5 comments about The Ultimate Relaxation Christmas Album.

1. This music could be played at any Dentist or Doctor's office just to take the edge off. It's not a masterpiece, but it is relaxing.



2. this was a very nice cd for quiet listening, but it did not inspire any emotional feelings.



3. I was really looking forward to this cd! I always listen to music as I sleep, it helps to drown out outside noises, but this CD was damaged! It skipped terribly and I basically threw it away. I know I should have returned it but my way of handling things of this nature, unless they are quite expensive, are to simply not use the store where I purchased it again! Therefore, I will not be using this establishment again!



4. This is a great, relaxing Christmas CD. I was looking for a Christmas CD to turn on when I put my baby to sleep. This was the PERFECT one!



5. This album is just what it says -- Ultimate Relaxtion. The sound is good, the music selections are well done and well chosen. Just turn out the lights, turn on the tree, and put this music on. You'll be relaxed as can be in no time!

5 comments about A Windham Hill Christmas.

1. This is my first Windham Hill CD, but I have listened to at least one of their artists (J. Brickman) previously. Every year I shop for new Christmas CDs in November, and this one came out in October, so it's good timing.

   For the most part the songs are smooth, mellow, and very relaxing, taking a pretty traditional approach to the songs. The only exceptions are the "Sussex Carol", which is somewhat fast, and "Christmas is Coming", by Vince Guaraldi, which is quite fast.

   As one fellow reviewer noted, tracks 5 and 6 are switched from the liner track listing. When I first listened to [the supposed] "First Noel" I thought, "What kind of version is this?!" until I listened to the other track and realized the mix-up.

   If you want an easy-listening night by the fire this is a wonderful accompaniment. It should enjoy a long life in my Christmas CD collection.




2. A Windham Hill Christmas is a delightful, calming presentation of seasonal favorites -- perfect for a quiet, cozy eve before the fire. The new or veteran WH listener will find a nice collection of the labels best artists - Brickman, de Grassi, ACkerman (guitar), Winston (piano), Nightnoise (instrumental/vocal) -- as well as the lesser known who lend variety and depth to this collection. A Windham Hill Christmas is a pleasant continuation of the atmosphere created in the label's Winter Solstice and December albums and calming contrast to the pop, rock and new age, electronically synthesized tones for a more hectic pace.



3. I THOUGHT I WAS GETTING SOME NEW ARRANGEMENTS OF TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS MUSIC OR EVEN THE OLD STANDARD ARRANGEMENTS, BUT THIS
   IS MAILY PIANO AND GUTIAR AND I DON'T CARE MUCH FOR THAT TYPE OF CHRISTMAS MUSIC. FOR THOSE WHO LIKE THIS TYPE OF MUSIC IT IS A GOOD CD TO HAVE.



4. This CD is "copy protected" and will not work in iTunes or on your iPod. So much for the holiday spirit .. I buy a CD and they won't even let me listen to it on my iPod!



5. 1 Sussex Carol - Brian Dunning 2:22
   2 Angels We Have Heard on High - Steve Erquiaga 4:08
   3 O Holy Night - Jim Brickman 3:34
   4 In Dulci Jubilo - Barbara Higbie 3:59
   5 Christmas Is Coming - George Winston 3:48
   6 The First Noel - W.G. Snuffy Walden 3:48
   7 It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Tim Story 3:06
   8 Silent Night - Thea Suits-Silverman 3:38
   9 Christ the Apple Tree/Once in Royal David's City - Alex de Grassi 3:40
   10 Deck the Halls - Liz Story 3:02
   11 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - Paul McCandless 3:50
   12 What Strangers Are These - David Cullen 3:20
   13 The Holly and the Ivy - Nightnoise 4:14
   14 Lo, How a Rose - Paul Schwartz 3:55

5 comments about A Windham Hill Christmas: The Night Before Christmas.

1. I love Christmas music. Even when I worked retail, and the Christmas music started playing before Halloween, I loved Christmas music. Growing up, we always knew that it was really Christmas time because Dad pulled out the Christmas albums (not pictures -- records. Yes, I'm that old). Perry Como and Elvis, year in and year out. Now I have my own musical tastes, and my own Christmas music. Jazz, contemporary, blues, even a copy of Rock Power Praise's Christmas heavy metal compilation. And somewhere on my hard drive I have Joan Jett singing "The Little Drummer Boy."
   
   This Windham Hill Christmas compilation is much more traditional. But traditional doesn't mean boring -- in fact, just the opposite. These songs are arranged so that you can play them no matter what the occasion -- a Christmas party with friends, a tree trimming party, or just a quick game of "find the mistletoe" with someone special. And next year, you won't be replacing it with something more trendy.
   
   The CD does contain a fair amount of religious music, so those who are easily offended by actual references to Christ may not be pleased. "Angels We Have Heard on High" is one of my all-time favorite Christmas hymns, and I was glad that they chose it to start the album off. There are plenty of non-sectarian songs on here as well, though -- "O Tannanbaum," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" are a few representatives that I enjoyed particularly.
   
   Windham Hill fans will find some old favorites on this CD, of course. Liz Story does "O Thou Joyful Day/O Little Town of Bethlehem," Philip Aaberg contributes "Wassail Song," and George Winston and Will Ackerman also make contributions. There are some new faces as well, and I'm sure we'll be hearing more from folks like Jim Brickman and Fred Simon. In fact, Winston's "Cherry Tree Carol" was a wonderful addition, and a song that I hadn't heard very much before.
   
   The only thing that disappointed me, especially after enjoying Winston's fretwork on the final song, is that "Silent Night" wasn't performed on solo acoustic guitar. Barbara Higbie does an outstanding job on the song, and I enjoyed it quite a bit, but I absolutely love to hear "Silent Night" played on the guitar, as it was originally written and performed.
   
   On the whole, listening to this CD was a perfectly enjoyable experience, and a great way to start off my holiday season. If you don't have it, then you need it.



2. This CD is "copy protected" and will not work in iTunes or on your iPod. So much for the holiday spirit .. I buy a CD and they won't even let me listen to it on my iPod!



3. These Windham Hill Christmas CDs are amazing, the first two being my all-time favorites. But the iPod reviewer on here is incorrect (or not doing something properly) because though they may be "copy-protected" they WILL work on your iPod and iTunes. I have this cd on my iPod as we speak, so it will work fine. Enjoy!



4. Windham Hill has a more interesting group on the label than others such as Narada. This has a lovely group assembled. Great Christmas background music or meditative fare if that's what you want.



5. Takes me back to an "ole days" feeling.....it's not Christmas in my home until I play a "Windham Hill Christmas" CD...

3 comments about John Rutter: Music for Christmas.

1. This is just an outstanding collection of choral, Christian selections. The majority are composed by Rutter, who it turns out was led into this field for which he is so well known and loved when in school, he was motivated by a fellow student who was composing a Christimas carol to do the same. Thanks be to God for that motivation!

   Rutter's work simply in this humble reviewer has no other contemporary peer. He is reverent, fresh and excellent theology to boot! This collection has his best, including my favorites: "Shepherd's Pipe Carol, What Sweeter Music, The very best time of year, Angels' Carol."

   To his compositions, added is Kirkpatrick's "Away In a Manger" and of course, Gruber's "Silent Night", both skillfully arranged and performed. Bonus selections of traditional pieces such as "I Wonder as I wonder."

   The City of London Sinfonia conducted by Stephen Layton provides the orchestra background marvelously for Polyphany, the outstanding choir on this work.

   You will be delighted to add this CD to your collection, and it will rise in most collections to near the top.
   Well worth




2. Anyone who truly loves the choral and carol traditions of Christmas cannot miss Mr. Rutter's work. He is truly possessed of extraordinary talent and this fine recording puts it on proper display. The collection here houses the best of Mr. Rutter's original/edited works for the Christmas season, and one can sense the composer's affinity for the spirit of the holidays of which he has written so prolifically and well.



3. Excellent Christmas CD. I especially liked the "Angles Carol" track!
   Would recommend this CD to one and all.

5 comments about Billboard Greatest Christmas Hits: 1935-1954.

1. I like Christmas songs and I recommend this CD. BY the way if you like Eartha Kitt's excellent version of Santa Baby then I also recommend Madonna's version which is also very good! She did a great imitation of Eartha while adding her own style to it!



2. My kids and I loved this. They are the songs my parents and I grew up with. My kids really liked All I Want for Christmas, and Santa Baby is one I'm especially fond of.



3. This is one a series of "budget" releases covering various aspects of Christmas to be released over the years by Rhino/Wea in conjunction with Billboard, all with 10-tracks each and liner notes in the form of track-by-track comments. Sound quality is generally good to excellent. All have "Billboard" as part of the title.
   
   Some others are: Family Christmas Classics; Top Christmas Hymns; R&B Christmas Hits; Rock & Roll Christmas; Greatest Country Christmas Hits; and Greatest Christmas Hits (1955-Present). Some of the foregoing are also offered in 4-pack and 5-pack editions. In essence, these are the one you have to have if you want to recapture the delightful seasonal sounds of your childhood (assuming you're old enough to recall the periods covered).
   
   This one gives you the original Silent Night by Bing Crosby way back in 1935 with The Guardsmen Quartette and the Victor Young Orchestra. It charted at # 7 and began a long association between Bing and Christmas music including, of course, the immortal White Christmas. a # 1 for ELEVEN weeks the first year it charted (1942), and a perennial hit thereafter.
   
