Lay Me Down [Original recording remastered]

1. Blood Song

2. Lay Me Down

3. Long Way Home

4. I'll Be Waiting

5. Come Back To Me

6. Sweet Havana

7. Guilty

8. My Love Is A Message

9. Falling Stars

10. In And Out Of Time

Tracks:

First Booke Of Songes: I. Unquiet Thoughts
First Booke Of Songes: II. Who Ever Thinks Or Hopes Of Love
First Booke Of Songes: III. My Thoughts Are Wing'd With Hopes
First Booke Of Songes: IV. If My Complaints Could Passions Move
First Booke Of Songes: V. Can She Excuse My Wrongs
First Booke Of Songes: VI. Now, O Now, I Needs Must Part
First Booke Of Songes: VII. Dear, If You Change
First Booke Of Songes: VIII. Burst Fourth My Tears
First Booke Of Songes: IX. Go Crystal Tears
First Booke Of Songes: X. Think'st Thou Then By Thy Feigning
First Booke Of Songes: XI. Come Away, Come Sweet Love
First Booke Of Songes: XII. Rest Awhile, You Cruel Cares
First Booke Of Songes: XIII. Sleep, Wayward Thoughts
First Booke Of Songes: XIV. All Ye, Whom Love Or Fortune Hath Betray'd
First Booke Of Songes: XV. Wilt Thou Unkind Thus Reave Me
First Booke Of Songes: XVI. Would My Conceit
First Booke Of Songes: XVII. Come Again: Sweet Love Doth Now Invite
First Booke Of Songes: XVIII. His Golden Locks
First Booke Of Songes: XIX. Awake, Sweet Love
First Booke Of Songes: XX. Come, Heavy Sleep
First Booke Of Songes: XXI. Away With These Self-Loving Lads

Tracks:

Second Booke Of Songs: I. I Saw My Lady Weep
Second Booke Of Songs: II. Flow My Tears
Second Booke Of Songs: III. Sorrow, Stay
Second Booke Of Songs: IV. Die Not Before Thy Day
Second Booke Of Songs: V. Mourn, Mourn, Day Is With Darkness Fled
Second Booke Of Songs: VI. Time's Eldest Son
Second Booke Of Songs: VII. Then Sit Thee Down
Second Booke Of Songs: VIII. When Others Sing Venite
Second Booke Of Songs: IX. Praise Blindness Eyes
Second Booke Of Songs: X. O Sweet Woods
Second Booke Of Songs: XI. If Floods Of Tears
Second Booke Of Songs: XII. Fine Knacks For Ladies
Second Booke Of Songs: XIII. Now Cease My Wand'ring Eyes
Second Booke Of Songs: XIV. Come Ye Heavy States Of Night
Second Booke Of Songs: XV. White As Lilies Was Her Face
Second Booke Of Songs: XVI. Woeful Heart
Second Booke Of Songs: XVII. A Shepherd In A Shade
Second Booke Of Songs: XVIII. Faction That Ever Dwells
Second Booke Of Songs: XIX. Shall I Sue
Second Booke Of Songs: XX. Toss Not My Soul
Second Booke Of Songs: XXI. Clear Or Cloudy
Second Booke Of Songs: XXII. Humour Say What Mak'st Thou Here

Tracks:

Third Booke Of Songs 1603: I. Farewell, Too Fair
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: II. Time Stands Still
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: III. Behold A Wonder Here
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: IV. Daphne Was Not So Chaste
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: V. Me, Me, And None But Me
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: VI. When Phoebus First Did Daphne Love
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: VII. Say, Love, If Ever Thou Didst Find
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: VIII. Flow Not So Fast, Ye Fountains
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: IX. What If I Never Speed?
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: X. Love Stood Amazed
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XI. Lend Your Ears To My Sorrow
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XII. By A Fountain Where I Lay
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XIII. O What Hath Overwrought
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XIV. Farewell, Unkind
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XV. Weep You No More, Sad Fountains
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XVI. Fie On This Feigning!
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XVII. I Must Complain
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XVIII. It Was A Time When Silly Bees
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XIX. The Lowest Trees Have Tops
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XX. What Poor Astronomers Are They
Third Booke Of Songs 1603: XXI. Come When I Call

Tracks:

A Pilgrimes Solace: I. Disdain Me Still
A Pilgrimes Solace: II. Sweet Stay Awhile
A Pilgrimes Solace: III. To Ask For All Thy Love
A Pilgrimes Solace: IV. Love, Those Beams That Breed
A Pilgrimes Solace: V. Shall I Strive Wih Words To Move?
A Pilgrimes Solace: VI. Were Every Thought An Eye
A Pilgrimes Solace: VII. Stay, Time, Awhile Thy Flying
A Pilgrimes Solace: VIII. Tell Me, True Love
A Pilgrimes Solace: IX. Go Nightly Cares
A Pilgrimes Solace: X. From Silent Night
A Pilgrimes Solace: XI. Lasso vita mia
A Pilgrimes Solace: XII. In This Trembling Shadow Cast
A Pilgrimes Solace: XIII. If That A Sinner's Sights
A Pilgrimes Solace: XIV. Thou Mighty God
A Pilgrimes Solace: XV. When David's Life
A Pilgrimes Solace: XVI. When The Poor Cripple

Tracks:

A Pilgrimes Solace: XVII. Where Sin Sore Wounding
A Pilgrimes Solace: XVIII. My Heart And Tongue Were Twins
A Pilgrimes Solace: XIX. Up Merry Mates
A Pilgrimes Solace: XX. Welcome Black Night
A Pilgrimes Solace: XXI. Cease, Cease These False Sports
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Lachrimae Pavane
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Can Shee
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Paduana
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: The Frogge
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Frog's Galliard
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Pavana And Galiarda
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Paduana Lachrymae
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Can She Excuse
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Pavion Solus cum sola
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Dowland's Almayne
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Piper's Paven And Galliard
Keyboard Transcriptions Of Dowland's Music By Other Musicians: Pavan Lachrymae

Tracks:

Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: I. The Lamentation Of A Sinner
Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: II. Domine ne in furore
Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: III. Miserere mei Deus
Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: IV. The Humble Suit Of A Sinner
Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: V. The Humble Complaint Of A Sinner
Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: VI. De profundis
Mr. Henry Noell Lamentations: VII. Domine exaudi
Lachrimae: Lachrimae Antiquae
Lachrimae: Lachrimae Antiquae Novae
Lachrimae: Lachrimae Gementes
Lachrimae: Lachrimae Tristes
Lachrimae: Lachrimae Coactae
Lachrimae: Lachrimae Amantis
Lachrimae: Lachrimae Verae
Lachrimae: Mr. John Langton's Pavan
Lachrimae: Mr. Nicholas Gryffith His Galiard
Lachrimae: Sir John Souch His Galiard
Lachrimae: Semper Dowland Semper Dolens
Lachrimae: Mr. Giles Hobies Galiard
Lachrimae: The King Of Denmark's Galiard
Lachrimae: Sir Henry Umpton's Funerall
Lachrimae: Mr. Henry Noell His Galiard
Lachrimae: The Earl Of Essex Galiard
Lachrimae: Mr. Bucton His Galiard
Lachrimae: Mr. George Whitehead His Almand
Lachrimae: Captain Digorie Piper His Galiard
Lachrimae: Mr. Thomas Collier His Galiard
Lachrimae: Mrs. Nichols Almand

