Offering

Offering

ASIN: B00005S0N2

Track Listings

1. Foreplay

2. Ruminations

3. Scotland, Pt. 1

4. Offering

5. Meditation of November 8th

6. Beggar's Chant

Tracks:

Stay Awake
Over The Rainbow
What A Wonderful World
Moon River
Somewhere A Star Shines For Everyone
Prelude In A
Once Upon A Summertime
My Love Goes With You
Edelweiss
Sonata No.8
Bye-Lo
It Is Well With My Soul
Now The Day Is Over

Amazon.com

The Innocence Mission have, over the course of a decade, created a half dozen albums which celebrate small pleasures, fragile details and the wistful edges of life. As the title suggests, Now the Day Is Over offers a set of lullabies. The dozen covers and one original were not all written as bedtime reveries, but it's a testament to the graceful nuances Don and Karen Peris that such a familiar song as "What A Wonderful World" can bring out the twinkling stars of nighttime with heartfelt purity. Free of embellishments, either internal or studio created, Karen's vocals are at once magical and direct. The trio has done much more than to simply streamline or slow down these selections, they've found the core of each number and built around it only that which is necessary. -- David Greenberger

Customer Reviews:

Innocence Mission is an appropriate name.......2007-06-02

Not the worst cd I have and certainly not offensive. However, lacks depth, character, and content. Could be good for the kids. Bought it because I fell in love with a track I heard on Radio Paradise. Overall I could have spent the money in other ways.

Sickenly too sweet.......2007-05-12

I am new to the Innocence Mission. We have a one year old baby, so a friend gave us this CD as a gift. For me, Karen Peris's voice has the "nails across the blackboard" effect on me. She has no range and her voice is cloying. I am not expecting rock 'n roll or anything like that, but I just cannot find anything attractive in her voice. She absolutely "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," a classic and a song that I want to associate with my relatively unspoiled childhood. Oh well, different strokes for different folks.

absolutely love this album.......2007-01-12

I play this album as part of my daughter's bedtime routine. I absolutely LOVE it. Has such a beautiful calmness to it. And as I sit their rocking with my daughter before I put her in her crib, it often brings both smiles to my face and tears to my eyes.

I Love You, Innocence Mission........2007-01-04

In the winter of '89-'90, I picked up The Innocence Mission's eponymous debut on cassette one evening in a mall in Muncie. During my solitary rural Indiana backroads return to Taylor Univ., I was introduced to the delightfully solid intangibility of these troubadours of Heart, Soul, and Mind. I wanted Don and Karen Peris to mother and father me, or to marry Karen, or to be a brother or sister of one, to experience in my life the meaningful connections that in song resonated on and strong without dwindling into the inevitable nihilism that so much of art does nowadays. (Soon realized they were Catholic Universalists or something like that.)Fan for life.

And so, I kept up with their oeuvre. Enjoying the experimental phases of beauty along with the return to simple folk beauty. "Bright as Yellow", on "Glow", piqued the world's interest on the "Empire Records" soundtrack. They toured at least a little with Lilith Fair one year. I found later they've done a blatantly spiritual album "Christ Is My Hope", and that Don (genius of guitar understatement/suggestion) has a couple of his own albums out. I still need to get those 3.

Anyway, the idea of a lullaby album from The Innocence Mission is so perfectly obvious that I never expected it. I mean, she sang songs to her "Someday Coming Child" (on "Umbrella") years before she birthed!

It is as perfect as it could be. Minimal in performance, maximal in effect. (With 3 little boys, I'm a connoisseur of artfully-lulling lullaby albums. Get the Disney Lullaby Album too--no, really--Greg Diakun and Fred Mollin create real art right under DisneyCorp's nose.)

Finally, Karen can sing me to sleep--and my family too.

works beautifully.......2006-10-18

I am a mother of twins and this CD was given to us as a gift. My babies fell asleep to this time after time and it was pleasant listening for both mom and dad. I plan on giving this as a gift to all my new parent friends.

Average customer rating:

Music for Meditation
Be Thou My Vision
Reverent, beautiful

Prayer: A Windham Hill Collection

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000AM6L0
Release Date: 2003-09-09

Tracks:

Sanctus from Requiem (Gabriel Faur-Tim Story piano, synthesizers
The 23rd Psalm (Condit Atkinson) - Steve Erquiaga guitar
Be Thou My Vision (Irish trad.) - Jeff Johnson & Brian Dunning with John Fitzpatrick
Holy, Holy, Holy (trad.) - Jim Brickman piano
The Lords Prayer (Albert Hay Malotte) - Paul McCandless English horn, keyboards
Alisas Prayer (Deborah Henson-Conant) - Deborah Henson-Conant electric Celtic harp
Meditation (Thea Suits) - Thea Suits flute
Ave Maria (J.S. Bach/Gounod) - Steve Erquiaga guitar
Go Gently (Suzanne Ciani & Jeremy Lubbock) - Suzanne Ciani piano
Offering (Tracy Silverman) - Tracy Silverman & Thea Suits
Spanish Stairs (Paul McCandless) - Rosalba Bentivoglio voice
Ave Verum Corpus (W.A. Mozart) - Philip Aaberg solo piano

Customer Reviews:

Music for Meditation.......2007-01-04

This is a delightful collection of music appropriate to meditative prayer. It is often my prayer companion, and I like the style and performance found on this CD. I highly recommend it to people who enjoy deeper reflection with a wordless musical background.

Be Thou My Vision.......2005-10-19

Track 3, Be Thou My Vision, was a surprise as the song was the final song played at my father's funeral. It set the closing mood most fittingly. While Be Thou My Vision is my favorite the entire collection is wonderfully mellow. I recommend it for for the mellow moods.

Reverent, beautiful.......2003-09-21

After criticizing Windham Hill in the past for often recycling the same songs over and over in various collections, I have to hand it to them with the new "Prayer" CD. It's a fine set of all-new acoustic versions of hymns or spiritual songs, plus a good number of original compositions. Producer Dawn Atkinson has done an excellent job of lining up a bunch of top-drawer people for "Prayer," and in working with the artists on the song selection.

Things get started with Tim Story's lovely piano rendition of the "Sanctus" from Faure's Requiem. The quiet and reflective tone of that piece carries throughout the CD. Other highlights include Paul McCandless's moving "Lord's Prayer" version and Steve Erquiaga's "Ave Maria." "Prayer" is a perfect disc for background listening if you're engaged in some activity that needs harmonious yet unobtrusive accompaniment.

Bach: The Art of Fugue; Musical Offering
Average customer rating:

Step Into The World Of Bach

Great recordings

Magisterial and Ethereal

Because of reviews

The Crown of Western Music

Bach: The Art of Fugue; Musical Offering

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000050GK0
Release Date: 2001-03-13

Tracks:

Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus I
Contrapunctus II
Contrapunctus III
Contrapunctus IV
Contrapunctus V
Contrapunctus VI
Contrapunctus VII
Contrapunctus VIII
Contrapunctus IX
Contrapunctus X
Contrapunctus XI
Canon alla octava
Canon alla duodecima
Canon alla decima
Canon per augmentationem in contrario moto
Contrapunctus XII (rectus)
Contrapunctus XII (inversus)
Fuga a 2 Clavicemabli (rectus)
Fuga a 2 Clavicemabli (inversus)

Tracks:

Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus XII (rectus)
Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus XII (inversus)
Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080: Fuga a 4 soggetti
Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Ricercar a 3
Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon perpetuus a 2
Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon a 2 violini in unisono
Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon a 2 per motum contrarium
Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon a 2 per augmentationem, contrario motu
Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon a 2
Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon a 2
Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon a 2 per tonos
Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon perpetuus contrario motu
Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Canon a 4
Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Fuga canonica
Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Sonata a 3: I - Largo
Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Sonata a 3: II - Allegro
Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Sonata a 3: III - Andante
Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Sonata a 3: IV - Allegro
Musikalisches Opfer, BWV 1079: Ricercar a 6

Customer Reviews:

Step Into The World Of Bach.......2007-06-09

I have nothing but good things to say about this double album. These extremely well-balanced compositions are sure to enthrall listeners with the most discerning taste. The theme here is point and counterpoint, done to perfection. These pieces are like complex equations, only done with music instead of numbers. Bach had an amazing musical mind, and this music showcases that. There is so much to the music; it is quite rich and there is so much going on here that you may not process it all the first time. If you like classical music and Bach's style, this is essential for your collection.

Great recordings.......2007-05-20

After I read Evening in the Palace of Reason: Bach Meets Frederick the Great in the Age of Enlightenment (P.S.), I had to have "Musical Offering" and "The Art of Fugue," and bought this version based on recommendations. The performance by an orchestra, rather than a single instrument such as a piano or harpsichord, seems to bring out the different voices. I listen to it over and over, and never tire of it.

