Customer Reviews

Conversations in Silence

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one exciting CD for several reasons. For those looking for orchestral sound that is uniquely American, Conni Ellisor provides the sound that has been missing since the end of Aaron Copland's career. In addition to Ellisor's compositions, the other tracks on this CD are an unusual and beautiful fit that compliments the other pieces. As is frequently the case in music, artists (Nashville Chamber Orchestra) and composers (Ellisor) off the beaten path are a national treasure. I use this CD for inspiration, relaxation, and restoration. One of the top 3 in my collection.

I had the opportunity to listen to this recording on the local classical station in St. Louis, KFUO. The works are captivating, energetic, and well presented. The tracks build and climax with an inspiring end in "Blackberry Winter". I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and must now purchase this CD for my collection. Thank you for your interest in my review.

I first heard "Blackberry Winter"on the radio, I knew I would have to own it. As beautiful as that piece is, the others match it. A masterful job was done of assembling new and older, obscure works. This CD is a real treasure.

I heard this recording on NPR radio and loved it. While it was out of the mainstream usually stocked at music stores, I found it on Amazon, ordered it, and received in a matter of days! The recording is a lovely collection of Tennessee / Celtic pieces with wonderful solo work. Ellisor is a Nashville musician and composer and her "Blackberry Winter" for Tennessee music box is a real delight. Other pieces on the CD are by Barber, Kodaly, Mock, and Scearce.

I bought this album because of the dulcimer concerto on it, and it didn't disappoint. Teh liner notes were outstanding and I am so glad to have this piece in my collection!

I got to see "Blackberry Winter" performed live in Nashville a few years ago and it was awesome. I took violin lessons from one of the violinists in the orchestra for a long time, so it was a little extra exciting. I got to meet the conductor, Paul Gambill about a year later and he was a really nice guy. He also conducted us in a big youth-orchestra gathering where we played the soundtrack to "Lord of the Rings."
"The Stone" is by far my favorite track on the CD. The mysterious Scottish and Irish themes entwined with each other are simply fantastic. It pretty much just transports you to another world.
"Blackberry Winter" is awesome, too. There's not many great recordings of a mountain dulcimer with an orchestra to back it up. Plus, the melodies and themes in that itself are really uniquely beautiful.
Overall, it's great quiet time and thinking music. It's definetely worth it!

This CD blew me away. The uniquely home-grown sounding Americana themes are not hackneyed but fresh and even exhilarating. I had the privilege of first hearing David Schnaufer and Stephen Seifert perform "Blackberry Winter" live and knew I was going to have a favorite CD in my listening collection as soon as I could find the recording!

I heard Blackberry Winter half asleep on Classical 24 and knew I wanted to hear it again. I just got the CD and have only listened to B.W. so far, but if the rest of the disc is a hog calling contest held by ducks, I would still give it 5 stars.

This collection of American Compostions is absolutly the finest thing to come down the pike since Arron Copeland. The juxtaposition and melding of classical composition with the purely American traditions of Appalachian folk music root is inspiring, fresh and wonderful. In short a perfect marriage of opposites. A fusion of the grassroots of folk Americana with the structure, orchestration and discipline of the classical compositional style. The Nashville Chamber Orchestra is by it's very DNA, the perfect instrument to express this music, and it does so with skill, panache and understanding that perhaps no other ensemble could accomplish. A classic in the making. Bravo!

WFMT in Chicago cued up the piece today as I was leaving the bank on my way to the drugstore -- where I sat in the parking lot for at least 10 minutes listening to this wonderful composition! I recommend it highly, especially to Sacred Harp/shapenote singers, who will recognize "Restoration" (one of my favorite tunes) in, I believe, the second movement. I'm ordering the CD and look forward to hearing the rest of the pieces, especially "The Stone" after having read the other reviews here.