Violins of Europe [Box set]

Track Listings
Disc: 1

1. Aubades: La Belle Hèléne/Que Faites-Vous Bergère/Julie Par Tes Beaux Ye - Patrice Gabet

2. Rigodon from Manse - Patrice Gabet,

3. Suite of Rigadoons - Patrice Gabet,

4. Suite of Polkas: l'Aigle Noir/Polka d'Escalle/Polka de Chauvac - Patrice Gabet,

5. Two Walzes: Les Gondoliers de Venise/La Belle Meunière - Patrice Gabet,

6. Two Rigadoons: Les Filles des Meyers/Les Filles de Vers Saint Martin - Patrice Gabet

7. Rigadoon from Saint-Bonnet - Patrice Gabet

See all 14 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2

1. Joc Batrinesc

2. Cînta, Cuce, Cînd Ti-Id Duce

3. Din Zori de Zi Si Joc Bárbatesc - Gheorghe Tisalita

4. In Vîrfutu Nucului

5. Joc de Sarit

6. Melodie Ciobanul

7. De Unde-I Pintea de Feli

See all 19 tracks on this disc
Disc: 3

1. Bonden Och Räven - Kirsten Bråten Berg, Per Gudmundson, Ale Möller, Gunnar Stubseid, Lena Willemark

2. Sommarvalsen - Per Gudmundson, Ale Möller, Gunnar Stubseid, Lena Willemark

3. Nyaslåten - Per Gudmundson, Ale Möller, Lena Willemark

4. Gyris Anders Svit - Per Gudmundson, Ale Möller, Lena Willemark

5. Wert Avir - Brudhisslåt - Per Gudmundson, Ale Möller, Lena Willemark

6. Hornlat Efter Börjes Olle - Per Gudmundson, Ale Möller, Lena Willemark

7. Höök Olle Storpolska - Per Gudmundson, Ale Möller

See all 31 tracks on this disc

Tracks:

The Bells Of St. Genevieve
Concerto For Violin, BMV 1042: Allegro
Concerto For Flute No. 3, Op. 10: Allegro
'The Four Seasons': Summer: Presto
The Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba
Canon
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, BWV 1047: Allegro Assai
Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068: Air On The G String
Concerto For Violin (Transcribed From BWV 1056): Largo
Guitar Concerto, R. 93: Adagio
Orchestral Suite No. 2 BWV 1067: Minuet & Badinerie
Concerto For Violin, BWV 1042: Allegro assai
Trumpet Voluntary
Messiah: Overture
Brandeburg Concerto No. 3, BWV 1048: Allegro
Rondeau

Customer Reviews:

One of my all-time classical favorites.......2005-12-12

I reach for this CD time and again. It is both relaxing and upbeat. I like every recording on this CD...even if they are selections and not the complete works. You cannot go wrong this this purchase!!

The Bells! The Bells!.......2005-10-12

I give this album an average rating as it does what it sets out to do which is give the average listener of classical music various average samples of average performances of great classical compositions. Albums such as these are always a great way to explore various or specific classical music styles with pieces that are usually not too intrusive to the common ear. The only downside of these albums is that they unfortunately, more often than not, introduce a new listner to only the most elementary of performances and leave them believing that all others sound as the ones they just heard when such differences in most cases are huge ones. I chose to review this particular album after hearing the Sonnerie "Bells" de Ste Genevieve on this album (originally composed by the unfortunately obscure Marin Marais) as it is a perfect example of what I am trying to convey.

Although some but few classical chamber pieces can be played well by pretty much any average group, some pieces such as "The Bells" require a certain expertise in instrument and style that very few musicians can properly apply to bring out all of the desired qualities of the piece. The interpretation on this album is a perfect example. Marin Marais was a French Baroque composer who was one of several royal court composers for King Louis XIV in the 17th-18th centuries. He was a soloist prodigy in the viola da gamba which actually sound as if they're being played by cellos here instead. Aside from any change in instruments, they are played with such deficiency in terms of quality, interpretation, and execution,here that it is rather sad that this would be included in an album such as this one. The viola is an instrument with a lot of range as it has more strings and is larger than the cello and the notation is made for the range of such instruments. In particular, there are literally less than five musicians today who are anywhere near proficient with this type of music and those playing here aren't anywhere near the top contenders. All of these things take out an enormous aspect of the full potential of this piece in terms of how it is supposed to sound and performances such as the one here are literally mutilations instead of transcriptions or interpretations. Such performances in many ways cheat the curious listener who is exploring this music as to the music's real potential as intended by its genius source. I recommend to those who may have heard a sample of the 'Bells' here and liked it to then compare it to the performance of this piece by Jordi Savall and Le Concert Des Nations in the soundtrack for 'All The Mornings of the World" available on Amazon. You will hear what I mean and understand how there's simply no comparison. Jordi Savall is the undisputed master in performing on authentic violas that have completely different acoustics than their modern counterparts. Savall is also an established conductor of French Baroque music unlike those here who completely misinterpret the piece as a result. Buying classical music is not as simple as just buying a certain piece by any performer thinking it's great. Unless you really don't care too much and just want to use it as background muscac in your life, classical music requires fine tuning just like playing the instruments themselves as the musicians are in a sense the instruments of the composer and the conductor's interpretatation. Don't settle for second best because the catastrophic results such a choice entails is similar to the range on the Richter scale: the difference between a No. 1 and a No. 4 best performance is exponential as the difference with the 'Bells' version I have mentioned perfectly illustrates. There are differences between symphonic and chamber groups, conductors, soloists, instruments, specialities of technique, production, etc. All of these things fine tune the performance and make the difference between epic and atrocious.

