Vira [Import]

Vira [Import]

Vira [Import]

Track Listings
 
1. Meeting
2. Friendship
3. Heaven
4. Vira
5. One World

Vira,Talvin & Rakesh Chaurasia Singh,Navras,Dance
An Introduction to Der Ring des Nibelungen
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Ring introduction critique
  • FASCINATING STUDY FOR NOVICES AND AFFICIONADOS ALIKE
  • Welcome back to a classic analysis
  • Essential for Understanding Wagner's Ring Cycle
  • Very Functional
 An Introduction to Der Ring des Nibelungen
Deryck Cooke , Georg Solti , Wiener Philharmoniker , Anita Valkki , Berit Lindholm , Birgit Nilsson , Brigitte Fassbaender , Christa Ludwig , Claire Watson , Claudia Hellmann , Dame Gwyneth Jones , Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau , Eberhard Wächter , George London , Gerhard Stolze , Gottlob Frick , Grace Hoffmann , Gustav Neidlinger , Hans Hotter , Helen Watts , Helga Dernesch , Hetty Plumacher , Ira Malaniuk , James King , Jean Madeira , Joan Sutherland , Kirsten Flagstad , Kurt Böhme , Lucia Popp , Marga Höffgen , Marilyn Tyler , Maureen Guy , Oda Balsborg , Paul Kuen , Régine Crespin , Set Svanholm , Vera Little , Vera Schlosser , Waldemar Kmentt , Walter Kreppel , and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000424H
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

  1. Of All Great Musical Compositions... (Examples 1-4)
  2. The Fundamental Symbol... (Examples 5-11)
  3. Returning Now To The Nature Motive... (Examples 6, 12-16)
  4. A Number Of Further Motives... (Examples 5, 17-21)
  5. A Second, Much Smaller Family... (Examples 22-25)
  6. So Much For Nature. (Examples 26-38)
  7. The Cause Of The Deterioration... (Examples 39-44)
  8. The Other Transformation... (Examples 45-48)
  9. Several Other Motives... (Examples 49-52)
  10. Two Further Motives... (Examples 41, 53-61)
  11. The Basic Motive Associated With The Spear... (Examples 62-68)
  12. Along Another, More Complex Line... (Examples 69-72)
  13. In Act Two Of Walkure... (Examples 69, 73-75)
  14. Returning Now To Act Two Of Walkure... (Examples 76-79)
  15. Love Is Another Of The Central Symbols... (Examples 80-83)
  16. Later In The Same Scene... (Examples 84-87)
  17. Freia's Motive Has Two Independent Segments... (Examples 88-91)
  18. The Label 'Flight'... (Example 92)
  19. When Fasolt, In Scene Two Of Rhinegold... (Examples 93-98)
  20. A Little Later In The Interlude... (Examples 99-103)

Tracks:

  1. The Other New Motive... (Examples 104-109)
  2. There Are Several Independent Love-Motives... (Examples 110-114)
  3. The Characters In Whose Lives... (Examples 115-120)
  4. One Further Motive Belongs... (Example 121)
  5. The Sword Motive Recurs... (Examples 122-130)
  6. Ironically, This Phrase... (Examples 131-135)
  7. Closely Associated With Gutrune's Motive... (Examples 136-140)
  8. Here We Come To The End... (Examples 141-146)
  9. Complemtary To This Symbol... (Examples 147-149)
  10. One Last Central Symbol... (Examples 150-157)
  11. One Further Motive Connected... (Examples 158-161)
  12. There Are One Or Two Motives... (Examples 162-168)
  13. These Motives Of Alberich And Mime... (Examples 169-171)
  14. Quite A Number Of The Subsidiary Motives... (Examples 172-176)
  15. Besides This Family Of Motives... (Examples 177-180)
  16. Our Final Example... (Examples 10, 181, 182)
  17. In The Final Scene Of Gotterdammerung... (Examples 181-183)
  18. Even More Masterly... (Examples 184-188)
  19. Now If We Return... (Examples 189-191)
  20. This Masterly Way... (Examples 192, 193)

Amazon.com

When Wagner set the Ring to music, he intended the orchestra to act in the fashion of a chorus from a classic Greek tragedy--setting the mood and commenting on the action. In order to allow a nonverbal musical line to reflect on the plot, Wagner developed a psychologically and musically complex symbology to communicate his thoughts to the listener. From the beginning the Ring has spawned numerous written commentaries on the relationships of the motif structure, but by using examples from the Decca Ring recording, Deryck Cooke's thoughtful spoken commentary is by far the most accessible guide for either the fledgling Ring enthusiast or the seasoned veteran. --Christian C. Rix

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Ring introduction critique.......2006-11-04

This is very worthwhile, at the same time it requires time, patience and attention, but it does provide some keys to better enjoyment of a sensational piece of music.

5 out of 5 stars FASCINATING STUDY FOR NOVICES AND AFFICIONADOS ALIKE.......2006-08-16

This may look an intimidating, daunting and dull prospect - a 2+ hour lecture on the motifs in the Ring. Don't be put off. Whether you're a relative novice to the Ring and want to find out what it's all about, more experienced with a desire to understand the composer's methods better or an afficionado who thinks he knows it all inside out, there is great pleasure as well as elucidation to be had from this set. Originally made to accompany the Decca Solti Ring, it contains a multitude of musical illustrations taken from those recordings as well as some specially recorded by Solti just for this Introduction.

It wasn't the first time this has been tried. The famous HMV sets from the late 20's also included recorded examples of over 100 motifs. (These, by the way, are available as part of the Pearl reissue of those wonderful HMV recordings). What that set lacked was the wonderful insights as well as the approachability of the talk by Deryck Cooke. Cooke was a great and much missed musicologist - a Mahler expert responsible for the performing edition of the Tenth Symphony still most played today, a fascinating explorer into the nature of music's basic building-blocks in his excellent book, The Language of Music, and an inspiring and elucidating critic of Wagner's work as shown by the fascinating book he left unfinished at his death, I Saw the World End.

On these CDs he does much more than list the leitmotifs and identify them as calling-cards. He shows the amazingly integrated and organic growth of the musical material that Wagner uses throughout his vast work. He demonstrates how motifs can change their sense and meaning as they evolve through the drama. And he shows how the complex combinations of motifs can radically advance both the musical and the dramatic narrative of the piece. There are even places where he corrects the misinterpretation of some of the motifs that had become ingrained from early commentators' false labels.

This set should engage and enlighten anyone with an interest in Wagner's huge and inexhaustible tetralogy. Do give it a try - no matter how far down the road to Wagnerianism you are.

4 out of 5 stars Welcome back to a classic analysis.......2006-05-28

Deryck Cooke's lecture series upon THE RING is almost as much a classic by now as the Solti RING cycle, with which it was originally issued on LP, and from which it derives its musical examples. The difference is that whereas the Solti RING has been continuously in print ever since it was completed, and was among the first opera sets to benefit from the CD revolution, the Cooke analysis was for long almost totally unobtainable. Now we have it back. It should be welcomed: it is a classic. Cooke's mellow, deep voice with the hint of a Celtic burr - which made him ideal on BBC radio - patiently explains Wagner's melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic metamorphoses to such good effect that if you own this recording, you really require no other RING analysis. (A pity about the abrupt beginnings and endings of too many vocal and orchestral illustrations, though.) Musicology lost a fine, sensitive thinker with Cooke's premature death in 1976.

If all you want is dilettantish baby food, there are plenty of dumbed-down Wagner commentaries on the market, stretching from Anna Russell's famous monologue (which doesn't pretend to be anything other than a parody aimed at morons) to the latest standard-issue "Wagner-was-a-Nazi-boo-hiss" feuilleton (which, unfortunately, does). Without reasonable score-reading skill you will find Cooke useless, however diligently you have ploughed through Marx, Jung, Freud, or other gurus purportedly relevant to THE RING. Cooke expects you to use your brains and your musical sense. Quelle horreur. At today's BBC his "elitism" would render him unemployable.

5 out of 5 stars Essential for Understanding Wagner's Ring Cycle.......2006-05-15

I originally bought this set on vinyl in the early 70s when I discovered the Ring in college. I studied the records and booklet assiduously, and after about three run-throughs I finally started getting it. Wow! Thirty-five years later, I still remember Mr. Cooke's analyses of various motive families, and I don't know how I could have mastered and loved the Ring without him. I now own this set on CD and listen again on the rare occasion of attending a Ring performance. My wife calls me a "Ring nut," but of course I'm nuts about many other things as well.

Bottom line, buy this set and study it if the Ring has captivated you as it has countless others. The presentation is dry, but sticking with it brings measureless and longlasting rewards.

4 out of 5 stars Very Functional.......2006-03-19

This CD set is excellent for what it sets out to do: present the leitmotives of the Ring according to their relationship to one another and their role in developing both characters and plotlines. Deryck Cooke's lectures on each motive are very insightful, very helpful at cueing the listener into the semantic aspect of Wagner's orchestral writing. The one drawback is that the musical examples are a bit jarring. Without fade-ins or -outs, the engineering is quite barbaric. And though the orchestra was, I believe, conducted by Solti, and is beautifully done, the vocal performances can be quite unpleasant. Point being: this is not background music, but in accomplishing what it sets out to do, it is very successful, and I don't know of anything else like it.
At This Moment
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Classic LA club band...
  • Another reason "I HATE THE 80'S"
  • Fantastic CD!
  • Swingin' live date plus soundtrack bonuses
 At This Moment
Billy Vera & Beaters
Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000065VBX
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Tracks:

  1. Country Girl-City Man
  2. Spoken Intro
  3. Room With A View
  4. Heart Be Still
  5. Poor Boys
  6. Wrong When I'm Right
  7. Oh, What A Nite
  8. I Got My Eye On You
  9. Ronnie's Song
  10. You Can't Go Home
  11. La-La For What's Her Name
  12. Let You Get Away
  13. You've Got Me
  14. Papa Come Quick (Jody & Chico)
  15. Is That The American Dream, Johnny?
  16. Desperate Frame Of Mind
  17. Waiting For You
  18. At This Moment

Album Description

At This Moment is a compilation of previously unavailable live and studio performances, including songs from motion pictures and television that have often been requested by his fans for many years, as well as the studio version of his #1 hit 'At This Moment'. 18 tracks. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Classic LA club band..........2006-11-21

Billy Vera's been around the music scene in LA. The best of this collection, "At This Moment" is known by nearly everyone here. Not uncommon to hear someone talking in a group and start a sentence with "What would..." and then hear the rest of the group finish the sentence by singing Vera's most famous tune complete with air guitar. Fun to listen to... funner to see.

1 out of 5 stars Another reason "I HATE THE 80'S".......2006-09-14

I remember hearing "At This Moment" for the first time on Saturday January 3rd, 1987. I was coming home from a drug store, and to be honest I was not enjoying life. College was a hard time for me since starting it 3 months earlier, and I was wondering what my future was going to look like, and I really didn't see a beautiful picture. The song was all romance which would mean the girls would eat it up; I remember we had just come out of a bad year in music, and with hearing this off the bat it didn't sound like it was going to get any better. I look back on this as partly my fault for not being more self-starting when I was in my teens-early 20's meaning I could've gotten a job while in college, or gotten involved in extra-carricular activities at school. My days pretty much were bleak, and uncertain, and I really regret having graduated high school early, but I feel that there could've been the same result had I stayed in high school the extra year. A change of heart is needed, and speaking of a change of heart this album definitely needs one. All of these songs sound like listening to JimmyZ Z One Man Band at the Iron Man Bar every night of the week, and believe me if that's the case I want to make sure there's a Dick Van Dyke movie on to keep me interested. I could find myself falling asleep at one of thier shows. It's bland party band music that just sits in stomach like a dead weight. Especially "At This Moment".

5 out of 5 stars Fantastic CD!.......2005-10-04

This CD brings back great memories of when I lived in L.A. in the early 90's and went to a club in Santa Monica every month to hear Billy Vera and his band! This CD is every bit as magical as the live performances. I play this CD in my car constantly. The music is pure magic!

3 out of 5 stars Swingin' live date plus soundtrack bonuses.......2002-06-04

Vera's 1981 live recording of "At This Moment" found fame six years later in an episode of TV's "Family Ties." It became both Vera's calling card of one-hit-wonderhood, and a shadow that obscured his diverse career of acting, music writing, and, as demonstrated here, fine live performances. This disc combines a dozen tracks recorded in 1995 (and previously anthologized on Pool Party's 1996 "Oh What a Night" release) with a half-dozen bonus cuts collected from various movie soundtracks.

The live tracks show Vera & the Beaters to be a potent, sax-heavy band with a flair for the Stax sound. Their take of Vera's 1968 hit "Country Girl - City Man" (co-written with the legendary Chip Taylor) offers a funky horn chart, and Vera's co-write with Lowell Fulson, "Room With a View" is a smokey blues, highly influenced by the singing of both Johnny Adams and Lou Rawls (each of whom have covered the tune). The bonus tracks include a previously unreleased studio take of "At This Moment," as well as rarities from the films "Blind Date," "Baja Oklahoma," "Rainbow Drive" and "Desperate For Love."

