Rating: 4/5
Review:
Interesting and very well performed
This is a good double-CD of gamba music from 17th-Century
Berlin. They are adaptations of hymn tunes and
religious music of the time by an unknown composer/arranger known only as
"J.R." and they form an interesting and often very rewarding
programme.
The music itself is good while not being utterly brilliant,
I think. "J.R." was plainly a
fine musician who truly understood the gamba and each miniature here shows the
instrument's capabilities both in its slightly hoarse-sounding upper voice
(which I have always loved) and in its astonishingly powerful bass
resonances. There is melodic and
harmonic invention here, but a long sequence of these pieces does begin to pall
a little. Nonetheless, a few at a time
sound great.
Dietmar Berger's playing is excellent. I hadn't come across him before, but I'm very
glad to have heard his playing now. He
is expressive and thoughtful, and he brings fabulous sounds from his instrument
(very well recorded by Naxos). The notes are basic but adequate and this is
a good disc all round. Gamba enthusiasts
like me will certainly want this, but thre is much to enjoy for anyone with an
interest in 17th-century music.
Recommended.
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