THE MUSIC GOURMET

I am frankly obsessive when it comes to listening to the same CD over and over — sometimes for days (or even weeks) on end. Why? Because, if I like a particular recording, or a specific track by a specific performer, it gives me great pleasure to hear it so often it virtually becomes integrated into my soul.

I'm not suggesting that, should you make a gift of a CD from my list of recommendations, the person who receives it will become obsessed. I am suggesting, however, that the right CD or DVD can turn out to be one of its lucky recipient's favorite gifts — not just now, but for years to come.

Even though my list is weighted in a decidedly classical vein, by no means are my favorites limited to that genre.

To the contrary. Take, for example, my first pick.

. 1. Anything by deviationsPROJECT recorded on Neurodisc Records is sure to please. I found this exciting new group a few months ago quite by accident when I meandered into the music section at Barnes & Noble (a favorite haunt) and heard this phenomenal sound. It was "Ivory Bow," deviationsPROJECT's first CD. It's drop-dead delicious, a collection of great arrangements played by two enormously talented guys (an electrified violin and a host of sounds from a keyboard and percussion). My favorites on this CD: "Pavanorama (Pavane)," "Celtic Rock' "Big Bad Bumble," "Edelweiss," "Flight of the Crimson Queen" and the ethereal title song, "Ivory Bow." (If you want to make a gift of holiday music, "Adeste Fidelis," the group's third CD, consists of beautiful arrangements of classic Christmas music. But, if you can buy just one CD, make it "Ivory Bow.")

. 2. New age recorder musician David Young has a host of CDs to love, but right now I'm hooked on "Sacred Love Songs" produced by Universe Music. If you're buying for a '60s kind of person, check out Young's CD entitled "The Best of Bread." And while you're at it, listen to "Solace," voted Best New Age Album. If you can't find Young's CDs at Barnes & Noble or gift shops locally, go to www.davidyoungmusic.com.

. 3. Speaking of online selections, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg is not only one of the greatest violinists of all times, she has a wonderful Web site since she broke with tradition and is now producing her own CDs. Go to www.nssmusic. com for her fabulous Christmas album, "Merry," or select "Nadja" or "Tchaikovsky Violin Concertos in D Major."

. 4. Salerno-Sonnenberg's friend Anne Marie-McDermott has a wonderful CD of Bach's English Suites and Partitas. It's titled, simply, "Bach."

. 5. Buying for someone who likes bluegrass? I've become a bluegrass junkie since reviewing the Cherryholmes Family Band's sellout performance at the Phil last year. They perform with double bass, at least two violins (one of which is played left-handed), mandolin, banjo and just the right "country" voices. Their new album, "Cherryholmes II: Black and White," produced by Skaggs Family Records, is available

at Barnes & Noble. My favorite tracks: "You Don't Know What Love Is," "Black and White" and "Mansions of Kings."

. 6. Is there someone on your list who loves Ravel's "Bolero?" The CD by the same name has more than 10 different versions, all performed by the "bigs" in classical music. I received mine as a present, and still love it after three years.

. 7. My picks for kids? The Mozart Effect's "Tune Up Your Mind," and the new "Dance Along Symphonies" by Beethoven's Wig 4. Barnes & Noble has both, and they're great fun to listen to. (Incidentally, my cats, who are "classically educated," like to listen to them as well).

. 8. Is there a doo-wop fan on your gift list? At Regina's Ice Cream Shop on 5th Avenue, you can buy a CD called "Smooth Sounds: 25 Years of Doo Wop" by the local group Uptown Express.

. 9. How about some Afro-Cuban music? Primo flutist James Galway has joined forces with a group called Tiempo Libre to perform an album by the same name. Produced by Sony, it should be available at Barnes & Noble locally. (If not, it and any other album I'm about to mention, can be quickly obtained from Amazon.com.)

Switching gears, here are my recommendations for classical CDs.

. Historical CDs (digitally re-mastered):

1. "Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 3," performed by Rachmaninov, with Leopold Stokowski and Eugene Ormandy conducting The Philadelphia Orchestra. Naxos Historical.

2. "Vladimir Horowitz: The Private Collection" (Live performances from Carnegie Hall, 1945-1950). And "Horowitz: "The Last Recording." Sony Historical.

3. "Arthur Rubinstein: Chopin Piano Concertos I and II and Trois Etudes." RCA.

. Contemporaneous CDs of classical music:

1. "Handel: Complete Wind Sonatas." Phillips Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. The kind of music you want when you're stretched out in front the fireplace with a good book and a glass of wine or sherry (or when you're remembering how such cold winter's nights felt now that you live in Florida).

2. "Frederic Chopin: Nocturnes." Daniel Barenboim. Deutsche Grammophon. A fabulous recording.

3. English composer John Rutter has a just released Christmas recording. Buy it. Buy anything composed by Rutter. It's all fabulous. One of my personal favorites is "Mass of the Children." As of last week, both Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com had dozens of possibilities.

4. You already know I consider Howard Shelley to be the world's greatest living pianist. His amazingly large discography includes numerous recordings of the Romantic era composers who, for whatever reason, largely drifted into obscurity. Shelley is committed to researching and fleshing them all out. Any number of these could be the perfect gift for a classical music fan who's never been exposed to some of the lesser-knowns. To find them, Google "Howard Shelley Discography," and faint when you see the huge number of choices. I've never heard a bad recording by him, and am entranced by his voluminous performance capabilities.

5. While you're at it, reserve a copy of Shelley's soon-to-be released "Saint-Saens' 2nd Piano Concerto" and the "Shumann Piano Concerto."

6. If you can spend more than $10-$20 for a present, then by all means purchase Shelley's two-volume "Rachmaninov: The Complete Piano Concertos." Chandos. It's been voted the best in the world.

7. My other favorite recording by Shelley was recorded with his wife, Hilary McNamara: "Rachmaninov Suite No. L, Suite No. 2, Symponic Dances." Hyperion/ Helios. Breathtakingly fine.

8. And if someone you're buying for (or if you want to hint for yourself) likes poetry, then you must have "Poetry on Record: 98 Poets Read Their Work (1888-2006)." It's a wonderful step back in time to hear poets including Yeats and Alfred, Lord Tennyson. This could really make poetry come alive for children as well as adults. The set consists of four CDs, comes with a 64-page booklet, is $49.98, and can be ordered online at www.acornonline.com. Item no. 13108. Or call them at (888) 870-8047.

Finally, in these troubled times, don't forget to give something, even if only a smile or a telephone call, to someone less fortunate. Sometimes that's all it takes to make a difference.

Peg Goldberg Longstreth was trained as a classical musician. She owns Longstreth- Goldberg Art Gallery in Naples.