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The Bassoon Abroad - Foreign Composers In Britain / Harris, Ensemble Chameleon
Carus

The Bassoon Abroad - Foreign Composers In Britain / Harris, Ensemble Chameleon

$20.99

Details

Composer
GALLIARD MERCI LAMPE
Artist
ENSEMBLE CHAMELEON
Format
CD
Label
Carus
Released
Jan 28, 2014
Catalog #
CV83463
UPC
4009350834637

About



THE BASSOON ABROAD: Foreign Composers in Britain • Jennifer Harris (bn); Ens Chameleon • CARUS 83.463 (69:25)


GALLIARD 6 Sonatas for Bassoon/Cello and Basso Continuo: No. 1 in a; No. 2 in G; No. 5 in d; No. 6 in C. The Advice. TRAD The Bush aboon Traquair. The Flowers of Edinburgh. The Lass of Pattie’s Mill. MERCI 6 Sonatas for Bassoon, op. 3: No. 1 in B?; No. 3 in E?; No. 4 in g; No. 5 in c. LAMPE The Solitary Relief. The Maid’s Request


Elsewhere in this volume, I welcome The Proud Bassoon , a recital of German and French bassoon works from the late Baroque period played by the Scottish Baroque bassoon virtuoso Peter Whelen. Now, here from the same package of goodies sent by publisher Joel Flegler, is another recital of Baroque bassoon works, played by a different outstanding proponent of the instrument, English-born Jennifer Harris. These are works primarily of the French (despite the name) composer Luigi Merci and German composer John Ernest Galliard, both of whom immigrated to England to become part of the lively music scene dominated by another German, George Frideric Handel. Harris, incidentally, has made the counter-move, having transplanted to Germany for her advanced studies and subsequent career as an orchestral and chamber musician. She is currently professor of Baroque bassoon at the Conservatory of the City of Vienna University.


The two principal composers are not well known. Galliard moved to England by way of the Court of Denmark to become chapel-master of Somerset House in London. Merci served James Brydges, first Duke of Chandos, before moving to London as well. Among the few surviving works, both produced a set of six sonatas for bassoon and continuo, four each of which Harris has chosen as the core of this recital. They are remarkable for their timing—the bassoon was just coming into its own as a solo instrument at the time of their composition and publication—and for their quality and variety of style. While not masterpieces on the exalted plane of Handel, they display the considerable melodic gift of their creators, and are substantial works which suggest the discernment and playing skill of the public which bought them for home music-making.


Like the works on The Proud Bassoon , these sonatas often require a soloist of considerable skill to pull them off. New instruments based on surviving period bassoons, courses of study to teach the instrument with its complex, very different fingerings, and still others to teach period performance practice, are now resulting in a crop of outstanding proponents of the instrument and this repertoire. Harris is clearly one of these, and she and the remarkable artists of Ensemble Chameleon are making a most impressive CD debut with this outstanding release. The works may not be masterpieces, but the performances are, with Harris’s imaginative, charismatic, and always virtuoso performances ably seconded by the other four members of Ensemble Chameleon. They are so good they should be named individually: Ulrike Becker plays Baroque cello; Barbara Messmer, violone; Andrea Baur, lute; and Evelyn Laib, harpsichord. The often subtle, continually varied sonorities produced as accompaniment are a constant delight, with the alternate use of plucked strings and harpsichord especially nicely done. Tempos are lively but avoid the Lamborghini-like approach of some ensembles from farther south.


Solo honors are shared a bit. The ensemble, sans bassoon, plays German composer John Frederick Lampe’s ballad The Solitary Relief , taken from a 1756 song collection Apollo’s Cabinet , and Harris joins them for a sampling of Scottish airs from the same collection. Laib takes a solo turn in the same composer’s The Maid’s Request . Becker and Baur play a Galliard ballad, The Advice . They are as impressive individually as collectively.


Carus, known for its superbly engineered releases, has added yet another to its catalog. Notes by the soloist, to which I am indebted, are lively and informative, and provide, along with the context of the works, a clever motivation for the program concept. She also makes an interesting connection between the period settings of Scottish airs interspersed among the sonatas, and the music of Merci and Galliard. All in all, presentation and music, the release is perfect. Some admirers of late Baroque music may shy from this disc because of the drier, stuffier quality of the Baroque bassoon. That would be a shame, as the sonority is ideal for the music and the ensemble. and the music is a delight. Highly recommended.


FANFARE: Ronald E. Grames

Tracklist 36 tracks

  1. 1 I. Andante 02:54
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Andante
    Duration
    02:54
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  2. 2 II. Vivace 01:38
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Vivace
    Duration
    01:38
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  3. 3 III. Alla ciciliana cantabile 01:59
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Alla ciciliana cantabile
    Duration
    01:59
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  4. 4 IV. Spiritoso e allegro 01:44
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Spiritoso e allegro
    Duration
    01:44
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  5. 5 The bush aboon traquair 01:18
    Track
    5
    Title
    The bush aboon traquair
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  6. 6 I. Allemanda 02:03
    Track
    6
    Title
    I. Allemanda
    Duration
    02:03
    Composer
    Luigi Merci
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  7. 7 II. Cantabile: Andantino 03:21
    Track
    7
    Title
    II. Cantabile: Andantino
    Duration
    03:21
    Composer
    Luigi Merci
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  8. 8 III. Minuetto - Presto - Minuetto 02:21
    Track
    8
    Title
    III. Minuetto - Presto - Minuetto
    Duration
    02:21
    Composer
    Luigi Merci
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  9. 9 The Solitary Relief 01:43
    Track
    9
    Title
    The Solitary Relief
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    John Friedrich Lampe
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  10. 10 I. Adagio 03:32
    Track
    10
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    03:32
    Composer
    Luigi Merci
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  11. 11 II. Allegro 02:07
    Track
    11
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Luigi Merci
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  12. 12 III. Larghetto alla scozzese 02:26
    Track
    12
    Title
    III. Larghetto alla scozzese
    Duration
    02:26
    Composer
    Luigi Merci
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  13. 13 IV. Minuetto 01:29
    Track
    13
    Title
    IV. Minuetto
    Duration
    01:29
    Composer
    Luigi Merci
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  14. 14 The Maid's Request 01:15
    Track
    14
    Title
    The Maid's Request
    Duration
    01:15
    Composer
    John Friedrich Lampe
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  15. 15 I. Grave 03:41
    Track
    15
    Title
    I. Grave
    Duration
    03:41
    Composer
    Luigi Merci
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  16. 16 II. A tempo giusto 02:21
    Track
    16
    Title
    II. A tempo giusto
    Duration
    02:21
    Composer
    Luigi Merci
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  17. 17 IV. Minuetto 01:30
    Track
    17
    Title
    IV. Minuetto
    Duration
    01:30
    Composer
    Luigi Merci
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  18. 18 The Flowers of Edinburgh 00:36
    Track
    18
    Title
    The Flowers of Edinburgh
    Duration
    00:36
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  19. 19 I. Larghetto 02:03
    Track
    19
    Title
    I. Larghetto
    Duration
    02:03
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  20. 20 II. Alla breve 01:42
    Track
    20
    Title
    II. Alla breve
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  21. 21 III. Sarabanda 01:41
    Track
    21
    Title
    III. Sarabanda
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  22. 22 IV. Menuet 02:01
    Track
    22
    Title
    IV. Menuet
    Duration
    02:01
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  23. 23 I. Allemanda 02:22
    Track
    23
    Title
    I. Allemanda
    Duration
    02:22
    Composer
    Luigi Merci
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  24. 24 II. Andantino 02:13
    Track
    24
    Title
    II. Andantino
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Luigi Merci
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  25. 25 III. Minuetto - IV. Presto 02:07
    Track
    25
    Title
    III. Minuetto - IV. Presto
    Duration
    02:07
    Composer
    Luigi Merci
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  26. 26 The Advice 01:42
    Track
    26
    Title
    The Advice
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  27. 27 I. Cantabile 01:24
    Track
    27
    Title
    I. Cantabile
    Duration
    01:24
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  28. 28 II. Spiritoso e staccato: A tempo moderato 01:15
    Track
    28
    Title
    II. Spiritoso e staccato: A tempo moderato
    Duration
    01:15
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  29. 29 III. Largo e staccato 01:36
    Track
    29
    Title
    III. Largo e staccato
    Duration
    01:36
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  30. 30 IV. Hornpipe e l'Inglese: Allegro e staccato 00:54
    Track
    30
    Title
    IV. Hornpipe e l'Inglese: Allegro e staccato
    Duration
    00:54
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  31. 31 V. Vivace 01:18
    Track
    31
    Title
    V. Vivace
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  32. 32 I. Adagio 01:49
    Track
    32
    Title
    I. Adagio
    Duration
    01:49
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  33. 33 II. Allegro e spiritoso 01:43
    Track
    33
    Title
    II. Allegro e spiritoso
    Duration
    01:43
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  34. 34 III. Alla ciciliana 01:42
    Track
    34
    Title
    III. Alla ciciliana
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  35. 35 IV. Allegro assai 01:23
    Track
    35
    Title
    IV. Allegro assai
    Duration
    01:23
    Composer
    John Ernst Galliard
    Performer
    Jennifer Harris
    Ensemble
    Chameleon
  36. 36 The Lass of Patie's Mill 02:17
    Track
    36
    Title
    The Lass of Patie's Mill
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    Traditional
    Ensemble
    Chameleon