Beethoven: String Trios

A String of Pseudo Pearls

Advantages: Excellent backing tracks, competent vocals, a couple of strong pop hits
Disadvantages: Not much in the way of soul, some dull tracks, all rather dated now

mind that in 1972 "The Black & White Minstrel Show" was still one of the top rated TV shows, which tells you something about the era. The Pearls were signed to the Bell label ? which had some hugely popular acts on their roster including the Bay City Rollers, Barry Blue, David Cassidy and Gary Glitter. The UK arm of the label focused mainly on commercial pop and the Pearls fitted into this perfectly. Interestingly the US arm tended to focus more on soul music. A String of Pearls Going back to my dad?s old Sanyo radio cassette recorder there was a song which was oft played by myself back in 1974 called ?Guilty?. Performed by the Pearls I loved it and have vague recollections of a Top of the Pops performance which incorporated judges? wigs. I have hunted high and low for this clip on the internet and sadly can only conclude it was ...

rosebud2001 10.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of String Of Pearls, A [Remastered] - Pearls (The)

Raphael Ensemble's Rainbow of Emotions

Advantages: Haunting, passionate music to get lost in.
Disadvantages: It's classical and this puts people off before they even try it.

. Although Schubert left no indication of his inspiration for this piece it is known that he had around the time of composing it played the Viola in Beethoven?s string quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 131 (1826) of which Wagner has commented, ?a soul in distress?, followed by pleasant visions, a new yearning for life, beauty, gentleness, yearning, love, whims, humour, hilarity? and then ?transition to resignation and painful renunciation? ? one man?s reaction and sure proof of the music?s ability to evoke both strong emotion and powerful imagery.? This music sent Schubert ?into such transports of delight and enthusiasm that all feared for him?. Beethoven had died the previous year (1827) and Schubert had not only visited him shortly before his death but was also a torchbearer at his funeral. I am no authority on music, I can ...

Freespirit 28.09.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Schubert: String Quintet and Trio

Beethoven's symphonies: the rediscovered frontier

Advantages: A new way to hear Beethoven
Disadvantages: Surpassed by some later period cycles

others with its depiction of a trio of birds, a village band and a thunderstorm. The Seventh brought a completely new emphasis on the use of rhythm, something that had never been heard of before at this scale, while the Eighth proved that little is sometimes more with its witty and humor-filled attitude completely off-setting the greater Seventh. And finally there came the Ninth Symphony that not only out-scaled the Eroica, but also introduced human voices in a symphony. The addition of a chorus and soloists in a profoundly instrumental work would be much explored by the Romantics that followed. In essence and deed, Beethoven was one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) influences in the way music evolved through the Classical era to the Romantic. And, of course, his influence also effected many other genres like piano sonatas, chamber ...

berlioz 16.04.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Beethoven Symphonies 1-9 (London Classical Players) - Sir Roger Norrington