Scott 4 [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Product Description
4th solo album from the enigmatic rocker who influenced the vocal styles of David Bowie & Bryan Ferry, formerly of the British Invasion act the Walker Brothers he started his career as a teen idol who recorded under the name Scotty Engel. Originally released in 1969, '4' was released too much critical acclaim & was the first Walker album to feature entirely original material. Tracks include the Ingmar Bergma influenced 'The Seventh Seal' & 'The Old Man's Back Again' Other songs show engaging folk, country, and soul influences that were largely buried on his previous solo albums. 2000, 24 bit digitally remastered edition with restored original sleeve. Fontana. Standard jewel case.

Scott 4,Scott Walker,Universal Int'l,Baroque Pop,Experimental Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Soft Rock

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Scott 4 [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Average customer rating: Just for kids?? No way!! The best classical album for kids! Great for Preschool Children

Classics for Kids Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Copland | Copland, Aaron | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Dukas | Dukas, Paul | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Herbert | Herbert, Victor | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Kodály, Zoltán | ( K ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Robert Schumann | Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tchaikovsky | Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Villa-Lobos, Heitor | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Marches | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Villa-Lobos, Heitor | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Contemporary | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music $7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Dukas, Paul | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Herbert, Victor | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Kodály, Zoltán | ( K ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Rodgers, Richard | ( R ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Saint-Saëns, Camille | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Schumann, Robert | ( S ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich | ( T ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Villa-Lobos, Heitor | ( V ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | 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: Classical Music for Children: A Toddler's Introduction to Classical Music Children's Favorites Bernstein Favorites: Children's Classics Pavarotti's Opera Made Easy-My Favourite Opera For Children Peter and the Wolf / Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra / Carnival of the Animals ASIN: B000003FE3 Release Date: 1993-06-08

Tracks:

1. The Nutcracker Excerpts (Tchaikovsky)
2. The Nutcracker Excerpts (Tchaikovsky)
3. The Nutcracker Excerpts (Tchaikovsky)
4. Parade of The Wooden Soldiers (Jessel-MacDonald)
5. Carnival of The Animals Excerpts (Saint-Saens)
6. Carnival of The Animals Excerpts (Saint-Saens)
7. Carnival of The Animals Excerpts (Saint-Saens)
8. THe Girl With The Flaxen Hair (Debussy)
9. Hoedown from Rodeo (Copland)
10. Little Waltz from The Toy Box (Debussy)
11. Viennese Musical Clock from Hary Janos (Kodaly)
12. Mother Goose Suite Excerpts (Ravel)
13. Mother Goose Suite Excerpts (Ravel)
14. March of the Siamese Children from The King and I (Rogers)
15. Dreams frin Scenes From Childhood ( Schumann)
16. March of The Toys from Babes In Toyland (Herbert)
17. Childhood Games Excerpts (Bizet)
18. Childhood Games Excerpts (Bizet)
19. The Toy Trumpet Al Hirt, trumpet (Scott)
20. The Little Train of Caipira (Villa-Lobos)
21. The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Dukas)
22. Waltz from The Sleeping Beauty (Tchaikovsky)
23. Lullaby (Brahms)

Customer Reviews:

Just for kids?? No way!!.......2005-04-08

This is wonderful classical music. If the kids like it, great! But, make no mistake about it, this is good for anyone. This is wonderful study music, reading music, or just plain relaxing music. Highlights include "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers"; "March of the Toys" (from BABES IN TOYLAND -- the reason I bought this CD); "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"; "The Little Train of Caipira" (no longer little when the music is over); and the audience favorite "Hoedown" (i.e. "Beef, it's what's for dinner!").

If you're into that whole thing of classical music sharpening a youngster's intellect, then this won't disappoint. If you're just into good old fashioned classical music in general, it won't disappoint you either. Also, I highly recommend to both groups the classical CD BUILD YOUR BABY'S BRAIN.

The best classical album for kids!.......2002-12-12

This is a wonderful album. Very high quality, and every selection is beautiful. My daughter (who usually asks me to turn my classical music off) loves to pretend to gallop like a horse during "Rodeo" and march like a soldier during "Parade of the wooden soldiers". This is a pleasure for the whole family!

Great for Preschool Children.......2000-10-12

I use this CD with my preschool music group. The kids love it! This CD enables children learn about classical music without over extending their attention spans.

Average customer rating: It's Beauty Revealed, At Last OK, I'm a sucker for the 1893 version Life has been engulfed in time Requiem- a masterpiece. high quality but lacking emotion

Faure: Requiem and other choral music Manufacturer: Collegium ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Fauré, Gabriel | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Anthems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Requiem & Magnificat/Rutter, Cambridge Singers The Best of Fauré Gloria: The Sacred Music of John Rutter Fauré · Duruflé - Requiem / J. Blegen · J. Morris · Atlanta SO · Shaw John Rutter Collection ASIN: B0000031HB Release Date: 2000-02-29

Tracks:

1. Requiem: Introit et Kyrie
2. Requiem: Offertoire
3. Requiem: Sanctus
4. Requiem: Pie Jesu
5. Requiem: Agnus Dei
6. Requiem: Libera me
7. Requiem: In paradisum
8. Ave verum Corpus
9. Tantum ergo
10. Ave Maria
11. Maria, Mater gratiae
12. Cantique de Jean Racine
13. Messe basse: Kyrie eleison
14. Messe basse: Messe Basse - Sanctus
15. Messe basse: Messe Basse - Benedictus
16. Messe basse: Messe Basse - Agnus Dei

Amazon.com

John Rutter's groundbreaking research and subsequent performing edition of Fauré's beloved Requiem has enabled us to hear the work as the composer originally intended. His first version of the piece included only a chamber orchestra with lower strings, harp, timpani, and organ. Four years later, Fauré added two movements and slightly expanded the orchestration. This is the version that Rutter and his inimitable Cambridge Singers perform here-- and it's a glorious revelation, especially if the only Fauré Requiem you've heard is that for full orchestra, which the composer himself neither created nor approved. Rutter and his singers give us a wonderfully sumptuous yet detailed performance that benefits tremendously from the newly realized clarity of inner lines and from the richly colored orchestral textures. --David Vernier

Customer Reviews:

It's Beauty Revealed, At Last.......2007-01-11

This Collegium COLCD 109 is a later release of the Collegium COLCD 101 which I purchased circa 1985 after reading glowing reviews in Grammophone magazine. COLCD 101 is labeled Stereo/Digital. COLCD 109 is labeled Stereo/DDD. Is it a re-mastering? Liner notes don't say, but the new version provides noticeable improvements in vividness and clarity.

