Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 4-6 [Enhanced]

On this CD:

1. Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Alexander Kiskachi
Conducted by Alexander Titov

2. Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Alexander Kiskachi
Conducted by Alexander Titov

3. Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat major, BWV 1051
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

Conducted by Alexander Titov

Tracks:

Vn Con in E, BWV 1042: I. Allegro
Vn Con in E, BWV 1042: II. Adagio
Vn Con in E, BWV 1042: III. Allegro Assai
Vn Con in g, BWV 1056: I. (Allegro)
Vn Con in g, BWV 1056: II. Largo
Vn Con in g, BWV 1056: III. Presto
Vn Con in a, BWV 1041: I. (Allegro)
Vn Con in a, BWV 1041: II. Andante
Vn Con in a, BWV 1041: III. Allegro Assai
Con in d, BWV 1043: I. Vivace - Pinchas Zukerman
Con in d, BWV 1043: II. Largo Ma Non Tanto - Pinchas Zukerman
Con in d, BWV 1043: III. Allegro - Pinchas Zukerman

Customer Reviews:

Perlman's Bach.......2007-07-04

These are good-to-excellent performances on a bargain disc. Probably the best single disc set of these concertos at any price.

Great interpretation.......2007-05-30

I was looking for a recording of Bach's Concerto No. 1 in A minor so that I could hear how to better play the accompaniment (on piano) and my daughter could hear a master play the piece on violin. We listened to 3 different recordings, and this was our favorite by far. The concerto was played at a great tempo with just the right amount of vibrato.

Enjoyable CD at great price.......2007-02-08

Bought this CD to round out a larger order and was happily surprised with both the quality of this CD, the beauty of the music, and the great price. Very nice buy!

The premier rendition of these classics.......2007-02-06

If you love Bach, you must buy this album. The quality of the performance and the recording is superb, and the price is certainly right.

Sounds drunken.......2006-12-16

I know that this recording is very beloved in classical music circles, but I do not like it at all. It is slow, meandering, and sounds drunk. I feel sad to say this, because I know that Perlman is prodigiously talented.

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 1-4; Neville Marriner; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

Average customer rating:

The epitome of Baroque
Wonderful recording of this marvelous Bach's masterpiece
Best modern instrument performances in my opinion
Bach at his best
Easy to Enjoy

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 1-4; Neville Marriner; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Johann Sebastian Bach , Sir Neville Marriner , and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto Op35; Brahms: Violin Concerto in D Op77
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol; Russian Easter Overture

ASIN: B000239B7S
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Tracks:

I: (Allegro)
II: Adagio
III: Allegro
IV: Menuet & Trio
I: (Allegro)
II: Andante
III: Allegro Assai
I: Allegro
II: Adagio (By George Malcolm)
III: Allegro
I: Allegro - Iona Brown
II: Andante
III: Presto

Customer Reviews:

The epitome of Baroque.......2007-06-26

I'm trying to decide how to rate this. I certainly enjoy this CD and listen to it quite often (especially during study sessions), but on the other hand, I can't help but feel that a person needs a certain level of understanding and respect for Baroque music to appreciate this CD.

Yes, you've got the infamous 3rd Brandenburg Concerto, and yes, this CD is played wonderfully. It's true that this is a fabulous bargain, but to really love it, a person needs to love Bach and Baroque music. I simply like this CD. I find it a purely enjoyable listen (and personally think that some of the other Brandenburg Concertos are better than no. 3, just saying) that I come back to quite often.

Really, the great playing and wonderful bargain scream "BUY ME". It's a friendly buy that is a great deal. You won't regret it, even if you find that the style isn't quite your favorite.

Recommended.

Wonderful recording of this marvelous Bach's masterpiece.......2007-06-12

I was very pleassed to hear this wonderfull recording of Neville Marriner of these marvelous Bach's masterpieces.

Best modern instrument performances in my opinion.......2007-03-26

I think with the Brandenbergs, the deciding factor on which set to buy is whether you prefer modern instruments or period instruments. There are probably more great period instrument recordings (Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert is my personal favorite) to choose from than modern instrument recordings, but I think this is the best available modern instrument recording. You pretty much cannot go wrong with anything by Marriner and the ASMF, but this is truly one of their better recordings and has been for a number of years. There may be others out there just as good, but I doubt if you will find any better.

Bach at his best.......2007-02-08

Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, like much of Bach's works, are very modern sounding pieces. That's what makes them so appealing. Although each movement is no more than a few minutes long, the melodies and form of each are well developed and gorgeous.

This recording is especially worth buying because Marriner and the Academy produce a well-balanced and well-played interpretation. The instruments are not period instruments, and I think that that adds to the overall flavor of this recording. Although Boston Baroque offer recordings using period pieces, they don't match the interpretive genius of Neville Marriner.

Overall, this disc is a great buy -- only a few dollars for some of my favorite pieces by Bach. Don't let the low price fool you into believing that that somehow is an indication of quality.

Easy to Enjoy.......2006-11-25

I am not a musician nor can I identify Bach's Brandenburg Concerto number one from number five. However, I am an avid listener and do enjoy classical music. I know how good the Academy of St Martin in the Fields is and what a great conductor Sir Neville Marriner is. Most of all, I can identify a real bargain when I see one and this CD qualifies as a great bargain.

Bach's concertos are relaxing and very enjoyable. The Academy performs under the sure hand of Sir Marriner at the highest level. Each CD is just over an hour, the sound is clear and as Gramophone says "these performances are easy to enjoy".

This review refers to both the CD for concertos Nos. 1-4 and the CD for concertos Nos. 5 & & with Orchestral Suite No. 1.

