What download have you bought?

[Richard Barrett]

This album featured on CD Review has been playing a lot on Qobuz lately here

Yes, that's a beautiful CD and the opening track is one of quite a few items tucked away in Graupner's enormous output of ensemble suites that shows clearly how individual his music is - sometimes strangely sparse, as if something is missing. If you liked that piece in particular you will probably like the CD "Trois Ouvertures pour chalumeaux et orchestre" played by the Mensa Sonora ensemble (to be found also on Qobuz) - for example track 18, "Contentamento" from a Suite in F for two chalumeaux and strings.

[DublinJimbo]

Yes, that's a beautiful CD and the opening track is one of quite a few items tucked away in Graupner's enormous output of ensemble suites that shows clearly how individual his music is - sometimes strangely sparse, as if something is missing. If you liked that piece in particular you will probably like the CD "Trois Ouvertures pour chalumeaux et orchestre" played by the Mensa Sonora ensemble (to be found also on Qobuz) - for example track 18, "Contentamento" from a Suite in F for two chalumeaux and strings.

Graupner's music has been one of my most satisfying discoveries in recent years. My introduction was a recording by Ex Tempore and the Mannheimer Hofkapelle of a series of Cantatas grouped as a 'Christmas Oratorio'. I have two releases which feature the chalumeaux (one by the Finnish Baroque Orchestra; the other by Ars Antiqua Austria). The first of these includes two Suites in F, but neither has a Contentamento movement (what a lovely marking that is!). I must seek out that Mensa Sonora recording.

On the 'Christmas Oratorio' disc, the soprano/tenor duet Komm, mein Freund, mein Heil, mein König from the Cantata Jauchzet ihr Himmel, erfreue dich Erde is especially glorious.

[Nick Armstrong]

Yes, that's a beautiful CD and the opening track is one of quite a few items tucked away in Graupner's enormous output of ensemble suites that shows clearly how individual his music is - sometimes strangely sparse, as if something is missing. If you liked that piece in particular you will probably like the CD "Trois Ouvertures pour chalumeaux et orchestre" played by the Mensa Sonora ensemble (to be found also on Qobuz) - for example track 18, "Contentamento" from a Suite in F for two chalumeaux and strings.

Many thanks for this, Richard - I'd made a mental note to explore more Graupner (of whom I'd barely heard before last weekend, let alone knowing his music) and you give me a perfect starting point Plus I love a chalumeau (or two!).

[Dave2002]

Just bought another batch of downloads from Classic Select at 75 cents (US) each. Just in case others hadn't noticed!

I was going to skip this one - https://www.classicselect.com/produc...nt=33045048518 but then I noticed the performances by Monteux - 5th Symphony and a couple of others.

I think I'm up to about 30 of those now - and there are some really good things in some of them. I've not tried them through good equipment yet, but I think that some of them will sound really rather good. Others, fairly obviously, are older recordings which may not sound so great, but heck - they're not terrible and at these prices there only have to be a couple of good items in each download to be worthwhile.

The bigger issue is then finding the time to download, organise them, and then listen to them.

[Dave2002]

Qobuz is having a 'Black Friday' event. Among the bargains, this wonderful music is available for €2,20. 16 bits only but it sounds great. I bought the CDs last year and listen to them often:

https://www.qobuz.com/fr-fr/album/ka.../3149028092127

Thanks for pointing this out. Not sure if I'll buy the download, but it can be enjoyed in the basic streaming account I think, and it doesn't sound bad at all even at 320kbps. I may decide on this once I've listened right through. Are there any other good Black Friday Qobuz downloads worth checking out?

[HighlandDougie]

Thanks for pointing this out. Not sure if I'll buy the download, but it can be enjoyed in the basic streaming account I think, and it doesn't sound bad at all even at 320kbps. I may decide on this once I've listened right through. Are there any other good Black Friday Qobuz downloads worth checking out?

There are the odd gems if you scroll through the -80% list. The Tedi Papavrami Beethoven Violin Sonatas - at just over £4.00 - got a good write-up in 'Diapason'.

Although no great bargain (like the Kagel), I've gone for three of the Alpha Haydn 2032 series, which at about £7.00 each, are still worth it. Belceas complete Beethoven for a whisker over £21.00 is also not bad

[Beef Oven!]

Hadn't realised that this came out last month!

At last, the most excellent Giovanni Antonini/Kammerorchester Basel Beethoven cycle is now complete!

24/96 Hi-Res, Qobuz.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

- AND with the divine Regula Muhlemann amongst the soloists!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

AND Bernie Mike O'H loathes it, so it must be good!

[Richard Barrett]

Many thanks for this, Richard - I'd made a mental note to explore more Graupner (of whom I'd barely heard before last weekend, let alone knowing his music) and you give me a perfect starting point Plus I love a chalumeau (or two!).

Also there's a series of his music for instrumental ensemble on the MDG label, of which volume 2 is very special - you can hear it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yeokjn86G4M

[Beef Oven!]

AND Bernie Mike O'H loathes it, so it must be good!

I have given up with Bernard. I used to take the view that when he talks about performances he agrees with, he is informative and interesting. And often funny. But now I'm sick of him. I'm getting that way with David Hurwitz.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I have given up with Bernard. I used to take the view that when he talks about performances he agrees with, he is informative and interesting. And often funny. But now I'm sick of him. I'm getting that way with David Hurwitz.

The trouble is that he equates "slow" with "deep" - which I wouldn't mind so much, except that so often a five-star Amazon review from six or seven other listeners becomes a three-and-a-half because of his "one star but only because I can't give it zero" attitude based on this misunderstanding.

[Beef Oven!]

The trouble is that he equates "slow" with "deep" - which I wouldn't mind so much, except that so often a five-star Amazon review from six or seven other listeners becomes a three-and-a-half because of his "one star but only because I can't give it zero" attitude based on this misunderstanding.

Yes, although Amazon reviews tend to be overly generous with stars, it can give readers the wrong impression. However, one can usually work out what's dragging the score down. I think most customers will be aware of this.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

[Beef Oven!]

Debussy, Xavier Roth, period instruments, 24/96 Hi-Res download from eClassical (was quite a bit cheaper than Qobuz).