Tessio [CD-single]

Tessio [CD-single]

Track Listings

1. Tessio

2. Tessio [Moonbootica Remix]

3. Tessio [Akufen Remix]

Tracks:

Toccata And Fugue In D Minor: Toccata in D minor
Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major: Air
Prelude in C major
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major: Allegro
Goldberg Variations: Aria
Sleepers Awake: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Violin Concerto No.1 In A Minor: I Allegro moderato
Jesu, joy of man's desiring
Keyboard Concerto No.4: Allegro: I Allegro
Cello Suite No.3: Bourees I & II: Bourrees I And II
Concerto for Oboe & Violin In C Minor: Adagio
Mass In B minor: Crucifixus
Cello Suite No.1 in G Major: Praeludium
French Suite No.5 in G major: Gigue
Prelude in D Minor
Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major: III Allegro
Matthaus-Passion: St Matthew Passion

Tracks:

Brandenberg Concerto No.2 In F Major: I Allegro
Concerto For 2 Violins In D Minor: II Largo, ma non tanto
Lute Suite In E Major: Prelude
Cantata: Sheep may safely graze
Cello Sonata In G Minor: II Adagio (excerpt)
Italian Concerto In F Major: II Allegro
Weihnachtsoratorium: Pastoral sinfonia
Violin Concerto No.1 In A Minor: II Andante
Partita No.1 In B Flat Major: Gigue
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor: Menuet
Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor: Badinerie
Oboe Concerto In F Major: Siciliano
Brandenberg Concerto No.3 In G Major: I Allegro
Violin Partita No.2 In D Minor: Allemande
Violin Partita No.2 In D Minor: Gigue
Keyboard Concerto No.2 In E Major: I Allegro (excerpt)
Cantata: Sanctify us by thy goodness
Keyboard Concerto No.5 In F Minor: II Largo
Concerto In A Minor: I Allegro

Amazon.com

It is not possible to fit 36 Bach masterpieces on two CDs, so what Essential Bach does is present individual movements from across a range of the composer's work. The anthology is clearly aimed at the newcomer, and the absence of booklet notes to put the music in context is disappointing. We are only given titles, performers, and what films the extracts have been featured in, from Rollerball to The English Patient.

On the plus side, most if not all of the music is instantly recognizable, by melody if not by name. Everything from the Brandenburg Concertos to "Air on a G String" to the B Minor Mass and St. Matthew Passion is represented. Performances range from 1960 to 1993, encompassing both early instrument and modern orchestra interpretations by a wide variety of forces, including Sir Neville Marriner with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and Raymond Leppard leading the English Chamber Orchestra. Given such diversity the result is unavoidably a patchwork, albeit one made from the finest materials, and as such is perhaps best treated as a sampler to aid exploration of the vast legacy of one of the very greatest composers who ever lived. --Gary S. Dalkin, Amazon.co.uk

Customer Reviews:

so amazing .......2006-06-14

I love this kind of playing. this is my favorite classical cd.

Essential Bach is OK.......2005-09-29

This is a good basic primer. A true Bach lover might find a better selection/orchestra.

Excellent collection of mostly recognizeable music.......2005-03-18

LOVE LOVE LOVE this 2-CD set. I bought I a awhile back and have enjoyed it very much. My toddler likes it too. I think it's a great value for the money and may have to get another copy if this one wears out.

Exquisite Essential Bach.......2005-02-01

Value and exquisite sampler of Bach on two CD's at an affordable price. Recorded by the likes primarily of Academy of the St. Martin-in-the-fields, Chicago Sympony, Boston Symphony, English Chamber Orchestra and with virtuoso performers as William Bennett, Heinz Hollinger, Pepe Romero, and Wolfgang Rubsam, one gets treated to wonderful Bach exerpts of all his fantastic breath and depth of chamber, symphony and choral works.

One will have to go to other places to find background on these marvelous compositions as the liner notes only list perfomer and date recorded.

Good.......2004-07-13

This is a good album but for information on real choral music visit www.freewebs.com/bachster67/

Average customer rating:

Uplifting
An Excellent Bargain-priced CD!!
Better than a dab of Imperial margarine
One of my best CDs

Baroque Trumpet Concertos

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Trumpet Concertos
Mozart: Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4
Wynton Marsalis - Baroque Music for Trumpet
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 1-4; Neville Marriner; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 5 & 6/Orchestral Suite No. 1; Neville Marriner; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

ASIN: B00000J90I
Release Date: 1999-06-15

Tracks:

Concerto For Trumpet, Strings & Basso Continuo In D Major: I. Allegro
Concerto For Trumpet, Strings & Basso Continuo In D Major: II. Andante
Concerto For Trumpet, Strings & Basso Continuo In D Major: III. Allegro
Concerto For Trumpet, Strings & Basso Continuo In C Minor: I. Grave
Concerto For Trumpet, Strings & Basso Continuo In C Minor: II. Allegro
Concerto For Trumpet, Strings & Basso Continuo In C Minor: III. Andante
Concerto For Trumpet, Strings & Basso Continuo In C Minor: IV. Vivace
Concerto For 2 Trumpets, Strings & Basso Continuo In C Major, RV.537: I. Allegro
Concerto For 2 Trumpets, Strings & Basso Continuo In C Major, RV.537: II. Largo
Concerto For 2 Trumpets, Strings & Basso Continuo In C Major, RV.537: III. Allegro
Concerto For Trumpet, Violin, Strings & Basso Continuo In B-Flat, RV.548: I. Allegro
Concerto For Trumpet, Violin, Strings & Basso Continuo In B-Flat, RV.548: II. Largo
Concerto For Trumpet, Violin, Strings & Basso Continuo In B-Flat, RV.548: III. Allegro
Concerto For Trumpet, 2 Oboes, Strings & Basso Continuo In D Major: I. Allegro
Concerto For Trumpet, 2 Oboes, Strings & Basso Continuo In D Major: II. Grave
Concerto For Trumpet, 2 Oboes, Strings & Basso Continuo In D Major: III. Aria (Andante)
Concerto For Trumpet, 2 Oboes, Strings & Basso Continuo In D Major: IV. Vivace
Concerto For Trumpet, Oboe, Strings & Basso Continuo In C, RV.534: I. Allegro
Concerto For Trumpet, 2 Oboes, Strings & Basso Continuo In D Major: II. Largo
Concerto For Trumpet, 2 Oboes, Strings & Basso Continuo In D Major: III. Allegro
Concerto Grosso For 6 Trumpets, Strings & Basso Continuo In D Major: I.
Concerto Grosso For 6 Trumpets, Strings & Basso Continuo In D Major: II. Adagio
Concerto Grosso For 6 Trumpets, Strings & Basso Continuo In D Major: III. Vivace
Concerto For Trumpet, Oboe, Strings & Basso Continuo In C, RV.534: I. (Allegro)
Concerto For Trumpet, Oboe, Strings & Basso Continuo In C, RV.534: II. Adagio
Concerto For Trumpet, Oboe, Strings & Basso Continuo In C, RV.534: III. Presto

Customer Reviews:

Uplifting .......2006-11-15

I love this CD. The music is very uplifting. If you love Baroque Music then you can't go wrong with this CD. Great Price and Value.

An Excellent Bargain-priced CD!!.......2002-02-13

I originally purchased this disc as an EMI Classics Red Line release (I think I paid $5.99 for it). It was a steal then, and remains so today on the Seraphin line (simple a reissue of the same EMI Red Line release).

Maurice Andre is a fantastic trumpet player, and he simply shines on this recording (featuring the Academy of St. Martins on the Field under Sir Neville Marriner). Bargain-priced CDs tend to get the proverbial bum rap, but Seraphin (as usual) offers a first-rate recording that can compete with any full-priced release. I've listened to this disc at least 20 times, and I never tire of it. Andre and Marriner bring to life these works, some by lesser-known composers (like Stolzel, Telemann and Torelli). I can't think of a better introduction to these underrated Baroque artists (with the exception of Sony's 'Baroque in Italy' CD, which sadly is now out-of-print, too).

This recording, as with so many others, will not be available forever. Given the quality of the recording and beauty of the pieces, I strongly recommend purchasing this disc before it, too, goes out-of-print. It's a great disc at a great price, and would be a welcomed addition to any Classical music collection.

Better than a dab of Imperial margarine.......2001-03-01

This is a great feel-good record. Music to reign by.

The Stölzel concerto for four instrumental choirs is a particular gem, a great piece to cue up and wake up in the morning to. There is nothing particularly deep or heavy here. All of these pieces are light, in major keys. They are well recorded and well played.

One of my best CDs.......2001-01-07

This CD is just a delight. If you enjoy Baroque, you will find this CD one of your favorites. It has a pleasant register and a lightness that is a pleasure to any ear. An excellent value.

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Britten, ECO

Average customer rating:

Bach for Aristocrats
ladida, ladida
Authentic - In The Sense of True Authenticity
Excellent Bach
Good modern recording

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Britten, ECO
Johann Sebastian Bach , Benjamin Britten , English Chamber Orchestra , Neville Marriner , Ifor James , Peter Graeme , Anthony Randall , Richard Adeney , David Mason , Philip Ledger , Norman Knight , Christopher Hogwood , Carmel Kaine , Nicholas Kraemer , Tess Miller , William Bennett , and Emanuel Hurwitz
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Complete Webern
Bach: Toccata & Fugue in D minor & other favorite organ works
A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations (1955 & 1981)
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos (Complete)
Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 35-41

ASIN: B00000425M
Release Date: 1995-05-16

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: ll Adagio
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: lll Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: lV Menuetto: Trio l
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: V Polacca: Trio ll
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 In F Major, BWV 1047: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 In F Major, BWV 1047: ll Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No.2 In F Major, BWV 1047: lll Allegro assai
Brandenburg Concerto No.3 In G Major, BWV 1048: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.3 In G Major, BWV 1048: ll Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Major, BWV 1049: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Major, BWV 1049: ll Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Major, BWV 1049: lll Presto

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major, BWV 1050: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major, BWV 1050: ll Affettuoso
Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major, BWV 1050: lll Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: l Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: ll Adagio ma non Troppo
Brandenburg Concerto No.6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: lll Allegro
Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D Minor (from BWV 1060): l Allegro
Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D Minor (from BWV 1060): ll Adagio
Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D Minor (from BWV 1060): lll Allegro
Concerto For flute And Strings In G Minor (From BWV 1056): l Allegro
Concerto For flute And Strings In G Minor (From BWV 1056): ll Largo
Concerto For flute And Strings In G Minor (From BWV 1056): lll Presto

Amazon.com

Benjamin Britten's Bach is a "middle-of-the-road" version of these delightful works. They offer no startling departures from the Baroque style favored in the 1960s, but are ripe, polished performances with a fearless trumpet soloist in No. 2, and outstanding flute and violin solos throughout. Modern instruments and moderate tempos may seem stodgy these days, but there's integrity in Britten's music-making and this set, recorded in 1968, still sounds fresh, easily holding its own against more recent versions. As an added attraction, London includes concerti for violin and oboe, and flute and strings, both done in the 1970s with Neville Marriner leading light and springy readings of distinction. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Bach for Aristocrats.......2007-07-08

Britten's Brandenburgs are not hell-bent for leather, nor "historically informed", but very well-played in a grand and stately manner suggestive of a great composer respectfully conducting the work of another from a different era. The remastered analog recording from 1969 is excellent with a warm bloom surrounding the intimate soundscape.

I play these for a change-up on music that can become overly familiar, but that almost no one doesn't like at least once in a while.

ladida, ladida.......2007-03-09

Why is it that French horns can never play in tune with each other or the rest of the orchestra? Why, Why, Why!? If not for the french horns, this would be a very nice recording. These concertos are much cooler with the original instumentation, tho.

