Comparisons and Review of The New Box
Jeff N | Oakdale, CA | 04/02/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have enjoyed Tomita's music for so long that I just had to know, so I just bought The Cosmos of Tomita, the 11 CD Box, and with good headphones on...
All of the CDs in the box are a little louder than previous issues.
The Snowflakes High Performance 96 Khz / 24 bit CD sounds a little better than the CD in the box.
Pictures and The Bermuda Triangle from the box sound almost identical to the CDs I already had.
Live At Linz in the box (and the gold cover import) both have a lot more tape hiss than my old Domestic issue, which is brighter and cleaner.
My Live At Linz Domestic = 70:31
Live At Linz in Box = 70:13
Back To The Earth has always been about the worst sounding Tomita album, so I tried it too. It's pretty much identical.
No Bach Fantasy. That is really too bad, because Bach Fantasy is a very good new album, and expensive.
All the Artwork inside and out is beautiful. The cardboard and paper very high quality. The CDs are thicker (more sturdy) than most. Every CD is inside a poly sleeve...
Inexplicably, the CD Jackets are exact replicas of the Domestic issues in microscopic English, while the book is 95% Japanese, with 100% Japanese album jacket cover art in its 150 pages.
Complete List of All Classical Tomita Albums with Reviews
In Tomita's music I have found serene beauty, relaxation, landscapes of wonder, mysterious spaces, thrilling excitement, inspiration, and some fun. He creates his music with more depth, color, imagery, feeling, and thought than any other synthesized music I have ever heard.
The big box set of 11 CDs has finally been released! Considering that a number of Tomita CDs are over $30, and all the CDs in the box have been remastered, it is almost a bargain! So here is my list, improved and updated for accuracy (August 2009)... As a person who started collecting Tomita and lots of other electronic music when I was 19 in 1979, plus the original symphony orchestra versions of the classical music that Tomita used, I hope you consider me qualified to create the following list of Tomita albums and review them as well.
Note on Surround Sound: Tomita originally mixed his albums for special Quadraphonic LPs and tapes, but for some reason, in the 1991 domestic Surround CDs (Snowflakes to Kosmos) the rear channel sounds almost completely disappear, no matter what stereo equipment a person listens on. The imports are better.
SNOWFLAKES ARE DANCING 1974
(11 Debussy pieces)
I love the range of styles in this album, the relaxing beauty, the depth of colors. The Snowflakes album is very enjoyable; one of my few CDs that I listen to again and again. To me, Snowflakes is in Tomita's top three.
The newly remastered High Performance CD is audiophile quality and adds Prelude To The Afternoon of a Faun also by Debussy.
PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION 1975 (Mussorgsky)
Also in the top 3. For this album Tomita created some of the most unusual, high quality electronic sounds ever heard. Then he used these sounds very effectively in good orchestrations. The listening is as enjoyable as it is bizarre; quite an accomplishment in itself. (Unlike other synthesized music, I have never gotten a headache listening to this or any other Tomita recording. Not even close. Not even when playing his music loud, which I love to do. )
FIREBIRD 1976
(Stravinsky: Firebird Suite. Debussy: Prelude To The Afternoon of A Faun. Mussorgsky: Night On Bare Mountain.)
Firebird is one of Tomita's best CDs. The Round of the Princesses is beautiful. The Infernal Dance of King Kastchei is exciting, scary, and LOUD - much more so than any performance by any orchestra. The Finale is so awesome; Tomita played it at the end of his live concerts.
THE PLANETS 1976 (Holst)
The Planets is a completely different mood for Tomita, but he did a fantastic job on it. Holst was so far ahead of his time, it is as if he composed The Planets for Tomita. Each time I hear any part of The Planets performed by a Symphony Orchestra on the local classical station in my car, it makes me think of what a huge fantasy epic like The Lord of The Rings would have been like before CGI. You know, once you have CGI to make all those fantastic vistas and beings look 100% real, there's no going back.
KOSMOS or COSMOS 1978
(Star Wars Title. Space Fantasy- R. Strauss: Thus Spake Zarathustra, Wagner: Ride of The Valkyries and Tannhauser Overture. Honnegar: Pacific 231. Ives: Unanswered Question. Rodrigo: Aranjuez. Grieg: Solveig's Song. Dinicu-Heifetz: Hora Staccato. Bach-Tomita: The Sea Named Solaris.)
A science fiction album without a theme, really, and quite a mix of levels...
In this album: Star Wars is cute. The Space Fantasy is really a pretty good fantasy. Pacific 231 is exciting and fun, a quality piece. You can almost see the mechanical motions flying through space after the train leaves the tracks.
