Naturalism [Import]

naturalism [import]

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Japanese Version featuring Three Bonus Tracks: Orange Hymn, Electric Eye, and Stray Persuasion.

Naturalism,Sakupatch,EMI,Rock

Naturalism [Import]

Average customer rating:

Gorgeous George
Purchase was excellent
One of the very best!!
Near perfection
George Strait -It Just come Natural Review

It Just Comes Natural
George Strait
Manufacturer: Mca Nashville
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000HCO8JA
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Tracks:

Give It Away
She Told Me So
That's My Kind Of Woman
Wrapped
It Just Comes Natural
He Must Have Really You Bad
Heart Like Hers
Why Can't I Leave Her Alone
One Foot In Front Of The Other
I Aint' Her Cowboy Anymore
Texas Cookin'
Better Rain
How Bout Them Cowgirls
What Say
Come On Joe

Amazon.com

When the announcement came that George Strait was to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, there were those who thought it was premature. After all, Strait is only in his early 50s, and with 53 #1s, more than anyone else in Nashville history, he is still an active working artist, not the sort who sits back on a million-acre ranch remembering when. But one spin through It Just Comes Natural and it's obvious why the quiet Texan deserved his induction now. He simply has no mainstream peer, for either his consistency on the charts or his continuing to raise the bar with his confident, nuanced performance. Here, on an album recorded in Key West, Strait sounds even more relaxed than usual, as if he took more time to live with the songs--15 in all--before he recorded them. Throughout, he amply demonstrates his ability to choose material that pushes the country genre beyond its core themes of God, family, and patriotism while still staying traditional. So many of the songs catch one off guard, either because of their different subject matter (the way the lyric of "Come on Joe" gradually tells us the dead never really leave the living) or in their sophisticated approach to a routine topic (the head-spinning recognition of an old flame in Bruce Robison's "Wrapped"). Then there's the artistry with which producer Tony Brown's handpicked studio cats elevate an already great song even higher (a sizzling cover of Guy Clark's folk/honky-tonk/Western swing classic "Texas Cookin'"). Twenty-five years after his recording debut, Strait is still as crisp as the crease in his Wranglers. Yet the leader of the Ace in the Hole band has yet another card up his freshly starched sleeve. The man who doesn't talk in concert and rarely speaks to reporters leads off with "Give It Away," a divorce-and-damage saga set off by--surprise--a recitation! --Alanna Nash

Album Description

For the first time, Strait recorded NATURAL in a new setting - Jimmy Buffett's Shrimpboat Studio in Key West, Florida, where Strait and Buffett recorded "Sea of Heartbreak," from Buffett's LICENSE TO CHILL album, a few years ago. "I thought it might be a good idea to try something different," says Strait. "You couldn't tell that we cut this down there, there's no island flavor at all, but we just had a blast doing it. The studio is probably the smallest I've ever been in, with the musicians all crammed back in a little room - but we got a great sound, and it's such a relaxing atmosphere. I think I'll probably go back again." Recorded once again with Strait's frequent co-producer, Tony Brown, the sounds on the album reflect Strait's characteristic blend of traditional country structures shot through with a healthy dose of honky-tonk spirit and Western swing. Moods range from the introspective "Come On, Joe," in which a man's late wife tells him to be strong and move ahead with his life, to the raucous "Texas Cookin'," which is about just what it sounds like. An array of Nashville's finest songwriters contributed to NATURAL, including Bill Anderson, Bruce Robison, Lee Roy Parnell, and Guy Clark. "This album's got fifteen songs, which is more songs than I've ever put on a record before," says George Strait. "But I thought they were all so good, there wasn't one song on here that I would have felt right about leaving off. I really think we came up with one of the best albums I've ever done." The album in question, titled IT JUST COMES NATURAL, is being released in a year that marks Strait's 25th anniversary as a recording artist, and coincides with the announcement that he is the most recent addition to the Country Music Hall of Fame. It's also coming out alongside the jaw-dropping news that George Strait has become the all-time leader for Number One Country singles, as the album's opening track, "Give It Away," recently became his 53rd song to top the charts.

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous George.......2007-06-06

I have a lot of George Strait albums, and this is definately my favorite. It has really good songs, George sounds better than ever, and I would recommend it to anyone, even if country is not your thing.

Purchase was excellent.......2007-05-20

It was a pleasure buying this product. No hassles and very fast shipping.
I have bought many items from amazon and never had a problem it makes buying a very Great experience Thank You!!!

One of the very best!!.......2007-05-13

I have been a George Strait fan from the beginning - I own every recording and have to say that he never lets you down. This album is really one of my favorites - the songs are all excellent.

Near perfection.......2007-04-21

It usually takes two or three playings for me to really like a new George Strait recording. The magic he makes with a song is very subtle. Getting my ears around a new song almost always takes a while but then I can really enjoy repeated listenings. Not so with this recording. From the very first spin, it had me hooked and I'm still hooked. I've played it at least once a week since I bought the CD and it continues to please.

