Search - Metropolitan Music Ensemble :: Stephen Foster: American Songwriting Master

Not Good

Patrick M. McCauley | Ann Arbor, MI United States | 01/06/2001

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Not good! I bought this album and I realized I had made a mistake. Some of the songs were good, but for some reason they did "adult contemporary" versions of some of Foster's classics. Why they did this, I'll never know... What I do know is that when you are recording something as historic as Foster's songs, they should sound historic. Bing Crosby or Al Jolson doing Foster is where I would have to draw the line. If you want to hear great Stephen Foster, try the Robert Shaw Chorale or some of the other CDs on Amazon."

Taking Me Back Home

seon yeup kim | South Korea | 11/01/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"My husband and I disagree on some things--especially music. However, when he allowed me to listen to this copy of Stephen Foster's works performed by the Metropolitan Music Ensemble, I was mesmerized. I had heard these tunes hummed by people before, as Foster is very popular in Korea among the older generation. But the quality of sound and the wonderful, almost airy, rendentions of Foster's works--like "Beautful Dreamer" and "Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair"--paint a beautifully haunting landscape of 19th century America in the South. Yet, the lighter sounds of such happy tunes--like "Camptown Races"--seemed to fill the room as the Ensemble orchestarted itself masterfully in weaving all the upbeat joy that Foster seems to communicate into some wonderful moments. Perhaps my only complaint is there simply is not enough songs of Foster's available. I highly recommend this album, and--who knows?--maybe yor and yours may agree on it, too."