Orchestral Stories

1. 9-11, for orchestra
Composed by David Benoit
with Dave Koz, David Benoit
Conducted by Jeffrey Schindler

2. Something's Gotta Give (from Don't Count Me Out)
Composed by David Benoit
with David Benoit
Conducted by Jeffrey Schindler

3. LA Xperience, for ensemble
Composed by David Benoit
Performed by The Asia America Symphony Orchestra (members) with Rick Baptist
Conducted by David Benoit

4. The Centaur and The Sphinx, for orchestra
Composed by David Benoit
Performed by The China National Symphony Orchestra with Jeff Olson, David [bass] Stone
Conducted by David Benoit

5. Kobe, for koto, shakuhachi & orchestra
Composed by David Benoit
Performed by The China National Symphony Orchestra with June Kuramoto, Masae Yoshizawa
Conducted by David Benoit

Tracks:

Symphony No. 3 In E-flat Major, Op. 97: 'Rhenish' - Lebhaft
Andante And Variations In B-Flat Major
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13
Toccata In C Major, Op. 7
Kreisleriana, Op. 16
Piano Concerto In A Minor, Op. 54: Allegro Vivace
Carnaval, Op. 9
'Dedication', Op. 25/1
Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120: Introduction - Vivace
Papilons, Op. 2
Op. 25-3: 'The Nut Tree'
Symphony No. 3 In E-flat Major, Op. 97: 'Rhenish' - Lebhaft-Schneller
Piano Quintet In E-flat Major, Op. 44: Allegro ma non troppo
Piano Concerto In A Minor, Op. 54: Allegro affettuoso
Carnaval, Op. 9: Waltz
Album For The Young, Op. 68: The Merry Farmer
Scenes From Childhood, Op. 15: Dreams
Cello Concerto In A Minor, Op. 129: Nicht au schnell
Symphony No. 3 In E-flat Major, Op. 97: 'Rhenish' - Feierlich
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46, No 1
Lyric Suite, Op. 54-2: Norwegian Rustic Dance
Op. 12 No. 4: Elf Dance
Op. 35, No. 1: Norwegian Dances
Elegiac Melodies
Op. 64, No. 4: Symphonic Dances
Op. 35, No. 2: Norwegian Dances
Op. 5-3: 'I Love Thee'
Op. 43, No. 1: Butterfly
Op. 65, No. 6: Wedding Day At Troldhaugen
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46, No. 3: Anitra's Dance
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55, No. 4: Solveig's Song
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46, No. 4: In The Hall Of The Mountain King
Piano Concerto In A Minor, Op. 16: Allegro moderato; Allegro marcato
Holberg Suite, Op. 40: Prelude: Allegro vivace
Lyric Suite, Op. 54, No. 3: Dance Of The Dwarfs
Homage To Chopin
Sigurd Jorsalfar Suite, Op. 56, No. 3: Homage March
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: Morning Mood
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: The Death Of Aase
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: Anitra's Dance
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: In The Hall Of The Mountain King
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55: III The Return Of Peer Gynt
Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55: IV Solveig's Song

Average customer rating:

Where's Jiminy?
Going back in time
A favorite memory returns!
Historic Music
Finally re-released!

Walt Disney Takes You to Disneyland

Manufacturer: Disney
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Disney | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Sing-A-Longs | Children's Music | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Disney Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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A Musical History of Disneyland
Disney's Happiest Celebration on Earth
Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, The
Walt Disney Treasures - Your Host, Walt Disney
The Disney Keepsakes

ASIN: B0009W5KCM
Release Date: 2005-07-12

Tracks:

Main Street, U.S.A.
Adventureland
Frontierland
Tomorrowland
Fantasyland

Customer Reviews:

Where's Jiminy?.......2006-06-24

I had this record back in the 50's, actually it was my older brothers record. At that time it was entitled "A Day At Disneyland" and it was a great record to listen to before visiting the park itself. This rerelease is good as far as bringing back those fond memories, except one problem, there is no Jiminy Cricket. The original recording had Jiminy narrating along with the music throughout the different lands and was a bit more entertaining. My brother recently obtained the original L.P. in a used record store, I am having him record it for me. This new one is good but I really miss the cricket, Jiminy made it great.

Going back in time.......2006-01-27

As a DUTCH Disneypark fan, I LOVE the music from the parks
verry much! With this CD you go back to the beginning
in the '50 when Walt Disney started Disneyland.
If you like classical music and the movies from Disney
you HEAR that moviemusic in some of these songs.
Nobody is singing on this CD it is just GREAT music!
It all started with Walt Disney and to HEAR him
on this CD is a special gift and moment.

I will go to Disneyland next week and after I come back
I go and will listen to the special 50th CD.
you will here different music then.

ina komdeur
Maarssen
THE NETHERLANDS

A favorite memory returns!.......2006-01-19

On my first trip to Disneyland, my parents bought me an album, narrated by Walt Disney and Jiminy Cricket, featuring a musical tour of Disneyland. As I grew bigger (but never grew up!), this album remained a favorite. As I got married and had children, they enjoyed it as well.