George Strait -It Just come Natural Review.......2007-03-28

Not his best album but still an excellent addition

Average customer rating:

Excellent
Try high quality speakers
didn't like so don't listen to it
It just plain works!!
Sweet sleep!

Journey into Deep Relaxation
CHT Doreen Blumenfeld
Manufacturer: HeartHill
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Self-Help | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

Healing | New Age | Styles | Music

Relaxation | New Age | Styles | Music

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The Ease of Being: Guided Meditations for Centering and Healing

ASIN: B00006JLR9
Release Date: 2002-07-01

Tracks:

Introducton
The Journey

Album Description

A restful guided imagery CD creating a path towards deep relaxation. Helps to reduce stress and anxiety, achieve restorative sleep, enhance the body's natural healing process and increase balance and focus in your life. Background music especially composed to deepen your state of relaxation.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-07-09

Excellent CD. Doreen has a very soothing voice spoken in a relaxed manner. The soft music in the background enhances the relaxed mood without becoming a focus in itself. The script she uses is concise enough to provide adequate guidance yet open-ended enough to make listining to it a very personal experience which can be listened to again and again as if it were the first time.

Try high quality speakers.......2007-07-08

I bought this cd along with several others. After awhile this has become my favorite. It's not the words or imagery, and this might sound wierd.
I tried it out recently on a higher quality system with expensive speakers. It may just be me, but it has the effect of percodan or loritab (pain medication).
Something about her voice, on the high end speakers multiplies the effect of relaxing me, even as I'm sitting up with eyes open. On my $100 stereo it's nothing special although still my favorite.

didn't like so don't listen to it.......2006-11-09

should have been as good as the others i got.

It just plain works!!.......2006-10-07

This CD is a strange mix of things -- from a guided imagery trip to a tale about a boy building a wall. Whatever. The bottom line is that it puts me to sleep almost every time. I can't remember the last time I heard the CD to the end. Maybe only twice out of 60 playings.

I can still have problems staying asleep (insomnia and mild sleep apnea) but that's another issue.

My wife has a bunch of Wendi Freisen CDs which absolutely do not work for me. Where Wendi's voice grates and annoys, Doreen's voice is, "like buttah".

Highly recommended.

Sweet sleep!.......2006-08-25

I bought this for my husband to help with his relaxation and sleep. Not only does he love it, but I do to! I put it in my DVD player at night, set the tv for auto shut off and Doreen knocks me out! I've been sleeping so well myself since listening to her. She has a great voice for relaxation, and I've yet to hear the whole cd! I also gave this to my mom who has problems with sleeping and she dittos what I've said.

Natural History: The Very Best of Talk Talk

Average customer rating:

Evolution: Pop Gets Artsy
This Music Defines the 80's
Deeper than you might think
music the way I remember it
Get to know Talk Talk

Natural History: The Very Best of Talk Talk
Talk Talk
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000002UWE
Release Date: 1990-10-16

Tracks:

Today
Talk Talk
My Foolish Friend
Such A Shame
Dum Dum Girl
It's My Life
Give It Up
Living In Another World
Life's What You Make It
Happiness Is Easy
I Believe In You
Desire
Life's What You Make It (Live)
Tomorrow's Started (Live)

Amazon.com

Who would have imagined that the missing link between Miles Davis and Portishead would be a pasty Brit band whose synth-driven hits show up from time to time on rock-of-the-'80s collections? For those only familiar with MTV hits like "Talk Talk" and "It's My Life," this compilation is the beginning of a revelation. Talk Talk mastermind Mark Hollis is an eccentric genius whose hook-laden hits hide an equally satisfying catalog of art-rock experimentation. As Talk Talk evolved, Hollis (opting for a cut-up technique that anticipated the Pro-Tools revolution) ditched synth-pop and produced some of the most sublime late-night records ever. Think Stevie Winwood tranquilized by listening to too much Blue Nile and you start to get the picture. But fair warning: buy this album, and there's a good chance you'll end up purchasing the whole catalog. --Bill Forman

Customer Reviews:

Evolution: Pop Gets Artsy.......2007-02-16

This compilation is a wonderful introduction to Talk Talk. In fact, it's a wonderful compilation, period. It allows the listener to clearly feel the way in which the band evolved from purveyors of standard-issue synth-pop to more art-oriented musicians. By not screwing up the chronology, the set has a wonderful sense of flow that makes the experience all the more wonderful.

And the music is great, too. The early material is poppy fare that's quite in tune with the times. "Today" and "Talk Talk" are sing-along ditties that anyone with a sense of fun can instantly appreciate. The next few tracks possess a slight moodiness that serve as a precursor for the ambient sensibilities that are to come. Then, we get the hit "It's My Life." It's the apex of their pop sensibilities, as far as I'm concerned. You can't top that track. It's impossible.

As such, the music changes direction following that song. "Life's What You Make It," despite its popularity, is still a bit of a plodder. "Happiness is Easy," despite its kids chorus, is artier than most of the material that preceded it. And then things get even more abstract. "I Believe In You" is beautiful, as is "Desire." However, these tracks inhabit a totally different plane than the first tracks on CD. These are mood pieces, intended to establish an atmosphere rather than make the day-glo kiddies dance. Hollis is still there to provide insight, but he's merely adding colours to a picture as opposed to telling a story.

And then there are the two live tracks. That's the way to make a compilation: Chronologically-arranged studio tracks with some live stuff tacked at the end. I don't care for "Life's What You Make It," so I could've done without it. But thankfully, the compilers decided to give us a miraculous version of "Tomorrow's Started." That track can move my soul like no other. It's a highlight, and a great closer.

Overall, this collection will appeal to a wide audience. The new wave kids will like the early stuff. Pretentious arty kids will like the latter material. Your average Joe will probably enjoy the whole thing, although he might get a bit bored at the end. That's okay, though; this is a great primer that present a great band. Sure, there are a few less-than-perfect tracks scattered about, but in the end, this CD has mass appeal and is totally worth purchasing.

This Music Defines the 80's.......2007-01-22

I never heard of this band until recently and im a huge 80s fan but i was also born in the 80's. I must have missed these guys. As a reviewer said, they were a more 'obscure' band. I came across this CD as a recomendation and heard a bit of talk talk and bought it. The first thing I thought when I put this album in and started listening to it was this would be the CD you would want to play in the future if someone ever wanted to know what 80s music was like and the whole era itself. Its not just that but if you listen to the music and lyrics its more than just an 80s band. They actually have good songs and lyrics. My favorite tracks are Its my Life and Talk Talk. I recommend this CD to any fan of 80s music. They have a distinctive sound.

Deeper than you might think.......2006-03-09

If you only remember Talk Talk from their MTV success days, you will be surprised by the range and depth of this record. I love "Today" and "It's My Life," they were great 80's synth-pop-dance tracks, the latter of course recently remade by No Doubt. The first half of this disc contains the more easily accessible material from the early albums, but from the very beginning one can see Talk Talk eager to break out of the synth-pop mold. As Talk Talk matured, their records became less pop-oriented, more textured and nuanced. There is a lot of great music here, none of it fitting into any preconceived mold of what pop music is supposed to be. Highly recommended

music the way I remember it.......2006-01-30

These are some of the great songs from my college days, and since we're listening to digital music now rather than albums, the music is so much richer than what I remember. I'm glad I bought this one.

Get to know Talk Talk.......2006-01-24

Once people get over the 80's shame, forever linked with gated snares and haircuts, they will hear clearly that some of the best and most innovative music was written in that era. Standing in the midst of this was Mark Hollis and Talk Talk. This band used the flavour of the 80's as a carrier for their well crafted hooks and heart wrenching melodies, sung with the honesty of Hollis to produce such classics as It's my Life and My foolish friend. Anybody who compares these songs to Duran Duran clearly isn't listening well enough. But Talk Talk didn't stop there. They went on to produce jazz influenced albums that started off with the masterpiece, Colours of spring, with backing by Steve Winwood, and towards more obtuse but critically acclaimed offerings such as Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock. You really can't go wrong with Talk Talk except, as others have mentioned, you might end up buying the entire catalogue. Go for it. Enrich your soul.

Echoes of Nature: The Natural Sounds of the Wilderness

Average customer rating:

Echos of Nature: Bringing the Outdoors In
relaxing and entertaining
great value
Echoes of Nature
Above any expectations!

Echoes of Nature: The Natural Sounds of the Wilderness
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Nature | New Age | Styles | Music

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ECHOES OF NATURE: The Natural Sounds Of The Wilderness, Part 1 (5 CDs)
Echoes of Nature: Morning Songbirds
Thundering Rainstorm
Solitudes: Thunderstorm in the Wilderness
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ASIN: B000001VWD
Release Date: 1993-04-13

Tracks:

Deep Woods - Echoes Of Nature-American Wilds
Songbirds - Echoes Of Nature-American Wilds
Wilderness Rainshower - Echoes Of Nature-American Wilds
Frog Chorus - Echoes Of Nature-American Wilds
Crickets & Wolves - Echoes Of Nature-American Wilds
Cicadas - Echoes Of Nature-American Wilds
Midnight Seranade - Echoes Of Nature-American Wilds

Tracks:

Pleasant Beach - Echoes Of Nature-Ocean Waves
Low Tide - Echoes Of Nature-Ocean Waves
Big Surf - Echoes Of Nature-Ocean Waves
Pebble Beach - Echoes Of Nature-Ocean Waves

Tracks:

