5 comments about 25 Bach Favorites.

1. And the company still sent me the wrong cd.The cd i received was 25 most classical favorites,so instead of returning the wrong item,i just took the lost.



2. I was looking for a CD of exclusively Bach music, not necessarily played by a famous artist or orchestra. This had a lot of his well-known pieces and was exactly what I was looking for.



3. I found this to be a nice collection of favorites, especially to keep in the car and listen to. It is a variety of well known compilations. Although not encompassing, it is perfect as a review for driving, relaxing, and enjoyment. Plus, the price is right!



4. My first real appreciation of this sound was from watching the film "Slaughterhouse Five" in the theater, back in the '70s. That soundtrack was just a taste of what you get with this recording. My family pops this CD in the car stereo on long trips, and glide down the highway to some original smooth grooves. Helps the miles pass swiftly. Music for the soul.



5. Surely you don't need me to review the guy. You know who he is, you've heard his music, and I hope you own some. So let me turn the podium over to a cat named Picasso, and you can read into that whatever you wish. She's in a chair, near the CD player. She has entered the room specifically for the music. Her eyes are squinted, almost but not quite shut, little face concentrating on just how contented those sounds make her feel. Nobody can say why they move her so, any more than we can say why they move us so. If we knew the answer to that one, we'd copy the guy. But anyway, she loves the music, and don't you dare make a sound such as squeaking your computer chair. If you do, her golden orbs will open, fix upon your face, and shame you. Yes they will. But if you are quiet long enough, you can watch a little calico sleep, with the very same sweet kitten face that drew you to her five years ago. Bach is gooooood.

1 comments about The Story of Bach.

1. We are using this series of CDs in our homeschool music program - they are fantastic! We especially love this one about Bach - what an awesome man! The story of his life is told in a way that is very interesting and holds the children's attention while also using various pieces of his music in the narration. It is done VERY well! My children are gaining a tremendous amount of knowlege and appreciation for music through this CD and so are my husband and I!

3 comments about Children's Favorites.

1. This CD mostly delivered what was expected of it. The only critique I have is that some of the tempos could have been cleaner, and that it should be cross-referenced by the other composers besides J. S. Bach.



2. This is the most wonderful collection to have on 1 CD. Children from birth on up can benefit from this musical collage.
   Songs from the "Nutcracker" are familiar and comfortable for many children. What child wouldn't love "March of the Tin Soldiers?"
   Selections from Saint-Saens' "Carnival of the Animals" is a must in my creative movement library. Every child should be exposed to this music. Well,I believe every age should be.



3. With total playing time clocking in at 78:04 minutes of music, you'll be paying about 6-cents/minute, which is a better bargain than long distance phone calls, and often more rewarding!

   This disc is far superior than most other "Classics for Kids"-type recordings I've sampled for a number of reasons:

   1) This album was expertly engineered. The production quality on this disc is first-rate from start to finish with crisp, clear sound.

   2) The pieces were expertly picked. There is wonderful sonic variety here, spanning hundreds of years of wonderful melodies. There are orchestral pieces, harpsichord pieces, solo piano, and a piano concerto, capped off with Saint-Seans whimsical Carnival of the Animals. What kid (or adult) wouldn't love that?

   3) The performances are, without exeption, expert! The pieces were definately screened for quality as well as content. Many are simply a joy to behold. Walter Klein is a particular stand-out, almost giddily prancing through Schumann's pieces. Believe it or not, he sounds even more impressive when backed up by the always inspiring Minnesota Orchestra on Mozart's Piano Concerto #17.

   In short, this album is a great album even before you factor in the great price. You and your children are almost guaranteed to enjoy every 6-cents worth!

5 comments about Bach: Greatest Hits.

1. Good good CD with all Bach's greatest hits in good arrangements.
   The different songs give a good impression of Bach's great works.



2. I purchased this for track #10, which I'd happened to hear on the radio...it stayed in my head until I tracked down the CD. I have a relatively basic working knowledge of classical music, so this long playing collection was an excellent and surprising introduction to several of Bach's diverse works...both well known and more obscure. Certainly a worthwhile addition to your classical collection.



