|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
Editorial Reviews
From the Artist
In her own words: "I have used the structure of a classical song cycle to tell an ongoing, modern story. The protagonist is a woman who finds herself in the dying embers of a relationship. In the course of one night she goes through an initiation of sorts that leads her to reinvent herself, allowing the listener to follow her on a journey to explore complex musical and emotional subject matter. One of the main themes explored on this album is the hunter and the hunted and how both exist within us."
Product Description
2011 album from the acclaimed singer/songwriter. Night Of Hunters is a 21st century song-cycle, inspired by classical music from the last 400 years. Following the idea of the classical song-cycle, the all-new songs from Night Of Hunters tell an ongoing contemporary story. Its central character is a woman ending a long relationship, allowing the listener to follow her on a journey over the course of one night to explore complex musical and emotional themes With this album Tori Amos carries on the classical tradition of variations on a theme: taking the inspiration from works of other composers, not to copy or replace the originals, but to create an entirely new work out of them, which is also a tribute to the mastery of the original compositions. For the first time in years Amos has decided to place the piano once more at the centre of an album. All songs on Night Of Hunters were recorded entirely with acoustic instruments, focusing on the piano and an ensemble of strings and woodwinds.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
133 of 139 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was attracted to this album out of curiosity on what kind of classical-pop crossovers Deutsche Grammophon is putting out these days -- apart from their string of Sting records. I was familiar with some of Tori Amos's music from the 1990s. Although I can't say I have followed her closely, I was intrigued by the idea of what she might do with "a modern song cycle" that explicitly calls on classical traditions.
I came away pretty impressed. No one should expect a classical album here. The songs are written with a popular sensibility -- this is not "Die Winterreise". There are two real links to the classical world. First is the instrumentation. The conservatory-trained Amos plays her Bösendorfer piano beautifully, and is accompanied on most tracks by a string and wind octet that features Andreas Ottensamer, the principle clarinetist of the Berlin Philharmonic. Other accompaniment is provided by Apollon Musagète string quartet. The musicianship is pretty serious.
The second link to classical music is that all the songs are variations on, or inspired by, classical pieces. Listening to this album and the original sources of inspiration back to back shows all the originals are very recognizable, but all with a new take or twist that successfully builds on the source to make it distinctively Tori Amos. The inspirations for the tracks on the album are as follows:
1. Shattering Sea (Alkan: Song of the Madwoman on the Sea-Shore, Prelude op. 31 no. 8)
2. SnowBlind (Granados: Añoranza - from 6 Pieces on Spanish Folksongs)
3. Battle of Trees (Satie: Gnossienne no. 1)
4. Fearlessness (Granados: Orientale from 12 Spanish Dances)
5. Cactus Practice (Chopin: Nocturne op. 9 no. 1)
6. Star Whisperer (Schubert: Andantino from Piano Sonata in A major D 959)
7. Job's Coffin (Inspired by the next song, Nautical Twilight)
8. Nautical Twilight (Mendelssohn: Venetian Boat Song from Songs Without Words op. 30)
9. Your Ghost (Schumann: Theme and Variations in E flat major WoO 24 from Ghost Variations)
10. Edge of the Moon (Bach: Siciliano from Flute Sonata BWV 1031)
11. The Chase (Mussorgsky: The Old Castle from Pictures at an Exhibition)
12. Night of Hunters (Scarlatti: Sonata in F minor, K.466 and the Gregorian Chant "Salva Regina")
13. Seven Sisters (Bach: Prelude in C minor)
14. Carry (Debussy: The Girl with the Flaxen Hair, from Preludes I)
Classical music purists will not likely be pleased with this album, but I was. The closest I could think of to this sound and atmosphere was Im Wunderschonen Monat Mai, which is a modernization of Schubert and Schumann -- mainly "Dichterliebe" and "Winterreise" -- for chamber ensemble featuring sultry vocals by German actress Barbara Sukowa. Although the vocals are very different, I did find a kinship in the feel and atmospherics of the chamber ensemble.
The themes in the lyrics are complex, and I'm still digesting them, but they are well done on that score as well. This is a fine pop-classical crossover album (given the appearance on the DG label, I think that's a fair categorization). There should be more music like this.
I came away pretty impressed. No one should expect a classical album here. The songs are written with a popular sensibility -- this is not "Die Winterreise". There are two real links to the classical world. First is the instrumentation. The conservatory-trained Amos plays her Bösendorfer piano beautifully, and is accompanied on most tracks by a string and wind octet that features Andreas Ottensamer, the principle clarinetist of the Berlin Philharmonic. Other accompaniment is provided by Apollon Musagète string quartet. The musicianship is pretty serious.
The second link to classical music is that all the songs are variations on, or inspired by, classical pieces. Listening to this album and the original sources of inspiration back to back shows all the originals are very recognizable, but all with a new take or twist that successfully builds on the source to make it distinctively Tori Amos. The inspirations for the tracks on the album are as follows:
1. Shattering Sea (Alkan: Song of the Madwoman on the Sea-Shore, Prelude op. 31 no. 8)
2. SnowBlind (Granados: Añoranza - from 6 Pieces on Spanish Folksongs)
3. Battle of Trees (Satie: Gnossienne no. 1)
4. Fearlessness (Granados: Orientale from 12 Spanish Dances)
5. Cactus Practice (Chopin: Nocturne op. 9 no. 1)
6. Star Whisperer (Schubert: Andantino from Piano Sonata in A major D 959)
7. Job's Coffin (Inspired by the next song, Nautical Twilight)
8. Nautical Twilight (Mendelssohn: Venetian Boat Song from Songs Without Words op. 30)
9. Your Ghost (Schumann: Theme and Variations in E flat major WoO 24 from Ghost Variations)
10. Edge of the Moon (Bach: Siciliano from Flute Sonata BWV 1031)
11. The Chase (Mussorgsky: The Old Castle from Pictures at an Exhibition)
12. Night of Hunters (Scarlatti: Sonata in F minor, K.466 and the Gregorian Chant "Salva Regina")
13. Seven Sisters (Bach: Prelude in C minor)
14. Carry (Debussy: The Girl with the Flaxen Hair, from Preludes I)
Classical music purists will not likely be pleased with this album, but I was. The closest I could think of to this sound and atmosphere was Im Wunderschonen Monat Mai, which is a modernization of Schubert and Schumann -- mainly "Dichterliebe" and "Winterreise" -- for chamber ensemble featuring sultry vocals by German actress Barbara Sukowa. Although the vocals are very different, I did find a kinship in the feel and atmospherics of the chamber ensemble.
The themes in the lyrics are complex, and I'm still digesting them, but they are well done on that score as well. This is a fine pop-classical crossover album (given the appearance on the DG label, I think that's a fair categorization). There should be more music like this.
105 of 117 people found the following review helpful
By J. E. Barnes
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
2011 has been a troubling year for America and the West, but a good year for rock n' roll and popular music, especially for older women artists.
Marianne Faithfull released the critically-acclaimed 'Horses and High Heels,' her 18th studio album, and traveled throughout the United States and Europe supporting it; Stevie Nicks released her seventh solo album, 'In Your Dreams,' an album which, with 2001's 'Trouble in Shangri-La,' creatively revived her failing career against all odds after her 80s and 90s downturn; Blondie released their low-key and rather unadventurous ninth album, 'Panic of Girls,' and Kate Bush released an album of reworked songs, 'Director's Cut,' and will be releasing '50 Words For Snow,' her first recording of new material in six years, later this year.
In the midst of this activity comes 'Night of Hunters,' Tori Amos's 12th album of new material since 1992's 'Little Earthquakes.' Commissioned by the prestigious German record label Deutsche Grammophon and described as "a 21st century song cycle inspired by classical music themes spanning over 400 years," the album features eleven tracks based on the compositions of Bach, Schubert, Chopin, Debussy, Mendelssohn, Mussorgsky, and others.
About the time of Amos's excellent second album, 'Under the Pink' (1994), her fans seemed to diverge into two camps: those who fairly embraced almost anything Amos released, and those who preferred what might be referred to as the 'woman at her piano' compositions such as 'Winter,' 'Baker, Baker,' 'Yes, Anastasia,' 'Cooling,' 'Lust,' 'Josephine,' and, later, 'Indian Summer,' 'Apollo's Frock,' 'Garlands,' and 'Snow Angel.'
The good news for both groups, especially the latter, is that 'Night of Hunters' features no percussion, has been recorded with string quartet Apollon Musagète and arranger John Philip Shenale, and very much revolves around Amos at her piano, which is quite suitable, since Amos began her music instruction at a very young age at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland.
Does 'Night of Hunters' sound anything like Amos's previous work? Are there any Amos 'classics' among the eleven tracks?
