Ancient Tower: Poetry of Rilke

Robert Lepley, Robert Benford Lepley | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 14, 1996)
• Original Release Date: May 14, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002M7P
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #403,318 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Poetry

2. You Darkness, That I Come From

3. Poetry

4. Already the Ripening Barberries Are Red

5. Poetry

6. To Music

7. Poetry

8. My Life Is Not This Steeply Sloping Hour

9. Poetry

10. I Find You in All These Things of the World

11. (Poetry)

12. I Live My Life in Growing Orbits

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Unlistenable"? Definitely Not. . . ., December 6, 2001

By 

ROGER L. FOREMAN (Bath, Maine) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ancient Tower: Poetry of Rilke (Audio CD)

I can understand some people not finding this CD to their liking--it is a bit abstract, both musically and lyrically. It is, however, most definitely not "vocalise" or "unlistenable," as two previous reviewers have stated. The poetry is beautiful--Rilke's visual imagery is bold and striking--and Meryl Streep does him proud with her readings. The vocal arrangements are complicated, repetetive and cyclical at times (I think that's good), and energetic. New York Voices have certainly expanded their repetoire with this CD. It isn't WHAT'S INSIDE, HEARTS OF FIRE, NEGOTIATIONS AND LOVE SONGS, or SING, SING, SING. I love listening to this CD while grading papers or reading. It is an excellent CD and has found its way into my regular rotation in its spot. It's not a car CD (too intimate) or a jam CD (too contemplative) but is a wonderful CD to relax to, be a bit meditative, and clear out my head of its clutter. . . . Unlistenable? Hardly. . . . Everybody's cup of tea? Not likely, either. That's good music--I would be much more concerned if everybody did like it. . . .

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True 5-Star CD, August 12, 2000

By 

Jordan Davis (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ancient Tower: Poetry of Rilke (Audio CD)

I'm amazed that two of the reviewers couldn't connect with this CD, because any listener with an ear will enjoy how even basic major triads are so filled with emotion and intensity that their lack of complexity is completely hidden. Kim Nazarian, the NYV current soprano, does an excellent job of bringing her usual intensity and "bite" to the arrangements. While I believe some tracks are more interesting than others, there can be no mistake that this is a strong album certainly worth purchasing.

Again, we see the New York Voices expanding their repertoire, singing what is certainly not jazz. Their vocal interpretations of these songs is, to say the least, dynamic. The execution of these arrangements is a lesson for all vocal groups, be they choral or jazz-oriented. I highly recommend this intense, yet beautiful interpretation of the poetry of Rainer Maria Wilke.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! New York Voices, November 15, 2007

By 

Morgen L. Stiegler - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ancient Tower: Poetry of Rilke (Audio CD)

This is amazing!!! The New York Voices rock the world again...
What an incredible group..