price:$14.99
MSR Classics
Usually ships in 24 hours 『At the dawn of the Baroque era, Venetian composer Giovanni Gabrieli and his followers developed the concertato style of composition. One result of this innovation was to encourage composers throughout Europe to explore the expressive and technical solo possibilities of instruments like the bassoon, traditionally relegated to non-solo roles. More than a century later, late Baroque masters Antonio Vivaldi, Georg Philipp Telemann and Jan Dismas Zelenka, all born within a three-year span, composed some of the finest and most challenging music ever written for the bassoon. This recording features several works from this era.
For this recording a bassoon, rather than the cello, was used as the bass continuo instrument in combination with the harpsichord, except in the Zelenka Trio, where the composer specified violone as one of the instruments of choice. Accordingly, the modern double bass was employed here.
Introduced to the bassoon while in public school in his hometown of Massapequa, New York, Frank Morelli studied with Stephen Maxym at the Manhattan and Juilliard Schools of Music, and was the first bassoonist to be awarded a doctorate by the Juilliard School. With over 140 recordings for major labels to his credit, his recording of the Mozart Bassoon Concerto with Orpheus on the DG label won international critical acclaim. The Orpheus CD "Shadow Dances," which features Morelli, won a 2001 Grammy. He has made eight appearances as a soloist in Carnegie Hall and has appeared with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center on numerous occasions, including at the Whitehouse for the final state dinner of the Clinton presidency. A member of the renowned quintet, Windscape, ensemble-in-residence at the Manhattan School of Music, he also serves on the faculties of the Juilliard, Yale and SUNY Stony Brook. He is editor of the landmark excerpt book, "Stravinsky: Difficult Passages for! Bassoon", published by Boosey&Hawkes. Frank Morelli is principal bassoonist of the New York City Opera Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the American Composers Orchestra.』
price:$17.98
G Records
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (1st rate Telemann, excellent, warm sound) 『It is a fair criticism of some period instrument recordings that the strings sound "edgy" or overly bright. Much as I enjoy Musica Antiqua Koln, for example, I don't think their sound, as represented by their recordings, is as flattering, or pleasant, as they sound live. It is indeed bright, and on the wrong hi-fi, edgy and wearing.
The German label MDG has been getting good press for their recording quality, and this recording is a great example of why that is so. It is one of the warmest and richest recordings of a period instrument group that I have heard. Happily, that group, Musica Alta Ripa, is first rate. It is a small ensemble--there are 11 players on this record, including a wonderful bassoon "guest" artist, and they utilize not only a harpsichord, but a theorbo or baroque guitar in the continuo part.
And how can you go wrong with Telemann? Most of this disc consists of music for strings (pleasantly interrupted by a concerto for recorder, bassoon and strings). It is as good a cross-section of Telemann's work as this listener has encountered, with the possible exception of the best of Telemann's Tafelmusic.
price:$16.99
Crystal Records
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Solidly enjoyable) 『Ralph Sauer recently retired from the LA Philharmonic after more than thirty years as principal trombonist. This CD of Baroque and Classical transcriptions plus several more recent original compositions for trombone provides a surprising amount of musical enjoyment. I say surprising because the trombone is not primarily thought of as a solo instrument, but in the hands of such a skilled performer at the height of his powers (these performances date from the late 70s-early 80s) it certainly convinces as such. The Baroque pieces are cleanly performed with impeccable intonation and clarity, while the Haydn Concerto movement incorporates a cadenza which ascends to the high F-sharp (high even for a French horn) with no sign of strain or unsteadiness. The Serocki and Larsson are rather lightweight examples of neo-classicism spiced up with hints of jazz, while the one-movement Sulek Sonata provides a counterbalance with its somewhat overblown late Romantic gloom. Zita Carno provides exemplary accompaniments, and the sound quality has held up well save for the Larsson, which appears to have been originally recorded in a fuzzier acoustic.』
(Consistancy) 『Mr. Sauer does indeed play like an orchestral musician. Some may think that means a dry interpretation. It's true, there's not a lot of 'cheese' in this music. However, Sauer's sound is always clear and warm and his articulations all match. This album is a perfect example of consistant playing. He eliminates the unnecessary and lets the music shine through. Only on close inspection will the listener realize they're being treated to almost perfect playing. Every note is a gem.』
(An excellent recording for study.) 『While I have to agree on the previous reviewer's comments in that the Serocki and Sulek were not exactly 'dynamically extroverted', I think it's unfair to dismiss the entire album as unimpressive. Sauer's renditions of the Handel, Telemanns, Haydn and Larsson are, in my humble opinion, A-Grade.
Besides the fact that most of these pieces in question (excluding Larsson) aren't 'virtuosic display vehicles' (they're still pretty hard, though), I think that Sauer's playing here is 'true to the music'. If anything, they are very good 'middle of the road' interpretations that I would recommend to a student who may be learning one of these pieces. Lindberg can sometimes go a bit overboard on some pieces like those represnted here, and give an unorthodox interpretation that could send a student down the wrong road. Sauer's career as primarily an orchestral trombonist has probably put him into the habit of 'playing the ink', while guys like Lindberg can get away with being a bit 'creative' at times. In terms of being virtuosic, I think to be able to play a solid valve-register D on a straight tenor and then go all the way to articulate a High F-Sharp (I mean high,high F#) is still impressive. His execution of trills, mordents, and other ornaments is also well done.
There aren't that many Trombone Recordings around the place, so I don't think we can be too picky. Nevertheless, this is still an excellent recording. Buy it and decide for yourself.』
(Unimpressive) 『I am a fairly experienced trombonist, and I purchased the cd looking for a recording of the Serocki, which I was performing at the time. I found Sauer's interpretation to be robotic, and I felt as if he didn't find dynamics to be important aspects of music at all. In my opinion, he is being a technician and not a musician on this cd. His playing is entirely unimpressive, and not worth listening to at all. I recommend purchasing a Joe Alessi or Christian Lindberg cd, myself.』
price:$17.98
Chesky Records
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Bad Old Bach) 『It's performances like these that give baroque performance a bad name. How many of these graceless, metronomic performances have we all suffered through? The cello is ridiculously prominent, as if it has its own mike and wants to be a solo instrument.』
(A DELIGHTFUL REPAST) 『In a CD compilation of chamber works by Telemann, Handel and Bach, where the onus rests on various flute permutations and combinations, jaded or, worse, dull performances can easily bore one to tears. Luckily, this is not the case here. Instead we are treated to the warmth and breadth of these baroque compositions, some familiar, others not, but all played with the utmost sense of the moment, and caught faithfully, and gorgeously, by Chesky engineer, Bob Katz. Hats off to flutist Schocker's mesmerizing tonal range, expressiveness and insight. Praise, as well, to Mr. Schocker's fine ensemble, with a special nod to cellist Ted Hoyle whose ever-present "voice" adds substantial emotional impact.
Note: As the product CD lists no contents outside the inset sleeve, it would be wise to do so here. Mr. Schocker's recital includes, in this order:
Telemann: Sonata in F minor fr. Der Getreue Musikmeister Telemann: Canonic Sonata No. 1 in G Bach: Sonata in E minor (BWV 10340) Handel: Sonata in F, Op. 1, No. 11 Bach: Partita in A minor for Solo Flute (BWV 1013) Bach: Sonata in G for Two Flutes』