   Three more 1940's classics are Vaughn Monroe's Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! which, with The Norton Sisters on backing vocals, went to # 1 in 1945 and stayed there for five weeks (many years later it would be revived through use in one of the Die Hard films starring Bruce Willis), Nat "King" Cole's The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You), a # 3 in 1946 and a repeat hit for years and years, and Christmas Island by The Andrews Sisters & Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians, # 7 in 1946 and a hit again the next two years.
   
   Gene Autry kicks in with Here Comes Santa Claus (Down Santa Claus Lane) which he wrote and took to # 9 in 1947 and saw it repeat many times after over the years, as did his Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, billed to Gene Autry & The Pinafores, a # 1 for EIGHT weeks in 1949 and a hit again over and over. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is a repeat from the Country edition, while Spike Jones & His City Slickers bring you All I Want For Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth) which, with George Rock doing the vocal, was also a # 1 (for 3 weeks) in 1948, and would be an annual entry for several years. And you won't want to miss the sultry Eartha Kitt cooing to Santa Baby, a # 4 in 1953 with Henri Rene's orchestra.
   
   Loads and loads of fun and memories.



4. I love this CD. My 8 year old loves the classics listens to this CD often. Would highly recommend everyone having a copy.



5. my early childhood and 'tween' years came dashing back right through the snow. I wasn't expecting that 'rush'. Childhood friends I'd almost forgotten,my first girlfriend, all togather again on the streets of my old neighhood.Lower eastside,NYC.

5 comments about Peace.

1. Jim Brickman's second holiday CD, not just an incredible work worthy of a Grammy nomination, will also carry with it his patriotic efforts, as fans remember his farewell shows for the USO and CD distribution to the departing troops. Kristy Starling, who sings "Sending You a Little Christmas" and Jeff Timmons (of 98 Degrees) joined Jim for several farewell shows for deploying troops during the holidays. The USO named that song as its theme, CDs were distributed to the troops, and many soldiers and their families seemed pleased with the sendoff.

   Jim's beautiful renditions of traditional favorites like "We Three Kings", "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", "Away In a Manger", "O Holy Night", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Rejoice" lend such beauty to the season. "Do You Hear What I Hear?" with Tracy Scott Silverman's electric violin and Anne Cochrane's lovely voice ... if you've ever seen them perform this live in concert, well, it's a very special treat."

   The title track, "Peace ... Where the Heart Is" is superbly performed by Colin Raye, who vocalized on "The Gift" with Susan Ashton on Jim's previous holiday CD. The Blind Boys of Alabama do a nice job of "Let It Snow"

   Having seen Jim's live performances (and some are available on DVD: My Romance, and Love Songs and Lullabies), the CD is a wonderful way to close your eyes and re-live that show.

   "Early Snowfall" was a favorite of mine ... original and accoustically descriptive, as Jim's native Ohio background sparks his creativity. "Blessings" was exactly my feeling about this collection ... each song was a blessing to enjoy from "America's Newest Romantic Piano Sensation"




2. This is an all-time great Christmas album! It is almost perfect. The best song is "Rejoice" - probably the most ethereal, beautiful 4 minutes of music you can find! Jim Brickman has a real knack for making classic songs sound new and fresh but without going over the top. Perfection!!



3. Wonderful music. Simple joy just listening to it. This man knows how to play piano. Loved it.



4. Decided to "surf" for CD that I wanted to purchase. Went to Amazon for the first time since I was told by friends that it was an easy site to use. WOW! Were they ever right!!! Finding what I wanted & purchasing it were easy & quite refreshing after having stood in many a line at Xmas for other purchases. I will certainly be using your site in the future!



5. These are not really the traditional arrangements you may be expecting. I have really enjoyed this album over the last couple of Christmas seasons. It is a great CD to have playing in the background while you are entertaining guests or enjoying other holiday activities. It's a great stand alone album for when you want to get lost in the music but also works well for ambiance when you don't want the music to be the main point of focus. This has some old favorites, some new spins on old favorites and some new surprises.

5 comments about Necronomicon.

1. This is the perfect companion for sitting down and reading the works of Lovecraft. It makes for wonderful ambience! Excellent.



2. In this, the second CD realease from Nox Arcana, the focus is on Lovecraft and his works. The music explores the deities that roamed the earth when men lived in darkness and served these Gods as slaves. The listener is taken through a musical journey that explores the visions of Alhazred, the Mad Arab. The mythos of the Necronomicon takes you to the realms of Azathoth, Yog-Sothoth, Dagon, and Cthulhu.
   