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 5 & 6/Orchestral Suite No. 1; Neville Marriner; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

Average customer rating:

Wonderful recording of these Bach's masterpieces
The best modern instrument performances I have heard
Easy to Enjoy
Rediscovery of some favorites

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 5 & 6/Orchestral Suite No. 1; Neville Marriner; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Johann Sebastian Bach , Sir Neville Marriner , and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol; Russian Easter Overture

ASIN: B000239B82
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Tracks:

I: Allegro - George Malcolm
II: Affettuoso - George Malcolm
III: Allegro - George Malcolm
I: Allegro - Stephen Shingles
II: Adagio Ma Non Tanto - Stephen Shingles
III: Allegro - Stephen Shingles
I: Ouverture
II: Courante
III: Gavotte I & II
IV: Forlane
V: Menuet I & II
VI: Bourree I & II
VII: Passepied I & II

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful recording of these Bach's masterpieces.......2007-06-08

Marvelows recording by Neville Marriner of these Bach's masterpieces. I was pleassed to hear this record

The best modern instrument performances I have heard.......2007-03-26

Easy to Enjoy.......2006-11-25

Rediscovery of some favorites.......2006-08-20

I had forgotten how delightful it is to hear these pieces in their entirety! Every now and then I'd hear excerpts on the radio, etc., but not the whole work. These are marvelous examples of the best J.S. Bach had to offer in a wonderful set of recordings by Sir Neville Mariner and the band.

Bach - The Complete Brandenburg Concertos / Pearlman, Boston Baroque

Average customer rating:

nobody tops Boston Baroque
posthorn problems
He was a german baroque father
A Great Set
Great Pair of CDs

Bach - The Complete Brandenburg Concertos / Pearlman, Boston Baroque
Johann Sebastian Bach , Martin Pearlman , Boston Baroque , Christopher Krueger , Marc Schachman , Daniel Stepner , and Friedemann Immer
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 35-41

ASIN: B000003D1F
Release Date: 1996-07-23

Tracks:

I. (Allegro)
II. Adagio
III. Allegro
IV. Menuetto; Trio; Polonaise; Trio
I. (Allegro)
II. Andante
III. Allegro Assai
I. (Allegro)
II. Adagio
III. Allegro

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Presto
I. Allegro
II. Affettuoso
III. Allegro
I. (Allegro)
II. Adagio Ma Non Tanto
III. Allegro

Amazon.com

Boston Baroque and Martin Pearlman recorded a splendid set of the Brandenburg Concertos on period instruments in 1993 and 1994. Made entirely in the US, these snappy, crisply articulated, and fluent performances rely heavily on the talents of violinist Daniel Stepner (who doubles as one of the two solo violists in Concerto No. 6). Among the highlights are the joyous finale to Concerto No. 4 and the superb cembalo cadenza in No. 5, played by Pearlman. Along with outstanding sound, there's a winning sense of freshness and discovery in these performances. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

nobody tops Boston Baroque.......2007-05-12

I am just knocked out by Boston Baroque's performances and the technical perfection of their recordings. This music is still very much alive in these good hands. If you like Bach and you have a decent sound system, you'll play this one for your friends.

posthorn problems.......2006-09-29

the telarc recording is full and detailed as would be expected, but the posthorn player botches a lot of lines, or at least plays them with totally hamfisted phrasing. of course it's probably tough on an older instrument but the end result is that it distracted me from what was probably an otherwise excellent recording.

He was a german baroque father.......2005-03-18

He wrote this piece in Köthen 24.3.1721 near the capital Berlin. this work was dedicated to Count Christian Von Brandenburg.
The six Concertos are bizarre dimension from Bach. Because the concertos 1, 3, 5 are dance-menuett sätze. The concertos 2, 4, 6 are fugue forms. The concerto 5 is very special because the Cemballo/Hapsichord was represented or played in a solo instrument. this might be the oldest piano concert in the music history.

PS: this CD is only dedicated to the intelligent music listeners! not to the crappy fans who love Britney Spears or Tina Alquiera.....

A Great Set.......2005-03-17

These are the best versions of the Brandenburgs I have heard. The tempos are quick, as baroque tempos should be, the music sounds light, as baroque music should, and the period instruments make the recording all the more "authentic." I even recommend this over Pinnock and the English Concert's version. Sound quality is very good. Highly recommended.

Great Pair of CDs.......2004-07-14

I don't know much about classical music, but I must say that these CD's are great. I love the music and the production quality is perfect. I've heard the same pieces preformed by other groups and these CD's always sound far better to me.

Average customer rating:

A Premier Bach Series Recording
A nice way to complete your collection of Bach's concertos...
"Best Bach - Box Set"
Pinnock is good performer
Unbeatable Value

Bach: Concertos

Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Vivaldi Concertos
Johann Sebastian Bach: 6 Brandenburg Concertos / 4 Orchestral Suites - The English Concert / Trevor Pinnock
Complete Mozart Symphonies / Pinnock, English Concert
Corelli: 12 Concerti grossi, op. 6
Dvorák: The Symphonies

ASIN: B00004SAAY
Release Date: 2001-03-13

Tracks:

Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in D minor, BVW 1052: 1. Allegro
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in D minor, BVW 1052: 2. Adagio
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in D minor, BVW 1052: 3. Allegro
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in E major, BVW 1053: 1. (without tempo indication)
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in E major, BVW 1053: 2. Siciliano
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in E major, BVW 1053: 3. Allegro
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in D major, BVW 1054: 1. (without tempo indication)
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in D major, BVW 1054: 2. Adagio e piano sempre
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in D major, BVW 1054: 3. Allegro

Tracks:

Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in A major, BWV.1055: 1. Allegro
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in A major, BWV.1055: 2. Larghetto
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in A major, BWV.1055: 3. Allegro ma non tanto
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in F minor, BWV.1056: 1. (Without Tempo Indication)
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in F minor, BWV.1056: 2. Largo
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in F minor, BWV.1056: 3. Presto
Concerto for Harpsichord, 2 Recorders and Strings in F major, BWV1057: 1. (Without Tempo Indication)
Concerto for Harpsichord, 2 Recorders and Strings in F major, BWV1057: 2. Andante
Concerto for Harpsichord, 2 Recorders and Strings in F major, BWV1057: 3. Allegro assai
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in G minor, BWV1058: 1. (Without Tempo Indication)
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in G minor, BWV1058: 2. Andante
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings in G minor, BWV1058: 3. Allegro assai
Concerto for 2 Harpsichords and Strings in C minor, BWV1060: 1. Allegro
Concerto for 2 Harpsichords and Strings in C minor, BWV1060: 2. Adagio
Concerto for 2 Harpsichords and Strings in C minor, BWV1060: 3. Allegro

Tracks:

Concerto for 2 Harpsichords and Strings in C major, BWV1061: 1. (Without Tempo Indication) - Nicholas Kraemer
Concerto for 2 Harpsichords and Strings in C major, BWV1061: 2. Adagio ovvero Largo - Nicholas Kraemer
Concerto for 2 Harpsichords and Strings in C major, BWV1061: 3. Fuga - Nicholas Kraemer
Concerto for 2 Harpsichords and Strings in C minor, BWV1062: 1. (Without Tempo Indication) - Nicholas Kraemer
Concerto for 2 Harpsichords and Strings in C minor, BWV1062: 2. Andante - Nicholas Kraemer
Concerto for 2 Harpsichords and Strings in C minor, BWV1062: 3. Allegro assai - Nicholas Kraemer
Concerto for 3 Harpsichords and Strings in D minor, BWV.1063: 1. (Without Tempo Indication) - Nicholas Kraemer
Concerto for 3 Harpsichords and Strings in D minor, BWV.1063: 2. Alla Siciliana - Nicholas Kraemer
Concerto for 3 Harpsichords and Strings in D minor, BWV.1063: 3. Allegro - Nicholas Kraemer
Concerto for 3 Harpsichords and Strings in C major, BWV1064: 1. Allegro - Nicholas Kraemer
Concerto for 3 Harpsichords and Strings in C major, BWV1064: 2. Adagio - Nicholas Kraemer
Concerto for 3 Harpsichords and Strings in C major, BWV1064: 3. Allegro - Nicholas Kraemer
Concerto for 4 Harpsichords and Strings in A minor, BWV.1065: 1. (Without Tempo Indication) - Nicholas Kraemer
Concerto for 4 Harpsichords and Strings in A minor, BWV.1065: 2. Largo - Nicholas Kraemer
Concerto for 4 Harpsichords and Strings in A minor, BWV.1065: 3. Allegro - Nicholas Kraemer

Tracks:

Concerto for Flute, Violin, Harpsichord, Strings, and Basso Continuo in A minor, BWV1044 'Triple Concerto': 1. Allegro
Concerto for Flute, Violin, Harpsichord, Strings, and Basso Continuo in A minor, BWV1044 'Triple Concerto': 2. Adagio, ma non tanto, e dolce
Concerto for Flute, Violin, Harpsichord, Strings, and Basso Continuo in A minor, BWV1044 'Triple Concerto': 3. Allabreve
Concerto for Oboe, Violin, Strings, and Basso Continuo in C minor: 1. Allegro
Concerto for Oboe, Violin, Strings, and Basso Continuo in C minor: 2. Adagio
Concerto for Oboe, Violin, Strings, and Basso Continuo in C minor: 3. Allegro
Concerto for Oboe d'amore, Strings and Basso Continuo in A major: 1. (Without Tempo Indication)
Concerto for Oboe d'amore, Strings and Basso Continuo in A major: 2. Larghetto
Concerto for Oboe d'amore, Strings and Basso Continuo in A major: 3. Allegro ma non tanto

Tracks:

Concerto for Violin, Strings and Continuo in A minor, BWV.1041: 1. (Allegro moderato) - Simon Standage
Concerto for Violin, Strings and Continuo in A minor, BWV.1041: 2. Andante - Simon Standage
Concerto for Violin, Strings and Continuo in A minor, BWV.1041: 3. Allegro assai - Simon Standage
Concerto for Violin, Strings and Continuo in E major, BWV.1042: 1. Allegro - Simon Standage
Concerto for Violin, Strings and Continuo in E major, BWV.1042: 2. Adagio - Simon Standage
Concerto for Violin, Strings and Continuo in E major, BWV.1042: 3. Allegro assai - Simon Standage
Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, BWV.1043: 1. Vivace - Simon Standage
Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, BWV.1043: 2. Largo ma non tanto - Simon Standage
Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, BWV.1043: 3. Allegro - Simon Standage

Customer Reviews:

A Premier Bach Series Recording.......2007-03-26

I purchased these recordings nearly 20 years ago, when Deutsche Gramophone was still selling them as five individual discs, and at over $20 per disc. With the re-release of the set of all five discs in a single, price-reduced "Collectors Edition" box set, the price has fallen by more than half, making this one of the outstanding values for high-quality Bach recordings on today's market.