Pacific Surf & Songbirds - Echoes Of Nature-Morning Songbirds
Predawn - Echoes Of Nature-Morning Songbirds
Rain With Pygmy Owl - Echoes Of Nature-Morning Songbirds
Marsh - Echoes Of Nature-Morning Songbirds
Sparkling Water - Echoes Of Nature-Morning Songbirds
Brookside Birds - Echoes Of Nature-Morning Songbirds
Bobwhite, Doves & Cardinals - Echoes Of Nature-Morning Songbirds

Tracks:

Showers - Echoes Of Nature-Thunderstorm
Thunder & Rain - Echoes Of Nature-Thunderstorm
Jamboree - Echoes Of Nature-Thunderstorm

Tracks:

Duet - Echoes Of Nature-Frog Chorus
Water Frogs - Echoes Of Nature-Frog Chorus
Frog Chorus - Echoes Of Nature-Frog Chorus

Customer Reviews:

Echos of Nature: Bringing the Outdoors In.......2007-03-13

Echos of Nature is a very nicely recorded collection of nature sounds with no musical accompaniment and minimal white noise or wind picking up on the mic, as I've noted on other collections. The Songbirds CD, however, was defective or warped and would not play the first track on some CD players. On other players the track skipped and generated hissing and scraping sounds as the disc spun. Fortunately, you can order these CDs separately, which is what I did (and it is now one of my favorites in the collection).

There are a few nature sounds these collections tend to overlook, in my opinion. I'd like a CD with the sound of wind whistling around the eaves or through the trees (with and without a track that includes wind chimes of various kinds). A whale call CD would have been nice also. So, too, would have been the sound of wood burning in a fireplace. Last but not least, a night track with owls and wolves in the far, far distance would have rounded things out nicely. (In fairness, however, these are sounds just about every nature collection fails to include.)

Comparing this set to the 10-CD set I bought elsewhere, the quality of the audio is very good. Nearly everyone will find something to enjoy about this collection. And if you want even more, the same company offers a Rainforest CD collection (though I understand some of the tracks are identical to the shorter tracks offered in this series).

A few years ago, I would not have imagined myself buying anything of this sort. But having done so, I would recommend this to anyone who would like an alternative to music while studying, relaxing, meditating or falling asleep. If you'd like a way to de-stress or a vacation and just can't get there, Echos of Nature will provide a pleasant mini retreat for a very reasonable price.

relaxing and entertaining.......2007-03-10

These 5 CD's can be used to help you relax, or can be used to encourage creativity, or just to give you the feeling that your some place else. The waves could have been more intense, needs more "boom" when the waves crash, but otherwise the CD's are very realistic. And the price is excellent! I would recommend these.

great value.......2007-01-13

I like these 5 CDs very much. The sounds of nature are very relaxing. You get 5 CDs for the price of one. And this is great too.
"Morning birds" is a little dissapointing for me. Compare to others CDs this is not a hole piece but many separated tracks. But overall I would recomend it very highly.

Echoes of Nature.......2005-07-05

I liked the tapes especially the bird sounds that were actual sounds. However, one of the series has canned music. I would prefer all natural sounds.

Above any expectations!.......2004-05-08

... I am in cacoon of sound ... no railroad, no highway is heard... - that was the purpose to buy.
The sound is very natural - not naturalistic like in best computer games - but very real. Transitions from track to track are very mild and smooth - noticable, but no gaps or silence pauses. Very impressive.

Natural Born Killers: A Soundtrack For An Oliver Stone Film

Average customer rating:

not bad...
A masterpiece
WHAT A TRAGIC WASTE OF AN A-TO-D CONVERTER
lady on Natural born killers soundtrack
One of few truly great soundtracks

Natural Born Killers: A Soundtrack For An Oliver Stone Film
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Fontana Interscope
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000001Y6N
Release Date: 1994-08-23

Tracks:

Waiting For The Miracle - Leonard Cohen
Shitlist - L7
Moon Over Greene County - Dan Zanes
Rock N Roll Nigger - Patti Smith
Sweet Jane - Cowboy Junkies
You Belong To Me - Bob Dylan
The Trembler - Duane Eddy
Burn - Nine Inch Nails
Route 666 - Brian Berdan
Totally Hot - Remmy Ongala And Orchestre Super Matimila
Back In My Baby's Arms - Patsy Cline
Taboo - Peter Gabriel And Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Sex Is Violent - Jane's Addiction/Diamanda Galas
History Repeats Itself - A.O.S.
Something I Can Never Have - Nine Inch Nails
I Will Take You Home - Russel Means
Drums A Go-Go - Hollywood Persuaders
Hungry Ants - Barry Adamson
The Day The Niggaz Took Over - Dr. Dre
Born Bad - Juliette Lewis
Fall Of The Rebel Angels - Sergio Cervetti
Forkboy - Lard
Batonga In Batongaville - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra
A Warm Place - Nine Inch Nails
Allah, Mohammed, Char, Yaar - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan And Party
The Future - Leonard Cohen
What Would U Do? - The Dogg Pound

