Joby Talbot: The Dying Swan

Joby Talbot (Artist), The Duke Quartet (Artist), Apollo Saxophone Quartet (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 21, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Black Box Classics
• ASIN: B00007GZJB
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #470,727 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quietly emotional...., July 23, 2003

By 

o dubhthaigh (north rustico, pei, canada) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Joby Talbot: The Dying Swan (Audio CD)

Jody Talbot, British pop and soundtrack composer, has produced a series of intimate pieces that are quietly and profoundly emotional. I have found listening to these to be one of the most contemplatively inspiring sets of music I have ever heard. There is much to consider here. The influences from the minimalist and post-modern schools are clear, yet Talbot brings in a painful subcontext that leads one to reflection. It's a bit like looking at a zen garden and then realizing that there is an orange blossom opening up. At times there is that John Barry like feel of cinemascope that is broad, yet somehow reigned in to focus on a particular mode or scale, perhaps in the order of Gavin Bryars. When the music does this it is at its most compelling. This is the work that an ensemble like Orchestra 2001 might take up: at once modern and ageless, intelligent and spiritual, passionate and sublime. This is absolutely worth investigating.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Genius communicator, March 1, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Joby Talbot: The Dying Swan (Audio CD)

What I hate about most modern classical music is its inability to communicate. Maybe it's me, but I like to hear a tune, a melody, a line that I can follow without reference to a technical manual. But there's a lot of tuneful rubbish out there. So, I'd almost given up on the whole sorry scene, when I heard about Joby Talbot. In my (humble) opinion, this man's a genius!

The Dying Swan - Music for 1-7 Players is a collection of beautiful music - and that's 'beautiful' in the truest sense of the word. The disc takes you on an emotional journey which is neither manipulative nor pretentious (unlike this reviewer, you may think).

If you think modern classical music is dead in the water - go buy this CD and revel in the discovery that not all living composers are the same.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Composer - Great talent, December 4, 2006

By 

jnet (Redmond, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joby Talbot: The Dying Swan (Audio CD)

I bought this cd after hearing a clip of String Quartet No2. There are minimalist elements but minimalism doesn't necessarily mean repetitive (as one reviewer wrote - twice) - only if you're listening on a literal, overly-simplistic level. Talbot is an extremely talented composer and this is worth a listen.