Customer Reviews

First Ten Years

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Windham Hill put the "new" into "new age" music. Each year they publish a sampler which is a "greatest hits of the year" album, intended to introduce new and talented artists. On Windham Hill's tenth anniversary they published the finest 2-volume CD set they ever mastered, and this is it.

This is the first CD set that I have ever worn out - I am here on Amazon buying a replacement copy which will be MP3 mastered. I have played this CD monthly since 1994. I use the music to help calm my nerves as I do creative computer work, such as prepare university lecture notes or writing computer software.

Like any classic album, you _cannot_ get tired of this 2-volume set, since new tracks capture your imagination as time goes by. Many tracks are reminiscent of the "Enya Watermark" album or George Winston's "December". This CD is mostly guitar and piano music with no vocals, but several guitar tracks have a Celtic tone. This CD rates half a notch below Winston's "December", which is no criticism because "December" is the finest New-Age CD that has ever been mastered. Check reviews on EBay and buy "December" first, then buy this set second.

Out of about 30 songs, there are probably three that I could do without. Some of the tracks that I cannot live without are listed below.

Disc One
2- White Rain
3- Colors/Dance
7- Gymnopedie
12- Clockwork

Disc Two
3- Montana Half Light
7- Gwenlaise
12- To the Well

If you are looking for music to relax by, then you have come to the right place. These 2 discs contain some of the best accoustic music you'll find, whether it be solo guitar or piano, or small groups like Shadowfax. There are also some non-accoustic pieces as well though, which are equally beautiful. I was first introduced to Windham Hill when I received a cd of George Winstons. I loved it, and decided to explore other Windham Hill artists and bought this double album. And I was not disappointed. Each and every piece on here is sheer heaven. Spanning the years 1977 to 1987 the quality has remained consistent. For lovers of quality music, I can't recommend this enough!

It's Valentine's Day today and I thought I'd share my thoughts on what I consider to be one of the most romantic albums in my collection. This is some of the loveliest music you'll ever find. If you haven't already been introduced to the world of Windham Hill, this is definitely the place to start.

In the late seventies, I had become a huge fan of Leo Kottke and John Fahey and for a time I couldn't find any other artist to match their skills. Then I heard Will Ackerman being played in my favorite record store. I left that day with two of Ackerman's albums and one each by Alex de Grassi and Daniel Hecht and I was hooked. They are all excellent acoustic guitar players. In addition to the above named guitarists, you also get tracks by Robbie Basho and Michael Hedges.

CD-1 leads off with my all-time favorite Ackerman song, "The Bricklayer's Beautiful Daughter." The quality of the remaining tracks stays high throughout the rest of the CD. Most of the first CD is reserved for the guitar players on the Windham Hill roster, but you also hear pianists George Winston and Liz Story, the string band Montreux and Mark Isham.

CD-2 includes a wider diversity than the first disc and features the remainder of the early Windham Hill roster.

If your looking for a relaxing collection of music you can't go wrong with this. [Note: in 1996, Windham Hill released Sanctuary, a twenty year retrospective, which is excellent; but I prefer their first decade collection simply because of the heavy emphasis on the guitar players on their roster at the time.]

Last night, I found my old audio-cassette of "Windham Hill: The First Ten Years". It's still amazing after all these years. Windham Hill should re-release it. A new generation of acoustic music lovers have entered the marketplace since 1990. I would buy the CD version today, if it was available.

Totally recomended for people who likes to relax, read a book, cooks, and some soudtracks for taichi. It has many options.

I borrowed this from the library in the early '90's and loved it and had only pieces of the CD from various other WH releases since then. Finally, I have a hard copy! I remember hearing Alex DeGrassi for the first time on a college radio station and was hooked on the label for good after hearing "Slow Circle." If you have heard some of the later WH offerings and want a taste of the musical genius of the glory years when everyone was buying George Winston's "December" for Christmas, then pick up this CD.

I bought myself a CD player/alarm clock combo for the holidays..so I could wake up to music and not a jarring alarm sound ( dreadful way to face the day!) Just to test it out, I grabbed the nearest CD which just happened to be this Windham Hill compilation. Well, let's just say its been the ONLY music in my alarm clock since, and there it will stay! There is NOTHING like waking up to the opening strains of discs one OR two. Like meditation music...with an uplift! Fabulous! Wish I had thought of this years ago! I keep the music on whilst getting ready for work, and it lends a lovely, peaceful tone to my day. GREAT variety of tunes and instrumental talents! Bravo Windham Hill! Lisa in CT

I have been listening to Windham Hill artists since the mid 1980s. So of course I had to get this.


It is a 2 CD set and comes in a very nice plastic case, complete with a small book which gives an introductory history of the early days of Windham Hill -- the days when it was Alex de Grassi and his cousin Will Ackerman. Then the other artists started showing up. The rest is history!

In this collection you will find pieces by Will Ackerman, Alex de Grassi, Shadowfax, George Winston, Liz Story, Michael Hedges, Mark Isham, and Michael Manring -- just to name a few of the artists appearing here.

I've played it so many times that I think I have worn it out.

The music in this 2 cd set varies widely. It is basically easy listening but some music lends itself to daydreaming and others make you want to get up and move. There are a few that are too repetitive in style for me but others have become steadfast favorites.

I just love Windham Hill. This is a fabulous exposay of artists compilations. If you feel like relaxing and thinking deep, this is the CD for you. You won't be disappointed. It's one of my favorites.