How often do you listen to compilation CDs?

[Corlyss_D]

Im just curious to see how this plays out

[Barry]

I said ocassionally. I actually just about never do for orchestral music. But when it comes to opera, just about the only listening I do is to compilations of arias by famous singers (my favorite is "The Number One Opera Album," which contains famous arias, choruses, etc.). I still have a tough time sitting through a complete opera.

[karlhenning]

Just plain never.

[Werner]

"The Best of..........." is an automatic turnoff.

[Haydnseek]

For a while we had compilation CDs in our Alarm Clock/Player. Philips had a nice line of things like “Brahms at Bedtime” that were thoughfully programmed. I think it’s time to hear them again. I’ve never had a problem with listening to just a single movement from a piece. In the 19th century it seems to have been common to play isolated movements in concerts. Some radio stations like the CBC play single movements.

[IcedNote]

I said "Occasionally" because I would think that "artist albums" are compilations, no?



-G

[RebLem]

Depends on what you call a "compilation" CD. I am not sure what the term means. I gather it means a collection of different performances of one composer's works from different sources that have never been on a CD together before. If that's what it means, chances are I already have most of the works on the CD in those performances or ones I consider better anyway. I seldom listen to them, but occasionally, I find one that interests me. Can't think of one offhand, though.

[Corlyss_D]

Depends on what you call a "compilation" CD. I am not sure what the term means. I gather it means a collection of different performances of one composer's works from different sources that have never been on a CD together before. If that's what it means, chances are I already have most of the works on the CD in those performances or ones I consider better anyway. I seldom listen to them, but occasionally, I find one that interests me. Can't think of one offhand, though.

No. Take a look at one of the adagio discs on Amazon. The idea is to snip different pieces out of their contexts and plop them down on a cd for (usually) relaxing listening, or to take movements of different concerti or symphonies out of their proper contexts because the entire thing is either boring or different from the mood to be created.

[Mark Antony Owen]

For beginners and more experienced music lovers alike, compilations can be a great introduction to material you might otherwise not have encountered. I still have 'sampler' CDs from years back that I give an occasional spin.

[Brendan]

Recently picked up Serene Spirit: Divine Harmonies for Mind and Soul and have been listening to the Fricsay recording of the Masonic Funeral Music twice a day since. Some of the rest gets a listen as a consequence, but I'll buy a 2CD 'Best of' to get a rare Fricsay recording any day, then check out the rest of the discs.

[RebLem]

Depends on what you call a "compilation" CD. I am not sure what the term means. I gather it means a collection of different performances of one composer's works from different sources that have never been on a CD together before. If that's what it means, chances are I already have most of the works on the CD in those performances or ones I consider better anyway. I seldom listen to them, but occasionally, I find one that interests me. Can't think of one offhand, though.

No. Take a look at one of the adagio discs on Amazon. The idea is to snip different pieces out of their contexts and plop them down on a cd for (usually) relaxing listening, or to take movements of different concerti or symphonies out of their proper contexts because the entire thing is either boring or different from the mood to be created.

Well, Corlyss, if you look at the other responses, I think you will find that lots of others have different ideas as to what a "compilation" is--different from both mine and yours. So, in future, perhaps we should define our terms a little better. I answered sometimes to the question in the poll, but I NEVER listen to the kinds of discs you describe, even though I occasionally get them from MHS because I forget to decline them in time.

[Ralph]

I enjoy putting symphony and concerto discs on my five-CD player and programming my own works. Like the first movement of Mahler's Second Symphony followed by the second movement of Tshaikovsky's Violin Concerto, then the third movement of Shostakovich's Tenth Symphony finishing with the fourth movement of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

Anyone else enjoy listening to custom compilations?

[Corlyss_D]

Well, Corlyss, if you look at the other responses, I think you will find that lots of others have different ideas as to what a "compilation" is--different from both mine and yours. So, in future, perhaps we should define our terms a little better.

I don't see any substantially different from what I had in mind except Iced's and your original take on it.

[IcedNote]

I don't see any substantially different from what I had in mind except Iced's and your original take on it.

Actually, I only have a few compilations of the ones you describe. I *really* enjoy those "The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World.....Ever!!" discs....there's 2 sets of 2 as far as I know. Good stuff.

