Praetorius: Dances from Terpsichore

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Michael Praetorius, German composer and observer of things musical, was one of the most important musicians of the mid-17th century. His encyclopedia of musical instruments, Syntagma Musicum, richly illustrated and annotated, has in many instances given us our only description of the bewildering variety of musical noisemaking devices in use at the time. Terpsichore, similarly, is a collection of mostly French dance music that has never ceased to inspire players and listeners. It's the source for much of what we now call "Renaissance" music, even though it actually dates from about a hundred years later, and no early-music fair or festival would be complete without it. These performances, by an appropriately costumed Dutch early-music group, have the right sense of fun, and their instrumental arrangements are both zesty and colorful. Delightful. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Dances From Terpsichore: Ballet des coqs
Dances From Terpsichore: Gaillarde
Dances From Terpsichore: Gaillarde
Dances From Terpsichore: Ballet du Roy
Dances From Terpsichore: Ballet
Dances From Terpsichore: Ballet
Dances From Terpsichore: a. Ballet des Baccanales - b. Ballet des feus - c. Ballet des Matelotz
Dances From Terpsichore: Pierre CERTON: La, la, la, je ne l'ose dire
Dances From Terpsichore: Bransle simple 1( La, la, la, je ne l'ose dire)
Dances From Terpsichore: Bransle double 3
Dances From Terpsichore: a. Bransle Gay 1 - b. Bransle de Montirande
Dances From Terpsichore: Bransle De La Torche
Dances From Terpsichore: Adrianus VALERIUS - La Boree
Dances From Terpsichore: La Bouree
Dances From Terpsichore: Pavane de Spaigne
Dances From Terpsichore: Spagnoletta
Dances From Terpsichore: La Canarie
Dances From Terpsichore: Orazio VECCHI - So ben mi ch'ha bon tempo
Dances From Terpsichore: Courante (So ben mi ch'ha bon tempo)
Dances From Terpsichore: Courante
Dances From Terpsichore: a. Courante - b. Courante - c. Courante
Dances From Terpsichore: Courante
Dances From Terpsichore: Courante La Mouline
Dances From Terpsichore: Volte
Dances From Terpsichore: Volte
Dances From Terpsichore: a. Volte - b. Volte - c. Volte
Dances From Terpsichore: Volte
Dances From Terpsichore: Volte

Amazon.com

Michael Praetorius, German composer and observer of things musical, was one of the most important musicians of the mid-17th century. His encyclopedia of musical instruments, Syntagma Musicum, richly illustrated and annotated, has in many instances given us our only description of the bewildering variety of musical noisemaking devices in use at the time. Terpsichore, similarly, is a collection of mostly French dance music that has never ceased to inspire players and listeners. It's the source for much of what we now call "Renaissance" music, even though it actually dates from about a hundred years later, and no early-music fair or festival would be complete without it. These performances, by an appropriately costumed Dutch early-music group, have the right sense of fun, and their instrumental arrangements are both zesty and colorful. Delightful. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

This is not the same as the Archiv vinyl LP.......2005-04-27

There was a terrific LP released by Archiv on vinyl in the 70s called "Dances from the time of Praetorius" - I bought this CD hoping it would be essentially the equivalent release. I realize now that the Archiv LP included only 6 dances actually written by Praetorius, which do appear to be included in this CD.

The Archiv LP also included 5 compositions by Erasmus Widmann and 12 by Johann Schein. As far as I can tell, that release is not available on CD. This CD may be only part of the solution for anyone who is trying to find it.

Not just beautiful.......2005-02-24

This music is not just beautiful but also serves as a great period piece that can be used in class to set a mood. This is clearly secular and contrasts nicely with other music that is religious to show that all people's minds were not just on the heavens -- but were also, at least occasionally, on earth as well. This is music that is light and lifts the spirit --then I am sure as well as now. Play this for students and they will like it.

Great Music, Great Price.......2005-01-11

I have been a Praetorius fan since 1965 when I was a teenager, and I will always buy recordings featuring his music. I've had to re-order this particular CD again because I wore a hole in it playing it in the car, at home, hotel rooms, you name it. This CD is a lot of fun. One can dance to the tunes, hum along, and just kick back and relax ... not recommended when driving a car, however. Praetorius was also a "serious" religious musician, and this is a nice, secular change from his heavier stuff. Highly recommended!

Good fun, variety, and versatility........2004-04-09

What we call Renaissance Dance Music has enjoyed increasing popularity in recent decades. No self-respecting record catalogue can afford to be without it. Naxos offers this 57-minute CD, comprising 28 items from Michael Praetorius's collection "Terpsichore" of 1612. Nowhere in the published collection was instrumentation specified, hence modern groups such as this have fun "setting" each piece for the combinations of period instruments they play. Sometimes some fancy percussion is added to help point the dance rhythms.

Good fun, variety, and versatility are to be heard in the work of this fine Swedish ensemble, marred slightly by a narrow recording spectrum that lacks high and low frequencies. A reproduction of "The Peasant Dance" by Pieter Breugel the Elder adorns the front cover.

Renaissance Rocks!.......2002-07-15

This selection of music from Praetorius' Terpsichore (a small selection from over 300 individual pieces) is very enjoyable. It spans several different styles from few instruments to the whole kit and kaboodle, and voice. You can tell they had fun in those days. I keep this one in my car and listen to it over and over from start to finish, never needing to skip a track. If you are interested in Renaissance music, this is your ticket; and the price is right.

Average customer rating:

I love these guys!!!
Excellent album
This is only a warning
Recent Purchase that I'm Joyed to Find and Enjoy
Simply Amazing

Best of L.A.G.Q.

Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000DCXY
Release Date: 1998-09-22

Tracks:

Hoe-Down
Jumpin' At The Woodside
Nutcracker Suite, Waltz Of The Flowers
El Amor Brujo, Danza Del Juego De Amor
El amor brujo, Danza del juego del fuego (Para Ahuyentar Los Malos Espiritus)
Black Horse Troop
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Simple Gifts
Corral Nocturne
Introduction & Fandango, Introduction
Introduction & Fandango, Fandango
My Lord Of Oxenfordes Maske
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Dance Suite, Gavottes 1,2,3 & 6
Dance Suite, Volte II
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, III: Allegro
La SoirDans Grenade (Evening In Granada)
Main Street Electrical Parade (Baroque Hoedown) Disneyland in the Style of Vivaldi

Customer Reviews:

I love these guys!!!.......2007-01-02

At first I did not know anything about LAGQ. I was taking an intro to guitar class on the campus of USC. One of my assignments was to attend two guitar performances happening on campus and write about each. I was so fortunate to have picked LAGQ. I fell in love with their music and their humor. I was amazed by the variety of sounds coming out of the guitars. Although guitar playing is a hobby for me... these guys inspire me to study the guitar more seriously. This is the first album of theirs I bought. Their rendition of Shenandoah is the best. It is so beautiful I fall asleep to it. Simple Gifts is the most lovely version too. Jumpin' at the Woodside is another favorite... it jazzy bounce makes it a popular choice for background music to any situation. The Main Street Electrical Parade never fails to delight me and surprise my friends when I play it. These guys are silly...but in a good way. Its 2007 now and I still go back to the songs on this album. Great variety. This is a good starter to a LAGQ collection. Go see them live if you can!!!

Excellent album.......2004-11-23

Recently I learned about LAGQ and bought this album. I have been impressed by the arrangements and interpretation, the texture, innovative touches and originality. It is a treat!

This is only a warning.......2004-09-19

The LAGQ are fine players, and the music here is first rate as a summary of what they do, or for any purpose. HOWEVER, the transfer to CD on my disc was very poorly chosen, so that the top octave and a half was mostly missing (worse on some pieces than others, though). This takes the snap! out of guitar strings and notably attenuates your ability to tell what the 4 are doing with guitar timbre and the like. So, if you have wide-range audio gear, you might want to look elsewhere for an introduction to these players.

