Italian Recorder Quartet - Georg Philipp Telemann: Quadri - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Among practices distinguishing the European music scene in the second half of the eighteenth century, the performance of music for two players on the same keyboard is certainly one of the more remarkable and, in some ways, significant examples. The rendition of a four-handed piece on the harpsichord or the fortepiano can be considered an example of the direction that music of the second half of the eighteenth century was about to take light-hearted, convivial, and educational, in which quality existed alongside the intention to satisfy the new InchgalantInch tastes of the aristocracy, as well as the needs of the rising middle class. The four-handed genre becomes, in this regard, an ideal setting to express the new musical feeling. Four hands can double possibilities and exploit the keyboard's full range. The search for expressivity is maintained by combining extended melodies with arpeggios or broken chords. In the case of performance on the harpsichord, the increased opportunity to InchmixInch the stops facilitates the search for unexplored colors and contrasts. On a historical copy of the famous harpsichord maker Martin Sassmann, Alberto Firrincieli and Mario Stefano Tonda perform the singular repertoire that sees protagonists Nicolò Jommelli, Muzio Clementi and Giovanni Maria Rutini, in these compositions reflecting their different peculiarities.

The Quartetto Italiano is regarded as one of the finest string quartets of the twentieth century. They were formed officially in 1945. By the early 1950s, they had achieved a measure of international celebrity, and by the 1960s the ensemble had developed a world-class reputation. Here we have some rare BBC live performances from 1965 given in the Royal Festival Hall. They are recorded in excellent stereo and issued for the very first time. Album Tracks 1. I. Presto 2. II. Tempo Di Minuetto - Trio 3. I. Allegro Vivace Assai 4. II. Menuetto (Moderato) 5. III. Adagio 6. IV. Allegro Assai 7. I. Assai Sostenuto - Allegro 8. II. Allegro Ma Non Tanto 9. III. Heiliger Dankgesang Eines Genesenden An Die Gottheit, in Der Lydischen Tonart Molto Adagio - Neue Kraftfuhtend Andante - Molto Adagio 10. IV. Alla Marcia, Assai Vivace - Piu Allegro - 11. V. Allegro Appassionato

Album Tracks 1. Ouverture 2. Les Plaisirs 3. Air a L'italien 4. Menuett I & II 5. Rjouisance 6. Passepied I & II 7. Polonaise 8. Allegretto 9. Allegro 10. Andante 11. Tempo Di Minuet 12. Largo 13. Allegro 14. Largo 15. Presto 16. Affettuoso 17. Allegro 18. Adagio 19. Menuett I & II