Reviews by the editorial staff of Early Music America. Have a new recording or book? Submit it for consideration.
Early Music’s Future? A New Book Asks and Answers
The 'early music' movement is at an artistic crossroads and the field seems to be pushed and pulled in many directions. In 'Music in the 21st Century,' an array of authors dissect the recent past and consider the future for historical performance. It's a stimulating collection of essays on topics familiar and unexpected.
Nevermind’s Goldbergs, a Garden of Musical Colors
In this imaginative and deeply satisfying new recording, the French period-instrument quartet named Nevermind finds the chamber music in Bach's Goldberg Variations. Surprisingly, harpsichordist Jean Rondeau and his three colleagues find truths in the music that are beyond the reach of the original.
Tempesta di Mare’s Fasch Fascination
The original voice of Johann Friedrich Fasch is finally reaching today's listeners, thanks to Philadelphia's Tempesta di Mare. The ensemble's latest recording, volume 4 in a series, offers modern-day premieres of Fasch's playful, bouncy, and dramatic music. Our reviewer writes: 'I find it impossible to tire of this joyous journey.'
Lucrezia Tells Her Own Story
Four exceptional singers, backed by the ensemble Les Paladins and keyboardist Jérôme Correas, offer four celebrated cantatas on the harrowing tale of Lucretia, covering her emotional states, from rage to sorrow to silence.
Espresso Shots with Apollo’s Fire
It's easy to speculate that J.S. Bach was tired of the daily grind as Cantor of the Thomasschule in Leipzig and found Zimmermann's Coffeehouse a space to refresh his creative drive. Jeannette Sorrell and Apollo's Fire scored a 2024 hit with their "Bach's Coffeehouse," debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Classical charts, as they celebrated the fun and flair of music by Bach, Telemann, and Vivaldi — fit for café life.
We Can’t Get Enough of the Troubadours
The moniker "troubadour" stirs the modern imagination like no other Medieval vocation. A smart new book offers concise studies of some of the most famous troubadours, offering thoughtful observations on poetic style alongside vivid descriptions of the historical context that shaped the tradition.
Corelli Violin Sonatas, More Alive Than Ever
Violinist Rachel Barton Pine can trace her pedagogical lineage straight back to Arcangelo Corelli. But for historical performance style, she studied with gamba player John Mark Rozendaal and harpsichordist David Schrader. Joined by lutenist Brandon Acker, they offer imaginative and rewarding readings of Corelli's Op. 5 collection of violin sonatas.
The Magic of Turning Secular to Sacred
A sacred 'parody Magnificat' pays homage to another composer's smaller work, such as a secular madrigal. The parody's craftsmanship and originality display reverence for the original. A recent album of Magnificats by Orlandus Lassus, alongside the pieces that served as inspiration, is a brilliant game of matched pairs.
Cinquecento Revive Ludwig Daser’s Legacy
Influential at the Bavarian court in the 16th century, Ludwig Daser and his music were overshadowed by his posthumously more celebrated contemporaries. But Daser's lyrical gifts and structural innovations are gaining adherents, including the pan-European vocal ensemble Cinquecento. Their latest recording capture all the tension and exuberance of this remarkable music.
Celebrating Frans Brüggen’s Rare Recorders
The great recorder virtuoso, conductor, and early-music pioneer Frans Brüggen died a decade ago, but his legacy remains strong. One of today's brightest stars borrowed rare instruments from Brüggen's collection. With limited time on fragile instruments, she plays to each of their strengths, often with 'breath-taking intimacy.'
