Premier Killing League - Requiem

Advantages: Iconic and legendary tracks, nice cover art
Disadvantages: Some tracks are merely repetitions of earlier tracks

...The soundtrack to the film '2001: A Space Odyssey' is regarded in many different ways, just as the film itself is. Containing very little original material, but rather being an original combination of classical sounds, the soundtrack is powerful, harrowing and reminiscent of the images of the film. But it's likely that one will only appreciate it if also an appreciator of its accompanying movie. The overall theme of the music is dark, atmospheric, eerie and intense. The initial overture delivers indistinct noises of the black chaos (i.e. black screen) it plays over, a kind of representation of the state of the universe in the beginning of time. This track is largely without a melody and is purely there for its atmosphere of positive foreboding. The "sister track" to the overtures would be the two "Requiem" tracks, voiced by the Vatican... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Beautiful Requiem
Disadvantages: Better live

...This review is of the requiem itself rather than the entire CD as it makes up most of the music on the disc. Of all the classical requiems out there Faure's is perhaps the most emotive. Its movements are sombre without being morose and solemn without being boring. Listeners may be familiar with extracts used in recent television adverts particulaly the Agnes Dei whose middle passage and modulation are perhaps the most fantastic in the whole work. Another great is the Libere Me where a solo male voice is a nice contrast to the soprano solo in the Pie Jesu. My only qualm with the piece is the In Sanctum Spiritum where the staccato organ part conjures up images of the magic roundabout?! Defintely one to listen to very loudly after a long day. For a very tranquil experience give it a try...!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Colourful and always exciting
Disadvantages: absolutely none

..., but the other one doesn't respond. The sun sets… distant thunder is heard… loneliness… silence… (The main theme of this movement, heard after the shepherds duet, was taken from the "Gratias" movement of his earlier "Messe solennelle" of 1824. This movement incidentally underwent massive revisions following the premiere.) IV. Marche au supplice (March to the Scaffold) The artist has taken opium, but not enough to kill him. Instead he falls in a deep sleep where he dreams that he has murdered his beloved and is taken to the scaffold. He moves past jeering crowds, marching at times gloomy and wild, and at others solemnly and festively. The suddenly blasting violent noise is succeeded without change into heavy, but muffled steps. In the end the idée fixe appears like a final memory of love that is cut short by the deathblow. (This march may or may... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful