In Search of a Song

In Search of a Song

ASIN: B00000ERS9

Track Listings

1. Year That Clayton Delaney Died

2. Who's Gonna Feed Them Hogs

3. Trip to Hyden

4. Tulsa Telephone Book

5. It Sure Can Get Cold in Des Moines

6. Little Lady Preacher

7. L.A. Blues

8. Kentucky, February 27, 1971

9. Million Miles to the City

10. Second Handed Flowers

11. Ramona's Revenge

Tracks:

Please Say You Will - Richard Zimmerman
A Picture Of Her Face - Richard Zimmerman
The Great Crush Collision March - Richard Zimmerman
Harmony Club Waltz - Richard Zimmerman
Combination March - Richard Zimmerman
Original Rags - Richard Zimmerman
Maple Leaf Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Swipesy - Cake Walk - Richard Zimmerman
Sunflower Slow Drag - Richard Zimmerman
Peacherine Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Augustan Club Waltz - Richard Zimmerman
The Easy Winners - Richard Zimmerman
Cleopha - Richard Zimmerman
The Strenuous Life - Richard Zimmerman
I Am Thinking Of My Pickanniny Days - Richard Zimmerman
The Ragtime Dance - Richard Zimmerman
A Breeze From Alabama - Richard Zimmerman
Elite Syncopations - Richard Zimmerman

Tracks:

March Majestic - S. Joplin
The Entertainer - S. Joplin
Something Doing - S. Joplin
Weeping Willow - S. Joplin
Little Black Baby - S. Joplin
Palm Leaf Rag - S. Joplin
The Favorite - S. Joplin
The Sycamore - S. Joplin
The Cascades - S. Joplin
The Chrysanthemum - S. Joplin
Rosebud March - S. Joplin
Bethena - S. Joplin
Leola - S. Joplin
Sarah Dear - S. Joplin
Binks Waltz - S. Joplin
Eugenia - S. Joplin
Antoinette - S. Joplin
Snoring Sampson - S. Joplin

Tracks:

Gladiolus Rag - S. Joplin
Searchlight Rag - S. Joplin
The Nonpareil (None to Equal) - S. Joplin
When Your Hair Is Like The Snow - S. Joplin
Rose Leaf Rag - S. Joplin
Heliotrope Bouquet - S. Joplin
School Of Ragtime - S. Joplin
Fig Leaf Rag - S. Joplin
Sugar Cane - S. Joplin
Pine Apple Rag - S. Joplin
Wall Street Rag - S. Joplin
Solace - S. Joplin
Pleasant Moments - S. Joplin
Country Club - S. Joplin
Paragon Rag - S. Joplin
Euphonic Sounds - S. Joplin
Stoptime Rag - S. Joplin
Felicity Rag - S. Joplin

Tracks:

Highlights From Treemonisha - Richard Zimmerman
A Real Slow Drag - Richard Zimmerman
Prelude To Act 3 - Richard Zimmerman
Frolic Of The Bears - Richard Zimmerman
Lovin' Babe - Richard Zimmerman
Scott Joplin's New Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Kismet Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Magnetic Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Reflection Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Silver Swan Rag - Richard Zimmerman
Lily Queen - Richard Zimmerman
Sensation - Richard Zimmerman

Customer Reviews:

Available at retailers for about $18.......2006-12-21

Excellent collection - but there are re-sellers listed here that are selling this for as much $50 or $60. Yikes, most major retailers are selling this complete set for $18 - so beware.

A classic compilation.......2006-10-07

This collection is one of my most treasured possessions. (My father gave me the original 5-album set in the 70's when it was originally released on vinyl.)

This is the definitive collection of Scott Joplin's work. Richard Zimmerman provides wonderful performances that accurately reflect Joplin's intentions. (As evidence beyond my personal opinion, I submit the recent releases of digital recordings made from Joplin's piano rolls.)

A few points to consider regarding negative comments you may encounter in other reviews:
* This is a digital recording from an analog master. Lack of quality in the recording does not imply a lackluster performance.
* This is a complete collection. Some similarity is due to Joplin re-exploring melodic themes. But some is due to the fact that these are "rags". One might as well complain that all 50's doo-wop (or all 70's disco) sounds the same.
* Many pieces of the period exhibit formal musical structures, such as the marches of John Phillips Sousa. (Both Sousa and Joplin performed at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis.) Actually, Joplin is responsible for extending the formal boundaries of ragtime to concert waltzes (Bethena) and opera (A Guest of Honor, Treemonisha)
* This is probably one of the few collections which will include selections from "Treemonisha". It is my understanding that after the initial release, one of Joplin's descendants made a copyright claim that was upheld in court. (I presume the issue was that Joplin had to finance "Treemonisha" himself, and therefore the customary performance clearances did not cover those selections.)

For ragtime students and enthusiasts, this is a "must-have" collection at a very affordable price.

A dis-service to Joplin.......2006-02-01

Sadly, the only virtue this set possesses is completeness.

The pianist does not play Joplin's pieces "as written", the piano is of poor quality, and not properly in tune.

This is emphatically NOT the set to buy. A far better set, beautifully annotated and well played on a good concert grand piano, is the complete works played by Guido Nielsen on the Basta Label.

This set is a dis-service to Joplin and his music. He deserves better, and gets it elsewhere.

Unique .......2004-10-19

I have several cd sets of Joplin's music: Rifkin, Arpo, Nielsen, and Zimmerman. All have their excellent qualities. What sets Zimmerman's set apart is the inclusion of excerpts from Joplin's opera, Treemonisha---especially "A Real Slow Drag." Why the other sets do not include excerpts from Treemonisha, I don't know---because they are some of his most beautiful and joyful pieces of music. Of course, you can hear the orchestrated version of Treemonisha in the Houston Grand Opera recording, and it is spectacular. But Zimmerman's piano version, especially of "A Real Slow Drag," is not to be missed.

Great set.......2001-10-16

I guess this will be a rather one sided review. I have been a fan of Scott Joplin since I first learned to play a piano.

I was shocked to see that one reviewer thought it all sounded the same. How silly. All of Frank Sinatra's music sounds like Frank Sinatra. All of Led Zeppelin sounds like Led Zeppelin. So, if the songs were drastically different, I would question if the same author composed them. As it is, though, each song on this set is fantastic!!

I don't know that I have heard of Richard Zimmerman, and I was a little leary as to what I would be getting, I certainly was impressed. Without a doubt the best renditions of "Weeping Willow" and "Bethena" I have heard, and at least a dozen songs I didn't know Joplin wrote.

Tracks:

The Year That Clayton Delaney Died
Who's Gonna Feed Them Hogs
Trip To Hyden
Tulsa Telephone Book
It Sure Can Get Cold In Des Moines
The Little Lady Preacher
L.A. Blues
Kentucky, February 27, 1971
A Million Miles To The City
Second Handed Flowers
Ramona's Revenge
Ravishing Ruby
Don't Forget The Coffee Billy Joe
Spokane Motel Blues
Looking Forward To Seeing You Again
I Flew Over Our House Last Night
Another Town
Too Many Do-Goods
A Song For Uncle Curt
The Man Who Hated Freckles
Candy In The Window
Old Five And Dimers Like Me
Hello, We're Lonely
We're Not Getting Old

Album Description

Tom T. Hall became known as 'The Storyteller' for his brilliantly realized tales of small-town America. His songs are three-minute snapshots of ordinary people's lives, written with exceptional wit, insight and humanity. Many musicians have covered his songs (most notably Jeannie C. Riley with the 1968 hit, 'Harper Valley P.T.A.') and he has also racked up several solo hits. Between 1971 and 1976, he had six #1 Country hits, including his classic, 'The Year That Clayton Delaney Died', which is included here. This CD pairs two of his best albums: 1971's In Search Of A Song (rightly regarded as his masterpiece), and The Rhymer And Other Five And Dimers from 1973. Both of these LPs are now released here on CD for the first time. Hux. 2005.