Authentic - In The Sense of True Authenticity.......2005-03-28

I am often bothered by those that think baroque music must be played on period instruments, and likewise by those that choose Mozart and Beethoven to be played in "authentic" means as well. Yes, the time period instruments do provide a different sound, but isn't music about the life that comes from the music, not the means of making the music? Music moves us not because we hear a strad or period orchestra wonderfully vibrating, but because we connect with the lines and melody of the sound being produced. These performances tastefully render the Brandenburg Concertos. They might not be sprightly, hold down Bach's instructions to a tee, or be played on period instruments, but they do convey Bach's written notes with wit and integrity, and with Bach especially, that's really all that is necessary for a moving performance. Let the music speak for itself, and stand alone - and in my opinion, that's all that is necessary here to create a wonderful effect.

Excellent Bach.......2004-07-02

Benjamin Britten and the English Chamber Orchestra do an excellent job of bringing out the "baroqueness" or the brandenburg concertos. I especially enjoyed the 6th concerto (what viola player wouldn't?), but I thought the 1st movement was a little slow, and a bit too legatoish, but i loved it none the less. The 3rd con. was also nice (3 viola parts- yeah!). I also liked the bonus flute and violin/oboe concertos. The flute concerto (origianally a harpsichord concerto and then a violin concerto) does have some shloops in the 1st and 3rd movements, in which case i prefer it being preformed on violin.

Overall, an outstanding recording that i highly recommend!!!!!!

Good modern recording.......2004-06-14

Some would say this recording isn't authentic because it uses modern instruments rather than period instruments. However, the English Chamber Orchestra is a wonderful ensemble, and Britten shows a real understanding for Bach's music. They create a very good Baroque sound with their modern instruments.

There are some movements (mvt 1 of concerto 1, mvt 2 of concerto 3, for example) that sound a bit heavy, either because of tempo or the intrumentation. They don't have the light, lively sound I think Bach intended.

Though there are better recordings of the Brandenburgs, this is an excellent collection for someone who wants to save a little money.

Tess/Le Locataire (The Tenant)
Average customer rating:

Brilliant Underappreciated Composer

Almost Perfect

2 great soundtracks from 2 great movies

Tess/Le Locataire (The Tenant)
Philippe Sarde
Manufacturer: Wea International
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The End of the Affair: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1999 Film)

To Kill A Mockingbird: Original Motion Picture Score (1996 Re-recording)

Tess (Special Edition)

The Fountain

Pride & Prejudice

ASIN: B0000501B6
Release Date: 2002-07-16

Tracks:

Tess
Visite Chez Les d'Uberville
Fraise
Tess et l'Enfance
Naissance de l'Amour
Viol
Cimeti
Tess Retrouve Angel
Procession
Sration
Aprle Meurtre
Retour d'Angel
Final
Cour d'Immeuble (Grique Dt)
Apparitions
Solitude
Trelkovsky
Appel du Verre
En Souvenir de Madame Choule
Mmpsycose
Conspiration
Locataire

Album Description

French only release featuring two movies of Roman Polanski, 'Tess' & 'Le Locataire' on one CD. Includes 10 page booklet with liner notes and color photos. 2000 release.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant Underappreciated Composer.......2002-03-13

Finally, music from two of Polanski's finest films by the brilliant and under-appreciated composer Phillipe Sarde ("Quest for Fire", "The Bear")is available for the collector. The music from "Tess" is deeply romantic and filled with melancholy. It seems almost futile to attempt to descibe it. The haunting score from "The Tenant" is vexing with mystery and subtle horror. The use of Ben Franklin's "glass organ" (or is it "harmonica"?)will send shivers up your spine! This disc is a must for Polanski and Sarde fans. I only wish they would release remastered versions of the films on DVD.

Almost Perfect.......2002-02-11

I was quite enchanted to find a copy of Tess' soundtrack available on CD. The music is as rich and memorable as it was back in 1980, when I first saw and fell in love with the film. The only thing stopping this album from receiving five stars is that I was disappointed not to find the alternate version of the film's main theme that slthough not in the movie, was on the LP soundtrack.

Also those looking to replace their old LP's need note that the track sequences on this CD differ from the orig. LP version and the titles of the tracks are not the same.

Despite these discrepancies, this CD is well worth having and its packaging is particularly fine.

2 great soundtracks from 2 great movies.......2001-06-13

Philippe Sarde composed the music of 3 Polanski films, THE TENANT (1976), TESS (1979), and PIRATES (1985). Though PIRATES is not available, these 2 soundtracks are more than enough, in my opinion, to cement Sarde's reputation as a genius film composer. He fills the mantle of Polanski's erstwhile composer Krzystof Komeda (who died quite suddenly in the late '60s) admirably well. Though nothing like Komeda's music from a stylistic standpoint, the proper feel is attained barely in the first strains of THE TENANT's opening title theme. The foreboding cellos, the sinister glass harmonica, the melancholy, slightly goofy clarinet and xylophone (the former instrument, according to Sarde's own liner notes, is meant to represent the main character, Trelkowski) all set up the perfect atmosphere, complementing the movie succinctly; it's scary and slightly comical (in a Theatre-of-Cruelty sort of way). And as far as TESS is concerned, Sarde writes that upon hearing the first pieces he wrote for that film, Polanski had tears in his eyes and told him, "I'm very happy, you know." A great composer offering 2 soundtracks to 2 great movies (one of which, THE TENANT, is my very favorite). Excellent liner notes, also; they contain both the English and the original French texts. Nice packaging, with stills from both films.

Bach: The Art of Fugue / Musical Offering

Average customer rating:

repetition, glorious repetition
Very good, but why not go for the best instead?
A reasonable, but not outstanding, 2 CD set of Bach
A rich variety of instrumentation
LIKE A TEXTBOOK --VERY INFORMED-NOT BAD, BUT A LITTLE DRY

Bach: The Art of Fugue / Musical Offering

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Improvisation | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Bach: The Art of Fugue; Musical Offering
Beethoven: Complete Concertos Vol. 2
Bach: Complete Partitas
Mozart: Don Giovanni / Maazel (1979 soundtrack) [RMST]
Bach: Goldberg Variations

ASIN: B0000041A6
Release Date: 1994-10-17

Tracks:

The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 1
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 2
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 3
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 4
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Canon alla Ottava
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 5
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 6, a 4, im Stile francese
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Canon alla Decima, Contrapuncto alla Terza
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 7, a 4, per Augmentationem et Diminutionem
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 8, a 3
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Canon alla Duodecima in Contrapuncto alla Quinta
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 9, a 4, alla Duodecima
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 10, a 4, alla Decima
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Canon per Augmentationem in contrario motu
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 11, a 4
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 13, a 3 (rectus)
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 12, a 4 (rectus)
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Fuga a 2 Clav.