3. This CD is an excellent introduction to the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. It's certainly not exhaustive, but it's a start. It also includes pieces from Johann Michael Bach, as well as another composer (whose name escapes me at the moment) whose work was once mistakenly attributed to JSB. This entire series of CDs is perfect for those who wish to learn more about the Classical Masters. Start with this series, and then by all means, delve deeper into their respective repetoires. You won't be disappointed.



4. I don't want to repeat what has been said already but this is a great indroduction to Bach. The variety on this release is good, but like has been said numerous times before, the amount of variety fails to set a single mood. But with a low price and a great deal of variety this is a great CD for those who want to start getting into Bach. Recommended.



5. A smattering of short excerpts -- many not on their native instruments -- to introduce the great literature left to us by J.S. Bach. Some of the versions are truly inspired, a few are not.

   If you like what you hear here, by all means seek out the full-length, original instrument versions!

5 comments about Toccata and Fugue: Bach Organ Music.

1. I have to admit that I bought this CD for a relative who has a strong liking for the classical music of J.S Bach. The CD arrived quickly and in mint condition.



2. This disc collects some of Karl Richter's better known interpretations from the organ works of Bach. The performances certainly convey the modern notion of `authentic interpretation,' but I find they lack that which makes the music worth listening to: namely, a communicative intent on the part of the performer which is perceptible to the listener.
   
   Though I am hesitant to throw around words like `expression' and `musicality' in a subjective review, I will say that I find Karl Richter's cold, austere, Bach rather distasteful. Needless to say, Karl Richter plays the works with mastery and conviction - but, I find nothing in his interpretation to be surprising, moving, or even interesting. This is cookie-cutter Bach.
   
   Furthermore, I would challenge the notion that the interpretation of any organ work of Bach could be, as reviewer Patrick Walsh suggests, "as close as you can come to listening to Bach's music the way he created it in his mind before setting pen to paper." What a preposterous notion! First, no one really knows what Bach was thinking when he put pen to paper. And furthermore, who cares? Johann Sebastian Bach was a product of his time just as much as we are a product of ours. To suggest that music and its interpretation have not evolved is ridiculous. I fail to see how "authentic" performance practice should be the sole factor when considering an interpretation of a work of art. There is so much more to consider!
   
   For lovers of Baroque organ music, this CD will remain a winner. Of particular interest to period-organ enthusiasts will be Mr. Richter's selection of instruments, which is decidedly late 17th century German Baroque in nature. However, I implore those who are seeking a less black and white Bach to consider the accounts of other great performers, including E. Power Biggs, Virgil Fox, Kate van Tricht, and David Sanger. Their diverse, vivid renditions of the classic works remind us how unique Bach's genius really is.



3. I just picked this up again after having lost it some years ago. I'd like to second everything mentioned in the reviews below. These are very rich, dense, wonderful pieces and the performances on each of them are - at least as far as a non-classical person like me can tell - flawless.
   
   The first two tracks are, incidentally, pretty fine examples of what would come to be known as the wall of sound some two hundred years later. And they're really considerably better than most of what Phil Spector came up with.



4. The great tragedy of Baroque music is that we no longer really know how it was actually played. Various attempts to reconstruct the Baroque flavor of the music have been made. Karl Richter, and Wanda Landowska are perhaps the pre-eminent interpreters of Baroque music in the 20th century.

   Within this album, Karl Richter's breaks away from his contemporaries, playing on the massive organs for which Johann Sebastion Bach wrote these pieces, instead of the small portable organs. He does not try to play the pieces fast or slow, but rather play the piece at a pace in which each note has meaning. A great deal of thought and consideration has gone into each performance, and they display a profound understanding of the music Bach was trying to create.

   I do not want to discount the modern performances of Bach's music, many of which are top notch--for example Glen Gould's rendition of the Well-Tempered Clavier, but they do not fully reveal the mastery of harmony that Bach displays in each and every piece on this album. Modern renditions display Bach's genius in creating music that can be played on many different instruments, but they do not display Bach's vision for the specific piece.