Recent Purchase that I'm Joyed to Find and Enjoy.......2001-01-27

Not until recently did I know about this guitar four. Hearing a number of their songs on internet classical radio, I decided I'd try this one.

What a great surprise --- their arrangements of Copeland to Sousa to Praetorius are excellent and in taste. I'll be venturing into their other works.

Simply Amazing.......2000-06-12

LAGQ is wonderful and this CD is a great compilation of some of their best work to date. Extremely versatile musicians, they perform swing music, Sousa march music, a Main Street Electrical Parade tune from Disneyland, as well as music by Copland and Praetorius. It's amazing how they are able to produce the sounds they do. A great compilation and one that would nicely add to your LAGQ collection or a great CD to start that collection!

L.A. Guitar Quartet: Dances from Renaissance to Nutcracker

Average customer rating:

A great CD for your collection
wonderful music
From Renaissance to Nutcracker is brilliant.

L.A. Guitar Quartet: Dances from Renaissance to Nutcracker
William Byrd , John Dowland , Giovanni Gabrieli , Thomas Morley , Michael Praetorius , Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky , Peter Warlock , Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ) , Andrew York , John Dearman , Scott Tennant , William Kanengiser , and LA Guitar Quartet
Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 1993-10-27

Tracks:

Nutcracker Suite Op.71a: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Nutcracker Suite Op.71a: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Nutcracker Suite Op.71a: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Nutcracker Suite Op.71a: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Nutcracker Suite Op.71a: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Nutcracker Suite Op.71a: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Nutcracker Suite Op.71a: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Nutcracker Suite Op.71a: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Dance Suite: Bransle, Arr in Dance Suite for Guitar Quartet
Dance Suite: Volte I, Arr in Dance Suite for Guitar Quartet
Dance Suite: Bouree 1 & 2, Arr in Dance Suite for Guitar Quartet
Dance Suite: Courante 1, Arr in Dance Suite for Guitar Quartet
Dance Suite: Courante, Arr in Dance Suite for Guitar Quartet
Dance Suite: Ballet, Arr in Dance Suite for Guitar Quartet
Dance Suite: Gavottes 1, 2, 3 & 6, Arr in Dance Suite for Guitar Quarte
Dance Suite: Volte II, Arr in Dance Suite for Guitar Quartet
Capriol Suite for String Orchestra: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Capriol Suite for String Orchestra: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Capriol Suite for String Orchestra: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Capriol Suite for String Orchestra: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Capriol Suite for String Orchestra: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Capriol Suite for String Orchestra: Arr for Guitar Quartet
My Lord of Oxenfordes Maske: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Galliard "Can She Excuse": Arr for Guitar Quartet
Response Pavin: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Joyne Hands: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Canzon Per Sonar Primi Toni: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Sonata XIII: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Canzon XI: Arr for Guitar Quartet
Canzon VI: Arr for Guitar Quartet

Customer Reviews:

A great CD for your collection.......2002-09-15

If you are a music teacher this CD is a must. If you aren't, it STILL is a must. This CD is full of light but amazing classical guitar. I can hardly wait to pop it in at Christmas. Even if you aren't a huge fan of classical guitar I bet this will amaze you so much you'll want to keep listening. LAGQ flawlessly performs countless dances you'll wonder how they do it. The music classroom can use the Renaissance music for medieval topics and dances. A great CD to have for some high quality back ground music - relaxing music.

wonderful music.......2002-03-04

It just doesn't get better than this. If you want to hear Tchaikovsky played by super classical guitarists, this is the CD for you. Its the BEST!

From Renaissance to Nutcracker is brilliant........1999-11-28

The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet's Nutcracker Suite is a triumph for guitar arrangement. This selection is an excellent choice for one's holiday listening enjoyment. In the Renaissance dance suites included here, the L.A.G.Q. masterfully utilize a number of the percussive timbres available on the body of the classical guitar to complete the instrumentation and invoke the spirit of the pieces. Though the recording is not as loud as most of the other L.A.G.Q. recordings, the quality of the performances more than makes up for it.

