Search - Michael Praetorius, Erasmus Widmann, Johann Hermann Schein :: Panorama: Dances of the Renaissance

Even for original instrument crowd, this is just perfect

Christian Ellithorpe | Streamwood, IL United States | 12/06/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Even the most fanatical "original instrument purist" should give this one a listen. Though apparently played on modern instruments, these are nearly perfect performances in every way. Warm, appealing charm that captures the real spirit of these optimistic pieces from the Renaissance. I have modern & "period" performances of the Renaissance "Terpishore" dances which open the first disc, and some are quite good. However, this collection outshines all the others. Also bravo to DG for the great remastering. For example, any trace of noise seems to have dropped away completely leaving clean, enthusiastic performance. These musicians clearly honor Musicality above anything."

A joy to the ears and the imagination.

krauterbrenda | Ottawa, Ontario Canada | 11/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a re-release of music recorded many years ago. Over 20 years ago I purchased an LP record from Deutsche Grammophone titled Dance Music from the time of Praetorius (English translation of the title). When I updated to a CD player a few years ago, the search began for the same LP in CD format. I found ''From the Vault: Dance Music of the High Renaissance'' which was the same conductor, same music selections and the same musical ensemble. However, that CD is no longer available. Then I discovered this CD ''Panorama: Dances of the Renaissance'' and it is the same conductor, same music selections and the same musical ensemble and as a bonus it contains additional selections not on the original LP from 20+ years ago. The same great music and a delight to listen to. The music paints musical pictures of minuets, powdered wigs, swirling gowns with hooped skirts, sparkling chandeliers, polished floors, , etc. A joy to the ears and the imagination. I highly recommend this 2 CD set for anyone who likes this type of music."

Wonderful reissue from early days of early music recordings

Christian Ellithorpe | 01/27/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This cd is a reissue of material from several albums in the 60s. The Fritz Neumeyer recordings of Praetorius are from an old Archiv LP that was one of my first introductions to "early music", and it can be charged that it was more enthusiastic than historically informed. A recorder consort will take up one section of a tune, and then a group of viols will swirl in, maybe followed by crumhorns playing another brief phrase, and then a solo harpsichord finishing off the tune. Different instruments provide a variety of textures of sound, keeping things interesting even though most of the tunes are played fairly "straight", without a lot of improvisation. There's been quite a bit of research and rediscovery of Renaissance techniques since this record was first out, and I appreciate those, but these old recordings really get my toe tapping and remind me why I fell in love with early music in the first place."