Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (very good, could have been better) 『This my 5th relaxation cd, so I am becoming somewhat of a common-sewer of them.
The woman's voice-quality is not particularly appealing ("Your Present: A Half Hour of Peace" has to be the gold-standard in this regard). The sudden and unexpected flute riffs are a little annoying (Again, the gentler, keyboard background in "Your Present: A Half Hour of Peace" is a good example of SUPPORTING music).
Having said this, I still give this CD 4 stars because the script is so brilliant--beautiful poetry really. And right on target for the desired meditive (medicive?) effect.
What DOES work on this CD is the combination of the nature-imagery with the sing-song voice delivery with the gentle nature sounds and even the primitive wood flute to some extent--giving an overall aboriginal feeling to the CD. Definitly a unique and worthy addition to my growing collection of sleep/peace-inducing CDs.
This CD passes my primary test--I have never heard the end of it (always fast-asleep by then).
A little expensive I think. 』
(EXCELLENT!!!!) 『This is an excellent CD if you want a guided imagery cd to help you meditate and relax. Personally, I have always had a hard time at meditating but have always wanted to do it because I hear how beneficial it is for healing from long term illnesses. The narrator's, a woman, voice is soothing, comforting and relaxing and the back ground sounds are just as relaxing. In listening to this CD you'll feel relaxed and rejuvenated. You can listen to either the half hour segment or all 60 minutes of it. This isn't just a CD for relaxing---the narrator says many self-affirming things that help you feel more confident about yourself, deal with stress, anxiety and nagging worries. She talks about forgiving yourself and others. I highly recommend this CD and know anyone who buy it will benefit from it as highly as I am.』
(Annoying!) 『I'm sorry that I paid such a price for this CD. This woman's voice and manner of delivery are annoying to me. Parts of the script are good, but parts sound very patronizing. I see that others gave this CD high praise, but I wish I could return mine. To each our own! ;)』
(A well grounded meditative experience) 『I tried Shannon's Monashee Mystic first, then acquired Kalamalka Colours. Overall, I enjoy the approach taken in these CDs. I find them to be very successful in their approach and enjoy the positive content within them. They guide you toward taking a positive approach to life and assist in dampening your harsher or more negative thoughts. This CD is well worth the investment.』
(Disappointed) 『I have many guided imagery/meditation audios and this one has a serious flaw: the background "noise" on track one is not enhancing...it is irritating, particularly if you listen through ear buds or phones. It needs to be re-mastered. Track Two is o.k.』 『Gentle water sounds, keyboard and flute provide a backdrop for the narration of refreshing images, affirmations, progressive relaxation, and conscious breathing to produce the relaxation response. 1. The Compass Within: On this inner journey we awaken an inner compass to guide us, eventually returning to the outside world refreshed and calm. The sound of waves helps one to establish a regular breathing rhythm and follow the imagery that encourages the development of a body memory for peacefulness that one can retrieve. 2.Breathing Freely&Kalamalka Colors: A mountain stream flowing into a lake provide the gentle backdrop for an initial short relaxation with the focus on the breath, leading into a longer relaxation. There is a certain light heartedness to the relaxation, inviting us to place our burdens in a safe container, allowing the imagination of a child with the sensations of floating. A rainbow of colors leads one into the image of a beach with tall cotton woods, willows and the beauty of nature.』
Kakaku：250 saved$2.50
BBC / Opus Arte
Usually ships in 1 to 4 weeks IPhone 3G used's review (Egregious pianism!) 『Benedetti Michelangeli' s magnificence made of him a true living legend. In this live performance we will see the reason why his legend was wrought. After Busoni, the Italian pianist school never knew a major Ambassador, because his well planned performances combined accurately Apollonian and Dionysian approaches, conferring every one of his countless recitals a real event to remember.
This legendary recital -once more- carves in relief his undeniable talents and musical gifts. Expression and introspection; musicality and tune; visceral temperament and unerring refinement.
That's why his Debussy sounds so different respect the others. With the two only exceptions of Alfred Cortot and Samson Francois, Debussy's way of playing was tinged of incorporeal nature, imperially idiosyncratic and profoundly expressive, where the imagination supports the enraptured fantasy.
