salisbury variations miniatures

classical music:

The Music of Alan Shulman
Shulman, Vardi, ...

Bridge, 2002

This CD presents rarely heard music of Alan Shulman in performances by one of the country's great orchestras- the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Like the music of his contemporaries- Morton Gould and Leonard Bernstein, Alan Shulman's music reflects the "gritty, urban style" popular in New York in the `40s and `50s. None of Shulman's orchestral works were recorded. They were, however, performed by virtually every major American symphony orchestra, ...

Brainwave Symphony

8 reviews
Giuseppe Matteo Alberti, Tomaso Albinoni, ...

Relaxation, 2003

Took a nap during labor
I used the first CD in this collection (Alpha) to assist me during the labor and delivery of our daughter. I put it on our ipod and listened to it over and over during the labor process. I actually managed a light nap during active labor and had very little pain throughout the process. It that doesn't tell you that it keeps you relaxed and able to meditate, I don't know whatelse might convince ...

Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge; The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra

1 review
Benjamin Britten, Steuart Bedford, ...

Naxos, 2005

Superb Recordings of Two Britten Standards & Two Rare Items
At the time of this review the headnote of this listing does not, unfortunately, include the two rarities recorded on this CD: Britten's 'Occasional Overture' and 'Prelude and Fugue For 18-Part String Orchestra.' More about them later. The two 'big' pieces here are among Britten's most loved works. He probably came to the most attention early in his career with the absolutely assured piece ...

The Willis Organ at Salisbury Cathedral

1 review
Johannes Brahms, Frank Bridge, ...

Telarc, 1990

Fanfares a blaze...
This is a wonderful CD. The Salisbury Organ is in the very capable hands of Organist, Michael Murray. Not only does the CD demonstrate for us the great qualities of the Tuba Mirabilis and 32' Ophicleide, but also the soft string sounds of the organ. A definite must buy!

Classical Music for Sleep

1 review
Tomaso Albinoni, Samuel Barber, ...

Relaxation, 2001

Up at Night, Nevermore...
Bought a couple of this company's sleep CDs years ago, and was delighted to see these four new ones. I love classical music, if I just want to wind down, sip coffee with my wife in the morning, or use it to help me get to sleep, these will always give me the intended result. There is another series called Brainwave Symphony, same thing, classical music and sonic pulses, they are quite nice and ...

English Music for Viola

1 review
Paul Coletti, Leslie Howard

Hyperion UK, 2001

First-class recordings of musical gems for viola and piano
This CD was initially recorded in 1993 and was reissued in 2001. That is fortunate for those of us who missed it the first time around, for Paul Coletti has produced one of the finest recorded examples of viola playing to be found. Coupled with the sensitive and thoughtful piano playing of Leslie Howard, this makes for benchmark renditions of these musical gems. Hyperion's sound is gorgeous and ...

A Tribute

2 reviews
Anonymous, Johannes Brahms, ...

Decca, 2003

It may take you a little time to love her voice
Kathleen Ferrier has one of the most instantly recognizable voices in music. And it's a voice that might take you time to love. As an eight year old I heard her version of Blow the Wind Southerly many times on British radio and intensely disliked it. I wasn't sure if it was a man or a woman, adult or child, such is the nature of her contralto. But over the years, especially hearing Ferrier ...

Instruments of the Orchestra

7 reviews
Various Artists

Naxos, 2002

Very Informative and Enjoyable
Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical ...

English String Miniatures Vol. 2

3 reviews
Frank Bridge, Geoffrey Bush, ...

Naxos, 2001

A worthy follow up to last year's first volume...
I've loved music for strings ever since I first heard Tchaikovsky's "Serenade for Strings". The English too know how to compose works for string orchestra and they did so often: this is Naxos' fourth disc of English music for strings and the second in the "English String Miniatures" series featuring David Lloyd-Jones conducting: this time he leads the English Northern Philharmonia. The conductor ...

Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra Op34; Simple Symphony Op4

7 reviews
Benjamin Britten, English Chamber Orchestra, ...

Decca, 1990

Britten conducts Britten
British composer Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) was a master composer AND a master conductor. Not only did he make numerous recordings conducting his own compositions, he also conducted very competent performances of other composers, including J.S. Bach and Robert Schumann. He was an exclusive London/Decca artist throughout his life and the recordings in this compilation were originally released ...

Leonard Warren on Tour in Russia

1 review
Leonard Warren, Anonymous, ...

RCA, 1991

A strange collection with some real gems
Leonard Warren was a baritone noted mostly for the power of his dark baritone voice, but he could also sing quite sensitively as this collection proves. Unfortunately, he does NOT sing sensitively in the heavy-handed, old-fashioned readings of Handel, Bach, "Aamarilli" or "O del mio amato ben," but his performances of tracks 3, 7, 9, 10, 13, 17-22 and 24 are superb. Especially interesting is ...

Bridge: Piano Music Vol. 2 - Piano Sonata

2 reviews
Frank Bridge, Ashley Wass

Naxos, 2007

Bridge's Superb Piano Sonata
This is Volume 2 of a three-volume series -- No. 3 has not been released yet -- of all of the piano music written by Frank Bridge (1879-1941) and it contains what is undoubtedly his most significant work for piano, the Piano Sonata (1921-24). Its three-year gestation period suggests how difficult it was for Bridge to write. This was for at least two reasons. It is a memorial to his friend, ...

Bridge: String Quartets 2 & 4 / Phantasy Piano Quartet

3 reviews
Martin Roscoe, Maggini Quartet

Naxos, 2005

Fine Frank Bridge Chamber Works Given Excellent Performances
Finally emerging from the shadow cast by Benjamin Britten, his most famous student, Frank Bridge (1879-1941) is now seen to be a major British composer of the first half of the twentieth century. Twenty-five years ago most music lovers had only heard of Bridge because Britten wrote a set of variations on one of his themes. Now, increasingly, his music is figuring on orchestral and chamber ...

The Songs of Frank Bridge
Gerald Finley, Frank Bridge, ...

Hyperion UK, 1997

Arleen Auger - Love Songs / Dalton Baldwin

13 reviews
Frank Bridge, Benjamin Britten, ...

Delos Records, 1992

Hidden Treasure
This recording is possibly one of the best examples of beautiful singing one will ever find. The repertoire, the artfulness, the line and the sheer beauty of Miss Auger's voice is a rare find. I've just recently purchased another copy as I loaned mine to a friend who begged to keep it! One note on the cover - this new cover art seems to imply this CD is some light version of 1970's Montovani ...

Finzi, Parry and Bridge: An English Suite

2 reviews
Gerald Finzi, Frank Bridge, ...

Nimbus Records, 1993

A Soulful Bliss
I have performed the Eclogue for Piano and String Orchestra on occasions, once as the pianist and once as the concertmaster and once as a principal. Both times, I discovered something new each time and it drew me to think about sadness and beauty of Finzi's life that he was experiencing as he wrote this piece. This piece was meant to be the slow movement of his never-finished piano concert, ...

Frank Bridge: Songs and Chamber Music
Ivan Ludlow, Frank Bridge, ...

Dutton Labs UK, 2008

Children's Cello

3 reviews
Steven Isserlis, Amy Beach, ...

Bis, 2006

A DELIGHT
What a lucky little boy Steven Isserlis's son must be. His father is a leading cellist in the world and is good friends with a leading pianist of the world (Stephen Hough).The aforesaid two musicians are well known as a splendid chamber music team! Obviously (evidenced by this album) the son (Gabriel) is surrounded by great music. Also evidenced by this album, Gabriel has a loving father that ...

Bridge: The Sea; Enter Spring; Summer; Two Poems for Orchestra

1 review
Frank Bridge, James Judd, ...

Naxos, 2004

Against Stiff Competition This CD Still Deserves Attention
Frank Bridge's tone poems included on this CD from the wonderful New Zealand Symphony, under James Judd, come up against strong competition from a couple of older recordings, those of Sir Charles Groves and Richard Hickox, each of which has a slight edge over this budget-priced new entry. I frankly fell in love with them when the 1975 Groves recording came out, and possibly I'm simply too ...

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