Reusner: Delitiae Testudinis Vol 1 / Paul Beier

$18.99
Label
Stradivarius
Release Date
April 1, 2011
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      REUSNER
    • PERFORMER
      Paul Beier
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      April 01, 2011
    • UPC
      8011570338679
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      STR33867
    • LABEL
      Stradivarius
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Instrumental
    Works ⌄

    1. I. Praeludium

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    2. II. Paduana

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    3. III. Allemanda

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    4. IV. Couranta

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    5. V. Sarabanda

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    6. VI. Gavotta

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    7. VII. Gigue

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    8. I. Paduana

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    9. II. Allemanda

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    10. III. Couranta

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    11. IV. Sarabanda

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    12. V. Gavotte

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    13. VI. Gigue

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    14. I. Paduana

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    15. II. Allemanda

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    16. III. Couranta

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    17. IV. Sarabanda

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    18. V. Gavotte

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    19. VI. Gigue

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    20. I. Paduana

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    21. II. Allemanda

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    22. III. Couranta

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    23. IV. Sarabanda

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    24. V. Gigue

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    25. I. Allemanda

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    26. II. Couranta

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    27. III. Sarabanda

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier

    28. IV. Gigue

      Composer: Esaias Reusner

      Performer: Paul Beier




REUSNER Delitiæ Testudinis, Vol. 1 • Paul Beier (lt) • STRADIVARIUS 33867 (78:47)


Esaias Reusner (1636–79) was taught the lute by his father, became familiar with the published music of such modern masters as Francois Dufault and Ennemond Gaultier, then was influenced by and studied under an unknown lutenist while a valet at the Polish court of Princess Radziwi??. He published two collections of lute suites in the then very popular French style that were very successful, and soon had a pronounced effect on other, similar compositions in the German States. His pieces—naturally contrapuntal, rich in passing dissonances, and prone to the expressive extremes then popular in this kind of intimate music-making—are uniformly attractive. The pavanes and sarabandes in particular revel in an eloquently lyrical melancholy.


Beier’s technique is good, but not perfect. The occasional glanced note—different in dynamics, resonance, and duration from all others around it—interferes with the musical line and his musical insight. Once you get past this, it’s easy to appreciate the fine degree of shading in the Couranta of the Suite No. 4, and the general warmth of tone, but the playing isn’t immaculate. These are stylistically strong performances by a fine lutenist, with the caveat that wrong notes do mar the surface.


The lute on this album is closely miked, but with a pleasantly dry ambiance that keeps textures clean and allows the instrument to sound for itself without any unneeded help from the environment. Beier’s own liner notes are excellent in discussing the influences at work on Reusner, and the disc is an unusually full one. Perhaps best of all, this is only Volume 1—meaning we can look forward to more of the Delitiæ Testudinis in the future. Barring slips of the fingers, this one’s definitely recommended.


FANFARE: Barry Brenesal