Lute-playing was all the rage in the 1600s. The Italian, French, and English schools are well-represented with recordings. But other European courts were active musical centers. This release features lute music from Poland. It’s an interesting blend of both cosmopolitan styles and native folk traditions. Joachim Held performs with precision and delicacy. His interpretations are […]
early music
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Per-Sonat gives Kaiser Maximilian I court music regal treatment
Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor (1508-1519) is known for many things. He established the Hapsburg Dynasty in Spain, wrested the Empire from Papal control — and was a great patron of the arts. This release samples some of the music heard in Maximilian’s court. Most of the works are chansons and lieder, leavened by some […]
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Fred Jacobs bring Kapsperger theorbo music to light
To some, this might seem like a hyper-specialized release. It’s a collection of early 17th Century music by Giovanni Kasprerger (who?) virtuoso of the theorbo (what?). And it’s not just theorbo music, but music specifically written for the Papal Court. But the end result — the music and the performance — should appeal to all. […]
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Baltimore Consort – Food of Love Satisfies
I’ve been a fan of the Baltimore Consort since their first release in 1990. They consistently deliver excellent performances that balance historical accuracy with honest emotion. The Food of Love is a collection of music most likely heard in the original productions of Shakespeare’s plays. It’s a mix of music referred to by the play […]
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Michel-Richard de Lalande Grands Motets Evoke Grandeur
Michel-Richard de Lalande was a contemporary of Jean-Baptiste Lully and François Couperin. Like them, he served at the court of Louis XIV. Lalande’s strength was composing grand motets; elegant, extravagant, grand music suited for the Royal Chapel at Versailles. This release presents three examples. All three require a large orchestra (for the Baroque period, that […]
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Graupner Passion Cantatas II Maintain High Standard
In 1741 Christoph Graupner produced ten Passion Cantatas — one for each Sunday of Lent. Volume 1 featured three of those cantatas; Volume 2 has three more, each uniquely shaped by the text Graupner sets. Das Leiden Jesu von seinen Freunden, GWV 1122/41 (Friend, why are you here) was for the Third Sunday of Lent. […]
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Thüringer Bach Collegium Debuts Princely Concertos
This is an exceptional recording of some exceptional music. Prince Johann Ernst IV (1696-1715) was known as the “Thüringian Vivaldi.” Ernst showed musical talent at a young age. He composed nineteen works, all within nine months of his death at age 18. But there’s more to the story. His primary teacher was Johann Gottfried Walther. […]
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Ars Antiqua Austria energize Georg Muffat
Georg Muffat studied with Lully in Paris early in his career. In 1680, he journeyed to Venice to study with Corelli. Influences from both composers can be heard in his 1682 collection Armonico Tributo. The structure of the proto-concerto grossi resembles those of Corelli’s Opus 4, written around the same time. And the dance movements […]
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Ensemble Il Demetrio deliver thoughtful performances of Tartini
The liner notes lay out the problems with these Giuseppe Tartini works. In the late 1760s, the term a Quattro (in 4 parts) was somewhat vague. Did Tartini intend his Sonate a Quattro to be played with only four string instruments, as a proto-string quartet? And what about the role of the harpsichord, tacitly a […]