Customer Reviews

American Adagios

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Many of the pieces of music on this disc are masterpieces and all are played to perfection.Barber's Adagio appears twice:in orchestral and choral versions,and the Agnus Dei choral is given loving treatment by the Robert Shaw festival singers.The familiar but never tiring Shaker variations of Copland and the exquisite Lullabye for strings of Gershwin are two quintessential slices of Americana performed by the Cincinnati Pops under Eric Kunzel.The most beautiful work of the collection may be the Anhran from flute concerto by Christopher Rouse.This little piece may find its way on many recordings in the coming years.With all around excellent performances and gorgeous sound this disc is definitely a keeper.

This CD is amazing. The form and melodies are soft, beautiful, and relaxing. The artists featured cross different time periods in contemporary classical music. The variety of composers features a span of American music not usually seen paired together. The Thomas Canning alone is worth purchasing this CD. A definite must for any classical enthusiest or someone just looking for a CD to soothe the soul. This CD is adagios at their best!

I bought this disk to get Barber's Adagio for Strings. The entire disk is a contemplatively blissful experience. I don't want to meet the person for whom the "Agnus Dei" based on Barber's Adagio doesn't open the cosmos. I'm online ordering six more copies for my wife to give to friends.

I am playing the Adagio for Strings by Barber in my orchestra and it is an absolutely moving piece. I watch the film Platoon now every weekend just because the Barber is so amazing to listen to. The Agnus Dei is great too and so are all the other pieces. A fantastic CD that is so much more than a few pieces for the orchestra.

Adagios may be slower pieces, but this CD is definitely not simple background music. The tenderness of the Gershwin "Lullaby" and Barber's haunting "Adagio" demand your attention. This is music that soars and takes the listener along.

The cover for the CD is accurate. Beauty is quiet as well as fast. The artists and the recording dates are an interesting mix. Wonderful. Of course, when my high school teacher told me, years ago, that the Barber Adagio for strings was all about sex, I became an instant admirer of Barber. He was partially wrong. It is about life and the emotion of it all, as well.