Addicted to Bass [CD-single] [Import]

Addicted to Bass [CD-single] [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Single from A/K/A Josh Abrahams from Sydney, who Collaborated with Filmmaker Baz Luhrmann for the Hit Single 'everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen'. On a Collision Course with the Summit of the Charts!

Tracks:

Divertimento In B-Flat (Adagio)
Cassation (Final-Musik) In G - Adgio
Divertimento In G Minor (Andante)
String Quartet No. 12 In B-Flat - Adagio
Divertimento In D, KV 131 - Adagio
'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' - Romance (Andante)
Divertimento In D, KV 136 - Andante
Serenade In B-Flat 'Gran Partita' - Adagio
Prelude No. 3 In F
String Quartet No. 1 In B-Flat - Adagio
Violin Concerto In D - Andante cantabile
Divertimento In B-Flat - Adagio

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful.......2007-06-26

I bought this CD to listen to at work (I am 6 months pregnant). The quality is awesome and the choice of songs is perfect I can listen to it over and over.

Great for putting kids to sleep!.......2007-06-08

I absolutely love this CD! In fact this is our second one because we wore out the first since we played it so much. It is very soothing, and in fact we used it to help both our kids (now 4 and 18 mo) go to sleep since they were babies. I highly recommend it!

Very Relaxing.......2007-04-10

It is very soothing and really helps you relax. I enjoy listening to it in the car during my high stress commute.

A Must Have for all Parents of Little Children !!!.......2006-11-25

I bought this when my first baby was...well, a baby. That was 8 years ago. Now I am on my 4th copy of this cd (Mozart For Mothers to Be) and my 3rd child. Nothing works better. I'm on here to buy my 4th copy becasue I've worn them out over the years and have to keep replaceing them. My 8 and 3 year old still use it, and now the new baby, also. Make it part of your nightly bed time routine and you'll have good little sleepers in no time. I swear by it. It is very soothing, calming and not distracting so it won't drive you bonkers if you can hear it a little from the next room.

A truely great gift for new parents, or if you have a sleepless little one at home. Turn on the cd, turn down the lights and let it sooth them to sleep.

Inspire the baby-within.......2005-12-13

Beyond sheer musical appreciation and enjoyment, Mozart's music in general is ideal for gently stimulating the "creative centers" as well as instilling a sense well-being. While there is much academic disagreement about the extent or reality of the so-called "Mozart Effect," it doesn't take a genius to observe how Mozart's music puts most people (and probably babies-to-be) in a happy mood ready to take on the day's challenges. There is a simplicity - yet elegance and musical brilliance - in his music that is also well-suited for the youngest of children.

The selections on this CD are all excellent and represent a nice range of Mozart's compostions, emphasising those that are ideal for creating a pleasant backdrop for leisure, dining and social occasions ("divertimentos"). The recordings are from the creme of musicians famous for their Mozart. Few works are as elegant and soaring as the Serenade #10 for winds - an astonishingly beautiful tune made famous from the early scenes of the movie, "Amadeus." Mozart supreme gifts of music are even seen in such humble "background music" as these pieces. And such continuity of warm, leisurely tones as these over 70 minutes is ideal for inspiring the baby to-be if that is why you are considering this CD. Better to expose a baby to the gentile, lyrical music of Mozart than to the dissonant, loud and disturbing tones of some classical music written well after Mozart.

As the reviewer below rightfully notes, compilation CD's of various unrelated works like this one is not quite how classical music is best meant to be heard. But in a way it is better for many to start with such collections like this - especially for those who just want the more quiet selections that are unintrusive. In that respect, this collection can be satisfying for most anyone (not just moms or babies). I have a huge classical music collection, but still really enjoy listening to one full CD of similar-temperament music like this one that flows easily and smoothly that doesn't demand my attention but only seeks to delight. And, in the end, that was the simple and primary goal of many of Mozart's compositions - to be purely enjoyed and delighted.

Beethoven's Wig, Vol. 2: More Sing-Along Symphonies

Average customer rating:

Greatest baby gift ever
Great for the whole family
More Great Fun
One is better but this is still awesome!! Gotta have it!
Absolute joy, and endless fun!

Beethoven's Wig, Vol. 2: More Sing-Along Symphonies

Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Beethoven's Wig: Sing Along Symphonies
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ASIN: B0001I2C8O
Release Date: 2004-03-16

Tracks:

Stuck In The Saddle Again (Light Cavalry March, Suppe)
Sing Verdi Very Loud (La donna e mobile, from Rigoletto, Verdi)
Its The Same Every Verse (In The Hall of The Mountain King, from Peer Gynt Suite, Grieg)
Musical Bs (Hungarian Dance #5, Brahms)
Dont Play That Violin (Violin Concerto #2, Paganini)
Schuberts Trout (Trout Quintet, Schubert)
Dvorak The Czechoslovak (Humoresque #7, Dvorak)
A Fan of Chopin (Prelude 7, Op. 28, Chopin)
Please Do Not Tease The Viennese (Blue Danube Waltz, Strauss)
Its Spring! (Spring, from The Four Seasons, Vivaldi)
Wow What a Wedding Cake (Wedding March, from A Midsummer Nights Dream,. Mendelssohn)
Instrumental Performances:
Light Cavalry March, Suppe
La donna e mobile, from Rigoletto, Verdi (with vocals)
In The Hall of The Mountain King, from Peer Gynt Suite, Grieg
Hungarian Dance #5, Brahms
Violin Concerto #2, Paganini
Trout Quintet, Schubert
Humoresque #7, Dvorak
Prelude 7, Op. 28, Chopin
Blue Danube Waltz, Strauss
Spring, from The Four Seasons, Vivaldi