But what about the performances? Here's the best way I can sum it up. Having listened to these disks for some two decades, in the car, on the main home stereo system, on portable equipment, on the boom box, and etc., etc., it is, I imagine, inevitable that one ends up memorizing nearly every note. And with that familiarity comes the ability to detect flaws in the performance, missteps, missed beats, the occasional off-tone instrument. Here's the rub: it is difficult to locate any significant flaw in the performances. These performances are about as perfect as one can get, but having said that, there is more. The sound reproduction of this recording remains near or at the top of any Bach recordings with which I've become familiar, and remains in my own thinking the de facto standard by which other performances should be measured.

Sound too good to be true? Pick up a set and see for yourself. And then relish the thought that you paid $40 for a set worth far more.

A nice way to complete your collection of Bach's concertos..........2007-02-21

...and cheap to boot. This, paired with the Brandenburg Concertos/Overtures compilation from Arkiv (also featuring Pinnock and the English Concert), gives any new Bach fan a fairly complete account of Bach's instrumental orchestral output. This particular package includes all of Bach's keyboard concertos (played exceptionally well by Pinnock), all of his violin concertos, and also his Triple Concerto (Harpsicord, Flute and Violin), several works for Oboe and Oboe D'Amour, and several double concertos (2 violins, and oboe and violin). Highlights are the D Minor Harpsicord concerto BWV 1052, the C Major concerto for 2 Harpsicords BWV 1061, the Oboe D'Amour concerto BWV 1055, the double concerto BWV 1060, and the violin concertos.
This set sounds fantastic and is a great value to boot. Strongly recommended for those who loved Bach's Bradenburg concertos and Overtures and are looking for something new to sink their teeth into.

"Best Bach - Box Set".......2005-11-06

This is undoubtedly the best Back box set I have heard. These Concerto's for Harsichord, Violin, Flute and Oboe are among the finest in classical music. Although the Harpsichord volume level could have been a bit higher overall the recordings are very good. I am very pleased with this CD set with so much music at a very good price. This is truly a collectors gem.

Pinnock is good performer.......2005-09-30

Pinnock is good performer...I drop one start because BWV 1052-58
Might sound better when it's played piano.

Unbeatable Value.......2004-12-15

This set offers unbeatable value. The performances are uniformly excellent. Pinnock's Bach is brisk and sprightly when it should be, but also tender and relaxed when it must be. He is not afraid to slow down and savour the music, unlike many period-performance specialists. He is one of the world's great harpsichordists and his partners in the multiple concerti are also excellent. Simon Standage yields nothing to better-known soloists in the violin concerti.

The sound is clear, deep, and only a little bit on the bright side.

While you're at it, buy the Pinnock/English Concert complete Mozart symphonies. Sure, Mozart's first fifteen or so aren't anything special, but the set is superb and the price unbelievable.

Average customer rating:

COMPLETE Brandenburg Concertos . . .
Wundebar!
There seems to be two dominant Brandenburg styles
Brandenburg Gems
Excelente versión de los Brandenburgo

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos (Complete)

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Bach - The Complete Brandenburg Concertos / Pearlman, Boston Baroque

ASIN: B000004164
Release Date: 1993-08-10

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F, BWV 1046: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F, BWV 1046: Adagio
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F, BWV 1046: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F, BWV 1046: Menuetto Polacca
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F, BWV 1047: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F, BWV 1047: Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F, BWV 1047: Allegro assai
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G, BWV 1048: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G, BWV 1048: Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G, BWV 1048: Allegro
Violin Concerto In E, BWV 1042: Allegro
Violin Concerto In E, BWV 1042: Adagio
Violin Concerto In E, BWV 1042: Allegro assai

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, BWV 1049: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, BWV 1049: Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, BWV 1049: Presto
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV 1050: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV 1050: Affetuoso
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV 1050: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat, BWV 1051: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat, BWV 1051: Adagio ma non tanto
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat, BWV 1051: Allegro
Violin Concerto In A Minor, BWV 1041: Allegro
Violin Concerto In A Minor, BWV 1041: Andante
Violin Concerto In A Minor, BWV 1041: Allegro assai

Customer Reviews:

COMPLETE Brandenburg Concertos . . ........2006-02-24

Excellent. I enjoy Bach but haven't been able to get the complete Brandenburg Concertos. This is excellent listening for classical music lovers.

Wundebar!.......2005-11-20

I would just like to tell anyone interested in this recording that it is an excellent one. The musicianship is superior, and the sound is fantastic. The listener however, should be aware of the stylistic tendencies of the recording.
If you are looking for the historical kind of recording, this probably is not the ideal choice. The tempos tend to be on the slower side, and mostly modern instruments are used. Nevertheless, if you are not primarily interested in a historically accurate recording, this is wonderful.
All of the pieces have their own distinct character. I personally enjoy Concerto number 4: the recorders give it a light, almost "adorable" kind a feel, as ridiculous as that may sound. Number 5 has a great presentation of the harpsichord. Number 6 is also a rather interesting piece because it involves no violins. Don't underestimate that concerto's poignancy and ability however; the lower strings are more than capable of expression on their own.
I could go on about this recording extensively, but, for the reader's sake as well as mine, I'll end it now. In short, it's a great recording, and I highly recommend it.

There seems to be two dominant Brandenburg styles.......2002-09-30

There's the slow, baroque and very medieval sounding playing and then there's the modern, faster paced playing. I think both are laudable, so I would probably recommend you look at this one and the Anthony Newman one. I personally prefer the Anthony Newman one, as it provides very strong horns and harpsichord with an upbeat tempo. Just thought I'd mention this as most of the Brandenburg stuff I hear over the radio or in 90% of CD's is the slow baroque style.