The release of COLCD 101 was a watershed event. John Rutter had questioned conventional performance versions of Faure's Requiem, those which used full symphony orchestras and Wagnerian-like soloists. Yes, it is a requiem, but Faure's ideas are very different than those found in, say, Verdi's Requiem. Instead of hellfire and damnation, Faure evokes serenity, peace and love. Rutter's historical research proved that Faure intended for his work to be performed in small, intimate settings where the orchestra and choir would be minimal and, maybe, use boy sopranos. Rutter's CD of the historical, 1893, version is like an expert restoration of an old painting where a century's grime is wiped away and the work is newly revealed in it's original beauty.

A 1990's CD of the 1893 version exists on Naxos 8.55076S by Jeremy Summerly and the Oxford Camerata. It, too, is beautiful and of similar performance quality, though conducted at a slightly slower tempo. I find Rutter's version more "right", but that's just personal preference.

OK, I'm a sucker for the 1893 version.......2006-01-17

John Rutter made substantial changes to the previously most-performed version of the Faure Requiem when he recorded this. He went back to the version of 1893 to do so, rather than using the more famous, more heavily orchestrated later version. One difference is that the violins in the Sanctus are transposed up an octave on this CD compared to the way in which they were played in the later Requiem. I find this recording to be beautiful and timeless, and definitely not over-orchestrated.

To me, Faure's great contribution with the Requiem was that he showed a firm refusal to judge other people as well as compassion in the face of death. This went against the beliefs of the Catholic church at the time, which emphasized hellfire and brimstone, and Faure was heavily criticized for putting as little mention in as he could get away with regarding the Day of Judgement. This compassion shows in his work and makes it comforting rather than frightening. It has been called a "lullaby of death."

I also enjoy the other vocal pieces, particularly the Ave Maria and the Cantique de Jean Racine, which is probably familiar to many people who are not really aware of Faure's career. These songs have a pure, clear sound which is not ruined through excessive orchestration.

In my opinion, John Rutter did a fantastic job with this material, and it's one of my favorite CDs.

Life has been engulfed in time.......2003-08-06

This requiem represents a complete shift in the general tone of the requiem as a genre. The vision of life and death is impregnated with a feminine light, the light of the ocean softly illuminated by the sunshine of Normandy, of the Graceful Coast. The figure that stands behind the music, that accompanies the dead person into the grave is no longer the masculine Germanic death that punishes man, nor even the furious feminine French death that challenges man, but the soft and comforting figure of the mother Mary, the universal comforter who takes the hand of each one of us, as if we were crying lost children, to make us pass the dangerous door that leads beyond life. This Holy Mary for whom Fauré has written so many Ave Marias, is promising us the end of time and our introduction into an everlasting stormless, painless and noiseless world that represents the very positive vision of a real world that is the negative vision of life. Photography is not far away. Everyday life becomes a life of strife, struggle, noise, violence, war, speed, work, exploitation and alienation, all elements seen as negative, and death is the negation of it all, is the positive virtuality that has to become our reality overthere. It is thus in perfect agreement with the vision the impressionists introduced to defy photography and bring art beyond the blaring image of reality a photographer brings up with his machine. The eye of the artist goes beyond those crude colors and forms to find light and life in the depth of his retina. Fauré is the impressionist painter of death as the real life beyond the surface we have to contemplate and suffer everyday. In other words virtual is beautiful and real is dreadful. Happiness has to be found in virtuality and not in reality. Fauré is bergsonian, who sees eternity beyond the flow of time. Fauré is proustian, who sees life beyond the loss of memory. This explains the erasing of the Dies Irae because there is no anger any more in the ascent to the eternal memory of what does not exist yet. This is a requiem of timelessness and nightlessness.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University of Perpignan

Requiem- a masterpiece........2002-04-21

This exquisite collection has so many gorgeous songs that move me to tears. In Sanctus, the violin is so pure, so beautiful, its wrings my heart. This is real music, real art, crafted with such care, that it is a true privilege to hear it, not to mention sing it (which I have done, and I loved it). It is an encredible CD, and I would encourage anyone to buy it.
Lilly

high quality but lacking emotion.......2001-09-01

One reviewer describes this as "no lack of sadness, bright, not gloomy, filled with sunshine"; another calls it "peaceful". I might go with peaceful. The quality is high and the recording is of interest for being more faithful to Faure's original, non-orchestral version, but I found the performance notably lacking in emotion. I would steer the reader toward the more deeply moving Naxos version (conductor: Jeremy Summerly), which is something of a gem at budget price.

Average customer rating: Excelent Performance For Thy Pleasure: Yeap, It is Very Enjoyable Amazing Guitars...And Then Some! Pleasure For Your Musical Soul Just amazing playing!

For Thy Pleasure Manufacturer: Delos Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Monteverdi | Monteverdi, Claudio | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Pachelbel | Pachelbel, Johann | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Purcell, Henry | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Telemann, Georg Philipp | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Concerto Grossi | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Purcell, Henry | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Telemann, Georg Philipp | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Organ | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Los Angeles Guitar Quartet | ( L ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Best of L.A.G.Q. L.A. Guitar Quartet: Dances from Renaissance to Nutcracker L.A. Guitar Quartet: Evening In Granada LAGQ's Guitar Heroes LAGQ: Latin ASIN: B00000070S Release Date: 1996-09-26

Tracks:

1. Brandenburg Concerto No. 6: I. Allegro
2. Brandenburg Concerto No. 6: II. Adagio ma non tanto
3. Brandenburg Concerto No. 6: III. Allegro
4. The Well Tempered Clavier: Prelude
5. No. 1 In C The Well Tempered Clavier: Fugue No. 1 In C
6. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3: III. Allegro
7. The Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba
8. The Well Tempered Clavier: Fugue No. 3
9. Abdelazer: Rondeau
10. Monteverdiana: I. Toccata
11. Monteverdiana: II. Balletto
12. Monteverdiana: IV. Sonata
13. Fantasia Upon One Note
14. Little Fugue In G Minor
15. Concerto for Four Violins: I. Largo e staccato
16. Concerto for Four Violins: II. Allegro
17. Concerto for Four Violins: III. Adagio
18. Concerto for Four Violins: IV. Vivace
19. Canon In D: The Pachelbel 'Loose' Cannon

Customer Reviews:

Excelent Performance.......2007-01-10

What can I say about Bach played by LAGQ but The Perfect Combination. The only thing reprochable is that some tracks like the "Loose" Cannon by Pachelbel ends in fade out instead of a real ending. I wish this was a two CD set.

For Thy Pleasure: Yeap, It is Very Enjoyable .......2006-10-25

For the first time, I listened to LAGQ from Vermont Public Radio while I came back home. After listening to "Little Fugue In G Minor", I could not get it out of my mind. I like the original version of Bach's organ music but the LAGQ version gave me a different feeling of music: True melancholy.
Buying the cd gave me a lot of joyful time. All the music in the cd were excellent. I believe there are a lot of musicians who are techically perfect but only a few of them can give me this kind of pleasure. All the music are beautiful and graceful. On top of that all of them are absolutely enjoyable.

Please try the last track, "Canon In D: The Pachelbel 'Loose' Cannon" when you are blue.

Amazing Guitars...And Then Some!.......2006-10-17

As a guitarist(mostly metal, neo-classical, rock, and blues), I have always been seeking that one 'classical' album that is just guitars working out entire orchestrations; no violins, cellos, etc(nothing personal, mind you...). This is that album. From the subtle to the intense, these 4 players work effortlessly together, putting together some faithful and authentic renditions of some familiar(some not so familiar)classical pieces. I was amazed at first just by the blinding technique, but began to appreciate the much more hidden aspects of this CD on multiple listenings. It has inspired me to look into a whole new style of playing. This is a really good starter CD for someone like myself who is just looking for some nice classical guitar ensembles.

Pleasure For Your Musical Soul .......2006-02-22

I listened to this CD three times straight to make sure I heard every outstanding note. The arrangements were superb, and the talent....
This CD is a must for anyone who loves guitar and arrangments that will have you humming in your sleep!!

Just amazing playing!.......2005-05-17

This cd is great, the repertoire isn't played very much, and these four gentlemen play it so well! My personal favorite track on the disc is the "loose" cannon! Just a fun arrangement of one of the most popular classical songs of all time, and it's virtuosic in every way! Another great CD. Enjoy!

Average customer rating: Experiment with Form and Content Lush, moody pop genius Quite a legend Thom Yorke's Favorite Best he ever did

Scott 4 Scott Walker Manufacturer: Ume Imports ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Experimental Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Baroque Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Pop | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Climate of Hunter Boy Child: The Best of Scott Walker 1967-1970 The Best of the Walker Brothers Sings Jacques Brel Rock Bottom ASIN: B0000075YE Release Date: 2005-10-11

Tracks:

1. The Seventh Seal
2. On Your Own Again
3. The World's Strongest Man
4. Angels Of Ashes
5. Boy Child
6. Hero Of The War
7. The Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated To The Neo-Stalinist Regime)
8. Duchess
9. Get Behind Me
10. Rhymes Of Goodbye

Album Description

4th solo album from the enigmatic rocker who influenced the vocal styles of David Bowie & Bryan Ferry, formerly of the British Invasion act the Walker Brothers he started his career as a teen idol who recorded under the name Scotty Engel. Originally released in 1969, '4' was released too much critical acclaim & was the first Walker album to feature entirely original material. Tracks include the Ingmar Bergma influenced 'The Seventh Seal' & 'The Old Man's Back Again' Other songs show engaging folk, country, and soul influences that were largely buried on his previous solo albums. 2000, 24 bit digitally remastered edition with restored original sleeve. Fontana. Standard jewel case.

Album Details

24 Bit Hdcd Remastered Edition with Restored Original Sleeve Artwork of this 1969 Release.

Customer Reviews:

Experiment with Form and Content.......2007-07-24

Scott 4 is the fourth solo album of the artistically ambitious musician Scott Walker (a.k.a. Engel). Scott composed all the pieces in this album. Many people consider this album as the best of his 4 solo albums from the last half of the 1960s. I am not a music expert, but I feel that Scott experimented with the formal structure of some of his musical pieces in this album. What I want to say here is this: he seems to have flaunted the dissonance between his sounds and his words in some of his musical pieces in this album, such as The Seventh Seal and The Old Man's Back Again; it is as if he wanted to see which elements would win out of this disquiet mixture -- the form or the content? It is also possible that Scott wanted to point out the fact that the beautiful music often anaesthetized the horror and tragedy of our reality (his lyrics) through the beauty of its form (his voice and score). Scott's "recent" albums Tilt and Drift support this interpretation. In any case, I very much appreciate the ambiguity and puzzle of this album. I highly recommend this album to anybody who appreciates music that is not only enchanting but also thought provoking.

Lush, moody pop genius.......2007-07-11

Released in 1969 to mixed reviews and poor sales, Scott Walker's fourth solo album is an unfairly neglected masterwork, a collection of smartly written and dazzlingly perfomed songs. The album reveals Walker's considerable talents- his lyrics are intelligent and poetic, and his voice is an absolute marvel, a sturdy wail that rings with emotion and charisma. That singular voice arcs beautifully over the music, which is an incredible mixture of bold, dramatic orchestration and Phil Spector- esque production. The result is a collection of endearing, memorable, and unique songs: "The Seventh Seal" (which is based on an Ingmar Bergman film of the same title) is a dynamic rush of sound, full of emotion and grace. The lyrics, meanwhile, are a dreamy meditation on the inevitability of death. "Hero of the War" and "The Old Man's Back Again" combine scathing political commentary with irresistable instrumentation, while "On Your Own Again" is a short, tense, and haunting meditation on loneliness. "World's Strongest Man" is an unflaggingly beautiful confession of love and vulnerability. Elsewhere, Walker shows off his flair for gospel-drenched soul and country ("Get Behind Me" and "Rhymes of Goodbye"), while "Angels of Ashes" and "Boy Child" are simply gorgeous. Scott 4 is a unique and endlessly rewarding classic. Go on, buy it!

Quite a legend.......2007-02-14

I can't remember quite how I first heard of Scott Walker, but on the merit of lots of great reviews I picked up this, his fourth solo album. After numerous listens, I feel like I've got a good feel for what most people think is his masterpiece and I can definitely recommend it. Probably my biggest comment on Scott 4 is that it's unlike pretty much all other pop rock that was made by young people in the 60's and 70's. Although it clearly has roots in adult contemporary of the time, no one else but Walker seemed interested in combining lush orchestral, pop/jazz elements with the topical and difficult lyrical themes brought to the forefront of the music scene during the era. It might not be what you're expecting from a late-60's pop effort, but Scott 4 is a great record and worth the praise it's received.

