Albinoni/Telemann: Oboe Concertos

Advantages: Relaxing, serene, dreamy
Disadvantages: The first track is not actual Albinoni

...to the rest of the music – actual Albinoni. Many of the tracks are concertos for solo violins against the typical larger string orchestra of violin, viola, cello and continuo (tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20). The continuo instrument, usually being a harpsichord or organ. The baroque era is dominated by the use of strings and here they can be appreciated for their outstanding qualities. The adagios are slow, smooth and serene decorated with trills and turns. Albinoni was also credited for being the first Italian composer of Oboe concertos. A number of the tracks on the album feature solo oboes against the larger string orchestra (tracks 4, 7, 10, 13). Albinoni's uses the oboe almost like a singer creating a lyrical and pleasant melody to the accompanying strings. Also on the album are three sonatas (tracks 21, 22... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Lively, fun, recorder solos
Disadvantages: None

...Suite and Concertos for Recorder Introduction Composed by George Philipp Telemann, the CD was released on 3rd June 2002 on the Naxos label. It retails at approximately £4.99 and is available at most music stores. The CD has a playing time of 75 minutes. The CD comprises of a Suite and three concertos. A suite is a set of instrumental works intended to be performed together. The typical Baroque suite was a combination of dance movements. Telemann, however, played an important part in the development of the suite and its changing format to that of the classical period. In the suite presented on this CD, the movements are a mix of dance and chamber music. Telemann claimed to have composed about two hundred suites of which over half have some sort of concerto writing in them. A concerto (I apologise to anyone who has read this in my... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Beautiful relaxing music. Rich instrumentation. Played with passion.
Disadvantages: Not all instruments are from the period.

...is completely different with an unexpected but delectable quartet of trumpet, recorder, oboe, and violin soloists set against the main body of strings and continuo. The third concerto is more conventional and straightforward using just three violins, three violas and three cellos with harpsichord and bass continuo. Each of the three instruments are given equal dominance and the music flows almost conversationally between rising to a boisterous bursts of energy. In the fourth concerto, recorders are heard in the distance over the stringed accompaniment. The recorders, played by brothers Christopher and Richard Taylor (famous for playing flutes with the Beatles on Fool on the Hill and Magical Mystery Tour) with clarity and precision, exude an irresistible charm and sweetness. This is often considered to be the lightest and prettiest... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful