Customer Reviews

Baroque & On the Street

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

 

 

My parents had this record and played it over and over again, along with Segovia's Bach recordings. They're the reason I took up classical guitar. The album uses non-traditional (for this kind of music anyway) instruments, yet doesn't disrespect the music in any way. To this day one of my favorite arrangements for the Sonata in G minor Larghetto. I've been trying to get a copy of this album on CD as my family considers our vinyl copy an "heirloom". Sadly I can't seem to find any online. I guess I'll just have to keep visiting amazon.com for the audio samples! Sony, have a heart!

or just for relaxing and organizing your thoughts. The pieces are familiar even to people who think they've never heard Baroque music, and the playing is so impressive and musical that my "I Hate Classical Music" teenage son was blown away!

"Baroque and on the Streets" puts some old, classical-radio-station runVivaldi tunes into new fettle with the interpretation of New York street musicians.

Banjo for harpsichord? Soprano sax (and hauntingly so) for recorder? You bet.

The only reasons I didn't five-star this is because it's so short! Under 45 minutes. And, so hard to get. I had this on vintage vinyl when it first came out and it took years of hunting and waiting here and at other online sellers before I got it.

And, Mr. Frederic Hand, can't we have more than a one-shot venture on this? I've got other "experimental" albums, like the Modern Mandolin Quintet; I like stuff like this.

This is one of the CD's (OK - one of the albums on my solar powered MP3 player) that I would take with me if stranded on a desert island.

I first heard Frederic Hand playing background music for the movie "Kramer vs. Kramer" ( I believe you see him briefly as a "busker" in the film). This album led me to the creation of a modest collection of baroque music played on non-traditional instruments (such as banjo, harmonica and synthesizer), or contemporary music played on baroque instruments.

"Baroque and on the Street" brings a smile to almost anyone who hears it, especially "Il Pastor Fido" - you can practically see a gang of puppies playing in the grass!

Sadly, I believe it's out of print, but still available used and from Arkiv Music.

Highly recommended!