In sum then, although this album is a great source of introductory material as to the range of classical styles and in some cases has reputed perfomers, it is certainly not a sample of the best performances around. These types of albums always require a closer look because you never know what you're gonna get anyway unless you know what you're looking for. Trusting record labels to find stuff for you is not always a good idea. More often than not, this is the place where mediocre professionals can make some form of living without having to wait for a major deal that's never gonna come. If you feel you like the style of music here once you've heard it, expand your horizons in terms of performances as many on this album and similar ones are often simply mediocre in one form or another and there's stuff that's so much better out there for your listening enjoyment of a particular composition and/or style. Hope this helps! Good luck!

GREAT WORK MUSIC.......2004-09-17

Great work music, great travel music. Wonderful upbeat and get-you-going music for all things you do. Even NAXOS brand CDs don't come close to matching the preformances on this disc. Like the Masterpeice Theater theme song? Brandenburg Concerto by Bach is done PEFECTLY on this album. All songs are absolutely brilliant and masterfully done. This is a MUST HAVE CD no matter what kind of music you enjoy. Surely to inspire YOU!

Quite a nice little compilation........2002-03-21

"The Bells of St. Genevieve" is a compilation of Baroque pieces that would serve as an excellent introduction for someone who would like to hear more of the Baroque style beyond "Spring" from "The Four Seasons" or "Canon" by Pachelbel. Granted, this cd does contain "Canon" (what Baroque compilation could resist including it), but it doesn't stop there.

I'm not an expert when it comes to Baroque music, but I am something beyond a beginner; I guess I'd consider myself a moderately knowledgable amateur. However, before purchasing this album, I had never heard the title piece, "The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba," or track # 10 "Guitar Concerto" by Vivaldi. Some of the other tracks were familiar but not well-known to me. I was also pleased to see the inclusion of the turbulent Presto from "Summer" instead of the ubiquitous "Spring."

Compilations are often quite useful in helping neophytes get a better understanding and appreciation for classical music (I know they've helped me over the years). Not all compilations are a good mix or contain decent recordings; many seem like carbon copies of each other. This one, however, has good sound quality and great recordings from the likes of James Galway, Pinchas Zukerman, Canadian Brass, and James Levine.

I recommend this album to anyone wishing to branch out a bit in Baroque music but who is not sure where to start. I've discovered new favorites from listening to this album.

Rock fan falls in love with Baroque's "greatest hits" album!.......2002-03-16

"Bells of St. Genevieve" (BSG) is the cd that got me, a rock fan, into classical music (technically Baroque and Classical are 2 different periods/styles, but we rock fans call it all "classical":-). This is a "best of" album of some of the greatest, and most famous Baroque music. BSG focuses on the last 50 years of Baroque period, which lasted roughly from 1600 to 1750. Most of the pieces come from the "big 3" of the late Baroque period: Vivaldi (3 of the 16 cuts), Bach (7), Handel (2). The tempo is mostly "allegro" (fast and cheerful), although Bach's Concerto for Violin is "largo" or very slow (the only slow piece on the cd). Still, this album has a very uplifting, energetic feel to it. I doubt it will put anyone to sleep, even if they grew up listening to Zeppelin & the Stones! Even the most classical-clueless rock fan will recognize many of these pieces: "Roundeau" by Mouret is the theme from BBC's "Masterpiece Theatre." Clarke's "Trumpet Voluntary" a.k.a. "The Prince of Denmark's March" is another "deja vous" song, often played in wedding processionals and I think was also BBC theme music. Likewise, Pachelbel's "Cannon" is a popular wedding march. In fact, this album contains many songs commonly played in wedding processionals, recessionals, and during dinner, so is good for anyone who needs quality classical recorded music for a wedding. Much of the music is played by chamber orchestras (small ensembles of up to about 9 instruments), so has more of an intimate feel than music played by large symphonies. I highly recommend this cd as an introduction to great Baroque music. However, once initated, I encourage folks to listen to these pieces in their entirety, such as Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" and Bach's "Brandenburg Concertos" to get the full picture of how these great composers intended their music to sound, complete with key and tempo changes.

Average customer rating:

Nagyszeru!! (Excellent!)
The Real Deal
Re-living the past

Bartók Album

Manufacturer: Hannibal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Klezmer | Folk | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

Hannibal Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Maramaros: The Lost Jewish Music of Transylvania
Morning Star
Csardas Hungarian Gypsy Music
Music from Hungary
The Best of Marta Sebestyen: Voice of "The English Patient"

ASIN: B00000JZ15
Release Date: 1999-09-21

Tracks:

Dunantuli Friss Csardasok
Jocul Barbatesc
Violin Duo No.32, 'Dance Of Maramaros'
Maramaros Dances
On The River Bank
Swineherds' Dance
Dunantuli Ugrosok
Shepherd's Flute Song
Forgacskuit Lads' Dance
My Horse's Shoe
Violin Duo No.28, 'Sorrow'
Bonchida: Slow Lads' Dance
Magyarbecei Oreges Csardasok
Pe Loc
Bota Dance
Torontal Dances
Ardeleana
Vioiln Duo No.44, 'Transylvanian Dance'
Fuzes: Lads' Dance
The Churchyard Gate
Kalotaszeg Dances
I Left My Homeland

Amazon.com

Hungarian composers were among the world's most diligent in using folk resources to inform their classical compositions, and no composer was more involved in his nation's folk music than Bela Bartók. His recording expeditions into the Hungarian countryside in the early years of the 20th century preserved a musical heritage that might have otherwise been lost. While his main interest was finding inspiration for radical new music, his recordings lived on to inspire generations of modern folk revivalists. This album is a tribute to Bartók's work. The songs he recorded are born anew in the strings of Muzsikás and singer Márta Sebestyén. They play and sing these old songs in a traditional style but never fail to stamp a strong personal mark on the material. In addition to Muzsikás's own renditions, the CD includes a few special tracks of the original Bartók recordings that let you hear the old style of playing and singing in the purest form. There are also a few Bartók compositions, performed by Muzsikás fiddler Mihaly Sipos and Romanian classical violinist Alexander Balanescu. The old recordings and the Bartók works add a unique perspective to the folk songs, offering us a timeline from the oldest sources to the most modern interpretations. --Louis Gibson

Customer Reviews:

Nagyszeru!! (Excellent!).......2003-04-05

An absolutely stellar recording! It simply doesn't get any better than this in terms of musicianship, vocals, performance quality or ethnomusicological value.

A sort of concept album, Muzsikas and Marta Sebestyen perform some serious musical detective work in The Bartok Album, juxtaposing original phonograph field recordings from a century ago by Bartok himself alongside excerpts from his works which clearly reflect these folkloric influences. Finally, we are treated with Muzsikas' own renditions of these classic folk pieces, executed with the perfect mix of flawless technique and earthy exuberance, not to mention the magnificent haunting vocals of Sebestyen.

Particularly intriguing are the swineherd and shepherd songs, among the most ancient styles in the Carpathian Basin. The long flute on the Shepherd's Flute Song, beautifully played by Zoltan Juhasz, has an ethereal otherworldly quality and contrasts most favourably with the spirited ugros dances that precede it. The carefully chosen clips from Bartok's musical archives clearly show the link between his field recordings and subsequent compositions, such that the listener gets an idea of just how influential folkloric elements were in Bartok's work. Fascinating for anyone with even a casual interest in Bartok, ethnomusicology, or the unique musical styles found in Transdanubia and Transylvania, or just for anyone who needs a frenetic folk-dancing workout.

All in all, an absolutely top-notch album in every sense of the word, and highly recommended to any fan of great music!

The Real Deal.......2002-06-28

One day, in adventurous mood and tired of RAWK, I decided it was time to investigate Gypsy fiddle music and stumbled onto this CD (who says you can't judge a CD by the cover art?). It became my happiest discovery in years. There's nothing hokey about the performance of these re-worked folk tunes; the album is passionate and exhuberant and visceral, and the violin work often soars into the stratosphere.

