Cherubini / Bufalini,Marcello - Musica Fer Camera Per Fiati - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The light and airy chamber-scaled divertimenti on this recording were composed in London in the early 1720s. They must have been among the first works with which Giovanni Bononcini (1670-1747) sought to make an impression on the discerning audiences and business-minded entrepreneurs who, at the time, were instrumental to a music-rich environment that made the city one of the main centers of European culture. It is perhaps to the detriment of his posthumous reputation that Bononcini became known as Handel's direct rival for the favor of London's musical public the rivalry between the two men was even immortalized in a piece of satirical doggerel which popularized the English expression 'Tweedledum and Tweedledee'. In fact these divertimenti scored a popular success as soon as they were published; so much so that these harpsichord transcriptions were quickly produced - and then republished two decades later, when they appeared as Suites de Pièces pour le Clavecin, placing them in direct competition with the collection of works under the same name by Handel. The divertimenti are three- and four-movement works designed not to place any great strain upon the listener's attention the longest movement here lasts barely three minutes. Even the slow movements are simple arias, originally conceived with a high melody instrument in mind - violin or transverse flute - and conforming to a serene and courtly character. By and large, however, they are filled with lively, dance-like quick movements, cheerful in temperament even when the tonality is minor, as it is in half the divertimenti. This is the debut album on Brilliant Classics for the harpsichordist Giovanni Paganelli.

Across 'Tyber', groove-driven compositions sit alongside jazz-led instrumentals, sample-heavy explorations and more direct songwriting moments, moving seamlessly through funk, alt-pop, R&B and psychedelic textures without ever losing cohesion. The album feels both deeply personal and globally informed, spotlighting an artist documenting his evolution in real time. 'Tyber' also features an expansive list of collaborators including Lucy Park, Baby Rose, Bas, Eryn Allen Kane and Labrinth, further reflecting the breadth of influences and perspectives woven throughout the project.

Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre (1665-1729) was the most famous composer of the Ancien Regime. With the generous support of Louis XIV, she was able to work as a harpsichordist, organist, teacher and composer. Fifteen years ago, Daniela Dolci and Musica Fiorita presented chamber music by her that easily bears comparison with the works of her male colleagues of the time.