American Piano Vol. 1

On this CD:

1. Streetcar Named Desire, film score
Composed by Alex North
Performed by Alan Mandel

2. Sonata for piano "Souvenir de Venise"
Composed by Vernon Duke
Performed by Alan Mandel

3. Prelude & Toccata
Composed by Morton Gould
Performed by Alan Mandel

4. Sunday in Brooklyn, for piano
Composed by Elie Siegmeister
Performed by Alan Mandel

Tracks:

Sarabande [From Barry Lyndon]
Main Theme [From Midnight Cowboy]
Promenade Sentimentale [From Dive] - Mark Ayres
May It Be [From the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the]
Women of Ireland [From Barry Lyndon]
Adagio for Strings & Organ [From Gallipoli [
Romeo/Love Theme [From Romeo & Juliet)
Balcony Scene [From Romeo + Juliet]
Main Theme [From Chariots of Fire] - Mark Ayres
Main Theme [From Bilitis] - Mark Ayres
Main Theme [From Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence] - Mark Ayres
Main Theme [From Cinema Paradiso]
Main Theme [From Once Upon A Time in the West]
Deborah's Theme [From Once Upon A Time in America]
Suite: The Mission/Gabriel's Oboe/On Earth as It Is in Heaven ... - City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Crouch End Festival Chorus

Tracks:

Suite: Mountains and Sunsets/The Wedding/You Only Live Twice [From You
Heart Asks Pleasure First [From The Piano]
Agnus Dei [From Platoon] - Crouch End Festival Chorus
Vide Cor Meum [From Hannibal]
Adagietto from Symphony No. 5 [From DeAth in Venice]
Any Other Name/Dead Already [from American Beauty] - Rick Clark,
Into the West [From the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King]
Where Dreams Are Made [From Artificial Intelligence]
Main Theme [From Somewhere in Time]
We Have All the Time in the World [From on Her Majesty's Secret ...]
Electronic Battlefield [From Patriot Games]
Now We Are Free [From Gladiator]
Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana [From Raging Bull]
Cavatina [From the DeErhunter]
Main Theme [From Out of Africa]

Customer Reviews:

"cinema's main stay themes prevail ~ City of Prague".......2004-08-15

What a crowning achievement to bring "Reel Chill:Cinematic Chillout Album", released by Silva America and featuring The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and the Crouch End Festival Chorus ~ conductors are Mark Ayres, Paul Bateman, Rick Clark, James Fitzpatrick, Nic Raine and David Temple director of the chorus ~ one can only expect the highest quality of performances and quench the thirst of all "film-score-buffs".

Sit back and unleash the first disc with composers ~ Albinoni, Craig Armstrong, John Barry, Vladimir Cosma, Enya & Nicky Ryan, Handel, Francis Lai, Ennio Morricone, Sean O'Riorda, Nino Rota, Ryvichi Sakamoto and Vangelis ~ taking each film score cue "BILITIS", "CHARIOTS OF FIRE", "CINEMA PARADISO", "DIVA", "GALLIPOLI", "THE LORD OF THE RINGS:THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING", "BARRY LYNDON", "MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. LAWRENCE", "MIDNIGHT COWBOY", "THE MISSION", "ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA", "ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST", "ROMEO & JULIET" and "ROMEO + JULIET", with arrangements that soar and then simmer into pure meditation of grandeur ~ classic film music prevails, as orchestration comes to the surface with pure originality ~ one masterpiece after another is long last presented as it should have been, is cause for celebration ~ each cue is a distinctive gift for striking modernism, touching on the transition of the period in this planets history.

Second disc is waiting in the wings are composers ~ Samuel Barber, John Barry, Patrick Cassidy, James Horner, Mahler, Mascagni, Stanley Myers, Thomas Newman, Michael Nyman, Howard Shore, John Williams and Hans Zimmer/Lisa Gerrard ~ take a musical ride with "AMERICAN BEAUTY", "A.I. ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE", "DEATH IN VENICE", "DEER HUNTER", "GLADIATOR", "HANNIBAL", "THE LORD OF THE RINGS:RETURN OF THE KING", "ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE", "OUT OF AFRICA", "PATRIOT GAMES", "THE PIANO", "PLATOON", "RAGING BULL", "SOMEWHERE IN TIME" and "YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE" ~ our composers with passion and skill for exploring human emotions, coupled with a unique gift for striking exotic orchestral colors, make this with all it's splendor unforgettable ~ themes that ring with familiarity as each film comes to mind through music.