Magisterial and Ethereal.......2006-11-28

As a college student, this 2-cd set has proven itself to be one of the most versatile and beautiful tools with which I can create an atmosphere amenable to studtying and doing homework. But it is not merely a background music; to be fully appreciated, it needs to be listened to while gently resting one's eyes (take care not to fall asleep -- a precaution against such is to have the music up rather high, although not painfully so).

I've listened to the whole set at least once a week since I've come to Stony Brook; its staying power, its ability to never seem to get trite or "used to" is so powerful that it really inspires. Only God (or the Divine Impetus, or whatever one wants to term the higher order), working through Bach, could have produced such an entrancing set of music.

Because of reviews.......2006-08-06

I bought this version because of the other reviews and I think it was a wise choice! The tempo's are perfect and the music is inspirational!

The Crown of Western Music.......2005-11-28

This recording of The Art of Fugue is my all-around favorite.

The premier piece of the set is the final (unfinished) fugue. I place this as the crown of all western music. Three parts of the fugue, out of a theorized four, were completed - but he didn't live to finish it. Some feel that he let it end there on purpose, for some reason. Just before he died, instead of finishing the final fugue, he composed a chorale. If the final fugue represents a journey into the after-life, then this chorale could be thought of as music from the other side, and as the only piece worthy of being played after the final fugue. That chorale is sometimes called "Vor Deinen Thron Tret Ich Hiermit", and is also known as "Wenn wir in Hochsten Noten Sein".

The Art of Fugue was written without scoring - no particular instruments were assigned - so one can find recordings done on the piano (Charles Rosen), harpsichord (Gustav Leonhardt - on vinyl only, I think), chamber orchestra, string orchestra, brass ensemble, organ, etc. My favorite recording of the final fugue is by Arthur Winograd (MGM) on vinyl, but that recording is very scarce.

Other decent recordings that I've heard so far on CD:
The Emerson String Quartet; Deutsche Grammophon B0000908-02 - their versions of the early fugues are quite good.
The Canadian Brass; Sony Essential Classics SBK 89731.
The Keller Quartet (ECM 1652) - some parts work well, others not as well.
Neville Marriner (Phillips 442-556-2) - a bit bland, but good.

Lukas Foss and the Sheffield Ensemble - Quite lively, but very unusual in its orchestration and in its freedom with the notes. Three or four of the pieces are as good as any version I've heard.
-------
One day, quite a while ago, I was walking through the quad of a university and heard one of the fugues being played inside a classroom. I looked in through the window and saw a room full of accordions playing it! True story!

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

Average customer rating:

Mill. Classical review
classical music for the unitiated
Some little gems there that I had forgotten!
A very helpful collection
Excellent!

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000K1C9
Release Date: 1999-08-24

Tracks:

Brandenbutg Concerto No.3 In G First Movement
Overture No.3 In D Second Movement
Violin Concerto In E First Movement
Prelude In C minor
Jesu Bleibet Meine Freude (Chorus From Cantata No.147)
Overture No.2 In B minor Minuet And Badinerie
Oboe Concerto In D minor Second Movement
Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Third Movement
Musical Offering - Fuga canonica
Easter Oratorio - Overture
Minuet In D minor
Kommst Du Nun, Jesu, Vom Himmel herunter(From Choral Prelude BWV 650
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Second Movement
Art Of The Fugue - Contrapunctus 9
Concerto For Flute, Violin, Harpsichord And Strings. Triple Concerto - Third Movement
Overture No.4 In D - Réjouissance
Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
Water Music - Alla Hornpipe
Xerxes - Ombra Mai Fu (Largo)
Messiah - And The Glory Of The Lord
Concerto Grosso In A Minor, Op. 6, No. 4 - Larghetto Affettuoso
Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 4 Allegro
Water Music - Air
Messiah - For Unto Us A Child Is Born
Concerto Grosso In B flat, Op. 3, No. 2 - Largo
Salomon - Sinfonia, Act 3
The Choice Of Hercules - While For Thy Arms
Water Music - Allegro (Suite No. 1)
Suite No. 5 In E - Air With Variations
Jephtha - How Dark, O Lord
Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 5 Alla Siciliana - Presto
Mi Palpita Il Cor (Solo Cantata) S'un Di M'adora
Water Music - Andante Allegro Da Capo
Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra in E-flat: First Movement
Symphony No. 94 in G: Surprise Symphony-second movement
Concerto for Violin No. 2 in D: Third Movement
Flute Trio No. 31 in G: Second Movement
Symphony No. 31 in D: Hornsignal-First Movement
String Quartet No. 17 in F, Op. 3, no. 5: Serenade Quartet-Second Movement
Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat for Violin, Cello, Oboe, Bassoon and Orchestra-Third Movement
Concerto for 2 Horns & Orchestra in E-flat: Second Movement
Symphony No. 88 in G: Fourth Movement
String Quartet No. 77 in C: Kaiser Quartet-Poco adagio cantabile
Notturno No. 1 in C: Second Movement
Symphony No. 98 in B: Londoner No. 4-Fourth Movement
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - first movement
Piano Concerto in A - second movement
Flute Concerto in D - Rondeau
Serenade - Minuet
Violin Concerto - first movement
Symphony No. 40 in G minor - first movement
Clarinet Concerto - second movement
Turkish March
Divertimento - Minuet
Horn Concerto No. 3 in E-flat - first movement
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67-First Movement
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27, no. 2: Moonlight Sonata-First Movement
Overture
O welche Lust (Prisoners' Chorus)
Ha, welch ein Augenblick (Pizarros's Aria)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: Second Movement
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 61: Third Movement
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13: Pathétique-Second Movement
Sympony No. 6 in F, Op. 68: Pastorale-First Movement
Fantasy for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra in C minor, Op. 80: Choral Fantasy - Finale
German Dance No. 1 In C
Impromptu Op. 90, No. 3 In G-Flat
Heidenroslein
Ave Maria
Der Lindenbaum
Quintet In A 'Trout Quintet' - Andante
Mass No. 6 In E-Flat - Kyrie
Die Schone Mullerin Des Mullers Blumen
German Dance No. 2 In G
Piano Sonata In B-Flat
Nachtgesang Im Walde
Winterreise - No. 15: Die Krahe
German Mass - Zum Sanctus (Heilit, Heilig Ist Der Herr)
Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished' - Second Movement
Waltz No. 1 in E-flat, Op. 18 Grande Valse brillante
Nocturne in E-flat, Op. 9, no. 2
Etude in G-flat, Op. 10, no. 5
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21-Second Movement
Mazurka in D minor, Op. 33, no. 2
Prelude in D-flat, Op. 28, no. 15 Raindrop
Etude in C, Op. 10, no. 1
Nocturne in D-flat, Op. 27, no. 2
Impromptu No. 4 in C-sharp minor, Op. 66 Fantasy Impromptu
Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20
Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35-Third Movement
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 - Third Movement
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor - first movement 113.String Seranade - Waltz
Violin Concerto - second movement
The Sleeping Beauty - Waltz
Capriccio Italien, Op. 45
Swan Lake - Waltz
Eugene Onegin - Polonaise
The Nutcracker - Waltz of the Flowers
Orchestral Suite No. 4 - Mozartiana - Third Movement
Swan Lake - Dance of the Swans
Symphony No. 6 in B minor - Pathétique - Third Movement
Hungarian Dance No.5
Lullaby
Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op. 68 - Third Movement
Intermezzo in E-flat, Op.117, no. 1
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 77 - Third Movement
Waltz, Op. 39, no. 15
Concert for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in B-flat, Op. 83 - Second Movement
String Quintet in G, Op. 111 - Second Movement
Symphony No.4 in E minor, Op. 98 - Third Movement
Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 76, no. 7
Hungarian Dance No.1 in G minor
German Requiem Selig sind die Toten (Final Chorus)
Die Fledermaus - Overture
Kaiser Waltz, Op.437
Thunder And Lightning Polka, Op. 324
Roses From The South Waltz, Op. 388
AnnenPolka, Op. 117
Vienna Blood Waltz, Op. 354
Eljen A Magyar Polka, Op. 332
Wine, Women and Song Waltz, Op. 333
On The Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 134
Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg - Overture
Tannhauser - Die Pilger sind's (Pilgims' Chorus)
Tannhauser - O du mein holder Abendstern (Wolfram's Aria)
Lohengrin - Act 3 Prelude and Bridal Chorus
The Flying Dutchman - Jo-ho-he Traft ihr das Schiff (Senta's Ballad)
The Flying Dutchman - Steuermann, lass die Wacht (Sailors' Chorus)
Die Walkure - Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond (Siegmund's Aria)
Die Walkure - Ride of the Valkyries
Siegfried Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Schmiede mein Hammer (Siegfried's Forging Song)
Tristan und Isolde - Liebestod
Thus sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (excerpt)
Don Juan, Op. 20
Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64, I.Nacht
Don Quixote, Op.35, first movement: Introduction
Salome, Op. 54, Dance Of The Seven Veils
Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59, Finale: Hab' mir's gelobt ihn lieb zu haben
Piano Concerto 2 In C minor, Op. 18 - First Movement
Vocalise, Op.34, No. 14
Prelude In G Sharp minor, Op. 32, No. 12
Piano Concerto No. 4 In G minor, Op. 40 - Third Movement
Symphony No. 2 In E minor, Op. 27 - Third Movement
Piano Concerto No. 1 In F sharp minor, Op. 1 - Second Movement
Rhapsody, Op. 43 On A Theme By Paganini
Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
Liebestraum No.3 in A-flat
Piano Concerto No.1 in E-flat - third movement
Angelus
Mephisto Waltz No.1 (Dance in a Village Tavern)
Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H
Dante Symphony - Finale. - Purgatorio - Magnificat
Les Préludes
Boléro
Daphnis et Chloé first movement: Nocturne
Rhapsodie Espagnole
Shéhérazade - first movement: Asie
Ma Mère l'Oye - fourth movement: La Belle et la Bête
Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet, and String Quartet
La Valse
Slavic Dance No. 1 in C, Op. 46, no.1
Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World' - second movement
Humoresque, Op. 101
Slavic Dance No. 8 in G minor, Op. 46, no. 8
Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 22 - second movement
Romance for Violin and Orchestra In F minor, Op. 11
Symphony No. 7 in D minor - third movement
Melodie (Songs My Mother Taught Me)
Carneval Overture, Op. 92
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B minor, Op. 104 - third movement
Symphony No.4 In A, Op. 90. Italian - First Movement
Frühlingslied In A, Op. 62, No. 6
Wedding March (From A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61)
Duetto In F, Op.30, No.6 (From Songs Without Words)
String Symphony No.9 In C. Schweitzer Symphony - Third Movement
Concerto For Violin, Piano And String Orchestra No. 1 In D minor - Second Movement
Symphony No.3 In A minor, Op.56 Scottish - Third Movement"
Notturno (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
Rondo Capriccioso, Op.14
String Symphony No. 12 In G minor - First Movement
Venetian Gondola Song In F Sharp minor, Op.30, No.6
Scherzo (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
Violin Concerto In E minor, Op.64 - Third Movement
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - Morgenstimmung
Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - I. Prelude. Allegro vivace
Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - IV. Air. Andante religioso
Arietta, Op. 12, no. 1
Homage March from Sigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 56
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Solveig's Song
Wedding Day at Troldhauen, Op. 65, no. 6
The Last Spring, Op. 34, no. 2
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op 46 - Anitra's Dance
Nordic Melody Op. 63
Notturno, Op. 54, no. 4
Elegie, Op. 47, no. 5
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Arabic Dance
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 - Allegro
Symphony No. 3 in E flat, Op. 97 - Rhenish - first movement
Traumerai (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)
Mondnacht (from Eichendorff-Liederkreis, Op. 39)
Aufschwung (from Fantasietucke, Op. 12)
Triolett, Op. 114, no. 2
Tanzlied (No. 1 from Duets, Op. 78)
Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 - second movement
Frühlingsgruss
Abschied (from Waldszenen Op. 82)
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Im wunderschonen Monat Mai
Manfred Overture, Op. 115
Romance in F sharp, Op. 28, no. 2
Die Rose stand im Tau
Liebesgarten (from Four Duets, Op. 34)
Warum? (from Fantasiestucke, Op. 12)
Kennst du das Land, Op.79, no. 29 (from Lieder der Mignon, Op. 98a)
Von fremden Landern und Menschen (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)

