100 Best Baroque (6 CD box set, FLAC)

Audio CD
Number of Discs: 6 CD box set
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: EMI Classics
Size: 2.08 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: no

Disc: 1
01. Zadok the Priest, coronation anthem No. 1 for chorus & orchestra, HWV 258
02. The Prince of Denmark’s March (Trumpet Voluntary) for brass, winds & percussion (or keyboard or trumpet & organ) in D major
03. Lachrimae Doolande, instrumental music: Pavane: Lachrymae antique
04. Abdelazer, or, the Moor’s Revenge, incidental music, Z. 570: Rondeau
05. Spem in Alium (also set as ‘Sing and glorify’), motet for 40 voices, P. 299
06. With lilies white, consort song for voice & 4 viols
07. Dido and Aeneas, opera, Z. 626: Overture
08. Dido and Aeneas, opera, Z. 626: Act 3. Your counsel all… Great minds… Thy hand, Belinda… When I am laid in earth…
09. Come ye sons of art away (Birthday ode for Queen Mary), for soloists, chorus & instruments, Z. 323
10. O solitude, my sweetest choice, song, Z. 406
11. Solomon, oratorio, HWV 67: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
12. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Hallelujah
13. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: He was despised
14. Water Music Suite No.2 for orchestra in D major, HWV 349: Overture – Hornpipe

Disc: 2
01. Serse (Xerxes), opera, HWV 40: Ombra mai fu
02. Dixit Dominus, hymn for soloists, chorus & orchestra in G minor, HWV 232
03. Giulio Cesare in Egitto, opera, HWV 17: Dall’ondoso periglio… Aure, deh, per pieta
04. Alcina, opera, HWV 34: Verdi prati
05. La favola d’Orfeo, opera, SV 318: Sinfonia
06. Altri canti d’amor, dramatic madrigal for 6 voices, 2 violins & 4 violas (from Book 8), SV 146
07. Work(s): Beatus vir
08. L’incoronazione di Poppea, opera in 3 acts, SV 308: Pur ti miro
09. Adagio, for violin, strings & organ in G minor, T. Mi 26 (composed by Remo Giazotto; not by Albinoni)
10. Miserere mei Deus (Psalm 51), motet for chorusn
11. Work(s): Sonata pian’ e forte
12. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in G minor (‘L’estate,’ The Four Seasons; ‘Il cimento’ No. 2), Op. 8/2, RV 315

Disc: 3
01. Gloria, for 3 solo voices, chorus, trumpet, oboe, violin (ad lib), 2 violas, 2 cellos, strings & continuo in D major, RV 589
02. Oboe Concerto in C minor, SF. 799 (attributed to A. Marcello): 2. Adagio
03. Work(s): Guitar Quintet in E~3. Menuetto
04. Sonata for keyboard in D minor, K. 9 (L. 413), ‘Pastorale’
05. Stabat mater, for soprano, alto, strings & organ in F major: opening
06. Double Mandolin Concerto, for 2 mandolins, strings & continuo in G major, RV 532: 1. Allegro
07. Work(s): Crucifixus
08. Sonata for violin & continuo in G minor, B. g5 (‘The Devil’s Trill’): 3. Allegro
09. Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in E major (‘La Primavera,’ The Four Seasons; ‘Il cimento’ No. 1), Op.8/1, RV 269
10. Piccolo (Flautino) Concerto, for piccolo (or recorder/flute), strings & continuo in C major, RV 444: 1. Allegro
11. Work(s): Fandango
12. O vos omnes, responsory for 4 voices
13. Diferencias sobre las Folias
14. Ay luna que reluzes
15. Pavan and galliard d’Alexandra, for vihuela

Disc: 4
01. Marche de triomphe avec des trompettos et des timbales, for orchestra
02. Première Marche des Mousquetaires, for orchesetra, LWV 10
03. Symphonies du Festin Royal, Suite No 4, Nos 1-11, complete: Contredanse
04. Marche de triomphe, for instruments, H. 547
05. Les Symphonies de M de La Lande pour les soupers du Roy, for orchestra, S. 155-72: Caprice de Villers-Cotterets
06. Chaconne for orchestra, S. 173/2
07. Prélude pour le Te Deum à 8, for strings, H. 145a
08. Mass for the convents, for organ: Offertoire sur les grands jeux
09. Work(s): Regina coeli
10. Panis angelicus, motet for alto, tenor, bass & continuo, C. 131
11. Requiem Mass: Introit (extract)
12. In convertendo, grand motet for soloists, chorus, 2 flutes, 2 horns, violin, viola & continuo: Tunc repletum est gaudio nostrum
13. Suite for theorbo in C minor: La Plainte, ou le Tombeau de Mesdemoiselles de Visée, filles de l’auteur
14. Plainte sur la mort de Monsieur Lambert
15. Tambourins I and II, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
16. Suite for 2 treble instruments & continuo in C minor (Pièces en trio): La Plainte
17. Le Canal de Versailles, ballet: Overture
18. Isis, opera, LWV 54: Air des trembleurs: L’Hiver qui nous tourmente s’obstine à nous geler
19. Les Indes galantes, opéra-ballet: Chaconne