Tomita's interpretation of the mystery and solitude of The Unanswered Question is far better than any orchestral performance of it! Hora Staccato is lots of fun. And Carl Sagan used the amazing Sea Named Solaris in his "Cosmos." The Sea Named Solaris is truly one of the greatest works of music ever created or performed by anyone. Tomita fans and collectors should enjoy most of this CD.
THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE 1979 - A Musical Fantasy of Science Fiction
(Sibelius: Valse Triste. Williams: Close Encounters. Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Scythian Suite, Symphonies 5 and 6, Violin Concerto 1.)
After nearly 30 years of listening to The Bermuda Triangle off and on, I have decided that it is my all time favorite record album, CD, concept album, and my all time favorite synthesized music.
Inexplicably, the U.S. CD releases stopped with Kosmos. The Bermuda Triangle is much better than Kosmos. I could type two pages on The Bermuda Triangle, and you can find many pages on various websites. But I will just say that the orchestrations and performances of the music itself all fit together masterfully to tell a story that is part thrilling science fiction and part impressionistic dream. I especially like the second half- the really good Prokofiev stuff. The sounds Tomita used in creating this album are his most sophisticated and fascinating yet, as innovative and high quality as Pictures At An Exhibition or more. The quality of the recording is bright, full, deep, clear, and clean. The whole experience is extraordinary. I am so grateful the album is on CD.
Another reviewer is absolutely right... Turn off the lights, put the phone on silent, turn the volume way up, and sit down and listen! Really listen!! Because The Bermuda Triangle is an Experience; A Phenomenal, Powerful, Enlightening, Enjoyable Experience!! And it's fun too.
BOLERO or DAPHNIS AND CHLOE 1980
(Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe, Pavane for A Dead Princess, Bolero, Mother Goose Suite.)
This is a very good album with the best performance of The Mother Goose Suite that I have heard, by far. I love the range of musical styles in the Mother Goose Suite. You can actually hear the fairies in the Fairy Garden (they sound like hummingbirds). Plus, there are only two Daphnis and Chloes that I like better than this one. And the Pavane is very nice.
THE GRAND CANYON 1982 (Grofe)
(Bonus track: Syncopated Clock by Leroy Anderson)
Most music critics would say that this performance of The Grand Canyon Suite is not as good as a symphony orchestra's. But it is worth checking out, as parts of it are far more colorful, magical, and entertaining than any symphony orchestra version I have ever heard. Tomita's Painted Desert gives a feeling of flying low over vast mysterious, enchanted, moonlit sands. On The Trail is a lot of fun, although not as good as orchestra performances. And The Thunderstorm is exhilarating and even a little frightening, especially when turned up Loud. You can actually Hear the Lightning, Feel the Thunder, and then See a Rainbow at the end. Only Tomita could do that!! This is the shortest Tomita album. It would easily fit on a CD with Canon of The Three Stars.
CANON OF THE THREE STARS or DAWN CHORUS 1984
(Pachelbel: Canon. Rachmaninoff: Vocalise. Albinoni: Adagio. Bach: Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring. 4 pieces from Villa Lobos: Bachianis Brasileiras 2, 4, and 7.)
Sweet is the word I would use to describe pretty much this whole album. Some tracks are even cute, although at least one is solemn and another poignant. The quality of this album is not nearly as great as Snowflakes, Pictures, The Bermuda Triangle, or the Ravel Album. It almost seems that Tomita did this one in his sleep, but some tracks are very good, and since all the tracks are individual pieces it would be worth owning as a reference CD.
LIVE AT LINZ, AUSTRIA 1984 - THE MIND OF THE UNIVERSE
(Live concert with huge speakers on both sides of the Danube River and live soloists. Includes 7 pieces from previous albums- some with new arrangements and Live Soloists. Plus 5 Totally New Pieces... Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring. Japanese Traditional: Cranes In Their Nest. Vaughn Williams: The Lark Ascending. Wagner: Tristan Und Isolde-Liebestod. Beethoven: Ode To Joy with full Choir and soloists.)
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Import version with the gold cover AND the one in the box of 11 CDs, has Much More Tape Hiss than the old Domestic CD that I have, and the exact same tracks! Even though track listings state that the first two tracks are different.
In my opinion, this is in Tomita's top five best albums. It contains some of the most beautiful and unique performances ever put on a disk. The live violin solo (Mariko Senju) of the Lark Ascending is by far the most captivating, lovely, and perfect I have ever heard; the best performance of The Lark Ascending that I know of. The same violinist does an outstanding job on Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 1: Moderato; Allegro Moderato. This is the part of The Bermuda Triangle near the end that gets so exciting, and with the live violinist and Tomita's magical orchestral creations, it is truly one of the most thrilling musical experiences I have ever enjoyed.
