Some members on this board, Flyer and Bonzo among others, know that I have a keen interest in early/baroque music played on period instruments and more specifically solo, chamber and small orchestral works. I’ve compiled a my top 40 picks (organ and vocal music excluded) and will start my top 10. The list is sorted by chronological order i.e. the year of birth of the composer. This list is solely based on my personal tastes where the primary selection criterion is the interpretation. This is not an audiophile list!
- Denis Gaultier – La Réthorique des Dieux – Suites for Lute – Hopkinson Smith – Astrée AS6. If I had to select just one album from the American lute player, it would be that one.
- Arcangello Corelli - The Concertos Grossi Opus 6 - La Petite Bande / Sigiswald Kuijken - Deutsche Harmonia Mundi HM 20305-7. Corelli only composed six opus and all of them are gems. The Belgian orchestral ensemble made a wonderful recording of these beautiful concertos that are on par with Bach’s Brandenburg and Händel’s Opus 6 concertos. We know from the archives of Cardinal Ottoboni and the payment lists of all musicians employed by him that Corelli had a rather large-scale orchestra with some 60 players. La Petite Bande is not that large but is still capable to give a sense of sheer power. Should you want to find a version with an orchestra of the same size of Corelli’s, you will need to go on digital and acquire the version by Chiara Bianchini and Jasper Christensen.
- Marin Marais – Pièces de violes du Quatrième Livre - Suitte d’un goût étanger – Jordi Savall, Ton Koopman and Hopkinson Smith – Astrée AS13. Suites for viol from the Fourth Book. My favourite out of the three records. Note that Jordi Savall also recorded some pieces from the 3rd and 5th Books but these are only available on digital. Jordi Savall got all the rights of these recordings and they are now available in digital format from Alia Vox, Savall’s label.
- Johan Pachelbel – Hexacordium Appolinis – Suites for Harpsichord – Huguette Grémy-Chauliax – FY 074. Known for his canon, Pachelbel was mainly a composer for keyboard instruments (organ and harpsichord). The interpretation by Hugette Grémy-Chauliac (Scott Ross’ teacher BTW) is superb as well as the sound of the instrument, a William Dowd manufactured in 1976 and inspired by a Flemish harpsichord designed by Ruckers. One of the best harpsichord recordings available.
- Johann Sebastian Bach – The Well Tempered Keyboard (Book 1 and Book 2) – Gustav Leonhardt – BASF Harmonia Mundi 59 29173-1. The ultimate box set. Composed by a genius and played by a master.
- Johann Sebastian Bach - Variations Goldberg – Michel Kiener – Cercle Kallistos CK 1004. One of the best recordings of harpsichord if not the best. This solar interpretation is played on a superb Dowd based on the design of a Flemish harpsichord by Ruckers. Unfortunately, this double LP was only released in 1000 copies so the chances to find one are slim. Should you put your hands on it, just jump and you won’t regret it but it won’t be cheap. An excellent alternative is the version that Gustav Leonhardt recorded with Telefunken ref. SAWT 9474-A. I personally prefer this version to the one that Leonhardt recorded later with DHM but it is a matter of personal taste. Another great one is the version by Blandine Verlet with Philips ref. 6768 074.
- Johan Sebastian Bach – Six Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin – Sigiswald Kuijken – Deutsche Harmonia Mundi DHL 20401.03. A fantastic desert island box set which commands a premium on Discogs but it is worth it.
- Johann Sebastian Bach- Suites for cello - Anner Bylsma – SEON RCA RL 30369. Though I have many different versions of the suites, it is one of my all time favourites. The Dutch master recorded another version on digital for Sony with a very powerful Stradivarius (The Servais from the Smithsonian Institute) but I much prefer the rather rough sound of his personal Matteo Gofriller. Avoid the American pressing.
- Johann Sebastian Bach – The Keyboard Concertos – Leonhardt Consorts, Concentus Musicus / Gustav Leonhardt - Telefunken Das Alte Werk SCA 25 022-T/1-5. A must have.
- Johann Sebastian Bach- Brandenburg Concertos – Gustav Leonhardt – SEON RL 30400. A beautiful but rather austere interpretation. I also need to mention the first recording by Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Concentus Musicus with Telefunken ref. SAWT 9459/60-A.
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