Don't miss this album. 』
(Wonderful) 『I do hope you will have more Michelangeli tapes. I am looking forward for his Rachmaninoff 4th piano concerto. I hope they issue it some day.』
(Great Artistry by Any Standard) 『Michelangeli was noted for his immaculate playing, but he was equally noted for his ability to coax incredibly rich and subtle sound from the piano. He always claimed that tone color was a function of the pianist's mind, not so much his fingers. Whatever the means, in Debussy's piano music Michelangeli was unparalleled in his generation. This recital was filmed in 1962 in a television studio in Turin, in black and white, in mono, and with very little camera movement. Mostly it is shot from the audience's point of view, giving us the pianist's right side and a clear view of his hands. There are no close-ups. Sound is of its time and indeed in one spot there is some distortion (and a subtitle that tells us that this is a fault of the original tape). Still, these performances of the two books of 'Images', a couple of pr?ludes ('Bruyères' and 'Canope') and the 'Children's Corner' suite are nonpareil. Michelangeli manages to convey Debussy's at-time blurry harmonies as well as clearly articulating the separate elements of the music. There is dynamic contrast and, not sometimes heard in Debussy's music, a good deal of rhythmic snap. One small quibble would be that he sometimes doesn't play softly enough (as in 'Poissons d'or'), although one must hasten to add that his gradations of dynamic are masterful withal. This is Michelangeli in his early forties and at the height of his powers. 'Reflets dans l'eau,' 'Hommage à Rameau' and a cocky 'Golliwog's Cakewalk' are worth the price of the entire DVD
Accompanying this masterful recital is a documentary made for Italian television three years earlier (in 1959) in which a fatuous interviewer talks with five of Michelangeli's pupils (the most famous of which is the great Polish pianist Adam Harasiewicz) and very briefly with Michelangeli himself. The obviously rehearsed but supposedly spontaneous interviews add little to our understanding and appreciation of the Michelangeli.
This DVD is indispensable for fans of Michelangeli or of great piano playing. It is a historical document that was happily preserved, and its two companion DVDs (of the artist playing Beethoven and of Chopin) are equally valuable.
Subtitles in the usual languages (although the placards announcing the individual works are in Italian); Sound: LPCM mono; Time (including the 30-minute documentary): 84 mins.
Kakaku：399 saved$3.99
Angel Records
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (It's lovely - But not newly recorded!) 『I don't think this recording deserves One Star ratings or that the artist deserves such crude bashing. And re: Hampson's eye-colour.... Uh, these aren't lenses? He has blue eyes. I met him many times and...indeed, they are dark blue.
Anyhow, this is what Hampson is focusing on right now, American song. While those aren't exactly my thing I have to say that he sings them beautifully. I wish he'd stick to that rather than heavy Verdi and Wagner which his voice isn't right for.』
(Yet another compilation) 『I am a huge Tom fan. I go to his concerts and buy all of his CDs. I must say that I have been disappointed by this CD because it's entirely made of old recordings. There's a new photo on the cover, but that's all that is new here. So if you've bought your share of Tom CDs over the years, you want to check out the track info before you guy this one.
Now, Tom has been on tour and I STRONGLY recommend that you go see him next year when he comes through your city.
The other thing really annoying is that on the CD where you'd expect information about the music or the recording co., you instead get a large warning label from the FBI on pirating.』
(how precious!) 『Thomas Hampson swoons and croons to monotonous effect throughout this tired collection; again displaying his ego and faux scholarship in ample measure. Oi-vay, what a disaster! And what is with the blue contact lenses in the Jacket phot? Hampson's eyes are brown. What an unbelievably vain Diva!』
(Disappointing Duplication) 『I have not even heard the album, and I will not. Although I revere Mr. H. in just about everything he does, especially in song and Lieder, I am very disappointed that so many of these songs appear on other cds of which I already have about 19 of him. I think he and the producers should have chosen totally NEW material for this instead of drawing on his past achievements. I have no reservations about his performances, for I have seen him at the Met in opera and at Carnegie Hall in Mahler. I value them and all of his past cd productions.』
