Concerto In True Minor - True Symphonic Rockestra

Advantages: Relaxing, serene, dreamy
Disadvantages: The first track is not actual Albinoni

...progression from one slow movement to another is a brilliant idea allowing the listener to relax – a condition so sought after today. To fully appreciate the music as Albinoni intended, the full concerto though should be heard in its entirity. However, it has to be acknowledged that it is very difficult to find many recordings of Albinoni's concertos in full, so this does provide opportunity to sample this music. Better than nothing, I suppose. I find it sad that the greatest attraction on Albinoni’ s Adagios, “Adagio for Organ and Strings in G minor”, is not in fact composed by Albinoni. However, once this track is past, a treasure of true Albinoni is revealed. The music is a joy to listen to.... Read review

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Advantages: Romantic, passionate and beautiful
Disadvantages: Unless you have a heart of stone absolutely none whatsoever

...- - GENERAL HISTORY - - Sergei Rachmaninov was at the height of his popularity in 1906, winged by the popularity of his Second Piano Concerto of 1901 and his early C sharp minor Prelude. During this time he composed such major works as the First Piano Sonata, the symphonic poem "The Isle of the Dead", Op.29, the 18 songs of Op.26, and most importantly, the Second Symphony in E minor, Op.27. This work was Rachmaninov's first attempt at a symphony in eleven years, after his First Symphony (a work that the composer really wanted to forget, going so far as to forbid its publication and performance) bombed at its premiere. He began the Second Symphony in October 1906, right after he and his family had settled in the peaceful surroundings of Dresden. It was finished in rough draft by early 1907, but work on it progressed slowly. Rachmaninov... Read review

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Advantages: It is simply one of the finest pieces of music ever written
Disadvantages: How dare you ask of any disadvantges!?!

...this his reputation was upholstered even more with his openly patriotic and pompous music of the "Cockaigne (In London Town) Overture," "In the South (Alassio) Overture", and the first of his five "Pomp and Circumstance Marches", the middle part of the first march becoming somewhat of an unofficial national anthem. He was even knighted in 1904. In this vein the composer continued until 1914 (his two symphonies, Violin Concerto, and numerous choral works being in roughly the same style) when suddenly thunder struck. TONSILS, TO BRINKWELLS AND CREATIVITY The First World War put an end to the militaristic and pompous music of Elgar of the past as inappropriate and he did little composing during the war years, with only a few songs, the rarely performed symphonic prelude "Polonia" and the cantata "The Spirit of England" consisting his largest... Read review

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