Ultimate Classical Relaxation: The Essential Masterpieces [Box Set]

Disc 1
1	Orchestral Suite No. 3 in / Johann Sebastian Bac
2	Liebster Jesu, wir sind h / Johann Sebastian Bac
3	Weihnachtsoratorium (Chri / Johann Sebastian Bac
4	Concerto for oboe, violin / Johann Sebastian Bac
5	Prelude and Fugue, for ke / Johann Sebastian Bac
6	Cantata No. 147, "Herz un / Johann Sebastian Bac
7	Orchestral Suite No. 2 in / Johann Sebastian Bac
8	Orchestral Suite No. 2 in / Johann Sebastian Bac
9	Brandenburg Concerto No. / Johann Sebastian Bac
10	Cantata No. 140, "Wachet / Johann Sebastian Bac
11	Cantata No. 22, "Jesus na / Johann Sebastian Bac
12	Concerto for oboe & violi / Johann Sebastian Bac
13	Concerto for harpsichord, / Johann Sebastian Bac
14	Concerto for 2 violins, s / Johann Sebastian Bac
15	Prelude and Fugue, for ke / Johann Sebastian Bac
16	Cantata No. 208, "Was mir / Johann Sebastian Bac
Disc 2
1	Piano Concerto No. 21 in / Wolfgang Amadeus Moz
2	Divertimento No. 17 for 2 / Wolfgang Amadeus Moz
3	Clarinet Concerto in A ma / Wolfgang Amadeus Moz
4	Piano Sonata No. 15 in C / Wolfgang Amadeus Moz
5	Violin Concerto No. 3 in / Wolfgang Amadeus Moz
6	Serenade No. 13 for strin / Wolfgang Amadeus Moz
7	Concerto for flute, harp / Wolfgang Amadeus Moz
8	Piano Sonata No. 12 in F / Wolfgang Amadeus Moz
9	Clarinet Quintet in A maj / Wolfgang Amadeus Moz
10	Sinfonia concertante for / Wolfgang Amadeus Moz
11	Divertimento No. 7 for 2 / Wolfgang Amadeus Moz
Disc 3
1	Romeo and Juliet, fantasy / Pyotr Il'yich Tchaik
2	Serenade for strings (or / Pyotr Il'yich Tchaik
3	None but the lonely heart / Pyotr Il'yich Tchaik
4	Piano Concerto No. 1 in B / Pyotr Il'yich Tchaik
5	Souvenir de Florence, for / Pyotr Il'yich Tchaik
6	Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 7 / Pyotr Il'yich Tchaik
7	String Quartet No. 1 in D / Pyotr Il'yich Tchaik
8	Chant sans paroles (Song / Pyotr Il'yich Tchaik
9	Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 7 / Pyotr Il'yich Tchaik
10	Elegy, for string orchest / Pyotr Il'yich Tchaik
11	Valse sentimentale, for p / Pyotr Il'yich Tchaik
12	Suite No. 4 for orchestra / Pyotr Il'yich Tchaik
13	The Swan Lake, ballet, Op / Pyotr Il'yich Tchaik
14	The Sleeping Beauty, ball / Pyotr Il'yich Tchaik
15	Symphony No. 6 in B minor / Pyotr Il'yich Tchaik
Disc 4
1	Adagio, for violin, strin / Tomaso Albinoni
2	Kol Nidrei, for cello & o / Max Bruch
3	Symphony No. 5 in C sharp / Gustav Mahler
4	Concierto de Aranjuez, fo / Joaquín Rodrigo
5	Adagio for strings (or st / Samuel Barber
6	Adagio for clarinet & str / Carl Baermann III
7	The Swan (from "Carnival / Camille Saint-Saëns
8	Symphony No. 9 in E minor / Antonin Dvorák
9	Méditation, for violin & / Jules Massenet
Disc 5
1	Peer Gynt Suite for orche / Edvard Grieg
2	Cantata No. 140, "Wachet / Johann Sebastian Bac
3	Florida, suite for orches / Frederick Delius
4	Etude for guitar ("Neblin / Andrés Segovia
5	Aladdin, incidental music / Carl Nielsen
6	Morgenblätter (Morning Pa / Johann Strauss II
7	Early One Morning, folk s / English Traditional
8	Daphnis et Chloé, ballet / Maurice Ravel
9	Symphony No. 6 in D major / Franz Joseph Haydn
10	Pieces (2) ("Chanson de m / Edward Elgar
11	Scottish Fantasy, for vio / Max Bruch
12	Songs of the Auvergne, fo / Joseph Canteloube
13	La Gioconda, opera in 4 a / Amilcare Ponchielli
Ultimate Classical Relaxation: The Essential Masterpieces [Box Set]
1.	Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: 2. Air on the G String 5:18
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Conducted by Neville Marriner
	Performed by Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
2.	Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier (V), chorale prelude for organ, BWV 731 (BC K134) 3:39
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Alicia de Larrocha
3.	Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): No. 10. Sinfonia 6:45
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra
	Conducted by Karl Münchinger
4.	Concerto for oboe, violin, strings & continuo in F major (reconstruction), BWV 1053R: Siciliano 5:15
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Conducted by Neville Marriner
	Performed by Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and Neil Black
5.	Prelude and Fugue, for keyboard No. 8 in E flat minor (WTC I/8), BWV 853 (BC L87): Prelude 5:21
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Conducted by Leopold Stokowski
	Performed by Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
	Additional Notes: arranged by Stokowski~arranged for orchestra
6.	Cantata No. 147, "Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben," BWV 147 (BC A174): Jesu, joy of man's desiring 3:46
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Julius Katchen
7.	Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: 3. Sarabande 3:09
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Conducted by Neville Marriner
	Performed by Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and William Bennett
8.	Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: 6. Minuet / 7. Badinerie 2:47
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Conducted by Neville Marriner
	Performed by Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and William Bennett
9.	Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049: 1. Allegro 7:41
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Stoika Milanova, Aurele Nicolet and Peter Reidemeister
	Conducted by Karl Münchinger
10.	Cantata No. 140, "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme," BWV 140 (BC A166): Sleepers awake 5:39
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Conducted by Raymond Agoult
	Performed by New Symphony Orchestra of London
11.	Cantata No. 22, "Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe," BWV 22 (BC A48): Sanctify us by thy goodness 3:21
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Alicia de Larrocha
12.	Concerto for oboe & violin (or 2 violins), strings & continuo (reconstruction), BWV 1060R: 2. Adagio 5:21
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Conducted by Neville Marriner
	Performed by Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Carmel Kaine and Tess Miller
13.	Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 7 in G minor, BWV 1058: 2. Andante 5:47
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Chamber Orchestra of Europe, András Schiff and Marieke Blankestyn
	Conducted by András Schiff
14.	Concerto for 2 violins, strings & continuo in D minor ("Double"), BWV 1043: 2. Largo ma non tanto 5:33
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Conducted by Thurston Dart
	Performed by Granville Jones, London Philomusica and Carl Pini
15.	Prelude and Fugue, for keyboard No. 1 in C major (WTC I/1), BWV 846 (BC L80): Prelude 1:59
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by András Schiff
16.	Cantata No. 208, "Was mir behagt," (Hunt Cantata), BWV 208 (BC G1, G3): Sheep may safely graze 4:36
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra
	Conducted by Karl Münchinger
17.	Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major ("Elvira Madigan") K. 467: 2. Andante 8:04
	Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
	Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy and Philharmonia Orchestra
	Conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy
18.	Divertimento No. 17 for 2 horns & strings in D major, K. 334 (K.320b): 3. Minuet & Trio 4:51
	Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
	Conducted by Willi Boskovsky
	Performed by Wiener Mozart Ensemble
19.	Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622: 2. Adagio 7:23
	Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
	Performed by Alfred Prinz and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
	Conducted by Karl Münchinger
20.	Piano Sonata No. 15 in C major ("Sonata semplice") K. 545: 2. Andante 5:29
	Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
	Performed by András Schiff
21.	Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major, K. 216: 2. Adagio 8:17
	Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
	Performed by Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and Iona Brown
	Conducted by Iona Brown
22.	Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major ("Eine kleine Nachtmusik"), K. 525: 2. Romance 5:53
	Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
	Conducted by Willi Boskovsky
	Performed by Wiener Mozart Ensemble
23.	Concerto for flute, harp & orchestra in C major, K. 299 (K. 297c): 2. Andantino 8:31
	Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
	Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Hubert Jellinek and Werner Tripp
	Conducted by Karl Münchinger
24.	Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major, K. 332 (K. 300k): 2. Adagio 4:54
	Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
	Performed by András Schiff
25.	Clarinet Quintet in A major ("Stadler"), K. 581: 2. Larghetto 6:33
	Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
	Performed by Alfred Boskovsky and Members of the Vienna Octet
26.	Sinfonia concertante for violin, viola & orchestra in E flat major, K. 364 (K. 320d): 2. Andante 11:12
	Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
	Performed by Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Iona Brown and Josef Suk
	Conducted by Iona Brown
