Review rated by 20 Ciao members on average: very helpful
Le Onde is a CD of music written and played by Ludovico Einaudi. His phenomenal CD sales and ability to sell out major concert halls worldwide are confirmation that Einaudi is one of classical music's success stories of recent years. After studying at the Conservatory in Milan, and subsequently with Berio, he spent several years composing in traditional forms. In the mid-1980s he began to search for a more personal expression in a series of works for dance and multimedia, and later for piano. His music is ambient, meditative and often introspective, drawing on minimalism, world music and contemporary pop. He has made a significant impact in the film world, with four international awards to his name. Although Einaudi would prefer not to be labeled as any particular type of composer, he is generally considered a Minimalist.
"In general I don't like definitions, but 'Minimalist' is a term that means elegance and openness, so I
would prefer to be called a Minimalist than something else." -Ludovico Einaudi
And 'elegance and openness' is the best way to describe the music that is on this CD. The music has been inspired by a book called Le Onde and the music is supposed to represent different parts of this book. I don't know very much about the book and so don't know how well the music depicts the book but even without that the music is still absolutely amazing to listen to.
Tracks on this CD include: 1. Canzone Popular - This is a short melody which dates from around 1500 and has been changed in places by Einaudi. It is a good enough track and serves as a great opening to the work of music. 2. Le Onde - This is the main Le Onde theme and is the 'biggest' piece on the track. It is the most famous and my favourite track on the CD. Le Onde translates into English as 'The Wave' and this is shown throughout the music which has a rising and falling accompaniment to the main tune which sounds like waves. 3. Lontano - Another great piece of music. 4. Ombre - More amazing music 5. La linea scura - Once again, great music 6. Tracce - This is another piece of amazing music which sounds slightly mysterious and haunting but is still an amazing piece of music. 7. Questa Notte - This is the second main piece of music from the whole work. Performance suggestions on the note that this piece, and Le Onde, are the main pieces from the work. It has a very different atmosphere to the other pieces before it, with it being much faster and louder. A very different atmosphere but of the same amazing standard as the ones before. 8. Sotto vento - This is another totally different atmosphere to the one before. Now we are back to the quiet, minimal sounds of the first few pieces, although this has to be the most simple, plain piece of the work. It is still of the amazing standard set up and is a great piece of music. 9. Dietro l'incanto 10. Onde corte 11. La profondita del buio 12. Passaggio 13. L'utima volta - which translates as 'The Last Time' and is a nice way to end of the CD.
I have refrained from commenting on the last few tracks and have said very little about the first few because they are all so good that I would be repeating myself, and because the music is probably unknown and there is no point me trying to describe it. It is all amazing music, some of it is not quite as good as some of the others, but then that can be expected. However, all the music is amazing and this CD is definitely one that is worth buying. It is the sort of music that you could have on in the background while you are doing other work, or driving, or eating or basically anytime. It is nice background music, and is music that can be listened to at any time. It is minimal but that is what makes the CD so amazing. Each piece of music is so different to the previous one and to the piece after it and yet they all have the same amazing sound and are as pleasing to listen to.
This CD can be bought for £10.49 from amazon.co.uk with Used & New items from £7.98. It can also be got from 101cd.com at £10.99 with free p&p to UK (and the possibility of earning 11 ipoints). This CD is well worth buying and listening to and I would recommend it to people, especially those who like this sort of calming.relaxing music
by (40%):
02.10.2006 20:19
sounds like background to a dinner party kind of music - or is that being too awfuul? Nice review though
01.10.2006 20:05
Good review xx
01.10.2006 18:05
A fair review. CHris