Paris Quartets

Florilegium

16,9928,49
(7 press reviews)
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Original Recording Format: DSD 64
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Telemann Paris Quartets In Telemanns correspondence in 1717 with the great German composer, theorist and music journalist Mattheson, he admits that he is “a great amateur of French music”. Yet the reality was that like any self-respecting German composer of his time, Georg Phillip Telemann was thoroughly conversant with the stylistic conventions of other European countries and, notably, those of the great rivals from Italy and France.

By the early 1720s Telemann had already displayed a thorough working knowledge of the Italian style of composition in his numerous sonatas and concerti, a style that was to be heard all over Europe. However, until this time the French had managed to maintain certain characteristics of their music; namely the overture and suite together with its wide array of dances. Unlike the Italians who preferred overt displays of virtuosity in chamber music, the French developed the original form of the Sonate en Quatuor with its four closely-knit parts. These were quartets in the real sense of the word, in contrast to the trio sonatas Telemann had been writing until then for the same combination of instruments.

Telemann had demonstrated his exceptional grasp of this form when he published his first set of Paris Quartets in Hamburg in 1730. These were reprinted by Le Clerc in Paris in 1736, and while they were inspired by the French style, the structure of the compositions are more Italian; two concerti, two balletti and two sonatas. Perhaps it was because of the Parisian success of these Quartets that Telemann decided to make a visit to Paris in 1737. He stayed for eight months and whilst there heard a number of his works performed at the public concerts of the Concert Spirituel and met some of the most famous musicians of the day. He heard his first set of quartets performed by the flautist Blavet, violinist Guignon, gambist Forqueray (the Younger) and cellist Edouard. These works became extremely popular and were performed with such extraordinary success in Paris that Telemann was inspired to write a further six Nouveaux Quatuors in 1738. 

Tracklist

Please note that the below previews are loaded as 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.
1.
Quatuor No. 1 In D Major - Prelude_ Vivement
02:11
2.
Quatuor No. 1 In D Major - Tendrement
02:09
3.
Quatuor No. 1 In D Major - Vite
03:20
4.
Quatuor No. 1 In D Major - Gaiement
04:45
5.
Quatuor No. 1 In D Major - Moderement
02:30
6.
Quatuor No. 1 In D Major - Vite
03:24
7.
Quatuor No. 2 In A Minor - Allegrement
02:56
8.
Quatuor No. 2 In A Minor - Flatteusement
03:31
9.
Quatuor No. 2 In A Minor - Legerement
02:12
10.
Quatuor No. 2 In A Minor - Un Peu Vivement
03:10
11.
Quatuor No. 2 In A Minor - Vite
01:51
12.
Quatuor No. 2 In A Minor - Coulant
05:30
13.
Quatuor No. 3 In G Major - Prelude
02:16
14.
Quatuor No. 3 In G Major - Legerement
05:05
15.
Quatuor No. 3 In G Major - Gracieusement
02:14
16.
Quatuor No. 3 In G Major - Vite
03:55
17.
Quatuor No. 3 In G Major - Modere
04:15
18.
Quatuor No. 3 In G Major - Gai
01:51
19.
Quatuor No. 3 In G Major - Lentement
02:38
20.
Concerto Primo In G Major - Grave-Allegro-Grave-Allegro
03:21
21.
Concerto Primo In G Major - Largo-Presto-Largo
03:03
22.
Concerto Primo In G Major - Allegro
04:39

Total time: 01:10:46

Additional information

Label

SKU

20604

Qualities

, ,

Channels

, ,

Artists

Composers

Genres

,

Cables

van den Hul T3 series

Digital Converters

EMM Labs Meitner ADC & DAC

Harpsichord Technician

Keith McGowan

Mastering Engineer

Jared Sacks

Mastering Equipment

B&W 803 diamond series

Microphones

Bruel & Kjaer, Schoeps

Mixing Board

Rens Heijnis custom design

Awards

, ,

Instruments

,

Original Recording Format

Producer

Walter van Hauwe

Recording Engineer

Jared Sacks

Recording location

St. Martin's Church, East Woodhay, UK in February 2003

Recording Software

Pyramix bij Merging

Recording Type & Bit Rate

DSD64

Speakers

Audiolab, Holland

Release DateOctober 26, 2018

Press reviews

Luister

Het Britse ensemble brengt hier wederom een voortreffelijke vertolking. Het is technisch hoogstaand spel, gecombineerd met aandacht voor elk detail, een grote dosis flair en een schitterende homogeniteit en transparantie. Hier wordt duidelijk niet alleen met het hoofd gemusiceerd, maar ook met het hart.

American Record Guide

I felt as if I were in the midst of the instruments. (…)

Audiophile Audition

outstanding period instrument ensemble … Hearing these delightful works in multichannel surround can only bring the listener closer to the music

BBC Music Magazine

Florilegium plays with spirit and charm, responding intuitively to Telemanns pellucid textures and affective inflections. …. hope we do not have to wait another five years for. vol. 3

International Record Review

Another splendid disc from Florilegium recorded with spectacular fidelity and imagination. Ashley Solomons playing on a modern copy of a 1720 flute is delightful, but then so is the ease and charm of all the playing here. Interpretation of a very high calibre… theyre given elegant, beautifully weighted, stylish performances …. Nothing is ever too frantic, the faster dances are given with the lighter of gaits, and always theres an intimacy of interreaction …. Ashley Solomons flute-playing is outstanding, showing immense variety of colour and dynamic, as is clear in the delectable climax to the Prelude of the third Quator Another excellent reading, and a fine recording throughout

The Observer

This cd will cumulatively constitute a unique contribution to the genre

Classics Today 5 out of 5

I don’t think I’ve ever heard a more beautiful album of Baroque chamber music than this one. The sonics perfectly complement the interpretation.

A warm acoustic space, with microphones placed an ideal distance from the players, allows the musicians–not the engineer–to create the necessary atmosphere and blend, with no compromise in clarity or presence. In the Multichannel DSD format, the acoustic space has additional tactility, and the ensemble achieves an almost physical presence in your listening room.

Even if you don’t ordinarily care for Telemann or Baroque chamber music, you may well find yourself won over by the manifold excellence of this production on both musical and technical grounds. It doesn’t get any better.

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