The Calm: Inspired 20th Century Classics

Paul Honey (Composer), Olivier Messiaen (Composer), Arvo Part (Composer), Erik Satie (Composer), Joseph Curiale (Composer), James [2] MacMillan (Composer), John [Composer] Adams (Composer), Joseph Curiale (Conductor), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), John Lenehan (Performer), John York (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: John Lenehan, John York
• Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Joseph Curiale
• Composer: Paul Honey, Olivier Messiaen, Arvo Part, Erik Satie, Joseph Curiale, et al.
• Audio CD (May 8, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Black Box Classics
• ASIN: B000058UUT
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #378,637 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Black Box may be one of the preeminent record labels for modern composers, but that doesn't mean its music can't be soothing. On The Calm, we get a 17-track sampling of some lesser-heard 20th-century pieces that are all (you guessed it) calming. Paul Honey's atmospheric track from Two Days, Nine Lives sets the opening tone for this disc, while tracks featuring the music of Erik Satie and Olivier Messiaen are a little less predictable but still soothingly meditative. Arvo Pärt's "Spiegel im Spiegel" gives a listener a hint of his "holy minimalism" style of composing; it's a gorgeous piece and well-played by violinist Rebecca Hirsch. John Adams's electronic keyboard-based "Alone ... again or at last" is an odd closer; it sounds more like smooth jazz than classical music. Still, as classical compilations go, this set is one of the most eclectic and interesting available. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific, rarely heard music, July 5, 2002

By 

David Cole "blythegil" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Calm: Inspired 20th Century Classics (Audio CD)

The title of this compilation is incredibly accurate IF you enjoy modern music. It doesn't really fit the traditional, mainstream definition of relaxing music -- nice, quiet Mozart or Vivaldi, for example. It does, however, feature beautiful, powerful, sublime modern music. Each track is a revelation, from the more familiar Messiaen and Satie to the rest of the album, all pieces that I had not heard before. Paul Honey, Joseph Curiale, and James MacMillan all deserve a wider audience. Hopefully, their inclusion on this compilation will help them gain that audience.

3.0 out of 5 stars Good works of Satie and Oliver, but...., April 16, 2008

By 

Jack Styne (Va. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Calm: Inspired 20th Century Classics (Audio CD)

I enjoyed this album as far as the QUARTET of Olivier and the works of Satie. Not sure how/why the caliber of Curiale's music is included on this CD. Not in the same league as the aforementioned composers, but the album is worth the listen for just Quartet For The End Of Time if nothing else.