Play Bach Sacd

Bach was renowned as a keyboard player as well as being an accomplished violinist, but as far as we know he didn't play the lute. He seems to have been fascinated by the instrument’s special sound qualities, however, and was clearly inspired by the possibilities of the Lautenwerk. This was a gut-strung harpsichord designed to imitate the sound of the lute and at least some of the works usually referred to as ‘the Bach Lute Suites’ were probably composed for this instrument.

Born within a couple of years of each other, Gottfried Silbermann and Johann Sebastian Bach were acquainted, and we know that Silbermann in 1736 invited the composer to inaugurate the new organ that he had built in Dresden’s Frauenkirche. That instrument was destroyed during the bombing of Dresden in 1945, but some thirty of Silbermann’s organs are still extant. From robust pedal stops providing a sturdy bass fundament to silvery flute stops, his instruments were famous for their distinctive&&& sound and contemporary sources often made use of a play on the name of their maker as they praised their ‘Silberklang’.

Almost two centuries passed between the creation of the first and last pieces on the cd programme at hand, which was recorded by Bram Beekman on the De Rijckere organ in the Oostkerk (East Church) in the Dutch town of Middelburg. Almost 200 years in the wideranging history of the organ separate both the D minor Toccatas by the German organ masters Johan Sebastian Bach and Max Reger…

Songs of Solitude was conceived by the violist Hiyoli Togawa at a time when a virus was forcing people across the world into isolation and she herself needed to find a new rhythm of life as concert after concert was being cancelled. As she relates in the booklet to the disc, playing Bach – music that combines powerful emotions with a crystal-clear structure – became part of her daily routine, along with walks along the empty streets of Berlin. During these, the importance of remaining creative became even clearer to her, along with the idea to offer people the opportunity through music to reflect upon the difficulties of living through a pandemic.

One hundred and eleven musicians celebrating a large-scale symphony that sounds like Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, or Arnold Schoenberg. In fact, the composer of this symphony, Alfred Schnittke, had precisely these composers (and many others) in mind back in 1981. Whereas he initially mirrored certain styles from figures as Mahler, Mozart, Bach, Stravinsky, Prokofiev and Shostakovich, he was soon also borrowing concepts from trivial music, folklore, jazz, tango, as well as many other styles. He himself described his compositional technique, but an aesthetic programme: a serious effort to break through the vicious circle of the self-satisfied and self-sufficient avant-garde music.

Mercury Living Presence is special in many ways - an American company, from the heyday of classical recording in the U.S. that reproduced some of the most sonically realistic recordings at the dawn of the stereo era. Precious few stereo LPs were pressed when these recordings were issued, and they became some of the rarest, most collectible classical discs ever. Mercury Living Presence continues to enjoy a special reputation as one of the most enterprising, prestigious and sonically-spectacular labels in the history of classical recording.

Jordi Savall - Francois Couperin - Pieces de violes - 1728 (2012) {Alia Vox AVSA9893}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 239 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 103 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 344 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1975, 2012 Alia Vox | AVSA9893
Classical / Baroque / Chamber Music / Bass Viola da gamba / Harpsichord

This beautiful recording, once long out-of-print, is now remastered in high definition multi-channel hybrid SACD, and is the first album made by Jordi Savall for the Astrée label, now reissued on Alia Vox. With this rare 1975 disc, Savall confirmed François Couperin as a master composer for viola da gamba with affinities to the previous masters of French music. On the recording Mr. Savall plays an authentic 7-string bass viol, anonymously constructed in 17th century France. He is joined by musicians Ton Koopman playing a Gilbert des Ruisseaux harpsichord built in the late 17th century and Ariane Maurette playing a Barak Norman bass viol constructed in London in 1697. Couperin’s music for these colorful instruments is marvelous, contemplative and beguiling. The highly collectible album, a must-have of the Savall oeuvre, is now available again and features a very informative booklet.

Der Musikalische Garten - Zu Gast im blauen Haus: Trio Sonatas from the Basel Music Collection of Lucas Sarasin (2015)
FLAC (tracks) - 44/16 bits - Official Digital Download -> 378 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 176 Mb
Artwork (pdf+jpg) -> 12 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2015 ARS Produktion | ARS 38 185 DD
Classical / Chamber Music / Baroque / Sonata

Built in the 1760s, "Blue House" is one of the most beautiful palaces of Basel from the late Baroque period. The wealthy owner, Lucas Sarasin, was an avid amateur musician; he put on not only an instrument but also a music collection, of which over 1,300 titles are preserved in the University Library Basel. The Trio Sonatas for two violins and basso continuo take, with 214 titles, a special place and were probably acquired in order for Sarasin and its concertmaster could play together: works of the best contemporary composers, of which for this SACD the "Mannheim" Johann and Carl Stamitz and Anton Fils and the "Milan" Sammartini, Conti, Pugnani and J. Chr. Bach were chosen. The award-winning young ensemble "The musical garden" makes this music "between the Baroque and Classical" into an impressive experience.