Performer: Hopkinson Smith
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: FLAC (tracks+cue)
Label: Astree
Size: 274 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Pavanes I, V, III, IV
02. La Cancion Del Emperador sobre Mille Regres De Josquin
03. Fantasia Que Contrahaze La Harpa En La Manera De Ludovico
04. Fantasie II En Tabulature De Guyterne
05. La Poste
06. Toccata Arpeggiata
07. Sarabande La Mignarde
08. Tombeau De Gogo
09. Canarios
10. Villano
11. Prld, Sarabande & Gigue En D
12. Prld De La Ste En g, BWV 995
13. Prld & Preston En f#
14. Gavotte I & II In D
15. Prld & Allegro In G
# Pavanes for guitar I, V, III, IV
Composed by Luis de Milan
with Hopkinson Smith
# Cancion del emperador, for vihuela
Composed by Luys de Narvaez
with Hopkinson Smith
# Fantasia que contrahaze la harpa en la manera de Luduvico
Composed by Alonso de Mudarra
with Hopkinson Smith
# Fantasie 2 en tabulature de Guyterne
Composed by Albert De Rippe
with Hopkinson Smith
# La Poste, for lute
Composed by Ennemond Gaultier
with Hopkinson Smith
# Toccata Arpeggiata for chitarrone (from Book 1 of D’Intavolatura di Chitarrone)
Composed by Giovanni Girolamo (Johann Hieronymus) Kapsberger
with Hopkinson Smith
# Sarabande la Mignarde
Composed by Jacques Gallot
with Hopkinson Smith
# Tombeau de Gogo, allemande
Composed by Charles Mouton
with Hopkinson Smith
# Canarios
Composed by Gaspar Sanz
with Hopkinson Smith
# Villano for guitar
Composed by Francisco Guerau
with Hopkinson Smith
# Prélude, Sarabande & Gigue for lute in D major
Composed by Robert de Visee
with Hopkinson Smith
# Suite for lute in G minor, BWV 995 Prélude
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
with Hopkinson Smith
# Work(s) Prélude & Presto for lute in F sharp minor
Composed by Sylvius Leopold Weiss
with Hopkinson Smith
# Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012 Gavotte I & Gavotte II
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
with Hopkinson Smith
# Work(s) Prélude & Allegro for lute in G major
Composed by Sylvius Leopold Weiss
with Hopkinson Smith
Wonderful music, impeccable performance, sound quality not up to today’s standards
I love my other two CD’s by Hopkinson Smith. Those familiar with his musicianship and excellent choice of recording material know that his CD’s make for truly excellent listening experiences. So, I’m a bit disappointed that this 1976 recording got a less-than-optimal update in ’98. I know nothing about audio engineering, so can only say that the sound is sort of like a monaural recording that was just redone to work with the CD format. But, I have vinyl from the 70s that still sounds better than this CD.
I would gladly repurchase this recording if the studio brought up the sound quality, or if Mr. Smith did a second recording. Given the excellence of the music and performance, it’s sort of a shame to keep thinking “this could sound a lot better” while listening. (I’m sure I’ll get used to it over time, but still.)
I look forward to purchasing more Hopkinson Smith CD’s, whether he’s a soloist or collaborates with others. I’m not an expert listener, but will say that I consider my other two CD’s to comprise some of the finest music in my pretty decent collection of Renaissance and Baroque recordings.
many thanx