Silva America gives the collector a treasure of thirty film cues that any "film-score-buff" would die for ~ in the past James Fitzpatrick (producer), Reynold da Silva (executive producer), mastered by Rick Clark and David Stoner (release co-ordinator) have given us compilation with such expertise and this one is no exception ~ keep up the outstanding limited editions and deluxe package releases, with your signature tidbits for all film music fans that's in all of us...gotta love it!

Total Time: 2-CD-Set ~ Silva America 1161 ~ (8/10/2004)

Average customer rating:

Where's the dance?
Where is the dance?
A luxury in pianism and contemporary composition
A work of art

Ginastera: The Piano Music, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: M.a. Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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Ginastera: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2
Bartok: Complete Solo Piano Music

ASIN: B00000G4UP
Release Date: 1999-01-19

Tracks:

Danzas Argentinas: 1) Danza Del Viejo Boyero
Danzas Argentinas: 2) Danza De La Moza Donosa
Danzas Argentinas: 3) Danza Del Gaucho Matrero
Tres Piezas Para Chicos: 1) Anton Pirulero
Tres Piezas Para Chicos: 2) Chacarerita
Tres Piezas Para Chicos: 3) Arroz Con Leche
Milonga
Malembo Op.7
Tres Piezas, Op.6: 1) Cuyana
Tres Piezas, Op.6: 2) Nortena
Tres Piezas, Op.6: 3) Criolla
Doce Prlds Americanos Op.12: 1) Acentos
Doce Prlds Americanos Op.12: 2) Triste
Doce Prlds Americanos Op.12: 3) Danza Criolla
Doce Prlds Americanos Op.12: 4) Vidala
Doce Prlds Americanos Op.12: 5) En El Primer Modo Pentatonico Menor
Doce Prlds Americanos Op.12: 6) Homenaje A Roberto Garcia Morillo
Doce Prlds Americanos Op.12: 7) Octavas
Doce Prlds Americanos Op.12: 8) Homenage A Juan Jose Castro
Doce Prlds Americanos Op.12: 9) Homenage A Aaron Copland
Doce Prlds Americanos Op.12: 10) Pastoral
Doce Prlds Americanos Op.12: 11) Homenage A Hector Villa-Lobos
Doce Prlds Americanos Op.12: 12) En El Primer Modo Pentatonico Major
Rondo Sobre Temas Infantiles Argentinos, Op.19

Customer Reviews:

Where's the dance?.......2002-11-29

The CD is well recorded, and the performances are passionate and sincere. However, the driving and wild character of Ginastera's fast Gaucho dances are often lost by the use of excessive rubato and pedal, as in Malambo or Creole Dance. Some of the tempos are arbitrary - for instance in the Twelve American Preludes, where Ginastera goes into extra troubles when he writes metronome markings and the total duration in minutes and seconds of each Prelude.

The most enjoyable interpretations of this CD are the slower, more expressive movements, such as the Danza de la Moza Donosa (from Three Argentine Dances), performed with romantic warmth, and Cuyana, the first movement of the rarely performed Tres Piezas.

Where is the dance?.......2002-11-29

A luxury in pianism and contemporary composition.......2002-01-27

Eduardo Delgado, who we were so lucky to hear and see on the concert platforms of Buenos Aires last November, brings out the best of Ginastera's early works. Only a fine pianist and an Argentine by birth, could bring this marvellous music to life with such deep understanding of the Argentine soul and folk nostalgia which characterize the airs of our Pampas. "Gracias, Eduardito, por un disco digno de premios para nuestra Argentina tan vapuleada."['Thanks, Eduardo, for a recording worthy of prizes for our badly battered Argentina']. I wish more pianists would undertake the task of looking into Argentina's cultural background. Ginastera was a major composer worldwide and his works should be performed on the concert platform far more often than is usual. There are many more very important composers and pianists who could help us by taking our heritage out to the world as these two ambassadors so worthly do.

