- Amazon Sales Rank: #16830 in Music
- Released on: 2003-09-30
- Number of discs: 1
- Format: Original recording remastered
- Dimensions: .23 pounds
William Schuman In Praise Of Shahn 2 Pic
William Schuman In Praise Of Shahn 2 Pic
William Schuman In Praise Of Shahn 2 Pic
William Schuman In Praise Of Shahn 2 Pic
William Schuman In Praise Of Shahn 2 Photo
William Schuman In Praise Of Shahn 2 Pic
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful.
 Classic Bernstein recordings of American music, in best sound
By Santa Fe Listener
Sony’s reissue machine tries to entice us to buy some classic Bernstein performances by giving us mid-price, excellent sound, and a jam-packed CD. As Mr. Richman notes below, the main part of this disc appeared in the Bernstein Century series, but two items have been added, Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and Ives’ Unanswered Question, both performed with all of Bernstein’s infectious energy and insight.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
 Same as “Bernstein Century” Title
By Michael B. Richman
This recent Sony reissue of the music of American composers Samuel Barber and William Schuman is exactly the same as a CD featured in the “Bernstein Century” series. Included here are Leonard Bernstein and the NYPO’s 1971 account of the “Adagio for Strings,” 1964 recording of Barber’s Violin Concerto, 1968 performance of Schuman’s “To Thee Old Cause,” and “In Praise of Shahn” from 1970. The music is terrific, but my reason for rewarding only four stars (other than being annoyed at Sony for investing so much energy in a straight reissue with new packaging when so many other classic recordings remain unissued) is this release is obviously aimed at casual fans looking for a good performance of the “Adagio.” And boy will they be surprised by the dissonance of the Schuman pieces! This is another Sony reissue that leaves me scratching my head.
4 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
Curiously “Romantic” and “Modern” all at once…
By Joe Anthony
The Violin Conccerto by Samuel Barber is a very lovely and passionate piece of music that is curiously “Romantic” and “Modern” all at once. Though it seems to be based on the model of the Brahms concerto, it is also quite interesting on its own terms. Violinist Isaac Stern is in robust form as is conductor Leonard Bernstein who unlocks every morsel of flavor from the fantastic New York Philharmonic.
The “Adagio for Strings” by Barber, has, of course, become a standard piece for mourning, and has also been used in several movies such as “Platoon”. This illustrates what a fine and melodic composer Mr. Barber truly was.
The pieces by William Schuman are OK, but lack Barber’s fund of melody and passion.
“The Unanswered Question” by Charles Ives is a “bonus track” which is quite mysterious and ethereal.
Aaron Copland’s rousing “Fanfare for the Common Man” is another American Classic dedicated to the citizen soldiers who saved the world from tyranny during World War II. No conductor, by the way, could reach the heart of Copland’s music like Leonard Bernstein who, of course, brings the fanfare to full effervesence.
This CD is a great buy, especially for the Violin Concerto.
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