   This is as close as you can come to listening to Bach's music the way he created it in his mind before setting pen to paper.




5. I too bought the vinyl version of this disk in my youth in the late '60s (actually it was about half this disk, right?). Itis such a wonderful recording because it plays the very dramatic and popular toccata and fugue in d minor as a serious and intelligent piece on a magnificent instrument - not as some kind of madman's nightmare. Yes, there is drama and fire, but it is all there with purpose and intellect.

   But there is SO MUCH MORE on this disk. Wonderful recordings of trio sonatas, fantasies, and chorale preludes. This is such a wonderful disk I really believe you would be very happy to own it and listen to it again and again.

   The ONLY negative is that the liner notes are not included (or weren't on the disk I have). Please email me with what you think of this disk once you hear it, particularly all the other selections.

5 comments about Greatest Hits: Harpsichord.

1. This is a fabulous collection of harpsichord pieces. They include English, French, German, and Italian pieces. Great variety. Scholarly interpretations are correct, and interpretation/speed/ornamentation are perfect. This is one you must have for your collection, especially if you are just starting to collect harpsichord music. The artists are not named in the Amazon info here, but they are Igor Kipnis (my favorite), Anthony Newman, and Arnold Dolmetsch (one of the pioneer early music musicologists). And, my gosh! Look at the price!!!! mb



2. Excellent service, price and timely shipment. Bought as a gift and hope they will enjoy this rare selection.



3. As with several other of Kipnis' albums, these could serve as either an eye opener for those uninitiated to the potential of the late 20th century harpsichord in the hands of these virtuoso musicians. And an introduction of the incredibly rich, varied (and almost totally neglected) music of the 18th Century. Igor Kipnis was so much more than a master of the keyboard, he helped introduce three generations to what the Baroque was all about.



4. I have always loved the sound of the Harpsichord and for many years hearing poorly recorded or played Harpsichord this treasure is a must have. From the fine compositions to the good sound quality this CD is definately a keeper.
   Plenty of music for a moderate price as well.



5. This CD is very very good just what I was looking for. I highly recommend this CD if you are planning on purchasing a Harpsicord CD, this one is the best.

5 comments about Bach for Book Lovers: A Soothing Companion for Reading.

1. I'm guessing Bach would prefer that we hear his works in context, with all the glories that his pacing and structure reveal. Nonetheless, this is a very nicely assembled collection of quieter pieces that are indeed conducive to reading. Free of the crescendoes that might distract from the book at hand (not that Bach was Mahler), this is perfect background music for reading or eating or just staring out the window at clouds drifting by.
   Rather prosaic to take perhaps history's greatest composer and cut him up into soundbites, but that said, I read for five hours last night with this on repeat and it was a fine experience. I wouldn't have bought this, but as a gift it was quite welcome.
   There are of course hundreds of complete classical pieces that serve the same purpose beautifully (Satie, Handel and Debussy come immediately to mind), but this does its job well and leaves the mind soothed and relaxed by music of the highest order, and that can't be a bad thing.



2. The receiver does a lot of studing/reading and
   considers this c.d. excellent.
   
   Thank You



3. This compilation contains the gentle music of Bach which sets the tone for the warm, friendly reading companion. By turns contemplative, lilting and dancing, it is easy to listen to as you read or merely sit back and relax to this lovely selection.
   
   More than a century after Bach wrote one of his most famous preludes, Gound, the 19th-century French composer, used it note for note as an accompaniment to his own setting of "Ave Maria." This devout prelude, almost like a prayer in music, inspires the soul while entertaining the heart.



4. I enjoy Bach, so I thought I'd check out this disc. It's a nice colleciton, and it would fit in very nicely at your local coffee shop or bookstore - but if you're a book lover it'll be too distracting, and if you're a music lover it'll be even worse.
   
   My biggest complaint is a geeky one: The recordings aren't the greatest quality. They're all fairly low-level, requiring a boost on your CD player's volume. But worse, they're all plagued by noise - a faint but audible hiss below the music. This was highly distracting to me, and even more so because it was present at different intensities on different tracks.
   
