Jane Austen Entertains: Music from her own library

Sara Stowe;Jenny Thomas;Martin Souter (Artist), Ignace Pleyel (Composer), Johann Sterkel (Composer), and others (Composer), Various (Conductor)

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 2, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: The Gift of Music
• ASIN: B000VZB4FY
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #44,676 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Jane Austen Entertains.
Music from her own library.

Aunt Jane began her day with music - for which I conclude she had a natural taste; as she thus kept it up - 'tho she had no one to teach; was never induced (as I have heard) to play in company; and none of her family cared much for it. I suppose, that she might not trouble them, she chose her practicing time before breakfast - when she could have the room to herself - She practiced regularly every morning - She played very pretty tunes, I thought - and I liked to stand by her and listen to them; but the music (for I knew the books well in after years) would now be thought disgracefully easy - Much that she played from was manuscript, copied out by herself - and so neatly and correctly, that it was as easy to read as print.

From the Memoirs of Jane Austen's niece Caroline, 1867.

Her manuscripts survive, and this programme is drawn from them: a mixture of the light and fashionable music of the day for flute, voice and piano.

This recording took place in the drawing room at Chawton, so we can be confident that the effect of the music, using a piano similar to the one that Jane owned, cannot be so different from that experienced by Jane and her family themselves. We hope that you enjoy listening - and that, if you have not already done so, you will be prompted to visit Jane Austen's house in Chawton and see and hear for yourself where the great authoress lived, worked and made music.

Miss Sara Stowe, soprano.
Miss Jenny Thomas, German flute.
With Dr Martin Souter, pianoforte.

With special thanks to Tom Carpenter and The Jane Austen Memorial Trust

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Once Upon A Time..., June 17, 2008

By	D. S. Thurlow (Alaska) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Romance novelist Jane Austen, during her later years at Chawton Cottage in Hampshire, is said to have practiced on the pianoforte each morning before settling down to write. "Jane Austen Entertains" reproduces several period pieces from Austen's handcopied collection of music, suitable for pianoforte, some with flute and/or voice accompaniment.

The selections on this CD were actually recorded in Jane Austen's house. The result captures in a fairly authentic way the kind of home entertainment available to ordinary people of Jane Austen's day, long before record players, television, and other electronic media. The selections themselves are simple 18th and early 19th century songs and country airs, meant to entertain gatherings of family and friends. These types of gatherings play a key role in some of Jane Austen's novels, particularly "Emma", and fans of the derivative movies will have seen these gatherings, at which people took turns playing and singing. Austen is said to have played for friends and relatives. The degree of her personal proficiency on the pianoforte is not known.

"Jane Austen Entertains" is recommended to fans of Jane Austen and of the era as both pleasant music and a bit of insight into the time and the place.

2.0 out of 5 stars OK If you do not have perfect pitch hearing!!!, April 7, 2009

By	D. Post "FairOakian" (Roseville, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My hubby bought this for me for Christmas and as a devout Austenite I wanted to love it but could only listen to it once. The singer/soprano sings so off-key it was impossible to tolerate. Such a shame. I am quiet put out!!

4.0 out of 5 stars Jane Austen Entertains, March 8, 2009

By	James Faulkner "Karalyn" (Ventura County, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I gave this as a gift to a fellow Jane Austen lover. She loved it and felt she could really see Jane listening to this music. I am going to buy another copy for myself.