The centerpiece of Walker's work is, most definitely, his voice. At times operatic, at other times verging on schmaltzy, he's certainly got an expressive and beautiful baritone. Backing his vibrato-rich crooning is a slinky orchestra, some subtly fingerpicked acoustic guitar, and sometimes more rock-oriented instrumentation. What sets Walker apart from the lounge music genre that he seems to be falling into are his lyrics--he contemplates death in the dramatic "The Seventh Seal," the ridiculousness of war in the bitterly ironic "Hero of the War," and Communism in "The Old Man's Back Again." When you fully grasp what Walker is trying to accomplish with his synthesis of pop music and dark themes, it becomes apparent that Scott 4 is a pretty unique entry into the music world of the late 60's.

Although much of the album is downbeat and atmospheric ("Boy Child," "Angels of Ashes"), it definitely has its rocking moments--"Get Behind Me" is great, and Walker's scat is a priceless summation of the entire project--so seemingly out of place, yet so perfect. I can't wait to check out some more of Scott's earlier work, as well as his more experimental recent work--I've heard great things. As for now, though, I can recommend Scott 4 to anyone who's interested in great, obscure records with excellent lyrics. Just keep an open mind about the seemingly un-hip style of the music, and it'll pay off.

Thom Yorke's Favorite.......2006-07-04

That would be Thom Yorke of Radiohead, silly, who recently listed Scott 3 and 4 as his "desert island jukebox picks" on WBEZ's Sound Opinions radio program.

Best he ever did.......2006-05-26

This is by far the best Scott Walker album. There seems to be a war between the Scott 3 and the Scott 4 fans. But in my opinion this is where the real Scott Walker shines. Buy them both and decide which camp you are in.

Average customer rating: One of the best recordings of Branderburg concertos my copy was ok Could be great. Production Error Try before you buy

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Johann Sebastian Bach , Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment , Paul Goodwin , Catherine Mackintosh , Rachel Beckett , Mark Bennett , Monica Huggett , Alison Bury , Marion Scott , Lisa Beznosiuk , Malcolm Proud , Elizabeth Wallfisch , Pavlo Beznosiuk , Richard Campbell , Sarah Cunningham , William Hunt , John Toll , Richard Tunnicliffe , Timothy Brown , and Susan Dent Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Concerto Grossi | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music $7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment | ( O ) | Performers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Mozart: Great Piano Concertos Beethoven: Symphonien Nos. 5 & 7 / Kleiber, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Brahms: Piano Trios Nos. 1 & 2 Tchaikovsky: Symphony 6 "Pathétique" in B minor Op. 74 Haydn: Lord Nelson Mass / Willcocks, King's College Choir ASIN: B00000J2PP Release Date: 1999-06-08

Tracks:

1. Concerti No.1 in F Major: I. No Tempo Indication
2. Concerti No.1 in F Major: II. Adagio
3. Concerti No.1 in F Major: III. Allegro
4. Concerti No.1 in F Major: IV. Menueto - Trio I - Polacca - Trio II
5. Concerto No.2 In F Major: I. No Tempo Indicated
6. Concerto No.2 In F Major: II. Andante
7. Concerto No.2 In F Major: III. Allegro assai
8. Concerto No.3 In G Major: I. No Tempo Indicated
9. Concerto No.3 In G Major: II. Adagio - Allegro

Tracks:

1. Concerto No.4 In G Major: I. Allegro
2. Concerto No.4 In G Major: II. Andante
3. Concerto No.4 In G Major: III. Presto
4. Concerto No.5 in D major: I. Allegro
5. Concerto No.5 in D major: II. Affetuoso
6. Concerto No.5 In D Major: III. Allegro
7. Conceto No.6 In B-flat Major: I. No Tempo Indicated
8. Conceto No.6 In B-flat Major: II. Adagio na non tanto
9. Concerto No.6 In B-flat Major: III. Allegro

Amazon.com

The Brandenburg Concertos seem to be Bach's most popular works by far, and there are so many recordings of them out there--on period instruments and "modern," and at all price ranges. Of course, it's hard to pick out one or even two to call the "best"--but this reissue of a 1989 recording by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment has a good claim for the title of "Best Buy Brandenburgs." These performances don't have the splashy extroversion of Il Giardino Armonico or the caffeine-pumped, high-velocity thrill of Musica Antiqua Köln, but they're not overly reserved or dull, as some English ensembles are accused of being. The OAE's instrumental playing is very skillful indeed, with particularly nice work from the horns in the third movement of the First Concerto, and from trumpeter Mark Bennett in the Second; and the tempos are moderately quick (which means that they would have been considered rather fast before 1980 or so), but without being breathless. The slow movements sing sweetly--the viola playing of Monica Huggett and Pavlo Besnosiuk in the slow movement of the Sixth Concerto is especially lovely--and the quick outer movements have an infectiously bouncy pulse. If money is no object, you might want to consider Il Giardino Armonico or the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, but these here are surely the best Brandenburgs available at such a low price. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

One of the best recordings of Branderburg concertos.......2006-03-06

I own quite a few recordings of the Branderburg concertos (Suzuki, Saval, Boston Baroque...) this one is one of the best.

There is an evident feel of musical joy coming out of this recording. I can't find other ways to describe it.
The musicians are enthusiastic about the work they are playing, restrained most of the time but when it is called for they give their best.

Highly recommended.

my copy was ok.......2006-02-09

This is an excellent version of the Brandenbergs. The tempos are good and the instruments are all clearly heard. I noticed that some sort of production problem led to some poor reviews with the 2 CDs having the same music for some people. I did NOT have that problem and think this set can be highly recommended.

Could be great........2006-01-02

I got a gift certificate for Borders and I decided to get this as I have been wanting it despite reports of the same music being on both discs. I brought it out to the van and immediately played both CDs and they both were the exact same music. I return the disc at Borders before we left the parking lot. What little we played sounded so right. Brilliant energy and refinement. Excellent sound quality. If I knew I could get one that was manufactured correctly I would purchase it in a heart beat.

Very Dissapointing.

Production Error.......2005-12-08

I would like to confirm the problem reported by Mr. Whittet. I purchased the disks in November 2005 and found the same mistake that he did. Disk 1 has the same music as Disk 2.

In other ways this is a spectacular recording. The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment gives a graceful and articulate reading of the concertos, and the recorded sound is clear, warm, and spacious. But, despite the bargain price, it's not worth it just to get two copies of concertos 4-6.

Try before you buy.......2005-11-23

Watch out for a manufacturing error with this 2CD set. I found that the exact same music (Concertos 4-6) was recorded on each CD in the set (they are labelled CD1 and CD2 but both contain the music for CD2). I returned it, obtained a replacement, and the replacement has the exact same problem, so it is not an isolated event. I believe these performances would be excellent if I could only get to hear them all.

