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Spacious, minimalist musical for mind silencing
By an Amazon.com customer
Arvo Pärt: Tabula RasaArvo Pärt: Tabula Rasa
Buy new: $7.99
What you can't hear with the Amazon sample is the 2nd movement of Tabula Rasa with it's almost whispering, solo violin. It is my favorite of any cut of music on ANY album.
Darkness into LightDarkness into Light by John Tavener
Buy used from: $31.33
It was many months before I could listen to the 17 minute "The Bridegroom" without weeping. This is one of the Best Tavener albums, in my opinion.
In PrincipioIn Principio by Arvo Part
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $8.97
Pärt's latest album is fantastic. I believe this is the first full recording of Cecilia, Vergine Romana (outside of what you get in the Pärt documentary). Mein Weg ("My Path") is a very intersting cut that I really like.
World To ComeWorld To Come
Buy new: $17.98 / Used from: $12.95
I've never found much of Osvaldo Golijov's music that I like. Maya Beiser playing "Mariel" is the exception. David Lang's "World to Come" is the wonderful centerpiece of this album.
Silence, Night & DreamsSilence, Night & Dreams
Buy new: $16.98 / Used from: $6.00
I had always liked Preisner's music, even when I didn't really know who he was. This is a quiet, dreamy album. Very nice.
Glass: Violin concertoGlass: Violin concerto
Buy new: $7.99 / Used from: $4.88
Listen carefully, there are only two Philip Glass albums worth buying. This is one of them. I went to see Glass at the Nashville Symphony. I should have played closer attention and noticed that it was the Glass ENSEMBLE, not the symphony. It was a very disappointing evening. This album on the other hand is quite nice.
Górecki: Symphony No. 3 ("Symphony of Sorrowful Songs"); Three Olden Style PiecesGórecki: Symphony No. 3 ("Symphony of Sorrowful Songs"); Three Olden Style Pieces by Zofia Kilanowicz
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $3.95
You get the Sorrowful Symphony with 3 very nice additional cuts- "Olden Style Pieces"
John Tavener: The Last Sleep of the Virgin; The Hidden TreasureJohn Tavener: The Last Sleep of the Virgin; The Hidden Treasure
Buy used from: $2.53
A unexpected and fantastic album. The string version of Pärt's Summa is not to be missed. The string quartet and handbells on Last Sleep of the Virgin is unique and beautiful. Hidden Treasure is just that, and one of my favorites of Tavener's.
Górecki: MiserereGórecki: Miserere
Buy new: $16.98 / Used from: $3.75
Another nice one from Górecki.
Discreet MusicDiscreet Music by Brian Eno
Buy new: $11.94 / Used from: $14.99
Buy this album for the Variation on Pachelbel's Canon (skip the first cut). The piece becomes dark, complex and beautiful. I also recommend the liner notes to read exactly how he did this. Great work.
Glass Cage / BrubakerGlass Cage / Brubaker
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $11.62
The piano adds a spaciousness to Philip's music that is sorely needed. "A Room" is the typical kind of music from John Cage that I don't really find listenable. However, "Dream" is melodic, beautiful and quiet. It's a rare gem from this composer. OK, this is it. Don't buy any other albums with Philip Glass music. I'm warning you. Please listen to me.
John Tavener: RequiemJohn Tavener: Requiem
Buy new: $16.98 / Used from: $51.09
Just released two weeks ago at the time of this writing. Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful. The actual Requiem may be an aquired taste for some. However the 18 min Shakti/Mahashakti piece is gorgeous. It uses a segment of the melody from the piece, "Mother and Child". The solo violin on this piece is outstanding. Also, the track listing on Amazon is wrong. There is a 10th cut - Eternal Memory.
AfterglowAfterglow by Michael Hoppe
Buy new: $16.98 / Used from: $6.21
I hesitated adding this, but I really like the cello on this. Admittedly, some of the cuts are throw-aways.
The PearlThe Pearl by Harold Budd & Brian Eno
Buy used from: $7.99
I'm not a huge fan of either of these composers, but this team effort produced a remarkable album. You must wade into the album to get to some of the darker (best) cuts, like Dark Eyed Sister, Pearl and Foreshadowed.
LamentateLamentate by Andrey Boreyko
Buy new: $15.99 / Used from: $10.63
Chasms of silence interspersed with tonal beauty. This is Pärt at his best.