What are you listening to now?

[SonicMan46]

Haydn, Joseph - Baryton Octets w/ Ricercar Consort - have not spun these discs in a while -


 

[Parsifal]

This one

[asin]B000031X83[/asin]

[HIPster]

Saturday morning, the first listen of the day to this favorite:

[asin]B0021YMYHA[/asin]

I very much like Huggett's approach to these works.

Any other recommendations are welcome.  I have been eyeing the 'Four Centuries of Bach' release, which though somewhat similar in construction, is not complete.

[prémont]

I would like to listen to Moroney II. 

It is included in this release:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Fugue-Signature-Series-ABRSM/dp/1854728709

The Leading Bach scholar Dr Richard Jones has re-examined the principal sources of this key work from Bach's final decade. Die Kunst der Fuge was left unfinished at the composer's death and deemed by many to be 'problematic'. It has also long been considered a non-keyboard work. In this new edition, however, the two-stave keyboard layout makes the work accessible to modern players and students. It is also enhanced by the editor's extensive analytical and performance notes. Of particular interest to students is the sample graphic analysis of Contrapunctus 8, in which the editor demonstrates the fugue's structure through a commentary in parallel with an annotated score. This publication includes a recording of Richard Jones's edition on CD, performed on the harpsichord by Davitt Moroney. Full details of the recording are given on the CD inlay card.

[jlaurson]

Saturday morning, the first listen of the day to this favorite:


I very much like Huggett's approach to these works.

Any other recommendations are welcome.  I have been eyeing the 'Four Centuries of Bach' release, which though somewhat similar in construction, is not complete.

The WETA columns have been erased, but this is their gist:

bla-bla-bla...notable because Mme. Huggett goes her own ways in reconstructing those three suites that we only have in transcriptions from now-lost-originals. The b-minor Suite is transposed back into its original key of a-minor and the solo flute replaced with an oboe—a version for which Huggett argues persuasively in her liner notes, and much more persuasively, still, through the performance. The Third and Fourth Suite don't receive their Trumpet'n'Drums treatment, which are later adaptations. At least according to Joshua Rifkin, whose argumentation Huggett follows where it makes not just theoretical, but also musical sense.

So many new aspects to these Suites then—but their gorgeous familiarity is overwhelming to the point where we scarcely notice the differences, except in direct comparison. (And who listens to music like that?) But even just for the music itself—Bach's most easily enjoyable, this disc is a little gem. With three violins per section, the HIP crew of Ensemble Sonnerie (performing on period instruments and at standard baroque pitch of 415 Hz), doesn't fall into the skinny-extreme trend-trap, but listens to what makes for the best balance among instruments. A sound decision, as it were. And Gonzalo Ruiz' gorgeous oboe tone alone, given unique prominence in the reconstruction—might justify adding this Bach disc to one's collection, even if it already contains the equally fine Boston Baroque, English Baroque Soloists, or Musica Antiqua Cologne versions......

John Elliot Gardiner recorded the Suites in 1983 (has it already been thirty years?!) for Erato. The playing of the English Baroque Soloists is very good even by today's standards... in itself astonishing, given how other perfectly reputable HIP ensembles sometimes sounded at the time. I reviewed Monica Hugget's recording on Avie (with the fullest, richest sound of this lot) last year; a wonderful recording notable for replacing the flute in the second Suite with an oboe, making due without trumpets and timpani, and fitting all four Suites onto one disc by skipping repeats in the Overtures. The 1996 recording of the Academy for Ancient Music Berlin (AAMB) has been my standard against which to measure all newcomers in this less-crowded-than-might-be-expected field and it remains a consistently beautifully played performance without kinks or extremes. yadda-yadda-yadda...

...So if dancing be the issue, Concerto Köln is my new contender for top choice... in any case it's the version that won't currently yield to any other in my CD player. A joy.

[Todd]

Another home run by Savall & crew.

[HIPster]

The WETA columns have been erased, but this is their gist:

Thank you, Jens!

Funny - I was just looking at Gardiner's version the other day.  I think that I will check that one out.  The Concerto Koln is intriguing.  I always seem to forget about them, even though I completely adore their "Italian Baroque Box" on Teldec. . .  So, that one is wishlisted!

Regarding the AAM Berlin - I adore their Brandenburg's, but have never been able to warm to their Orchestral Suites in any way.  The sound - on my system at least - is uninvolving and sterile; the exact opposite of my feelings for their Brandenburg's.  I ended up selling the AAM Berlin Suites discs a few months back.  Just could not get into them at all.

Thread duty:

J.S. Bach - Violin Concerto BWV 1042
Simon Standage - violin
Trevor Pinnock/English Concert

[asin]B00004W3IL[/asin]

This 2-disc set is a great bargain!  No notes, so to speak, but the collection is great, as is the MP pricing. . . 

[Wakefield]

Mozart - Violin Sonatas KV 376, 296 & 377
Jaap Schroeder (violin)
Jos van Immerseel (fortepiano)



http://www.amazon.com/Wolfgang-Amadeus-Mozart-Schroeder-Immerseel/dp/B00000E6WK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1367685016&sr=8-2&keywords=immerseel+schroeder+mozart%7D

Less known than their Beethoven collaboration, this recording has been repackaged here:

[asin]B00AC4D5DI[/asin]

The first link provides a fair review of this disc.

Apparently, Schroeder/Immersel recorded at least two volumes of the violin sonatas, but the "Mozart Edition" box just includes one of them.

Both of them are, anyway, available (used) in the AMP.

[Wakefield]

It is included in this release:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Fugue-Signature-Series-ABRSM/dp/1854728709

[AoF, Moroney II]

Thanks, Premont!

I thought this recording would be much more expensive. It's good to know I was wrong. 

[Brian]

The entire album, now:

[asin]B00B62EQVU[/asin]

Yeah, I'd say this is going to be a central part of my Philip Glass collection. The Hours works very well as a piano concerto.

[listener]

VIVALDI: op. 8 complete    Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'invenzione
including "The Four Seasons"      op. 9 and 12 using the alternative oboe version
Concentus Musicus Wien      Nikolaus Harnoncourt, cond.
and period instruments, the oboe sounding quite attractive.

[Gold Knight]

Vaughan Williams--Symphony No.4 in F Minor and Symphony No.6 in E Minor. Both works are traversed by the New Philharmonia Orchestra under the wand of Sir Adrian Boult.
Gustav Mahler--Symphony No.4 in G Major and Symphony No.7 in E Minor, both performed by the James Levine led Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The 4th also features soprano Judith Blegen.
Antonin Dvorak--Symphony No.7 in D Minor, Op.70 and Symphony No.8 in G Major, Op.88. Both symphonies feature Witold Rowicki and the London Symphony Orchestra.

[Geo Dude]

Belder is an excellent and very reliable harpsichordist. I think his recordings have replaced a lot of material included in the older incarnation that I have (jewel cases). I particularly loved his Clavier-Übungs parts I (Partitas) and II (Italian Concerto & French Overture). Particularly, the Italian Concerto and the French Overture are, IMO, some of the best versions on any label. 

Agreed wholeheartedly.  I've put in some effort to seek out some of Belder's work outside of The Box (never picked that up) and I've not yet regretted it.

Saturday morning, the first listen of the day to this favorite:

I very much like Huggett's approach to these works.

Any other recommendations are welcome.  I have been eyeing the 'Four Centuries of Bach' release, which though somewhat similar in construction, is not complete.

If you like your Bach with a little punch, you can't go wrong with this:

[asin]B000E8M20O[/asin]

Thread duty:

[Bogey]

Like Todd above, listening to King George III's favorite composer:



For the record, he also enjoyed Bach, and saw Wolfie on one of his tours.

[HIPster]

Agreed wholeheartedly.  I've put in some effort to seek out some of Belder's work outside of The Box (never picked that up) and I've not yet regretted it.

If you like your Bach with a little punch, you can't go wrong with this:

[asin]B000E8M20O[/asin]

Thanks Geo Dude!  A strong recommendation (as is usually the case from you).  I have heard some of Fasolis's suites (#2 and #3) and liked them.  Punchy and with a capital P, for sure!  Similar to Huggett/Sonnerie, this one is on a single CD.  One aspect of Huggett that I am fond of is that there are no percussion/trumpet fanfares; the music benefits from this in my view.  I may take the Fasolis plunge with your suggestion though. 

One question on Fasolis - has anyone checked out his Brandenburg's?  Thanks for any and all responses.

[HIPster]

Like Todd above, listening to King George III's favorite composer:



For the record, he also enjoyed Bach, and saw Wolfie on one of his tours.

Hey Bill!

I'll join you with some Handel:

[asin]B0000TOFVG[/asin]

[North Star]

Richafort
Requiem
(and works by Josquin and others)
Cinquecento
[asin]B008B3P4FO[/asin]

Earlier today:

J.S. Bach
Goldberg variations
Bob van Asperen
[asin]B008BT105G[/asin]
Mozart
Piano Concerto No. 27
Staier, von der Goltz & Freiburgers
[asin]B000XQHQWQ[/asin]

[Bogey]

Hey Bill!

I'll join you with some Handel:

[asin]B0000TOFVG[/asin]

That cd has been on my radar for some time.  How is it at your end, Dave?

[Bogey]

Let the  Händel love fest continue!

[Geo Dude]

One question on Fasolis - has anyone checked out his Brandenburg's?  Thanks for any and all responses.

I love his Brandenburg Concertos but can't help but recommend them with some reservation given that you're stuck with buying two full-priced discs to get the set.  I'd suggest doing some sampling before taking the plunge, but both are in print so you may want to try one disc and see what you think of it before grabbing the other; they seem to have a decent resale value so you may not be out much.