Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant, February 28, 2001
This is truly the work of a musical genius. I am no expert by any means when it comes to classical music, especially modern 'classics'. (Kind of an oxymoron...modern classics). But anyway, I do know good, well-written music when I hear it, and this is both of those things. For those people, like myself, who need some info on the music to help us understand and enjoy it to its full extent, this album comes with a 48 page book that includes the list of the 4 different movements, an introduction written by Paul, the poem that Paul wrote to help keep him on track throughout the writing of this music, an indepth essay all about the music and storyline, paintings done by Paul, and loads of photos. Even people who are not too fond of classical music, surely will be able to enjoy this...it is truly accessible to all...the informative book helps make it so. But above and beyond all else, is the music...truly an experience!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
At least I got to learn the word "programme", July 11, 2002
Influences leap to mind while listening to "Standing Stone," like Holst's "The Planets," and Prokofiev's "Alexander Nevsky." Right up front: I'm not a rigorous student of classical music. The effect of a modern orchestra expressing a story set in ancient times resembles that of a period film score. There isn't enough singing to call it an opera, and the poem is a libretto only in broad terms. Still, rather than being "pure music," there is a storyline loosely connecting the movements. Paul's artwork is intriguing, and Linda was a good photographer. It's also important to remember that Jeremiah was a bullfrog - I don't believe that can be overstated. A stumbling block is the lack of a distinct instrumental refrain or melody to anchor the music start to finish. The long patches of low volume and little melodic activity reinforce the feel of a film score. Also, you gotta turn the volume up to 9 to hear half the album. "Standing Stone" has its strengths. When McCartney does focus on melody, you get stirring pieces like "Sea Voyage" in Movement II, and "Messenger" in Movement III. Several tracks flirt with the John Williams method of running a major-key melody over minor-key bass and vice versa. During the main character's travails, there are effective, atonal washes of music and voice. "Standing Stone" was dismissed as a vanity project among those who wanted "Liverpool Oratorio Part II." While not structured enough to please classical purists, nor lively enough to sustain its full 70+ minutes, this CD is an intriguing glimpse of the other side of a musician who has spent about 40 years showing the world how to write a catchy song.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
better with a band not a symphony, July 11, 2003
My high school marching band played selections from "Standing Stone" last year. Our season was great and it was all due to the music of McCartney. Many of the band members purchased Standing Stone in mid season to hear it first hand, but many did not like it. It wasnt as intriquing as it is when a full band (not orchastra) plays it. The strings should be shoved aside and be replaced by some clarinets. It would have changed the whole mood.
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