Tracks:

The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 13, a 3 (inversus)
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Contrapunctus 12, a 4 (inversus)
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Alio modo Fuga a 2 Clav.
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080: Fuga a 3 Soggetti (unfinished)
Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Ricercar 1 (a 3)
Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Canon perpetuus super Thema Regium
Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Canones diversi super Thema Regium: Canon 1 a 2 (Canon cancricans)
Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Canones diversi super Thema Regium: Canon 2 a 2 violini in unisono
Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Canones diversi super Thema Regium: Canon 3 a 2 per motum contrarium
Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Canones diversi super Thema Regium: Canon 5 a 2 (Canon circularis per tonos)
Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Sonata For Flute, Violin And Continuo: Largo
Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Sonata For Flute, Violin And Continuo: Allegro moderato
Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Sonata For Flute, Violin And Continuo: Andante larghetto
Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Sonata For Flute, Violin And Continuo: Allegro
Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Sonata For Flute, Violin And Continuo: Canon a 2 quaerendo invenietis (Canon contrarium stricte reversum)
Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Sonata For Flute, Violin And Continuo: Canon a 4
Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Sonata For Flute, Violin And Continuo: Canon perpetuus
Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Canones diversi super Thema Regium: Canon 4 a 2 per augmentationem, contrario motu
Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Canones diversi super Thema Regium: Fuga canonica in epidiapente
Musical Offering, BWV 1079: Canones diversi super Thema Regium: Ricercar 2 a 6

Amazon.com essential recording

There are many apocryphal stories in the classical-music world, but the one in which Frederick the Great challenged Bach to improvise a six-part fugue on a theme of the king's own invention is true, and The Musical Offering was, after a period of further reflection, the result. As with all the works of Bach's later years, the work is both great art and a "teaching piece," which shows everything that he thought could be done with the king's theme. The Trio Sonata based on the theme is the only major piece of chamber music from Bach's last decades in Leipzig, and that makes the work and essential cornerstone of any Bach collection. This performance, led by Neville Marriner, is both polished and lively, and very well recorded. At a "twofer" price, coupled with The Art of Fugue, it's the preferred version of the work on modern instruments. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

repetition, glorious repetition.......2006-12-31

An acquaintance of mine once overheard the sound of Bach emanating from my computer, grimaced slightly, and said 'it's repetition'.

Precisely. Though she thought she was making a criticism.

J.S. Bach explored creation via the medium of music. In overturning and resettling the soil given to him by musical convention and his own fecund mind, he understood himself to be exploring the possibilities of God's good earth.

He produced no more repetitious works than the Art of Fugue and Musical Offering. But ah, the glory!

Because Bach was not specific about the instrumentation he desired for one or both of these works, Sir Neville Mariner and the Academy of St-Martin-in-the-Field, those always trustworthy custodians of all things baroque, give us this fine recording of a number of combinations of strings as well as of organ and harpsichord.

These are not pieces for random listening. One needs to sit and soak in the seemingly endless creative moves that Bach could make with just a few themes. It is endlessly repetitious and ceaselessly fascinating, perhaps a bit like love itself. Indeed it is almost entrancing.

In fact Bach *was* loving several objects as he exercised his masterful, musical intuition. He was loving God, for at the end of each manuscript he penned the initials 'S.D.G' ('Soli Deo Gloria' = 'To God alone be the glory'). He was loving the very creation he was exploring. And, professional considerations notwithstanding, he was loving those sympathetic listeners who for centuries would find themselves amazed at his craft.

'The Craft of the Fugue', after all, is arguably the better translation of 'Die Kunst der Fuge' than the more conventional 'The Art of Fugue', though at any rate Bach's craft was that of an artisan who also happened to understand the constituent elements of his craftsmanship with exceeding guile.

As one listens to this magnificent music, it is possible to believe - one must almost say to glimpse the reality - that God is his heaven, that this good earth is indeed a beautiful thing, and that sympathy on the part of the listener moves one a step or two towards conviction on these counts.

Very good, but why not go for the best instead?.......2005-11-21

Of the five CDs of J.S. Bach's The Art Of The Fugue recently acquired, this is my least favorite. It is good, but but lacks the precision and spark of Karl Munchinger's direction (see ASIN B000050GK0). I tend to find Marriner's direction "creamy"; perfect for a piece like Beethoven's Eroica symphony, but not right for this Bach. Also, the mixture of different instruments from piece to piece breaks up the continuity.

The Canadian Brass version (ASIN B0000026NK) is excellent but is difficult to listen to in one sitting unless you love brass. If you want a masterfully conceived and executed version of The Art Of Fugue consisting of nothing but brass, this is the CD for you.

The Hans Fagius all organ version (ASIN B00004YYRV) is also excellent, but I personally tend to find the all organ program a bit hard to take in one sitting. And it doesn't have the contrasts of multiple-instrument versions. Of course, this far more likely historically accurate to Bach's time than the all brass version.

Other reviewers have extolled the Emerson Quartet version of the Fugues (ASIN B00008O8B3). It's really good, but not as good as the Karl Munchinger one (ASIN B000050GK0). It's not as precise and rigid. I like the crisp, controlled almost machine produced sound of the Munchinger version.

The Karl Munchinger version is the best for both an introduction to Bach's late Fugues (and other pieces) and for a sublime listening experience. I recommend getting the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester version (ASIN B000050GK0). Why go for good or excellent when you can get the best instead?

A reasonable, but not outstanding, 2 CD set of Bach.......2005-09-20

This is a good, but certainly not great, set of performances of two of Bach's contrapunctal works. Why only three stars? Well, it is a bargin, and there is nothing glaringly wrong, but there are just better recordings of both of these works available. If you are really on a very tight budget, you might buy it, but if you are really into Bach or want to learn, skip this and spend a bit more money.