Amazon.com

Another Oliver Stone film hailed by many as some sort of genius. Nine Inch Nail's Trent Reznor was brought in to helm the soundtrack. He shows a gift for choosing diverse, if somewhat disparate musicians, running the gamut from Patsy Cline to Lard. It's a nice collection, if a little wanting for a thematic center. Cowboy Junkies' version of the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane" is simply awesome, and Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, and Leonard Cohen lend superstar firepower, even if the songs are available elsewhere. NIN's own "Something I Can Never Have," previously heard on Pretty Hate Machine, is the most overt attempt at what Reznor was hoping to capture. It's Pulp Fiction for the schizophrenic Gen X'ers. --Scott Wilson

Customer Reviews:

not bad..........2007-05-25

...but it was much cooler in 1994, that's for sure. What seemed haunting and beautiful then, is kind of cheesy in 2007, especially now that most of the artists have gone even further mainstream (Nine Inch Nails) or totally vanished (L7). "Sweet Jane" by Cowboy Junkies is one that has not faded at all, though...gives me chills!

A masterpiece.......2006-08-23

Beyond the worth (or lack of it, depending on your opinion) of the movie, this soundtrack stand the test of time and is still in 2006 one of the most impressive soundtrack ever produced.

It is, in my very humble opinion, the finest work in Trent Reznor discography.

WHAT A TRAGIC WASTE OF AN A-TO-D CONVERTER.......2006-04-12

Inspiring? No! Pleasant? No! Entertaining? No! Worthwhile? No!

What are you folks sniffing out there anyway? Whatever it is, please consider passing it along, because other than the single authentic and melodic track by Patsy Cline (i.e., Back In Baby's Arms, which is available on a zillion other collections including some of her own), this CD doesn't have an ounce of redeeming musical, lyrical or social value in my view. Nada! Zip!

Even the Dylan track is junk! The entire CD is essentially drivel, put to the dull, homicide-provoking sound of endless, droning noise, with an overall signal-to-noise ratio of about one (1.0)!!! What a WASTE of an A-to-D converter!

lady on Natural born killers soundtrack.......2006-02-23

A terrific soundtrack. I really like how they have clips from the movie on the cd. The music is terrific and really helped make the movie. If you have the movie, I highly suggest getting the soundtrack and vice versa.

One of few truly great soundtracks.......2006-01-14

Usually when I purchase a soundtrack, I am overjoyed because I know of perhaps two or three artists on it, but then I discover a turd or two in the mix.
This compilation was one of few to break this curse. Trent Reznor's contribution to forming the soundtrack was brilliant. NIN's tracks "Burn", "A Warm Place" and "Something I Can Never Have" really captured the mood of this film.
Other tracks worth noting are Dylan's "You Belong to Me", the Cowboy Junkies' rendition of "Sweet Jane", AOS' "History Repeats Itself". But the true highlight of the album is Leonard Cohen's haunting tracks "Waiting for the Miracle" and "The Future".
Whenever the songs appeared in the film, they were extremely well placed.

Average customer rating:

Moving, Spectacular - a true orchestral classic!!
By far one of the best movie soundtracks ever composed
A home run soundtrack! And I don't even like baseball.
Sweetly nostalgic, yet swingy and jazzy.
I love the music/inspirational and moving!

The Natural (1984 Film)
Randy Newman
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Natural (Director's Cut)

ASIN: B000002L6A
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Prologue 1915-1923
The Whammer Strikes Out
The Old Farm 1939
The Majors: The Mind Is A Strange Thing
Knock The Cover Off The Ball
Memo
The Natural
Wrigley Field
Iris And Roy
Winning
A Father Makes A Difference
Penthouse Party
The Final Game
The End Title

Amazon.com

Randy Newman's score for director Barry Levinson's 1984 adaptation of writer Bernard Malamud's baseball fable remains, like star Robert Redford's turn as the film's Roy Hobbs, somewhat mystic and decidedly larger than life. Newman's music flawlessly fuses overwrought Wagnerian grandeur with the more plaintive strains of Aaron Copland, arguably forming one of the film's most crucial narrative elements in the bargain. Perhaps because it's a score with a scale so broad and bold--the antithesis of Newman-the-songwriter's often terse, internalized musical monologues--the composer himself has since expressed reservations about the potent cues he's since dubbed "heromusik." Nonetheless, The Natural remains an impressive tribute to Newman's musical professionalism, even if his masterful craftsmanship produced something he's always seemed a bit wary of: a bona fide crowd pleaser. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Moving, Spectacular - a true orchestral classic!!.......2005-08-10

Randy Newman? Wrote and performed "Short People" Part of Bachman Turner Overdrive if I recall..

