Kakaku：1698 saved$16.98
Capitol
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Sinatra without Sinatra) 『TONE POEMS OF COLOR, (ostensibly) conducted by Frank Sinatra, is a lovely concert music suite comprised of short compositions by eight accomplished Hollywood composers. Sinatra arrangers Alec Wilder, Gordon Jenkins, Nelson Riddle and Billy May all contribute. Jenkins's "Green", a yearning romantic melody for strings, will immediately please. Riddle's "Gold" is a Ravellian bolero and his "Orange" begins as if it were Les Baxter exotica and finishes like a Broadway show tune. May's "Purple" begins quietly, only halfway through arriving at the big brassy sound one would expect from him - and then doesn't linger there.
Film score fans will appreciate the Victor Young, Elmer Bernstein and Andre Previn compositions. All three deliver signature sounds. Young's "Black", for strings with piano accompaniment, is broad, deep and dark. Previn's "Red" is the album's most melodramatic and "filmy" track. For me, the biggest surprise in this collection is Bernstein's "Silver", which sounds a little like Ravel's "La Valse" conjoined with an edit from THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM! Lesser known is Jeff Alexander. His "Yellow" is especially playful and showy.
So, where's "The Voice"? Not here.
Some might quip that an album of music conducted by Sinatra is about as much good as one of Nelson Riddle singing. That would miss the point. This is very nice orchestral music by expert composers. I highly recommend this album to all film score aficionados. As for Sinatra fans, I'm sure they'll know well enough how much of Frank they want. I've not regretted the purchase for a second.』
(Tone Poems Of Color - Frank Sinatra) 『I bought this knowing that it couldn't be all bad, since FS held to high standards. I was pleasantly surprised when i played it. The selections are upbeat and very tuneful. I found myself listening to it again a couple hours later, and was just as entertained. I don't know much about how bands and orchestras a managed, but i do know that this is a very well conducted set of numbers that make me feel like the day is all sunshine and merriment. Steve』
(no worse than most of the 1950s exotica drivel folks went nuts for in the 1990s) 『Sinatra always had a yen to be a conductor, and while this wasn't the first time he recorded in that capacity, Tone Poems of Color is one of the most visible. Sure, the poetry on which these pieces are based has all the insight into the human condition as that of Ken Nordine or Rod McKuen, but some of the music is actually fairly good. Elmer Bernstein and Nelson Riddle fare very well, but the best pieces belong to Alec Wilder, friend and mentor to Sinatra and author of one of the best books on classic pop, American Popular Song, and the vastly underrated Victor Young, film scorer and one of the great songwriters of the classic pop era. Young unfortunately died not too long after this album came out in the summer of 1956, winning his only Oscar posthumously for the score of the travelogue film Around the World in Eighty Days.
Sinatra handles the baton well, considering his lack of any formal training, although accounts vary as to how much Felix Slatkin, leader of the Hollywood String Quartet and de facto concertmaster for many of Sinatra's recordings, picked up the slack when necessary. An interesting curio in Sinatra's great career at Capitol records.
To correct some misleading info in other reviews, Jeff Alexander and Alexander Courage are not the same guy, and the Amazon reviewer mistook Sleep Warm as Sinatra's other 'major baton job.' That honor, as such, goes to Peggy Lee's very good 1957 LP The Man I Love, with arrangements by Riddle, conducted by Sinatra, which is available as an import on EMI International, coupled with 1961's If You Go.』
(Lounge Music Before It Became Lounge Music) 『Even though it is said that Mr. Sinatra couldn't read music, he nevertheless was able to conduct this instrumental album to good effect. As reviewer Ricky Wright states Mr. Sinatra did a commendable job conducting Dean Martin's album called "Sleep Warm". Frank also did the conducting chores on another album at Captiol with Peggy Lee. Both are currently unavailable on CD.』
(Something very different) 『For a singer known as 'The Voice', the idea of an instrumental album sounds odd, and the title does little to inspire a mad rush to the record store. However, Sinatra loved classical musical and probably enjoyed commissioning this collection of works from the likes of Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Gordon Jenkins, Victor Young and others.
A very different kind of Sinatra. For years this was a difficult album to find (I recall finding one at a used record store for seven dollars, in a cracked case, and it was a great discovery), so the reissue is welcome. If you enjoy classical music, you will find this intriguing. If you cherish the hard swing of Sinatra and Riddle or May, this may not be your cup of tea. To some extent, Sinatra's voice was the most expressive instrument of his era, however, and the attitude and angst that made FS a legend are missed. Sinatra fans will want to add this to their collection, though. It is a thoroughly enjoyable recording -- alternately upbeat and somber (Nelson Riddle's pieces are especially fine) -- that reflects Sinatra's passion for music at a time when commercial considerations had not displaced artistry in the recording industry.』
IPhone 3G used's review (explore the next level of your yoga practice) 『I am a yoga instructor/studio owner and play 'Colors of the Mind' frequently. Steve Gorn's flute creates a magical zone providing an energetic boost to the next level of hatha yoga practice. My students and I experience a quiet easeful opportunity to open our hearts and the heart of our practice. This is very different then an accompaniment that acts upon yoga flows. 'Colors of the Mind' creates a relationship - a light in tone but powerfully synergistic dialogue with our flows.』
(For exploring inner space) 『Had a busy day? Feeling a bit frazzled? Try Colors of the Mind. In the space of an hour Steve Gorn's exquisitely sensuous playing transports you to the tranquil interior of your own mind. And best of all, that tranquil mood keeps resonating in your body long after you've finished listening. Life is sweet!』 『Featuring ubiquitous master bamboo flute player Steve Gorn in a spacious but almost unbelievably lyrical setting… this music can instantly transform your environment with its peaceful elegance (No grooves or percussion).』
Kakaku：502 saved$5.02
Disques Montaigne
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (A great introduction to a composer who has integrated spectralism into a vaster plan) 『The spectralist movement of the 1970s, represented by composers like Tristan Murail and Gerard Grisey, unveiled a whole new world of sound based on discoveries in acoustics. By the 1980s, this new aesthetic had already formed part of the vast toolbox of a new generation of composers. Along with Kaija Saariaho and Unsuk Chin, Marc-Andre Dalbavie is one of the foremost figures who remain focused on the colour of sound. Christoph Eschenbach leads the Orchestre de Paris, with violinist Eiichi Chijiiwa as the soloist in the concerto.
The Violin Concerto (1996) is the earliest of the works here. The orchestra is arranged in 12 groups around the soloist, with some dispersed in the crowd. Unlike a tradition concerto, this is initially not so much a "conversation" between soloist and ensemble, but rather the soloist initiates musical movements that are taken on and developed by the orchestra. It's a good piece, and stunningly virtuosic (why haven't we heard of this great Eiichi Chijiiwa before?). However, I'm less than satisfied with this live stereo recording, but coughing mars some moments and the spatial dispersion of the ensemble can't be represented in just two channels.
"Color" (2001) takes its title not from chromatics, but from the medieval term for the melodic line in chant. It begins as an awesome immobile aura of sound against which brass eventually ring out a series of noble, piercing tones, spurring a slow but steady melodic development. The middle of the piece is a boisterous ostinato almost like a concerto for orchestra in its scoring. The third section returns to the mood of the first, though integrating the material of the second in a novel fashion. I must say love this piece. Dalbavie's timing is perfect, with every gesture proportioned to the others for maximum impact, and never outstaying its welcome.
"Ciaccona" (2002) has as its basis the baroque form of the chaccone but updated to modernist concerns. If you're expecting anything like the work of Magnus Lindberg, the contemporary composer most enamoured of chaccones, you'll be surprised. The piece develops exceedingly slow, letting each gesture sink deep into the mind of the listener before beginning another one. I got less out of this piece than I did the other two, but I suspect it works better live, because these days Dalbavie writes with hall acoustics in mind and a representation on CD is going to be hit or miss.
