Bach: Sonatas for Violin & Basso Continuo

Advantages: Romantic orchestral music
Disadvantages: Only 1 hour - eat quickly for a romantic dinner

...Johann Sebastian Bach, giant among Baroque composers, was a prolific writer whose versatility and creativity resulted in a wealth of musical works with a diversity ranging from sacred choral works, keyboard music to orchestra music. The CD, Concerto for Two Violins in D minor / Violin Concertos in A minor & E minor, is an orchestral recording conducted by Salvatore Accardo, in which two violins (Anne-Sophie Mutter and Salvatore Accardo) / solo violin (Anne-Sophie Mutter) are contrasted with a larger orchestra (English Chamber Orchestra) of strings and bass continuo instrument the harpsichord. Bach is often criticized for his strict attention to form. Whilst, I greatly admire Bach for his intellectual and methodical approach to composition, what I enjoy most is the harmonious and melodic music that results. This CD is a superb example... Read review

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

...are best heard (in my opinion) on the period instruments for which they were originally intended. Whilst Menuhin and his Bath Festival orchestra do not entirely use period instruments, the continuo is performed on the harpsichord and Menuhin uses a piccolo violin in the first. Before I go on to say a little about the individual concertos, I think maybe I should just describe what a concerto actually involves. A concerto is a form of music in which a solo instrument or instruments are contrasted with a larger body of instruments. The main body of instruments of the baroque period is the string section and a continuo instrument usually a harpsichord or organ plays the underlying harmony. The usual format for a concerto is three movements (a fast tempo movement followed firstly by a slow movement and then by another fast movement). Bach... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: everything
Disadvantages: nothing

...A cracking cd if you loooovvvveeeee clasical sounds like me I can't get enough! Johann Pachelbel Canon in D major for strings & continuo Johann Sebastian Bach Aria (Goldberg Variations, BWV 988) Toccata und Fuge D minor, BWV565 Brandenburg Concerto No.3 BWV 1048: Allegro Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni Adagio in G minor Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Adagio (Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra in A major, K. 622) Andante (Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K.467) Lacrimosa (Requiem in D minor, K. 626) Ludwig van Beethoven Allegretto (Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 "Pastoral") Adagio sostenuto (Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op.27 No. 2 -"Moonlight") Allegro con brio (Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67) Choral: Ode to Joy (Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125) Samuel Barber Adagio for Strings Op.11 Sergei V. Rachmaninov Adagio... Read review

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