In which we discuss Baroque composers, compositions, recordings and suchlike, and in case you were wondering, that's music written between 1600 and 1750 or so.
Presently, I'm most interested in your favorite recordings of the more obscure composers, mainly the Italians.
I'm kinda sick of the Italians. After the generation of Monteverdi, other countries seemed to produce far more interesting composers.
Quote from: Sackbut on December 14, 2010, 07:26:23 AM
Presently, I'm most interested in your favorite recordings of the more obscure composers, mainly the Italians.
Would you mind to tell, whom you consider obscure?
Quote from: Josquin des Prez on December 14, 2010, 07:33:48 AM
I'm kinda sick of the Italians. After the generation of Monteverdi, other countries seemed to produce far more interesting composers.
Really. That's interesting. You don't like Gabrieli?
Quote from: premont on December 14, 2010, 07:34:22 AM
Would you mind to tell, whom you consider obscure?
Avoiding big names.
Quote from: premont on December 14, 2010, 07:34:22 AM
Would you mind to tell, whom you consider obscure?
Oh, heck. Anyone is just fine. Doesn't have to be obscure.
71 dB put me onto Caldara, and he's pretty darned good. :)
Quote from: Sackbut on December 14, 2010, 07:48:52 AM
Really. That's interesting. You don't like Gabrieli?
Oh, never mind. You said AFTER.
Quote from: DavidW on December 14, 2010, 08:22:17 AM
71 dB put me onto Caldara, and he's pretty darned good. :)
Did you he put onto any specific recordings?
Quote from: Sackbut on December 14, 2010, 08:24:24 AM
Did you he put onto any specific recordings?
I can't remember, but this is what I have and I like it:
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?ordertag=Comprecom1806-20868&album_id=20868 (http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?ordertag=Comprecom1806-20868&album_id=20868)
He's not obscure, but for me 2011 will be The Year of the Scarlatti Sonata.
Love (http://www.amazon.com/Italian-Violin-Sonatas-Biondi-Galante/dp/B00008XRSR/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1292348755&sr=1-1): Italian Violin Sonatas; Biondi, Europa Galante - EMI/Virgin
Getting to know (http://www.amazon.com/Pergolesi-Scarlatti-Stabat-Mater-Giovanni/dp/B000LE0TEW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1292348902&sr=1-2): Stabat Mater (Pergolesi, A. Scarlatti); Alessandrini - Naïve
Want (http://www.amazon.com/Locatelli-LArte-Violino-Elizabeth-Walfisch/dp/B003XWFLYM/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1292348871&sr=1-1): L'Arte del Violino (Locatelli); Liz Wallfisch, The Raglan Baroque Players, Nicholas Kraemer - Hyperion
Quote from: Opus106 on December 14, 2010, 08:54:55 AM
Love (http://www.amazon.com/Italian-Violin-Sonatas-Biondi-Galante/dp/B00008XRSR/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1292348755&sr=1-1): Italian Violin Sonatas; Biondi, Europa Galante - EMI/Virgin
Getting to know (http://www.amazon.com/Pergolesi-Scarlatti-Stabat-Mater-Giovanni/dp/B000LE0TEW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1292348902&sr=1-2): Stabat Mater (Pergolesi, A. Scarlatti); Alessandrini - Naïve
Want (http://www.amazon.com/Locatelli-LArte-Violino-Elizabeth-Walfisch/dp/B003XWFLYM/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1292348871&sr=1-1): L'Arte del Violino; Liz Wallfisch, The Raglan Baroque Players, Nicholas Kraemer - Hyperion
Good to know. Thanks.
Quote from: Sackbut on December 14, 2010, 07:49:09 AM
Avoiding big names.
Is e.g. Frescobaldi in this context a big name in your opinion?
Quote from: premont on December 14, 2010, 10:06:20 AM
Is e.g. Frescobaldi in this context a big name in your opinion?
I would love some Frescobaldi recommendations, if you'd be so kind.
Quote from: premont on December 14, 2010, 10:06:20 AM
Is e.g. Frescobaldi in this context a big name in your opinion?
4 syllables. So yeah... :)
I second that Locatelli/Walffisch set (it's 3 disks), it's a peach! :)
8)
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on December 14, 2010, 10:09:41 AM
4 syllables. So yeah... :)
I second that Locatelli/Walffisch set (it's 3 disks), it's a peach! :)
8)
See, Gurn? I went and done it. 0:)
Quote from: Sackbut on December 14, 2010, 10:10:15 AM
See, Gurn? I went and done it. 0:)
Yes you did. Dirty job, but someone had to do it! :) Don't abandon the Italians on the strength of Opie being tired of them. Some nice, interesting music there. They do tend towards strings and away from keyboard music, but I don't personally see that as a drawback. 0:)
8)
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on December 14, 2010, 10:12:54 AM
. . . Don't abandon the Italians any music on the strength of Opie being tired of them it.
Emended.
Quote from: Sackbut on December 14, 2010, 10:09:30 AM
I would love some Frescobaldi recommendations, if you'd be so kind.
Unfortunately many of my favorite Frescobaldi recordings are OOP at the moment.
These OOP´s include first and foremost:
Fiori Musicali by Rinaldo Alessandrini on Opus 111
Toccatas book I. by Rinaldo Alessandrini on Arcana.
Available at the moment:
The Brilliant series (complete Frescobaldi edition intended) with Robert Loreggian. which are cheap but not more than serviceable. I have not heard the vocal music releases in this series.
Also available are the Sergio Vartolo series (Tactus and Naxos - only keyboard works). I consider Vartolo an acquired taste.
Enrico Baiano´s single CD (selected harpsichord works) on Symphonia is authoritative and imaginative.
And Gustav Leonhardt´s recording of the Capriccio´s on DHM is even more authoritative and imaginative.
Lorenzo Ghielmi´s Fiori Musicali (2CD) on DHM is very good too.
Quote from: Sackbut on December 14, 2010, 10:09:30 AM
I would love some Frescobaldi recommendations, if you'd be so kind.
Get the organ recording of the Capricci, by Francesco Tasini. Those Capricci are a fusion of elements taken from all of the other forms used by the composer, the Toccata, the imitative Fantasias, and the dance-like Canzoni, all rolled into one piece.
Thanks. I have ordered this: "Gustav Leonhardt´s recording of the Capriccio´s on DHM"
Quote from: Sackbut on December 14, 2010, 11:27:29 AM
Thanks. I have ordered this: "Gustav Leonhardt´s recording of the Capriccio´s on DHM"
I thought that was out of print. Same concept as the above, except its on harpsichord rather then organ.
Quote from: Josquin des Prez on December 14, 2010, 11:30:59 AM
I thought that was out of print. Same concept as the above, except its on harpsichord rather then organ.
Amazon marketplace.
Quote from: Josquin des Prez on December 14, 2010, 11:27:10 AM
Get the organ recording of the Capricci, by Francesco Tasini. Those Capricci are a fusion of elements taken from all of the other forms used by the composer, the Toccata, the imitative Fantasias, and the dance-like Canzoni, all rolled into one piece.
Thanks!
Quote from: Sackbut on December 14, 2010, 07:26:23 AM
In which we discuss Baroque composers, compositions, recordings and suchlike, and in case you were wondering, that's music written between 1600 and 1750 or so.
Presently, I'm most interested in your favorite recordings of the more obscure composers, mainly the Italians.
Errr, go here? ::)
Italian Baroque Music - beyond Vivaldi (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,2376.0.html)
Frescobaldi?
Frescobaldi, Girolamo - Italian Keyboard Pioneer! (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,13637.0.html)
I'll throw in German and French Baroque composers... 8)
German Baroque Music - beyond J.S. Bach (and Händel) (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,2044.0.html)
French Baroque Music (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,1729.0.html)
Have fun and good hunting. :)
Q
Ah, my favorite thread-extractor has arrived. Thanks, Q.
He's neither Italian nor especially obscure, but I have only one name to throw into the mix: Biber. (Not to be confused with Bieber.)
Quote from: Sackbut on December 14, 2010, 07:48:52 AM
Really. That's interesting. You don't like Gabrieli?
