The Christopher Smart [EP]

the christopher smart [ep]

Track Listings

1. Christopher Smart (1722-1771)

2. Honeybee

3. To William, My Father, Who Brought Home Books on India

4. When You Get High

5. Theme from Christopher Smart

The Christopher Smart,The Black Watch,Saltwater Records,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,Indie Pop,Indie Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

The Christopher Smart [EP]

Hairspray (Soundtrack to the Motion Picture)

Average customer rating:

Two Tons of Fun!
DISAPPOINTED
WEAK!
Feel Good Soundtrack to Feel Good Film
My FAVORITE cd!

Hairspray (Soundtrack to the Motion Picture)

Manufacturer: New Line Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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Legally Blonde (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
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ASIN: B000PUAID4
Release Date: 2007-07-10

Tracks:

"GOOD MORNING BALTIMORE" - Nikki Blonsky
"THE NICEST KIDS IN TOWN" - James Marsden
"IT TAKES TWO" - Zac Efron
"(THE LEGEND OF) MISS BALTIMORE CRABS" - Michelle Pfeiffer
"I CAN HEAR THE BELLS" - Nikki Blonsky
"LADIES' CHOICE" - Zac Efron
"THE NEW GIRL IN TOWN" - Brittany Snow
"WELCOME TO THE 60's" - Nikki Blonsky & John Travolta
"RUN AND TELL THAT" - Elijah Kelley
"BIG, BLONDE & BEAUTIFUL" - Queen Latifah
"BIG, BLONDE & BEAUTIFUL reprise" - John Travolta & Michelle Pfeiffer
"(YOU'RE) TIMELESS TO ME" - John Travolta & Christopher Walken
"I KNOW WHERE I'VE BEEN" - Queen Latifah
"WITHOUT LOVE" - Zac Efron, Nikki Blonsky, Elijah Kelley & Amanda Bynes
"(IT'S) HAIRSPRAY" - James Marsden
"YOU CAN'T STOP THE BEAT" - Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes,
"COME SO FAR (GOT SO FAR TO GO)" - Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonsky, Zac
"COOTIES" - Aimee Allen
"MAMA, I'M A BIG GIRL NOW" - Nikki Blonsky, Marissa Jaret Winokur & Rikki Lake

Amazon.com

What fun! This soundtrack of the film adaptation of the Broadway musical overflows with glossy, ol' fashioned '60s-style pep. It won't win any awards for innovation, but it may well be one of the most feel-good releases of the year. While not quite as super-energetic as the original Broadway cast, the new crew ain't too shabby: Nikki Blonsky delivers as Tracy Turnblad and Zac Efron (High School Musical) makes for a devoted boyfriend, and the supporting cast gleefully embraces the show's silly-but-generous spirit. John Travolta (who gets to utter the particularly ironic line "it's been years since someone asked me to dance") goes drag as Tracy's mom, Edna, while Michelle Pfeiffer's slight stiffness is appropriate for her uptight character, especially on the cha-cha "(The Legend of) Miss Baltimore Crabs." After Mama Morton in Chicago, Queen Latifah puts in another brassy turn as Motormouth Maybelle ("Big, Blonde and Beautiful," which is then reprised by Travolta and Pfeiffer). The show's authors, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, have written three new numbers for the movie: the rollicking (and first single) "Ladies' Choice," "New Girl in Town" and "Come So Far." In addition, the CD also includes two tracks that aren't in the film but were in the show: "Cooties," sung by Aimee Allen, and "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now," sung by all three Tracy Turnblads: Blonsky, Ricki Lake (from the source movie) and Marissa Jaret Winokur (from the original Broadway cast). --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

The Hairspray soundtrack will feature 17 songs from the film, including three original numbers that were created specifically for the film version of the hit Broadway musical - "Ladies' Choice," "New Girl In Town," and "Come So Far." Also featured on the soundtrack are the songs "Good Morning Baltimore," "Welcome to the `60s," "Nicest Kids In Town," and "You Can't Stop The Beat." The songs are performed by cast members John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes, Brittany Snow and Elijah Kelley among others.

The Hairspray soundtrack is produced by Marc Shaiman and features music by Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman. It features tracks mixed by Ed Cherney (Rolling Stones, Bette Midler) and Peter Mokran (Pussycat Dolls, Christina Aguilera).

Sixteen years after the release of the original film, New Line Cinema is bringing a feature film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of Hairspray to life. Featuring new and original material based on John Waters' 1988 cult classic about star-struck teenagers on a local Baltimore dance show, the comedy features a remarkable collection of talent including John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, Allison Janney, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Chicago), and director Adam Shankman (Bringing Down The House). The new screenplay for Hairspray was written by Leslie Dixon (Freaky Friday, Outrageous Fortune).

Customer Reviews:

Two Tons of Fun!.......2007-07-14

I thought "You Can't Stop the Beat" in the movie trailer sounded a bit lifeless but WOW! The soundtrack's ensemble sounds fantastic!
They POP! Tons of energy!
The chorus of "Beat" positively explodes at the end.

The new and augmented arrangements are dazzling also! Overall the soundtrack has much fuller sound over the original cast recording."Good Morning Baltimore" opens the cd, sounding much like "Be My Baby" with a big Phil Spector Wall of Sound...it just jumps out at'cha

Nicki Blonsky is a little less vocally demonstrative than the Broadway's Tracy, Marisa Winokur, but has a bright, appealing voice minus Winokur's more nasal quality.Michelle Pfeiffer's vocals doesn't match original cast member Linda Hart's growly belt but she has an interesting vibrato filled punch on her more sustained notes. Queen Latifah is not as dynamic or as powerful as Mary Bond Davis on the original but she sounds sassy on "Big, Blonde and Beautiful" and gives a understated performance on "I know Where I've Been". Travolta's renditions are lacking personality but he redeems himself on "Timeless to Me"

I don't know that this recording replaces the OBC (it doesn't feel quite as coherent or like a total experience) but it is very upbeat. The new songs are okay and totally fit in the style of the show. The score is reminiscent of 60s pop with lots of musical and vocal references to 60s hits (everything from "Wipe Out" to "Shout"),including an instrumental nod to "La Vie En Rose" during the charming Travolta/Walken "Timeless" duet.