Album Description

An extraordinary 20-CD collection of great works by Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Ravel, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, J. Strauss, R. Strauss, Schumann, Wagner, Dvorak, Grieg and Liszt. It also features worldrenowned artists such as Sir Neville Marriner, Martha Argerich, Ivo Pogorelich, Hermann Prey, Reiner Goldberg, Sylvia Sass, Jochen Kowalski, Peter Schreler and many more. This exquisite, copper metallic, deluxe boxed set is the perfect gift for the classical music neophyte.

Customer Reviews:

Mill. Classical review.......2007-05-13

This is a great set of recordings for the money, the only problem was I've had to clean some of the CD's before they played correctly.

classical music for the unitiated.......2007-04-01

This set is a good way to start listening to classical music. It's very well produced and easy to listen to. I purchased it to use as part of my world history high school class. It would have been nice to have some bio information on the composers. However, the product is exactly as advertised and good value for the money. The students were intrigued by how many of the excerpts they had heard before.

Some little gems there that I had forgotten!.......2007-03-30

Although I studied classical music at school, I had all but forgotten it until I bought this set. I heard several tracks I haven't heard for over 30 years, and I had been humming Brahms's 'Hungarian Dance no. 5' for years without ever knowing what it was and it was on the disc, so that was nice.

I found it to be a very good selection overall, but I felt too much had already been heard on TV, which of course is what lots of newcomers to classical music might appreciate. I managed to find about 2 hours of tracks that I wanted to keep, which works out quite expensive per disc, but I did find some wonderful music I had completely forgotten about, so it was worth it. All in all, it represents good value, and I have only knocked one star off as so much of it had been used in adverts.

It is definitely a good introduction to classical music, and it has made me want to listen to more of it, so I don't regret this 'expensive' purchase one bit!

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

A very helpful collection.......2007-03-24

I define this set as an excellent way to find out who you like, and who you don't, among 20 of the important composers. It opens the door to purchasing more complete pieces by composers you do like, and can save a lot of time and money in the process.
To criticize the set for not containing more composers, or more than just snippets of those who are in the set, is missing the point: it is a helpful introduction to finding your way in the huge maze of classical music. It succeeds admirably in this.
Sound quality is uniformly very good on an audiophile system.
Highly recommended.

Excellent!.......2007-03-08

A great way to start a classical music collection. It's nice to have a full CD of each composer. It makes it easy to keep track of selections/composers I already have and what composers I still need to puchase to complete my collection.

Average customer rating:

Brings back great memories!
One of those unknown perfect recordings.
Offering provided the rally cry of a generation
I Love it!!!
Includes the AOR hit "ROCK AND ROLL PARTY IN THE STREETS"

Offering
Axe
Manufacturer: Wounded Bird Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Nemesis
American Exce$$/On a Roll
Giuffria
Fire Down Under
Thunder in the East

ASIN: B000083ELY
Release Date: 2003-01-21

Tracks:

Rock N Roll Party In The Streets
Video Inspiration
Steal Another Fantasy
Jennifer
I Got The Fire
Burn The City Down
Now Or Never
Holdin On
Silent Soldiers

Album Description

Axe were a metal rock band led by vocalist Edgar Riley and guitarist Bobby Barth. They released numerous albums in the 80's and have had a cult following ever since. Their two biggest albums were Offering (1982) & Nemesis (1983), their only Billboard charting albums. Offering rose to # 81 in 1982. First time on CD. Wounded Bird. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

Brings back great memories!.......2006-09-14

Axe came out at a time just before the recording studios turned their backs on alot of really good rock bands to put all their time and money on Hip Hop. They turned their backs on bands like AXE who could have went on to have produced many more really good CD's. Instead we get very low quality Hip Hop so called artists most who are still having a hard time with their abc's. Anyway AXE is a very good band and if your are into rock music then this is a must have CD. Offering is a CD that you won't get tired of after just a few times of listening to it. It doesn't have "shock qualities" as Rap Music. You can hear some of their sounds in some of the modern rock of today. This CD is a keeper, not one that you will get tired of for a long period of time.

One of those unknown perfect recordings........2006-07-14

Perfect from start to finish, somehow this disc isn't among rock's royalty. The production is first rate for rock and roll sound. Original rock and a cover of Montrose's "I Got the Fire" that was a little slicker than the original. Barth (who vocally sounds like a young Sammy Hagar at times) and Michael Osbourne deliver a one-two punch on guitars. If you love Montrose, Aerosmith,and Blackfoot, then you will appreciate this overlooked classic.

Offering provided the rally cry of a generation.......2006-05-25

Offering is the first cassette I sought to replace when CDs emerged on the market. I had "20 Years from Home" but had been devistated to find the songs I remembered and loved remixed on it.

