THE FRANS BRÜGGEN EDITION • Frans Brüggen (rec, fl); Gustav Leonhardt (hpd, org); Bob van Asperen (hpd, org); Herbert Tachezi (hpd); Nikolaus Harnoncourt (vc, vdg); Alice Harnoncourt (vn); Anner Bylsma (vc); Concentus musicus Wien; Concerto Amsterdam; Leonhardt Consort; Amsterdam Ch O • TELDEC 2564 65836-1 (12 CDs: 12:14:06)
As someone who has at best an ambivalent, and at worst thoroughly adversarial, relationship to computers, I view with trepidation the apparent ongoing demise of the compact disc in favor of MP3 files and similarRead more formats that are replacing the comfortable security of a physical object that I can hold in my hand. For the moment, however, that demise-in-progress is bringing a temporary great boon to classical music lovers, in that various CD labels are pillaging their vaults to produce super-sized collections of past releases at super-budget prices. (Let’s hope Mayor Bloomberg in New York doesn’t get a notion to make them illegal.) The folks at Warner and Teldec have become particularly assiduous at this; however, whereas the Warner sets are notorious for their skimping on ancillary materials such as librettos and booklet notes, those by Teldec are laudable for their detailed provision of such accessories. That, and the generally high quality of the performances, makes them prime acquisitions.
The present set, showcasing the recorder artistry of Frans Brüggen, is an excellent example. It contains 12 discs (only four of which are currently in print separately) at a price of about four dollars per disc. A 76-page booklet provides scrupulously detailed documentation for every piece of music, including the makes of instruments used by each performer. (For some reason, the recording dates, executive producers, and recording venues are inconveniently listed separately in minuscule type on a separate page at the back, instead of with the other information for each disc.) It also includes numerous photos and an appreciative essay of Brüggen.
Of course, the real reason to acquire the set is not the packaging, but the artistry of Brüggen himself. Given that he turned from recorder playing to conducting some 30 years ago, and hence that virtually all of his solo and ensemble recordings of the instrument were made before the advent of digital recording, younger generations of classical music lovers may know of his instrumental career solely or largely by reputation only. (A testament to the age of these recordings is that not one of them has a review posted in the online Fanfare Archive, entries for which now go back as far as Volume 12 in 1989.) For anyone who is in such a benighted state of ignorance, I can only suggest that you dispel that patch of musical darkness and acquire this set immediately to acquaint yourself with one of the founding figures of the early-music and period-performance movements. While Brüggen was not the one to revive the recorder as a major musical instrument—that honor belongs to Carl Dolmetsch (1911-1987), who taught Kees Otten, who in turn taught Brüggen—he was the one who established it on records, with a still astonishing technical facility and interpretive expressiveness that made him at his peak the baroque music equivalent of a rock star.
The recordings included in this set were made for Das Alte Werk between 1962 and 1979. In some instances the CDs preserve intact the contents of an earlier LP release; in others those contents are distributed over two or more CDs. The organization of this set (which does not follow any chronological pattern for either repertoire or recording dates) is as follows:
CD 1: Recorder sonatas and fantasias by Georg Philipp Telemann;
CD 2: Recorder sonatas, mostly by Italian composers (Francesco Barsanti, Diogenio Bigaglia, Nicolas Chédeville, Archangelo Corelli, Benedetto Marcello, and Francesco Veracini);
CD 3: Recorder ensemble music by English composers (William Babell, William Byrd, Robert Carr, Anthony Holborne, George Jeffreys, Thomas Morley, Andrew Parcham, Johann Christoph Pepusch, Henry Purcell, Thomas Simpson, John Taverner, and Christopher Tye);
CD 4: “Early Baroque Recorder Music” by Anonymous, Giovanni Paolo Cima, Girolamo Frescobaldi, Giovanni Battista Riccio, Samuel Scheidt, and Jacob van Eyck;
CD 5: “Late Baroque Chamber Music” for various ensembles by Johann Friedrich Fasch, Jean Baptiste Loeillet, Johann Mattheson, Johann Joachim Quantz, Alessandro Scarlatti, and Telemann;
CD 6: French recorder suites by Charles (or François—his correct first name is disputed) Dieupart and Jacques-Martin Hotteterre;
CD 7: Recorder sonatas by French composers (François Couperin, Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, Philibert de Lavigne, Louis-Antoine Dornel, and Anne Danican Philidor);
CD 8: Chamber concertos of Antonio Vivaldi;
CD 9: Recorder sonatas of Handel;
CD 10: Concertos and overtures by Telemann;
CD 11: Concertos and sonatas by Johann Sebastian Bach;
CD 12: Miscellaneous recorder concertos and sonatas by Jacques-Christophe Naudot, Giuseppe Sammartini, Handel, Loeillet, and Telemann.
Among the roster of notable accompanying artists are violinist Alice Harnoncourt; cellist Anner Bylsma; flautist Leopold Stasny (still misspelled “Stastny” as in the complete Bach edition I reviewed in 36:2, though here Brüggen’s first name is properly given as “Frans” instead of misspelled as “Franz”); harpsichordists Gustav Leonhardt, Bob van Asperen, and Herbert Tachezi. Nikolaus Harnoncourt appears as both a viola da gambist and as conductor of the Concentus musicus. That ensemble, and the Leonhardt Consort, Concerto Amsterdam, and Chamber Orchestra of Amsterdam, variously appear on CDs 8, 10, 11, and 12.
With the benefit of some 50 years of hindsight since the first of these recordings was made, they can at times sound just a tad stately and old-fashioned in spots (the somewhat foursquare Bach disc is the one item that is no longer competitive with the best performances available today). However, by and large they wear their age extremely well, both sonically and interpretively. More remarkable is the sound of Brüggen’s playing on his various instruments. Compared to the silken-smooth tone of recorder virtuosos from the succeeding generation—Michala Petri and Marion Verbruggen, to name just two—his tone sounds somewhat breathy and woody. One might analogously think of the difference in feel between cashmere wool and a sturdy homespun variety, though the difference here is less extreme. But the homespun variety has a distinctive feel and sturdy durability that are attractive in their own right, and of course the present plentiful crop of top-notch recorder players owe everything to Brüggen’s pioneering efforts. Listening to Brüggen, one still marvels at his tonal solidity, breath control, dead-on intonation, nimble fingering, and ability to shade such factors as dynamics or speed and intensity of vibrato to expressive effect, all allied to the kind of penetrating interpretive intelligence associated with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in the realm of Lieder. (Brüggen also did much of the scrupulous musicological research needed to bring many of these works back into the active performing repertoire.) Throughout the set he receives worthy support, though the one Telemann Concerto recorded with André Rieu (father of the pop violinist) and the Chamber Orchestra of Amsterdam is of an old-fashioned cast belonging to the decade just prior to the first blossoming of period-performance practice.
In sum, this set is a fitting tribute to Brüggen, in his 79th year and just 50 years past his recording debut, and ought to be an essential acquisition for all recorder aficionados and fanciers of baroque chamber music as well. Highest recommendation.
Pavanby Anthony Holborne Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Brüggen-Consort
Period: Renaissance Written: England Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 1 Minutes 41 Secs.
22.
Galliard for viol consortby Anthony Holborne Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Brüggen-Consort
Period: Renaissance Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 1 Minutes 12 Secs.
23.
Almain "The Honiesuckle"by Anthony Holborne Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Brüggen-Consort
Period: Renaissance Written: 16th Century; England Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 2 Minutes 0 Secs.
24.
The Sighesby Anthony Holborne Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Brüggen-Consort
Period: Renaissance Written: 16th Century; England Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 2 Minutes 5 Secs.
25.
Almain "Night Watch"by Anthony Holborne Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Brüggen-Consort
Period: Renaissance Written: 16th Century; England Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 1 Minutes 15 Secs.
26.
Heigh-ho holydayby Anthony Holborne Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Brüggen-Consort
Period: Renaissance Written: circa 1565-1602; England Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 1 Minutes 6 Secs.
27.
In Nomine ŕ 4by John Taverner Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Brüggen-Consort
Period: Renaissance Written: 16th Century; England Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 1 Minutes 49 Secs.
28.
In Nomine "Crye"by Christopher Tye Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Brüggen-Consort
Period: Renaissance Written: 16th Century; England Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 1 Minutes 45 Secs.
29.
In Nomine a 5by William Byrd Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Brüggen-Consort
Period: Renaissance Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 3 Minutes 10 Secs.
30.
Bonny sweet Robinby Thomas Simpson Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Brüggen-Consort
Period: Renaissance Written: England Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 3 Minutes 6 Secs.
31.
Browning a 5by William Byrd Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Brüggen-Consort
Period: Renaissance Written: by 1580; England Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 4 Minutes 27 Secs.
32.
First Booke of Canzonets to 2 Voyces: La Girondolaby Thomas Morley Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Brüggen-Consort
Period: Renaissance Written: by 1593; England Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 1 Minutes 13 Secs.
33.
First Booke of Canzonets to 2 Voyces: Il lamentoby Thomas Morley Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Brüggen-Consort
Period: Renaissance Written: by 1593; England Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 2 Minutes 13 Secs.
34.
