Sweet Angel

Editorial Reviews
phillyscene.org
"A Real Class Act"

About the Artist
Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, SIMON is a collaboration of vibrant colors and various influences that blend together to create a magic that touches upon the soul and leaves you with a sound to remember. Having been compared to such artists as The Dave Matthews Band for their groove and style, Sarah McLachlan for her grace and touch, The Indigo Girls for their harmonies and subtleties, and Peter Gabriel for his power, passion and insight, this "alternative folk rock" band leaves an indelible mark... read more

Album Description
Guided by faith and driven by the belief in the human spirit, in a consistent state of searching deeper, "Sweet Angel" moves the listener to simply feel... building a bridge between what the heart can't let go of and what the mind can't comprehend, and making them real.

Sweet Angel

Average customer rating:

spiritual americana
Rich Heritage
Superb
Can't walk away from it!
Mana from Heaven

American Angels

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Gloryland
Wolcum Yule: Celtic and British Songs and Carols - Anonymous 4 with Andrew Lawrence-King
1000: A Mass for the End of Time / Anonymous 4
A Portrait Of Anonymous 4
The Origin of Fire: Music and Visions of Hildegard von Bingen

ASIN: B0001ADB4Q
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Tracks:

Holy Manna
Abbeville
Wondrous Love
Sweet Hour Of Prayer
Jewett
Dunlap's Creek
New Britain
The Morning Trumpet
Resignation
Poland
Wayfaring Stranger
Sweet By And By
Blooming Vale
Idumea (I)/Idumea (II)
Sweet Prospect
Shall We Gather At The River
Amanda
Invitation
Parting Hand
Angel Band

Amazon.com

This, Anonymous 4's final recording, is a break from their usual "early music" periods and locations; it presents American music, religious in nature, from the 18th and 19th centuries. And it's absolutely beautiful from start to finish. Their normal, exquisite technique and purity here blend to sound the way we imagined the ladies' choir in church meetings in America past might have sounded: sweet, sincere, and with harmonies recognizable yet somehow fresh. Some of the songs begin with the women singing "fa, so la" exercises, which was called "shape note" singing because some places taught singing with notes as shapes--circle, rectangle, diamond, triangle. But it's the music that counts, and there are treasures here. They include two versions of "Amazing Grace," one familiar, one with an unusual melody and a piece called "Blooming Vale" which is as sophisticated as anything on their previous albums. "Shall We Gather at the River" is performed with a clarity and loveliness that makes us forget that it's normally sung as background to movies about the Great Depression. The foursome sometimes sing in rich harmonies and occasionally alone or in pairs or trios. This is glorious Americana and highly recommended. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

spiritual americana.......2007-01-06

I have some of the older Anonymous 4 recordings which are more medieval
and gregorian in style (I love them!). They move on to cover spiritual
basics of the 1800s. If you like classical music, perfect harmonies
and spiritual americina, then you will be blessed!

Rich Heritage.......2006-10-11

Anonymous 4 consistently produces exquisite and authentically beautiful recordings and this one presents early American hymns in ways few groups can manage. Some tunes are highly recognizable while others are 'new' to me but a refreshing reminder of the singing heritage of religious societies in times past. For those who enjoy old hymns and authentic renderings, this is a must buy.

Superb .......2006-08-07

This collection of American Christian music is not only an enthralling musical experience but a spiritually uplifting one as well. Anonymous Four have transferred their luminous vocal quality to a new space with perfect success.

Can't walk away from it!.......2006-08-07

My only "complaint" about the CD is that I absolutely HAVE to sit and listen to the entire thing whenever I start it up! I usually have music playing in the background while doing other things, but not this one! There are no tracks that I find myself wanting to skip over as in most collections. In fact, I usually find myself going back and listening to selected tracks again (and again and...) after taking the hour+ to listen to the whole thing through once.

These four ladies produce a unique and remarkable sound. I can't recommend it enough.

Mana from Heaven.......2006-05-08

I think the title of this CD is perfect. I first heard an interview for this CD on Public Radio and fell in love. I had never heard Anonymous 4 before then but look for all I can find of their music now. The title is perfect as the women sound like Angels and the music lifts the spirit. I find myself singing the old version of Amazing Grace all the time now. Incredible and a huge blessing to all who hear it.

Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: The Ultimate Canon

Average customer rating:

This will make a classical listener out of a hillbillie
Repetitivley Wonderful
Best versions of The Canon!
Amazing
Absolutely outstanding compilation!

Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: The Ultimate Canon

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000C9JCM
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Tracks:

Canon In D - Jean-Francois Paillanrd Chamber Orchestra
Canon In D - Munich Radio Orchestra
Canon (Over A Basso Ostinato) - Peerless 2x2
Canon Of The Three Stars - Isao Tomita & The Plasma Symphony Orchestra
How, Where, When? (Canon In D) - Cleo Laine
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Canon - The Canadian Brass
Canon In F - BRR (Shakuhachi & Koto Quintet)
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Canon - Clive Carroll
Canon - Platinum (A Cappella Vocal Ensemble)
Sweet Home (Based On Pachelbel's Canon) - Dai Sakakibara
Canon - Angel Romero
Canon In D - Arthur Fiedler Sinfonietta
Canon & Gigue In D - Guildhall String Ensemble

Customer Reviews:

This will make a classical listener out of a hillbillie.......2007-06-02

I sort of think of myself as a Viginia Hillbillie... educated however. I am not into classical music either. There is, however, something about Pachelbel's Canon that does something miraculous to my mind. The music is beautiful... very very beautiful. I put the CD in my car, roll the windows up and turn up the sound and listen to it end-to-end over and over again. It is so soothing... causing a rush of seratonin in your brain making the world seeming all part of your euphoria.

Even if you aren't into classical... buy this one and you will impress your friends with your new found sophistication... and you won't have to fake it either!!!

Repetitivley Wonderful.......2007-05-08

I was in an art gallery when I heard this playing in the background, I asked the sales associate what this was and she told me. I especially love number 4 "Cannon of the three Stars" by "The Plasma Symphony Orchestra". The new age sound was very lovely. You will love this album.

Best versions of The Canon!.......2007-03-28

This cd contains every version of Pachelbel's Canon that you can imagine from a piece like this. Each version proves that the song sounds incredible no matter which instrument(s) it is played with.
A DEFINITE MUST-HAVE for anyone that likes this song! (Perfect for the wedding also!)

Amazing.......2005-12-20

What a great CD. I can't even put into words how relaxing it is to listen to this after a long day. Just sort of puts you at ease with the world in a time when serenity is so often torn from our hands.

Absolutely outstanding compilation!.......2005-07-27

I truly find this compilation of fifteen different arrangements consisting of piano, orchestra, flute, guitar, vocal, etc. to be of absolute profound quality. This is a brilliant and creative assortment and it magnifies my appreciation for the Cannon in D. The listener is provided with over an hour of exquisite, listening pleasure and it is most enjoyable. I have much admiration for the various symphonic orchestras and I also enjoy listening to the flute played by James Galway on track two, the piano duo on track three, and the shakuhachi and koto quintet on track eight. My only suggestion is that the appearance of the Cd should reflect the professional quality of the music contained therein. The animal drawings just may not appeal to some buyers.

Average customer rating:

One of the best ever!
Kristen Chenowith
Has its moments
Great CD!
This woman has what it takes, and then some...

Let Yourself Go
Kristin Chenoweth , Jule Styne , George Gershwin , Richard Rodgers , Jeanine Tesori , Kurt Weill , Jerome Kern , Vincent Youmans , Ricky Ian Gordon , Richard Dworsky , Lawrence Ellington Duke / Brown , Harry Warren , Bobby Troup , Jason Alexander , Irving Berlin , Rob Fisher , and The Coffee Club Orchestra
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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WICKED: THE GRIMMERIE, A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT THE HIT BROADWAY MUSICAL

ASIN: B000059T4T
Release Date: 2001-05-29

Tracks:

Let Yourself Go
If
How Long Has This Been Going On?
My Funny Valentine
Hanging Around with You (with Jason Alexander)
The Girl in 14G
I'll Tell the Man in the Street
I'm a Stranger Here Myself
Nobody Else But Me
Nobody's Heart Belongs to Me/Why Can't I?
Should I Be Sweet?
He's Just an Ordinary Guy
Going to the Dance with You
On a Turquoise Cloud
You'll Never Know
Daddy

Amazon.com

Kristin Chenoweth won a Tony for the supporting role of Sally Brown in the 1999 revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, made a memorably vampy Lily in the 1999 television film of Annie, and had an NBC sitcom created for her, Kristin! Now she grabs the spotlight in Let Yourself Go, her first solo recording. She mixes torchy standards ("My Funny Valentine," "How Long Has This Been Going On?") with Faith Prince-style sauciness ("If"), gets to show off her operatic and scat chops in the miniplay "The Girl in 14G," and shares a light duet with Jason Alexander (reviving his musical theater career post-Seinfeld). Perhaps her "Stranger Here Myself" isn't the weightiest you've ever heard, but this is an enjoyable album with a good deal of old-fashioned class, expertly accompanied by Rob Fisher and the Coffee Club Orchestra. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

One of the best ever!.......2007-04-24

Do I mean the best album or the best singer? You are correct if you said both! I saw Kristin Chenoweth on a PBS show "Broadway's Best at the Pops," (though it was not the first time I had heard her) and decided to check out the offerings here. This is a collection of the kind of music and performances I love. She has a great range, a precise pitch, and a great style that is at the same time true to the music and to herself. In an era when singers try to outdo each other re-interpreting the composer's original work, not usually with great success, she is a blessing!

