No comments about Angels We've Heard - A Christmas Collection.

4 comments about Romantic French & German Organ Music.

1. Dr. Long's CD desplays dazzling virtuosity and a profound understanding of the music. Dr. Long's talent matches the power and complexity of St. John the Divine's Skinner/Harrison organ. The Joseph Jongen complex Toccata begins the CD and is played cleanly and exhuberantly. Every succeeding piece on the CD reveals a different facet of the organ's capability and the artistry of Dr. Long. Sigfrid Karg-Elert's Harmonics du Soir and Claire du Lune are tranquil and reverently performed. Vierne's Stele pour en Enfant Defunt, the tombstone of a dead child, was the last piece the Vierne ever performed. It is a fitting piece of music for all the children of the world who have died young. Vierne's joyous Carillon of Westminister immediately follows and demonstrates that this CD is about life and faith. Max Reger's Toccata and Fugue in d. Minor and Marcel Dupre's Resurrection bring the CD to a stirring conclusion. Listening to such music so flawlessly performed should make the listener proud to be human. In a world filled with ugliness, the beauty here helps restore our faith in humanity and perhaps can even stir in the listener a longing for God. The atmosphere of the great Cathedral of St. John the Divine is meant to do just that and this CD captures that spirit perfectly. Also, audio-files will have their sub-woffers and woffers fully tested as the great bass sounds rumble from the great organ.



2. Dr. Long plays superbly in the grand acoustics of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. This recording showcases to great effect the power and majesty of the organ. It also contrasts the dynamic range possible from the instrument -- especially from in the Dupre "Resurrection" -- which starts out very softly and builds to full organ with the famous State Trumpets added at the end.



3. Dr. Long is one of the few organists in this country that really understands this music. Kock or somebody should put this back in print.



4. Dr. Marsha Long has traveled the world playing the great pipe organs of in some of the greatest cathedrals and concert halls.
   (see www.marshalong.com) In this recording she shows the power of the pipe organ at St. John the Divine in NYC. Unfortunately this remarkable instrument was damaged in a fire a few years after this recording was made. This CD has the added historical value of showing the marvelous instrument at its peak. In listening to this CD I found myself enraptured by the music and transported in my imagination to that great Cathedral which I often visit on my trips to New York. The music is haunting and demonstrates why the pipe organ has held such a pre-eminent place in Christian worship. It is little wonder that this artist has such a loyal fan following.

No comments about Home for Christmas.

2 comments about Three Harps for Christmas, Volume 1 - Tonmeister.

1. Just before Christmas last year, WCRB, the top classical musicstation in Boston played a selection from the Sylvia Woods "ThreeHarps for Christmas" CD. It was the most lovely thing I had heard in a long time....a lone harp, so pure and so angelic! I searched for this CD in stores locally, but no one carried the album; most had never even heard of it. It has taken me seven months to find it here on Amazon.com, but when I did, I immediately ordered both volumes. They are both splendid! I have listened to them over and over again since they arrived (and it's July!) The music is simply heavenly and seems to tumble so fluidly and unforgettably from her harp. It has all the magic and anticipation and joy of Christmas there within. It will be a forever favorite that I shall treasure for every Christmas to come.



2. I had almost the same experience as the first reviewer: heard this music on the classical radio station at christmas time some years ago (KXPR in Sacramento, CA), and had been searching for it ever since. It is surprising how beautiful these oft-heard melodies sound in this setting, and how strongly the spirit of christmas comes through them. A simply enchanting album.

3 comments about The Very Best of Celtic Christmas.

1. I recently purchased this CD and I am listening to it as I write this.There are quite a bit of tracks from Celtic Christmas Three so to me this CD feels more like a reissue of that CD, so if you already own that CD you may want to reconsider this purchase.The CD as a whole is what I'd expect from Winham Hill and they always seem to deliver the same high quality music. Although this CD is labeled as a Christmas CD it can be played throughout the entire year, yes, there are a few standard Christmas selections but a majority are original compositions. The only gripe I have is Patrick Cassidy's "Lament" has not been included on this CD,and is one of the most beatiful songs I've ever heard.
   If your a Windham Hill fan, this CD is well worth the money.
   Great for playing at Holiday get togethers for that added intamecy, or when your sitting in front of the fire on a cold winters night.....OR anytime during the year!
   Simply magnifecent!



2. This is a nice CD, but it wasn't quite what I had expected. I'm a big fan of Celtic Woman and Enya so I thought I would enjoy this CD more than I do. It's a little different than the Celtic music I'm used to listening to. Many of the songs don't seem like holiday songs, so you could play this CD all year long and it wouldn't seem out of place.



3. For the most part I liked this CD, but I almost wouldn't consider this a Holiday CD. The music was soothing & more like just regular Celtic music. It did have Altan & David Arkenstone on it, which is a major plus. I always like these artists.

No comments about Celestial Christmas 3: A Special Collection of Seasonal Works.

No comments about A Swinging Christmas Concert.

1 comments about A Bing Bang Holidang.

1. This album, by Boston-area performer Bleu and a lot members of local bands (including Dicky Barrett of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Rubyhorse, Guster, and others), is a charming album that includes fun remixes of classic tunes (e.g., the Bing Crosby "Mele Kalikimaka"), intriguing instrumentals ("The Carol of the Bells"), goofy covers of Christmas carols (Boston All Star 12 Dayz, with Boston bands on a modified version of the Twelve Days of Christmas) and just plain kick-out-the-jams rockin' Christmas tunes, like the excellent original tune "Snow Day." Oddly enough, this is one of the more enduring Christmas albums my family and I play, since it blends real Christmas spirit and fun. Plus, you gotta give credit for this line in "12 Dayz:" "On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love said to me, 'this song's getting boring, better try to cut a verse'...Five gooolden rings!"

5 comments about Hero for Today.

1. "Hero for Today" is a wonderfully balanced collection from the US Army Band and Chorus. There was a good selection of patriotic music, both old and new. The balance within the chorus was well executed, as was the balance between the band and the chorus. Their rendition of "Hymn to the Fallen" was thoughtful, almost prayerful, with a subtle choral overtone. The "Battle Hymn of the Republic" was a fresh and full arrangement of an old favorite. "Here's to America" was an upbeat expression of faith in America, in good contrast to the reflective "A Hero For Today." "This Is My Country" was set with a majestic tone, while "God Bless America" was an upbeat expression of an old favorite. I'd recommend this CD to anyone who would like to hear both traditional and new expressions of patriotic music.



2. Another re-hash of Altissimo! recordings here. Once again recordings have been drawn together from the US Army Band Library which means the sound quality is often un-even, and nothing is original here.
   
   The standard US Armed Forces Medley Altissimo! just uses from one CD to the next. I don't think they ever change the band playing it! So no mention of when these recordings were made either, or who was directing the Army band when they were done. Altissimo! has not reached that level of professionalism that other labels attained long ago.
   
   Most of the patriotic material here has been issued before by Altissimo! There is very little new material on this CD. The redundant program presented here is a common feature with most US service bands. The musicianship is first-rate: The music they play often second or third rate! These bands can do a lot more than play this kind of dribble. Of course Altissimo! thinks that only the popular stuff will sell. And so they market the same thing over and over.
   
   The picture on the front with the US soldier in desert tans is intended to pull in the patriotic buyer today. The funny thing here is that the recordings combined here were probably in the can pre-9/11! Buyer beware!



3. I bought the CD for my mom who LOVES "We Were There". The 3rd infantry performs a great rendition of it during their concert series every year on the Ellipse in Washington D.C. which includes soldiers wearing the uniforms of the Army as they have evolved and a very stirring speech. Since the 3rd infantry is unable to sell recordings to the public, being able to at least get the song feor my mom was a wonderful present. The other music on the CD was also wonderfully patriotic and beautifully performed.



4. I heard the title song first at the memorial marker ceramony for Paul R. Smith, the first Medal of Honor recipient of the WOT. I went searching for a CD and to my surprise, found it as the title.
   
   Unlike some of the other reviewers, I have found the tone quality very good. My only 'complaint' is the lack of printed lyrics.
   
   While I'm not usually a huge fan of military music, I found the lyrics time appropriate for occassional use in my social studies classes. While we have many discussions about the US policies, many of us can use a reminder of those few that are giving up so much for the many.



5. I listened with at least moist eyes - and often streaming tears - to this stunning collection as I enjoyed a scenic ride on Amtrak from Seattle, WA to Portland, OR. I could not help but be proud and grateful for our most honorable country and the dedication and sacrifice of the people who volunteer to protect and defend her. I bought 15 copies and gave them to my friends and family. I intend to give copies to my best clients. Needless to say, I commend A Hero for Today to all.

No comments about Chartbuster Karaoke: Country Christmas, Vol. 5.