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BAROQUE FAVOURITES
Handel Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Pachelbel Canon & Gigue
Handel Movements from Water Music Suite no 1
Bach Air from Suite no 3 in D
Purcell Incidental music to Abelazar
Vivaldi Concerto op 10 no 2 for recorder, bassoon and strings
Telemann Suite from Tafelmusik Book III
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra/Jean Lamon
Originally recorded at St Anne's Church, Toronto, 13-15 March, 1982 and released on RR-13 [47:19]
Vivaldi Sinfonia in C
Vivaldi Trio Sonata in G minor
Vivaldi Concerto in E flat for two violins
Bach Prelude in C
Bach Trio Sonata in C
Bach Concerto in D minor for two violins

 

 

 

The Helicon Ensemble/Albert Fuller
Originally recorded at the John Harms Centre, Englewood, New Jersey, 6-8 June, 1986 and released on RR-23
REFERENCE RECORDINGS RR-2101 (two discs) [56:47]

Reference recordings

This is another of Reference Recordings' 'two for the price of one' bargains, offering a brisk canter through a familiar selection of eighteenth-century works. It's a pity that the accompanying programme booklet concentrates on the composers and provides no information about either of the two ensembles or their approach to the question of authenticity in regard to performance practice and choice of instruments. Thus two oboists are listed as members of the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, but their sound is more akin to that of the oboe d'amore. On the other hand, both ensembles deploy violone rather than double bass, thereby displaying more than a nod in the direction of authenticity.

There is not a great deal to be said about the performances, which are uniformly crisp and elegant and well recorded. For me, far and away the most striking piece is the Bach Double Concerto (incorrectly described as Bach's only work in this form). The left and right placing of the soloists is splendidly effective and the slow movement especially is ravishingly beautiful, if a touch sentimental.

As a representative sample of baroque music, the discs are to be recommended, even if putting Vivaldi side by side with J.S. Bach does the former no favours.

Adrian Smith

 

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