The answer to both questions is 'Yes': the most outstanding track may be the majestic and passionate 'Star Whisperer' (based on Schubert's Piano Sonata in A major D 959), which is passionate in the tradition of the live version of 'Sugar' (from 'To Venus & Back,' 1999) and the title track from 2002's 'Scarlet's Walk.' 'Night of Hunters' (Scarlatti's Sonata in F minor K. 466 and Gregorian Chant 'Salva Regina') is almost equally passionate, and also somewhat frightening, as only Amos can be: at points, the track sounds as if the Furies are descending.
'Fearlessness' has something of the drive of 'Carbon' and 'Tombigbee,' the catchy but serious-minded 'Job's Coffin' features an excellent lead vocal by Amos's young daughter Natashya Hawley, 'Nautical Twilight' features something of the playfulness of 'The Wrong Band,' 'Wednesday,' and 'Velvet Revolution,' while the closing track, 'Carry' (framed around a Debussy piece) is very much in the melancholy-but-hopeful tradition of past Amos closing tracks such as 'A Thousand Oceans,' 'Gold Dust,' 'Toast,' and 'Our New Year.'
If the album stumbles, it does so at the beginning: The opening line of first track 'Shattering Sea' (Alkan's Song of the Madwoman on the Sea-Shore, Prelude op. 31 no. 8), "That is not my blood on the bedroom floor," is delivered melodramatically rather than dramatically, and, musically speaking, the composition simply isn't compelling.
'Battle of Trees,' the third track, which is based on Erik Satie's very short, mischievous, and elfin Gnossienne no. 1, is slowed to a crawl and extended to more than eight minutes. The result is flat, tepid, and considerably stalls the forward motion of the whole.
Whether 'Night of Hunters' is indeed "the best thing Amos has released in over a decade," as some of the early reviews have claimed, will be up to each listener to decide. It may be that 'Night of Hunters' is simply a little purer than 'The Beekeeper' (2005), 'American Doll Posse' (2007), and the generally underrated 'Abnormally Attracted to Sin' (2009).
Most fans and listeners who enjoyed Amos's holiday/solstice album, 'Midwinter's Graces' (2009), will readily be able to embrace and recommend the beautiful, highly accomplished 'Night of Hunters.'
Lastly: is Tori Amos one of the preeminent musical artists of her era? Undoubtedly.
Marianne Faithfull released the critically-acclaimed 'Horses and High Heels,' her 18th studio album, and traveled throughout the United States and Europe supporting it; Stevie Nicks released her seventh solo album, 'In Your Dreams,' an album which, with 2001's 'Trouble in Shangri-La,' creatively revived her failing career against all odds after her 80s and 90s downturn; Blondie released their low-key and rather unadventurous ninth album, 'Panic of Girls,' and Kate Bush released an album of reworked songs, 'Director's Cut,' and will be releasing '50 Words For Snow,' her first recording of new material in six years, later this year.
In the midst of this activity comes 'Night of Hunters,' Tori Amos's 12th album of new material since 1992's 'Little Earthquakes.' Commissioned by the prestigious German record label Deutsche Grammophon and described as "a 21st century song cycle inspired by classical music themes spanning over 400 years," the album features eleven tracks based on the compositions of Bach, Schubert, Chopin, Debussy, Mendelssohn, Mussorgsky, and others.
About the time of Amos's excellent second album, 'Under the Pink' (1994), her fans seemed to diverge into two camps: those who fairly embraced almost anything Amos released, and those who preferred what might be referred to as the 'woman at her piano' compositions such as 'Winter,' 'Baker, Baker,' 'Yes, Anastasia,' 'Cooling,' 'Lust,' 'Josephine,' and, later, 'Indian Summer,' 'Apollo's Frock,' 'Garlands,' and 'Snow Angel.'
The good news for both groups, especially the latter, is that 'Night of Hunters' features no percussion, has been recorded with string quartet Apollon Musagète and arranger John Philip Shenale, and very much revolves around Amos at her piano, which is quite suitable, since Amos began her music instruction at a very young age at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland.
Does 'Night of Hunters' sound anything like Amos's previous work? Are there any Amos 'classics' among the eleven tracks?
The answer to both questions is 'Yes': the most outstanding track may be the majestic and passionate 'Star Whisperer' (based on Schubert's Piano Sonata in A major D 959), which is passionate in the tradition of the live version of 'Sugar' (from 'To Venus & Back,' 1999) and the title track from 2002's 'Scarlet's Walk.' 'Night of Hunters' (Scarlatti's Sonata in F minor K. 466 and Gregorian Chant 'Salva Regina') is almost equally passionate, and also somewhat frightening, as only Amos can be: at points, the track sounds as if the Furies are descending.
