Hear the Colors

Track Listings
1. Over the Waterfall    
2. March of the 10,000 Autoharpers    
3. Skye Boat Song    
4. You Made Me Love You    
5. Harvest Home    
6. Planxty Fanny Power    
7. Polka Tsia-Tsia Lya-Lya    
8. When You and I Were Young, Maggie    
9. The Hundred Pipers    
10. Friendship Waltz    
11. Moonlight Bay    
12. How Great Thou Art    
13. Come, Josephine, in My Flying Machine    
14. Can-Can    

Editorial Reviews
Mike Herr, Autoharp Quarterly
From the first lively, pick-up-your-ears intro to the last knock-your-socks-off solo, Alan Mager shows why he's won five of the top six prizes in autoharp competition.

Autoharp Quarterly, Winter 1997
The level of precision that he imparts to his music, together with Alan's adeptness at song arrangement makes "Hear the Colors" one of the "must" autoharp recordings. (Autoharp Clearinghouse, December 1996) REVIEW: From the first lively, pick-up-your-ears intro to the last knock-your-socks-off solo, Alan Mager shows why he's won five of the top six prizes in autoharp competition. . . . Polka Tsia-Tsia Lya-Lya . . . is the best finger-lead chromatic playing I've ever heard.

Album Description
This all-instrumental album is an eclectic mix of music which showcases the talents of one of the world's finest chromatic autoharp players. In "Hear the Colors," Alan Mager shows that the autoharp is far more than the simple strum-along parlor instrument envisioned by its 19th Century inventor. He uses it to play fast, intricate traditional tunes such as "Over the Waterfall," "Harvest Home" and "The Hundred Pipers;" the delicate, sentimental melodies of "Skye Boat Song" and "When You and I Were Young, Maggie;" and the lush harmonies of the early 20th Century pop classics "You Made Me Love You" and "Moonlight Bay." Alan is accompanied by a variety of other acoustic instruments played by the fine Florida musicians Charley Groth, Jan Milner and Doug Travers. The album's finale is a knock-down, drag-out version of Offenbach's "Can-Can" which is one of the tunes Alan played in winning the 1993 International Autoharp Championship.

Hear the Colors

Hear the Colors, Music, Various Artists, Folk & Traditional, Folk Collections, Pop, V/a Compilations
Colors of Love
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Transcendent Vocalism
  • Beautifully delivered as always, but not my material.
  • Lives up to their reputation
  • One of the best I've picked up in ages
  • Fantastic recording of contemporary choral works
 Colors of Love
Steven Stucky , John Tavener , Bernard Rands , Long Zhou , Chen Yi , Augusta Read Thomas , Steven Sametz , Marianne Kach , and Chanticleer
Manufacturer: Teldec
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by TavenerAll Works by Tavener | Tavener, John Kenneth | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
ChanticleerChanticleer | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ChorusesChoruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
A CappellaA Cappella | Folk | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Our American Journey
  2. Tavener: Lamentations & Praises
  3. Lost in the Stars
  4. Chanticleer: Magnificat (A Capella Works by Josquin, Palestrina, Titov, Victoria, and Others)
  5. Wondrous Love: A World Folk Song Collection

ASIN: B00000IWR3
Release Date: 1999-05-18

Tracks:

  1. Cradle Songs: Rouxinol do pico preto (Brazil)
  2. Cradle Songs: Lilajze, Jezuniu (Poland)
  3. Cradle Songs: Buy Baby Ribbon (Tobago)
  4. Village Wedding
  5. Canti d'Amor: 'Winds of May, that dance on the sea'
  6. Canti d'Amor: 'O cool is the valley'
  7. Canti d'Amor: 'This heart that flutters near my heart'
  8. Canti d'Amor: 'Silently she's combing her long hair'
  9. Canti d'Amor: 'Gentle lady, do not sing sad songs'
  10. Canti d'Amor: 'Sleep now, O you unquiet heart'
  11. Canti d'Amor: 'All day I hear the noise of waters'
  12. Words of the Sun
  13. Tang Poems: Written on a Rainy Night
  14. Tang Poems: Wild Grass
  15. The Rub of Love
  16. in time of
  17. Love Songs: 'Look out upon the stars, my love'
  18. Love Songs: 'Love is a beautiful dream'
  19. Love Songs: 'Alas, the love of women!'
  20. Love Songs: 'For stony limits cannot hold love out'
  21. Love Songs: 'All mankind love a lover'

Amazon.com

This compilation of modern-day madrigals, the latest in a fascinating series of discs from the San Francisco-based all-male vocal group Chanticleer, won the Grammy for Best Small Ensemble Performance of 1999. The selections range over a variety of styles and aesthetics, from the haunting, hypnotic sounds of Steven Stucky's Cradle Songs to the archaic, ethereal beauty and Eastern inflections of John Tavener's "Village Wedding." There are the soft (and somewhat affected) asperities of Bernard Rands' Canti d'Amor as well as the gentle, almost English pastoralism of Zhou Long's "Words of the Sun" (beautiful!) and the colorfully exotic Orientalism of Chen Yi's Tang Poems. Other examples of the wide range here are the self-conscious busywork of Augusta Read Thomas's Love Songs to the darkly lush, 12-part weave of Steven Sametz's "In Time Of," with its radiant climax and pulsating chordal sonorites like the tolling of bells. All of this Chanticleer sings with striking freshness and commitment, virtuosic to a fare-thee-well, always sensitive to the emotional cues of the texts. The recording, made at Skywalker Ranch in January of 1999, is vivid and warm, and so is much of the music. Truly a winning disc. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Transcendent Vocalism.......2005-01-31

This compilation is essential listening, especially (but not exclusively) for those already introduced to the marvels of Chanticleer. It features a wide variety of contemporary madrigals all dedicated to the theme of love. Gorgeous polyphony, entrancing dissonance; the music is very difficult, but Chanticleer's vocalism is exemplary, as always. The whole feel of the album takes some getting used to for the uninitiated. After a few listenings, though, one can fully perceive its unique and sublime beauty.

Highlights abound. The first three tracks, all lullabies by Steven Stucky, are brilliantly executed, but it is track four, Village Wedding by John Taverner, that first knocked my socks off. It seems to represent the absolutely ideal match between composer and performer, between written and sung text. It consists of a wonderful poem by Greek poet Angelos Sikelianos, with a recurring excerpt from the Eastern Orthodox wedding ceremony interspersed throughout. Taverner is himself a member of the Eastern Orthodox church, and the song is as much a spiritual experience as a musical one.

Another fantastic piece is Words of the Sun, by Chinese composer Zhou Long. It is probably the most accessible song on the CD, with numerous lovely subtleties and nuances that can be fully appreciated after multiple exposures.

Lastly, I'd like to express my sincere conviction that In Time Of (by Steven Sametz, set to a poem by E.E. Cummings) is the single most gorgeous piece of music I have ever had the great fortune to hear. The sonority is perfectly balanced, each arching phrase better than the one before. Please, for the sake of pure unadulterated beauty, purchase this CD. You will not regret it.

3 out of 5 stars Beautifully delivered as always, but not my material........2002-07-30

I came to this album as a fan of Chanticleer more than of contemporary art music, though I like to think I do have a certain ear for the stuff. I haven't been educated in it, but I've sung some in my time in choruses, and I learned to appreciate those pieces the way that I learned to appreciate the more classical stuff as a child--by feeling it and hearing it come out of my own body, the ways that it worked, what was exciting, ect. That said, there is a point where I don't get it, and I reached that point all over this album. I thought I'd pass it on because it is hard for most of us to pick this kind of music off the shelf--there will be pieces that skewer us and some that make us fidget. For my part, I am grateful to have the album for the sake of three (long) songs. The Tavner Wedding song itself is probably worth it. But the album will never be put on leisurely.

5 out of 5 stars Lives up to their reputation.......2001-03-07

Just recently had the opportunity to hear Chanticleer in concert...this CD certainly gives a cross section of their range...especially liked the "Tang Poems" and "Words of the Sun", which they performed live...very esoteric mix of musical styles...well worth the purchase for Chanticleer lovers!

4 out of 5 stars One of the best I've picked up in ages.......2000-11-25

First of all let me state that the 4 stars isn't for the performance...which is truly outstanding...it is for a few pieces that are a tad sub-par. I also want to mention that its not that the pieces are modern either, I happen to be extremely sympathetic to modern music.

I usually don't like to do reviews this way, but I'm going to make a few comments piece by piece:

1) CRADLE SONGS - The first two of this trio of lullabies are great...the ones from Brazil & Poland are hauntingly beautiful...I'm not so crazy about the one from Tobago. A fairly strong piece, its certainly interesting.

2) VILLAGE WEDDING - This is one of the best three pieces on the album, and probably the best. Hearing John Tavener's work next to his contemporaries is an easy indicator of why he is considered one of this century's greatest and certainly one of the greatest living composers. Simultaneously it is joyous, austere, reverent & spiritual. Simply beautiful & amazing.

