Georg Philipp Telemann

The Hamburgishche Kapitänsmusiken is a collection of thirty-six sacred and secular compositions by Telemann, written to accompany a banquet honouring the captains of the city's civic guard. Only nine survive and CPO presents the Kapitänsmusik of 1738, consisting of an Oratorio and Serenata.

The main works on this disc are the secular cantata "Tirsis am Scheideweg" (Thyrsis at the crossroads) and two church cantatas "Nach Finsternis und Todesschatten" (After darkness and the shadow of death) , "Meines Bleibens ist nicht hier" (No abiding place have I here).

Disc also includes full texts and translations.

REBaroque has established itself as one of the leading baroque ensembles in Sweden with Maria Lindal as its concert master and artistic leader. REBaroque is a modern and innovative Baroque orchestra that with great success stretches musical boundaries. This CD shows their live style of playing, putting their own twist on concertos by Telemann.

In numerous Baroque manuscripts there are many references to solo parts being performed on either violin, flute, oboe or trumpet. This discs truly brings a balance to these arrangements with the fine trumpet playing of Igor Cecocho, performing pieces from some of the masters of this period.

The Dutch Loeki Stardust Quartet was established in 1978, and from the outset was not your ‘normal’ group of recorder-players. Sure, Baroque repertoire figured prominently in their concerts, but the concerts often contained surprises, substituting the last chord of a canzone with a well-known TV signature tune for example – in this case Loeki the Lion was the TV programme that gave the quartet its name. Wanting to give concerts that were a crossover between St Martin in the Fields and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young was the aim in the early years.

A series of big engagements followed, including the Wigmore Hall with Christopher Hogwood, and then recordings for Decca which are included in this 4CD set. The maverick style of the group came to the fore again, when after a successful sequence of Baroque recordings they released a recording of music by Erroll Garner, Henry Mancini, Lennon and McCartney and Charlie Parker together with works by Vivaldi, Beethoven, J.C. and J.S. Bach.

Never before has the recorder sounded so much fun!

Due to a strong French influence at the beginning of the 18th century ‘bandes de hautbois’ were frequently present in the German courts. These instruments were initially intended for the performance of military and ceremonial music but soon began to take part in more courtly entertainments. A particular style of music was used in compositions for these instruments, as it was also in works for newer instruments, one of these being the oboe da caccia that Fasch employed as the solo instrument in a concerto that has only recently come to light.

Throughout the second half of twentieth century, the name of Jean-Pierre Rampal has been synonymous with flute. The extraordinary gift for performance, the marvelous beauty of sound, his elegance and an amazing virtuosity have transformed each of his recordings in a benchmark for each flutist.

This recording featuring a series of rare studio recordings from the 1950s.

Studio Recordings 1958-56

Hermann Baumann is one of the world’s greatest horn players. He won the ARD International Music Competition in Munich 1964 (Jessye Norman was second that year, and won in 1965), and from then on he played in some of the greatest orchestras, conductors and ensembles in the world. Claudio Abbado asked him during rehearsals in Rome for Mahler 6 ‘why aren’t you in Berlin?’ He played with Concerto Amsterdam under Jaap Schröder, for Karl Munchinger and the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, and for Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Concentus Musicus Wien. A lifetime of concert giving around the world and an extensive discography has ensured that his stupendous technique and versatility, and characterful playing has been heard and admired by thousands of music lovers.

This extensive survey of his art embraces the major concertos and some rarities, some fascinating chamber works, and a selection of virtuoso showpieces that display the artistry of this multi-faceted musician.

Booklet essay by Hermann Baumann, recollecting his career.