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Vaughan Williams: Orchestral Works

from: British Composers

September 09, 1991
I JUST WANT TO AGREE WITH EVERY WORD THAT MR JORDAN HAD SAID ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR RECORDING, NOT JUST OF 'THE LARK', BUT OF SERENADE TO MUSIC ALSO. IN FACT I JUST LOVE EVERYTHING ON THIS ALBUM! I BOUGHT MY VINYL COPY IN THE EARLY 70'S AND IT IS NOW SO WORN OUT THAT I DECIDED TO LOOK TO SEE IF A CD WAS AVAILABLE. WHAT JOY! NOT ONLY HAVE I BEEN ABLE TO FIND A CD OF MY TREASURED RECORDING, BUT WITH BONUS TRACKS, AND AT AN INCREDIBLY LOW PRICE. FOR ME THIS IS THE PURCHASE OF THE MONTH.

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Spanish Guitar Music

from: Essential Classics

November 19, 2001
This is a clasical guitar album recorded by John Williams in his style of ultimate perfection. Don't confuse this with Flamenco Spanish guitar.

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Vaughan Williams: Fantasia On Christmas Carols, Hodie

from: British Composers

October 02, 2000
I bought this a couple of years ago and return to it regularly - a sure sign of a good recording. I like the music of Vaughan Williams and this is a good example of his music. The Fantasia was a big surprise - its a lovely setting of some well known carols. John Barrow has a superb baritone voice. The Hodie takes a little more getting into but it is worth the effort. Both choirs and orchestra have good sounds. At this price you can't go wrong!

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The Only Guitar Album You'll Ever Need

from: RCA Victor

October 06, 2003
as the old saying goes{i may not know art but i know what i like}. i may not be an expert on spanish classical guitar music but this cd is excellent. track 5 disc 1 is 10 minutes of heaven.you may recognise it as the music from the film el cid.there are 1 or 2 tracks that dont quite hit the mark but mostly this is a fantastic compilation album and will satisfy most peoples needs. just relax with a bottle of rioja,turn off your phone and dont answer the door bell. you will be transported back to that little secret tapas bar that only you and your loved one know about. the sevilla feria 05 is where it takes us.

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John Williams: Greatest Hits 1969-1999

by: John Williams

November 01, 1999
Bottom line up front, this is one of the best John Williams compilations available. It has not only memorable movie soundtrack songs, but also his music from the Olympics. While other John Williams music CDs have lots of songs, this one has some of the best variety compared to others.

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Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull OST

by: John Williams

May 19, 2008
Composer John Williams does an elegant job revisiting his classic "Indiana Jones" themes from the original trilogy, along with some well-written new music for "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". It was a most wonderful surprise hearing "Marion's Theme" from "Raiders of the Lost Ark" again. But I was quite impressed with the surreal "Call of the Crystal" with its almost otherworldly three note motif and "Irina's Theme", which is yet another superb example of "sinister" film music along the lines of a softer, but no less menacing "Imperial March" from the original "Star Wars" trilogy. While I won't rate this fine score as among John Williams' very best (e. g. "Schindler's List" and "Angela's Ashes" among others), it is still among his finest, and ... Read More:

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Vaughan Williams - Complete Symphonies

from: RCA Red Seal

March 15, 2004
I was introduced to the symphonies of Vaughan Williams in my teens through LPs of the complete cycle by Andre Previn and the LSO. These LPs have now been transferred to disc and have been made available again. They remain, after all these years and having listened to a number of other cycles, the best of the bunch, in my humble opinion.

Before moving to London, part of Andre Previn's background was in the theatre. As an American showman, he proved capable - and still is capable - of bringing out the drama inherent in the symphonic form, whilst at the same time producing a deeper understanding of the traits that make up each symphony.

There are two anecdotes I like about Previn's relationship to the music of RVW. I do not know if either is apocryphal. ... Read More:

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Vaughan Williams - Complete Symphonies etc

from: EMI Classics

October 09, 2000
The VW symphonies have done remarkably well on disc. Complete cycles by Previn, Haitink and Tod Handley all make substantial claims. Individual symphonies from Richard Hickox, Andrew Davis, Vaughan Williams himself and, of course, 'Glorious John' Barbirolli (as VW christened him) also demand attention. But, if you're looking for a complete overview of the Vaughan Williams symphonic canon (plus quite a lot of substantial extras) then this Boult set is probably still the best all-round recommendation.

Even he has a substantial rival in his earlier self on Decca, conducted under the gaze of the composer who delivers a touching speech of thanks to the players at the end of the pianissimo finale of the Sixth Symphony. This earlier Decca version probably has the edge ... Read More:

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Crystal Tears - John Dowland and his contemporaries (Andreas Scholl/Concerto di Viole)

from: Harmonia Mundi

May 26, 2008
Delightful, exquisite. Some echo, but otherwise lovely sound. It took me a while to accept the countertenor sound as anything other than a good party trick. But I now love the sound as much as the output from any decent tenor, baritone, saoprano or mezzo.

There's been some criticism that Scholl might be overstylised for this material - but that is just Scholl's wonderful technique. If you want a more informal style, then try Sting's take on Dowland. Personally - I like both.

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The Best Classical Album in the World...Ever!

from: Virgin TV

November 08, 2004
A fantastic selection of all the tunes you've ever said "Oh.. that's the tune from the ....advert, isn't it? What's it called?" about.

OK that's a very trite comment, but you get my point. Pure enjoyment, without the intervention of the tracks in a single classical album which you have to pretend to appreciate if you're not to look like a Philistine.

An absolute belter..an education, and a gateway to composers you'd never heard of, (neither had I).