3) CANTI D'AMOUR - This is an up & down work. I'm not sure what the composer had in mind, but I find the first part to be amusing. It reminds me of barbershop quartet. It has more somber moments too that are quite moving. Overall though, its okay.

4) WORDS OF THE SUN - After the Tavener piece, this is my favorite one. I would like to hear some of Zhou Long's other works. It is a very subtle piece. Very Chinese too, yet simultaneously western. This is one of my favorite pieces by eastern composers of western music. Lyrically, it is amazing. Its borrowed from a 20th century Chinese poem that is gorgeous in English, I'm sure its even more so in Chinese. Musically, it is very stirring.

5) TANG POEMS - This piece too is written by a Chinese composer (Chen Yi) and it is distinctly Chinese. I am intrigued at some of the techniques used by the composer. I am really pleased with the piece, although I'm sure some find it a little "too eastern." It is extremely pretty if one is accustomed to eastern melodies. The 2nd part is a bit sharper and probably less accessible than the first part.

6) THE RUB OF LOVE - One of the duller pieces on the album.

7) IN TIME OF - Sublime. The opening few bars are unearthly. Definately one of the three best pieces. They definately need to keep this one in their concert repetoire (along with the Tavener and the two pieces by Chinese composers.) This is one of those works you have to hear to believe.

8) LOVE SONGS - This is a quirky collection of tunes by Augusta Read Thomas. It runs the gamut of serious to extremely silly. There are some strong points here, but some of it is too silly to stand the test of time ("Alas, The Love of Women"). Eventhough it is extremely unconventional, the part entitled "For Stony Limits Cannot Hold Love Out" is powerful. It is piercing & strange, but it really works with the text.

There are times when I love everything on this CD, and times when some of it gets on my nerves. It is, however, never boring and the performances are superb. I highly congratulate Chanticleer for not sitting on their laurels. This is adventursome stuff and it works 90% of the time, which is more than I can say for 99% of the ensembles out there.

I highly recommend this disc for "Village Wedding," "Words of the Sun," "In Time of," and "Tang Poems."

Pick it up, be adventuresome. Enjoy.

5 out of 5 stars Fantastic recording of contemporary choral works.......2000-09-21

Chanticleer is one of the USA's finest choral ensembles, and they have picked a marvelous and diverse program for this recording -- with something that would appeal to absolutely everybody. The inclusion of two "husband-wife" pairs in the choice of music also makes for a special connection to the theme of the disc. Of special note to this reviewer are the "delicious" sonorities of Bernard Rands's "Canti d'Amor" and Augusta Read Thomas's "Love Songs" -- Chanticleer is a group who is able to pull off this difficult music beautifully. This recording was absolutely deserving of the Grammy that is received -- one of the finest discs of modern choral music in the past few years.
Burleigh: Deep River
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Burleigh: Deep River

    Manufacturer: Albany Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B00000JD7I
    Release Date: 1999-06-29
    Hear the Colors
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Hear the Colors
      Various Artists
      Manufacturer: -
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Folk | Styles | Music
      Traditional FolkTraditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Compilations | Folk | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
      International FolkInternational Folk | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
      ASIN: B00000JNCK
      Release Date: 1996-10-06

      Tracks:

      1. Over the Waterfall
      2. March of the 10,000 Autoharpers
      3. Skye Boat Song
      4. You Made Me Love You
      5. Harvest Home
      6. Planxty Fanny Power
      7. Polka Tsia-Tsia Lya-Lya
      8. When You and I Were Young, Maggie
      9. The Hundred Pipers
      10. Friendship Waltz
      11. Moonlight Bay
      12. How Great Thou Art
      13. Come, Josephine, in My Flying Machine
      14. Can-Can

      Album Description

      This all-instrumental album is an eclectic mix of music which showcases the talents of one of the world's finest chromatic autoharp players. In "Hear the Colors," Alan Mager shows that the autoharp is far more than the simple strum-along parlor instrument envisioned by its 19th Century inventor. He uses it to play fast, intricate traditional tunes such as "Over the Waterfall," "Harvest Home" and "The Hundred Pipers;" the delicate, sentimental melodies of "Skye Boat Song" and "When You and I Were Young, Maggie;" and the lush harmonies of the early 20th Century pop classics "You Made Me Love You" and "Moonlight Bay." Alan is accompanied by a variety of other acoustic instruments played by the fine Florida musicians Charley Groth, Jan Milner and Doug Travers. The album's finale is a knock-down, drag-out version of Offenbach's "Can-Can" which is one of the tunes Alan played in winning the 1993 International Autoharp Championship.
      From the Southland
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		From the Southland

