Jasmine Flower

Beijing Angelic Choir

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 23, 2002)
• Original Release Date: April 23, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wind Records
• ASIN: B00006369N
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #96,879 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #18 in	Music > World Music > Compilations > Far East > China
  #22 in	Music > World Music > Far East & Asia > China

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
To get a sense of just how authentic a listening experience you're in for when spinning Jasmine Flower, flip through the liner notes first. Four pages in you'll find nothing but characters, and the second half is so pocked with bungled possessives and punctuation you wonder whether it was penned by the menu writer at your favorite hole-in-the-wall kung pao place. Sung in dialects from a jigsaw of Chinese regions, Flower dazzles with nectar-sweet harmonies, exotic instrumentation, and a spirit of innocence that transcends cultures and languages. China-specific sounds like the moon guitar and long lute slant the vibe in a spiritual direction, but each sentiment unfolds easily to willing Western ears. "The Anthem of Parents," from the Hunan Province, harnesses a distinct vocal reverie in describing the love that parents feel for their children; the Tibetan "My Beautiful Homeland--Xigaze" speaks, through gentle woodwinds and an exacting, chanted refrain, of a heavenly paradise with fragrant wine and flowers; and the Cantonese "A Rainy Day," drizzled in the sounds of nature and a mood of solemnity, illustrates the universal bummer of being at Mother Nature's mercy. Though the Beijing Angelic is strictly a kids' choir, Jasmine Flower exudes a Zen-style agelessness that anybody who's patted a Buddha's belly will warm to, tranquility-seeking New Age types especially. Educational applications are an option should Asian studies be in bloom at your household, but so is sitting back to simply to listen to the choir's gentle artistry. As the title track suggests, the jasmine's fragrance permeates everywhere, and everybody loves its white, lovely flowers. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Angelic Choir, March 21, 2006

By	Eleanore Avery - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I actually bought this to use as background tracks for digital show on trip to China. I had a number of Chinese CDs, but this one is really excellent. The variety of moods and the angelic voices are a pleasure to hear. I especially liked the happy "Fiery Horses" song.

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy this CD. Buy the "GREATEST CHINESE FOLK SONGS" instead, November 9, 2008

By	Cameron Highlander (Carolinas, USA) - See all my reviews

I own this CD, and another CD -- the "GREATEST CHINESE FOLK SONGS" by Bears Children Choir.

On a scale on 1 to 10, I rate this CD as a 2.
This CD sound artificial. The instruments sound like cheap synthesizers.

The other CD -- the "GREATEST CHINESE FOLK SONGS" by Bears Children Choir is much better. The children's voices are pure and natural. The instruments in the background do not overwhelm. it is an 11 over 10.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good singing but pretty awful musical accompaniment, August 26, 2007

By	Tiberius (Cyberspace) - See all my reviews

This is my first CD with Chinese music on, so I made every effort not to make it a bad first impression. Luckily, you can have a foretaste of the music through those 30 second samples that amazon provides. And yes, the quality of the singing voice is excellent and the recording clear. However, the background instrumental is pretty horrible on some of the tracks. Probably, it was a low budget project and they could not hire proper musicians with acoustic instruments or at least with a quality synthesizer. Sometimes it gives you the feel of computer music in the first part of the 90's. All in all, the songs are well worth the money, but if you want to experience real Chinese instrumental music, try, for example, Classical Chinese Folk Music.