'Oeuvres de Monteverdi'-Boulanger

Advantages: A definite easy listen
Disadvantages: Maybe too easy

...- Romance Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Elgar - Chanson de matin Beethoven - Pastoral Symphony CD 2 Mozart - 'Elvira Madigan' Piano Concerto JS Bach - Sheep may safely graze JS Bach - Keyboard Concerto No 5 in F minor Handel - Water Music Vivaldi - Concerto for lute and two violins JS Bach - Aria Grieg - Piano Concerto JS Bach - Double Violin Concerto Monteverdi - Beatus vir Chopin - Etude in E 'Tristesse' Elgar - Serenade in E minor Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No 2 Barber - Adagio for String Faure - In paradisum - Schubert - String Quintet Faure - Berceuse x-x-x... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: sublime music
Disadvantages: the hour it lasts is far too short!

...This budget album captures some of the most sublime pieces of Monteverdi's religious music. It consists of excerpts from works written over a period of 40 years, from the famous Vespers of 1610 to the Mass, Psalms and Litany to the Virgin published posthumously in 1650. The settings are for two sopranos and alto, soprano and alto, soprano solo and alto solo, accompanied by various combinations of organ, cello, violins, harpsichord and theorbo. The alto part is taken by the outstanding male alto Rene Jacobs, who also directs the ensemble. Judith Nielson is the principal soprano, and is joined in one piece by soprano Birgit Grenat. The sound of the music is something quite extraordinary. Melodies are interwoven, one against the other, sometimes colliding into unexpected dissonances which then resolve into perfect harmonies. The rhythms... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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...In which Clapham's dreamiest, downbeatiest, de-loveliest trio takes it uptown, takes it to the bridge, and even--on the phatter-than-phat "In The Hands Of The Gods"--takes it over to Biz Markie's house. If you aren't frightened of sudden bursts of extroversion or a whiff of the mainstream any more than those stray dismissals of Morcheeba's oeuvre as "coffeetablist" put you off, you're in for a treat. Albeit a more in-your-face variety than that of luscious predecessor Big Calm, which sold sneaky, word-of-mouth millions whilst still seeming like an irresistibly hoarded secret between you, Paul Edwards' turntables, brother Ross' sleepy slide guitar and Skye Edwards' mouthwatering voice. Fortunately, there's enough popfulness here for everyone to take a bite: bright, radio-friendly gospel-choruses ("Rome Wasn't Built In A Day"), shameless... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful