3 comments about 100 Best Film Classics.

1. As I type the words to this review, I am listening to Nessun dorma (Puccini, Turandof) over and over again from the CD collection I am now writing about. Good music is supposed to inspire, and this one inspires.
   
   This six CD collection is from Best Film 100: The Great Blockbusters, The Classic Movies, Favorite Movies, The Piano at the Cinema, Opera at the Cinema (my favorite), and Baroque Goes to the Cinema.
   
   The ironic part about listening to music from the movies is that it mainly goes unnoticed by people who would never claim to be classical or opera lovers in the first place. I'm sure that Mozart's, "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" fits perfectly in the movie "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective," a movie I seem to continually miss, and it is also featured in "There's Something About Mary" a movie I continually wish I had missed.
   
   Only a few are not from classical writers, but possess melodies that fit a particular mood or time of day e.g. the themes from "Schindler's List," "You Only Live Twice," or "Saving Private Ryan[`s,]" "Hymn to the Fallen" are equally moving.
   
   And that is why I recommend that you start moving to get "Best Film 100" music about the mov-ies.
   
   After all, "Life is Beautiful," Barcarolle: Offenbach, Les Contes d'Hoffmann.
   
   
   
   P.S. Since this site let's you play it, try CD 5: Nos. 9, 17, and 18. Whoof!



2. I always like these miscellaneous collections when it comes to classical music. They're a good starting point for listeners who are not versed in the composers and their music. This one is very expansive and includes many artists you may not have heard before. If you've seen the movies, you'll like listening. I was pleasantly surprised to find the films go back decades. Buy the collection along with your book choice and enjoy.



3. It has basically everything that you would want in a film collection. My favorite is the first CD that features the great blockbusters. Please be aware that the majority of the music is comprised of "classical" music. This is often misleading because usually one expects to listen to the "theme music" of each movie, but that is not the case.

5 comments about Simply the Best Classical Anthems.

1. We were concerned after reading some other reviews that this version of Pomp and Circumstance wouldn't be the correct movement or the full length version. This selection has the song for graduation AND the extended length, so it gives plenty of time for processionals. If this is what you need, this is the CD to get.



2. "Simply the Best Classicial Anthems" is exactly what the title indicates. This is a collection of what the CD says are "36 of the most powerful classics on Earth". My review of this CD comes from someone who is a Classical Music Novice. I'm familiar with some of the composers, musical styles, musical periods, and some of the terminology that is key to understanding Classical Music. By no means am I an expert. I have basically popped in this two CD collection into my player and have enjoyed the sounds it produces. If you are in the same category as I am or maybe just wanting to be introduced to Classical Music - this is going to be a very good CD to have in your collection. For the more seasoned Classical Music fan, this could be either enjoyable or overkill.
   
   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.



3. Simply The Best Classical Anthems

   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.




4. The samples are too short and the quality leaves a lot to be desired. Having said that the choices are wonderful and the price is great. If you're looking for a overview of the best of classical music then this is for you. However if it's quality you're looking for then spent the extra money and look at other choices.



5. This is a good sampler, since it covers what you would want in a classical music CD. Looking at the tracks, it has the classic hits, such as "Ride of the Valkyries," "Toccata and Fugue," "Fanfare for the Common Man," "'Jupiter' from `The Planets,'" "Eine Klein Nachtmusik," and "Hallelujah Chorus."

   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.

3 comments about TV Favorites.

1. He is really one of a kind and his music is wonderful just wonderful. We all enjoy listening to it alot at work. Please keep this kind of music around. We can all do that by supporting Public Broadcasting.



2. Lawrence Welk is the greatest artist of his time! His music is perfect to sip sparkling apple juice to! It is perfect to eat nice dinner of jello or tapioca pudding and listen to the master from Minnesota! Lawrence Welk rules!



3. This recording has melodious, solemn numbers in addition to peppy, merry, ones. More people should give Welk music a chance - they might like it. Hey, I'm only twenty-nine years old, and I adore it!

   If you like Polkas, Ragtime, Southern Rock, Ballads, and/or Hymns, you'll like this collection. They don't come any better than this. It really is a lot of bang for your buck.

3 comments about BRAHMS: Edition - Complete Works.

1. A wonderful CD collection indeed! I have bought all of the Brilliant Classics Complete Collections and have not been upset with any set. The only thing I didn't like about this set (and only because I can compare with my others), the information was on the outside instead of the inside. Meaning that all of the works were located on the outside box instead of on the flap like Mozart, Beethoven and Bach.
   
   The set is much more colorful than the last couple also. You can see how much time they spend on making it look "brilliant". Definitely a wonderful deal for the price... and you should not even give it a second thought.



2. As with Brilliant's Mozart, Bach and Chopin complete sets, the 60 CD Brahms set represents excellent value, particularly if you can land it from one of Amazon's European sites, which often offer Brilliant sets for far less than shown here. I obtained mine in early 2008 from Amazon's French site, at a considerable discount (as a foreigner I didn't have to pay sales tax, which offset most of the shipping costs).
   
   The quality of the performances is generally high, comparable to Brilliant's complete Beethoven set. But unlike the Beethoven set, where Brilliant reached back to the 1950s to fill out some of the piano and chamber music repertory, these Brahms recordings are all modern. Some of the concertos are weak spots, but these are among the works you're most likely to already have in your library. The symphonies come in the form of recent recordings by Jaap Van Zweden and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra (replaced in the Second by the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra of Holland). These interpretations have been highly praised by some (Christopher Howell's review at MusicWeb) and more modestly praised by others (Michael Cookson's review on the same site). Do read those reviews. I'll add that I find the performances quite interesting, with the Third and Fourth the most compelling, and the Second suffering somewhat from the inferior intonation of its performers (e.g., the wind chord concluding the third movement). There are some interesting points of emphasis. For example, Van Zweden takes the opening of the First Symphony notably faster than most conductors -- justifiably so, since it's marked "un POCO sostenuto" (not "molto maestoso"). Somewhat odder is the contrabassoon fetish evidently possessed by either the engineer or the conductor (its entrances in soft woodwind passages are often quite prominent). The bottom line: it's a worthy addition to some well worn territory, perhaps not definitive (after all, you're up against the world's best with this repertory), but you'll definitely hear a few new things in these interpretations.
   
   I find the chamber music to be quite good. The string quartets are handled by the Tokyo String Quartet (the Vox recordings from 1986). The all-important piano quintet and horn trios are compelling (Nash Ensemble). A nice inclusion is the original two-piano version of the piano quintet (Op. 34b), which I had not heard previously. The solo piano works shouldn't disappoint either. The most important of these (the Ballades, Rhapsodies, Op. 76 pieces and late masterworks Opp. 116-119) are handled by Håkon Austbø, who is also featured on Brilliant's Grieg Centenary Edition set. They are to be praised for making quality performances of all of Brahms' incredible chamber and piano music available at this price.
   
   Interestingly, over one-third of the set consists of vocal and choral music, including more than a dozen CDs devoted to songs with piano accompaniment, a genre that was well worn by Romantic composers eager to supplement their income streams, but which in Brahms case ended up being completely overshadowed by his orchestral, chamber and piano music. Aside from the famous Lullaby, none of Brahms's songs are well known in North America. The bulk of his a cappella choral music, which occupies several more CDs, is likewise obscure, perhaps understandably given their didactic origins (to be "sung, not listened to"). The recordings of these vocal and choral works make up perhaps the most consistently praised part of Brilliant's set. Most of this music isn't vintage Brahms, but you won't regret the performances.
   
   All this said, there are some unfortunate flaws that I hope don't presage a slackening of Brilliant's production standards. Missing from the "Complete Works" are the arrangements of the horn and clarinet trio for violin/viola/piano and viola/cello/piano respectively (note the unusual piano trio configuration with a viola replacing an expected string instrument). Then there's the following:
   
   1. CD 4, Track 1 (Academic Festival Overture): two bad glitches at 4:04 and 4:07, at the entrance of the bassoon theme. These sound to me like clipping at the mastering stage (they don't register as errors on my CD playback equipment)
   2. CD 9, Track 1: glitch right at the opening of the Violin Concerto. This sounds like dropout rather than clipping, so I'm guessing this is a duplication error
   3. Most embarrassing of all: on CD 22, the last four tracks purport to be Brahms long-lost A major piano trio (Op. Posth.). In fact what's presented is Schumann's F major trio, Op. 80. Ouch
   
   Perhaps these technical flaws will be corrected in a subsequent release. Per the comments received to this review, others have noticed these flaws too, so they're not confined to my copy of the set (and I've not gotten a response from Brilliant Classics).
   
   So where does that leave us? Lovers of Brahms and art music, and CD collectors, will be interested in this set, even if only to fill out gaps in their libraries. At a bargain price like this, you could reasonably throw away half the CDs and keep the rest if you're so inclined. If you haven't yet heard much of the music in the set, including the more obscure vocal music, then it's certainly worth the price. The packaging is attractive: you get color-coded stiff cardboard sleeves like in the Bach complete edition, rather than the paper sleeves of the Mozart edition. Points off for a few lame recordings (e.g., the string concertos), and the technical flaws. I'll give it four stars. Snap up this set, and enjoy a few weeks with the man who is possibly the 19th Century's second greatest composer.



3. Having spent additional time with this set, I'm updating my review. I'd say I've listened to about half of it.
   
   Orchestral music: The symphonies are okay, although there's better performances out there. The Double Concerto isn't bad... but the rest of them are uneven, especially the Violin Concerto, with sluggish playing. I'll be supplementing the concerti with other recordings. The smaller orchestral works were hit and miss, with the overtures coming out the worst. The Haydn Variations were lovely though.
   
   Chamber music: The Cello Sonatas are the weak link in this set but the rest are very solid, especially the the Piano Quintet, Horn Trio and Piano Quartets. There's some additional two-piano/four handed material at the end which sounded fine to my ears (although none of it is really top-drawer Brahms).
   
   Piano music: Mostly good. The piano sonatas are all a little sloppy but everything else is well-performed (especially the sadistically challenging Variations).
   
   Vocal music with orchestra: I didn't listen to much of the Requiem but it sounded okay (aside from a shrill soprano soloist). My favorite Brahms work (the Alto Rhapsody) was taken at a tempo far faster than I prefer but I'm slowly getting used to it and the soloist is good. The smaller choral works are good, if just a tad under-reheared.
   
   Choral music: This set has been released separately and it is *very* strong. No complaints here.
   
   Lieder: Aside from the EXTREMELY irritating way this music has been programmed (completely out of order, with duets and solo songs interspersed randomly through 13 CDs), these mostly underrated pieces come off pretty well. There are undoubtedly finer performances with bigger name singers (and pianists) but no one embarrasses themselves (admirable given that *ALL* of these songs were recorded very quickly last year). As a sidenote, there are a few songs that are missing and I'm not sure why as otherwise, this set is very complete (including a fair amount of the works without opus number).
   
   Organ Works: Just one disc for these. They sounded okay but I'm not the best one to judge, as organ music isn't my forte.
   
   Overall, I don't consider this set as consistent as the complete Mozart edition... but as a performer, I've always found Brahms harder to pull off and none of these performances are ghastly. For the price, it's a great deal and you can supplement the performances you don't like with other ones.

5 comments about Ravel: Boléro / Ma Mère L'Oye (complete ballet) / Rapsodie espagnole / Une Barque sur l'océan / Alborada del Gracioso - Berliner Philharmoniker / Pierre Boulez.