Album Details

Small-town America. His Songs Are Three-minute Snapshots of Ordinary People's Lives, Written with Exceptional Wit, Insight and Humanity. Many Musicians have Covered his Songs (Most Notably Jeannie C. Riley with the 1968 Hit, 'harper Valley P.t.a.') - and He also Has Racked Up Several Solo Hits. Between 1971 and 1976, He Had Six Number One Country Hits, Including his Classic, 'the Year that Clayton Delaney Died', which is Included Here. This CD Pairs Two of his Best Albums: 1971's "in Search of a Song" (Rightly Regarded as his Masterpiece), and "The Rhymer and Other Five and Dimers" from 1973. Both of These LPs Are Now Released Here on CD for the First Time.

Customer Reviews:

The Heart of Tom T Hall.......2006-10-06

If you dont have any Tom T Hall albums in your posession, get this one. Here's a two-album set on one-CD. While there are of course, "Best Of..." collections readily available, this CD will readily explain why there has never been (and never will be) another Songwriter like Tom T Hall. There are 24 numbers here, including: "Tulsa Telephone Book", the hilarious "Little Lady Preacher", "Too Many Do Goods", and "Ramona's Revenge". This disc simply flows from the first track to the very last, each song providing a superb story, as only Tom T. can pen. I'd have to say that this is what Mark Twain would've sounded like if set to a guitar. A very enjoyable album with great sound. Well worth the reasonable price. A+

My search for "IN SEARCH OF A SONG" is finally over!!.......2005-12-21

Whom-ever made this cd available THANK YOU!! I've been searching and waiting for so long to get "IN SEARCH OF A SONG" on cd that I'm tickled pink! As soon as I heard it was out I laid my money right down! I grew up on all of the old country. I grew up on THESE albums! It's sad to think that so much of the older country music has been lost forever since albums went out and cd's came in, but every now and then a jem like this comes along. Most of the time when it comes to the older artists all you can find on cd is thier greatest hits collections. And I love all those songs, but who's to decide what's great anyway? "IN SEARCH OF A SONG" and "THE RHYMER AND OTHER FIVE AND DIMERS" are two albums full of nothing BUT great songs! They just don't make 'em like Tom T. Hall anymore! I would of been happy just to get the one album, but WOW this is a twofer folks! It blows my mind! The quality is wonderful, so much better than those old scratchy records I used to play, and the songs are even better than I remember them! My personal favorite song is Kentucky, February 27, 1971. What a song! What a story! It brings back fond memories! THANKS!!

The Complete Works of Scott Joplin, Vol. 1-5

Average customer rating:

Wilmot
Delightful colletion of Scott Joplin's music
Avoid
One Star for Pity
The Complete Works?? I think not

The Complete Works of Scott Joplin, Vol. 1-5

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz General | Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Ragtime | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

English | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Chants | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Psalms | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Complete Piano Music of Scott Joplin
Scott Joplin: The Complete Rags, Marches, Waltzes & Songs
James Scott: The Complete Works 1903-1922

ASIN: B000001VWW
Release Date: 1993-11-30

Tracks:

Please Say You Will
A Picture Of Her Face
The Great Crush Collision March
Harmony Club Waltz
Combination March
Original Rags
Maple Leaf Rag
Swipesy-Cake Walk
Sunflower Slow Drag
Peachtree Rag
Augustan Club Waltz
The Easy Winners
Cleopha
The Strenuous Life

Tracks:

I Am Thinking Of My Pickanniny Days
The Ragtime Dance
A Breeze From Alabama
Elite Syncopations
March Majestic
The Entertainer
Something Doing
Weeping Willow
Little Black Baby
Palm Leaf Rag
The Favorite
The Sycamore
The Cascades
The Chrysanthemum

Tracks:

Rosebud March
Bethena
Leola
Sarah Dear
Binks Waltz
Eugenia
Antoinette
Snoring Sampson
Gladiolus Rag
Searchlight Rag
The Nonpareil (Equal To None)
When Your Hair Is Like The Snow
Lose Leaf Rag
Heliotrope Bouquet

Tracks:

School Of Ragtime
Fig Leaf Rag
Sugar Cane
Pine Apple Rag
Wall Street Rag
Solace
Pleasant Moments
Country Club
Paragon Rag
Euphonic Sounds
Stoptime Rag
Felicity Rag
Lovin' Babe
Scot Joplin's New Rag

Tracks:

Highlights From Treemonisha
A Real Slow Drag
Prelude to Act 3
Frolic Of The Bears
Kismet Rag
Magnetic Rag
Reflection Rag
Silver Swan Rag
Lily Queen
Sensation

Customer Reviews:

Wilmot.......2007-01-10

Well done, with the only drawback that Joshua Rifkind is not at the piano. Sometimes the pace is too frenetic.

