Baroque CD Recommendations

[SeriouslyRetro]

I thought I'd list some great Baroque compact discs I've come across that I'd recommend to anyone unsure about which discs to buy. I hope others will post some of their favourites too.
(Note: the links are just to show what discs I'm talking about. I don't work for ArkivMusic and I'm not here to make sales. )

Geminiani: Concerti Grossi VII-XII (after Corelli Op. 5)
Andrew Manze, Academy of Ancient Music, $9.99
I was very happy when I found this disc recently - period instruments, expertly played, brilliant sound. I like nearly every piece on this disc - and it's cheap too. (the full 12 concerti are available on a - not so cheap - 2 disc set for $36)

Vivaldi: Complete Cello Concertos
Ofra Harnoy, Toronto Chamber Orchestra, $19.98, 4 disc set
If you like cellos and you like Baroque, I'm sure you'll like this. Sound quality is not as good as some, but Ofra Harnoy's brilliant playing makes up for this. Many of these concertos were world-premiere recordings. At $5/disc, it's a great deal.

Bach: Orchestral Suites
Yehudi Menuhin, Bath Festival Orchestra, $7.99
Even though this was recorded in 1960 and sound is not as crisp as modern recordings, it's still my favourite recording of the Suites. Suite 1, Ouverture is probably my all-time favourite piece. (The 4 Suite/2 disc set I have appears to have been discontinued. This is a one disc budget release that doesn't have Suite 2.)

Geminiani: Concerti Grossi (Op. 2)
Jeanne Lamon, Tafelmusik, $16.99
Another Geminiani - this one nearly as good as the other one I recommended - played on period instruments. (Gramophone Award Nominee 1993)

Handel: Water Music
Jeanne Lamon, Tafelmusik, $9.99
Handel's Water Music is fairly "popular", so most Baroque fans will probably already have it. If you don't, this is a great one to try - period instruments, crisp sound. I especially like the first three movements and the Andante. There is also a Suite from "Il pastor fido" on the disc which has a beautiful Chaconne.

Vivaldi: L'Estro Armonico (Op. 3)
I Musici, $33.99, 2 disc set
Another "old, but great" recording - modern instruments, but crisply played. These are some of my favourite Vivaldi pieces. (price seems to have gone up - I bought mine for $19)

[reith]

I have the Menuhin/Bach; quite like him playing Bach. Somewhere in the garage is an LP of him playing something solo by Bach probably another Suite.

I'm not a great fan of Baroque but occasionally when I want to listen but might want to compose later I'll turn to Bach.

I's recommend the Bach Brandenburg Concertos played by Harnoncourt/Concertus musicus Wein. (Teldec 4509 95980-2) mid-priced. Edit: although I played the No 2 over lunch and it seems a tiny bit slow and ponderous.

[SeriouslyRetro]

I've heard the Harnoncourt/Concertus musicus Wein recording. I can't remember much about it, just that it wasn't the one I was looking for. (this thread)

Except for Brandenburg #3, 1st movement, my favourite recording of the Brandenburg Concertos is Camerata Wurzburg/H. Reinhartz - but I didn't recommend it because it's not available anywhere and the sound is a bit flat. I like it though because I've listened to it so many times that it has become etched in my brain and other versions now "don't sound right". For the #3.1, it's definitely the ASMF/Neville Marriner 1971 Thurston Dart edition. Unfortunately, that too is now unavailable.

This ASMF/Neville Marriner 1980 recording is very nicely done and would be the Brandenburg I'd recommend if I couldn't get the other two.

Can somebody recommend a Telemann recording? I've got around 350 baroque pieces on my iPod, but of those only 10 are Telemann. Considering the fact that Telemann is supposed to be the most prolific Baroque composer, I'm sure there are lots more great Telemann pieces out there. I'm looking for "concerti grossi"-type pieces. (prefer minor keys, no single instrument/vocal music)

[minor9th]

If you like Geminiani, then try Corelli--the master! http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/...29&name_role=3

[SeriouslyRetro]

Yes, thanks . A few weeks ago I bought Corelli's Complete Works (which contains everything he ever published). I still prefer Geminiani's version of Corelli's Opus 5. Corelli is consistently good, but (besides the Op. 5) somehow nothing really "stands out" as particularly amazing. Maybe that has to do with the fact that this is more mid-baroque than late-baroque. (and I should give old Corelli a break )

The Complete Works disc set itself is well done and on period instruments, but the Op. 6 seems a bit dull. Overall, I think it was worth it though. ($42 for 10 discs)

I think everybody who likes Baroque music should watch Tous les Matins du Monde. It's about a master of the viola de gamba in the mid 1600s. I loved the music and I'm thinking about getting the soundtrack.

[minor9th]

Originally Posted by SeriouslyRetro

I think everybody who likes Baroque music should watch Tous les Matins du Monde. It's about a master of the viola de gamba in the mid 1600s. I loved the music and I'm thinking about getting the soundtrack.

That's one of my favorite movies! I was so thrilled when it finally came out on DVD.

[SeriouslyRetro]

I only just watched it for the first time this weekend. I was researching Lully and I checked the recommended Lully discs on ArkivMusic and found the soundtrack. Then I checked my local library for the movie and surprisingly they had a copy on DVD.

I've always wanted to learn to play the cello (period, with gut strings), but now I think I'll go for the viola da gamba instead. The sound is much nicer. I just need to win the lottery so I can afford one. (...and get one of those fancy ones with the nice carved heads )

[minor9th]

I saw Jordi Savall in concert a few months ago...he played the gamba on the soundtrack--the concert was transcendental! He played solos and trios by Marais, Couperin, and Forguery, and Colombine.

[SeriouslyRetro]

Originally Posted by minor9th

I saw Jordi Savall in concert a few months ago...he played the gamba on the soundtrack--the concert was transcendental! He played solos and trios by Marais, Couperin, and Forguery, and Colombine.

That sounds great! I would have liked to hear that.

I went to three Tafelmusik concerts last season - including Jeanne Lamon's 25th Anniversary Concert and Handel's Water Music (see CD recommendation above). For the 25th Anniversary Concert, I sat front row centre. For one piece, Jaap ter Linden directed. He sat so close to me, I could have reached out and toppled his chair (...but thankfully, I resisted the urge ). Jaap ter Linden, coincidentally, plays cello on some of the Corelli's Complete Works discs.

[SeriouslyRetro]

Another recommendation:

Alessandro Scarlatti: Concerti Grossi
Accademia Bizantina, $12.99
It's a tragedy that Alessandro Scarlatti only wrote one set of Concerti Grossi. I'd love to find more like this. They're similar to Geminiani's early concerti (which is not surprising considering that he was Geminiani's teacher). The sound on this disc is incredibly clear. If you like Baroque, get this disc. I don't see how anybody could possibly be disappointed.