The fourth of our new digital-only ‘Intangible Classics’ series and of the Diana Boyle edition is a double album devoted to the six Partitas for Keyboard by Johann Sebastian Bach. As with all of the Diana Boyle recordings, this performance resulted from years of study and absorbtion of the music, giving us an interpretation second to none.
Period: Baroque
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Diana Boyle – Bach Goldberg Varations
The first of our new digital-only ‘Intangible Classics’ series and of the Diana Boyle edition; a superb rendition of this timeless masterpiece. Though recorded in 2003, this recording has never been available until now and demonstrates Diana Boyle’s deep and thoughtful approach to the works of Bach.
Like Die Kunst der Fuge, Bach’s Goldberg Variations, BWV 899, have come to be seen as one of the pinnacles of keyboard writing, not only of the baroque era but of all time. The Aria with diverse variations for a harpsichord with two manuals as it is formally named is the capstone of the Clavierübung publication project which was finalised in 1741. Amazingly, like much of Bach’s work, it remained an esoteric and little-known work until introduced into the repertoire by Rudolf Serkin in the 1920s.
Diana Boyle is a fine pianist who records little but prepares each recording with years of thought, consideration and meditation on the music. She moved to the Goldberg Variations after recording Book II of the Well-Tempered Clavier as a stepping stone to the inscrutable Art of Fugue. She avoided listening to any other versions, because as she says, “I need to find my own voice when studying these masterpieces and then try to express those thoughts at the keyboard.” Like all of Boyle’s work this is a very carefully prepared and well crafted performance, an excellent addition to the library of recordings of this work.
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Natalia Andreeva plays Preludes & Fugues
After the highly praised recording of music by Ustvolskaya (DDA 25130), Natalia Andreeva presents a brief survey of the Prelude and Fugue – one of the most prevalent of keyboard forms over the centuries. From Bach to Shostakovich, this concert-format album is a useful introduction to the genre, and also a fine interpretation for the experts to enjoy. Two of Rachmaninoff’s Etude-tableaux are included as ‘bonus encores’.
Companion album: ‘Piano Sonatas’ from Beethoven, Scriabin and Prokofiev (DDA 25140). Plus: Ustvolskaya’s Violin and Piano music on DDA 25182
Natalia Andreeva is a Russian pianist who is currently Lecturer in Piano at the University of Sydney, Australia. Her 2015 recording of the music of Galina Ustvolskaya was very well received, and like that album, this new recording of better-known classical and Romantic works is the result of many years of study, developing her own mental picture of these masterpieces and of what the composers were trying to communicate.
There are various links between the works – in fact Liszt, Franck and Shostakovich were all influenced by Bach generally, as well as composing in the Prelude and Fugue form that he made a staple of the keyboard repertoire.
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Psallite
A superb programme of choral works based on or inspired by Psalms, with items from the 16th century and many new works specially commissioned by SDG Music Foundation as part of their worldwide Psalms Project.
Delightfully varied including awesome arrangements of African-American spirituals as well as a range of contemporary works by composers from several countries, this album displays the excellent qualities of Cor Cantiamo. It will appeal to anyone who loves good singing whatever their religious beliefs!
Booklet includes all the texts.
Cor Cantiamo also present the gorgeous choral works of James Whitbourn on DDA 25192 -
Mersenne’s Clavichord
Not one example of an original French clavichord survives. The instrument played on this historically important recording is a new construction following the specifications published by Marin Mersenne in the 17th century. It’s therefore the only example of how early French keyboard music may have actually sounded to the first audiences. A range of works from the 16th and 17th centuries are presented, all French except the well known Toccata by Sweelinck, whose music was prevalent around France at the time.
Also by Terence Charlston is The Harmonious Thuringian (DDA 25122).
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Charles Avison: Collected Concerti Grossi & Keyboard Sonatas
The Avison Ensemble with Pavlo Beznosiuk & Caroline Balding (violin), Gary Cooper (harpsichord), Robert Howarth (harpsichord & chest organ)
25% off the price of individual purchases!