However when put to the task of a soundtrack for a movie about a baseball "Natural" Mr. Newman pulled out all the stops. You'll hear the famous clips from this CD during a "best of" sports feature or maybe a biography of a great hero. It's a must have for a cinematic classical collector. The composition includes soft and pleasant textures like walking in a magnificient wheat field on a sunny day - some rinky dink 20's style jazz...a caliope rendition of "Take me out to the Ballgame".

Grab your favorite beverage or herbal remedy, get in your favorite easy chair, load the CD and crank it up.

You'll love it.

By far one of the best movie soundtracks ever composed.......2002-05-22

Randy Newman is known to the non-cinematically-obsessed public as the sourpuss composer and gravelly-voiced singer of the tart novelty hit "Short People," but here is the work for which he should have won his well-deserved Oscar (instead of for the trifle he composed for 2001's "Monsters, Inc.").

With "The Natural," which he not only composed but conducted, Newman manages the pretty neat trick of stepping into the enormous shoes left by Aaron Copland. Newman takes the perfectly American pasttime of baseball and melds it perfectly with the American penchant for youth, sunshine, nostalgia, and happy endings--all without a single instance of treacle or falsity. He sounds Coplandian here without sounding slavish. He soars on wings of his own making and utterly enriches the film "The Natural" with his music.

"Prologue 1915 - 1923" opens the soundtrack and deftly sketches the career Robert Redford's Roy Hobbs character had in the minors and then briefly in the majors, limning the energetic youth of the new baseball player followed by the slower, more minor-key weariness Hobbs experiences as he seems to lose his touch. With "Knock the Cover Off the Ball," Newman somehow captures a sparkly, sunstruck afternoon out in the middle of a baseball field, the fierce concentration needed to do the deed demanded in the title, and the gathering speed of the ball itself. In "Winning," the big band, swinging tune says it all. You need brass balls to survive this ball game, son, and the music handily underscores that rule without the aid of a single lyric.

Had Randy Newman never written another film score beyond 1984's "The Natural," he could easily and justly have rested on these fine laurels. We are lucky that he didn't.

A home run soundtrack! And I don't even like baseball........2000-01-28

This the most magical soundtrack I have every purchased! I personally think it is Randy Newman's best work and as far as soundtracks go I put it up there with anything by Nino Rota. The way Newman uses the strings and paces the songs one would swear he was the prodigal son of Aaron Copeland. Of course he isn't but like Copeland's operas he definitely knows how to compose music which feels Americana. You can almost see wheat fields blowing and you'll certainly want t a piece of Apple Pie after hearing the title song, "The Natural." A must for any lover of soundtracks.

Sweetly nostalgic, yet swingy and jazzy........1998-12-30

Great movie music! The main theme is sweetly nostalgic of a simpler time, and the "Majors" theme is swingy and jazzy. The slower parts are relaxing to listen to, and the faster parts are great to dance to. Highly recommended.

I love the music/inspirational and moving!.......1998-06-12

The music on this soundtrack is great. It is inspirational and moving, may take some time to grow on you. If you like the movie and have a taste for nostalgia and great instrumentals this is a great album. I listen to it all of the time.

Heartstrings: Visualizations for Pregnancy

Average customer rating:

Excellent Pregnancy Relaxation CD
A soon-to-be Mother's MUST!!
good for bedrest
Very relaxing
Love it!

Heartstrings: Visualizations for Pregnancy
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Sound Beginning, LLC
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

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Mozart for Mothers-To-Be: Tender Lullabies for Mother and Child
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Meditations for Pregnancy: 36 Weekly Practices for Bonding with Your Unborn Baby
Health Journeys: Meditations to Support A Healthy Pregnancy & Successful Childbirth (Health Journeys)
Divine Delivery - Guided Meditations for Pregnancy and Childbirth

ASIN: B000F2BWNC
Release Date: 2005-03-01

Tracks:

At Peace
Relaxed Affirmation
At Peace Affirmation
The Mountain
Safe Affirmation
Powerful Affirmation
Stable Affirmation
Heartstrings
Love Flows Affirmation
My Baby Affirmation
The Peaceful Sea
Strong Affirmation
Supported Affirmation
At Peace (instrumental)
The Mountain (instrumental)
Heartstrings (instrumental)
The Peaceful Sea (instrumental)

Product Description

Heartstrings: Visualizations for Pregnancy is a program of music-evoked visualizations specifically created for use during the prenatal period. Each visualization and spoken affirmation was carefully created by Board Certified Music Therapists to induce a peaceful and relaxed body/mind/spirit connection. When used in conjunction with regular prenatal medical care, a woman can feel confident she is providing the optimal environment for her baby's health and development.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Pregnancy Relaxation CD.......2007-04-11

I bought this CD to practice relaxation in order to prepare for a natural childbirth. It was toward the end of my pregnancy but I listened to it almost daily and really enjoyed it. It is calm, not annoying, and I liked the verbal imagery the lady uses. I was indeed able to have a natural childbirth. It is definitely worth getting during pregnancy. I plan on using it in the future and even think I'll use it right now with my newborn when I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. Great CD.