Tracks:

Sacred Songs: Sorrow, Come!
Sacred Songs: I Shame At Mine Unworthiness
Sacred Songs: An Heart That's Broken And Contrite
Psalms: Psalm 100: All People That On Earth Do Dwell
Psalms: Psalm 38: Put Me Not To Rebuke O Lord
Psalms: Psalm 130: Lord To Thee I Make My Moan
Psalms: Psalm 104: My Soul Praise The Lord
Psalms: Psalm 100: All People That On Earth Do Dwell
Psalms: Psalm 134: Behold And Have Regard
A Prayer For The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty
Instrumental Music: Solus cum sola pavan
Instrumental Music: Lachrimae
Instrumental Music: Galliard
Instrumental Music: Pipers Pavan
Instrumental Music: Lachrimae
Instrumental Music: Lady Rich Galliard
Instrumental Music: Earl Of Essex Galliard
Instrumental Music: If My Complaints
Instrumental Music: Lachrimae Doolande
Instrumental Music: Lord Willoughbie's Welcome Home
Instrumental Music: My Lord Chamberlaine His Galliard
Instrumental Music: Comagain
Instrumental Music: Pavan Lachrymae
Instrumental Music: Sorrow Stay

Tracks:

Lute Music: Preludium
Lute Music: Lachrimae
Lute Music: Can She Excuse
Lute Music: Dr. Case's Pavan
Lute Music: Melancholy Galliard
Lute Music: Sir John Smith, His Almain
Lute Music: Fantasia
Lute Music: A Dream
Lute Music: Almain
Lute Music: The Queen's Galliard
Lute Music: Coranto
Lute Music: Resolution
Lute Music: Mrs. Vaux Galliard
Lute Music: Almain
Lute Music: Mr. Dowland's MIdnight
Lute Music: Fantasia
Lute Music: Loth To Depart
Lute Music: The Most Sacred Queen Elizabeth, Her Galliard
Lute Music: The Earl Of Essex, His Galliard
Lute Music: Pavan
Lute Music: John Dowland's Galliard
Lute Music: Aloe
Lute Music: The Lady Clifton's Spirit
Lute Music: What If A Day
Lute Music: Mr. Giles Hobie's Galliard
Lute Music: Come Away (Song arrangement)
Lute Music: Galliard
Lute Music: Fancy (Fantasia)

Tracks:

Lute Music: Lachrimae (Basic Version)
Lute Music: Galliard To Lachrimae
Lute Music: [Jig]
Lute Music: Galliard On 'Wasingham'
Lute Music: Complaint (Ballad Setting)
Lute Music: Mignarda (Galliard)
Lute Music: Semper Dowland Semper Dolens (Pavan)
Lute Music: The Frog Galliard
Lute Music: A Fancy (Fantasia)
Lute Music: Fancy (Fantasia)
Lute Music: Piper's Pavan
Lute Music: Captain Digorie Piper's Galliard
Lute Music: Lady Laiton's Almain
Lute Music: Dowland's Galliard
Lute Music: Dowland's First Galliard
Lute Music: Tarleton's Jig
Lute Music: Walsingham (ballad Setting)
Lute Music: Lord Willoughbie's Welcome Home (Ballad Setting)
Lute Music: Sir Henry Guilforde, His Almain
Lute Music: Pavan (Related To 'Lachrimae')
Lute Music: Mr. Langton's Galliard
Lute Music: Mrs. Clifton's Almain
Lute Music: Galliard
Lute Music: Lady Hunsdon's Puffe (Almain)
Lute Music: Galliard
Lute Music: Go From My Window (Ballad Setting)
Lute Music: Fancy (Fantasia)

Tracks:

Lute Music: Pavana Johan Douland
Lute Music: Mrs. Brigide Fleetwood's Pavan (Solus sine sola)
Lute Music: La mia Barbara
Lute Music: Sir Henry Umpton's Funeral (Pavan)
Lute Music: Lachrimae
Lute Music: Farewell Fancy (Chromatic Fantasia)
Lute Music: Farewell (On The 'In Nomine' Theme)
Lute Music: The King of Denmark's Galliard
Lute Music: Mrs. Vaux's Jig
Lute Music: Mrs. Nichol's Almain
Lute Music: Galliard
Lute Music: Lord Strang's March
Lute Music: Mrs. Winter's Jump
Lute Music: Can She Excuse (Galliard)
Lute Music: The Shoemaker's Wife, A Toy
Lute Music: Mrs. Norrish's Delight
Lute Music: Galliard
Lute Music: Mrs. White's Thing (Almain)
Lute Music: Mrs. White's Nothing
Lute Music: The Frog Galliard
Lute Music: Solus cum sola
Lute Music: The Lord Viscount Lisle, His Galliard
Lute Music: Orlando Sleepeth (Ballad Setting)
Lute Music: Robin (Ballad Setting)
Lute Music: Galliard (On A Galliard By Daniel Bacheler)
Lute Music: Forlorn Hope Fancy (Chromatic Fantasia)

Tracks:

Lute Music: The Lady Russell's Pavan
Lute Music: Fancy (Fantasia)
Lute Music: Sir John Langton's Pavan
Lute Music: Earl Of Derby, His Galliard
Lute Music: A Coy Toy
Lute Music: Fortune My Foe
Lute Music: [Almain]
Lute Music: Mr. Knight's Galliard
Lute Music: Sir John Souch His Galliard
Lute Music: Tarletone's Riserrectione
Lute Music: The Lady Rich, Her Galliard
Consort Music: Lachrimae Pavan
Consort Music: Can She Excuse Galliard
Consort Music: Captain Piper's Pavan And Galliard
Consort Music: The Frog Galliard
Consort Music: Round Battell Galliard
Consort Music: Fortune My Foe
Consort Music: Dowland's First Galliard
Consort Music: Katherine Darcie's Galliard
Consort Music: Tarleton's Jigge
Consort Music: Almain a 2
Consort Music: Mistress Nichols Almain a 2
Fullsack And Hildebrandt: Auserlesener Paduanen und Galliarden: Susanna Fair (Galliard)
Haussmann: Rest von polnischen und andern Tanzen: Mistress Nichols Alman a 5
Opusculum: Mr. John Langton Pavan And Galliard
Opusculum: La mia Barbara Pavan and Galliard
Opusculum: Lachrimae Antiquae Novae Pavan and Galliard

Tracks:

Consort Music: Mistress NIchols Almain
Consort Music: Volta a 4 ('Ioh. Douland')
Consort Music: Were Every Thought an Eye
Consort Music: Lady If You So Spite Me
Consort Music: Pavan a 4
A Musicall Banquet: I. My Heavy Sprite (Anthony Holborne)
A Musicall Banquet: II. Change Thy Mind Since She Doth Change (Richard Martin)
A Musicall Banquet: III. O Eyes, Leave Off Your Weeping (Robert Hales)
A Musicall Banquet: IV. Go, My Flock, Go Get You Hence (Anon.)
A Musicall Banquet: V. O Dear Life, When Shall It Be? (Anon.)
A Musicall Banquet: VI. To Plead My Faith (Daniel Bacheler)
A Musicall Banquet: VII. In A Grove Most Rich Of Shade (Guillaume Tessier)
A Musicall Banquet: VIII. Far From Triumphing Court
A Musicall Banquet: IX. Lady, If You So Spite Me
A Musicall Banquet: X. In Darkness Let Me Dwell
A Musicall Banquet: XI. Si le parler et le silence (Pierre Guedron)
A Musicall Banquet: XII. Ce penser qui sans fin tirannise ma vie (Pierre Guedron)
A Musicall Banquet: XIII. Vous que le Bonheur rappelle (Pierre Guedron)
A Musicall Banquet: XIV. Passava Amor su arco desarmado (Anon. Spanish)
A Musicall Banquet: XV. Sta notte mi sognava (Anon. Italian)
A Musicall Banquet: XVI. Vuestros ojos tienen d'Amor (Anon. Spanish)
A Musicall Banquet: XVII. Se di farmi morire (Domenico Maria Megli)
A Musicall Banquet: XVIII. Dovro dunque morire? (Giulio Caccini)
A Musicall Banquet: XIX. Amarilli mia bella (Giulio Caccini)
A Musicall Banquet: XX. O bella piu (Anon, Italian)

Customer Reviews:

A musical treasure-box.......2006-09-10

Both the music and this actual product are masterpieces. John Dowland's collected works here - covering 12 compact discs - exhibit the depth and power of this composer, a composer who many now regard as suffering from clinical depression. I doubt that the issue of the diagnosis of Dowland's depression can ever be settled, however, it is certainly obvious from his music, so completely on display here, that he was a man with very dark depths and corners in his mind. Dowland's various manifestations and "takes" on his own tune, "Flow my tears"/"Lachrimae" are here. This tune has haunted me ever since I first heard it when I was a child. It seems to sum up Dowland's feelings - at least Dowland seems to have thought so.

The First, Second, Third and Fourth Bookes of Songes, A Musicall Banquet, the keyboard transcriptions, all the lute music, consort music are here and virtually everything else written or supposedly written by John Dowland. Anthony Rooley and The Consort of Musicke perform this music with style and feeling throughout. This 12 CD set is something of a monument to the ensemble - I only wish they'd finished their collection of Monteverdi madrigals, which was equally good (La Venexiana are currently doing a magnificent job of recording all Monteverdi's books of madrigals for the GLOSSA label).

This is an expensive set, however, you will probably never need to buy another John Dowland CD again after buying and listening to this collection.

I bought this CD set on a mild Summer evening of 1998 and listened to it while sitting in my sun room - which a glorious orange sunset in progress, and a glass of wine. It brought back so many memories.

a beautiful journey into melancholy.......2001-06-15

I'm amazed at how many people tend to associate John Dowland's music with a tragic sense of drama. While no doubt this is art highly based on sadness, the "tragic" sense of it is more a legacy from the Romantic period. During the Renaissance, however, sadness was undestood as a very aesthetic way of approaching life. That is also the reason why Shakespeare's tragedies appear more sophisticated than his comedies.

Dowland, a contemporary of Shakespeare, discovered that meditating on a sad theme is, at the same time, a way of discovering a special beauty that we tend to avoid (maybe because of the "tragic" heritage of the Romantics). So, in the end, meditating on sadness is an uplifting experience! This box set is a journey into melancholy that includes songs, chamber music, pieces for lute, some rare sacred music and -as a highlight- Dowland's beautiful collection of seven pieces for viola which he called "Lachrimae" (Tears).

Witness: What a Mighty God - Spirituals and Gospels for Chorus
Average customer rating:

Historically important choral music, wonderfully performed!

Witness: What a Mighty God - Spirituals and Gospels for Chorus
James Bohn , Michael Jorgenson , Steve Burger , Gordon Johnson , Jay Young , Michael Abels , Dale Adelmann , Harry T. (Henry) Burleigh , Brazeal W. Dennard , Adolphus Hailstork , Jester Hairston , Jack Halloran , Robert A. Harris , Moses Hogan , Sanford Moore , Robert Scholz , Richard Smallwood , William Henry Smith , Andre Thomas , Philip Brunelle , Sigrid Johnson , Joe Pulice , Robert Commodore , Charles Kemper , Yolanda Williams , Brian Link , Vocal Essence , and VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
Manufacturer: Clarion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Give Me Jesus | Spirituals by Barbara Hendricks and The Moses Hogan Singers

Wade In The Water, Vol.1:African American Spirituals:The Concert Tradition

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ASIN: B0001FVEPE
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Tracks:

Witness: Jack Halloran
Hush! Somebodys CallinMy Name: Arranged by Brazeal W. Dennard
Death Is Gonna Lay His Cold Icy Hands on Me: Arranged by Andrhomas
Walk Together, Children: Arranged by William Henry Smith
Were You There?: Arranged by Robert Scholz
Elijah Rock: Arranged by Moses Hogan
This Train: Arranged by Sanford Moore
Jesus, Lover of My Soul: Music by J.S. Bach; text by Charles Wesley, Arranged by Richard Smallwood
My Lord,What a Mornin : Arranged by Harry T. Burleigh
Go Down, Moses : Arranged by Robert A. Harris
In Dat Great GittinUp Mornin: Arranged by Jester Hairston
Crucifixion: Adolphus Hailstork
Go Where I Send Thee:Arranged by Andrhomas
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot: Arranged by Dale Adelmann
Go,Tell It on the Mountain: Arranged by Sanford Moore
What a Mighty God : Arranged by Michael Abels

Album Description

Stirring spirituals and rousing gospel melodies sung by the superb voices of VocalEssence conducted by the renowned conductor Philip Brunelle, joined by vocal jazz ensemble Moore by Four.

Customer Reviews:

Historically important choral music, wonderfully performed!.......2004-05-25

For over 10 years, The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and Chorus (conducted by Philip Brunelle) has presented an enduring series of concerts showcasing the talents of trailblazing African American composers. Now this wealth of music is available outside the concert hall through a series of recordings called WITNESS.

WHAT A MIGHTY GOD presents 20th Century choral arrangements of music from the African American spiritual tradition rooted in spirituals and gospels, including Harry T. Burleigh's "My Lord, What a Mornin'" (1929), "Walk Together Children" (William Henry Smith, 1937) and more contemporary composers like Sanford Moore's "Go Tell It On The Mountain" (1993.)

There are excellent notes about the genre, however, in light of the historical significance of this music I'm surprised and disappointed to find no biographical information about the composers, not even birth and/or death dates, with this CD. I feel this is a crucial component in an "outreach" project like this, especially since most of these composers are not well known. Still I highly recommend it for the music alone.

The other three CDs are available as single titles, or in the boxed set THE WITNESS COLLECTION which includes:

Tracks:

Birthday Ode For Queen Mary: Soun The Trumpet
The Indian Queen: Let Us Wander, Not Unseen
King Arthur: Shepherd, Shepherd, Cease Decoying
Ottone: Spring Is Coming
Ottone: Come To Me, Soothing Sleep
Orfeo ed Euridice: Chiamo il mio ben cosi (Act 1)
Orfeo ed Euridice: Deh! placatevi con me (Act 2)
Orfeo ed Euridice: Che puro ciel! (Act 2)
Orfeo ed Euridice: Che feci mai?...Che faro senza Euridice? (Act 3)
O Praise the Lord
I will lay me down in peace
I would that my love, Op. 63 No. 1 - Felix Mendelssohn
Greeting, Op. 63 No. 2 - Felix Mendelssohn
Kindertotenlieder: Nun will die Sonn' so hell aufgeh'n
Kindertotenlieder: Nun seh' ich wohl, warum so dunkle Flammen
Kindertotenlieder: Wenn dein Mein tritt zur Tein
Kindertotenlieder: Oft denk' ich, sie sind nur ausgegangen!
Kindertotenlieder: In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus

Amazon.com essential recording

Even before her tragic death at 41 (in 1953), Kathleen Ferrier became a legend for her incomparable voice, her simplicity and sincerity of expression, and her indomitable courage. This compilation of recordings originally made in the 1940s includes four arias from Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice recorded live in Holland, which show why Euridice was one of her signature roles. Two beautifully sung Handel arias, two sacred songs by Maurice Greene, and delightful duets by Purcell and Mendelssohn (sung in English with another beloved English singer, Isobel Baillie) are greatly enhanced by the inimitable pianist Gerald Moore. But the core of this recording is the Mahler cycle. Here, Ferrier's voice takes on a new warmth and intensity; her deeply inward, direct expressiveness gives the bereaved parent's grief and anguish a devastating impact. Her reading of the last song could be a bit more spooky, but the end is heartbreaking in its submissive resignation. The Vienna Philharmonic and Bruno Walter are in their native element. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Buen documento para conocer y disfrutar a Kathleen Ferrier.......2004-03-27

Este disco realiza un repaso bastante acertado a la carrera de la mitica contralto Kathleen Ferrier, una de esas voces que hicieron historia y que pasaron a la historia, y con razon.
Junto a unos duetos de Purcell y Mendelshon, y otras canciones, asi como unas arias de Haendel, en las que Ferrier ya va mostrando su gran talento, lo mejor de este disco esta indudablemente en la seleccion del 'Orfeo ed Euridice' de Gluck, tomada de unas funciones en directo a principios de los 50. La Ferrier sienta catedra en la interpretacion del personaje: lo lleva dentro, y lo canta de una forma admirable. Sin duda esta es una de las mejores encarnaciones de 'Orfeo' jamas escuchadas.
El otro pilar del disco son los 'Kindertotenlieder' de Mahler, otra de las maximas especialidades de Ferrier, de los que realiza una version antologica, por voz, diccion y expresion, magistralmente dirigida por Bruno Walter. Un lujazo, vamos.
El disco se consigue actualmente a precio medio, y las remasterizaciones son de calidades variadas (puesto que las grabaciones son de años diferentes) pero el nivel general de las mismas es bastante bueno.
Indudablemente este es un disco que hay que poseer, ya que quizas se trate de uno de los mejores documentos existentes para apreciar el tremendo talento de la gran Kathleen Ferrier.

The incredible Kathleen Ferrier recordings!.......2003-05-20

Voice fans, rejoice -- EMI has finally remastered these recordings and released them as one CD at budget price!
While Mahler's "Kindertotenlieder" would be the chief reason for purchasing this CD right away, it also contains several morsels, equally fascinating. Purcell and Mendelsohn's duets, Handel's arias, Greene's spirituals, and 3 live arias from Gluck's "Orfeo ed Euridice". In general, particularly Mahler, the sound is nothing short of phenomenal. BUT why could not these engineers do the same for "Orfeo" selections? There's a lot of noise on these. On all the selection Ferrier's exceptionally dark mezzo (or contralto with a huge upper register) shines brilliantly. Of course, Mahler's songs bemoaning the death of children are not an easy listen by any means. But the melodies are amazingly harmonious and Bruno Walter's superb orchestra provides ideal background for them, with Ferrier's voice blending gorgeously with strings. Only Mussorgsky could take a subject such as this and make it so breathtakingly captivating. It's actually frightening in by itself. Gerald Moore (well-known for his collaboration with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau) accompanies expertly on Purcell and Mendelsohn's selections.
It would be a treat to hear Ferrier in more alto repertoire; I am just not sure how many were commercially available at the time. Right now, Vivica Genaux is the leading artist in this area, but it would be fascinating to compare these two.
For the sheer vocal marvel experience, do not delay in getting this CD.

A Terrible Beauty.......2002-11-14

Nothing will change my opinion that Mahler should be approached with caution. Like Wagner, the scale and power of his work means that it is simply not for everyone, but inspite of that, this recording is an indespensible part of any serious music lover's collection. Music like this simply is not made any more, but rather this is a glimpse into a past where artists and not accountants ran the music industry.

Mahler's wife Alma bitterly opposed his setting of Ruckert's Kindertotenlieder to music and considering the death of their daughter soon after, it's doubtful if she ever forgave him for it. But the finished work has an indescribable beauty that Kathleen Ferrier and Mahler's protégé Bruno Walter give full expression to in away that no other interpreter's have even approached. More than 50 years on this is both a lasting tribute to the artists involved and an indictment of the decline in standards since.

What is to say - It's Ferrier..........2002-03-31

I bought the CD for the Kindertotenlieder and that's what I am going to write about (though the rest of the program is equally impressive). Ferrier's Mahler interpretations are always in the 5+ star area. When Walter is accompanying her the results are even better (unlike the case of Klemperer). The first song - Nun Will Die Sonn'... the darkness of the music is so prominent, it's breathtaking. All the rest Kindertotenlieder come in the same fashion. If interested in a release with better sound but not these Olympian contritutors, Janet Baker and Christa Ludwig have made some very good discs

How can you go wrong?.......2001-10-22

I said it before, in my review of the Ferrier/Walter performance of Das Lied von der Erde, recently rereleased by Decca; Ferrier is the authoritative interpreter of Mahler songs--and I have never heard anything to equal this performance of Kindertotenlieder.

Average customer rating:

Rock-A-Bye Your Baby...

Magical Lullabies

Manufacturer: Big Blue Dog
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Fairy Dreams: Moonlight Lullabies
American Lullaby
Traditional Lullabies
On a Starry Night
The Celtic Lullaby

ASIN: B00005YIM1
Release Date: 2002-02-05

Tracks:

Winter Light
Hush, Little Baby
I Bid You Goodnight
Dream A Beautiful Dream
All The World Is Sleeping
Go Away, Little Fairies
Lullaby
Irish Lullaby
Moon And Me
There, There, Hush Awhile
Hush-A-Bye
Sleep, Baby, Sleep

Customer Reviews:

Rock-A-Bye Your Baby..........2003-10-30

Too beautiful for words(but I'll give it my best shot), "Fairy Dreams - Magical Lullabies" is a soft, and soothing mix of traditonal folk lullabies, with a special added touch of warmth by Linda Ronstadt. It is music that will lull anybody into a beautiful state of relaxation, and would be a beautiful bonding experience for any parent and child. Just sit back in that rocker, hold your child in your lap and let this album work it's magical spell on you.

Opening with the instumental "Winter Light", Ronstadt's mesmerizing collaboration with esteemed composer Zbigniew Preisner("Three Colors Trilogy/The Decalogue"),you are already transfixed.New and wonderfullly sweet renditions of "Hush Little Baby","Moon and Me","All The World Is Sleeping","Dream a Beautiful Dream" and "Sleep Baby Sleep" are just a few of the songs that will stay with you for sometime afterwards.(See buying info for a complete list of songs, where you may also listen to some samples).You may even stay up and listen again long after the little ones are fast asleep.

This sweet collection of lullabies would be a welcome and unique gift for any new parents,children, or baby-sitting grandparents. One that will give hours of pleasure to all who listen to it.You may even fall in love with it even if there are no wee ones about.I did!

The CD(Big Blue Dog Records) is an excellent quality and delivers beautiful sound(and not a bad price either).There are 12 tracks in all ranging in time from 1:19 to 4:23, most being over 3 minutes.

Tracks:

A Soft Day - Bernadette Greevy
Irish Skies - Bernadette Greevy
Cherry Ripe - Janice Watson
Mustard And Cress - Neal Davies
The Lily Of A Day - Janice Watson
Henry King - Neal Davies
Fain Would I Change That Note - Graham Johnson
In Summer-Time On Bredon - Christopher Maltman
The Lads In Their Hundreds - Christopher Maltman
Among The Rocks - Graham Johnson
It Was A Lover And His Lass - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
The Water Mill - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
On Wenlock Edge - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
The Call - Graham Johnson
Silent Noon - Graham Johnson
Now In These Fairylands - Philip Langridge
The Dream-City - Philip Langridge
Margrete's Cradle Song - Susan Gritton
The Heart Worships - Christopher Maltman
Take, O Those Lips Away - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal - Graham Johnson
Love Calls Through The Summer Night - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
I Will Go With My Father A-Ploughing - Graham Johnson
The Rio Grande (Capstan Shanty) - Ian Partridge
Theodore, Or The Pirate King - Ian Partridge
A Long Time Ago (Hilliard's Shanty) - Ian Partridge
Oh Dear, What Can The Matter Be? - Bernadette Greevy

Tracks:

The Grenadier - Richard Edgar-Wilson
The Young Lover - Richard Edgar-Wilson
Betty And Johnny - Richard Edgar-Wilson
Rise Up And Reach The Stars - Richard Edgar-Wilson
The Bells - Nik Hancock-Child
Ann's Cradle Song - Nik Hancock-Child
As I Lay In The Early Sun - Nik Hancock-Child
The Cherry Tree - Nik Hancock-Child
Dusk - Nik Hancock-Child
Peter Warlock's Fancy - John Constable
The Frostbound Wood - John Constable
Chopcherry - John Constable
A Sad Song - John Constable
Rutterkin - John Constable
Bethlehem Down - John Constable
Wapping Old Stairs - Felicity Lott
Long Steel Grass - Martyn Hill
Tango-Pasodoble - Martyn Hill
Popular Song - Martyn Hill
Beatriz's Song - Felicity Lott
Lay Your Sleeping Head, My Love - Philip Langridge
Early One Morning - Felicity Lott
The Foggy, Foggy View - Philip Langridge
Now The Leaves Are Falling Fast - Philip Langridge
Tell Me The Truth About Love - Della Jones
The Choirmaster's Burial - Philip Langridge

Customer Reviews:

A century of British art songs to delight those who love them.......2006-06-26

These 53 songs have been collected by Naxos from their extensive acquisitions from Collins Classics, and perhaps other British sources now out of business. There's a steady cottage industry, year after year, producing the typical English art song, which is usually based on folk songs, but even in more modern idioms is profuondly conservative and nostaligic. Half these songs, not to mention half the composers, are totally unknown to American audiences, but the familiar names of Vaughan Williams and Britten represent high quality, and the lesser lights, such as Warlock and Quilter, are mainstays in this repertoire.

I'd challenge all but the most addicted listener to make it through more than ten songs at a sitting, and many of these pieces are tepid, offering comfort rather than inspiration. The singers are among the best, but Graham Johnson and Steuart Beford, who do most of the accompaniments, are lackluster. I know that won't be a popular comment, yet if you compare any of these songs with rendiitons done by Janet Baker, John Shirley-quirk, and most recently Bryn Terfel and Ian Bostridge, you immediately notice how much more intensity and drama is pesent than htis colleciton reveals.

Average customer rating:

NOT classic Bill Crofut
Innovative mix of folk, classical, poetry
Innovative mix of poetry, folk and classical
Innovative mix of poetry, folk and classical
Innovative mix of poetry, folk and classical

Dance On A Moonbeam
Engelbert Humperdinck , Joel Brown , Chris Brubeck , Julianne Baird , Jim Cowdery , Justin Kagin , Bill Keith , Dawn Upshaw , Benjamin Luxon , John Guth , Frederica Von Stade , Carver Blanchard , Susan Follari , and Loretta O'Sullivan
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Lullabies & Dances
Bach to Brubeck: Bass Trombone Concerto/Blues Suite for Banjo & Orchestra
Songs to Grow on for Mother and Child
Birds, Beasts, Bugs & Fishes Little & Big: Animal Folk Songs
Peek-A-Who?: Board book

ASIN: B00004UDEL
Release Date: 2000-07-25

Tracks:

While You Sleep/The Merchant Of Venice: How Sweet The Moonlight...
Dandling Songs
A Midsummer Night's Dream: I'll Follow You.../Alligator Hedgehog
The Chipmunk's Day
Mr. Bear
The Fox
A Midsummer Night's Dream: The Ouzel Cock...
The Cuckoo/Leatherwing Bats
Little Trotty Wagtail
The Friendly Cow
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Through The House Give Glimmering Light...
The Table And The Chair
Sonnet XVIII: So Long As...
Simple Gifts
Sweet Nightingale
White Fields
King Lear: He That Has...
In Just
The Winter's Tale: When You Speak, Sweet...
Dance To Your Daddy
Can Ye Sew Cushions/The Christ Child's Lullaby
Bourree/Henry IV: She Bids You On The Wanton Rushes...
Child's Song/The Early Morning
All Through The Night/A Midsummer Night's Dream: Sleep Thou...
Hansel And Gretel: Humperdinck: Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep
Romeo And Juliet: Sleep Dwell Upon Thine Eyes.../The Tempest: We Are Such Stuff...

Amazon.com

It's hard to even begin hanging musical descriptors on the late Bill Crofut. He came up during the folk boom of the 1950s and even then quietly defied tradition by setting the words of American poets such as Robert Penn Warren to banjo-inflected music, something he continued doing throughout his career with a variety of wordsmiths. Dance on a Moonbeam is his final treasure, a gift of sorts to children and their parents, delivered after Crofut's death in January 1999. Steeped in Shakespeare's words and a magical ability to weave together Renaissance-era moods and American folk music, Moonbeam exudes a warmth and soulfulness that Crofut and musical partner Chris Brubeck create with the simplest instrumentations--banjo, bass, piano, cello, and voices, mostly. Meryl Streep interjects brief readings of Shakespeare, a lovely complement to an incredible mix of Crofut's rustic folk with classically trained singers such as Dawn Upshaw, Julianne Baird, and Frederica von Stade. "Dandling Songs," "The Bear," "Simple Gifts," and "All Through the Night" alone among these 26 stellar cuts make this one of the best children's music recordings in ages. It eschews the simple means to a child's ear and instead aims for the heart and soul, which Moonbeam reaches over and over with wit and creative depths that will unfold for ages. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

NOT classic Bill Crofut.......2002-12-23

If you really love folk music, you'll love Bill Crofut; but not this album! I grew up listening to Bill Crofut (my parents' old record is all scratched up from me dancing around in front of the record player to the Chipmunk's Day). I love his voice, I love his poetry, I love the way he plays the banjo. I was so excited to see this album now that I have a child myself. But from the moment I turned it on, I loathed it. It's too operatic (I like Opera, but not when I want to listen to folk music), and it makes the very real and down-to-earth songs sound high-faluten and just plin bad. If your're looking for some great music for your kids (even very young ones), get some Bill Crofut music...but get it with Bill singing, not these non-folk singers.

Innovative mix of folk, classical, poetry.......2002-10-16

I love what these performers have done mixing Shakespeare with folk,
classical etc. It is an especially big hit with my four year old. Kids
are much more receptive to this stuff than people give them credit
for...it's good to expose them early, when they are so open and
unhibited about the joys of music and language. Nevertheless I think
there are some valid criticisms from the other reviewers. Some songs are
more successful than others. It is hard to hear the spoken poetry (we
turn it up LOUD and then it is clear as a bell), maybe it wasn't "mixed"
properly. WE actually found that it appealed to us more and more with
repeated listenings, unlike the last reviewer (to each, his or her own).
My four year old especially loves the chipmunk song. My two year old
also loves the "Dance to your daddy" old celtic style nursery songs. The
ALleluia lullabye/carol is gorgeous (you can hear another version on the
beautiful Celtic Lullaby album). I love the selections of Shakespeare,
which stand well on their own out of context of the play and give
children an early chance to hear such lovely phrases as "we are such
stuff as dreams are made on." So I give it a four for doing all of this,
if not 100% successful, it still is pretty darn good and I hope it is
the first of many such efforts.

Innovative mix of poetry, folk and classical.......2002-10-08

I love what these performers have done mixing Shakespeare with folk, classical etc. It is an especially big hit with my four year old. Kids are much more receptive to this stuff than people give them credit for...it's good to expose them early, when they are so open and unhibited about the joys of music and language. Nevertheless I think there are some valid criticisms from the other reviewers. Some songs are more successful than others. It is hard to hear the spoken poetry (we turn it up LOUD and then it is clear as a bell), maybe it wasn't "mixed" properly. WE actually found that it appealed to us more and more with repeated listenings, unlike the last reviewer (to each, his or her own). My four year old especially loves the chipmunk song. My two year old also loves the "Dance to your daddy" old celtic style nursery songs. The ALleluia lullabye/carol is gorgeous (you can hear another version on the beautiful Celtic Lullaby album). I love the selections of Shakespeare, which stand well on their own out of context of the play and give children an early chance to hear such lovely phrases as "we are such stuff as dreams are made on." So I give it a four for doing all of this, if not 100% successful, it still is pretty darn good and I hope it is the first of many such efforts.

Innovative mix of poetry, folk and classical.......2002-10-08

I love what these performers have done mixing Shakespeare with folk, classical etc. It is an especially big hit with my four year old. Kids are much more receptive to this stuff than people give them credit for...it's good to expose them early, when they are so open and unhibited about the joys of music and language. Nevertheless I think there are some valid criticisms from the other reviewers. Some songs are more successful than others. It is hard to hear the spoken poetry (we turn it up LOUD and then it is clear as a bell), maybe it wasn't "mixed" properly. WE actually found that it appealed to us more and more with repeated listenings, unlike the last reviewer (to each, his or her own). My four year old especially loves the chipmunk song. My two year old also loves the "Dance to your daddy" old celtic style nursery songs. The ALleluia lullabye/carol is gorgeous (you can hear another version on the beautiful Celtic Lullaby album). I love the selections of Shakespeare, which stand well on their own out of context of the play and give children an early chance to hear such lovely phrases as "we are such stuff as dreams are made on." So I give it a four for doing all of this, if not 100% successful, it still is pretty darn good and I hope it is the first of many such efforts.

Innovative mix of poetry, folk and classical.......2002-10-08

I love what these performers have done mixing Shakespeare with folk, classical etc. It is an especially big hit with my four year old. Kids are much more receptive to this stuff than people give them credit for...it's good to expose them early, when they are so open and unhibited about the joys of music and language. Nevertheless I think there are some valid criticisms from the other reviewers. Some songs are more successful than others. It is hard to hear the spoken poetry (we turn it up LOUD and then it is clear as a bell), maybe it wasn't "mixed" properly. WE actually found that it appealed to us more and more with repeated listenings, unlike the last reviewer (to each, his or her own). My four year old especially loves the chipmunk song. My two year old also loves the "Dance to your daddy" old celtic style nursery songs. The ALleluia lullabye/carol is gorgeous (you can hear another version on the beautiful Celtic Lullaby album). I love the selections of Shakespeare, which stand well on their own out of context of the play and give children an early chance to hear such lovely phrases as "we are such stuff as dreams are made on." So I give it a four for doing all of this, if not 100% successful, it still is pretty darn good and I hope it is the first of many such efforts.

Average customer rating:

Perfect for Baby's Bedtime!
"Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" is very relaxing!

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

Manufacturer: Verdict Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000BITTP8
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Tracks:

Sandmannchen (The Little Sandman)
Wiegenlied
Hushabye Mountain
Sweet Dreams (Op. 39, No. 21)
Traumerei
Lullaby [From Erminie]
Summertime
Lyric Pieces Book 2: Berceuse
Nana (Berceuse)
Cradle Song
Wiegenliedchen (Little Cradle Song)
Evening Hymn [From Elijah]
Kind im Einschlummern (Child Falling Asleep)
Cradle Song

Customer Reviews:

Perfect for Baby's Bedtime!.......2005-10-20

The beautiful marriage between guitar and violin gently lulls my baby to sleep. What a peaceful way to end the day!

"Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" is very relaxing!.......2005-10-17

When I feel tense and need to relax, listening to "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" acts as a wonderful tranquilizer. The soft touch of the violin with the gentle background of the guitar is a soothing combination.

-David, Long Island, NY

Average customer rating:

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME
a voice teacher and early music fan

George Frideric Handel: Esther

Manufacturer: CORO
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Handel: Jeptha
Handel - Joshua / Kirkby, Bowman, Oliver, Ainsley, George, The King's Consort
Handel: Alexander's Feast
Handel: Joseph and his Brethren / Robert King
Samson

ASIN: B0001B0A94
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Tracks:

Overture Andante - Larghetito - Allegro
Recitative Habdonah/Haman: " 'Tis greater far to spare"
Aria Haman: " Pluck root and branch from out the land"
Recitative Persian Officer: "Our souls with ardour glow"
Chorus: "Shall we the God of Israel fear?"
Recitative First Israelite: " Now persecution shall lay by her iron rod"
Aria: " Tune your harps to cheerfull strains"
Chorus: " Shall we of servitude complain"
Aria Israelite Woman: " Praise the Lord with cheerful noise"
Recitative Israelite Woman: " 0 God, who from the suckling's mouth"
Aria Second Israelite: " Sing songs of praise, bow down the knee"
Chorus: " Shall we of servitude complain"
Recitative Priest of the Israelites: " How have our sins provoked the Lord!"
Chorus: "Ye sons of Israel mourn"
Aria Priest ofc The Israelites: "0 Jordan, Jordan, sacred tide"
Chorus: "Ye sons of Israel mourn"
Andante
Allegro
Adagio
Allegro

Tracks:

Recitative Esther/Mordecai: " Why sits that sorrow on thy brow?"
Aria Mordecai: " Dread not, righteous Queen, the danger"
Recitative Esther: "I go before the King to stand"
Aria Esther: " Tears assist me, pity moving"
Chorus: " Save us, O Lord"
Recitative Ahasuerus/Esther: "Who dares intrude into our presence"
Duet Esther/Ahasuerus: " Who calls my parting soul from death?"
Aria Ahasuerus: "0 beauteous Queen, unclose those eyes!"
Recitative Esther: " If I find favour in thy sight"
Aria Ahasuerus: " How can I stay when love invites?"
Recitative Third Israelite/Fourth Israelite: " With inward joy his visage glows"
Chorus: " Virtue, truth and innocence"
Arioso Priest of the Israelites: " Jehovah, Crown'd with glory bright"
Chorus: " He comes, he comes to end our woes"
Recitative Ahasuerus/Esther: " Now, a Queen, thy suit declare"
Arioso Haman: " Turn not, a Queen, thy face away"
Aria Esther: " Flatt' ring tongue, no more I hear thee!"
Recitative Ahasuerus: "Guards, seize the traitor, bear him hence!"
Aria Haman: " How art thou fall'n from thy height!"
Chorus: "The Lord Our enemy has slain"

Album Description

Handel's oratorios vary greatly in their presentation. In many ways, Esther is a rarity;it is by far the most intimate, not surprisingly as it was composed for the Duke of Chandos. The Duke's Palladian palace near the village ofEdgware had not been completed in time for the first performance so this may have taken place (as did Acis and Galatea) in the intimate surroundings of a small church, St Lawrence, Whitchurch.

We decided, therefore, that we should attempt to convey that intimacy of performance on disc; so we performed in the round with microphones in the middle, the orchestra in front of me, the choir behind and the soloists alongside. The result is everything that chamber music should be where players and singers can enjoy every aspect of Handel's masterpiece.

"The 'sound' of Esther, superbly communicated in the recorded performance here, is pure enchantment... The choral singing has an exceptional grandure, and the instrumental playing a shimmering beauty. Among the soloists, none of whom is less than accomplished, Nancy Argenta and Michael Chance dominate... Both singers affirm a new golden age of Handel interpretation".

Customer Reviews:

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME.......2007-01-26

Esther is the first of Handel's oratorios by a good many years, written when he was 33 and enjoying the patronage of the Duke of Chandos. When he later became his own impresario and was running into trouble as a composer and producer of Italian operas he turned to oratorio as a strategic alternative, but at this early date his concern was to deliver staged entertainments for the Duke, and Esther, contemporary with the work that later gained the title Acis and Galatea, seems to have been just an unusually serious specimen of its type.

As often with Handel, there is no fully official version of the score, and this particular score may not even be fully complete from any point of view. The libretto seems to have been the work of someone in the frivolously named association of big literary figures called the Scriblerus Club, perhaps Dr John Arbuthnot, dedicatee of Pope's great poetic Epistle, but Pope himself may have had a hand in it too. As we have it here, the work breaks into two very asymmetrical parts. Scenes 1 and 2 start with a recitative lasting only seconds from Habdonah followed by a longer one in which Haman announces his onslaught on the Israelites, and from there on feature only anonymous participants. Esther herself and the other named characters make their appearance first in scene 4, but the change of tone occurs in scene 3. At this point the music gains gravity first in the chorus Ye sons of Israel with its extraordinary modulations and then in the striking aria O Jordan, Jordan. I myself feel that this weightier tone is maintained to the end, whether or not the writer of the liner note is correct in saying that the long final chorus with solos is out of proportion to its context.

Throughout - in the first part as well as in scenes 3-6 - the instrumental writing is vivid and varied, with an extraordinary pizzicato accompaniment to Tune your harps and then an even more extraordinary obbligato from the harp itself at Praise the Lord. The harpist is no less than Jan Walters, but sometime I would like to see the score and check out what seem some odd rhythmic interactions here between her and the soloist Nancy Argenta. There are no fewer than ten vocal soloists in a work lasting a little over an hour and a quarter, and a very distinguished bunch they are. I was particularly pleased to find Michael Chance in the countertenor role of the Priest of the Israelites as I admire the strength of his tone, but there is no real weakness among them, unless Lynda Russell as Esther has a couple of very slightly awkward high notes in Flatt'ring tongue, which must be a little nerve-wracking to sing as she has to find her note for herself unaccompanied at the start and later at the reprise. You will see some big names among the instrumentalists too, with Crispian Steele-Perkins on the trumpet making a predictably fine contribution towards the end, and of course with Jan Walters in that marvellous harp part early on. The chorus gets some wonderful work to do, and rises to it fully. I really am unable to worry about the proportionateness of the final chorus when I hear that incomparable Handelian build of tone, sung by 18 singers and sounding as if there were 100.

There is a good liner note by Graydon Beeks Jr, not perhaps the last word in lucidity (neither is the plot of the libretto come to that) but worth re-reading. Harry Christophers himself contributes a short foreword largely concerned with the recording process and highlighting the contributions of Mark Brown and Mike Hatch, his long-time technical collaborators. I was interested to see also the name of Geoff Miles in a role described as `editor'. What responsibilities this involved is not stated and perhaps I ought to know without being told, but I know the work of Geoff Miles as recording engineer from elsewhere and it gave me confidence just to see that he is involved in the proceedings, and the technical work is predictably excellent.

My collection of Handel oratorios is now almost complete, and what a wonderful musical experience they are. Each is unique in its own way, but Esther is unique in some very special ways, and I suggest that you do not wait until you are my age to get to know it.

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-04-04

Handel began composing the oratorio 'Esther' in 1718. There is some confusion as to who actually worte the libretto for it, but the story follows very closely the biblical story of Esther in the Book of Esther in the old testament. The story tells of a plot of Haman, the Agagite (Michael George-bass) jealous and powerful vizier of King Xerses (Ahasuerus-Tom Randle-tenor) of Persia(485-464), to destroy in a single day all the Jews living in the Roman Empire. He is moved to this out of hatred for the Jewish servant Mordecai (Mark Padmore-tenor),who for religious motives refuses to render him homage. The day of the proposed massacre is determined by lot. Meanwhile, Esther,niece and adopted daughter of Mordecai, is chosen Queen by King Xerses. She averts the pogrom planned against her people and has the royal decree of extermination reversed against Haman and the enemies of the Jews. Mordecai replaces Haman, and together with Esther, works for the welfare of their people. As you can see this makes for an interesting Oratorio, which it truly is!
This is a "small" contribution compared to many of Handel's other works. However, it is not "small" in a musical sense. There is much creativity on the part of Handel as to orchestral scoring; he exploits his small orchestra and chorus in surprising ways, introducing new vocal and instrumental colours throughout the score, adding and subtracting instruments and voices in many and varied ways. This is a listening surprise as it moves along. And what a great performance on the part of the Christophers as well as some outstanding vocal soloists. Mark Padmore's (Mordecai) aria "Tune Your Harps to Cheerful Strains" was superb as was the Duet between Lynda Russell (Esther) and Tom Randle (Ahasuerus).But the aria that really drew me into the entire drama was sung by Michael Chance (Priest) "O Jordan, Jordan, sacred Tide." It was perfection itself!!!!The Chorus was extremely good and dictionally perfect. It is a great listening experience.