Though this disc seems primarily aimed at Vera's fans, it's a great spin for anyone who likes soul music (whether they've seen the Family Ties prom episode or not!). Vera's self-penned liner notes are informative in a way a third-party's could never be, and his music will please fans of the Stax sound and latter-day rock 'n' soul outfits like Wet Willie, the E-Street Band and Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul.

3-1/2 stars, if Amazon allowed fractional ratings.
Strauss - Daphne / Güden · Wunderlich · King · Little · Schöffler · Böhm
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • I have this on LP somewhere - it was treasure but Decca & Fleming my current first choice!
  • A Collector's Item
  • This is the one to own....
  • Wonderful document, but...
  • Daphne is a great opera
 Strauss - Daphne / Güden · Wunderlich · King · Little · Schöffler · Böhm
Richard Strauss , Karl Böhm , and Fritz Wunderlich, James King, Vera Little, Paul Schöffler Hilde Güden
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  4. Die Schweigsame Frau
  5. W. A. Mozart: Così fan tutte (Cambridge Opera Handbooks)

ASIN: B000001GMO
Release Date: 1994-09-20

Tracks:

  1. Orchestereinleitung: Kleontes!-Adrast! - Hans Braun/Kurt Equiluz/Harald Proglhof/Ludwig Welter
  2. O bleib, geliebter Tag! - Hilde Guden
  3. Leukippos, du? - Hilde Guden/Fritz Wunderlich
  4. 'Daphne!/Mutter!/Wir warten dein - Vera Little/Hilde Guden
  5. Ei, so fliegt sie dahin - Rita Streich/Erika Mechera/Fritz Wunderlich
  6. Seid ihr um mich, ihr Hirten alle? - Paul Schoffler/Hans Braun/Kurt Equiluz/Harald Proglhof/Ludwig Welter/Vera Little
  7. Ich gru dich, weiser, erfahrener Fischer - James King/Paul Schoffler/Vera Little/Hans Braun/Kurt Equiluz/Harald Proglhof/Ludwig Welter
  8. Was fuhrt dich her im niedern Gewande - James King/Hilde Guden

Tracks:

  1. Dieser Kudies Umarmen - Hilde Guden/James King/Vienna State Op Chor/Scherlich/Paul Schoffler
  2. Trinke, du Tochter! - Vera Little/Rita Streich/Erika Mechera/Hilde Guden/Hans Braun/Kurt Equiluz/Harald Proglhof...
  3. Furchbare Schmach dem Gotte! - James King/Hans Braun/Kurt Equiluz/Harald Proglhof/Ludwig Welter/Rita Streich/Erika Mechera...
  4. Zu dir nun, Knabe! - James King/Fritz Wunderlich/Hilde Guden
  5. Jeden heiligen Morgen - James King/Fritz Wunderlich/Hilde Guden
  6. Unheilvolle Daphne! - Hilde Guden
  7. Was erblicke ich? - James King
  8. Daphnes Verwandlung: Ich komme-ich komme-grunende Bruder - Hilde Guden
  9. Mondlichtmusik - Hilde Guden

Album Description

The complete opera on two CDs. Deutsche Grammophon. 1994.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars I have this on LP somewhere - it was treasure but Decca & Fleming my current first choice!.......2007-07-10

I have this on LP somewhere - it was treasure but Decca & Fleming are my current first choice! Why 3 stars - well as one reviewer says its live and it was winter and everyone had coughs! Also whilst Gueden evolves into a tree beautifully and is captivating in the process the rest is a bit of a shouting match so 3 stars. The Fleming Decca version does nearly everything well except Fleming sounds a little hard of tone from time to time but does evolve beautifully into a tree also, and some of her female supports are not much to my liking but its had to tell if its the singer or the score (like the Mother in Arabella!).

Daphne is a problem work to perform which is why the views here are mixed - in parts you think you are in the middle of Schoenberg (Gurrelieder)then back again in lyrical Strauss - Boehm tended to suppress this a little but that's what the shouting match is about, its in the score!

You might want to wait until you have explored other Strauss stuff - I have just found Intermezzo (EMI) and there Popp is wonderful and it suits me more than Daphne as a whole work. Then there is another conundrum in the new Helene, (versus the Price, Hendricks etc).

So 3 stars (or 6.5/10) seems about right oh and its an older style recording as well! I would go for the Decca Fleming first then this second unless you come across it at super special price!

5 out of 5 stars A Collector's Item.......2007-04-26

I did not pick this CD deliberately - it came accidently when browsing for Wunderlich's recordings.
Thankful indeed that I got it. This live recording will be an invaluable item in any collection of classical music.
The sound in stereo is good enough - even if recorded in 1964.
The dedicatee Karl Boehm conducted well and headed a dream cast : Gueden in title role, flanked by Fritz Wunderlich and James King.
The final trio between the three protagonists are really electrifying.
I haven't heard this opera before, but would say that it is every bit as good as Rosenkavalier or the other Strauss's works, if not as lengthy as others.
Apart from Hilde Gueden's singing, an interesting 'singing battle' was waged between Wunderlich and King in this performance. It is fun picking out who is who in the ensembles: King's heldentenor voice having more baritonal depth and Wunderlich having a brighter metallic ring. Their respective portrayals as god and man constrasted successfully.
I've seen that in the modern album, some critics commented on Fleming's voice as being too 'dark'. Well, I haven't heard that recording yet, but from my recent impression of Fleming in recital, I don't think this role would cause her any great problem - she sounds as gorgeous as ever even in 2007, in great lyrical and silvery tone from top to bottom.
Hilde Gueden had a very girlish (soubrette like) soprano. This suited Daphne's role. But a soprano with a silvery lyricism like Fleming should equally excel.
Surely I will get hold of the modern version some other day.

5 out of 5 stars This is the one to own...........2006-07-27

I'm not a Fleming fan and I would rather she had been replaced with Voigt in that "other" recording. Moreover, when one can find an opera recording - almost any opera recording - with native speakers, unless the orchestra and/or the conductor is simply dreadful, go for the hometown crowd.

4 out of 5 stars Wonderful document, but..........2005-07-29

Daphne is most certainly a good opera by an outstanding composer of operas. The only question is whether one wishes to buy the CD or just hear it in performance. As this latter is very unlikely, and certainly never with such a cast, you will have to "pays you're money and takes you're chances." If you are interested in the classical art of Greece perhaps that should push you into a purchase. As a fan - a huge fan - of Hilde G. I bought the opera for her. Frankly I found her tested pretty severely in her long epic solo opening. If tenors rightly dread walking out on stage and with little warm-up tackling Verdi's Celeste Aida, I can only imagine how sopranos envision this test!
If you are not sold on this opera as a purchase and don't yet own the composer's Four Last Songs you might consider those before Daphne.