(If you like this sorta thing) 『Here Mr. Hampson is in his element. Unlike his less than viable attempts at Opera, Mr. Hampson is a thorough and intelligent singer of songs. His affectations, so fully inappropriate in bigger operatic literature, work well with the intimate nature of these sweet and personal songs. If you are Hampson fan, this album will thrill you.』 『Thomas Hampson is a persuasive advocate for these treasures from the Library of Congress' vast collections, so this CD's generous sampling leaves you wanting more. It covers the American songbook in all its variety, from traditional "folk" items like Shenandoah to Stephen Foster to the immigrants Erich Korngold and Kurt Weill to Leonard Bernstein and contemporary composers. Hampson adjusts his flexible, light baritone to fit each song. The voice is full and resonant on Danny Deever, simple and direct in 19th-century traditional songs and ballads, and nuanced in songs like Ned Rorem's "As Adam Early in the Morning," one of several on the disc with texts by Walt Whitman. A standout is the last song in this recital, one that leaves you with thoughts about music, history, and our nation's continuing issues, "Ethiopia Saluting the Colors," by Henry Burleigh. Most of the selections are performed with piano accompaniment, but several are with a small ensemble of traditional instruments. A word of caution: everything was recorded in the 1990s and presumably was available piecemeal on previous releases, although few are likely to have more than a handful of these 20 gems.--Dan Davis』
Kakaku：1998 saved$19.98
Silva America
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (mediocre mess, nonetheless worth having for some) 『If you've never purchased one of these Silva Screen best-of score CDs, let me first say this: unless you're a true film-score nut (like me), don't do it. Just don't. They really aren't terribly good. This one, like most, is played by The city of Prague Philharmonic, and it's not a terribly talented orchestra. They play very flatly, they miss notes, their orchestrator makes odd changes to composers' music. The end result of all this is that if you're familiar with the film versions of the pieces of music they're playing, it can be, frankly, a bit difficult to listen to.
That said, there is one decent -- decent, mind you -- reason to buy this CD. That's for the five-minute track of music from Spielberg's "Duel." It isn't great music, by any means, but if you're a Spielberg fanatic, this is the only release there has ever been (to my knowledge, at least) of music from that movie.
To be fair, not all of the tracks here are poorly done. "Hymn to the Fallen" comes off fairly well, and so does the music from "A.I." and "The Terminal" -- and the "Minority Report" theme is actually quite good. But much of the rest just doesn't sound right, so if you're looking for a quick way to assemble a quality overview of Spielberg music, this isn't the way to go.
That brings me to my final complaint, which is that "The Lost World" is omitted entirely! There were several good themes done for that movie; it was no mere rehash of "Jurassic Park."
For the seriously devoted only.』
(28 tracks from "Duel" to "The Terminal" ~ Steven Spielberg) 『Silva Screen Classics celebrates the career of one of the most popular directors in cinema history...with this anthology of the music that hits the mark everytime for all the fans of "Music from the Films of STEVEN SPIELBERG"...these indelible musical impressions appear courtesy of the most renowned film scores composers of our time and long time Spielberg friend, John Williams...plus Jerry Goldsmith, Billy Goldenberg, Quincy Jones, Jeremy Lubbock, J. Rosenbaum and Rod Temperton...released in several categories from Action, Adventure, Drama and Sci-Fi sharing moments from powerful classic filming to a lighter side with some of the most familiar and recognizable themes ever written.
Anyone who has ever read my reviews knows that I'm a complete "film-score-buff" nut...Silva Screen Classics has come up with the best of the best in the category of soundtracks/scores...just take a peek with their latest release featuring a 2-CD-Set with inclusive 28 cues of unforgettable scores from the leading composers of the past three decades...the quality of sound, texture and substance is a film score collectors dream...each and every track is a self culture unto its own, bringing countries, worlds and universes under one umbrella.
This is one not to be missed...so many highlights and stand outs...from one spectrum of comedy, romance, drama, suspense, action, adventure...to the other of horror, war, thrillers and classics that linger from decade to decade...many have sold millions in Soundtracks, but here in this collection they all appear compliments of conductors Paul Bateman, James Fitzpatrick, Mario Klemens and Nic Raines...conducting The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and the Crouch End Festival Chorus...though different arrangements in some cases, still a very good representation in tribute of this legendary director and icon.
A must have for "film-score-buff" collectors, including music lovers and anyone who enjoys a little nostalgia now and then...thank you James Fitzpatrick(producer), Reynold da Silva(executive producer) and Silva Screen Classics...it's amazing when one thinks about just how much a part of filmmaking history that Steven Spielberg has been over the last 30 some odd years...listening to this collection will bring back wonderful memories of some of those highlights and then your imagination sets in...just the way we like 'em!
