Holst Suites 1 & 2 / Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks / Stars and Stripes (Stereo Hybrid SACD)

Holst Suites 1 & 2 / Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks / Stars and Stripes (Stereo Hybrid SACD)

Holst Suites 1 & 2 / Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks / Stars and Stripes (Stereo Hybrid SACD)
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CD Details

Edition: Music CD
Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD
CD Release Date: 2004-07-27
Music Label: Telarc
Soundtracks:
  1. Chaconne
  2. Intermezzo
  3. March
  4. March
  5. Song Without Words
  6. Song Of The Blacksmith
  7. Fantasia On The 'Dargason'
  8. Ouverture
  9. Bourree
  10. La Paix
  11. La Rejouissance
  12. Minuet/Trio
  13. Olympic Theme From Three Fanfares
  14. Barnum And Bailey's Favorite
  15. Radetzky March
  16. The Stars And Stripes Forever
  17. March: Seventeen Come Sunday
  18. Intermezzo: My Bonny Boy
  19. March: Folk Songs From Somerset
  20. Lisbon Bay
  21. Horkstow Granger
  22. Rufford Park Poachers
  23. The Brisk Young Sailor
  24. Lord Melbourne
  25. Lord Melbourne
  26. Grainger: Shepherd's Hey

Music reviews of Holst Suites 1 & 2 / Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks / Stars and Stripes (Stereo Hybrid SACD)

Music Review: One of the Great Albums
Rating: 5 Stars

This album Holst Suites 1 & 2 / Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks / Stars and Stripes (Stereo Hybrid SACD), which combines two CD albums, was originally recorded via the Soundstream digital method in 1978. The Holst and Handel pieces were originally released on LP as Telarc Stereo no. 5038 (on the jacket) or Stereo 10038 (on the record label).

In my opinion, this is the finest recording of the Handel "Music for the Royal Fireworks" ever recorded. Ditto (and maybe even more!) for the Holst military suites. Frederick Fennell is unbeatable in this kind of music, written for winds and brass. Believe me, you'll love it.

When initially released, this record caused a sensation as no one had ever heard sound like this on LP previously. This was partly due to the then-new digital recording (at 50 kHz), the German pressing which was far superior to what was available in the US at that time or any time previous, but mostly due to the magnificent performances offered here. I bought two copies of the LP - one as a "protection" copy; at $17.98 each this was no mean purchase.

The initial CD release in 1983 was terribly disappointing. Upon hearing it, in a controlled venue, I knew there was something wrong but I could not identify what it was. We now know that the conversion from 50 kHz to 44.1 kHz is problematic at best and dreadful at worst.

In my opinion, the whole CD "thing" was a disaster for good recorded sound. (The sampling rate is far too low; okay for "rock and roll" music, which is artificial to begin with, it makes most classical music sound terrible.) I have been called a "luddite" for staying with LPs, but I now know my decision was justified as I knew that putting in a CD player would be a retrogression in sound.

My son introduced me to SACD recently, with its far higher sampling rate and better means of recording and I bought three Sony SCD-CE595 players, one of which has been put in my "main" system (Hafler DH-101 Pre-amplifier, Hafler DH-200 Amplifier, Klipschorn speakers), the first "digital" component to be put there.

Having thus heard this new SACD album through that system, I can honestly say that I personally have never heard it sound so well. I believe that everyone will like this music, even if not a "classical" fan, and the sound itself will astound. This release (along with the RCA Living Stereo and the Mercury Living Presence SACDs) has rekindled the joy of hi-fi for me again!

I give it my whole-hearted recommendation.
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