Strange Times

Track Listings

1. English Sunset

2. Haunted

3. Sooner or Later (Walkin' on Air)

4. Wherever You Are

5. Foolish Love

6. Love Don't Come Easy

7. All That Is Real Is You

8. Strange Times

9. Words You Say

10. My Little Lovely

11. Forever Now

12. One

13. Swallow

14. Nothing Changes

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
It figures that the Moody Blues' dignified brand of pop rock would age well. The group's second studio album of the 1990s--its first in eight years--reveals a veteran foursome still capable of delivering sophisticated goods in a satisfying manner. The 57-minute package, the first self-produced recording the group has released since this current lineup formed in the mid-60s, takes a yearning, cautiously optimistic view of our modern state of being and adorns it with a pleasant sheen of mature energy. The sound ranges from politely symphonic to playfully Beatle-esque. Strange Times, in fact, offers a few nods to the Moody Blues' storied history, even including a spoken-word coda by Graham Edge à la Days of Future Past. (The poetic content is a bit baffling, though.) Justin Hayward is in fine voice, and the album's uptempo pieces ("Foolish Love," "The One," "English Sunset") rate as highlights Though a touch too sweet in places, Strange Times is an engaging listen for long-time fans. --Terry Wood

Tracks:

English Sunset
Haunted
Sooner Or Later (Walkin' On Air)
Wherever You Are
Foolish Love
Love Don't Come Easy
All That Is Real Is You
Strange Times
Words You Say
My Little Lovely
Forever Now
The One
The Swallow
Nothing Changes

Amazon.com

It figures that the Moody Blues' dignified brand of pop rock would age well. The group's second studio album of the 1990s--its first in eight years--reveals a veteran foursome still capable of delivering sophisticated goods in a satisfying manner. The 57-minute package, the first self-produced recording the group has released since this current lineup formed in the mid-60s, takes a yearning, cautiously optimistic view of our modern state of being and adorns it with a pleasant sheen of mature energy. The sound ranges from politely symphonic to playfully Beatle-esque. Strange Times, in fact, offers a few nods to the Moody Blues' storied history, even including a spoken-word coda by Graham Edge à la Days of Future Past. (The poetic content is a bit baffling, though.) Justin Hayward is in fine voice, and the album's uptempo pieces ("Foolish Love," "The One," "English Sunset") rate as highlights Though a touch too sweet in places, Strange Times is an engaging listen for long-time fans. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews:

Moodies Aged Like Fine Wine.......2007-06-09

My beloved Moody Blues aren't the spring chicks they once were but then neither am I. They're a lot older and grayer, but don't seem quite ready for their rocking chairs. They would all qualify for the senior citizen discount at any of the local buffet restaurants in my area, but I don't see 'em parking in the handicap spots- not yet anyway. Like the old cliche says they are like fine wine, only getting better with age. Indeed they have aged well, hence the title for my review. I am not going to give an in-depth, song by song review here, just a very brief synopsis on the album as a whole.

I have to give 'Strange Times' 5 stars because it is a truly beautiful piece of work by the marvelous Moodies. Their singing and songwriting are as great as ever, their music still sounding like the Moody Blues. Justin Hayward: what can you say, the man is indeed amazingly gifted and advancing years haven't diminished that at all. He is in top form here in this work. The man certainly knows how to pen great songs and then sing them like no one's business. He leaves me in awe sometimes at just how he does it.

The one thing, the only thing that 'ST' didn't provide me was a rocking tune by my favorite rocker, John Lodge. That was a shock to me, as I can always count on "Johnny B. bad" to rock my world- at least once per album. Lodgie has been the rocking soul of the Moodies since 1966 and I cannot imagine them without him, and this album shows me exactly how much I would miss that. Perhaps John moves to the beat of a slower drum these days, at least in what he puts on paper. He still rocks it on stage, though. Regardless, his work on this album is superb, bringing out his loving romantic side. Listening to his sweet airy voice in my headphones is........ aaaahhhhh. For that pleasure alone, I can forgive him for not letting me get my groove on to his driving bass line.