A work of art.......2001-06-26

Argentian pianist Eduardo Delgado lends a passionate yet intelligent voice to these early works for solo piano by Ginastera. He is both fiery and lyrically tender when the music calls for it, with a superb grasp of the complex and interwoven rhythmic intricacies, which is a must for this music.

For those unfamiliar with MA Recordings, their CDs are truly works of art, with heavy cardboard packaging and beautifully recorded sound. With minimalist miking techniques and attention to detail, engineer/founder Todd Garfinkle coaxes some of the most realistic piano sound I've ever heard from the CD format.

Tracks:

Huapango
Sensemaya
Estrellita
Vals Poetico
El Trenecito (Bachiana Brasileira No. 2)
Malambo
Sobre Las Olas (On The Waves)
Festive Overture
Sarabande For Strings
Sones De Mariachi

Customer Reviews:

Latin-American maestros at their very best.......1999-09-09

This recording brings the music of great composers from Mexico,Brazil,and Argentina.The Huapango by Moncayo is played beautiful and a well performed solo for trumpet and trombone.Sensemaya is played with virtuosity."Estrllita" is the best known of all Mexican song here arrenged for strings is very charming.The "Trezinho do Caipira" by Villa-Lobos is performed here to great effect by the orchestra and its percussion section.The Obertura Festiva by Halfter is performed with grace.Galindo's "Sones Macriachi" is also a piece where a mariachi gorup is immitated also to great effect by the orchestra and I think that Mr.Galindo captured the spirit of Mexico very well here.Its a great recording.Thank you Naxos... Well done Mr. Batiz

Exquisite Performance.......1999-08-03

Batiz does a magnificent job, especially with respect to Huapango. The orchestra is full and vibrant. As a brass player (trumpet), I listen especially close to this section of the orchestra. I must say that the brass met my expectations: they have great volume and lose neither control nor focus on fortissimo passages. All instruments with solo parts do an excellent job of finding a balance between projecting their sound and maintaining musicality. The trumpets in particular possess that "sizzling" or vibrating quality which characterizes the better players.

beautiful mexican music.......1999-04-03

great music interpreted by a great director, maestro Batiz

Average customer rating:

Must Have
Exquisite.
Underrated Pianist Delivers Masterfully.
A creative jazz set, fianlly Connick is stretching out...
Harry can do no wrong

Other Hours: Connick on Piano, Vol. 1
Harry Connick Jr.
Manufacturer: Marsalis Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

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Occasion: Connick on Piano, Vol. 2
Chanson du Vieux Carre
Oh, My Nola
Only You
20

ASIN: B00009RDEM
Release Date: 2003-07-15

Tracks:

What A Waste
Such Love
Take Advantage
How About Tonight
Sovereign Lover
My Little World
Oh, My Dear (Something's Gone Wrong)
Can't We Tell
Dumb Luck
Oh! Ain't That Sweet
The Other Hours
Your Own Private Love

Amazon.com

With a career that's cast him as New Orleans jazz revivalist, crooner, Actor, and Broadway composer it's enough to make one ask: Who's the real Harry Connick, Jr.? Indeed, this warm foray into neo-bop, small ensemble instrumental jazz may only complicate the question. If nothing else, its genesis alone is compelling tribute to Connick's restless creativity and seeming resistance to pigeon-holing. All the songs here were written for (though not all used in) Thou Shalt Not, the musician's ambitious 2001 Broadway adaptation of Emile Zola's Therese Raquin that scored him a Tony nomination, if not stellar box office success. This low-key recasting only underscores the material's utilitarian strengths and gives Connick a chance to display chops as polished as they are playfully reverent to their inspirations. "Dumb Luck," "My Little World," and "What a Waste" recall the angular adventures of Monk, while the lyricism of Ned Goold's sax on "Can't We Tell" and "How About Tonight" points toward the best of Brubeck/Desmond. Melancholy and low-key as it may be, it's an album that gently underscores the jazz piano stylist corner of his resume. And if this is the fruit of Connick's Broadway failure, we can only hope he stumbles so gracefully in the future. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Must Have.......2007-06-30

This is a great addition to your jazz collection. Don't hesitate any further, you will be glad you did...

Exquisite........2007-05-03

My recent purchase of Harry's 'Chanson du Vieux Carre' and its painfully talented performances reminded me that I better make sure I didn't miss any other discs from Mr. Connick. After reading the reviews here, I picked up 'Other Hours' right away. (I already knew that Mrmaxxx, reviewer below, doesn't know what he is talking about.) Wow. I had overlooked a genius album.

The album art, a piece by Harry Connick Jr.'s mother, Anita, accurately depicts the overall feel of the album. It is a feeling of slight tragedy/melancholy but with some confidence and hope.

The music is dry. There is little flash here. But I do believe this is Harry's finest songwriting effort to date. That is not to say that performances are uninspired. The music successfully demonstrates both chops (oh yes) and a musical story. It's a feel piece, for sure. And it swings hard for a quartet.

Lofty's Roach Souffle, a Connick Trio album from the '90's has a much more lighthearted feeling. Be aware that Other Hours is much more in the vein of West Coast Cool.

You will get your money's worth out of this one. I've heard it a half dozen times and am still hearing it like it's new. Pop it in, kick back, sip whatever you enjoy sippin', and relish it.

Underrated Pianist Delivers Masterfully........2007-03-08

When one thinks of Harry Connick Jr. one thinks of his wonderful voice and charisma. What people don't realize is that he is also an accomplished and underrated pianist. In this album, Connick and his quartet deliver soothing tracks that simply remind you of the great quartets and quintets of yesteryear (i.e. Miles Davis and company). If one would listen to this album blindly, most mainstream fans wouldn't know that it was Connick tickling the ivory. But yet again, Connick proves that his talents extend far beyond his singing voice.

Kudos!!

A creative jazz set, fianlly Connick is stretching out..........2003-11-23

This is not a Connick vocal album, this is a straight ahead jazz session, where connick finally cuts loose and shows the jazz world what he is capable of(he hasn't showed this much promise as a jazzman since 1997's To see You). Connick no longer sounds just like a Thelonious monk. Connick stretches out on these originals, it would have been mice for him to include astandard or two but this cd wil lshow there is more to Connick as a jazz improvisor than one might think. I hope he'll do another big band vocal album next m but with standards(like Come By Me).

Harry can do no wrong.......2003-11-14

I've followed Harry for years and have always enjoyed his albums because each one has a slightly different sound from the rest. This latest CD is light, has gentle compositions, and is also swingin' fun. It puts me in the mood for dancing under the stars or curling up by the fire. I think it's about time Harry did a CD like this.

Average customer rating:

Great Classical Spectrum

Classic Chillout, Vol. 2
Various Artists
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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Classical Chillout
Euphoric Classics: A Classical High
Jazz Chillout
Reel Chill: The Cinematic Chillout Album
Classic Chillout Album

ASIN: B00005Y49H
Release Date: 2004-03-09

Tracks:

Any Other Name - Nikolaj Bloch
Vision - Richard Souther
Song Of Tears - London Philharmonic Orchestra
Largo - Reginald Kilbey And His Strings
Hedwig's Theme - Nic Raine
Sheep May Safely Graze - Sir Neville Marriner
II. Adagio Un Poco Mosso - Philharmonia Orchestra
Cavatina - Manuel Barrueco
Eddie - Michael Nyman
Espiritu - Thomas Otten
Cinema Paradiso Love Theme - Ennio Morricone & His Orchestra
Pavane - New Philharmonia Orchestra
Pie Jesu - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
Goldberg Variations - Maria Tipo
Agnus Dei - David Hill
II. Adagio Sostenuto - Dame Moura Lympany
Canzonetta Sull'Aria - Gianna Rolandi

Tracks:

Time To Say Goodbye - Orchestra
Aquarium - Katia & Marielle Labeque
Barcarolle (Les Contes D'Hoffman) - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Jean De Florette Theme - Toots Thielemans
La Valse D'Amelie - Yann Tiersen
Love In Slow Motion - The Planets
Heart Of The Volunteer - David Temple
II. Adagio - Ton Koopman
Nimrod ('Enigma' Variations) - London Symphony Orchestra
Going Home (Largo) - Izzy
Sarabande - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Facades - John Harle
Panis Angelicus - Halle Choir
Teleplene And Rubber Band - Simon Jeffes
Agnus Dei - National Youth Choir Of Great Britain
II. Romance - Garrick Ohlsson
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
II: Andantino - James Galway
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini - Cecile Ousset
An Ending - Brian Eno

Album Details

Instrumental Chill Out of the Classical Variety, Not of the Dancefloor. Chill Baby!