The liner notes contain an essay entitled "Space, Line, Colour" that has already been mocked on the Internet and in the pages of the New York Times for its highfaultin' terminology. I don't see the problem in including such an admirably detailed explanation of the concepts behind Dalbavie's music for those of us who like analysis. Dalbavie's music is rich in gestalt, so even classical music fans who want something pleasant to listen to without thinking about it will get much of this disc.
It's a pity about the live recording quality and the fact that this is only a stereo mix. If this disc were a studio recording and offered as a hybrid CD/SACD with 5.1 surround sound, it would have been much more impressive. Nonetheless, Dalbavie is a figure I'm happy to have become acquainted with, and this disc makes for an easily accessible and economical introduction to his work.』
(A new definition of glorious) 『This is not by any means your usual Spectralist Analysis of a Sinus Headache by Seven B-flat Clarinets, but really a deep-breathing, listener-loving, Buddhistic act of attention to sound. The title piece, Color, is like some kind of slowed-down, turned-around Richard Strauss brass orgasm. The violin concerto is just astonishing - Alban Berg and Luciano Berio and God. Ciacconna, though not my favorite, does have this complex gong thing going. Listeners, do yourself a favor and listen to this!!!』
(Dynamic new orchestral works) 『Ah, the French do love their theories! The liner notes of this CD do their best to be off-putting, talking about the defocalisation of the spatial hierarchy of the concert hall, and the development of "spectral" music. But if you can get past all the high-falutin' terminology, these works are actually quite musically engaging, which I think was the composer's intention. Mind you, none of the three works included here unfolds in the traditional "narrative" manner of most classical music. Rather than engage you in a "story" - as Tschaikovsky might have done - Dalbavie's approach is more poetic and sculptural. And if you give up the desire for these works to follow the traditional bell curve of musical form, they prove quite engaging. I suspect that if you really want to experience the Concerto for Violin, you need to hear it live, because the orchestra is broken up all over the hall, and I suspect that most of the composer's spatial effects don't really come off on a stereo CD. But both "Color" and "Ciacona" are engaging, even playful at times, orchestral works that reward repeated listening. If you're interested in the music coming from composers like John Adams, you'll find some of the same dynamic orchestral sonorities in these works, but without the pop music references that make Adams' work so "American."』
(Disappointing) 『I've followed Dalbavie's music with fascination for a long while and am a huge fan of his music. That said, I found this disc of recent orchestral music disappointing. Lacking much of the visceral energy and tension of other recent works (like the amazing Horn Trio), the works here seem, for the most part, one-dimensional - Dalbavie imitating himself, almost. The works aren't bad by any means, and deliver a lot more interest in listening than most orchestral works nowadays, but Dalbavie's trademark gestures (rushing scales, pentatonic fragments, spectralist stackings, etc.) don't have the same directionality they do elsewhere. Individual moments in the works are excellent, but not one of them really overwhelms or leaves much of an impact. I liked the Violin Concerto the best - the playing is truly phenomenal and there is a good amount of interesting dramatic interplay between soloist and orchestra (and solo violin and soloists within the orchestra). The Chaconne, though interesting conceptually and as described in the liner notes, is a downer - dismal music that occasionally seems to be leading towards something impressive but always retreats. "Color" is more of the same. The playing of the orchestra and soloist throughout is fantastic, and if you just want to hear a large group of musicians play some virtuosic music, the disc is satisfying to that end. However, if you really want a great disc of recent music (that happens to be composed by Dalbavie), shell out the extra bucks to get the recent disc of chamber works performed by Ensemble itineraire (including the Horn Trio and the superb "Palimpseste") - available through Amazon France or Cdmail.fr.』
(mysterious transformations -- a spectral Debussy) 『This is the first music I've heard by French composer Marc-Andre Dalbavie (born 1961). There are three works here, two orchestral and one a violin concerto, with Christoph Eschenbach leading the Orchestre de Paris, recorded in 2001, 2003 and 2004. The "Concerto pour Violon" (1996 -- 24'05) is the earliest of the three, and the most exuberant, full of virtuoso passages, some of which sound like a madly sawing fiddle. The full effect is lost in the recording, but in live performance it features novel spatial organization, with the orchestra broken into component parts and scattered amongst the audience, the soloist engaging in a dialogue with 12 distinct groups. The piece is dedicated to Luciano Berio, perhaps drawing on his sequenza series of solo works, and is performed by Eiichi Chijiiwa.
The two orchestral works, "Color" (2001 -- 21'28) and "Ciaccona" (2002 -- 19'28) are quite mysterious. They both revel in tones, marking Dalbavie as part of the French lineage extending from Debussy, and both are marked by powerful tonal passages similar to the works of Magnus Lindberg and Erkki-Sven Tuur. "Color" is punctuated by a dramatic sequence of descending chords, while "Ciccona" is similarly punctuated by a dramatic sequence of rising chords, which culminates in an evocatively triumphant major key, and is followed by an impressionistic piano passage. Technically, though, Dalbavie works with many of the innovations of the "spectralist school" of Gerard Grisey and Tristan Murail. I find the form of these works very hard to grasp, which is both frustrating and tantalizing -- they do provoke repeated listening.
I'm not sure about "Color," but the other two pieces must have been recorded live as they are both interrupted by loud coughing. Other than that flaw, the Naive disc is well-executed. Marc-Andre Dalbavie joins Unsuk Chin as a superb and accomplished composer who belatedly debuts in the States this year!』
Kakaku：1299 saved$12.99
Backroom Records
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (A great Tiffany reinvention for the new millenium) 『Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2NG7XF332USXBMy name is Jeremy Gloff. I am a musician (check me out on Amazon!) and retro music enthusiast. If you enjoyed this review make sure to check out my Amazon user profile to check out my other reviews. I am always up for making new friends and discussing the music I love!!!』 『Reviews of this CD are stellar:"The Color of Silence is thoughtful, intelligent, unpretentious and full of grace.. Consider it Tiffany's equivalent to Alanis Morissettes landmark, 'Jagged little Pill.' One of the best albums of the year..Billboard Magazine』
Kakaku：99 saved$0.99
20th Century Fox
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Baby crack...) 『I sing the songs too! Urgh! And I don't see the appeal of this video but my 14 month old has LOVED this since she's been 7 months old. She prefers this particular DVD over any DVD or program on TV. I've got another one of the Baby Song series and I'm in the process of buying another.』
(He likes it... a lot!) 『I absolutely hate this DVD!!!! I hate it because my kid loves it and we watch it constantly... I hate it because some of the songs are catchy and I find myself humming them at work... and I hate it because my wife and I find each other singing along with the DVD. But seriously... there are some good lessons on this one and we have noticed that our son is picking up his shapes. One of the better DVDs from the series.』
(Adults may hate it, but kids will LOVE it) 『My two year old daughter saw this at a friend's house and adored it so much we bought it for her. Adults will cringe at the 80's/90's style clothing and hair, and the lame but catchy tunes and lyrics. Kids, however, cannot get enough of it. It is my daughter's #1 favorite DVD, and it has helped her with letters, shapes, etc. As much as I loathe it, it does what it's supposed it-- keeps our daughter very happy, and gives her some educational benefits to boot.』
(Great For Kids) 『There is no series like Baby Songs that my children like more. It's great for infants to toddlers and is great at teaching.』
(Excellent activity for parents to do with their children) 『I first checked this out from the library when my son was 24 months old. He loved most of the songs, though some were too fast for him to appreciate at that age.
I checked it out for a second time when he was 36 months old and he caught on to those faster songs just fine, but some of the slower sons were boring to him.
At that time, I also had a 12 month old who couldn't have cared less about the songs or images, but he was happy because his big brother was obviously having a good time!
This is not something you can sit your baby in front of and walk away. You have to interact and provide some tools (spoons, bananas, bean bags, etc) for the kids to get involved with the songs. We'll probably end up buying this one, even though we can get it for free at the library.』 『Hap Palmer's happy songs once again entertain and enlighten children, teaching them how to recognize letters, colors, shapes and number concepts in the process.』 『Don't be concerned that this video doesn't have familiar characters on the cover (no purple dinos, no brightly colored space alien babies). This proven series of colorful musical videos is a winner, and the latest,Baby Songs ABC, 123is no exception. Designed for toddlers to 2- to 6-year-olds, this video combines color and movement--and, importantly, other children--to help young viewers remember their numbers and the alphabet. Children's music writer Hap Palmer has provided songs that are genuinely catchy and, like the classic "ABC" song, which helped nearly every English-speaking child learn the alphabet, kids are learning as they're singing. Palmer specializes in purposeful but engaging rhyme and alliteration to encourage kids to sing along, sing on their own, and prepare for reading skills.
Mostly nonprecocious children highlight each segment, often dressed alike in brightly colored garb. Featured songs include "Alphabet in Motion," "Tap Your Sticks," "Shapes That Surround You," "Colors in Motion," "We Are All Alike," "Bean Bag Alphabet Rag" (which also helps kids identify body parts), "Jig Along Shapes," and "Numbers Can Tell About You."--N.F. Mendoza』
IPhone 3G used's review (Jazz Meets Sufi) 『Although it might seem surprising, jazz and Arabic music have quite a bit in common. In particular, both emphasis a strong tradition of improvisation. Perhaps that is why this CD works so well... a collaboration between Pharaoh Sanders on saxophone and the intense driving beats and rhythms of Morocco's Gnawa Sufi brotherhood. As others have noted, the result is a strange spiritual experience, but it works. It takes a certain amount of talent and sensitivity to be able to pull something like this off, but the musicians managed to do so on this album, and quite successfully I might add. Listening to it, one can easily be overwhelmed by the sheer powerful of this music - it is beautiful, devotional and innovative all at the same time. It is especially interesting to see how both traditions manage to complement each other without either overwhelming the other. All in all, a very well done effort. Perhaps those interested in this CD will also do further exploration of Sufi music, of which there are no shortage of commercially available recordings on the market today.』
(A Journey for Your Soul) 『Truely a transcendental, wonderful, real emoting soundscape. I agree with all that was said by Chris, this is a great recording, a must have. Very spiritual with calming, even healing qualities. I have yet to find another recording that compares, the closest thing I uncovered was a Sub Rosa release Moroccan Trance Music SUFI (recommended!)』
(More Than Music) 『This is more than music...it's a ritual, a healing event. And this is some of the fiercest and most inspired blowing that Pharoah has done in a long time...reminicent of the old days actually.
This disc reproduces a meeting between Sanders and the master Gnawa musician Maleem Mahmoud Ghania. Gnawa people are Morrocan descendents of black African slaves, who have maintained a spiritual and musical tradition that is an amalgam of Sufi mysticism and elements of West African spirit religion. The music is haunting. It is a vocal music, driven by an instrument called the guimbri...a bass lute with gut stings and a head made out of camel hide. The musician plucks the strings and slaps the head to create a sound somewhere between a bass guitar and a drum. The rest of the ensemble consists of a responding chorus who accompany the music with hand claps and Krkaba, loudly resounding hand cymbals. The music is equal parts Sufi ceremonial music and West African drum ritual. On it's own the music is compelling.
But over top of this on many of the tracks on the album, Pharoah Sanders let's loose on some of the most firey, spirit filled improvisation that he's done since the late 60s. Not all of this is out...some is quite beautiful and very melodic. His ballad Peace in Essaouira is deeply moving. But even when he maintains tonal structures and specific pitches in his improvising, there is a spirit here which is bracing. And when he goes out....watch out! It's a true meeting of the two groups, not a gimmick.
This is an album that will give you energy and literally raise the spirits. I find that I can't keep still while listening to it. It is true trance music.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Surprisingly Well Done - Will Stick With You) 『This soundtrack does not deserve the two stars it currently holds as I write this. Please, people - Olivia Newton John's "Please Mr. Please" can be found on other albums. Check the track listing before you buy if you're buying for a specific song.
In this soundtrack, Ry Cooder does a fabulous job of portraying the highs and lows of a presidential campaign and the roller coaster of President Clinton's first successful run at the nation's most prestigious office. At times optimistic, and at times despairing, Cooder's themes in this album are profound - yet are memorable mostly because of their simplicity. The "Don't Break Our Hearts" theme is astounding, - it somehow manages to be naive and hopeful, while at the same time quite melancholy. Throw in some fun waltzes, a little bit of funk, and Camptown Races, and it's a great and varied score.
That being said, it feels rather short and somewhat repetitive. But I regularly find myself whistling these tunes. This album is at *least* worth buying it used for the $0.73 it's currently running for. Check it out!
』
(missing song?) 『There was a song in the movie, I can't remember exact point, but it sounded like Lisa Gerrard. Can anyone back me up on this?
email me @ blaza6925@yahoo.com』
(Disappointed) 『I am disappointed that Olivia Newton-John's song "Please, Mr. Please" was not included in this soundtrack. I was hoping it would be even though Olivia's other song, "Over the Rainbow" wasn't included in the Face/Off soundtrack either. Oh well, otherwise it is a fair soundtrack, after all the movie was excellent.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Buy It Now if you like Ornette's whole concept and you're a fan of really perfect piano playing) 『Anyone who's interested in jazz in general, Ornette, "free" playing, or music that's got a constant directional flow would like this album. These two really work well together, kind of like Metheny and Ornette on Song X. It was just totally meant to happen. There's a great chemistry here. I can't see why anyone who actually bought the album would not like it; if you're into this type of thing there's no question that you'll like it, but if you don't like this type of thing, why would you even bother to check it out? Great compositions, great piano playing with a wide range of articulation and feeling, and Ornette sounds exactly as he should; it's been over 30 years since The Shape of Jazz to Come, and one can hear that over those 30 years he's gotten better and better with every day; his sound is very focused and pristine, kind of like how Joe Henderson sounded better in the 90's than he did in the 60's. Anyway, this is a must have for any Ornette fan, or any fan of 20 Century/Contemporary Music in general.』
(Angular, dissonant, yet lyrical) 『I just love this CD. I bought it in 1997, and it has held up strong after 5 years of listening.
I'm not certain what the earlier reviewer had against the combination of Ornette and Joachim. I would not describe Mr Kuhn's playing as cold; rather, I think he serves as a wonderful partner to Ornette's frantic, fiery playing - holding back whenever needed, and letting loose with a barrage of notes or just a plain intense attack when possible.
The loose, jamming sound of Ornette works beautifully in this duo setting. Pieces like Passion Cultures come across as powerfully poignant ballads, and the faster tunes, like Three Ways to One allow for amazing amounts of freedom for both of the musicians without it becoming overwhelming or too dense in sound.
All in all, a wonderful recording - I only wish I could have actually BEEN at the concert』
(Not Much Direction) 『Can't say I care for this one much. It sounds like they didn't put much thought or planning into this, just got up on stage and jammed. Well, sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. The problem might be the chemistry. Ornette has always been fiery and passionate, sometimes tender. Kühn comes off as cold. This isn't a CD that I take out often.』
(Great latterday Coleman) 『Ornette Coleman has always had a perverse genius for publicity&marketing. His erratic career, full of retirements, comebacks, aesthetic swerves&label-changes, has always rested on the bedrock of the amazing series of discs he recorded for Atlantic near the start of his career. He can grab attention for silly things (e.g. for including live bodypiercing as part of his act), yet I can't think of any other artist who could make news by the simple act of adding a piano to his group. That occurred with the two-CD set he did with Geri Allen; on this CD we have the even more unexpected situation of a saxophone-piano duet with the European pianist Joachim Kuhn. But there's no gainsaying it: this is one of Coleman's finest discs.
As usual the album is all (brand-new) originals. Coleman's alto shows remarkable similarities to other veterans of the age of Charlie Parker--sometimes his fragile tone&phrasing remind me of Konitz, for instance. He's happy to play the odd bit of bebop even: there's a spot here where he&Kuhn bat a bop lick around all 12 keys, for instance. Yet the music is unmistakably Coleman,&the duo sounds entirely sympathetic: I'd not encountered Kuhn before but he's obviously a very fine pianist,&isn't once thrown for a loop. Hard to fault this disc, which is one of Coleman's best latterday performances; there is the obligatory (&dispensable) trumpet-and-fiddle solo, but the rest is just fine.』
Kakaku：1699 saved$16.99
Teldec
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Transcendent Vocalism) 『This compilation is essential listening, especially (but not exclusively) for those already introduced to the marvels of Chanticleer. It features a wide variety of contemporary madrigals all dedicated to the theme of love. Gorgeous polyphony, entrancing dissonance; the music is very difficult, but Chanticleer's vocalism is exemplary, as always. The whole feel of the album takes some getting used to for the uninitiated. After a few listenings, though, one can fully perceive its unique and sublime beauty.
Highlights abound. The first three tracks, all lullabies by Steven Stucky, are brilliantly executed, but it is track four, Village Wedding by John Taverner, that first knocked my socks off. It seems to represent the absolutely ideal match between composer and performer, between written and sung text. It consists of a wonderful poem by Greek poet Angelos Sikelianos, with a recurring excerpt from the Eastern Orthodox wedding ceremony interspersed throughout. Taverner is himself a member of the Eastern Orthodox church, and the song is as much a spiritual experience as a musical one.
Another fantastic piece is Words of the Sun, by Chinese composer Zhou Long. It is probably the most accessible song on the CD, with numerous lovely subtleties and nuances that can be fully appreciated after multiple exposures.
Lastly, I'd like to express my sincere conviction that In Time Of (by Steven Sametz, set to a poem by E.E. Cummings) is the single most gorgeous piece of music I have ever had the great fortune to hear. The sonority is perfectly balanced, each arching phrase better than the one before. Please, for the sake of pure unadulterated beauty, purchase this CD. You will not regret it.』
(Lives up to their reputation) 『Just recently had the opportunity to hear Chanticleer in concert...this CD certainly gives a cross section of their range...especially liked the "Tang Poems" and "Words of the Sun", which they performed live...very esoteric mix of musical styles...well worth the purchase for Chanticleer lovers!』
(One of the best I've picked up in ages) 『First of all let me state that the 4 stars isn't for the performance...which is truly outstanding...it is for a few pieces that are a tad sub-par. I also want to mention that its not that the pieces are modern either, I happen to be extremely sympathetic to modern music.
I usually don't like to do reviews this way, but I'm going to make a few comments piece by piece:
1) CRADLE SONGS - The first two of this trio of lullabies are great...the ones from Brazil&Poland are hauntingly beautiful...I'm not so crazy about the one from Tobago. A fairly strong piece, its certainly interesting.
2) VILLAGE WEDDING - This is one of the best three pieces on the album, and probably the best. Hearing John Tavener's work next to his contemporaries is an easy indicator of why he is considered one of this century's greatest and certainly one of the greatest living composers. Simultaneously it is joyous, austere, reverent&spiritual. Simply beautiful&amazing.
