Musica da Camera

On this CD:

1. Serena
Composed by Francesco Pennisi
Performed by Luisa Castellani, Maria Carla Notarstefano, Angelo Persichilli
Conducted by Flavio Emilio Scogna

2. Alla soglia delle transparenze
Composed by A. Samori

Conducted by Flavio Emilio Scogna

3. Verso
Composed by Flavio Emilio Scogna

Conducted by Flavio Emilio Scogna

4. Small Points
Composed by Ada Gentile

Conducted by Flavio Emilio Scogna

5. Due Poemetti Arabi
Composed by Francesco La Licata

Conducted by Francesco La Licata

6. Tra Sole e Sera
Composed by Lucia Ronchetti
Performed by Antonio Caggiano

7. Some Dream Songs for soprano, violin & piano, Nos 1-6, complete
Composed by James Dashow
Performed by Giancarlo Simonacci

Tracks:

1. Affettuoso
2. Vivace
3. Aria
4. Bourree
1. Adagio
2. Allegro
3. Grave
4. Allegro
1. (Without Tempo Indication)
2. Allegro
3. Dolce
4. Allegro
1. (Allegro)
2. Siciliana
3. Bourree
4. Menuett
1. Grave
2. Allegro
3. Largo E Staccato
4. Allegro

Telemann: Overtures, Sonatas & Concertos, Vol. 3

Average customer rating:

Telemann: Overtures, Sonatas & Concertos, Vol. 3

Manufacturer: MD&G Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Telemann: Concertos & Chamber Music, Vol. 4
Telemann: Overtures, Sonatas, Concertos
Telemann: Overtures, Sonatas & Concertos
Johann Friedrich Fasch: Concertos
Johann David Heinichen: Concerto & Sonatas

ASIN: B0007X6T28
Release Date: 2005-06-21

Tracks:

Largo
Allegro
Adagio
Allegro
Allegro
Siciliana
Boure
Menuet
Largo
Allegro
Dolce
Vivace
Ouverture
Menuet
Gavotte
Passepied
Air
Gigue
Andante
Allegro
Andante
Presto
Grave
Vivace
Adagio E Staccato
Allegro Assai
Soave
Presto

Chaconne ~ Blow, Corelli, Muffat, Pezel, Purcell / Goebel, Musica Antiqua Köln

Average customer rating:

Correct tempi - a rare treat
Pure delight!
Sway with the music
Chaconnes for all ears
Amen to Pezel!!

Chaconne ~ Blow, Corelli, Muffat, Pezel, Purcell / Goebel, Musica Antiqua Köln
John Blow , Jean-Baptiste Lully , Arcangelo Corelli , Henry Purcell , Biagio Marini , Ruprecht Ignaz Mayr , Johann Chistoph Pezel , Georg Muffat , Musica Antiqua Köln , and Reinhard Goebel
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Concerti 'per l'orchestra di Dresda' (Heinichen, Veracini, Quantz, Pisendel, Fasch, Dieupart) /Musica Antiqua Koln * Goebel
Telemann String Concertos Musica Antiqua Koln Goebel

ASIN: B0000057FT
Release Date: 1997-03-11

Tracks:

Chanconne in G
Passacaglio in g
Ciacoa in G
Chacony in g, Z 730
Chacony in g, Z 807
Chacont in G
Passacalia-Grave in B
Sonata-Ciacona in B
Chaconne in G

Customer Reviews:

Correct tempi - a rare treat.......2007-07-07

I bought this CD because it has the only recording I've been able to find of the Chaconne de Phaeton at the correct - danceable - tempo. I fell in love with this music when I learned and performed the dance for which it was written. As an enthusiastic, though amateur, Baroque dancer, it drives me NUTS when so-called early music experts record music written for dancing at tempos that cannot be danced to. This entire CD is enjoyable, but the performance of the Chaconne de Phaeton is a delight for which I'll be eternally grateful to the Musica Antiqua Koln.