Kristen Chenowith.......2007-02-26

I bought this CD for the Girl in 14G. Yes, it's that good...

Has its moments.......2007-02-19

After watching Candide endlessly and going to see Ms. Chenoweth in The Apple Tree, I was hungry for something more portable to listen to. At times this fits the bill, but what surprised me the most is how thin her voice comes across on this recording. Perhaps it was the joy of seeing her live that has ruined this listener; perhaps I need to upgrade my aging music system. Then again, maybe the recording is just not as good as Ms. C singing Bernstein or as good as staring at Ms. C command a Broadway stage.

Great CD!.......2007-01-19

I truly enjoy listening to this CD. Kristin Chenoweth's vocal style and abilities are very well-matched to the songs selected for this album. If you enjoy classic, older-style Broadway/popular tunes, I would highly recommend this CD. Ms. Chenoweth has a bright, expressive voice and does a fantastic job with this material.

As with any full-length CD, there are a couple of songs I am not as crazy about, but that has to do with the songs themselves, not Ms. Chenoweth's vocal performance. Overall, I love this album and have listened to it several times now, since receiving it as a Christmas gift last month.

This woman has what it takes, and then some..........2007-01-12

Kristin Chenoweth brings new life to some timeless Broadways tunes while introducing a few wonderful new ones. This high pitched vocal goddess effortlessly provides for a nearly flawless and easy listening experience. I definitly recommend this CD for anyone who enjoys jazz vocals, showtunes, or just a new spin on some old classics.

Jane Eyre, the Musical (Original 2000 Broadway Cast)

Average customer rating:

Great Buy!
Perfect Match
Probably the most beautiful musical of all time
Beautiful!
A good musical

Jane Eyre, the Musical (Original 2000 Broadway Cast)
John Caird
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000051Y31
Release Date: 2000-11-21

Tracks:

The Orphan
Children of God
Forgiveness
The Graveyard
Sweet Liberty
Secrets of the House
Act One: Perfectly Nice
Act One: As Good As You
Secret Soul
Finer Things
The Pledge
Sirens
Things Beyond This Earth
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In the Light of the Virgin Morning
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Farewell, Good Angel
My Maker
Rain
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Poor Sister
Brave Enough for Love

Amazon.com

Here's another to join the parade of page-to-stage musicals inspired by 19th-century fiction. This ambitious adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's haunting classic Jane Eyre for the musical theater seems to be part of a trend represented most famously by Les Misérables. It also reflects the increasing pressure to schedule an original cast recording release as close as possible to a new show's Broadway opening: in this case, in fact, the CD was both recorded and released prior to the show's opening in December 2000 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. But what's most significant for the artistic character of Jane Eyre: The Musical is found in yet another pattern: like a number of his colleagues, composer-lyricist Paul Gordon comes to the project from a pop music industry background (best known for his hit "Friends and Lovers"). And quite a few of the show's numbers benefit from Gordon's catchy craftwork, weaving melodies that are clearly destined to be whistled long past curtain. Yet the effect is sometimes too facile, not diving as deep as we would like into the emotional predicaments of Brontë's characters. You begin to crave a more deftly defined and imagined variety of sound worlds (especially for the darker aspects of Thornfield Hall) than what is hinted at. Gordon doesn't forge any new paths, but his melodic fluency does have its moments of payoff--especially in the moving final duet "Brave Enough for Love," which is also strong enough to stand on its own.

Gordon's predilections as a would-be son of Sondheim are nevertheless clear, and he's telescoped the story into mostly effective lyrics, with some thoughtful juxtapositions of material. Most importantly, he understands that this is more than a Gothic romance, foregrounding the central message of forgiveness that Jane learns as a girl. He attempts to explore the injured sense of self shared by both Jane and Rochester and sets them on a painful, mutual voyage of discovery.

The creative team also includes the veteran duo John Caird (book and direction) and John Napier (scenic design), who have collaborated on such epics as Les Mis and Nicholas Nickleby (not to mention the Las Vegas Siegfried and Roy extravaganza). And the show's creators seem to share a vision geared toward the more operatic end of the spectrum (it was opera composers, after all, who early on claimed 19th-century Gothic fiction for the stage, as in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor), with an actual parody of coloratura in one showstopper ("The Finer Things") given to Blanche Ingram. Fortunately, the two principals have large, richly expressive voices to encompass the large, complicated emotions of these characters. Marla Schaffel singswith unusual beauty and brings dimension to her Jane, while James Barbour (whose resumé includes Beauty and the Beast) is never really threatening as Rochester, but rather a tortured soul who is sweet-voiced even at his most cynical. Mary Stout is a stitch as the blustery Mrs. Fairfax. While the show has already undergone a lengthy evolution from its very first workshops, the viability of its final, fully staged realization has yet to be determined. But this cast recording conveys an authentic sense of the musical's atmosphere and emotional scope. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Great Buy!.......2007-06-08

Not only was this CD super cheap, it also arrived at my house 3 days later!

Perfect Match.......2007-03-16

The music in this album really gave me the feeling of reading the book. I think the songs were well chosen and well written, except of course for the songs sung by Mrs. Fairfax... I could have done without those. Jane and Mr. Rochester's songs carry the story well and they sound lovely. For any musical lover, or romance fan I definitely recommend this album.

Probably the most beautiful musical of all time.......2007-02-16

This is a hidden gem and if you buy it and listen to it, I don't see how you can not love it. I have bought many, many Broadway cast albums but I still am a popster at heart. With all that said, this is a cast album that soars above the crowd.

I bought this several years ago and have listened to it repeatedly since I got it. Why do I love it so much? First of all, the lyrics are full of heart and emotion and tell the story ably. But it is the music and the performances that are truly remarkable here. The melodies are memorable and absolutely exquisite. The orchestration is lush but not sappy. The performances by the two leads are nothing less than stunning.

I never get bored with this wonderful cast album and it is very, very highly recommended.

Beautiful!.......2007-01-28

I listen to this soundtrack all the time and I never get tired of the songs. If Charlotte Bronte story was written as a musical, then this would definitely be it.

A good musical.......2006-07-20

if you like old-fashioned romantic stuff, this one's for you. Some songs are very inspired, the music is,for the most part, quite beautiful, and the story line keeps the essence of the Bronte novel. I heard this right after "Wuthering Heights: the musical", which is quite good, yet this is superior. Give it a try and you might be nicely surprised. I would highly recommend it to the ones who know the novel and to English Literature students: it offers a different and interesting approach to the novel.

Average customer rating:

Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00062FLI8
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Average customer rating:

Great Reference CD!
Interesting musical selections, but ...
A Nice Wedding Compilation

Bride's Guide to Wedding Music, Vol. II

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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A Bride's Guide to Wedding Music
Classical Wedding Traditions

ASIN: B00000631X
Release Date: 1998-05-05

Tracks:

Messiah: Pastoral Symphony
Love's Ole Sweet Song
In dulci jobilo
A Dream
The Prince Of Denmark's March: Trumpet Voluntary
Wedding March From Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus
Variations on a Theme by Haydn: St. Anthony's Chorale
Cantata No.140: Sleepers, Awake!
Guitar Concerto in D: Largo
Cantata No. 99: What God Hath Done, Is Rightly Done
Tempo di Minuetto
Cantata No. 85: See What His Love Can Do
Orchestral Suite No.3 In D: Air On The G String
Ave verum corpus
Serse: Largo
Suite No.3: Siciliana
Water Music - Suite No.2: Andante - Allegro
Trumpet Concerto In A-Flat: Allegro
Premiere Suite: Rondeau
Cantata No.129: Praise Be To God
Water Music - Suite No.2: Alla hornpipe

Customer Reviews:

Great Reference CD!.......2006-01-09

This is a great compilation, CD, along with Bride's Guide to Wedding Music Volume I, to use as a reference for some of the more popular wedding songs, such as Trumpet Voluntary, Vivaldi's Spring from the Four Seasons, Trumpet Tune and Canon, i.e. Pachelbel's Canon. All of the musicians are generally superb, and the sound quality is very good. However, this is most useful if you are playing the CD at your wedding, or using it as a reference CD to talk over with an organist, a string quartet, etc. I only gave it four stars based on practicality, not on quality. If it were just quality, I would give it five stars. I purchased this CD since I am in the process of making my own wedding CD (I am a professional, freelance violinist), and this was nice to listen to, even just as background music for dinner.

Interesting musical selections, but ..........2005-01-06

As the other reviewer noted, one doesn't have to be getting married to enjoy this CD...and the musical selections are certainly interesting, even eclectic. I have to wonder, however, who picked these out with what criteria since at least a couple of these melodies are not traditional wedding tunes. By this I mean the lovely arrangement of Michael Praetorius' "In Dulci Jubilo." In his home country of Germany, where I used to live until a couple of years ago, this is a Christmas carol, sung at Christmas Eve services throughout the land. The lyrics aren't especially suited to any sort of wedding, really. Unless you're marrying in December, I personally would steer clear of this song. And if the wedding's in June and you have European guests, don't be surprised if eyebrows are raised when this melody is played!

A Nice Wedding Compilation.......2001-07-24

This album provides you with some good reference materials on planning the music for your wedding. Many of us may sit around wondering what on earth "Tempo di Mineutto" is. Well, with this album you will wonder no more. This is a pretty good compilation of some wedding favorites set in order that they would appear in your ceremony (prelude, processional, ceremony and recessional). Even if you aren't planning a wedding, this album provides you with some really good classical music to relax by. At a good discount, this CD is a nice addition to any collection. I would recommend this disc.

Baroque for Beauty Sleep: Sweet Dreams for Beautiful Dreamers

Average customer rating:

beauty sleep
Baroque Music: A Prelude To Sleep
Baroque to Comfort and Sleep By
Guys! Don't be put-off by the cover art!
Mellow, but not sleepy

Baroque for Beauty Sleep: Sweet Dreams for Beautiful Dreamers

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Baroque at Bathtime: A Relaxing Serenade to Wash Your Cares Away
Bach at Bedtime: Lullabies for the Still of the Night
Tchaikovsky At Tea Time: A Refreshing Blend For Body And Spirit
Beethoven for Book Lovers: An Intimate Companion for Reading
Bach for Breakfast

ASIN: B00000DBVH
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

Ancient Airs And Dances For Lute, Suite III: Italiana
The Four Seasons: Winter (Largo)
Oboe d'amore Concerto In A: Affettuoso
Sonata No. 2 In E-flat For Flute & Harp, BWV 1031: Siciliano
Concerto In D, RV 93 For Four Guitars: Largo
Ancient Airs And Dances For Lute, Suite III: Siciliana
Giazotto: Adagio
L'estro armonico - Op. 3, Concerto No. 5 in A, RV 519: Largo
Suite In A minor For Recorder, Strings & Continuo: Air a l'Italien
Concerto In D: Andante
Sonata In E
Concerto Grosso No. 12 In B Minor, Op. 6: Larghetto e piano
Oboe Concerto In D Minor: Adagio
Flute Concerto No. 2 In G Minor, Op. 10 ('La notte'), RV 439: Largo
Oboe Concerto No. 2 In B-Flat: Andante
Concerto Grosso No. 8 In G Minor, Op. 6 ('Christmas'): Pastorale: Largo
Flute Concerto No. 2 In G Minor, RV 439, Op. 10 ('La notte'): Il sonno, Largo
L'estro armonico, Op. 3 - Concerto No. 11 In D Minor, RV 565: Largo e spiccato
Concerto In E ('L'amoroso', RV 271): Allegro
Nulla in mundo pax, RV 630

Customer Reviews:

beauty sleep.......2007-05-30

This music is perfect for bed time.
Beautiful classic music that lulls you to sleep.

Baroque Music: A Prelude To Sleep.......2004-05-30

This album is from the popular series "Set Your Life To Music"
series. The theme for this one is "Baroque For Beauty Sleep" which seems to be a companion to "Baroque For Bathtime". Baroque music, especially the slower movements in many concertos, are exquisite nocturnal pieces that ease the transition from being awake to falling asleep. The beautiful, elegant, slow, graceful music of many of these pieces will definately relax you and even help you fall asleep. It's therapeutic. There are so many reasons one can buy this album. It can help you relax and soothe you, as already mentioned, and it can be played in the background of a message therapy session. It can serve as music for a romantic evening or dinner. And lastly, it hits the spot after a long day and you're ready to visit the world of dreams.

Respighi's Ancient Airs and Dances, scored for lute and other Baroque period instruments, is the newest piece on the album. Respighi, a modern composer, was delving into neoclassic music and deliberately evoking the Baroque Era. It works wonderfully.
Naturally, no Baroque album is complete without Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Here is the Largo from "Winter" only it is played on panpipes by the New Age artist Zamfir. The sound is hauntingly beautiful. There is a sonata for flute and harp by Bach, the biggest name in the period and Vivaldi's "L'Estro Armonico" as well as Telemann's Suite in A for Recorder. One particular piece I enjoy and think you will too is the melodic and elegant Concerto Grosso No. 12 by Handel, the slow movement Larghetto E Piano. It is sheer tonal beauty. There is more concertos by Vivaldi, whose use of the flute is always very reflective and dreamy and even a solo aria from a motet of his, the soprano Elly Ameling sings "Nulla In Mundo Pax", a lyrical-coloratura showcase which crowns and concludes this gorgeous album.

