I am thrilled that the classical pieces that

inspired me while I wrote the Fifty Shades

Trilogy are being brought together in one
collection for all lovers of the books to enjoy.
E L James

Fifty Shades
of Grey

The Classical Album

There has always been a dark side to Classical music. As far back as the 16th
Century, the Catholic Church placed a ban on music it considered too sensual,
fearing it would corrupt listeners and lead them away from the righteous path. Yet
even with the ban in place, pieces such as Thomas Tallis Spem in Alium, with its
spiraling vocal lines and enveloping harmonies, proved that music still had the
power to ensnare audiences in its alluring web.
The Baroque era brought a gilded elegance to its music, with the languid,
gradually-unfolding lines of Bachs keyboard compositions, or the warmth and
stately grace of Pachelbels Canon in D. But even though the surface seemed
polished and proper, the pulsing rhythms and dark-hued harmonies still hinted
that there was more going on underneath
During the Romantic era, Classical music grew emotionally-charged and
unfettered in its attraction. Whether it was the lush, sweeping vocal melody of
Delibes Flower Duet, the alluring mystery of a Chopin nocturne, or the torrid
anguish of Verdis La traviata, this music made love into something larger than
life, something for the world to see.
The 20th century brought music back down to the human scale, and with
it came a more personal picture of love, longing and fulfillment. The twisting,
snaking sound of Villa-Lobos Cantilea, the swelling sense of longing in Canteloubes Balro, the delicate innocence of Debussys La Fille aux cheveux de
lin here the music moves from navet to passion to danger and back again
without a second glance.
These fifteen pieces of music, from past to present day, trace the winding
paths of love and pleasure and take the listener on a journey into the depths of
desire.

TRACK LISTING

LO DELIBES
1. Lakm: Flower Duet 3.29
Mady Mespl soprano
Danielle Millet mezzo-soprano
Paris Opra-Comique Orchestra
Alain Lombard
P 1971 EMI France. Digital remastering P 1987 EMI France.

Gentle, lilting vocal lines sung in harmony by

two female voices describe the sensation of drifting
down a river in springtime, with birds singing and
clouds floating overhead.
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
2. Keyboard Concerto in D Minor
BWV 974: Adagio 3:58
Alexandre Tharaud piano
Les Violons du Roy
Bernard Labadie
P 2011 EMI Records Ltd./Virgin Classics.

A wrenching, dissonant intro dissolves into a

haunting, haunted melody in the piano which
seems to twist and turn around the relentless
backing chords.
HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS
Bachianas brasileiras No. 5
3. Aria (Cantilea): Adagio 6.05
Barbara Hendricks soprano
Cellos of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Enrique Btiz
P 1986 La Secretaria de Educacin Pblica de Mxico under exclusive
license to EMI Records Ltd.

A sensual, wordless song gives way to a cello solo

before the singer returns to sing wistfully about
watching day fade into night.

GIUSEPPE VERDI
4. La traviata: Prelude 3.51
Philharmonia Orchestra
Riccardo Muti
P 1982 EMI Records Ltd.

Following a sweeping introduction in the strings,

the slowly swaying dance rhythm supports an
elegant tune through several variations.
JOHANN PACHELBEL.
5. Canon in D 4.56
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Sir Neville Marriner
P 1974 EMI Records Ltd. Digital remastering P 1997 by EMI Records Ltd.

This timeless piece features a repeated bass line

with increasingly complex and rhythmic musical
lines coming in on top, until it reaches the famous
climactic violin line.
THOMAS TALLIS
6. Spem in alium 9.43
The Tallis Scholars directed by Peter Phillips
P 1985 Original sound recording made by Gimell Records
(www.gimell.com) under license to EMI Music North America.

This 16th Century motet for 40 separate voices

creates an epic, extraordinary soundscape
constantly shifting, blossoming and retracting,
and reaching levels of force and complexity that
are simply overwhelming in scope.

FRDRIC CHOPIN
7. Prlude Op. 28, No. 4 in E minor 1.42
Samson Franois
P EMI Music France. Digital remastering P 1995 by EMI Music France.

A dark-hued melody which creeps in the shadows

before coming to rest over a series of chords.
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor Op. 18
8. Adagio sostenuto 4.30
Ccile Ousset piano
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle
P 1984 EMI Records Ltd.

Swelling chords lead to a soft piano arpeggio, with a

flute delivering a floating, wistful melody overtop.
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
9. Opening 6.11
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Adrian Bout
P 1976 EMI Records Ltd. Digital remastering P 1985 by EMI Records Ltd.

An exotic and windswept series of themes build to

a stirring climax before gradually fading back into
silence.

TRACK LISTING
JOSEPH CANTELOUBE
Chants dAuvergne
10. Balro 6.39
Arleen Augr soprano
English Chamber Orchestra
Yan Pascal Tortelier
P 1988 EMI Records Ltd./Virgin Classics.

Horns, strings, woodwinds and a piano rustle with

a pastoral beauty while a soprano sings a song of
longing for a shepherd across the river.
FRDRIC CHOPIN
11. Nocturne No. 1 in B flat minor Op. 9 5.12
Samson Franois
P 1966 EMI Music France. Digital remastering
P 1995 EMI Music France.

A melody in the right hand of the piano snakes

around, speeding up and slowing down, swelling
and ebbing before dying away.
GABRIEL FAUR
Requiem Op. 48
12. In Paradisum 3.26
Jos-Luis Garcia violin
Peter Barley organ
Kings College Choir, Cambridge
English Chamber Orchestra
Stephen Cleobury

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

Goldberg Variations BWV 988
13. Aria 3.03
Maria Tipo piano
P 1986 EMI France.

An understated, florid melody winds around a

delicate accompaniment, shifting from major to
minor and back again.
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Prludes Book I
14. La fille aux cheveux de lin 2.35
Dame Moura Lympany piano
P 1991 EMI Records Ltd.

Filled with a gentle longing, this piece evokes a

young girl with long, golden hair swaying in the
breeze.
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
(transcribed by Myra Hess)
Cantata BWV 147
15. Jesu, joy of mans desiring 3.30
Alexis Weissenberg piano
P 1976 EMI France. Digital remastering P 1994 by EMI Records Ltd.

A stately, warm and peaceful melody flows out,

alternating between counterpoint and chords as
it speaks of brotherly love and harmony.

P 1989 EMI Records Ltd.

A choir sings with celestial beauty of the peace

and beauty in heaven following a life of earthly
suffering.

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This compilation p2012 Capitol Records. 509999 78466 5 9 STEREO ADD-DDD Manufactured by Capitol Records, 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011. Unauthorized reproduction is
a violation of applicable laws. All Rights Reserved. Printed in USA. Liner notes: Andrew Ousley CD art direction and design: Gordon H Jee
FIFTY SHADES OF GREY by E.L. James 2011 Fifty Shades Ltd. Cover Random House, Inc., photo by Papuga 2006