DCD 111 - Teatro Imaginario: Scarlatti Sonatas

The VGo label specializes in high-quality classical guitar recordings -- with one exception. They also released a harpsichord recording, done with the same high production values as the rest of the VGo line.

The disc, entitled "Teatro Imaginario" features fifteen harpsichord sonatas by Dominico Scaraltti

Patrice Mathews is a well-known harpsichordist, and has a solid reputation both as a soloist and as an in-demand player with early music ensembles. The disc presents some of Scarlatti's most popular harpsichord sonatas (out of the 550 he wrote). In this podcast we select four from the album, sort of a "best of the best."

You don't need an iPod to listen to our podcast! Just click on the link below:

DCD Classical 'Cast Enhanced Podcast #111 - Teatro Imaginario

 - Ralph Graves

This program we play excerpts from "Teatro Imaginario: Scarlatti Sonatas" with Patrice Mathews

Scarlatti: Presto in A major, K. 4

Scarlatti: Allegro in E minor, K. 147

Scarlatti: Allegro in C-sharp minor, K. 247

Scarlatti: Allegro in A minor, K. 532

DCD 092 - Vicenzo Albrici: Concerti Sacre

Vinceno Albrici (1631-1696) spent a great deal of time in the service of Queen Christina of Sweden. So it's no surprise that Swedish-based label Musica Rediviva would release an album dedicated to this composer.

The compositions are all "sacred concertos." That is, works that adapted the new concerto style of vocal composition (contrasting arias and choruses) to liturgical use.

Albrici was a champion of the genre, along with Heinrich Schutz, who he worked with in Queen Christina's court. Schutz was a major influence on Johann Sebastian Bach -- and there's a connection to Albrici as well. After being dismissed from the court at Dresden, Albrici was hired as organist at Thomaskirche in Liepzig in 1681 -- a position Bach would later hold as well.

DCD Enhanced Classical 'Cast #092 -Vincenzo Abrici: Concerti Sacre

- Ralph

This program we play:

Vincenzo Albrici: Sinfonia fro two violins and basso continuo
Capella Augustina; Matteo Messori, conductor
Musica Rediviva

Vincenzo Albrici: Quantus amor Jesu for baritone and basso continuo
Capella Augustina; Matteo Messori, conductor
Musica Rediviva

Vincenzo Albrici: Ave Jesu Christe for two sopranos and basso continuo
Capella Augustina; Matteo Messori, conductor
Musica Rediviva

Vincenzo Albrici: Venite omnes gentes
Capella Augustina; Matteo Messori, conductor
Musica Rediviva

DCD 084 - Harpsichord Music, Old and New

This episode of the "DCD Classical 'Cast" podcast, we feature music from harpsichordist Elaine Comparone's recital CD for Laurel Records. Although the harpsichord is primarily known as an instrument of the baroque era, it wasn't completely supplanted by the fortepiano.

In the 20th century composers returned to the harpsichord, and contributed many important works to the instrument's repertoire. American composer Vincent Persichetti is one such contributor, and Ms. Comparone is directly responsible for several of his harpsichord works. After hearing her perform in 1982, Persichetti was inspired to write his second and third harpsichord sonatas -- works he dedicated to Elaine Comparone.

In addition to recording these works on the Laurel Records CD, Comparone also includes music by Dominico Scarlatti, whose output of 550 keyboard sonatas remains unrivaled in both quantity and quality.

- Ralph

This program we play:

Vincent Persichetti: Second Harpsichord Sonata, Op. 146, Mvt. 1
Elaine Comparone, harpsichord
from "Persichetti and Scarlatti: Harpsichord Sonatas"
Laurel Records

Dominico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in A minor, K. 109
Elaine Comparone, harpsichord
from "Persichetti and Scarlatti: Harpsichord Sonatas"
Laurel Records

Vincent Persichetti: Fifth Harpsichord Sonata, Op. 152, Mvts. 2 & 3
Elaine Comparone, harpsichord
from "Persichetti and Scarlatti: Harpsichord Sonatas"
Laurel Records

Dominico Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonatas in C minor, K. 363 & K. 48
Elaine Comparone, harpsichord
from "Persichetti and Scarlatti: Harpsichord Sonatas"
Laurel Records

DCD 083 - La Suedoise

In episode #83 of the DCD Enhanced Classical 'Cast, we feature music from a fascinating Musica Rediviva release. Early music specialist Tommie Andersson performs Baroque music for lute and guitar. The collection, entitled "La Suedoise" is a selection of compositions from the Swedish court of Christina, Queen regent, and later Charles X Gustav.

Christina was vitally interested in the arts, prompting a flowering of creativity, especially in the field of music.

Andersson plays works for Baroque lute and guitar, and one can easily imagine an evening's courtly entertainment being built around these pieces.

- Ralph

This program we play:

Hinrich Niewerth: Allemande, Courante, Sarabande
Tommie Andersson
from "La Suedoise"
Musica Rediviva

Anonymous: Courante "La Suedoise"
Tommie Andersson
from "La Suedoise"
Musica Rediviva

Bechon: Praelude, Allemande, courante, Sarabande
Tommie Andersson
from "La Suedoise"
Musica Rediviva

Bechon: Praelude, Courante, Courante, Gigue, Sarabande
Tommie Andersson
from "La Suedoise"
Musica Rediviva

Gaspar Sanz: Dos Trompetas de la Reyna de Suecia
Tommie Andersson
from "La Suedoise"
Musica Rediviva