Thanksgiving

thanksgiving

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The secret to this quiet, beautiful record is, oddly enough, its least representative moment--"Our Boy," performed as an instrumental by pianist Ted Borowiecki and written by Hewerdine and guitarist Neill MacColl. The melody is simple and evocative (like something from Bartók's "Songs for Children"), and when it's finished you're tempted to turn the stereo off for a moment to savor the images it conjures up. It's a moment that spills over into the surrounding songs, giving them an added depth and poignancy. "Bell, Book and Candle" (a song Eddi Reader covers on her 1999 release Angels & Electricity) is a sweetly haunting ode, while Hewerdine embellishes "Eve," a quirky vignette about a girl who "lives by the flower market," with some John Lennon-style vocals. --Percy Keegan

Thanksgiving,Boo Hewerdine,Compass Records,Contemporary Folk,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter

Thanksgiving

Average customer rating:

Beethoven for Babies
Nicest classical CD I have found for my baby (& me)
Ode To Beethoven
Pseudoscientific crap, but some of the music is good here
Nicest classical music CD I've found for my baby (& me)

Beethoven for Babies

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Build Your Baby's Brain
Mozart for Mothers-To-Be: Tender Lullabies for Mother and Child
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ASIN: B000009OU6
Release Date: 1998-08-11

Tracks:

Six National Airs With Variations, Op. 105: The Cottage Maid (Welsh)
Six National Airs With Variations, Op. 105: The Last Rose Of Summer (Irish)
Six National Airs With Variations, Op. 105: Chiling O'Guirg (Irish)
Six National Airs With Variations, Op. 105: English Bulls (Irish)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: St. Patrick's Day (Irish)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: O Mary, At The Window Be (Scottish)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Oh, Thou Are The Lad Of My Heart (Scottish)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Fur Elise
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 8 In C Minor ('Pathetique') - Adagio cantabile
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: String Quartet No. 13 In B-Flat - Alla Danza Tedesca. Allegro assai
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 7 In D - Menuetto (Allegro)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: The Creatures Of Prometheus - Finale. Allegretto
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 18 In E-Flat - Menuetto (Moderato e grazioso)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 20 In G - Tempo di menuetto
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Symphony No. 8 In F - Allegro scherzando
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Symphony No. 9 In D Minor ('Choral') - Ode To Joy
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Piano Sonata No. 15 In D ('Pastoral') - Rondo (Allegro ma non troppo)
Ten National Airs With Variations, Op. 107: Symphony No. 6 In F ('Pastoral') - Hymn Of Thanksgiving

Amazon.com

For the parent looking to ease their child into a familiarity with classical music, this is a very well chosen set of Beethoven works. It begins with a generous selection of airs composed late in the composer's life. The presence of the flute as the lead instrument on these selections has a soothing quality that moves the ear in an ideally subtle way, especially as it gives way to the more excited piano sonata pieces. Zoltán Kocsis's reading of "Pathétique" is followed by Claudio Arrau's take on the 7th, 15th, and 18th sonatas and Sviatoslav Richter's lyrical take on the 20th ("Pastoral"). Programmed amidst the piano pieces, which are great studies in dynamics and musical spacing, are some fine orchestral snippets, none longer than five minutes. The collection does a fine balancing act, condensing works that don't inherently lend themselves to shortened renditions and carefully managing moods, entry, and egress to each segment. This is fine anthology work. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Beethoven for Babies.......2007-05-21

My baby and I really enjoy this CD. It is so fun to feel the baby get excited when I play it. I have a pillow speaker and just place it right up against my stomach. It evens helps me to get in a nap or just rest for a while.

Nicest classical CD I have found for my baby (& me).......2005-09-01

This is a very pleasant CD to listen to, and I think the quality of the music is excellent. I enjoy listening to this with my 10 month old son, and we also listen to the radio and lots of modern music. I recently purchased 5 of the classical "Baby Einstein" CDs and I consider them to be inferior to this Beethoven for Babies CD. The Baby Einstein are very synthesized sounding and I think they are annoyingly mellow and kind of dopey. This Beethoven CD is beautiful. In fact I'm going to buy 1 or 2 more from this series.

Ode To Beethoven.......2005-05-13

The actual reason I bought this cd is for "Fur Elise" but it turned out to be much more than I bargained for. Before road rage sets in while sitting in a traffic jam during rush hour, play this. If you need to take it easy and escape from your reality, play this. Need something to play at work that's not explicit or offensive, play this. Of course, it's not Beethoven himself, but if you need some quiet time, play this. Even while you read, you could play this. If you want some authenticity to your collection, get Beethoven for Babies.

Pseudoscientific crap, but some of the music is good here.......2004-05-27

The 3 stars is only because the hucksters that put this together at least had the decency to tracks featuring Arrau & Richter on this CD. A lot of these "turn your baby into a genius with classical music" CDs and tapes feature only lousy musical performances from hack musicians you have never heard of.

That having been said, if you are stupid enough to believe any of this "Mozart Effect" horse manure --- which continues to have no support in any sort of controlled test environment --- then your babies will probably inherit your limited intellectual capacities & no amount of Beethoven & Mozart will ever be able to help them.

If, on the other hand, you are introducing Junior to classical music, you could do worse --- but you could also do better. Go get Arrau's complete Beethoven sonatas & concerti, get the Berg Quartett's complete Beethoven quartet cycle, and get John Eliot Gardiner's complete Beethoven symphonies --- just for a start. Also, don't stop with Beethoven & Mozart. My 9-month old daughter gets a diverse exposure to a thousand years of music, and very little is off limits. She got acquainted with the Bartok Quartets within her first couple of months, and it doesn't look like we have created an axe murderer or anything like that.

