Pachelbel: Canon & Gigue

Air sets out to trace a baroque journey. It is the story of four unique composers, three of whom were virtuoso violinists - Falconiero, Matteis and Geminiani from Italy, and Westhoff from Germany. They wandered throughout Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries in search of musical inspiration and cross-pollination, and their music and art of performance intrigued and delighted kings, contemporaries and audiences alike

This album shows how diverse the music of the baroque era was. Air blends the simplest and at times most primitive forms of dance music with the most sophisticated and revolutionary compositions of the day, culminating in a work by Bach - the great master, whose title is Hope’s inspiration for this collection, that also includes hits like Pachelbel’s Canon or Handel’s Sarabande

Daniel Hope, who developed the concept of this album throughout the last months, will be an excellent and charismatic spokesperson for this exciting project.

This new release follows Nick Parnell’s successful solo classical vibraphone debut album (ABC47562838).

Nick actively embraces the crossover between different musical genres.

This artist has broadcast widely and premiered many compositions.

This is a collection of some of the musical “lollipops” which are as agreeable to play as they are to listen to; maybe it is because of their simplicity that these jewels get straight to the hearts of their listeners.

The CD includes favourites such as Pachelbel’s Canon, Mozart’s Serenade from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Purcell’s Chaconne as well as Marcello’s Concerto for Oboe, Strings and Continuo.

This CD presents music closely connected with the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. Pachelbel was choirmaster and organist in Stuttgart from 1690-1692. The Kelemen is a World Premiere Recording.

Even though he is doesn't really rank among the "mythical" conductors of the Twentieth century, Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt remains a conductor to be rediscovered. The present set contains only previously unissued recordings and is a perfect example of his conducting. He conducts the NWDR Sinfonieorchester that he created right after the war, on request by the British occupational forces (the first very concert with this orchestra was given on November 1 1945). Next to Haydn, the set contains a very "symphonic" performance of Pachelbel's canon which is at many years' distance from the more modern baroque versions, a Paganini concerto with the great French virtuoso Christian Ferras and a very beautiful Bruckner Ninth.