5 out of 5 stars Daphne is a great opera.......2004-09-23

Much has been said about the tremendous quality of this performance... I won't reiterate it except to say that if there were a thousand recordings of this opera, this would easily still be the best. As it stands, there aren't a thousand, there aren't very many at all, and that's a shame. Strauss has the reputation of being a retroacitve composer; some say he wrote two great modern operas and then lost it, others say four or five, with a sudden burst of greatness at the end with Cappriccio and the four last songs.
It's becoming more apparent that Strauss had much more to offer us than just Rosenkavalier. While many people criticize the librettos after Hofmannsthal's death, one really should keep in mind what we are comparing here. Considering that the later librettos are being compared to one of the greatest of German poets and the master Oscar Wilde (whose Salome was altered very little and to great effect), one could perhaps have a more forgiving attitude. Certainly the Libretto to Daphne is not bad; no worse than most operas, although lacking a little in excitement and explosive scenes.
The music, however, is absolutely incredible. There are moments that are every bit as intense as Elektra or Salome, and other moments that are even more restrained than Capriccio. It is also a return to tragedy for Strauss, after the succession of comic or at the most tragic-comdedic (after all, Die Frau Ohne Schatten does have a happy ending). If one does not feel comfortable comparing it to the so called great Strauss operas, it has to be at least admitted as a great opera (more so for the music than the libretto). In a way it's similar to the great operas like Cosi fan Tutte, Parsifal, Falstaff and most of Puccini's work after Butterfly, in that it is great, and unfairly overshadowed by works that are more popular and sometimes not as brilliant.
It's also important to remember that Strauss never retreated from dissonance and modernism, anymore than Puccini did either. Because the subject of Rosenkavalier is Mozart era Austria, and because the dissonance is applied in a subtler way, people make the mistake of thinking it is retroactive. If you don't believe this, listen again to the theme associated with the Silver Rose... it's quite dreamy, but it is also removed from the key of the music supporting it. And so on for all of his operas, including Daphne. I should also recommend all the Bohm/Strauss recordings in this series; this man could do Strauss' music, and if you have any doubts about the quality of his music, these are the recordings to get.
Music for a Darkened Theatre, Vol. 2: Film & Television Music
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Priceless, at any price
  • Good overview
  • Great Music!!!!!!!!!
  • Very nice for a Danny Elfman collection
  • Bring on Volume 3
 Music for a Darkened Theatre, Vol. 2: Film & Television Music

Manufacturer: Fontana Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002P4P
Release Date: 1996-12-03

Tracks:

  1. Edward Scissorhands Suite: Main Titles
  2. Edward Scissorhands Suite: Storytime
  3. Edward Scissorhands Suite: Suite
  4. Edward Scissorhands Suite: Suburbia-Barber
  5. Edward Scissorhands Suite: The Grand Finale
  6. Dolores Claiborne Suite: Main Titles
  7. Dolores Claiborne Suite: Vera's World
  8. Dolores Claiborne Suite: Flashback
  9. Dolores Claiborne Suite: Sad Room
  10. Dolores Claiborne Suite: End Titles
  11. To Die For Suite: Main Titles
  12. To Die For Suite: Suzie's Theme
  13. To Die For Suite: Busted
  14. To Die For Suite: Wheepy Donuts
  15. To Die For Suite: Finale
  16. Black Beauty Suite: Main Titles
  17. Black Beauty Suite: Baby Beauty
  18. Black Beauty Suite: Jump For Joy
  19. Black Beauty Suite: Frolick-Sick
  20. Black Beauty Suite: Bye Bye Jerry
  21. Black Beauty Suite: Memories
  22. Black Beauty Suite: End Titles
  23. Batman Returns Suite:Birth Of A Penguin
  24. Batman Returns Suite: Trouble Suite
  25. Batman Returns Suite: The Finale
  26. Batman Returns Suite: End Titles

Tracks:

  1. Mission Impossible Suite: Trouble
  2. Mission Impossible Suite: Looking For Job
  3. Mission Impossible Suite: Betrayal
  4. Sommersby Suite: Main Titles
  5. Sommersby Suite: Return Montage
  6. Sommersby Suite: Finale-End Titles
  7. Dead Presidents Suite: Main Titles
  8. Dead Presidents Suite: Daughter
  9. Dead Presidents Suite: Montage
  10. Dead Presidents Suite: Nam
  11. Dead Presidents Suite: Nightmare
  12. Nightmare Before Christmas Suite: Overture
  13. Nightmare Before Christmas Suite: Jack And Sally Suite
  14. Nightmare Before Christmas Suite: Christmas Eve Montage
  15. Freeway Suite: Main Titles
  16. Freeway Suite: On The Road
  17. Freeway Suite: Back In The Car
  18. Shrunken Heads Suite: Main Titles
  19. Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Amazing Stories 'Family Dog'
  20. Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Amazing Stories 'Family Dog'
  21. Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Amazing Stories 'Mummy, Daddy
  22. Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Barkley Superhero 'Nike Commercial'
  23. Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: The Flash 'Theme'
  24. Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Pee Wee's Playhouse
  25. Television Odds 'N Ends Suite: Beetlejuice - Animated Tv Series 'Theme'
  26. Untitled
  27. Untitled
  28. Untitled
  29. This Is Halloween (Original Demo For Nightmare Before Christmas)

Amazon.com

A delightfully buoyant, mock-creepy collection of film scores from Hollywood's first and best call for quirk, strangeness, and charm. Focusing on Elfman's post-1992 work (much of it for director Tim Burton), this 2 CD set features excerpts from Edward Scissorhands, To Die For, and Batman Returns, among other lesser items. -- Jeff Bateman

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Priceless, at any price.......2007-07-06

Years ago, watching peter Jennings cover the funeral procession of Princess Diana, my soul was captured by some hauntingly beautiful music that at times played in the background. So began my mission to find out what it was, who wrote it and how I could get it. After some correspondence with the network I was put in touch with the woman who "put together" that part of the programming. All she could remember is that it came from the movie "Black Beauty". THEN I found out how many versions of that had been made lol. With determination, I finally found it, and had a local music store order it for me.
There are no words to describe what this music does to me. I did try listening to some of the other tracks, but they didn't even come close. I rate this music right up there with the 1971 score for "Jane Eyre" by John Willams... and that's pretty high :D

5 out of 5 stars Good overview.......2007-04-18

Very nice overview of Elfman work. Insufficient by itself but worth having along with the full soundtracks. Bonus disc is a nice extra.

5 out of 5 stars Great Music!!!!!!!!!.......2005-09-08

I Love Danny Elfman's music so much that I have started my own collection of the soundtracks that he composed. For a while, I was trying to find the "Beetlejuice" theme song from the TV show, but thanks to this release, I finally have it!!! Keep up the good work Elfman!

5 out of 5 stars Very nice for a Danny Elfman collection.......2005-08-02

Music For A Darkened Theater, Vol.2 is a great cd!!! I love all of the tracks on both cd's,but my fav. ones are the t.v. scores and the This Is Halloween demo!!! If you love this,then i recomend looking at all the actually albums on this cd and his other works!!!! good job,Danny Elfman.

5 out of 5 stars Bring on Volume 3.......2005-05-04

The liner notes and "This is Halloween Demo" on this compilation are well worth the CD price by themselves. Danny comments on each of the tracks on the CDs which is a rare and ego-free look at what a composer thinks of his own work.

Edward Scissorhands is magical, Black Beauty is a rollercoaster of emotion, and Dolores Claiborne makes me want to find the nearest piano. This is not a "Most Popular" compilation, rather it aptly showcases Danny Elfman's (and Orchestrator, Steve Bartek's) brilliance and wide range of style.

Every suite has an Elfman signature, such as the layered complexity which never sounds overdone, or the use of a choir as an instrument.

This (and Volume 1) are examples of the work of a modern day composer who consistently stands out as one of the best.

If you like this and have the spare cash, grab the individual scores from some of the movies he has worked on, including "Men In Black", "Spiderman", "Batman", "Batman Returns", "Nightmare Before Christmas", "Edward Scissorhands", "Mars Attacks" and so many more.
Remembers: The Songs That Won the War 2
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Songs that won the war
  • Awesome!
  • A great CD
  • The sweetheart of the Forces
  • A Wonderful CD
 Remembers: The Songs That Won the War 2
Vera Lynn
Manufacturer: EMI Gold Imports
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. We'll Meet Again
  2. The Best of Vera Lynn
  3. Vera Lynn Collection
  4. Ultimate Collection
  5. White Cliffs of Dover

ASIN: B00000K25A
Release Date: 1999-07-15

Tracks:

  1. Yours
  2. Medley: Who's Taking You Home Tonight?/Wishing/Wish Me Luck
  3. Somewhere In France With You
  4. Medley: The Last Time I Saw Paris/Arm In Arm/I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time
  5. Medley: A Pair Of Silver Wings/Silver Wings In The Moonlight/Comin' In On A Wing And A Pray'r
  6. London Pride
  7. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
  8. White Cliffs Of Dover
  9. Medley: If I Only Had Wings/The Badge From Your Coat/Roll Out The Barrel
  10. I'll Be Seeing You
  11. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
  12. Room Five-Hundred-And-Four
  13. That Lovely Weekend
  14. Besame Mucho
  15. There'll Always Be An England
  16. You'll Never Know
  17. It Had To Be You
  18. Lilli Marlene
  19. Medley: Be Like The Kettle And Sing/There's A New World Over The Skyline
  20. As Time Goes By
  21. Medley: When The Lights Go On Again/I'll Pray For You/We'll Meet Again
  22. Land Of Hope And Glory

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Songs that won the war.......2007-05-14

A great album for those who are interested in the types of songs we had helping us get through each day of WW II. The theme of many of them express the doubt and fear that we likely would not see our loved ones again. We lived for the day during those years, because there was a good chance that tomorrow would never come. Vera Lynn is an excellent singer and she delivers these songs as good as it gets. Everytime I visit England, I think about this era in history and recall the songs she made popular during that time.

5 out of 5 stars Awesome!.......2007-04-27

Vera Lynn is a National Treasure! A true Master... her talent, voice, control, feeling, skill, quality, all come through on this CD. I am hard pressed to think of any female artist that can compare to her greatness... The themes take you back to a time of true heroism and sacrifice. The experience of the "Greatest Generation" is expressed in every song... a snapshot of history in music! I love it!

5 out of 5 stars A great CD.......2007-01-12

I listened to this cd the day after it arrived I enjoyed all the songs on it the old'timers should buy this one great listening, thanks.

5 out of 5 stars The sweetheart of the Forces.......2007-01-10

This remarkable woman, who has for man years taken up the fight to improve the plight of children suffering from cerebral palsy, sounds as good on this recording as ever she did. Some people think that Very Lynn and Churchill won the war - and it might be true! The songs bring tears to the eyes, even if the hearer is too young to remember World War II. The clarity of her voice still astounds.

5 out of 5 stars A Wonderful CD.......2005-08-24

This is a great CD. If you love the songs of Vera Lynn, you will love this CD! There are many fine songs here, and they are woven together in such a way as to make listening a pleasure!
By Request: The Best of Billy Vera & the Beaters
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Splendid
  • At Any Moment...enjoyable
  • Good stuff
  • No one does it better than BV and the boys
  • A must have
 By Request: The Best of Billy Vera & the Beaters
Billy Vera & the Beaters
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. At This Moment
  2. Oh, What a Nite
  3. Buster Poindexter
  4. Storybook Children/With Pen in Hand
  5. Retro Nuevo

ASIN: B0000032OR
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Corner of the Night
  2. Someone Will School You, Someone Will Cool You
  3. Strange Things Happen
  4. I Can Take Care Of Myself
  5. Millie, Make Some Chili
  6. Peanut Butter
  7. Hopeless Romantic
  8. At This Moment
  9. Here Comes The Dawn Again

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Splendid.......2007-02-25

One of the best love songs ever. I'm a 79-year-old music lover who's heard 'em all and this one is a heart-breaker.

4 out of 5 stars At Any Moment...enjoyable.......2006-02-11

Most people know 'At This Moment' from 'Family Ties'. Fortunately for me, that is how I first heard it and I am so grateful. I might never have sought out more Billy Vera music and I would have missed out on some great stuff.
My favorites on this CD are 'At This Moment' (of course) and 'Hopeless Romantic', but the other songs are solid pieces performed well.
Billy Vera and the Beaters might not be classic rock or even classic music, but they are a tight band who perform well. Their work is totally enjoyable.

4 out of 5 stars Good stuff.......2004-05-20

I sought out this album after hearing "At this moment" on the radio many years ago (I'm a sucker for a good heartbreak song) and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the music throughout. The great thing is that the horns play as an ensemble, not just good soloists. Yes, "Here comes the dawn" gets a little old after a while but it's effective. Just a darn good band overall. Great tunes, great spirit and enthusiasm and obviously a good time was had by all in attendance. A classic set.

5 out of 5 stars No one does it better than BV and the boys.......2003-03-30

If you want a taste of true non-commercial California sound, pick this one up. It is full of live tracks and very few studio tracks. The band was a well kept secret for years until 1986 when 'At This Momment' was played on Family Ties. Radio stations wanted a copy of the song to play for their listeners. The rest, as they say, is music history. Billy Vera and The Beaters live and breathe music. They are constantly playing dates to the fans that appriciate them, and they will appear in the places you least expect them to be. You might hear them do a TV theme song, or appear in a movie, or talk show. For a time, I also had their little known, out-of-print, Retro Nuevo. Still, this one is always the best for rainy days. And there are plenty to like, such as 'At This Momment', 'Hopeless Romantic', and 'Here Comes The Dawn Again' (I like Billy's opening words on that one). When it comes to California, no one does it better than Billy Vera and the Beaters.

5 out of 5 stars A must have.......2003-01-21

Lots of good tunes like inthe corner of the night, at this moment.
The song "here comes the dawn again" is definitely the best peace of music ever written and performed.
Stunning performance. Brilliant musicians. Hear it once and you will hear it over and over again.
Haydn: Last 4 Piano Trios
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Extremely enjoyable late Haydn
  • Infectiously fun Haydn
  • Haydn--wild, passionate, sometimes downright strange
  • once, there was a very lucky hungarian count...
 Haydn: Last 4 Piano Trios

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

TriosTrios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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  1. Haydn: The Last 3 String Quartets
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  5. Schubert: Trout Quintet; Arpeggione & Notturno

ASIN: B0000028UD
Release Date: 1993-06-01

Tracks:

  1. Trio No. 43 In C Major, Hob. XV: 27: I. Allegro
  2. Trio No. 43 In C Major, Hob. XV: 27: II. Andante
  3. Trio No. 43 In C Major, Hob. XV: 27: III. Finale. Presto
  4. Trio No. 44 In E Major, Hob. XV: 28: I. Allegro moderato
  5. Trio No. 44 In E Major, Hob. XV: 28: II. Allegretto
  6. Trio No. 44 In E Major, Hob. XV: 28: III. Finale. Allegro
  7. Trio No. 45 In E-Flat Major, Hob. XV: 29: I. Poco Allegretto
  8. Trio No. 45 In E-Flat Major, Hob. XV: 29: II. Andantino ed innocentement
  9. Trio No. 45 In E-Flat Major, Hob. XV: 29: III. Finale. Allemande. Presto assai
  10. Trio No. 42 In E-Flat Major, Hob. XV: 30: I. Allegro moderato
  11. Trio No. 42 In E-Flat Major, Hob. XV: 30: II. Andante con moto
  12. Trio No. 42 In E-Flat Major, Hob. XV: 30: III. Presto

Amazon.com

Noted musical scholar Charles Rosen calls Haydn's piano trios the most technically difficult piano works before Beethoven's sonatas, and that includes Mozart, who was a pianist. These are indeed extraordinary pieces, and the only thing that has prevented their being far more frequently played is the fact that the cello is used almost exclusively to reinforce the bass of the piano--a combination that sounds wonderful, but isn't much fun for a professional cellist. In fact, Haydn wrote these piece for gifted amateurs, and they have an easy tunefulness and sense of fun that is virtually unmatched by any other composer. These performances have just the right relaxed, genial quality, and the sound is excellent. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Extremely enjoyable late Haydn.......2007-07-12

This is some of Haydn's greatest music. All of the piano trios belong next to the symphonies and string quartets as the cornerstones of Haydn's prolific output. However, what Haydn achieved in these last four trios is truly remarkable (each one far and away surpass anything Mozart had to say in the genre; not that Mozart's are bad by any means, but these are truly intimate masterpieces.). Listening to the very first notes of the C major, you'll know you made the correct decision in this purchase.

Robert Levin, Anner Bylsma, and Vera Beths are unparalleled in these last four trios. This record was given a Rosette by the Penguin Guide, and rightly so. Also, if you have never heard these played on fortepiano, then you especially are in for a treat. Its truly hard for me to go back to the modern grand after listing to Levin's upbeat and crisp articulation. So, even if you have the Beaux Arts Trio's seminal interpretations of these works, this is still an essential purchase for the avid listener. It will give you a new perspective on what late Haydn is all about.

5 out of 5 stars Infectiously fun Haydn.......2005-12-31

I'm not usually a fan of period-instrument recordings, but there are some isolated ones that I can't imagine being played any other way, and this is one of them. The more incisive sound of these instruments helps delineate and clarify some of Haydn's best work. This is ferociously inventive music, even for Haydn, with not a bar of filler to be found. Other reviewers have commented on the whirling German dance that closes the E Flat trio (No. 45), or the guitar-like effect that opens the E Major (a resemblance made particularly uncanny by the period instrument sound). Note also the darkly shadowed middle movement of that E Major trio, which is so creepy as to be almost macabre - even by today's standards. This music was obviously meant for entertainment, and its inventiveness and breathless exuberance held my rapt attention from the first bar to the last... but the real genius here is how Haydn uses the "fun" surface of this music as a cover for his awesome depth of musical skill. Entertainment this music may be, but the lasting value comes from the seemingly effortless way this master composer wields every compositional technique in the book, without once making it obvious that's what he's doing. These trios are an unparalleled synthesis of intellect and emotion - the "meat and potatoes" and the fluffy pastries all in one. Levin, Beths and Bylsma see both those sides in this music, playing with an intensity and sense of delighted enjoyment that makes this music irresistible without ever straying outside Haydn's idiom. Highly recommended for any Haydn fan - and if you're new to Haydn, this is a great way to learn more.

5 out of 5 stars Haydn--wild, passionate, sometimes downright strange.......2002-09-28

Not only are these superb period performances--Levin's improvised ornaments add to the fun--but these extraordinary pieces should put the lie to the "Papa Haydn" tag. The most intimate and playful of his major works, the trios explore emotional depths the more public works only touch on. The bizarre, neo-Baroque Allegretto from No. 44 (Hob. 28) is one of the strangest pieces of the Classical period, with a stunning outburst of fury at the end--this in a trio that begins with an uncanny imitation of a guitar. (Thought a piano couldn't play pizzicato? Listen to Haydn's scoring.) And the whirligig German dance that closes the next trio, complete with village band sounds and joke after joke, might be the giddiest piece ever. Haydn's trio layout, with the 'cello usually doubling the piano's bass line, is often criticized; with the weaker sustaining power of the fortepiano, though, it makes perfect sense, and many balance problems disappear. This is great music, performed with love and delight.