1. Some marriages are made in heaven, others in hell. At first sight the combination of the lush, impressionist, romantic, sensual and sentimental music of Ravel and the brisk, dry, accurate, ultra-modern conducting of Pierre Boulez might seem to be the latter. However, all brief summaries fail to some extent and fortunately Ravel is not just the former. He is also a magician of the orchestra and a master orchestrator. Whereas Boulez has not for nothing become one of the foremost interpreters of early 20th century French music. Boulez' conducting style is almost unique in music. Whereas most great conductors are able to subtly adjust the tempo of the music to suit the volume and intensity, Boulez almost invariably follows an almost strict tempo (please note the qualifications - this is no metronomic conductor),instead he relies on a very dramatic micro-variation of volume, which produces a kind of pulsating sound, unlike almost every other interpreter. He also has an extraordinary ear for sonority and this, when put together with the finest orchestra in the world, the Berlin Philharmonic, produces a sound of matchless quality. All of the pieces on this record, have important solo passages and the quality of the BPO in this respect cannot be overestimated.
   There are many fine pieces of music written for/about children. None finer than " Mother Goose". As a child I remember enjoying most "Tom Thumb" and "The Princess of the Pagodas" without knowing in the slightest who she was. Today it is "The Fairy Garden" I cannot listen to without emotion. This is surely the finest evocation of a child's view of heaven ever written. Mahler in the 4th Symphony isn't even close; maybe he wasn't really trying. If the previous movements had not been played with such meticulous attention to detail this final splurge of sound would not have been at all so effective. How to be modern and sentimental at the same time...
   The two pieces that follow, Une Barque sur l'Ócean and Alborada del Gracioso, A Boat on the Ocean and Dawn Song of a Clown, are both orchestrations of piano pieces. Messiaen said that the former was unorchestratable. Unorchestratable? Ravel? Nonsense. It's a mesmerizing piece, almost themeless but with endless subtle repetitions. I went into a trance listening to it. Maybe it's because I love sailing, but that boat never left my mind's eye for a second. Arpeggios? The way he did it he didn't need them. Apparently Ravel later rewrote it again. You have got ot be a perfectionist to do that. Alborada del Gracioso is pure Cervantes. The Fool's grandiose illusions are both silly and magnificent at the same time. Here Boulez uses his gift for dynamic contrast to ultimate effect. "Rapsodie espagnole" to some might be kitsch, but if you've never dreamed as a youngster of far away, beautiful places and impossibly beautiful (wo)men, well, I feel sorry for you. Impeccable playing. The habanera must be one of the sexiest pieces for orchestra ever written.
   
   The only piece I found at all disappointing was the Bolero itself. Ravel's tempo marking is "moderato assai" ie. pretty steady. The danger is, if you allow it to become "allegro" you lose all the pent up tension and sexual energy that is stored up in the piece. Boulez just never gets this right and the result is, I'm sorry to say, forgettable. This is an easy piece to play badly, whereas often quite mediocre performers and conductors do it brilliantly. What is there to learn from that?
   I have heard enough on this record, however, to want to listen to more and if one day any enterprising record company does want to produce a Complete Orchestral Works of Maurice Ravel - his output is not vast and it surely deserves this - then I would like it to be this conductor and this orchestra. 5 stars.
   
   



2. I remember reading years ago of some brain surgeons--maybe they were cardiac surgeons, the important thing is that *they* knew--who customarily piped Maurice Ravel's Boléro into the operating room for the calming effect of its rhythmic regularity.
   
   It's a good thing the nurse didn't put on 'Ma Mère l'Oye', 'Une Barque sur l'océan', 'Alborada del Gracioso', or 'Rapsodie espagnole' instead as she groped for the final track on this CD. One shudders to think of the patient's outcome.
   
   All of which goes to show the extroardinary dexterity of Ravel with very different kinds of music. The late-Romantic surge and play of his ballets and other popular works contrasts with the flamboyand and oddly regular progress of his famous Bolero, seasoned with almost jazz-like touches from the brass (but a rhythmic, constant kind of jazz).
   
   It's all here, courtesy of Pierre Boulez and the Berliner Philharmoniker, in one of those large, keeper recordings that are the signature style of the Berlin and of Deutsche Grammophon as well.
   
   My brain--my heart too, come to think upon it--feels better just knowing this is out there and available to your local brain surgeon. May he and his guild remain calm. And skip any penchant for ballet.



3. I discovered Ravel as a child; heard Ma Mere as an adolescent and it has been a source of enjoyment ever since. Now many years later I discover the complete Ma Mere and it is beyond verbal expression. The version is superb; Boulenz is sincere and passionate in the "dans le jardin" and I wept. I am sorry I have been without it all these years.
   Trust me on this choice, you will not be disapointed.



4. I'm no musicologist, but I know what I like: Debussy, Ravel,Vaughan Williams... the early 20th century romantics.. (along with jazz, post-punk, the Beatles and Frank Zappa) and this recording of Ravel's Ma Mere l'Oye is superb!!! I heard the Hong Kong Sinf perform it recently, and had to have a recording. Pierre Boulez and the Berliner Phil do not disappoint. This is as close as anyone is likely to get to audio-heaven: the last movement of this ballet. Wonderful!! Us ordinary mortals are truly blessed to have composers like Ravel channelling this music from the heavens!!!



5. These are fine, tight performances of Ravel. Boulez's unequalled talent for detailing orchestra pitch is on fulsome display here. Of particular interest is the mesmerizing performance of the Mother Goose ballet - all the various orchestra climaxes are scintillating. Of the other pieces, while neither the Alborado or Rhapsodie quite equals the sinuous sexuality Reiner and Munch brought out in the music, Boulez, who has been leading top-drawer concerts of Ravel from his earliest days as a conductor, is certainly unrivaled today in this repetoire.

5 comments about Schroeder's Greatest Hits.

1. I do not listen to very much classical music, but...I listen to this Disc quite often. My Wife grew up in front of a piano, and she has played many of these selections, and she is quite familiar with almost everything persented here. This is a CD that we both, {coming from two completly different musicial worlds} can both agree upon. This CD is wonderful and it belongs in any music collection.
   
   With: "Fur Elise" leading the way through to: "Prelude-Well Tempered Clavier, Book 1, No. 1" this is piano as it was meant to be presented. This is the music that Schroeder loves to play. One listen to this, and it is easy to see why. When Schroeder plays these classic selections on his little toy piano {with Lucy right there bugging him} he seems to drift to another place, now I understand why this is so, like any other music that is as great as this, you will be transported.
   
   This is just a sample of some of the greatest music of the last 600 years. With: Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Schubert, Scarlatti, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Tchaikovsky & Chopin. Every musicial piece has that spark and clarity of what perked our ears to these wonderful selections, all those years ago when we heard this music as background to a Bugs Bunny Cartoon {bowl of cereal, is optional.}
   
   This collection is generous {34 tracks, 68.5 minutes} and as a bonus, the final selection is: "Linus & Lucy" by Vince Guaraldi, that was featured in the TV Special: "A Charlie Brown Christmas" in the early 1960's. Again, I am very limited in my knowledge of the classics, but this is one of the most enjoyable CD's of piano works that I have ever come across. I have sampled this music on small children, and it has always had a positive effect on them as well. From 3 to 83, this CD has something for everyone...Timeless Music played to perfection.
   FIVE STARS !!!



2. The album, Schroeder's Greatest Hits is a compilation of pure classical performance with a little bit of fun mixed in it and is showcased by the flawless execution on technique by the 'real' performers. I would whole heartedly recommend this disk for anyone who has loved Peanuts cartoon OR an aspiring pianist.



3. If you enjoy the Peanuts cartoons will will enjoy the music played by the Peanuts character Schroeder.



4. This CD is great. The only flaw it has is that the first track starts with what I is supposed to be a cute little intro. You're tormented with the sound of someone playing on what is likely supposed to be a toy piano. It would be okay if this little bit of annoyance sat on its own track, but it unfortunately serves as the beginning of the first track, ultimately ruining it. So every time you want to hear Fur Elise, you need to hear this annoying toy piano intro. If they had only put the toy piano intro on its own track, this CD would be perfect.



5. the is a beautiful album with some of the best music ever written on it
   it's also a really nice cd to listen to
   
   mozart,beethove,chopin,bach are just a few of the composers who's music is featured on here,i would highly recommend this for anyone who likes classical as it has a wide range of styles and it is a greatest hits of sorts in that alot of the songs will be familiar to anyone who has either studied the piano or just likes this type of music

5 comments about Bedtime Beats: The Secret to Sleep.

1. I agree with the other reviewer I found most of the music to be too up beat for falling asleep, and my problem is staying asleep, not falling asleep. Some of the music made my heart race and then I could not fall sleep. I tried this CD 4 times before calling it quits. I would not recommend this CD. I have resulted to using my very loud air purifier as white noise so that as I sleep the street sounds do not wake me up, but recently someone recommended to me trying a Homedics SoundSpa machine, which has all kinds of natural sounds for background noise when sleeping. I may try it. I hope this review helps.



2. Somehow, from the description of this album, I expected jazz to sleep by. What I got was very dull classical. So boring, it does NOT occupy my mind enough to distract me from cares of the day, so not a sleep tool for me.



3. I brought this CD set about 2 years ago. Originally it was to help me to get better sleep after a stressful at work. It works so well that I rearly hear the last few pieces on the CD. Last year, my mother was diagnosed and treated for cancer. She had trouble sleeping due to the mental stress and side-effects of the chemo. I recommanded to listen to the CD set. She loved it. Now the CD set is part of her sleeping routine.



4. I love the fact that this is two CD's worth of songs, and we listen every night. The songs create a calming environment, slipping off to dreamland is only a few notes away.



5. Many of the songs are relaxing & help me get to sleep - but there are other songs that change the mood & spoil my relaxed, sleepy feeling. The CDs just didn't work for me. However, I made an IPOD playlist with just the songs I found relaxing & sleep inducing - that does help me get to sleep & sleep more soundly. When I do fall asleep listening to this music, I find that, when I wake up, my breathing is slower & deeper.

5 comments about Masters of Classical Music (Box Set).

1. I think that this is really one of the best values you're going to find anywhere in the world of classical music, especially for beginners. You're getting 10 CDs, each filled almost to capacity, with the most famous works from the most famous composers in the history of classical music. The sound quality is excellent on every disc.
   
   While I would have made some replacements on the list of who was included, I feel that this collection is a must-buy for anyone interested in exploring classical music in depth. Quality is high, quantity is high, you really can't go wrong.



2. I have heard only 3 out of the 10 CDs yet - Mozart, Beethoven and Tchaikovsy - and I think I like it. I give full marks for the selection of music. It has the pace and type of classical music that I was looking for. (I like and appreciate classical music but can't stand, nor understand, a lonesome violin screeching away for 55 minutes).
   I think this set is a great gift and/or as an introduction to classical music especially to younger audiences.
   As for the sound quality - it sounds like...well..a regular "Digital Audio" CD. Nothing to write home about. Its not the audiophool quality recording you might be looking for. Some tracks are recorded better than others. But if you think MP3 sounds freakin' awesome, don't worry about what I said about sound quality.



3. I am a college student who was looking for some classical music to study to, and wanted a decent amount of it so I would not end up listening to the same concertos or overtures time after time.
   
   The reason I gave it only 4 stars and not 5 is for one simple reason that doesn't pertain to anyone that will just listen to the cd's on a cd player. My grievance with this set is that only a few of the cd's are listed on iTunes, so if you want them on your iPod or on your computer for playlists, you have to manually enter the information (album name, track names, artists).
   
   For the price, it is absolutely worth it for this box set. Only one of the discs is under an hour, while most of them almost hit the 70 minute mark, so there is no deprivation in the collection at all. And the audio quality is superb. A fantastic set for the money and quality that you get out of it.



4. I ordered The Masters of Classical Music Box set as a Christmas present for someone who was just getting into the classical repertoire, and wanted to expand their library of music. What a great way to start! As soon as I received the set from Amazon, I thought it was the perfect primer to build upon with some wonderful selections included in the 10-disc set. There were the "tried and true" pieces associated with each respective composer, and there were some additional musical gems that made me wish I ordered a few extra sets to give to the classical music lovers in my life. Sometimes people get put off by the classics because the music is too "highbrow". Not in this case...the pieces are wonderful and very "classical friendly." It's one of the finer building blocks in putting together a comprehensive classical music library.



5. This is an extraordinary collection by the most influential composers and they're very well-performed. My only disappointment is with the recording quality of quite a few of the selections. They sound as if they were converted to CDs from badly scratched records with lots of annoying popping. However, for variety, this set is a great value.

5 comments about Best Loved Hymns.

1. cant be bothered searchng for the cd i bought
   it was ok just anoying i only wanted 1 song had to pay $30 to get it



2. This is one more example of hymns in the Anglican Tradition, sung by the always excellent choir of King's College, Cambridge. It is a splendid example of the sonorous sound of men and boys, accompanied by a classic English organ and, for the quieter hymns, the gentle sound of harp. All the familiar hymns and hymn tunes are here. You will not regret adding this CD to your collection.