Bottom line: The Moody Blues are still The Moody Blues, wrinkles and all. They have been giving us joy for over 40 years with their talents and music. I know the world is a better place, simply because their voice is in it. This album is a must-have addition to any Moody lover's collection. Enjoy!

GO MOODIES!!! (I didn't think you had it in you).......2007-03-14

This is definitely one of the best MB releases since the classic years of 67-72. In fact it is certainly my favorite since Seventh Sojourn, with 1983's The Present coming in a close 2nd place. John Lodge owns this album with his great ballads. Justin does well, and Ray and Graeme both contribute a song apiece. Where this album really shines is in production: it simply has more punch than any other MB album. The only flaws are 1) the techno beats on 'English Sunset', 2) 'Sooner or Later (Walkin' on Air) is a little corny (but very catchy), 3) The whole album is a little hard to sit through, 4) Graeme Edge sounds like he's eating peanut butter during the last track, 5) It is a little dated in it's millenium references. Other than that it is a very good MB album. Heads above The Other Side of Life, Sur La Mer, and Keys of the Kingdom.

stunning.......2006-07-15

John Lodges "words you say" is an amazingly beautiful ballad and the one that got me to buy this cd. Justin,as always, is simply astounding as 'english sunset', 'haunted' display his golden voice
and innate virtuosity within the pop song format.The last track on the album with Edge's poetry, is mildly reminiscent of their first album,'days of the future past'. Once again Ray Thomas provides an almost childlike lullaby, the superb 'My Little Lovely'.Lodge does have a tendency to go over the top occasionally, but is still not really a drag on the album.Good work guys, this album is great.

Disappointing.......2006-03-23

This is as far from the original concept as you can get. Every single song on their albums from 1967-72 had more passion, bite, and creativity than this whole CD! I liked the MB up to 'The Other Side Of Life' which was at least 60% quality material. Sur La Mer was dreadful and found them out of their element trying to compete with 80s cheese (Janet Jackson, Huey Lewis, even Cutting Crew), but had a few likable moments. I didn't even bother with "Keys" after hearing their leadoff single. They talked about this album for 8 years, and it was supposed to be a return to form or something. I bought it and after a few listens, got rid of it. Not a single melody or memorable song, Ray Thomas' ditty comes off as silly and forced, as does the poem at the end of the album (after such a poor effort, it just emphasises how far these guys have fallen, by trying to make a connection with their old quality music). How the hell can anyone give this album 5 stars? Whether this is a contract obligation, or whether the motivation to make quality music has dropped, this is cringingly lame.

Take Us Back When We Were Young.......2006-03-12

"Strange Times" is reminiscent of the Moody Blues' 1970 album, "Question Of Balance". Instrumentation is stripped of keyboards and orchestra on some songs, relying much on drums, acoustic guitar, bass and their signature harmonies.

The album, as the title suggests, relates to time, a theme first explored in "Days of Future Passed". Unlike that early concept album, "Strange Times" looks back at their career. musical era and "love-and-peace" mantra.

The album's cover photography and rocking title track "Strange Times" alludes to the age of Aquarius ("house of the water sign") when the Moodies first burst onto the music scene in the 1960s.

The song "The One" is purportedly about the Moodies; verses one through four refer -- or so it would seem -- to former MB members Denny Laine, Mike Pinder, Patrick Moraz and the current MB line up, respectively. "My Little Lovely" is a fairy-tale like song Ray Thomas composed for his granddaughter. "The Swallow" is a hypnotic guitar-driven tune Justin Hayward composed one evening in the south of France. "English Sunset", "Haunted" and "Foolish Love" are three more songs from Hayward, equally rousing. "Nothing Changes" returns to the Moodies use of the 'spoken word', read by its author and MB drummer, Graeme Edge, who while not as profound as in earlier poems, sums up the album's message rather aptly.

"Strange Times" comprises 14 tracks in all, of which less than a handful are inspiring, and these come the group's bassist, John Lodge, whose songs while quite meaningful are not in the vein of his up tempo classic " Ride My See-Saw".

Included is a booklet containing the lyrics and pictures of the band at the studio in Italy where the album was recorded. All in all, "Strange Times" is a brilliant return to what made the Moodies one of the masters of art rock -- strong vocal harmonies, tight concept albums, catchy tunes and thoughtful lyrics.