Baroque to Comfort and Sleep By.......2004-02-16

Baroque is such a wide and wonderful musical discovery for us modern types. It is soothing and quieting to the soul, and in this case for the body as well.

Whether used as lullaby inducing or just listening pleasure and relaxation, this is nice collection. Including wide array of instruments: strings, flute, panpipes, oboe, flute, harp, guitar, recorder, piano, and voice --- this is truly enjoyable.

There is wide array of baroque composers as well --- Rephighi, Vivaldi, Bach, Albinoini, Telemann, and more.

Great price, great variety, great addition to your CD collection.

Guys! Don't be put-off by the cover art!.......2002-03-20

I commend the compilers for creating such a wonderful CD. The music is quite mellow, especially the pieces that are preformed by Zamfir, the famous panpipist. That whimsical woodwind gives a rustic, almost mythical feel the piece of music. You almost feel like you are in Arcadia awaiting a lecture by Chiron!

There is a good cross sampling of various Baroque pieces and Baroque artists. The variety is the spice that makes this CD worth buying and listening to over and over again. This CD also works well on shuffle, which remakes it into a brand new album.

There are a lot of oboes and string on this disc, and being a former oboist, I am electrified as I hear that instruments mellow honk!

Guys! Don't be put off by the cover-this is a good disc. Good for the mind, heart, and soul!

Mellow, but not sleepy.......2002-02-02

I don't know how to sum this one up. It is mellow, but you can't meditate to it. It's more upbeat than I would normally prefer to sleep to, but it works all the same. The music is performed so beautifully that I almost want to stay up and listen.

Tracks:

O Solitude - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
Ah! How Sweet It Is To Love - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Not All My Torments - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Paul Nicholson
Stripp'd Of Their Green - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Tell Me, Some Pitying Angel - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
If Music Be The Food Of Love - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Hark! Hark! The Echoing Air - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
The Fatal Hour Comes On Apace - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
Incassum, Lesbia - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Paul Nicholson
Sweeter Than Roses - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby
Cupid, The Slyest Rogue Alive - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
From Silent Shades - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Dear Pretty Youth - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby
From Rosy Bow'rs - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Now That The Sun Hath Veil'd His Light - Nancy Argenta/Paul Nicholson
Beneath A Poplar's Shadow - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby
I Attempt From Love's Sickness To Fly - Nancy Argenta/Paul Nicholson
Let Us Dance - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/Richard Boothby/Paul Nicholson
Fairest Isle - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
O Solitude - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby

Tracks:

Nymphs And Shepherds - Nancy Argenta/Nicholas Robinson/Fiona Huggett/Trevor Jones/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Amidst The Shades And Cool Refreshing Streams - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
Love In Their Little Veins Inspires - Nancy Argenta/Rachel Becket/Marion Scott/Richard Boothby/Nigel North
Fly Swift, Ye Hours - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
They Tell Us That Your Mighty Powers - Nancy Argenta/Nicholas Robinson/Fiona Huggett/Trevor Jones/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
The Plaint: O Let Me Weep - Nancy Argenta/Pauline Nobes/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
In The Black, Dismal Dungeon Of Despair - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/John Toll
See, Even Night Herself Is Here - Nancy Argenta/Nicholas Robinson/Fiona Huggett/Trevor Jones
Why Should Men Quarrel? - Nancy Argenta/Rachel Becket/Marion Scott/Richard Boothby/John Toll
Seek Not To Know - Nancy Argenta/Paul Goodwin/Sophia McKenna/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Retir'd From Mortals' Sight - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
To Arms, Heoric Prince - Nancy Argenta/Mark Bennett/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
O Lead Me To Some Peaceful Gloom - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Halcyon Days - Nancy Argenta/Paul Goodwin/Pauline Nobes/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Bid The Virtues - Nancy Argenta/Paul Goodwin/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Lord, What Is Man? (A Divine Hymn) - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Music For A While - Nancy Argenta/John Toll
If Music Be The Food Of Love (1st Setting) - Nancy Argenta/Richard Boothby/John Toll
Sawney Is A Bonny Lad (A Scotch Song) - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North
When I Have Often Heard Young Maids Complaining - Nancy Argenta/Nicholas Robinson/Fiona Huggett/Richard Boothby/Nigel North/John Toll
Ah! Cruel, Bloody Fate - Nancy Argenta/Nigel North/John Toll
Thy Hand, Belinda... When I Am Laid In Earth - Nancy Argenta/Nicholas Robinson/Fiona Huggett/Trevor Jones/Richard Boothby/Nigel North

Customer Reviews:

Nice Collection.......2007-03-05

I have many collections of Purcell's Music. This collection stands up to them at half the price. Solid buy.