27.	Divertimento No. 7 for 2 horns, bassoon & strings in D major, K. 205 (K. 167A): 3. Adagio 4:41
	Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
	Conducted by Willi Boskovsky
	Performed by Wiener Mozart Ensemble
28.	Romeo and Juliet, fantasy-overture for orchestra in B minor (3 versions): Love Theme 3:15
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
	Conducted by Herbert von Karajan
29.	Serenade for strings (or piano, 4 hands) in C major, Op. 48: Waltz 3:41
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Conducted by Neville Marriner
	Performed by Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
30.	None but the lonely heart, song for voice & piano, Op. 6/6 3:34
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Performed by London Festival Orchestra and Josef Sakonov
31.	Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23: 2. Andantino semplice 6:52
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy and London Symphony Orchestra
	Conducted by Lorin Maazel
32.	Souvenir de Florence, for string sextet or string orchestra in D major, Op. 70: 2. Adagio cantabile e con moto 8:08
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Conducted by Neville Marriner
	Performed by Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
33.	Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy 1:43
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
	Conducted by Herbert von Karajan
34.	String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 11: 2. Andante cantabile 8:25
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Conducted by Raymond Agoult
	Performed by New Symphony Orchestra of London
35.	Chant sans paroles (Song without words) for piano in A minor, Op. 40/6 3:27
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Conducted by Leopold Stokowski
	Performed by London Symphony Orchestra
36.	Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Dance of the Mirlitons 2:41
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
	Conducted by Herbert von Karajan
37.	Elegy, for string orchestra in G major ("In Memory of Ivan Samarin") 8:09
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy
	Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
38.	Valse sentimentale, for piano (or violin & piano) in F minor, Op. 51/6 2:35
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Performed by Kyung-Wha Chung and Phillip Moll
39.	Suite No. 4 for orchestra in G major ("Mozartiana"), Op. 61: 3. Preghiera (Andante non tanto) 5:19
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Conducted by Ernest Ansermet
	Performed by L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
40.	The Swan Lake, ballet, Op. 20: Scene and Second Dance of the Queen of the Swans 6:40
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
	Conducted by Herbert von Karajan
41.	The Sleeping Beauty, ballet, Op. 66: Panorama 3:40
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
	Conducted by Herbert von Karajan
42.	Symphony No. 6 in B minor ("Pathétique"), Op.74: 2. Allegro con grazia 7:01
	Composed by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
	Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
	Conducted by Lorin Maazel
43.	Adagio, for violin, strings & organ in G minor, T. Mi 26 (composed by Remo Giazotto; not by Albinoni) 9:03
	Composed by Tomaso Albinoni
	Conducted by Richard Hickox
	Performed by Alastair Ross, Simon Standage and Richard Hickox Orchestra
44.	Kol Nidrei, for cello & orchestra, Op. 47 10:16
	Composed by Max Bruch
	Conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy
	Performed by Lynn Harrell and Philharmonia Orchestra
45.	Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor: 4. Adagietto 9:46
	Composed by Gustav Mahler
	Performed by Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
	Conducted by Zubin Mehta
46.	Concierto de Aranjuez, for guitar & orchestra: 2. Adagio 10:58
	Composed by Joaquín Rodrigo
	Performed by Carlos Bonell and Montreal Symphony Orchestra
	Conducted by Charles Dutoit
47.	Adagio for strings (or string quartet; arr. from 2nd mvt. of String Quartet), Op. 11 8:49
	Composed by Samuel Barber
	Performed by Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
48.	Adagio for clarinet & strings 4:48
	Composed by Carl Baermann III
	Performed by Alfred Boskovsky and Members of the Vienna Octet
49.	The Swan (from "Carnival of the Animals"), original (for 2 pianos & ensemble) and arrangements 3:24
	Composed by Camille Saint-Saëns
	Performed by Marie Goossens and Jascha Silberstein
50.	Symphony No. 9 in E minor ("From the New World"), B. 178 (Op. 95) (first published as No. 5): 2. Largo 12:35
	Composed by Antonin Dvorák
	Conducted by István Kertész
	Performed by London Symphony Orchestra
