Every year at this time, I compile a list of some of my favorite recent recordings to recommend for your holiday gift giving. For many years the goal has been pretty straightforward: to give you practical guidance and take away a little bit of the stress of getting ready for the holiday season, which can sometimes be chaotic. This year’s list represents something a little different, too, just as the holiday season will be different.
Listening to music is itself a gift. It can provide comfort or brighten our mood, it can be a welcome distraction, or be a soothing balm. As a regular listener, you and I enjoy the music on Sunday Baroque every week.
Now more than ever we need to focus on the things that connect us, the things that bring light and positivity into our lives, and I think these musical selections are a great place to start.
They are interesting works, beautifully performed. They include some of your favorite musicians, as well as some names that may be new to you. Whether you choose to add any of them to your library, give them as gifts, or simply enjoy auditioning them each week, I hope you will enjoy discovering these wonderful musicians and recordings with me over the last weeks of 2020.
-Suzanne
BAROQUE JOURNEY (Decca 4834722)
George Frideric Handel, Johann Sebastian Bach, Giovanni Battista Sammartini, Jacques-Christophe Naudot, et al
Lucie Horsch – recorder, Academy of Ancient Music
2019 release
This recording features the young recorder phenom Lucie Horsch, who exemplifies virtuosity and good taste. She was still a teenager when she made this recording, and I look forward to hearing more of her work for many years.
BARRICADES (Erato 9029526995)
Francois Couperin, Robert de Visee, Marin Marais, et al
Thomas Dunford – archlute, Jean Rondeau – harpsichord
2020 release
Lutenist Thomas Dunford was born into a musical family to two professional musicians, and he started performing professionally as a teenager. Jean Rondeau was a six year old boy listening to the radio, and when he heard the sound of the harpsichord, he told HIS parents he wanted to learn to make that sound, too. BARRICADES is a collaboration between these two extraordinary talents playing French baroque music
ELISABETH JACQUET DE LA GUERRE SONATES POUR VIOLON (Ricercar RIC 310)
Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de La Guerre
Florence Malgoire – violin, Les Dominos
2011 release
Singer and harpsichordist Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre began her lifelong career in music as a 5 year old prodigy, wowing the King of France with her virtuosity. She was also a composer, and violinist Florence Malgoire and her group Les Dominos beautifully showcase the artistry of this musician who deserves to be better known.
FINDING HARMONY (Signum Classics SIGCD607)
Johann Sebastian Bach, William Byrd, Alma Bazel Androzzo, Mimi Fariña, et al.
The King’s Singers
2020 release
The King’s Singers’ recording FINDING HARMONY is a mixed bag of music ranging from ancient polyphony to arrangements of contemporary pop music. Their goal is for it to “harness the positive power of music.” It includes music by William Byrd and Johann Sebastian Bach, and as always, the King’s Singers show off their talent and pizzazz.
FLUTE SONATAS OP.1 (Drama Musica DRAMA007)
Anna Bon di Venezia
Vladimir Soares – recorder, Fabian Grosch – harpsichord
2019 release
Anna Bon was an 18th century Venetian woman — she was still a teenager when she became ‘chamber music virtuosa’ in the court of Frederick the Great of Prussia. At about the same time she also published her first set of compositions – six flute sonatas that she dedicated to her royal patron. The fantastic recorder player Vladimir Soares gives my favorite performance to date of these charming Sonatas! This recording is a special find.
TELEMANN FRANKFURT SONATAS (Aparté AP217)
Georg Philipp Telemann
Gottfried von der Goltz – violin, Torsten Johann – harpsichord, Annekatrin Beller – cello, Thomas Boysen – theorbo
2019 release
Georg Philipp Telemann lived a long and productive life as a composer. As a young man in his 30s, he wrote a chamber music collection called the Frankfurt Sonatas. They are not as well-known as some of Telemann’s other music, so violinist Gottfried von der Goltz chose to feature this lovely music. This is a marvelous recording to broaden your collection of baroque music beyond the “standards.”
GOLDBERG VARIATIONS (King’s College Cambridge KGS0049)
Johann Sebastian Bach
Parker Ramsay – harp
2020 release
Johann Sebastian Bach’s GOLDBERG VARIATIONS played on the harp? Yes, please! It’s the debut recording of a talented and versatile young musician who was the first American to hold the post of Organ Scholar at King’s College, Cambridge.
JUAN ESQUIVEL DE PROFUNDIS (Hyperion CDA68326)
Juan Esquivel, Rodrigo de Ceballos
Eamonn Dougan, De Profundis
2020 Release
De Profundis is Latin for “out of the depths.” It’s the name of a UK based male vocal ensemble that sings music by Renaissance era composers, such as 16th c. Spaniard Juan Esquivel. This is an uplifting collection of the church musician’s sacred music, and especially if you enjoy vocal music, it’s a beautiful extension of the repertory.
LONDON CIRCA 1720 – CORELLI’S LEGACY (Harmonia Mundi 905322)
George Frideric Handel, Arcangelo Corelli, Francesco Geminiani, et al.
Benjamin Perrot, Florence Bolton, La Rêveuse
2020 release
This recording from the group La Rêveuse features music that was in some way inspired by or copied from Arcangelo Corelli’s compositions. These top-notch musicians present a thoroughly enjoyable collection of music capturing a snapshot of the musical world at that moment.
PEACE IN OUR TIME (VGo Recordings VG1027)
David Pohle, Matthias Weckmann, Johann Christoph Bach, et al.
Reginald Mobley – countertenor, Agave Baroque
2017 release
Art does not happen in a vacuum, and historical context can elevate, illuminate, and broaden our understanding of the artist’s intentions. This recording taps into the musical world during the devastating Thirty Years’ War, by composers whose names you may not know. Kudos to Reginald Mobley and Agave Baroque for bringing this music to light with such sensitive and beautiful artistry.
QUEEN OF HEAVEN (VGo Recordings VG1022)
Isabella Leonarda
Reginald Mobley – countertenor, Agave Baroque
2015 release
In 1620, 16-year-old Anna Isabella Leonardi entered a convent in her hometown of Novara, Italy. She was a music teacher, and wrote approximately 200 compositions. Countertenor Reginald Mobley and Agave Baroque put this undeservedly overlooked musician in the spotlight, performing some of her music composed in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
VIVALDI (Sony 19075929912)
Antonio Vivaldi
Martin Fröst – clarinet, Concerto Koln
2020 release
Martin Fröst is an extraordinary musician. His technical ability on the clarinet is off the charts and in this all-Vivaldi recording he demonstrates his musical imagination. He chose some of his favorite arias by Vivaldi, and arranged them for clarinet into beautiful “Concertos.” These are exciting and highly recommended!
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