Average customer rating: Almost angelic Great choir, but mostly recycled material Glittering Chrismas Music The Spirit of Christmas On CD Superb voices!

Cambridge Singers Christmas Album Manufacturer: Collegium ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Britten | Britten, Sir Benjamin | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Sweelinck | Sweelinck, JanPieterszoon | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tavener | Tavener, John Kenneth | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vaughan Williams, Ralph | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Warlock | Warlock, Peter | ( W ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Vaughan Williams, Ralph | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Motets | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Similar Items: The John Rutter Christmas Album Christmas Star Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity The Holly and the Ivy: Carols from Clare College John Rutter Collection ASIN: B0000DJEOL Release Date: 2003-10-07

Tracks:

1. The holly and the ivy (arr. H. Walford Davies)*
2. Blessed be that maid Mary (arr. David Willcocks)
3. Somerset Wassail (arr. John Rutter)
4. Shepherds, in the fields abiding (French, arr. Willcocks)*
5. The Infant King (Basque, arr. Willcocks)
6. What is this lovely fragrance? (French, arr. Healey Willan)
7. Gabriel's message (Basque, arr. Willcocks)*
8. Still, still, still (German, arr. Rutter)
9. Quittez, pasteurs (French, arr. Rutter)
10. Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle (French, arr. Rutter)
11. Personent hodie (German, arr. Rutter)
12. The shepherds' farewell (Hector Berlioz)
13. O holy night (Adolphe Adam)
14. O magnum mysterium (T. L. de Victoria)
15. Hodie Christus natus est (J. P. Sweelinck)
16. For unto us a child is born (G. F. Handel)
17. In dulci jubilo (Samuel Scheidt)
18. Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child (Kenneth Leighton)*
19. A New Year Carol (Benjamin Britten)
20. Balulalow (Peter Warlock)
21. I saw a fair maiden (Peter Warlock)
22. The Lamb (John Tavener)
23. Fantasia on Christmas Carols (Ralph Vaughan Williams)

Album Description

Christmas Never Sounded So Good!

For more than a decade, John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers have shared the Joy of Christmas with the world. The ethereal sound of perfectly blended voices, singing the most beautiful seasonal music ever composed never fails to touch the heart or lift the spirit. This year, John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers have assembled a NEW collection - compiled from the archives, including FOUR NEVER BEFORE RELEASED TRACKS! This is a holiday feast you will NOT want to miss!

Customer Reviews:

Almost angelic.......2007-01-18

Choral music by the Cambridge Singers is always top-notch. An older album that might have sounded better with newer technology but no complaints. Has great vocals and orchestral support.

Great choir, but mostly recycled material.......2005-12-16

I have the utmost respect for John Rutter and his Cambridge Singers, probably the best choir in the world (at least, the English-speaking world). I have almost all their CDs. Two of their Christmas CDs are "desert-island" class for this listener.

Unfortunately, I cannot give this otherwise excellent CD the same high marks. If they wanted to release a "best of Cambridge Christmas" CD, this would not be it. It does a few of the absolute best Christmas selections, including Sweelinck's "Hodie", Willcocks's breathtaking arrangement of "The Infant King", and Rutter's own quirky reading of "Personent Hodie". And it does contain a few tracks not previously released.

However, if you want the best of Cambridge and Christmas, start with "Christmas Night", which is always the first CD I pull out the day after Thanksgiving. The sound of the famliar Persall setting of "In Dulci Jubilo" sets my holiday in motion. And that CD also has Rutter's own magical "There is a flower". After that CD, get "Christmas with the Cambridge Singers", which has "The Infant King" and some other treasures.

So, you can't really go wrong with this CD, especially if you just want an introduction to how this fine ensemble addresses the most choir-friendly holiday of all. But if you're serious about getting all the good stuff, start with the other two mentioned above, then add "Christmas Day in the Morning" and the early "Christmas Star".

Glittering Chrismas Music.......2005-11-15

I own virtually all of the CD's of John Rutter (whom I greatly admire) and the Cambridge Singers, and I am a fan of English Choral music in general. If I were asked to recommend only one of the many Cambridge Singers Christmas albums, or indeed one of any English Christmas album, a hard choice, this would be it. As others have noted, this CD is a compilation of songs from previous cds with four new releases. It is, I believe, longer playing than the other Cambridge albums. In style, it is a mostly quiet sounding collection--in fact several carols are sung a cappella-- with pieces ranging from carols such as "The Holly and the Ivy" to the more robust "Fantasia on Christmas Carols". In sum, this is a sensitively arranged and performed collection of beautiful Christmas music.

The Spirit of Christmas On CD.......2005-06-02

I have never been disappointed by any Cambridge Singers release, so it isnt surprising that I thoroughly enjoyed this offering as well. This CD is a compilation of songs from previous cds with one or two new tracks, so check your library to make sure you arent duplicating your collection in the order to complete your collection. I purchased this disk to obtain a copy of the Fantasia On Christmas Carols by Ralph Vaughn Williams which was originally released on Christmas Day In The Morning. As usual, every song is performed in a precise yet heartfelt manner. If you dont own any cds by the Cambridge singers I would personally recommend Christmas Night as the first disk to own, but if you know and love the Cambridge Singers as I do, then you will enjoy having this wonderful addition to your library.

Superb voices!.......2003-12-22

This CD was beautifully sung by the Cambridge Singers, a boys/mens choir, mostly a' capela. It's the first Christmas CD I've bought that really tempts me to crank up the volume so I can revel in every note.

Average customer rating: Does it Expand or Contract? majestic one of my favorite pieces of music ever composed Steve Reich's Music BEWARE.

