The solo violin pieces of the Baroque period are not just limited to the sonatas and partitas of Johann Sebastian Bach, although these certainly represented its highpoint. Other violinist/composers in Germany sought to translate their polyphonic tradition to this four-stringed instrument, exceeding the instrument’s apparent limitations.

For Gustav Mahler, composing his early symphonies meant „building a world”. His Ninth, however, seems more concerned with the deconstruction of this world – a look back, a long farewell. In the draft of his score, he noted words like „O youth! Vanished! O love! Blown away!“. In 1909, his idyllic world was destroyed, having been diagnosed with a heart valve defect two years earlier – a disease that would ultimately lead to his death.

There are countless Bob Marley compilations on the market, but what will generate some interest in this one, which is essentially a collection of his Island singles with a handful of his Lee "Scratch" Perry-era tracks added in, is the inclusion of a "new" Marley song, "Slogans," derived from a demo tape Marley made in a Miami hotel room in 1979…

A true celebration, ushering in the New Year with one of the finest orchestras and greatest conductors in the world. The 2007 Gala from Berlin features the Berliner Philharmoniker and Sir Simon Rattle in Alexander Borodin's Second Symphony, a richly lyrical work of immense poetic grandeur and fairy-tale magic, in a programme that also includes one of the greatest classical hits ever: Modest Mussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition'.

A selection of monumental Roman works from the Cappella Sistina music manuscripts in the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana dating from the time of popes Julius II, Leo X, and Clement VII (1503-1534). This CD, recorded for Pure Classics/Glissando, was produced to be sold at the exhibition titled "Hochrenaissance im Vatikan (1503-1534). Kunst und Kultur im Rom der Päpste I" shown at the Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland in Bonn, Germany, in the year 1998. It is Pomerium's most popular recording. Includes such classic's of Renaissance sacred music as Josquin's Benedicta es, celorum regina and Virgo salutiferi, Mouton's Tua est potentia, Carpentras's Lamentationes Jeremie, and Willaert's Enixa est puerpera.

France-based act Myster Mobius have produced a stunning album with this initial effort. At least for those with an interest in fairly complex and challenging instrumental art rock. Coming across as a band situated in between Ozric Tentacles and Spaced Out as far as main musical expression goes, with liberal amounts of post rock and post metal tossed into the proceedings, the nine tracks that make up this disc are a joy to experience. Creative, innovative and dynamic compositions are served up, featuring freely flowing constructions constantly evolving and shifting in pace and intensity but also staying put repeating dominant musical motifs time and again…

This is a particularly well-constructed session by pianist Billy Taylor who is featured in a combo with bassist Christian McBride, drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith, the congas of Ray Mantilla and, on three songs, tenor-saxophonist Stanley Turrentine; Grady Tate also contributes two warm ballad vocals. All nine songs were composed by Taylor (including three pieces taken from a more extended work in tribute to Martin Luther King) and the results are melodic, boppish and swinging.

On March 31, 2015, Kidjo released her collaboration with the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra. The album contains orchestral versions of 9 songs from previous albums and two original songs: Nanae and Otishe. All the songs are arranged by Gast Waltzing and David Laborier and the orchestra is conducted by Gast Waltzing. The Australian newspaper noted: "Kidjo opens what's arguably her most ambitious album by paying homage to her heroine, Miriam Makeba. None of her three previously released versions of Malaika can match the majesty and grandeur of this latest spine-tingling rendition, which features the singer in superlative voice (in Swahili) backed by the strings and wind instruments of the 110-piece Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg. Elsewhere, the consummate guitar playing of Kidjo's compatriot Lionel Loueke and Brazilian Romero Lubambo augment conductor-trumpeter Gast Waltzing's sumptuous arrangements.