Byrd - Gradualia, Vol.1: The Marian Masses

March 28, 2008 | By Doug In William Turner |

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Customer Review: Not exactly the best book of Turner’s work.
This book provides basic background information on Turner’s progression as an artist, and it does contain a nice selection of Turner’s landscapes. However, the reproductions are poor in quality, hardly doing the authentic works justice.
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Customer Review: One of the best in the series
This last installment in Naxos’s Barber series collects together some of Barber’s lesser known and hard-to-find pieces. The Fadograph of a Yestern Scene and the Canzonetta are achingly beautiful and not often recorded. My major complaint with this release is the placement of A Hand Of Bridge. Being a somewhat erratic vocal piece, it does not belong in the middle of the CD where it breaks the meditative flow of the other five instrumental pieces. It either belongs as the last selection on the CD, or better still, paired with Knoxville, Summer of 1915, another Barber vocal composition. That other CD, was also poorly programmed by Naxos by their inclusion of two of Barber’s three orchestral Essays. These lovely pieces shouldn’t have been tainted by their proximity to the vocal piece. That is, an all-vocal Barber CD would have been welcomed by all. At 52:28, the skimpiest offering in Naxos’s survey of Barber’s work.
Customer Review: A Great Final Disc
This is the final disc in Naxos’ series of the orchestral music of Samuel Barber, and it ends with more great performances. The Capricorn Concerto (named for the home in Mount Kisco that Barber shared with Gian Carlo Menotti) is not often recorded but deserves much more attention. The concerto is greatly influenced by Igor Stravinsky and is a triple concerto for oboe, flute and trumpet - a neo-classical re-working of Bach’s Second Brandenburg Concerto. The concerto is an engaging work in three movements that explores the virtuosity of the three solo instruments. The surprise on this disc is the pocket-opera A Hand of Bridge where two couples playing cards think indulgently on their obsessions. The libretto is by Menotti and has quite a biting wit to it, however, the performance recorded here is only adequate. The earlier recording by Vladimir Golshman and the Symphony of the Air has a better balance and better singing overall. The voices on this recording are sometimes not clearly heard over the music and the soprano sometimes does not maintain control. Still, this is performance will be of interest to those interested in Barber rarities. There is no libretto, which would have been a welcomed addition. The Mutations from Bach is a late work for brass instruments and was meant as a tribute to Barber’s favorite composer. The famous Intermezzo from Vanessa, from Barber’s first and very successful opera, depicts the spurned heroine, connecting two scenes and providing emotional context. The Canzonetta for Oboe and Strings was to have been a concerto but the ailing Barber was only barely able to produce this short piece, an elegiac and romantic close to a distinguished career. The depth of feeling in this recording is beautifully expressed. Fadograph from a Yestern Scene is a tribute to Barber’s interest in James Joyce. This is a later work when the composer was living as a recluse and composed little. The inspiration for this short piece is Finnegan’s Wake. It is a quiet, impressionistic work, commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony, and was the last orchestra piece that Barber completed. This is a remarkable disc that anyone interested in the music of Samuel Barber will want to have. Marin Alsop has proven to be a remarkable interpreter of Berber’s music and her series of recordings with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra will be the ones that all newcomers are compared against.
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Leap into a fantastically monstrous world where hijinks become high art, curfews and chores vanish from sight, and a wacky, irrepressible monster can become your best friend! Eleven-year-oldBrian (Fred Savage, “The Wonder Years”) knows that there’s a monster under his bed. And when he sets a trap for ithe captures an experience beyond his wildest dreams! Led by Maurice (Howie Mandel), a horned, blue-green prankster extraordinaire, Brian discovers the vast subterranean hideout of the “Little Monsters”and the best friendship he’s ever had. But soon, Brian realizes he’ll have to shut the door on this dream come true…or risk the nightmare of becoming a Little Monster himself!
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Customer Review: Good flick
Bought it for my younger brother, as it was a favorite of mine and my older brothers. Features Howie with horns and ratty clothes, not a suit and beautiful women.
Customer Review: kids movie
I bought this movie years ago for my children, and they loved it. I was pleased to find it again on Amazon, so I could purchase it for my nephews. It’s an enjoyable movie for adults and kids. My youngest nephew who is usually afraid of certain movies loved this one.
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If you have not noticed it lately…Pirates are hot!! So, don’t be left out in the cold! This new cutlass sword has everything a brave pirate needs to fight those angry mutants. Equipped with a 29 1/4″ blade constructed from steel with an authentic aged finish. The classic black handle is accented with cast zinc guard and pommel. The wooden scabbard features a cast metal throat with pirate emblem. 38″ overall
Price: $75.00
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Roy Williams signed Wilson Official NFL Duke Game football. This was signed at our Private Signing and comes with a Schwartz Sports certificate of authenticity (COA) original of which was signed by him, photo of him signing, and matching tamper-proof holograms.
Price: $320.00
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