Anyway, if you want to create a classical music lover, do it right and go the distance, rather than doing it piecemeal with CDs like this. Your baby may still be a moron, but at least will be a moron with exquisite taste.

Nicest classical music CD I've found for my baby (& me).......2003-11-23

Varese Sarabande 25th Anniversary Celebration

Average customer rating:

A good value
The Sound Track Since Bernard Hermann
Good mix of film music
A mixed collection of movie music
Uplifts your soul, takes your mind into the heavens

Varese Sarabande 25th Anniversary Celebration

Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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In Session: Film Music Celebration
The Essential Elmer Bernstein Film Music Collection
Jerry Goldsmith: 40 Years of Film Music
Music In Film (National Public Radio Milestones Of The Millennium)

ASIN: B00008WI90
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

The Man from Snowy River (Bruce Rowland)
The Winds of War (Bob Cobert)
Blue Velvet (Angelo Badalamenti)
Witness (Maurice Jarre)
Raising Arizona (Carter Burwell)
Pee Wees Big Adventure (Danny Elfman)
Halloween (John Carpenter)
A Nightmare On Elm Street (Charles Bernstein)
The Fly (Howard Shore)
RoboCop (Basil Poledouris)
The Empire Strikes Back (John Williams)
The Right Stuff (Bill Conti)
The Final Conflict (Jerry Goldsmith)
The Abyss (Alan Silvestri)
Brainstorm (James Horner)
Peggy Sue Got Married (John Barry)
My Left Foot (Elmer Bernstein)
The Dead (Alex North)
Stanley & Iris (John Williams)
The Milagro Beanfield War (Dave Grusin)
Driving Miss Daisy (Hans Zimmer)

Tracks:

Steel Magnolias (Georges Delerue)
Unforgiven (Lennie Niehaus and Clint Eastwood)
Raggedy Man (Jerry Goldsmith)
The Grifters (Elmer Bernstein)
Green Card (Hans Zimmer)
City Slickers (Marc Shaiman)
Father Of The Bride (Alan Silvestri)
While You Were Sleeping (Randy Edelman)
Babe (Nigel Westlake)
The Adventures Of The Great Mouse Detective (Henry Mancini)
The Adventures of Robin Hood (Erich Wolfgang Korngold)
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (Laurence Rosenthal)
The Secret Garden (Zbigniew Preisner)
A Little Princess (Patrick Doyle)
Rudy (Jerry Goldsmith)
Iron Will (Joel McNeely)
Memphis Belle (George Fenton)
Eye Of The Needle (Mikl)
Total Recall (Jerry Goldsmith)
Back To The Future Part III (Alan Silvestri)

Tracks:

To Die For (Danny Elfman)
The Player (Thomas Newman)
Black Robe (Georges Delerue)
Medicine Man (Jerry Goldsmith)
2001 (Alex North)
Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire (Joel McNeely)
The Crow (Graeme Revell)
Blade (Mark Isham)
The Omen (Jerry Goldsmith)
Vertigo (Bernard Herrmann)
Scream (Marco Beltrami)
The Sixth Sense (James Newton Howard)
Xena: Warrior Princess (Joseph LoDuca)
Air Force One (Jerry Goldsmith)
Starship Troopers (Basil Poledouris)
The Matrix (Don Davis)
The Iron Giant (Michael Kamen)
Youve Got Mail (George Fenton)
A Little Romance (Georges Delerue)
Pleasantville (Randy Newman)

Tracks:

Sunset Boulevard (Franz Waxman)
L.A. Confidential (Jerry Goldsmith)
Rounders (Christopher Young)
The Score (Howard Shore)
The Replacements (John Debney)
Gone In 60 Seconds (Trevor Rabin)
The Bourne Identity (John Powell)
Rush Hour 2 (Lalo Schifrin)
XXX (Randy Edelman)
Die Hard (Michael Kamen)
The Last of the Mohicans (Trevor Jones)
Moby Dick (Christopher Gordon)
The Mists Of Avalon (Lee Holdridge)
Cleopatra (Alex North)
Life As A House (Mark Isham)
Emma (Rachel Portman)
In The Bedroom (Thomas Newman)
Cast Away (Alan Silvestri)
One True Thing (Cliff Eidelman)
Unfaithful (Jan A.P. Kaczmarek)
Far From Heaven (Elmer Bernstein)
Ice Age (David Newman)
Shrek (Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell)

Customer Reviews:

A good value.......2007-05-17

I wasn't expecting to have 4 discs for this price, and the music is a quality selection of film music, giving a good scope of the genre, and a very listenable transfer.

The Sound Track Since Bernard Hermann.......2006-07-25

This collection is bound to capture your heart and evoke a tin ear on successive tracks. I found much to like and some duds - easy to skip over.
Very good value.

Good mix of film music.......2006-07-02

Good mix of films!
I'm a big fan of this soundtrack music and will be looking for more CD's like this.

A mixed collection of movie music.......2006-02-23

For the price, this CD is a great bargain. The musical selections, as you might expect, are mixed in quality ranging from extraordinary to so so, the balance being worthwhile and interesting. Sonically the CD is excellent.

Uplifts your soul, takes your mind into the heavens.......2006-01-06

I have been listening to great scores for many years and this collection is truly inspirational in so far as the choice of different scores takes you on a journey of listening pleasure matched by only a few collections.The price is incredibly reasonable for hours of listening pleasure. Don't pass this one up

Average customer rating:

One of the best-listen to this Year-Round and experience the Joy of Thankfulness...
A Sentimental Reflection
WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT
Alone in the kitchen basting the turkey...
Beautifully Serene and Moving Music for Anytime!

Thanksgiving: A Windham Hill Collection
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Windham Hill Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000D9W9
Release Date: 1998-10-13

Tracks:

We Gather Together - Paul McCandless
Bygone Days - Eileen Ivers
Coming Home - Sean Harkness
Simple Gifts - Tracy & Thea Silverman
The Saviour's Universal Prayer/And Again Heavenly Father - Barry Phillips
Silver Salmon Bear - R. Carlos Nakai
Heaven Within - Paul Winter
Caranna - Tim Story
Allelujah - Lisa Lynne
Amazing Grace - John Doan
Blessings - Liz Story
Wagoner's Lad - John Sebastian
The Gathering - Will Ackerman
Thanksgiving - George Winston

Amazon.com

Thanksgiving generally is a pleasant and likeable affair. Its features include a charming, gently propulsive take on the traditional piece "Allelujah" by Celtic harpist Lisa Lynne; a delicate rendering of "Amazing Grace" by John Doan on a 20-string harp guitar; and a church-ready version of "We Gather Together" by a trio of Paul McCandless (oboe), Philip Aaberg (piano), and Michael Manring (bass). A midalbum three-song stretch, though--from the heavy stringing (cello, violin, guitar) of William Coulter and Barry Phillips to R. Carlos Nakai's flute soliloquy to a saxophone meditation by Paul Winter--lingers overly long in a melancholy state. Later, a thoughtful harmonica outing by former Lovin' Spoonful member John Sebastian aims for Americana yet delivers more spaghetti Western. Still, the album ends with pieces by Will Ackerman and George Winston--and what could be more classic than that? --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews:

One of the best-listen to this Year-Round and experience the Joy of Thankfulness..........2006-02-17

Simply one of the best & most original of the Windham Hill compilations, and I'm very glad Windham Hill thought to release this one. Just as close to perfect as they come, and the only way it could have been any better was to have had a contribution by the always original arrangements & compositions of Barbara Higbee, (or Fred Simon) but perhaps they were not available at the time. Of course, in a compilation like this, you need to have "We Gather Together Together..." but it is particularly touching to hear veteran Paul McCandless' arrangement to open the disc and set a thankful & comforting tone. Tim Story's consistently original & moving here as always, and the true highlight for me is "Amazing Grace" by John Doan. It is "amazing" indeed to hear someone do an original take on this classic hymn which has been recorded by so many, many fine artists over but the many decades of music-recording history. Leave it to Doan and to Dawn Atkinson's masterful production experience & background to pull this off so well. Will Ackerman's "The Gathering" is a typically original piece, very listenable year-round, and Carlos Nakai is a welcome addition with a peaceful cedar flute offering. Finally, (and really, there are so many gems here...) Lisa Lynne adds a sort of Majestic Joyfulness to "Allelujah", which certainly blows the dust off of this great hymn tune, bringing new life to such an often heard melody. Like the very best of the "Solstice" collections, this is a perfectly appropriate collection to hear year round. For example, I have listened to it on Independence Day, and found it strangely perfect for refection on our American roots that gave birth to many of these hymns, and to the spirit of creativity that our Founding Parents passed on to us in America. Simply perfect, Windham.

A Sentimental Reflection.......2005-11-06

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on friends, family, and blessings. At this time of year, we celebrate our families, we think of those who are less fortunate, and we reflect on the solemnity of the season and what it means to be truly thankful.

"Thanksgiving" is a compilation of that reflection in music. It celebrates the gathering together of those whom we hold dear, the solemnity and courage of the human psyche, the spirituality of the human soul, and the season when everything must change.

The CD progresses through a series of reflections, from "We Gather Together," a traditional hymn that emphasizes the gathering of friends and family, to George Winston's "Thanksgiving," moving through all the emotions of the Thanksgiving season with feelings of humility, prayer, blessedness and thankfulness.

A mood piece throughout, "Thanksgiving" will help you take your own personal journey of introspection, inspiration, peace and spirituality.

WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT.......2004-04-12

For most of us, Thanksgiving confronts us with a variety of emotions. Gratefulness should be the primary one; unfortunately getting stressed out and bent out of shape can overtake all the best intentions. Everything from complicated and hurried preparations to being cooped up with unpleasant relatives can ruin the occasion. Some of us endure Thanksgiving alone or practically alone in that those dearest are far away. For a holiday that can mean so much, a lot can go wrong.

In its own small way, this CD reminds us what its all about. The selections generally are soft and soothing as well as gently uplifting. There is nary a vocal to be heard-a plus when you need to get away from all the chatter. The artists are from Windham Hill's diverse stable and no one dominates the proceedings.

No attempt is made to hide the reality of Thanksgiving being primarily of Christian origin as sometimes happens in these affairs. But at the same time no one would mistake this CD for a contemporary Christian recording. The viewpoint encompasses not only giving thanks but memory and returning home as well. Hence, many of the pieces are colored with a hint of sadness.

If you are looking for music to "cut the rug" with this is not it. But if you are looking for music which prompts reflection and joy, this one is the one to buy.

Alone in the kitchen basting the turkey..........2001-11-22

I have many Windham Hill albums, but this one is an all time favorite. Songs are relaxing and reflective, and I start playing it when the leaves turn colors and evenings become cool. I remember holiday seasons past, and look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas whenever I hear these beautiful melodies. I actually heard this album for the first time during a massage session, so that gives you a hint as to how soothing this music is!

