Bach Better Than Handel

[71 dB]

Not quite.  Heinrich Schütz is better known for his choral works while JS Bach is clearly more all-around.  Here are works of Schütz I have on CD and I have another dozen of works on LP.  I listened to Schütz's works much more often in the early days of my venture in classical music ...


Der Schwanengesang   Hilliard Ensemble   EMI
Magnificat & Psalms   Windsbacher Knabenchor   Bellaphon
Meine Seele erhebt den Herren   Musicalische Compagney   DG
Symphoniae Sacrae I   Cap. Leipzig   Capriccio
Psalms, motets   Cantus Colln   Harmonia

So you have Schütz. Good, but what does that have to do with people in general ignoring composers between Schütz and Bach?

[Coopmv]

So you have Schütz. Good, but what does that have to do with people in general ignoring composers between Schütz and Bach?

But that is their choice, why should you feel so indignant about this?  Life has been full of injustice through the millennium.  Look no further than the life of
Nikola Tesla, whose contributions to the understanding of electricity and magnetism helped usher in the second industrial revolution.  Yet he has always played second fiddle to Thomas Edison ...

[Coopmv]

Here is one of my all-time favorite recordings.  I think Handel Trio Sonatas stacks up quite well against any comparable works composed by JS Bach.

[71 dB]

But that is their choice, why should you feel so indignant about this?  Life has been full of injustice through the millennium.

I could feel indignant about it (and I often do) but my point here is that there are TONS of mighty baroque composes out there to be explored. This means that baroque music would not be reduced to nothingness if Bach & Handel are removed. We'd still have Buxtehude's wonderful legacy even if Bach and Handel were never born!

Injustice can be corrected if you have the will to do so.

[Coopmv]

I could feel indignant about it (and I often do) but my point here is that there are TONS of mighty baroque composes out there to be explored. This means that baroque music would not be reduced to nothingness if Bach & Handel are removed. We'd still have Buxtehude's wonderful legacy even if Bach and Handel were never born!

Injustice can be corrected if you have the will to do so.

I hear you.  I have been hoping to add to my collection of Sweelinck's works but few works are available out there.  Record companies only want to record Bach and Handel ...

[71 dB]

I hear you.  I have been hoping to add to my collection of Sweelinck's works but few works are available out there.  Record companies only want to record Bach and Handel ...

Record companies release want people buy and people buy what is offered. That's why it's good you are interested of Sweelinck.

[Coopmv]

Record companies release want people buy and people buy what is offered. That's why it's good you are interested of Sweelinck.

I am moving into French baroque in a big way since that is one of my weaker areas (I do have my Rameaus and Couperins).  Indeed, I have always tried to make my baroque collection as inclusive and comprehensive as possible.  This set is my next target. 

[prémont]

I hear you.  I have been hoping to add to my collection of Sweelinck's works but few works are available out there. 

From the top of my head I think I own about 25 CDs containing exclusively harpsichord- and organ-music by Sweelinck, and most of them are still available. So he has not been that neglected, considering that his importance builds upon his instrumental music.

His vocal music though is another matter.

[prémont]

I think that spiritually men are born Bachians or Handelians..

If a music listener can't produce patience, he or she shouldn't listen to Bach..

Any clue here?

[71 dB]

From the top of my head I think I own about 25 CDs containing exclusively harpsichord- and organ-music by Sweelinck, and most of them are still available. So he has not been that neglected, considering that his importance builds upon his instrumental music.

His vocal music though is another matter.

Holy cow!  I don't have even one Sweelinck CD. I sampled his organ works once but I found Matthias Weckman more interesting in comparison and went that direction. 

[Antoine Marchand]

From the top of my head I think I own about 25 CDs containing exclusively harpsichord- and organ-music by Sweelinck, and most of them are still available. So he has not been that neglected, considering that his importance builds upon his instrumental music.

His vocal music though is another matter.

And it's available this excellent set (9 CDs/different performers and instruments) with The Complete Keyboard Works:

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Jan-Pieterszoon-Sweelinck-S%E4mtliche-Werke-f%FCr-Tasteninstrumente/hnum/5650697

[Josquin des Prez]

And it's available this excellent set (9 CDs/different performers and instruments) with The Complete Keyboard Works:

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Jan-Pieterszoon-Sweelinck-S%E4mtliche-Werke-f%FCr-Tasteninstrumente/hnum/5650697

Excellent? Most of the organ recordings are pretty average. The harpsichord discs fair a little better thought. Of course, it is the only complete set out there so it's hard to complain.

[Josquin des Prez]

Holy cow!  I don't have even one Sweelinck CD. I sampled his organ works once but I found Matthias Weckman more interesting in comparison and went that direction. 

Sweelinck was a much greater composer then Weckman. Get the recording by Christopher Herrick if you want a sample of his music. He was also an excellent composer of vocal music but its hard to find good recordings of his vocal works since his reputation lies almost entirely in his keyboard music.

[Coopmv]

Holy cow!  I don't have even one Sweelinck CD. I sampled his organ works once but I found Matthias Weckman more interesting in comparison and went that direction. 

How about Froberger and Pachelbel?  I have about two dozens of keyboard works by these composers.  Most people ONLY know about Pachelbel Kanon ...

[Antoine Marchand]

Excellent? Most of the organ recordings are pretty average. The harpsichord discs fair a little better thought. Of course, it is the only complete set out there so it's hard to complain.

Well, this world is full of different opinions (a good thing, for sure). But I would highly recommend this set for its perfomers (Leo van Doeselaar, Bob van Asperen, Menno Van Delft, Pieter-Jan Belder, Siebe Henstra and many others respected musicians), sound quality, interpretations and a really informative booklet.

Here a review, if there is any interested: http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/n/nmc92119a.php

[prémont]

Excellent? Most of the organ recordings are pretty average. The harpsichord discs fair a little better thought. Of course, it is the only complete set out there so it's hard to complain.

Oh yes, it is a set for lovers of Dutch informed no-nonsense playing, I being one of these.

I admit that the Herrick twoofer seems more exciting during the first listenings.

[Josquin des Prez]

no-nonsense playing

Does no-nonsense playing means making a mush out of the texture? Do those "informed" players understand that clarity means everything when playing polyphony?

[FideLeo]

Oh yes, it is a set for lovers of Dutch informed no-nonsense playing, I being one of these.

I admit that the Herrick twoofer seems more exciting during the first listenings.

Soon I will have access again to this Sweelinck set upon returning home in Asia for summer
break.  My previous impressions do favour the harpsichord discs.

[71 dB]

 How about Froberger and Pachelbel?  I have about two dozens of keyboard works by these composers.  Most people ONLY know about Pachelbel Kanon ...

Froberger: Nothing!
Pachelbel: Kammermusik (London Baroque/HM), Kammermusik (+Buxtehude, Goebel/Archiv), Organ Works (Rübsam/Naxos)

[71 dB]

Sweelinck was a much greater composer then Weckman.

Since I don't know Sweelinck's music that well I can't comment that. All I say is that Matthias Weckmann was a mighty figure of his time. I'm particularly impressed by his "O lux beata trinitas".

Get the recording by Christopher Herrick if you want a sample of his music. He was also an excellent composer of vocal music but its hard to find good recordings of his vocal works since his reputation lies almost entirely in his keyboard music.

Okay, thanks for he rec! Hyperion discs are expensive but this set might be released as a "dyad". Too bad there is lack of good vocal recordings.