Brandenburg no. 2 (second movement) was my gateway to classical music. Such wonderful music, and has led to a lifetimes worth of enjoyment. Thank you Dave and I always check out Brandenburgs when you have these talks.
A friend at school recommended this recording to me when it first came out, except he pronounced I Musici as "Eye Music-Eye". Given that he knew far more about music than me, I went with that pronunciation for years afterwards :)
Working my way through Karajan 60s recently I had the, er, pleasure of hearing the Brandenburg Concertos as performed by the Berlin Philharmonic & HvK. I was reminded, Dave, of your quip that Herbert von Karajan is the reason the Historically Informed Performance movement exists. Thanks for the I Musici recommendation, I shall invest 🙂.
I imprinted on the Collegium Aureum version on Victrola, it being one of the first classical records I ever bought. It was also the first place I ever even heard of period instrumentation being a thing.
I Musici is a lovely version of these concerti. My "go-to" performances are on ARCHIV - Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert. Another set I like is the Orchestra of the Antipodes with Antony Walker on ABC Classics.
I heard Brandenburg no 5 live many years ago at Scunthorpe Civic Theatre. It may have been the East of England Orchestra, I cant remember after 40 years! But I will never forget the electric tension in the audience during the harpsichord cadenza, it was a wonderful experience!
I've not heard this particular recording, but I Musici made an earlier recording in the mid-70s, which features many of the same artists as the set under review here, but also features the great Maurice Andre on trumpet. That, along with the old Ristenpart on Nonesuch (Accord CDs) are my usual "go-to" versions on "real" instruments.
The earlier one was 1965, I believe, and it has some astounding soloists. Maurice André as you've said, Heinz Holliger AND Maurice Bourge on oboe, Frans Brüggen playing recorder in 4 (2 had flute instead of recorder, which honestly works better with modern trumpet).
OMG! How beautiful I Musici sounds! I do like other recordings of the Branderburgs as well but this truly is great. BTW, I would love to have you do a whole program on the Sato family and their contributions to Bach recordings.
I'd expected you to recommend the 1963 recording. Then I went back and compared it. Is "deliberate" a nicer word than "sluggish?" And muddy sonics. I wonder if the crisper approach in 1984 reflects some HIP influence?
Absolutely an excellent recording and probably my favorite of these works. I prefer this later digital reading to the old analog by I Musici, the brisker tempos are a great benefit in my opinion. They both sound really good today though, even if they’re not ‘hip’ in the 21st century.
I don't really care about period instruments. Hogwood turned me off to them as a teenager when my Dad brought one of his recordings home. However, I prefer recorders on 2 and 4. To me, they just sound better than flutes for those specific concerti. (Flute on 5 is perfect.) I have no idea how many different Brandenburgs I own now, but I keep going back to Sir Neville's recording with Michala Petri. It may not be the best, but it's my favorite. Cheers!
I always enjoyed Hermann Scherchen and members of the Vienna State Opera orchestra on the Handel Op. 6. It was recorded before stereo and wasn't "original instruments." I doubt that it's available any more. I had these on vinyl years ago.
They were a great band, in the past. Later, in an effort to keep up with the times, they've slid into dull s..t. I'd refrain from using such a strong expression, but they've fallen too far.
Go to Dave's home page. Above his Welcome video click the magnifying glass icon to pull up the search box. Type "best pictures at an exhibition". Hit enter. You can answer most of your own questions using this tool in his extremely well organized video library. I am sure he does the best Ravel orchestration. Can't recall if he does the best piano version.
Dear Dave, I agree with you as (almost) always. But what do think of Zefiro version? For me, this recording was able to dethrone that of I Musici and many other good versions (on Arcana, with the brilliant Francesco Corti on haprsichord in the 5th - the candenza in the first movement is literally phenomenal). Thank you.
Brandenburg no. 2 (second movement) was my gateway to classical music. Such wonderful music, and has led to a lifetimes worth of enjoyment. Thank you Dave and I always check out Brandenburgs when you have these talks.
Great music, Great players, Great all around recording & will knock your socks off...what's not to love 😍
A friend at school recommended this recording to me when it first came out, except he pronounced I Musici as "Eye Music-Eye". Given that he knew far more about music than me, I went with that pronunciation for years afterwards :)
Must have been a Scot.
@@neilford99 Welsh, actually. Perhaps a Scot would have said "Och-aye Music-eye" ;)
This was my first cd of these concertos using an ensemble. Yes, I had Walter Carlos on synthesizer and still enjoy it.
Working my way through Karajan 60s recently I had the, er, pleasure of hearing the Brandenburg Concertos as performed by the Berlin Philharmonic & HvK. I was reminded, Dave, of your quip that Herbert von Karajan is the reason the Historically Informed Performance movement exists.
Thanks for the I Musici recommendation, I shall invest 🙂.
This very album 💿 is Eternal. It stays with you forever ♾️
Oh I love this channel
saw that coming ... untwisted, good musical advice - as usual
I imprinted on the Collegium Aureum version on Victrola, it being one of the first classical records I ever bought. It was also the first place I ever even heard of period instrumentation being a thing.
abolutely! was that the Leonhardt one?
@@tonyprost5575 Yes, also with Hans-Martin Linde on recorder and Franzjosef Maier on solo violin.
@@michaelpdawson I was playing recorder back in the day, Hans Marrtin was my hero!
I Musici is a lovely version of these concerti. My "go-to" performances are on ARCHIV - Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert. Another set I like is the Orchestra of the Antipodes with Antony Walker on ABC Classics.
I heard Brandenburg no 5 live many years ago at Scunthorpe Civic Theatre. It may have been the East of England Orchestra, I cant remember after 40 years! But I will never forget the electric tension in the audience during the harpsichord cadenza, it was a wonderful experience!
I've not heard this particular recording, but I Musici made an earlier recording in the mid-70s, which features many of the same artists as the set under review here, but also features the great Maurice Andre on trumpet. That, along with the old Ristenpart on Nonesuch (Accord CDs) are my usual "go-to" versions on "real" instruments.
The earlier one was 1965, I believe, and it has some astounding soloists. Maurice André as you've said, Heinz Holliger AND Maurice Bourge on oboe, Frans Brüggen playing recorder in 4 (2 had flute instead of recorder, which honestly works better with modern trumpet).
OMG! How beautiful I Musici sounds! I do like other recordings of the Branderburgs as well but this truly is great.
BTW, I would love to have you do a whole program on the Sato family and their contributions to Bach recordings.
I'd expected you to recommend the 1963 recording. Then I went back and compared it. Is "deliberate" a nicer word than "sluggish?" And muddy sonics. I wonder if the crisper approach in 1984 reflects some HIP influence?
Absolutely an excellent recording and probably my favorite of these works. I prefer this later digital reading to the old analog by I Musici, the brisker tempos are a great benefit in my opinion. They both sound really good today though, even if they’re not ‘hip’ in the 21st century.
very surprising choice, but you are right of course: it´s not about the kind of horn, but if it´s music that come out of the horn...
I agree, I only care if it sounds great.
I don't really care about period instruments. Hogwood turned me off to them as a teenager when my Dad brought one of his recordings home. However, I prefer recorders on 2 and 4. To me, they just sound better than flutes for those specific concerti. (Flute on 5 is perfect.) I have no idea how many different Brandenburgs I own now, but I keep going back to Sir Neville's recording with Michala Petri. It may not be the best, but it's my favorite. Cheers!
I need the " greatest recording ever" of Handel Concerti Grossi op 6 and the Organ Concerti.
I always enjoyed Hermann Scherchen and members of the Vienna State Opera orchestra on the Handel Op. 6. It was recorded before stereo and wasn't "original instruments." I doubt that it's available any more. I had these on vinyl years ago.
Maybe Manze?
They were a great band, in the past. Later, in an effort to keep up with the times, they've slid into dull s..t. I'd refrain from using such a strong expression, but they've fallen too far.
No disagreement here! PS: my introduction to the BCs was Hogwood’s - still enjoy it today. But I Musici rules (where’s their DDD big box??).
I agree this is a great recording, but for me the tam-tam in No. 4 could have been more prominent.
There's never enough, is there?
🤣
Hi which is the greatest recording of musogorsky's "pictures at an exhibition" ?
Go to Dave's home page. Above his Welcome video click the magnifying glass icon to pull up the search box. Type "best pictures at an exhibition". Hit enter. You can answer most of your own questions using this tool in his extremely well organized video library. I am sure he does the best Ravel orchestration. Can't recall if he does the best piano version.
Watch the videos. Here's one: th-cam.com/video/4kqut9rAXpk/w-d-xo.html
@DavesClassicalGuide nice thx
Good choice; but for me, it is almost impossible to make the Brandenburgs sound less than good, as long as you have a professional group.
Dear Dave, I agree with you as (almost) always. But what do think of Zefiro version? For me, this recording was able to dethrone that of I Musici and many other good versions (on Arcana, with the brilliant Francesco Corti on haprsichord in the 5th - the candenza in the first movement is literally phenomenal). Thank you.
I like just about everything Zefiro did, but as dethroners? Nah.