Search - Ottorino Respighi, Antonio Vivaldi, Antonio Lotti :: Baroque for Beauty Sleep: Sweet Dreams for Beautiful Dreamers

Baroque Music: A Prelude To Sleep

Rudy Avila | Lennox, Ca United States | 05/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is from the popular series "Set Your Life To Music"
series. The theme for this one is "Baroque For Beauty Sleep" which seems to be a companion to "Baroque For Bathtime". Baroque music, especially the slower movements in many concertos, are exquisite nocturnal pieces that ease the transition from being awake to falling asleep. The beautiful, elegant, slow, graceful music of many of these pieces will definately relax you and even help you fall asleep. It's therapeutic. There are so many reasons one can buy this album. It can help you relax and soothe you, as already mentioned, and it can be played in the background of a message therapy session. It can serve as music for a romantic evening or dinner. And lastly, it hits the spot after a long day and you're ready to visit the world of dreams.Respighi's Ancient Airs and Dances, scored for lute and other Baroque period instruments, is the newest piece on the album. Respighi, a modern composer, was delving into neoclassic music and deliberately evoking the Baroque Era. It works wonderfully.
Naturally, no Baroque album is complete without Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Here is the Largo from "Winter" only it is played on panpipes by the New Age artist Zamfir. The sound is hauntingly beautiful. There is a sonata for flute and harp by Bach, the biggest name in the period and Vivaldi's "L'Estro Armonico" as well as Telemann's Suite in A for Recorder. One particular piece I enjoy and think you will too is the melodic and elegant Concerto Grosso No. 12 by Handel, the slow movement Larghetto E Piano. It is sheer tonal beauty. There is more concertos by Vivaldi, whose use of the flute is always very reflective and dreamy and even a solo aria from a motet of his, the soprano Elly Ameling sings "Nulla In Mundo Pax", a lyrical-coloratura showcase which crowns and concludes this gorgeous album."

Baroque to Comfort and Sleep By

rodboomboom | Dearborn, Michigan United States | 02/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Baroque is such a wide and wonderful musical discovery for us modern types. It is soothing and quieting to the soul, and in this case for the body as well.Whether used as lullaby inducing or just listening pleasure and relaxation, this is nice collection. Including wide array of instruments: strings, flute, panpipes, oboe, flute, harp, guitar, recorder, piano, and voice --- this is truly enjoyable.There is wide array of baroque composers as well --- Rephighi, Vivaldi, Bach, Albinoini, Telemann, and more.Great price, great variety, great addition to your CD collection."

I love this cd!

Jennifer Johnson | Northern Virginia | 02/11/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is my favorite cd for winding down at the end of the day. Some nights, I just can't fall asleep unless I'm listening to this."