PERFECT!.......2006-10-26

There is only a word with which I can describe this set of discs: perfect!
The only flaw there is, is not related to the singing or playing: no text enclosed.

Great singing and excellent value for money.......2004-09-19

This is probably one of the best anthologies of Purcell songs around, and not just because it's two-for-one pricing means it contains twice as much music (CD1:74'24" & CD2: 77'41")! Nancy Argenta has an irrepressible sense of style and crystal clear diction. But unlike Emma Kirby, whose vocal purity can become tiresome, these renditions radiate warmth. She is also, I have found, more consistently involving than any one of the singers in Hyperion's three disc survey of Complete Secular Songs (recently reissued as a single set). One marvels at how she judiciously balances restraint and emotional forthrightness. The accompaniments (archlute, viola da gamba, harpsichord, and organ) are well judged and blend with the voice, all helped by an excellently defined recording acoustic. This is an absolute winner at any price!

More than two hours of beautiful 17th century 'ayres'.......2001-08-02

Two CDs, totaling more than 150 minutes of sparsely-arranged (never more than 3-5 instruments at a time), sweetly-sung, 350 year old 'ayres' (a typically English form of secular music). Nancy Argenta's soprano voice is lovely, silvery indeed as her name implies. The instruments are a discreet but friendly accompaniment to her solo voice. Perhaps the instruments are a little too discreet -- there are times when I wish they were a touch more prominent. But that is a very, very minor complaint. A beautiful collection, and quite well worth the money.

Menuhin and Grappelli Play "Jealousy" and Other Great Standards

Average customer rating:

Menuhin and Grappelli Play "Jealousy" and Other Great Standards
Yehudi Menuhin & Stephane Grappelli
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

European Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Tracks:

Jealousy
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Angels Hide Their Faces: Dawn Upshaw Sings Bach and Purcell

Average customer rating:

Beautiful, fervent Bach, but the Purcell songs are a bit prettified
Now that the Sun hath veil'd his light.....
Picky reviewers
hark ! how well the lady sings

Angels Hide Their Faces: Dawn Upshaw Sings Bach and Purcell

Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Voices of Light
Forgotten Songs: Dawn Upshaw Sings Debussy
I Wish It So
Dawn Upshaw Sings Rodgers & Hart
Girl with Orange Lips

ASIN: B000059LXH
Release Date: 2001-03-27

Tracks:

Music For A While - Dawn Upshaw/Myron Lutzke/Arthur Haas
I Attempt From Love's Sickness To Fly - Dawn Upshaw/Myron Lutzke/Arthur Haas
Ah! How Sweet It Is To Love - Dawn Upshaw/Myron Lutzke/Arthur Haas
Lord, What Is Man - Dawn Upshaw/Myron Lutzke/Arthur Haas
Hark! How All Things - Dawn Upshaw/Myron Lutzke/Arthur Haas
Cantata BWV 199: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut: Recitativo - Dawn Upshaw/Krista Bennion Feeney/Linda Quan/Lois Martin/Myron Lutzke/John Feeney/Peggy Pearson...
Cantata BWV 199: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut: Aria - Dawn Upshaw/Krista Bennion Feeney/Linda Quan/Lois Martin/Myron Lutzke/John Feeney/Peggy Pearson...
Cantata BWV 199: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut: Recitativo - Dawn Upshaw/Krista Bennion Feeney/Linda Quan/Lois Martin/Myron Lutzke/John Feeney/Peggy Pearson...
Cantata BWV 199: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut: Aria - Dawn Upshaw/Krista Bennion Feeney/Linda Quan/Lois Martin/Myron Lutzke/John Feeney/Peggy Pearson...
Cantata BWV 199: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut: Recitativo - Dawn Upshaw/Krista Bennion Feeney/Linda Quan/Lois Martin/Myron Lutzke/John Feeney/Peggy Pearson...
Cantata BWV 199: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut: Chorale - Dawn Upshaw/Krista Bennion Feeney/Linda Quan/Lois Martin/Myron Lutzke/John Feeney/Peggy Pearson...
Cantata BWV 199: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut: Recitativo - Dawn Upshaw/Krista Bennion Feeney/Linda Quan/Lois Martin/Myron Lutzke/John Feeney/Peggy Pearson...
Cantata BWV 199: Mein Herze Schwimmt Im Blut: Aria - Dawn Upshaw/Krista Bennion Feeney/Linda Quan/Lois Martin/Myron Lutzke/John Feeney/Peggy Pearson...
If Music Be The Food Of Love - Dawn Upshaw/Myron Lutzke/Arthur Haas
The Blessed Virgin's Expostulation - Dawn Upshaw/Myron Lutzke/Arthur Haas
An Evening Hymn - Dawn Upshaw/Myron Lutzke/Arthur Haas

