What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Bogey]

Rolling out another disc from the "Brilliant" Haydn box set:

Haydn
Piano Concertos
Hob XVIII:11/Hob XVIII:4/Hob XVIII:3
Jolanda Violante fotepiano
L'Arte dell'Arco/Federico Guglielmo
Recorded 2008

[Que]

Composed in the late 1720's (and published in Florence in 1732) by Padre Giustini, who was familiar with the work of Cristofori (inventor of the piano), this set of 12 sonatas is the very first music composed expressly for the piano as opposed to the harpsichord or clavichord. Stylistically, they range from Corelli-style 5 movement sonatas to cutting edge stile-galant earliest classical pieces. The piano is a reproduction of a 1726 Cristofori and has a surprisingly rich sound for what it is. Not only pleasant entertainment, but a fascinating historical document fr those who are interested in that sort of thing.

Interesting.  1720 was still about 40 years before the "official" end of the baroque era, which most people over the years have pegged at 1759 with the death of Handel.  Given its modest price, this BC set is definitely worth looking into ...

A fascinating set, definitely worthwhile. It has character and originality - Giustino was his own man. In my ears, despite the early date of 1732, the dawn of the new post-Baroque age is clearly audible. Based in the Neapolitan harpsichord School this is venturing in new directions. The closest to this I know are the sonatas by Pietro Domenico Paradies - published much later, in 1754, and still written for harpsichord!

Q

[Gurn Blanston]

Interesting.  1720 was still about 40 years before the "official" end of the baroque era, which most people over the years have pegged at 1759 with the death of Handel.  Given its modest price, this BC set is definitely worth looking into ...

Yes, galant style rose to prominence in France in the 1730's, but of course, it came from Italy. Clearly there is a blend here of Italian Baroque (NOT Bach-roque!) and the much more homophonic Italian style that arose from opera overtures. The more I listen to this, the more I like it. Your logic is impeccable; at the price you can't go wrong (unless you totally hate old music, of course ).    0:)

[DavidRoss]

[Gurn Blanston]

Rolling out another disc from the "Brilliant" Haydn box set:

Haydn
Piano Concertos
Hob XVIII:11/Hob XVIII:4/Hob XVIII:3
Jolanda Violante fotepiano
L'Arte dell'Arco/Federico Guglielmo
Recorded 2008

Oh yes, Bill, that's another that I failed to mention. L'Arte dell'Arco are a great group. I have a bunch of their Tartini concertos that are super good. Anyway, those are nice versions of those concerti.

[Lethevich]

This Images is not one to be saved for posterity...

[SonicMan46]

Composed in the late 1720's (and published in Florence in 1732) by Padre Giustini, who was familiar with the work of Cristofori (inventor of the piano), this set of 12 sonatas is the very first music composed expressly for the piano as opposed to the harpsichord or clavichord. Stylistically, they range from Corelli-style 5 movement sonatas to cutting edge stile-galant earliest classical pieces. The piano is a reproduction of a 1726 Cristofori and has a surprisingly rich sound for what it is. Not only pleasant entertainment, but a fascinating historical document fr those who are interested in that sort of thing.

For those interested, check out my post back in April on this recording in the Old Musical Instrument Thread (reply #92) - includes a pic of an early instrument and a link to the builder's website - interesting early works!   

[Harry]

A fascinating set, definitely worthwhile. It has character and originality - Giustino was his own man. In my ears, despite the early date of 1732, the dawn of the new post-Baroque age is clearly audible. Based in the Neapolitan harpsichord School this is venturing in new directions. The closest to this I know are the sonatas by Pietro Domenico Paradies - published much later, in 1754, and still written for harpsichord!

Q

I never thought, being the first on this site to buy this recording, that it would gain such a following. Does my heart good. At the time when I posted it, no one seemed to be interested. Well, well!

[Gurn Blanston]

I never thought, being the first on this site to buy this recording, that it would gain such a following. Does my heart good. At the time when I posted it, no one seemed to be interested. Well, well!

Aw, Harry, you know me better than that. The instrument alone was gonna reel ME in...

Now on #11 in E. I might just rewind and play again. (that's for you, Mr. Analog Bill Bogey! ).

[Todd]

Listened to the First, one of the symphonies I had not yet heard from this incomplete set.  It's quite good indeed, vibrant, well played, and just plaind old good.  I also compared this transfer of the Fourth to the 1980s transfer, and this one is more detailed, which also means more hiss, but isn't night and day better. 

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD14 from this set for a first listen ...

[jlaurson]

Listened to the First, one of the symphonies I had not yet heard from this incomplete set.  It's quite good indeed, vibrant, well played, and just plaind old good.  I also compared this transfer of the Fourth to the 1980s transfer, and this one is more detailed, which also means more hiss, but isn't night and day better.

Why RCA didn't ask for the rights of his Boston tenure-opening M8 is quite beyond me... they could have finished that cycle by now, had they wanted to.

[The new erato]

Why RCA didn't ask for the rights of his Boston tenure-opening M8 is quite beyond me... they could have finished that cycle by now, had they wanted to.

I guess you know the answer to this one....the record business (a.k.a the majors) have long since stopped being concerned with musical savvy.

[DavidRoss]

I want to hear Beethoven's 5th Symphony, but with so many wonderful recordings I'm at a loss which to choose.  The new Vänskä or Abbado?  Immerseel?  Gardiner, Harnoncourt, or Brüggen?  Sometimes I think I might have too many recordings, though I'm glad not to have stopped with Karajan, Böhm, and Szell!  Oh...yeah...reflecting on the past reminds me of an old treasure I've not heard in some time but which I always loved for its momentum and drive:



Hmmm...kind of dull after what I'm used to now....

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD3 from this set for a first listen while the blizzard hits my area ...

[karlhenning]

Why RCA didn't ask for the rights of his Boston tenure-opening M8 is quite beyond me... they could have finished that cycle by now, had they wanted to.

I suspect Boston will wish to issue it on their own label, if at all.

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD9 - WTC 1 by Leonhardt from this set for a first listen ...

[Mirror Image]

Yep. As are the rest.

My favorite Sibelius symphony is the 7th, but yes I agree, they all offer the listener so much.

[Mirror Image]

I really like Yan Pascal Tortelier's Debussy set. I also enjoyed his Ravel set. I still think he's an underrated conductor. I cherish his recordings of Dutilleux's orchestral works.

[SonicMan46]

Mozart, WA - Piano Sonatas w/ Lubimov on fortepiano - a new acquisition, a second listen, and a keeper!