Most people can claim a song or a band as their generation's trademark call to party; Axe's "Rock and Roll Party" and "Burn the City Down" was ours. I had 3 cassettes of Offering, one for my car, one for my boyfriend's and one for the portable player I took on my morning run. Friday nights started out with these songs blasting on the stereo.

Of course such reminisence tells little about the music. Axe supplied some pounding rock rhythms with lyrics that were identifiable and discernable, if not especially profound. They successfully built a bridge from rock to heavy metal, spanning dance/pop in a style similar to (but equal or better) that of other popular rock songs of that time period unique enough to transcend the predominating punk/pop culture, like Tonight is What it Means to be Young (off the Streets of Fire album), Dancing in the Dark (Springsteen) and On the Dark Side (Eddie and the Cruisers). Axe offered refreshment to a generation who had teethed on the likes of Led Zepplin, Rush, Yes, The Who and The Doors, but were getting cavities on the pop candy tunes of Madonna, the GoGos, Prince and Duran Duran. Axe's intrepid style earned them airplay on most radio stations and a loyal fan following. This style is showcased on Offering. I am thrilled that the music on Offering has been preserved for the evaluation and, hopefully, enjoyment of generations to come.

I Love it!!!.......2006-03-12

I used to listen to this song when I was real little and loved it. I never understood why they quit playing it. I agree with others that this is the song it is all about. No one makes em like this anymore. Wish they still did.

Includes the AOR hit "ROCK AND ROLL PARTY IN THE STREETS".......2005-10-31

Damn it took this a long time to make it onto CD. The rock radio station in the town where I grew up used to play "Rock and Roll Party In The Streets" all the time. Then, sometime around 1984 they stopped - and I never heard it again... Sometimes I see them lumped with bands like Blackfoot and Molly Hatchet - which is probably appropriate. They definitely had that southern rock thing going on, but Axe seemed like a metal band back in the day - probably because of their album art. In retrospect, their sound was based in no-nonsense hard rock. In addition to the super-cool radio song "Rock and Roll Party In The Streets", they also cover the Montrose track "I Got The Fire". There are a few notable softer cuts, but it's really all about the one song "Rock and Roll Party In The Streets". Offering is their third album, and likely their best (Nemesis is also pretty decent).

FYI - AOR stands for Album Oriented Rock, a very successful FM radio format in the late 70s and early 80s that evolved from the underground/freeform radio formats of the late 60s. ...Post disco, but pre Madonna. Quite a lot of these stations eventually morphed again into Classic Rock stations during the late 80s and early 90s. Axe is one of the many bands that had their moment in the AOR era, but have been excluded from most classic rock programming.

Average customer rating:

Awesome - as expected
not as good as the older stuff
better than "the ultimate escape".
mindblowing, a must for anyone with a pulse
Transcending the Harder Elements of Rock

The Definitive Act
Tsunami Bomb
Manufacturer: Kung Fu Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Ultimate Escape
The Invasion from Within
No Apologies
Hell Yeah
LP III

ASIN: B00026IBSK
Release Date: 2004-09-21

Tracks:

Dawn on a Funeral Day
Being Alright
5150
Safety Song
I Bought You
4 Robots and an Evil Scientist
A Lonely Chord
Epic
Negative One to Ten
My Machete
Tetanus Shot
Jigsaw

Customer Reviews:

Awesome - as expected.......2006-07-18

While this new album is not as good as the other two, expect to hear more of M's awesome vocals, Mike's raw guitar, Gabe's fantastic drumming, and Jay's debut album with the band. The album does not seem to have as much drive and ambition as its predecessors, its still fun to rock out to.

not as good as the older stuff.......2005-10-18

I usually don;t listen to a lot of punk rock. But a friend turned me on to Tsunami Bomb and we saw 'em live at this little dive bar near me. I became a fan, and i think that the lead singer Agent M is totally sweet.

Anyhow, i was excited as hell when I found this album. But as I listened to it, I didn't get into it as much. Something about the earlier ones was really catchy, sing along stuff..this album doesn;t have as much of that. It's still good, and I do really like the song 'Being Alright' (which is real positive), but the rest just felt less polished or structured to me. I still recommend it for punk fans, tho.

better than "the ultimate escape"........2005-10-10

when I first heard "20 going on.." from "the ultimate escape", I knew I had to get to know this band. From that CD, there were some awesome songs in the vein of "20 going on..", but also a couple fillers. With the definitive act, TB has done away with the fillers and put out an album where you can listen to every song with skipping tracks. this band is very unique because their lead singer is a girl and she has a better vocal range than most of the guys in her genre. this is great stuff, and if you liked "the ultimate escape", you'll LOVE definitive act. they just keep getting better!

mindblowing, a must for anyone with a pulse.......2005-08-21

I stumbled upon Tsunami bomb's first record "the ultimate escape" at a local music store last year, and after hearing 20 going on... (which left me floored), I bought the record. It was simply amazing. To make a better record than "the ultimate escape" seemed impossible to me, but a year later TB arrived with "Definitive act", which could almost be, dare I say, better? If you like music, you must hear Agent M's killer vocals combined with TB's signature dark melody. it's freakin' spine-chilling man! I can't imagine my life without tsunami bomb in it. I can't wait until they come to my town! Please, PLEASE find someway to get both of their records. they'll change your f**king life!!! Highly, HIGHLY advised for purchase.

Transcending the Harder Elements of Rock.......2005-05-23

I know there are people out there that hate punk, dismissing it as childish and immature or simply dont put the effort into hearing some of the better bands instead of just generalizing the whole genre from the bands the media markets like to force down peoples eardrums. But as someone who loves every variety of music out there, to the uninitiated Tsunami Bomb is an excellent punk rock band with one of the best female vocalists I've heard this side of R&B, Gwen Stefani has nothing on her. When she does her solo accapella's and then right after comes a nice whiff of guitar and beatwork it will get you two looks everytime you're stopped at an intersection, first WTF then the second time around "hey thats pretty good, who is that?"

I was in the record store today and was getting pretty frustrated that they didnt have anything I was looking for but when I picked up this album 'The Definitive Act' used I thought I would give it a go since I loved their first cd 'The Enemy Within..' that I picked up way back. On my way to work, not even having the volume at very high, I was simply blown away by the first two songs, very addicting punk melodies. I came to find out nothing on this cd is horrible, there might be some subpar songs but they are certainly listenable and far from annoying. In my opinion 'A Lonely Chord' is the pick of the litter, coming off with a modern style beat of old school big city jazz infused with melodic guitar riffs and of course Agent M's ever so highlighting voice orchestrating it altogether. They have more of a poppish feel to their music on this then previous albums, not radio friendly just something thats more appealing to the ear then a good majority of the punk bands out there.

Normally I dont recommend music to others since everyone has such a pathetic undertaste for dismissing certain bands/groups/singers for not being their type of music. But I would think their style transcends, at the very least, all of the harder elements of rock. If you like Metal, Hard Rock, Punk Rock, or anything with a nice attitude to it I would definately recommend Tsunami Bomb to you.

Average customer rating:

Excellent Exposition of the art of the fugue
A great master plays one of the monuments of the Baroque
Absolutely stunning
Best of the best
--What was she thinking?....

Bach: Die Kunst der Fugue

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bach: Goldberg Variations
Shostakovich: 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87
Bach: The Art of Fugue; Musical Offering
Art of the Fugue - 70th Anniversary Edition
Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier

ASIN: B000002ZS9
Release Date: 1993-11-23

Tracks:

A Musical Offering, BWV1079: Ricercare a 3
A Musical Offering, BWV1079: Ricercare a 6
Four Duettos, BWV802 - 805: Duet No 1 In E Minor
Four Duettos, BWV802 - 805: Duet No 2 In F Major
Four Duettos, BWV802 - 805: Duet No 3 In G Major
Four Duettos, BWV802 - 805: Duet No 4 In A Minor
The Art Of The Fugue, BWV1080: Contrapunctus 1
The Art Of The Fugue, BWV1080: Contrapunctus 2
The Art Of The Fugue, BWV1080: Contrapunctus 3
The Art Of The Fugue, BWV1080: Contrapunctus 4
The Art Of The Fugue, BWV1080: Canon in Hypodiapason (Canon alla Ottava)
The Art Of The Fugue, BWV1080: Contrapunctus 5
The Art Of The Fugue, BWV1080: Contrapunctus 6 (per Diminutionem) in Stylo Francese
The Art Of The Fugue, BWV1080: Contrapunctus 7 per Augmentationem et Diminutionem
The Art Of The Fugue, BWV1080: Canon alla Duodecima in Contrapunto alla Quinta

Tracks:

