Search - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Pachelbel, Leopold Mozart :: Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik; Pachelbel: Canon; L. Mozart: "Toy Symphony"

Anna B. (Classicana) from JAMUL, CA
Reviewed on 1/28/2007...

TRACKS:
W. A. Mozart
1 - 4: Eine kleine Nachtmusik, KV 525
5: Adagio and Fugue in C minor, KV 546
J. Pachelbel
6 - 8: Canon and Gigue
Leopold Mozart
9 - 15: Cassatio ex G, including the "Toy Symphony"

On tempo

D. Sandoval | Northern Frontier | 04/28/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Almost every recording of Night Music by Wolfgang A. and especially Canon by Pachelbel starts out too slowly. The reason is because if they begin at the proper tempo, then the musicians are going to be working very hard during the counterpoint exchanges. Sir Neville Marriner is the only conductor to voice these pieces as they were intended and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields rises to the challenge with consistent meter regardless of how daunting the melody and counterpoint lines are. That extra discipline applied to these overly familiar pieces gives them a fresh sound. The bonus on this CD is Toy Symphony by Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang's dad. With the improvised instruments, this work can easily disintegrate into noise, but here Sir Neville allows for the whimsy but also treats the music seriously, so the listener can easily imagine Mozart using this music to entertain his infant son, the baby who would eventually become Wolfgang Amadeus."

Fantastic!!! Wonderful music beautifully played!

Tygerlylly | New Zealand | 04/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This cd has the finest version of the Canon in D by Pachelbel that I have ever heard and by now I own a few. It is worth owning just for that but it is all beautifully played and presented so I enjoy listening to the whole cd. I recommend this."