Baroque music introduction kits

chankaiming · April 08, 2009, 02:06:59 AM

I found that my collection is very deficient in Baroque music, and I saw this few set which I think will enrich my understanding on Baroque music, can anyone comment on this few set? how is the performance and recording quality? What starter set would you recommend if some is very new to or have little understanding of Baroque Music ?

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Georg-Friedrich-H%E4ndel-Gro%DFe-Orchesterwerke-Konzerte-Eloquence-Edition/hnum/3266958

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Die-Werke-f%FCr-Klavier-solo/hnum/7544823

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Meisterwerke-des-Barock-60CD-Sonderedition/hnum/9383995

The new erato · April 08, 2009, 05:44:34 AM

A wide overview of all major genres (perhaps except baroque opera) in mostly very good to excellent performances,
covering all the major baroque composers as well as a goodly selection of suprises.

Jay F · April 08, 2009, 05:54:23 AM

Quote from: chankaiming on April 08, 2009, 02:06:59 AM
I found that my collection is very deficient in Baroque music, and I saw this few set which I think will enrich my understanding on Baroque music, can anyone comment on this few set? how is the performance and recording quality? What starter set would you recommend if some is very new to or have little understanding of Baroque Music?
http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Die-Werke-f%FCr-Klavier-solo/hnum/7544823

I like Andras Schiff's Bach very much. coopmv will likely weigh in on the others.

Coopmv · April 08, 2009, 05:10:59 PM

Quote from: nicht schleppend on April 08, 2009, 05:54:23 AM
I like Andras Schiff's Bach very much. coopmv will likely weigh in on the others.

That Decca 6-CD set featuring Marriner with the ASMIF is a reasonably good start. But baroque music is so rich since there are all these different national styles such as German, French, Italian and even Swedish and to fully appreciate music of this period, one invariably has to do much sampling.

chankaiming · April 08, 2009, 06:49:32 PM

Thank you for you suggestion, any comment on the 60 CD set Baroque mastepiece on Sony?

Current in my collection on Baroque music:

Bach Goldberg Variation (Perahia/ Gould)
Bach Violin sonata and Partitas ( Grumiaux/ Milstein)
Bach Art of Fugue ( Marriner/ASMF)
Bach St Matthew Passion/ St John Passion/ Mass in B minor /Christmas Ortario ( Gardiner )
Bach Brandenburg ( Marriner/ASMF)
Bach Cantatas selection ( Karl Richter)
Bach Violin concerto ( Grumiaux )
Handel Messiah ( Colin Davis/ Karl Richter)
Handel Piano Suite ( Richter )
Scalatti Piano piece ( Pletnev)
Teleman orchestral piece ( selection by Naxos )
CPE Bach flute concerto ( Naxos )
CPE Bach Piano sonata ( Pletnev)
Vivaldi Violin concertos, Wind concerto include four seasons ( Marriner 6 CD box on Decca )

SonicMan46 · April 08, 2009, 06:55:32 PM

Quote from: chankaiming on April 08, 2009, 02:06:59 AM
I found that my collection is very deficient in Baroque music..............

Hello Chankaiming - first, Baroque music is wonderfully variable, i.e. instrumental vs. vocal, solo vs. ensemble, and other possibilities - I'm not sure that buying a LARGE collection of one type of music from a single composer is your best choice. You first might want to provide us w/ some of your own interests in this music - do you want instruments vs. vocals; if instruments, how many? Solo organ music and/or ensemble type recordings? As a start, I would probably suggest buying some of the more commonly recommended instrumental music.

Just as basic starters: JS Bach - Brandenburg Concertos; Vivaldi - Four Seasons; and Handel - Water Music & Music for Royal Fireworks; specific recommendations can be made, if interested; and of course, there are plenty of other options including smaller group & solo performances - the vocal/choral works are another complete 'world' of pleasure & listening - you have much to explore here, and there are plenty of members who know this music well!

chankaiming · April 08, 2009, 08:02:24 PM

Since I know very little apart from few famous by Handel/Bach/Vivaldi, anyone can recommend some masterpiece and great recording of Baroque music?

SonicMan46 · April 08, 2009, 08:27:57 PM

Quote from: chankaiming on April 08, 2009, 08:02:24 PM
Since I know very little apart from few famous by Handel/Bach/Vivaldi, anyone can recommend some masterpiece and great recording of Baroque music?

Well, looking @ your previous post, you already own a nice collection of Baroque music - of course, dozens of recommendations could be added, but just a start might be:

Handel - Concerti Grossi, Op.6, Water Music, & Music for Royal Fireworks w/ the Orpheus Cham Orch on a bargain 3-CD DG set.

Vivaldi - Il Cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventioen, Op. 8; includes the 'Four Seasons' - Biondi w/ Europa Galante - excellent 2-CD set @ a good price - both of these will supplement what you already own; could suggest some alternates to your Brandenburg Concertos, but the one you own is fine.

Now, please understand that many of us into Baroque music own hundreds of discs, so there are plenty of other suggestions that can be made depending on what seems to interest you, so give us some advice & recommendations will follow -

chankaiming · April 08, 2009, 08:55:12 PM

Sonic man,

Thank you for your suggestion, I think some more Baroque expert like you will appear in a short time.

Que · April 08, 2009, 09:52:11 PM

Quote from: chankaiming on April 08, 2009, 08:02:24 PM
Since I know very little apart from few famous by Handel/Bach/Vivaldi, anyone can recommend some masterpiece and great recording of Baroque music?

I would explore our Baroque threads:

French Baroque Music

German Baroque Music - beyond J.S. Bach (and Händel)

Italian Baroque Music - beyond Vivaldi

Note this French Baroque set:

Quote from: Que on December 25, 2007, 02:46:08 AM
French baroque lovers!
I'm just dropping a short note on an interesting bargain box set "200 years of Music at Versailles" that has just been released. It contains 20 CD's and a CD-ROM with liner notes, for about €50, with top performers from various labels, like Rousset, Minkowski, Niquet, Schneebeli, Christie, etc.

click on picture for a presentation of the content with samples

On Amazon: FR.

As for starting suggestions.
In French Baroque: F. Fouperin's Leçons de Ténèbres and his harpsichord music, Rameau's harpsichord music, Charpentier's Te Deum.
In German Baoque: Biber's violin works, Buxtehude's organ works, Froberger's harpsichord works.
In Italian Baroque: D. Scarlatti's Stabat Mater, Corelli's violin sonatas.

Q

Expresso · April 09, 2009, 01:13:08 AM

Telemann - Tafelmusic (Belder - Music Amphion)

Vivaldi - L'estro Armonico (Biondi)
Also there is a nice 3 cd set of Vivaldi concertos:
http://www.amazon.com/Vivaldi-Quattro-Stagioni-Violin-Concertos/dp/B001CW7LQG

If you like Handel's Messiah you can also try some of his operas and oratorios (Solomon, Belshazzar, Julius Caesar, Agrippina etc)

Biber - Harmonia artificioso (Goebel)
Biber - The Mystery Sonatas (Holloway)

Pergolesi - Stabat Mater ( Biondi, Alessandrini or Harnoncourt (coupled with Vivaldi's Gloria) )

Bach - English Suites (Leonhardt or Gould), French Suites (Leonhardt)
Bach - Well Tempered Clavier (Leonhardt, Gould, Fischer (good and cheap but with mediocre sound quality from the 40's) )
Bach - Orchestral Suites (Overtures) BWV 1066 - 1069 (Goebel, Pinnock)

This is a great box set with Bach's orchestral music:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bach-Brandenburg-Musica-Antiqua-Köln/dp/B000069KJ2/ref=sr_1_1?
ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1239268214&sr=1-1

Coopmv · April 10, 2009, 05:14:12 AM

Quote from: Expresso on April 09, 2009, 01:13:08 AM

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bach-Brandenburg-Musica-Antiqua-Köln/dp/B000069KJ2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1239268214&sr=1-1

This sounds like a very interesting box and I really do not have many recordings by this ensemble ...