In fact, if you look around you can get better recordings on the cheap. For the Musical Offering try Leonhardt and for the Art of the Fugue there are numerous better sets, for instance the Gould keyboard recording, or the Jordi Savall peformance that includes both of the works.

A rich variety of instrumentation.......2005-08-28

This last, highly-systematic composition of Bach was his summation of the art of contrapunctal composition. It is even recorded in history that the well-aged Bach - then blind - temporarily regained part of his eyesight (ruined from a desperate operation) to pen the final illuminations of his art. While he died before finishing it, what he left is some of the most intricate, intelligent and daunghting music of the counterpoint style. Each movement highlights one or more different compositional techniques in counterpoint. Additionally, the Musical Offering is another major, late fugal composition with its own fascinating history.

As Bach did not document the scoring for The Art of Fugue, performances range from solo keyboard instruments (organ, harpsichord, piano) to string quartet to wind ensemble to brass arrangements to full orchestra to whatever. But what about this varied orchestral performance by the ASMF? I think other reviewers made a good conclusion: it is a solid CD to "sample" the various instrument combinations that are possible for this fugal giant of a composition. While purists may perhaps find this variery of scoring on this CD here overly accomodating to keep the music "more interesting," it probably is an advantage for the listener new to the music or for those who just like variety sometimes. Personally, I liked the approach here with the wide variety of sounds and textures of the harpsichord, organ, string quartet, flutes and full orchestra. The sound quality on this CD is very good - full bodied with an attractive resonance but without losing clarity of the individual voices.

Some may cite a lack of emotional quality as a weakness of Marriner's conducting here. This can be heard at times but mostly only when comparing to another orchestra. But overall the music is quite good and should please most. Penguin Guide gave this set a top 3/3 stars citing both "a style of playing that is profoundly satisfying with finely judged tempi, unmannered phrasing and resilient rhythms ... though some of the playing is a trifle bland." Well said I think and not an over-endorsement or under-endorsement.

For an orchestral performance with more passionate and emotive undertones, look to the Stuttgart Orchestra conducted by Munchinger - a fine recording that also gets high marks. That set contains the same two works and is quite wonderful to hear with more complex sonorities and more artful building of the fugal inter-twining. Just compare the first two clips and you will see how the ASMF version is more "unmannered" while the Munchinger/Stuttgart CO performance breathes much more emmotional drama into the music. Other performaces to consider are: The Emerson, Delme or Keller String Quartets and the Stardust (wind) Quartet - the latter who play on recorders of varying sizes and depth of tone that sound together not unlike the pipes of an organ. But, for a wide variety of sound, the Marriner set here is quite nice. Regardless of what performance you like the most, enjoy this legendary music.

LIKE A TEXTBOOK --VERY INFORMED-NOT BAD, BUT A LITTLE DRY.......2003-05-29

This cd is best for those of us who are unfamiliar with Bach's music and want to get to know these two works and buy an affordable cd at the same time. As a general introduction it is great and very educational--the art of fugue is played on various instruments to drive home the fact that the music was never scored for specific instruments. Each contrapunctus is given a decent and fair showing.

Marriner however seems to be most comfortable when he is conducting lighter, airier stuff like Mozart divertimentos (some of the best mozart around is conducted my marriner in my opinion) Bach is a little above him i think.You can tell that he has deep respect for this music by the way he handles it--but i think he has trouble finding the soul or emotion of this music. Put another way he demonstrates masterfully the intellectual side of Bach, but fails at capturing the emotion and feeling of Bach. And dont tell me that there is no emotion to Bach's music--because i know better having heard some of his other pieces.

To be fair though it should be said that The Art of Fugue and to some extent the Musical Offering are two of Bach's most abstract and "conceptual" works so it is no wonder that one might have trouble capturing all its dimensions on cd. I have difficulty sitting through this cd (although i have done it several times) at times the performance comes off as being a little dry and rote--almost as if one was playing an exercise or an etude rather than a work proper. It is best in small pieces. The fugal nature of the piece can at times make one think one is hearing the same thing over and over due to the slower tempo and conducting style of Marriner. In reality however there are many different things going on in each fugue despite the fact that they are all based on one theme. Close listening to the cd helps to develop a sensitive ear as you try try to distinguish what is going on in each fugue that sets it apart from the others (analysis).

As a final word, this cd is not bad-it s a good showing, but its definitely not the best perf either.In my opinion-this cd is best heard in small chunks. Its great if you want an introduction to this work, its great if you want to save money. Its great if you like your bach simple-- except for two harpsichords it doesnt use period instruments--but it does use period performance (no vibrato, small ensemble) Its also great if you like to "dissect" your Bach as you hear it and see the analytical side to this music. If however you would like to hear the emotional side to these very intellectual and somewhat abstract pieces try the Munchinger. Also do not miss the Stardust Quartet interpretation on recorders--it sounds as if it were a totally different piece--very airy and beautiful rather than heavy and concrete.

In general i would say if you dont know these two pieces by Bach start with this and once you feel comfortable and familiar with the piece check out some of the other interpretations and see how they differ and which you like best.

Return to the Breath
Average customer rating:

Autumn's Breath of Fresh Air

Beautiful music...

Beauty never fades...

Return to the Breath
Autumn
Manufacturer: Tess
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00004L8DE
Release Date: 2000-03-21

Tracks:

Dakota Odowan
Red
All My Lovers
Lullaby for Marguerite
Knowing
End of the Line
Still Breathing
Shadowgirl
Simple Truth
Trip

Customer Reviews:

Autumn's Breath of Fresh Air.......2001-11-18

Band: Autumn
CD: Return To The Breath (First Pressed Release)
Reviewed by: Mike Ventarola

When it comes to goth bands who make me swoon, Autumn is one that clearly comes to mind. From their remarkable premier recording The Hating Tree to this sophomore release, one just cannot give me too much from this band. One would have to be near dead not to be effected by the soaring vocals of Julie Plante, the passionate guitar playing of Neil McKay or the pulsing bass of Jeff Leyda. Autumn is yet another band that I will run out and purchase without having heard one track from their latest recording simply because I trust their talent and ability to provide quality music.

This CD went to a second pressing because quite frankly some of the folks in the goth scene are way too mentally constipated for words. This initial release opened with an American Indian chant, Dakota Odowan, that seemed to put too many noses out of joint simply because the band delved into something new and veered somewhat away from what folks were used to. Since there was a sizable outcry, the CD was repressed with that first track now removed, with folks losing the essence of inspiration behind the work. However, because of the twitchy people, this pressing is now quite valuable as a collector's item, thank you very much! It worked for Dead Can Dance, so who can blame the band for attempting something different? While discussing collectors items, there is also a rare and limited, elegantly packaged 7" blue vinyl pressing of Even Now and How It Came To Be This Way available from Tess Records (...) that is very reasonably priced for the time being.

It can safely be said that if goth should ever become a national rage the way new wave did in the 80's, Autumn will be heralded for the ability to maintain consistent, sultry, at times sulking, beautiful arrangements. Plante's vocals seem to have come from the school of Chrissie Hynde with that alto range that pierces through the smoke screen of emotional turmoil which refuses to be ignored and is a guaranteed hit maker.

Stylistically, this CD did veer into different territories without losing their trademark sound. A more new wave flavor is evidenced with All My Lovers, mournful violins with Lullaby For Marguerite, a bit of a mid-tempo dance groove with The Knowing, slightly Spanish flavored rhythm with The End of The Line , cold electro landscape with Still Breathing, foreboding tones with Shadowgirl, pensive and introspective with A Simple Truth, and church like and forbidding with The Trip. This dalliance into new arrangements demonstrated the remarkable talent of this trio to take any style and sound, recreate it for a gothic audience and still manage to keep the listener enraptured. One cannot help but become more impressed with the talent of this band than ever before.

Somehow, the swirling guitars mesmerize and hypnotize us while Plante caresses her notes and pulls out layers of vulnerability that we can identify with and feel safe with exposing. She gives us the impression that she is like a big sister telling us about life, love and loss and that we need to be mindful of lest we get burned in the same way. The only negative thing I can think of is the fact that the cover is a bit light, which made reading the song titles on the back cover rather difficult...damn these elder goth eyes! However, all the song titles and their lyrics are clearly evident on the inside of the cover fold out, so they are once again redeemed.

It should come as no surprise to other Autumn fans why I adore this band so much. However, for those new to the scene or unsure of which CD's are worthy of your hard earned dollar, this band delivers the goods every time.(...) Delve into the music of this band and forever be enraptured by Autumn's harvest.

Beautiful music..........2001-06-01

In a day and age when people have deluded themselves into thinking that Marilyn Manson is the pinnacle of goth music culture (when he's anything but), the sound of Autumn is a breath of fresh air. Their first album, "The Hating Tree" showed glimmers of reminscence of a time when goth was an expression of beauty and aggression without being belligerent or mindnumbing, echoing the sound of The Cure's "Pornography" or Joy Division's "Closer," without sounding hacknyed or unoriginal. Now, with "Return to the Breath," Autumn do just what the title suggests, returning to the dynamics of the first album but without sounding rehashed. This album is far more soothing than "The Hating Tree." The first album was hypnotic and aggressive with occasional moments of pure ecstatic beauty. "Return to the Breath" goes in the opposite direction, with more softer songs and a moment or two of sheer gothic angst. My favorite song is "The End of the Line," a short acoustic piece that bring to mind images of nomadic drifters searching for lost love in a barren wasteland of one's heart and soul. Other songs like "Red," "All My Lovers," and "A Letter to Marguerite" are soft, saddening, but beautiful, while "The Trip," "The Knowing," and "Shadowgirl" pierce through the listener's ears with words of both love and lament. From Neil McKay's swirling psychadelic guitar, to Jeff Layda's complimentary bassmanship, to Julie Plante's heavenly operatic voice, this is true gothic music at its finest, a lovely testament to a genre that has been bastardized by money-groping posers like Manson. If you are looking for music that read poetry to the soul and enlightens the senses, music with a modern twist yet a classical edge, romantic but not melodramatic, Autumn is the band for you. "Return to the Breath" will not disappoint.

Beauty never fades..........2000-07-13

Autumn's first album certainly captivated me with its wall of swirling psychedelic guitars and operatic vocals a la Julie Plante's beautiful voice. "Return to the Breath" is aptly named as it is a return to the sound of the first album. The lyrics are very poetic and beautiful to listen to through Julie's sometimes bittersweet voice amidst phasing backdrops that remind me of The Cure's early material from albums like "Faith" and "Seventeen Seconds." There is not much progression into new territory on this album, not stylistically, but that is hardly a deterrent to enjoying the music. Autumn have found a sound that they are good at, and they stick to it with this album. There is a romanticism present in their style that entrances the soul. Songs that really caught me are the more well-known ones like "Red" and "Shadowgirl," but I really enjoyed hearing the songs "Lullaby for Marguerite," "Still Breathing," and "All My Lovers." They are my above-all favorites on this album. Again, the sound is not much different from "The Hating Tree," but when one hears enchanting, lovely music, one can not get enough of it, and the music on both of these albums are nothing short of absolute beauty. If you are a fan of romantic gothic music, this band is for you!

Average customer rating:

The Second You Read This
A HOT SWEDISH EURO VOCAL TRANCE NUMBER!!!

The Second You Sleep
Tess
Manufacturer: Robbins Ent. Llc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Dance & DJ | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Be My World
Everytime We Touch
See You Again
Let Me Be Your Fantasy
Only If I

ASIN: B0009I7NW6
Release Date: 2005-05-17

Tracks:

Radio Version (Silverroom) (3:33)
Extended (Silverroom) (7:29)
Antillas Remix (7:33)
Interphace Remix (6:42)
Remix (Silverroom) (5:40)

Customer Reviews:

The Second You Read This.......2005-11-10

I gotta say that this single is by far one of her greatest songs ever. The lyrics are very easy to learn and she has such beautiful voice. 5 Stars, and her next single Breathless is just as good as this.

