Customer Reviews

Art of the Baroque Harpsichord

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have seen Laurence Cummings directing baroque opera at the Royal Academy of Music many times. This CD had the same spirit of spontaneity, vivacity and true music making that I love in any recording. Listening to the Handel Suite made me imagine the irrepressable man himself improvising at the keyboard. Laurence Cummings seems to conjure up an alarmingly true and potent 18th-century sensibility with each flourish.

Never have I been more inspired by a classical music recording! This shows a breadth of expression and a sensitivity to this beautiful music. A must have!

If you like harpsichord and Baroque music you'll enjoy this CD. I bought it because my son wanted to hear what a harpsichord sounded like. He enjoyed it so much that he'd like to build one and learn to play it. So it was a good investment toward my children's music appreciation.

The cd has a great selection of harpsichord music that showcased the instrument in different musical settings. I have enjoyed it very much.

Art of the Baroque Harpsichord is a beautifully done cd all around. The playing is very expressive. I found the liner notes about the composers very interesting. I bought this cd to learn more about Domenico Scarlatti's music, but the pieces by Bach and Handel are perfect as well. Love it!

This CD contains some true highlights of the Baroque harpsichord literature. If you want to own just one CD of harpsichord music, this one is certainly a good choice.

Laurence Cummings puts in a performance that is at the same time energetic and sensitive, and follows the maxim that "good taste is to avoid exaggeration." I have never yet tired of his interpretation of the Scarlatti sonatas K 119 and K 120.

The harpsichord used in these recordings was built by Bruce Kennedy, based on a Mietke instrument of 1704, with a superb tone that is very well suited to the (non-French) selections on this disc.