Sarah Brightman - A Winter Symphony
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Free Music Notes for A Winter Symphony
Free Music Review: A brilliant semi-Christmas album
Hit: 5 Stars
Although I was very keen to buy this album as soon as I could, I must declare that there was a time when the very thought of buying Sarah's music was unthinkable to me. My different attitude to her music may partly be due to my more varied musical tastes these days, but my hearing is also not what it once was. As I remember, I always felt that Sarah's very high voice was too piercing for my liking, but I am no longer able to hear the top end of the range, so the part of her voice that annoyed me no longer does so. As such, I am now able to recognize her true brilliance as a singer. If you are unfamiliar with Sarah's voice, maybe you should listen to some samples, particularly to see if you like her voice when she hits those very high notes.
I suspect that there are too many Christmas songs here for people to play when they don't want to hear Christmas music, but it's a great album that includes several songs that aren't heard too often, as well as several famous songs, though they aren't always what you might expect.
The opening track is a cover of Arrival, the Abba semi-instrumental in which the original versions features the women humming and singing la-la along to the music. But Sarah's version features proper lyrics. The credits only mention Benny and Bjorn as co-writers, so whether they wrote these lyrics in the seventies but didn't use them, or whether they wrote the lyrics later, I cannot say, but I've never heard them before and this fully-fledged song makes a great opening track.
Next comes a cover of a Vince Gill ballad, Colder than winter, which is great to find here. I'm a huge fan of Vince's music, but although he once recorded a duet with Barbra Streisand, I wouldn't necessarily expect to find one of his songs on a Sarah Brightman album. Of course, Sarah does an excellent version of it so I'm definitely not complaining.
More predictable repertoire for Sarah follows, with a duet version of Ave Maria (written by Luehrs) with Fernando Lima, which I don't remember hearing before, though I may have done; there are several different songs called Ave Maria and the most familiar one cones later. Meanwhile, this duet is followed by the classic Silent night. Next comes In the bleak midwinter, a wonderful carol (originally just a poem) that sometimes appears on American albums but which seems to be more popular in Britain. After that comes a Neil Diamond song, I've been this way before, followed by a rarely-covered traditional carol, Jesu, joy of man`s desiring. Much more familiar (at least melodically) is Child in a manger. The traditional lyrics may be unfamiliar, but the unmistakeable backing tune is Morning has broken.
This album features covers of two seventies Christmas pop-rock classics, the first of them being I wish it could be Christmas everyday. I was pleased to see this song included but I wondered how well it would work. Of course it was never going to match the original Wizzard version, but Sarah does a fine job with the song. I'm not sure if the original song is familiar to most Americans, so it may be that for most Americans who buy this album, it'll be the first time that they hear this song. In Britain, it is one of the songs that you can't avoid hearing in December, but I don't mind as it is one of my all-time favorites.
Next comes a solo version of the most famous Ave Maria (the Bach-Gounod song), followed by the even more famous Amazing grace. I didn't really need another version of either of them, but Sarah is in top form on both and her versions are better than most versions that you`re likely to hear.
The second cover of a seventies Christmas pop-rock song is I believe in Father Christmas, originally performed by Greg Lake, which is a great way to close an outstanding album. It contains no original material (unless this album marks the debut of those Arrival lyrics) but there is plenty of variety here, mixing the familiar music with some well-chosen obscure material.
Free Music Review: MISS OUT ON THIS ALBUM AND YOU JUST MISS OUT.....
Hit: 5 Stars
When A WINTER SYMPHONY was first released I picked it up in a heartbeat without so much as a look. I have all of Sarah's stuff and was not about to let this slip by, whatever it was.
Upon giving it an initial listen, I was not overly impressed. In fact it was more like being significantly under-enthralled. However, THAT reaction was almost six months ago. After repeated exposure, this album as become, hands down, a prized gem in my collection of Sarah's music.
Let's start at the bottom of the barrel as an illustration. `I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERYDAY' is a vulgar trashy little tune, complete with vulgar thumping percussion. On hearing it, my first impression was, "What is Sarah doing singing this garbage?!?!?".
That was and illustrates all that I was missing. I have since come to view this cut as worthy of showcasing the entire album! Sure, it is STILL a trashy little tune, but just listen to what Sarah has DONE with it!! Her incorporation of the Steve Sidwell Big Band in the arrangement is knockout stuff. My advice would be to listen to Sarah as background (she won't go away) and focus in on what that Big Band is doing. Sarah is milking it all for everything she can get. Between the two and two and a half minute mark, if one is not howling in delight over the soaring escapades of those screaming trumpets........ THIS IS MUSIC!!!!!!! THIS IS SARAH!!!!!!
