- Audio CD
- ASIN: B000LE1FJK
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 342,198 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
Jubilee Offer: Patriotic Classics for £2.50 |
Product details |
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Romany Wood is a delightful 45 minute work for full Orchestra and Children's Choir. With words by Paul Carr and music by David Gaukroger. It is based on a 1970's Children's book of the same name. In this adaptation the story of the romance between wood mice Trollon and Esmeralda of Romany Wood is told, culminating in their wedding. Each track consists of an instrumental introduction, the ongoing story spoken by the narrator, and then the children come in with a song. The style is very traditionally British. Think the music of Elgar, Vaughan Williams and William Walton. Think the musical Oliver! Think hints of early Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. While the orchestra and narrator are together everything is dreamlike in a hazy early 20th century English pastoral music way. William Boughton, a great interpreter of early 20th century British music, is an inspired choice of conductor. The intrusion of the New London Children's Choir makes things more contemporary: the singing is excellent, their accents are present day.
The work is high quality and feels the right length, neither too short nor too long. There are highlights - the rustic dance music of track 3'Harvest' is a particular delight.
Romany Wood is intended for performance, anywhere from Community Centre and Church Hall by amateur groups, to the big concert halls. I presume that there are simpler arrangements of the music available, and backing tracks. There are details of a website on the CD which has more information of this sort. The Format of the 7 tracks means that the children get a breather during the orchestra and narrator sections - a useful device.
The CD has 6 more Tracks. The Eastender's Fugue is a clever Bach style arrangement of the Soap Opera's theme tune played on a piano, though I am left hungry for a full-on organ version.
A piano version of Ain't Misbehaving' left me under whelmed.
However, the last four tracks, a little song cycle for Tenor and Piano: Four Songs for Keats, by David Gaukroger, is impressive. The songs of Vaughan Williams are an all pervasive influence, but there is no doubting the quality here. Having Ian Partridge as the tenor, a fine Vaughan Williams interpreter, helps enormously. The fourth song `Sleep' could be lost song from `On Wenlock Edge' by Vaughan Williams, it is of equal quality.
Sound quality is excellent throughout.
The work is high quality and feels the right length, neither too short nor too long. There are highlights - the rustic dance music of track 3'Harvest' is a particular delight.
Romany Wood is intended for performance, anywhere from Community Centre and Church Hall by amateur groups, to the big concert halls. I presume that there are simpler arrangements of the music available, and backing tracks. There are details of a website on the CD which has more information of this sort. The Format of the 7 tracks means that the children get a breather during the orchestra and narrator sections - a useful device.
The CD has 6 more Tracks. The Eastender's Fugue is a clever Bach style arrangement of the Soap Opera's theme tune played on a piano, though I am left hungry for a full-on organ version.
A piano version of Ain't Misbehaving' left me under whelmed.
However, the last four tracks, a little song cycle for Tenor and Piano: Four Songs for Keats, by David Gaukroger, is impressive. The songs of Vaughan Williams are an all pervasive influence, but there is no doubting the quality here. Having Ian Partridge as the tenor, a fine Vaughan Williams interpreter, helps enormously. The fourth song `Sleep' could be lost song from `On Wenlock Edge' by Vaughan Williams, it is of equal quality.
Sound quality is excellent throughout.
My daughter and three grandchildren loved it. Personal interest - William Boughton is related to us! Are we biased - no. It is a lovely piece of music.
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
