Customer Reviews

Wynton Marsalis Plays Handel, Purcell, Torelli, Fasch, and Molter

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Without doubt, the birthday ode to Queen Anne (Eternal Source of Light Divine) is one of the loveliest pieces ever. Couple that with two of the most accomplished talents in the world, you have a near spiritual moment. Even those with even a passing interest in the classics will find this a stirring expierence. this is true candy for the ear and food for the soul.

Marsalis' prodigious talent coupled with the greatest of Baroque brass composers is a combination that cannot be beat! Of course, Anthony Newman takes everything (less the slow stuff, of course) at his characteristic "lively" pace, but Marsalis keeps up. His execution of the ornamentation is awesome! Gotta have this one!

I first encountered this on cassette, quite by accident. It later became the background for my work at morning at the easel painting watercolours. But this is no wallpaper music. The technical genius of matching separate recordings of different trumpet parts is surpassed only by Marsalis's bright and lively technique. The masters would be pleased. As for the watercolours, I can now stand before them and see the music's influence on paper. Well worth the listening...

This cd features a lot of Wynton's earlier piccolo playing, which, while perhaps not as brilliant as you'd hear on his Gabriel's Garden album, is slightly more refined and appropriate to the repertoire. That isn't to say he doesn't embellish; The Fasch concerto has some tastefully inserted ornaments. "Let the Bright Seraphim" is as well played with soprano Edita Gruberova as it is in Wynton's later recording with Kathleen Battle. The Purcell selections on the album are probably the best examples of good piccolo playing I've found, particularly the trills. One only need listen to the "Entrada" to see how delicate and refined the playing on the whole album is.

I want you to listen, I mean listen to this album and I just don't want the casual listeners who appreciate classical or chamber music to listen.
No!, I want the musicians. Real live musicians to listen.
I don't care if you play a Classical Guitar, a Flute, or a French Horn; just listen to THIS MAN.
And if you do happened to play any type of professional 'Trumpet & Brass', Jazz band or if you are in a professional orchestra; Go ahead, listen.
You will either find yourself saying he's "Awesome" or "Damm, he's good!" or 'Wow!".
Then sit back and realize that Wynton Marsalis is really, really, really, really, really good!
No, I mean "REALLY" good ; so good that you know there are ONLY BUT a HANDFUL (like maybe ONLY 2 or 3) other trumpeters, past or present, dead or alive, that could even begin to compete with this 'Outstanding' Trumpeter.
How,I wish I could actually hear him in concert!

I'll admit, I'm rather biased about this. Anything W. Marsalis is involved with, I'm sure to love. These recordings are no exceptions. Mr. Marsalis couldn't blow a sour note if he tried. His work with Purcell ( I think purcell is W. M.'s favorite )is pure and clean, a real pleasure to the ears.

Exciting performances. Selections could be more varied. Worth having to round out a collection of baroque or early classical music

Found the vocals in the Handel number very jarring---undid the beauty of the trumpet music for me---gave it away without finishing it---knew I would never play it again. Loved Wynton Marsalis in Great Performances: Baroque Music for Trumpets & thought this would be similar.

I did not want , Wynston Marsalis with Edita Gruberova(opera)and the English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard. I wanted Wynston Marsalis "Baroque Music for Trumpets." The "Baroque Music for Trumpets" stirs the soul. The CD with Edita Gruberova racks the brain and interferes with Wynton's artistry. What a disturbance.
I believe that both CD's have the same title and thus the confusion.