3) CANTI D'AMOUR - This is an up&down work. I'm not sure what the composer had in mind, but I find the first part to be amusing. It reminds me of barbershop quartet. It has more somber moments too that are quite moving. Overall though, its okay.
4) WORDS OF THE SUN - After the Tavener piece, this is my favorite one. I would like to hear some of Zhou Long's other works. It is a very subtle piece. Very Chinese too, yet simultaneously western. This is one of my favorite pieces by eastern composers of western music. Lyrically, it is amazing. Its borrowed from a 20th century Chinese poem that is gorgeous in English, I'm sure its even more so in Chinese. Musically, it is very stirring.
5) TANG POEMS - This piece too is written by a Chinese composer (Chen Yi) and it is distinctly Chinese. I am intrigued at some of the techniques used by the composer. I am really pleased with the piece, although I'm sure some find it a little "too eastern." It is extremely pretty if one is accustomed to eastern melodies. The 2nd part is a bit sharper and probably less accessible than the first part.
6) THE RUB OF LOVE - One of the duller pieces on the album.
7) IN TIME OF - Sublime. The opening few bars are unearthly. Definately one of the three best pieces. They definately need to keep this one in their concert repetoire (along with the Tavener and the two pieces by Chinese composers.) This is one of those works you have to hear to believe.
8) LOVE SONGS - This is a quirky collection of tunes by Augusta Read Thomas. It runs the gamut of serious to extremely silly. There are some strong points here, but some of it is too silly to stand the test of time ("Alas, The Love of Women"). Eventhough it is extremely unconventional, the part entitled "For Stony Limits Cannot Hold Love Out" is powerful. It is piercing&strange, but it really works with the text.
There are times when I love everything on this CD, and times when some of it gets on my nerves. It is, however, never boring and the performances are superb. I highly congratulate Chanticleer for not sitting on their laurels. This is adventursome stuff and it works 90% of the time, which is more than I can say for 99% of the ensembles out there.
I highly recommend this disc for "Village Wedding," "Words of the Sun," "In Time of," and "Tang Poems."
Pick it up, be adventuresome. Enjoy.』
(Fantastic recording of contemporary choral works) 『Chanticleer is one of the USA's finest choral ensembles, and they have picked a marvelous and diverse program for this recording -- with something that would appeal to absolutely everybody. The inclusion of two "husband-wife" pairs in the choice of music also makes for a special connection to the theme of the disc. Of special note to this reviewer are the "delicious" sonorities of Bernard Rands's "Canti d'Amor" and Augusta Read Thomas's "Love Songs" -- Chanticleer is a group who is able to pull off this difficult music beautifully. This recording was absolutely deserving of the Grammy that is received -- one of the finest discs of modern choral music in the past few years.』
(Surprising, unusual and rewarding) 『Chanticleer must surely be the greatest vocal chamber group in America. On this disc, the virtuosity of these twelve men is stretched to all possible limits in a programme of highly contrating contemporary works. Every item on this disc is a premiere recording, and it all depends on what you like. I, of course, find the Tavener "Village Wedding" to be a very arresting piece and Chanticleer prove themselves to be worthy interpreters of it. The incomparable music of Augusta Read Thomas, with very fierce dissonances, deliciously "blue" melodies and even wild sporadic laughter at one point, could not be more different that the Tavener, nor for that matter could the exquisite works by the Japanese composer Zhou Long or the colourful madrigal-like pieces by Steven Stucky. Yet, whatever you like or don't like about it, all this music is united by the incredible talents of this group. I was at times staggered by their flexibility and meticulousness.
This CD makes for utterly rewarding listening, containing as it does many surprises and an eclectic range of pieces. Congratulations to Chanticleer and Teldec for making it- let's hope for more like it in the future!』</
