Large collection for the price, but not perfect
monoblocks | Seattle, WA | 07/29/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"As with these sorts of all-inclusive collections, there are issues to be had with 'National Anthems of the World' as performed by the Swarovski Orchestra. Primary--to me--is that these performances and arrangements come off as being rather sterile and bland, though it's perhaps not surprising since I doubt very much that most of the nationalities of the nations represented here have citizens actually in the Swarovski Orchestra. There's little of the passion that a national band or orchestra would have in playing their own nation's anthem, much like listening to a generic studio band play play a collection of college fight songs (and there ARE CDs of those out for sale as well).
That said, this 2-disc CD set does offer a wide spectrum of national anthems, though it does a far better job of covering European nations more so than any other region. For instance, Central America is poorly represented in this collection as is Africa which, aside from Cameroon, the heart of that continent is conspicuously ill-depicted. But the biggest omission is China; neither the mainland or Taiwanese anthems are included in this set. Considering that The People's Republic of China is the most populous nation on earth, as well as a global political and economic force to be reckoned with, even in 1996 (this CD set dates from 2004, but at least one online database list the contents from the mid-1990s), this is a glaring oversight in my opinion.
The final gripe deals with the included documentation. Each of these anthems DO have titles to them, none of which the producers of this collection ever bother to mention and provide. One has to go to Wikipedia or some other resource to look up the actual name of the anthems included here. This is information that is relatively cheap to research and out of courtesy to the consumer should've been provided for this set, especially since this collection has been around in some form for over a decade already.
For the money, it's a fairly good buy for those who want a collection of national anthems. But the producers could've done a better job of compiling the contents of this collection, and what music there is would've certainly benefitted from a bit more impassioned play."
Excellent selection & quality sound
Objective View | San Francisco, CA USA | 08/26/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Swarovski Orchestra did an excellent job in this compilation. I work in Foreign Service & I use this CD to play US anthem & the host country anthem during events. Unlike other compilations which shorten the pieces, this offers full-length pieces saving me from embarrassment."
Once Again - with Gusto (please?)
Steven C. Myers | Bedford , PA USA | 05/31/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Underwhelming. I came away thinking the musicians all were somehow stateless persons. They read their parts for certain, but without much 'spirit.' Uniformly lacking - auspiciously so.
If nothing else, a National anthem ought to raise goosebumps, for it is the music of the land, itself. Some (e.g.: the EU anthem by Beethoven and the anthem of Hungary or Japan's song) seem to be composed in such a way as to enable thought; others seem to engender competition and manliness - Brazil's anthem - or Ireland's or the anthem of Italy; still others sound almost mystical and transcendant; as does (to me, at least) the beguiling, beautiful anthem of the Marshall Islands. My nation's National Hymn, using old English tune which, I am told, was a drinking song in the Sceptered Isles, is difficult to sing, much less play in multiple parts - derives its beauty not from the music but from a poet's eternal words in time of war that every school US child learns early on in life.
And so forth. I wish the Swarovski CD showed these musical virtues. Now, don't get me wrong: what I have tried to describe here is how to touch a spirit or to kiss the wind in answer to its kiss. These CDs did not achieve it, IMO. A CD, same subject, that DID is a recording by the New Japan Phiharmonia (Title, issue date not known). If Amazon offered it, I would hit the One Button instantly. The Swarovski CD, however.... well, I don't think so....
Steve in PA"
Track Listings (34) - Disc #1