Brandenburg Gems.......2001-01-01

I wanted to get a complete set of the Brandenburg Concertos, and lucky for me, I picked up this bargain-priced two CD set. This recording is great! I Musici plays with an informed baroque style, but not so much so that they get bogged down in the reactionary, scholarly prerogatives of much of the period instrument movement. The horns ring effortlessly, brightly, and clearly, the sound of the flute is enchanting without using excessive vibrato, and the strings are completely unified creating the full effect of Bach's masterpiece. The violin concertos are taken at a slow tempo, and I Musici, it can be argued, is guilty of overdoing the sentimentality. But the performances of the violin concertos, none-the-less, are solid. This recording is a steal.

Excelente versión de los Brandenburgo.......2000-09-07

La orquesta de cámara I Musici durante muchos años fue considerada una de las mejores de todo el mundo, y aunque se le relaciona sobre todo con la obra de Vivaldi, también interpretaba obras de otros compositores desde el barroco hasta el romanticismo; tal es el caso del presente disco, en el cual esta orquesta se enfrenta a los conciertos de Brandenburgo de Bach. Debo decir que su interpretación resulta muy buena, tomando en cuenta que estos discos se grabaron originalmente en 1965; sin embargo, la calidad de la grabación es excelente, si perdonamos la baja resolución de las grabadoras de la época. Lo realmente sensacional de estos discos es la aparición de Maurice André en el concierto No. 2, de Franz Brüggen en el No. 4 y de Felix Ayo y Maria Teresa Garatti en prácticamente todos los conciertos, lo cual obviamente se traduce en una versión que raya en el virtuosismo. Si a esto añadimos un precio muy razonable por dos discos compactos, encontramos que esta resulta una forma ideal de conocer por primera vez esta obra. Adicionalmente, en estos discos vienen los 2 conciertos para violín solista que Bach compuso, aunque la grabación de estos últimos es todavía más antigua (de 1958).

Average customer rating:

A Must!
great music
The one you need

Best of the Canadian Brass

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Essential Canadian Brass
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Basin Street

ASIN: B0000026Z3
Release Date: 1989-11-20

Tracks:

Vespers Of The Blessed Virgin: Deus in adjutorium - Monteverdi
Canzon V - Canadian Brass
Canon In D - Pachelbel
Le Nozze Di Figaro, K. 492: Overture - Mozart
Le Nozze Di Figaro, K. 492: Non Piu Andrai - Mozart
Ave Verum Corpus - Mozart
Die Zauberflote: Der Holle Rache - Mozart
Exultate Jubilate: Alleluia - Mozart
Piano sonata in A major: Rondo Alla Turca - Mozart
The Four Seasons: I - Allegro (Spring) - Canadian Brass
The Four Seasons: II - Largo (Winter) - Canadian Brass
The Four Seasons: III - Presto (Summer) - Canadian Brass
The Four Seasons: IV - Allegro (Autumn) - Canadian Brass
Contrapunctus I (Andante Sostenuto) - Bach
Contrapunctus XIII (Rectus, Allegro Spiritoso) - Bach
Basin Street Blues - Canadian Brass
Chinatown, My Chinatown - Canadian Brass
Just A Closer Walk With Thee - Traditional
The Saints' Halleluja - Canadian Brass

Customer Reviews:

A Must!.......2004-12-28

This is a must have for any fan of brass instrumentals. (Especially if you are a fan of the Canadian Brass.)

great music.......2000-12-18

I just bought this cd yesterday and i love it already. as a trumpeter, i can really enjoy and appreciate the music they perform. i was quite intrigued hearing canon in D (currently playing right now on my stereo), et al.

The one you need.......2000-06-26

If you are to buy only 1 CD for Brass Enemble, Get this! It captured the BEST of the Candian Brass (one of the top brass enemble in the world). It has all the nice tunes, e.g. Four Seasons, Cannon in D, etc. Strongly recommended.

Johann Sebastian Bach: 6 Brandenburg Concertos / 4 Orchestral Suites - The English Concert / Trevor Pinnock

Average customer rating:

Another five-star review
A wonderful and lifting experience
Outstanding period performances
Good Recordings!
Top Notch Brandenburg

Johann Sebastian Bach: 6 Brandenburg Concertos / 4 Orchestral Suites - The English Concert / Trevor Pinnock
The English Concert , Trevor Pinnock , and Johann Sebastian Bach
Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000057D8
Release Date: 1989-05-09

Tracks:

Concerto No.1 BWV 1046: ohne Satzbezeichnung
Concerto No.1 BWV 1046: Adagio
Concerto No.1 BWV 1046: Allegro
Concerto No.1 BWV 1046: Menuetto - Trio 1 - Polacca - Trio 2
Concert No.2 BWV 1047: ohne Satzbezeichnung
Concert No.2 BWV 1047: Andante
Concert No.2 BWV 1047: Allegro assai
Concerto No.3 BWV 1048: ohne Satzbezeichnung
Concerto No.3 BWV 1048: Adagio
Concerto No.3 BWV 1048: Allegro
Concerto No.4 BWV 1049: Allegro
Concerto No.4 BWV 1049: Andante
Concerto No.4 BWV 1049: Presto

Tracks:

Concerto No.5 BWV 1050: Allegro
Concerto No.5 BWV 1050: Affettuoso
Concerto No.5 BWV 1050: Allegro
Concerto No.6 BWV 1051: ohne Satzbezeichnung
Concerto No.6 BWV 1051: Adagio ma non tanto
Concerto No.6 BWV 1051: Allegro
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Ouverture
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Courante
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Gavotte 1-2
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Forlane
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Menuet 1-2
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Bourree 1-2
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Passepied 1-2

