I think I’m seeing a pattern here. This second volume of Jean-Marie LeClair violin concertos features four selections: two each from his Opus 7 (1739) and Opus 10 (1743). And just as they did in volume one, the concertos share the same numbers. In this case, nos. 1 and 3. Violinist Leila Schayegh and La […]
early music
-
-
Ecco la Musica perform Johann Samuel Welter cantatas credibly
Johann Samuel Welter is the only name on the cover of this release. But he’s not the only composer features. The early music ensemble Ecco la Musica presents a varied program of music from 17th Century Germany. Five of Welter’s choral cantatas are interspersed with instrumental works, by some of Welter’s older contemporaries. Welter’s considered […]
-
The Secret Life of Carols — not what you think
If you — like me — are looking for a seasonal recording with a fresh perspective, check out “The Secret Life of Carols.” The early music ensemble The Telling presents a collection of (mostly) familiar carols in intimate performances. Unlike, say, the Boston Camerata, The Telling doesn’t give us the historical development of each piece. […]
-
Ockeghem Songs Blue Heron’s latest and greatest
There are two things I can count on: blue-chip stocks, and Blue Heron recordings. The former retain their value year after year. The latter produces top-flight recordings. This new release is no exception. It’s the first installment of a new series, traversing the songs of 15th Century composer Johannes Ockeghem. Ockeghem was one of the […]
-
Spielleyt delights with early Christmas music
The early music ensemble Spielleyt serves up a fresh approach to classical music of the season. Weihnacht der Spielleyt primarily consists of selections from one publication: the Straßburger Gesangbuch of 1697. Technically, this collection came out in the middle of the Baroque period. But most of the songs are much older than that. And Spielleyt peels the […]
-
Share the joy of classical music: WTJU Classical Marathon airs Dec 9 – 15
Share the joy of WTJU Classical – December 9 – 15 We need your help to raise $40,000 and keep WTJU going strong! Diverse and wide-ranging as they are, the wonderful classical music pieces you enjoy on WTJU have common themes that echo through each performance. Themes that celebrate excellence and creativity… evoke the deepest emotions… and […]
-
Robert Ballard lute music played with elegance and taste
Robert Ballard II was a lute virtuoso who also happened to have a pretty good gig. He was a music tutor to a young Louis XIII. His father and cousin ran a prestigious music publishing house in Paris. And they, of course, published young Robert’s two collections of lute works. Lutenist Richard Kolb performs 30 […]
-
Telemann Moral Cantatas uplift — at least musically
This release combines selections from two self-published works by Georg Philipp Telemann. VI moralische Cantaten and 12 Fantaisies pour la basse de violle sold by subscription in 1735. Alternating between the two collections makes an appealing program. The Six Moral Cantatas are just that — music with a message. And whether the subject is luck, parsimony, time, or hope, the message […]
-
“A Bohemian in London” Showcases Baroque Rarities
The album title, “A Bohemian in London” refers to Moravian composer Gottfried Finger. Finger was a virtuoso viol player and played in James II’s court orchestra. Later he attempted a career as a freelance composer, eventually giving up and leaving for Germany in 1701. This collection of violin sonatas is a sampling of the over […]