Yo-Yo Ma - Simply Baroque ~ Bach & Boccherini / ABO, Koopman

Johann Sebastian Bach (Artist), Luigi Boccherini (Artist), Ton Koopman (Artist), Yo-Yo Ma (Artist), The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 9, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000I0VV
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,569 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren

2. Erbarme dich

3. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

4. Ertot' uns durch dein' Gute

5. Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ (I), chorale prelude for organ (Orgel-

6. Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter, chorale prelude for organ (Sc

7. Lass mein Herz die Munze sein

8. Dein Blut, der edle Saft

9. Air [BWV 1068]

10. No. 1, Allegro

11. No. 2, Adagio

12. No. 3, Allegro

13. No. 1, Allegro

14. No. 2, Larghetto

15. No. 3a, Rondo

16. No. 3b, Rondo comodo assai

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a masterful CD--brilliant in every way!, May 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Yo-Yo Ma - Simply Baroque ~ Bach & Boccherini / ABO, Koopman (Audio CD)

I am not a connoisseur of classicial music by any means; however, recently I saw an interview with Yo-Yo Ma and clips of him performing with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra were shown. I immediately fell in love with the sound and purchased the CD the next day. This music is joyful! It stays with me long after I've listened to it. The cello Mr. Ma uses is a 1712 Stradivarius with gut strings, so the sound is much softer. Because of the period instruments used, when I am listening I feel a connection with the people of the era who were listening to the same sounds. It's an incredible album, and I cannot think of anyone who would not adore it!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stellar instrumental music from the genius of Yo-Yo Ma, August 29, 2002

By 

Catherine S. Vodrey (East Liverpool, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yo-Yo Ma - Simply Baroque ~ Bach & Boccherini / ABO, Koopman (Audio CD)

Yo-Yo Ma's "Simply Baroque" is an elegant collection of works by by Johann Sebastian Bach and Luigi Boccherini. It's interesting that Ma and conductor Ton Koopman chose to put Bach first and then Boccherini (Boccherini was seven when Bach died in 1750). It gives you some idea of the progression of baroque music in Europe at the time.

Everything here is a winner. Ma's cello serenely grounds the excited strings on Bach's "Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren," and on the next selection, "Erbarme Dich" (from Bach's immaculate "St. Matthew's Passion"), Ma gives the cello nearly human qualities--the yearning, fear, and grave consideration implicit in this masterpiece are all here, and all are almost preternaturally expressive. What a shame that Bach never lived to hear Ma's performances!

On Bach's indelible "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," Ma's playing takes wing. He draws out the line of notes with such expression, such formidable mastery of his instrument, that my usual reaction to this particular rendition is awe--both at Bach's compositional abilities and at Ma's skill at making this old favorite sound utterly new yet utterly familiar at the same time. On a less familiar Bach piece entitled "Lar Mein Herz Die Munze Sein," Ma's cello exchanges confidences with a mellow oboe. The result is transfixing.

As far as the Boccherini pieces, we have both "Concerto in G Major" and "Concerto in D Major." Both are triumphs of musical filigree and delicate rills of notes. Ma and Koopman have done the baroque music world a very great service in recording this magnificent CD.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A joy to listen to, July 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Yo-Yo Ma - Simply Baroque ~ Bach & Boccherini / ABO, Koopman (Audio CD)

Yo-Yo Ma is wonderful, (as usual), Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque play masterfully. And together they create a warm and gorgeous sound. This recording is so relaxing and a joy to listen to. I heard it first in a local music store on one of those listening stations, and I was so impressed. I bought it and listened to the rest of the recording, and it is just wonderful! A must if you love baroque music!