The Art Of The Fugue: Contrapunctus 8
The Art Of The Fugue: Contrapunctus 9 alla Duodecima
The Art Of The Fugue: Contrapunctus 10 alla Decima
The Art Of The Fugue: Contrapunctus 11
The Art Of The Fugue: Canon (in Hypodiatessaron) per Augmentationem in Contrario Motu
The Art Of The Fugue: Canon alla Decima (Contrapunto alla Terza)
The Art Of The Fugue: Contrapunctus 13 (Rectus)
The Art Of The Fugue: Contrapunctus 13 (Inversus)
The Art Of The Fugue: Contrapunctus 12 (Rectus)
The Art Of The Fugue: Contrapunctus 12 (Inversus)
The Art Of The Fugue: Contrapunctus 14

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Exposition of the art of the fugue.......2007-07-10

The clarity of the notes and the even balance of the melody and harmony made this familiar piece of music sound new and exciting

A great master plays one of the monuments of the Baroque.......2006-04-21

When I first saw this recordings in a music store I never realized what was waiting for me inside the jewel case. Two or three years had to go before I got one. Since then this is one of my favourites. Nikolayeva was a master in all the meaning of the word and although I am a purist (would have liked a Harpsichord instead of a Piano) her interpretation is magnificent, moving and executed with the precision required for a Brain surgery. Do not miss this set, it is without a question one of the very best AoF ever recorded. You will only need to hear how this great Russian Master played the first three notes of the Ricercare a 3, BWV1079, to know what I mean.

Absolutely stunning.......2005-11-29

This is far and out the greatest interpretation ever (on piano) of this monumental work - absolutely perfect, under any aspect. If you are a classical music fan it would be a crime to give it a miss.

Best of the best.......2005-05-08

I own about a dozen performances of The Art of Fugue (ranging from solo piano and organ over string quartet to Hermann Scherchen's orchestral arrangement). This is hands down my favorite (Scherchen's a distant second). Glenn Gould's might have been equally good if he had ever recorded the whole set for piano. (He recorded a partial set for organ, and piano recordings of a few individual fugues were released posthumously.)
While Bach never specified instruments for TAoF, the voice leading is too keyboard-friendly to be coincidental. It is not a "flashy" work but --- despite that --- extremely demanding on a keyboard player in that exceptional articulation skills are required to clearly bring out the four voices.
The purist may be annoyed at the fact that a piano (rather than a harpsichord) is used at all, and that (obviously) modern A=440 tuning is used. If you are one of these, you may wish to consider Davitt Moroney's harpsichord recording instead.
Unlike Moroney and organist Helmut Walcha, Ms. Nikolayeva does not attempt to "complete" the final unfinished fugue: her playing tapers off on the last notes in the manuscript.
The playing is not only crisp and technically perfect but beautiful at all times, and the recording very clean.
Bonuses are the four Duets (which work surprisingly well on the piano) and the two Ricercars from The Musical Offering. (The Ricercar a 3, incredibly, is actually rooted in an improvisation session by Bach on an early Silbermann fortepiano at the palace of Frederick II in Potsdam.)

--What was she thinking?...........2004-05-14

--Playing a 4 voice fugue is difficult---playing the 6 part ricercare with 2 hands is a remakable acheivement. --The 2 ricercare are typical of the best music on this album...tempos that neither drag nor are rushed---if you've listened to the samples above you don't need to be told how good the playing is. ---On the rest of the2 disks tempos might be a little fast or slow but within the norm----with one exception. ---The last fugue--left unfinished by Bach--begins so slowly, it's almost 7 minutes before the 2nd theme enters...here a normal tempo is assumed --but played all staccato...the final 2 minutes, after the 3rd theme enters, are so perfect one wonders...... --Notwithstanding a few mannerisms and a little quirkiness this is a great recording-- --Included is a booklet with musical samples of each fugue (the first 4 or 5 measures)...which is helpful as there are different ways of numbering them. ---The fugue that is sometimes played on 2 pianos simultaneously is absent from this collection.

Average customer rating:

If you embrace the gutter, you will embrace the metal!
A Lot of Potential
Looking for good Metalcore with Melodeath influences? LOOK NO FURTHER!!!
Eh.
beats the sophomore slump......but just barely

Embrace the Gutter
The Autumn Offering
Manufacturer: Victory Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Revelations of the Unsung
The Fall of Ideals
The Phoenix Throne
Fallout from the War
Rebirth of the Temple

ASIN: B000F6YNXE
Release Date: 2006-05-16

Tracks:

Prologue
Decay
The Yearning
Embrace The Gutter
Ghost
Misery
This Future Disease
One Last Thrill
No End In Sight
Walk The Line
The Final Cut

Customer Reviews:

If you embrace the gutter, you will embrace the metal! .......2006-12-03

This album awesome! With catchy, great guitar works, Dennis' tremendous singing/screaming. "Misery" was the best song in this album!!

2."Decay" 11/10- I love this song! So angry and crunk! The beginning was awesome!

3."The Yearning" 9/10- OK, kinda boring, but the guitars were catchy.

4."Embrace the Gutter" 9/10- Werid song title, great chorus, love the solo.

5."Ghost" 9/10- So-so, the chorus was OK, and the guitars were good too.

6."Misery" 12/10- I LOVE THIS SONG! So catchy, the guitars at the beginning were awesome! Love how it ended, this is the most brutal song in this album!

7."This Future Disease" 10/10- Their guitars were kinda catchy in this song too. This is one of my favorites.

8."One Last Thrill" 11/10- I really love this song! The chorus was great, the guitars at the end was really well-done! The beginning was awesome too!

9."No End In Sight" 9/10- This song was kinda boring, but the guitars at the end were soooooo catchy, I loved it!

10."Walk the Line" 11/10- So crunk! Love the chorus! The beginning was good too. Even though this had no solo, I still love it!

11."Final Cut"- This was a beautiful outro, with some piano too.

This album was amazing!! I don't know this band isn't that famous, they should go to Headbanger's Ball! Everybody should listen to this great band! But one question, if this band formed at 1999, why did they release their first album at 2004? But still, GET THIS!!

A Lot of Potential.......2006-08-17

A lot of people don't seem to know that this is actually The Autumn Offering's first album. It was originally released in 2004 by some other label but Victory re-released more recently. That's why it isn't as good as "Revelations...". I still think it's really good though. There's a lot of good fast melodic stuff which shows the band was already proficient melodically as well as technically. The structuring does get a little tiresome but there are some adventurous moments and some really great instrumental sections. Any fan of melodic metal should definitely pick this one up!

Looking for good Metalcore with Melodeath influences? LOOK NO FURTHER!!!.......2006-07-03

The Autumn Offering...when I first heard them I was somewhat iffy. Then I listened to this album. It is FAR better than their first effort, and has great songs on it. They do a good job of blending Metalcore with Melodeath and I like that. However what bothers me though is how similiar most of their songs sound to other Metalcore bands out there. It seems like its hard to find a truly UNIQUE Metalcore band. There are so few, like Manntis, As I Lay Dying, and Bleeding Through. The Autumn Offering could be MUCH better if they wouldnt follow such a predictable song pattern and Metalcore sound. But all in all I enjoyed this album. These guys do a great job and have alot of talent, but just need to get it out more!!!

Buy it if you're a Metalcore fan. There is more Metalcore here that Melodic Death Metal.

Eh........2006-06-16

I found The Autumn Offering on the music choice metal channel sometime like a year 1/2 ago. I was extremely impressed with the song entitled "Revelation". I introduced the Autumn Offering to many kids around the area, who were also very impressed by this band. The guys vocals were pretty good, the drums were good, but the guitar was amazing in my opinion. Then the Autumn Offering's new CD comes out. This cd is definatly not as impressive as "Revelations of the Unsung". Something is different with guys vocals, like they are more silent then before. And now they sound like they are just trying to be harder. With their first CD, it really amazed me of how much different their style seemed to change. I do admit, I like the cd, but it's not the same Autumn Offering. I'm going to stick with liking the first album the most, and perhaps not even buy this one. I'm hoping...If there is another cd released from them, they go back to their original style because that is the style that grew on me extremely quickly.

beats the sophomore slump......but just barely.......2006-06-13

With "Revealations of the unsung", The autumn offering had a promising debut album. Metalcore without sounding too much like every other band out there (With the exception of As I lay Dying", original guitarowrk and drumming etc......Now that they are signed on with Victory records, they pretty much sound like every other band on that label's roster......Granted, they try, but it seems to me like they've lost their own identity with this release

Average customer rating:

A seductively gentle oasis
Uplifting & Joyful
Great For Massage Therapists
Melodic, peaceful healing music
no distractions

Reiki Offering
Shastro & Nadama
Manufacturer: Malimba Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Healing Touch
Zen Notes
Tantric Heart-Music for Lovers
Shamans' Healing
Earth Sutras: Walk Gently on the Earth

ASIN: B00005AQNH
Release Date: 2001-03-15

Tracks:

Offering
Spirit Of Reiki
Touching Silence
Gratefulness
Gift of Light
Communion

Album Description

Gentle and soothing music which creates a beautiful healing environment. Reiki Offering gives peace, calmness and serenity to your heart, body and mind. It features spacious flute, delicate piano and rich ambient textures. Composed specifically for Reiki Healing, an ancient technique channeling universal energy through the hands, it also comes highly recommended as supportive music for massage, Yoga, Tai-Chi, de-stress, relaxation and any form of Healing Arts.