Delightful colletion of Scott Joplin's music.......2006-08-17

This is a wonderful collection of Scott Joplin's music. Delightful to own, to play over and over and over.

Avoid.......2004-10-30

I have to agree with "A music fan" is his review of March 2003.

The piano used is poor, and not even all that well in tune. The recorded sound quality is muffled and 'processed'-sounding.

And the playing, I am afraid, is an insult to Joplin. What a pity to produce so full a set, and to do it so badly. A travesty.

If you want a superb Joplin set, played "as wrote", on a good concert grand and played with verve and style, and well-recorded, it's got to be the new Guido Nielsen 4 CD set on the Basta label (Basta 30-91262).

For a really fine single CD recorded on a top-notch piano and with playing that brings out all the elegance in Joplin's music (which it isn't wrong to do - Joplin put it in there), try the new Naxos CD played by Alexander Peskanov (Naxos 8.559114).

The Zimmerman set, I am afraid, must be consigned to the dustbin. A pity.

One Star for Pity.......2003-05-05

My review in two statements: DON'T BUY IT. EVER.

One star for pity - and for the effort of going to the trouble of learning Scott Joplin's complete works. I know it must have been quite a task getting the sheet music for these works and it must have been quite a task learning them, but I cannot honestly say that this is a good recording. Richard Zimmerman plays these works on a piano with bad quality sound, and he plays these works with his own embellishments and in his own style. If you're going to take liberties with a written score, you'd might as well not even try to play it at all. Either play it as written, or don't play it. Why can't people understand that?

The Complete Works?? I think not.......2002-08-06

I bought the CD entitled the Complete Works of Scott Joplin but upon receiving it I found that it only contained 14 tracks from the Complete Works book. The CD at the price is certainly a good buy even with the 14 tracks but it should be more correctly labled as the "Almost" complete works - "Sort - Of" Complete works or maybe A Partial Compilation of the Complete Works but a Complete Works it is not. It appears that a more Complete Works also has the same label.. Or maybe I am missing something..

Omnibust: 60 Years of Music America Hates Best

Average customer rating:

My favorite all time album finally on CD!
Something a little different from Spike Jones

Omnibust: 60 Years of Music America Hates Best
Spike Jones
Manufacturer: Taragon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Contemporary Comedy | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Comedy & Spoken Word | Miscellaneous | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

(Not) Your Standard Spike Jones Collection
Spike Jones in Hi-Fi (Spike Jones in Stereo)
Fonk
Strictly for Music Lovers

ASIN: B000071WX3
Release Date: 2002-12-10

Tracks:

Ah-1, Ah-2, Ah-Sunset Strip
Loretta's Soaperetta
Captain Bangaroo
The Late Movies - Part I
The Wonderful World Of Hari Kari
I Search For Golden Adventure (In My Seven Leaky Boots)
A Mudder's Day Sport Spectacular (William Tell Overture)
The Late Late Movies - Part II
I Kiss Your Hand, Madame
Knock, Knock, Who's There?
River, Stay 'Way From My Door
Pimples And Braces
Hut Sut Song
Strip Polka And Largo Strip
Mairzy Doats
The 20's Roar (Medley)
Melody Of Love (Why Do I Love You)
Three Little Fishies
Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb (Spooky, Spooky, Lend Me Your Tomb)

Customer Reviews:

My favorite all time album finally on CD!.......2003-03-03

60 Years Of Music America Hates Best is Spike Jones` masterpiece and a scream! When my dad was stationed in France around 1960 he would go to the base exchange and buy trippy albums like this for us kids. We completely trashed it, of course, but not until it had seen about a million spins. In 1990 I was in hog heaven when I found a SEALED vinyl copy at a used record store. Now it's out on CD and my life is complete. Thank you Taragon Records!