5 Double CD sets comprising:- DDA 21210 Concerti Grossi after Geminiani
- DDA 21211 12 Concerti Grossi, Opp. 9 & 10
- DDA 21213 Concerti Grossi after Scarlatti
- DDA 21214 Keyboard and Trio Sonatas, Opp.1 & 8
- DDA 21215 Harpsichord Sonatas, Opp. 5 & 7
Award winning and highly praised recordings of wonderful baroque music: all but DDA21213 are first-ever recordings
All downloads include booklets in PDF format. -
Handel: Suites for Harpsichord, Vol. 3
Acknowledged without reservation as the greatest composer working in England in the 18th century, Georg Frideric Handel is revered worldwide as a master composer. His Harpsichord Suites are among the finest instrumental works of the period, we are privileged to present exquisite performances by Gilbert Rowland, one of Europe’s foremost harpsichordists. The first two volumes received very positive press reviews and this third and final installment will not disappoint in the splendid playing and excellent instrument.
More details for Volume One and Volume Two.
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J S Bach: Keyboard Concertos
The Bach Keyboard Concertos are cornerstones of the baroque repertoire, for performance both on modern instruments as here, or on ‘authentic period’ fortepianos, harpsichords or clavichords. Maltese pianist Lucia Micallef is lauded wherever she performs for crisp, articulate phrasing and nuance and this shows through clearly in this beautifully balanced and lively performance. The EUCO under Brian Schembri shine and support perfectly. Among the hundreds of recordings made of these works, this one has a freshness that will make it stand out for a very long time.
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Beyond the River God: Music for Harpsichord
A selection of works by the greatest harpsichord composer of all — François Couperin, and from contemporary British composer Graham Lynch, who is a very worthy successor with music that is expressive, descriptive, deep and exceptionally rich, showing that the harpsichord is capable of real expression.
The Lynch pieces are receiving their first recordings. Established virtuoso Assi Karttunen is from Finland and this is her first album for Divine Art, and a showcase for her amazing talent at the keyboard.
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Bach: Keyboard Works
This album was awarded a silver medal in the Global Music Awards 2018 for ‘Outstanding Achievement’.
It is always good to welcome to our company a musician of the stature of Burkard Schliessmann, and also to present our first multichannel SACD in luxury packaging.
This album demonstrates once again the sheer genius of Bach but also the individual and highly considered interpretative style of the performer. Schliessmann is not a purist demanding rigid tempi and ‘traditional’ baroque styling but recognises the inner soul of the music and brings it to life in a new way – thus this recording will be welcomed as a new approach even to those who know the works very well.
Also a special inclusion on the disc is BWV 906, which Bach left as a Fantasia and an unfinished Fugue. The Fugue was completed by Busoni who also inserted the Adagio, BWV 968, which was arranged for piano either by one of Bach’s sons or by the publisher Altnickol. It makes for a highly rewarding complete work.
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Handel’s Recorder
Three of Australia’s leading early-music specialists recorded this album in collaboration with Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It contains four of Handel’s famed recorder sonatas in the early John Walsh edition, in exemplary performances.
The major and most unusual work on the album is the John Walsh edition from the 1740s of the Music for the Royal Fireworks in a chamber version, arranged here for recorder and viola da gamba with harpsichord continuo. It was one of many variations of the work which were popular before the full orchestral version became the ‘norm’ at a much later date. While of short duration this is a program that is complete and has full integrity as a concert program.
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The Harmonious Thuringian (Harpsichord)
Thuringia is a region of Germany in which both Bach and Handel grew up. It was here that a distinctive form of harpsichord was built, very different to most others, with a wonderful tone. This was most likely the type of intrument with which the composers were familiar. One survives and has been replicated beautifully by David Evans, this being its recording debut. Possibly we are hearing these great baroque works more accurately presented than ever before.
Leading early-music specialist Terence Charlston plays music by the relatively young J S Bach and G F Handel and several of their contemporaries from the late 17th and very early 18th centuries.
Charlston plays another unique instrument in 16th and 17th century music: “Mersenne’s Clavichord” DDA 25134.