Tír Na HiFi

Listening this evening to the gorgeous flute sonatas of JCF Bach, as played by Marcelo Gatti on transverse flute and Giovanni Togni on fortepiano (available on Glossa).  There is also a continuo accompaniment on one sonata provided by cellist Giovanna Berbati.  These are delightful works which combine the French galant style beloved of composers like Monteclair with the more formal structure of Telemann.  The music here is full of melodic invention which the musicians take great pleasure in performing.  This is a perfect example of repertoire that is immeasurably aided by the sympathetic timbres of period instruments.  There is a beautiful sense of warmth and ease and lightness of touch in this music-making, where the the inherent warmth of the wooden flute complements beautifully the tactile elasticity of the fortepiano.




I also listened to the Op.5 keyboard sonatas of JC Bach as played by harpsichordist Sophie Yates (on Chandos).  Of all of Johann Sebastian's descendents, JC's music strikes me as the most original.  CPE Bach's music has deservedly received a great deal of attention from musicians over the years but JC's compositions have been - comparatively - under-recorded.  Everything I've heard from this marvellous composer - his symphonies, sinfonias, concertos, chamber music, solo keyboard music and various vocal works - has been distinguished with deeply affecting melodies articulated with fluency and great charm, qualities that strike me in abundance when I listen to this beautiful performance by Ms. Yates of the man's wonderful keyboard sonatas.  There is a grace, eloquence and charm in this music which is here finely expressed with great delicacy and an understated lightness of touch.  Such marvellous music.

mcq wrote:

Added to Wish List.

mcq wrote:

Also added to Wish List!

Recent listening included Handel's 12 Concerti Grossi Op. 6 under Leppard....





....I have always liked Leppard's very musical interpretations of various composers' music that I have heard.

Final disc tonight and it's a return to the keyboard sonatas of JC Bach, in this case the Op. 17 works as played by Bart van Oort on fortepiano (available on Brilliant Classics).  There are purists who insist on the primacy of playing this repertoire on the fortepiano over the harpsichord.  But, to me, it's all about the quality of the individual performance.  This is wonderful fortepiano playing, alert, impassioned and above all inspired by the music.  You hear the fire as well as the tenderness in this wonderful music and I find it utterly compulsive listening.  



Brilliant has evolved into a really fine label for new music, by the way.  It made its name by licensing old, out-of-print recordings from other labels but the owners appear to have realised that the availability of these recordings will eventually dry up and, in order to mantain their long-term viability, new avenues must be pursued and, to these ends, they have recruited some sterling musicians who are eager to record many of the unfairly ignored byways of music.  One notable example is the outstanding set of recordings of Muzio Clementi's complete keyboard works by the Italian fortepianist Costantino Mastroprimiano.  This is essential repertoire, in my view, and Mastroprimiano's achievement is significant.

I rarely look past this set for any of Beethovens symphonies these days.

Symphony No.7 this time around. Sounds fabulous through my new system.

Zemlinsky's Die Seejungfrau is a wonderfully evocative work which paints wonderful sound pictures....





....and the two powerful choral works included make for a highly recommended CD.

Three beautiful solo recitals this morning, the first on baroque harp, the second two on baroque lute, each one performed by masters of their respective instruments and concentrating on 17th and 16th century repertoire.  In each recital there is a tremendous feeling of repose, of stillness, private moments of  concentrated thought beautifully captured.  Every time I hear the baroque lute I am reminded time and again of how tangential the composer-lutenists were to the contemporary harpsichord scene.  The timbal sonorities are so similar.  

Recent listening has included this gem....





....Vivaldi's wonderful music played by Concerto Italiano / Alessandrini and sung by, among others, Mingardo and Invernizzi - what more can one say? I you only ever listen to or buy one Vivaldi opera I would recommend it be this!

mcq wrote:

I am quite partial to lute music so I must check those offerings Paul.