Customer Reviews

Españoleta

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD is Chatham Baroque's continental counterpart to their earlier and equally enjoyable release, "Sol y Sombra: Baroque Music of Latin America". Guest percussionist Danny Mallon provides spicy yet appropriate percussion, while Becky Baxter adds harp to the equation, an instrument highly favored by the Spaniards. Varying rhythms, Hispanic flourishes and the complimentary sounds of castanets and tambourine make this album a standout in the group's repertoire, and downright fun to listen to. Having grown up with much more somber interpretations of Baroque music, I smile every time I hear "Espanoleta!". Continuously. For 64 minutes and 17 seconds. (Hurts a little after a while, but it's worth it.) This is probably my favorite release by Chatham Baroque, though it is difficult to choose between them--they are all wonderful! If you like this CD, you'll also like "Sol y Sombra", as well as two lively recordings by harpist Andrew Lawrence-King and his consort: "Spanish Dances: Selections from `Luz y Norte' by Lucas Ruiz de Ribayaz--Madrid, 1677" and "Jacaras!: 18th Century Spanish Baroque Guitar Music of Santiago de Murcia". Becky Baxter, guest harpist on "Espanoleta!", has a solo release from Dorian called "O Lux Beata: Renaissance Harp Music", which is also fun, showcasing a variety of different harps and harping styles with an assortment of guest accompanists.

...I would strongly suggest queueing up this disc and letting it play-- again and again. It does not get stale!

Chatham Baroque's most engaging quality is the degree of pleasure with which they play their music: they seem to live it and feel it like no other early music group I know. When I listen to them, either in the privacy of my own home or their concert locales, it is the sense that these fine musicians are doing what they love-- and I am enriched by it! The thrill they get playing the music is transmitted to the listening experience.

The performances on this disk are so clear, clean and strong; the addition of the harp and percussion is a wonderful gift-- arranged to perfection-- and everyone gets to shine. This is music for a bright sunshine-filled mid-afternoon; a day when nothing in the world seems wrong.

The wonderful flavor of the Latin style of baroque is something you must hear to believe; the quality of the musicianship will be obvious. Do not hesitate to get yourself a copy-- and I think that if you listen to it on a gloomy, gray day, it would bring the warmth of a crisp sunny day to every room in your house.

The quality and content from Chatham Baroque just keeps getting better with every release. Esanoleta is lively, fresh and and a welcome addition to my baroque music collection. Scott Pauley has proven himself to be a true virtuoso in Baroque Guitar. A MUST BUY!

This instumental music definitely soothes the soul. It compliments any social occasion. The musicians and composers display great talent and depth in each song.

This album of Spanish baroque music is bright, cheerful, intricate, and flawlessly performed. The only bad thing about it is that I have to fight the temptation to play it every day! Even people who don't like classical music will love this, so you can use it as background music for dinner parties.

Normally, I am not much of a baroque fan. However, this beautiful collection of songs has me listening to the CD in my car, at work, wherever I can. It is intriguing and delightful. I have started giving it as a gift along with a bottle of red Spanish wine - always goes over well. I HIGHLY recommend it.

Espanoleta continues Chatham Baroque's performing of Spanish music influenced by New World Indian and West African sources. I liked Sol y Sombra and was very pleased that this CD was filled with equally vigorous and stylish music and is equally satisfactory as a musical program. The distinctive sound of the group is still present, with excellent playing by all. I particularly enjoyed the contributions of the viola da gamba, guitars, harp and percussion. These, together with the violins, make Chatham Baroque's characteristic sound elegant and lively. The addition of the percussion and harp added a musical texture that I liked a lot. I have seen them in concert, and their obvious enjoyment of the music was a great bonus. Here, the high standard of production values at Dorian makes up for the fact that you can't see them digging into the music. You can hear both the distinctive and pleasing musical imagination and the high level of instrumental virtuosity that is characteristic of all their albums.

This music is enchanting! Can't find the words to explain how beatiful this music is. After hearing this CD about a thousand times already, I feel like visiting Madrid and Barcelona and just travel all across spain for a few days listenning to this CD.

Baroque music like this was the jazz of its era, and it takes an ensemble like Chatham Baroque to roll up its sleeves and get loose about the pieces. That's why I've been listening to this CD again and again -- I'm always hearing new stuff in it, and the Sanz selection that kicks off the disc is one of my all-time favorites. Don't miss this one!

Most classical music fans do not associate Spain with Baroque Era music, which was predominantly music of the German Protestant Johann Sebastian Bach, or the English George Frederic Handel and Henry Purcell, and the Italian bunch- Vivaldi, Scarlatti, Corelli. But Spain during the years of the Baroque period (1600-1750) had its own Baroque piece of the pie sort to speak. Some composers here are credited as anonymous while others were most likely composers of the Spanish court or popular folk music composers. This collection features a mix of elegant, soothing and lively music, mostly for guitar, harp and strings. The guitar (then called a lute or mandolin) is very dominant in this particular music. It is gorgeous to hear and the various court danzas are a pleasure to hear. The music sounds fresh and clear, and seems straight out of the past. The bailes were considered dances for the common folk, rustic dances, and are thus stripped of slow-moving grandeur and are fast-paced and ebullient pieces. This is a must have for fans of ancient music. I would even add this to your collection of Renaissance Music, Elizabethan music and or Respighi's Ancient Airs and Dances.