Tracks:

Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Ouverture
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Rondeau
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Sarabande
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Bourree 1-2
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Polonaise
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Menuet
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Badinerie
Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Ouverture
Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Air
Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Gavotte 1-2
Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Bourree
Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Gigue
Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Ouverture
Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Bourree 1-2
Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Gavotte
Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Menuet 1-2
Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Rejouissance

Customer Reviews:

Another five-star review.......2007-03-27

I first heard this recording when I got it out of the library and found it so incredible that I had to buy it for myself. The sound is warm, not tinny like the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (the other recording I have, which I've never been terribly fond of), and very expressive. I cannot add any technical comments to the other reviews already written, but I can say that I agree that Trevor Pinnock and Simon Standage are a Baroque musical force to be reckoned with.

A wonderful and lifting experience.......2007-03-02

For me the only lacks in here are just for personal tastes: I find the fifth and sixth concertos a bit boring. On the other hand I've got already six different versions of these Brandenburg and this is which I like the most. The sound is (IMPRESSIVE) crystal clear and is played not only flawless, but with such devotion and passion that I almost fell on my knees the first time I listened to it.
I also recomend the version of Reinhard Goebel guiding the Música Antiqua Köln: it's awsome with its fabolous recreation of the baroque sounds.
If you like Bach and if you had the I Musici version of these Concertos, throw them away and get this Pinnock's: you won't regret a bit and you will be skyrocketed to Heaven.

Outstanding period performances.......2007-02-21

These recordings are excellent. Pinnock's Brandenburg concertos remain the standard for period instruments, offering exceptional musicianship and an authentic rendition. The Overtures are also great, although I greatly prefer the readings of Reinhard Goebel and Musica Antiqua Koln to these. Still, as a low-priced compilation of Bach's most popular orchestral works, this is an excellent set, and you could do much worse. Those who are new to classical music will find this set to be a great starting point.
In spite of the fact that the Brandeburg concertos were recorded using early digital technology, the intimate setting of these small ensembles neutralizes many of the problems of tinny, hollow sound that plagued the digital format in its early years. As for the Orchestral Suites, these were recorded using analog technology and sound fantastic.
These recordings are integral for those who prefer period instrument performances, and this is one of the great pioneering period instrument ensembles out there. Recommended.

Good Recordings!.......2007-01-15

In my opinion this set of recordings is very good. I study music and I have no complaints about how they were done. If you are looking for a very sufficient set of recordings for these works, this is definatly the set.

Top Notch Brandenburg.......2007-01-07

There are tons of Brandenburg recordings out there. How they stack up, of course, is a matter of personal taste. But having listened to many, this one stands out. It's crisp, fresh, and brings out the power of the music. In far too many renditions of Bach, much gets lots. Not so here. Certainly better technology has made things easier over the years. We can hear what might have been muffled in the past. But more than that, this interpretation makes the work come alive. Well done Trevor Pinnock.

Bach: Violin Concertos; Double Concerto; Concerto for Violin & Oboe

Average customer rating:

Convincing Bach Violin Performance
Isaac Stern played this well
EXCELLENT!
Isaac Stern - A Life in Music - Bach: Violin concertos
Recommended

Bach: Violin Concertos; Double Concerto; Concerto for Violin & Oboe

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002ATF
Release Date: 1995-05-16

Tracks:

Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In A Minor, BWV 1041: I. (-)
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In A Minor, BWV 1041: II. Andante
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In A Minor, BWV 1041: III. Allegro assai
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In E Major, BWV 1042: I. Allegro
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In E Major, BWV 1042: II. Adagio
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In E Major, BWV 1042: III. Allegro assai
Concerto For Two Violins And Orchestra In D Minor, BWV 1043: I. Vivace
Concerto For Two Violins And Orchestra In D Minor, BWV 1043: II. Largo, ma non tanto
Concerto For Two Violins And Orchestra In D Minor, BWV 1043: III. Allegro
Concerto For Oboe, Violin And Orchestra In C Minor, BWV 1060: I. Allegro
Concerto For Oboe, Violin And Orchestra In C Minor, BWV 1060: II. Adagio
Concerto For Oboe, Violin And Orchestra In C Minor, BWV 1060: III. Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Convincing Bach Violin Performance.......2005-09-27

Stern is certainly to be revered as great violin virtuoso, whether on this recording or not is question.

My humble listening tells me that the first two offerings, A minor and E major Violin Concertos are a bit lackluster and scratchy, and as another review points out, even at bits sound a bit off.

However, for me the final two are magnificent. The final two movements of the Double Violin Concerto are superb, with Perlman and Mehta ringing in with gusto and passion. Gomberg as well does his part in making the oboe and violin concerto a triumph, with lilting, rich phrasing and clear tonality. Truly is a great soloist, and the third movement is outstanding!

Isaac Stern played this well.......2002-09-17

I found Gidon Kremer's version of the concerto in A minor to be much better. He blitzed through it brilliantly. Stern on the other hand played that concerto like a beginner, as if unsure of himself, and I think did himself and his abilities grave injustice. Maybe it's because I was expecting great stuff from him I was disappointed.
He and Perlman play the double concerto rather well though.

EXCELLENT!.......2002-04-18

Beautifully done.
Isaac Stern was simply the master of his art. As an artist myself, I found the music powerful, and it touches my heart. Appreciating music, I would not analyze it too much, simply enjoy. Let the musicans reach out and touch your hearts as well.

