100 Best Baroque

George Frederick Handel (Composer), Jeremiah Clarke (Composer), John Dowland (Composer), Henry Purcell (Composer), Thomas [Composer] Tallis (Composer), William [Composer] Byrd (Composer), Claudio Monteverdi (Composer), Tomaso Albinoni (Composer), Gregorio Allegri (Composer), Giovanni Gabrieli (Composer), Antonio Vivaldi (Composer), Benedetto Marcello (Composer), Luigi Boccherini (Composer), Domenico Scarlatti (Composer), Giovanni Pergolesi (Composer), Antonio Lotti (Composer), Giuseppe Tartini (Composer), Antonio Soler (Composer), Tomas Luis de Victoria (Composer), Antonio Martin y Coll (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: George Frederick Handel, Jeremiah Clarke, John Dowland, Henry Purcell, Thomas [Composer] Tallis, et al.
• Audio CD (August 29, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 6
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000H2M2P2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,090 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #12 in Music > Classical > Ballets & Dances > Historical Periods > Renaissance (c.1450-1600)
  • #16 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Sonatas > Canzones
  • #18 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Reeds & Winds > Piccolo

Track Listings

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Editorial Reviews

This 6CD set provides a comprehensive overview of Baroque music and serves as an excellent introduction for someone who would like to hear more of the Baroque style beyond Spring from The Four Seasons or Canon by Pachelbel. Each piece has been expertly played and recorded reflecting the best that Baroque music has to offer, including music from Bach, Handel, Purcell, Vivaldi, Scarlatti, Pachelbel, Telemann and Boccherini amongst others look no further for a wonderful Baroque musical experience. Recommended in Laura Berquist Syllabus Grade 7 Artist: Various Format: 6 discs, Audio CD Publisher: EMI Classics ISBN: 0-9463709072

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great value, if slightly substandard recordings, for classical newbie, March 23, 2007

By 

Scott Schiefelbein (Portland, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 100 Best Baroque (Audio CD)

"100 Best Baroque" is what it seems - a compilation of the 100 definitive Baroque compositions. For a very low price you get a complete overview of the Baroque style, and while the sound quality of the recordings will not satisfy a serious student or fan of classical music, they are more than enough for a classical neophyte such as myself.

The compilation breaks down the songs into six categories on six separate CDs:

1. England and the Baroque - Handel's Zadok the Priest and Messiah, Purcell's O Solitude, Byrd's With Lillies White, etc.

2. The Best of Italian Baroque - Handel's Alcina and others, Albinoni's Adagio, Gabrielli's Sonata Pian e forte, Vivaldi's "Summer," etc.

3. Treasures of the Mediterranean Baroque - Vivaldi's Gloria, Boccherini's Guitar Quintet in E, Soler's Fandango, etc.

4. The Glory of French Baroque - Philidor, Lully, De Lalande, etc.

5. Bach and His Time - Pachelbel's Canon in D, J.S. Bach's Cantanta, Telemann, etc.

6. The Genius of Bach - all Bach selections.

The sound recordings are of secondary quality as one could expect for such a low-budget item as this. Still, this collection is perfect for the casual listener or for background music. That does not mean that the quality is poor - far from it - it's just not as good as what you can expect from some higher-priced CDs.

All in all, a fantastic value.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but Poorly Organized Music Selection, April 23, 2009

By 

Kerry (Raleigh, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 100 Best Baroque (Audio CD)

Let me start by saying that I am definitely not a Baroque music expert by any means, so my thinking about how poorly organized the music selection is might be off-base. If so, please correct me, because I really want to know!

Upon receiving this set, I noticed pretty immediately that the "Treasures Of Mediterranean Baroque" contained many composers that I always just thought of as Italian, such as Vivaldi and Tartini, which should have been a part of the set's "The Best of Italian Baroque" Disk -- and actually, there are also Vivaldi pieces on "The Best of Italian Baroque", and I don't understand what factors are considered in deciding which pieces went on which disk.

There are also several Handel pieces on "The Best of Italian Baroque", which should actually belong on a German Baroque Disk (which the set does not contain), or on the set's "England & The Baroque" disk -- and actually, there are also Handel pieces on the "England & The Baroque" disk.

I enjoyed the music, and especially appreciated the Bach selections for the two Bach disks. However, I was hoping I would be able to learn more about regional Baroque sounds, and because of the confusing way the set is organized, that won't be part of my listening experience.