Italian Music from the Late Renaissance and Baroque

[prémont]

I think this was an outstanding suggestion, thank you. A musician whose style is one I like, a lovely instrument, and lots of new music for me to explore. I can see that there are a lot of recordings by Roland Götz by familiar and unfamiliar composers. You were dead right to call him versatile!

Any suggestions for particularly outstanding recordings? Or maybe I'll just buy all of them.

(Slowly the world of Italian baroque keyboard music is starting to reveal itself to me, more masterpieces are coming to light. That's very satisfying.)

http://www.studio-xvii-augsburg.de/cds

I own ten of the CDs and intend to get the rest. The only one, which disappointed me a bit, is the one called Lust auf Suiten, - it is not that bad, but the competition is too strong.

Edit: I just ordered five more.

[prémont]

Francesco Tasini plays Toccatas by Claudio Merulo on Merula's organ at the Conservatory of Parma.

Francesco Tasini is a musician worth exporing I would say. His great strength over the other recordings of Merulo I've heard (Molardi) is that he plays for affekt: the music flows, the agogocs and syncopated rhythms sound natural, the virtuosity is unobtrusive, the registrations are colourful, the organ is dead right for the music, Tasini conveys a sense of abandon and freedom. In addition to this Merulo I've heard some fine Alessandro Scarlatti. Tasini's convinced me that Merulo's keyboard music is in the same league as Frescobaldi and Andrea Gabrieli, and I feel glad that my positive appreciation of Italian music is widening. I need to listen again to Tasini playing Frescobaldi Capricci.

The organ Tasini uses is quite simply wonderful - by turns sharp, sour, sweet and rich. Quality of music and variety of affects and Merulo's distinctive language apart, this is one hell of a recording from the point of view of colour, sound, tone.

And this is actually Tasini´s second recording of the toccatas. On the first recording he played the toccatas from book I on a 4´ chamber organ built by Merulo himself. I agree that Tasini is far more convincing than Molardi, even if I can see the point in Molardi´s playing style.

[Que]

Francesco Tasini plays Toccatas by Claudio Merulo on Merula's organ at the Conservatory of Parma.

The Toccatas represent one of those big early music comrehensive encyclopedic works - two toccatas for each tone, nearly three hours of music. I'm impressed by the variety of feelings, and a sort of sweetness in Bk 1 at least. Book 2 of the toccatas goes even further in the direction of "great music", more abstract, I would say.

Claudio Tasini is a musician worth exporing I would say. His great strength over the other recordings of Merulo I've heard (Molardi) is that he plays for affekt: the music flows, the agogocs and syncopated rhythms sound natural, the virtuosity is unobtrusive, the registrations are colourful, the organ is dead right for the music, Tasini conveys a sense of abandon and freedom. In addition to this Merulo I've heard some fine Alessandro Scarlatti. Tasini's convinced me that Merulo's keyboard music is in the same league as Frescobaldi and Andrea Gabrieli, and I feel glad that my positive appreciation of Italian music is widening. I need to listen again to Tasini playing Frescobaldi Capricci.

The organ Tasini uses is quite simply wonderful - by turns sharp, sour, sweet and rich. Quality of music and variety of affects and Merulo's distinctive language apart, this is one hell of a recording from the point of view of colour, sound, tone.

And this is actually Tasini´s second recording of the toccatas. On the first recording he played the toccatas from book I on a 4´ chamber organ built by Merulo himself. I agree that Tasini is far more convincing than Molardi, even if I can see the point in Molardi´s playing style.

Is Claudio Merulo, who died in 1604, really a Baroque Composer? (Monterverdi died some 40 years later)

Anyway, I described Francesco Tasini's participation in the Tactus Frescobaldi box set as "a breath of fresh air" so he should be OK! Though his Acanio Maione harpsichord disc was a disappointment to me.....
But would you guys like to elaborate on the edge his Merolu has on Molardi's, which I liked very much? I'm listening to on line samples of Tasini's Merulo set on Tactus right now, and can't quite figure it out... Unless qualifications like "natural" and "unobtrusive" signify a preference for a steady flow in the music and a dislike of ornamentations?

BTW for the record: Molardi's organs are not less appropriate or colourful, and definitely better recorded by DIVOX.

Q

[prémont]

Is Claudio Merulo, who died in 1604, really a Baroque Composer? (Monterverdi died some 40 years later)

Well, composers in periods of stylistic transition often do not fit completely in any of the periods. F.i. is Beethoven a romantic or a classical composer?

But would you guys like to elaborate on the edge his Merolu has on Molardi's, which I liked very much? I'm listening to on line samples of Tasini's Merulo set on Tactus right now, and can't quite figure it out... Unless qualifications like "natural" and "unobtrusive" signify a preference for a steady flow in the music and a dislike of ornamentations?

Merulo´s  toccatas consist to a large degree of changing harmonies with interspersed passing notes and figuration (alternating with more polyphonic sections). Molardis style is characterized by predominance of the harmonies and suppression of the figuration (even in the true polyphonic sections), the result sounding vertical. Tasini´s style on the contrary is characterized by predominance of the figurations - so much, that you generally feel, that the figurations determine the harmonies, making a horizontal (polyphonic) impression. This is even more clear in his first recording of the toccatas from the First Book (on chamber-organ, see above). The question is now, whether Merulo is a baroque composer - then the horizontal impression would be the most adequate - or if he is a renaissance composer - then the vertical impression would be more adequate (compare f.i. with the chordal-writing in some toccatas of the Gabrieli´s).

[aligreto]

Just started to investigate this thread and already I can see that it will have heavy fincial repercussions based on what I have seen 

[Que]

Well, composers in periods of stylistic transition often do not fit completely in any of the periods. F.i. is Beethoven a romantic or a classical composer?

Merulo´s  toccatas consist to a large degree of changing harmonies with interspersed passing notes and figuration (alternating with more polyphonic sections). Molardis style is characterized by predominance of the harmonies and suppression of the figuration (even in the true polyphonic sections), the result sounding vertical. Tasini´s style on the contrary is characterized by predominance of the figurations - so much, that you generally feel, that the figurations determine the harmonies, making a horizontal (polyphonic) impression. This is even more clear in his first recording of the toccatas from the First Book (on chamber-organ, see above). The question is now, whether Merulo is a baroque composer - then the horizontal impression would be the most adequate - or if he is a renaissance composer - then the vertical impression would be more adequate (compare f.i. with the chordal-writing in some toccatas of the Gabrieli´s).

Well, perhaps due to the impression Molardi's interpretation left on me, Merulo felt (still) very much like Renaissance to me - unlike Frescobaldi, for instance. Thanks for the elaborate explanation. 

Q

[Mandryka]

And this is actually Tasini´s second recording of the toccatas. On the first recording he played the toccatas from book I on a 4´ chamber organ built by Merulo himself.

. . . This is even more clear in his first recording of the toccatas from the First Book (on chamber-organ, see above).

Thanks. I didn't know he'd recorded Bk 1 twice and I was confused about organs in my first post it seems (listening on spotify so no booklet) Anyway I've just ordered his first recording of Bk 1.

I'm not sure I find Molardi particularly poetic even by renaissance standards I'm afraid, but one thing I am sure of, Que, is that you'll find Tasini a completely different type of experience.

[Que]

Thanks. I didn't know he'd recorded Bk 1 twice and I was confused about organs in my first post it seems (listening on spotify so no booklet) Anyway I've just ordered his first recording of Bk 1.

I'm not sure I find Molardi particularly poetic even by renaissance standards I'm afraid.

Poetic?  That term could hardly apply to any Renaissance music IMO.
You mean you don't particularly like his interpretations,  I presume... Why doesn't that quite come as a surprise?

Q

[Mandryka]

I think I meant that in the Tasini there's a feeling of abundance of imagination and invention. And freshness.

[Que]

I think I meant that in the Tasini there's a feeling of abundance of imagination and invention. And freshness.

Cannot say that I found Molardi lacking in these qualities.
I guess different approaches appeal to different people in different ways...

In due time, I will definitely investigate Tasini's take!

Q

[prémont]

Well, perhaps due to the impression Molardi's interpretation left on me, Merulo felt (still) very much like Renaissance to me - unlike Frescobaldi, for instance. Thanks for the elaborate explanation. 

Q

One can say, that Molardi and Tasini - thanks to their different approach - complement each other, and it is nice to have both.

BTW (out of topic) what do you think of Molardis Bach?

[Que]

One can say, that Molardi and Tasini - thanks to their different approach - complement each other, and it is nice to have both.

BTW (out of topic) what do you think of Molardis Bach?

Listening to the Molardi set this morning helped me understand your comments better. Indee, these are quite diferent approaches.
Now my dilemma is wheter to move Merulo from my Early music section to the Italian Baroque shelves? 

The announcment of Molardi's Bach series enthused me, the organs used would be the icing on the cake. But sampling the stuff made me doubt about the wisdom of Brilliant and Molardi's choice in this... To quote Harry: it's a mess..... My preliminary impressions are that it does sound like a brilliant Italian organist, but with limited Bach experience...It sounds like one big experiment with some interesting insights, but basically he is all over the place and completely lost at times.. For me an overarching grasp of the musical structure of the music is important, and I do not hear that.

But I might still curious enough to actually buy one volume for a proper try out.

Q

[Mandryka]

These recording by Sergio Vartolo and Francesco Tasini of Giavanni Trabaci's second book of organ music have convinced me that the Cento Versi is a major thing, maybe as intetesting as Frescobaldi's liturgical music. Vartolo's seems particularly wonderful to me. And it's made me hungry to hear more inspired Trabaci performances. Suggestions appreciated.

[Mandryka]

Yes, this one:

http://www.amazon.de/Pass-E-Mezzo-Bonizzoni-Fabio/dp/B00002473N/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1421867740&sr=1-1&keywords=bonizzoni+gabrieli

Edit:

I do not know the Stembridge recording, but I would suspect it to be most enjoyable.

A propos A. Gabrieli I searched the recordings listed by Amazon.it and found this:

http://www.amazon.it/Venezianisches-Spinett-Roland-G%C3%B6tz/dp/B000024PSR/ref=sr_1_25?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1421869413&sr=1-25&keywords=andrea+gabrieli

which I ordered at once, knowing Roland Götz as being a very HIP and versatile musician.

I was glad to find an Andrea Gabrieli mass (Missa de Beata Virgine) here, even though it's played on a neo baroque organ (In Bergamo near Milan), and the chanting seems workmanlike. Registrations are sober but reveal the polyphony. Richard Lester won't play the emotions. He's energetic, and sometimes there's a sense of dancing ecstacy. It's the sort of playing which would appeal to people who can tolerate  Scott Ross or Christophe Rousset's early recordings.

[prémont]

Thanks. I didn't know he'd recorded Bk 1 twice and I was confused about organs in my first post it seems (listening on spotify so no booklet) Anyway I've just ordered his first recording of Bk 1.

Tasini also recorded Merulo´s toccate Book II twice, but on a different organ, Here is the first recording of Book II:

http://www.amazon.it/Orgelwerke-Francesco-Tasini/dp/B00005Y2HN/ref=sr_1_17?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1426889098&sr=1-17&keywords=francesco+tasini

Concerning Trabaci I own the Vartolo and the Tasini, and none but these, and I have not seen other collections of his organ works.

[prémont]

Listening to the Molardi set this morning helped me understand your comments better. Indee, these are quite diferent approaches.
Now my dilemma is wheter to move Merulo from my Early music section to the Italian Baroque shelves? 

The announcment of Molardi's Bach series enthused me, the organs used would be the icing on the cake. But sampling the stuff made me doubt about the wisdom of Brilliant and Molardi's choice in this... To quote Harry: it's a mess..... My preliminary impressions are that it does sound like a brilliant Italian organist, but with limited Bach experience...It sounds like one big experiment with some interesting insights, but basically he is all over the place and completely lost at times.. For me an overarching grasp of the musical structure of the music is important, and I do not hear that.

But I might still curious enough to actually buy one volume for a proper try out.




Q

I have recently traversed his Bach set, and it is indeed a mixed pleasure. Some of it is very fine, e.g. the triosonatas and the Dorian, but other things are horrible. What is particularly disturbing is his often strange registrations and changing of stops.

[Mandryka]

Tasini also recorded Merulo´s toccate Book II twice, but on a different organ, Here is the first recording of Book II:

http://www.amazon.it/Orgelwerke-Francesco-Tasini/dp/B00005Y2HN/ref=sr_1_17?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1426889098&sr=1-17&keywords=francesco+tasini

The first recording of Book 1 is really exciting, thanks for pointing it out.  I love the organ. It's a shame the first Bk 2 is on a different organ. If you get a chance to listen let me know if you think it's good to buy, given that I have access to his second recording of Bk 2. I would have bought it without hesitation if it had been on the Parma Conservatory organ - as indeed I'd probably buy anything else recorded it.

[prémont]

The first recording of Book 1 [Tasini / Merulo] is really exciting, thanks for pointing it out.  I love the organ. It's a shame the first Bk 2 is on a different organ. If you get a chance to listen let me know if you think it's good to buy, given that I have access to his second recording of Bk 2. I would have bought it without hesitation if it had been on the Parma Conservatory organ - as indeed I'd probably buy anything else recorded it.

I also own his first recording of the toccatas from Book II, but actually I find his second recording preferable, when it is about Book II.

[prémont]

These recording by Sergio Vartolo and Francesco Tasini of Giavanni Trabaci's second book of organ music have convinced me that the Cento Versi is a major thing, maybe as intetesting as Frescobaldi's liturgical music. Vartolo's seems particularly wonderful to me. And it's made me hungry to hear more inspired Trabaci performances. Suggestions appreciated.

Prompted by your post I looked for recordings of music by Trabaci and found this:

http://www.amazon.de/Opere-Clavicembalo-Lydia-Maria-Blank/dp/B003U47AP6/ref=sr_1_32?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1427485651&sr=1-32&keywords=trabaci

I never heard of L M Blank before, but she is utterly outstanding and convincing. Her love for this music can be heard in every note. Recommended without reservations.

[Que]

Prompted by your post I looked for recordings of music by Trabaci and found this:

http://www.amazon.de/Opere-Clavicembalo-Lydia-Maria-Blank/dp/B003U47AP6/ref=sr_1_32?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1427485651&sr=1-32&keywords=trabaci

I never heard of L M Blank before, but she is utterly outstanding and convincing. Her love for this music can be heard in every note. Recommended without reservations.

Interesting label  BTW. And what about this, do you know it?


Q