Oh, I lied. I also have all 20 CDs from Naxos' "Night Music" set. I've found that the ladies enjoy that kind of thing...

But as far as "The Best of Debussy", no thanks!

-G

[Febnyc]

No "Best of..." or anything like that.

But a couple of my favorite so-called "compilations" are discs entitled "Tenors in the Grand Tradition." There are two volumes and they feature some outstanding, legendary tenors performing the major arias. The recordings date from the 1930s to the 1960s and the sound is superb - the performances cannot be matched.

So, this sort of a complilation CD interests me.

[Harvested Sorrow]

I'm generally strictly against compilation discs (no matter what genre they're under) as I don't like having works cut and pasted in. (or in the case of other genres having what's usually an artist's worst songs all put onto one disc to listen to). I may make an exception if I can find a good compilation disc for reading.

[Haydnseek]

Went to sleep and woke up to the Philips release “Bach at Bedtime” which contains the following selections played by artists including Grumiaux, Szeryng, Krebbers, Petri, Rampal, Starker, Sebok, Romero, Marriner, Jochum, Leppard, and Munchinger.

1. Sheep May Safely Graze
2. Violin Concerto No.1 In A Minor: Andante
3. Concerto In A For Oboe d'amore: Larghetto
4. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor: Sarabande
5. Christmas Oratorio: Sinfonia
6. Violin Concerto No. 2 in E: Adagio
7. Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G: Adante
8. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins: Largo ma non tanto
9. Concerto In F For Oboe: Siciliano
10. Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 In D: Affetuoso
11. Sonata No. 1 In G For Cello & Piano: Andante
12. Sinfonia, Part II 'Easter Oratorio': Adagio
13. Partita In D Minor: Sarabande
14. Suite in D: Sarabande

Sorry Puritans! Lightning did not strike me for enjoying this lovely music in this way.

[karlhenning]

Sorry Puritans! Lightning did not strike me for enjoying this lovely music in this way.

That's because the divinities grant you time to balance this with Baby's First Schoenberg.

And the clock is ticking

[Haydnseek]

Sorry Puritans! Lightning did not strike me for enjoying this lovely music in this way.

That's because the divinities grant you time to balance this with Baby's First Schoenberg.

And the clock is ticking

How about "Henning: The Wedding Collection"?

[lmpower]

The compilation concept doesn't appeal to me. I generally prefer listening to a composition as the composer intended it to be heard. A title like Beethoven's greatest hits would be almost like Beethoven for dummies. I do own Prokofiev greatest hits. It's actually pretty good. It contains Bernstein's classical symphony, Ormandy's Peter and the wolf, Lieutenant Kije and love for 3 oranges march.

[Wallingford]

COMPILATION CD's?? I'm all for them!

In fact, I make them all the time: anything from Seattle Symphony live-broadcast dubs (the complete work, of course, though it usually shares space with another whole work from another concert); through "pet projects" like my London Symphony anthology--250 different works or single movements of larger works, performed by 250 different conductors. This was a project I undertook & completed over a good 13-year period.

In fact, for the pop-music lover in me, I have another collection of my 100 favorite singles of all time.

Most of these I'll frequently play on my Sony compact stereo, with the "random" button pushed.

[Lark Ascending]

I have no problem whatsoever with compilation CDs. I find them extremely useful for providing examples of a composer's works that may prompt me to explore that particular composer in greater depth (or alternatively to give them a wide berth).

[Mark Antony Owen]

I also have all 20 CDs from Naxos' "Night Music" set. I've found that the ladies enjoy that kind of thing...

Damn you! I only have Volume 4

I think this kind of thing, if done with a modicum of intelligence, can be quite enjoyable as light listening.

[Gary]

As with most things, it's okay as long as it is done in moderation. I played a compilation CD as recently as last Saturday. But here's the caveat: Steer clear of those called something like "Sensual Classical." Retch, Retch...

[rogch]

Generally i don't like compilations unless they contain complete works and not just separate movements. The same pieces tend to be used on these kind of albums again and again. I don't think they promote classical music. What if people who wanted to buy Bach's air had to buy the complete orchestral suites, and not as part of a compilation together with parts of the four seasons, "Elvira Madigan", Für Elise and other "evergreens". I am sure they would have enjoyed much more than air from the orchestral suites and would perhaps even explored more of Bach's music. But most compliations don't have this kind of effect.

[Mark Antony Owen]

Generally i don't like compilations unless they contain complete works and not just separate movements. The same pieces tend to be used on these kind of albums again and again. I don't think they promote classical music. What if people who wanted to buy Bach's air had to buy the complete orchestral suites, and not as part of a compilation together with parts of the four seasons, "Elvira Madigan", Für Elise and other "evergreens". I am sure they would have enjoyed much more than air from the orchestral suites and would perhaps even explored more of Bach's music. But most compliations don't have this kind of effect.

In response to the text in bold - and Gary's comment about naff classical compilations - I'd say this: these CDs do no real harm. I, along with others I know, found such CDs a 'safe' way to begin exploring classical music. I began with the very familiar movements and excerpts, and then felt ready to explore the works I liked in their complete forms. I wouldn't have come as far as I have in 15 years (500+ CDs of everything from Lobo and Tye to Glass and Nyman, with a fairly broad spread covering all the intervening periods) without my early experiences of such compilations. But these days, I have less need of them, only spinning them for a bit of light listening from time to time.

[Corlyss_D]

I don't see any substantially different from what I had in mind except Iced's and your original take on it.

I was going to poke you good-naturedly about the kind of thing you referred to actually being "recitals," not "compilations" in the strictest sense.

Actually, I only have a few compilations of the ones you describe. I *really* enjoy those "The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World.....Ever!!" discs....there's 2 sets of 2 as far as I know. Good stuff.

I played this disc almost weekly in my office, mostly because at the time it was the only way I could hear the Richter Prelude in C because the RCA Richter WTC was out of print at the time. I didn't care for the entire WTC or even the fugue that goes with this prelude. Just that prelude. The rest of the disc is outstanding as well. Another favorite is Beethoven for Booklovers in the Philips Set Your Life To Music series.



This is another outstanding disc that I played a lot in the office. The Faures, Mozart, Barber, Elgar, Palestrina, Rachmaninov, and Part are simply outstanding. It didn't bother me one whit that most of the pieces were excerpts.

Oh, I lied. I also have all 20 CDs from Naxos' "Night Music" set. I've found that the ladies enjoy that kind of thing...

You sly Don Juan!

But as far as "The Best of Debussy", no thanks!

Is it "The Best of" that bugs you or the Debussy?

[Corlyss_D]

How about "Henning: The Wedding Collection"?

Take that, Karl!!!!

BTW, are you going to put out a cd so your friends here can hear some more of your choral music?

[karlhenning]

But as far as "The Best of Debussy", no thanks!

Is it "The Best of" that bugs you or the Debussy?

Hey, after Claire de lune and Golliwog's Cakewalk (ideally with Branford Marsalis on saxophone), what more Debussy does anyone need?

[karlhenning]

The BTW, are you going to put out a cd so your friends here can hear some more of your choral music?

One of these days, I'll get the March Evensong disc in order . . . .

[Corlyss_D]

But as far as "The Best of Debussy", no thanks!

Is it "The Best of" that bugs you or the Debussy?

Hey, after Claire de lune and Golliwog's Cakewalk (ideally with Branford Marsalis on saxophone), what more Debussy does anyone need?

Oh, gimme gimme. I 'll take your share and mine too. I love Debussy except for the opera that dare not speak its name lest we raise the dead Eric Anderson.

[karlhenning]

Nay, Corlyss, I was being facetious. There is much Debussy I greatly enjoy (though -- somehow -- I don't generally make a lot of time for A Certain Opera).

[Mark Antony Owen]

Corlyss, I agree wholeheartedly about the Agnus Dei disc (have you heard the follow-up? Just as delightful) - I've as yet found no complete version of Rachmaninov's All-night Vigil that boasts an Ave Maria as powerful and magisterial as the performance to be found on this CD.

[taisiawshan]

I think 80% of classical music CDs we have in Malaysia is " The Best of ...".
Why? Because 99% of Malaysians don't listen to classical music.
So, the remain 1% have no choice.


Then, when you are new, you think the best way is to buy " The Best of ...".
Another thing, " The Best of ..." always contains the most common & most popular ones, so newbie like them.


Now, although I'm still a newbie, I won't like to buy compilation any more. I really like to listen to the whole thing, not seperated.
It's like those booklets which quote " interesting or good" sentences from all the great works of one writer. It can be still interesting or good, but it's not in a whole. I always think it's important to grasp the "spirit" of the a great work.


Anyway, when I'm familiar with a piece already. I may just like one particular part only.
Then, to do my own compilation is more enjoyable & relaxing.

[taisiawshan]

Does "Adagio" has a different meaning other than "slow" ?

[Corlyss_D]

Does "Adagio" has a different meaning other than "slow" ?

As a tempo marking, it literally means leisurely or at ease, but since it's debut the meaning has changed. The 19th century pretty much settled the meaning at "slowest tempo." As a noun, it means a slow movement in a larger work. What I was referring to was several discs entitled Adagio consisting of slow movements from concerti and other works.

[johnQpublic]

The 19th century pretty much settled the meaning at "slowest tempo." As a noun, it means a slow movement in a larger work.

But there are a number of slower markings including Grave, so while Adagio is pretty slow, it's not the slowest.

[Burchest]

What I call compilations are Mp3 disc that I burn for use in my car. But then again these disc are made up of compete works.

[hautbois]

I am a Malaysian too.... There is only one Tower Records with one complete classical section in the Twin Towers in KL, and that is still a 'sea' away from me (Geographically East and West Malaysia is separated by the South China Sea). Fortunately we have a fine Malaysian Philharmonic in residence in KLCC and Krystian Zimmerman (July), Sarah Chang (June), and the Oslo Philharmonic (June) are just some of the upcoming major events, but still that's a 'sea' away from me.

I never bought any 'The Best of's, but this doesn't mean that everyone should omit it. One time last year i bumped onto a 'The best of trumpet' cd which was extremely cheap and was produced by EMI, which surprisingly featured all the important classical and baroque trumpet concertos, COMPLETE movements, and around 3-4 of the concertos performed by Maurice Andre. Talk about a good buy.

[Mark Antony Owen]

Listening to one right now ... one of four CDs I picked up earlier today in a charity shop. I figured they were in good condition, and would make for a relaxing listen - plus, I'd be giving a little something to a good cause.

The four discs are all samplers from the HMV Classics range: an introductory set called Chill out Violin / Orchestra / Guitar / Piano. They're in the older packaging - I have a load of CDs in this design already - so they fit in nicely on the shelf beside my existing discs!

Nothing challenging on any of them; just a pleasant 65-75 minutes of restful music on each. Lovely!

[Dies Irae]

Practically every disc from Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops could be called a compilation. Besides his essays into the core of the classical repertoire (which 99% of the time were eminently successful) he also did some albums featuring music associated with americana such as "Pops Roundup" or "The Pops goes West". Such works as "the Streets of Laredo", "Cool Water, "High Noon", "Shenandoah". "Don't fence me in", "Sweet Betsy from Pike", "Bury me not on the lone prairie", "Tumbling Tumbleweeds", "Mule Train", etc, are presented lovingly, and are beautifully played and recorded. It seems to me that they should appeal to everyone but the most stuffed of stuffed shirts.

And from what I've read so far on this thread, lots of shirts with an excess of starch are being worn.

[Enriqueelm]

To clarify my vote, I "often" listen to compilations because I burn my own for use in my car. I drive long distances every day and I can not be without my music. I have three categories.. Drive (compilation of various pieces ranging from Baroque favourites to Celtic airs), Bel Canto (speaks for itself) and Movie Themes (likewise).

Oh, I forgot I also have " Love that Song" disks (now up to number 4) for when I want to go back to the....."days of my youth".

Cheers,

Rick

[DavidRoss]

According to the example given in the original post (i.e. "Relaxing Brass Music to Bribe Corrupt Public Officials By") -- NEVER! (Isn't that a crime in some jurisdictions?)

However, I often listen to compilations like Barbara Bonney's disc of Nordic songs, or John William's recording of Latin American guitar music, or collections of WW5tets, etc.

[Harvested Sorrow]

On second thought, I feel it should be noted that I have been known to buy the DG "Panorama" sets. However, those offer complete versions of composer's works and nice recordings of them so it's a good start to get the general breadth of a composer's work.