CD-Charts Position 101

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A Flowering Tree

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: John Adams

Release Date September 22, 2008

CD-Charts Position 102
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Ikon

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Sixteen

Release Date April 03, 2006
It has to be said that there is little more versatile as the human voice as an instrument. This proves the point beyond measure.
Clarity, emotion and total respect for the piece are in abundance throughout the album.
Wonderful.

CD-Charts Position 103
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Rutter - Requiem; Magnificat

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Collegium

Release Date October 05, 1998
This recording of the Cambridge Singers has them recording pieces composed by their own director, John Rutter. The Magnificat is Rutter's version of a standard piece of liturgical music, an intersection of old and new. This was recorded at one of the Cambridge Singers' favourite venues, the Great Hall of University College School, London; the Requiem was recorded in 1986, and the Magnificat in 1991.

--Music--
'The Magnificat' is one of my favourite pieces of the liturgy, and one I enjoy hearing set to different kinds of music. This is a very lively and spirit-filled rendering, with magnificent vocals expressing the joy that is found in the prayer of Mary - 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour'. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 104
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Classic FM Music for Driving

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Classic FM.(Export

Release Date July 12, 2004

The `Classic FM Music For' series of CDs, released during 2004 to 2005, aims to provide classical music to suit a variety of moods and occasions, including music for Babies, Bath time, Christmas, Dinner Parties, Driving, Fitness, Romance, Mums, Studying and Weddings.

This collection of well chosen short pieces, intended to be played while driving, is more of a cross section of classical music's most popular hits (they will be familiar to most non-classical fans) than a good listening accompaniment for driving - musical taste will surely dictate the most suitable music for that.

Some of the albums in the series are appropriate for the occasion, but this one is simply a very good selection of classical music suitable ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 105
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Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Venture

Release Date May 15, 1995
Having your name extended through qualifications and growing a moustache Dali himself would be proud of does not grant you default access to the soul. High brow nothingness disguised as profound music easily sways sheep. Drop the education, open your heart, and wake up.

CD-Charts Position 106
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Beethoven - Complete Piano Sonatas

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
from: EMI Classics

Release Date September 28, 1998
Of course you'll find better renditions of this or that sonata played by other people. I think I'd rather have Christoph Eschenbach's recording of those staring-God-in-the-face last four sonatas #30-#32 (Beethoven - Piano Sonatas Nos 29-32), for example. But as a complete set, as an all-round summation of the Beethoven sonatas, will you find anything better than this?

I've owned this set for about a year now and hardly a day goes by when I don't listen to at least one of the 32 sonatas played by Maestro Barenboim. Another favourite activity of mine is listening to the entire 32-sonata set, one per day, for a month. Divide the month's pleasure you'll get by the price of these CDs and--I think you'll agree--this is an utterly amazing bargain. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 107
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Allegri - Miserere; Lotti - Crucifixus; Palestrina - Stabat Mater Dolorosa

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Coro

Release Date May 05, 2003
Allegri's Miserere is given the top billing on this disc, perhaps because of some celebrated special effects, explained in the liner notes, that it contains. The first track is devoted to a sombre and beautiful Crucifixus (from the Nicene Creed) by one Lotti, an older contemporary of Bach. Admirable and compelling, both of these, but what I bought this disc for was the two items by Palestrina, his Stabat Mater and the celestial Missa Papae Marcelli.

It is not just the quality of the early music specialists these days but the sheer profusion of them that continues to astonish me. I looked through the list of singers (18, not 16) and while I did not recognise most of the names offhand that may simply be because I did not investigate my large record ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 108
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Shostakovich - Jazz Suites Nos 1 and 2

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
from: Naxos

Release Date April 02, 2002
There are two sides to Shostakovich's music and most listeners tend to know only the darker side. There is wit in Shostakovich's music although usually in acidic or sardonic way. There was a time before the Stalinist purges and the Second World War when the wit really flourished and Yablonsky and the Russian State Symphony Orchestra (formerly the U.S.S.R Symphony Orchestra) give us some very fine examples of it.
The plot of "The Bolt" (evil capitalist industrialists brought low by rightous socialism) so embarassed the composer that he rarely spoke of it and never pushed for a revival after its initial run. He did realize that he wrote some very good music for it and from it he made this nearly half hour suite. The Jazz Suites are really works with jazz influences ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 109
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The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe: TV soundtrack [SOUNDTRACK]

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Original Soundtrack

Release Date October 01, 1999
I bought this album after a search as basically I could not get the theme music out of my head after 40 plus years.

The haunting themes remain one of the great TV programme soundtracks. They were never obtrusive but added to the atmosphere to a stupendous series.

Much recommended to all 40 somethings and makes this reviewer wish for the simpler life and entertainment we had in those halcyon days of the 60's and 70's

CD-Charts Position 110
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The Da Vinci Code

CD-Charts > Music > Classical Instrumental
by: Hans Zimmer

Release Date May 15, 2006
No, no, no. This is not the best film music ever composed. It is all the same - even the terrifying movement that was cut barely makes anything tingle. Yes, it has to experienced with the film, but this is where this soundtrack falls down.

This soundtrack does not stand on its own: if it is supposed to, it falls into that awful Classic FM genre of baroque-style easy listening, which surely must become a graveyard eventually.