'Fearlessness' has something of the drive of 'Carbon' and 'Tombigbee,' the catchy but serious-minded 'Job's Coffin' features an excellent lead vocal by Amos's young daughter Natashya Hawley, 'Nautical Twilight' features something of the playfulness of 'The Wrong Band,' 'Wednesday,' and 'Velvet Revolution,' while the closing track, 'Carry' (framed around a Debussy piece) is very much in the melancholy-but-hopeful tradition of past Amos closing tracks such as 'A Thousand Oceans,' 'Gold Dust,' 'Toast,' and 'Our New Year.'
If the album stumbles, it does so at the beginning: The opening line of first track 'Shattering Sea' (Alkan's Song of the Madwoman on the Sea-Shore, Prelude op. 31 no. 8), "That is not my blood on the bedroom floor," is delivered melodramatically rather than dramatically, and, musically speaking, the composition simply isn't compelling.
'Battle of Trees,' the third track, which is based on Erik Satie's very short, mischievous, and elfin Gnossienne no. 1, is slowed to a crawl and extended to more than eight minutes. The result is flat, tepid, and considerably stalls the forward motion of the whole.
Whether 'Night of Hunters' is indeed "the best thing Amos has released in over a decade," as some of the early reviews have claimed, will be up to each listener to decide. It may be that 'Night of Hunters' is simply a little purer than 'The Beekeeper' (2005), 'American Doll Posse' (2007), and the generally underrated 'Abnormally Attracted to Sin' (2009).
Most fans and listeners who enjoyed Amos's holiday/solstice album, 'Midwinter's Graces' (2009), will readily be able to embrace and recommend the beautiful, highly accomplished 'Night of Hunters.'
Lastly: is Tori Amos one of the preeminent musical artists of her era? Undoubtedly.
56 of 64 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Night of Hunters by Tori Amos
If you are looking for Little Earthquakes, part 10, you can stop reading now.
But if you are even remotely interested to hear Tori breathe life into the old, dead bones of such masters as Frédéric Chopin, Franz Schubert or Johann Sebastian Bach, hear her add a beating heart, blood, flesh, feelings, human fear/love and consciousness into those bones, then buy this record and just sit back and listen to it.. I was lucky enough to hear NPR streaming it for a week before the release and I had to sit down in a comfortable position with headphones connected to my computer for 72 minutes (so I was held captive by 3 feet of cord) and just LISTEN. It is at once disturbing (especially the first track), playful and beyond beautiful. I cried as she touched my soul during the first listen. Edge of the Moon might be the most accessible track and the first track, Shattering Sea is probably the most difficult one to listen to...but it only lasts for 5 minutes, so you will be OK. I promise, and I actually love this song.
Since this is a 72 minute "song cycle" it is meant to be listened to in it's entirety in one listen. It's not background music...but if you HAVE to download one song just to get a taste, maybe try Job's Coffin if you like pop, Seven Sisters if you like classical and Edge of the Moon if you want eclectic. For those of you who want "classic Tori" download the title track. But I really recommend that you buy the whole thing and just listen to it with an open mind.
I also adore the way she used 2 young voices to voice a changeling fox/goose by her daughter Natashya Hawley and her niece Kelsey Dobbins as Fire Muse. Their voices add so much to the record and Tori's own vocals are a bit more stark and less blended/overdubbed than we are used to, but that is part of the story. For the people who can't "figure out what she is talking about" why not stop being in your head so much and just sit back and go on her journey?
Let's all please remember that the most prestigious classical label in the whole world, Deutsche Grammophon, approached Ms. Amos to do this record. She didn't ask for it. She didn't dream it up one day. They challenged her and she took up this mantel to challenge us, her public. I don't know if this record is going to gain Tori any new admirers (it should) and it might turn a few of her fans away.... But just try to pry this CD out of my cold, dead hands, because I will be listening to this one for years and years to come. And I am not the only one. Yeah...she might not win a bunch of new listeners, but she will deeply reward the fans over and over again who dig this record.
NoH is a MASTERPIECE that is a tiny bit off-putting at the first song until you get into the story and hear some of the pieces that she worked with (you can stream them all over the web). It is her best, most ambitious effort since 2002 and I, for one, can't WAIT until Tori is on the West Coast so I can witness this creation live, in person, for myself. Just try to get over the fact that Tori is never going to make Little Earthquakes part 10 and wouldn't you be disappointed if she did?
If you are looking for Little Earthquakes, part 10, you can stop reading now.
