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Artist:
Andrew Lloyd Webber
 Worthy successor to the original, 2010-03-10
There is a great deal to enjoy in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical. It contains some superb music - well worthy of the original 'Phantom' and a suitably gothic plot line on which it hangs. Lloyd Webber has taken a risk in only including tiny fragments of melody from the original show - but this pays off with a wealth of new material. If I were to choose the best song I would go for 'Beneath a Moonless Sky' but there are several possible contenders. Those reviewers who complain that the music is all 'recycled' fail to understand the compositional process and the fact that composers have their own musical 'trademarks'. Lloyd Webber has his own tricks of harmony, melody, orchestration etc which seem familiar because he uses them frequently in his music. Lloyd Webber uses the leitmotif technique where subtle variation and development is key. Listen to the way he transforms the very simple melody of 'Only for Him' for the Act 2 Entr'acte, for example. The show is not perfect of course - the opening is too fragmented for my liking, but repeated listening may change my view. Overall, this is probably Lloyd Webber's best work for over twenty years. After listening to the show, I now want to go and see it!
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £8.90
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Artist:
Various Artists
Best Stage Show Ever :D, 2010-01-25
After listening to the music from Wicked for over a year, I finally watched the musical whilst in New York. It's amazing! funny! Apparently London is just as good if not better than New York....I can't wait to find out :D
This CD has all the music from the show by the original (and best!) cast!
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List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £4.89
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Artist:
Various Artists
Twilight movie soundtrack, 2010-02-24
I am a true Twilight fan, and this album is great. Good collection of songs, shame track 13 was changed from Rob Pattinsons "Let me sign" though
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List Price: £15.99
Our Price: £8.95
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Artist:
The Chieftains,
Ry Cooder
A Lovely and Belated CD - Excellent Well Done All,, 2010-03-11
A lovely CD and FINALLY a recognition by leading Mexican figures that they were NOT ALONE - European and North American dissenters stood should to shoulder with their ancestors.
All we need now is to recognize the German speaking members of the brigada.
A belated, beautiful and timely collection of a Mexican-Irish melodic mélange. Other reviewers have done an excellent job on the melodies.
For a Historical Synopsis:-
the Brigada San Patricio fought for Mexico against American SLAVE state expansion(1846-48) and also for their religious rights. Of the 900 men (some with experience of the Napoleonic wars in Europe, it is estimated that approximately 30% were German speaking). - see the dvd of the 'film' - 'One Man's Hero' - with : Tom Berenger, Joaquim de Almeida, director: Lance Hool ASIN: 630571889X -
BACKGROUND:-
In Europe Republican governments were replaced by the Napoleonic dictatorship followed by the restored Monarchies (1815).
Post the American war of independence, Article 5 of the Paris treaty (Nov 1782), American democrats had to guarantee the `the rights of confiscated `property' of Loyalist Americans (this included slaves and estates). Although small loyalist farmers lost out, the larger Southern plantations owned by English aristocrats remained. Less than 5% of loyalist left for Europe, Canada or the Caribbean. Little changed from the `Ancienne Regime'
Paddy is wrong in his assertion on the dominating factors.
Slave power continued to be the main economic driving forces in the southern states of the new world.
Within the slave states, non slaveholding whites were barred from important offices and opportunities. With the Missouri line `Dixiland' could only expand west or south.
The Slave States:-
The Mexican constitution's (1824) abolition of slavery, in particular the sale of slaves incensed slave traders. In 1827 President John Adams offered Mexico US$1 Million to buy Tecas, in 1829 President Andrew Jackson tried with an offer of US$5 million but was also rejected.
See also `La Constitución de Apatzingán' by Ernesto de la Torre Villar ISBN 9688371777
Along with delegates Andres Quintana Roo & Carlos Bustamante (1814 - they called for popular sovereignty, republican government, abolition of slavery, equality before the law, representative government, separation of church and state.
Austin and Houston (both of Virginia) were instigators of the Tecas land grab. The addition of Texas to the Union as a SLAVE state, was blocked until the election in 1844 of president Polk.
WHY DID IT HAPPEN THEN:-
After 1815 and the restoration of the European ancienne regimes the 'White Royalist Terror' was unleashed on Republican, Radical Enlightenment, anti monarchic and anti-autocratic church elements. As a consequence many Europeans came to America seeking refuge as the United Irishmen before them - 'United Irishmen, United States' by David Wilson ISBN:0801431751.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) expanded slavery north into Kansas.
In New York slavery was abolished only in 1827 and a re-introduction was attempted again following this act.
Implementation of the `Fugitive Slave act' (1850) along with the need to fix the route of the railways finally provoked the American Civil War
WHY WAS THIS WAR IMPORTANT:-
General Zachariou Taylor (who owned more than 100 slaves in Louisiana & Mississippi) went into Mexico beyond the Neuces river (Corpus Christi).
Lincoln denounced the war in Congress. Thoreau went to jail rather than pay taxes to support it, and Ulysses Grant (who served in Mexico) described it as "the most unjust war ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation". The Catholic Hierarchy more interested in protecting Anglo interests in the period of the legalisation of the Catholic church in England, sent two priests McEvoy (GaelicSpeaker) and Rein (GermanSpeaker) to stem the flow of support for Mexico.
The war was a prelude as many later took different sides in the North American Civil War (1861-65).
Some examples of the correspondence by Grant, Lee, Sherman, Taylor, Scott, Bragg on their personal experiences of the Mexican war prior to the Northern Civil War.
In consolation to the Mexican people, it was Californian gold that allowed Lincoln to subsequently defeat the combined forces of the slavistocracy and European royalty.