I've seen other reviewers express disappointment that the ensemble didn't perform/arrange the work in the fashion Bartok himself would have, ie, classical mode, but that would have diluted the whole point: the people who performed the songs for the Bartok's microphone (clips of the original field recordings Bartok made are presented inbetween the modern renditions) didn't make music for upper-crust performance halls and Sony Classical, they played it in the intimacy of their everyday lives and communities. By presenting the songs in this context, the album reminds us of a time and place when popular music had real communal value not measured in units sold.

Re-living the past.......2000-06-20

This newest Muzsikas album includes 4 excelent elements:

- Bela Bartok's genius for documenting folk melodies

- Muzsikas orchestra whish reproduces traditional music with passion

- guest star Marta Sebastian, passionate voice to reveale sadness from Transilvania

- and last but not least - Alexander Balanescu, precious performer and great experimentator.

I was lucky enough to see the concert in Budapest. May 2000, where many songs from "The Bartok Album" were introduced. On the recording it is possible to hear only the echo of the stomping dance that gives the rythm to the music, and you can only imagine antiend and rude instruments that, played together with virtuose violine, compose timeless tunes that Bartok saved from extintion.

Still, the advantage that CD has over the live performance are recordings from the museum archives, valuable historical docuemntation of traditional music from Hungary and Romania, as well as very well equiped booklet with descritions and translations of many songs.

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G Major: Movement I
Oboe Concerto In D Minor: Oboe Concerto In D Minor - Adagio
Zion Hears The Watchmen Singing
Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor: Orchestral Suite No. 2 In B Minor - Badinerie
Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major: Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major - Air On A G String
Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major: Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major - Gavotte I - II
Concerto In D Minor For 2 Violins: Concerto In D Minor For 2 Violins - Largo ma non tanto
Suite In G Minor: Suite In G Minor - Bourree
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major - Allegro assai
Concerto For Oboe And Violin In C Minor: Concerto For Oboe And Violin In C Minor - Adagio
Gavotte In E-Flat Major
Partita No. 3 In E Major: Partita No. 3 In E Major - Preludio
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major - Presto
Sonata No. 1 In G Major: Sonata No. 1 In G Major - Adagio
Mass In B minor: Mass In B Minor - Et resurrexit
Two-Part Invention No. 8 In F Major
Italian Concerto In F Major: Italian Concerto In F Major - Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 In D Major: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 In D Major - Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Music and Recording.......2005-10-04

It is a better recording than other classical music CD's I've had, and is an impeccable execution of Bach's work. It led me to buy other "Mad About" series CD's of which I'll comment elsewhere. "Mad About Bach" is a fabulous CD of which I never tire. It is motivating. I have been listening to this "Mad About Bach" CD music for 8 years and still love it as one of my favorites.

This Uncultured Yahoo Loves It.......1999-12-13

I own and enjoy a good number of classical CD's but am far from an expert on what constitutes good and faithful performances. However, I can say that this CD is thoroughly enjoyable to me. My experience has been like lemur@earthling.net's, as many of these songs stay in my head, too, which is a great thing. A good bargain, too.

Nice selection of Bach.......1998-01-13

It's nice to hear a variety of pieces (guitar, harpsichord, etc) on one CD. Some of these tunes I can't get out of my head. :-) END

Bach for Book Lovers: A Soothing Companion for Reading

Average customer rating:

If You Love Music AND Books Together, Try This.
Nice Bach, but not for reading time...
Relaxing not agitating classical music
Outstanding Compilation of Brilliant Music for Home or Car
Bach & Books! Can It Get Any Better!

Bach for Book Lovers: A Soothing Companion for Reading

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Beethoven for Book Lovers: An Intimate Companion for Reading
Brahms for Book Lovers: A Cozy Companion for Reading
Baroque at Bathtime: A Relaxing Serenade to Wash Your Cares Away
Baroque for Beauty Sleep: Sweet Dreams for Beautiful Dreamers
Tchaikovsky At Tea Time: A Refreshing Blend For Body And Spirit

ASIN: B0000041NJ
Release Date: 1997-06-10

Tracks:

Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude No. 1 In C - Friedrich Gulda
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude No. 9 In E - Friedrich Gulda
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude No. 17 In A Flat - Friedrich Gulda
Piano Concerto No. 5 In F Minor: Largo - Jean Louis Steuerman
Concerto In D Minor For Oboe, Violin & Strings: Adagio - Arthur Grumiaux
Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor: Rondeau - William Bennett
Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor: Sarabande - William Bennett
Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor: Menuet - William Bennett
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2: Prelude No. 7 In E Flat - Friedrich Gulda
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2: Prelude No. 12 In F Minor - Friedrich Gulda
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: PRELUDE NO. 4 IN C - SHARP MINOR - Friedrich Gulda
Italian Concerto In F: Andante - Jean Louis Steuerman
Orchestral Suite No. I In C: Courante - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Orchestral Suite No. I In C: Gavotte I - II - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Orchestral Suite No. I In C: Forlane - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Orchestral Suite No. I In C: Menuet I - II - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Orchestral Suite No. I In C: Bourree - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Orchestral Suite No. I In C: Passepied I II - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2: Prelude No. 19 In A - Friedrich Gulda
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2: Prelude No. 21 In B Flat - Friedrich Gulda
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F: Adagio - Maria Teresa Garatti
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 In B Flat: Allegro - Janos Scholz

Customer Reviews:

If You Love Music AND Books Together, Try This........2006-02-14

This compilation contains the gentle music of Bach which sets the tone for the warm, friendly reading companion. By turns contemplative, lilting and dancing, it is easy to listen to as you read or merely sit back and relax to this lovely selection.

More than a century after Bach wrote one of his most famous preludes, Gound, the 19th-century French composer, used it note for note as an accompaniment to his own setting of "Ave Maria." This devout prelude, almost like a prayer in music, inspires the soul while entertaining the heart.

Nice Bach, but not for reading time..........2005-11-04

I enjoy Bach, so I thought I'd check out this disc. It's a nice colleciton, and it would fit in very nicely at your local coffee shop or bookstore - but if you're a book lover it'll be too distracting, and if you're a music lover it'll be even worse.

My biggest complaint is a geeky one: The recordings aren't the greatest quality. They're all fairly low-level, requiring a boost on your CD player's volume. But worse, they're all plagued by noise - a faint but audible hiss below the music. This was highly distracting to me, and even more so because it was present at different intensities on different tracks.

The performance was nice, but too stoccatto to be enjoyable while reading. A little sustain pedal goes a long way! Further, several of the pieces selected (particularly toward the beginning of the disc) contained dissonant notes that - while perfectly acceptable musically - would probably be a distraction from all but the best of books.

All told, this disc gets 3 stars for the content - it's nice music, expertly performed, but poorly recorded. It only gets 1 star for living up to its title... There are plenty of better things to listen to when you're curling up with a book!

Relaxing not agitating classical music.......2005-06-05

Especially to the average listener, certain types of classical music can seem ... well, actually disturbing to listen to with its sometimes frenzied tempos, dissonant tones or dramatic shifts in loudness - and all of that sometimes after a day of frenzied schedules, harsh people and constant noise. Fortunately, most all of 18th century classical music - like that of Bach or Mozart - was composed purposely to inspire contentment, cheerfulness and refreshment. Such is the music on this CD. Not only is this music calming to listen to when reading or meandering around the house but also is an inspiring introduction to the music of the great Baroque composer, Johann Sebastian Bach.

THis CD contains a fine selection of various types of instrumental music Bach wrote (solo piano, concerto for solo instrument and small orchestra) that all have a similar, more gentle tempo that makes for a delightful, non-intrusive background for entertaining, reading or conversation. But don't let the cute cover graphics mislead you that this is not serious quality music - most of the selections here are taken from several top Philips recordings with mostly good sound quality. About half the selections are gentle, lyrical piano solo works ("preludes") from Bach's keyboard masterpiece called "The Well-Tempered Clavier" and provide a wonderful repose in between the more lively orchestral works. If there is one complaint here, it would be the sound quality on the solo piano music which is a bit harsh. But it still makes a great place to start to explore the music of Bach or just to have some nice music on hand for reading.

Last, if you find you like the music of Bach here (especially the piano selections), you will might enjoy some higher-quality recordings of Bach's keyboard concertos or the "Well-Tempered Clavier" by Angela Hewitt - the premier Bach pianist of our time. Her two Bach Concerto recordings masterfully capture the lively spirit and graceful nuances of Bach and are wonderful music for a Sunday morning. A great "next step" for exploring the vast and rich musical world of Bach once you take in this CD.

Outstanding Compilation of Brilliant Music for Home or Car.......2004-01-26

This is a suberb compilation of delightful Bach piano and chamber music masterpieces. The "songs" were chosen from the vast and excellent Phillips classical music recordings. The sound, performances, and song selections are outstanding.

A lot of great classical music is not very good for listening at home. The crescendos can be loud and the themes too intense. I would rather listen to a breathtaking Mozart piano sonata (solo piano) at home than a grand Mozart symphony (large orchestra). The music on this CD was chosen for home listening, such as when reading a book.

This music is EXCELLENT for listening at home. It's both brilliant and mellow. When I listen to this music I marvel at the brilliance of Bach. I am very grateful for this music.

A fantastic compilation!

Bach & Books! Can It Get Any Better!.......2003-11-14

Combining two of my favorite things, Bach and Books, this is a great find for those who are in to these two!

A fine selection of Bach is displayed, from concerto to suite, from oboe to clavier to harpsichord to orchestra, the variety and peaceful that exude from this fine collection are soothing.

Tracks:

Clair De Lune
Reverie
Pavane For A Dead Princess
Dolly Suite, Op. 56: Berceuse/Lullaby
Concerto In D For Lute And Strings, RV 93: Largo - The Julian Bream Consort
Concerto In G For Two Lutes And Strings, RV 532: Andante - Julian Bream
Fantasia Para Un Gentilhombre: Espanoleta - Joaquin Rodrigo
Concierto De Aranjuez: Adagio - Joaquin Rodrigo
Guitar Quintet In E Minor, G.451: Adagio - The Cremona String Quartet
Guitar Concerto In A, Op.30: Andante Siciliano - Mauro Giuliani
L'Encouragement, Op. 34: Cantabile
Sonata In C Sharp Minor - Domenico Cimarosa
Serenade In A, Op.96: Larghetto
Dolly Suite, Op.56: Dolly's Garden
Dolly Suite, Op.56: Tendresse

Customer Reviews:

Too disjointed.......2006-07-29

I bought this on a whim to relax. I have played classical piano for 25 years (for my own enjoyment) but had little exposure to the same music transposed to classical guitar. I recognized most of the selections. The first 4 tracks really delivered but the middle third of the CD becomes abruptly loud and soft and, frankly, sounds poorly mixed. The latter part of the CD finishes well. The CD could have been uniformly fantastic if some of the middle selections had been left out, or replaced by less orchestral pieces. Because of the disconnect I rarely play the CD, knowing that the quiet, reflective mood it induces will soon be sonically destroyed.

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; String Concertos (Box Set)

Average customer rating:

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; String Concertos (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Opus 111
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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Vivaldi: Concerti per mandolini

ASIN: B00005R2JM
Release Date: 2003-11-18

Average customer rating:

good starters cd for schnittke
Great Introduction to Schnittke Courtesy of Kremer
classical, or a creature of its own?
I REQUIRE YOU TO LOVE THE MUSIC OF SCHNITTKE AS MUCH AS I DO

Kremer Plays Schnittke

Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
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Schnittke: Chamber Music
Schnittke: Complete String Quartets
Schnittke-Concerto Grosso No. 2/Viola Concerto
Alfred Schnittke: Concerto Grosso No. 4 - Symphony No. 5 / Pianissimo for Large Orchestra
Schnittke: Cello Concerto No.2; In Memoriam

ASIN: B000001GNL
Release Date: 1994-08-22

Tracks:

Con grosso No.1: 1. Prelude: Andante
Con grosso No.1: 2. Toccata: Allegro
Con grosso No.1: 3. Recitativo: Lento
Con grosso No.1: 4. Cadenza [without tempo marking]
Con grosso No.1: 5. Rondo. Agitato
Con grosso No.1: 6. Postludio. Andante-Allegro-Andante
Quasi una son - Gidon Kremer/Yuri Smirnov
Moz-Art a la Haydn - Gidon Kremer/Titiana Grindenko
A Paganini - Gidon Kremer

Customer Reviews:

good starters cd for schnittke.......2003-04-02

I have just started to listen to schnittke music. I saw this and got it and have not stopped listening to the power of the music.
The concerto grosso for violins, harp, and piano is something else

Great Introduction to Schnittke Courtesy of Kremer.......2002-11-30

This is a splendid introduction to those like myself who are unfamiliar with Schnittke's oeuvre. It's a fine mixture of chamber music and small orchestral pieces, highlighting the splendid playing of violinist Gidon Kremer and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Judging from this CD, Kremer surely must be regarded as one of Schnittke's most passionate advocates, judging from his electrifying, technically brilliant playing which has ample doses of lyricism. Without question, the most emotionally gripping work is the Concerto Grosso, which sounds like a post-modern take on Bach's or Vivaldi's music. The sound quality is splendid for an early Deutsche Grammophon recording.

classical, or a creature of its own?.......2002-07-31

This was my first exposure to Schnittke, and it (the Concerto Grosso on this album) was hypnotizing. It sounded less like most classical pieces I'd been familiar with, and more like an hour-long trip of experimental mood textures built up upon each other, then destroyed dramatically, others thrust down your throat before you had a chance to take a breath (this is one of those few experiences when I sometimes had to remember to breath .. Dylan Thomas being another). It sometimes has the mood impression of a piece of 'trance' music, is sometimes wistful, sometimes angry, other times whimsical .. it is very hard to turn off after the first 10-15 minutes. The references to other classical pieces are also fascinating .. it is amazing how different familiar passages can sound couched in such different surroundings. This is a fantastic recording, and one which has changed my expectations for new music (classical or otherwise) forever.

I REQUIRE YOU TO LOVE THE MUSIC OF SCHNITTKE AS MUCH AS I DO.......2001-07-15

If you're acquainted with Schnittke's string quartets or viola concerto, you might know what to expect from a disc like this one. When he was at his best - as he was, I feel, with the quartets and that concerto - he was darned close.

And so he is, here - darned near perfect, for all of 75 minutes' worth of music. The Concerto Grosso No. 1 is performed persuasively and enjoyably, which must be quite difficult with a piece of music this eclectic both in style and emotional tenor. It veers - sometimes comically, sometimes almost frighteningly - between 18th-century decorousness, bawdy cabaret and abject expressionism. (Listening to it right now, I just spotted a quotation from Tchaikovsky hidden amidst a swarm of angry, screeching violins.) The switches that performer Yuri Smirnov is here required to make between the harpsichord and prepared piano are especially powerful - chilling, even.

"Quasi una Sonata," an earlier work - appearing here in the composer's arrangement for violinist with chamber orchestra - is a little less shocking, but no less passionate and rigorous, and thoroughly compelling in its own right. The contrasts between thorny expressionism and tonal melody/harmony are perfectly calculated, very exciting.

"Moz-Art a la Haydn," a "game with music," is a hoot. As the name might imply, basically tosses Mozart into the blender and uses the musical fragments for a series of wonderfully silly musical "games" for conductor and performers. It's been said that few of the great composers are ever genuinely funny; Schnittke demonstrates here that he can make you think and laugh at once. (Mozart, of course, is the most notable exception to that rule, and one imagines he would only enjoy the perverse liberties Schnittke has taken with his music.)

I admit that the last piece on this disc, "A Paganini," is the least rewarding for me; it certainly loses something not to be able to actually see the performer wrestling with the, yes, Paganini-esque virtuosity the piece requires. However, it's still a very interesting listen, and the fact that the composer was able to wring 13 genuinely exciting minutes out of what is basically a series of cadenzas for solo violin is certainly a feat in itself.

Tracks:

Fanfare For A Dignified Occasion
Fanfare For A Festive Occasion
Civic Fanfare
Fanfare For The Lord Mayor Of London
Fanfare For A Great Occasion
Festival Fanfare
Fanfare For A Coming Of Age
Canzona For Brass
Fanfare For Brass
I. Sovereign's Fanfare
II. Fanfare For The Bride
III. Interlude
IV. Royal Fanfare
V. Wedding Fanfare
VI. Royal Fanfare
Fanfare For Heroes
Homage To Shakespeare
Fanfare For Europe
I. Intrada
II. Round (Of Seven Parts)
III. Interlude
IV. Saraband
V. Madrigal
I. For A State Occasion
II. For A Brilliant Occasion
III. For A Gala Occasion
A Queen's Fanfare
The National Anthem

Customer Reviews:

Great Music for a Wedding!!.......2002-08-09

When I got engaged to be married in November 2002, the job of finding the wedding music fell into my hands. I looked long and hard for some type of "fanfare" music to introduce the couple (us) at the wedding. My long search stopped here as this CD, "Fanfare, British Music for Symphonic Brass Ensemble", fits the bill. This CD has different variety of fanfares ranging from those for a state occasion to a light hearted gala occasion. My favorite fanfare?? It's "Fanfare" by William Walton. I loved the way it starts out with a loud drum roll followed by the brassy sounds of the horns. Of course, you can't pass up Arthur Bliss's "Royal Fanfares 1-6". You will find many different uses for this CD not only for a wedding but for other ocassions too. Give it a try!! LJK.

Simply....Beautiful.......2001-11-08

These pieces are brilliant! The harmony is absolute! Very nice sound and a very nice selection!

Average customer rating:

Book Lovers Companion

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
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For Book Lovers Only
Debussy for Daydreaming: Music to Caress Your Innermost Thoughts
Tchaikovsky At Tea Time: A Refreshing Blend For Body And Spirit
Bach for Breakfast
Liszt for Lovers: Piano Dreams of Love and Passion

ASIN: B00000AFQB
Release Date: 1998-09-01

Tracks:

Violin Sonata No. 1 In G: Vivace ma non troppo - Various Artists
Clarinet Sonata No. 1 In F Minor: Allegretto grazioso - Various Artists
Serenade No. 1 In D: Menuetto 1&11 - Various Artists
Violin Sonata No. 2 In A: Andante tranquillo - Vivace - Andante - Vivace di piu - Andante vivace - Various Artists
Piano Trio No. 3 In C Minor: Andante grazioso - Various Artists
Clarinet Sonata No. 2 In E-Flat: Andante con moto - Various Artists
Violin Sonata No. 2 In A: Allegretto grazioso - Various Artists
Clarinet Trio In A Minor: Andante grazioso - Various Artists
String Quartet No. 1 In C Minor: Romanze. Poco adagio - Various Artists
Piano Quintet In F Minor: Andante, un poco adagio - Various Artists
Clarinet Quintet In B Minor: Adagio - Various Artists

Tracks:

Sonata No. 5 In F ('Spring'): Adagio molto espressivo - Beethoven
Sonata No. 10 In G: Adagio espressivo - Beethoven
Sonata No. 2 In A: Andante piu tosto allegretto - Beethoven
String Quartet No. 16 In F: Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo - Beethoven
Sonata No. 7 In C Minor: Adagio cantabile - Beethoven
Sonata No. 8 In G: Tempo di minuetto, ma molto moderato e grazioso - Beethoven
Sonata No. 3 In E-flat: Adagio con molt' espressione - Beethoven
String Quartet No. 6 In B-Flat: Adagio ma non troppo - Beethoven
'Archduke' Trio In B-Flat: Andante cantabile, ma pero con moto - Poco piu adagio - Beethoven

Tracks:

Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I: Prelude No.1 In C
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I: Prelude No.9 In E
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I: Prelude No.17 In A-Flat
Piano Concerto No. 5 In F Minor: Largo
Concert In D Minor For Oboe, Violin & Strings: Adagio
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor: Rondeau
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor: Sarabande
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor: Menuet
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II: Prelude No.7 In E-Flat
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II: Prelude No.12 In F Minor
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I: Prelude No.4 In C-Sharp Minor
Italian Concerto In F: Andante
Orchestral Suite No.1 In C: Courante
Orchestral Suite No.1 In C: Gavotte I - II
Orchestral Suite No.1 In C: Forlane
Orchestral Suite No.1 In C: Menuet I - II
Orchestral Suite No.1 In C: Bourree
Orchestral Suite No.1 In C: Passepied I - II
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II: Prelude No.19 In A
Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II: Prelude No. 21 In B-Flat
BRANDENBURG CONCERTO NO. I IN F: Adagio
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 In B-Flat: Allegro

Average customer rating:

Best Ever Baroque Favorites

Manufacturer: Direct Source Label
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005YIHX
Release Date: 2000-02-15

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1. Aubades: La Belle Hèléne/Que Faites-Vous Bergère/Julie Par Tes Beaux Ye - Patrice Gabet
2. Rigodon from Manse - Patrice Gabet,
3. Suite of Rigadoons - Patrice Gabet,
4. Suite of Polkas: l'Aigle Noir/Polka d'Escalle/Polka de Chauvac - Patrice Gabet,
5. Two Walzes: Les Gondoliers de Venise/La Belle Meunière - Patrice Gabet,
6. Two Rigadoons: Les Filles des Meyers/Les Filles de Vers Saint Martin - Patrice Gabet
7. Rigadoon from Saint-Bonnet - Patrice Gabet

1. Joc Batrinesc
2. Cînta, Cuce, Cînd Ti-Id Duce
3. Din Zori de Zi Si Joc Bárbatesc - Gheorghe Tisalita
4. In Vîrfutu Nucului
5. Joc de Sarit
6. Melodie Ciobanul
7. De Unde-I Pintea de Feli

1. Bonden Och Räven - Kirsten Bråten Berg, Per Gudmundson, Ale Möller, Gunnar Stubseid, Lena Willemark
2. Sommarvalsen - Per Gudmundson, Ale Möller, Gunnar Stubseid, Lena Willemark
3. Nyaslåten - Per Gudmundson, Ale Möller, Lena Willemark
4. Gyris Anders Svit - Per Gudmundson, Ale Möller, Lena Willemark
5. Wert Avir - Brudhisslåt - Per Gudmundson, Ale Möller, Lena Willemark
6. Hornlat Efter Börjes Olle - Per Gudmundson, Ale Möller, Lena Willemark
7. Höök Olle Storpolska - Per Gudmundson, Ale Möller