A soon-to-be Mother's MUST!!.......2007-02-16

I was given this CD as a gift, and I call it my "God-sent gift" because it helped me overcome all of the "fears" I had about becoming a new Mommy. The meditations helped me focus on my breathing, and I remembered the music and visualizations as I was going through labor. When my baby was very young, she hated travelling in the car...I play Heartstrings and it calms her (and I) down immediately!!

good for bedrest.......2007-01-08

I bought this cd for my wife because the doctor put her on bedrest and said she needed to reduce stress. She says it was a great support for a difficult pregnancy.

Very relaxing.......2006-06-03

This program has saved my sanity! I've been using these meditations for about 4 weeks and already I can feel a positive effect in my mood and stress level. I didn't know what to expect when I bought it, but after a few days of doing one meditation plus a couple of affirmations every morning and night, I was hooked. The music is pretty and melodic, and the voice is friendly and soothing. When I use this CD I feel like I'm being proactive in the healthy development of my baby. I highly recommend buying this CD and making the committment to yourself to take 5 or 10 minutes out of every day to bond with your baby. It's made my pregnancy experience much happier and less stressful!

Love it!.......2006-05-13

Using this CD throughout my pregnancy really helped me relax and made it easier to deal with all the stress in my everyday life. The underlying music is really nice - it's not too "new-agey" like a lot of those other guided meditation CDs on the market. Also, the guided visualizations are short enough that you can do one or two a day without having to take too much time out of a busy schedule. I love this CD and recommend it to all my friends who are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant.

Natural Stress Relief: Dan Gibson's Solitudes

Average customer rating:

I was amazed, and pleasantly surprised.
Soothing
Relaxing at work
Awesome
Excellent Relaxation CD

Natural Stress Relief: Dan Gibson's Solitudes
Various Artists , Dan Gibson , and Solitudes
Manufacturer: Solitudes
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

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Relaxation | New Age | Styles | Music

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Natural Sleep Inducement
Ocean Surf
Stream of Dreams
Piano Cascades
Whispering Woods

ASIN: B00004U4UT
Release Date: 1998-03-24

Tracks:

Inner Sea
Unwinding Stream
Velvet Rain
Sienna Sky

Album Description

This Album was crafted to take you from a stressful state to a stress- free state. Use it at work for a 10 minute stress break at work or use it at home when you simply want to relax. Guitar and Keyboards.

Customer Reviews:

I was amazed, and pleasantly surprised........2007-07-06

A few years ago, I lost my husband and young daughter in a car accident. My son survived. Add that to the every day stresses of life and you have a lot to deal with. I never have believed in drugs and am mostly a spiritual person. I was looking for something to help me relax and let go of things at the end of the day.I found this CD to be so soothing,and comforting.. a nice change from the radio as backround where a song can trigger you into a rough moment. You can literally feel the tensions leaving your body. This is the best money I have ever spent and the wellness it promotes in me is priceless.

Soothing.......2007-05-23

I am a yoga instructor and use this music during my yoga classes. It is absolutely the most soothing and relaxing of all the Cd's I use in my classes. I love the water and nature sounds.

Relaxing at work.......2007-05-07

If you need background relaxing music while at work this is great! I wish it was longer.

Awesome.......2007-03-17

It was in awesome condiition. I had my doubts, since it is a cd, but there were no scratches...NONE. It was simply in awesome condition, thank you.

Excellent Relaxation CD.......2007-01-15

I have been listening to this CD for five years. I often play it as background music during my hypnosis sessions. In fact, I have played it so much that I had to buy a second one when the first one wore out. Amazingingly, I have never tired of listening to it over and over again.

Average customer rating:

Another One To Love
In the Natural State, my review from Barcelona
Great Well Rounded Blues
Terrific tunes all the way through
another great Thackery release!

In the Natural State
Jimmy Thackery , and The Cate Brothers
Manufacturer: Rykodisc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

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Full Circle
Working Man
Solid Ice
Dirty Deal
A Stone's Throw

ASIN: B000FIMHVC
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Tracks:

Out of Mississippi
Arky Shuffle
I Got A Rich Man's Woman
Levee Prayer
Ain't That A Lot of Love
I'll Come Running Back to You
Hoodoo Man Blues
Snatch It Back And Hold It
Howlin' For My Darling
Tell Me Goodbye

