What are you listening to?

[fergus]

[Jared]

this really is highly unusual and intriguing stuff... like an early music church mass, with Moorish influences... I can't say I've really heard anything quite like it before and will take a few listens to acclimatise to the style, I think.

[Jared]

even though I have a couple of versions of the Bach Cello suites, the style of this album is new to me too and will also take a few listens, although it grows increasingly more enjoyable...

[Jose Echenique]

Unfortunately there is no conclusive way to play Medieval music and most approaches are still highly debatable. I know specialists who both laud and condemn Anonymous 4, the Ensemble Organum and most other groups who make records. Marcel Péres made several recordings for HM before he finally parted company with them. Since Medieval music is not really my speciality, I won´t take sides, but it´s important to realize that we haven´t heard the last word yet.

[Jose Echenique]

On the other hand, we have reached definite Vivaldi.

[Jared]

^^ thank you Pepe.. Fergus has another version of the Machaut from me, and I guess it would be most interesting to hear them side by side. Certainly the way Josquin was presented 40 years ago is rather different from say the TS of 10 years ago, so I can see that it is open to interpretation and is evolving. I guess I'm quite a simple fellow, and really enjoy the complex layering of vocal harmonies produced; for this Tallis & Victoria are probably my favourites, but I rarely hear Renaissance music I can't get anything out of.

[Jared]

On the other hand, we have reached definite Vivaldi.

and I see you have converted Fergus to your cause... ;-)

I have been meaning to ask you Pepe, if I asked you to name say your 5 favourite Baroque operas (available on DVD/ BR), ranging in time from Monteverdi to Handel/ Rameau, which would they be?

[fergus]

even though I have a couple of versions of the Bach Cello suites, the style of this album is new to me too and will also take a few listens, although it grows increasingly more enjoyable...

Viols do have a voice of their own Jared and do require a re-tuning of the ear. Some really like the sound of them but others do not. I like their sound and I was at a recital recently where I heard viols live for the first time....beautiful!

[fergus]

On the other hand, we have reached definite Vivaldi.

and I see you have converted Fergus to your cause... ;-)

First it was Vivaldi's orchestral music, then it was his sacred music and now, thanks to the Naive label, it is now the time for his operas!

[fergus]

Frank: Symphony in Dm....





I enjoyed this work this evening. I am sure that Pepe will not mind if I mention the fact that a good friend of his plays cor anglais on this work....a gentleman who regularly plays with Herreweghe, Koopman and Kuijken.