The Northern states at that time were the last refuge of the 'Republic of Letters' and the light of the Enlightenment, perilously close to being extinguished.
One of the etymologies of 'Gringo' in Irish folklore is the fact that many Patricios sang the Napoleonic song 'Green grows the Lilio' as they marched thro' Mexico.
One notable United Irishman, Jemmy Hope, still on the run, was interviewed by R. Madden in the 1840's aged in his 80's. I would like to see a film based on his life.
See 'United Irishman: The Autobiography of James Hope' by John Newsinger [Merlin] 0850364965.
Yes Liam, green was also the color of Rainsborough's, the Levellers, Liliburns banner. William Drennan would be proud of you, togha fear !
Other References:-
'Los Soldados Irlandeses de Mexico' Hogan ISBN:9687846070, 'United Irishmen, United States' by David Wilson ISBN:0801431751; 'The Rogue's March' ISBN:1574887386, 'Short Killing Affair by Foos ISBN:0807854050,
'Rise of the English Empire in the American South' Gallay ISBN:0300101937, 'Irish Slave Girl' by McCafferty ISBN:014200183X,`Duffy's Cut' ISBN0275987272 &9780275987275; 'Letters on Jackson Edited by B. Leigh ISBN:0548321833 ; 'California Gold Rush and the Coming of the Civil War' by Richards ISBN:030726520X; How the Irish Became White' by Noel Ignatiev ISBN:0415918251 ;'
Colonel Despard: The Life and Death of an English/Irish Jacobin by Clifford C. Conner ISBN-10: 1580970265; Friends of Liberty - the English Democractic Movement by A Goodwin ISBN 0674323394;'United Irishman: The Autobiography of James Hope' by John Newsinger [Merlin] 0850364965.
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List Price: £16.99
Our Price: £7.98
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Artist:
Original London Cast Recording
FANTASTIC QUALITY, 2010-01-13
AN EXCELLENT SERVICE AND MY DAUGHTER IS ALREADY LEARNING THE SONGS TO PERFORM WHEN SHE STARTS REHEARSALS IN FEBRUARY
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List Price: £19.99
Our Price: £11.98
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Artist:
Glee Cast
Great music!, 2010-03-14
The glee songs are great on screen and great on CD. It is a shame though that some of the songs featured aren't on here eg the mash ups and the song Kristin Chenoweth sang with the club. But overall a great CD perfect for in the car!
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List Price: £15.99
Our Price: £6.42
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Artist:
Glee Cast
Just brilliant music, 2010-01-03
Quite simply - I love Glee and the music. Every song (nearly) never fails to put a smile on my face. Second volume just adds that much more to the first.
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Artist:
Original Soundtrack
Classic Old Country Blues, 2010-02-07
Crazy Heart is the kind of film that hits you in the gut, it is original and so well acted. The soundtrack hits you in the same manner. It is old fashioned country sung with the blues. This weekend 'In the Best Original Song category - Motion Picture category Crazy Heart's lead song 'The Weary Kind (Theme From Crazy Heart)', composed by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett, won the Golden Globe.
Jeff Bridges plays the role of an original outlaw songwriter - "confident, crooked, and hardened with time" said Stephen Bruton who played with Jeff. His voice is from deep in the chest, and T Bone Burnett figures Bridges character would have wanted to follow in the footsteps of Leonard Cohen, but it wasn't his time. Bruton writes the lyrics and co-producer T Bone Burnett's has written some tunes and supervises the songs. These are true blues old classic country tunes. Many of the songs are from the old timers, Townes Van Zandt, wrote 'If I Needed You', Waylon Jennings wonderful song 'Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way', and Lightnin' Hopkins, one of those old timers a few of us remember and his song 'Once a Gambler'. Jeff bridges opens the CD with 'Hold On You', a hard beat tune that had me tappin' my toes. Stephen Bruton follows with an instrumental, 'Someone Else'. Bridges takes the lead again with 'Somebody Else' and then a snippet of a tune called 'Wesley's Piano'. Ryan Binghamon takes the stage with 'I Don't Know'- his voice from this CD will open his career. 'Fallin' and Flyin' sung by Bridges seems like one of those old time honky tonk tunes we hear drifting from a bar. 'Gone, Gone, Gone' sung by Colin Farrell is a great tune and sung well. Robert Duvall's sings 'Live Forever' in acapella format. Brand New Angel' sung by Jeff Bridges in a slow, waltzy type of tune. The CD finishes with "The Weary Kind" Ryan Bingham, captures the feel of the film to a 'T'.
The actors don't have that distinct old grizzled sound of the old country but they reach the honky tonk sound and it all seems fine and right. This is a CD for the ages, one the old timers would listen to, and one that reminds us of our roots in country. All damn fine tunes for a film that gives us as good as it gets. T Bone Burnett has another hit on his hands.
Highly Recommended. prisrob 01-19-09
Anything I Say Can and Will Be Used Against You
The Door In The Floor [DVD] [2004]
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List Price: £13.99
Our Price: £8.32
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Artist:
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Absolutely magical!, 2010-03-14
A loved this from start to end. It's a brilliant sequel, I loved the story and the music. Can't wait to go and see the show now!
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List Price: £22.99
Our Price: £13.99
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Artist:
Various Artists
Superb album, easy to download and cheaper than anywhere else!!!!, 2010-02-25
Watched the film and decided the music was so upbeat that we would buy it and use it for those warm spring evenings and barbecues so imminent. The Amazon download app is dead easy to use and the quality of the album is superb. great value for money.
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List Price: £17.99
Our Price: £4.00
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