Customer Reviews

Pachelbel Canon and Other Baroque Favorites

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

 

 

I must admit, I was somewhat disappointed with this CD. It's true, it has some wonderful tracks by relatively obscure composers (Marcello, Locatelli, Corrette), although these particular selections often appear in Baroque compilations. Some of the renditions on this album lack subtlety. Bach's "Air on a G-String" is appropriately slow, but shows no variation in dynamics, and the piece lacks its characteristic depth. The Mouret Rondeau (the infamous "Masterpiece Theater" theme) is overblown and bombastic in this recording, possessing none of the dignity for which the piece is so well known. Curiously, both the first and last track are Pachebel's Canon: upon first listening, I thought perhaps they would have a different version at the end of the album. No. They just have the exact same track twice, a somewhat ungainly version with the organ replacing the double bass, and again, no sensitivity with dynamics. The booklet claims these classics are "memorably performed by some of the world's finest artists", but fails to name any performers! This low budget disc contains no documentation with information about the pieces, the composers, or the performances. For the connoisseur seeking definitive recordings, this CD should not even be a thought. For some who doesn't know anything about Baroque music and simply doesn't know where to start, I wouldn't recommend starting here. Start learning about Baroque music with Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, not with this odd compilation.

A bit disappointed in the quality of the orchestral arrangements. Not my favorite c.d.

This is a very nice collection of tracks, that fit together very well as a whole listening experience. Other compilations might have great work, but the difference in recording, styles of music and performance vary so well it doesn't work. This sounds as if it were made to be a complete album. Very good. Unbeatable for the price.

This is a MUST BUY for those who dabble in classical and especially those who like "baroque" music. These are not the grand symphonies and overtures of Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, these are mostly small, powerful, beautiful concertos.

If you pick up a "best-of" or any other "collection" of baroque music you'll likely find the following: something from Handel's Watermusic, something from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and Pachelbel's Canon. OK, so this CD has Watermusic and Canon (twice!). More importantly, it also features some fantastic music by the lesser known figures like Correlli,Marcello, Corrette.

This CD has both quiet/relaxing pieces and stirring/energetic ones, and it also features strings, harpsichords, horns, and wind instruments (not just 15 violin concertos, like many others.) GET THIS CD!!!