2 years ago, we had a fire, and this treasure was among the many, many things we lost...and now I can have it back, and better than before (on CD, since my old turntable also went up in smoke). Thank you, thank you, a thousand times thank you!

Sure, it's music and narration, and not even "real sounds" from the park...but for a 5 year old child (who won't grow up), it was every bit as real as the tour that it captured.

Historic Music.......2005-09-13

This CD is a faithful recreation of a record originally released in 1956. Not only are the tracks the same, but the cardboard packaging is made to look like the album of old.

The key to understanding this release is the sub-title, a musical tour of the Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney starts each track by briefly describing the spirit of each land. From there on out, you get nothing but music. The exception to that is the Tomorrowland track, where there is occasional dialog discussing what is happening on the journey around the moon, still a science fiction concept in 1956.

Don't get me wrong; the music is great, especially in the Fantasyland track where we are treated to selections from Disney's movies. However, that wasn't what I was looking for. I was hoping for more description of the park from back then and even more pictures. As it is, this is a good CD that will mainly appeal to fans who had it on record as a child. Those looking for a historic trip to the Disneyland of 50 years ago should probably look elsewhere.

Finally re-released!.......2005-08-22

This is a re-release of an original LP from the Disneyland label. A historic record in for many reasons, it was originally released in 1956 from Disney's first in-house record label, and is the record they released. Basically it is an audio tour of Disneyland narrated by Walt Disney himself, as he takes you to Main Street USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tommorrowland. Many attractions he mentions are long gone, so it is historic in that sense as well. It is accompanied by music, voices and sound effects to make you feel as if you are there. The CD quality is very good, a faithful recreation of the LP, with the original LP cover reproduced as well. 35 minutes in length. Thank you Disney for unearthing this gem, a great CD and I reccommend. Since the title list above is incomplete, here it is again in it's entirety:

Main Street U.S.A.
Disneyland Theme - Walt Disney Narration
Meet Me Down on Main Street - Player Piano, Orchestrion, Marching Band, Calliope

Adventureland
Overture - Walt Disney Narration
Adventureland Boat Ride - Orchids in the Jungle | Monkeys and Hippos | Distant Drums | The River and the Rapids | Tribal Dances | Finale

Frontierland
Overture - Walt Disney Narration
Covered Wagon Ride "Westward Ho The Wagons" - "Old Betsy"
Golden Horseshoe - "Slue Foot's Hoe Down"
River Boat Ride - "Farewell"
Finale - "Balad of Davy Crockett"

Tomorrowland
Overture - Walt Disney Narration
The World of Tomorrow
Count Down and Blast Off
Outer Space
A Meteorite Strikes
The Other Side of the Moon and Back
Next Target - Mars

Fantasyland
Overture - Walt Disney Narration
King Arthur Carousel
Snow White Ride - "Whistle While You Work" - "Heigh Ho"
Peter Pan Rde - "You Can Fly"
Storybook Land - "Alice in Wonderland"
Finale - "When You Wish Upon A Star"

Average customer rating:

Bravo Maesto Benoit!
Renaissance Man

Orchestral Stories
David Benoit
Manufacturer: Peak Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
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Full Circle
Right Here, Right Now
Got You Covered
World of Brazil
X

ASIN: B000A2H2CC
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

9-11
Something's Gotta Give
LA Xperience
Prelude
Charon The Centaur
Carrie The Sphinx
The Party
Falling In Love
Discovery
Finale
Prelude
Kobe 1965
Keiko's Dream
Kimura Dansu Gakuin (Keiko's Dance Studio)
Earthquake
Finale

Customer Reviews:

Bravo Maesto Benoit!.......2005-10-12

"Orchestral Stories" is truly a departure for Mr. Benoit, who has been known as an innovator and leader in the genre of Smooth Jazz. On this album, he displays his considerable talents as a composer, arranger, conductor as well as a pianist. The end result is a wonderfully thoughtful, creative, and memorable album that illustrates Mr. Benoit's incredible musical gifts.

The album begins with three pieces. Written in the wake of the World Trade Center disaster, "9-11" conveys a quiet strength that offers in it a sense of hope and renewal. "Something's Gotta Give" is a bit more tender and bittersweet, with a soul-searching quality. "LAXperience" creates a robust and dramatic mood which far outshines the pylons at LAX (which this piece was intended to characterize). Rather, this piece seems more appropriate to enhance the majesty of a spectacular IMAX film.

The next two compositions were recorded with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. "The Centaur and The Sphinx", described as "a short fable", is a lovely, magical tale with a poetic grace. "The Party" is a joyful, jaunty piece midway through, and features Mr. Benoit's trademark keyboard work. The story surrounding "Kobe" is both tragic and amazing. The liner notes describe in great detail the story of Ms. Keiko Kimura who lived through the atomic bomb, the Kobe earthquake, and other personal tragedies. The music goes a long way to help tell this remarkable tale.

