Customer Reviews

Music of the Great Smoky

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Gary Remal Malkin has written music here that certainly evokes the Great Smokies, but its beauty so sweeping that to me it easily encompasses much more of America than just this national park. I have used this music to remind me of journeys to other national parks and found it to be equally appropriate out west. It blends orchestral panoramas with native overtones and down-home folk music, and it succeeds admirably.

More recently, the track "The Courage to Dream" has gotten me through the tragedy of September 11, 2001. It is as if Malkin had written it as an anthem for our recovery, and I would like to see it used in a movie or documentary. It almost begs to be played against the kinds of strong emotional imagery we've seen in the media recently as we renew our strength and rekindle our hopes.

Having deemed this CD a "keeper", and a cherished one at that, I was not surprised to later discover that Malkin is an accomplished soundtrack writer. He has done TV scoring for "Unsolved Mysteries" among other projects, and he is adept at many different styles. If you're expecting some bland New Age CD that needs to be sold in some park's visitor center, this isn't the one. I hope to hear much more from this fine composer.

... to find a new artist. Well, new to me. I happened upon this CD by chance. It was in a family member's disc changer and began to play when the CD I had selected was over. I was mesmerized. I must have listened to Mountain Majesty 10 times in a row. It's a lullaby. The music really does paint images of nature. You can almost feel the breezes and see the sunsets. And it'll make you want to move to a place that's majestic and unspoiled and serene. But don't be fooled: This isn't a trite collection of canned nature tunes. The subtle voices and violins and guitars and keyboards and horns blend twinges of country beautifully into sweeping orchestrations. I'm reminded of James Newton Howard's score for "The Prince of Tides" in some places, but hard pressed to compare some of Malkin's work to anyone else in others. A true find for anyone who appreciates the art of composing, as well as anyone who just needs to turn off the lights and unwind from a long, hard day.

This CD is amazing. With most CDs I can't sit down and listen to it attentively for an hour or so but "The Music of The Great Smoky Mountains" by Gary Remal Malkin is so relaxing and peacful that it's hard not to sit down, listen, and be transformed to one of the summits in Great Smoky National Park. Every song is amazing but the one that I can't stop listening to is the first song. You won't be disappointed when you buy this CD.

My husband and I purchased this recording at the visitor center as we entered the park, and played it during our drive through the main road. The music is beautiful and very evocative of the park, as well as bringing in the Cherokee who live in the area. It is a very touching and memorable recording.

Perfect for remembering that quiet get-away with your special someone. Though this CD would bring back memories to someone who has been able to appreciate tht grandeur of the mountains in person, you surely don't have to have visited there to appreciate Malkin's CD. The orchestrations are so relaxing that if you close your eyes, you can feel and hear the sounds of the mountains. If you are looking for that perfect CD to calm you after a hectic day, this is the CD for you! It is WELL worth the money! :)

To me, this music spurs the imagination of the Smokies' grandeur, majesty, beauty, inspiration. It inspires honoring, rememberings, peace, thoughtfulness, filling the soul with warmth, and gratitude. Too bad it doesn't have smell-o-vision, to smell the sweet, dew laden early morn hills, wild flowers, fallen leaves, crisp winter winds, of this, the nations most beautiful of National Parks! Not that I've ever been there, but I can just imagine - close my eyes, and imagine...thanks to this music.

This music wiil make you feel like you are in the Smokey Mountains. I find this music very relaxing to listen to. It was one of my favorite Christmas gifts!

I love this music. It's profound and very beautiful and tender. The tunes go through my head all day long.

This is no mountain hoe-down. A welcome change from the contrived repetitive chords of today's electronic noise being offered as relaxing music. Perfect for the quiet hour and candlelight dinner-for-two. Close your eyes and Malkin's unique orchestrations will describe those Great Smokies.

We heard this on the X-M station SPA and felt it was a good addition to our lobby background music. All our customers stop and ask the receptionist "what is that Album." Worth the buy!