Amazon.com

From a pure-pleasure standpoint, the first Beethoven's Wig was nothing to flip over, and the second disc in the series follows suit. However, that is not to say that this is not a valuable and possibly ingenious record. Those unfamiliar with the premise will quickly get the picture: Producer/writer/lead singer/chief clever guy Richard Perlmutter gathers a bundle of important classical works (Paganini's "Violin Concerto #2," Strauss' "Blue Danube Waltz") and makes up silly, catchy lyrics to lay over them, informing the listener about the piece or its composer. Standing out for their offbeat brilliance this time are "Dvorak the Czechoslovak" ("Humoresque #7," Dvorak) and "Wow What a Wedding Cake" (Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Mendelssohn). Few stabs at mixing education with entertainment succeed so well. As a bonus, the second half of the CD repeats the symphonies straight up, presenting a neat opportunity to quiz kids 5-12 on what and who they've just heard. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

Greatest baby gift ever.......2007-03-15

Both of my grandchildren (and their parents and grandparents) are hooked on this CD and all of the silliness and beauty it brings into our lives. We sing to it, dance to it, and find ourselves thinking about it at odd times. Who can't love singing Verdi VERY LOUD? I've now started giving this as a simple baby gift, especially to those with older siblings. They are already equipped with clothing and nursery gear, and Beethoven's Wig invites the whole family to gather round...even if it is just on short car rides.

Great for the whole family.......2007-01-04

My husband, 18 month old daughter and I all love this CD. It's a staple in the car. One caveat- these lyrics will get stuck in your head and I now find myself singing the "words" to these songs when I hear them in a store or commercial! I'm hoping this means my daughter will recognize these songs as she gets older.

More Great Fun.......2006-03-13

Like the first volume, this CD encourages young children to enjoy classical music. The silly lyrics sometimes impart factual information on the composer or the piece. There are 11 sing-along symphonies and then the 11 symphonies are replayed without the lyrics--total of 22 tracks. Booklet with lyrics and trivia is included. All our children (aged 2-12) enjoy this CD, as do we.

One is better but this is still awesome!! Gotta have it!.......2006-01-10

My children loved Beethovens Wig 1. I checked this one out at the library. Then, we decided we had to have this one too.
Yes, one is the best but 2 is still wonderful.
Save yourself the shipping and order both at the same time.
We all thoroughly enjoy it. My 4 yr old can name these classicals when he hears them elsewhere and he can hum these beautiful songs. Much better than kiddie rhymes and Disney jingles. Culture your children the funniest way!!

Absolute joy, and endless fun!.......2005-11-15

The tunes and word stay with you and before you know it, you are signing them along. My two kids (ages 9 and 7) ask me to put the CD on as soon as we get into the car. What a wonderful and fun way to get them to love classical music!

Average customer rating:

You made a killer album there, man
Just A Bit Too Flawed To Be Up With Past Classics
Ultimate album of 2005!
I have a confession to make to you Josh Homme... I love you!
ever evolving

Lullabies to Paralyze
Queens of the Stone Age
Manufacturer: Interscope Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Songs for the Deaf
Queens of the Stone Age - Rated R
Over the Years and Through the Woods
Era Vulgaris
Out of Exile

ASIN: B0007QJ1MK
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Tracks:

This Lullaby
Medication
Everybody Knows That You're Insane
Tangled Up In Plaid
Burn The Witch
In My Head
Little Sister
I Never Came
Someones In The Wolf
The Blood Is Love
Skin On Skin
Broken Box
You Got A Killer Scene There, Man...
Long Slow Goodbye

Amazon.com

Nick Oliveri may have departed, taking his naked bass playing skills with him, but Queens of the Stone Age remains in good hands with co-founder Josh Homme. Putting extracurricular projects like Eagles of Death Metal and the Desert Sessions briefly on hold, the restless front man keeps things dependably loud and sludgy on the group's third album. Monster riffs, choppy rhythms, explosive melodies, and, yes, even a generous serving of cowbell, propel standout songs like "Medication" and "Little Sister" on the follow-up to 2002's breakthrough Songs for the Deaf. Friends also lend a hand. ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons shreds through the reverberating "Burn The Witch," while Garbage's Shirley Manson and the Distillers' Brody Dalle join Homme for a tantalizing threesome on "You Got A Killer Scene." -- Aidin Vaziri

Customer Reviews:

You made a killer album there, man .......2007-06-17

The title "Lullabies to Paralyze" has kind of an ominous ring to it, a sort of sweet and evil combination of words that comes off as foreboding. Open the CD booklet and you'll see Josh Homme's mysterious, tripped-out and yes, evil lyrics lurking within, among sinisterly drawn animals inhabiting a dark forest. Despite all this, QOTSA's fourth album is loaded with accessible, high-energy rockers that don't drift at all from the band's past stellar work. Sure, Homme's echoed vocals and the slowed-down interlude on "Someone's in the Wolf" contain a foreboding vibe; but these elements of the song are surrounded by a lively riff, crisp-as-a-razor drums and an overall familiar sound that's expected from this band. Similarly, the dark and driving riff on "The Blood is Love" conjures fond memories of some of the more mesmerizing and drawn-out fare from the great Queens of the Stone Age - Rated R album (2000). These two songs aside, "Lullabies to Paralyze" is nothing to be afraid of.

The CD begins placid enough, just a gentle acoustic guitar and Mark Lanegan's rugged, deep croon. Like an explosion, though, the short-but-sweet "Medication" kicks in with a vengeance. Its pile-driving riff reminds me of the song "Regular John" from QOTSA's mighty debut album, Queens of the Stone Age (1998). However, it's not all just polished guitar riffs and scorching ax licks. "Lullabies" contains gems like "I Never Came," a laid-back ditty with soft vocals by Homme, funky percussion and yes, great guitar work. "You Got a Killer Scene There, Man" shows the soulful, bluesy side of Homme and his ever-changing band, while "Long Slow Goodbye" takes the CD out in a tuneful, sentimental and somewhat unexpected way.