I think Gabrieli is the same generation as Monteverdi, or even a bit earlier. (Also, there are 2 Gabrielis: Giovanni and his uncle Andrea.)
now some recsI find early keyboard music fascinating. Some discs I like:
1. Leonhardt playing Byrd. This is on the Alpha label and sounds gorgeous; it convinced me that I could like harpsichords after all. Byrd is probably the first great keyboard composer, and should be explored just for that reason. Which leads me to:
2. Glenn Gould's "Consort of Musick" album, featuring works by Byrd and Orlando Gibbons (whom GG said was his favorite composer). This is played on a piano and is massively un-HIP, but it works. One of GG's most interesting and quirky recordings. Personally I would like to hear more pianists tackle this repertoire. Which leads me to:
3. Andrew Rangell's "A Bridge to Bach" album (Bridge Records), featuring music by Sweelinck, Gibbons, Froberger, etc. on the piano. Very much in the spirit of Gould. The pieces by Sweelinck are the highlight. Which leads me to:
4. Glen Wilson's Sweelinck disc on Naxos. Good and cheap, and this time on harpsichord. Which leads me to:
5. Leonhardt's Froberger on harpsichord (DHM) - intriguing, mercurial music, from a composer who was a big influence on subsequent keyboardists, incl. Bach.
PS. Re Byrd - some posters here have been singing the praises of Davitt Moroney's big Byrd box, on Hyperion. I don't have the box, but I do have the 1-disc sampler from it, which I can recommend if you don't want to get the whole box.
Quote from: Todd on December 14, 2010, 07:53:09 PM
He's neither Italian nor especially obscure, but I have only one name to throw into the mix: Biber. (Not to be confused with Bieber.)
Biber's violin sonatas played by Romanesca on Harmonia Mundi are superb, minus one movement's imitation of dissonant barnyard animal sounds.
There is a lot of good stuff on the Alpha label, which I heartily recommend in terms of quality of the music, the performers and the recordings:
http://www.outhere-music.com/alpha
Not at all obscure (again), but I really like the Boston Baroque recording of the Monteverdi Vespro della Beata Vergine.
Quote from: Todd on December 14, 2010, 07:53:09 PM
He's neither Italian nor especially obscure, but I have only one name to throw into the mix: Biber. (Not to be confused with Bieber.)
Biber was the Musical King of Salzburg before Mozart inherited the title. :) I have quite a bit of his music and am constantly amazed by the quality and variety of his inventive genius for the violin. A nice choice for a Biber Primer is The Rosary Sonatas, else the Mystery Sonatas. They are
nonpareil for their time. :)
8)
Thanks, gents. Reading this thread while enjoying Mullova's Bach sonatas/partitas.
Quote from: Josquin des Prez on December 14, 2010, 11:30:59 AM
I thought that was out of print. Same concept as the above, except its on harpsichord rather then organ.
Not entirely. Some of the pieces are played on organ.
Well, a couple of more composer threads that might be of interest:
Albinoni, Tomaso (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,9022.0.html) - has not gone beyond a page but some excellent music recommended!
Geminiani, Francesco (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,10038.0.html) - a little longer than the Albinoni discussion and w/ plenty of recordings listed!
Locatelli, Pietro (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,14701.0.html) - just my OP on this composer but w/ a lot of CDs shown - :D
Alright, for some obscure or semi-obscure Baroque composers, Italian or eitherwise:
Asciano Mayone and Giovanni Trabaci. Precursors of Frescobaldi. Renaissance polyphony marred with early baroque keyboard forms. Can't go wrong.
Scipione Lacorcia. Late Madrigalist. One of the few composers of this period who was actually influenced by Gesualdo.
Michelangelo Rossi. Wrote toccatas in the style of Frescobaldi, plus several madrigals and even operas, the quality of which however i cannot attest.
Johann Heinrich Schmelzer. German, and early pioneer of instrumental forms. The forerunner to Biber.
Giovanni Legrenzi. Pioneer of instrumental forms. Forerunner to Corelli.
Bernardo Pasquini. Pioneered many keyboard innovations. Was an influence to Domenico Scarlatti.
Marin Marais. French, prolific composer of viol music.
Nicolaus Bruhns. Died relatively young. Follower of Buxtehude.
Antonio Lotti, prolific composer of vocal music. Wrote a lot of great religious music.