Beautifully Serene and Moving Music for Anytime!.......2000-04-04

Thanksgiving is a wonderful blend of different Windham Hill artists, which of course display a wide variety of instruments....piano, violin, flute, cello, oboe, fiddle, and a variety of stringed instruments. This certainly would be an asset to a Thanksgiving Day celebration, but I also enjoy it throughout the entire year. It's beautiful, meditative and serene. I especially like the very moving, sentimental Eileen Ivers, "Bygone Days," the beautiful rendition of John Doan's "Amazing Grace," and what a treat to end the cd with Will Ackerman's "The Gathering," and George Winston's "Thanksgiving." What more can be said! This collection opens the gamut of a wide variety of emotions, which is what I expect when listening to music.....an emotionally provoking experience. (Sometimes, that doesn't happen with certain artists) I highly recommend this cd and think it would make a wonderful gift for any music lover.....yourself, a relative or a friend. Even if you only enjoyed half of the songs in this collection, I still think it would be worth the purchase, but I'll go as far to say that I don't believe that would happen. I think you'd truly enjoy the entire bit. It's a nice break from the hustle and bustle of life. Picture yourself....a cup of steaming hot tea or coffee, kicked back in your most favorite chair, and listening to "Thanksgiving....." I hear it now.

Average customer rating:

Just great, that's it
"Thanksgiving and Forefathers' Day": It's what's for today.
An fiery introduction to Ives
My vote for the finest Ives orchestral recording ever made
Ouch

Ives: Holidays Symphony

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000026G7
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Washington's Birthday
Decoration Day
The Fourth Of July
Thanksgiving And Forefathers' Day
The Unanswered Question (revised version)
Central Park In The Dark
The Unanswered Question (original version)

Amazon.com essential recording

Ives never really intended his four holiday symphonic poems to be played together, and they are very seldom performed that way live. But it makes so much sense to group them on a recording that the Holidays Symphony has become the standard way to refer to the music. In any event, all four pieces offer some of Ives'ss finest, most imaginative work. The Fourth of July is the second most complex and crazy piece that he ever wrote--right up there with the second movement of the Fourth Symphony. Tilson Thomas is very much a specialist in this music, and he directs performances of almost supernatural accuracy. Simply the best. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Just great, that's it.......2005-05-25

This is a "must" album. Altho' I personallly object to some of the finer editorial work in the "original" version of "UnQ" (very esoteric stuff--ask me) I'd stilll recommend this album as a "must have." -- D.G. Porter, Editorial Coordinator, The Charles Ives Society

"Thanksgiving and Forefathers' Day": It's what's for today........2003-11-28

The "Holidays Symphony" of Charles Ives, comprised of four movements to symbolize the passing of the four seasons by connecting them to important American holidays, was originally intended to be four standalone works, each of which could be performed separately in conjunction with its respective holiday.

Only later did Ives combine them as a four-movement "symphony." So, on this Thanksgiving Day of 2003, I chose to "deconstruct" them, just so that I might concentrate - for the occasion - on "Thanksgiving and Forefathers' Day."

This movement should, in my opinion, be numbered among the finest Ives compositions of all. It is brilliantly written and scored, with many original instrumental touches, particularly for percussion, where Ives calls upon low church bells, tubular bells and celesta, as well as an offstage ensemble of 4 horns, trombone and contrabassoon, all to marvelous effect. The ending, where the chorus enters singing to the words of the hymn tune "Duke Street," is simply breathtaking in its spirituality; truly transcendent and sublime.

But there are aspects to this movement that I've not seen anyone else mention, aspects that are startling in a prescient way, and therefore worth some mention. There is a quiet interlude, at about midpoint, scored for a reduced chamber ensemble of woodwinds, cornet, strings and celesta, that is "proto-Copland" in its sound texture, typical Coplandesque "Americana" yet written decades before "Appalachian Spring," which this section anticipates in a most remarkable way, with nearly identical chamber orchestra textures and, even, thematic ideas. The interlude then is followed by a penultimate section, prior to the choral entry, that has textures - and harmonies for that matter - similar to what William Schuman would, like Copland, write decades later. This brief section provides a perfect transition to the choral entry. And this is precisely where words fail me, because what Ives achieves here simply turns me to jelly. Only at the end of "From Hanover Square North" (from his Orchestral Set No. 2) and in the final movement of his masterpiece, the Symphony No. 4, was Ives able to match this "Holiday" in transcendent beauty.

The other three holidays/seasons ("Washington's Birthday"/Winter, "Decoration Day"/Spring and "The Fourth of July"/Summer) are all of a piece with this Thanksgiving one. Tilson Thomas has this music in his blood, having been an Ivesian from a very young age as conductors go. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, famed for its brass choir, earns kudos for ALL of its choirs in this performance, easily the best available and one not likely to be topped any time soon. And of course it doesn't hurt to have the Margaret Hillis-directed CSO Chorus for the conclusion of "Thanksgiving and Forefathers' Day" (the one movement that I just HAD to listen to, not that I excluded the rest of the work, or the disc for that matter).

The album is nicely rounded out with Ives's two contemplations: "A Contemplation of a Serious Matter" and "A Contemplation of Nothing Serious," more commonly known as "The Unanswered Question" and "Central Park in the Dark." Better yet, "The Unanswered Question" appears in two versions: the original as written in 1906, and a revised version, written some 20-odd years later, in which the trumpet and woodwind phrases are somewhat altered to add to the enigmatic nature of the work. In both versions, the Chicago strings play with an atmospheric perfection rarely heard. The ragtime piano in the foreground of "Central Park in the Dark" is hard to top, also. But for this particular "contemplation" I do have a preference for James Sinclair's (British) Northern Sinfonia Orchestra performance (on Naxos #8559087), for which I had written, "Much of Ives's music is all about space and distance, and the bar-room piano heard very faintly in the background truly gives this sense of space, as well as a sense of evening mist in the park."

The renowned Ives biographer Jan Swafford writes on this page, "My vote for the finest Ives orchestral recording ever made." I'm not of a mind to argue with Swafford, Ives expert that he is, especially on this particular day, and equally especially by virtue of the phenomenal performances that Tilson Thomas elicits from his Chicago orchestral and choral forces throughout.

