In This House on This Morning

In This House on This Morning

ASIN: B000007OHQ

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The biggest problem with the piece is the excessive claims made for it as program music in the overly effusive liner notes. Some of the sections have clear roots in church music; others have only the most tenuous relation. And while some motifs are carried over from piece to piece, the 21 sections and sub- sections make more sense as discreet compositions than as one large work. That said, it must be added that these 21 tunes are for the most part exceptional. Marsalis comes up with striking melodic themes and then finds marvelously imaginative ways to harmonize each figure. Moreover, his musicians--especially saxophonist Todd Williams and trombonist Wessell Anderson--are skilled enough that Marsalis's own trumpet solos don't stand out as isolated peaks. If you can ignore the exaggerated claims made for the extended work, you would be hard put to find a better jazz band playing better music. --Geoffrey Himes

Tracks:

Shenandoah
Brother Can You Spare A Dime?
Early In The Morning
The Lordly Hudson
At Howard Hawks' House
Holding Each Other
The Lass From The Low Countree
Recuerdo
Nocturne
Sure On This Shining Night
Fur (Murray The Furrier)
Over The Piano
Black Max (As Told By The De Kooning Boys)
Slugging A Vampire
Two Little Flowers
General William Booth Enters Into Heaven
The Lamb
I Wonder As I Wander
At The River
Long Time Ago
Lean Away
American Anthem

Customer Reviews:

okay.......2007-01-05

I heard wonderful things about this recording... but was a little disappointed. It is good, but nothing spectacular.

A promise about to be fulfilled.......2006-12-17

Not all of EMI's Debut seeries make it to the U.S., but since this one features an American singer, it did (as did the one featuring rising pianist Jonathan Biss). Nathan gunn is certainly well kn0wn now, after high-profile Met appearances in The Magic Flute and Harbison's An American Tragedy. The past few years have seen him mature, even though his voice will never be heroic. Gunn is very well suited to songs, although he makes a moving (and physically handsome) Billy Budd.

Her he sounds a little stiff, and he cannot carry off the numbers that re comic (Bolcom's Fur) or popular (Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime?), but his straightforward masculinity works extremely well in Gene Scheer's Holding Each Other, he has enough poetry for Barber's Sure on This Shining Night, and just enough savoir faire for Rorem's Early One Morning. The voice itself isn't intrinsically beautiful, which may in the end mean that Gunn falls behind young counterparts like Gerald Finley and Simon Keenlyside, both of whom he resembles. Even so, this is a nice debut, and one can say that gunn's promise is being fulfilled.

Amazing collection - amazing voice........2006-02-22

Nathan Gunn has chosen a collection of mostly obscure songs and has applied his remarkable baritone voice to music not usually in the operatic repetoire. What results is a CD of depth, some humor, and extraordinary listenability. It's nice to see one of my favorite opera stars branch out. Bravo!

Amazing recordings.......2006-01-02

I first listened to this recording at the recommendation of a voice teacher and I am eternally grateful. I strongly recommend this album. Nathan Gunn is an extremely talented singer. As a singer myself (also a baritone like Nathan Gunn) I find much in his voice to model.

Nathan Gunn has an extremely beautiful voice, superb technique and execution, and has a very natural sound. There is an old steriotype of opera as sounding forced or artificial, but Nathan Gunn does a great job of avoiding this. He does a great job of communicating the "story" of the song to the listener, and I frequently found myself taken to the world of the song. Listening to many of his songs are like opening a good book and Nathan Gunn takes you there.

Highly recommended.

First Rate Singing!.......2005-12-20

I only recently discovered Mr. Gunn, but after hearing this recording, it makes me wonder why his name has eluded me for so long. Simply put, Nathan Gunn sings like a god! His voice is pure, and hypnotically beautiful to listen to. Turn on this CD and you will be wrapped in the most luxurious blanket of sound--his phrasing is impeccable, and his dynamics are wonderfully varied without being affected. His recording of Barber's "Nocturne" is haunting. "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime" shows he isn't afraid of low notes, and the ending has some of the most spectacular high notes I've ever heard from a baritone. The Copland songs are also well done, as are the two John Jacob Niles selections. I wasn't familiar with Gene Scheer's songs prior to this CD, but they are all quite remarkable, though most especially "Lean Away" and "American Anthem." This is the best addition to my CD collection in a long time. I'm only saddened by the fact he doesn't have more recordings available. Mr. Gunn, I know you're busy with your opera schedule, but for those of us who can't make it to New York to see you in person, please record another CD!

Average customer rating:

A century of British art songs to delight those who love them

English Song

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

A Treasury of English Song
Favorite English Songs
The Complete Songs, Vol. 4
Songs by Roger Quilter
The Complete Songs of Charles Ives, Vol. 3

ASIN: B0002JEG6I
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Tracks:

A Soft Day - Bernadette Greevy
Irish Skies - Bernadette Greevy
Cherry Ripe - Janice Watson
Mustard And Cress - Neal Davies
The Lily Of A Day - Janice Watson
Henry King - Neal Davies
Fain Would I Change That Note - Graham Johnson
In Summer-Time On Bredon - Christopher Maltman
The Lads In Their Hundreds - Christopher Maltman
Among The Rocks - Graham Johnson
It Was A Lover And His Lass - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
The Water Mill - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
On Wenlock Edge - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
The Call - Graham Johnson
Silent Noon - Graham Johnson
Now In These Fairylands - Philip Langridge
The Dream-City - Philip Langridge
Margrete's Cradle Song - Susan Gritton
The Heart Worships - Christopher Maltman
Take, O Those Lips Away - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal - Graham Johnson
Love Calls Through The Summer Night - Anthony Rolfe Johnson
I Will Go With My Father A-Ploughing - Graham Johnson
The Rio Grande (Capstan Shanty) - Ian Partridge
Theodore, Or The Pirate King - Ian Partridge
A Long Time Ago (Hilliard's Shanty) - Ian Partridge
Oh Dear, What Can The Matter Be? - Bernadette Greevy

Tracks:

The Grenadier - Richard Edgar-Wilson
The Young Lover - Richard Edgar-Wilson
Betty And Johnny - Richard Edgar-Wilson
Rise Up And Reach The Stars - Richard Edgar-Wilson
The Bells - Nik Hancock-Child
Ann's Cradle Song - Nik Hancock-Child
As I Lay In The Early Sun - Nik Hancock-Child
The Cherry Tree - Nik Hancock-Child
Dusk - Nik Hancock-Child
Peter Warlock's Fancy - John Constable
The Frostbound Wood - John Constable
Chopcherry - John Constable
A Sad Song - John Constable
Rutterkin - John Constable
Bethlehem Down - John Constable
Wapping Old Stairs - Felicity Lott
Long Steel Grass - Martyn Hill
Tango-Pasodoble - Martyn Hill
Popular Song - Martyn Hill
Beatriz's Song - Felicity Lott
Lay Your Sleeping Head, My Love - Philip Langridge
Early One Morning - Felicity Lott
The Foggy, Foggy View - Philip Langridge
Now The Leaves Are Falling Fast - Philip Langridge
Tell Me The Truth About Love - Della Jones
The Choirmaster's Burial - Philip Langridge

Customer Reviews:

A century of British art songs to delight those who love them.......2006-06-26

These 53 songs have been collected by Naxos from their extensive acquisitions from Collins Classics, and perhaps other British sources now out of business. There's a steady cottage industry, year after year, producing the typical English art song, which is usually based on folk songs, but even in more modern idioms is profuondly conservative and nostaligic. Half these songs, not to mention half the composers, are totally unknown to American audiences, but the familiar names of Vaughan Williams and Britten represent high quality, and the lesser lights, such as Warlock and Quilter, are mainstays in this repertoire.

I'd challenge all but the most addicted listener to make it through more than ten songs at a sitting, and many of these pieces are tepid, offering comfort rather than inspiration. The singers are among the best, but Graham Johnson and Steuart Beford, who do most of the accompaniments, are lackluster. I know that won't be a popular comment, yet if you compare any of these songs with rendiitons done by Janet Baker, John Shirley-quirk, and most recently Bryn Terfel and Ian Bostridge, you immediately notice how much more intensity and drama is pesent than htis colleciton reveals.

Emily Dickinson in Song: Dwell in Possibility

Average customer rating:

Emily Dickinson in Song: Dwell in Possibility

Manufacturer: Gasparo Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Lori Laitman: Becoming a Redwood
Love Lies Bleeding: Songs by Libby Larsen
Grand Larsen-y: Vocal Music of Libby Larsen
Mystery: Songs of Lori Laitman
Song: A Guide to Art Song Style and Literature

ASIN: B00029LNV4
Release Date: 2004-06-29

Average customer rating:

In this House on this morning
The Insufferable Wynton Marsalis
Beautiful, powerful, rhythm and melody. Exceptional.

In This House, On This Morning
Wynton Marsalis Septet
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Thick in the South: Soul Gestures in Southern Blue, Vol. 1
Uptown Ruler: Soul Gestures in Southern Blue, Vol. 2
Citi Movement
Levee Low Moan: Soul Gestures in Southern Blue, Vol. 3
All Rise

ASIN: B000007OHQ
Release Date: 1994-03-22

Tracks:

Devotional
Call To Prayer
Processional
Representative Offerings
The Lord's Prayer
Hymn
Scripture/Prayer
Introduction To Prayer
In This House
Choral Response
Local Announcements
Altar Call
Altar Call (Introspection)

Tracks:

Father
Son
Holy Ghost
Invitation
Recessional
Benediction
Uptempo Posthude
Pot Blessed Dinner

Amazon.com

The biggest problem with the piece is the excessive claims made for it as program music in the overly effusive liner notes. Some of the sections have clear roots in church music; others have only the most tenuous relation. And while some motifs are carried over from piece to piece, the 21 sections and sub- sections make more sense as discreet compositions than as one large work. That said, it must be added that these 21 tunes are for the most part exceptional. Marsalis comes up with striking melodic themes and then finds marvelously imaginative ways to harmonize each figure. Moreover, his musicians--especially saxophonist Todd Williams and trombonist Wessell Anderson--are skilled enough that Marsalis's own trumpet solos don't stand out as isolated peaks. If you can ignore the exaggerated claims made for the extended work, you would be hard put to find a better jazz band playing better music. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

In this House on this morning.......2006-02-28

Stunning compositions - a journey in liturgy through jazz

The Insufferable Wynton Marsalis.......2005-03-08

The Amazon review here is dead on the money. If they awarded Grammys for Most Pompous Liner Notes, "In This House, On This Morning" would win every year. It is truly the standard by which others will be forever judged. It's too bad, because this album is by far his best. It's not even a debate. The music here follows a typical church service, from the opening processional to the roaring, fire-and-brimstone sermon, to the awe-inspiring prayers, to the recessional and finally to the "Pot-Blessed Dinner".

My main complaint with Wynton Marsalis is sometimes he is too letter-perfect in his appreciation of the old masters and the way jazz should be played. I'm with him on that, but sometimes it seems his own style is too clean -- almost like the music of a classical orchestra as opposed to a jazz band. Sometimes he can escape from that, and put out masterpieces such as "Intimacy Calling, Vol. 2" and this album. When he does, Marsalis is indeed a jazz giant, and at $3 in the "used" section of Amazon Marketplace, this album is also right now the greatest bargain in jazz.

The total mastery evident on "In This House, On This Morning" is even more infuriating in the wake of the liner notes, which threaten to overshadow the album's greatness. Written by Stanley Crouch, the liner notes breathlessly remind the privileged listener that Marsalis "is the greatest trumpet player in the last thirty years". Hmm. Let's put that question to Herbie Hancock. The text also plays up Marsalis' housekeeper, who is quoted after listening to band the night before: "God visited you all last evening."

Well, enjoy God's music, brought to you by His personal messenger Wynton Marsalis, the Inventor of Jazz Music. However, this album is so great you can almost forgive him. I should be happy that this album is sliding into oblivion, but in the end the music wins out. If you love jazz, you should have "In This House, On This Morning".

Beautiful, powerful, rhythm and melody. Exceptional........1999-08-25

I would reinforce the last lines of the Amazon review (and ignore the rest!). Of a wide and varied jazz collection this is one of those discs that I come back to time and time again.

I saw the septet playing this set on TV some years ago and then hunted the album down. It is beautiful, powerful music with strong melodic and rhythmic themes that weave throughout.

Lots of people seem to be very suspicious of "modern" jazz, and I have to agree there's a lot of formulaic stuff around, but this album demonstrates that exceptional music continues to be made.

This Is Christmas: Complete Carols by Alfred Burt
Average customer rating:

This is Christmas

Beautiful

Modern Christmas Carols performed soft and sweet

a definite five star album

A Tall Order, but a Good Effort

This Is Christmas: Complete Carols by Alfred Burt

Manufacturer: Collegium
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Opera & Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music
General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
Similar Items:

The Alfred Burt Christmas Carols Golden Anniversary Collection

The Alfred Burt Christmas Carols: 50th Anniversary Edition

The Christmas Mood

The John Rutter Christmas Album

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

ASIN: B0000031I7
Release Date: 1997-10-21

Tracks:

This Is Christmas - Jimmy Joyce 16-Voic
Christmas Cometh Caroling
Ah, Bleak and Chill the Wintery Wind
Come, Dear Children
Some Children See Him
Sleep, Baby Mine
All on a Christmas Morining
Caroling, Caroling
The Star Carol
We'll Dress the House
Christ in the Stranger's Guise
Nigh Bethleham
What Are the Signs
Jesu Parvule
O Hearken Ye

Album Description

An American Christmas classic, originally recorded in Hollywood in 1963 and digitally remastered in 1995, these performances by the Voices of Jimmy Joyce capture on CD the original arrangements of all 15 Christmas classics by Alfred S. Burt. This recording was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1964. It includes This is Christmas, Some Children See Him, and The Star Carol.

Customer Reviews:

This is Christmas.......2007-01-10

As a companion to The Christmas Mood, it will bring joy to your heart.
This Christmas music is lively and joyful.

Beautiful.......2006-12-06

Music is appreciated on opinion and personal taste, so I'll simply give mine.

This collection is far too good to be missed by anyone, dissuaded by a couple of negative reviews. If you haven't already discovered the Burt Carols, this is an excellent introduction. Alfred Burt was in attendance at these recording sessions by volunteer professional singers, including the King Sisters. Jimmy Joyce did a fantastic job of organizing (and I'm assuming arranging) these carols.

The arrangements and vocals are thoughtful, and beautiful. What an amazing legacy that Burt left behind, as he died at the young age of 33.

This music captures the spirit of the Christmas season perfectly, and musical snobbery should have no place in the face of these masterpieces.

You will love this collection of the complete Burt carols. It is part of an annual tradition at our household.

- Dana Countryman
Everett, WA

Modern Christmas Carols performed soft and sweet.......2006-10-04

The carols of Alfred Burt have always been something special, and thanks to the efforts of various singers (Nat King Cole, Julie Andrews, John Williams and the Boston pops, etc.) many of these carols are still heard occasionally though not frequently enough to my ears.

This album originated on Lp in the 1960s as a stereo answer to an earlier 10" Lp on the Columbia label which featured many of the Burt carols. This is a complete collection of all 15 carols. The effect is simple and pure as if a group of carolers were gathered at your door. The voices blend beautifully. There are a few glitches in the transfer and the opening notes of "We'll Dress The House" have been clipped.

For anyone looking for the real music of Christmas but wanting something beyond the standard two dozen famous carols, this disc will provide a welcome change of pace.

a definite five star album.......2005-12-19

I have nearly 120 Christmas albums. This ranks as one of my favorites. I am quite suprised that some of the reviewers were so critical. First, to the best of my knowledge there is currently no other complete collection of the Alfred S. Burt carols. That alone makes this album special. Secondly, the 16 voice a capella choir of the Voices of Jimmy Joyce do a wonderful job. The singing is crisp and concise, the lyrics easily understood. The musicianship is excellent and the arrangements are extremely good. The third verse is always performed with the original Burt harmonization. While the additions of new arrangements distress some reviewers, I believe that repeating the same harmonization for multiple verses would become tiresome and dry. The melodies are exquisite and harmonize well in new ways. The arrangements used by Joyce are fresh, but in no way dissimilar or out of context with the originals. The effect is of a continuous whole and the album works perfectly. I would highly recommend this album for someone wishing to purchase quality Christmas music. As for the Waring version, I have not heard it, and it is not currently available on CD. It would seem rather ridiculous to deny yourself the joy of these carols now in hopes that maybe at some future time another version might be released.

A Tall Order, but a Good Effort.......2005-07-15

(I own the original LP version of this album, so I am here commenting on the musical content only, not the quality of digital transfer, remastering or what-have-you.) Overall I was quite pleased with this album, my only previous exposure to Burt's carols being the selections performed by Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians. I will say that those remain my favorite performances of those particular tunes, as they are very simply interpreted and altered very little, if at all, from Burt's original scores, and that seems to yield the best results. However, I don't think the Joyce Singers' re-arrangements are inappropriate, as some other reviewers have expressed. In a few cases the arrangements get more elaborate than they maybe need to be, but I would not go as far as to say they are in bad taste. Burt's melodies are very strong --they do not suffer from the changes in the supporting parts, and if I am not mistaken, each cut on the album contains at least one verse of the composer's original part-writing. I have yet to hear an album of exclusively Burt carols that I've enjoyed more; very good overall. But, to my knowledge, nobody's recorded the perfect one yet.

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music