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

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
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:

Mad Jack
Caution
Tears
Soul In Isolation
Swamp Thing
Time/The End Of Time
Seriocity
In Answer
Childhood
I'll Remember

Customer Reviews:

Still love this band.......2007-05-14

Bought this on vinyl in 87 or 88 and I'm not one of those people who listens to old music. But I like this as much as when I first bought it way back when. It's really too bad these guys never found an audience. What a great band. Have the first CD, Script of the Bridge, which I also like very much but Strange Times is just a masterpiece. Not a bad cut on the whole thing. Amazing.

what a great find.......2007-01-05

A friend told me about this group a while back. Even though I got in the game a little late, this is still a great disc.

Haunting, Dramatic and Beautiful.......2006-12-15

I first heard the Chameleons in the early 80's and was hooked. As a College freshman, Strange Times took longer to grow on me than earlier releases, but once it did those roots never let go. This isn't just a collection of songs but a journey. I feel like I've been through and experience after listening to the album. Now in my 40s, I still listen to this album more than almost any other. I would put this work up against other all-time bests such as Clash - London Calling, REM - Murmur, Radiohead - the Bends, and Nirvana - Nevermind as highest impact recordings. Put on a set of headphones and listen in a darkened room. Enjoy it.

Bonus tracks included!.......2005-11-14

This is a great album! The one I received included all the bonus tracks from
the imported version, with the exception of "Ever After". 15 tracks in total at
a sweet price!

The Chameleons Rock...Judge for yourself...........2005-07-04

After their two previous releases, we knew the chameleons could easily astonish everybody with their new,raw, intense and beautiful music;that does not change here, but good news was that they could actually rock.Once drummer John Lever turns on the powerhouse and the cranked up bass joins, you know that you won`t be able to remain seated while listening to the cd.The guitars use unusual tunings,adding further beauty and exotic brilliance.
But above all of this there`s master songwriting , allowing you to discover something new after repeated listenings.At times the album is a bit dark,recalling past times to be much better than today,but truth doesn`t hurt..lol...
Song Swamp Thing can be familiar to you and if not, download it because it will be stick in your head forever.My favourites also include the terrific drummin` "Soul in Isolation ",nice chord progression " In Answer" and upbeat tempo " Seriocity".
If you get this one , together with Script of the Bridge,you will notice how good and timeless 80`s music can be.Do yourself a favour and get both.

Average customer rating:

Progressive Post-Punk Gem - Much Imitated
Sonic Artistry...

Strange Times
The Chameleons UK
Manufacturer: Universal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Dream Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Script of the Bridge
What Does Anything Mean? Basically
The Fan & the Bellows
Swimming + Singles
Here Comes Everybody + Singles

ASIN: B000026E2S
Release Date: 1999-03-20

Tracks:

Mad Jack
Caution
Tears
Soul in Isolation
Swamp Thing
Time the End of Time
Seriocity
In Answer
Childhood
I'll Remember

Tracks:

Tears [*]
Paradiso [*]
Inside Out [*]
Ever After [*]
John, I'm Only Dancing [*]
Tomorrow Never Knows [*]

Customer Reviews:

Progressive Post-Punk Gem - Much Imitated.......2006-04-03

Chameleons are one of those bands that toiled in obscurity creating a singular sound that other bands would water down and find success with.

They were influenced by the usual suspects themselves (Joy Division, Siouxsie etc.), but brought an epic scope and progressive sophistication to their chosen style.

This album has a depth that rewards many listens and can usually be found in the bargain rack. Give it a try.

Sonic Artistry..........2005-04-09

With some of the most beautiful abstract cover art gracing their album covers, the Chameleons UK are almost obliged to guarantee an album that's nothing short of breathtaking. After just purchasing this album at a steal (less than $8!!) and giving it a good listen, I can truly say that this album does not dissapoint. I must admit, Im in a Britpop phase, trying to revisit the great sounds I couldn't appreciate in my childhood. And, starting to tire of the neo-New Wave movement of the Killers, Franz Ferdinand, etc., I've begun exploring the roots. Bullseye with this one: it's one of the more memorable 80's albums; melodic, introspective, ethereal-sounding, cinematic, abstract.....

