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 An Eclectic Classical Sampler July 1, 2010
Ekkehard Rohwedder
132 out of 132 found this review helpful
An eclectic selection. As mentioned by a previous reviewer, you do get snippets of works. In a small number of cases you may even get more than one track from the same work, but these do not have consecutive track numbers. For example, you end up with two out of three movements of Gorecki's Symphony No. 3. However, at two pennies per track this is still five stars in my book.
What I find frustrating when I see classical music collections at Amazon is that they show you track title and performer but NOT the composer. Only once you have actually purchased the album can you cull this information from the MP3 tag. So that you know ahead of time what you will actually be getting with in this I am appending the track information below, sorted by composer.
Albinoni, Tomaso: Concerto a cinque No. 2 in D Minor for Oboe and Strings, Op. 9: II. Adagio [Emanuel Abbühl, Strings of Zürich and Howard Griffiths]
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Concerto No. 1 in C Minor for Two Keyboards and Orchestra, BWV 1060: II. Adagio [Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra]
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Concerto No. 5 in F Minor for Keyboard and Orchestra, BWV 1056: II. Largo: Arioso [Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra]
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Lute Suite in G Minor, BWV 995: II. Allemande [Sonja Prunnbauer]
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068: Air [London Philharmonic Orchestra & David Parry]
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Suite No. 1 in G Major for Solo Cello, BWV 1007: I. Prelude [Torleif Thedéen]
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Suite No. 3 in C Major for Solo Cello, BWV 1009: IV. Sarabande [Torleif Thedéen]
Bach, Johann Sebastian: Suite No. 6 in D Major for Solo Cello, BWV 1012: II. Allemande [Torleif Thedéen]
Bach, Johann Sebastian: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C Major, BWV 846: I. Prelude [Masaaki Suzuki]
Barber, Samuel: Adagio for Strings, Op. 11a [London Philharmonic Orchestra & David Parry]
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Bagatelle in A Minor, WoO 59, "Für Elise" [Finghin Collins]
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Concerto No. 3 in C Minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 37: II. Largo [Dubravka Tomsic, Slovenian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Anton Nanut]
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27:2, "Moonlight Sonata": Adagio sostenuto [Finghin Collins]
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36: II. Larghetto [Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra]
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92: II. Allegretto [Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra]
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 (Choral Symphony): III. Adagio molto e cantabile [Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra]
Borodin, Alexander: String Quartet No. 2 in D Major: III. Notturno [Lucerne String Quartet]
Bruch, Max: Kol Nidrei for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 47 (Adagio after Hebrew melodies) [Josef Vondra, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and Henry Adolph]
Chopin, Fryderyk: 12 Études, Op. 10: No. 3 in E Major, "Tristesse": Lento ma non troppo [Peter Schmalfuss]
Chopin, Fryderyk: Nocturne No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 9 [Finghin Collins]
Chopin, Fryderyk: Préludes, Op. 28: No. 15 in D-Flat Major, "Raindrops" [Peter Schmalfuss]
Corelli, Arcangelo: Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6:8, "Christmas Concerto": V. Allegro - VI. Pastorale: Largo [Zagreb Soloists]
Debussy, Claude: Deux Arabesques (Two Arabesques), L 66: No. 1 [Peter Schmalfuss]
Debussy, Claude: Préludes, Book I, L 117: VIII. La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin (The Girl With The Flaxen Hair): Très Calme Et Doucement Expressif [Peter Schmalfuss]
Debussy, Claude: Rêverie (Daydream), L. 68 [Christian Lindberg and Per Lundberg]
Debussy, Claude: Suite Bergamasque, L 75: Clair De Lune [Finghin Collins]
Dvorák, Antonín: Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95, "From the New World": Largo [London Philharmonic Orchestra & David Parry]
Dvorák, Antonín: Waldesruhe (Silent Woods) for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 68, B. 182: Lento e molto cantabile [Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra]
Elgar, Edward: Enigma Variations, Op. 36: Nimrod [The Band Of H.M. Royal Marines]
Fauré, Gabriel: Pavane [London Philharmonic Orchestra & David Parry]
Fauré, Gabriel: Requiem, Op. 48: IV. Pie Jesu [Mattias Wager and Miah Persson]
Fauré, Gabriel: Requiem, Op. 48: VII. In Paradisum [Mattias Wager]
Franck, César: Panis Angelicus [Latvian Philharmonic Orchestra]
Górecki, Henryk: Symphony No. 3 for Soprano and Orchestra, "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs" (1976): II. Lento e Largo - Tranquillissimo [Baden-Baden Symphony Orchestra, Teresa Erbe and Werner Stiefel]
Górecki, Henryk: Symphony No. 3 for Soprano and Orchestra, "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs" (1976): III. Lento - Cantabile semplice [Baden-Baden Symphony Orchestra, Teresa Erbe and Werner Stiefel]
Giazotto, Remo: Adagio in G Minor for Strings and Organ [London Philharmonic Orchestra & David Parry]
Gluck, Christoph Willibald: Orpheus and Eurydice: Dance of the Blessed Spirits [Gunilla von Bahr, Stockholm Chamber Orchestra and Jan-Olov Wedin]
Gounod, Charles: Ave Maria (after J.S. Bach) [London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Choir and David Parry]
Granados, Enrique: 12 Danzas españolas, Op. 37: Oriental [Duo Llobet]
Grieg, Edvard: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: Morning Mood [London Philharmonic Orchestra & David Parry]
Grieg, Edvard: Two Elegiac Melodies, Op. 34: II. Last Spring [Bonn Classical Philharmonic]
Handel, George Frideric: Concerto No. 10 in D Minor for Organ and Orchestra, HWV 309, Op. 7: I. Adagio [Capella Istropolitana]
Handel, George Frideric: Suite de Pièce No. 4 in D Minor: Sarabande [Alisa Bratslavskaya]
Handel, George Frideric: Xerxes, HWV 40: "Ombra mai fu": Largo [Yoshikazu Mera, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra and Shigeo Genda]
Holst, Gustav: The Planets, Op. 32: II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace [Melbourne Symphony Orchestra]
Holst, Gustav: The Planets, Op. 32: VII. Neptune, the Mystic [Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra]
Luigi, Boccherini,: String Quintet in E Major, Op. 13: Minuet [London Philharmonic Orchestra & David Parry]
Marcello, Alessandro: Concerto in D Minor for Oboe and Strings, Op. 1: II. Adagio [Emanuel Abbühl, Strings of Zürich and Howard Griffiths]
Mascagni, Pietro: Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo sinfonico [Bonn Classical Philharmonic]
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Concerto No. 22 in E-Flat Major for Piano and Orchestra, K. 482: II. Andante [Carmen Piazzini]
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Concerto No. 23 in A Major for Piano and Orchestra, K. 488: II. Adagio [Carmen Piazzini]
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Motet in D Major for Choir and Orchestra, K. 618: Ave Verum Corpus [Ilmar Lapinsch, Latvian Philharmonic Orchestra and Riga Radio Choir]
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467: Andante [Finghin Collins, London Philharmonic Orchestra and David Parry]
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Requiem Mass in D Minor, K. 626: VI. Sequencia: Recordare, Jesu pie [Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra]
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Requiem Mass in D Minor, K. 626: XII. Sanctus: Benedictus [Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra]
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Serenade No. 13 in G Major, K. 525, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik": II. Romance: Andante [Camerata Salzburg]
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Sonata No. 11 in A Major for Piano, K. 331 "Turkish March": I. Andante grazioso [Carmen Piazzini]
Myers, Stanley: Cavatina [Craig Ogden]
Pachelbel, Johann: Canon in D Major [Renaissance Chamber Orchestra]
Penderecki, Krzysztof: Song of Cherubim for Mixed Choir (1986) [Lege Artis Chamber Choir]
Prez, Josquin Des: Ave Maria [Ave Sol Chamber Choir]
Puccini, Giacomo: Gianni Schicchi: "O mio babbino caro" [Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra]
Pärt, Arvo: Für Alina [Alexei Lubimov]
Pärt, Arvo: Fratres for Strings and Percussion (1977/1991) [Tapiola Sinfonietta]
Pärt, Arvo: Spiegel im Spiegel for Violin and Piano (1978) [Vadim Gluzman & Angela Yoffe]
Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Symphony No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 27: III. Adagio [Royal Scottish National Orchestra]
Rachmaninoff, Sergei: Vocalise for Cello and Piano, Op. 34: Lentamente [Markus Stocker]
Ravel, Maurice: Pavane pour une infante défunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess), M. 19 [London Symphony Orchestra]
Respighi, Ottorino: Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3 (1932): III. Siziliana [Russian State Chamber Orchestra]
Respighi, Ottorino: Trittico Botticelliano (Botticelli's Triptych): II. L`adorazione dei Magi (The Worship of Magi): Andante lento [Zilina Chamber Orchestra]
Saint-Saëns, Camille: Carnival of the Animals: The Swan (Le Cygne) [Stockholm Chamber Duo]
Sandström, Jan: Det är en ros utsprungen (A Rose has Sprung Up from a Tender Root) for double choir (1990) [The University Chamber Choir of the Scool of Music in Piteå]
Satie, Erik: Gnossienne No. 3 (1890) [Roland Pöntinen]
Satie, Erik: Gymnopédie No. 1 [Finghin Collins]
Satie, Erik: Trois Gymnopédies (1888): No. 3 [Anders Miolin]
Sibelius, Jean: Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22: The Swan of Tuonela: Andante molto sostenuto [St. Petersburg RTV Symphony Orchestra]
Smetana, Bedrich: Má Vlast (My Fatherland): Vltava (The Moldau River) [London Philharmonic Orchestra & David Parry]
Strauss, Johann: Where the Lemons Blossom, Op. 364: Waltz [Ilmar Lapinsch and Mostar Symphony Orchestra]
Shostakovich, Dmitri: Concerto No. 2 in F Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 102: II. Andante [George Perry]
Shostakovich, Dmitri: Suite From "The Gadfly", Op. 97a: VIII. Romance [Sofia Symphony Orchestra]
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich: String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11: II. Andante cantabile [New Philharmonic Quartet]
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich: The Nutcracker, Op. 71a: Xiiid. Character Dances - Dance Of The Reed Pipes: Andantino [Bonn Classical Philharmonic]
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich: The Nutcracker, Op. 71a: XVC. Pas de deux - Variation II: Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy [Bonn Classical Philharmonic]
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich: Variations on a Rococo Theme for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 33: IV. Variation No. 3 [St. Petersburg RTV Symphony Orchestra]
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich: Variations on a Rococo Theme for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 33: VII. Variation 6 [St. Petersburg RTV Symphony Orchestra]
Villa-Lobos, Heitor: Chôro no. 1, "Chôro típico" (1920) [Celia Linde]
Villa-Lobos, Heitor: Five Preludes for Solo Guitar, W 419: Prelude No. 3 in A Minor: Andante [Sonja Prunnbauer]
Vivaldi, Antonio: Concerto in C Major for Two Flutes and Strings, RV 533: II. Largo [Camerata Rhenania and Eugen Duvier]
Vivaldi, Antonio: Concerto in D Major for Guitar and Strings, RV 93: II. Largo [Boris Björn Bagger, Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra and Klaus Arp]
Vivaldi, Antonio: Concerto No. 14 in D Major for Flute and Strings, RV 428, "Il gardellino": II. Cantabile [Camerata Rhenania and Eugen Duvier]
Vivaldi, Antonio: L'Estro Armonico, Op. 3 - Concerto No. 6 in A Minor for Violin and Strings, RV 356: II. Largo [Bohuslav Matousek, Janacek Chamber Orchestra and Zdenek Dejmek]
Vivaldi, Antonio: L'Estro Armonico, Op. 3 - Concerto No. 8 in A Minor for Two Violins and Strings, RV 522: II. Larghetto e spiritoso [Bohuslav Matousek, Janacek Chamber Orchestra and Zdenek Dejmek]
Vivaldi, Antonio: L'Estro Armonico, Op. 3 - Concerto No. 9 in D Major for Violin and Strings, RV 230: II. Larghetto [Bohuslav Matousek, Janacek Chamber Orchestra and Zdenek Dejmek]
Vivaldi, Antonio: L'Estro Armonico, Op. 3 - Concerto No. 12 in E Major for Violin and Strings, RV 265: II. Largo [Camerata Rhenania and Eugen Duvier]
Vivaldi, Antonio: The Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni), Op. 8 - Violin Concerto No. 1 in E Major, RV 269, "Spring" (La primavera): II. Largo e pianissimo sempre [Josef Merten and Musici di San Marco]
Vivaldi, Antonio: The Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni), Op. 8 - Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, RV 315, "Summer" (L'estate): I. Allegro non molto - Allegro [Josef Merten and Musici di San Marco]
Vivaldi, Antonio: The Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni), Op. 8 - Violin Concerto No. 4 in F Minor, RV 297, "Winter" (L'inverno): II. Largo [Josef Merten and Musici di San Marco]
Vivaldi, Antonio: The Four Seasons, Op. 8, "Spring", RV 269: Allegro [Pieter Schoeman, London Philharmonic Orchestra and David Parry]
Williams, Ralph Vaughan: Fantasia on Greensleeves [London Symphony Orchestra]
Nice collection with some pleasant surprises July 1, 2010
T. Fisher
43 out of 43 found this review helpful
These thematic collections from X5 and Amazon are low-cost sets of quality music designed to set a specific mood -- in this case relaxation, which they have actually covered before, but that's OK.
I often make my own playlists and mixes of classical music. But these collections are still useful and a lot of fun for the price. This set is going for $1.99 right now, which is a pretty darn good deal for over 9.5 hours of quality recordings.
The downside is that works are often sliced and diced, with movements taken out from integral works and offered up on their own. I can accept this on a set designed for a specific mood -- like "relaxation" here.
But there is also a lot of music here I haven't heard before, which is a big benefit because it gives you ideas for more music to listen to. The piece by Jan Sandström (track 36), for example, was a very pleasant atmospheric surprise, as was track 71 by Penderecki, although it was definitely a little more edgy. I could name several more, but you get the idea.
This set covers a lot of centuries of musical history, from Josquin Desprez in the Renaissance (one of my favorites) up to Arvo Pärt in the 20th century (also one of my favorites). The ride through music history also stops just about everywhere in between, at least briefly. It even makes a couple stops with Dmitri Shostakovich, who shows that even he had his "relaxing" moments.
I've given all the tracks a quick listen, but haven't heard the set all the way through. In fact I probably never will; these sets really seem to serve best as background music while working, talking, cooking or hanging out. The set includes a relatively large proportion of guitar and baroque music but of course a lot more.
The bitrates vary between 186 and 242 Kbps, a little on the low side, but the sound is still pretty good. One complaint is a lack of sound leveling between tracks. If you turn up the sound on a quiet track you might well get blasted out on the next one -- not conducive to relaxation! Attention to that kind of detail would have been going the extra mile.
Overall a good set, highly recommended, especially at the idiot-proof price of $1.99. It may even be worth full price later on if you like the convenience and variety that collections like these offer.
Many Great Pieces. Worth The Price July 8, 2010
J. Stuart (SLC, UT)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
So I just bought this on a deal and have to say it is well worth the price. A great collection of some very relaxing pieces of music.
Great Relaxing Classical Music for next to nothing. July 8, 2010
Rich (Punta Gorda, Florida)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Even if you are not a classical music fan but enjoy it on occasion as I do, don't miss this album for only 2 cents per title. There is over 9 hours of play on this album.
I find this album great for relaxing, or background music. It does not get boring as some of the other classical albums that only feature one composer or orchestra. This album has a vast variety of world renowned composers and orchestras. Some of the titles and orchestras are easily recognizable and some are not. Nevertheless I have enjoyed nearly all of them. If there are a few you don't like, they can always be deleted from the album after it is downloaded.
On the chance you have not bought a MP3 album previously they are easy to buy and download. All you need to do is download the free Amazon MP3 downloader first than download the album. It will take a while to download all 99 of these titles, bepending on the speed of your computer is how long it will take. Mine took close to 10 minutes. I loaded it into my Windows Media Player, but you can download it into whatever your default player is.
If you enjoy relaxing classical music on occasion give this album a try. I don't think you will be sorry
Most Wonderful Soul Moving Collection July 9, 2010
kindred spirit (God's Country)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I love Clasical music. I cannot tell you who wrote it or what Sonata it is but it just speaks to my soul This is a soothing collection and I was just shocked at the wonderful quality of each piece. For just two small pennies a song you just cannot beat it.
Has some of my most favorite works by well known symphonies. Performed from all over the world. A great addition to my iPod. Thanks Amazon for such a wonderful collection.
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