--- product_id: 47907522 title: "Anthem" price: "€ 37.54" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.at/products/47907522-anthem store_origin: AT region: Austria --- # Anthem **Price:** € 37.54 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Anthem - **How much does it cost?** € 37.54 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.at](https://www.desertcart.at/products/47907522-anthem) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Product Description A new solo album from one of the great masters of the acoustic guitar. Ralph Towner has appeared in many contexts for ECM since 1972, but it is perhaps his outstanding solo recitals which most clearly emphasise both his improvisational brilliance and his finely-wrought compositional sense. The dictionary defines an anthem as a solemn song of praise; there are several on this disc. Most are written by Towner himself and played with the almost oriental sense of balance and dignity" that the New York Times long ago singled out as hallmarks of Ralph's work, but the repertoire here also includes Charles Mingus's solemn song of praise in memory of Lester Young, "Goodbye, Pork Pie Hat" as well as "Gloria's Step", written by the late Scott LaFaro." desertcart.co.uk Towner's last few albums for ECM have been relatively small-scale affairs and Anthem is no exception. It is a solo guitar recital, differing from 1997's solo effort, Ana only in that he allows himself two compositions not from his own pen: Scott LaFaro's sprightly, carefree "Gloria's Step" and Charles Mingus's bluesy lament, "Goodbye, Pork-Pie Hat". Towner passed the point of mere technical excellence decades ago: we have every reason to expect a larger conception and a telling commitment to expression from him. As usual, he doesn't disappoint, his touch and phrasing continually revealing layers of meaning from the lines he spins out. None of the performances are particularly long, the most extended (nearly seven minutes) being the first track, "Solitary Woman", the shortest being just over 30 seconds in duration. This avoidance of the long-winded happily steers the album well clear of meandering longueurs, keeping his improvisations concise and germane, his sense of form unerringly on track. Towner has achieved so much in his career: it is good to hear him still testing himself in a solo setting. --Keith Shadwick Review: Ralph Towner - Master of the Acoustic guitar! - Anthem Ralph Towner CD - issued 2001 in slipcase with 6 page fold out sleeve. Classical & Twelve-String Guitar – Ralph Towner Recorded February 2000 Rainbow Studio, Oslo Most compositions are by Towner but the repertoire here also includes Charles Mingus's solemn song of praise in memory of Lester Young, 'Goodbye, Pork Pie Hat' as well as 'Gloria's Step', written by the late Scott LaFaro. The dictionary defines an anthem as a solemn song of praise; there are several on this disc. This is another superb solo outing from Ralph Towner - one of the great masters of the acoustic guitar. Review: pristine performance - simply perfect acoustic guitar performance ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B000059OB9 | | Best Sellers Rank | 154,704 in CDs & Vinyl ( See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl ) 687 in Free Jazz & Avant Garde 61,615 in Pop | | Country of origin | Germany | | Customer reviews | 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (34) | | Is discontinued by manufacturer | No | | Label | ECM | | Manufacturer | ECM | | Number of discs | 1 | | Product Dimensions | 14.5 x 12.9 x 1.19 cm; 106.03 g | ## Images ![Anthem - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71nV7sfzpHL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ralph Towner - Master of the Acoustic guitar! *by J***P on 10 June 2025* Anthem Ralph Towner CD - issued 2001 in slipcase with 6 page fold out sleeve. Classical & Twelve-String Guitar – Ralph Towner Recorded February 2000 Rainbow Studio, Oslo Most compositions are by Towner but the repertoire here also includes Charles Mingus's solemn song of praise in memory of Lester Young, 'Goodbye, Pork Pie Hat' as well as 'Gloria's Step', written by the late Scott LaFaro. The dictionary defines an anthem as a solemn song of praise; there are several on this disc. This is another superb solo outing from Ralph Towner - one of the great masters of the acoustic guitar. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ pristine performance *by M***M on 24 February 2023* simply perfect acoustic guitar performance ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Neo-classical precision *by A***D on 26 November 2003* Towner's modus operandi consists of a towering acoustic technique played with a disciplined neo-classical precision, but the overall effect still sound like a man sufficiently comfortable that the style appears almost laid-back. Some tracks betray immense technical complexity, which Towner translates to a lyrical purity matched by precious few guitarists. Elements of jazz and blues licks creep in on several compositions, and sound entirely natural in their setting. A joy to behold, and certainly worthy of 5 stars. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.at/products/47907522-anthem](https://www.desertcart.at/products/47907522-anthem) --- *Product available on Desertcart Austria* *Store origin: AT* *Last updated: 2026-05-06*