Search - Brook Street Band :: Handel: Trio Sonatas Op. 5

The Brook Street ladies rock!

E. Davis | Bloomfield, NJ USA | 08/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For those who do not know, the Brook Street Bank consists of four British women who specialize in baroque music. The op. 5 set by Handel is peculiar in many ways. Some of the "trio sonatas" are really five and six-movement suites and not trio sonatas at all as we have come to know them via other composers. Additionally, music in Handel's day was usually sold in sets of three and six so how did op. 5 comes to have seven sonatas? The answer is discussed in the notes. The music is all recycled from many of Handel's earlier works. This, in no way, diminishes the CD.



The BSB play with a sparkle and shimmer that would have made old Handel do a dance himself, if he could. The sense of ensemble is outstanding on these period instruments tuned down to a=415. Intonation is impeccable throughout and the notes, written by the group's cellist, are informative and interesting.



If you have any interest at all in baroque music , get this set. These ladies really rock!"

GET THIS RECORD

P. D. De Moncey-conegliano | Ayr UK | 07/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am absolutely in love with this recording. However much or little it costs get it! I have another recording of this same music in a box set and though all the notes are all there it sounds like a computer sequencer - like Bach in fact.

But here the period instruments and the feeling of the performance gives the music a quirkiness and humanity that is fabulous.

This is proof ( if needed) that Handel was infinitely superior to Bach. Handel was the cosmopolitan master of French Italian and English music whereas Bach was some provincial German organist. Back never wrote an opera. And there are enough tunes on this record to furnish another 200 Handel operas!! It is fantastic. Buy it!

Peter de Moncey-Co0negliano

Composer"