Average customer rating:

Decent psychedelic compilation

Psychedelia: Long Strange Trip
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Life Times & Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000O8B
Release Date: 1995-09-30

Tracks:

Eight Miles High - The Byrds
Magic Carpet Ride - Steppenwolf
Season Of The Witch - Donovan
Incense And Peppermints - Strawberry Alarm Clock
Fresh Garbage - Spirit
You're Gonna Miss Me - The 13th Floor Elevators
Who Do You Love - Quicksilver Messenger Service
Journey To The Center Of The Mind - The Amboy Dukes
Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine - Country Joe And The Fish
Paper Sun - Traffic
Time Has Come Today - The Chambers Brothers
Hot Smoke And Sasafrass - Bubble Puppy

Customer Reviews:

Decent psychedelic compilation.......2001-05-30

Like many of the CD compilations in this genre, this CD gives a fair collection of mostly common songs with few unique gems. A good starting point for those who have limited knowledge of psychedelic music. Poorly represents British psychedelic music.

Average customer rating:

String Quartet Tribute to the Doors

Manufacturer: Vitamin Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Tributes | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The String Quartet Tribute to the Beatles
String Quartet Tribute to Pink Floyd
Strung Out On U2 : The String Quartet Tribute
Opening Doors: A Jazz Tribute To The Doors
The String Quartet Tribute to Jimi Hendrix

ASIN: B0007ZEP6I
Release Date: 2005-04-19

Tracks:

Hello I Love You
Light My Fire
Love Me Two Times
Break On Through
Riders On The Storm
People Are Strange
Touch Me
Twentieth Century Fox
Love Her Madly
Unknown Soldier
When The Music's Over
Give It Up To Me

Product Description

1. Hello, I Love You
2. Light My Fire
3. Love Me Two Times
4. Break On Through
5. Riders On The Storm
6. People Are Strange
7. Touch Me
8. Twentieth Century Fox
9. Love Her Madly
10. Unknown Soldier
11. When The Music's Over
12. Give It Up To Me

Format: CD

August
Average customer rating:
August

Manufacturer: Parhelion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAG7RS
Release Date: 2005-03-29

I'm Not Going to Stop Touching It
Average customer rating:
I'm Not Going to Stop Touching It
Crazy Mary
Manufacturer: Humsting
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00062E4DQ
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Tracks:

Voices of Freedom
When the Shit Hits the Fan
Invisible
Knucklehead
Land of Jagged Mountains

Product Description

5 Songs: 1. Voices of Freedom 2. When The Shit Hits the Fan 3. Invisible 4. Knucklehead 5. Land of Jagged Mountains

Average customer rating:

Knucklehead
Crazy Mary
Manufacturer: Humsting Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Loud & Lonesome

ASIN: B00008OTWM
Release Date: 2003-02-26

Tracks:

Invisible
I Wake Up Dreaming
Brian Jones
Let's All Have a Party
When the Shit Hits the Fan
Knucklehead
Angel in Disguise
Land of Jagged Mountains
Still Water
Designer Dog
Duck and Cover
Carpool
Nick Not Talking

Average customer rating:

Strange Times

Manufacturer: Zendik Arts
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Blues Rock | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0007KXQCW
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

Can't Find the Words
Strange Time
Eternity's Eye
Devil's Hometown
Follow the Moon
Walk Through Hell
My Story (To Feral)
Move My Heart
Marching Soon

Album Description

Music of the Soul from Arol and the Zendik Band, an outpouring of emotion and intelligence that captures the essence of the human experience. Strange Times is power, pain and beauty, drawn from the deep well of common understanding and improvised live in the moment. An original artistic statement, unlike anything that's gone before. Includes great graphic design by Rev.

Music Review:

Music Review

Music Review

1. English Sunset
2. Haunted
3. Sooner or Later (Walkin' on Air)
4. Wherever You Are
5. Foolish Love
6. Love Don't Come Easy
7. All That Is Real Is You
8. Strange Times
9. Words You Say
10. My Little Lovely
11. Forever Now
12. One
13. Swallow
14. Nothing Changes