Music for 18 Musicians Manufacturer: Nonesuch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Reich, Steve | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Minimal Techno | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Reich, Steve | ( R ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music Similar Items: Reich: Different Trains, Electric Counterpoint / Kronos Quartet, Pat Metheny Steve Reich: Octet; Music for a Large Ensemble; Violin Phase Drumming Steve Reich: Music for 18 Musicians Tabula Rasa ASIN: B000006E4C Release Date: 1998-03-31

Tracks:

1. Pulses
2. Section I
3. Section II
4. Section IIIA
5. Section IIIB
6. Section IV
7. Section V
8. Section VI
9. Section VII
10. Section VIII
11. Section IX
12. Section X
13. Section XI
14. Pulses

Amazon.com essential recording

The pulsations of Steve Reich's landmark Music for 18 Musicians signify a New Music precipice. Where so much music after World War II explored extremes of tone, time, and register, Reich--and some of his colleagues in the 1960s and after--gravitated towards immersion in repetitions and telescoped focus on tonal areas. The combination of piano, vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, clarinets, violin, cello, and female voices is intoxicating in Reich's hands. Reich creates a middle-register, ringing vamp with burnished reed palpitations and, eventually, quick, rolling piano figures emerge in tandem with the percussion. This recording is the second-best known, next to the ECM Records version of the piece, and is warm and colorfully tingling. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Does it Expand or Contract?.......2007-04-17

This is no ordinary piece of music. It is hypnotic and beautiful, as most other reviewers point out. It can put all other music out of your mind for periods of time; you only want to stay in the trance.

There are light and dark energies at play in this music. The elements of light are held in the beautiful syntax of rhythm and melody. You might find yourself singing or whistling along very intensely, and even creating new layers to the music with your voice. The elements of darkness are represented as a sense of neurotic insanity, or obsessive particularity.

To be hyptotized for its own sake is dangerous. What is behind this hypnosis? What energy is being expressed here? As you move into your third and fourth listen, ask yourself whether you feel expansion or contraction.

For those who are interested in trance states and deep inward gazing, this recording is definitely an experience worth having. If nothing else, it can remind us that music is awesomely powerful.

majestic .......2006-12-10

This recording is a perfect example of how Reich has influenced instrumental/classical music. Its seems as if every movie released in the last ten years has soundtrack recordings that try to imitate Reich, like the movie American Beauty. While people buy these soundtrack recordings, they often do not even know who Steve Reich is or where there imitation music came from. This is one of the best recordings for anyone knew to this music, and should not be considered as minimalist. I agree with Philip Glass, who believes the word minimalist is not an adequate term.
The term minimalist seems to indicate simplicity or shallowness, but this music is neither. This is in fact very deep and moving music, full of emotion and dynamic ideas.

one of my favorite pieces of music ever composed.......2005-11-29

Composed in 1976 by Reich, this is a piece that goes down as a classic in my view. Although some of his earlier work with tape manipulations now sounds a bit dated and simply doesn't hold up as well, the beauty of Music For 18 Musicians still sounds as fresh to me now as anything that I've heard lately. This particular release on Nonesuch, recorded in 1996 is actually about 11 minutes longer than the original composition, but that length really only adds to the bliss of the piece. At 14 tracks and almost 67 minutes of music, it's just over an hourlong excursion into what feels like a safer place.

Performed by musicians, just as the title states, it actually might fall into what many would consider 'trance' music. It's highly repetitive, and while it bears no relation to the crap being pedalled as trance music these days, it's nearly as hypnotic as any music you'll find. With vocals, stringed instruments, lots of percussive elements (vibraphone, gamelan, marimba, maracas), pianos, and clarinets, it's one of those pieces of music that you can trace back to as a starting point for not only individual artists, but genres as well. It blends non-western, classical, and even a touch of jazz for something that was original at the time, and still stands solidly on that ground.

With all this praise I'm heaping on this piece, I must warn that if you don't enjoy repetitive music, you probably won't appreciate this release quite as much. While it is repetitive, though, it's far from minimal (although it's grouped into that category often). Unfurling over the course of 11 different parts, as well as phasing pieces that lead into and end the overall composition, it breathes like something real and organic as each instrument and voice take their place with the harmony and again blend back down into the mix. It's constantly moving and shifting, and while there are moments of quieter transition, there are also ones of breathtaking splendor as melodies overlap and change speed while different instruments come into and out of focus. It's like taking several different minimal paintings printed on transparencies and subtely shifting them over one another to create new pieces as you see colors blend into one another and fold into something new each time.

Considering that the piece is one that's performed by actual people, the juxtaposition of the different elements is quite amazing (of course, imagining how you would program something like this electronically also staggers the mind), and as mentioned before, you can hear little bits of everyone from Tortoise to different electronic artists like Vladislav Delay and Gas (Mike Ink) having developed parts from it. While their were groundbreaking pieces both before and after it, it's one of those recordings that will envelope you if you allow it to. So, if you're a fan of modern electronic music or even post rock, you should probably hunt down this release and hear it at least once. If you can, simply stop doing everything else, pop it in the CD player and relax with it on a pair of headphones for the entirety of the release. You'll come to just under 70 minutes later when the CD stops spinning, and chances are you'll want to do it again sometime. I certainly do.

(from almost cool music reviews)

Steve Reich's Music.......2005-09-15

If you have ever heard of Steve Reich, you probably first heard about him in a Music Appreciation class in college. His genre is minimalism, considered by some to be "America's classical music." If you have never heard this kind of music before, it could really bother you. This music has a whole different philosophy underlying it. What is music supposed to do for you? Popular classical music typically has strong form, and seeks to provide the listener with many types of variety in melody and chord-progression. Minimalism intentionally does away with a lot of that. In Steve Reich's music, rhythm is very important, and in 18, continuous pulses, melodic patterns, crescendos and decrescendos all swirl and dovetail. Repetition is used to create a tonal "picture" for you to soak in as subtle variations are introduced and eventually fade out. The result is colorfully impressionistic, and at times jazzy.

BEWARE........2005-08-09

The worst question you could ever ask a music fan, one who is always searching for something more to broaden their sense of what drives this passion for music, is what their favorite album or piece of music.

Now I'm a fan of folk, indie rock, some hip-hop, country, choral music, hardcore, and other classical artists, but it wasn't until I heard 'Music For 18 Musicians' during my sophomore year in college during a semester abroad in Oxford, England that I could settle on one album for that top spot. No more sifting through Kid A, Pet Sounds, Rites Of Spring, or Heartbreaker...No this was the mathematically perfect piece of music that you've been looking for all your life.

I originally heard the ECM recording (only through the first 5 chords) and normally the first version I hear tends to be my favorite, but the Nonesuch recording is so rich, longer, better recorded, and it's divided into separate tracks as everyone has already pointed out.

The way '18' weaves in and out of it's chords is not an ambient minimalist piece that you can enjoy as mere background music like an Eno record but this is more for concentrated listens. Not to say that it can't be enjoyed in the passive form, but I definitely get more from the concentrated full-run sessions.

Beware though; this piece can often turn you against all other music for long periods of time. Also it made me realize I would never be a musician. You'll just want to write something this perfect, and I knew that I couldn't. My talents lie elsewhere.