Isaac Stern - A Life in Music - Bach: Violin concertos.......2000-02-26

These recordings are OK. In the first two recordings, I found Stern scratchy and off-key (probably because they were bothe done the same day), however I found the second two refreshing and well-performed! In the Double Concerto, Isaac Stern and Itzhak Perlman give a well-done recording with beautiful effects! It all begins with a fast, 3-minute violin piece, then it goes into the beautiful middle movement of the piece (in Largo ma non Tanto)---this is probably the most beautiful piece ever written (or performed)--- it all ends with another 3-minute violin piece which is also well-done! The violin-oboe concerto in C-major (which is conducted by Leonard Bernstein) is extrememly well-performed and clear, however it does not posses the virtuoso that the other three do. I suggest this one with, Bach: Violin concertos with Pinchas Zukerman and Jose-Luis Garcia!

Recommended.......1999-12-23

If you're not a great lover of authentic baroque performance, then this CD is the best choice. Stern's violin is clear and beautiful. The orchestra plays just right - not too loud, but still present - unlike Grumiaux's famous version for Philips, which I find quite lame.

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Il Giardino armonico

Average customer rating:

Lush, melodic, beautiful
Hmm
I can hardly believe that many of us reviewers listened to the same recording
Not the Best Brandenberg
I love to hate them

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Il Giardino armonico
Johann Sebastian Bach , Giovanni Antonini , Il Giardino armonico , Stefano Barneschi , Paolo Beschi , Marco Bianchi , Marco Cera , Duilio Galfetti , Alberto Grazzi , Paolo Grazzi , and Michele Barchi
Manufacturer: Teldec
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000000SRC
Release Date: 1997-09-16

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. I In F Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. I In F Major: Adagio
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. I In F Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. I In F Major: Menuetto
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. II In F Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. II In F Major: Andante
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. II In F Major: Allegro Assai
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. III In G Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. III In G Major: Adagio
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. III In G Major: Allegro

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. IV In G Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. IV In G Major: Adante
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. IV In G Major: Presto
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. V In D Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. V In D Major: Affettuoso
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. V In D Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. VI In B Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. VI In B Major: Adagio ma non tanto
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. VI In B Major: Allegro

Amazon.com essential recording

Il Giardino Armonico is an original instruments group made up of skilled young Italian specialists in Baroque music. They bring a light, airy touch to the Brandenburg Concertos, with deeply felt slow movements, sprightly Allegros, and blistering Prestos. Unlike some of their ilk, they play with vitality while avoiding interpretive extremes; the finale of No.3, for example, is taken at a blistering pace but never feels too fast for the music. Solos are highly accomplished, with scintillating violin and wind contributions, along with charmingly blatty period horns in No. 1. The engineering is a big plus, helping to make this one of the best period performances of these perennial favorites. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Lush, melodic, beautiful.......2006-09-10

This is a wonderful example of the Brandenburg Concertos played on period instruments. It is full of life, probably the best rendition I have heard of these concertos. The words "lush" and "melodic" do not do it justice. Giovanni is a master of the recorder - his technique is wonderful and sounds so effortless! My husband is hooked on this CD and he is not a big fan of classical music, and my boss, who likes the bigger sounds of Wagner and big symphonic bands loved this CD. I, myself, am a lover of the more intimate sound of chamber music, baroque and renaissance music. This is one of my all time favorite recordings. A must for your collection!!

Hmm.......2006-04-23

I think when I finally sit down and write my book on how the whole world of art music--from listeners to performers to composers--went totally haywire in the final days of the "Empire" (This'll happen around 2035 AD), I'll try to get permission to quote the series of reviews over head and down below. There's a modern myth that needs to be demolished that says that lovers of classical music are smarty-pantses. Read a bunch of Amazon classical reviews and then go peruse those for a few Aerosmith albums and note the similarities. While I'd argue that classical music aficionados should be a little wiser than most I've heard more mature and inciteful comments from the mouths of Beanie Baby collectors than I have from a lot of Bach and Beethoven fans (I'm immediately recalling one sophisticate who pronounced all music written after the death of Schubert as worthless). What classical music fans have more than anything else is opinions, largely because it's a fertile field for them which is still no excuse for dumb ones. Let me preface with this:

Teldec's marketing of this music has nothing to do with the musicians, the performance, or the composer. If you've ever spent an afternoon in a meeting with marketing "people" you'd know that their contact with anything we would know of as "reality" is tenuous. Current hot imbecilic maxims are about selling sizzles and not steaks, or boxes and not what's inside the boxes. Corporations actually think it's a good idea these days to hire marketing people who aren't fans of the product as it interferes with their spinning, lying, and duplicities, even if they aren't needed. Marketing people should all be carefully placed in a big sizzling box and the lid should be nailed shut.

The silly reputation of this particular group of performers is not the issue here, especially if we're worrying about whether this is going to be "rock and roll" Bach or not. Refer to the previous paragraph and welcome to the Brave New World.

This is a period instrument recording, meaning I, at least, expected blatting horns and fast speeds. Sometimes with recordings like this I expect speeds that many would deem psychotic. I once read that conductors in the early 1800s played like they were at a race track. No less a light than Felix Mendelssohn was mentioned as being a speed freak--the same Mendlessohn who was no taker of risks and thought his good friend Berlioz was a nut case. I assume this happened because there may have been something traditional about it. Classical music slowed down when its audience stopped being younger passionate artists and intellectuals and started being blue-haired ladies living in Philadelphia, middle-aged white guys, and modern Cherubinis. Big Band music used to be played at crazy speeds until it became nursing home music. Henry Rollins stopped shouting and now sounds like he's running for selectman. Slower speeds usually indicate the audience wants to be lulled to sleep and not energized.

The harpsichord sounds metallic because harpsichords often sound metallic. That's why Mr. Piano invented the piano some years later on and why Chopin did not write etudes for harpsichord.

If I've owned only four or five different recordings of a major work I don't tend to get all hot and heavy pro or con on a newer version. Reason? Well, zowie wowie, exposure to that few recordings hardly qualifies me as an expert. I'd feel like a fool pronouncing, say, Kleiber the Younger's Beethoven Fifth the all-time best or worst recording of that symphony based on that kind of meager sampling. Plus, in a crowded field there really is no best, just a clump of standouts near the top of the list.

All this said, let's actually look at this recording for real. First, sonically, it's a marvel. Beautifully engineered with stupendous presence. Second, these kids--punk rockers, rappers, Scientologists, or whatever the marketing jerks portray them as--clearly know how to play their instruments with style, accuracy, and panache. Third, the conductor knows how to make Baroque music breath and wiggle and surge and flow without making it sound like Klemperer and his big-arsed orchestra back in the 1960s (a recording I dearly love). On the other hand this interpretation thoroughly lacks the sewing machine quality that was a deep problem with many period instrument performances, coincidentally during the reign of Philip Glass and Steve Reich.

This recording struck me immediately as a well-reasoned and balanced performance--hardly academically correct (AC not PC), barely delightfully psycho like Goebel's on DGG, and not exactly likeably parlor and wine-and-cheese party safe like older versions by Marriner. I'd call this a vibrant and accomplished set of Brandenburgs perfect for those that want a modern period instrument recording, that are not interested in musico-political cat fights, and that are above needing the juvenile imprimaturs of "all-time greatest" or "best Brandenburg concertos ever!!!"

I'm giving this five stars because I like it a lot, it'll probably be my most frequently played one for a while (of the 756 recordings of this work that I own), and it does everything right. Aesthete below has it nailed.

I can hardly believe that many of us reviewers listened to the same recording.......2006-02-05

I'm a professional singer who specializes in Baroque and early repertoire. This has made me a firm believer in the historical performance movement. It has done so much to give new shape and dynamism to works that were heretofore rendered mostly in broad, lugubrious strokes. The movement continues to evolve, and as it does the amount of color and depth infusing this repertoire continues to grow and take on new dimension. No longer are many of us content to hear Monteverdi and Lully sung with the extremely bright, straight tones of Emma Kirkby and Nancy Argenta, but rather wish to hear the more appropriate lush and shimmery vocal colors of singers like Sandrine Piau, Guillemette Laurens, Christine Brandeis and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson.

With that in mind, I've heard more recordings of the Brandenburgs than I care to name. And I'm just as tired of the anemic sound and too-fast tempi of ensembles like Hogwood's as I am of the too slow, syrupy interpretations of Furtwangler and Karajan. This recording by Il Giardino Armonico is the only recording I've heard that manages to make these extraordinary works really speak.

Antonini bridges the gap between rich lyricism and crisp articulation better than anyone I can think of who performs this repertoire. My favorite of all the Brandenburgs is #4, and the five-voice fugue in the last movement is the standard by which I judge all the best interpretations of this work. Antonini does the most remarkable things with this piece. The subject is rendered by each voice in the most song-like, tuneful, vocal manner. Instead of thumpy, fast, dry (for most period recordings) or wobbly, incoherent, unintelligible (for most modern instrument recordings) here is great legato playing without any loss of crispness or transparency of texture. Where the line may jump a fifth, he connects the lines where most conductors demand extreme separation, and then creates the most astonishing, perfectly shaped messe di voce you can imagine. That said, all the entrances of the fugue subject are completely distinguishable, and no entrance has the same quality as any other. All the instruments are allowed to let their unique color and texture come forth, and Bach surely understood how important this was when he orchestrated the work. Furthermore, all of the silences in the work are sharply drawn by the ensemble and as dramatic as you might hear in any Beethoven symphony. I could hardly believe what I was hearing, and I was enormously grateful that, finally, someone got it right.

The other great measure of a high-quality period recording of this work is the natural horn playing on the Brandenburg #2. While it's a hair rough and decidedly masculine (the latter not being a bad thing), it's extremely powerful and expressive, and the player (Gabriele Cassone) understands how to make his instrument speak and dazzle, rather than just hammering out a technically perfect performance, which is all that most natural horn players can hope for.

It's rare that I don't have a complaint about a recording, but this is that exception. I recommend this piece heartily and unqualifiedly.

Not the Best Brandenberg.......2005-03-07

Save your money. Il Giardino breaks no new ground here and instead gives a rushed performance more reminiscent of something from a provincial opera company than an accomplished ensemble. The Corn is blares unexpectedly while the dynamics are all over the place. The audio quality may be good, but the music sounds so bad; especially the harpsichord which has an unpleasantly metallic timbre.

If you want a great new recording, get either the Tafelmusik recording under the direction of Jeanne Lamon (which has the best Concerto No. 5 around), or Jordi Savall's recording directing Le Concert des Nations/La Capella Real de Catalunya. Both of those recordings far outshine this one and make it sound like the work of amateurs.

I love to hate them.......2003-02-19

I own many disk of IGA including this, I've heard them in concert and even assist to a rehearsal. I would like to say that the way they make music doesn't have anything to do with authenticity. The strings players have a mostly modern tecnique, (most of them use chinrest and endpins). I would like to point out that the art from 1700 is not ugly as a whole or in its parts (look at paintings or architecture). Yes they do make ugly sounds and they do have very poor taste.

Music Track:

Music Track

music track

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