In November 1966, Alpert released S.R.O., his fourth album to place in the Top 10 in 1966, ultimately reaching the #2 spot. Includes the hit singles "Work Song" and "Mame."
Each album in the Herb Alpert Signature Series features meticulously remastered sound, deluxe packaging, detailed liner notes, and an intro by Herb Alpert containing personal recollections and anecdotes.
S.R.O.,Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass,Shout Factory,Instrumental Pop,Jazz,Jazz-Pop,Pop
Average customer rating:
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Greatest Hits
S.O.S. Band Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0002KP56C Release Date: 2004-08-24 |
Tracks:
- Take Your Time (Do It Right) Part 1
- Just Be Good To Me
- Just The Way You Like It
- Love Won't Wait For Love
- S.O.S. (Dit....)
- Groovin' (That's What We're Doin')
- It's A Long Way To The Top
- Have It Your Way
- High Hopes
- Tell Me If You Still Care
- Sands Of Time
- Weekend Girl
- Borrowed Love
- No Lies
- The Finest
Customer Reviews:
Just Be Good To Me.......2007-07-15
Not a bad collaboration of songs, but............2007-07-05
Good, but short version of Weekend Girl!!!.......2007-06-19
Boring even if it is a greatest hits........2007-05-14
Greatest Hits..........2007-05-06
1. Just be good to me
2. Take your time
3. Tell me if you still care
4. Weekend girl
It's simply criminal to rip us off like that. Simply criminal. I pad $15/US for the collection. My ratings: Four stars!!
Average customer rating:
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Best of the Millennium: Top 40 Classical Hits
Manufacturer: Utv Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00004GOZA Release Date: 2000-02-08 |
Tracks:
- Adagio In G Minor
- Jesu, Joy OF Man's Desiring
- Moonlight Sonata - Adagio sostenuto
- March Of The Toreadors (Carmen)
- Celebrated Minuet
- Polovtsian Dance No. 1 (Prince Igor)
- Cradle Song
- 'Minute' Waltz
- Suite Bergamasque: Clair de Lune
- Largo
- Pomp And Circumstance March No. 1
- Rhapsody In Blue - Andante And Finale
- Peer Gynt Suite: Morning
- Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus
- Liebestraum
- Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo
- A Midsummer Night's Dream: Wedding March
- 'Masterpiece Theater' Theme: Rondau (First Symphonic Suite)
- The Great Gate Of Kiev
Tracks:
- Eine klein Nachtmusik - Allegro: Eine kleine Nachtmusik - Allegro
- Orpheus In The Underworld: Cancan
- Carmina Burana - O Fortuna
- Canon In D
- Lietenant Kije Suite - Troika
- Turandot: Nessun dorma
- Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini - 18th Variation: Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini- 18th Variation
- Bolero - Conclusion
- The Tale Of Czar Sultan: Flight Of The Bumblebee
- William Tell Overture - Finale
- Carnival Of The Animals: The Swan
- Gymnopedie No. 3
- Ave Maria
- Blue Danube Waltz
- Thus Spake Zarathustra - Sunrise
- Firebird Suite - Finale
- 1812 Overture - Finale: 1812 Overtune - Finale
- Fantasia On 'Greensleeves'
- Anvil Chorus (II Trovatore)
- The Four Seasons - Largo From 'Winter'
- Die Walkure: Ride Of The Valkyries
Amazon.com
For those who want the most remembered passages of classical music's best-loved works, here's a package for you. On this bargain priced double-CD, you'll find music from 40 different classical composers; for the most part, the recordings excerpted here are some of the very best. Of course, you only get one Bach sampling (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, played by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra) and one Mozart (A Little Night Music conducted by Herbert von Karajan), but this is still a nice collection--perhaps the starting point for a budding collection of classical music. This set's downfall? Unfortunately, though the liner notes discuss the evolution of classical music chronologically, the tracks are programmed in alphabetical order by composer's last name. This makes for some startling transitions! Emil Gilels's reflective performance of the Adagio from Beethoven's "Moonlight" sonata is followed by the crashing cymbals and bombast of Carmen's "March of the Toreadors," a recipe for a heart attack if there ever was one. Still, there's something here for everyone and the liner notes even explain what movies this music can be found in. A nice touch. --Jason VerlindeCustomer Reviews:
Waste of money.......2006-01-12
Ken
Great Music Compilation.......2005-08-15
If you like classical music don't buy this CD........2005-03-11
A must for anyone wanting the staples of classical music.......2005-02-23
I recommend this album, along with the boxed set, "Age of the Classics" for anyone who is interested in becoming familiar with the most famous staples of classical music.
A great compilation.......2005-02-09
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Instruments of the Orchestra
Various Artists Manufacturer: Naxos ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00006O0NT Release Date: 2002-12-03 |
Tracks:
- Overture To 'Tannhauser'
- Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
- We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
- Hungarian Dance No.7
- The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
- Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
- But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
- The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
- The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
- Csardas Music
- The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
- The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
- Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
- The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
- Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
- Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
- The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
- Tzigane
- Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
- Caprice No.24
- The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
- Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
- Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
- Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
- Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
- The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
- The Violin Muted
- Clair De Lune
- The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
- Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
- The Pizzicato Violin
- Pizzicato Polka
- In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
- Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
- Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
- The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
- The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
- Hungarian Dance No.4
- Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
- The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
- Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
- Bolero
- Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
- Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
- Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
- Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
- Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
- Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
- And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
- Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
- The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
- Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
- The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
- Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
- Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
- The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
- Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
- Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
- Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
- The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
- Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
- Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
- Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
- Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
- Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
- To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
- Elfenreigen
Tracks:
- Introduction To The Viola
- Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
- Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
- Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
- Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
- Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
- The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
- Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
- The Muted Viola: Intimate, Gentle, Poignant In Dvork
- Cypresses (No.9)
- The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
- Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
- The 'Period' Viola In Bach
- Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
- The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
- Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
- Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
- Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
- Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
- Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
- In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
- Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
- But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
- Elfentanz, Op.39
- Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
- The Protecting Veil (Opening)
- A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
- Flamenco
- Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
- Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
- It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
- Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
- It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
- Symphony No.9 (Finale)
- Introduction To The Double-Bass
- The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
- But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
- Elegy No.1 In D Major
- The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
- Capriccio Di Bravura
- Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
- The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
- Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds
Tracks:
- The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
- Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
- The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
- Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
- The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
- Sa'Dawi
- Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
- Chamber Music No.II
- The Piccolo - Aptly Named
- La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
- From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
- Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
- A Variety Of Techniques
- Chamber Music No.II
- Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
- The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
- From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
- Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
- An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
- Naelden, Naelden
- The Bachian Oboe
- Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
- Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
- Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
- The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
- The Swan Of Tuonela
- The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
- Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
- Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
- Bolero
- The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
- Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
- As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
- Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
- The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
- The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
- The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
- ...And Quite Low.
- Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
- The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
- Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
- But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
- Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
- Introduction To The Saxophone
- Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
- The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
- L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
- The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
- Bolero
- The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
- Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
- The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
- Sax-O-Phun
- The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
- Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
- The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
- Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
- Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
- And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
- Bolero
- The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
- Symphony No.3 (Opening)
- The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
- The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
- Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
- The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
- The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
- Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
- The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
- Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
- The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
- Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
- Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
- Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
- The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
- Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)
Tracks:
- The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
- Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
- The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
- Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
- The Ceremonial Trumpet
- Fanfare For The Common Man
- Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
- Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
- The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
- Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
- The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
- Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
- The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
- Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
- The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
- Billy The Kid
- The Trumpet As Character Actor
- Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
- The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
- Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
- The Birth Of The Trombone
- Aenmerckt Nu Hier
- The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
- Canzon 12 In Double Echo
- The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
- Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
- The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
- Hosannah
- The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
- Symphony No.5 (Finale)
- The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
- The Trombone As Caricaturist
- Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
- The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
- The Horn And The Hunt
- Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
- The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
- Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
- The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
- Walter Music (Minuet 1)
- The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
- Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
- Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
- The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
- Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
- The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
- Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
- The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
- Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
- The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
- Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)
Tracks:
- Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
- Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
- At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
- Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
- Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
- Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
- The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
- The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
- Den Hoboecken Dans
- Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
- Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
- No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
- Gymnopedie No.2
- The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
- Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
- More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
- Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
- Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
- Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
- A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
- Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
- The Birth Of The Bongo
- Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
- From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
- Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
- From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
- Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
- Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
- But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
- Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
- Taking Advantage Of Tunability
- Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
- The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
- Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
- Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
- The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
- Ravel And The Xylophone
- Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
- Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
- Introducing The Vibraphone
- The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
- The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
- Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
- Folk Dances
- The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
- Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
- Introducing The Tubular Bells
- Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
- A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
- Carmen Suite (Introduction)
- But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
- Introducing The Celeste
- The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
- Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
- Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
- Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
- A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
- The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
- Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
- The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
- Petrushka (Russian Dance)
- The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
- Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)
Tracks:
- Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
- Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
- But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
- Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
- The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
- An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
- Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
- Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
- Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
- Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
- Mahler's Sleighbells
- Symphony No.4 (Opening)
- A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
- Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
- Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
- Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
- National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
- And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
- And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
- The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
- The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
- The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
- The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
- The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
- The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
- The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
- The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
- There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
- The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
- Nocturnes
- Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
- The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
- The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
- The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
- The Oboe As Duck
- Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
- The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
- The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
- The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
- Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
- Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
- Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
- Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
- The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
- A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
- Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
- A Thunderstorm In A Million
- Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
- the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
- The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
- Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
- The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)
Tracks:
- The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
- Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
- A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
- Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
- Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
- String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
- The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
- String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
- The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
- String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
- The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
- String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
- The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
- String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
- The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
- Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
- Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
- String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
- The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
- Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
- Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
- Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
- In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
- Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
- In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
- Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
- In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
- Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
- Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
- Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
- And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
- Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
- The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
- Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
- Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
- Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
- A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
- Octet In F (Mvt 3)
- The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
- Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
- Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
- Canzon 28
- Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
- Symphony No.5 (Finale)
- From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
- Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
- Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
- The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
- Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
- When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
- Images (Gigues)
- A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
- Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
- The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
- Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
- Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
- Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
- A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')
Customer Reviews:
Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04
Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12
Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20
Frank's view.......2006-08-19
Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08
The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!
I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.
The one complaint I have is the last CD. This deals with the orchestra. I wanted more of a tour of how the orchestra has been used through history up to the present. Instead, it was a tour of how different groups of instruments sound. I thought it could have been better. The other 6 CDs are excellent.
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S.R.O.
Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Manufacturer: Shout Factory ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0009I7O70 Release Date: 2005-06-07 |
Tracks:
- Our Day Will Come
- Mexican Road Race
- I Will Wait For You
- Bean Bag
- The Wall Street Rag
- The Work Song
- Mame
- Blue Sunday
- Dont Go Breaking My Heart
- For Carlos
- Freight Train Joe
- Flamingo
Album Description
In November 1966, Alpert released S.R.O., his fourth album to place in the Top 10 in 1966, ultimately reaching the #2 spot. Includes the hit singles "Work Song" and "Mame."Each album in the Herb Alpert Signature Series features meticulously remastered sound, deluxe packaging, detailed liner notes, and an intro by Herb Alpert containing personal recollections and anecdotes.
Customer Reviews:
Mastering Error ?.......2007-07-19
However, what's up with the mastering on this one. There is heavy bass and drum distortion on several tracks, most noticable on "I Will Wait for You". Perhaps it was the original master. If not for this, SRO could have possibly been the best in the Signature Series reissues.
¡Olé!.......2007-03-27
The CD starts off strong with the catchy "Our Day Will Come." And their day HAS come, believe me--and it's a day lasting several decades strong now! The horns, percussion and drums carry the melody well and infuse it with a type of Latin beat despite the fact that these gentlemen were not from Mexico. Great!
"I Will Wait For You" has a slower tempo that gives it a romantic effect; once again the horns and percussion carry the number very well.
Other great songs on this CD include "The Work Song" which they perform complete with a few grunts and groans to highlight that this number is about hard work done by inmates on a chain gang; "The Work Song" also brings to mind the horrors of slavery with its brutality and cruel work loads. "The Wall Street Rag" offers a relentlessly upbeat melody that you will enjoy; and "Mame" also displays such warmth and optimism that you just won't be able to resist jumping up and dancing right there in your living room!
The CD ends with "Flamingo" which employs tambourines in addition to the horns and percussion that are so fundamental to The Tijuana Brass style. Catchy and romantic both at the same time, "Flamingo" gives this album a strong ending.
The CD comes with a twenty page booklet replete with photos of The Tijuana Brass both in the studio and in concert. You also get the original liner notes for the record album release written by Chuck Champlin; a commentary by Herb Alpert himself and an extensive essay about the band by Josh Kun. Bernie Grundman did a terrific job of remastering the numbers on this album, too.
Overall, fans of Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass will consider this a "must-have" for their collections; and people who enjoy classic instrumentals and easy listening will enjoy this album, too. Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass will remain a strong force in the world of entertainment for quite some while to come because of their numerous superb releases during the 1960s.
¡Olé!
The Tijuana Brass, SRO.......2007-03-04
This album really has a group sound to it. All the instruments of the Brass were very well represented. The drums, the bass, the piano, guitar. Basically the whole rhythm section is tight as hell. Herb's trumpet playing is also superb.
A brilliant album. The best in my opinion up to this point. If there's any Tijuana Brass album to start off with for jazz fans, this is it. SRO.
THERE ARE A FEW SEATS AVAILABLE.......2005-10-19
But what were Herb and Shout Factory thinking when they released this CD! What a blown opportunity to give the fans something more. The TJB albums were always around 30 minutes or less. So, why not do what Capitol Records did with the re-release of the Beatles "American" albums of disc. They doubled the length by using both MONO and STEREO versions, 24 tracks rather than 12. What a grand idea. In particular for elaborate instrumental music such as this. Let the fans hear the version (or mix) they grew up with. Pretty simple, don`t you think.
I personally learned the TJB albums via "the mono mixes". Also the sound quality is rougher on this CD than the other discs in this series. It would have been nice to have had the MONO mix in this case.
01. Our Day Will Come - 8/10
02. Mexican Road Race - 10/10
03. I Will Wait For You - 10/10
04. Bean Bag - 9/10
05. The Wall Street Rag - 8/10
06. The Work Song - 10/10
07. Mame - 8/10
08. Blue Sunday - 7/10
09. Don't Go Breaking My Heart - 10/10
10. For Carlos - 9/10
11. Freight Train Joe - 7/10
12. Flamingo - 10/10
This is a pretty rockin' good album (often overlooked) and so it gets 5 stars for the music and packaging, but -1 star for the blown opportunity. So if I'm correct, that equals 2 stars!
Nostalgia without the LP defects.......2005-08-24
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Maria Callas - La Divina
Giacomo Puccini , Vincenzo Bellini , Georges Bizet , Gioachino Rossini , Alfredo Catalani , Camille Saint-Saëns , Giuseppe Verdi , Charles Gounod , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Pietro Mascagni , Amilcare Ponchielli , Tullio Serafin , Georges Prêtre , Nicola Rescigno , Franco Ghione , Antonino Votto , Maria Callas , Alfredo Kraus , Ebe Ticozzi , Giuseppe di Stefano , London Philharmonia Orchestra , Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala , Orchestre National de la R.D.F. , Conservatory Concert Society Orchestra , and Lisbon Orquesta Sinfonica del Teatro Nacional de San Carlos Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000002RT6 Release Date: 1993-09-14 |
Tracks:
- Madama Butterfly: Un bel di, vedremo (Atto ll)
- Carmen: L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Habanera) (Acte l)
- La Wally: Ebben? ne andro lontana (Atto l)
- Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Una voce poco fa (Atto l)
- Norma: Casta Diva (Atto l)
- Samson et Dalila: Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix (Acte ll)
- Rigoletto: Caro nome (Atto l)
- La Traviata: Sempre libera (Atto l)
- Romeo et Juliette: Je veux vivre dans ce reve (Acte l)
- La Boheme: Si, mi chiamano Mimi (Atto l)
- Don Giovanni: Mi tradi quell'alma ingrata (Atto ll)
- Cavalleria Rusticana: Voi lo sapete, o mamma
- La Gioconda: Suicidio! (Atto lV)
- Gianni Schicchi1: O mio babbino caro
- Turandot: In questa reggia (Atto ll)
- TOSCA: Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore (Atto ll)
Amazon.com
If you want to know the reason behind all the fuss about Maria Callas, buy this CD. Callas's great gift was not purity of tone or emission, reliability, or sheer loveliness; it was, rather, her ability to change her vocal color and style to suit not only particular periods of opera but to get under the skin of the individual characters she portrayed. Here you will hear the 18-year-old Butterfly imagining the return of her beloved; the sultry, adult Carmen seducing all around her; the youthful Wally telling her cruel father that she will go off into the cold wilderness rather than give up her boyfriend; the sly Rosina planning to outfox her guardian; the priestess Norma performing a sacred rite; Dalila wrapping Samson around her little finger and more; Gioconda contemplating suicide when all hope is gone; Gilda recalling the name of the boy she's just fallen for; and the icy princess Turandot reliving the rape of her ancestor and swearing that no man will possess her. And you'll believe them all. At times Callas's vocalism is a bit wiry (Juliette sounds stressed, for instance); but, in all, this is like a visit with 16 women, all of them interesting, and all of them great singers! --Robert LevineCustomer Reviews:
Landmark Soprano. An essential work for opera listeners........2007-05-26
Terrific introduction to the art of Callas.......2007-04-24
"Un bel di" from Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" is very well done. She displays a rich voice and a passionate rendering of this aria. At greater volume, her voice remains under control and attractive sounding (something that does not always occur as her career developed further).
The "Habanera" from Bizet's "Carmen" is normally a mezzo soprano work. However, Callas features a good lower tone, and it works pretty well here. She shows nice breath control, too. The orchestral backing is exceptional.
"Sempre libera," from Verdi's "La Traviata," is a soprano's dream. Here, though, Callas' voice is not as attractive as in other cuts. There is some harshness with higher notes. Alfredo Kraus' singing, by the way, is most attractive. There is some unpleasantness with Callas technique in this work, although there is a nice characterization as well (this is the price you pay for Callas). She shows off some nice runs, but zero in the way of trills (some other sopranos display nice trills in this piece).
Finally, a very well done version of "Si, mi chiamano Mimi" from Puccini's "La Boheme." Sweet sounds at the outset. She seems to capture the character well. Smooth singing, done well.
Thus, a good introduction to the art of Maria Callas. There are cuts here that feature some of the wondrous nature of her work. There are other cuts where one hears some unattractive aspects of her singing and one wonders about her technique. But, in the end, this is a good representation of the work of Callas.
Callas was the greatest.......2007-02-06
The Callas bashers will always be with us, but thankfully they will always be in the tiny minority. True connossiers of opera know there never has been and never will be as great a singer as La Divina.
Great starter CD.......2005-11-24
The epitome of divinity.......2005-03-31
A unique mezzo voice delivering a 'one-two-three punch': one in the gut, one in the heart and one in the head.
The listener instinctually senses all she imparts-regardless of French,Italian,German literacy or opera knowledge.
Her gifts were many-the 'voice'(simultaneously:sharp,buttery,bright and dark),inimitable phrasing,timing,dramatic intensity and versatility.
A fine jumping off point for Callas neophytes and Opera 'sissies' who say they don't like Opera, but never really listened to any.
For all of us already converted, I say turn it up!
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Christmas Extraordinaire
Mannheim Steamroller , George Frideric Handel , Irving Berlin , James R. Murray , Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Noel Regney , Christmas Traditional , Ray / Livingston, Jay Evans , Catalan Traditional , Alfred S. Burt , Felix Bernard , Robert Burns , and Chip Davis Manufacturer: American Gramaphone ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00005NNDK Release Date: 2001-10-30 |
Tracks:
- Hallelujah - from 'The Messiah'
- White Christmas
- Away In A Manger
- Faeries - from 'The Nutcracker'
- Do You Hear What I Hear?
- The First Noel
- Silver Bells
- Fum, Fum, Fum
- Some Children See Him
- Winter Wonderland
- O Tannenbaum
- Auld Lang Syne
Amazon.com
Chip Davis's Mannheim Steamroller hasn't lost any ground in the six years since their last Yuletide offering. Christmas Extraordinare is another innovative and heartfelt collection of seasonal treasures played on a combination of 18th-century instruments and modern-day synthesizers, drums, and electric guitars. While not the first to marry different ages of musical instruments, Davis and his cohorts use them with imagination and an intensity that gives new life and drama to this rather inert genre. For material, Mannheim Steamroller asked their fans to choose their favorite holiday selections and vote on their Web site. The results of the poll are a fine mix of old and new--with slightly more emphasis on the modern--ranging from the bracing "Fum, Fum, Fum," a traditional Catalan carol, to Tchaikovsky's "Faeries" from The Nutcracker. Mannheim Steamroller imbues this beloved song with an almost militaristic edge, grounding it with an ominous tuba that gives the usually fey "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" an edgy tension. "Winter Wonderland" is a spectacular work, bordering on prog rock, as if Emerson, Lake & Palmer had re-formed to whip up a winter blizzard gone amok. While most of the Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas albums are largely instrumental, Davis has employed the considerable talents of University of Michigan's Glee Club to sing on "O Tannenbaum," respectfully fading their elegant, full vocals around the pristine voice of Johnny Mathis, elevating this German carol to a cinematic peak. Don't miss out on the clever liner notes, which give the reader a whimsical, anecdotal history of the 12 songs. --Jaan UhelszkiCustomer Reviews:
Mannheim Steamroller.......2007-01-10
I like it.......2006-12-18
Wonderful Christmas tunes from Mannheim Steamroller.......2006-12-06
Christmas Extraordinaire.......2006-02-26
Doesn't Really meet the test of time.......2006-01-05
In retrospect, I wish I had gotten FRESH AIRE, which I recognize as having some of my favorite Mannheim Steamroller songs. I'm not throwing this CD away, but it won't be on the top of my Christmas music pile either.
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Simply the Best Classical Anthems
Manufacturer: Erato ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00004SUVI Release Date: 2000-04-25 |
Tracks:
- Requiem: Dies Irae
- Carmina Burana: O Fortuna
- The Planets: Mars
- The Ride Of The Valkyries
- Chorus Of The Hebrew Slaves
- Fanfare For The Common Man
- Pomp And Circumstance March No. 1
- Aida: Grand March
- Summer - Four Seasons: Presto
- Te Deum: Prelude
- The Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra
- Toccata And Fugue In D Minor
- Symphony No. 5: First Movement
- Spartacus: Adagio
- Sabre Dance
- Symphony No. 40: First Movement
- Zadok The Priest
- Turandot: Nessun Dorma
Tracks:
- Also Sprach Zarathoustra
- Romeo And Juliet: Dance Of The Knights
- Requiem: Dies Irae
- 1812 Overture
- Piano Concerto
- Spring - Four Seasons: Allegro
- Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus
- The Royal Fireworks: La Ruissance From Music
- Flight Of The Bumble Bee
- Symphonie Fantastique: March To The Scaffold
- Carmen: Overture
- Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
- Jerusalem
- The Planets: Jupiter
- Symphony No 9, 'Ode To Joy'
- Swan Lake: Scene
- Enigma Variations: Nimrod
- Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini [Variation 18]
- Pictures At An Exibitions: Promenade
- Symphony For Organ No 3: Finale, Symphony For Organ No 3
Customer Reviews:
perfect selection for commencement/ graduation.......2007-06-11
Great Starting Point for Classical Music Novices.......2004-08-13
The CD contains 36 songs composed by the legends of Classical Music Composers from the past. The bulk of the works come from Composers in the the 19th and 20th century, but there are works from the Romantic and Classical eras of the late 18th and early 19th century (such as Beethoven and Mozart). In general you will find most of the major names of Composers you would expect to find - names such as Tchiakovsky, Handel, Verdi, Strauss, Elgar, and Bach are all there. The only major composer who I would have expected to see on this CD that I don't see is Frederic Chopin. The composers of the late 20th century are not included on this collection - so you won't see Leonard Bernstein or John Williams on this set. While these Composers are excellent, I do think style of the tracks on this collection pre-date their style.