A HOT SWEDISH EURO VOCAL TRANCE NUMBER!!!.......2005-07-12

Tess is Back! The Second You Sleep is Tess's first single from her forthcoming import album (not titled yet). The song has a wonderful intro that builds up to a slammin euro jam! If you like euro music then this track is a must have. Includes some very cool remixes (especially the Anitllas Remix...which brings the track up to a whole another level!!!) Also check out her next import CD single, "Breathless"...An amazing song...that certainly does leave you breathless...again with some incredible remixes...(especially the Vasco and Millboy Remix...Spectacular euro beauty!!!) Run to your nearest store or go online and BUY IT!!!!

Average customer rating:

A truely terrific album
Pretty good...
Oh my Goth
Great cd
WHAT A FIND

A Dark Moon Night
Shroud
Manufacturer: Neue Asthetik/Tess
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Long Ago and Far Away
Terra Regina
Insidious
Bread and Jam for Frances
Some Kind of Strange

ASIN: B00000GWV2
Release Date: 1999-01-01

Tracks:

Pixy - Led
Where the Wind Goes
Madeline
And Then
Day and Night
Roses
Prophecy
Another Time
Let Me hold On
Apology
Cup

Amazon.com

Though the Shroud have the band name and the cover art of gloomy, Gothic dark wavers, this record's sound pulses with uptempo love songs and velvety rockers. Engaging in a straight-up, guitar-driven way, the music is simultaneously accessible and mysterious, like familiar surroundings suddenly darkened in a candle-lit power outage. Though well-crafted and produced to a high sheen, it's also still edgy and passionate. Take the verses of "Pixy-Led": Lydia Fortner's vocals cascade through a melancholic guitar line, giving way to the big chords and enticingly teasing keyboard riff in the chorus. Elsewhere, the arpeggiated guitar work and organic atmospherics of "And Then" almost sound like a forgotten Moody Blues B-side. Still, this is more Siouxie Sioux than classic-rock homage. The baroque feel and swirling vocals of songs like "Let Me Hold On" conjure up images of a romanticized past, lavish and ornate as a four-poster bed covered with rose petals. --Matthew Cooke

Album Description

Beautifull melancholic female vocals combined with dark and slow ethereal music

Customer Reviews:

A truely terrific album.......2003-03-24

Not cold, this album is notibly dark but so very warm and refreshing. The voice; a smokey hybrid of Stevie Nix and Gitane Demone. Lydia Fortners voice has a smooth and absolute sound. The music is so very reminding of "The Cures" "Disentegration" on the way to "Wish" being that the guitar effects are so very similar and the pace is mellow and developing. "A Dark Moon Night" is an album that keeps giving all the way through, very well balanced with intelligent lyrics wise in mysticism that are further displayed on "In the Garden".(the shrouds follow up album which is also very good) This album is a truley wonderful album, invoking a mood like waves rolling on the beach on a warm night of a quiet red/gold ending summer day. Very entertaining band to listen to. The Shroud are very worthy of thier praise.

Pretty good..........2003-03-22

I like this album, but I don't listen to it as often as others. I enjoy the female vocals and the overall subtle feel of it, but somewhat repititous...

Oh my Goth.......2002-10-28

This is a pretty darn good album.

I have to admit that I was thouroughly underwhelmed on the first few listens. But like all good stuff, after a while I began to think it was OK, then pretty good, now I am sold.

The Shroud combine several talented individuals in creating their unique sound. Lydia Fortner has an extremley talented voice, from the higher note too deep sensous growls. Her versility is well shown by the second track "where the wind goes" which just melts into your ears. The guitars are understated, and rely mainly on Lydias voice to gain effect. This is best comparible to other guitar darkwave bands- maybe like the Cranes with a different vocalist, or perhaps early Cure.

If you like guitar based goth, any darkwave, any shoegazer or even just feel like some mellow sounds this comes recommended. If you are of a more industrial bent- say Collide, Curve or Wench, you may find this a bit too tame, but I think it would suit even you for those "quiet moments".

Great cd.......2002-06-23

This is my favourite cd right now.

I really like this one very much and that's coming from someone who's very picky about "Goth" music.

WHAT A FIND.......2001-02-07

I bought this CD on a whim just from listening to a few clips. When I got it, it stayed in my CD player in my car for over a month straight. The music is haunting and lovely...perfect for nearly any mood you're in. I never tire of the music, the voices and the feelings behind them. The song 'Dark Moon Night' should be dedicated to my ex-husband.

Average customer rating:

Sorry
Another wonderful falling dream..
Goth?
Filled with a dark beauty
Filled with a dark beauty

Long Ago and Far Away
Shroud
Manufacturer: Neue Asthetik/Tess
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

A Dark Moon Night
In the Garden
Terra Regina
Goth Box
Wet Warm Cling - Film Red Velvet Crush

ASIN: B00000HYZ6
Release Date: 1996-02-12

Tracks:

Under a Dark Sky
Tonight
Falling Dream
Wallflower
Ahes In the Wind
Alice
She
Wednesday's Child
Caged Bird
Sulfer Salt and Mercury
Shadow
Long Ago and Far Away

Album Description

"Beautifully melancholic female vocals combines with dark and slow ethereal music.

Customer Reviews:

Sorry.......2001-09-27

The Shrouds first disc just left me kind of wondering. Their follow up was superb but this album had many a hole. Caged Bird is excellent though and well worth the price of the disc, imo. But the rest of the album kind of lacked. I wish I could say something positive about this album besides the fact that Caged Bird is good. But I can't. Total honest truth, start with their follow up then come back and get this one. Her vocals got stronger and the follow up was really sonic and had some great melody. It's not a horrible album, don't get me wrong. But they got much better and I think the consumer should opt for the secodn then the first ;).

Another wonderful falling dream.........2000-12-28

This is a beautiful album, melodic but fresh. Too many goth bands either go for a pounding, dark rock sound, or go totally ethereal. Either extreme gets boring after a while. This band does a little of both, throws in a female lead who sounds properly goth without pretending to be a fallen angel or a vampire queen, and makes the whole thing sound great. 'Falling Dream' is a spacy kind of fantasy in a fairy tale style. 'Alice' is a brilliant rocker with a fresh delivery - sometimes I actually prefer it to the original (if you didn't know, it's an ancient Sisters of Mercy song). A great bunch of songs for those who wish goth music hadn't gotten so vapidly pretentious in the Nineties.

