Who here has come home feeling pissed off and ready to jump down the throat of the person nearest to you? Who has been stuck in a traffic jam and been gripping the wheel tighter and tighter, ready to explode at the next idiot who cuts you up? I'm sure we've all experienced scenarios like this where we've been wound tighter and tighter and it's just a matter of time before you know you're about to explode.
That's why I'm here to tell you about Classic FM's Time To Relax CD box set. Or, as the blurb tells me, "more than 3 hours of the world's most relaxing music on 3 CD's". This triple CD box set was brought out in 2001 and it's meant to soothe and relax and allow one to 'create your own personal time to relax'. Obviously, this won't be out in regular CD shops as a new release, because it's 5 years old, but it can be bought online from Amazon, for as little as £9, but it can go for an average price of £14.99. It was very good value when it was brought out (I believe around £18- it was a gift!), and will be even cheaper now, especially since you're getting 3 CD's. However I do personally feel that you can easily fit 3 hours of music on to 2 CDs, so there may be a bit of a gimmick at work here.
The
CD box is very easily recognised. A nice clean box with a white sofa on the front, and the only colouring a red 'f' lying on the sofa, and that red F can be seen at the top of the case as part of the Classic FM logo. Open up the box and you're greeted by an exact copy of the front of the box, but this time in the form of a CD insert. It lists all 31 tracks in the set, with the name of the track and its composer, and a little info about the piece itself- giving a little bit of context. Taking the CD insert, you're greeted by 3 more copies of the front box- this time on the 3 CD inserts for the 3 CDs! Each CD case is the size of one of the CD cases you'd get when buying a recordable blank CD- so it's a good compact shape. All the disks have a mini insert that you don't have to take out, where you can just see the track listings, but you're also told who's performing.
I've listened to all the CDs and they are the perfect kind of relaxing and calming music. You can put the music on and just let it envelop you; without having to concentrate hard on listening to the actual piece itself. The music washes over you in a soothing atmosphere and it's ideal for falling asleep to- there are no extremes in the music, just imagine a long, smooth plateau with no bumps or dips; that's the music you're listening to. The CDs are easy to take with you in the car, so you can put one on in that annoying traffic jam, or if you like, you can just take one with you, which is the handy purpose of having the CDs in individual cases with their own inserts. This music is also ideal for entertaining; if you're having an intimate dinner party, it's nice to put on as back ground, because like I said before; there are no extremes in the music, just a smooth consistency. This music is also ideal for having on when you're working, or revising. Classical music is actually the best music to listen to, because there are no words in them. They don't follow the engaging format of pop songs (for example) with verse, chorus, etc. OK, so having said that, there are some singing tracks here, but one's in Latin, and these operatic songs are so enchantingly beautiful, they sublimely move around you, without you feeling you need to give all your concentration and energy to the piece.
I'm going to mention the most recognisable tracks on the disks, just to give you a taster of what relaxing tracks are here. Disk 1: Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Greensleeves: Everyone knows Greensleeves! And no, Henry VIII didn't write it! This version is a string orchestra and harp at the start, and is followed by extremely delicate woodwind and is just beautiful.
Einaudi: Le Onde: Ludovico Einaudi is becoming more popular with performers and players- his hypnotic piano music is very easily recognised and it's used in some TV adverts.
Franck: Panis Angeligus: This is sung by the well known and well liked Lesley Garrett and is a sacred choral work which I'm sure a church choir near you would have sung it at some point!
Disk 2: J. S. Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring: This piece is a favourite for walking down the aisle with the familiar string tune, and it's a very light and pretty piece.
Ungar: The Ashokan Farewell: This was the theme tune to a TV mini-series called the Civil War, and the opening violin tune will be instantly recognised. The piece has a poignant, sad feel to it, and it really does feel like it's saying a farewell. It actually gives me shivers.
Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik, 2nd movement: You have got to recognise this! The start is heard on TV lots, because it's the perfect classical music example. And for you really unmusical readers- this piece is playing in the first Ace Ventura film when Ace and Melissa have just arrived in the rich guy's house and they walk past the string quartet. See, beautiful classical music can be found everywhere!
Disk 3: Beethoven: Piano Sonata No 8 in C Major, 2nd movement: Beethoven wrote 32 piano sonatas and this is his most famous one. It's delicate and pretty- sounds effortless but it's very hard to play, believe me!
I really recommend this box set. If you have little knowledge of classical music and want to know- this will educate you in an easy way. If you need something to put on when you get home from a stressful day- this will help you chill and make the bad mood melt away. People underestimate the powers of classical music, just because it's not a modern thing. Go on, give it a chance.
Thanks for reading :o)
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