Average customer rating: Good clean fun. The spirit of American music Very Dirty Playing Lighthearted, musical fun

Americana George Gershwin , John Novacek , Charlie Chaplin , Scott Joplin , Manuel Ponce , Henri Vieuxtemps , Spiritual Traditional , Stephen Foster , and Leila Josefowicz Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Foster, Stephen | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gershwin | Gershwin, George | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Vieuxtemps | Vieuxtemps, Henri | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music Similar Items: For the End of Time Bohemian Rhapsodies Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D/Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1; Violin Sonata Leila Josefowicz Plays Beethoven, Ravel, Salonen, Grey, Messiaen ASIN: B00004YWU9 Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

1. Four Rags: Intoxication
2. Four Rags: 4th Street Drag
3. Four Rags: Cockles
4. Four Rags: Full Stride Ahead
5. Smile
6. Yankee Doodle (Variations Burlesques): Souvenir D'Amerique
7. Ragtime For Violin: The Ragtime Dance
8. Esterllita (My Little Star, Mexican Serenade)
9. Short Story
10. Three Preludes: 1 Allegro Ben Ritmato E Deciso
11. Three Preludes: 2 Andante Con Moto E Poco Rubato
12. Three Preludes: 3 Allegro Ben Ritmato E Deciso
13. Ragtime For Violin: The Easy Winners
14. Deep River
15. Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair
16. Old Folks At Home
17. Porgy And Bess Suite: Summertime - A Woman Is A Sometime Thing
18. Porgy And Bess Suite: My Man's Gone Now
19. Porgy And Bess Suite: It Ain't Necessarily So
20. Porgy And Bess Suite: Bess, You Is My Woman Now
21. Porgy And Bess Suite: Tempo Di Blues

Amazon.com

Just in time for the November 2000 presidential elections, violinist Leila Josefowicz delivers her platform based entirely on violin virtuosity and Americana. Josefowicz seems to excel on short showpieces, and this 21-track CD is full of them--lively American-themed miniatures that don't stretch over five minutes. Accompanied by pianist John Novacek, Josefowicz is in fine form, fiddling through Gershwin's Three Preludes, Porgy and Bess Suite, and "Short Story." On Charlie Chaplin's "Smile," she gets to show off her glorious tone (obscured on most of these tunes by her energetic bow attack). And, though the "Yankee Doodle" variations by Henri Vieuxtemps may test the mettle of all but the most patriotic listener, there's no denying that Josefowicz can play these pieces with the best of them. It may be lightweight fun, but it's fun nonetheless. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

Good clean fun........2002-02-21

I have enjoyed most of Leila Josefowicz's recordings very much, but this is my favorite. The songs are mostly in a style more or less like rag-time, and they are a lot of fun besides being impressive.
The most amazing piece on this disc is the delightful Yankee Doodle Variations by Vieuxtemps. A fun and virtuosic set of, you guessed right, variations on the song Yankee Doodle. Her perfomence on this piece in particular makes it worth the cost of the entire disc.
Ms. Josefowicz's technique is flawless and her tone is gorgeous. The accompaniment equally good, and the recording quality leaves little to be desired.

The spirit of American music.......2001-07-23

Ms. Josefowicz has created an amazing recording. Her style is incredibly spirited and one can tell she is having great fun with the music. These are pieces familiar to many and yet her performance leaves one feeling they are hearing them for the first time. She is to be commended for producing and replicating the enthusiasm of the American musical tradition. The Gershwin pieces are masterpieces in their own right. I would love to see her produce a Gershwin recording. I think you will find yourself listening many times to this amaizing recording.

Very Dirty Playing.......2001-03-20

On this CD Josefowicz goes far beyond that of "Gypsy like abandon," her playing is horribly scratchy. Her performance of the delightful Yankee Doodle Variations by Vieuxtemps is absolutely repulsive. The playing is not helped any by the horrible recording quality either, if you buy this CD, don't buy it for the Yankee Doodle Variations!

Lighthearted, musical fun.......2000-12-13

Leila Josefowicz has shown us, through her previous recordings, that she can play all the "heavies" of the violin repertoire with the best of them. Now she's back, with a catchy, fun recording of jazzy American showpieces. Don't let the cover of the cd fool you into thinking this is a pop princess album, it's not. True, the pieces on here are not heavy, they're purely fun, but she still pulls them off with the same flair and panache as she does in her more serious albums. As Leila states in the liner notes, this album WILL bring a smile to your face! Go out and buy this recording--it's wonderful to listen to when your spirits need a lift.

Average customer rating: Legal Stuff Apart

An Anthology of Noise & Electronic Music, Vol. 3: 1952-2004 Manufacturer: Sub Rosa ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Electronic | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music | Computer General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Anthology of Noise & Electronic Music, Vol. 4 An Anthology of Noise & Electronic Music, Vol. 2 An Anthology of Noise & Electronic Music: First A-Chronology, Vol. 1 Ohm: The Early Gurus of Electronic Music Special Edition 3CD + DVD Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center 1961-1973 ASIN: B0002Y4PPU Release Date: 2004-11-02

Tracks:

1. De Natura Sonorum: Matis Induites - Bernard Parmegiani
2. Short Presentation of the 1948 Sackbut: The Sackbut Blues/A ... - Hugh Le Caine
3. Stereo Music for Serge Modular Prototype - Keith Fullerton Whitman
4. Last Largo - Ilhan Mimaroglu
5. Room Pieces [Excerpt] - Michael J. Schumacher
6. Ovipool
7. Stone: Reciprocal
8. Flume
9. Execution of Intelligence - Zbigniew Karkowski
10. Birds and Warhorse
11. Requiem: Dies Irae - Michel Chion

Tracks:

1. Sttimen ni4 & #1 - Erkki Kurenniemi
2. Time...Dot
3. Early Work 6
4. Klangstudies II - Herbert Eimert
5. Eve
6. Teilmenge - Asmus Tietchens
7. Feuerland - Michael Rother
8. Contacte - To Rococo Rot
9. Till Zakynthos (Op. 205) - Rune Lindblad
10. Eternal Love #3

Customer Reviews:

Legal Stuff Apart.......2007-04-21

To understand this review, take a look at the reviews of the other volumes in this series...
Some of the music on this series is so weird and beautiful that the composers should be grateful that it is released here. They should think of this series as a sampler which might atract us, the general public, into further investigation of their work, which we most probably would have never had the chance to hear it or become aware of its existence or of the composers/artists. Don't be so greedy... for I believe you have been done a favor. The same goes for the other volumes of this series. TWO THUMBS UP!