The Ave Maria Duet with Fernando Lima is in itself worth times over the price of the CD. Sarah was looking for an ideal vocal blend set in a desired interpretation and she got what she was after. The music is jaw dropping!! All the way along from the opening bar, have you been picking up on the magnificent development done by the London Symphony brass section???? YOU WEREN'T LISTENING!!!!! and Sarah had them making those sounds for a very good reason!!!
In this album, Sarah demonstrates fresh and new pure vocal stylings ......... she has already done that other stuff. Every selection in this collection (nice rhyme) is fully redeemed in a deeply musical sense and stands on it's own merits. Sarah sees to that.......
So what about those not so hot reviews? That is reviewer deficiency, not Sarah's. Lots of people show up at the dock only to miss the boat...... some people hearing Sarah are better fitted to listening to Enya....... with Sarah and specially this recording, you have to LISTEN......
With the effort, the delights will unfold...... which is exactly what Sarah had in mind all the time......
Free Music Review: A Fix for the Hopeless Romantic
Hit: 5 Stars
A Winter Symphony by Sarah Brightman is a stunning collection of seasonal ballads that outstretch the holiday season. Sarah earns our respect just by her tenacity and focus. She knows who she is and doesn't try to sway from it. Her music is a pure fix for the hopeless romantics out there.
There are just a few contemporary artists that are reviving the art of romantic European ballads for example the beautiful song 'Per Te' by Josh Groban from the album Closer 'Un Amore Cosi Grande' by Andrea Bocelli from the album Incanto 'Un Flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle' by Loreena McKennitt A Midwinter Night's Dream 'La Promesa' by Il Divo from the album The Promise 'Oiche Chiuin' by Enya And Winter Came 'The Prayer' by David Foster from the album Hit Man: David Foster And Friends (CD/DVD) and 'Com'e Bello fa L'Amore Quann'e Sera' by Liata from the album Intermezzo.
Again....This music is for the more discerning listener who needs more than pop and rock. Sarah Brightman's A Winter Symphony is another rich addition to this romantic movement in music.
Free Music Review: Sarah's Symphony
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been a Sarah Brightman fan since her days as Christine in Phantom..and was very excited when I heard (in WALMART, of all places!!) her first Christmas album was out. Couldn't find it ANYWHERE..not even Barnes & Noble or Borders. And they usually have EVERYTHING!!
So I came here, ordered it, and listened to almost nothing else up till the holiday.
Sarah's ethereal soprano is always an instant classic, and the ability of her and her producers to mix orchestral and modern musical genres works as incredibly as always.
My 11 year old who, since "Time To Say Goodbye" was one of the CDs in her lullaby libary, has grown up listening to Sarah and is also a fan, and her favorite was Silent Night as well as Arrival (which is also one of my favorites-I mean, I could just visualize in my head that song sung by Sarah heralding the angels' arrival to the shepherds on Christmas night), Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, Child In A Manger (sung to the tune of "Morning Has Broken")..and Ave Maria. Least favorite was the one with the kids "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday"..she just seemed awkward with the childrens chorus, but then, maybe its the cultural difference between the USA and Europe. (I don't know anyone, teachers or other adults who call a bunch of kids "children"..we call them "kids"..but, again, it could be just me.) Amazing Grace was good, but can't compare to Chris Tomlin's version, sorry. "Colder Than Winter" was kind of sad, but I know that the holidays are very hard on people who are alone or suffering a loss this time of year, so that's probably appropriate; and "I Believe In Father Christmas" is an uplifting, hopeful song that is a good choice for closing out this outstanding album.
Free Music Review: A Winter theme magnificent album!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Being a Sarah's fan for more than ten years ,What can I say?
this album is so better than the " Symphony" released on January 08.
I'm going to be short in this review.
Here some facts:
* "winter symphony is not a christmas album.
* it is a winter theme album.
* it conteins some wonderful and faboulus ballads.
* "colder than winter" is a love story.
* "Arrival" it is awesome, ABBA cover. the best song!!! .not Xmas theme.
* "Amaziong grace" wow and wow. perfect fit to the new Sarah whispery voice!! I love the Harp in the begining.
* "Ave Maria " with Fernando Lima is good song. I love it.
*"Jesu,joy of the man's desiring" what a faboulos music.
* "In the bleak midwinter" I hate the Sarah's vocals, she over used her childish-whipery voice. Again. my 6 years old nice singing?????? ahhhh! and grrrrrhh disapointed.I will stick with the old Sarah's version of it.
* " Ave Maria" ( Gounod ) relaxing, but, The first part of the song is very childish,the second part is more "operatic".
In general good --------winter season album --------- with few classics song from christmas. and lots of song with her new breathy childish way to sing.
Love the album.