In "Orchestral Stories", Mr. Benoit redefines himself to his listeners by showcasing his talents and passions previously unheard on his prior albums. I hope his fans will appreciate this very special album as much as I do.

For those inclined to find out more information about this album, check out Mr. Benoit's interview on www.smoothviews.com (October 2005) and on Smooth Jazz TV at: www.smoothjazztv.com/video/DBenoit_EPKV1.wmv

Renaissance Man.......2005-09-14

Orchestral Stories is a much awaited (well, by me, at least) showcase of orchestral compositions written by Benoit in the past few years; it contains 5 pieces, the longest being the final suite "Kobe" which runs shortly under 30 minutes. Orchestral Stories signifies a major departure from Benoit's usual smooth jazz fare, but I guess a better way to put it is that it shows us his compositional talents that we've all grown to love in a brand new light -- a light that we may not be so familiar with or only have had notions of. After all, Benoit frequently finds ways to sneak his lush arrangement prowess into his prolifically successful albums; even the arrangment of his ballad "Dad's Room" off of Professional Dreamer was recognized as being Grammy worthy. The fact is, in addition to Benoit's jazz career, he has also been an active figure in composition and arrangement for soundtracks, musicals, and straight-up classical music.

Should you be excited? As a Benoit fan, I think so! But be forewarned: upon a first listen, you may be surprised to discover Benoit's most complexly arranged pieces to date, as well as some of the most challenging and emotional music he's offered in his career. But, stripping away the surprise, you will find what you've probably heard in his music all along: gorgeous melodies, sheer beauty, rousing drama, and a respect for his pioneering musical forefathers. Along with Pat Metheny's latest offering, The Way Up, Orchestral Stories demonstrates the possibility of crossing over contemporary jazz into the arena of more involved, long form pieces.

Like his semi-suite American Landscape, Benoit's programme here lingers between themes of melancholy and hope; so be prepared for an emotional ride. Benoit's dedication to the victims of 9-11 is, I feel, a healing song plain and simple, that does so effectively by echoing the warm, sentimental overtones of his characteristic compositional style; this opening piece will probably seem the most "Benoit" sounding to listeners. The performance of the orchestra(s) on this album is immaculate as are the soloists, including Benoit on most pieces, and Eric Marienthal wailing on the soprano here. Deeply effectual, 9-11 demonstrates the consideration put into the writing here.

Something's Gotta Give is part of a soliloquy for a musical about Marilyn Monroe, undertoning her despair and sadness; this gentle piece is reminiscent of jazz tinged musicals like Porgy and Bess. By the way, Benoit does his own nod to Gershwin with his rendition of "I Loves You Porgy" on "Great Composers of Jazz." I could only imagine that he's done his reading (and listening) when it comes to this context.

Of course, we're just getting warmed up. LAXperience, an interpretation of LAX architecture and LA's people, is probably the most wholly upbeat piece on this album, featuring a dizzying array of 16th note passages against a backdrop of fierce horns and percussion, and a clustered sonic sensibility reminiscent of 19th and 20th century American composers such as Aaron Copland. Benoit's compositional acrobatics surprised me here as well, as the music takes all the fun complexity he folded into tunes like "Houston" and "Beach Trails" and amplified it about 10 times. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is some very mature composing here.

The lovely "Centaur and The Sphinx" is the first of two multi-part suites on this album, and further demonstrates Benoit's deftness as programmic soundtrack music (as well as some astoundingly virtuosic concerto piano passages by Mister D B himself). The story behind the piece is described in liner notes, a whimsical fable about a Centaur and a Sphinx falling in love. Part 4, "The Party" is notable for bringing in drums and bass and gearing up the orchestra for a really swinging time; the shift is organic and not choppy at all, and the overall effect actually makes you feel like you're at "the party", hors d'ourves and all.

The finale is the magnum opus "Kobe", a thirty minute suite illustrating a Japanese woman's perserverence through tragedy multiple times in her life, and finally gaining the will to live because of her desire to help others the way others have helped her. As you may guess, there are some truly trepidating sections, only to be juxtaposed with rousing and hopeful choruses, as Benoit pulls out all stops and cards, striking up emotion from the orchestra in a profound way. On top of that are koto and shakuhachi soloists, making this piece a blend of traditional Japanese music, Gershwin like themes, and a wide array of orchestral styles. Benoit's advanced musical understandings are subtly wrought out throughout the piece.

Gorgeous, thematic, and meaningful. That's what Orchestral Stories is. I don't expect Benoit to be coming out with another one of these soon, but let's hope that, in addition to his smooth jazz offerings, his name will figure more and more prominently into the music we will hear in movies and theater; he truly is a musical renaissance man.

Michael Daugherty: Philadelphia Stories; UFO

Average customer rating:

Close Encounters Of The Colorado Kind

Michael Daugherty: Philadelphia Stories; UFO

Manufacturer: Naxos American
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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Sojourns
John Adams: Shaker Loops; The Wound-Dresser; Short Ride in a Fast Machine

ASIN: B0002TXT48
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

Sundown On South Street
Tell-Tale Harp
Bells For Stokowski
Traveling Music
Unidentified
Flying
Objects

Album Description

Naxos' American Classics series stages something of a coup: world famous percussionist Evelyn Glennie performs on an exciting disc of music by one of America's leading living composers. Gramophone Artist of the Year Marin Alsop directs the Colorado Symphony Orchestra in stunning performances and to crown the release, Daugherty himself writes the fascinating sleeve notes. The London Times has described Michael Daugherty as "a master icon-maker" and hailed his "maverick imagination, fearless structural sense and meticulous ear." His music has the uncanny knack of speaking everybody's language at once while retaining the ability to surprise, move, stimulate, inspire and amuse. Commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2001, Philadelphia Stories is an orchestral travelogue of the sounds and rhythms of Philadelphia past and present. Cast in three movements: the first begins at sundown, the second, a Poe-inspired movement entitled Tell-Tale Harp after midnight, and the third at sunrise. UFO, written in 1999 for Evelyn Glennie, is inspired by unidentified flying objects and sounds, beginning with Traveling Music where the percussion soloist, in the guise of an alien from outer space, mysteriously enters the concert hall playing a waterphone and mechanical siren.

Customer Reviews:

Close Encounters Of The Colorado Kind.......2004-12-20

In its continuing exploration of American music and lesser-known U.S. orchestras, the budget label Naxos has given us one of its most provocative and innovative recordings to date. Michael Daugherty, the man behind the "Superman"-inspired "Metropolis Symphony", gives us two innovative works, "Philadelphia Stories" and the futuristic "UFO", a concerto for percussion and orchestra.

"Philadelphia Stories" is the composer's three-movement tone painting of the City of Brotherly Love, focusing in on aspects of street life ("Sundown On South Street"), the terror of Edgar Allan Poe ("The Tell-Tale Heart"), and the legacy of Leopold Stokowski ("Bells For Stokowski"). In this last movement, Daugherty imagines all the bells tolling in Philadelphia as the often-controversial conductor who put the Philadelphia Orchestra on the world map makes a visit to the Liberty Bell.

"UFO" shows off the impressive abilities of Scottish-born percussion maestra Evelyn Glennie in this concerto inspired, of course, by sightings of alien spacecraft in the night skies of Earth that have been reported since the Roswell incident of 1947. The piece is hugely reminiscent in sound and size of John Williams' score for Spielberg's 1977 sci-fi masterpiece CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, a trait that may or may not be intentional, but a trait that works quite well. Glennie's percussion abilities are second-to-none here.

Both works are bought together by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra under the inspired leadership of music director Marin Alsop, one of a handful of female conductors to lead an orchestra in major recordings. The Naxos sound technicians give her, Glennie, and the Colorado Symphony a first-rate sound on a relatively meager budget, resulting in an incredibly fascinating recording that is quite simply one of the best in 2004 insofar as classical music goes. Highly recommended!

1001 Nights: Sinbad the Sailor and Other Stories

Average customer rating:

Excellent format with story followed by music

1001 Nights: Sinbad the Sailor and Other Stories

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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Peter and the Wolf
Carnival of The Animals

ASIN: B00005QISR
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Tracks:

Sinbad The Sailor
Sinbad the Sailor
The Story Of A Dervish
The Story Of A Dervish
The Prince And The Princess
The Prince And The Princess
The Story Of The Second Dervish
The Story Of The Second Dervish
conclusion

Customer Reviews:

Excellent format with story followed by music.......2004-05-24

We have really enjoyed this CD. The stories are well told, and the music following without voice over is wonderful.

Average customer rating:

Delightful... except for the last track.

The Best of Mozart

Manufacturer: Children's Group
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

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The Best of Bach
The Best of Beethoven
The Best of Vivaldi
The Best of Tchaikovsky
The Best of Handel

ASIN: B00062IDJM
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Tracks:

Serenade No.13 In G Major, K.525-Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Allegro - Capella Istropolitana
Piano Sonata In C Major, K.545-Sonata Facile, Allegro - Jeno Jando
Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat Major, K.495-Rondo: Allegro Vivace - Michael Thompson
The Magic Flute-Papageno's Song - Studio Arts Orchestra
Symphony No.40 In G Minor, K.550-Molto Allegro - Capella Istropolitana
Piano Sonata In F Major, K.332-Allegro Assai - Jeno Jando
Flute Quartet No.1 In D Major, K285-Adagio - Jean Claude Gerard
Serenade No.13 In G Major, K.525-Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Rondo: Allegro - Capella Istropolitana
Piano Sonata In A Major, K.331-Andante Grazioso, Variations - Jeno Jando
Symphony No.1 In E Flat Major, K.16-Molto Allegro - Northern Chamber Orchestra
Symphony No.1 In E Flat Major, K.16-Andante - Northern Chamber Orchestra
Cassation In G Major, K.63-Andante - Salzburg Chamber Orchestra
The Marriage Of Figaro-Overture - Michael Halasz
Ah, Vous Dirai-je, Maman, K.265-Variations On 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star' - Jeno Jando
The Magic Flute Marsch Der Priester-Priests' March - Michael Halasz
The Magic Flute, K.620-Overture - Michael Halasz
Serenade No.10 In B Major, K.361 'Gran Partita'-Rondo: Allegro Molto - Richard Edlinger
The Magic Flute Der Holle Rache-The Queen Of The Night's Aria - Studio Arts Orchestra
Mozart's Magic Fantasy (Excerpt) - Classical Kids
Mozart's Magnificent Voyage (Excerpt) - Classical Kids

Album Description

The Best of Classical Kids CD series feature 55 - 70 minutes of instrumental music from six major composers specially selected by Classical Kids producer Susan Hammond. Each compilation includes child-proven works first heard in the award-winning and best-selling Classical Kids series but extended and without narration. Each CD is an engaging and entertaining listening experience for all ages. Liner notes include fascinating facts about each composer plus an introduction to the award-winning Classical Kids CDs - to build Classical Kids fans for the next generation.

Customer Reviews:

Delightful... except for the last track........2007-02-23

I was explaining to a friend once, "Why do we teach our children to love insipid music? They only love Barney because we exposed them to it." In response, my friend bought this for me as a shower gift, and I love it. Mozart is excellent for little developing brains, and they've selected tracks that are kid-pleasing (no huge dynamics swings or dissonance, etc). My child (now two) likes it a lot. But, the last 2 tracks are excerpts from their other Mozart product, which is a CD containing a fantasy about landing inside the story of the Magic Flute. The loud thunderstorm, screams about a dragon, etc totally destroy any lullaby use for the CD and any mood the music has created unless you burn a new copy without those tracks (which is what I did). But, I like the rest of the CD so much that I bought the Bach counterpart from the same series, and that one is my kid's favorite music.

Stories in Music: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (Audio CD and Paperback Book)

Average customer rating:

Stories in Music: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (Audio CD and Paperback Book)
London Philharmonic , Stephen Simon , Yadu , and Paul Brennan
Manufacturer: Magic Maestro Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000EGDAH0
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Tracks:

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel for narrator and symphony orchestra
About the Story - Bonnie Ward Simon
Mike Mulligan Song: Learn It, Sing It, Sing Along
About the Music - Stephen Simon
Now That You Know a Little More... One More Time
Want to Have Some Fun? Prepare to Perform
Mike Mulligan Song: Accompaniment Only

Album Description

Introducing new gift sets of this beautiful & popular release! The Mike Mulligan & His Steam Shovel Gift Set includes the digipak CD plus the beloved book in paperback. In the tradition of Peter and the Wolf, Magic Maestro Music/Kids™ presents Virginia Lee Burton's beloved children's story, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel® with original music composed and conducted by Stephen Simon. Premiered on the Stories in Music™ children's series at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, this classic story is brought to life in a fresh, wondrous way. A wonderful gift for children and teachers combines great music with great children's literature! Educational and entertaining, this set is unique. CD available separately under Classical Music: B0009I5SMI AWARDS: Parents' Choice Gold, Oppenhein Platinum, Teachers' Choice, ALA Notable, Booklist-Editors' Choice, NAPPA. National Parenting Center, iParenting HOT.

Average customer rating:

From a former UT musician
Exciting Wind Ensemble Work
A real pleasure

Bells for Stokowski

Manufacturer: Reference Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
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Eastman Wind Ensemble Plays Husa, Copland, Vaughan Williams, Hindemith
Arnold For Band

ASIN: B0001JXQCY
Release Date: 2004-01-27

Album Description

This album includes world premiere recordings of three important new works for wind band, plus an old favorite. The University of Texas Wind Ensemble has established itself as one of America's elite wind bands, and this is its first commercial recording. David Del Tredici's music is widely performed by all major orchestras. In Wartime, based on the hymn tune "Abide With Me" and the Persian National Anthem, is his first piece for wind band. Michael Daugherty is one of the most-commissioned composers of his generation. Bells for Stokowski is a colorful fantasy in which he imagines Leopold Stokowski visiting the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia and listening to all the bells of the city resonate. Bells for Stokowski was named one of the Best CDs of the Year by The New York Times, and earned a Golden Ear Award from The Absolute Sound. Colorful, audience-friendly scores and a large ensemble of winds, brass and percussion are a sure recipe for thrilling sonics, especially! in "Prof." Johnson's transparent HDCD recording.

Customer Reviews:

From a former UT musician.......2004-12-22

As a former bassoonist with the UT Wind Ensemble (but not on this CD) I am very excited about this release, and not at all surprised at the quality of the performance. Professor Junkin is an extraordinary conductor who demands the most out of his players, from 1st trumpet to 3rd clarinet. It should be noted that the musicians rotate parts on different pieces. They are all principle players.

Overall I would criticize the fact that when listening to this CD it sounds as if you are sitting 30 rows back in a hall as opposed to right up near the stage. The piano sections really sound piano, and you have to crank up the volume to hear the details, which are georgeous. This is especially true on the Susato. The playing is wonderful and the phrasing and blending between the bassoons, oboes and clarinets is of the most professional quality, but its just not miked as well as Id like for a commercial CD. The percussion is brought out very clearly as another reviewer noted.

The overall blend of the ensemble is exquisite, especially among the brass. In many places there is a true "wall" of sound that is evenly matched from one section to another. It really does sound like an organ, and not just on the Daugherty. It is impressive to say the least.

Junkin is known for his ability to make the musicians in the ensemble bring their playing to life. The performance is full of expression. I found that the Del Tredici and Daugherty were better the second time I listened to them as there are many intricacies in each that need to be heard more than once to be fully appreciated. I would disagree with another poster that "In Wartime" has trivial qualities. On the contrary the siren at the end is a moving tribute to what the piece is about. As it fades into silence we are reminded again of the shock of what happened on 9-11.

A final comment would be that the horns do not project as well as I would have liked. This is of course due to the fact that the horn produces sound towards the back of the stage, but I had hoped that this could be accommodated through the miking process. The actual horn playing is first rate, just not as audible as one might like. Buy this CD for the music. It is fresh and unique and the performance is moving and exciting. As an alum I would merely say thanks to Prof. Junkin for being such a musical inspiration.

Exciting Wind Ensemble Work.......2004-08-19

I heard this on CBC radio and was entranced with the quality of the recording and the music, three premieres!

Dr. Coleman provides much of the history of the selected pieces. The Susato renditions are so reminiscent of Praetorius' collection of folk dances and are so lively and well pulled off here.

The Vaughan Williams marches are just exciting. I humbly disagree with the review of Tredici's "In Wartime." It is a powerful and sensitive musical account of some of the emotions surrounding war -- especially in our current setting -- love the intro with shades of Abide With Me then switching into battlemarch and "Salamati, Shah!" from Persia, laces with smidges of Wagner. Moving piece and enjoyable to listen to as it stirs ones emotions.

Daugherty's "Bells for Stokowski" is magnificent with its realized goal of sounding like a massive gothic pipe organ and transcribed Bach for which Stokowski was prominent. This will be replayed and enjoyed.

This deserves to be widely played due to its premieres and excellent recording as well as fine playing by this collegiate ensemble.

A real pleasure.......2004-07-06

Hong Kong audiences know Jerry Junkin as the director of our very own Wind Philharmonia. But Junkin's regular gig, back in the states, is as conductor of both the University of Texas Wind Ensemble and the Dallas Wind Symphony. It's the former group performing on this CD and these college students play like real professionals. The standard of wind, brass, and percussion performance across the US is extremely high, and the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, thanks in no small part to Junkin's leadership, is one of the very best. It's clear watching Junkin conduct that he's not only a real showman, but also a fine musician whom the performers trust completely, and that relationship can be heard throughout this CD.

The recording features two older works and two new pieces. In the former category is Ralph Vaughn Williams' English Folk Song Suite, a real standard for wind band, in a terrific rendition. Also in that category is an arrangement of 9 movements from Tielman Susato's The Danserye. The superb orchestration is a very colourful one by Patrick Dunnigan. Susato was a Renaissance composer, and a mixed consort of string and wind instruments would likely have played the pieces here, published in 1551. Dunnigan has adopted the idea of mixed timbres and added even more color with an imaginative use of percussion. It's not historically accurate, but it's very fun to hear.

Two recent works from American composers round out the recording. David Del Tredici takes his inspiration from the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in the US and the subsequent invasion of Afghanistan. His piece, In Wartime, consists of two movements-Hymn and Battlemarch. Del Tredici has made a reputation as a bane of more progressive composers, keeping fairly strictly to a conservative tonal style and rarely coloring it with anything more dissonant. In Wartime tackles such emotionally charged material with such a relatively bland palate that it seems to me little more than pleasant, and the ending, with its fading siren, positively trivial. It does have some terrific moments, especially the beginning of the Battlemarch, but overall it fails to deliver on its promises. The final composition on the disc is quite the opposite. Michael Daugherty is another relatively conservative American composer. He first found notoriety with his Metropolis Symphony, inspired by the Superman comic. This embrace of popular culture by a so-called serious artist was reminiscent of Andy Warhol's position in the visual arts, and brought Daugherty immediate international attention. The piece on this disc, Bells for Stokowski, is a band transcription of one movement from Daugherty's orchestral suite Philadelphia Stories. It's an emotionally substantial piece, and Daugherty moves from one expressive moment to another with skill. At one point, a playful quotation from J.S. Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier appears as an accompaniment and grows wildly in rather unexpected directions in homage to Stokowski's penchant for rather free transcriptions. Throughout, Daugherty embraces techniques like polyrhythm and bitonality, but its all to an emotional point--he never moves so far into the avante guard that the music becomes fails to engage the listener. The finale of the piece is especially thrilling.