Customer Reviews:

Great Classical Spectrum .......2005-03-21

These cd's are a great set of varied classical music. Pavane is my favorite. Additionally, Classical Chillout 2 offers theme music from Harry Potter and it is very well done.

Average customer rating:

The Complete Caruso

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Ladino | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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Rachmaninov: His Complete Recordings
The Complete Recordings, 1902-1920 (Box Set)
Sibelius: The 7 Symphonies; Finlandia; Kullervo; etc.
Wagner - Lohengrin
Beethoven - Fidelio

ASIN: B0001TSWQO
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Average customer rating:

Romancing Romance

Songs of Romance, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Ranwood Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

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

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Songs of Romance, Vol. 2
Romance of the Panflute
Return to Romance
Zamfir: The Lonely Shepherd
Pipe Dreams

ASIN: B000000BBS
Release Date: 1997-02-18

Tracks:

Schubert's Serenade
El Condor Pasa
The Wind Beneath My Wings
Clair de Lune
Spanish Eyes
La Mer
Serenade From 'The Student Prince'
La Paloma
On Wings Of Song
Musetta's Waltz
You Light Up My Life

Customer Reviews:

Romancing Romance.......2005-02-26

I have been in love with Zamfir's music since 1982 or so, when I listened in a radio station his fabulous renderng of the --''Theme From Limelight''. I called the radio station, gor the artist's name and album title and went out to a record store and bought it.

I listened to this album's samples and ALL of the songs are just beautifil. I highly recommende it to alll those who really love soft and romantic music, and I am buyinbg this album too!...

Henry Cowell: Instrumental, Chamber and Vocal Music, Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

An overview of Cowell's various compositional styles - but not always his most innovative and interesting music
About Time

Henry Cowell: Instrumental, Chamber and Vocal Music, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Naxos American
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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Henry Cowell: Instrumental, Chamber and Vocal Music, Vol. 2
Nancarrow: Pieces Nos. 1 & 2; ¿Tango?; String Quartet No. 1
Charles Ives: Three Quarter-Tone Pieces; Five Take-offs; Hallowe'en; Sunrise
Henry Cowell: Persian Set
Henry Cowell: Works for Orchestra

ASIN: B00076SHHA
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Tracks:

Deep Color
The Fairy Answer
Fabric
Tiger
Con Moto-Allegro
Lento
Allegro Moderato
Molto Vivace
'A Sharp Where You'd Expect A Natural'
'Hark! From The Pit A Fearsome Sound'
'Who Wrote This Fiendish 'Rite Of Spring'?'
Largo
Allegretto
Andante Tranquillo
Allegro Marcato
Andante Calmato
Presto
Polyphonica, For Small Orchestra
The Banshee
The Leprechaun
The Fairy Bells

Customer Reviews:

An overview of Cowell's various compositional styles - but not always his most innovative and interesting music.......2007-03-25

This disc - a Naxos re-release of a recording made in 1990 and first published by Musical Heritage Society - provides a good overview of Cowell's various compositional styles - but not always his most innovative and interesting music.

The sunny Quartet for Flute, Oboe, Cello and Harpsichord (1954) would make a fine companion piece to Manuel de Fallas's Concerto for Harpsichord. Its neo-classical style (including a Bach-derived melody erupting at 1:40 in the 1st movement and a kind of medieval court dance at 0:50 in the finale) and somewhat rarefied textures are close to Falla's, but without the Spaniard's unique compositional voice. It is the kind of music that Poulenc, Milhaud, Sauguet or Françaix at their lightest could have written. "Polyphonica" (1930) is a short (3:45) study in dissonant counterpoint, again sounding quite neo-classical in its perky sonorities and rhythmic sprightliness.