Average customer rating: Repetition in a truly fascinating way.... Quite enjoyable Back to Basics A philosophical work Amazing, absolutely amazing

Drumming Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Reich, Steve | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Minimal Techno | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Steve Reich: Music for 18 Musicians Reich: Different Trains, Electric Counterpoint / Kronos Quartet, Pat Metheny Sextet/Six Marimbas Reich: Tehillim / The Desert Music Rainbow in Curved Air ASIN: B0000D7Z63 Release Date: 2003-11-11

Tracks:

1. Drumming, Pt. 1 - Bob Becker, Russ Hartenberger, James Preiss
2. Drumming, Pt. 2 - Bob Becker, , , Tim Ferchen, Ben Harms, Russ Hartenberger, Martin Laba, Steve Reich, Glen Velez

Tracks:

1. Drumming, Pt. 3 - Bob Becker, Russ Hartenberger, James Preiss, Steve Reich, Leslie Scott, Glen Velez
2. Drumming, Pt. 4 - Bob Becker, , , Tim Ferchen, Ben Harms, Russ Hartenberger, James Preiss, Steve Reich, Glen Velez

Customer Reviews:

Repetition in a truly fascinating way...........2007-05-17

Originally released in 1973, this version is the re-released updated version of the seminal work of composer and minimalist "Steve Reich". Taking the central theme and idea of drumming and using rhythmic arrangements that owe a heavy debt to minimalist" or "trance" music at its best; rhythmic and melodic, using a variety of performers and percussionists, to bring these compositions to life, it's like a lengthy composition that ebbs and flows, and hits with tightly woven passages of sound, with subtle variations, which fall perfectly into line, and then gradually begin to fall out of synch, but done in such a slight and streamlined way, that you tend not to notice of the first few listens, and it's only subsequent gradual listens, that begin to unearth the intricacy of the music.

It's a sound that is minimal in its aesthetic...yet the deceptive almost trance-like nature of the sound, revel an undulating undercurrent to the music, that given the right conditions to truly appreciate the music, can be as intense and powerful as that of dynamic rock music. It strangely boundless, and unconcerned with similarly derived music, yet it can on occasion feel warm and organic, this is partly due to Reich's brilliance as a composer...which revels him to be determined, and single-minded in his approach, and seemingly able to give his arrangement a transitional sound, which gives way to an almost muscular and propulsive sound.

It's repetition, defined in the best possibly sense, and arguably those not familiar with Reich's work, may well find this tough going, as there are no vocal accompaniments to latch onto.....or any dramatic shifts in approach to change the mood, or even any real surprising U-turns to prepare for. Instead what you get is a subtly shifting music, heavy in texture and surprisingly thick in complexity, whereby melodies are challenging, with everything taking on a more Cerebral and hypnotic, near-clinical arrangement. It's epic listening, with no patience for people that like their music which is short and easily digestible. And instead these are long passages of resonating music, harmonically repeated and spread out over great lengths, allowing the listener to submerge themselves in the music, which will eventually mutate into fluid, linear songs.

I'll admit straight away, that I'm no Reich expert, I love his work...and I have several of his albums, which I enjoy greatly, but I'm a novice as far as his work is concerned (although I'm willing to learn), and for a casual listeners standpoint, I'd have to say that this is not only one of my favourite Reich pieces (along with "Music for 18 Musicians"), but possibly one of his more accessible pieces. It's a remarkable piece of work, and so long as your prepared to try and truly appreciate, what's going here....this is truly sublime stuff, and a whole hearted recommendation, for those unsure of where to start with Reich's work. Tremendous!!!

Quite enjoyable.......2007-01-11

The music brings back memories of West African drumming but is more familiar to the American ear.

Back to Basics.......2007-01-10

Back in the mid-80s when Reich, Glass, Adams, Riley, and Nyman moved from fringe to big time, they all got commissions from larger ensembles. I thought Reich's work was best of all. The thrill of Reich's propulsive beat under long serene (or ominous) tones was enormous. I must admit, though, that he seemed to hit a wall sometime soon after THE DESERT MUSIC and VERMONT COUNTERPOINT. Several "counterpoint" pieces for other instruments followed the same template. Ditto, new pieces echoed DESERT MUSIC, beginning even with the same chord.

This new recording of DRUMMING (the only one I've heard) reminds me why I loved Reich in the first place. At first, it's audaciously simple to the point that a casual listener would call idiotic. Very gradually, with incredible precision and patience, the ensemble gradually shifts out of synch, then starts filling in spaces. Eventually (but not for a long time!) Reich brings in variety with tones and different timbres.

It's dry and clean, it's virtuosic and athletic (what stamina and concentration they must have!), and it's fun.

A philosophical work.......2006-02-19

I first heard "Drumming" on my car radio (of all places, of course it was probably WBAI-FM in New York) when it first came out in the early seventies. I pulled over to the side of the road to listen, so hypnotic was its rhythm. I have the original three-LP Deutch Grammophone version (the third disk contains two other pieces), which I put on tonight for the first time in many years, and came here to Amazon in hopes of finding a DVD-based version that would play straight through without interruption. (I guess that's still in the future.)

What "Drumming" has always conjured up for me are images from fractal geometry, chaos theory, and evolution - it asserts that the human being is the product of inevitable processes of differentiation and elaboration, as subtle phase shifts produce beat frequencies and harmonics, starting with a simple syncopated drumbeat, and calling forth the existence of marimbas, flutes, glockenspeils, and eventually the human voice, in order to reach its final expression.

I'm not usually a fan of classical music - jazz is my thing, since it expresses human individuality and group cooperation with a blues-based scale that's a *harmonic* syncopation - but "Drumming" transcends musical categories. As Duke Ellington always said, there are only two kinds of music: good music and bad music.

Amazing, absolutely amazing.......2005-12-20

I could blather on about this album for a good while and since the other reviewers take you into a more in depth analysis of such an extraordinary album I'll just say this venture into minimalism is incredibly relaxing. While listening to it subconciously you seem to pick out tunes even when it sounds to be incredibly cluttered. Gradually if you're still listening by the time you pop the second CD, it becomes less aggressive, less cluttered and more peaceful, calming, tranquil and then picks the pace up yet again but still sound somewhat slightly different all the time. It's a sheer masterclass of beauty. I hate using words like that normally because it usually makes you sound like a pompous fool but this however deserves the term. It's quite simply astonishing and if you feel overly frustrated or exhausted with your life, this could prove to be the perfect tonic for those with an open mind towards music. It's a pure aural pleasure. Surrender subconsciously and the rewards are great!

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