Customer Reviews

More Mozart for Your Mind

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

 

 

More Mozart for your Mind is a generally pleasant collection of pieces which I find makes a nice backdrop for my work and reading. The works (Sonata in A, Serenade No. 10 in B-flat, Divertimento No. 11) are familiar, relaxing, and enjoyable. St. Martin in the Fields and the English Chamber Orchestra provide good performances, and Phillips quality is present. I did find the Piano Concerto No. 24 in c a bit jarring, and the Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat was very dynamic and could be distracting to a more sensitive listener.

The creative process is a mysterious phenomenon. Artists, musicians and writers will tell you an array of different sources of inspiration from physical exercise, viewing a beautiful landscape to falling in love. We all have different sources of inspiration, but what ever it may be, it has the capacity to put our creative energies in motion. Years ago, I remember while studying at school, cramming to write that dreaded mid-term essay, twenty-four hours before the deadline, putting Mozart, Bach or Beethoven on the stereo, and miraculously, the words began to effortlessly flow. The final grade wasn't what was intended, but the paper invariably got finished.

As the CD claims, it is now certain that particular sonatas, serenades or piano concertos by Mozart can have a positive affect on the brain, enhancing abstract and spatial reasoning. Most of us knew back in the seventies that calm, classical music helped our indoor plants to grow and remain happy. Now it is scientific fact that Mozart's music, though not permanently, can raise our intelligence.

As aesthetics and music is a matter of taste and sensibility, certain themes and variations of Mozart's music will affect different people in different ways. The selection of themes and variations in this CD has been carefully chosen to have the desired affect on the listener. My personal favorites are track 5, Piano Concerto No 24 in C minor, performed by the English Chamber Orchestra, and track 8, Piano Concerto No 17 in G. These particular concertos have been known to put me instantly in a good mood, leading to one creative endeavor or another.

Although this short collection of Mozart's music is a wonderful introduction to the maestro, even experts of this genre, might indeed find it surprising, as the individual pieces seem to be carefully chosen and well performed. Excellent listening.

Contemplative, relaxing, yet mentally stimulating. Back when I used to be a teacher, I would play this quietly while my students were taking a test.

My only complaint is that - particularly on tracks 2 and 3 - the operating of the 'keys' on the oboe and clarinet got picked up by the microphone.. a certain level of this should be expected while recording analog music, however it is way too loud on this recording and is distracting from the beautiful music. (compare to track 6, which has a lot of clarinet, and the aforementioned sounds are barely discernible).

I purchased both this cd and Mozart For Your Mind and they were probably the best decision I made for my educational career. The speculations are true about Mozart and his uncanny ability to make you focus and retain the information. As a law student I am in dire need of something to make me focus even in the wee hours when I can't possibly any longer.

But it worked.

I enjoyed this cd more than the Mozart For Your Mind because the songs were longer, so there was more continuity, and the pieces I believe are just prettier sounding.

But I give high regards to both cds for helping me efficiently study my way through law school.