Christopher Parkening Plays Vivaldi Guitar Concertos & Warlock Capriol Suite

Average customer rating:

The most beautiful piece of music in the world.
Amazing what an acoustic guitar can do!
Great Playing of Guitar Concertos
Great guitarist, great music

Christopher Parkening Plays Vivaldi Guitar Concertos & Warlock Capriol Suite
Christopher Parkening , Antonio Vivaldi , Peter Warlock , Michael Praetorius , Iona Brown , and Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
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Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 1994-03-15

Tracks:

Concerto in D part I, RV93: I Allegro giusto
Concerto In D: II Largo
Concerto In D: III Allegro
Capriol: I Basse-Danse
Capriol: II Pavane
Capriol: III Tordion
Capriol: IV Bransle
Capriol: V Pieds-en-l'air
Capriol: VI Mattachins
Concerto In C, RV 425: I Allegro
Concerto In C, RV 425: II Largo
Concerto In C, RV 425: III Allegro
Trio In C, RV 82: I Allegro non molto
Trio In C, RV 82: II Larghetto
Trio In C, RV 82: III Allegro
Suite In D Terpsicore: I Courante
Suite in D: II Ballet
Suite In D Terpsicore: III Gavotte
Suite In D Terpsicore: IV Spagnoletta
Suite In D Terpsicore: V Bransle double
Suite In D Terpsicore: VI Courante I & II
Suite In D Terpsicore: VII Volte

Customer Reviews:

The most beautiful piece of music in the world........2006-03-22

Christopher Parkening is fantastic. Today there are a lot of good guitarplayers in the world, good technic, musicality and so on, but Parkening take the word music to a new dimension. It is so much more than just music.
Close your eyes and relax and let the music give you harmony.
Tomas from Sweden.

Amazing what an acoustic guitar can do!.......2003-01-22

I'm just learning guitar and a friend who plays classical guitar reccommended Peter Warlock's Capriol. This CD blew me away and has encouraged me to practice harder and to play more.

Great Playing of Guitar Concertos.......2001-08-01

This is just a marvelous collection of well-done performance of one great classical guitarist. From the compositions of Vivaldi (two are included), the world premiere recording of Peter Warlock's Capriol and Praetorius' Suite in D, Parkening puts forth a marvelous effort.

His playing seems effortless but full of passion and spirit. Especially pleasing to my ear is the piece by Warlock and Praetorius.

You will not tire of listening to this variety of Concertos with its varying styles as well as pace.

Great guitarist, great music.......2000-03-01

Christopher Parkening is a wonderful guitarist. On this release one can hear how wonderfully subtle a soloist he is. His phrasing on the largo movement of Vivaldi's Concerto in D (track 2) is particularly poetic. The Vivaldi pieces here are my favorites; I especially like the Trio in C (tracks 13-15). The combination of harpsichord, violin, and guitar is magical, making for some delicious baroque chamber music. In short, I highly recommend this recording.

Average customer rating:

My best baroque CD
superbe

Music from the Royal Court

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Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2003-08-12

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Trumpet Tune And Air
Galliard
Pavan
Coranto 'Heigh-Ho-Holidy'
Pavan
Hornpype
The Agincourt Song (Arr. Elgar Howarth)
Earle Of Oxford's March (Arr. Elgar Howarth)
Earle Of Salisbury's Pavane (Arr. Bram Wiggins)
I. Allemande
II. Sarabande
III. Allemande
IV. Courante
V. Air
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I. The Old Spagnoletta
II. Giles Farnaby's Dreame
III. A Toye
IV. Tell Me Daphne
V. His Rest (Fitzwilliam Virginal Book)
VI. The New Sa-Hoo
A Royal Pavan
In Nomine
Pavan St. Thomas Wake And Variation - London Festival Brass Ensemble
Galliard And Four Variations (Arr. Elgar Howarth) - London Festival Brass Ensemble
The King's Hunting Jig (Arr. Elgar Howarth) - London Festival Brass Ensemble
I. It Is To Me A Right Great Joy
II. Pastime With Good Company/Helas Madame
III. Adieu! Madame Et Ma Maistresse
IV. Taunder Naken
V. Departure Is My Chief Pain
VI. En Vrai Amour/Pastime With Good Company
Fantasia 'Newark Siege' (Arr. Peter Reeve)
Aria Della Battaglia A 8