Customer Reviews:

A seductively gentle oasis.......2007-03-10

I was seeking relaxing music for massage and de-stressing in the evening before bed. I found this album to be an excellent choice for that purpose. The music is restful and healing. Shastro and Nadama encourage you to enter a seductively gentle oasis of sound and there provide a balm for the stresses of modern life.

Uplifting & Joyful.......2006-11-05

This CD is wonderful during Reiki sessions as it is calming and joyful. It is like a hug wrapping you in uplifting sounds and musical themes. One of the things I particularly like is that it is not intrusive so it is a great background during the emotional conversations that often take place between the client and practitioner. And, as the practitioner who may hear it several times in a day, I never tire of it.

Great For Massage Therapists.......2006-06-29

This has a great mix of instruments, and my clients really enjoy it for a nice relaxing experience.

Melodic, peaceful healing music.......2003-07-27

This is a very smooth, melodic album, suitable for healing, relaxation, and even physical chi exercises. Keyboard, synthesizer, and flute sounds create a rich, soothing musical texture that leaves one feeling pleasant and content. This music can be used for many purposes and should be suitable for many tastes. I particularly liked the first track and the 5th track, and the ambience of the Far East on the closing track makes a nice tribute to the roots of Reiki healing.

no distractions.......2002-05-30

Beautiful sounds that provoke peaceful thoughts. This is not a dance album but if you want to practice slow gracefull movements for discipline and perhaps meditation this is a great album.

Average customer rating:

Thank You Boulez
5 Star music. Some very good performances, some are aimless.
not much more to be said
a transcendent masterpiece
Five stars and a bullet

Complete Webern
Anton von Webern , Clemens Hagen , David Finckel , Anton Webern , Pierre Boulez , Ensemble InterContemporain , Mary Ann McCormick , Berliner Philharmoniker , Eric Schneider , Gianluca Cascioli , Krystian Zimerman , Oleg Maisenberg , Pierre-Laurent Aimard , Christiane Oelze , Francoise Pollet , Lawrence Dutton , Gidon Kremer , and Philip Setzer
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
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Schoenberg: Piano Concerto
Schoenberg: Piano Works

ASIN: B00004R9F0
Release Date: 2000-05-09

Tracks:

Passacaglia For Orchestra Op. 1: Sehr massig, Tempo I - Massig bewegt, Tempo II - Sehr lebhaft, Tempo III
5 Movements Op. 5: I. Heftig bewegt
5 Movements Op. 5: II. Sehr langsam
5 Movements Op. 5: III. Sehr lebhaft
5 Movements Op. 5: IV. Sehr langsam
5 Movements Op. 5: V. In zarter Bewegung
6 Pieces For Orchestra Op. 6: I. Etwas bewegte Achtel
6 Pieces For Orchestra Op. 6: II. Bewegt
6 Pieces For Orchestra Op. 6: III. Zart bewegt
6 Pieces For Orchestra Op. 6: IV. Langsam. Marcia funebre
6 Pieces For Orchestra Op. 6: V. Sehr langsam
6 Pieces For Orchestra Op. 6: VI. Zart bewegt
2 Arrangements: J.S. Bach: Fuga (Ricercata) a 6 voci: Sehr massig
Franz Schubert: German Dances Op. Post. D 820: No. 1 - No. 2 (No. 1) - No. 3 ( No. 1) In A Flat Major
Franz Schubert: German Dances Op. Post. D 820: No. 4 - No. 5 (No. 4) - No. 6 (No. 4) In B Flat Major
Im Sommerwind - Idyll For Large Orchestra: Ruhig bewegt - Ruhig - Lustig - Schnell - Feierlich bewegt - Voll Schwung - Aufjauchzend - sehr ruhig und weihevoll

Tracks:

5 Pieces For Orchestra: I. Bewegt
5 Pieces For Orchestra: II. Langsam (sostenuto)
5 Pieces For Orchestra: III. Sehr bewegte Viertel
5 Pieces For Orchestra: IV. Langsame Viertel
5 Pieces For Orchestra: V. (Alla breve)
3 Orchestral Songs: I. Leise Dufte: 'Leise Dufte, Bluten so zart'
3 Orchestral Songs: II. Kunfttag III: 'Nun wird es wieder Lenz'
3 Orchestral Songs: III. 'O sanftes Gluhn der Berge'
Symphony Op. 21: I. Ruhig schreitend
Symphony Op. 21: II. Variationen: Thema. Sehr ruhig - Var. I. Lebhafter - Var. II Sehr lebhaft - Var. III. Wieder massiger - Var. IV. Ausserst ruhig - Var. V. Sehr lebhaft - Var. VI. Marschmassig. Nicht eilen - Var. VII. Etwas breiter - Coda
Das Augenlicht Op. 26: 'Durch unsre offnen Augen' - 'The Eyes Of Radiance' - Langsam
Cantata No. 1 Op. 29: I. 'Zundender Lichtblitz des Lebens' - Getragen - Lebhaft
Cantata No. 1 Op. 29: II. 'Kleiner Flugel Ahornsamen' - Leicht bewegt
Cantata No. 1 Op. 29: III. 'Tonen die seligen Saiten Apolls' - Ruhig
Variations For Orchestra Op. 30
Cantata No. 2 Op. 31: I. 'Schweigt auch die Welt' - Sehr lebhaft - Ruhig
Cantata No. 2 Op. 31: II. 'Sehr tief verhalten innerst Leben' - Sehr verhalten
Cantata No. 2 Op. 31: III. 'Schopfen aus Brunnen des Himmels' - Sehr bewegt
Cantata No. 2 Op. 31: IV. 'Leichteste Burden der Baume' - Sehr lebhaft
Cantata No. 2 Op. 31: V. 'Freundselig ist das Wort' - Sehr massig
Cantata No. 2 Op. 31: VI. 'Gelockert aus dem Schosse' - Sehr fliessend

Tracks:

Piano Quintet: Moderato
'Entflieht auf leichten Kahnen' op. 2: Zart bewegt
2 Lieder op. 8: I. 'Du, der ichs nicht sage'
2 Lieder op. 8: 'Du machst mich allein'
5 Pieces for Orchestra op. 10: I. Sehr ruhig und zart
5 Pieces for Orchestra op. 10: II. Leghaft und zart bewegt
5 Pieces for Orchestra op. 10: III. Sehr langsam und ausserst ruhig
5 Pieces for Orchestra op. 10: IV. Fliessend, ausserst zart
5 Pieces for Orchestra op. 10: V. Sehr fliessend
4 Lieder op. 13: I. Wiese im Park: 'Wie wird mir zeitlos'
4 Lieder op. 13: II. Die Einsame: 'An dunkelblauem Himmel'
4 Lieder op. 13: III. In der Fremde: 'In fremden Lande lag ich'
4 Lieder op. 13: IV. Ein Winterabend: 'Wenn der Schnee ans Fenster fallt'
6 Lieder op. 14: I. Die Sonne: 'Taglich kommt die gelbe Sonne'
6 Lieder op. 14: II. Abendland I: 'Mond, als trate ein Totes'
6 Lieder op. 14: III. Abendland II: 'So leise sind die grunen Walder'
6 Lieder op. 14: IV. Abendland IV: 'Ihr grossen Stadte steinern aufgebaut'
6 Lieder op. 14: V. Nachts: 'Die Blaue meiner Augen'
6 Lieder op. 14: VI. Gesang einer gefangenen Amsel: 'Dunkler Odem im grunen Gezweig'
5 Sacred Songs op. 15: I. 'Das Kreuz, das musst' er tragen'
5 Sacred Songs op. 15: II. Morgenlied: 'Steht auf, ihr lieben Kinderlein'
5 Sacred Songs op. 15: III. 'In Gottes Namen aufstehn'
5 Sacred Songs op. 15: IV. 'Mein Weg geht jetzt voruber'
5 Sacred Songs op. 15: V. 'Fahr hin, o Seel', zu deinem Gott'
5 Canons op. 16: I. 'Christus factus est'
5 Sacred Songs op. 15: II. 'Dormi Jesu, mater ridet' From 'Des Knaben Wunderhorn'
5 Sacred Songs op. 15: III. 'Crux fidelis'
5 Sacred Songs op. 15: IV. 'Asperges me, Domine'
5 Sacred Songs op. 15: V. 'Crucem tuam adoramus, Domine'
3 Traditional Rymes op. 17: I. 'Armer Sunder, du'
3 Traditional Rymes op. 17: II. 'Liebste Jungfrau, wir sind dein'
3 Traditional Rymes op. 17: III. 'Heiland, unsre Missetaten'
3 Lieder for voice, E flat clarinet and guitar op. 18: I. 'Schatzerl klein'
3 Lieder for voice, E flat clarinet and guitar op. 18: II. Erlosung: 'Mein Kind, sieh an' From 'Des Knaben Wunderhorn'
3 Lieder for voice, E flat clarinet and guitar op. 18: III. 'Ave , Regina coelorum'
2 Lieder op. 19 for mixed choir: I. 'Wiess wie Lilien'
2 Lieder op. 19 for mixed choir: II. 'Ziehn die Schafe'
Quartet op. 22: I. Sehr massig
Quartet op. 22: II. Sehr schwungvall
Concerto op. 24: I. Etwas lebhaft
Concerto op. 24: II. Sehr schwungvoll
Concerto op. 24: III. Sehr rasch