Goth?.......2000-08-31

If you are looking for "Sisters of Mercy" or "BauHaus"- forget it! If you're into Concrete Blond, you shouldn't be disapointed. It may grow on me, but NOT what I expected.

Filled with a dark beauty.......2000-07-14

The diversity of the songs on this album is truly incredible. Each one stands out from the others with its own unique sound, evoking a myriad of emotions ranging from joy to melancholy. "Tonight," an intense yet simple love song, is rife with a dark, heady euphoria, expressed in such lyrics as "no regrets, no turing back, oh throw all caution to the wind". The same intensity is transformed into disappointment in the sorrowful "Shadow," a portrait of unrequited love. "And the rain beats on the window pane, counting the years passing. You never came." The collection has its share of quiet, introspective songs, including a haunting cover of "Alice" and the deliciously morbid "Ashes in the Wind." (I can't begin to describe how much I love this song, with its eerie vocals and surreal imagery. "Gathered on stony steps, we breathe our last whispers of the end." It's one of the Shroud's most melodic songs, and perhaps also the "gothiest".) But there are also more energetic pieces, such as "Caged Bird" and "Sulfur, Salt and Mercury," which seem almost to scintillate with a dark energy. The different styles are well balanced, though. There's a whimsical, almost ethereal quality to all the songs, and the entire album has a vaguely pagan overtone. One can hear many elements of the style later developed in A Dark Moon Night, though there's also a raw quality here which reminds me a little of Switchblade Symphony's Serpentine Gallery.

Filled with a dark beauty.......2000-07-14

This album continues to hold my interest although I've played it countless times. The melodies are beautiful, the lyrics at times inspirational. This is a band which deserves a lot more attention, and an album that I highly recommend.

Rainy Day Assembly
Average customer rating:

saw her live

Showcase for a Hidden Talent

All Grown Up

Rainy Day Assembly
Tess Wiley
Manufacturer: Effanel Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00006JKHG
Release Date: 2002-09-17

Customer Reviews:

saw her live.......2004-01-06

she played Pete's Candy Store in Brooklyn on 1/2/04, with just an acoustic guitar and her voice, and I was whisked away for an hour or so on a beautiful, honest, personal, musical, spiritual journey. bought the CD at the show for the hour-long drive home, and the journey continued. can't stop listening to CD. this review is over, now GET THE CD! i assure you that you'll be finding it worth your while to come back and leave a positive review also

Showcase for a Hidden Talent.......2003-05-14

"Disconnect" on Sixpence's This Beautiful Mess showed signs of the promise to come. After a long journey through the music underground, Tess is back with flawless production and an outstanding array of songs. Her voice is ethereal and unique and often layered to perfectly compliment the guitar work. This singer/songwriter defies comparisons; suffice it to say that while the sound is undeniably soft, her open-faced lyrics and the intricacy of the arrangements give the music a substantial quality so often lacking in music of the genre. An example is near the end of "Something Sweet and Real," where accents of horns are brought in to supplement the basic hook. On many other albums they would be overdone and overbearing, but in this case they merge with the guitar sound to perfection. The album is definitely worth a listen. There are few artists today more deserving of success.

All Grown Up.......2002-09-18

Tess Wiley was in part responsible for the harder edge of Sixpence None the Richer's "This Beautiful Mess". After leaving Sixpence, she went solo, using the names Phantasmic, Splendora, and Tess Wiley and Her Orchestra. Tess has always been a bit wild, (just listen to Phantasmic's cover of Come On Ring Those Bells and you'll understand) and in Sixpence she once blew a fuse at a concert. Some of the lyrics to Tess' earlier works seem almost bitter. But that's understandable, considering her age. Heck, she was 17 when Sixpence recorded TBM.
Well, Tess is all grown up now and since her last release she has moved to Germany and gotten married. Snide, downer Tess is gone, replaced by this downright sophisticated lady who has released one of the most mature albums I've ever heard. Also gone are the old pseudonyms. It's just "Tess Wiley" now, like she's ready to take full responsibility for whatever comes from here on out.
Lucky for Tess, flaws are nonexistant on Rainy Day Assembly.
The fact this album is so much better and more mature than any of Tess' other work is ironic because this album IS all of her older works. She just took a bunch of songs she's already released and added lush instrumentation, better vocals, and subtle lyric changes when necessary. And that's the brilliance of the album. She took the jumbled, disjointed mass of songs she's released in the last 5 years and turned them into an ALBUM. Many of the songs were actually better before than the album verions, but this album must be taken as a whole, and given your full concentration, to be appreciated. To understand the incredible changes these songs (along with Tess herslef for that matter) have undergone you have to stop and think.
Take Untitled for example. This song, actually relatively unchanged from its original verion (an unspectacular ballad on the Sings With Teenagers EP), is the best song I've ever heard. The contrast to its former self is amazing. Originally, the song was OK, maybe a little predictable (oh, look, there's another "Tess explosion" at the end... didn't see THAT coming) with allright vocals on Tess' part, kind of boring at the beginning... But what bothered me most about it was its POTENTIAL. This song could have been great. It seemed like she [made it bad] it up. But now, the album version, with its subtle changes (its slower, has a piano added and some amazing vocals from Tess) is simply spectacular. It's the climactic point of the album. But most improtantly, you can see that it's a song about losing control. While Tess sings about a growing suspicion she has of a boyfriend's former lover, the song grows to a huge explosion of guitars and bass, followed by anguished non-lyrical vocals from Tess to end the song. That stayed the same. But originally the song was too fast, too driving. It still had a sense of control. Now, with almost no driving percussion beat, the song is completely unpredictable and uncontrollable. And the almost nonsensical, but beautiful piano strains following Tess' voice make the song. Thrown in with the guitars at the final climax, they are almost inaudible, but the song is all the better for them.
And that's the story of Rainy Day Assembly after all. It was the subtle changes that made 10 above average indie songs into a brilliant album by a brilliant singer-songwriter.

Music:

Music

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