Messiaen: Chamber Works

Advantages: many
Disadvantages: none

...Very fine cd. D'Indy's String Sextet may be a bit pale as a composition, but the Violin Sonata is a wonderful work that is unjustly neglected. As far as I know this is the only recording ever made, apart from an old one by Henri Temianka and Doris Stevenson. This sonata is named "academic" or "overly intellectual", but this is simply not true. It satisfies the mind as well as the emotion, and that is surely the case in this fine and idiomatic recording by Marietta Kratz and Caroline Weichert. It dates from 1994 and I hope it to be still available. The Piano Quartet by the young D'Indy is a worthwile addition. I strongly recommend this wonderful disc for the repertoire as well as the playing.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Good example of early 20th century French/European music. Cheap price
Disadvantages: Not distinct or ground-breaking enough

...--- INTRODUCTION --- -QUICK FACTS- Nationality: French Born: Paris 1899 Died: Paris 1963 Specialist genres: Stage works, concertos, piano music. Francis Poulenc had a relatively well-supported life, being born into a family of pharmaceutical manufacturers he never had to earn a living. Like many famous composers he began learning his skill at a very young age, at five he started the piano. He specifically tried not to in his learning process to be influenced by other major composers, so to keep his music as much his own as possible as stated by his self-description "I am a musician without a label". Influences which did affect him though were the immediate post-ww1 years which in certain parts of France had created a new atmosphere of hope and vision away from the horrors of war. Additionally the Parisian street life of cafe... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Nice packaging, Rayna!
Disadvantages: Wimpy metal

...As soon as Chamber Music was released in britain I instantly rushed out to buy it as I had been extremely impressed with their self titled debut album. I poped it into my CD player and was offended to her pansy pop music. Gone were the thrashing guitars and monster riffs and replaced by keyboards and strings. Coal Chamber have mellowed out so those expecting mosh pit anthemes like on the original album will be disapointed. Some aspects of this album are very good and some songs not all that bad, my favourites were... What's in your mind?, Feed my dreams and No Home. This album is full of okay tracks none which really stick out the tracks are all similar and can be very repeative and boring. There are no stand out tracks on this album such as Loco, Big Truck or the classic Sway. I picked up the Digipack version of this album... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful