- Audio Cassette (25 Oct 1990)
- Format: Import
- Label: RCA
- ASIN: B000003EMW
- Other Editions: Audio CD
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,153,979 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Product details |
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I've been a huge fan of James Galway since 1978, due to him I took up flute as my second musical instrument in 1978. :-)
I already have this album on vinyl but haven't been able to play it for a number of years due to not having a record player any longer so when I saw it was on CD I bought it. :-)
All the melodies are emotional, some are light and quick whilst others are slow and soothing, I love all the pieces and find them all relaxing. I do have two favourites which I love to play along with on my flute they are "Song of the Seashore" and "Cherry Blossom Time". :-)
James and his flute are supported by a full orchestra which gives the entire album a magical setting. :-)
If you love classical music or your thinking of maybe listening to classical music for the first time, then this is the album for you. All the pieces are light classical there's nothing to dark, serious or
depressing on this album. :-)
When I'm stressed I find listening to this album really helps me to relax and I'm sure you'd enjoy it to. :-)
I already have this album on vinyl but haven't been able to play it for a number of years due to not having a record player any longer so when I saw it was on CD I bought it. :-)
All the melodies are emotional, some are light and quick whilst others are slow and soothing, I love all the pieces and find them all relaxing. I do have two favourites which I love to play along with on my flute they are "Song of the Seashore" and "Cherry Blossom Time". :-)
James and his flute are supported by a full orchestra which gives the entire album a magical setting. :-)
If you love classical music or your thinking of maybe listening to classical music for the first time, then this is the album for you. All the pieces are light classical there's nothing to dark, serious or
depressing on this album. :-)
When I'm stressed I find listening to this album really helps me to relax and I'm sure you'd enjoy it to. :-)
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
8 reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Eastern Music for Western Listeners
10 Feb 2006
Format:Audio CD
From a musicology perspective, this CD would probably not be considered a good representation of traditional Japanese music. On that same note (no pun intended), it's really hard to fault it's efforts. James Galway is a brilliantly trained classical flautist (or flutist, depending on whom you ask) who on occassion has delved into - shall we say, lesser? - forms of music, ie pop songs arranged for studio orchestra and his solo flute stylings, that can barely be considered one step up from salon or elevator music. No one can fault his musicianship, but occassionally, listening to him can be akin to listening to a rock star past his (or her) prime doing stuff they really shouldn't be anymore. In this case, however, he has selected a number of extremely accessible Japanese folk songs and had them arranged so any listener can appreciate them. There is nothing showy in his playing, the orchestra never over-powers or overshadows the material, and the whole CD rarely reaches forte, or even mezzo-forte. It is excellent music for a drive in the country (with the window open only part-way, that is), or a lazy summer afternoon out on the deck, or a low-key dinner party. In fact, I have used it several times in all such occassions. And after (literally) years of occassional listening, it never seems to get old. From a man who clearly wants to be something more than just "background music", he has done a damn fine job of creating some exceptionally relaxing music here. In case you're turned off by the prices of the available copies here on Amazon, you might want to check out his more recent Japanese-themed CD "The Enchanted Forest" which is just as relaxing as this one, but utilizes electronic accompaniment, and as a result is more unique and varied, and probably easier to find.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
love it!
30 Nov 2003
Format:Audio CD
I have been listening to this CD for years - it is calming, soothing, and actually does bring the sounds and the flavour of Japan, the sea, and imaginaiton to one's heart.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Peaceful and Beautiful
23 April 2012
Format:Audio CD
This album is going on 4 generations in my family! My grandparents loved it and sent the record to my parents, so I grew up listening to it and other James Galway albums. Now that we're expecting our first child, I bought the CD to have as kind of "lullaby" music but can't stop listening to it myself. It's so beautiful and peaceful. As others have commented, it has a fairly consistent level of volume and tempo, as opposed to many other CDs that are "up and down," so I'm betting it will work as well for calming a fussy baby as for calming me after work. It's true it is a very Western take on Japanese music; inside the album is an explanation. These are songs by Japanese composers who traveled in Europe in the late 1800s/early 1900s and were influenced by the music in Vienna and other centers of Western European culture. They have since been integrated into Japanese culture as folk songs and lullabies. So it really is a multicultural album in many ways! I recommend it very highly.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
![Classic Library [1]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VRENekiQL._AA60_.jpg)
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
