Customer Reviews

Appalachian Journey / Ma, Meyer, O'Connor

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

They say you can't judge a book by its cover. I guess the same applies to videos. I didn't buy this video for a long time because the cover looked lame with the musicians outdoors. But the production here is first rate. Several professional camera shots are used and the audio is quality. O'Connor, Meyer, and Ma play an assortment of traditional and original tunes from various musical genres in a virtuosic performance. Allison Kraus (vocal on Slumber My Darling and fiddle on Fisher's Hornpipe) and James Taylor (vocal and guitar on Hard Times Come Again No More) add to the performances to make this an exceptional DVD. Mixed in with the performance video at New York's beautiful Avery Fisher Hall are video clips of the musicians in interviews and in rehearsal. This comes across as a slick, PBS type production celebrating a fusion of classical and traditional American music. My favorite pieces are probably Shizoozy and Indecision - a bluesy piece written by Meyer that alternates between various themes and time signatures, although I enjoyed them all. Highly recommended.

I have loved music with depth and feeling and here it is in all of its splendor. I never knew of Meyer or O'Connor but with Yo Yo Ma, they are spectacular. The music ranges from what is called traditional to texas fiddle music and near chamber but it is all difficult to play and well executed. I want to know if they ever do a concert in my area. I will go.

This is an excellent quality DVD of Mark O'Connor, Yo Yo Ma and Edgar Meyer in concert and in interviews with comentary about creating this music together, the challenges, the joy and the hard work. I love to watch this video to just enjoy watching these wonderful musicians playing together. To very special guests are also a feature, James Taylor and Alison Krauss.

Strongley recommend this to anyone who plays stringed instruments or just enjoys music made on them.

When this CD first came out, I remembered the critics' luke warm reception and I passed on it. Three years later, I received "Appalachian Journey" as a gift. Wow! Perhaps I read the wrong reviews because this is a knockout. My children love it, too, and it has quickly become a CD that we play almost daily. I can't wait to listen to the follow-up CD!

What can I say,I would have never thought to watch this video except is was playing at work. How can you not fall in love with the wonderful music with stories told about the songs. It is a great mixture of up-beat and slow mellow music. "Hard Times Comes Again No More" is my favorte song off the video. Well worth it to watch on a rainy day or while you intertain guests.

The music is wonderful! Watching these world class musicians play it is incredible. I enjoyed it very much from beginning to end and could watch it many times over. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in classical music or not.

Very pleasent DVD to watch and enjoy. The music is great. The Video editing is also great. These are some of the best in the world and the sum is greater than the parts.

I sent this as a birthday gift to someone who attended the original performance. He was very pleased.

It arrived quickly and in good condition.

I have listen to the cd version for some time. Only recently watched the DVD of the performance and the clips regarding how it was made. The performance is not about the individuality of the artists but rather the spellbinding synergy created by Ma, Meyer, and O'Connor. The artists from different genre explore uncharted territory as they create this truly unique experience. This is one of a very few DvDs where it is worth watching the "filler clips." Deciding to invite James Taylor and Allison Kraus only added to the depth of the experience. The camera work was superb in capturing the intimacy of communication among the artists. The viewer/listener is invited into the performance by the camera work. Kudos!!!!

I have had the Appalachian Journey CD for a few years. I was concerned that the DVD would not be worth it because it is not Blu-ray and the sound is only 5.1 Dolby. However, the DVD is so much better on my home theater that I won't even listen to the CD anymore. The video is very well done and doubles the entertainment value of the concert.

The quality of a DVD like this makes me wonder why people bother with regular CD's and IPOD downloads. The 5.1 surround sound blows away regular CD and MP3 audio.