But if you are even remotely interested to hear Tori breathe life into the old, dead bones of such masters as Frédéric Chopin, Franz Schubert or Johann Sebastian Bach, hear her add a beating heart, blood, flesh, feelings, human fear/love and consciousness into those bones, then buy this record and just sit back and listen to it.. I was lucky enough to hear NPR streaming it for a week before the release and I had to sit down in a comfortable position with headphones connected to my computer for 72 minutes (so I was held captive by 3 feet of cord) and just LISTEN. It is at once disturbing (especially the first track), playful and beyond beautiful. I cried as she touched my soul during the first listen. Edge of the Moon might be the most accessible track and the first track, Shattering Sea is probably the most difficult one to listen to...but it only lasts for 5 minutes, so you will be OK. I promise, and I actually love this song.
Since this is a 72 minute "song cycle" it is meant to be listened to in it's entirety in one listen. It's not background music...but if you HAVE to download one song just to get a taste, maybe try Job's Coffin if you like pop, Seven Sisters if you like classical and Edge of the Moon if you want eclectic. For those of you who want "classic Tori" download the title track. But I really recommend that you buy the whole thing and just listen to it with an open mind.
I also adore the way she used 2 young voices to voice a changeling fox/goose by her daughter Natashya Hawley and her niece Kelsey Dobbins as Fire Muse. Their voices add so much to the record and Tori's own vocals are a bit more stark and less blended/overdubbed than we are used to, but that is part of the story. For the people who can't "figure out what she is talking about" why not stop being in your head so much and just sit back and go on her journey?
Let's all please remember that the most prestigious classical label in the whole world, Deutsche Grammophon, approached Ms. Amos to do this record. She didn't ask for it. She didn't dream it up one day. They challenged her and she took up this mantel to challenge us, her public. I don't know if this record is going to gain Tori any new admirers (it should) and it might turn a few of her fans away.... But just try to pry this CD out of my cold, dead hands, because I will be listening to this one for years and years to come. And I am not the only one. Yeah...she might not win a bunch of new listeners, but she will deeply reward the fans over and over again who dig this record.
NoH is a MASTERPIECE that is a tiny bit off-putting at the first song until you get into the story and hear some of the pieces that she worked with (you can stream them all over the web). It is her best, most ambitious effort since 2002 and I, for one, can't WAIT until Tori is on the West Coast so I can witness this creation live, in person, for myself. Just try to get over the fact that Tori is never going to make Little Earthquakes part 10 and wouldn't you be disappointed if she did?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Awful
I've been a HUGE Tori fan since Little Earthquakes. However, her music has done less and less for me over the years. She will always hold a special place in my heart. Read more
Published 27 days ago by T-Bone
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good storyteller and excellent musician.
I am a long time Tori fan. This is Tori's 12th album and it just proves that she can make inspirational music. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Michelle
2.0 out of 5 stars
Nothing stands out
I tend to prefer the albums that contain some angst or faster (motivating) songs or at least dynamic or complex ballads and these are more straight forward. Read more
Published 2 months ago by CC_dm
2.0 out of 5 stars
Annoying
This was the album that broke me from just buying her music hands down anymore. I know this was something cool for her to write for herself and her child but it does not speak to... Read more
Published 2 months ago by jason
4.0 out of 5 stars
After a few
Have the song "cactus practice" stuck in my head for the last few days. Good addition to my Tori collection.
Published 3 months ago by Eric J Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great album!
Gave it to my brother as a Christmas gift and he loved it! It is one of his favorite Tori Amos' albums of all time. Definitely recommended for its originality.
Published 4 months ago by Conny Torres
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing!!!!! LOVE IT!!!
As usual the most amazing and beautiful music! Tori I LOVE YOU!!!! No words can describe....I'll just say what a masterpiece!
Published 4 months ago by Ron
5.0 out of 5 stars
An entirely different direction for Tori and she really shines
I am a fan and love most of her work. I saw videos of a couple of the songs on You Tube and "had" to buy this collection. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Stan Cook
1.0 out of 5 stars
What is Tori going through?
Huge fan.....I have seen her multiple times live, but this album is terrible!!! I can't imagine anyone listening to this and thinking "this is great."
Published 5 months ago by Brian
5.0 out of 5 stars
love it!
Tori Amos is amazing and this CD is unlike her other stuff so it is a nice change. Really cool
Published 5 months ago by Amanda Denton
Listmania!
So You'd Like to...
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Look for Similar Items by Category
- Music > Alternative Rock
- Music > Classic Rock
- Music > Pop
- Music > Rock
|