The recordings themselves are done by the great Orchestras around the world. For the most part, European Orchestras were used to deliver the tracks. There are a few exceptions: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra delivers "The Ride of the Valkyries"; The Toronto Symphony Orchestra delivers "Dance of the Knights"; and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra delivers Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture". Some of the European Orchestras that are well known include: BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra, Choeur Philhamonique de Strasbourg, and more. Also included are performances by well known names in the Classical space such as Marie-Claire Alain (Bach's "Toccate and Fogue in D Minor" and Saint-Saens' "Symphony for Organ No 3"), Piero Toso (Vivaldi's "Allegro From Spring - Four Seasons"), and Placido Domingo appears on Puccini's "Nessun Dorma".
The 2 Disc collection contains a total of over 2 hours and 6 minutes of music. The selections that are included in the set will sound very familiar to you when you play them. You probably have both heard and seen the names of tracks such as: Oref's "O Fortuna"; Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man"; Beethoven's "First Movement from Symphony Number 5" and "Ode To Joy"; Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance", and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture". Many of the other tracks will also sound familiar, but maybe not so much by name - such as Wagner's "The Ride of the Valkyries", Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathoustra"; Grieg's "Piano Concerto", and "Dies Irae" (versions included by Mozart and Verdi - you can compare the two and judge for yourself). As for the Discs themselves, I think most of the casual fans will like the selections on Disc Two better, but Disc One is still very good. On a sidebar, the Israel Philharmonic's version of "1812 Overture" is by far the best you will hear - particularly at the end, the booming drums create almost a 3 dimensional vision of fireworks being launched into the air.
There one big negative on this collection is some of the recording quality. The clarity of the recording is there, but some of the recording levels leave a lot to be desired. On some of the softer parts, it is barely audible without significantly turning up your volume. This is very evident on "O Fortuna" where you will hear almost dead silence during from the 30 second to 1:30 mark of the track unless you crank your volume up. Same with the first few seconds of Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathoustra" and Tchiakovsky's "1812 Overture". When the volume is cranked up you will hear them - but then the other sections will be way too loud. I'm surprised with modern technology that this couldn't be addressed better.
The liner notes are pretty thin. You do get the Composers, Performers/Orchestras, and recording dates. There isn't any more details than that and you won't learn anymore insight on the tracks than this information. Despite some of the shortcomings of the liner notes and recording volume, I still think this is an excellent place to start and do recommend this CD if you are a novice to Classical Music and are looking for a great place to start listening to what the Classics have to offer.
**An Exquisite Album**.......2004-02-21
Simply The Best Classical Anthems is a compilation album of `36 of the most powerful Anthems on Earth'. But, it is also said to be something else. It is said to be a gateway. A gateway to another world. A world where our imagination can run free without being shackled down by any borders or boundaries or rules or limits. A world that we have all seen or perhaps more accurately have all heard of but for many of us a world that we have never dared to enter. Never dared to enter because of fear. The fear of being ostracised and shunned by our community.
THE MYTH
`Classical Music!', I can hear some of you cry. `That isn't another world. That's just music for the upperclass, the high-brow, and the pompous.' Surprisingly, I too felt this way for a long time until I accepted the invitation made to me by Simply The Best Classical Anthems. I always felt that Classical Music was nice to listen to as background music for a Levis ad or a Car ad but I would consider people strange if they chose to hear it on its own. However, after having listened to this album I realised how wrong I was in my assumptions.
THE TRUTH
Music as with all forms of amusement helps to take you away from where you are now. It helps to relax you when you are stressed with anger; it helps to give you strength when you are vulnerable; it helps to keep your spirits up when you have faced tragedy or loss. It helps. And, for me the type of music that best conjures up the most passionate emotions (love, hate, courage and anger) at our most testing times is Classical Music.
How? I don't know.
Why? I don't know.
I can only promise you that in my experience it does.
THE CHEST
The album, in visual terms, is very difficult to overlook amongst the plethora of records that may surround it. This is because the album has a very distinct purple sleeve cover. Not any kind of purple mind you but the Cadbury's kind of purple. The kind of purple that carries with it an invitation. An invitation that if accepted promises you a treasure inside.
And since, I have always enjoyed the treasure within the purple Cadbury's Dairy Milk wrapper, I asked myself why would an album carrying the same invitation promise to be anything different? Thus, I parted with my tuppence worth and went back home to open this purple chest of promised treasures.
THE PROMISED TREASURE
As you may have guessed, the contents of the album are somewhat different to the contents of a Cadbury's bar. When I opened the album, I was presented with two compact discs. At first glance, there did not seem to be anything special about them. They were just your average, everyday, run of the mill compact discs. To tell you the truth, I was a bit disappointed because I suppose I had hoped for something more.
However, looks can be deceptive. (Afterall, a Cadbury's Dairy Milk does not seem very appetising until you taste it!) And, also come November each year, I am always bemused and surprised at how the shabby contents of a cardboard box can both light up the sky and light up the faces of the neighbourhood. Thus, I pushed aside my assumptions and I ignited the discs (not literally of course, I just pressed the play button on the CD player). And, I let the fireworks begin.
THE KEY
From the very beginning, you will feel like you have unlocked the doorway to something special. And, after a full two hours of listening to both discs, you will feel like you have been taken out of this world and transported to another. Welcome to the world of Classical Music.
GUIDANCE
In the beginning, continue to listen to both discs in one go (i.e. one after the other). After a while, you will know which tracks you enjoy listening to the most. For those tracks you enjoyed the most make a promise to yourself that you will listen to the whole of the piece from which that track came from.
Good Luck on your quest if you choose to accept it.
Ride amongst the Valkyries, listen to the Flight of the Bumblebees, and use The Planets to keep you on the path.
I am not a good reviewer because as with all of my reviews I refuse to comment too much about what is inside the product but rather more about what effect the product has had on me. (Me, me, me. Vain & Egotistic, I know, so my friends and family keep telling me). But, I just want to cause a raucous about the product, enough not to spoil but enough of a raucous to let you experience it for yourself.
So my final words are:
Simply The Best Classical Anthems is an invitation. An invitation to the world of classical music. A world where you can begin a never-ending quest of curiosity. A curiosity that will always be rewarded with fulfilment.
Do you accept such an invitation?
Hope you found this review helpful.
Samples.......2003-11-23
Great Sampler!.......2002-03-20
There are also some new pieces that I have fallen in love with, such as "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra," "'Promenade' from Pictures at an Exhibition." The compilers did an interesting double take by including both Verdi's and Mozart's "Dies Ire." I'm not sure which is better.
This music is good for the brain and good for the soul. There is a power and passion that the blaring and glaring music that makes up most of the FM band. I'm reminded of the religious man who said that there is no music in hell. Probably because they wouldn't appreciate it there.
These CDs has a good transfer from the analogue tapes; there is no hiss or fuzziness. The packaging hearkens back to 2001: A Space Odyssey, with the black monolith. And appropriately, "Also Sprach Zarathustra" is the opening track on Disk 2.
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S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.
One Be Lo Manufacturer: Fatbeats ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00078FALE Release Date: 2005-02-08 |
Tracks:
- Intro(1)
- The UNDERground
- EnecS Eht No KcaB
- Questions
- Oggie
- Propaganda
- The Ghetto
- Axis
- Sleepwalking
- True Love
- Interlude
- Used 2 Be Fly
- Deceptacons
- Can't Get Enough
- Assassinations
- Evil Of Self
- The Future
- E.T.
- The Capital IST
- Rocketship
- Unparalleled
- Follow My Lead
Customer Reviews:
a few words for the two people who gave one star..........2007-06-09
SUBTERRANEOUS is The Movement! .......2007-04-04
From the begining, Subterraneous has been a WaterWorld (Michigan, for the un-educated) staple. One.Be.Lo, Majestic Legend, Octane and Illite (whose album "Forgotten...Choosen" is also Tops), Decompose (unfortunately I have not had the pleasure to check out the new album "Decompositions"), Kodac, Dj Phrikshum (if you figure out who that is, I'll give you a cookie!) and the Entire Sub Crew, who you may not love but you know Loves You, have been producing albums, rockin shows at the Blind Pig (another Ann Arbor staple), teachin the kids what Hip-Hop should be, even keeping up with their academic pursuits (check out One.Be.Lo's Double-S-A.). Yes, the Can do it ALL.
If I were trapped on a desert island with only one CD...it would probably be Outkast, "ATLiens" (sorry, I'm a bad lier)...
BUT! If I could only listen to one Lable for the rest of my life...it would be the SUB.
Trust me. I've seen the man at the show, sharing the stage with RJD2, Blueprint, GhostFaceKillah, DEL (not no phoney phranchise!), and yes, I've even seen him steal the show!
I've seen him in the crowd, shakin the hands, dancin with the fans, givin props to those that deserve it, and kickin out those that deserve it as well! (please, dont drink and dance...its bad for everyone)
He said it himself, "you buy the CD for Ten, and I'll sign it for Free." And yes, he will!! (Much thanks to my Bro for the SUB-Crew poster from Tha Zoo, best birthday present EVER!)