        Manufacturer: Premier Recordings
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        GeneralGeneral | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
        ASIN: B000009CSM
        Release Date: 1995-05-05

        Tracks:

        1. Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal
        2. Promis' Lan'
        3. Ethiopia Saluting The Colors
        4. Lovely Dark And Lonely One
        5. Love Watches
        6. Saracen Songs: Almona
        7. Saracen Songs: O, Night Of Dream And Wonder
        8. Saracen Songs: His Helmet's Blaze
        9. Saracen Songs: I Hear His Footsteps, Music Sweet
        10. Saracen Songs: Thou Art Weary
        11. Saracen Songs: This Is Nirvana
        12. Saracen Songs: Ahmed's Song Of Farewell
        13. From The Southland (Piano Sketches): Through Moanin' Pines
        14. From The Southland (Piano Sketches): The Frolic
        15. From The Southland (Piano Sketches): In De Col' Moonlight
        16. From The Southland (Piano Sketches): A Jubilee
        17. From The Southland (Piano Sketches): On Bended Knees
        18. From The Southland (Piano Sketches): A New Hiding-Place
        19. Five Songs Of Laurence Hope: Worth While
        20. Five Songs Of Laurence Hope: The Jungle Flower
        21. Five Songs Of Laurence Hope: Kashmiri Song
        22. Five Songs Of Laurence Hope: Among The Fuchsias
        23. Five Songs Of Laurence Hope: Till I Wake
        24. Spirituals: By An' By
        25. Spirituals: Ev'ry Time I Feel De Spirit
        26. Spirituals: Deep River
        27. Spirituals: Oh, Didn't It Rain
        28. Spirituals: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
        29. Spirituals: Wade In De Water
        30. Spirituals: Heav'n, Heav'n
        Colors To Hear
        Average customer rating: 0 out of 5 stars
        • Darin Isaacs-Colors to Hear
        		 Colors To Hear
        Darin Isaacs
        Manufacturer: Timrstyle Music Records
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        GeneralGeneral | New Age | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
        Similar Items:
        1. Rain
        2. Soft Stories

        ASIN: B000EHPXKG
        Release Date: 1987-02-01

        Tracks:

        1. Colors To Hear
        2. Sunrise
        3. Falling To Earth
        4. Inspiration
        5. Story In Blue
        6. Starlight Night
        7. Wind Storm
        8. Cinderella
        9. Victory

        Product Description

        Inspiration Piano Solo Music from the Pacific North West's most respected solo pianist. Some violins, cellos, and nature sounds. A must have for solo piano music lovers!

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars Darin Isaacs-Colors to Hear.......2007-04-10

        This was the first Title that I bought of Darin's, back when he played at the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe, Washington!! A long time ago. In fact I have it on Cassette tape! I am coming back to buy it on CD. I have finally gotten rid of my last Cassette player and so it is time to upgrade! This music makes me feel relaxed and I can even fall asleep to it! It is beautiful music!
        Malaguena!
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          		Malaguena!

          Manufacturer: SGP
          ProductGroup: Music
          Binding: Audio CD

          GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
          ASIN: B000CAK2NS
          Release Date: 1996-01-01
          Virginia City Lounge
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            		Virginia City Lounge

            Manufacturer: Second Hand Poets
            ProductGroup: Music
            Binding: Audio CD

            Alt-Country & AmericanaAlt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music
            Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
            ASIN: B000CAJIHY
            Release Date: 2004-11-09
            Awakening of Dreams
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              		Awakening of Dreams

              Manufacturer: Doug Wollman
              ProductGroup: Music
              Binding: Audio CD

              GeneralGeneral | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
              ASIN: B000CAH2U4
              Release Date: 2004-06-15
              Ship of Fate
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                		Ship of Fate
                Elya Finn
                Manufacturer: Elya Finn
                ProductGroup: Music
                Binding: Audio CD
                ASIN: B000CAAREC
                Release Date: 2003-01-01

                Music Album:

                1. Help The People
                2. Hotel Metropol
                3. I Saw the Future (But the Damn Train Hit Me Just the Same)
                4. Independence (Demo Version)
                5. Issues + Options
                6. Liberty Street
                7. Lily Wilson
                8. Lovegrove Street
                9. Madgrials & Merriment
                10. Masters Of Love

                Music Album

                Music Album