This double CD lives up to its title. Although the span of Western classical music encompasses a wide variety of techniques and compositional styles, there is nothing more glorious than the slow and ruminative movements from these works by the greatest composers from Bach to Gorecki. Serenity is the key word to describe both Bach's Air from the Orchestral Suite No. 3 and Grieg's gorgeous paean to dawn, "Morning," which comes from his most famous work, 'Peer Gynt.' Satie's Gymnopedie No 1. is originally for piano solo, but receives a tender performance by the City of Birmingham Orchestra in Debussy's equally famous arrangement for strings. The second CD includes some unusual but equally appropriate selections: Boccherini's Minuet from the String Quintet in E major receives a resplendent orchestral treatment by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. The Andante from Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Mandolins proves to be a delightful inclusion. The Moderato from Dvorak's String Serenade is given a lush rendition by the London Chamber Orchestra. Perhaps the most gorgeous slow piece of music of all is Barber's Adagio for Strings, which is represented by Eugene Ormandy's classic rendition from 1985.
This double CD lives up to its title. Although the span of Western classical music encompasses a wide variety of techniques and compositional styles, there is nothing more glorious than the slow and ruminative movements from these works by the greatest composers from Bach to Gorecki. Serenity is the key word to describe both Bach's Air from the Orchestral Suite No. 3 and Grieg's gorgeous paean to dawn, "Morning," which comes from his most famous work, 'Peer Gynt.' Satie's Gymnopedie No 1. is originally for piano solo, but receives a tender performance by the City of Birmingham Orchestra in Debussy's equally famous arrangement for strings. The second CD includes some unusual but equally appropriate selections: Boccherini's Minuet from the String Quintet in E major receives a resplendent orchestral treatment by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. The Andante from Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Mandolins proves to be a delightful inclusion. The Moderato from Dvorak's String Serenade is given a lush rendition by the London Chamber Orchestra. Perhaps the most gorgeous slow piece of music of all is Barber's Adagio for Strings, which is represented by Eugene Ormandy's classic rendition from 1985.
