Works for Viola & Orchestra

Advantages: Polished perfection, Welsh lyrical craftsmenship, Driving rock beats and some mellow wonders, Why the manics are my second fave. band
Disadvantages: Nothing except the hauting calling for Richey James Edwards

...by a more classy additions such as violins. The best thing about the song is the rhythm, which has that 'Phantom of the opera' style eerieness to it the way the bass goes up and down in constant motion. The flow of the song is kept together by the small strings orchestra of violins and violas the constant tremolo created by the guitar plus bass is superb a true 90's anthem. Kevin Carter is the a work of art for me Sean Moores trumpet and the awesome chord strummings from James flowing up and down the scales with unsuspecting melodic solos. Sean Moores trumpet solo midway is the absolute gem of this song the way it just so smoothly flows along is well superb. James/Wire vocals again give that trademark manics sound of 'oooohhh and ahhhhh's'. It's these two things that make this album one of the greats of the 90's the way each song has various... Read review

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Advantages: A stunning soundworld
Disadvantages: It is a long work

...Steve Reich has often said that writing for the orchestra was difficult. This is in part to difficult personal times but also aestetically it hindered the rhythmic agility that his music requires. However, despite reservations by many about his orchestral works (they are often considered his weaker works) I find myself continually fascinated by what he makes the orchestra do. The Desert Music is music on an epic scale featuring huge sweeping textures and turbulent chorales set to text by Wittgenstein (whom steve studied during his philosophy major). The piece lasts some 48 minutes and is sectioned into contrasting moods and tempi. The very opening and closing movements are like giant pulsating waves that literally crash down over you, it truely is an amazing feeling. The orchestra pulsates to steady quavers as the harmony morphs slowly... Read review

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Advantages: Superb strings, Vivacious virtuoso violin
Disadvantages: None

...of the time with three movements. i Allegro The solo violin for this movement suits Kennedy’s style to perfection. It is vigourous and varied with large leaps. The solo violin opens with a statement repeated by the orchestra. The solo violin resumes with faster moving music. The movement continues swinging between the orchestra and solo violin. ii. Larghetto E Spirituoso A slowish movement in which the solo violin plays a highly decorated piece accompanied by violins and violas. Kennedy demonstrates his virtuoso skills in performing this movement with the ornate decorations commonly used in the Boroque period. The directions state with spirit. Kennedy certainly gives a spirited performance. iii Allegro Another fast and animated movement with the solo violin set against a larger string group of 1st and 2nd violins, viola, cello, violine and bass... Read review

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Advantages: The idee fixe. Unique and contrasting.
Disadvantages: None whatsoever.

...Composed by Hector Belioz Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) Conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras Label Royal Philharmonic Price £12.99 Available in most good music stores Berlioz was born in Lyons in 1803 and spent most of his working life in Paris. Belioz used his musical idol Beethoven as his role model when composing his Symphony Fantastique. He was obsessed by the Irish actress Harriet Smithson. He wrote her dozens of letters to which she never replied. Years later, she they did meet and they eventually married though not successfully. Berlioz decided to express his experiences through music. Using Beethoven's handling of the symphony, Berlioz set about to construct a a symphony that retained many of the traditional elements yet pushed it towards a new direction. Symphonie Fantastique has five movements each detailing... Read review

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