Fans of QOTSA's past work won't likely be disappointed in this CD. In fact, the head-bobbing riffs splattered all over the album are as good as anything this band has ever released, and that's saying a lot. The pleasingly heavy sounds and lyrics heard on "Tangled Up in Plaid," "In My Head" and "Little Sister" fit right in with the tunes from any past album the band has put out. That's not to say these songs aren't original-sounding compositions, because they are. Homme is one of the most unique rock and roll artists to come along in a while, and his constantly changing band lineup might actually keep QOTSA fresh-sounding and relevant, rather than stagnated. Pick this one up if you like great rock music.

Just A Bit Too Flawed To Be Up With Past Classics.......2007-02-14

The news that Oliveri was booted out by Homme did make me skeptical. Being a massive fan of Kyuss (for those unaware, the band the two played in before the QOTSA days), and a fan of all of QOTSA's releases, I felt the combination of Homme and Oliveri was one of the best in today's rock world, and taking ones influence away would be harmful. And I believe this is evident with "Lullabies", as it is their most hit and miss release yet - often excellent, but sometimes falling into uninspiring dirge.

The hard rocking edge and emphasis on melody that was recurrent in their fantastic "Songs For The Deaf" album is repeatedly visited in the start of "Lullabies". "Medication" fashions that lovely bent for a good riff that Homme has always ensued in his different bands. "Everybody Knows You're Insane" has the typically weird and off-centre vibe QOTSA execute with ease. Their catchy and melodic pop-rock style is shown in the wondrous "Tangled Up In Plaid", my favorite track on the album, and again later with the hit single "Little Sister" and the lush choruses of "In My Head". So the opening of this album is very sharp and concise, almost refining the classic QOTSA styles into one side. To me these opening six songs are exactly what QOTSA should be doing, focusing on the niche they have carved out over the years, and adding and stripping the sound.

The problem with "Lullabies" comes in the last half of the album which is painfully hit and miss. Homme can create some inspired music that drags you into the weird and wonderful world he portrays. Just go back into the catalogue, songs such as "You Cant Quit Me Baby", "The Sky Is Falling" and "Song For The Deaf" execute that eerie and dirgey style that borders on being a ballad in a very warped sense. These songs keep the attention, they create atmosphere and really balance the faster rocking songs the band is renowned for. The final half of "Lullabies" has some really hit and miss slower work - inspired at times, but frustratingly lifeless all too often. "I Never Came" is probably my favorite of the ballad styled songs, demonstrating Homme's melodic and pop sensibility, and hitting home with a good, earnest and relatable theme of relationship hardships. The theme is not original at all, but Homme's vocal delivery and poetic lyrics give it an honest and emotional edge. Unfortunately "Lullabies" really slips off the excellent pace. "Someones In The Wolf" is an overly long dirge that just doesn't do the trick for me. It becomes quite dull and never really picks up. And this pretty much applies for the rest of the ending, "The Blood Is Love" and "Skin on Skin" keep on this dull, lacking momentum, and gradually the album comes to a close.

The stark hit and miss of "Lullabies" bemuses me. Homme clearly shows he can create some class without Oliveri as there are some real great rock songs here. But some of this album feels forced, feels like Homme was pushing a cool idea into a lengthy song as opposed to one riff, or one bridge. The longer songs just don't have enough about them, simple as that. Because of these songs I was a bit dissapointed with the album, as I wanted Homme to create another sprawling and classy release. The throw-away ending songs are made that much more frustrating by the opening songs which show exactly what Homme IS capable of. Hopefully the next album will be a more consistent affair.

Ultimate album of 2005!.......2007-02-07

This album had a hard time leaving my CD player...LTP was an addictive drug that could not be rehabilitated...The S**t was that good man! QOTSA's albums just keep getting better and better! It's more calm than the others' and I couldn't care less for their single "Little Sister", but tracks 3,6,10,12,13, and 14 stood out like no other. Unfortunately, I don't have that anymore a douche bag friend of mine lost it >=I! The calmness in this masterpiece contains major groove, and superior melodies that I can only hope to achieve higher intensity on the next album! Josh Homme is just songwriting genius, a flawless artist I have followed since his departure with Kyuss. I recommend to start fresh wit their sophomore album "Rated R", but if you see this album & only this in the racks...Grab with both hands & don't let a good friend lose such a divine album for you! Bonds before Bros!!!!!

I have a confession to make to you Josh Homme... I love you!.......2006-11-06

This CD is very awesome!!! I can't through the whole CD because... I'm in love with Josh Homme... he's the lead singer from this band. His voice... is so... awesome! When I listen to his songs... I know that he's talking to me! I'm so deeply in love with him. I'll do anything for him I'll even die for him! If anything happens to him... I don't know what I'll do with myself! I hope the spell will never break.

Josh... I love you... I want you to hear me sing and you can sing to me. I love you Josh... I love you. I'll kill myself for you!

ever evolving.......2006-06-13

I have to say that this album has grown on me. I bought this album because I thought it would be as good as Songs for the Deaf. I have come to a realization. Good bands are always expanding their musical horizons. QOTSA are no different. Even after two members leave the group, the band is able to keep producing some timeless stuff. This album is different than the other albums. As always, their music can be as precise as a pin prick or as diluted as mud. The album starts off very slow, an acoustic tune, then gets moving at breakneck speed , only to slow down slightly and then to push it back up to closed casket speed, and then it ends perfectly. I will say that Lullabies to Paralyze seems to be a more refined expierience that what I was accustomed to hearing from this band. Its ever so naughty, a little hurt, and oh so carnal. This is what rock should be. No song on this album is the same, there is always a defined difference in the music. Songs about the power of women over men, songs about the percieved difference in the male and female mind, rationality vs. emotional guidance. I will say, that one thing that absolutely rocks about this band is their ability to come up with ruthless lyrics that would put a professional poet to shame. Guest musicians flood to this band like moths to a flood light. Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top makes a guest appearance, and the former drummer of Danzig, Joey Castillo plays drums on the album. Overall this album rocks as all their other albums have, it just seems to have a more defined style to itself. Dont put this album in expecting to become an instant QOTSA fan, this one takes time to appreciate how good the music is.

The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Ever, Volume II

Average customer rating:

The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Eveer, Volume II
Great music listein to while you read in bed
A must buy for the non-snobbish classical music fan.
A bliss of spirit.
Boring

The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Ever, Volume II
Gabriel Faure , Frederic Chopin , Antonio Vivaldi , Gustav Mahler , Claude Debussy , Sir Neville Marriner , Maris Jansons , Lorin Maazel , Sir Adrian Boult , Miklos Rozsa , Riccardo Muti , Stephen Cleobury , Sir John Barbirolli , New Philharmonia Orchestra , Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus , Academy of St. Martin in the Fields , and Berlin Philharmonic
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!
The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe
The Most Relaxing Piano Album in the World...Ever!
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Best of the Millennium: Top 40 Classical Hits

ASIN: B00002439O
Release Date: 2003-03-11

Tracks:

Sheep May Safely Graze - Sir Neville Marriner
Serenade In G 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik' - Sir Neville Marriner
Violin Concerto No.1 In G Minor, Op.26 - II. Adagio - Yedudi Menuhin
Nocturne No.2 In E Flat Op.9 No.2 - John Ogdon
Miserere Mei, Deus - Stephen Cleobury
Schindler's List - Tasmin Little
Traumerei - Dame Moura Lympany
Dance Of The Sylphs - Sir Neville Marriner
Water Music - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphony No.9: II. Largo - Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Jean De Florette - Toots Thielemans
Concerto For Lute And Two Violins - II. Largo - Anthony Bailes
Cello Concerto In E Minor Op.85 - III. Adagio - Jacqueline De Pre
Waltz No.15 In A Flat - Dame Moura Lympany
Romance - Piers Lane
Pavane - Maurice Handford
Woodbrook - Micheal O Suilleabhain
Time To Say Goodbye - Orchestra

Tracks:

The Four Seasons - Concerto No.1 In E 'Spring' - Yehundi Menuhin
Dance Of The Blessed Spirits - New Philharmonia Orchestra
Double Violin Concerto In D Minor - II. Largo Ma Non Tanto - Yehudi Menuhin
Prelude No.7 In A Op.28 No.7 - Tzimon Barto
Cantique De Jean Racine - MONKS AND CHOIRBOYS OF DOWNSIDE ABBEY
The Lark Ascending - Hugh Bean
'Pathetique Sonata Op.13 - II. Adagio Cantabile - Leonard Pennario
Pie Jesu - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
Salut D'Amour - Richard Hickox
La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin (The Girl With Flaxen Hair) - Dame Moura Lympany
The Coventry Carol - Medeval Babes
Pavane For A Dead Princess - New Philharmonia Orchestra
Liebestraum No.3 In A Flat - John Ogdon
Panis Angelicus - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Piano Concerto No.2 In F Op.102 - II. Andante - Dmitri Alexeev
Agnus Dei - Peter Barley
Symphony No.5 In C Sharp Minor - IV. Adagietto - New Philharmonia Orchestra
My Heart Will Go On - Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Eveer, Volume II.......2006-08-28

Good selection of music, poorly performed and badly arranged. Good album for a tag sale. Same comment applies for Volume I.

Great music listein to while you read in bed.......2005-08-21

I have listened to this CD for the last several years before going to sleep at night. I love classical music, and this is great music to help make my soul feel at peace and unwind after a taxing day.

A must buy for the non-snobbish classical music fan........2004-10-22

I bought Vol. 1 of this series and was quite satisfied, but I have to say I'm more than satisfied with this one. If you can just mellow out and enjoy some great pieces, you'll love this CD. #15 on Disc 2 is almost worth the price alone!

A bliss of spirit........2004-09-18

That's disc will open You a wonderful, beautiful world of sounds, their harmony & emotion : you'll feel your heart full of
Joy, Tears, Love.
Good LUCK!

Boring.......2004-05-11

Yes this CD will put you to sleep in minutes. Its the most boring uninspiring classical music. The first CD was very good but this Vol. 2 is like most movie sequels....AWFUL !

Average customer rating:

A defining moment
Lonely Woman
Plastic Axe Attacks
Freedom!
Jazz was resculpted with this chisel

The Shape of Jazz to Come
Ornette Coleman
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

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Out to Lunch
Free Jazz (A Collective Improvisation)
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Speak No Evil

ASIN: B000002I4W
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Lonely Woman
Eventually
Peace
Focus On Sanity
Congeniality
Chronology

Amazon.com essential recording

On this highly influential 1959 album, Ornette Coleman's unique writing style and idiosyncratic solo language forever changed the jazz landscape. On classics such as "Lonely Woman," "Congeniality," and "Focus on Sanity," Coleman used the tunes' moods and melodic contours, rather than their chords, as a basis for his improvisations. In so doing, he opened up jazz soloing immensely and ushered in new freedoms--both individually and collectively. Lest these innovations sound too dry or abstract, it must be noted that both Coleman and trumpeter Don Cherry play with a deep-felt emotion and joy that is as infectious today as it was then. This is truly an essential jazz recording, marking the end of one era, providing the blueprint for the next. --Wally Shoup

Customer Reviews:

A defining moment.......2007-02-22

This album signified a defining moment in jazz music upon its release in 1959, the sound unpredictable and free to come and go as it pleases. What came to be commonly referred to as free jazz or avant-garde was viewed by some as an affront to the integrity of jazz music at large. For some critics, it was easier to dismiss Coleman as an unskilled technician rather than face the possibility that he just may be brilliant. Coleman became so influential in the scene and movement of his day that even John Coltrane was exploring freer compositions as a result.

The sound quality on this disc is superb. Coleman uses silence in a haunting way, shaping his music around its backdrop and occasionally using it as a centerpiece. This album is fresh and new every time you listen to it, the emotional effect being a soothing and calming one. Sure to become an instant favorite in anyone's collection, Ornette Coleman's "The Shape of Jazz to Come" will seldom find itself outside of your turntables.

Personnel: Ornette Coleman (alto saxophone), Don Cherry (cornet), Charlie Haden (bass) and Billy Higgins (drums).

Lonely Woman.......2006-05-20

If you're on the fence about Ornette Coleman, or think you just don't like "free jazz", or whatever, just try to put away preconceptions and listen to "Lonely Woman" with a relaxed mind and open ears. While doing so, think of Johnny Hodges, perhaps. Dawn, dusk and midnight are great times for this music. It's not "free jazz", and you might be surprised how beautiful it is.

Plastic Axe Attacks.......2006-04-18

Because it is populated by drug addicts, ne-er do wells, misogynists, slackers, and people who wear sunglasses after dark, the world of jazz is thought of as a "cool" place where anything goes. Surprisingly enough, there is stodginess, conservatism, and resistance to change in the world of jazz just as there is everywhere else. No one knows this better than Ornette Coleman.

In the late `50s, sporting a plastic alto sax and some wild new ideas, Coleman blew onto the scene and was quickly fed into the teeth of a whirring buzz saw. Jazz insiders disagreed about Ornette Coleman; some saw him as a deranged savage with no grounding in jazz traditions, others saw him as a grandstanding opportunist attempting to pass off bizarre behavior for avante garde music, and frightening the dogs in the process. Both groups agreed he should be burned at the stake. A smattering of advocates knew better than to speak up.

What's so funny is that 40 plus years later, everyone admits he's a giant of jazz and hugely influential, but nobody listens to him. (He's like PBS in this respect). Two things jump out. When he kicked the piano out of the ensemble, the chords, the musical foundation, went too. Heresy. Next, as good as Don Cherry is, Coleman put all the musical pressure on himself, his alto carries everything. This might be thought of as chutzpah or recklessness except that he really is that good.

The Shape Of Jazz To Come proves this beyond all debate. Though Coleman is considered "way out," this CD is thoroughly listenable and exquisitely beautiful. Coleman's abilities as a solo artist are absolutely stunning, in a class with giants like Coltrane, Parker, and Young. In later efforts, like the Stockholm recordings, he would venture even further off of Main Street, and at times the results are not mellifluous. It doesn't matter. Coleman is the real thing, a fearless originator, a prodigy, and a national treasure. He is like the film director Terry Gilliam in that even his failures are better than the successes of almost all his colleagues. With The Shape Of Jazz To Come, Ornette Coleman succeeds unequivocally.

Freedom!.......2006-02-26

This was a controversial album when it first came out, but you can forget all that and just buy it. This is simply an excellent jazz album, and many of the songs on it have been covered by other artists. Although free jazz can rightly sound forbidding, this album is very accessible. The melodies are very catchy, and the playing is very good. Don Cherry and Charlie Haden provide great support and soloing.

Jazz was resculpted with this chisel.......2005-11-18

1959 was probably the biggest year for jazz in history. Out of that year we were introduced to instant classics such as "Kind of Blue", "Giant Steps", "Time Out", "Mingus Ah Um" and of course, Ornette Colemans "Shape of Jazz to Come." It is not surprising Coleman's release was originally criticized by many as the red-headed step child of jazz music. Many were outraged by Coleman's tunes that lacked an explicit form or set of chord changes. However, much of what we listen to now in the contemporary world of jazz has been shaped by this important artistic album.

If one listens to many of the groups that are on the contemporary scene these days such as the Dave Holland Quintet, it is very hard to discern any type of particular form or distinct chord changes that the players are improvising over. The reason you can't tell very easily is because well, there isn't one. We have Ornette Coleman to thank for this innovative concept that has created an entirely different world of jazz for us to enjoy. Many of the contemporary groups today have extracted much from the avant garde concepts that Coleman initiated on this record.

One might be curious, how in the world can players improvise when there is no explicit form or chordal structure? The answer lies in one word: chemistry. The interplay between Charlie Haden (bass) and Billy Higgins (drums) with the soloists (Coleman on sax and Don Cherry on coronet) is amazing. The players are always conscious of what the others are doing at any given second. Because the chemistry between the players is so well-developed, the music has bite, edge and a sort of abrasiveness that rarely if ever sounds racous, out of tune or unmusical. Granted it is abstract and unconventional, but it stays away from being so vaporous that it cannot be comprehended by the untrained ear (an issue that some contemporary musicians err on too much).

The only warning that I have about this album is that it is not intended to be background music of any kind. You can turn on Kind of Blue or Time Out and occupy yourself with something else and be just fine. This is not the case with "Shape of Jazz to Come." Coleman's disc requires a much more attentive and engaged ear to really appreciate it. Many of the people who refer to this album as incoherent abstract garbage probably are not listening to the album the way it was meant to be listened to. Listen closely and you too, may truely appreciate the shape that jazz has taken.

Average customer rating:

Different and Good!
Exceeded my expectations
Awesome!
Hard II Label - Easy II Love
4.5 Stars. Excellent album.

Celldweller
Celldweller
Manufacturer: Position Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Trance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Disengage
Synthetic Division
The Beta Cessions
Unsaved
Eurotrash

ASIN: B000089YA7
Release Date: 2003-02-11

Tracks:

Switchback
Stay With Me (Unlikely)
The Last Firstborn
Under My Feet
I Believe You
Frozen
Symbiont
Afraid This Time
Fadeaway
So Sorry To Say
Own Little World
Unlikely (Stay With Me)
One Good Reason
The Stars Of Orion
Welcome To The End

Album Description

Celldweller combines the electronic and the organic, darkness and beauty, aggression and sensuality, with the ability to find its home in the mosh pit as easily as on the dj's turntable. Their debut self-titled album ranges from guitar based electronic rock to the unique blending of heavily distorted guitars and aggression with drum and bass trance. Celldweller's music has been featured on television shows including: "The Chris Isaac Show" (Showtime), "Higher Ground" (ESPN, MTV); video game placements, including: "NHL Hockey" (EA), "Road Rash: Jailbreak" (EA), and "Test Drive: Off Road" (Infogames); and even in the Martin Lawrence movie, "National Security".

Customer Reviews:

Different and Good!.......2007-03-12

This CD was recommended by a friend based upon bands that I listen to now (Metallica, NIN, Korn..). He said it was a little different but thought I'd like it. A great mix of alternative and metal. I truly liked the entire CD.

Exceeded my expectations.......2007-02-22

I'm relatively new to the industrial-ish scene and didn't know what to expect from this CD. I had heard "Switchback" and "The Last Firstborn" and *loved* them but I'm almost always cautious of other tracks that I haven't heard yet on albums I buy. To my pleasure I found out that my caution was unnecessary. I enjoy pretty much all of the tracks on this CD. My favorites remain as Switchback and The Last Firstborn but I discovered I really liked "Frozen." My recommendation? If you liked Switchback, The Last Firstborn, or "One Good Reason" (all of which you can hear on Pandora) then I feel you'll like this album.

Awesome!.......2006-11-06

This album is incredible. It never gets old, there are no repedative samples, it's hard without being too edgy like Argyle Park. You just need to buy it!

Hard II Label - Easy II Love.......2006-08-30

Celldweller has gained alot of respect and fans since the release of this. With many of these songs heard in Movies, Video Games & Internet Radio and a MySpace page filled to the brim with loyal Klayton fans. The ironic part is this guy is from Michigan (where I happen to live) where Industrial & Techno are far from the main trend. Yet this One Man Army is easily one of the most idolized idependent artists in the state, If not the country.

The albums approach is a mix of several different genres. Alternative, CyberTek, Gothic, Industrial, Metal & Techno. They all combine into a well oiled machine creating some of the most original music i've ever heard. From gritty synthed out guitar riffs, to dark overtones with soft melodic vocals and everything in between.

Songs such as 'Tragedy' have lyrics easy to sing along with and fast paced music easy to dance to or even head bang to. Other songs such as 'Switchback' have a heavier Industrial Metal influence and even have Klayton singing in audible Growl/Yell form. Tracks with a darker grittier approach like 'Symbiont' have Cyber Goth written all over them and are a nice addition to the album.

Metal fans be cautious, This album really isn't all that heavy. I suggest checking out songs on MySpace before purchasing. Everyone else don't hesitate, This is a great and original album to add to your collection. Personal favorites include: Frozen - Tragedy - Symbiont - Afraid This Time.

-If you took the time to read my review, Please take the time to rate it and let me know whether it Helped you or Not.

-Thank you, A loyal Celldweller fan & Michigan Music supporter.

4.5 Stars. Excellent album........2006-08-29

I was fortunate enough to get this disc a little while back, and I had no idea the version I acquired was a low bit rate, internet leak. So, about 2 months ago, I buy the album and never really do much with it, but yesterday I brought it into work and I was floored at the difference. Lesson learned: Buy your CD's, even if you get the "early" version. Or just wait for the final to drop.

Yes, Celldweller is not Circle of Dust. They aren't industrial. What we've got here is a tapestry of rock, house, drum n' bass, and industrial, and it's quite a project he has here. A lot of people criticize it because he uses clean vocals, catchy harmonies, and club beats. I praise the man for it, and I'll tell you why this album is amazing, and why it's pushing the envelope. (Hopefully the soon-to-appear sophomore disc will be the sonic powerhouse a lot of people have been saying it is). Also, I'm going to not compare it to Circle of Dust or Argyle Park, as this is a completely different beast.

First off, Celldweller is defintely catchy and poppy. There is no doubting this. Some of their songs, like the rap infused synthetic rocker Switchback, are high energy affairs that allow you to bob your head and sing along. However, the variety of song structures, the use of synths, heavily processed guitars, and throbbing programmed drum beats all come together to produce something that doesn't skimp on either the rock or techno side. This isn't electronica sprikled over numetal, ala Spineshank, and it defintely isn't techno with a bit of guitar filled in. This a perfectly balanced combination of the two creating something quite unique, good to the ears, and something you can dance to. Once the album progresses and you start hearing the acoustic bits, the catchy rock riffs, the vocoded female vocal leads, you'll start to understand: This isn't a faliure at industrial, it's an almagamtion of all the styles of music the man in charge (Klayton) enjoys.

The high points for me are without a doubt the 7 minute techno epic "The Last Firstborn", with its hypnotic house rhythms, amazingly well mixed guitar parts that don't overwhelm the general feeling but add immesurably to it, and the whispered/raspy spoken word/rap hybrid vocals. Add some cool guitar breakdowns and infintely creepy lyrics, and it's a 10/10. The other high point comes later in the album, the much shorter and more rock-styled Fadeaway. From the trip-hop intro, which quickly gets a dose of chugging riffage, to the soaring and amazingly catchy chorus, this song rocks your ears until it drops down into an unexpected acoustic break complete with erie synths switching between your ears and a solemn vocal performance.