5 out of 5 stars once, there was a very lucky hungarian count..........2000-07-11

Does period instrument performance conjure up memories of anemic tone and poor intonation? Tired of sloppy vibrato and obvious phrasing? Try this disk for incisive playing with rich, warm sonorities that resonate inside your mind's ear. The absolute abandon these stellar musicians bring to these interpretations is infectious and convincing. At times one feels like the music is sheer telepathic group improvisation, not a meticulously notated opus number whatever. Having played some of Haydn's earlier piano trios where form is stricly adhered to and melodies stay within the constraints of the decorous, the eye-opening range of emotions expressed by these late works is clearly ground-breaking. The debt that Mozart and even L.v.B. owe to Papa H is once again in evidence here, particularly in the slow movements. Vera Beths has to be one of the most lyrical players of this age. Any doubters should refer to L'Archibudelli's recording of Beethoven's opus 9 trios, still my all-time favorite chamber music recording.
Debussy: Orchestral Music
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Fantastic set
  • great collection
  • Beautiful music
  • Great
  • Comfy Debussy, for when you don't want to be seduced
 Debussy: Orchestral Music

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

BalletsBallets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. Debussy: Piano Works
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  4. Grieg: Lyric Pieces / Emil Gilels
  5. Dvorák: Cello Concerto; Tchaikovsky / Karajan, Rostropovich,

ASIN: B00000417P
Release Date: 1994-02-15

Tracks:

  1. Berceuse heroique
  2. Images: Gigues
  3. Images: Iberia: Par les rues et par les chemins
  4. Images: Iberia: Les perfums de la nuit
  5. Images: Iberia: Le matin d'un jour fe fete
  6. Images: Rondes de printemps
  7. Jeux: Poeme Danse
  8. Marche ecossaise

Tracks:

  1. Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune
  2. Nocturnes: Nuages
  3. Nocturnes: Fetes
  4. Nocturnes: Sirenes
  5. La Mer: De l'aube a midi sur la mer
  6. La Mer: Jeux de vagues
  7. La Mer: Dialogue du vent et de la mer
  8. Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
  9. Dances For Harp And Strings: Danse sacree
  10. Dances For Harp And Strings: Danse profane

Amazon.com

Bernard Haitink's recordings of the Nocturnes and Jeux were hailed as among the finest available when initially issued. That LP provided rather short measure. Now you can get all of Debussy's most important orchestral music on two CDs for the price of one, and if the remaining performances don't quite reach the exalted level of the Nocturnes and Jeux, they come so close as to make no difference. Haitink was not a very assertive conductor (and he's gotten less so with age), but he was fortunate to have one of the world's best orchestras at the tip of his baton, and their recordings were a true collaborative effort. Their approach works particularly well for Debussy. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Fantastic set.......2007-05-02

This set is wonderful for anyone who is looking to get acquainted with Debussy, as well as anyone looking for new interpretations of his famous orchestral work. This 2 disk contains my favorite rendering of the majestic "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun", as well as my favorite recording of the three Nocturnes and "Images". These three pieces are improved by the warm and luminous, yet vague ("impressionistic") sound of this recording.

The harp dances sound wonderful. So does the clarinet rhapsodie. The soloist has wonderful tone.

Elsewhere, the audio quality is my only complaint about this set - "La Mer", being as it is a highly dense, orchestrated piece of work, would benefit from added clarity and higher audio fidelity, but the version here is still very good. The other piece that suffers from the overly reverberant, slightly muddy sound is "Berceuse Heroique", an amazing and powerful shorter piece, summarizing whole years of life in a blur of 5 minutes... here, unfortunately, the louder moments turn into incoherent chaos.

All of the playing is fantastic, the intonation is great... I've never heard this music so expressive.

Highly recommended for definitive versions of "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun", "Nocturnes" and "Images". Everything else is good as well. 4.5 stars.

5 out of 5 stars great collection.......2007-03-13

The first concert I ever saw in the Kimmel Center was Valery Gergiev conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra playing La mer, Prelude de l'apres-midi d'un faune, and a Schubert symphony. The orchestra was under-rehearsed, but I remember being transfixed during both Debussy pieces (and I think Gergiev received quite a standing ovation). There is something special about Debussy's orchestral music that few other composers (Ravel, perhaps) can match.

The individual performances in this collection are not mindblowingly brilliant, but as a whole, this collection is quite satisfying. The Concertgebouw Orchestra plays well, as usual, and it's helped by great recording quality (voted Gramophone Magazine's best engineered recording in 1980). If you want more unique performances of individual pieces, look at Munch (for example), but if you want a well-played, comprehensive collection, get this CD. It's one of my favorites.

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful music.......2006-10-23

I can't get enough of these discs; the sound is superb! A fabulous journey into the "impressionist" art of Debussy.

5 out of 5 stars Great.......2006-05-27

True, Haitink is not a "ZIP! ZING! POW! conductor" like David A. FLetcher mentioned in his review (I thought it was funny put, so I wanted to quote it), but he sure knows how to let the music do the speaking.

These are not "impressionistic" readings and I'm glad they're not, although the orchestra sounds warm and round, a little "cosy" if you like, but that's fine, I love the sound.
The playing is accurate and flexible and I think Haitink's "Images" is one of the best recordings I heard of this work, next with Boulez' excellent recording on DG.

The "Prelude a l'apres midi.." is a bit on the slow side and some nice details you'll hear in Boulez' recordings (Sony and DG) are somewhat underplayed...or not very good recorded?, but the mood and sound are great.

I think the sound of the RCO and Philips analogue recording are superb and do great justice to Debussy's musical universe.
Boulez might be more idiomatic, his recordings are the standard for me, but the warmer sound of the RCO with Haitink on Philips is something special indeed.

Excellent disc.

4 out of 5 stars Comfy Debussy, for when you don't want to be seduced.......2005-11-04

I am a little miffed for believing the reviewers here about this Philips two-fer. I would have assumed that Haitink, the maestro of middle-of-the-road, would give us comfortable, well-balanced, plain-faced Debussy, not sparkling, enchanting Debussy. As it turns out, that assumption was right. These Seventies recordings, some in excellent sound (Jeux and Trois Noctournes in particular), are lusciously played. But attentive as Haitink is, there is no seductiveness to the music.

I'm not being all that critical: in the wrong hands Debussy's gossamer textures and irregular rhythms get sea-sick and swoony. Haitink is sober all the way, his La Mer too much so, and also his Prelude to the Afternoon of a Fuan. The two most famous readings in this set, Jeux and the Nocturns, benefit from Haitink's modesty. By keeping the rhythm steady and being scrupulous about orchestral blend, both works sound beautiful without becoming luxuriant or slippery.

Nothing in Haitink's hands sounds like Ravel, and that's a high compliment. For that reason, I will keep this set. I don't need to be enchanted every day.
Debussy at Dawn
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • An absolute joy
  • CD review
 Debussy at Dawn

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

WaltzesWaltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
PreludesPreludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
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  5. Brahms for Book Lovers: A Cozy Companion for Reading

ASIN: B0000041O4
Release Date: 1997-10-14

Tracks:

  1. Suite Bergamasque: Clair de lune
  2. The Sea At Dawn
  3. Dances For Harp & Orchestra - Sacred Dance
  4. Suite Bergamasque: Prelude
  5. La Plus Que Lente
  6. La fille aux cheveux de lin (The Girl With The Flaxen Hair)
  7. Prelude No. 11 For Composed Arpeggios
  8. Nocturnes for Orchestra - Nuages
  9. Pour le piano - Sarabande
  10. Images: Lent
  11. Images: Souvenir de Louvre
  12. Images: Images - Book 1, Reflections In The Water
  13. Images: Rhapsody For Clarinet & Orchestra
  14. Images: Nocturnes for Orchestra - Sirenes

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars An absolute joy.......2006-01-26

So many pieces on this album are jewels. "Le fille aux cheveux de lin" and "Nocturnes for Orchestra - Sirenes" are particularly heavenly. "The Sea at Dawn" has an amazing sense of freshness and motion to it and is well placed at the beginning of the CD. A few of the songs on here make excellent background music but lack memorable themes. I wish I could wake up to this CD every morning, truly.

4 out of 5 stars CD review.......2003-04-06

This is a great debussy CD. This CD is my introduction to Debussy, and now debussy is one of my favorite composers. The music in here is relaxing. The performances are excellent also. One complaint, however, is there is a repeat. There are two of the same pieces on the CD. Overall, this is a great CD.
We'll Meet Again
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Well met by moonlight, Dame Vera
  • World War II favorites from the beloved British singer
  • A transporting listen!
 We'll Meet Again
Vera Lynn
Manufacturer: Asv Living Era
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001HI6
Release Date: 1995-02-21

Tracks:

  1. We'll Meet Again
  2. It's A Sin To Tell A Lie
  3. Roses In December
  4. Rosalie
  5. Cinderella, Stay In My Arms
  6. Wishing (Will Make It So)
  7. I Paid For The Lie That I Told You
  8. Careless
  9. You Made Me Care
  10. When You Wish Upon A Star
  11. I'll Never Smile Again
  12. There'll Come Another Day
  13. Something To Remember You By
  14. Smilin Through
  15. Yours
  16. When They Sound The Last 'All Clear'
  17. (There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs Of Dover
  18. I'll Be With You In Apple Blossom Time
  19. Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat
  20. Where In The World?
  21. Be Careful, It's My Heart
  22. I Had The Craziest Dream
  23. You'll Never Know
  24. Goodnight And God Bless You

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Well met by moonlight, Dame Vera.......2005-01-20

For those who remember her, Vera Lynn requires no more introduction than her great contemporaries, Churchill, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Montgomery. She was the British songbird whose voice was the sound of hope in the darkest of days. Even to this day, she is so much the keeper of the keeper of the flame for the World War II generation that the British press beat a path to her door for comment when a member of the UK royal family recently made an ass of himself by wearing Nazi symbols.

Lynn was a ballad singer with a strikingly pure sound, superb diction and the ability to sell even terrible material. Just listen to her in "When You Wish upon a Star." Almost unbelievably, she makes that hoary old chestnut work. When she actually had something work with, as in "We'll Meet Again" or "White Cliffs of Dover" or "Where in the World?" or even "You'll Never Know," she delivered definitive performances.

This CD offers 24 of Lynn's recordings, the ones that were actually heard in wartime Britain. Even by the standards of her time, the arrangements were hokey. By the standards of the contemporary American big bands, they were downright primitive. Nevertheless, they are exactly right for the period, for the material and for her.

Considering the age of the performances, the state of British recording technology at the time, and the multiple sources, the sound on the disc is quite good. If anything, a slight boxiness adds to the authenticity of the songs.

Vera Lynn was one of the best-loved performers of the 20th Century and is presented here in the form in which she enchanted her generation.

Five stars, with no qualifiers!

3 out of 5 stars World War II favorites from the beloved British singer.......2004-07-30

If you lived in Britain during World War II she was the proverbial "girl next door". Everybody loved her. She was the musical link between the "girls back home" and their men overseas. Her music helped an entire nation survive the most difficult of times and she remains one of the most popular female vocalists in British history. I became acquainted with her music about 20 years ago when a popular talk show host in town closed his program each day with her classic rendition of "We'll Meet Again". That recording made me want to hear more. At long last I picked up this CD and I must say I enjoyed it tremendously. Her moving renditions of tunes like "Wishing (Will Make It So), "When They Sound the Last "All Clear'" and of course "The White Cliffs of Dover" nearly brought a tear to my eye. And this is 50 years later. One can only imagine what these songs meant to all those seperated guys and gals way back when. There are 24 tracks on this disc featuring the early years of Vera's career from 1936 to 1942.
While I enjoyed practically all of them I would particularly recommend to you "It's A Sin To Tell A Lie", "I Had The Craziest Dream" and her 1940 rendition of "I'll Never Smile Again". These are the original recordings in their original form. They do not appear to have been remastered in any way so the sound quality is not the best. The liner notes are acceptable but I would have appreciated more information on the career of this important British artist. Vera continued to experience modest chart success in Britain until the late 1950's. Strangely she did not appear on the American music charts at all during the war but did finally have some success in the U.S. during the early 50's. If you are a fan of the music of the World War II era this CD would certainly be a fine addition to your collection.

5 out of 5 stars A transporting listen!.......2001-02-16

In my opinion, Vera Lynn reigns supreme as one of the greatest female vocalists of the WWII era, and this collection does her significant talent justice. Though I was born some forty years after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, these recordings take me back in time, and I never fail to choke up as I listen to the strains of her renditions of "We'll Meet Again," and "The White Cliffs of Dover." This album is a must for anyone in love with the music of WWII!

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