I also love the Wagner: Tristan Und Isolde-Liebestod (which first appeared on this album). So much depth and feeling, it is hard to describe how lovely it is. This album also has an extended version of Cranes In Their Nest, a very good performance by Goro Yamaguchi, on the Shakuhachi.
Of the two concert CDs, this one has more awe-inspiring moments, and more depth. It is also the longest Tomita album ever made, which is perfect, since it is so enjoyable.
Note on Sound Quality
I think that since Mind of The Universe was a live concert with speakers on both sides of the Danube River, a helicopter holding up a speaker for a UFO effect, and the Choir on a boat!... there is no way the sound quality could ever be perfect.
Tomita's mixing choices could be better. I wish he would put out a two CD set of Mind of The Universe, which includes the entire performance completely re-mixed from all the original source tapes. But even though I am more particular about sound quality than any of my friends or family members (by far!) I still enjoy listening to it. And when I have played it Loud on my prosumer level Car Stereo System with good Amp and Subwoofer, a few times, it sounded great to me. The most important parts are clean. There is reverb at times, but it is natural, bouncing off things in the area. I have always given this one album more slack, because the oddities that occur make me Feel as if I am At the Live Concert, and for me this is a huge Plus.
LIVE IN NEW YORK 1988 - BACK TO THE EARTH
(Live concert with live soloists. Includes 7 pieces from previous albums- some with new arrangements and live soloists. Plus Dukas: Fanfare. Mahler: Symphony 3 in D Minor - 5th Movement. Traditional: Chinese War Lord Going Home. Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue. Fisher-Dvorak: Goin' Home.)
The Live In NY music is less demanding than Live At Linz, which makes it more suited for playing in the background. It is almost as good as the Live At Linz concert (above). But it has fake reverb all the way through, and is not as bright and clear as the other Tomita CDs. Not the best, but worth having.
These last two CDs are my all time favorite live concert albums.
BACH FANTASY 1996
10 separate Bach pieces, which include two tracks from previous albums. (Part of The Sea Named Solaris is mixed different.)
Bach Fantasy has found its way into my top 5 Tomita CDs.
A rare, expensive CD, that is not included in the big new Box Set. This CD features some new sounds and musical styles for Tomita Classical, a really wide variety of them. Several of the tracks are most enjoyable. The popular Toccata and Fugue is a very good, virtuoso straight performance on very cool Synth Organ. My subwoofer liked it too! This is a perfect finale for the entire Tomita Classical Line.
IN CONCLUSION
Other reviewers on Amazon have done a more eloquent job than I of describing Tomita's amazing musical style, but I have enjoyed creating this guide. I hope you enjoyed it too. Thank you."
Oh, give me my Tomita fix!
Brian C. Miller | Everett, WA United States | 10/14/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a collection of 11 CDs.
Snowflakes Are Dancing
Pictures at an Exhibition
The Firebird
The Planets
Kosmos
The Bermuda triangle
Bolero
Grand Canyon
Canon of the Three Stars
The Mind of the Universe - Live at Linz
Back to Earth - Live in New York
The booklet of liner notes is in Japanese. The CDs are in a cardboard, album-like format, with sleeves. The booklet contains all of the versions of the album art. They made me miss my albums with their 12-inch artwork.
Why did I buy this when I have most of Tomita's albums? Well, most is most but its not all. Carlos and Tomita are the two greats of orchestral synthesis, and I really enjoy their music. It is amazing how much they did with so little. Listen, and enjoy!"
An Outstanding Tomita Collection
G. Gaona | 07/07/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I don't understand the logic of 'reviewing' an item you've never even heard, and worst of all, giving it one star. Regardless, this is a must have for any Tomita fan. For starters, the packaging is first rate. Each CD is stored in a miniature replica of the vinyl LP album sleeve. As far as I can tell, the front and back are identical to the originals. Included in the set is a 150 page booklet that seems to contain a wealth of information, I wish I could read Japanese! And now we get to the sound quality. These CDs sound GREAT! I can't do comparisons to other CD releases as prior to this all my Tomita was on vinyl, but I am very pleased with the remastering job done on these recordings. Now, I wish I could say the same for the live recordings. They are...well, live concerts, and the sound suffers for it. Still, they are interesting performances and fun to listen to, I just wish they sounded better.
I should also mention that there appears to be some confusion regarding the title of this box set. Amazon has it listed as 'Isao Tomita's World', however, the picture on Amazon at the time of this review shows the box set that I purchased: The Cosmos of Tomita."
Track Listings (90) - Disc #1