Amazon.com

Arkansas, home to ex-Nighthawks guitarslinger Jimmy Thackery and his friends and guests Earl and Ernie Cate (guitar and keyboards, respectively), is nicknamed "the Natural State." But the natural state for these three musicians is really somewhere between traditional blues fervor and knuckle-busting guitar hypnosis. This disc kicks in with the latter: "Out of Mississippi" is a big-bottomed, blustery riff-fest. Yet two tunes later they're adopting Muddy Waters's "I Got a Rich Man's Woman." Thackery's slide whinnies with a sensitivity near the old master's as the Cates paste down a powerhouse Chicago shuffle. And so it goes, ricocheting between the past and present. They summon the spirit of fellow Arkansan Junior Wells in "Snatch It Back and Hold It" and "Hoodoo Man Blues." But the most emotional number is Thackery's flood ballad "Levee Prayer," which is all restraint and subtle six-string colors until the finale, when his dark-toned solo enters like inexorable waters to claim the song. The disc ends with Thackery's "Tell Me Goodbye," a paean to '50s sock-hop rock that's got a chordal guitar break as sweet as his innocent lost-puppy-love lyrics. --Ted Drozdowski

Album Description

Blues guitar master Jimmy Thackery teams up with fellow Arkansans, the legendary Cate Brothers, to celebrate their beloved home on In The Natural State. Infused with a sharp, crackling blues energy matched by the Cates' innate feel for down-home rhythm and blues, In The Natural State is a guitar lover's dream - complete with the fiery solos and stringbending blues-rock only Jimmy Thackery can deliver.

Thackery's first album recorded in Arkansas, In The Natural State isn't just the name of an album or an allusion to a geographical place; it's a way of being.

"I put all my senses on hold and find the zone and follow what's inside. There's an electricity from your mind to your heart to your fingers. You just try and remember to breathe." - Jimmy Thackery'

"A musical masterpiece!" - Mike Huckabee, Governor of Arkansas

Customer Reviews:

Another One To Love.......2007-07-06

This is my sixth JT cd. There's two I don't love, but this one I do. I liked most of what I heard from the sound bites, but you know that's not always reliable. The reviews went from one to five stars so I was a bit skeptical. I opted for the buy and am glad I did. Most of the songs have a familiar ring to them but done with a different feel, kind of like listening to both versions of Eric Clapton's Layla. The fact that this cd was done in four days gives it a raw natural feeling. This sounds like pros doing what they love. Every note is on time, and like good blues, the next note is just what you expect to hear. This cd may move up to just below Drive To Survive and Wild Night Out on my list.

In the Natural State, my review from Barcelona.......2007-05-10

I'm totally disappointed by this bad JIMMY THACKERY's album. You may think I'm exaggerating if you listen to the first theme thinking this is going to be the worst of the record, because it is not bad at all. And the second tune, "Arky shuffle", is a good blues as well. So you start thinking: "What a good record I'm going to listen to!". But you're wrong. Only this second tune and perhaps another blues like "I got a rich man's woman" can somewhat save this little disaster. The tune "Ain't that a lot of love" is no more than a bad imitation of Stevie Winwood's "Gimme some loving" although he performs a good solo guitar there and on the rest of the themes I'd rather not comment, mainly because we are talking of the great JIMMY THACKERY, a phenomenal guitarist and very good music, one of the best, ex leader of the marvellous NIGHTHAWKS and responsible for a large and very good discography. I very much like most of Jimmy Thackery's records, but not this one, I'm sorry, don't waste your money on this record unless you are an absolute Thackery's fan like I am.That is my opinion.

Great Well Rounded Blues.......2006-12-19

I don't know about the negative review. I could listen to this over and over. If you love guitar, Arky Shuffle and Howling for My Darlin really groove. Levee Prayer is a great song. This album has a good mix of Thackery and Cate Bros influence.

Terrific tunes all the way through.......2006-08-23

I saw this group not too long ago and was instantly impressed.I have all of their CD's and I admit I was initially hesitant to purchase this one, but well, I thought, I love the other ones, how can I go wrong.The ripping, pulling you into every song was apparent from the onstart. The versatility so appreciated.I am sincerely moved by the song, Levee Prayer, lest anyone forget what hurricanes can do!I sincerely believe that you just would not be disappointed in any way. A true great set of tunes.Go for it,you'll definitely be glad you did. When I have that moment of,'what do I listen to'I grab 'In A Natural State' and am always glad I did.

another great Thackery release!.......2006-07-07

Teaming up the Cate brothers and Jimmy Thackery was a brilliant idea. This disc is a true feast for guitar fans. All of the musicians really cook here, and since it was recorded live in the studio it has a nice raggedy feel to it. True, there is nothing original here, but these guys infuse these songs with their own unique styles. Pay no attention to any negative reviews, this one's a winner!
P.S. I never buy a CD until I listen to soundbites either on line or in a store. This way I'm never disappointed.

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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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.

The one complaint I have is the last CD. This deals with the orchestra. I wanted more of a tour of how the orchestra has been used through history up to the present. Instead, it was a tour of how different groups of instruments sound. I thought it could have been better. The other 6 CDs are excellent.

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