Tracks:

3 Poems: I. Vorfruhling: 'Leise tritt auf...'
3 Poems: II. Nachtgebet der Braut: 'O mein Geliebter'
3 Poems: III. Fromm: 'Der Mond scheint auf mein Lager'
8 Early Lieder: I. Tief von fern: 'Aus des Abends weissen Wagen'
8 Early Lieder: II. Aufblick: 'Uber unsre Liebe hangt eine Trauerweide'
8 Early Lieder: III. Bleuengruss: 'Der Strauss, den ich gepflucket'
8 Early Lieder: IV. Bild der Liebe: 'Von Wald umgeben'
8 Early Lieder: V. Sommerbend: 'Du Sommerbend! Heilig, goldnes Licht!'
8 Early Lieder: VI. Heiter: 'Mein Herz ist wie ein See so weit'
8 Early Lieder: VII. Der Tod: 'Ach, es ist do dunkel in des Todes Kammer'
8 Early Lieder: VIII. Heimgang in der Fruhe: 'In der Dammerung'
3 Lieder on poems by Ferdinand Avenarius: I. Gefunden: 'Nun wir uns lieben, rauscht mein stolzes Gluck'
3 Lieder on poems by Ferdinand Avenarius: II. Gebet: 'Ertrage du's, lass schneiden dir den Schmerz'
3 Lieder on poems by Ferdinand Avenarius: III. Greunde: 'Schmerze und Freuden reift jede Stunde'
5 Lieder on poems by Richard Dehmel: I. Ideale Landschaft: 'Du hattest einen Glanz auf deiner Stirn'
5 Lieder on poems by Richard Dehmel: II. Am Ufer: 'Die Wlet verstummt, dein Blut erklingt'
5 Lieder on poems by Richard Dehmel: III. Himmelfahrt: 'Schwebst du nieder aus den Weiten'
5 Lieder on poems by Richard Dehmel: IV. Nachtliche Scheu: 'Zaghaft vom Gewolk ins Land'
5 Lieder on poems by Richard Dehmel: V. Helle Nacht: 'Weich kusst die Zweige der weisse Mond'
5 Lieder from 'Der siebente Ring' by Stefan George op. 3: I. 'Dies ist ein lied'
5 Lieder from 'Der siebente Ring' by Stefan George op. 3: II. ''Im windes-weben'
5 Lieder from 'Der siebente Ring' by Stefan George op. 3: III. 'An baches ranft'
5 Lieder from 'Der siebente Ring' by Stefan George op. 3: IV. 'Im morgen-taun'
5 Lieder from 'Der siebente Ring' by Stefan George op. 3: V. 'Kahl reckt der baum'
5 Lieder on poems by Stefan George op. 4: I. Eingang: 'Welt der gestalten lang lebewohl!'
5 Lieder on poems by Stefan George op. 4: II. Noch zwingt mich treue uber dir zu wachen'
5 Lieder on poems by Stefan George op. 4: III. 'Ja heil und dank dir'
5 Lieder on poems by Stefan George op. 4: IV. 'So ich traurig bin'
5 Lieder on poems by Stefan George op. 4: V. 'Ihr tratet zu dem herde'
4 Lieder on poems by Stefan George: I. 'Erwachen aus dem tiefsten traumes-schoosse'
4 Lieder on poems by Stefan George: II. Kunfttag I: 'Dem bist du kind, dem freund'
4 Lieder on poems by Stefan George: III. Trauer I: 'So wart bis ich dies dir noch kunde'
4 Lieder on poems by Stefan George: IV. 'Das lockere saatgefilde lechzet krank'
4 Lieder op. 12: I. 'Der Tag ist vergangen' - Folksong
4 Lieder op. 12: II. Die geheimnisvolle Flote: 'An einem Abend, da die Blumen dufteten' - Li-Tai-Po
4 Lieder op. 12: III. 'Schien mir's, als ich sah die Sonne' - 'Gespenstersonate'
4 Lieder op. 12: IV. Gleich und gleich: 'Ein Blumenglockchen'
3 Songs From 'Viae inviae' by HildegardJone op. 23: I. 'Das dunkle Herz, das in sich lauscht'
3 Songs From 'Viae inviae' by HildegardJone op. 23: II. Es sturzt aus Hohen Frische'
3 Songs From 'Viae inviae' by HildegardJone op. 23: III. Herr Jesus mein'
3 Lieder on poems by Hildegard Jone op. 25: I. 'Wie bein ich froh!'
3 Lieder on poems by Hildegard Jone op. 25: II. 'Des Herzens Purpurvogel fliegt durch Nacht'
3 Lieder on poems by Hildegard Jone op. 25: III. 'Sterne, ihr silbernen Bienen der Nacht'

Tracks:

Slow Movement For String Quartet: Langsam, mit bewegtem Ausdruck
5 Movements For String Quartet: I. Heftig bewegt
5 Movements For String Quartet: II. Sehr langsam
5 Movements For String Quartet: III. Sehr bewegt
5 Movements For String Quartet: IV. Sehr langsam
5 Movements For String Quartet: V. In zarter Bewegung
String Quartet
6 Batatelles For String Quartet op. 9: I. Massig
6 Batatelles For String Quartet op. 9: II. Leicht bewegt
6 Batatelles For String Quartet op. 9: III. Ziemlich fliessend
6 Batatelles For String Quartet op. 9: IV. Sehr langsam
6 Batatelles For String Quartet op. 9: V. Ausserst langsam
6 Batatelles For String Quartet op. 9: VI. Fliessend
Rondo For String Quartet: Bewegt
Movement For String Trio op. post.: Ruhig fliessend
3 Pieces For String Quartet: I. Bewegt
3 Pieces For String Quartet: II. Langsam: Grief Always; Looking Upward; Heaven's Dew; Memory; Black Flowers; On Breast; Out Of Mother
3 Pieces For String Quartet: III. Nicht zu langsam
String Trio op. 20: I. Sehr langsam
String Trio op. 20: II. Sehr getragen und ausdrucksvoll
String Quartet op. 28: I. Massig
String Quartet op. 28: II. Gemachlich - Bewegt
String Quartet op. 28: III. Sehr fliessend

Tracks:

2 Pieces For Cello And Piano: I. Langsam
2 Pieces For Cello And Piano: II. Langsam
Movement For Piano: Lebhaft
Sonata Movement (Rondo) For Piano: (Bewegt) - Ruhig bewegt - Sehr ruhig
4 Pieces For Violin And Piano op. 7: I. Sehr langsam
4 Pieces For Violin And Piano op. 7: II. Rasch
4 Pieces For Violin And Piano op. 7: III. Sehr langsam
4 Pieces For Violin And Piano op. 7: IV. Bewegt
3 Little Pieces For Cello And Piano op. 11: I. Massige
3 Little Pieces For Cello And Piano op. 11: II. Sehr bewegt
3 Little Pieces For Cello And Piano op. 11: III. Ausserst ruhig
Cello Sonata: Sehr bewegt
Children's Piece For Piano: Lieblich
Piano Piece: Im Tempo eines Menuetts
Variations For Piano op. 27: I. Sehr massig
Variations For Piano op. 27: II. Sehr schnell
Variations For Piano op. 27: III. Ruhig fleissend

Amazon.com

Pierre Boulez's Complete Webern Edition appears just over two decades after his last traversal. Well, it's not literally complete, but does have enough early works to set the mature ones in the right context. These days, Webern is no longer seen so much as a new music guru as he is a major composer, pure and simple--his expression as concise as it is intense. Performancewise, there's a quality of musicianship here that few previous recordings have matched; familiarity with the idiom certainly plays its part, but so does Boulez's belief that what we're hearing needs to be presented with conviction. Try the Passacaglia, sensuous music that combines the soundworld of Brahms and Mahler, or the string quartet or orchestra pieces--miniatures in duration, but whole dramas of expression.

