Picture Me Often

Editorial Reviews
Contra Costa Times, January 17, 2002
The music uses gentle synthesizers, guitars and percussion to create soft inspirational music. Shepard's delicate voice rounds it out.

About the Artist
Mary Shepard earned a degree in music, and now lives and works in the San Francisco Bay area. She and her family produced this CD as a tribute and gift to all families who have lost a beloved one.

Album Description
Twenty years after losing her brother in the Air Florida crash in Washington, D.C. singer/songwriter Mary Shepard found two poems written by her Mother which outlined her sense of loss and grief. Put to music that includes gentle synthesizers and Shepard's delicate soprano voice, the songs offer a different perspective on tragedy-that of a Mother's experience of loss, love, and hope. A powerful and haunting melody in "Winter Storm" gives way to lightness and hope in "Picure Me Often."

Picture Me Often

Magdalena Kozená - Love Songs (Dvorak, Janacek, Martinu)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • On the Subject of Intelligent and Sensitive Recitals
  • Lovely
  • A Beautiful Disc
  • A stunning burst onto the world stage
  • Wonderful songs, and a singer with great potential
 Magdalena Kozená - Love Songs (Dvorak, Janacek, Martinu)
Antonin Dvorak , Bohuslav Martinu , Leos Janacek , Magdalena Kozená , and Graham Johnson
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Dvorák, Antonín | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Janácek, LeosJanácek, Leos | ( J ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by MartinuAll Works by Martinu | Martinu, Bohuslav | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Folk | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Folk SongsFolk Songs | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Deutsche Grammophon: MusicDeutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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  3. Lamento
  4. Russian Album
  5. French Arias

ASIN: B00004SDO1
Release Date: 2000-08-08

Tracks:

  1. Love Songs: Oh, Our Love Does Not Bloom
  2. Love Songs: Death Dwells In So Many A Heart
  3. Love Songs: Now I Stumble Past The House
  4. Love Songs: I Know That In Sweet Hope
  5. Love Songs: Gentle Slumber Reigns Over The Countryside
  6. Love Songs: Here In The Forest By A Brook
  7. Love Songs: In The Sweet Power Of Your Eyes
  8. Love Songs: Oh, Dear Matchless Soul
  9. New Miniatures: The Rich Sweetheart
  10. New Miniatures: The Forsaken Lover
  11. New Miniatures: Lounging
  12. New Miniatures: The Inquisitive Girl
  13. New Miniatures: The Cheerful Girl
  14. New Miniatures: The Unhappy Lover
  15. New Miniatures: The Request
  16. New Miniatures: The Tall Tower
  17. Songs For A Friend Of My Country: Ponies On The Fallow Land
  18. Songs For A Friend Of My Country: The Lost Little Slipper
  19. Songs For A Friend Of My Country: A Religious Song
  20. Songs For A Friend Of My Country: An Invitation
  21. Four Songs: You Heartfelt Songs
  22. Four Songs: Oh, That Was A Beautiful, Golden Dream
  23. Four Songs: In Pain, My Heart Often Broods
  24. Four Songs: Silence On The Mountains
  25. Lullaby
  26. Songs For One Page: Dew
  27. Songs For One Page: Unlocking With A Single Word
  28. Songs For One Page: Journey To The Beloved
  29. Songs For One Page: The Footpath
  30. Songs For One Page: At Mother's
  31. Songs For One Page: The Virgin Mary's Dream
  32. Songs For One Page: Rosemary
  33. New Slovak Songs: So Tell Me
  34. New Slovak Songs: I Had A Blouse
  35. Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: Who Is The Posy For?
  36. Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: A Lover's Picture
  37. Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: Little Posy
  38. Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: Constancy
  39. Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: Love
  40. Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: Parting
  41. Moravian Folk Poetry In Songs: My Lover's Horses
  42. Good Night, My Darling

Amazon.com

The composers Antonín Dvorák, Leos Janácek, and Bohuslav Martinu might not be the names that first spring to mind when love songs are mentioned, yet this fascinating collection gives us a taste of what delights we have been missing. They range from seven Moravian folk songs, collected by Janácek at the turn of the century, to songs written by Martinu in the U.S. in 1942. There's also early Martinu--including songs he collected in Slovakia in 1920--plus the world-premiere recording of Songs for a Friend of My Country, a cycle he wrote in France in 1940 on his way to America. All of these songs are of interest in giving us another aspect of each composer's work; most have much more to offer. Many are achingly lovely, especially those by Dvorák--including his Op. 2, a reworking of four songs from a cycle he had written almost 20 years earlier, and Love Songs, a revision of eight songs from the same cycle. "Good night, my darling," from his 1886 cycle In Folk Tone, is worth the price of this CD alone. Czech mezzo Magdalena Kozená, who put together the program, sings with pure, attractive tone. Graham Johnson is her excellent accompanist. --Richard Fawkes

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars On the Subject of Intelligent and Sensitive Recitals.......2005-05-19

Combing the recorded literature to find CDs that showcase singers who not only own brilliant vocal gifts but who also possess the intelligence to program recordings of lesser known works in a sequence that makes for intelligent recitals, it is becoming more obvious that there are many singers who opt for purity of purpose rather than 'salesmanship' of careers in the PR arena. Magdalena Kozená is one of these gifted singers whose intelligence and sensitivity match her physical and vocal beauty.

