NATALIA PARUZ: Hark! An Angel Sings

Natalia Paruz

Hark! An Angel Sings

© 2003 Scott Munson (829757233925)

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Eclectic arrangements of Christmas favorites featuring the ethereal sound of the musical saw, the angelic sound of English Handbells and the rustic sound of pitched Alpine & American cowbells.

notes

Natalia Paruz


In addition to being a master musical saw player, Natalia also plays a variety of other unusual instruments such as
36 pitched Austrian cow-bells, 25 pitched American cow-bells and English handbells.

Here's what some are saying about Natalia:

Zubin Mehta, conductor of the Israel Philharmonic has said:
"Natalia is the best saw player I've ever worked with."

Garrison Keillor, of A Prairie Home Companion has called her
"Our official musical saw player."

"Amazing and quite musical in the expressiveness she was able to get from a tableful of bells. Brava!" said William Bolcom, Pulitzer Prize winning composer.

Peter Schickele (aka PDQ Bach) said:
"Natalia Paruz not only plays the saw beautifully (the idea of playing a carpenter's saw seems funny, but the sound itself is haunting), she's also a terrific musician. This recording displays the carols in new and refreshing settings."



Natalia Paruz has performed with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Zubin Mehta, with the Westchester Philharmonic Orchestra and with PDQ Bach composer Peter Schickele at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. Television appearances include Good Day New York, Good Morning America, The Vicki Lawrence Show, Fox After Breakfast, Oddville (MTV), Behind the Music (VH1), Over The Edge (CBS), and others.
Radio performances include NPR's A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor and WBAI.
Ms. Paruz is the recipient of many awards for her musical activities, including a citation of honor from the New York City Council and a medal of honor from the mayor of the Maisons-Alfort region in Paris, France, and was chosen by Time Out New York and by the Village Voice for the Best of New York list.
Ms. Paruz has recorded on Capitol Records, Universal Records and Atlantic Records with such artists as John Hiatt. Her musical saw can be heard on television commercials for such products as Volvo, Motorola and California cheese.

Natalia is excited about presenting Scott Munson's new and inventive arrangements of old Christmas favorites in this album, and is pleased to introduce a new Christmas carol, 'Christmas Morning' (track #9), composed and arranged by Scott Munson.

Here is what some newspapers have written about Natalia:

"...This being vaudeville, there was also a musical saw number, soothingly performed by Natalia Paruz." - The New York Times
"...A pretty gal playing beautiful music. " - New York Post
"...Natalia plays as seriously, intently and confidently as if she were the first violinist for a philharmonic orchestra. " - The Resident
"...Natalia Paruz: the Israeli master of the musical saw... is an attraction. She is talented and serious about her message." - The Jewish Post
"...She seems to be offering something more than music," said Roby Chavez, a reporter for Channel 11 news..."she's radiating that energy about what her life is about. It's a very mystical sound." - Astoria Times
"...Saw music carries a long, proud tradition. This beautiful, young Israeli woman cut, or rather played, her way to the top of the saw heap some time ago." - Salt Lake City Weekly
"...a cut above her peers!" - The Journal News
"...Natalia Paruz, Master of the musical saw..." - The Jug Band Rag
"...acclaimed musician...featured artist Natalia Paruz is a master of the musical saw... " - Overtones



Praise from people around the world who have already purchased this CD:

Hi Natalia,
You're really unique, your playing stands out a mile from everyone else - there's real poetry to your sound.
congratulations on a lovely CD.
Kev H.
London, England

Dear Scott,
(Scott Munson is the orchestrator and arranger)
Words cannot express my admiration for the newly released disc of Christmas songs. I feel that an artist's highest aspiration is to be the Master of substances - and that I may say - you did achieve. It is the arrangement mastery of Bach and Handel which is evoked by your music. Christian tunes get a unique chance to be presented in their deep and very real context - that of agony, despair, darkness but also an uplifting, almost magical power leaning upon the light of God and man.
Eyal B.
Israel

Hello Natalia,
Still paying your CD a lot, even though a bit out of season.
Erik G.
Denmark

Hi,
What you do is amazing! The sound is so otherworldly, celestial, and angelic.
Karen B.
NY, USA

Dear Ms. Paruz,
I saw your performance at the PDQ Bach concert at Avery Fisher Hall and was pleasantly surprised. I had no idea a saw could produce such a beautiful sound. I thought your performance was excellent.
Stuart S.
NY, USA

Hi Natalia!
I was very impressed of the lovely music you played!
Anja S.
Hamburg, Germany

reviews

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  • This CD is very fun
    author: Janet Coleman, host of the WBAI Radio program ‘Cat Radio Café’

    I listened to the CD and it’s very fun. Natalia Paruz is a virtuoso of the musical saw. The saw has in fact an angelic quality. The universe has some amazing things in it besides electricity - it has the musical saw.

  • A Christmas CD I didn’t mind playing in June
    author: “Psyche van het Folk”, Radio Centraal, Belgium

    Nice version of Schubert’s classic with the musical saw. This comes from a Christmas CD but I didn’t mind playing it in June. These three fragments (Tr.4, “Ave Maria”(Schubert)” Tr.10,«Silent Night-reprise» Tr.8, «We three kings») I found very good. “Silent Night” seems to have an extra sound coming to peep/sound along, which makes the recording even better. “We three kings” is a jazz tune. It seems to combines well with the musical saw.

  • Fine musicianship, very intriquing and unique.
    author: Lois Yale

    The music on Natalia's CD Hark an Angel Sings is varied in style and unique in instrumentation. It demonstrates fine musicianship. My husband and I are pleased to have it in our Christmas CD collection (although we will likely listen to it at other times of the year). We HIGHLY recommend it!

  • A GREAT HOLIDAY CD, A GREAT ARTIST !!
    author: JIM BRYANT

    As a SAW PLAYER for some 47 years,myself, I Highly Recommend this work of NATALIA, with her SAW & BELLS,a very Good CD for the Holiday Season. Keep up the Good Work !! Jim Bryant, The Hurdy-Gurdy Man

  • is there other cds available
    author: dorothy v

    i enjoyed hark an angel. you said you were working on another saw cd to come out in november is it available cost songs on it

  • Wonderful and unique CD !
    author: Marcello Colo'

    Please wait a minute and relax yourself with this unique CD! I love the wonderlul sounds and all Natalia's Music. This is "The" original Christmas Gift!

  • author: dorothy v

    loved the christmas music,however wished the silent night had a musical background not saw alone waiting for other cd to come out in november

  • This recording displays the carols in new and refreshing settings.
    author: Peter Schickele (aka PDQ Bach)

    Natalia Paruz not only plays the saw beautifully (the idea of playing a carpenter’s saw seems funny, but the sound itself is haunting), she’s also a terrific musician. This recording displays the carols in new and refreshing settings.

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