51.	Méditation, for violin & orchestra (or other arrangement) (from opera "Thäis") 5:48
	Composed by Jules Massenet
	Conducted by Richard Bonynge
	Performed by London Symphony Orchestra
52.	Peer Gynt Suite for orchestra (or piano or piano, 4 hands) No. 1, Op. 46: Morning Mood 4:05
	Composed by Edvard Grieg
	Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
	Conducted by Herbert von Karajan
53.	Cantata No. 140, "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme," BWV 140 (BC A166): Sleepers awake 5:21
	Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
	Performed by Peter Hurford
54.	Florida, suite for orchestra, RT vi/1: Daybreak 12:34
	Composed by Frederick Delius
	Conducted by Charles Mackerras
	Performed by Welsh National Opera Orchestra
55.	Etude for guitar ("Neblina") 2:00
	Composed by Andrés Segovia
	Performed by Eduardo Fernandez
56.	Aladdin, incidental music, Op. 34 (FS 89): Aladdin's Dream & Dance of the Morning Mist 3:01
	Composed by Carl Nielsen
	Conducted by Herbert Blomstedt
	Performed by San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
57.	Morgenblätter (Morning Papers), waltz for orchestra, Op. 279 (RV 279) 9:31
	Composed by Johann Strauss II
	Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
	Conducted by Willi Boskovsky
58.	Early One Morning, folk song 2:49
	Composed by English Traditional
	Conducted by Neville Marriner
	Performed by Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
59.	Daphnis et Chloé, ballet for orchestra: Daybreak 5:02
	Composed by Maurice Ravel
	Conducted by Leopold Stokowski
	Performed by London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra and Arthur Oldham
60.	Symphony No. 6 in D major ("Le Matin"), H. 1/6: 2. Adagio - Andante 8:09
	Composed by Franz Joseph Haydn
	Conducted by Antal Dorati
	Performed by Philharmonia Hungarica, Erwin Ramor and Zoltan Thirring
61.	Pieces (2) ("Chanson de matin" & "Chanson de nuit"), for violin & piano (later orchestrated), Op. 15: Chanson de matin 3:26
	Composed by Edward Elgar
	Conducted by Adrian Boult
	Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
62.	Scottish Fantasy, for violin & orchestra, Op. 46: Introduction & first movement: Grave - Adagio cant 8:17
	Composed by Max Bruch
	Performed by Kyung-Wha Chung and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
	Conducted by Rudolf Kempe
63.	Songs of the Auvergne, for voice & orchestra in 5 series: Uno jionto postouro 3:16
	Composed by Joseph Canteloube
	Performed by English Chamber Orchestra and Kiri Te Kanawa
	Conducted by Jeffrey Tate
64.	La Gioconda, opera in 4 acts: Dance of the Hours 7:45
	Composed by Amilcare Ponchielli
	Conducted by Bruno Bartoletti
	Performed by Nation Philharmonic Orchestra

All Music Guide

Seekers of a decent cost-cutter collection of soothing background music and beginners looking for a reasonably broad introduction to Classical music may find Decca's Ultimate Classical Relaxation: The Essential Masterpieces to be a worthwhile purchase. This five-disc set covers the most famous selections from works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky -- three favorites of casual listeners and newcomers alike -- and offers two additional CDs of the greatest hits of other masters, including Samuel Barber's "Adagio" for strings, the Adagietto from Gustav Mahler's "Symphony No. 5," the slow movement from Joaquín Rodrigo's "Guitar Concerto," and numerous other evergreens. Of course, this box set would not be complete without the Albinoni "Adagio" (really composed by Remo Giazotto), but the surprising omission of Pachelbel's ubiquitous "Canon" may make some doubt whether this really is the ultimate collection; for that overplayed piece, in any number of arrangements, the listener is obliged to search elsewhere. But the music presented here is certainly pleasant and representative of the most popular pieces in music history. Some may question the caliber of the playing, but Decca has chosen recordings by world-class artists, including conductors Vladimir Ashkenazy, Neville Marriner, Herbert von Karajan, and Zubin Mehta; performers such as pianist Alicia de Larrocha, soprano Kiri Te Kanawa, and violinist Kyung-Wha Chung; and ensembles with the instant name recognition of the London Symphony Orchestra, the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, to name just a few. Bearing in mind that this compilation is excerpt oriented and covers a lot of material, yet leaves much important music out, it is still one of the better budget packages on the market and worth more than its low price might suggest. Even so, the audio levels are quite variable, with some over-boosted tracks, while others are quite soft, so some volume adjustments are necessary. Blair Sanderson