Shed a little light please?

Posted by: Steve2701 on 20 March 2006

I recently made a rare buy for me, a rather nice 'classical' cd.

'Antonio Vivaldi' - Le Quattro Stagioni (ok, very safe, the four seasons ) but it was to be a cd replacement for the recent sale of my vinyl four seasons.

This one is on Deutsche Grammophon > Michel Schwalbe > Berliner Philharmoniker.

The version on it of the 'Four Seasons' is very different to the Vinyl one that I had previously ( With Christopher Hogwood & the Academy of ancient music) but it is also very enjoyable.

To the quest of the post though.. tagged onto the end of the cd are two pieces that I have never heard before & I find them sublime.
Tomaso Albinoni > Adagio in sol minore &

Arcangelo Corelli concerto grosso in sol minore fatto per la notte di natale op. 6 No.8.
(Do they all have to be such a mouthfull??!!)

Never heard mention of these last two before, and what else should I seek out if I want to hear more 'in a very similar vein' to these?

Steve.
Posted on: 21 March 2006 by u5227470736789439
Dear Steve,

The Albinoni Adagio is a piece with a strange origin. Only the bass line is from Albinoni, and the rest was added by Giazotto much later. Because of its strange origin, I am not sure that there is another piece just like at at all. Parts of some of the Organ Concertos of Handel have a similar grave atmosphere, but the style is different, and basically a lot more fun, as well, I think.

But the Christmas Concerto is from the Opus Six set (of Corelli) and there are eleven more, which are just as fine in a similar style. Also among other Grand Concertos (Concerti Grossi), where several soloists are are accompanied by an orchestra (in this case string soloists with strings and continuo, which is harpsichord and bass-line), I would suggest the 12 that make up Handel's Opus Six set as well, which are different in a manner, but more variegated than the Corelli, and in my view at least the equal of the Six Brandenberg Concertos of Bach, which are almost everywhere to be found.

Hope that helps. Fredrik
Posted on: 21 March 2006 by Steve2701
Fredrik,
You are a veritable mine of information! Thank you.. I will search out these others when I have a chance.
Posted on: 21 March 2006 by Wolf
Ah, the Baroque era, such detail and such fun lively music.
Posted on: 21 March 2006 by pe-zulu
Fredriks suggestions are certainly the most important works from the baroque era in that category, and they are mandatory for every lover of baroque instrumental music, but Vivaldi himself has written other works worthy of interest, especially his - in my opinion - principal works in the concerto genre, the opus 3 (L´Estro Armonico - 12 concertos for various numbers of violins and strings), and opus 4 (La Stravaganza - 12 concertos for solo violin and strings) both worth investigating. I would recommend the recordings of Hogwood (Oiseau Lyre or Decca) or Pinnock (DG Archive).
Posted on: 21 March 2006 by u5227470736789439
Dear pe-zulu,

Thanks for that. Vivaldi has been a bit of a blind spot for me!

I have never even owned a record of the Four Seasons, which may sound incredible... But I played bass in it a few times!

All the best from Fredrik