I can't recommend this album enough to people who have an affinity for rock and an even passing interest in electronica and industrial rock (Front Line Assembly fans need not apply ;) ). Don't expect a mind-twisting, calculated insanity. This is not Aphex Twin with guitars. This is straight up 4/4 beats, a high range mix of vocals, simple rock guitars, enough hooks to hold down a hungry Oprah, and some of the best club sample work I've heard outside of rave dj's. If your idea of great music simply consists of how heavy it is, then you're better off somewhere else. If your benchmark of good industrial is Squarepusher or Aphex Twin (both of which I love, btw) and if your rock collection consists of Gorguts, Starkweather, or even to a lesser degree Trivium, this probably isn't the album for you.

However, if you can take some pop, some club beats, and a motherload of catchy rhythms, get this album. You will not regret it.

Passion - Most Famous Orchestral Spectaculars [20 CD Set]

Average customer rating:

A good gift for novice

Passion - Most Famous Orchestral Spectaculars [20 CD Set]

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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Box Sets at 30% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

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Similar Items:

Rhapsody in Blue - Ultimate Piano Collection [20 CD Set]
Little Night Music - Ultimate Mozart Collection [20 CD Set]
Rendezvous of Angels - Concert Collection [20 CD Set]
Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]
Classical Evolution: Spanish Guitar Music

ASIN: B00012QLTQ
Release Date: 2003-12-09

Album Description

Music can be both calming and relaxing, or invigorating and passionate...this phenomenal 20-CD set is definitely the latter. This amazing collection brings together for the first time the most passionate music of all time, from Ravel's Bolero, Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, Wagner's Magic Fire Music to Ravel's La Valse, Orff 's Carmina Burana and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. This is a must have collection for every passionate music lover.

Customer Reviews:

A good gift for novice.......2007-05-12

This was a good gift for somebody learning about Classical music in Japan.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful and Inspirational
what is that creaking sound? The floor?
Relaxing at Home
This is really Charlap's album
Trust Charlap to pick a winner

You Taught My Heart to Sing
Houston Person , and Bill Charlap
Manufacturer: Highnote
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Nocturnes & Serenades
Live at the Village Vanguard
American Songbook
Kids: Duets Live at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola
Bill Charlap Plays George Gershwin

ASIN: B000GEU6O0
Release Date: 2006-08-01

Tracks:

You Taught My Heart To Sing
Namely You
Where Are You
Sweet Lorraine
If I Ruled The World
S'Wonderful
Where Is The Love
I Was Telling Her About You
Don't Forget The Blues
I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone

Amazon.com

A veteran tenor saxophonist whose reputation has never caught up to his exceptional talents, Houston Person rises to undeniable heights on this duo collaboration with Bill Charlap, a pianist whose reputation as an interpreter of the Great American Songbook has taken off through a series of topnotch albums but whose acute skills as an accompanist may be underapprecated. Even taking into account the familiarity they have attained through various encounters in New York, the chemistry Person and Charlap demonstrate here is pretty stunning. Person's classic deep tenor finds elegance and strength in a selection of songs that spans standards (Gershwin's "S'Wonderful"), Broadway (Leslie Bricusse's "If I Ruled the World"), pop ("Where is the Love," a hit for Donnie Hathaway) and jazz (McCoy Tyner's melodious title cut). And Charlap, making acute and witty digressions even as he smartly shadows the saxophonist, adds depth to the songs. An album in the same class as Stan Getz's series of duets with Kenny Barron, which is saying a lot. --Lloyd Sachs

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful and Inspirational.......2007-05-12

When the world lost the truly Great tenormen i.e., Lester Young, Chu Berry, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster many players and listeners were highly dismayed. It wasn't until a few years ago that I had the good fortune of discovering Houston Person that I could truly rejoice. Many people have oogled with augh over Coltrane and a mirade of others but none had the soul or love of the truly Great Ones I so much missed. There are many 'technicians' who can blow anything but few who can emit feeling and love. Houston Person is one who can and ranks high upon my list of those now gone and has done much to restore the tenderness and passions of the past for me. His work with Bill Charlap is not only beautiful but inspirational as well. For me this recording is the absolute finest example of love and tenderness I have experienced in many years of listening and playing. Not only the lead song You Taught My Heart To Sing, but Namely You, Where Are You and Sweet Lorraine all are further examples of what can happen when you get two perceptive and capable musicians together -- what a complimentary pair these two really are! They have brought a world that seems dreary and short on beauty a whole recorded session of sheer beauty and enjoyment that all seems well as the music plays on. You not only hear the results of two men who are really in tune with themselves and each other but their work unites you with the best there is within you and the world. This recording is, for me, priceless and would be the "ONE" most favored to take with me to that desert island -- provided there was the capability of somehow reproducing it there. All would be well with me and life in general. The manner in which these two great musicians listen and support one another is indeed remarkable and most enjoyable. I have purchased at least three or four copies of this disc and shared them with others. This one is a real treasure for those who enjoy music from the heart.

what is that creaking sound? The floor?.......2007-02-28

Whatever its merits, this recording, "engineered, mixed, and mastered" by the legendary Rudy Van Gelder, includes a bizarre level of ambient studio sounds that DO DETRACT from the music - such as a floor creaking, or someone moving around or I can't tell what. There is very little precedent for this kind of nonsense in a professional studio recording. Maybe they accidentally released a soundcheck instead of the master. Maybe it's a cutting edge 'warts and all' approach from a recording engineer with 50 years of work under his belt. Maybe nobody else heard these weird sounds except me.

Relaxing at Home .......2007-02-18

This is a nice soothing CD to help one relax after a day of work.

Many jazz recordings are dedicated to exploring new sounds. This one is much more traditional jazz, dedicated to preserving the legacy of jazz instead of creating new jazz alternatives. It is well recorded, and one can visualize being in a club listening to a jazz duo.

In my Opinion: Where is Love, I was Telling Her About You, are the highlights of the recording.

