classical music

The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection : The 350 Essential Works
$15.95
I should have read the product description more carefully. Had I seen that this book was published in 1999 -- 10 years ago -- I would have not bought the book. It gives a nice listing of works worth considering, but if you want more up-to-date listings of recordings, you'll need to buy the Penguin Guide, The Grammophone Guide, or both.

Eternal Baroque
$0.00
I don't normally write reviews, even for great products (as this album is). Nevertheless, I must point out that one of the tracks is incorrectly titled. Track #7, "Ode for St. Cecilia's Day, HWV 76: March" by Dorothee Mields, is the one in question. While still composed by George Frideric Handel, it should actually be the solo "When Thou tookest upon Thee to deliver Man" from Handel's "Dettingen Te Deum in A major." Chris Dixon is the bass soloist and Wolfgang Helbich conducts the Concerto Polacco. The track itself is very beautiful, just incorrectly named. I discovered this incongruity because I heard lyrics (and voice, for that matter) in a track titled "March."

The rest of the sampler is excellent, and I highly recommend you download this free album. It provides a broad selection of the Baroque era while not exhibiting the usual pieces everyone knows (e.g., Bach's "Air" from his third orchestral suite, or one of Vivaldi's four seasons).

The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe
$11.98
I have always sought a classical masterpiece and this product is truly amazing. The seller also delivered it on time and in great condition. It sure is a great deal. Thank you so much.

The Best Of The Most Relaxing Classical Music In The Universe
$7.99
In case anybody cares, here are the composers for the tracks:

1.Canon in D -- Pachelbel
2.Air on a G String -- Bach
3.Claire de Lune -- Debussy
4.Aquarium (misspelled) -- Saint-Saens
5.Gymnopedie #1 -- Satie
6.Pathetique Sonata II -- Beethoven
7.New World Symphony II -- Dvorak
8.Nocturne in F -- Chopin
9.Fur Elise -- Beethoven
10.The Swan -- Saint-Saens
11.Goldberg Variations, Aria -- Bach
12.Piano Concerto #2 I -- Rachmaninoff
13.Recuerdos -- Tarrega
14.Song Without Words -- Mendelssohn
15.Ave Maria -- Gounod (after Bach)

Some of the ID3 tags have the orchestra conductor's name in the composer ID3 field; most of the composer fields are blank.

I appreciate all the free albums and tracks from Amazon. I wish they were more careful with ID3 tags.

Track 5 seems to have some vinyl surface noise.

The price is right. Delete any tracks you don't like. They're mostly old warhorses. If you don't have any classical music in your collection, this isn't a bad start.