David Russell Plays Baroque Music

George Frederick Handel (Composer), Jean-Baptiste Loeillet (Composer), Domenico Scarlatti (Composer), Antonio Vivaldi (Composer), David Russell (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: David Russell
• Composer: George Frederick Handel, Jean-Baptiste Loeillet, Domenico Scarlatti, Antonio Vivaldi
• Audio CD (January 23, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B0000584Y6
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,621 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #15 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Reeds & Winds > Recorder

Track Listings

1. Suite for harpsichord (or spinet) No. 1, in G minor: 1. Allemande

2. Suite for harpsichord (or spinet) No. 1, in G minor: 2. Corente

3. Suite for harpsichord (or spinet) No. 1, in G minor: 3. Sarabanda

4. Suite for harpsichord (or spinet) No. 1, in G minor: 4. Aria

5. Suite for harpsichord (or spinet) No. 1, in G minor: 5. Minuet

6. Suite for harpsichord (or spinet) No. 1, in G minor: 6. Giga

7. Sonata for cello & continuo No. 6 in B flat major (Six Sonatas No. 6), Op. 14/6, RV 46: 1. Largo

8. Sonata for cello & continuo No. 6 in B flat major (Six Sonatas No. 6), Op. 14/6, RV 46: 2. Allegro

9. Sonata for cello & continuo No. 6 in B flat major (Six Sonatas No. 6), Op. 14/6, RV 46: 3. Largo 2

10. Sonata for cello & continuo No. 6 in B flat major (Six Sonatas No. 6), Op. 14/6, RV 46: 4. Allegro 2

11. Recorder Sonata in A minor, Op.1/4, HWV 362: 1. Larghetto

12. Recorder Sonata in A minor, Op.1/4, HWV 362: 2. Allegro

13. Recorder Sonata in A minor, Op.1/4, HWV 362: 3. Adagio

14. Recorder Sonata in A minor, Op.1/4, HWV 362: 4. Allegro

15. Sonata for keyboard in D major, K. 490 (L. 206)

16. Sonata for keyboard in D major, K. 491 (L. 164)

17. Sonata for keyboard in C major, K. 501 (L. 137)

18. Sonata for keyboard in C major, K. 308 (L. 359)

19. Sonata for keyboard in C major, K. 309 (L. 454)

20. Sonata for keyboard in G major, K. 390 (L. 234)

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, lively transcriptions!, February 25, 2001

By 

Richard B. Schuchman (Orlando, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: David Russell Plays Baroque Music (Audio CD)

Baroque guitar cd's have a tendency to sound alike; all very stately and undertoned but without much punch or counterpoint to keep things interesting. This is NOT one of them! Russell's transcriptions sparkle and delight. The Loeillet piece that begins the program has some great counterpoint as a result of being previously for keyboard and ranks up there with some of Bach's compositions. The rest of the pieces are more of the same excellence, with Russell's cross-string trills and virtuosity making themselves apparent everywhere. It must also be noted the guitar he plays, a Dammann, has a wonderful tone and presence and, to my ears, similiar to a Smallman, especially in some of the strong, bassy chords. Though the composers are famous, the music is not standard repertoire (apart from a few of the Scarlatti) and so makes a sort of "new music" cd of Baroque tunes. Fans of his highly regarded Baroque cd on GHA will be greatly pleased by this one.

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very good stuff, May 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: David Russell Plays Baroque Music (Audio CD)

I like David Russel alot. His interpretations really bring music to life with gorgeous texture and perceptive phrasing. His choice of instruments are usually excellent as well. This is good stuff here. I feel obligated to voice two criticisms, though. First, I don't think the Dammann guitar on this disc has pretty trebles. They are kind of nasal. The guitar(s) he used for his Barrios and Tarrega CD's are superior recording instruments and have simply better tone--really beautiful, indeed perfect! Second, I find the Scarlatti interpretations don't quite measure up to those of Stephan Schmidt, who plays with a passion and clarity like I have never heard before. I can't see anyone being disappointed with Stephan Schmidt's Scarlatti recording. Never heard better. Gorgeous guitar as well. (I think both guitarists prefer cedar guitars over spruce).

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thankfully not another "Best of the Baroque" recording, April 21, 2007

By 

Alan Lekan (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: David Russell Plays Baroque Music (Audio CD)

David Russell proves successful in these transcriptions to guitar, creating a dynamic forward progression and seamless legato that mirrors what the harpsichord would otherwise have acheived in the original. This is most impressive in the Scarlatti pieces, especially the vivacious and fascinating Sonata in D major (K.491) where Russell's sense of the whole and creative textures make it a most enticing result. His silky smooth, cross-string lead ins here create a bit of an illusion of a keyboard action. The G minor Suite of Loeillet is a refreshing less familiar piece that is hard to imagine growing weary of - unlike the Vivaldi Sonata which is, well ... another Vivaldi piece ... although with playing like Russell's, everything seems to shine regardless. Vividly recorded with a marvelous, full-bodied guitar acoutic that is hard to fault, this CD rises above the often mundane sea of classical guitar recordings of Baroque favorites. The highlight is certainly the Scarlatti transcriptions, especially the famous D major sonata. Compositions - 5 stars; Performance - 5 stars; Recording - 5 stars (Telarc's 20-bit digital master).