Call me PlayaHater if it'll make you feel better! But buy the disc, listen to the disc, and when you're in the MI, come to the show. I promise, you wont be upset.
Could do without the anti-semitism.......2007-03-09
Underground classic.......2007-02-26
Buy this album.
a classic.......2006-06-05
Average customer rating:
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The Best of the S.O.S. Band
The S.O.S. Band Manufacturer: Umvd Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0000042IQ Release Date: 2004-04-06 |
Tracks:
- Take Your Time (Do It Right)
- The Finest
- Even When You Sleep
- Weekend Girl
- Tell Me If You Still Care
- Just Be Good To Me
- Sands Of Time
- No One's Gonna Love You
- High Hopes
- What's Wrong With Our Love Affair?
Customer Reviews:
Pretty nice collaboration........2007-07-05
The Best of the S.O.S. Band..........2007-05-06
1. take your time (do it right) 7:39
2. Just be good to me 9:03
3. Weekend girl 5:39
I paid $14/US for the disc. Great songs! Great value, as I paid $14/US for a new disc. Five stars!!
SOS Band is one of the greatest R &B groups of the 80's.......2003-11-15
The CD is Available!!.......2002-12-29
The Best of the S.O.S Band.......2002-10-15
Please consider this request. I would like to purchase this as soon as it's made available.
Average customer rating:
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S.O.S.
Rihanna Manufacturer: Umvd Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000F1ILRI Release Date: 2006-04-24 |
Tracks:
- SOS - Rihanna
- SOS - Rihanna
- Break It Off - Sean Paul
Album Description
Produced by Jason Rotem, the sizzling 'S.O.S.' is bringing the summer heat early this year. With its hypnotic beat and enticing melody, 'S.O.S.' utilizes the electro-funk of Soft Cell's '80s classic 'Tainted Love' to create a soulful anthem of young love. Title track is backed by the instrumental version, music video and the track 'Break It Off' featuring Sean Paul. Universal. 2006.Customer Reviews:
Off The Charts Dance Music To Get In A Funk!.......2007-02-04
SOS Radio Edit [produced by J.R.] has quick energetic beats sure to get you in the mood to feel uplifted or ready to dance. Rihanna's voice is excellent in sound, as she has a nice pleasant sound not harsh or annoying on the ears. The heavy bass with the thumping beats make this a dance club party sensation.
SOS Instrumental has no vocals and is the same song as the previous track. Huge club fanatics may find this to be a fabulous track since the banging bass-lines bring many elements of the nights at the club and the sound has more vibes of the Hot Cell's original "Tainted Love".
Break It Off Featuring Sean Paul is my favorite track since the addition of Sean Paul has an appealing effect. His singing adds a spice of infectious dance grooves quite addictive. The beats are energetic, fast, and very much in synch with both Sean Paul's and Rihanna's singing.
S.O.S........2006-12-21
LISTEN UP PEOPLE!!!! THIS SONG IS GOOD!!!.......2006-08-30
Other than that, S.O.S is a really great, dancehall song that is perfect to dance to, and when your depressed, listen to S.O.S and you will get on your feet!
Best. Song. Ever........2006-07-14
I admit, the song would not be as good if it didn't contain the music from Tainted Love, but Rihanna has found a new way to use it, and added a fresh new tune to it, creating one hot track. And yes, I know Rihanna did not write SOS.
Christina Millan (Don't care for the spelling) was a twit to turn down this song, sending her carrer down the drain. Rihanna deserves all the praise she can handle, and I can't wait for her furture work.
So please don't beleive the people who degrade this song, because they obviously have no REAL taste in music. SOS is not a song like every other today, it is better.
how irritating.......2006-06-11
Anyway, listening to this, right away, I recognized the sample/theft of Soft Cell's Tainted Love, a song that was a hit many years ago. The other thing I noticed was that the "song" that was layered on top of the sample had no noticable melody whatsoever. Apparently, there are only a handful of competent songwriters inhabiting the music industry.
I wound up leaving the store annoyed, because by blasting this piece of noise pollution, instead of something decent, the store, like the music industry today as a whole, made me, a serious music fan, feel like an old curmugeon. I don't see myself that way, but this kind of junk brings out my irritated side.
This is to music what "bling-bling" is to fine jewelry; it's more entertainment for the dumb masses marketed to the masses in all the usual and predictible ways.
Pop Music:
- Sidewinder [Limited Edition] [Original recording remastered]
- Slowing Down the World
- Smooth Jazz Christmas
- Song for My Father [Original recording remastered]
- Soul Lounge
- Tati
- The Best of Pete Fountain
- The Bill Holman Band Live [Live]
- The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady
- The Bluegrass Sessions: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 2