   The performance was nice, but too stoccatto to be enjoyable while reading. A little sustain pedal goes a long way! Further, several of the pieces selected (particularly toward the beginning of the disc) contained dissonant notes that - while perfectly acceptable musically - would probably be a distraction from all but the best of books.
   
   All told, this disc gets 3 stars for the content - it's nice music, expertly performed, but poorly recorded. It only gets 1 star for living up to its title... There are plenty of better things to listen to when you're curling up with a book!



5. Especially to the average listener, certain types of classical music can seem ... well, actually disturbing to listen to with its sometimes frenzied tempos, dissonant tones or dramatic shifts in loudness - and all of that sometimes after a day of frenzied schedules, harsh people and constant noise. Fortunately, most all of 18th century classical music - like that of Bach or Mozart - was composed purposely to inspire contentment, cheerfulness and refreshment. Such is the music on this CD. Not only is this music calming to listen to when reading or meandering around the house but also is an inspiring introduction to the music of the great Baroque composer, Johann Sebastian Bach.
   
   THis CD contains a fine selection of various types of instrumental music Bach wrote (solo piano, concerto for solo instrument and small orchestra) that all have a similar, more gentle tempo that makes for a delightful, non-intrusive background for entertaining, reading or conversation. But don't let the cute cover graphics mislead you that this is not serious quality music - most of the selections here are taken from several top Philips recordings with mostly good sound quality. About half the selections are gentle, lyrical piano solo works ("preludes") from Bach's keyboard masterpiece called "The Well-Tempered Clavier" and provide a wonderful repose in between the more lively orchestral works. If there is one complaint here, it would be the sound quality on the solo piano music which is a bit harsh. But it still makes a great place to start to explore the music of Bach or just to have some nice music on hand for reading.
   
   Last, if you find you like the music of Bach here (especially the piano selections), you will might enjoy some higher-quality recordings of Bach's keyboard concertos or the "Well-Tempered Clavier" by Angela Hewitt - the premier Bach pianist of our time. Her two Bach Concerto recordings masterfully capture the lively spirit and graceful nuances of Bach and are wonderful music for a Sunday morning. A great "next step" for exploring the vast and rich musical world of Bach once you take in this CD.

5 comments about 20 Classical Favorites.

1. I can't remember why I bought this cd but I can't be happier that I did. What a pleasant surprise. A disk of 20 songs for about [price]. Very nicely arranged and perfect for relaxing, driving, or work.



2. You won't regret purchasing this amazing classical cd, with many well known tunes played on instruments such as the violin and piano. Pachelbel's Canon and Vivaldi's Winter from The Four Seasons are, in my opinion, the two best songs on the cd.



3. This CD was excellent. I just received it today and so far its one of the best CD's in my collection. I recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys a wide variety of classical music.



4. This is a really nice collection. It is like a sampler of some of the best classical works. Well conducted and played. A terrific value for money. I highly recomend it to anyone from beginner to seasoned listener.



5. This CD is definitely one of my favorites. It has all of the great composers and a great selection of their works. Every recording is very good quality. I have to give it an A++

No comments about Pachelbel: Organ Works Vol.1.

2 comments about Bach: Lute Music, Vol. 2.

1. The music speaks for itself. One of the greatest guitarist of all time, John Williams, tackles the mighty 'Chaconne' , and other great works of Bach. I bought this because I wanted 'Chaconne' and Prelude 1006a on CD, so I could listen and hopefully learn these pieces. Great Bach selections here and outstanding playing.



2. I always loved John Williams playing Bach. This CD, together with Vol 1, contains Bachs Lute music which is magical. I never heard the very special pieces for Organ and Guitar which were transcribed by Peter Hurford and John Williams. Listen to the "Wachet Auf", Cantata 140. Or the Allegro from the Italian Concert. Something special.

   John Williams is as far as I am concerned the guitar player to get you love Bach. Technically superiour and yet with feeling as well.