Composers following in the wake of Corelli (all more or less similar to Vivaldi):
Alessandro Marcello, Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni, Giuseppe Valentini, Benedetto Marcello, Francesco Geminiani, Giuseppe Tartini, Pietro Antonio Locatelli.
Domenico Zipoli. Good composer of Italian keyboard music. Wrote some good religious music during his service as a Jesuit missionary in the new world.
Leopold Sylvius Weiss. Greatest lutenist of the Baroque. Personal friend to Bach (with all that that implies).
Johann Georg Pisendel. Great German violinist. Influenced Bach in writing the solo violin sonatas and partitas.
Quote from: Josquin des Prez on December 14, 2010, 07:33:48 AM
I'm kinda sick of the Italians. After the generation of Monteverdi, other countries seemed to produce far more interesting composers.
I agree about other countries producing more interesting composers but I am not sick of Italians. ;D
Well, i'm not tired of them, but i'm tired of nearly every conversation polarizing around them.
Mighty German baroque composers of some obscurity to supplement Josquin des Prez's fine listing:
Matthias Weckmann (1616-1674) - follower of Schütz
Franz Tunder (1614-1667) - pupil of Frescobaldi, precursor of Buxtehude in Lübeck
Johann Kuhnau (1660-1722) - follower of Johann Schelle and precursor of J.S. Bach in Leipzig
Quote from: 71 dB on December 15, 2010, 08:17:46 AM
German baroque composers of some obscurity
The reference to Germans "of some obscurity" makes me want to plug again Johann Hermann Schein, who produced one of the earliest significant collections of instrumental (ensemble) music:
Banchetto musicale (1617). Unfortunately, I've never seen a complete recording; but various of these 20 suites have been recorded here and there.
The early Baroque produced a quartet of notable German composers with names starting in Sch- : Schein, Scheidt, Schütz, and Praetorius (real name Schultheiss).
I've also got Scheidemann, Schelle, Schenck and Schmelzer in my collection. Schenk may have been Dutch.
Quote from: erato on December 15, 2010, 10:17:13 AM
Schenk may have been Dutch.
Funny, I know a Dutch lady with that name...and yes, she's a musician :)
I also have a Scheibe disc.
Quote from: erato on December 15, 2010, 10:17:13 AM
I've also got Scheidemann, Schelle, Schenck and Schmelzer in my collection. Schenk may have been Dutch.
You forgot to mention Schlomo amongst these too often neglected worthies.
Today in class somebody wanted to know what a sackbut was. I was so enthusiastic to explain!
...also, overjoyed that somebody else knew too.
Quote from: Velimir on December 14, 2010, 10:55:31 PM
2. Glenn Gould's "Consort of Musick" album, featuring works by Byrd and Orlando Gibbons (whom GG said was his favorite composer). This is played on a piano and is massively un-HIP, but it works. One of GG's most interesting and quirky recordings. Personally I would like to hear more pianists tackle this repertoire. Which leads me to:
5. Leonhardt's Froberger on harpsichord (DHM) - intriguing, mercurial music, from a composer who was a big influence on subsequent keyboardists, incl. Bach.
Picked these up. Thanks.
Quote from: Velimir on December 15, 2010, 10:39:27 AM
Funny, I know a Dutch lady with that name...and yes, she's a musician :)
The most famous Dutch Schenk:
http://www.youtube.com/v/o_coKBkOZRw
Sorry, OFF-topic! :-[
Quote from: Marc on December 18, 2010, 06:47:42 AM
The most famous Dutch Schenk:
http://www.youtube.com/v/o_coKBkOZRw
Sorry, OFF-topic! :-[
I remember him well. Along with Kees Verkerk.
Quote from: erato on December 18, 2010, 06:59:16 AM
I remember him well. Along with Kees Verkerk.
Yep.
And Fred Anton Maier, Per Ivar Moe, Per Willy Guttormsen, Magne Thomassen, Svein-Erik Stiansen, Ivar Eriksen, Dag Fornaess, Roar Grønvold, Sten Stensen .... those were the days!
Btw, Kees Verkerk married a Norwegian girl (which makes him a very wise man! ;D).
(http://i52.tinypic.com/2qlcpcj.jpg)
But what about Norwegian baroque composers? :)