Tracks:

Mike Mulligan And His Steam Shovel
About The Story
Mike Mulligan Song: Learn It, Sing It, Sing Along
About The Music
Now That You Know A Little More...One More Time
Want To Have Some Fun? Prepare To Perform
Mike Mulligan Song, Accompaniment Only
Mike Mulligan Song, Accompaniment Only

Album Description

In the tradition of Peter and the Wolf, Magic Maestro Music/Kids‰ presents Virginia Lee Burton's beloved children's tale, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel®, for narrator and symphony orchestra. The first in the new Stories in Music™ series for children ages five and up, Mike Mulligan® features original music composed and conducted by Stephen Simon, which brings this classic story to life in a fresh, wondrous way. The recording features the London Philharmonic Orchestra, which exposes the child to the magical sounds of a world class orchestra. Mike Mulligan® originally premiered at the Stories in Music™ children's concert series, produced by Bonnie and Stephen Simon, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Going beyond providing great music and storytelling, Magic Maestro Music/Kids™ also includes a Program Book with Mike Mulligan®, providing background information on the music, composer, author and story. While enjoying this wonderful listening experience, the Stories in Music™ series also helps expand a child's musical horizons and teaches them how to not just hear, but to listen. This CD has garnered numerous awards and accolades including: Parents' Choice Gold, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum, iParenting Media HOT, National Association of Parenting Publications (NAPPA) Gold, National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, Teacher's Choice Award. It is also a Booklist's Editor's Choice and was recognized by Child magazine as one of 2004's Top 10 Children's CDs.

Customer Reviews:

Enchanting for my three-year -old, even in the ER!.......2006-05-13

This is the kind of quality, well-produced, enriching recording a parent dreams of, and reaches for again and again. I am a psychologist by profession, an avid reader since age 4, and my alternate career choice was to be a classical musician. This recording speaks to all three of those passions, and allows me to feel good about offering it to my son. The mother who recommended it to me was so excited that kids could have something wonderful to help them slow down and focus, while having the experience of actively engaging their imaginations. In most children's lives, there is scant opportunity to "learn to listen," or to be actively engaged in listening to more than "sound bites" and frenetic popular music. The capacity to actively listen is a vital skill in so many facets of life: school, relationships, career, understanding the world...

My three year old asks to listen to this CD when he wants something entertaining which will hold his attention, but not leave him feeling overstimulated or wired. We were fortunate enough to have this wonderful CD on hand when my son had to make his first trip to the emergency room (for an IV while sick). He listened to it again and again while we were there, and it allowed him to have an engrossing story, fascinating music, and the engagement of his imagination. (By the way, the staff in the ER took note, and the doctor said she'll ask the administration to keep some players, headphones, and this CD on hand to help other kids!)

We look forward to more of these wonderful CDs.

Outstanding.......2004-12-19

I have never written a review before but feel that I have to let others know of this outstanding CD.....was familiar with the story but the music adds so much.....my 3 years old grandson is listening to it endlessly, my daughter is using it in her teaching and as a "young senior", I am humming the "Mike Mulligan" song constantly. The extras and explanations on the tape are superb as is the booklet that comes with the CD......hope that we hear lots more from the Simons.

Hurray, hurray for Magic Maestro Music and Stories in Music.......2004-08-18

Hurray, hurray for Magic Maestro Music and Stories in Music.

Maestro Stephen Simon and producer Bonnie Ward Simon have given young concert-goers and their parents what is sure to be a "Grammy-winning" release.

Virginia Lee Burton's classic and beloved story of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel is now heard with symphony orchestra in Stephen Simon's tuneful rendition that follows the Burton book word for word. The music is played by the London Philharmonic Orchestra with a piper soloist... when did you last hear Irish pipes with symphony orchestra, and conductor/composer Stephen Simon has the friendly voice of Yadu narrating the story.

This CD is much more than just a recording; the disc is boxed with a fun, entertaining and educational program book that includes music, games and background on the author, composer and soloists.

Once you hear the Mike Mulligan tune you will be singing it all day, and waiting for more releases to follow in the Stories in Music series.

Stop, look and listen... this release is not to be missed!
Amy R. Sperling
New York, NY

A creative, musically valuable, beautifully done CD & book.......2004-08-17

This is the most creative, musically valuable, beautifully done children's CD & booklet I have seen. I am a grandmother and have taught instrumental music to children for 30 years and am delighted with the amount and quality of information imparted via entertaining "gentle education", with the familiar and trustworthy yet most informative tone of the speakers and of course with the outstanding musical composition and presentation which has turned Stephen Simon's musical version of Mike Mulligan into an immediate, worthy "classic". Every child should be given the opportunity to grow up with this CD and their parents, grandparents and teachers will enjoy it equally. I hope to see more CDs with "musical stories" coming out from Maestro Simon.This one is at the top of my Christmas gift list for this year.

Average customer rating:

Crisp & Coherent
Two Treasures, Two Trifles

American Contrasts

Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00009MGFI
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Tracks:

Benjamin Lees: Passacaglia for Orchestra
Persichetti: Symphony No.4: I
Persichetti: Symphony No.4: II
Persichetti: Symphony No.4: III
Persichetti: Symphony No.4: IV
Daugherty: Philadelphia Stories for Orchestra: Sundown on South Street
Daugherty: Hell's Angels

Customer Reviews:

Crisp & Coherent.......2004-03-18

Enjoying Classical music for over 50 years, I find it stimulating to listen to a body of work that captures your attention without offending. "Contrasts" is an excellant CD!
To the Classical Purist blending different musical period styles is for the most part an uncomfortable experience. However, from the Composer's point of view, it is a much more difficult task to be able to combine musical/period/styles and pull off a cohesive entity. "Hell's Angels" qualifies, with ease, as one of those rare orchestral pieces. Being a "Classical Purist" makes one content to whirl around in an eddy as opposed to enjoying the whole river and its many currents which freely intertwine. Dom's view

Two Treasures, Two Trifles.......2003-08-26

The real find here is the 'Passacaglia for Orchestra' by a genuine master of American music, the under-appreciated Benjamin Lees, now in his 80th year. The muscular 11-minute 'Passacaglia' is based on a disjunct 24-note quasi-atonal cello theme that strikes me as a deconstruction of the theme from Bach's 'Art of Fugue,' although I have no idea if that was Lees' intention. It consists of the theme followed by nineteen variations and a coda. Lees' mastery of orchestration and compositional inventiveness get a real work-out here. There is metrical and rhythmic diversity (e.g., one of the variations is in 5/8), creative orchestration (one variation has growling trombone/tuba flutter-tonguing, another has hypnotic, but humorous, use of temple blocks), augmentation and diminution of the theme, brass chorales, leap-frogging strings, all leading to the coda for full orchestra with triumphant pealing bells, a joyous conclusion to a short but densely constructed piece that has been played many times by American orchestras but never, to my knowledge, recorded before. It is played brilliantly by the Oregon Symphony under its outgoing music director, the hugely talented James DePreist (the most misspelled conductor in recent memory), a man who has given many of us many memorable performances of 20th-century music. [As if happens, I have another DePreist/Oregon recording in my review pile, a collection of music by Oregon composer Tomas Svoboda.]

The Passacaglia is followed by a classic of American symphonic composition, the Fourth Symphony of Vincent Persichetti (1915-1987). It was composed for and premièred by Eugene Ormandy's Philadelphia Orchestra in 1954 and recorded by them shortly afterward. That mono recording, coupled with an effective suite by Louis Gesensway called 'Four Squares of Philadelphia,' was a staple of the old Columbia catalog for many years. Those performances have been transferred to CD on the Albany Label (and coupled with William Schuman's 'Credendum'); I don't have that CD but a quick listen of my old LP reveals that the Ormandy/Philly recording is more immediately effective that this DePreist/Oregon version. The current recording seems a bit recessed, particularly in the first movement. Also, the whirling violins in IV are a bit covered in the current recording, robbing the exciting finale of some immediacy. I can't say enough for the Oregon winds and brass, however, and suspect the covered strings are the result more of the CD's sound production than the orchestra or conductors doing. This symphony has long been a favorite and you owe it to yourself to familiarize yourself with it, either from this CD or the one on Albany.

The final two pieces here are by Michael Daugherty (b. 1954), who has had a run of recordings recently. I will say up front that I've yet to hear anything by Daugherty that made me want to hear it again. And that goes for these two pieces--'Sundown on South Street' from his Second Symphony, and 'Hell's Angels.' Daugherty's style tends to borrow a good deal from vernacular music--jazz, pop, rock--and frankly it seems to me that he makes a dog's breakfast of it all. Others, obviously, feel much more positive about it. 'Hell's Angels' is a concerto of sorts for bassoon quartet (three bassoons, one contra-bassoon) and it certainly is well-played by the soloists. However, there is such vulgarity and triviality inherent in the piece that I think it is better if I say no more.

Suffice it to say, I recommend this CD for the Persichetti and especially for the Lees. They account for about 38 minutes of the CD's total of 61 minutes.

One final note: I have indicated in some earlier reviews (primarily of re-releases on Naxos of pieces previously released on Delos and featuring the Seattle Symphony under Gerard Schwarz) that I thought the Delos label had gone belly up. Obviously I was wrong. I not only apologize for having suggested it, but hasten to add that I'm delighted to hear that they still exist. They have given us many fine recordings of American music over the years. I hope they continue to do so for many years to come.

Scott Morrison

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