3. I always enjoy listening to this Cd and particularly because of the orchestra and mellifluous choir. I especially enjoy: A Mighty Fortress, Come Down, O Love Divine, Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, and Thine Be The Glory. Some of the selections are soft such as "The Lord's My Shepherd" and "Drop, Drop, Slow Tears." Still, it is a fabulous selection and one of my favorites.



4. This was one of my Christmas gifts and I really looked forward to listening to it. I had just visited King's College, Cambridge back in August and really liked it--you should try to make it out there if possible.
   
   Anyway, this CD was great to listen to. Some hymns are scored for orchestral accompaniment, choir and organ, while the majority of tracks are just for choir and organ.
   
   Recorded in the King's College Chapel (the front cover has a great shot of the ceiling's trademark "fan" stone carving), the hymns are pure English sound--boys' treble voices along with men's changed voices singing with a pure, clean, straight tone. It's very sweet-sounding.
   
   The hymns chosen are also great; "Be Thou My Vision," an Irish classic, appears along with "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," "All People That on Earth Do Dwell," and "Morning Has Broken" (later recorded by Cat Stevens).
   
   The singing isn't especially elaborate--they're just simple hymns. They're orchestrated very well, however, and they sound great.
   
   Religious people may prefer these recordings more in general--these are Christian hymns after all--but I think it's a great recording and is worth listening too, especially if you enjoy that English sound!



5. Having heard Kings College Choir twice, in the flesh, at Kings, this CD is a wonderful example of what you might hear. If you can't make it to Cambridge, buy this CD. It contains many of the old favorites and also some hymns that are not found on other English hymn CD's.

5 comments about The Yellow River Concerto.

1. An excellent recording made of this timeless classic produced when the People's Republic were trying to show that they had the panache, style and talent to pull off a Western style piano concerto.
   This listener feels they were very successful - balancing western romantic sound (think Rachmaninoff and Gershwin) with Chinese folk melodies. I only wish I knew some of those songs so that my experience would be richer in the listening.
   The piano playing is electrifying and articulate. I get the impression that the pianist felt totally immersed and emotionally involved with this piece - with a wonderful result.
   Considering the excellent price, this is a no-brainer addition to anyone's CD collection!



2. I owned this disc for more than 12 years already. The CD cover was already the third one.
   Lang Lang recently made a new recording of this piece with DG.
   I heard master Yin play this piece (in Lang Lang's stead) last evening in Hong Kong Cultural Centre, and he moved me to tears.
   Yin Cheng-zong is over 60 years old now. He lived through the various turmoils of China. It requires life experience and patriotism to interpret this piece, so very sorry, I haven't heard any foreign pianist playing this piece yet, let alone on record.
   HOWEVER, Yin Cheng-zong did made a recording of this piece with Claudio Abbado, but the recording has never been released by the PRC official broadcasting agency. Yin himself claims that this was one of the most memorable performances he had of this piece - Abbado understands the piece so well that Yin was highly amazed!
   The foremost player and interpretor of this piece remains Yin Cheng-zong, but I must say that ALSO hearing Lang Lang playing this piece a couple of days ago (also in Hong Kong), Lang's playing of this piece is vastly improving.



3. The most important thing about this CD is its beautiful solo piano music from classical Chinese literature. You'll be amazed and delighted.



4. This is an excellent album that worth adding to your collection. Moreover, such great music for such low price, there is no reason you shouldn't buy it.



5. I've heard The Yellow River Cantata for long time before I got this CD, this CD would be a very nice CD on your collection. And when I came to Yellow River (Hoang He) in the summer and spring, I knew this concerto said the trust: The river is always changing, savage and quiet. There is enough Asian spirit on this CD. As you know, every old chinese word and song are based on a story (called Gu dian, means classical) and if you know much about chinese stories you will feel completly this CD. One of famous Gu Dian is the fighting of Chinese people against the flood every year at the river's banks, for thousand years. You can find more information and "Gu dian" about this river in Chinese histories or stories.