Amazon.com

Soprano Dawn Upshaw's programs are always interesting, and this one's a beauty: one of Bach's most heartfelt cantatas flanked by songs and arias of Purcell. For the most part, she's in excellent voice, but with the tics that make some demur from enthusiasm: occasional swooping, thinning of the voice in the upper regions, lapses into a "Broadway" type of vocalism, and diction problems. The latter, oddly enough, are as present in Purcell's English as in Bach's German, as in the way Upshaw lands heavily on the r with a broad American accent rather than the lightly rolled r we're used to in performances of period English music. There's also some broad word-painting in the Bach, whose text, charting the soul's journey from sin to redemption, really needs no extra emoting. That said, Upshaw's fans will love this disc, and even those who prefer a different approach will enjoy it. Accompaniments are excellent: a continuo team in the Purcell, a small chamber group in the Bach. Outstanding sonics, too. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful, fervent Bach, but the Purcell songs are a bit prettified.......2006-08-24

Amazon's reviewer seems to have zoned out on how Dawn Upshaw pronounces words, missing most of the musical value here. Her singing of the Bach cantata, 'Mein Herze schwimmt in Blut,' is very moving. She is deeply involved, and her voice extracts the deep reverence and religious passion that makes this music so great. I'm not as convinced by the Purcell songs, however. Upshaw has chosen some of the most famous, and set against great singers like Battle, Baker, and Ferrier, her rendiitons seem a little shallow and prettified. She's considerably more tuned in to Bach, which is good enough to make this a memorable CD, if not her very best. Things would be much improved if the conducting by the (totally uncredited) conductor weren't so limp.

Now that the Sun hath veil'd his light............2001-08-04

Some say angels are God's messangers. When angels communicate, surely they sound like Dawn Upshaw. Upshaw's beautiful soprano voice rises to the stars and floats back again as she sings the beautiful collection of arias and cantatas by Purcell and Bach contained in ANGELS HIDE THEIR FACES.

Shaw's interpretation of Purcell's 'How sweet it is to love' reminds me of the elation I first felt on realizing love exists. 'Lord what is a man' brings one back to earth with a lamentation about human frailty and the finiteness of human existence. "Rejoice, rejoice" sings the angel in 'Hark! How all things' with lyrics from 'The Fairy Queen' -- a text by E. Settle after Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.'

Bach's cantatas fill the air as Upshaw sings arias in German (interpretations are provided in the text accompanying the CD). J.S. Bach's songs are clearly and beautifully articulated by Upshaw while in the backgound various wind and string instruments accompany her vocalizations. Many of Upshaw's vocalizations by Bach in German as well as the instrumentation (including viol consort) remind me of the arias from 'The Messiah' -- majestic albeit on a very human scale. For example, Aria #9 by Bach is comparable to "He shall lead his flock.." (although the latter was written for an alto voice).

The music in English by Purcell is a bit lighter. My favorite piece is 'An evening hymn' by Purcell which I would expect to hear near dusk in an English chapel. However, ANGELS HIDE THEIR FACES contains music you can play year round at any time of day.

Picky reviewers.......2001-05-31

I've got a degree in musicology ( and am fluent in German as well), and for a while after total immersion in graduate school, found my listening enjoyment frustrated by the same pickiness that hampers your reviewer. Fortunately, that passed, and I'm now able to simply appreciate Dawn Upshaw's performance of the music we hear all too seldom. I hope that others will be able to participate in Upshaw's interpretation of the poetry behind the music, to think about the theological role of angels (not just pretty faces and feathery wings), to love this wonderful recording. We are indeed blessed that technology allows us to experience such music, such an artist.

hark ! how well the lady sings.......2001-05-31

This is one of those little gems that becomes more appealing with each hearing. The Purcell pieces are sweet and lovely, but the Bach ! This Cantata is the glory of this CD. It's verses are of the deepest sorrow and repentance, woeful utterances for God's forgiveness, until the final aria, "How joyful is my heart since God is appeased". Dawn Upshaw's interpretation is beautiful. She captures the emotion, the longing, the spirituality and heart of the piece.

The musicians in the simple accompaniment are superb, and the entire package excellent...it was the cover art that first drew my attention to this CD...an unusual and moving painting by Hugo Simberg titled "Wounded Angel" from 1903. It also has the lovely added touch of being slip-cased, making it a perfect gift item for anyone who likes this type of music.

Music:

Music

music

Music

New York, New York [Extra tracks] [Live]

Revolucionario

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Swingtown

Reger: 3 Suites For Solo Cello, Op.131c

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Dedication