This is really Charlap's album.......2007-02-02

I have a few other things by Houston Person, who usually has a sound that reminds me of Gene Ammons - a big, bassy tenor sax sound. He is completely different here - breathy, a higher timbre, softer. He plays beautifully. However, this album is really all about Bill Charlap.

First of all, his piano is recorded beautifully. Second, he PLAYS beautifully. At first, I thought I detected some of Bill Evans in his sound, but then almost everyone has some of Evans. No, Charlap has his own sound and style. He plays more in the upper range of the instrument than Evans, a more open style of harmony.

The very first number, "You Taught My Heart To Sing" almost leaves you breathless. The playing is gorgeous. It has everything that it needs and nothing that it doesn't, to paraphrase a commercial.

Clearly, Charlap is a man to be listened to, and I for one will certainly be looking to purchase more of his recordings. For my money, he may be one of the two or three best of the current crop of jazz pianists.

Trust Charlap to pick a winner.......2007-01-09

Bill Charlap's collaborations with tenor sax players are some of the best examples of the continuing heritage of straight-ahead jazz. He has recorded with Scott Hamilton and Frank Wess with great success. And now he has given us a great session with traditionalist Houston Person. Newcomers to the world of jazz should listen to this release to learn why older fans flock to Charlap's performances and to experience the sounds that made jazz America's pop music 50 years ago.

Average customer rating:

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

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

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

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Purcell: Odes for St. Cecilia's Day - Music for Queen Mary / Taverner Consort
Purcell: The Fairy Queen
Purcell: Songs & Airs / Argenta, North, Boothby, Nicholson, Toll
Purcell: Dido and Aeneas / James, Lewis, Baker, Herincx
Purcell: Full Anthems & Organ Music

ASIN: B000002ZDU
Release Date: 1995-04-10

Tracks:

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

Amazon.com essential recording

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

by stardustraven

Average customer rating:

Loved "Summon the Heroes"
Inspirational music during awards
Rousing but....
Enjoyable romp through Olympic Themes
One of the most uplifting and motivating albums!!!

Summon the Heroes

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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By Request: The Best Of John Williams And The Boston Pops Orchestra
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The Music of John Williams: 40 Years of Film Music
Stars & Stripes: Fanfares, Marches & Wind Band Spectaculars

ASIN: B00004WK4E
Release Date: 2000-08-29

Tracks:

Summon The Heroes - John Williams/Boston Pops Orchestra
Carmina Burana: O Fortuna - Tanglewood Festival Chorus/John Oliver
Bugler's Dream/Olympic Fanfare And Theme - John Williams/Boston Pops Orchestra
Canto Olympico: Ode To Zeus - Tanglewood Festival Chorus/John Oliver
Javelin - John Williams/Boston Pops Orchestra
Olympic Hymn - Tanglewood Festival Chorus/John Oliver
Festive Overture, Op.96 - John Williams/Boston Pops Orchestra
Conquest Of Paradise (Theme) - Tanglewood Festival Chorus/John Oliver
Ben Hur: Parade Of Charioteers - John Williams/Boston Pops Orchestra
Toward A New Life - John Williams/Boston Pops Orchestra
Chariots of Fire (Theme) - John Williams/Boston Pops Orchestra
The Olympic Spirit - John Williams/Boston Pops Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Loved "Summon the Heroes".......2007-03-17

Great soul-stirring music! Highly recommended for anyone who loves Olympics orchestral and similar music.

Inspirational music during awards.......2007-01-22

I use the music on this CD as background when I give awards during track. It's very inspirational & uplifting to the athletes. They love it.

Rousing but...........2006-02-24

This CD, with John Williams at the baton, summons the heroes in a rousing manner with a wide range of Olympic as well as "heroic" (e.g., "Parade of the Charioteers" from "Ben Hur")selections. Three of the twelve tracks were written by Williams himself with his "Olympic Spirit" being recorded for the first time. The electrifying "Ode to Zeus" by Mikis Theodorakis is probably the single greatest selection.
In an amazing oversight, however, this CD does not include the Olympic Theme.

Enjoyable romp through Olympic Themes.......2005-09-01

In the US at least, John Williams is known more for his movie scores (Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark to name a few), but he has put his stamp on the Olympics with his several themes and fanfares for the Olympics. Dating back to 1984, Mr. Williams has composed many well known fanfares to the Olympics, and this compilation contains several of his fanfares in addition to music used in other Olympics. The original release for the disc was 1996, which makes it current through the Atlanta Games; if you're looking for the work that John Williams composed for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics (2002), you have to go with American Visions (I believe that's the title).

On the whole, the music is well done, but I'm more used to the faster pace of the Parade of the Charioteers found on Eric Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops' Hollywood's Greatest Hits Vol. 1.
One other quibble (minor, really) is that people tend to think of the 1984 Olympic Fanfare as being always merged with the traditional Olympic Fanfare, but you can find it separately on By Request by John Williams and the Boston Pops. You'll also have to hunt around for the full composition of what people consider the traditional Olympic Fanfare on another disc, but that's a minor issue.

One nice item on the disc is The Olympic Spirit, which was composed for the NBC Broadcast of the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, but never used. My children really like that piece a lot, and usually request it to be replayed when it finishes.

One of the most uplifting and motivating albums!!!.......2005-07-19

When I first listened to this album, I was in awe of the beauty and grandness of the music composed/performed by John Williams. John can make composing music an exalted art. His music is purely genius and captures the ideas of the album in which the score is in. Back to the album . . . it is AWESOME! This includes many well-known songs but also many undiscovered treasures. Of the twelve songs, I especially enjoyed:
Track One-Summon the Heroes
Track Three-Bugler's Dream/Olympic Fanfare and Theme
Track Twelve-The Olympic Spirit
Bottom Line: BUY THIS ALBUM!!!!!!!! A TREASURE!!!!!

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