Customer Reviews

Crumb: Ancient Voices Of Children, etc. / Freeman, Martin, et al

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

 

 

I hardly agree with David Hurwitz here. Given Crumb's supervision of this recording, I was disappointed by this performance of Ancient Voices and in particular by soprano Martin, whose stagey operatic tone isn't appropriate for this work. (Jan DeGaetani's classic recording on Nonesuch 979149-2 is far better - her voice has a shadowy, folkish coloration that fits this music, while the warmer recorded sound better captures the resonance of the whole work.) Also on this recording are two Crumb songs written when he was 17 - romantic-impressionistic in style, they only faintly foreshadow his mature work. The two other pieces on this disc - the solo piano Little Suite for Christmas and the mystifying Dream Sequence for chamber ensemble - receive fine performances, though they would benefit from better recorded sound.

This is a piece I dearly love. As it was written for Jan DeGaetani, it is difficult to accept anyone else's performance style. Ms. Martin does a fairly good job, but just isn't my type of singer for this work.

Classical music which touches your soul and can mesmerize an audience of non-classical enthusiasts is rare ideed. Well worthy of its Grammy nomination. It speaks to you in subtle, ancient tones and evokes a spendid array of emotions. Listen to it while watching a gorgeous winter snowfall, or an evening sunset, and you'll know what I mean. Recorded in surround sound yet adaptable to stereo, it's primeval, eloquent, and emotional. I give it 5 stars!