The Small Bang!

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
a continuation of ledenhed's brand of alternative-electronic psych-pop

Tracks:

Music For 18 Musicians

Tracks:

Different Trains
Tehillim
Eight Lines

Tracks:

(You Are) Variations
New York Counterpoint
Cello Counterpoint
Electric Counterpoint
Triple Quartet

Tracks:

Come Out
Proverb
The Desert Music

Tracks:

Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices, and Organ
Drumming

Album Description

Phases: A Nonesuch Retrospective is an essential CD companion to the extraordinary range of events in the United States and Europe on October 3rd, 2006 celebrating Steve Reich's 70th birthday.

Customer Reviews:

A Steve Reich 70th Birthday Present from Nonesuch.......2006-10-22

If you are a big Steve Reich fan, you probably already have most or all of these recordings. These are not rarities, PHASES is not for collectors -- this 5-disc box is aimed at those of us who have been curious, but not convinced enough to buy multiple Reich recordings. I, for instance, consider MUSIC FOR 18 MUSICIANS to be a masterpiece of late 20th century music (the original ECM recording), but I haven't been nearly as impressed by the other Reich music I've heard. I consider this box to be a gift, and now I have finally satisfied my curiosity about one of the most important and influential composers of our time.

Here we have, for less than the price of any two of these discs as previously marketed, the pioneering COME OUT (1966), a 1987 recording of the 1971 piece DRUMMING, a 1996 recording of the 1976 masterpiece MUSIC FOR 18 MUSICIANS by the Steve Reich Ensemble, the original recordings of DIFFERENT TRAINS (1988) and the TRIPLE QUARTET (1999/2000) with the Kronos Quartet, the original recordings of DESERT MUSIC (1984) and TEHILLIM (1993) for choir and orchestra, ELECTRONIC COUNTERPOINT (1987) with Pat Metheny, PROVERB from 1998, and the entire YOU ARE (VARIATIONS) album of 2005, and more.

I am not that impressed with the vocal compositions. Similarly, I don't think minimalism suits the string quartet format, though the TRIPLE QUARTET was better live when I heard the Kronos Quartet perform it at LSU in Baton Rouge in the spring of 2005. The concept of DIFFERENT TRAINS is powerful, the composition less so. COME OUT is a stunning work which ends, after the phase shifts separate, with a throbbing electronic rhythm track. DRUMMING is the next best thing to 18 MUSICIANS. I always assumed it was all drums, but as it turns out, it also includes marimbas, glockenspiels and vocals, which are added in turn to stunning effect.

You may know that Reich's music since the 1980s has been strongly shaped by his Jewish faith -- did you know he is an Orthodox Jew? Does it strike you as intriguing that such a radical, innovative composer is devoutly Orthodox? It certainly makes me even more interested in his music. (Thanks to David Schiff and his 11/6/06 article in The Nation for this insight.)

Happy Birthday, Steve, and shalom -- peace.

Budget priced overview of newer recordings.......2006-10-15

Reich suffers much the same problem as Riley (or even Cage and Stockhausen) where classic recordings remain unavailable and what can be found (easily) on the shelf are newer, 'tamer' recordings that fail to express the more challenging dimensions of the pieces. While much has been done to fix this problem with Riley, the best recordings of Reich remain unavailable.

This set collects the newer performances presented on Nonesuch (recordings dated from the late 80's to the present), and are not what many collectors are looking for. On the other hand, at ~$30 (the price of two CDs), this 5 disc set is nearly give-away and is difficult not to pick up based on this premise alone.

The set does contain a decent (though not terribly informative booklet), and the design of the set is functional and pleasent to look at. For those who want an idea of what Reich did and are willing to accept these rather mild recordings, this isn't a bad investment at all.

Here is what is included in the set (sort of unfortunate it isn't actually listed on the box):

Music for 18 Musicians (Recorded 1996)
Different Trains (1988)
Tehillium (1993)
Eight Lines (1996)
You Are (2005)
New York Counterpoint (1997)
Cello Counterpoint (2003)
Electric Counterpoint (1989)
Triple Quartet (1999/2000)
Come Out (1987)
Proverb (1998)
The Desert Machine (1985)
Music for mallet instruments, voices and organ (1990)
Drumming (1987)

The Hyperion Schubert Edition 9 / Arleen Augér, Graham Johnson

Average customer rating:

The Hyperion Schubert Edition 9 / Arleen Augér, Graham Johnson
Franz Schubert , Arleen Auger , Graham Johnson , and Edward Perry
Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Hyperion Schubert Edition 7 / Elly Ameling, Graham Johsnon
The Hyperion Schubert Edition 21 / Edith Mathis, Graham Johnson
The Hyperion Schubert Edition 15 / Margaret Price, Graham Johnson
The Hyperion Schubert Edition 11 / Brigitte Fassbaender, Graham Johnson
The Hyperion Schubert Edition 27 / Matthias Görne, Graham Johnson

ASIN: B000002ZF3
Release Date: 1993-09-01

Tracks:

Misero pargoletto, D42
Didone abbandonata, D510
Gott! hore meine Stimme, D190 No.5
Hin und wieder fliegen Pfeile, D239 No. 3
Liebe schwarmt auf allen Wegen, D239 No.6
Romanze: Ich schleiche bang und still, D787 No. 3
Romanze: Der Vollmond strahlt, D797 No. 3b
Blanka, D631
Daphne am Bach, D411
Lambertine, D301
Thekla, D595
Delphine, D857
Vier Canzonen, D688: I. Non t'accostar all'urna
Vier Canzonen, D688: II. Guarda, che biaca lune
III. Da quel sembiante appresi
IV. Mio ben recordati
La pastorella al prato, D528
Der Sanger am Felsen, D482
Der gute Hirt, D449
Lilla an die Morgenrote, D273
Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, D965