La caccia, fantasia for instrumental consortby Thomas Morley Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Brüggen-Consort
Period: Renaissance Written: by 1619 Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 1 Minutes 25 Secs.
35.
Fantasiaby George Jeffreys Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Brüggen-Consort
Period: Baroque Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 4 Minutes 1 Secs.
Divisions upon an Italian, for recorder (from The delightful companion)by Robert Carr Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder),
Gustav Leonhardt (Harpsichord),
Anner Bylsma (Cello)
Period: Modern Written: Italy Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 2 Minutes 44 Secs.
38.
Concerto for recorder & orchestra in Dby William Babell Performer:
Alda Stuurop (Violin),
Gustav Leonhardt (Harpsichord),
Antoinette van den Hombergh (Violin),
Lucy Van Dael (Violin),
Anner Bylsma (Cello),
Frans Brüggen (Recorder),
Marie Leonhardt (Violin)
Period: Baroque Date of Recording: 01/1971-11/1971 Venue: Doopsgezinde Church, Amsterdam, The Neth Length: 2 Minutes 42 Secs.
39.
Sonata no 4 in F majorby Johann Christoph Pepusch Performer:
Anner Bylsma (Cello),
Gustav Leonhardt (Harpsichord),
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Period: Baroque Written: England Date of Recording: 03/1967-05/1979 Venue: Bennebroek, The Netherlands Length: 6 Minutes 22 Secs.
40.
Fantasia upon a Ground in D major, Z 731by Henry Purcell Performer:
Wouter Moller (Cello),
Walter van Hauwe (Recorder),
Kees Boeke (Recorder),
Bob van Asperen (Harpsichord),
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Period: Baroque Written: circa 1680; England Date of Recording: 07/1979 Venue: Doopsgezinde Kerk, Haarlem, The Netherla Length: 4 Minutes 57 Secs.
Suite for recorder in G majorby Charles Dieupart Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder),
Gustav Leonhardt (Harpsichord)
Conductor:
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Length: 13 Minutes 5 Secs.
59.
Premičre suitte de pičces, Op. 4by Jacques Hotteterre Performer:
Frans Brüggen (Recorder),
Kees Boeke (Recorder)
Period: Baroque Written: by 1712; France Length: 15 Minutes 26 Secs.
60.
Suite for flute (or violin) & continuo No. 1 in A majorby Charles Dieupart Performer:
Anner Bylsma (Cello),
Gustav Leonhardt (Harpsichord),
Frans Brüggen (Recorder)
Period: Baroque Written: 1701 Length: 5 Minutes 19 Secs.
All his Oeuvres, different era.s , flute recorderJuly 10, 2013By S Cohenroellvaneyck (SOUTH WENTWORTHVILLE, NSW)See All My Reviews"I am very keen on recorder music, play it myself. Always had Mr Frans Bruggen as exemplar, and at last I found in ARCHIV DAS ALTE WERK the TOTALISATION, not just fragments or samples. Very satisfied with the wide variety of his artistic abilities here dis played. Cheers!"Report Abuse
Excellent music & music-making, if taken in judicJune 22, 2013By D. Scamehorn (Kentwood, MI)See All My Reviews"I bought this as a reference tool--I'm a self-taught recorder player, and both looking for performance models, as well as ideas for repertoire. These recordings dating from 1962-1979, and they live up to all my expectations and then some. Brüggen's playing is wonderfully sweet and clean, and the repertoire nets have been cast wide indeed. As if that weren't enough, the accompanying booklet gives painstaking detail about everybody's instruments--type, age & maker. Now, about the "judicious amounts"--I do place a jest here and there, but this is after all, 12 1/4 hours of recorder music. Draw your own conclusions!"Report Abuse
GODFATHER OF THE RECORDERMay 14, 2013By Glenn S. (Puyallup, WA)See All My Reviews"Since I first saw this collection was issued, I have been looking forward to ordering it. There are many new faces in the field of recorder players, and I drool when hearing some of them, but in terms of stylistic practices in both Renaissance and Baroque playing and creativity in ornamentation, Bruggen is still unexcelled in my mind.(The only one that comes close in this area is his star student Marion Verbruggen.) Bruggen has gone on to an illustrious career as a conductor and his group, the Orchestra of the 18th Century reflects the same great ness exhibited in his recorder playing. I was privileged to hear the BIG 3, Gustav Leonhardt, Anner Bylsma, and Bruggen about 20 years ago in Seattle. Bruggen hardly ever looked at his music, but instead concentrated mostly on looking across at Bylsma, and the result was a fantastic, very tight and highly musical ensemble. I definitely put it in the top 5 concert experiences of my life!"Report Abuse