Ease of performance doesn't always make this music easy to come to grips with: the song cycles need several listenings to grasp the meaning behind the compression, while the later instrumental and choral works have a luminous austerity that looks back to Bach and beyond to Renaissance masters such as Schütz and Isaac. While much of Webern's music has long been admired, only now is it becoming possible to respond to it through the heart as well as the brain. This set, superbly packaged and comprehensively documented, marks a major step forward, and deserves investigating by anyone keen to appreciate something of the music's quiet, calm essence in an often strident, dislocated century. --Richard Whitehouse

Customer Reviews:

Thank You Boulez.......2001-10-23

If you are a fan of the "New Vienna School" (Schoenberg, Berg, Webern) or 20th century "classical" or "serious" music, this disk set is very rewarding. Beautifully recorded and packaged, and with equally good liner notes, it is a treat to strap on the headphones and listen.

I debated between buying this or Boulez's older Webern set and went with this one. There is much more music on this set because pieces without opus numbers are included. They lend a lot of insight into his "published" works. I also went with this set because it is a modern digital recording, the previous set being from the early 70's. I will often side with a classic recording when needed-performance over sound. Here, I'm happy to report, the listener gets both. Every detail is captured.

Thank you very much Pierre Boulez and DG for making this project happen. Please keep the Schoenberg and Berg disks coming. And thank you Anton Webern for continually opening my ears.

5 Star music. Some very good performances, some are aimless........2001-08-25

Webern's music demonstrates a level of craft, in which few composers ever contend. The more that I listen to the works of Webern, the more I hear that each note must be just as it is. There is nothing wasted in this music. The expression is never vague, always intense. I do admire the works of many modern composers, but few are so discerning and meticulous in their works. Webern's craft is equal with the greats of music history; Guillarme de Machaut, Carlo Gesualdo, Claudio Monteverdi, J.S. Bach, Franz Joseph Haydn, Ludwig Beethoven. He is a towering figure. The music that is played here is first rate. However, I have not yet heard performances of many of his works that bring out everything that Webern's music has to offer. For example, the Op. 27 Piano Variations are seldom done justice. All of the movements are given `circa' tempo indications, but many take the movements much slower or faster than indicated. Unfortunately, on this recording the fast movement is slow and the slow movements fast. Presumably the slower tempo in the fast movement would allow for more accurate interpretation of the frequent changes between piano and forte. The problem is that the F's typically don't fade away fast enough and drown out the P's. The other option is to make the P's a little bit more like mezzo forte's. The recording that Pollini did of the work on Deutsche Gramaphon with the Boulez 2nd Sonata manages to reconcile the dynamics with the tempo. However, what I have not heard with the work is the full impact of the affect in the work. What the Pollini performance fails in is the coldness of the interpretation. For those interested, I believe that DG is currently putting out the Pollini performance with Stravinsky's Petruska and a Prokofiev sonata at a fairly low price. This recording brings together several performances of more `high profile' ensembles than the older recording on Sony, which mostly featured performances of musicians from Juilliard. The performances are often more colorful, but I can't say that I always think they surpass their predecessors. The interpretations of the works are a little bit `hit and miss.' The ensembles that Boulez conducts tend to bring out the same sorts of things in the works that the previous ensembles did with the last `complete Webern.' This is good in places; I appreciate the more resonant quality that the recent recording equipment affords, and Boulez conducts a comparable performance of the orchestral works such as the `Symphonie.' The recording of the `Konzert' for nine instruments is good. The performances of the early expressionist works, such as the `Five Orchestral Pieces,' are powerful. Boulez is less afraid to see the human in Webern and let the shocked silences speak. Furthermore, the peaks are less harsh, allowing more of the subtle affects to become visible. Some of the performances just lack a certain power of expression that the previous `complete webern' had; a viscerally that the strength of the `Webern - Vogue' afforded them. The musicians that played the previous complete were looking at Webern as a giant, they are young and virile performances. These performances sometimes view Webern as a curiosity, a historical anachronism, the way that your grandfather will tell you a strange story, of which he himself doesn't understand the point, but he relates as a bit of curio. All in all, I wouldn't say that this set of recordings is the final word on the majority of Webern's works. Many of the performances in the previous set are just as good, but neither do those constantly surpass these performances. Both have their faults. The previous set tended to be cold and more aggressive than was necessary in places. The new set tends to wander at times, as if the performer does not understand the point. It's always difficult to sum up a complete works set for a prospective buyer. Just as in `complete works' of Bach sets that I own, the performances are not always amazing. However, the strength of the compositions often overcomes my desire for a strong performance, and I'm just glad that I have a recording of someone performing that Bach work that I want to hear. Here, similarly, the performances aren't always the best, but there is a wider range of Webern's ouvre represented and many of the performances are quite good. I suppose my counsel would be that one should consider the price of this set vs. the older sony set. The sony set is less complete, but it does include all of the really monolithic, profound Webern works. You also get a view of the younger, romantic Webern in this new set, in addition to better sound quality. Certain performances are better in each set, and so you'll get some good and some bad in either choice. For those that already have a strong taste for Webern's music, try this set. For those who are looking for a starting place, you might try the sony set. The highlights of this set are the Boulez orchestral performances. He has honed his vision for Webern since the last set and they are `worth the price.' For those further exploring Webern, those performances should be heard.

not much more to be said.......2001-08-01

... i could be extremely nit-picky, and complain about the solo piano pieces, and their performer's occasional humming, and the baffling ordering of the quartet disc, and the discrepencies in the translations of the booklet, and how the english left out any explanation of sator arepo etc..., yet the french seems to, and all the little tiny errors, in the booklet... but... these are all moot points when any of the performances are heard. it brings to light all facets of the composer, so he no longer seems ascetic and overly intellectual, just check out the highly romantic string quartet op. 28, and variations for orchestra, yes even the solo piano pieces with the humming. all in all, a very enlightening experience.

a transcendent masterpiece.......2000-07-17

The performances here are absolutely brilliant.

Nuance, detail, sensitivity.

This is not merely music, this is magic!

Five stars and a bullet.......2000-06-13

Pierre Boulez, the enfant not-very-terrible-any-more of French music, has surpassed himself. Twenty-two years ago, CBS released his Complete Works of Anton Webern, and it's remained the definitive Webern collection. Until, as they say in movie trailers, now.

This consists of the three Webern albums Boulez has recorded for DG over the past five years or so, plus everything else Webern ever wrote. It thus scores straightaway over the earlier CBS/Sony set, which was restricted to works that had opus numbers and filled three CDs. This one includes the charming early songs, the equally early "Im Sommerwind" for orchestra and a number of posthumous and otherwise non-Opus works that didn't make it onto the earlier set. Webern is a composer whose entire output takes about six hours to listen to in its entirety, and it's all here, on six CDs.

That's fine; is it any good? Well, it's digitally recorded, and if ever a composer was born for CD, it's Webern. The pianissimos are more ppp than ever, thanks to better recording techniques. Boulez himself has also unbuttoned a bit. His earlier set, recorded between 1967 and 1972, was high on austerity and, if it fell down at all, did so on emotion. The older Boulez (he's 75 this year) is more relaxed about letting tuttis blare and climaxes, well, climax. The result is both as intellectually satisfying as we've come to expect from Boulez, and warmly expressive; in general, a more moving and less didactic set of recordings than the previous lot. And all the better for it, as far as this composer (and this listener) is concerned.

There are many benefits of a digital set, not the least being the better registration of timbral variety, which Webern (as is well known) made into a compositional principle. Even those allergic to twelve-tone music can't help but be ravished by the intricate sweetness of his arrangement of the Bach six-part fugue from the "Musical Offering". The arrangement of Schubert's German Dances has been re-recorded, and can be heard now in all its sprightliness. (The CBS/Sony set has an archive recording conducted by Webern himself in the thirties, but dodgy sound quality prevented it from shining forth properly, despite Webern's witty conducting.)

This is, for my money, the best classical recording that's likely to be released this year, if not for the next ten years. I don't know whether it's a complement to the CBS/Sony set or a replacement for it, but either way it's a wonderful package. Congratulations to all involved.

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