Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Canon and gigue, for 3 violins & continuo in D major, T. 337: Canon in D
2. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: Air on a G String
3. Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050: 1. Allegro
4. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Aria
5. Serse (Xerxes), opera, HWV 40: Ombra Mai Fu
6. The Prince of Denmark's March (Trumpet Voluntary) for brass, winds & percussion (or keyboard or trumpet & organ) in D major
7. Sonata for keyboard in C minor, K. 11 (L. 352)
8. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: Badinerie
9. Concerto for 2 violins, strings & continuo in D minor ('Double'), BWV 1043: Largo ma non tanto
10. Mandolin Concerto, for mandolin, strings & continuo in C major, RV 425: Allegro
11. Water Music Suite No.2 for orchestra in D major, HWV 349: Hornpipe
12. Toccata and Fugue, for organ in D minor, BWV 565 (BC J37)
13. Double Trumpet Concerto for 2 trumpets, strings & continuo in C major, RV 537: Allegro
14. Rondeau, for brass, strings & timpani (from Suite of Symphonies No. 1; 'Masterpiece Theater' Theme)
15. Suite for keyboard (Suite de piece), Vol.1, No.5 in E major ('The Harmonious Blacksmith'), HWV 430: The Harmonious Blacksmith
16. Lute (Chamber) Concerto, for lute (or guitar), 2 violins & continuo in D major, RV 93: Largo
17. Fantasia and Fugue, for keyboard in C minor (fugue incomplete), BWV 906 (BC L133, 138)
18. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Hallelujah

Disc 2:

1. Zadok the Priest, coronation anthem No. 1 for chorus & orchestra, HWV 258
2. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in E major ('La Primavera,' The Four Seasons; 'Il cimento' No. 1), Op.8/1, RV 269: Al
3. Abdelazer, or, the Moor's Revenge, incidental music, Z. 570: Air - Jig - Hornpipe
4. L'honestà negli amori, opera: Gia Il Sole Dal Gange
5. Water Music Suite No.1 for orchestra in F major, HWV 348: Air
6. Caro mio ben, for voice & piano (or orchestra)
7. Le Coucou, rondeau for harpsichord in E minor (Pièces de clavecin, Suite No. 3)
8. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052: Allegro
9. Solomon, oratorio, HWV 67: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
10. Concerto for viola, strings & continuo in G major, TWV 51:G9: Largo
11. Concerto for oboe, strings & continuo in D minor, SF. 935 (often transposed to C minor): Adagio
12. Concerto Grosso in G minor ('Christmas Concerto'), Op. 6/8: Largo (Pastorale Ad Libitum)
13. Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio), in six parts, BWV 248 (BC D7): Sinfonia
14. Trio Sonata for 2 oboes, bassoon & continuo No. 6 in C minor, ZWV 181/6: Allegro
15. Concerto for violin, strings & continuo No. 1 in A minor, BWV 1041: Andante
16. Dardanus, tragédie en musique: Overture
17. Adagio, for violin, strings & organ in G minor, T. Mi 26 (composed by Remo Giazotto; not by Albinoni)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48302 in Music
• Released on: 2002-10-08
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered

Customer Reviews

High-quality, marvelously varied intro to baroque music
I am buying this as the perfect gift for Russian and Chinese scientist friends. They have knowledge of classical music but perhaps not much about baroque music, which achieved special popularity in the U.S. during the 1970's and 1980's. Russians seem to have more familiarity with romantic classical music, while the more recently arrived Asian classical buffs have special affinity to the "Classical" classical period and the great 19th Century romantics. How can a baroque sampler be better than with a span of music ranging from solo harpsichord to full orchestra and chorus, and from the very familiar (Pachelbel Canon and Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah) to a trio sonata by Zelenka and the Dardanus Overture by Rameau. Not only that, but both the period instrument and living tradition baroque styles are represented by noted performers (e.g. Trevor Pinnock and Christopher Hogwood; and Henryk Szeryng, Andras Schiff, Pepe Romero, and Alicia de Larrocha, respectively). The producers were careful enough to state that the "Albinoni Adagio in g minor" was actually composed by Remo Giazotto - though in fact Giazotto did use a fragment of Albinoni. This is definitely not a supermarket special, but a box of choice musical bonbons.

Great Collection
Essential Baroque is a great collection, especially for the price. It has two CDs packd full of the best Baroque music. Like most Baroque collections, it has the best of some of the better known artists like Handel, Bach, and Vivaldi. However, unlike most other collections, it excels in adding some good pieces from lesser known artists from the period.

A remarkable anthology
A fine selection of pieces excerpted from the chamber ensemble, solo and opera repertory. Some recordings, though from paramount artists, are elderly; yet, performers are anyway flawless. It may be objected that a few of Vivaldi's masterpieces were disregarded.