The 6-movement Suite for Violin and Piano from 1925 again is modeled after the baroque suite. While the piano part (especially in the 1st and 5th movements) has some of the traits so characteristic of Cowell's compositions for the instrument, like deep sounding tone clusters, the violin melodies are mostly Bach-derived, making it all sound like the kind of Bach transcription so much in favor in the fifties. The suite's concept reminds me of George Antheil's 2nd violin and piano sonata (see my review of George Antheil: Violin Sonatas 1, 2 & 4), in which the violin part is supposed to represent the trite music of past and present and the piano, the pounding, dissonant music of the future - but Antheil's composition is much more original, provocative and fun than Cowell's. In the same style, Stravinsky's Suite Italienne (an arrangement of his Ballet Pulcinella after music attributed - at the time of the composition - to Pergolesi) is also a more endearing composition. Violinist Mia Wu's pitch is not always perfect and her tone verges on the sour.

The three "Anti-Modernist" (e.g. anti modern music) Newspaper poems that Cowell set to music in 1938 are hilarious - and there is obviously a personal message in their selection by the composer: the first, written in 1884, castigates the "clang, clash, clatter, clatter, clang and clash" of... Wagner's music, the second, from 1909, denounces the "Symphonic cyclones", the unchained "dogs of war", "the wild sarrusophones", the heckelphone suggesting "the crack of doom", the earthquake-producing "tonitruone" in... Richard Strauss' operas, and the last, in 1924, berates the "crash, clash, cling, clang, bing, bang, bing" - "what right had he to write the thing?" - of... Stravinsky's "fiendish" Rite of Spring! So Cowell makes it clear that new and innovative music like his own is always first decried and accused of being mere noise, before gaining universal acceptance (which sadly is not yet really the case with his). That said, the three songs are somewhat disappointing, in that they are couched in a musical idiom that is far removed from Cowell's customary "crashes, clashes and bangs", but quite traditional, full of grand Romantic gestures. Mezzo Ellen Lang acquits herself serviceably but with a voice of no particular bloom.

Ultimately, the most interesting pieces on this disc are those in which Cowell the experimenter and innovator is more in evidence: the four piano pieces (but the 1963 composer-performed selection of 19 of them on a Smithsonian/Folkways CD of Piano Music is a better choice for this essential part of Cowell's output, despite the disc's sonic insufficiencies) and the Irish Suite for "String piano" (as Cowell called it) and Small Orchestra - actually an arrangement in form of a concerto of three of the solo string piano pieces, and a fascinating etude in mysterious sonorities.

About Time.......2006-01-09

It is indeed about time that we get recordings of this American Master's work. His centennial passed in 1997 with all too little fanfare and many of his works unavailable to the listening public.
But leave it to the wonderful folks at NAXOS to bring such essential music from unjust obscurity and make it available at such friendly prices.
The venerable new music ensemble "Continuum" has recorded much obscure, difficult (at least to perform) and essential American music. Past recordings have included the works of Ives, Babbitt, Kirchner, Seeger, Wolpe, etc. And NAXOS is planning to re-release their recording of music by the expatriate genius Conlon Nancarrow as well.
This disc and its companion volume 2 (both apparently re-releases)contain great performances of this listenable repertoire by a composer whose work inspired the likes of John Cage, Lou Harrison, Aaron Copland, Roger Sessions and a host of significant composers. His experimental work gave rise to new musical techniques he later outlined in his seminal book "New Musical Resources".
These chamber works come from a range of times in Cowell's career and are representative of his talents in the chamber and solo repertoire.
Joel Sachs and Cheryl Seltzer along with their colleagues have given us great musicianship and fine recordings. Anyone interested in American classical music of the early and mid-twentieth century will not be disappointed. These discs belong in your collection.

Average customer rating:

Wonderful
Pure joy
Copland's vocal work

A Copland Celebration Vol. 3

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

ASIN: B000050HWV
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tracks:

Serenata
Estrellita
Elegie
Weisst Du Es Noch?
The Old Refrain
When Night Desends, Op.4, No.3
Barcarolle
Ideale
Danny Boy
Ombra Mai Fu
Serenade
Berceuse
None But The Lonely Heart, Op.6 No.6
Morgen, Op.27, No.4
Oh, Cease Thy Singing, Maiden Fair

Customer Reviews:

Two greats: both have seen better days.......2007-04-16

Putting two great musicians of the stature of Domingo and Perlman together must have sounded like a fine idea-- no doubt joining these musical giants should produce musical fireworks. Unfortunately the final product offered on this disc is rather drab. The recording lacks focus and is generally musically hollow.

No doubt both Domingo and Perlman offer the listener flashes of how great they both are, but neither is interested in exploring the subtle nuances of each musical selection. Pieces such as Massenet's "Elegie," Manuel Ponce's "Estrellita," and Tosti's "Ideale" are beautifully lilting pieces, which are not (except for moments in the Massenet) served well by the rather over-stated performances of both men. Pieces such as Romberg's "Serenade" from The Student Prince and Kalman's "Weist du es noch?" fare better, as they fit Domingo's operatic temperament and Perlman's virtuoso sensibilities. But even these seem to be mere show pieces devoid of depth. I found the tenor-violin rendition of the Barcarolle from Les contes d'Hoffman unpleasant, and Danny Boy equally so.

The over-miking of both performers does not help matters much, and in Domingo's case only served to amplify some strained moments in his top range.

The disc as a concept is also rather problematic. A recital album of any sort should have some sort of shape and texture-- this recording does not offer a readily decipherable one, save for a vague chronological relationship among the pieces (except for a Handel aria!), and the variety offered. As far as variety is concerned, the track listing "kindly" offers the listener explicit references to the many languages Domingo sings on the disc (6-- Spanish, English, French, German, Russian, and Italian).

No doubt fans of both gentlemen will want to have the disc, but both have seen much better days. Still, it is true that a mediocre performance by two giants reveals certain hidden treasures that listeners looking to buy this disc will be able to horde.

(This recording, in my opinion, hovers between two and three stars, but I give it the benefit of the doubt and round up)

Two masters of music.......2003-01-28

Wow! What can I say? It is so obvious who rules the stage when it comes to violin virtuosos. Itzhak Perlman takes my breath away every time I hear his bow touch a violin and to be playing with one of the world's best vocalists alone shows some accomplishment. Of course... it goes without saying that Domingo is probably THE BEST tenor of this lifetime. My personal favorite on this CD is the "Offenbach". I've heard this piece sung and played by many artists, but none of them come close to this recording and it truly touches your heart and soul. This CD has definitely become a favorite of mine and I cannot seem to put it back in its CD case! This album is definitely worth getting for one's self and I would even say it is also a very nice gift idea, that even non-classic listeners would appreciate.

Ten Stars!!!.......1999-07-27

BothItzhak Perlman and Placido Domingo are two of the most sophisticated and gifted musicians that ever graced our sad world with their presence. For whatever they do we should be eternally grateful. Both artists often ventured in the world of popular music, which goes to show just how diverse and open-minded they are. Every time they had something new to say as to the music, and attracted new legions of fans. Perlman's excursions into jazz and Domingo's explorations of modern Latin music are widely known and appreciated and loved by many. Here they combine their extraordinary forces to bring to us a relatively "conservative" repertoire, yet they do with such skill and class, the familiar selections sound fresh and enchanting. Don't underestimate the level of difficulty, though. Notice the two Rachmaninov songs, arranged splendidly for tenor and violin. (Btw, the song "O Cease thy singing, maiden fair" is usually performed by bass (baritone) and piano.) They include a Richard Strauss lieder "Morgen", a feat, not even attempted by other Italian opera-trained tenors, a nice surprise that attests to Placido Domingo's infinite talents. Massenet's "Elegie" is full of passion and melancholy, and Kalman's "Kome, Zigane" sparkles with gypsy rhythm and intensity. Among the other gems are Handel's "Ombra mai fu" and Tosselli's "Serenade" on which Placido and Itzhak display their flawless virtuosity and sincere love for the music. This is the most wonderful and unusual album, a true revelation. Thank you, Placido and Itzhak, the world is a better place thanks to you.

Together is exactly right.......1999-07-18

Together is the most stirring, evocative album anyone could ever wish to hear. Itzhak Perlman's renditons of Estrellita, Danny Boy, actually each of the selections draws the listener along the strings of his bow and sends them soaring. Placido's voice blends magically with the notes of the violin in such a way that you realise both 'instruments' are being played by a master musician.

Great for casual listening.......1999-06-01

This disc is great for casual listening. The pieces featured are light and easy on the ears. Domingo and Perlman combined beautifully in these well-arranged pieces. Sound quality is also good. However, this is not a disc for serious listeners or collectors.

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