Search - Dietrich Buxtehude, John Holloway, Jaap ter Linden :: Buxtehude: 7 Trio Sonatas Op. 2

Fine Music Superfine Playing

David J. Friedlander | Columbus, Ohio United States | 03/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love this CD. From the minute the music begins, you know this is going to be special. If you are familiar with Baroque trio sonatas, then you are in for a real treat. If you are new to this genre, this is a very good place to start. It may not be the very best place to start but more on that in a minute.



To explain Buxtehude's music is not an easy thing to do in a sound bite. You won't find singable melodies, power chords or even pyrotechnic vituousity by any of the players. Yet, if you are a patient and astute listener, the delights in this music are unending. As you become more familiar with this music, it will not only please you, it can teach and inform you as well. How is that you ask?



Buxtehude's music is mercurial, always changing, searching and exploring. Yet at the same time it is totally charming, effervescent, sweet and consoling. His music is imbued with remarkable intelligence and his construction is confident, assured and logical. His approach is lighter than Bach, but it does not lack substance in any way. In fact it is a wonderful blend of rich ideas and an almost kind gentleness that doesn't preach to you or self consciously try to impress.



What really sells me on this disc is the playing. The music is great enough, but you need artists that have the requisite sensitivity and technical assurance to allow the music to bloom completely without their own showiness interfering. That is the case here. In fact, I can't think of another example of a group that exceeds this one in allowing the music to spring forth so naturally. The sounds tickle the ear but never cloy while the music takes your mind on a journey you likely will want to repeat. That is one advantage to this style of music, since it doesn't continuously recycle any one melody, it won't run through your head uninvited later on.



If you like Baroque music, I don't see how this could disappoint. If you are looking for an introduction to Buxtehude, go ahead because I think you will find this to be great. If Baroque music is rather new to you, you might want to start with something a little more mainstream like Vivaldi or Telemann. Keep in mind Buxtehude predates all of these composers. Still, the music sounds remarkably modern and vital and I would still recommend this to anyone who is willing to open their ears and mind. I promise if you do, this will reward you again and again."

A Delightful Discovery

M. De Sapio | Alexandria, VA | 06/11/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Formerly, when I thought of Dietrich Buxtehude (if at all), I thought of a very serious creator of complex organ music who was a seminal influence on J. S. Bach. Not until this CD appeared one day in Amazon's "recommendations" list did I become aware that Buxtehude wrote a series of delightful trio sonatas for the somewhat unusual combination of violin, viola da gamba, and continuo - his first published opus at almost 60 years of age (!). If you love the chamber music of Biber, you will relish these sonatas: all of the wit, whimsy, tenderness, and improvisatory joyousness of the 17th century are here in abundance. This is one of the most beautifully played CD's of baroque music I have ever heard. John Holloway's violin tone flows like molten gold; he and gambist Jaap Ter Linden play together with freedom as well as precision and polish. This CD is the second of a pair (the first contains the opus 1 sonatas). Some potential buyers on a budget may be uncertain as to which volume to purchase. Having bought both, let me recommend this one: opus 2 is even more impressive and masterly than opus 1. No lovers of baroque chamber music should be without this."

Succeed the Germany music tradition

HSIEH CHENG CHUNG | Taipei, Taiwan | 07/30/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Buxtehude ut's interesting to me also because of Bach's famuos story, go to listen his music stayed over his holidays. However, when I listenned this CD, it really give me strong impact on music power, it shake me to touch inner mood. Holloway play this, excellent show as his Biber. I find he could catch Germany music faithfully. We should give him more honor from his playing"