A Festival of Baroque

On this CD:

1. Violin Concerto ("La Primavera", The Four Seasons) for violin, strings & continuo in E ("Il cimento" No. 1), Op.8/1, RV 269
Composed by Antonio Vivaldi

Conducted by Heribert Munchner

2. Sarabande, Gigue & Badinerie ("Suite for Strings") (arranged by Ettore Pinelli)
Composed by Arcangelo Corelli
Performed by Solisti di Zagreb

3. Concerto Grosso in C minor, Op. 1/2
Composed by Pietro Antonio Locatelli
Performed by Solisti di Zagreb

4. Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major, BWV 1046
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by I Musici de San Marco
Conducted by Francesco Macci

5. Sonata for keyboard in D minor, K. 9 (L. 413), "Pastorale"
Composed by Domenico Scarlatti
Performed by Dubravka Tomsic

6. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56 Sinfonia in E minor
Composed by George Frideric Handel
Performed by Stuttgart SWR Radio-Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Garcia Navarro

7. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56 Hallelujah Chorus
Composed by George Frideric Handel
Performed by London Festival Orchestra
Conducted by Peter Randolph Edwards

8. Concerto Grosso in C major, Op. 3/12 "Christmas Pastorale"
Composed by Francesco Onofrio Manfredini
Performed by Stuttgart SWR Radio-Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Garcia Navarro

9. Concerto Grosso in D minor, Op 8/6 "Christmas Concerto"
Composed by Giuseppe Torelli
Performed by Stuttgart SWR Radio-Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Garcia Navarro

Tracks:

Clair de Lune
Eine kleine Nachtmusik: Romance: Andante
Moonlight Sonata: Adagio sestonuto
Minute Waltz
On The Beautiful Blue Danube
The Nutcracker Suite: Russian Dance
El Amor Brujo: Danca del Terror
Grand Valse Brillante, Waltz No. 1 op. 18
Scenes Of Childhood Op. 15: Knight Of The Rocking Horse; Important Event
Goldberg Variations: Aria
The Nutcracker Suite: Chinese Dance
Symphony No. 7: Allegro molto
Symphony No. 94: Menuetto: Allegro molto
The Nutcracker Suite: March
Sonata In C Minor, Op.13 'Pathetique': Adagio cantabile

Customer Reviews:

Awesome CD.......2007-05-11

Have enjoyed this CD immensely with our four-year old. Great price for the quality. Thank you.

He started dancing as soon as we put it on!.......2007-01-09

My 12 month old loves this CD and happily bops away to the music (in the car he sometimes even starts singing!). We like it too and not being very well versed in Classical music, it is a nice mix for us.

Better than baby einstein.......2006-02-26

This is a great CD, with great music, at a great price. Everyone seems to love Baby Einstein, but I don't like the plinking music on those CD's, I like real orchestral pieces to stimulate my child. This is exactly what parents need, at a good price!

great music at a great price.......2006-02-02

I got this cd to use as background when putting my 18 month old to sleep and for car rides. So far it has not made it out of the car. The cd is wonderful. The first song is the Luftansa airline comercial song (that is what my husband calls it) and is beautiful. I didn't think my husband would enjoy the cd at all but he doesn't mind one bit listening to it, he actually will put it on himself when we get in the car. My daughter loves it and will often start nodding her head back and forth to songs. I actually listen to it even when my daughter is not in the car. The music is soft and relaxing but not boring. It is also one of the only cd's that my in laws don't mind listening to when they are in the car with us.

I only paid like $4 here on amazon for it and I gladdly would of paid more for such a great cd. Its a great cd for such a great price!

A Wonderful CD for all ages.......2002-11-03

My whole family has enjoyed this CD. It is very upbeat and easy to listen to. I think there is something for everyone on this one.

Average customer rating:

Theme to movie "Ordinary People"
great melody
Canon in D is Great!
Good thing x 8
My very favorite music CD ever

Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: Canon in D

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Pachelbel Canon and Other Baroque Hits

ASIN: B000003F39
Release Date: 1991-02-15

Tracks:

Canon in D - Rudolf Baumgartner
The Pachelbel Canon - Glenn Spreen
The Pachelbel Canon - The Canadian Brass
Quartet No. 6: Rochburg: Variations (On The Pachelbel Canon In D) - Concord String Quartet
How, Where, When? (Canon in D) - John Dankworth
Earth Angel - The Hampton String Quartet
Canon of the Three Stars (The Pachelbel Canon) - Plasma Symphony Orchestra
Canon in D - Ettore Stratta

Customer Reviews:

Theme to movie "Ordinary People".......2007-07-07

I have beeen searching for this music and this CD comes closest to my memories of the haunting theme to that movie

great melody.......2007-07-05

I thought that I would get tired of hearing the same song over and over but this cd keeps me listrning it over and over.

Canon in D is Great! .......2007-05-26

We have truely enjoyed Pachelbel's Greatest Hit. Although often associated with weddings this is wonderful to hear anytime. I would highly recommend this CD.

Good thing x 8.......2006-10-28

If you'd told me that I could listen to eight consecutive versions of the same music, I would have been maybe just a tad skeptical. Yet, I just did exactly that and I am now a believer. I gave it four stars because although I do like Cleo Laine, I feel that her vocal version here is sort of like, "which one doesn't belong?" from this set, Galway's excellent flute accompaniment notwithstanding. If you find the Canon in D compelling, then by all means consider this CD.

My very favorite music CD ever.......2006-05-02

My husband and I used to listen to this every night before sleep. After he passed away, it was years before I could listen to it without crying my eyes out. I know that the original has no lyrics, as one poster mentioned, but I absolutely love that one. "When will we ever touch again"... speaks to my very soul. I am here buying it again because I wore out the first copy. You can't go wrong with this CD...

Average customer rating:

Good selection
thunderous applause
Good Music at a Great Price
You will like this!
Good for the novice

25 Thunderous Classics

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004Y6SQ
Release Date: 2000-09-05

Tracks:

Also Sprach Zarathustra (Sunrise) - R. Strauss
Mars (The Planets) - Holst
Overture 1812 - Tchaikovsky
Entry Of The Gladiadtors - Fucik
Sabre Dance - Khachaturian
Procession Of The Sardar - Ippolitov Ivanov
Night On Bald Mountain - Mussorgsky
Anvil Chor (II Trovatore) - Verdi
The Thunderer March - Sousa
Thunder & Lightening Polka - J. Strauss
Prelude To Act III : Lohengrin - Wagner
The Ride Of The Valkryies - Wagner
Montagues & Capulets (Romeo & Juliet Ballet Suite) - Prokofiev
The Storm: Symphony No. 6 In F Major, 'Pastorale' - Beethoven
Rondeau - Edward Carroll
Overture: Fireworks Music - Handel
March To The Scaffold: Symphonie Fantastique - Berlioz
LesToreadors - Bizet
William Tell Overture: Finale - Rossini
Revolutionary Study - Abbey Simon
Fanfare For The Common Man - Copland
Sym No. 1 'Titan' IV Sturmisch Bewegt (Excerpt) - Mahler
Augurs Of Spring From Rite Of Spring - Stravinsky
Russian Dance From Petrouchka - Stravinsky
The Great Gate At Kiev From Pictures At An Exhibition - Mussorgsky

Customer Reviews:

Good selection.......2005-10-02

I bought this CD to use in my classroom as listening examples. I'm not just a super big fan of some of the performances, but they are all good and for the price you can't beat it. That's why I gave it 5 stars. It's worth more than it costs by far.

thunderous applause.......2005-08-31

This is a who's-who of great pieces of music you have heard all of your life, and never knew the names and stories! I listened to it over and over in the car and had my own concert! A friend borrowed it to add music to his Home Movies and it was perfect!

Good Music at a Great Price.......2004-03-06

I bought this CD mostly for "Entry of the Gladiators," which everyone will recognize as classic circus music. The performance on this CD (by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops) is the best available version of Entry of the Gladiators. The rest of the CD offers mostly excerpts of classical music.

You will like this!.......2004-02-19

I had purchased an abundance of the "Favorites" collection and some were better than others.

This CD is at the top of them all. They may be short, but not that short. Wondrous music.

I can almost guarantee that you will like this music.
Well worth the price!

Good for the novice.......2002-06-08

The recordings on this disc are pretty good. However, the editors selected only the *loud* parts, as indicated by the title. I was pretty disappointed to find that the pieces are, in many cases, edited to reflect the most famous themes, etc, instead of including the whole work. In general, I would recommend this to the classical music novice, or someone who wants to expand their knowledge of classical music in general. Those who already are familiar with these pieces will probably feel gypped.

Average customer rating:

A great introduction to Baroque music...
Good "best of" CD, but nothing more.
Phenomenal Collection of Music
Phenomenal Collection of Music
DEFINES "CLASSIC"

Pachelbel Canon and Other Baroque Hits

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Pachelbel's Greatest Hit: Canon in D

ASIN: B000003F5Y
Release Date: 1991-09-06

Tracks:

Canon
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3: Allegro
Messiah: Overture
The Four Seasons: Spring: Allegro (Danza pastorale)
Orchestral Suite No. 2: Menuet & Badinerie
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Guitar Concerto in D: Adagio
Xerxes: Largo
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2: Allegro Assai (Theme From 'Firing Line')
Orchestral Suite No. 3: Air On The G String
Royal Fireworks Music: Overture (excerpt)
Water Music: Hornpipe
Brandenberg Concerto No. 5: Allegro
Adagio
The Four Seasons: Winter: Allegro non molto
Rondeau (Theme from 'Masterpiece Theatre')

Customer Reviews:

A great introduction to Baroque music..........2005-10-04

This CD contains a great sampling of Baroque music. Some of the best known songs of the period are included. Listeners will likely instantly recognize many of the songs (you've likely heard them before, you just didn't know their names). An excellent rendition of Pachelbel's Canon starts off the CD. Then plenty of music from big names such as Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi fill out the disc's 72 and a half minutes of music.

The demographics of this disc point to an intended mainstream audience. For example, the track listing includes references to which songs served as themes for television shows. For example, Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 includes the byline "Theme from 'Firing Line'" and Mouret's Rondeau says "Theme from 'Masterpiece Theater'". So this collection does represent a popular collection of Baroque songs. And it plays that role very well.

Other standout tracks include: 2 movements from Vivaldi's justifiably famous "The Four Seasons", Bach's amazing "Air on the G String" and Handel's "Xerxes". The disc includes no vocal tracks. "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" from Bach's Cantata No. 147 gets performed on a solo organ (the original has vocals and a string arrangement). So those uneasy with "classical style singing" will find no problems here.

All in all, this disc serves as a good introduction to a great period of music history. It could also serve as a starting point for selecting a favorite composer or as a guide for building a classical music collection.

Good "best of" CD, but nothing more........2001-09-27

This CD does what it says it does: it gives you a brief, excellently recorded overview of the Baroque. But remember, this is just bits and pieces of a great store of music.

This CD will whet your appetite. You'll need to buy more, after you've heard the excerts of the great works here.

Phenomenal Collection of Music.......2001-09-19

Pachelbel's Canon in D is always good but the rest of the tracks shine as well. This is a superb collection of classical music. If you're new to classical music and love strings, purchase this CD. You'll be glad that you did.

Phenomenal Collection of Music.......2001-09-18

Pachelbel's Canon in D is always good, but the rest of the tracks shine as well. This is a superb collection of classical music. If you're new to classical music and love strings, purchase this CD. You'll be glad that you did.

DEFINES "CLASSIC".......2000-05-26

We have all heard the infinitely moving Canon in D by Pachelbel hundreds of times - it is not surprising that it has appeared, in one form or another, in commercials, films (most notably Ordinary People, which used the main theme as the underscoring for the entire film) - it is perfect, simple and incredibly, undeniably moving. But you are in for more treats on this basic Baroque sampler, which features many popular themes you may know, despite the fact that you may not be a hard-core classical music buff. The joy of each and every one of these cuts lies in their simple, enduring melodies and the gorgeous musical settings provided here. They sound fresh, new and as contemporary as anything you might hear on the radio. This album has a holiday after-effect as well; the fanfares, hymns and exciting instrumentation (horns, harps, strings galore) make you feel as if it is Christmas every day.

Average customer rating:

Lully: Thésée

Manufacturer: Cpo Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2007-06-26

Album Description

CPO presents The Boston Early Music Festival in a follow up to their GRAMMY nominated recording of Conradi's Ariadne with a World Premiere recording of Lully's Thesee. Renowned Musical Directors Paul O'Dette and Stephen Stubbs present this highly anticipated edition, which was first performed by the BEMF in 2001, to international acclaim.

Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music

Average customer rating:

CD set is misnamed
Do not Buy
Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music
Seek better versions
It Is What It Is

Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music

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ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Best of the Millennium: Top 40 Classical Hits
25 Classical Favorites
25 Romantic Classics
The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!
The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe

ASIN: B000003QWH
Release Date: 1994-06-09

Tracks:

Canon In D
'Brandenburg' Concerto No. 3: Allegro
The Four Seasons - The Winter: Largo And Allegro
Fanfare ('Masterpiece Theatre' Theme)
Camerata Romana: Air For The 'G' String
'Eine kleine Nachtmusik': Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 21 ('Elvira Madigan' Theme): Andante
Introduction To Symphony No. 5
'William Tell' Overture: Finale
'Aida': Triumphal March
On The Beautiful, Blue Danube Waltz
'The Nutcracker': Waltz Of The Flowers
'1812' Overture: Finale

Tracks:

Sabre Dance
'Light Cavalry' Overture: Finale
Carmen: The Toreadors
' Midsummer Night's Dream': Wedding March
Radetzky March
Symphony No. 9, 'Choral': Finale
'Prince Igor': Polovstian Dance No. 17
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Peer Gynt: Solveig's Song
Sleepers, Wake
Water Music: Hornpipe
Symphony No. 9, 'From The New World': Largo
Emperor Waltz
'Emperor' Quartet: St. Anthony's Chorale
'The Tales Of Hoffman': Barcarolle
L'Arlesienne: Farandole
'The Nutcracker': Dance Of The Mirlitons
'The Nutcracker': Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy
'Rhapsody In Blue': Highlight
'Orpheus In The Underworld': Can-Can

Tracks:

Introduction To 'Also sprach Zarathustra'
Symphony No. 4, 'Italian': Saltarello: Presto
Piano Concerto No. 20: Romance
'The Valkyrie': Ride Of The Valkyries
'The Four Seasons' - The Spring: Allegro
Toccata and Fugue
Trumpet Voluntary
'Royal Fireworks Music': la rejouissance: Allegro
'Moonlight' Sonata: Adagio Sostenuto
London Festival Orchestra: Overture To 'The Barber Of Seville'
Piano Concerto No. 2: Adagio Sostenuto

Tracks:

Carmina Burana: Introduction To 'Carmina Burana'
Peer Gynt: Dawn From 'Peer Gynt'
Lohengrin: Prelude To 'Lohengrin'
'Lieutenant Kije': Troika From 'Lieutenant Kije'
Adiago For Strings
'Carmen': Habanera From 'Carmen'
'Double' Concerto: Allegro From 'Double' Concerto
The Marriage Of Figaro: Overture To 'The Marriage Of Figaro'
(Rondo) Alla Turca
Xerxes: Largo From 'Xerxes'
Symphony No. 5: Allegro vivace From Symphony No. 5
'Swan Lake': Scene: Enchanted Lake From 'Swan Lake'
Clair De Lune
Bolero

Customer Reviews:

CD set is misnamed.......2007-06-08

They should have titled this "classical music for people who love classical music" because most of the selections are typical classical music. The title suggests it would be lively selections of "light classical" music that is more upbeat, i.e. Sabre Dance, etc. I really don't hate classical music at all and have many classical CDs in my collection but I really wanted to hear more exciting selections. I won't be purchasing any more of this set but if you like traditional classical music these are good one.

Do not Buy.......2007-02-21

I do know it says classical music for people who hate it, but serioulsly you would have better luck never listening to classical music again. The recordings are awfull and do not do justice to any of the composers. Buy something else.

Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music.......2007-01-30

We love this set of CD's. I just got a new copy because my kids keeping taking our first copy with them so that they can listen at work or in their bedrooms but then I can never find them.

Seek better versions.......2006-12-09

If you are fairly new to classical purchases then compilation CD's can be useful for deciding what to buy next. Sometimes you only need a small taste of a piece to inspire you to buy a release with the whole performance on. The problem with this compilation however is that most of the versions are poor in performance or recording quality (or both) when compared to the best versions and the fact that the conductors aren't even credited on the track listing made me suspect that this would be the case. One of my favorite classical pieces is Tchaikovsky's 1812 festival overture but if the first CD version I had heard had been the finale excerpt that is on this compilation I may not have gone on to buy the whole thing. Luckily I heard Adrian Leaper's version first and Adrian's version is rather good.
My classical CD buying experience is limited to only a couple of dozen discs but I have found that the Naxos and Deutshe Grammophon releases are fairly safe. Avoid any release which does not name the conductors on the track listing or sleeve notes.

It Is What It Is.......2006-10-27

It's fitting that this page is fraught with the same kind of silly snobbery that turns people off from classical music (and necessitates collections like this) in the first place.

Any criticism of this compilation, which focuses on the quality of the performances or the fact that many tracks are excerpts, misses the point. This is not a collection for people who consider such things, nor does it purport to be. The idea is to package as many ultra-famous classical melodies as possible in one affordable collection and market it to people who have never purchased a classical recording. As such, top-tier performances are likely too expensive to be sold so cheaply and are unnecessary anyway. Those of us who already know and love a piece or two can forgive the compilers the inclusion of sub-par recordings, when we are exposed to so many other beautiful pieces for the first time.

It probably comes as a shock for some to hear that most people are not familiar with these classics. We may hear snippets on TV or movies, but are left with no idea as to the composer or historical context. With that in mind, it is extremely intimidating to begin buying classical. I suppose those among us, who so thoroughly dismissed the very notion of a boxed set like this, would have us begin by buying full albums by reputable interpreters. Surprisingly enough though, the majority of people would consider that a tad cost-prohibitive.

To conclude, this is a STARTER collection. It will either affirm a listener's feelings about classical music or lead to an interest in purchasing better recordings. Ideally, I suppose the interpretations would be better, but, for reasons mentioned above, that just isn't in the cards for a collection of this nature. If you're familiar with 50 different recordings of "The Ring" series, or have season tickets to the New York Philharmonic, then this probably isn't for you. For us cretins with limited foreknowledge of classical music though, it serves as a succinct introduction with little to complain about.

The Bells of St. Genevieve and Other Baroque Delights

Average customer rating:

One of my all-time classical favorites
The Bells! The Bells!
GREAT WORK MUSIC
Quite a nice little compilation.
Rock fan falls in love with Baroque's "greatest hits" album!

The Bells of St. Genevieve and Other Baroque Delights

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003F8U
Release Date: 1992-01-28

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
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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:

Bach for Relaxation
Peaceful and Beautiful
Bach to knit up your raveled sleeve of care
My favorite...
Wonderful for baby!

Bach for Relaxation

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

$7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

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

Classical Instrumental 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
Similar Items:

Mozart for Relaxation
Beethoven for Relaxation
Vivaldi for Relaxation
Chopin For Relaxation
Debussy for Relaxation

ASIN: B000003G7C
Release Date: 1998-01-13

Tracks:

Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Suite BWV1012: Allemande
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6: Adagio ma non tanto
The Well Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude In C
Trio Sonata No. 4, BWV1079: Andante
Violino solo e Basso l'accompagnato
Sonata BWV1005: Largo
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4: Andante
Violin Concerto BWV1041: Andante
Flute Sonata BWV1034: Andante
The Goldberg Variations: Aria
Lute Suite No. 1 BWV996: Courante
Sonata No. 1 For Violin And Harpsichord BWV1014: Andante
The Well Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude In E - Flat Minor (excerpt)
Concerto For Flute, Violin, And Harpsicord BMV 1044: Adagio
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2: Andante
Sonata BWV1001: Siciliano
Prelude In D Minor BWV999
Orchestral Suite No. 3 BWV1068: Air On The G-String

Customer Reviews:

Bach for Relaxation.......2007-03-09

This is a great CD of instrumental Bach music. I listen to it very often

Peaceful and Beautiful.......2002-11-01

I have purchased this CD twice, first for myself to listen to during labor and secondly for a friend who has a new, very stressful job. I love the music on this CD, it is wonderfully played and listening it to it during labor was very helpful and uplifting. Now both my daughter and I enjoy listening to it, and during fussy days it calms her down a bit, which is very nice. The music truly brings on a serene feeling without making one sleepy, which means its great for anytime you just need to relax yet stay alert. I'll be giving it to my friend for the holidays, and I'm sure she'll love it as much as we do.

Bach to knit up your raveled sleeve of care.......2001-12-19

What better way to begin 'Bach for Relaxation' than with "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." This CD is not dumbed-down Johann Sebastian Bach just because it advertises itself as relaxation music (which was my initial fear before purchase). Good orchestras and soloists perform the nineteen well-chosen chamber works, ranging from the deceptively simple "Prelude in C" from "The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1" (Sviatoslav Richter, piano) to selections from the powerful Brandenburg Concertos.

This is Bach in his most serene, mathematically perfect form. None of his mighty organ or choral works will disturb your contemplative mood as you drift through the sixty-eight minutes of this CD.

I'm usually asleep by track fifteen, the adagio from "Concerto for Flute, Violin & Harpsichord BWV 1044."

Another very good CD in this 'relaxation' series from BMG RCAVictor is "Cello for Relaxation."

My favorite..........2000-11-21

This is one of my favorite classical CD's. It is a composition of soft, calmer Bach, and is perfect for almost any occassion. This is a great CD for first time classical listeners or long time fans ... It functions as perfect dinner background music, or to listen to alone. I highly recommend this compilation of Bach.

Wonderful for baby!.......1999-12-04

We received this as a baby gift and it has been a godsend. Our newborn relaxes to the sound of this when nothing else works. We also love it for ourselves; the CD contains the best of Bach's less fiery works, and the musical interpretation and recording quality are outstanding.

Average customer rating:

BACH FREATEST HITS
Of course
Beautiful Music!

Bach: Greatest Hits

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

$6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

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

Classical Instrumental 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
Similar Items:

Mozart: Greatest Hits
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ASIN: B000003F5A
Release Date: 1991-09-06

Tracks:

Toccata & Fugue in D Minor
Air On The G String
Sleepers, Wake
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 - Allegro
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Orchestral Suite No. 2 - Minuet & Badinerie
Sheep May Safely Graze
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 - Allegro assai
'Little' Fugue In G Minor
Brandenburg Concerto No.3 - Allegro
Chaconne

Customer Reviews:

BACH FREATEST HITS.......2005-09-08

IT IS A VERY GOOD CD TO HAVE AND MAKE PART OF THE OWN COLLECTION. i REALLY LIKED MY SHOPPING.

Of course.......2004-06-23

The classical music component of my CD collection is admittedly lacking. These beautiful renditions of music composed by one of the great geniuses of the human race go a long way toward rectifying that imbalance.

Beautiful Music!.......2000-10-26

Bach was a genius. At moments of this CD, we hear this. I would buy this CD just for "Chaconne", a 17 minute, highly emotive masterpiece which is performed here particularly well. Bach has an intimate understanding of the most profound and advanced depths of music, and it can be heard on Chaconne during its climax. Some other songs, such as "Air on a G String" and "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" are also quite exceptional. What makes this CD special is the performances and the sound engineering, which are sweet. Admittedly, some of the organ concertos on this CD may sound a bit banal. But you must buy this CD for "Chaconne" and "Air on a G String"! I find Bach to be incredibly inspiring.

Average customer rating:

perfect selection for commencement/ graduation
Great Starting Point for Classical Music Novices
**An Exquisite Album**
Samples
Great Sampler!

Simply the Best Classical Anthems

Manufacturer: Erato
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

National Philharmonic Orchestra London | ( N ) | Fea