My first listen gave me the same exultation and high I felt walking out of the theater after first seeing the show on Broadway!

DISAPPOINTED.......2007-07-13

Having just purchasesd and listened to the Hairspray soundtrack, I was very disappointed about how flat it all sounds? While the broadway show and the movie should be judged as two separate entities (due to casting), I enjoyed the broadway soundtrack because there was a sense of joy, enthusiasm and fun in the voices of the cast. This cast, however, only seems to be "singing" the songs, but the feeling just isnt there. While everyone is praising Queen Latifah, I found her renditions just lacking any emotion. Dont get me started on John Travolta...and Amanda Bynes? Michelle Pfeifers version is just too droll....but Zac Efron does a very good job of bringing his songs to life. If this is any indication of the movie, I might be avoiding it.

WEAK!.......2007-07-13

This is weak compared to the original broadway sdtk! I'm a huge Hairspray fan...There is a definate lack of energy on the movie sdtk...I hope the movie doesn't turn the same fate.

Feel Good Soundtrack to Feel Good Film.......2007-07-13

Saw a sneak preview last night of the film and it was fun! Did not have high expectations after seeing Hairspray on Broadway and again on a touring show but it was great. I like Nikki Blonsky's Tracy over Marissa Winokur's Tracy. This soundtrack as additional songs and sounds better than the orginal Broadway cast. Only wish Cooties was in the movie, hopefully it will be on the DVD version whenever. Glad it made it on the CD. See the movie, buy the soundtrack. John Travolta was OK as Edna, better than I expected but sometimes his voice reminded me of Mike Myers's Dr. Evil somehow. His dancing in "fat" costume was funny.

My FAVORITE cd!.......2007-07-13

I got this cd the day it came out! I got the last one! I put it in as soon as i got home, and now take it everywere in my cd player! If you like show, or dance music, by this! There are also VERY good dance songs on this!

The key songs to this cd are.......

1. You cant stop the beet.....A awsome dance song, my favorite!
2. Ladies choice.......I like to sing this one, it's very catchy!
3. Good morning boltamore......Just a fun song, nice beet!
4. Moma i'm a big girl now.....The chorus is very fun!
5. With out love......Clever writing, and a nice tune, i like it a lot!

Average customer rating:

La Vie en Rose

La Vie en Rose: La Mome

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of Edith Piaf
Edith Piaf: 30th Anniversaire
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Once

ASIN: B000MEYIBG
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Tracks:

Heaven Have A Mercy
Milord
Rien De Rien
La Foule
Cri Du Coeur
La Vie En Rose (English version)
Padam Padam
Mon Dieu
L'Hymne A L'Amour
Mon Manege A Moi
Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
L'Eveil
Mon Legionnaire (piano solo)
Lisieux
La Mort De Leplee ("Mon Legionnaire")
Apparition
L'ABC
L'Arrestation ("Mon Legionnaire")
L'Idylle
Derniere Nuit
Mon Homme (interpreted by Jil Aigrot)
Les Momes De La Cloche (interpreted by Jil Aigrot)
Les Hiboux (interpreted by Jil Aigrot)
Fascination (interpreted by Maya Barsoni)
Il M'a Vue Nue (interpreted by Mistinguett)
La Poupee
Vie En Rose (accordeon)

Amazon.com

As befits the soundtrack of a music biopic, most of the heavy lifting here is done by the movie's subject: iconic French singer Edith Piaf. She was the Gallic Judy Garland, a natural performer who overcame one personal tragedy after another and was never more alive than on stage, forging an uncommon bond with both material and audience. Since actress Marion Cotillard lip-synchs in the film, the first 11 tracks on the CD are by Piaf herself, and give a good overview of her biggest hits (though we get the English version of the title track) and her feverish, ultra-dramatic style. But Piaf wasn't only a tragedienne of song: Her lighter side is represented by "Rien de Rien" and "Mon Manège à Moi," which she infuses with wonderful flair. Tracks 12-20 are made up of Christopher Gunning's richly symphonic original score (check out "La Mort de Leplée"). The last third of the album offers Piaf without Piaf, with contemporary singers Jil Aigrot and Maya Barsoni performing her songs (apparently because the originals' poor sound quality meant they would have stuck out in the movie). Watch out, however, for Mistinguett's hilarious "Il m'a vu nue," a slice of French music-hall history preserved in amber. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Album Description

Official motion picture soundtrack to the film La Vie En Rose, the dramatic real-life story of French chanteuse Edith Piaf, starring Marion Cotillard and Gerard Depardieu. This release contains 27 tracks featuring 11 of Piaf's most popular songs remastered including "La Vie En Rose", "Hymne A L'amour" "Milord" and "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien", plus the original score by Christopher Gunning.

Customer Reviews:

La Vie en Rose.......2007-07-06

The soundtrack to the movie by the same title is excellent. The restoration was superb. The voice of Edith Piaf is masterful.

Average customer rating:

More Hits Than You Might Remember
CHRIS CROSS GREATNESS
Good collection
"Sailing"-Nostalgia at it's Best!!!!
A Terrific Compilation of Christopher Cross!

The Very Best of Christopher Cross
Christopher Cross
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Firefall - Greatest Hits

ASIN: B000060OL7
Release Date: 2002-03-05

Tracks:

Ride Like The Wind
Sailing
Never Be The Same
Say You'll Be Mine
Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)
All Right
Think Of Laura
No Time For Talk
Every Turn Of The World
I Will (Take You Forever) (New Remix)
Chance For Heaven (Swimming Theme)
Swept Away (New Remix)
Loving Strangers (Davids Theme From Nothing In Common)
Is There Something
Open Up My Window
Back Of My Mind (New Remix)
Walking In Avalon
When She Smiles
Hunger

Album Description

The most complete collection ever from this Grammy. and Oscar. winner! Features 16 tracks spanning 1980-1994, including hard-to-find cuts like "A Chance For Heaven (Swimming Theme)" from 1984's XXIIIrd Olympiad album, plus three tracks newly remixed by the artist.

Customer Reviews:

More Hits Than You Might Remember.......2007-06-05

My wife got this for me because when he'd come on the radio I would say "Do you remember this one?". Anyway, I was surprised how many songs on there I knew once I listened to it.

CHRIS CROSS GREATNESS .......2007-05-14

What an awesome CD. The vintage songs that made him a hit so long ago, and a few new ones thrown in make an excellent ballance. if you're into great lyrics,and the supreem vocals of Christopher Cross, this provides it all.

Good collection.......2007-03-11

This is a good collection of hits. They are in a nice order to listen to. Really glad I ordered it.

"Sailing"-Nostalgia at it's Best!!!!.......2007-03-09

It was 1979, I was up at a cottage on the lake north of Toronto and it was sunset when I first heard "Sailing". Now everytime I hear that song I'm taken back to golden sunsets on the lake and this beautiful song playing.

Other great songs are "Arthur's Theme", "I Take You Forever", a great duet that came out in 1988 and I have fond memories of, "Think of Laura", a melancoly tune but a song that just take you back to the early 80's like "Arthur's Theme" and a modest hit from 1987 called "Swept Away", great song. I also first heard this song on a "Growing Pains" episode and loved it.

I'm all about the ballads on this CD. To me Christopher Cross' music takes me back to a wonderful nostalgic time in my life, as I'm sure so many of us can relate. His music puts a smile on your face. I agree with another reviewers comments about his looks-okay so he doesn't look like Brad Pitt-So What! He seems like a down to earth guy just singing from his heart and I think his fans wouldn't have it any other way.

A Terrific Compilation of Christopher Cross!.......2007-02-12

I don't know why Christopher Cross' career took a nosedive because he's still one of the greats of easy listening even now. I love the song, Swept Away, which has always been my favorite. Maybe it's because it was used in the Growing Pains Hawaiian episodes. I love Sailing, Come to My Window, and of course, Arthur's theme. People will realize that Christopher Cross' music is still relevant, soothing, deeply relaxing, and classic because it holds up even in today's standards. Yes, I know it's not the 1980s anymore but when you hear Chris' singing, you can still remember it. At least with today, the internet and the computer age has allowed us to gain easier access to it. I remember searching every music store for this song. I'm not one of those people who burn their music off the internet. I'm old fashioned. I would rather buy it and listen to it on cds in my car or at the gym. When I hear him, I feel a little relaxed about life in general.

Evil Dead: The Musical (2006 Original Off-Broadway Cast)

Average customer rating:

Something that would be worth a long car ride with very smelly people to see
I Have Never Heard Anything Worse
Evil Dead Rocks!
Great fun!
Bloody good fun.

Evil Dead: The Musical (2006 Original Off-Broadway Cast)

Manufacturer: Time Life Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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

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Curtains (2007 Original Broadway Cast)
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ASIN: B000N3ST7U
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Tracks:

Book of the Dead
Cabin in the Woods
Stupid B****
Housewares Employee
Evil Trees
It Won't Let Us Leave
Look Who's Evil Now
What the F**k Was That?
Join Us
Good Old Reliable Jake (Intro)
Good Old Reliable Jake
Housewares Employee (Reprise)
Death is a B****
I'm Not A Killer
Evil Puns
Bit Part Demon
Good..Bad..I'm the Guy with the Gun
All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Candaian 19. Demons
Ode to an Accidental Stabbing
Boomstick

Album Description

It's frighteningly clear that Evil Dead: The Musical is nothing like its glittery Broadway siblings. Peppered with enough four-letter words to make a rapper blush and bursting with more force than a Monty Python skit, the original cast recording of Evil Dead: The Musical is a truly unique treasure, sure to appeal to many with its offbeat edginess.

Customer Reviews:

Something that would be worth a long car ride with very smelly people to see.......2007-07-12

When I had first heard of this musical, I had thought that it could not possible be for real. When I actually heard this cd, I had thought that it could not possible be for real. This is the funniest, smartest, crassest and most original remake of movie that I have come across in a very long time. "What the F*** Was That?" will be on my list of top 100 songs for a very long time. Anyone who loved the movies this is based on, or who just have a place in their heart for comic gold, need to have this cd in their collection.

I Have Never Heard Anything Worse.......2007-07-11

OK, so after reading this review, I'm sure that most people will think that I'm one of those musical theatre elitists that just "don't get it" when a show is just trying to be fun. But, believe me, that couldn't be further from the truth. I can appreciate that musical theatre is supposed to speak to a wide range of tastes and styles and that a show like Evil Dead is not supposed to be taken too seriously. I also get it when a show is trying to be a clever parody (i.e. Urinetown) or just a fun and light-hearted piece of eye and ear candy that doesn't require a lot of deep thought or heavy emotion. I also understand that not all composers/lyricists are seasoned professionals and, believe it or not, I actually support and encourage new and start-up writers and embrace all of their novice mistakes, as long as they don't all occur in the same place at the same time. So, believe me, I get it.

But, sometimes, even with all of this forgiveness in my heart, there are some scores that are simply atrocious. I'm afriad that Evil Dead falls into that category. First, the music: In my mind, a musical score has to be either melodic or original. In the best cases, you have both. In the worst cases, you have neither. In this case, you have nothing. Just nothing. The songs don't say anything - musically or otherwise. They have all been done before, and they are all really, really, bad. I just don't know how else to say it. But the worst part of this unforgivable score has got to be the lyrics. When I say that they are unlistenable, I am not exagerating. These are the worst lyrics I have ever heard committed to CD. Seriously, they are that bad. I couldn't find one redeeming moment. Picture rhymes that a 6-year old might come up with - like trying to rhyme "would be" with "groovy", or "girl" with "squirrel". Yes, I'm afraid these are real examples. The lyrics, in fact, are so bad, that I am not completely confident in my review of the music because I couldn't even get through some of the songs. I shudder at the thought of ever going back to listen to this monstrosity again.

The performances are awful - but that I can forgive. After all, this was not a Broadway show and the actors, in all fairness, had no decent material to work with. I do like the concept, so please don't think that this is the problem. In fact, the story is why I even picked up this CD to begin with. My entire problem is that this is the worst score I have ever heard and, because of that, I found myself constantly infuriated at the fact that these composers were given any funding at all to stage this show - clearly based on the draw of the concept - when there are far better unknown composers out there with real talent who just can't get a break.

So, in summary - I encourage everyone reading this review to continue to support off-Broadway theatre and upstart composers and even shows that are not completely perfect. Just don't support this one. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh. But the producers who mounted this show and released this CD really don't deserve your money. There's no nice way to say it.

Evil Dead Rocks!.......2007-06-29

The cast album to 'Evil Dead" is almost as much fun as Little Shop of Horrors! It's a tongue in cheek spoof all the way with some really fun music to go along with it. Loads of different styles of music and plenty of fun for all!

Great fun!.......2007-06-18

A great recording of a fun show. Don't look for earth shattering lyrics, or unique music. Do look for a fun time - and be sure to read along with the booklet in the jewel case if you are an Evil Dead the Musical newbie. Don't listen with young children in the vacinity.

Bloody good fun........2007-05-23

If you've seen this show in New York or Toronto, you will love having this soundtrack. If you haven't seen the show but are a fan of the original movies, I'm pretty sure these songs will still be hilarious. If you're like me, it will live in your cd player for several weeks or more.

I wish I could go see this show again, but listening to these songs takes me right back to that enjoyable yet blood soaked night!

Average customer rating:

Deserving the 5 stars
Yellow House
Welcome Home
Perfect end to a perfect day .
Each day, I spend it with you

Yellow House
Grizzly Bear
Manufacturer: Warp Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000FS9LKW
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Tracks:

Easier
Lullabye
Knife
Central And Remonte
Little Brother
Plans
Marla
On A Neck, On A Spit
Reprise
Colorado

Amazon.com

It's a rare thing to find a band that counts the glockenspiel, autoharp, banjo, and flute as key instruments, especially when it's a rock band with just four members. Grizzly Bear use all the above instruments plus another dozen or so to make the 10 floating, gossamer, low-lit tunes that comprise Yellow House. They are rounded edges, off-kilter waltzes ("Lullabye," which teeters tipsily), laconic vignettes, and even a vintage 1930s waltz written by singer Edward Droste's great-aunt. The meshwork here is Grizzly Bear's smarts, a banjo lending fleeting rhythmic hints to a guitar-picked melody ("Reprise"), a haunted piano filling the sonic air with smoke. All four members sing duskily and softly, making a slow-going atmosphere that would delight the great composer Morton Feldman. The brilliance here is that every song mesmerizes, not with aural dominance but with an atmospheric magnetism. --Andrew Bartlett

Album Description

"Magical, haunting melodies are Grizzly Bear's mainstay. A band that won't jilt you; they always craft their songs from start to finish--and meticulous instrumentation and arrangements are their specialty. On "Yellow House", Grizzly Bear still flexes its lo-fi connoisseurship, but with a better recording--still totally DIY, now embellished with fine sonic engineering."

Customer Reviews:

Deserving the 5 stars.......2007-06-24

Most of the reviews for this record are right on. GB have an incredibly haunting, big sound, full of menace and beauty. These guys clearly aren't trying to recreate anything else. One of the most stunning releases by any band in a long, long time.

Yellow House.......2007-06-07

The old cliché about the parallel between sound and location pops up here in an endearing way: Yellow House was recorded in singer/guitarist Edward Droste's mother's house--yellow, of course--on the outskirts of Boston. The domicile's creakiness and mustiness permeates these uniformly lovely songs, giving them the homespun feel of something that's been sewn together in an old rocking chair. Grizzly Bear uses the full band at its disposal by gracefully piling instruments atop each other, and their solid group dynamic allows them to focus on ancillary yet important elements like mood and album flow. Some have griped that the production is too tinny for something this sweeping, but if it doesn't sound like a Sony cash cow, it does have the air of a time capsule, dug up and played on the Victrola for the first time in decades. It's the final magic touch on a thoroughly accomplished and enjoyable record.

Welcome Home.......2007-05-11

The lo-fi neo-psychedelia freak-folk of "Yellow House" is not so easily described. Hence the rather amorphous appellates "lo-fi" and "neo-psychedelia" and "freak-folk." Listening to the album (over and over again), a lot of descriptions came to mind...

The Beach Boys, minus the beach ("Knife").

A moon-powered TV on the Radio ("On A Neck, On A Spit").

A tamed-n-trained Animal Collective ("Easier").

Hot Chip on ice ("Little Brother").

If none of that makes any sense to you (and who can blame you?), let it be enough to say that Grizzly Bear's sophomore LP is as warm and silky as sudsy bathwater. The quartet utilizes banjos, laptops, and flutes (among other, more traditional instruments) to create something so atmospheric, so emotional, so good that at times it's just plain heart-wrenching.

Named after one of the band members' mother's home, where the album was recorded, the album is just as inviting as a return to the loamy roots of nostalgia. The apogee of cool soul sonics, "Yellow House" is big enough to live in, but as cozy as a warm embrace.

Perfect end to a perfect day ........2007-05-02

Do not listen to this album if your looking for something new, different, harmonic or simply put ~ beautiful. If you are though, my curious friend then may the gods be with you to absorb the melodic blows this album delivers.

Grizzly Bear like a few choice indy(ish) bands have there vocals down almost too perfectly. "Easier" kicks off the album as a bedtime story that leads to worlds unseen. You really get a feel of what the album will be like in this first song ~ harmony, simple drum placement, and sounds you hear only in cartoons way too early in the morning. All these make up whats to come ~ "Knife" shows up just in time to remind you that its the vocals that make Yellow House.

I was really into "Central and Remote" for a while because of the amazing breakdown in the second half of the song. The acoustic really wants the musician inside you to come out and play, its THAT inviting! "Plans" will seem like the band formed into one giant animal because each sound brought by the members mesh just too well ~ the whistling and again the harmony between the memebers is astounding. Really makes you think the direction music is headed after hearing an album like this.

"Reprise and Colorado" couldn't be placed in the albums list any better. Colorado is also the most simplistic sounding song on the album, with repeating lyrics and the constant sound of something swarming around you. Those two finishing songs finally behead the monster that is Grizzly Bear ( in a good way ) Don't worry it will grow back and hopefully later into another beast with similar traits that follows this album.

Each day, I spend it with you.......2007-04-18

Grizzly Bear have been around for awhile, but "Yellow House" is their first album as a complete, cohesive quartet band. And it's a stunning piece of work, layering together ethereal freakfolk and gentle rock'n'roll into an eerily earthy sound -- it's like listening to a folk band made up of ghosts.

It opens with a run-through of the instrumentation -- a flute smoothing out into a wobbly violin, and some tinny piano. After a moment of silence, the band slips into "Easier," with its folky banjo/guitar melody wrapped in gentle shimmering synth. And the lyrics hint at broken houses and broken loves: "I know, I know, the doors won't close/the pipes all froze/just let it go...let's recreate an easier time/because I still can't find you."

They follow it up with an earthier song, "Lullabye," which meanders uncertainly through mostly acoustic territory, but with the occasional synthy chime. The songs that follow are in this mold -- ghostly rockers and fizzly, windy ballads. Each one starts off simple and slow, but builds up into atmospheric and powerful pieces of work.

If you just hear a sample or skip through it, "Yellow House" sounds like your basic folk-rock album. Not much to listen to. But listen to some of the songs in their entirety, and the beauty of their music really starts to stick out -- it's sort of glitchy shimmery freakfolk psychedelica, with a bit of lo-fi indie-rock thrown in for good measure.

They have a dud every now and then -- the first halves of "On a Neck, On a Spit" and "Reprise" are too banjoey and straightforward to fit in. However, the rest of the time they craft their music exquisitely -- the instrumentation and vocals are layered together into hypnotic swirls, sometimes fading out to give it that ghostly sound.

The instrumentation itself is a beautiful blend of all sorts of instruments -- some straightforward guitar and restrained banjo, some echoing glockenspiel and a soft flute. And the entire album is shrouded in dark, unearthly synth from Chris Taylor, ranging from glitches to wavers, misty fuzz to a twittering sound like a moth's wings.

All four members contribute their vocals, and their intertwined, mournful voices are absolutely stunning. They could sing just about anything and make it sound pretty -- in fact, "Colorado" is mostly made up of mournful calls of the title word. The other songs usually have a few more lines than that, but are pared down to the core: "A folding chair/Sitting out by the wading pool, chlorine blue/Rush of wind passing over me/Restless nights/Chin up, cheer up/My love's another kind..."

Grizzly Bear craft a beautiful, delicate collection of freakfolky tunes with a psychedelic edge, an exquisite listen that takes a little while to sink in. "Yellow House" should be lived in.

Essential Mozart: 32 Of His Greatest Masterpieces

Average customer rating:

Gorgeous music, bad quality cd.
Great music, low quality reproduction
A nice introduction
Mozart is the reference point for good classical music.
Mozart's music

Essential Mozart: 32 Of His Greatest Masterpieces

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Essential Bach
Essential Beethoven
Essential Tchaikovsky
Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 1
Beethoven Collection: Symphonies Nos. 1-9, Complete Recording (Box Set)

ASIN: B00005A8JZ
Release Date: 2001-03-13

Tracks:

Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K525: Allegro - Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields
Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K467: Andante - Radu Lupu
Le nozze di Figaro: Voi che sapete - Cecilia Bartoli
Clarinet Quintet In A Major, K581: Largetto - Peter Schmidl
Ave verum Corpus, K618 - James Vivian
Vesperae solennes de confessore in C major: Laudate Dominum - Emma Kirkby
Concerto For Flute And Harp In C Major: Andantino - Lisa Beznosiuk
Le nozze di Figaro: Overture - London Philharmonic Orchestra
Cosi fan tutte: Trio: Soava sia il vento - Renee Fleming
Symphony No.39 in E-flat Major, K495: Andante con moto - Chicago Symphony
Horn Concerto: Rondo - Barry Tuckwell
Don Giovanni: Serenade Deh, vieni alla finestra - Bryn Terfel
Contredanse In C Major, K609 No.1 'Non piu andrai' - Vienna Mozart Ensemble
German Dance, K605 No.3 'Sleigh Ride' - Vienna Mozart Ensemble
Piano Concerto No.23 In A Major, K488: Adagio - Vladimir Ashkenazy
A Musical Joke, K522: Presto - Vienna Mozart Ensemble

Tracks:

Symphony No.40 In G Minor, K550: Molto allegro - Vienna Philharmonic
Piano Sonata No.16 In C Major: Allegro - Andras Schiff
The Magic Flute: Queen Of The Night: Der Holle Rache - Sumi Jo
Clarinet Concerto In A Major, K622: Adagio - Franklin Cohen
Don Giovanni: La ci darem la mano - Cecilia Bartoli
Serenade in Bb Major, K361: Adagio - London Wind Soloists
Der Vogelfanger bin ich ja - Hermann Prey
Le nozze di Figaro: Dove sono - Kiri Te Kanawa
Violin Concerto No.3 in G Major, K216: Adagio - Joshua Bell
Requiem, K626: Lacrimosa - Vienna Philharmonic
Litaniae de venerabili altaris sacramento: Dulcissimum convivium - Margaret Marshall
Piano Sonata No.11 In A Major, K331: Rondo alla turca - Andras Schiff
Don Giovanni: Champagne aria: Fin ch'chan dal vino - Bryn Terfel
Divertimento No.17 in D Major, K334: Minuet & trio - Vienna Mozart Ensemble
Exsultate, jubilat, K165: Alleluja - Leontyne Price
Symphony No.41 In C Major, K551 'Jupiter': Finale: Molto allegro - Vienna Philharmonic

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous music, bad quality cd........2007-04-13

The music is Mozart's and is fantastic. The last piece on the first disc
stutters halfway through, and seizes up my system. I don't have time to return items to Amazon. On the positive side, most of the time Amazon provides quality products and service. I gave 3 stars because I love the music.

Great music, low quality reproduction.......2007-01-30

this is a great collection of his work... the only problem i have found so far is that my copy has irritating "clicks" over the recording.

A nice introduction.......2006-02-22

This is a good well rounded collection to dip you into the classical world of Mozart.

Mozart is the reference point for good classical music........2005-10-20

A good collection of his best work and I find it helps me focus when I'm writing or contempating life.

"We exposed these animals [rats] in utero and then sixty days after birth to different types of auditory stimulation and then we ran them in a spatial maze. And sure enough, the animals that were exposed to the Mozart completed the maze faster and with fewer errors. And now what we're doing is we're removing their brains so we can slice them and see neuro-anatomically precisely what has changed as a function of this exposure. So it may be that this intense exposure to the music is a type of enrichment that has similar effects on the spatial areas of the hippocampus of the brain." --Dr. Frances Rauscher

Dr. Frances Rausher sums up what I feel happening when I expose myself to this incredible composer (Mozart).

I have yet to grow tired of any of the tracks yet, but I will invest in more of his work soon.

Mozart's music.......2005-10-17

This is a review of Mozart's music, not the cd. Mozart is praised to the skies by all and sundry, including most musicians, including my father, who no doubt has his reasons. But my feeling about Mozart has always been that there is nothing in Mozart's music that is other than music. There is no logical impressionism, there are no events that seem to be transpiring as in, for example, Beethoven. Mozart is just music. Mozart is to music as pure mathematics is to science. It hints of nothing else and has no application. I find some of his music irritatingly trivial, for example, Eine Kleine Nachtmuzic. This is mechanical music that one can imagine being piped in by a totalitarian government that insists everyone be cheerful. If Disneyland was an eighteenth century totalitarian state, Mozart would be its Muzak. The populace would be awakened, like Chinese train passengers, at 6AM by the strains of some allegro. They would arise and busy themselves with their ablutions in a state of thoughtless cheer, never for one moment leaving the surface of things. That being said, the second movement of Mozart's clarinette concerto is the music that one will hear on going into heaven.

Average customer rating:

Marvelous
Pretty Good
the music
Good incidental music but not great listening music - except the classical pieces
Great classical music accompanies bland original score

Master and Commander
Christopher Gordon , and Richard Tognetti
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Musical Evenings With The Captain
Musical Evenings With The Captain, Vol. 2
Master and Commander - The Far Side of the World (Widescreen Edition)
Musical Evenings in the Captain's Cabin
A Sea of Words, Third Edition: A Lexicon and Companion to the Complete Seafaring Tales of Patrick O'Brian

ASIN: B0000DG07D
Release Date: 2003-11-11

Tracks:

The Far Side Of The World
Into The Fog
Violin Concerto No. 3 'Straussburg' K.215, 3rd Movement
The Cuckold Came Out Of The Amery (Traditional) 5. Smoke N' Oakum
Fantasia On A Theme - Barry Wordsworth 7. Adagio From Concerto Grosso Op. 6. No. 8 In G Minor Christmas Concerto - Arcangelo Corelli Listen Listen Listen
The Doldrums
Prelude (From The Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1 In G Major, BWV 1007 - Yo-Yo Ma
The Galapagos Listen Listen Listen
Folk Medley: O'Sullivan's March/Cuckold Came Out Of The Amery/Mother Hen/Mary Scott/Nancy Dawson - Jim Walker
The Phasmid
The Battle
Boccherini La Musica Notturna Delle Strade Di Madrid No. 6, Op. 30
Full Circle

Product Description

A trio of noted Australian musicians--Iva Davies, Richard Tognetti and Christopher Gordon--composed the film's score. They previously collaborated on "The Ghost of Time," a piece commissioned for the Millennium celebrations in Sydney, which came to the attention of Peter Weir. The director was so impressed, he played the piece on the Master And Commander set throughout production, and he asked its creators to write the music for his movie. The score interweaves "Old World" and "New World" music, reflecting the talents and backgrounds of its composers. Iva Davies hails from both pop and classical traditions; Richard Tognetti, one of the world's great violin virtuosos, taught Russell Crowe the ins and outs of the instrument; and film/television composer Christopher Gordon brought orchestral texture to the project. Given the period, it comes as no surprise that the score is infused with source music from Bach (Cello Suite) and Mozart, among other great classical composers. Percussion dominates portions of the score. "Drums signal the forward movement of the ship," says Davies, "that it's on a mission. It brings you back into the action." The score's biggest surprise comes with its use of synthesizers. "Peter doesn't make films in the expected way," says Davies, "and for that reason we wanted the score to be not what everyone expected. Peter wanted some scenes to have what I call a kind of 'futuristic' sense"--conveying the idea that these 19th century sailors were cutting-edge explorers.

Customer Reviews:

Marvelous.......2007-02-12

A marvelous collection of compositions which greatly enhanced this fantastic film. This CD is marvelous on its own. It did not leave my CD player for weeks.

Pretty Good.......2006-12-14

I purchased this soundtrack because I really enjoyed this music while watching the movie. But I was a little disappointed at the CD. Some soundtracks allow you to follow the entire plot like through the music (such as the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack). But this CD doesn't provide that. Several of the songs are recurring in the film but are only played once in the soundtrack. I would have liked the soundtrack to reflect the music for the whole film rather than just excerpts.

I give the music 5 stars and the CD 2-1/2 stars.

the music .......2006-11-10

The music is excellent . Flows well Better than the movie score

Good incidental music but not great listening music - except the classical pieces.......2006-11-09

The soundtrack for Master and Commander contains two distinct types of music. First there is the incidental music for the film. These pieces are heavy on the bass side of the orchestra and are often emphasized with bass drums and tympani. This music is very effective and appropriate for the scenes in the film, and I commend the composers for making a soundtrack that so seemlessly and effortlessly invokes the moods and excitement of the visuals. Unfortunately, these pieces are quite moody and slow moving - great as incidental music but not so interesting to listen to as straight orchestral music.

The second type of music is much more enjoyable to listen to. Those that have seen the film know there are several scenes in which people are playing music - for example, Aubrey and Maturin in the captain's cabin performing a cello-violin duet, or the sailors on deck playing sea shanties on tin whistles. The pieces chosen for the film range from Bach to traditional folk music, and are a welcome addition to the soundtrack. The performances are very good (including a cello solo by Yo Yo Ma), and the recording quality is excellent. Deserving special mention is the Boccherini piece (La Musica Notturna Delle Strada di Madrid), which serves as a second unofficial theme song for the movie. The piece itself is presented in its entirety, and there is a callback to the piece in the incidental music as well, which is a welcome ray of levity in an otherwise oppressive piece.

People purchasing this disc run the real risk of being disappointed - the incidental music works so well in the context of the film that you are likely to think (as I did) that the music is itself worth listening to alone. Unfortunately, I don't find this is the case, but the classical music that is included makes this a soundtrack worth having, especially for the Boccherini piece.

Great classical music accompanies bland original score.......2006-09-27

The original music to this film is dull, repetitive, and only offers the hint of good music at certain points during it's lengthy tracks. But what about all the good music you heard in the film? That was all classical music, which was used in the film incredibly well. There are three tracks in particular that save this album. The piece by Corelli is used as something the captain and doctor play together. It is one of the most beautiful pieces of baroque music of which I am aware. A second piece, Vaughn Williams "Fantasia" is the piece heard when the crewmen have to cut the line that might save their friend who fell overboard. It's a tragic scene and accompanied perfectly by the heart-breakingly glorious piece. The original piece of music is quite a bit longer than the version on the CD, but the original version also tends to drag a little in places. All the best parts are on the version of the piece in the film. The third classical piece from the album that saves it is the cello solo by Bach that plays as a theme for the galapagos islands. This solo is performed perfectly by Yo Yo Ma. These tracks make the album worth purchasing. If you already have them, avoid the album because the rest is not very enjoyable. If you wonder about this one, watch the film and listen for the music. It speaks well for itself in the film.

Average customer rating:

Carnival of the Animals
Carnival...
This is a Carnival of Fun
Musical Playfulness at it's finest
Magnificent

Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Prokofiev - Peter and the Wolf / Narrated by Patrick Stewart · Opera de Lyon · Nagano

ASIN: B0000041QC
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

The Carnival Of The Animals: Introduction And Royal March Of The Lion
The Carnival Of The Animals: Hens And Cockerels
The Carnival Of The Animals: Wild Asses
The Carnival Of The Animals: Tortoises
The Carnival Of The Animals: The Elephant
The Carnival Of The Animals: Kangaroos
The Carnival Of The Animals: Aquarium
The Carnival Of The Animals: Persons With Long Ears
The Carnival Of The Animals: The Cuckoo In The Depths Of The Woods
The Carnival Of The Animals: Aviary
The Carnival Of The Animals: Pianists
The Carnival Of The Animals: Fossils
The Carnival Of The Animals: The Swan
The Carnival Of The Animals: Finale
Phaeton, Op.39
Le Rouet d'Omphale, Op.31
Danse macabre, Op.40

Customer Reviews:

Carnival of the Animals.......2007-01-10

The music is beautiful. I used it for a music lesson for Kindergarten on how to interpret animals using music. It is also very soothing in the background for working.

Carnival..........2005-07-26

I found this disk to be "adequate." Other than The Swan, nothing really moved me. The swan rates five stars, the rest, four! You might like it more than I did...

This is a Carnival of Fun.......2005-06-29

I had been a fan of this recording when it was first released. While looking for the recording for my daughter, I fell upon this release.
Sensational! Who can't love the Romantics?

Musical Playfulness at it's finest.......2005-02-20

This CD is absolutely charming. The Carnival of the Animals is so full of different expressions- the majestic lion, the agonizingly slow tortoise, the free-flying birds, the dancing fossils, and the regal swan. Phaeton is amazing, as is le Rouet d'Omphale and the Danse Macabre. I wasn't into Saint-Saens before this CD, but now I'm hooked. For model romantic era music, buy this CD without delay :)

Magnificent.......2002-01-31

It's humourous, it's simple, it's great. Those three words best describe Carnvial of Animals. From the lovely and beautiful Aquarium and Aviary to the more serious, respectable March of the Royal Lion, this musical composistion goes everywhere and does everything in great strides. A must-have for any classical music fan

The Red Violin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Average customer rating:

The Red Violin...
Haunting
Beautiful Music!
Virtuosic
Accessible and beautiful.

The Red Violin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Esa-Pekka Salonen
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Red Violin
Romance of the Violin
Joshua Bell - Gershwin Fantasy
Ladies in Lavender
Voice of the Violin

ASIN: B00000J28V
Release Date: 1999-05-18

Tracks:

The Red Violin: Anna's Theme
The Red Violin: I. Cremona: Main Title
The Red Violin: I. Cremona: Death Of Anna
The Red Violin: I. Cremona: Birth Of The Red Violin
The Red Violin: I. Cremona: The Red Violin
The Red Violin: II. Vienna: The Monastery
The Red Violin: II. Vienna: Kaspar's Audition; Journey To Vienna
The Red Violin: II. Vienna: Etudes; Death Of Kaspar
The Red Violin: III. Oxford: The Gypsies; Journey Across Europe
The Red Violin: III. Oxford: Pope's Gypsy Cadenza
The Red Violin: III. Oxford: Coitus Musicalis; Victoria's Departure
The Red Violin: III. Oxford: Pope's Concert
The Red Violin: III. Oxford: Pope's Betrayal
The Red Violin: IV. Shanghai: Journey To China
The Red Violin: IV. Shanghai: People's Revolution; Death Of Chou Yuan
The Red Violin: V. Montreal: Morritz Discovers The Red Violin
The Red Violin: V. Montreal: Morritz's Theme
The Red Violin: V. Montreal: The Theft
The Red Violin: V. Montreal: End Titles
The Red Violin: 'The Red Violin': Chaconne For Violin And Orchestra

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

Leave it to composer John Corigliano and violinist Joshua Bell--two of biggest names in classical music--to team up and create one of 1999's best soundtracks. For many, the soundtrack to The Red Violin was just as impressive as the film, a moving blend of gypsy, folk, and classical compositions. --Jason Verlinde

Amazon.com essential recording

Normally we think of a musical instrument as a passive object in the service of a performing artist. But what if that instrument is itself a work of art, containing the secrets of the various owners through whose hands it has passed over the centuries? That's the premise behind this intriguing film by François Girard (director of 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould). It traces the story of a legendary violin (thought to be possessed by an immortal soul) from its birth in 17th-century Italy through Mozart's Vienna, Victorian England, and revolutionary China to its present-day fate on the auction block. The score, in suggesting the violin's unique aura, therefore carries much of the burden of the story, and it brings together some of the most outstanding talents in contemporary classical music. Composer John Corigliano's richly eclectic and poetic score--encompassing classical elegance, gypsy passion, and angst-ridden harmonies--etches vivid portraits of the film's various epochs but also gives an overarching sense of unity to the episodic character of the script. It's essentially a set of remarkably imaginative variations for violin and orchestra on a theme of haunting pathos and is a substantial work of music in its own right. As the soloist, Joshua Bell saturates the eponymous instrument with personality. His combination of virtuoso bravura and soulful phrasing almost seems to lead the violin to the brink of human speech. Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen shapes the exchange between orchestra and violin into tautly dramatic dialogue. The disc also includes a powerful related work on the theme used in the score, the Chaconne for Violin and Orchestra, which confirms Corigliano's status as one of today's leading and most personally communicative American composers. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

The Red Violin..........2007-02-03

The DVD is first rate, the Soundtrack defines the movie, leave no doubt, it should make you hunger for more...

Haunting.......2007-01-10

I love violin music, and this delivered for me. It is haunting though, in that it feels a little eerie at times and even a little scary ... love it.

Beautiful Music!.......2007-01-05

I loved this film so much I bought the soundtrack. The music is absolutely gorgeous! I especially love the recurring melody and the way it is interpreted differently for every different historical period or part of the world the violin is in throughout the story. I rarely listen to the whole thing at once, however, because (and I have this reaction to all instrumental soundtracks) I find it somewhat redundant after a while, but it's still absolutely wonderful and makes nice background music.

Virtuosic.......2006-12-30

It's rather modern sounding. The final track is ridiculously long and, I feel, unnecessary, not to mention rather different in character from the rest of the score. But now I've made it sound like a sucky soundtrack--it isn't. It's a showcase of Joshua Bell through the ages. The storyline follows the life of a famous violin, and takes us though different periods of musical history. Therefore Bell gets the chance to render everything from a Classical concerto to a gypsie tune to the modern, beautifully spooky "Red Violin Theme". This CD is truly little more than an amazing violinist wowing us, but I really have no objects to that!

Accessible and beautiful........2006-12-12

I don't understand the remarks of the reviewer below! This soundtrack is extremely accessible to anyone, and a great introduction to classical music in general. Corigliano's score is both cinematic and intimately refined. It is equally at home in the concert hall and behind the action on screen. That is an amazing thing to behold.
Buy it!

Average customer rating:

so amazing
Essential Bach is OK
Excellent collection of mostly recognizeable music
Exquisite Essential Bach
Good

Essential Bach

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Essential Mozart: 32 Of His Greatest Masterpieces
Essential Beethoven
Essential Tchaikovsky
25 Bach Favorites
Chopin: Favorite Piano Works

ASIN: B00004SPLF
Release Date: 2000-06-13

Tracks:

Toccata And Fugue In D Minor: Toccata in D minor
Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major: Air
Prelude in C major
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major: Allegro
Goldberg Variations: Aria
Sleepers Awake: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Violin Concerto No.1 In A Minor: I Allegro moderato
Jesu, joy of man's desiring
Keyboard Concerto No.4: Allegro: I Allegro
Cello Suite No.3: Bourees I & II: Bourrees I And II
Concerto for Oboe & Violin In C Minor: Adagio
Mass In B minor: Crucifixus
Cello Suite No.1 in G Major: Praeludium
French Suite No.5 in G major: Gigue
Prelude in D Minor
Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major: III Allegro
Matthaus-Passion: St Matthew Passion

Tracks:

Brandenberg Concerto No.2 In F Major: I Allegro
Concerto For 2 Violins In D Minor: II Largo, ma non tanto
Lute Suite In E Major: Prelude
Cantata: Sheep may safely graze
Cello Sonata In G Minor: II Adagio (excerpt)
Italian Concerto In F Major: II Allegro
Weihnachtsoratorium: Pastoral sinfonia
Violin Concerto No.1 In A Minor: II Andante
Partita No.1 In B Flat Major: Gigue
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor: Menuet
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor: Badinerie
Oboe Concerto In F Major: Siciliano
Brandenberg Concerto No.3 In G Major: I Allegro
Violin Partita No.2 In D Minor: Allemande
Violin Partita No.2 In D Minor: Gigue
Keyboard Concerto No.2 In E Major: I Allegro (excerpt)
Cantata: Sanctify us by thy goodness
Keyboard Concerto No.5 In F Minor: II Largo
Concerto In A Minor: I Allegro

Amazon.com

It is not possible to fit 36 Bach masterpieces on two CDs, so what Essential Bach does is present individual movements from across a range of the composer's work. The anthology is clearly aimed at the newcomer, and the absence of booklet notes to put the music in context is disappointing. We are only given titles, performers, and what films the extracts have been featured in, from Rollerball to The English Patient.

On the plus side, most if not all of the music is instantly recognizable, by melody if not by name. Everything from the Brandenburg Concertos to "Air on a G String" to the B Minor Mass and St. Matthew Passion is represented. Performances range from 1960 to 1993, encompassing both early instrument and modern orchestra interpretations by a wide variety of forces, including Sir Neville Marriner with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and Raymond Leppard leading the English Chamber Orchestra. Given such diversity the result is unavoidably a patchwork, albeit one made from the finest materials, and as such is perhaps best treated as a sampler to aid exploration of the vast legacy of one of the very greatest composers who ever lived. --Gary S. Dalkin, Amazon.co.uk

Customer Reviews:

so amazing .......2006-06-14

I love this kind of playing. this is my favorite classical cd.

Essential Bach is OK.......2005-09-29

This is a good basic primer. A true Bach lover might find a better selection/orchestra.

Excellent collection of mostly recognizeable music.......2005-03-18

LOVE LOVE LOVE this 2-CD set. I bought I a awhile back and have enjoyed it very much. My toddler likes it too. I think it's a great value for the money and may have to get another copy if this one wears out.

Exquisite Essential Bach.......2005-02-01

Value and exquisite sampler of Bach on two CD's at an affordable price. Recorded by the likes primarily of Academy of the St. Martin-in-the-fields, Chicago Sympony, Boston Symphony, English Chamber Orchestra and with virtuoso performers as William Bennett, Heinz Hollinger, Pepe Romero, and Wolfgang Rubsam, one gets treated to wonderful Bach exerpts of all his fantastic breath and depth of chamber, symphony and choral works.

One will have to go to other places to find background on these marvelous compositions as the liner notes only list perfomer and date recorded.

Good.......2004-07-13

This is a good album but for information on real choral music visit www.freewebs.com/bachster67/

Rock Music:

Rock Music

rock music