Something a little different from Spike Jones.......2003-01-25

After Spike's original comedy band, the City Slickers, broke up (as happened to all the swing bands of the same vintage), Spike's recordings took a different approach. Here we have in beautiful stereo two projects based on two different themes. "Omnibust" is a parody of television shows of the early 60s, including westerns, kid shows, travelogues, soap operas, sports events, and plenty of "commercials." Note that this is more of a "comedy sketch" than the musical craziness Spike is identified with. The "60 Years..." album is a collection of songs from the 1920s, 30s, 40s, and 50s -- from ragtime to rock n' roll -- with Spike-Jones-type sound effects tossed in. It's not the old City Slicker band, but quite amusing never-the-less. Two nostalgic items with a sense of humor!

An Ennio Morricone Anthology: All Music Composed & Conducted By Ennio Morricone - From The EMI General Music Vaults

Average customer rating:

Remembering Past Enchantments And Past Ills
Delightful scores from Ennio Morricone

An Ennio Morricone Anthology: All Music Composed & Conducted By Ennio Morricone - From The EMI General Music Vaults

Manufacturer: Drg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Ennio Morricone - Film Music, Vol.1
Film Music, Vol. 2
Very Best of Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Vol.3: Main Titles
With Love: Music Composed & Conducted By

ASIN: B000000PIZ
Release Date: 1995-09-19

Tracks:

The Lady Caliph
Women at the River
Without Apparent Motive
Night Search
A Friend
The Ballad of Hank McCain
Rosemary
God With Us
What Am I Doing?
Like Maddalena
Moscow Farewell
Amusing Diversion
End Credits
A Neighborhood Song
The Wind, The Shout
My Name Is Nobody
March in F
The Unholy Three
Dedication
Belinda May
Lullaby in Blue
Companeros

Tracks:

Slalom
Sestriere
Viva la revolucion
Chi mai
A Far Away Italy
To Forget Palermo
Three Columns on Front Page
The Lamb is Going to Die?
Song of Nostalgia
This Kind of Love
To the People of Parma
A Little Bitter Irony
Place of Spain
Reason, Heart, Love
Veruschka
The Cousin
The Hellbenders
To Serenity
The Venetian Woman
Western?
Theme for a Woman Alone
Castles in Scotland
The Outsider

Customer Reviews:

Remembering Past Enchantments And Past Ills.......2004-06-07

Few composers outside of the classical canon have expressed the ineffable as beautifully as Ennio Morricone. The Italian Morricone, who has written scores of wildly varying quality for over 400 films, came to international prominence with and is still best - known in America for his "Spaghetti Western" scores of several classic Sergio Leone films of the Sixties, such as A Fistful of Dollars (1964), The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly (1966), and Once Upon A Time In The West (1969).

With the Leone scores, Morricone created musical pieces structured like complex mathematical equations, many of which were suffused with a driving, hypnotic, and archetypal power. In fact, the soundtrack for The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly was so dramatically dynamic that it thoroughly outstripped the finished film in terms of imaginative potential. Only with Once Upon A Time In The West did Leone create a film well crafted and realized enough to match Morricone's entrancing, playful, and occasionally perditious score. Similarly, Dario Argento's The Bird With The Crystal Plumage (1969) almost completely failed to utilize Morricone's contribution, the best portions of which were heard only dimly and sporadically in the finished film. Leone's late masterpiece, Once Upon A Time In America (1984), two - thirds a perfect film, also failed to fully rise to the occasion of Morricone's simultaneously poignant, wistful, and wonderfully exuberant score.

Today, Morricone's work is available on literally hundreds of soundtracks and soundtrack compilations dedicated to the composer, very few of which are entirely satisfying. An Ennio Morricone Anthology (1995), which contains 45 tracks from 39 films produced in Italy from 1965 onward, perpetuates this frustrating tradition.

Of the 45 tracks, about a third represent Morricone realizing or approaching the height of his talent, another third are fairly interesting but ultimately repetitious and self-cannibalizing, and the final third, which may have worked reasonably well within the context of the films they were written for, never rise above the status of shrill, discordant, and bellowing kitsch (several attempt a Henry Mancini - like levity and fall flat). In fact, there is a great deal of healthy, raw, and leveling vulgarity even in some of Morricone's most famous compositions, such as "Le Vent, Le Cri" from 1981's The Professional and "Chi Mai" from 1971's Maddalena, both of which are included.

Those seeking haunting compositions on the scale of "L'Estasi Dell 'Oro" or "Il Triello" from The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly or "Poverty" from Once Upon A Time In America will be disappointed to find very few pieces approaching their caliber here, especially if already familiar with such well - known pieces such as "Moscow Farewell" from the 1987 film of the same name or the otherworldly "Il Gatto A Nove Code" from The Cat O' Nine Tails (1971).

As compositions of vastly different quality are interspersed amongst one another in dizzying array, many may find An Ennio Morricone Anthology virtually impossible to listen to from beginning to end without skipping tracks repeatedly. As a genius whose greatest compositions address both the immanent and the transcendent, both perdition and salvation, both the archaic and the modern, Morricone and his admirers deserve a more carefully selected and thoughtfully produced anthology than this haphazard collection offers.

Delightful scores from Ennio Morricone.......1998-12-19

Few composers in film music today are as greatly admired as Ennio Morricone whose scores for a wide range of screen fares and many Oscar nominations and wins have attracted the attention of fans all over the world. This compilation is one of the best and contains very fine original musics and rare tracks of this Italian composer.

Average customer rating:

Secular Folk-songs from Dalecarlia

Manufacturer: Bis
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000001665
Release Date: 1994-09-22

Average customer rating:

Gold's Gold
On the Beach
The Wide Range of Ernest Gold

On the Beach/Secret of Santa Vittoria

Manufacturer: Film Score Monthly
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

On the Beach

ASIN: B0006SSQBG
Release Date: 2005-01-04

Tracks:

Main Title
Peter and Mary
Desolate City
Let's Call Moira
Australian Summer Time
Boat Race
Mysterious Signal
Homecomming
Dwight's Visitor
Take the Final Step - Sergio Franchi
I Love You
There's Still Time - Renato Rascel
Song of Santa Vittoria (Stay) [Italian Version]
Big Fool Bombolini
Con Io Zigo Zigo Zza
Love and Tears
Swastika
Hiding the Wine
Song of Santa Vittoria (Stay) [#][Instrumental]
Viva Bombolini
Streets of Santa Vittoria
Search
Bei Kerzenlicht
Celebration
Song of Santa Vittoria (Stay) [English Version]

Customer Reviews:

Gold's Gold.......2007-06-04

Ernest Gold worked in Hollywood for several decades and was Stanley Kramer's composer of choice. While Kramer's films now seem heavyhanded and a trifle pompous (esp. "Inherit the Wind"), Gold always scored with a deft touch. "On the Beach" is, to my mind, his greatest achievement, a score that distills the tragedy and horror of the film's story of mankind's nuclear end without the melodramatic flourishes of Kramer's direction. Like the "Wind" score, which used "Give the Old-Time Religion" as a principal theme, this one famously is built on "Waltzing Matilda," and the range of emotions Gold's variations and the superb orchestrations create is amazing. I saw the movie in theater when I as 16 and bought the soundtrack in mono (on Roulette records) at the time. There was later a stereo issue which I was never able to find until this CD. It's fantastic and I highly recommend it. Frankly, I never listen to the score for "Santa Victoria," one of Kramer's waning 60s efforts.

On the Beach.......2005-09-27

The music that accompanies this profound story set in beautiful Melbourne literally at the end of the world is Ernest Gold's many variations of Waltzing Matilda, a tune that personifies a nation in a celebration of freedom and self esteem.

Stanley Kramer used Waltzing Matilda in a sequence set at a vacation area, sung raucously and then gently by a group of fishermen. He liked it so much that he directed Ernest Gould to make the tune a recurring theme throughout the film. Curiously, the original use of Waltzing Matilda is missing from the soundtrack album.

The liner notes on this CD are extensive and very interesting. They include the album covers from when these soundtracks were originally issued as LPs, On the Beach in 1959 and The Secret of Santa Vittoria in 1969 and 1986. This CD is clearly a labor of love for the producers. They've done a great job with material for which they obviously have tremendous respect.

Only 3000 copies of the CD were made, so get yours now.

The Wide Range of Ernest Gold.......2005-04-10

I firmly believe that one of the major criteria for a soundtrack is how well it plays apart from the film from which it is dervied. If that is the case, then we have a winner here with two different scores from two very different films. The score to the original film version of "On the Beach" (which I have desired for years) goes from romantic to frightening just like the film with its' message of nuclear doom. The themes for Peter and Mary and Moira are gentle pieces fillled with the sense of young love and a woman of the world. While it does seem that "Waltzing Matilda" is used too much, Gold's use of the song is very well done. The second film, "The Secret of Santa Vittoria" stands as well, too. The "Song of SV", again, is used quite a bit, but it is a nice, sweet, lyrical melody that doesn't grow dull with repetition. In short, if you liked the original "On the Beach" or "SSV", then these need to be in your collection. Well worth the price.

Average customer rating:

In Search Of The Lost Chord

Manufacturer: Afka
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Masses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000003XVA
Release Date: 1996-09-01

Heitor Villa-Lobos: Forest Of The Amazon

Average customer rating:

Amazing and fine
A hidden masterwork

Heitor Villa-Lobos: Forest Of The Amazon

Manufacturer: Consonance
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Ov - Chor Of The Moscow Physics And Engineering Institute/Alfred Heller
Deep In The Forest - Moscow RSO/Alfred Heller
Excitement Among The Indians - Chor Of The Moscow Physics And Engineering Institute/Alfred Heller
First Bird Song
Nature's Dance - Moscow RSO/Alfred Heller
Second Bird Song
(Vocalise)
Sails
On The Way To The Hunt - Moscow RSO/Alfred Heller
Third Bird Song
Twilight Song
The Indians In Search Of The Girl - Moscow RSO/Alfred Heller
Fourth Bird Song
Rima's Music
(Vocalise)
Head Hunters
Love Song
Sentimental Melody
Forest Fire - Moscow RSO/Alfred Heller
(Finale)

Customer Reviews:

Amazing and fine.......2001-11-06

I am very happy to see this recording and hope that it continues to be available.
It is a little known masterwork and a marvelous recording.

There is much to enjoy on many levels, first the story itself speaks to our times.
Then there is the skill and value of the composition itself. I am particularly struck by the coloristic effects and wide range of mood and action. I can hear that Villa Lobos was aware of all types of music, and also could use all the variety in a unified work.

The orchestra is very fine and Fleming is superb in voice and musicianship.
Conductor Alfred Heller brings much love and skill and knowledge to this work.

A hidden masterwork.......2000-06-18

This work originated as a film score by Villa Lobos for the failed "Green Mansions" film of the late 1950's. However very little of the Villa Lobos music actually was heard in that film score. So Villa Lobos reworked his music and what one hear's today is not a film score, but something integrated, warm and wonderful that tells the audio story of the Hudson novel on one level, and also the modern tale of the extinction of species the fires burning in the Amazon basin represents. It is like an opera in the sense that melodies occur and reoccur later on in the work. The episodic nature of the music carries forward the tale in Villa Lobos' unique aural universe. The poems that Dora Vasconsoles wrote and that were integrated with this work reflect the poignancy and joy of life that were a part of the Hudson heroine, Rima's relationship to her Amazonian world. I saw the original film starring Audrey Hepburn and was disappointed but taken by her portrayal of Rima. Soon after, the Forest of the Amazon was issued on the United Artists Label and had Bidu Sayao's singing and I loved that recording. But this present recording with Renee Fleming is a wonder. The Moscow orchestra plays well, and I found that musical details are so much more present in this recent CD. I think this music is one of Villa Lobos' masterpieces and should be more widely heard. Of course, this recording must also be readily available to be heard by a wider audience.

Average customer rating:

In Search of You

Manufacturer: Judith C. McAleer
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAAAM6
Release Date: 2003-05-06

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