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Oddities & Trifles: The Very Peculiar Instrumental Music Of Giovanni Valentini
Olde Focus Recordings

Oddities & Trifles: The Very Peculiar Instrumental Music Of Giovanni Valentini

$20.99

Details

Composer
VALENTINI, GIOVANNI
Artist
Acronym
Format
CD
Label
Olde Focus Recordings
Released
Mar 10, 2015
Catalog #
FCR904
UPC
707541837392

About


Certainly the disc’s title is intriguing. But based on past experience, listening to many recordings with similar hooks where some obscure yet supposedly worthy music just didn’t live up to its billing, the most I expected was an hour of pleasantly undemanding background entertainment. My only previous encounter with the music of Giovanni Valentini (c.1582-1649) was a 2001 review of a disc of vocal works, and I was only marginally aware of the ensemble Acronym (although I was familiar with a few of its members, who also play in other groups).

None of this admittedly minimal cognizance prepared me for the absolutely brilliant performances or the fascinating, consistently engaging, and yes, somewhat “peculiar” music–expertly recorded–that emerged as these exceptional musicians began the first track, a G minor sonata in five parts. Within the first 30 seconds–the delightful oddity of Valentini’s writing had already showed itself–my imagined expectation for “undemanding background entertainment” had turned to rapt, seriously focused listening.

The 12-member Acronym bills itself as a “Baroque String Band”, and that’s exactly what it is; and if you’ve ever been queasy about or dismissive of the sound and substance of period-instrument performance, set your concerns aside and listen to these virtuoso string players–their instruments include gambas, violins, violas, cello, violone, theorbo, and harpsichord–as they play the daylights out of music you didn’t even know you loved. Entertainment, yes; this is exactly what this music is supposed to be about, with its frequent “metric eccentricities”, occasional “whimsical motivic material” and “unprepared modulations”, and often surprising chromaticism. The Acronym musicians are not only are aware of these devices, they fully exploit them in the most affecting and skillful manner, neither overplaying nor apologizing for an expressive utterance or effect.

As you listen you sense an exceptional level of communication is going on among the players–there’s no other way to achieve the remarkable coordination of intricate lines, phrasing, and dynamics–and, owing to a fortuitous coincidence, I can assure you that this is the case. Just as I began listening to this recording I noticed that Acronym would be performing in a summer concert series only a few miles from where I live. They didn’t play any Valentini that evening–the varied program of solo-vocal and instrumental works consisted of, if anything, music even more unusual and often astonishingly virtuosic, by composers such as Poglietti, Thieme, Drese, and Bertali, than Valentini’s work–but to see these musicians play (and play with such passion) is to confirm the strong and powerful connectedness of eyes, body movements, and auditory cues that make the performances here so vital and vibrant.

Finally, to return to the disc’s title, I have one suggestion for prospective listeners: Although the words “oddities” and “peculiar” are to some degree accurate, “trifle” in this case should be taken not in its more common sense–“something of little value or importance”–but would be better regarded in association with something delectable and enticing, such as “a dessert made with spongecake pieces, spread with jam, sprinkled with sherry, and layered with custard, fruit, and whipped cream…”, like this disc, irresistible and well worth indulging.

-- David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 17 tracks

  1. 1 Sonata a 5 in G Minor (1) 05:02
    Track
    1
    Title
    Sonata a 5 in G Minor (1)
    Duration
    05:02
    Composer
    Giovanni Valentini
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM
  2. 2 Aria a 2 in G Minor 04:21
    Track
    2
    Title
    Aria a 2 in G Minor
    Duration
    04:21
    Composer
    Giovanni Valentini
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM
  3. 3 Sonata a 5 in C Major 03:04
    Track
    3
    Title
    Sonata a 5 in C Major
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Giovanni Valentini
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM
  4. 4 Canzon a 6 in G Minor (1) 02:35
    Track
    4
    Title
    Canzon a 6 in G Minor (1)
    Duration
    02:35
    Composer
    Giovanni Valentini
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM
  5. 5 Sonata a 4 in D Minor 04:18
    Track
    5
    Title
    Sonata a 4 in D Minor
    Duration
    04:18
    Composer
    Giovanni Valentini
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM
  6. 6 Sonata a 5 in G Minor (2) 05:32
    Track
    6
    Title
    Sonata a 5 in G Minor (2)
    Duration
    05:32
    Composer
    Giovanni Valentini
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM
  7. 7 Canzon a 6 in D Minor 02:55
    Track
    7
    Title
    Canzon a 6 in D Minor
    Duration
    02:55
    Composer
    Giovanni Valentini
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM
  8. 8 Sonata a 5 in A Minor 04:26
    Track
    8
    Title
    Sonata a 5 in A Minor
    Duration
    04:26
    Composer
    Giovanni Valentini
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM
  9. 9 Violin Sonata in D Major 09:33
    Track
    9
    Title
    Violin Sonata in D Major
    Duration
    09:33
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Performer
    Beth Wenstrom
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM
  10. 10 Canzon a 5 in G Major 03:20
    Track
    10
    Title
    Canzon a 5 in G Major
    Duration
    03:20
    Composer
    Giovanni Valentini
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM
  11. 11 Sonata a 3 in C Major 04:13
    Track
    11
    Title
    Sonata a 3 in C Major
    Duration
    04:13
    Composer
    Giovanni Valentini
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM
  12. 12 Echo a 3 in G Minor 02:06
    Track
    12
    Title
    Echo a 3 in G Minor
    Duration
    02:06
    Composer
    Giovanni Valentini
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM
  13. 13 Sonata a 2 in D Minor 05:04
    Track
    13
    Title
    Sonata a 2 in D Minor
    Duration
    05:04
    Composer
    Giovanni Valentini
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM
  14. 14 Canzon a 4 in A Minor 02:23
    Track
    14
    Title
    Canzon a 4 in A Minor
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Giovanni Valentini
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM
  15. 15 Canzon a 6 in G Minor (2) 02:17
    Track
    15
    Title
    Canzon a 6 in G Minor (2)
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    Giovanni Valentini
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM
  16. 16 Sonata a 6 in C Major 03:08
    Track
    16
    Title
    Sonata a 6 in C Major
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Anonymous
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM
  17. 17 Sonata a 4 in G Minor 04:46
    Track
    17
    Title
    Sonata a 4 in G Minor
    Duration
    04:46
    Composer
    Giovanni Valentini
    Ensemble
    ACRONYM