Pure delight!.......2006-12-10

The Chaconne, or Passacaglia, as the two terms are usually interchangeable in their use, is an ancient dance music that is constructed on a series of variations developed from a sustained bass figure. This type of dance movement was very popular all over Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries, often employed as instrumental accompaniment for courtly dances and entertainment. The importance of the variation form lies in its potential to allow composers to develop thematic materials in seemingly endless possible ways. For this matter chaccone or passacaglia was favored by Baroque composers as both a vehicle for their showmanship as well as an important medium in which to work out and assemble thematic ideas. Many composers have excelled in writing variations. For instance, the famous Austrian violin virtuoso and composer, Heinrich Ignaz von Biber, wrote some of the earliest violin sonatas in variation form. His grand Passacaglia for solo violin served as a model for Bach's towering essay in the same genre, the Chaccone for solo violin in his D minor Partita which propelled this time-honored form to its pinnacle.

The works on this CD are nothing compared to Bach in their complexity and seriousness, but their naïve beauty is manifest throughout the pieces. The programme begins with a brilliant Chaccone in G major by Lully, with its stately pace and grandeur reminiscent of the court of Louis XIV. The next piece, a passacaglia by Marini, is calm and mournful. The juxtaposition of two pieces starkly contrasting in their moods is very effective and dramatic. Then Corelli's refreshingly beautiful Ciaconna ushers in on strings and harpsichord, with its singing melody as lovely as flowers brought to your window in a spring morning. The Purcell pieces are archaic in sound and feel; the first Chaconny follows a rhythmic pattern while the second reposes in a dignified calmness.

The gravity of this album is centered on the last two pieces, a Sonata-Ciaconna by J. C. Pezel and a Chaconne by Georg Muffat, each lasting well over 15 minutes. To me Pezel's Ciaconna is a rare gem I have found in recent years. The music is simply astounding, infused with vivacity and gracefulness. It starts with a tutti statement made by the full ensemble, after which the solo violin sings the theme that is to take on various guises throughout the piece. As it is named Sonata-Ciaconna, this piece can be loosely divided into three or four sections. For the most part each section is carried out by solo violin, accompanied either on harpsichord or theorbo, with the string ensemble joining in at the end of each section to punctuate the bass rhythm and summarize the main theme. Near the end the music culminates into a full oratorical declamation by the ensemble, but surprisingly ends on violin in a playful twist.

The Chaconne by Georg Muffat actually comes from the composer's Armonico Tributo, a group of five concerti grossi published in Salzburg in 1682. Muffat, himself a German, was apparently influenced by his teacher Pasquini and the Venetian master of instrumental music, Archangelo Corelli. In these concertos he assimilated both Italian flavor and improvisatory style with German tradition of counterpoint, as can be seen in the Chaconne in G major contained on this CD. This piece was originally designed for "open" orchestration, which means it could be performed on any combination of instruments, from a trio to a large ensemble. For this performance Baroque specialist Reinhard Goebel has chosen to play it with full orchestra. In the composer's own words, the music "mingles the serious and the gay with most excellent harmony."

Both the Pezel and Muffat are rarely-heard items and deserve better recognition in the repertoire. The Musica Antiqua Koln plays magnificently and reacts sensitively to the hidden nuances of each piece. Goebel is an excellent violinist as well as a conducor. Recorded sound is top-notch. Wholeheartedly recommended to fans of early music.

2006.12.09

Sway with the music.......2006-11-14

To buy a disc entitlted Chaconne and then complain because it's full of chaconnes... erm, yes, I should stop before I say something rude. The complaint in the review below about an hour's worth of Chaconne being too much should read "Chaconne, Chacony, Ciacona", anyway, and not "Ciaccona,ciaccona,ciaccona..." because the disc covers a wonderful variety of styles of this dance.
I'll admit I had hoped that some of the tunes of this recording would be played at a little faster tempo, but they are very elegant and soothing. I have even struggled to hear the dance rythmn in a couple of these pieces because they are played so slowly, but this isn't essentially a problem for me. This is a disc that gets played quite a bit both at home and at work, and has met with either indifference or (mostly) pleasure. I wouldn't say that it's a toe-tapper, but it makes my shoulders want to sway*!?! Thankfully I have resisted so far. MAK is wonderful as always, and this is recommended to anyone who enjoys this musical form.

Chaconnes for all ears.......2004-12-30

This is one of the most exquisite recordings of Chaconnes, the most sublime (in my opinion) musical expression of 17th and 18th century. What to some might seem repetitious and boring, is, I think, the highest level of musical inventiveness and genious. All nine composers show in these Chaconnes and Passacaglias how far they can go inventing and re-inventing the wheel. I would single out J.-B. Lully's majestic Chaconne and Ruprecht Ignaz Mayr's peaceful Passacaglia for an easy start. It might take a little time to appreciate the rest but it is well worth it.

Amen to Pezel!!.......2004-06-10

This album provides a well needed dose of great 18th century chaconne. The other viewer was correct. Pezel's Sonata-Ciacona in B-flat major is like listening to God. The only peice missing that would make this album perfect is Bach's chaconne for solo violin.

Average customer rating:

An enjoyable introduction to serialism

Dallapiccola: Musica da Camera

Manufacturer: Stradivarius
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Dallapiccola: Quaderno Musicale di Annalibera; Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Alghe No2
Dallapiccola: Canti Diprigonia, Cinque Frammenti Di Saffo, Due Liriche De Anacre
Dallapiccola: Ulisse
Luigi Dallapiccola - Orchestral Music

ASIN: B00000198Q
Release Date: 1997-11-18

Tracks:

Tartiniana Seconda: I. Pastorale - Bruno Canino/Rudolfo Bonucci
Tartiniana Seconda: II. Tempo Di Bourree - Bruno Canino/Rudolfo Bonucci
Tartiniana Seconda: III. Presto Leggerissimo - Bruno Canino/Rudolfo Bonucci
Tartiniana Seconda: IV. Variazioni - Bruno Canino/Rudolfo Bonucci
Due Studi: Sarabanda - Bruno Canino/Rudolfo Bonucci
Due Studi: Fanfara E Fuga - Bruno Canino/Rudolfo Bonucci
Ciaccona, Intermezzo E Adagio: Ciaccona - Arturo Bonucci
Ciaccona, Intermezzo E Adagio: Intermezzo - Arturo Bonucci
Ciaccona, Intermezzo E Adagio: Adagio - Arturo Bonucci
Quaderno Musicale Di Annalibera: I. Simbolo
Quaderno Musicale Di Annalibera: II. Accenti
Quaderno Musicale Di Annalibera: III. Contrapunctus Primus
Quaderno Musicale Di Annalibera: VI. Linee
Quaderno Musicale Di Annalibera: V. Contrapunctus Secundus(Canon Contrario Motu)
Quaderno Musicale Di Annalibera: VI. Fregi
Quaderno Musicale Di Annalibera: VII. Andantino Amoroso E Contrapunctus Tertuis(Canon Cancrizans)
Quaderno Musicale Di Annalibera: VIII. Ritmi
Quaderno Musicale Di Annalibera: IX. Colore
Quaderno Musicale Di Annalibera: X. Ombre
Quaderno Musicale Di Annalibera: XI. Quartina

Customer Reviews:

An enjoyable introduction to serialism.......2005-10-28

Somewhere on Amazon there is a reviewer who expresses skepticism towards anyone who claims to have "gotten" Schoenberg's later works the first time they heard them. I find this skepticism odd for two reasons.
The first reason is a foible I should be used to by now. When will we learn (and I include myself in this) that others are not limited by our own personal limitations? I have enjoyed much twelve-tone or serialist music from the first time I heard it. That doesn't mean I had (or have yet) a good theoretical understanding of it. I think of it as more that I was prepared for the music by being exposed to a lot of classical, jazz and world music at an early age.
These thoughts lead me to my second reason which has more to do with Schoenberg's twelve-tone system itself. It seems to me to be a natural development from 19th century music. The pantonality (Schoenberg's own preferred term) of serialism was emerging throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Pure tonality was slipping in Chopin and was in full pratfall by the time of Wagner. Debussey, Satie and Scriabin all developed alternatives to it.
Try this thought experiment. Let us suppose that we can take several of Shakespeare's most famous soliloquies or sonnets and we take some of the more recognizable lines from them and use them to construct a new sonnet that actually makes sense. Then we read that new sonnet to an audience full of people who know their Shakespeare. Imagine the disorientation as they recognize the first line, remember its context and then are surprised by the second line. As this continues, they realize that what they are hearing makes sense on its own. And they end up having to give up their cultural expectations to try to focus on trying to understand that new sense.
In a way, this is what serialism is trying to do (as I understand it). It doesn't embrace dissonance or consonance- it cuts us adrift from what gives those terms meaning and our beloved "resolution". Personally I kind of like it.
I think this CD of music by Luigi Dallapiccola will serve as a good introduction for many people to the pleasures of serialism. My brother once described Dallapiccola to me as "Yea, sort of a middle of the road, lyrical serialist". Remove the negative connotations from that description and it is about right.
Consider the first piece on this CD, the wonderful "Tartiana seconda". Dallapiccola has created several pieces based themes or phrases of Tartini's. He then manipulates the themes in the standard serialist fashion. The result are pieces that sound very baroque, with a piano parts that sound like something Debussey would create, that are mostly tonal but also slyly dissonant at times. The last movement, "Variations", is particularly strong.
This piece is the cause of my whole introductory spiel- you can hear the whole of the nineteenth and some of the twentieth in their development with source material that is baroque. I would claim that this piece is ample proof that serialism is a natural development of the tradition.
The second piece,"Due Studi", is more traditionally serialist (the wheel turns and all revolutions become bureaucracies). The first movement is quietly brooding and warns of the aggression to come in the second movement.
The final pieces are solos for cello and piano. I could only describe them in the most impressionist of manners so I will suggest only that you listen to the sound samples.
The playing by Rodolfo Bonucci (violin), Arturo Bonucci (cello) and Bruno Canino (piano) is wonderful and the recording quality is great.
Some of this music in now available on a much cheaper CD on the Naxos label. I am unfamiliar with that recording so I cannot compare them. But I do not hesitate to recommend this CD as an introduction of Dallapiccola and to some of the profound pleasures of serialist music.

Emanuele Barbella: Sei trii per due violini e violoncello; Hamilton Trios

Average customer rating:

Emanuele Barbella: Sei trii per due violini e violoncello; Hamilton Trios

Manufacturer: Tactus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0007NH2HO
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Tracks:

Allegretto
Andantino Affetuoso
Rondo - Allegretto
Allegretto
Andantino
Rondo - Allegretto
Allegro
Larghetto Con Gusto
Rondo - Allegro
Allegretto
Andante
Rondo - Allegro Comodo
Larghetto - Molto Andantino
Non Tanto Allegro
Andantino
Non Tanto Allegro - Cantabile
Larghetto - Andante
Rondo - Allegro

Album Description

The works of Emanuele Barbella (1718-1777) obviously had some currency in Europe, since ten of his collections of sonatas, duets, and trios were edited in Paris and London--the two major centers for the publication of chamber music at that time--between 1762 and 1774. These are simple and agreeable works for the most part, with occasional harmonic surprises and references to folk motifs appreciated by the cultured public of the era.

Average customer rating:

For Sunday Brunch

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Soundtracks | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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For the Hopeless Romantic
For April Showers
For the Discriminating Man
For Whatever
For a Dinner Party

ASIN: B0002WZSW6
Release Date: 2004-09-14

Tracks:

Prelude And Fugue In C Major - Andras Schiff
(Allegro) - Musica Antiqua Koln
Siciliana - Musica Antiqua Koln
Bourree - Musica Antiqua Koln
Menuett - Musica Antiqua Koln
Minuet - Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Allegro - Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Affetuoso - Musica Antiqua Koln
Vivace - Musica Antiqua Koln
Aria - Musica Antiqua Koln
Bourree - Musica Antiqua Koln
Solveig's Song - Neeme Jarvi
Chanson De Matin, Op.15 No.2 - London Philharmonic Orchestra
Chanson De Nuit, Op.15 No.1 - London Philharmonic Orchestra
The Heart Asks Pleasure First - Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Intermezzo: My Bonny Boy - Sir Neville Marriner
Jig: Vivace - Christopher Hogwood
Ostinato: Presto - Christopher Hogwood
Intermezzo: Andante Con Moto - Christopher Hogwood
Finale (The Dargasson): Allegro - Christopher Hogwood

Alessandro Scarlatti: Concerti da Camera

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Alessandro Scarlatti: Concerti da Camera
Alessandro Scarlatti , Musica Pacifica , Linsenberg , and Blumenstock
Manufacturer: Dorian Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00003OPAT
Release Date: 2000-01-11

Tracks:

Son No.9 in a: Allegro
Son No.9 in a: Largo
Son No.9 in a: Fuga
Son No.9 in a: Pno/Largo
Son No.9 in a: Allegro
Son No.24 in g: Allegro
Son No.24 in g: Fuga
Son No.24 in g: Largo
Son No.24 in g: Allegro
Son No.7 in D: Allegro
Son No.7 in D: Adagio
Son No.7 in D: Fuga
Son No.7 in D: Largo
Son No.7 in D: Allegro
Son No.7 in D: Toccata in g
Son No.21 in a: Andante
Son No.21 in a: Allegro
Son No.21 in a: Veloce
Son No.21 in a: Lento
Son No.21 in a: Allegro
Sonata A Quattro in d: Allegro
Sonata A Quattro in d: Grave
Sonata A Quattro in d: Allegro
Sonata A Quattro in d: Minuet
Son No.22 in A: Allegro
Son No.22 in A: Fuga
Son No.22 in A: Adagio
Son No.22 in A: Andante
Son No.22 in A: Toccata in d
Son in F: (Allegro)
Son in F: Allegro
Son in F: Grave
Son in F: Allegro
Son No.12 in c: Moderato
Son No.12 in c: Fuga
Son No.12 in c: Largo
Son No.12 in c: Andante
Son No.12 in c: Andante

Cross of Red - Music of Love & War from the Time of the Crusades

Average customer rating:

The Playing is Accomplished!

Cross of Red - Music of Love & War from the Time of the Crusades

Manufacturer: Centaur
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Music from the Time of the Crusades
Music Of The Crusades
Richard Coeur de Lion (Richard the Lionheart): Troubadours & Trouvères in the Courts of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard the Lionheart, Marie de Champagne & Geoffroy, Duke of Brittany - Alla Francesca
On the Way to Bethlehem (Music of the Medieval Pilgrim)
Orient - Occident

ASIN: B00000DGND
Release Date: 2000-08-12

Customer Reviews:

The Playing is Accomplished!.......2005-03-30

Milton Scheuermann and Thais St Julien direct the New Orleans Musica da Camera in a recording of music of love and war from the time of the Crusades.

"...the playing is very accomplished. Centaur's sound is excellent, and overall enjoyment of the disc is enhanced by first rate notes." (Brian Robins - Fanfare)

The performers on this recording:

Thaïs St. Julien, Richard Hutton & Roy Liuzza (singers)
Milton G. Scheuermann, jr. (recorder, gemshorn, rauschpfeiffe, lyre, hammered dulcimer, organistrum, bells)
Betty Wauchoppe (vielle)
Bryce Reveley (harp)
Stuart LeBlanc (lute)
Ben Schenck (percussion)

The works on this recording:

1. Dum pater familias
Anon., Spain, 12th c.

2. Farai un vers de dreyt nien
Guillaume IX (1071-1127)

3. Panx in nomini Domini!
Marcabru (fl.1129-1150)

4. Estampie
Anon., England, 13th c.

5. Ahi! Amors com dure departie
Conon de Béthune (c1150-1220)

6. Parti de mal
Anon., France, 1189

7. Sexte estampie real
Anon., France, 13th c.

8. Chanterai por mon corage
Guiot de Dijon (12th century)

9. Ja nus hons pris
Richard Coeur-de-Lion (1157-1199)

10. Dance: Ar ne kuth ich sorghe non
Anon., 13th c., England

11. Cuer dissirous apaie
Blondel de Nesle (12th century)

12. No m'agrad' iverns ni pascors
Raimbaut de Vaqueiras (fl.1180-1205)

13. Belle Doette
Anon., France, early 13th c.

14. Saltarello
Anon., Italy, 13th c.

15. Sia laudato San Francisco
Anon., Italy, 13th c.

16. Seignor, sachiez
Thibaut de Navarre (1201-1253)

17. Nu alerst lerbe ich
Walther von der Vogelweide (c1170-c1230)

Antonio Vivaldi: Musica da Camera e da Chiesa (Chamber & Church Music) - London Baroque

Average customer rating:

Needs the Right Equipment not to Sound Harsh

Antonio Vivaldi: Musica da Camera e da Chiesa (Chamber & Church Music) - London Baroque

Manufacturer: EMI Records [All429]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000DO0P
Release Date: 1995-09-19

Tracks:

I. Largo Molto
II. Allegro, Ma Poco
I. Preludio: Allegro
II. Allemanda: Allegro
III. Gavotta: Presto
I. Preludio: Andante
II. Corrente: Allegro
III. Adagio
IV. Giga: Allegro
I. Preludio: Grave
II. Allemanda: Allegro
III. Adagio
IV. Capricio: Allegro
V. Gavotta: Allegro
I. Preludio: Largo
II. Allemanda: Andante
III. Sarabanda: Largo
IV. Giga: Allegro
Tema: Adagio
Variazione I: Andante
Variazione II: Allegro
Variazione III
Variazione IV
Variazione V
Variazione VI
Variazione VII
Variazione VIII: Adagio
Variazione IX: Vivace
Variazione X: Allegro
Variazione XI: Larghetto
Variazione XII: Allegro
Variazione XIII
Variazione XIV: Adagio
Variazione XV: Allegro
Variazione XVI
Variazione XVII
Variazione XVIII
Variazione XIX
I. Adagio Molto
II. Allegro, Ma Poco

Customer Reviews:

Needs the Right Equipment not to Sound Harsh.......2005-03-27

Occasionally one comes across a CD (in my case, usually from Naxos, but not always) which sounds very different, depending on which hifi equipment one uses to listen to it. This is the case with this 1985 EMI digital recording by London Baroque of some of Vivaldi’s chamber music. I have owned this CD for some years now and mostly did not particularly enjoy it – because of the sound. Re-listening in order to write this review, I established that on one combination of hifi equipment (SonyES/NAD/Philips) the basso continuo was aggressively loud, almost drowning out the violins, which, when they could be properly heard, themselves sounded rather harsh; also, there was considerable background noise to contend with. When I tried again with another set of equipment (NAD/LehmannAudio/Sennheiser), the result was completely different: For the first time, I was able to distinguish the individual instruments and their placement on stage; the basso continuo, which London Baroque appear to have experimented with using several different combinations of instruments (cello, violone, organ and harpsichord), receded a little into the background and became more spacious, while the violins – and the viola – sounded a lot sweeter (although I still had a vague feeling that Ingrid Seifert’s playing was not quite what I would really have liked to hear, but I am not expert enough to be able to explain why). Also, the background noise was reduced to a tolerable level. All this demonstrating that listening to classical music on CD can be an interesting but sometimes frustrating experience.

Vivaldi’s music is highly interesting, and the pieces on this CD demonstrate quite clearly that Stravinsky was just being a spoil-sport when he claimed Vivaldi had just written the same piece 450 times over! The use of the organ as a continui instrument makes the first two pieces on the CD perhaps a little more difficult, so if you are new to this repertoire I recommend going straight to one of the later pieces: try, for example, the cello sonata RV 42 (tracks 15 through 18), a quite delightful piece of baroque chamber music. Or go for the Variations on “La Follia” RV 63, a piece of wonderful virtuoso writing for strings. If you only know “The Four Seasons” you have a lot of Vivaldi to discover.

But having said that, I think I would turn for Vivaldi’s chamber sonatas in the first instance to the Purcell Quartet on Chandos Chaconne (two single CDs), where, despite some intonation problems, the violin playing of Elizabeth Wallfisch and Catherine Mackintosh is more easily accessible than that of Ingrid Seifert and William Hunt and where the basso continuo is allowed to run its course much more simply, without the instrumental experiments of Charles Medlam and co. And the chances are that your hifi equipment will have fewer problems with the Chandos sound.

Average customer rating:

Mancini: Concerti da Camera
Francesco Mancini , Francesco Durante , Domenico Scarlatti , Musica Pacifica , Linsenberg , and Blumenstock
Manufacturer: Dorian Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00004UDEV
Release Date: 2000-08-15

Tracks: