Great CD of Chaplin music

Looking for a great CD of Chaplin music?

The Alice Artzt Guitar Trio was a delightful concert ensemble which toured internationally for several years during the early '90's. The group was at it's peak when it recorded the album AMERICAN MUSIC OF THE STAGE AND SCREEN which features two suites (comprising 11 tracks) of Songs, Dances and Film Music by Charles Chaplin (plus a 10 track suite of music from Leonard Bernstein's 'West Side Story and three George Gershwin selections - Ballet from 'Primrose', Summertime and Prelude).

Reviews:

'ALICE ARTZT SHINES.' - New York Times

'ALICE ARTZT GUITAR TRIO SPARKLES...inspired performances...the musical spirit was apparent in every phrase...a perfect delight' - Ottawa Citizen

'These charming trio arrangements by Sergio Abreu work so well you would think Chaplin wrote the music for the guitar.' - Guitar Review

'All the pieces were performed with the sensitivity and intelligence that you would expect from artists of this stature.' - Classical Guitar

The Chaplin suites are as follows:

Suite I:

My Star/Wedding Theme (from 'A Countess from Hong Kong' and 'The Circus'

The Deacon Presents/Opening Hymn (from 'The Pilgrim'

Jitters (from 'The Pilgrim'

A Dog's Life Theme/Mischief (from 'A Dog's Life'

Coffee and Cakes (from 'A Dog's Life'

With You, Dear, in Bombay (song)

Suite II:

Introduction and Terry's Theme (from 'Limelight'

Love Interlude (from 'City Lights'

Hurry Theme (from 'City Lights'

Fanfare (Unveiling the Statue) (from 'City Lights'

Smile (from 'Modern Times'

You'll be impressed and pleasantly surprised at how effectively this virtuosic guitar trio presents masterful arrangements of Chaplin's wonderful orchestral music with all the nuances and musicality of the original film scores. Alice Artzt and her trio have kept true to Chaplin's own musical vision, unlike numerous other recordings of Chaplin's music. For instance, 'Smile' conforms very closely to the version heard in 'Modern Times' - not the pop song or someone else's idea of an arrangement. In short, you will NOT be disappointed.

The album is available on CD and cassette (the cover sports a delightful Hirschfeld drawing of the three composers - Charlie sits pensively eating his boot while listening to George Gershwin playing the piano as Leonard Bernstein conducts.) The CD's are $17 and the cassettes are $12 (post-paid in the U.S. - add $3 for foreign orders.)

Makes checks payable to: Bruce Lawton

Send orders to:

Alice Artzt CD c/o Bruce Lawton 51 Hawthorne Avenue Princeton, NJ 08540

'What one loves about life are the things that fade.' - Michael Cimino's HEAVEN'S GATE

snip : : You'll be impressed and pleasantly surprised at how effectively this virtuosic : guitar trio presents masterful arrangements of Chaplin's wonderful orchestral : music with all the nuances and musicality of the original film scores. Alice : Artzt and her trio have kept true to Chaplin's own musical vision, unlike : numerous other recordings of Chaplin's music. For instance, 'Smile' conforms : very closely to the version heard in 'Modern Times' - not the pop song or : someone else's idea of an arrangement. In short, you will NOT be disappointed. :

I heartily concur. This is a lovely, distinctive and suprisingly faithful rendering of Chaplin's music with some excellent playing throughout. Whoever did the guitar arrangements has a great feel for Chaplin's music - its moods, lilt, and tempi all translate superbly. As a guitarist I can tell you this stuff ain't easy to play. I recommend it highly.