LOVE SONGS is a tastefully selected panorama of lesser-known songs by Kozená's fellow countrymen (Czech) Antonín Dvorák, Leos Janácek, and Bohuslav Martinu. And while many of the Dvorák and Janácek songs have been occasionally heard in recitals, the Martinu "Songs for a Friend of My Country", an exquisitely beautiful work written in 1940, here receives its World Premiere recording. Kozená's voice is in prime condition for these songs and she is ably accompanied by pianist Graham Johnson. The special flavor of these Slavic emotions and songs has rarely been so well captured.

But over and above the beauty of Kozená's performance of these neglected masterpieces shines the glow of her sensitive programming. Recordings such as these are rare and should be included in the libraries of those who appreciate the lieder genre. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, May 05

5 out of 5 stars Lovely.......2004-03-25

This is a beautifully performed selection of Czech lieder. Kozena has a lovely voice and sings with precision and nicely modulated emotion. The accompanying pianist, Graham Johnston, is excellent. Despite the title, not all these songs are love or romantic songs but all are well worth hearing. The selection of songs is excellent. Different listeners will prefer different songs. For me, the highlight of this recording are the rarely heard Martinu songs, many of which exhibit the lyrical aspect of his compositional style. Recommended strongly.

5 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Disc.......2002-01-06

This is simply a magnificent recording. I like it better every time I put it on. The voice is fresh, supple, and expressive. I even find myself trying to learn some of the Czech words (from the translation in the booklet) they sound so nice. Both Kozena and the brilliant piano contributions by Graham Johnson are faithfully caught on the recording. There is enough variety and contrast that one doesn't tire in the least (over the generous 67 minutes of playing time) of hearing these playful, sometimes poignant, songs. One of the best discs, in terms of programming, performance, and sound quality, of the past couple of years.

5 out of 5 stars A stunning burst onto the world stage.......2001-12-17

Magdalena Kozena is suddenly known around the world, thanks to this stunning disc of 42 lieder from her Czech homeland. Most of the songs are short - some come in under a minute, the longest 3-4 minutes. Each is a little gem and many have never been recorded before.

Kozena's voice is sheer delight. She does have resonances in her voice which are reminiscent of her compatriot, Lucia Popp, but is certainly a mezzo - although she has chosen her repertoire well so we hear no strain at the top. Her low resonances are delightful and consistent with her head voice. To compare Kozena's voice to that of the late diva (Popp), it is more pure, more consistent in tone from top to bottom, and doesn't have so much of the `squeezey' quality which Popp used to great effect in evincing the passion of her characters. Kozena can empty her voice of vibrato or let it out rich and full, and uses all her vocal resources to great effect in contrasting the individual songs. She has astoundingly mature lieder-singer's technique for such a young singer.

This recording rightly won a Gramophone award this year. Kozena deserves all the accolades she receives for this - doubtless all listeners will develop their own favourites from these delightful miniatures.

4 out of 5 stars Wonderful songs, and a singer with great potential.......2000-10-08

What a wonderful, carefully thought out CD! Kozena obviously revels in these rarely performed songs by Dvorak, Martinu, and Janacek, and Johnson accompanies with his usual ease and sensitivity. What a pity the piano is balanced distantly -- we hear little of Johnson's variety of touch and dynamics. As for Kozena, she is obviously an intelligent musician with a voice of great potential. It is qutie beautiful as it is, yet the colour is still rather pale. Yes, there is something of the late Lucia Popp's timbre, yet it has little of Popp's depth and range of colour. BBC Legends released a CD of Popp a year ago which includes three Dvorak songs also sung by Kozena. The differences are quite marked -- while Kozena's timbre and interpretation suggests a dreamy yet earnest youth, Popp brings out an autumnal glow and a sharp pain that pierces at least this listener's heart. Kozena has started a wonderful career. Only time will tell how her voice will develop. I do hope it goes in the direction of Popp's unique lyric timbre. No one could ever equal Popp (perhaps it's obvious by now that Popp is my favorite singer of all time), but perhaps Kozena will become something of Popp's heir, while still being her own person. I hope so. But her musicality is not in question. Let's keep our ears open!
Picture Me Often
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Picture Me Often

    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Folk | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    ASIN: B000062TUG
    Release Date: 2002-01-02

    Tracks:

    1. Winter Storm
    2. Picture Me Often

    Album Description

    Twenty years after losing her brother in the Air Florida crash in Washington, D.C. singer/songwriter Mary Shepard found two poems written by her Mother which outlined her sense of loss and grief. Put to music that includes gentle synthesizers and Shepard's delicate soprano voice, the songs offer a different perspective on tragedy-that of a Mother's experience of loss, love, and hope. A powerful and haunting melody in "Winter Storm" gives way to lightness and hope in "Picure Me Often."

    Music:

    1. Praise Pleases Him
    2. Prodigal
    3. Protection [Import]
    4. Sapphic Delight [Explicit Lyrics]
    5. Seed
    6. Selector Dub Narcotics
    7. She Said, Pt. 1 [CD-single] [Import]
    8. She Said, Vol. 2 [CD-single] [Import]
    9. Shine Like the Stars [Import]
    10. Social Dancing [Import]

    Music

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    Johnny Damas & Me

    Martin: Études No1-5; Passacaglia

    Piices for Violin and Piano

    Power of Christ

    Sylvia the Eagle [EP]

    So Far So Good

    Some of My Best Friends Are...Singers

    Mass in a Flat

    Pentangle (First Album)

    Outer Space Employement Agency [Live]

    Pink Flag/Chairs Missing/154 [Box set] [Import]

    Muggsy Special

    Los Romanticas de los Pasteles Verdes

    Pavarotti in Central Park

    The Music of Ornette Coleman: Forms and Sounds