   I highly recommend this for anyone who has a healthy respect for myth, and can appreciate the dark musical talents of these gifted people. I certainly do.



3. A "Must Have" for any Lovecraftian fan, afficianado...Or even if you just like creepy background music. Amid the haunting scores are several well done quotes from the fabled Lovecraftian tome, a chant to Nyarlathotep and the infamous "Ia Cthulhu Phtagn" passage done with 'proper' reverence and fanatascism. Definitely a "mood music" CD but one that sets the mood it intends very well



4. Good background for a theme occasion... I got it for Halloween to freak out trick-or-treaters, lol



5. I bought this item as a gift for someone who is an avid player of Dungenos and Dragons. It was right up their alley. I was pleasantly surprised by this music. They composers have made a delightlful blend of classical and Gothic music, that sounds like a track from a classic horror movie. This is not something I would normally listen to, but I found it rather enjoyable. I bought this along with a selection from Midnight Syndicate, which is a similar style, and equally enjoyable.

5 comments about Christmas in the Aire.

1. GREAT ALBUM! Not quite as BIG as Trans Siberian but still a keeper!



2. The first two Mannheim Steamroller Christmas albums were absolute classics. Sadly, Christmas in the Aire is just a feeble attempt to generate some more sales by cashing in on Mannheim's previous fame. Save your money and stay away from this album.



3. I read one review that said 2 stars... I'm assuming they were "under the influence" when they wrote that. Everyone is entitled to their opinion though, no matter how cruddy. I LOVE this album. As a musician and someone who knows a little bit about sound engineering, it a treasure I enjoy every Christmas and sometimes a little into January! = )



4. I must have lent, or gave away, my original copy of Christmas in the Aire; how happy I was to be able to obtain another copy to replace it. Keep up the good work, Mannheim Steamroller! You make my holiday complete.



5. I have most of Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas CD's. This is one of the best and I never get tired of them. I bought this one to replace the one I had that no longer played.

5 comments about An Intimate Christmas.

1. I purchased a copy of "An Intimate Christmas" for myself just prior to Christmas and ended up ordering several copies to give as gifts. Everyone that received this, even those with "hard to please" musical tastes, loved it! This album is great to have playing in the background when sharing an evening with friends, family or by yourself just sitting sipping hot chocolate in front of the tree and reflecting on fond memories of Christmas past. This album quickly found its way to the top of my list of favorite albums to enjoy during the holidays and I'm sure you'll feel the same.



2. This is perhaps my favorite Danny Wright Christmas CD, and they are all worth owning. This CD emphasizes gentler tunes, perfect for sitting by the fireplace. Very familiar songs masterfully portrayed. Makes you want to hum along and gives you a sense of peace. Do yourself and someone you love a favor and get this CD.



3. It's a perfect CD for a mellow sound at Christmas. Particularly, nice when you have guests and makes a great gift.



4. I thought it was so beautiful. Having met Danny in a home setting and hearing him play it was even better picturing him as he played the CD.
   I am looking forward to the others that I ordered.
   He is a true artist.



5. I run an upscale Bed and Breakfast. I love to have beautiful music playing for my guests. It was one of my guests that told me about Danny Wright's music. I ordered several of his CD's, including "Intimate Christmas." We just had Christmas teas at the Inn and I played Danny Wright's Intimate Christmas CD throughout the days of teas. It sounded as if I had a live pianist. Music clarity on the CD is fabulous, as is Danny's Wright's gift of music. Highly recommend.

2 comments about Bernstein Century: Bernstein on Jazz - What is Jazz?.

1. Bernstein provides a unique and wonderful look at America's original artform, jazz. In contrast to traditional, chronological approaches, Bernstein breaks down the musical components of jazz such as rhythm, melody, and harmony, and discusses the way they are used differently in comparison with Western European musics. Bernstein has a knack for discussing complex material and stating it in a way that all can understand, which is very evident here. Armstrong and Brubeck work wonderfully with the New York Phil. This is a must have for those just getting into jazz, jazz enthusiasts, and music educators.



2. Bernstein's approach to the subject of jazz is not so much a "book" approach as a "sound" approach. He analyzes the music itself and provides insight and perspective into the essence of jazz that few instructors before him have. Expecially helpful are the ditties he uses where he takes away the element of jazz (such as the blues scale or syncopation) so the listener can hear what a piece of music would sound like if it did not contain the essential elements of jazz. The CD is full of useful nuggets of information, some of which put a smile on my face for a whole day, because I had the feeling of knowing something that no one else did. (Like, did you know: classic blues lyrics are written and sung in iambic pentameter? It's true, and he puts together a blues riff with Macbeth to prove it. Very cool.) I recommend this CD to anyone who is interested in learning about jazz. It might not get too much repeat listening, but the first or second time through it is definitely worth it.