Amazon.com

This highly varied and interesting program includes four songs which Schubert set in their original Italian, along with one of his most famous and most popular vocal works, The Shepherd on the Rock, with its lovely piano and clarinet accompaniment. (Actually, it ought to be "cliff" and not "rock," which makes the title sound like a cocktail rather than a typical specimen of German Romantic poetry, but "rock" is the commonly accepted translation.) The late Arleen Augér sings this music with all of her customary ease and finesse, and Graham Johnson's accompaniments are just right. --David Hurwitz

When You Wish Upon A Star: A Salute To Walt Disney

Average customer rating:

Mixed Bag
Huh?????
Lush orchestral arrangements of Disney and Sherman favorites

When You Wish Upon A Star: A Salute To Walt Disney

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

Easy Listening | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000014BT
Release Date: 1994-02-15

Tracks:

Batman
What Kind Of A Fool Am I?
You've Got A Friend
Ja-Da
Sacrifice
We've Only Just Begun
We Are The World
Nature Boy
La Vie En Rose
All Or Nothing
Instant And Sweet
Escapade

Customer Reviews:

Mixed Bag.......2005-08-19

The concept sounded good, but the end result is a rather big letdown. I am a big fan of Richard Hayman (former arranger for the Boston Pops) and expected this CD to be something special, but it's hit or miss. The Mary Poppins medley is beautiful while, on the other hand, the Snow White medley is awful. Apparently these medleys are NOT arranged by Richard Hayman, a master at his craft. I couldn't help but feel that some of these lousy arrangements would be better suited for a high school marching band. With uneven playing and several really horrible renditions of Disney medleys, I cannot recommend this CD. Anyone want to buy a used CD real cheap?

Huh?????.......2004-10-22

I'd like to pint out that Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is not a Disney Film! Other wise it was pretty good.

Lush orchestral arrangements of Disney and Sherman favorites.......2003-04-26

Mr. Hayman was the arranger for the Boston Pops orchestra through the '60's, '70's, and '80's. Many of these arrangements are featured on the Boston Pops recording "Salute to Disney" with Arthur Fiedler. The arrangements are extensive medleys from several movies and shows. These are great arrangements and the orchestra is phenominal, making these wonderful songs perfect for singing along.

Average customer rating:

La Pastorella

Manufacturer: Preiser Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0006OS89A
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Average customer rating:

Sono sposa e sono amante

Manufacturer: Koch Schwann (Germ.)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Rosmonda D'Inghilterra: Vars Concertanti Op.26: Ah! No Human Mind
Faust: Kunigunde's Recitative And Aria: I Am Alone And The Approach Of Night
Die Verschworenen: Romance: Fearfully And Stealthily I Skulk About
Erwind Und Elmire: Aria: I Am Wife And Mistress
Libuse: Mladi's Aria: There In The Distance
Athalia: Recitative And Aria: You Weeped My Pain
The Little Slave: Aria: From Ganges' Beauteous Strands
La Clemenza Di Tito: I Go, But, My Dearest

Average customer rating:

i dream in ledenhed
can't go more than 24 hours without it

The Small Bang!
Ledenhed
Manufacturer: Ledenhed
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000632IF
Release Date: 2002-02-12

Tracks:

Same
Negative
Slipping Away
Infectious
Resurrection
Face the Sun
Open
Automatic
The Small Bang!
Deleted

Album Description

a continuation of ledenhed's brand of alternative-electronic psych-pop

Customer Reviews:

i dream in ledenhed.......2002-12-02

whenever i think i've listened enough and take the cd out of my player, i wake up with ledenhed songs buzzing in my brain. and when i ask myself, "why that lyric?", by the end of the day, its secret meaning is revealed and i am content in the knowledge that ledenhed has mystical insight into my life.

"the small bang!" is a great cd. it's the followup to ledenhed's first cd, "central nervous system" (another remarkablly wise and reflective collection of songs contemplating life). while remnants of the dark side are still evident in this second cd, it offers radiant bursts of light, as in "open", a dulcet lullaby for adult children of pessimists. "open" would be my favourite track if it weren't for its spiritual opposite, "face the sun", which both haunts and obsesses me.

can't go more than 24 hours without it.......2002-07-26

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this album rocks. this album groo-ha-hooves. this album thinks.

this dude is hot. this dude is real. his music rawks. he's clearly a musician.

a friend put me onto it who saw him live and "i couldn't believe he was real." you can get in on the ground floor, 'cause i don't even hear him on the radio yet. listen to the free samples, and you'll see what I mean. by no means do these supplant "deleted" or "the small bang" as hot tracks, though. too bad you can't hear "automatic", through which I cannot stay sitting--nor can I keep my head from doin' the beavis and b-head thing. raw. sweet.

the music is electronic, the guy has a voice and an amazing repertoire and range. you can go along for the guitar/rock sounds, or the trippy electronic sound, or the vocals and lyrics--it's a great ride, infectious. i can mix it in the player with moby or no doubt, erasure, pet shop boys, grandmaster flash--these are just those impulses i can recall. i know nothing about music, but i have diverse tastes and this is like poppy, hip, edgy, rocky, and a solid album--not sure what the single is, but it would be hard to choose. the title track is my current fave. it's clever music.