Cue it up, folks. It's "what's for Thanksgiving."

Bob Zeidler

An fiery introduction to Ives.......2002-11-08

With Michael Tilson Thomas and the magnificent Chicago Symphony Orchestra in top form, this collection includes some of the best, most colorful works by this American master. Of the four holidays, "The Fourth of July" is irresistible - about seven minutes of extreme orchestral complexity, flaring up just like the rockets themselves and then expiring in exhaustion. Ives packs more into this score than some composers do in an hour, with colliding rhythms, blaring fortissimos and "Columbia, Gem of the Ocean" sailing above everything else. It is as exhilarating a ride as any composer has ever given us. "Decoration Day" eventually arrives at a somber moment at the cemetery with a touching trumpet solo playing "Taps," then ends with a joyously raucous march back to town. The moody "Washington's Birthday" and the stirring "Thanksgiving" complete the set, and by the end you may be thinking there has never been a composer who has captured the vivid, clashing emotions of the holidays with such accuracy.

Similarly melding the gentle with the explosive is the extraordinarily evocative "Central Park in the Dark," written in 1906. This densely written gem finds time to include the ragtime classic, "Hello, my Baby," among other tunes that make their surprise appearance during the chaotic climax.

Perhaps the most unusual feature of this disc is the inclusion of both versions of "The Unanswered Question," a gentle evocation of some of the sublime mysteries of the universe. The differences between the two versions are small, but
significant - and I won't spoil the thrill of discovery by revealing them here. Suffice to say that the piece is haunting in its quest to define the indefinable, and will likely linger in your mind long afterward.

Michael Tilson Thomas is one of the most exciting and knowledgeable interpreters of this music anywhere, and the Chicago orchestra shows why many people consider it one of the best ensembles in the world. This is perhaps not a recording for a quiet morning, but it is absolutely a candidate for "Top Ten Discs of 20th-Century American Music." A hugely exciting disc.

My vote for the finest Ives orchestral recording ever made.......2002-09-24

Take the insight of Michael Tilson Thomas, who's been conducting Ives throughout his career (his old Boston Symphony "Three Places" is still one of the best around), add one of the finest orchestras in the world and its celebrated brass section (Ives said he conceived all his music as if through "sort of a brass band with wings"), and finish with some genuinely inspired playing, and you've got a recording for the ages. It was a broadcast of the Chicago live performance, heard by chance on the radio, that gave me the idea to write my biography of Ives. Meanwhile the Holidays Symphony is one of Ives's greatest and most communicative works, and the "Decoration Day" movement one of the summits of his music. When Stravinsky was asked to define a masterpiece, he answered with "Decoration Day."

Ouch.......2002-04-24

I bought this disc hoping that it might turn me on to Ives. It was highly recommended by the Penguin Guide, so it should be a safe bet, right? Well, this disc may be an outstanding recording of Ives, but I have learned something very important through listening to this disc...I don't like Ives.

Tracks:

Beautiful River (Shall We Gather At The River)
Simple Gifts
She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain
Peace
McKay
A La Claire Fontaine
Deep River
We Gather Together
Not One Sparrow Is Forgotten
Cindy
Gentle Annie
We Shall Walk Through The Valley In Peace
The Water Is Wide
By And By
The Old Church
Lay Me Low
The Road Home

Album Description

This CD is the second of the final CDs to be issued by The Dale Warland Singers, who disbanded in 2004. The program is a "harvest" of popular songs, hymns and spirituals, including "Simple Gifts," "Deep River," and "We Gather Together". The Grammy-nominated Dale Warland Singers were specialists in performing American works. Includes 16-page booklet with full texts and notes on the works! The Dale Warland Singers CDs are among the best selling American choral CDs in recent history. This CD is a "volume 2" of their best seller, Blue Wheat, issued previously on ACC. Based in Minneapolis/St. Paul, the Dale Warland Singers were recognized as one of the world's foremost a cappella choral ensembles. This 40-voice professional choir recently celebrated its 31st and final season of concerts, tours, radio broadcasts, and critically acclaimed recordings, following the retirement of founder and director Dale Warland.

Customer Reviews:

"Harvest Home" Serves Up a Feast.......2006-03-10

Most CD recordings of choral music do not attract the attention of the population at large, and "Harvest Home" is clearly an exception. Word came to me about this remarkable album through a fellow faculty member at the Boston Conservatory. He was rightly proud of having written two of the arrangements, but prouder still of the fact that it had become a red-hot bestseller through the word-of-mouth network of choristers all over the country. Needless to say, I was curious but a bit skeptical. Generally, things that become that popular have an aesthetic downside. I ordered my copy from Amazon and got it just before I left to go to a concert with a couple of musician friends. We were frankly thrilled with the quality of the singing, the beautifully shaped nuances, and the richness of the several of the arrangements. It is clear that its popularity among choral singers has to do with the musical material, as with its execution. The arrangements are based on mostly religious American folk songs and show off the delicate intonational skills of Dale Warland's legendary group. It's just the kind of thing that church choir members can really appreciate, but unfortunately cannot stand up to repeated listing -- it has to be the work of great composers for me to hear recordings over and over again. Nevertheless, I played it for my choral group, and they jumped all over it. That's the market audience. Bravo, Mr. Warland.

Amazing.......2005-12-26

I've been a fan of the Dale Warland Singers for a long time, and attended many of their concerts. This recording displays perfectly what the choir was capable of. I listen to it constantly. Many of these arrangements are the best I've heard of these songs. "Deep River" is better than that of Chanticleer or Cantus. "She'll be Comin Round the Mountain" is really fun. I got the chance to sing it a few years ago and will never forget it. You NEED to buy this CD. It's well worth the money.

Exquisite.......2005-12-18

Buy this album! This is the finest recording I have purchased this year. The exquisite tonality and the arrangements have kept me listening every day. The audio quality is outstanding - balanced, finely nuanced, lovely soundstage. If you enjoy choral music, purchase this album - NOW.

Exquisite.......2005-11-16

I purchased this on a whim and it is been in my 5-disc player ever since. I have always loved choral settings of folk songs and hymns (with one exception - "The Water is Wide" should never ever ever be sung by a chorus - it doesn't work, but it is the only track I skip on this disc). The selections are all old favorites in often harmonically lush arrangements. Hawley's arrangement of "Not One Sparrow" is transcendent and has become my morning prayer, "Lay Me Low" my evening meditation. The singing is as near perfect as can be, musicality is stunning, and technical merits are high. I cannot recommend this disc enough.

Emotional and poignant.......2005-11-07

On Harvest Home, the Dale Warland Singers delve into the rich legacy of mostly American sacred and folk music. With the lush vocal orchestrations and thoughtful arrangements, many of these familiar songs take on new life and emotional depth.

As a boy, I grew up in the Mennonite church tradition and one of the distinctive things about our church services was the a cappella 4-part harmony. As I got older, I thought this was a bit odd and wished we used instruments in church like most people. In looking back now, I am thankful for that tradition and what it taught me about music and harmony.

Throughout high school I was involved with choral groups, doing several programs each year. The first year after high school I spent a few months at a religious school that had a long-standing tradition of chorale music. I well remember the hours of rehearsal to get the song just right, practicing enunciation and dynamics and expression.

So when I hear a group like the Dale Warland Singers, I have a small insight into the dedication it takes to do choral music at the level of this recording. These are singers and a director at the top of their game, with attention to detail everywhere, creativity in the arrangements and technical brilliance. And what a vocal range, with "how low can they go" bass and sopranos that my normal laptop headphones have trouble reproducing without distortion.

I've long been a fan of spirituals; they are at times moving to hear, at times playful and fun (and can be even more fun to sing). This album features a couple of my favorites: "Shall We Gather At The River" and "Deep River". Upon first hearing this rendition of the latter, I was nearly moved to tears by the stark beauty and emotional depth of this arrangement. It's a prime example of the power of music to take us places emotionally and connect us with the deeper feelings and longings of the soul.

In addition to several spirituals, there is a unique variety of other religious pieces pulled from the traditions of Quakers and Baptists among others. The album also mines some rich treasures from the Shaker tradition, including the comforting "Not One Sparrow Is Forgotten" and the poignant tenderness of "Lay Me Low', with the simple text of

Lay me low where the Lord can find me, where the Lord can own me, where the Lord can bless me

Not everything leans towards the serious or sacred though. A fun, light-hearted arrangement of "She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain" (arr. by Emma Lou Diemer) features bouncing bass lines and lots of syncopation and sibilance to keep things interesting. And the traditional Dixie folk song "Cindy" tells the story of a heartsick man with tongue-in-cheek lyrics that playfully bounce from part to part.

The liner notes are exceptional, with lots of helpful historic and musical notes on the various selections. This is one of the final albums from The Dale Warland Singers after 31 years. The group disbanded in May 2004 so that the founder Dale Warland could focus more on teaching, consulting and guest conducting. He certainly has left his mark on the choral landscape and this recording is no exception. Highly recommended if you appreciate choral music, especially traditional folk and sacred selections.

Average customer rating:

Incredible!
Buy this if you love choral music

A Thanksgiving of American Folk Hymns
BYU Choirs & Orchestra
Manufacturer: Tantara Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

The Road Home
Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
Home to Thanksgiving
A Classic Thanksgiving: We Gather Together
Harvest Home

ASIN: B00076GOHU
Release Date: 1994-10-01

Tracks:

Saints Bound for Heaven (Combined Choirs and Orchestra)
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need (Concert Choir)
Simple Gifts (Women's Chorus)
Awake, Ye Saints of God, Awake! (Concert Choir and University Singers)
The Morning Trumpet (Men's Chorus)
Come, We That Love the Lord (Combined Choirs)
Wondrous Love (Women's Chorus)
Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal (University Singers)
Let Me Fly (Concert Choir)
Cindy (Men's Chorus)
Bound for the Promised Land (University Singers)
Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee (Concert Choir and University Singers)
Redeemer of Israel (Combined Choirs)
Aaron Copland's Third Symphony (Philharmonic Orchestra)
How Can I Keep From Singing (University Singers)
Abide With Me; 'Tis Eventide (Concert Choir)
Battle Hymn of the Republic (Combined Men and Orchestra)
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Combined Choirs and Orchestra)

Album Description

Over 500 performers from BYU combine in a concert celebration of beloved American folk hymns. A best-seller since its inception, A Thanksgiving of American Folk Hymns is now presented year-round on over 200 public television stations. The program features arrangements of beautiful hymn melodies in stunning performances that leave audiences profoundly moved and inspired. The concert was widely rebroadcast in the aftermath of 9/11 as a calming and a healing gesture.

Customer Reviews:

Incredible!.......2006-12-07

There is nothing to dislike about this CD. A friend made me listen to it several years ago, against my will. But I had to listen to it again and again, and now it's a Thanksgiving staple in my household, or pretty much anytime I want to feel good about God and Country. The arrangement of My Shepherd Will Supply My Need makes me weep, and the Battle Hymn of the Republic makes me stand up and cheer.