Disc: 5
01. Canon in D major, instrumental arrangement
02. Canzonetta for organ in A minor, BuxWV 225
03. Cello Concerto in G minor: 3. Allegro non tanto
04. Cantata No. 147, ‘Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben,’ BWV 147 (BC A174): jesus bleibet meine Freude
05. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: Air
06. Concerto for 4 harpsichords, strings & continuo in A minor (after Vivaldi, RV 580), BWV 1065: 1. Allegro
07. Toccata and Fugue, for organ in D minor, BWV 565 (BC J37): Toccata
08. Toccata and Fugue, for organ in D minor, BWV 565 (BC J37): Fugue
09. Cantata No. 51, ‘Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen,’ BWV 51 (BC A134): Aria: Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen
10. Suite for flute, harpsichord (or violin) & continuo in A minor (Concerts et Suites No. 5/11), TWV 42:a3
11. Work(s): Oboe Concerto in F minor~2. Largo
12. Cantata No. 29, ‘Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir,’ BWV 29 (BC B8): Sinfonia
13. Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9): Aria
14. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Es ist vollbracht
15. Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049: 3. Presto
16. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: 1. Prelude
17. Magnificat, for 5 voices, 5-part chorus, orchestra & continuo in D major, BWV 243 (BC E14): Magnificat anima mea
18. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 5 in F minor, BWV 1056: 1. Allegro – 2. Largo – 3. Presto
19. Sonata for flute & keyboard in E flat major, BWV 1031: 2. Siciliano

Disc: 6
01. Partita for solo violin No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006: 1. Preludio
02. St. John Passion (Johannespassion), BWV 245 (BC D2): Ruht wohl, ihr heiligen Gebeine
03. Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047: 1. Allegro
04. Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047: 2. Andante
05. Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047: 3. Allegro assai
06. Mass in B minor, for soloists, chorus & orchestra, BWV 232 (BC E1): Gloria in excelsis… Et in terra pax
07. The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): Prelude & Fugue in C BWV 846
08. Concerto for 2 violins, strings & continuo in D minor (‘Double’), BWV 1043: 2. Largo ma non tanto
09. Suite for lute in E minor, BWV 996 (BC L166): 5. Bourrée
10. Suite for lute in E minor, BWV 996 (BC L166): 6. Gigue
11. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: 1. Ouverture – 6. Menuet – 7. Badinerie
12. Partita for keyboard No. 1 in B flat major, BWV 825 (BC L1): 1. Präludium
13. Partita for keyboard No. 1 in B flat major, BWV 825 (BC L1): 6. Gigue
14. Magnificat, for 5 voices, 5-part chorus, orchestra & continuo in D major, BWV 243 (BC E14): Deposuit potentes
15. Mass in B minor, for soloists, chorus & orchestra, BWV 232 (BC E1): Agnus Dei
16. Keyboard Sonata in E flat major, F. 5 (BR A7): 2. Largo – 3. Presto
17. Concerto for cello, strings & continuo (‘No. 3’) in A major, H. 439, Wq. 172: 3. Allegro assai

Great value, if slightly substandard recordings, for classical newbie

“100 Best Baroque” is what it seems – a compilation of the 100 definitive Baroque compositions. For a very low price you get a complete overview of the Baroque style, and while the sound quality of the recordings will not satisfy a serious student or fan of classical music, they are more than enough for a classical neophyte such as myself.

The compilation breaks down the songs into six categories on six separate CDs:

1. England and the Baroque – Handel’s Zadok the Priest and Messiah, Purcell’s O Solitude, Byrd’s With Lillies White, etc.

2. The Best of Italian Baroque – Handel’s Alcina and others, Albinoni’s Adagio, Gabrielli’s Sonata Pian e forte, Vivaldi’s “Summer,” etc.

3. Treasures of the Mediterranean Baroque – Vivaldi’s Gloria, Boccherini’s Guitar Quintet in E, Soler’s Fandango, etc.

4. The Glory of French Baroque – Philidor, Lully, De Lalande, etc.

5. Bach and His Time – Pachelbel’s Canon in D, J.S. Bach’s Cantanta, Telemann, etc.

6. The Genius of Bach – all Bach selections.

The sound recordings are of secondary quality as one could expect for such a low-budget item as this. Still, this collection is perfect for the casual listener or for background music. That does not mean that the quality is poor – far from it – it’s just not as good as what you can expect from some higher-priced CDs.

All in all, a fantastic value.