Total Time 2-CD-Set ~ Silva America 1182 ~ (5/10/2005)』 『This 28-track collection highlights the astounding career as director and producer of Steven Spielberg, whose films are inexorably linked with the symphonic beauty of John Williams' scores. With five Oscar(r) wins and 41 nominations, Williams is a master of his art. The set also features other Spielberg collaborations including Quincy Jones, Jerry Goldsmith, and Billy Goldenberg. From "Duel" (a premiere recording) to "The Terminal," this release is a journey through movie magic.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Strangers indeed (3.5 stars)) 『Take away the 5 American Songs, I'll give this CD 4.5 stars. It makes me wonder why the artists would choose one of their weakest set to be the title of the CD. I find Ms. Mentzer meandering her way operatically through the 5 songs, ended up totally at lost. But what is amissed here, she made it up in the rest of the CD and I find her most comfortable in the Schubert's songs, she did especially a fine job in the popular Standchen. Aranjuez, Ma Pensee also got a nice premiere here. It is sorrowful and heart-wrenching and well worth the transcription from the Concerto. But the limelight of the performance belongs to Ms. Isbin. She is an excellent accompanist throughout and truely shines in the 3 solo performances. She takes more risks with Capricio Arabe and is well rewarded. The contrasts in color and her rubatos make (the ever-solid) David Russell's interpretation sounds prosaic! In summary, skip past the 5 American songs, the rest of the CD is very enjoyable. I only wish Ms. Mentzer and M. Isbin had choosen a couple more Schubert's songs and a few more guitar solo pieces.』
(Bravo) 『This CD presents two marvelous artists who each perform magnificiently in solo roles. I had sought this CD to hear Sharon Isbin. Susanne Mentzer's voice was unfamiliar. No longer.
The CD consists of many folksongs, American and French plus British works and Lieder. The sound quality is superb. The symetry and synergy produced by Isbin and Mentzer has to be heard to be truly appreciated. Sometimes the voice or instrument is in the background. While writing I am listening to Mentzer and Isbin's guitar mastery provides a beautiful blend. There is one problem that I find. The title is misleading. After listening to this CD, most listeners will feel like neighbors, not strangers. They may be wandering but there is some direction. "Wayfaring" to me implies less direction. The music is spontaneous and moving. It is also free flowing rather than having each performer stick exactly to the scores. Yet they are in tandem. So, as they wander, their steps are in synct.(sp). I bought my copy on an auction. Now, I will look for more Mentzer works while continuing my search for more Isbin. If Erato shows its savvy, there should be an encore CD.
Bravo.』
(Bravo - Mentzer is warm, rich and musically pleasing) 『The strength of Mentzer's full mezzo is moving and most enjoyable to the ear and heart. A truthful and beatifully trained artist whose voice allows the listener to do just that "listen". Worthy and rich, full of contrast and life, I find Mentzer's singing very moving. A fine compliment is Isbin's generousity with guitar. Buy this.』
(Moving musicality - the voice of Mentzer is soulful and rich) 『Ms. Mentzer is a mezzo with a full rich range, yet very sensitive and moving. Her voice tells us she has love in a complicated life...as all fine artists share. Ms. Isbin is a fine compliment to Mentzer's brilliant and heartfelt singing. A fine addition to any music collection.』
(Nice idea, problems in execution) 『If you are intrigued by the idea of classical artists performing folk music, this album may prove discouraging. The fault is not with Isbin, who seems comfortable in any musical genre. Mentzer, on the other hand, runs into trouble immediately; her delivery lacks the necessary understatement, and her vibrato goes whanging all over the place. It's pretty painful, though it improves when the performers get to the lieder tracks and Mentzer seems more at ease. Still, getting to the later tracks isn't easy.』 『This is an intriguing collection of mostly folk and folk- influenced material in concert form. The splendid opera singer and recitalist Mentzer and the great guitarist Sharon Isbin have arranged their program for maximum variety, even including several guitar solos as interludes. Although Mentzer says she has long wanted to record the five American folksongs that open the program, she sounds a little uncomfortable in them, too large-scale and operatic in delivery. But the remainder of the disc is excellent, including three wonderful Schubert Lieder and the delightful French folksongs arranged by the almost-forgotten composer Mátyás Seiber. The performers and recording engineers collaborate to ensure that the guitar is always properly audible. And what a great way for fans of each artist to meet the other!--Leslie Gerber』
大満足！北国のホタテ・いくら・ボタンエビがぎっしり！