Buy this if you love choral music.......2006-11-30

This recording is stunning. I first saw the PBS concert and was blown away by many of the numbers. "Abide With Me" and "How Can I Keep From Singing" are fantastic and this arrangement of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is unsurpassed. It is dramatic and beautiful. If you love choral music you won't be disappointed. BYU has an amazing choral program from the sounds of this.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful!

Amy Beach: Songs

Manufacturer: Naxos American
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

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Similar Items:

Amy Beach: "Gaelic" Symphony; Piano Concerto
Amy Beach: Violin Sonata, etc.
Songs of Amy Beach; Patrick Mason, baritone; Joanne Polk, piano
Amy Beach, Passionate Victorian: The Life and Work of an American Composer, 1867-1944
Amy Beach: Canticle of the Sun

ASIN: B0002BXOFK
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

The Rainy Day
Ariette
When Far From Her
Empress Of Night
The Secret
Ecstasy
Within Thy Heart
Sleep, Little Darling
Night
Forgotten
Dearie
Far Awa'
The Year's At The Spring
Ah, Love, But A Day!
I Send My Heart Up To Thee!
Come, Ah Come
Canzonetta
I Did Not Say
We Three
June
I Ask The Bird
Go Not Too Far
Shena Van
Baby
Hush, Baby Dear
A Prelude
O Sweet Content
An Old Prayer
The Funeral Wreath
The Candy Lion
A Thanksgiving Fable
In The Twilight
The Host
May Flowers
I Sought The Lord
Though I Take The Wings Of Morning

Album Description

One of America's most prolific and successful composers, Mrs H. H. A. ("Amy") Beach was one of the first women composers whose works were as highly regarded as those produced by men. Best known during her lifetime for her well-crafted songs and short piano pieces, she was also the first American woman to compose in the larger forms. Beach's 117 art songs span the whole of her compositional career. By incorporating musical ideas from many cultures and musical traditions within a late-Romantic framework, Beach's songs show her skillful craftsmanship and profound understanding of text.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful!.......2004-11-11

I take private voice lessons from Kathie Kelton and she is amazing! She brings Amy Beach's music to life! I strongly recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys listening to classical and operatic music. The music is so beautiful it will give you chills! Fantastic!

Average customer rating:

Brilliant
Nice Pops Concert

America the Beautiful

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Salute to America
America
Fiedler's Favorite Marches
Out Of This World (Science Fiction Anthology)
25 Thunderous Classics

ASIN: B0000041F8
Release Date: 1996-05-14

Tracks:

Fanfare For The Common Man
American Salute ('When Johnny Comes Marching Home')
America The Beautiful
This Land Is Your Land
Rodeo: Hoe-down
Battle Hymn Of The Republic
Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Entertainer
Alexander's Ragtime Band
Strike Up The Band
The Music Man: 76 Trombones
When The Saints Go Marchin' In
The Stars And Stripes Forever
America, The Dream Goes On
Variations on America

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant.......2005-01-30

This is a wonderful collection of great songs representing the U.S. The Boston Pops have done a remarkable job in getting each song started nice smooth and then as it goes on, it collects more and more energy until the end of the song, where I was left shivering. My favorites are Alexander's Ragtime Band, When the Saints Go Marching In, and Stars and Stripes Forever. Not only do they sound great, the energy is stunning. I would recommend this cd to anyone who likes classic songs that you can really feel.

Nice Pops Concert.......2003-08-02

This is a nice Sunday afternoon concert. It's popular enough that most everyone will recognize the program. Of course it is well performed. You're toes will be tapping before long!

Average customer rating:

The Great Thanksgiving

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
Classic Thanksgiving Songs of Praise
Thanksgiving: A Windham Hill Collection
A Classic Thanksgiving: We Gather Together
Home to Thanksgiving

ASIN: B0000029NJ
Release Date: 1995-11-14

Tracks:

Ballad Of Brotherhood
Hymn And Prayer For Peace
Recessional
Two Veterans
A Song Of Thanksgiving
God Of Our Fathers
Tannhauser: Pilgrim's Chorus
O Brother Man
Eternal Father, Strong To Save
Onward, Ye Peoples
The Heavens Resound
Thanks Be To God
Good Is It To Thank Jehovah
Now Thank We All Our God
O Clap Your Hands
Thanks Be To God
Song Of Thanks
Prayer Of Thanksgiving
Let The Mountains Shout For Joy
Armenian Canticle Of Thanksgiving
All People That On Earth Do Dwell

Average customer rating:

Wonderful
Pure joy
Copland's vocal work

A Copland Celebration Vol. 3

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

A Copland Celebration Vol. 2
A Copland Celebration Vol. 1
The Copland Collection: Orchestral Works, 1948-1971
Copland: Old American Songs/Canticle Of Freedom/Four Motets
The Copland Collection: Orchestral & Ballet Works, 1936-1948

ASIN: B000050HWV
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Tracks:

Old American Songs, Sets 1 & 2: The Boatmen's Dance - William Warfield
Old American Songs, Sets 1 & 2: The Dodge - William Warfield
Old American Songs, Sets 1 & 2: Long Time Ago - William Warfield
Old American Songs, Sets 1 & 2: Simple Gifts - William Warfield
Old American Songs, Sets 1 & 2: I Bought Me A Cat - William Warfield
Old American Songs, Sets 1 & 2: The Little Horses - William Warfield
Old American Songs, Sets 1 & 2: Zion's Walls - William Warfield
Old American Songs, Sets 1 & 2: The Golden Willow Tree - William Warfield
Old American Songs, Sets 1 & 2: At The River - William Warfield
Old American Songs, Sets 1 & 2: Ching-A-Ring Chaw - William Warfield
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: I. Nature, The Gentlest Mother - Aaron Copland
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: II. There Came A Wind Like A Bugle - Aaron Copland
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: III. Why Do They Shut Me Out Of Heaven? - Aaron Copland
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: IV. The World Feels Dusty - Aaron Copland
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: V. Heart, We Will Forget Him - Aaron Copland
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: VI. Dear March, Come In! - Aaron Copland
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: VII. Sleep Is Supposed To Be - Aaron Copland
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: VIII. When They Come Back - Aaron Copland
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: IX. I Felt A Funeral In My Brain - Aaron Copland
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: X. I've Heard An Organ Talk Sometimes - Aaron Copland
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: XI. Going To Heaven! - Aaron Copland
Twelve Poems Of Emily Dickinson: XII. The Chariot - Aaron Copland
In The Beginning - Aaron Copland
Lark - Aaron Copland

