Newman will have heard the sound before. But, all the same, it is an enjoyable score for Newman fans of both kinds, and while it does take a while to get into a full expression of the story, it is definitely worth the wait.

The piano is used a lot in the score, making appearances across most of the tracks, including the gentle "The Inside Out" or in "Mae", appear with the delicate strings that we have come to expect from Newman. "Pugilism" makes use of pizzicato movements, whereas the two Irish influenced tracks, "Hope of the Irish" and "Turtle", bring back some more unconventional instruments as one would expect. But largely, the score meanders in the background, establishing a delicate tone and texture, but never really taking a forefront. Of course, I must make mention of the wonderful "Weehawken Ferry", which presents a crisp walking movement of strings, similar to what was heard in Shawshank Redemption. However, it is not until the final few tracks that the music finally free's itself from it's subdued nature and reaches out. "Big Right" explodes with blaring french horns and sharp strings, until it finally fades off and allows the highlight track, "Cinderella Man", to come in. This track is Newman at his best, with his typical soaring string arrangement of the main theme introduced in "The Inside Out", before finally reverting back to quiet woodwinds and piano near the end.

Cinderella Man is by no means an innovative or groundbreaking score - it's a fairly conventional drama score. The same adjectives could be applied to the movie as well. Is it worth the pick-up? Definitely, if you are looking for more Newman goodness. However, if you're looking to get into the world of Newman with a more colorful score - try "Angels in America" or "Road to Perdition".

- prasanth1111@gmail.com

Average customer rating:

beautiful patriotic music
All new recordings, with a strong patriotric theme

Spirit of America

Manufacturer: Mormon Tabernacle
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works b

1. I See
2. Day Three
3. Very Least of Us
4. Send Me
5. To Live Is Christ
6. Let the Rocks Keep Silent
7. If Not for the Old Rugged Cross
8. I Am Evidence
9. Prodigal Son
10. What I Believe
11. On the Wings of Faith