Accent Archive
HANDEL: Joshua – Soloists/ NDR Choir/ Göttingen Festival Orch./ Laurence Cummings – Accent ACC (2 CDs)
Only six recordings of Joshua are available at this time, so this one is more than welcome.
BACH: Cantatas Vol. 18 = “Watch ye, pray ye, watch and pray”; “Now is to us salvation come”; “King of heaven, ever welcome” – La Petite Bande/ Sigiswald Kuijken – Accent
This series goes from strength to strength, despite the miniscule vocal forces.
BACH: Cantatas Vol. 17, BWV 186, BWV 168, BWV 134. BWV 54 = La Petite Bande/ Sigiswald Kuijken – Accent
Onward we go—Kuijken’s series continues ablaze, and this, like the others, is recommended.
“GEORG CHRISTOPH WAGENSEIL: Six Quartets for Low Strings” = Sonata No. 3 in C Major, “Suite des pieces”; Sonata No. 2; Sonata No. 4; Sonata No. 6; Sonata No. 5; Sonata No. 1 – Piccolo Concerto Wien – Accent (2 CDs)
Elegant music that straddles a stylistic fence between the pre-Classical and Classical eras.
BACH: The Orchestral Suites: No. 1 in C Major; No. 2 in B Minor; No. 3 in D Major; No. 4 in D Major – La Petite Bande/ Sigiswald Kuijken – Accent
The Bach Orchestral Suites are hereby rendered with hearty, “authentic” affection, though not every taste will endorse the performances without qualifications.
BACH: Mass in b – Hana Blazikova, sop./ Sophie Harmsen, mezzo-sop./ Terry Wey, countertenor/ Eric Stoklassa, tenor/ Tomas Kral & Marian Krejcik, bass/ Collegium Vocale 1704/ Collegium 1704/ Vaclav Luks – Accent (2 CDs)
Bach as he was meant to sound in a performance of admirable quality and visceral excitement.
Venetian Art 1600: The new instrumental style by G.B. FONTANA AND G.G. BUONAMENTE – Le Concert Brisé/William Dongois – Accent
Early seventeenth century music performed in historically-informed style by a small band of six expert musicians.
BACH: Cantatas Vol. 16 – Soloists/ La Petite Bande/ Sigiswald Kuijken – Accent
Volume 16 is as fresh and inventive as ever, though still burdened with misapplied interpretative philosophy regarding forces.
BACH: Cantatas Vol. 15 = “False world, I trust thee not”; “O Eternity, thou thunderous word”; “Thou Prince of Peace, Lord Jesus Christ”; “Awaken ye, the watchman calls us” – La Petite Bande/ Sigiswald Kuijken – Accent
One-to-a-part if that matters to you—it does to me—but performed about as well as they can be.
VIVALDI: Eight Flute Concertos – Kuijken family – Accent
Luscious playing from the always reliable Berthold Kuijken.
BACH: Cantatas for the Liturgical Year, Vol. 13 – Accent
For one-voice-to-a-part purists, Sigiswald Kuijken’s performances of Bach’s cantatas are a must-hear.
Sinfonias & Concerti of GIUSEPPE ANTONIO BRESCIANELLO – Glossa Late Keyboard Sonatas of GIOVANNI BENEDETTO PLATTI – Accent
Two eighteenth-century Italian composers who sought employment in Germany, one a master of prevailing styles, one a fascinating transitional figure.
“Flights of Fantasy: Early Italian Chamber Music” = Works of CASTELLO, CAVALLI, FARINA, BIBER, BERTALI, FRESCOBALDI – Irish Baroque Orch./ Monica Huggett – AvieREINCKEN: Hortus Musicus Vol. 1 – Stylus Fantasticus – Accent
These discs will give you invaluable insights into the development of Baroque musical forms—and some pretty enjoyable listening too.