Tracks:

The Tender Land: Act One: The Day Before Graduation (Late Afternoon): Gently Flowing - Aaron Copland
The Tender Land: Act One: The Day Before Graduation (Late Afternoon): Moderate Tempo: 'Once I Thought I'd Never Grow Tall As This Fence' - Joy Clements
The Tender Land: Act One: The Day Before Graduation (Late Afternoon): Moderately Fast: 'Do You Suppose They're Makin' Food In There?' - Richard Fredericks
The Tender Land: Act One: The Day Before Graduation (Late Afternoon): Somewhat Faster: 'We've Been North'/'We've Been South' - Richard Cassilly
The Tender Land: Act One: The Day Before Graduation (Late Afternoon): With Motion: 'Halloo, Halloo' - Norman Treigle
The Tender Land: Act One: The Day Before Graduation (Late Afternoon): Moderately: 'If You Boys Work As Smooth As You Talk, We'll Make Good Time In The Fields' - Norman Treigle
The Tender Land: Act One: The Day Before Graduation (Late Afternoon): Trifle Slower: 'The Promise Of Living With Hope And Thanksgiving' - Richard Cassilly
The Tender Land: Act Two: That Evening: Lively And Rough - Aaron Copland
The Tender Land: Act Two: That Evening: Quite Slow: 'Thank You, Thank You All' - Joy Clements
The Tender Land: Act Two: That Evening: Very Broadly: 'Ah, Laurie, You Are A Puzzle' - Norman Treigle
The Tender Land: Act Two: That Evening: Briskly: 'Stomp Your Foot Upon The Floor' - Richard Cassilly
The Tender Land: Act Two: That Evening: Somewhat Slower: 'The World Seems Still Tonight' - Richard Cassilly
The Tender Land: Act Three: Later That Night/Then Graduation Day (Dawn): Introduction: Starting Slowly - Aaron Copland
The Tender Land: Act Three: Later That Night/Then Graduation Day (Dawn): As At First: 'Daybreak Will Come In Such A Short Time' - Richard Cassilly
The Tender Land: Act Three: Later That Night/Then Graduation Day (Dawn): Fast Tempo: 'That's Crazy!' - Richard Fredericks
The Tender Land: Act Three: Later That Night/Then Graduation Day (Dawn): Broadly: 'The Sun Is Coming Up As Though I'd Never Seen It Rise Before' - Joy Clements
The Tender Land: Act Three: Later That Night/Then Graduation Day (Dawn): (Still Slower): 'You Are Strange To Me' - Claramae Turner

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful.......2007-04-22

I must confess I am unfamiliar with Copland's "The Tender Land" except for this reissue, which I find to be absolutely magnificent. I realize this is a truncated performance, eliminating what I assume to be a fair amount of spoken dialogue. But I don't care. What is presented here is simply one of the finest American compositions - forget American - one of the finest compositions of the 20th century. Period.

Pure joy.......2005-07-29

The recording of Copland's The Tender Land is alone worth getting this disc. The rest of the vocal works are just a bonus, a very good bonus! Copland directs a definitive account of his opera, and in this compressed version leaves out all the spoken parts of the full length opera, no doubt depriving us of a lot of good music but on the other hand giving listeners a very concise version that is even stronger musically (although dramatically a little lacking in logic because of the missing parts - for example without knowing of the confrontation during the party scene you would find the boys' departure the next morning puzzling, and the CD notes does not elaborate on the plot, which is about the only negative thing you can say about this set). Listening to the opera in this abridged version gives you the feeling of one hit after another, there is not a single weak point in the score and Copland has a gift for word-setting that can turn clumsy texts such as "girls come and go, some are good, some are not so good" into goosebumps stuff (a lovely dedication to Laurie sung by Grandpa). Other high points include the stunning transformation of the traditional Walls of Zion into the quartet piece The Promise Of Living and a rollicking Party Scene, which contains the best in Copland's clever orchestration and rythmic vitality - it seems all of the composers best traits have all come together in this work. Martin's Act 2 Song 'Laurie...You Know, Laurie' is a rare gem or an aria and beautifully sung. Other hidden gems include the comical 'We've Been North'. The cast is impeccable and the entire performance is flawless. Add to that one of those scores that simply win you over from start to finish, and you can't but fall in love with this music. I once thought that nothing could better Appalachian Spring but that was before I discovered this neglected work.

Copland's vocal work.......2002-08-08

And so on this third set of the celebration of Aaron Copland's music, all attention is on his vocal work including the opera, "The Tender Land".

I can't completely explain why I give this five stars after giving the first two sets four stars each. This is just the way the opera, in particular, strikes me. I'm no great opera fan, and to my knowledge, America just has not yet proved itself in the operatic field although it's tried. It will take time, but I do see Copland's work as someday being considered the best example of American opera. This is all subjective opinion, obviously, and I'm sure there are those more knowledgeable who will disagree. So be it.

All in all, these three sets will give you a complete overview of one of America's most important composers.

Rock Music:

Rock Music

rock music