Average customer rating:

RCA MET 100 Singers, 100 Years

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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

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

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000003FFT
Release Date: 1993-09-14

Tracks:

Ardon Gl'Incensi (Mad Scene) - Marcella Sembrich
Vissi D'arte - Emma Eames
Devant La Maison (Serenade) - Pol Plancon
Les Tringles Des Sistres (Gypsy Song) - Emma Calve
A Vos Jeux, Mes Amis (Mad Scene) - Nellie Melba
All'erta, Marinar: II Vento Cangia!; Adamastor, Re Dell'acque - Giuseppe Campanari
O Pretres De Baal (Prison Scene) - Ernestine Schumann-Heink
Come Paride Vezzoso - Antonio Scotti
Jo-Ho-Hoe!; Traft Ihr Das Schiff (Senta's Ballad) - Johanna Gadski
Vecchia Zimarra - Marcet Joumet
Voce Di Donna - Louise Homer
Rachel, Quand Du Seigneur - Enrico Caruso
Se In Voi Cotanto Forte Fosse L'amor' I1 Cor Nel Contento - Geraldine Farrar, Hermann Jadlowker
It Is Almost Midnight (Sung In German) - Emmy Destinn
Eri Tu - Pasquale Amato
Ed Io Non Ne Godevo; Sempre Cosi - Frances Alda
Mein Vater! (Amfortas' Prayer) - Clarence Whitehill

Tracks:

Qual Fiamma Avea Nel Guardo!; Stridono Iassu (Ballatella) - Alma Gluck
Lunge Da Lei; Dei Miei Bollenti Spiriti - John McCormack
Caro Nome - Luisa Tetrazzini
Tutto Tace (Cherry Duet) - Miguel Fleta, Lucrezia Bori
Lontano Eco Della Mia Giovinezza (Lenski's Air) - Giovanni Martinelli
E Il Di Che Zar Saro (Garden Scene) - Paul Althouse, Margarete Ober
Di Provenza Il Mar - Giuseppe De Luca
Pace, Pace, Mio Dio! - Rosa Ponselle
Mi Batte Il Cor; O Paradiso - Beniamino Gigli
Bellah! Capretta Adorata; Si Carino (Slumber Song) - Amelita Galli-Curci
Gluck, Da Mir Verblieb (Marietta's Lied) - Maria Jeritza
Largo Al Factoum - Titta Ruffo
Una Parola Sola; Or Son Sei Mesi - Edward Johnson
Sieh' Evchen! Dacht' Ich Doch - Friedrich Schorr, Elisabeth Rethberg

Tracks:

Meco All'altar - Giacomo Lauri-Volpi
Nay, Marcus, Lay Him Down - Lawrence Tibbett
Regnava Nel Silenzio - Toti Dal Monte
Dir Tone Lob - Lauritz Melchior
Deh, Vieni Alla Finestra - Ezio Pinza
Depuis Le Jour - Grace Moore
Depuis Heir Je Cherche; Que Fais-Tu? - Gladys Swarthout
Salut A Toi (Hymnn To The Sun) - Lily Pons
Adina Quest'oggi; Adina Credimi - Tito Schipa
Ah, Malgre Moi - Rose Bampton
Je Suis Seul!; Ah! Fuyez, Douce Image - Richard Crooks
I Know You Better; This Very Vivid Morn - Helen Jepson
Mild Und Leise (Liebestod) - Kirsten Flagstad
Pres Des Remparts De Seville (Seguidilla) - Bruna Castagna
So Its Es Denn Aus Mit Den Ewigen Gottern - Kerstin Thorborg
Giunse Alfin Il Momento; Deh Vieni, Non Tardar - Bidu Sayao
Einsam In Truben Tagen (Elsa's Dream) - Helen Traubel

Tracks:

La Mamma Morta - Zinka Milanov
Ah, Guai A Chi La Tocca!; Guardate, Pazzo Son - Jussi Njoerling, Enrico Campi
Ist Ein Traum - Rise Stevens, Erna Berger
O Saint Medaille; Avante De Quitter Ces Lieux - Leonard Warren
Clock Scene (Sung In Russian) - Alexander Kipnis
Elle A Fui, La Tourterelle! (Antonia's Romance) - Jarmila Novotna
Con Onore Muore (Death Of A Butterfly) - Licia Albanese
To Leave, To Break (Quintet) - Eleanor Steber, Rosalind Elias, Regina Resnik, Nicolai Gedda, Giorgio Tozzi, George Cehanovsky
Tombe Degli Avi Miei; Fra Poco A Me Ricovero - Jan Peerce
Oui, Pour Ce Soir; Je Suis Titania (Polonaise) - Patrice Munsel
Se Quel Guerrier; Celeste Aida - Richard Tucker
L'ho Abbandonato Senza Un Saluto; In Quelle Trine Morbide - Dorothy Kirsten
Felice Ancor; Per Me Giunto - Robert Merrill
Si, Pel Ciel - Ramon Vinay, Giuseppe Valdengo

Tracks:

Morgenlich Leuchtend Im Rosgen Schein (Prize Song) - Set Svanholm
Studia Il Passo; Come Ddal Ciel Precipita - Jerome Hines
Che Gelida Manina - Giuseppe Di Stefano
Ah, Non Giunge - Roberta Peters
Ecco Ridente - Cesare Valletti
Re Dell'abisso - Marian Anderson
Credo In Un Dio Crudel (Iago's Creed) - Tito Gobbi
O Figli, O Figli Miei! Ah, La Paterna Mano - Carlo Bergonzi
Una Macchia E Qui Tuttora (Sleepwalking Scene) - Leonie Rysanek, Gerhard Pechner, Carlotta Ordassy
Addio Del Passato - Anna Moffo
In Questa Reggia - Birgit Nilisson, Jussi Bjoerling
Recitar!; Vesti La Giubba - Jon Vickers
Give Me My Robe - Leontyne Price

Tracks:

La Fleur Que Tu M'avais Jetee (Flower Song) - Franco Corelli
In Fernem Land - Sandor Konya
Ah! Tu Dei Vivere! Aida A Me Togliesti - Grace Brumbry, Placido Domingo
Je Dis Que Rien Ne M'epouvante - Mirella Freni
Mia Madre Aveva Una Povera Ancella (Willow Song) - Renata Scotto
Too Weak To Kill - Sherrill Milnes
Mi Chiamano Mimi - Montserrat Caballe
La Donna E Mobile - Alfredo Kraus
Stride La Vampa - Fiorenza Cossotto
Fia Dunque Vero; O Mio Fernando - Shirley Verrett
L'anima Ho Stanca - Placido Domingo
O Isis Und Osiris - Martti Talvela
Cruda Sorte, Amor Tiranno - Marilyn Horne
Come Scoglio Immoto Resta - Kiri Te Kanawa
Ave Maria - Katia Ricciarelli

Average customer rating:

Lay Me Down
Nancy Bryan
Manufacturer: Jvc / Xrcd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00004STOF
Release Date: 1997-06-10

Tracks:

Blood Song
Lay Me Down
Long Way Home
I'll Be Waiting
Come Back To Me
Sweet Havana
Guilty
My Love Is A Message
Falling Stars
In And Out Of Time

Music Album:

Music Album