Tracks:

Three Fanfares For Four Trumpets And Timpani - John Wilbraham
Canzon 'La Seraphina'
Fantasia 'In Echo'
Ricercar Del Duodecimo Tuono
Canzon For Eight Trombones
Canzon 13
I. Allemande
II. Gaillarde
III. Pavane D'Angleterre Avec Gaillarde
IV. Basse Danse 'La Volunte'
V. Pavane Passemaize Avec Gaillarde
VI. Branle De Bourgogne - Branle Simple - Branle Gay
Trumpet Intrada (From The Motet Ave Virgo Lux Maria) (Arr. Kenneth Herbert)
Il Est Be Et Bon (Arr. Peter Reeve)
Terpsichorean Suite For Brass (Arr. Peter Reeve)
Canzon Cornetto
I. Galliard Battaglia
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Canzona A 10 (Arr. Philip Jones)
Sonata From 'Die Bankelsangerlieder'
I. Sonata (Adagio) - London Festival Brass Ensemble
II. Courante - London Festival Brass Ensemble
III. Sarabande. Ziemlich Langsam - London Festival Brass Ensemble
IV. Bal - London Festival Brass Ensemble

Customer Reviews:

My best baroque CD.......2004-08-29

Over the years from time to time I bought some CDs with baroque brass ensemble music, always hoping it would be so fascinating as what I knew from my fathers PJBE vynil records. What I bought so far all are nice but also somewhat boring after short time. Unfortunately I never bought something from the PJBE until now, and this is the first time that a complete CD (and in this case even two of them) of baroque music for brass is surprising and fascinating me with every 'song', showing facetes and diversity I always missed on my other records. Finally nothing is like the original PJ!

superbe.......2004-02-04

Après nous avoir fait plaisir avec le Greatest Hits, voici un double CD qui nous enchante avec les principales pièces de la Renaissance du sublime Philip Jones Brass Ensemble. Il y a longtemps que nous attendions la mise en CD de ces oeuvres, et nous voila comblé. Pour plusieurs pièces, c'est Elgar Howarth qui les a arrangé. Un grand moment de musique pour cuivres avec de grands compositeurs, délicieusement arrangées.
Pour éléver encore plus ces 2 cds, saluons encore la présence du London Festival Brass Ensemble dirigé par Elgar Howarth (dont la plus part des membres sont du PJBE), alors quoi de plus normal d'avoir inclu leur préstation.

Michael Praetorius: Dances from Terpsichore (1612)

Average customer rating:

Fabulous performances, but this is NOT just violin music!!
Praetorius without his crumhorn

Michael Praetorius: Dances from Terpsichore (1612)

Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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English Renaissance Music

ASIN: B00005LDAW
Release Date: 2001-07-10

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous performances, but this is NOT just violin music!!.......2005-06-02

Praetorius's famous collection of dances entitled 'Terpsichore' (1612) surely needs no introduction - indeed recordings of it are available in abundance. What undoubtedly sets this one apart from previous readings is that this is the first to use predominantly stringed instruments - violin band, violin consort, lutes (only track 23 departs from this norm, where bagpipes and pipe & tabor are added to the violin band to bring out the rustic element of the title - 'Bransle de villages'). This excellent recording can be recommended without hesitation. The playing is generally superb, and includes some of the best available performances of some of the more famous dances (e.g. tracks 13 and 31). The lute intabulation arrangements also work well (most obviously in track 32) creating a distinctly French sound-world rarely exploited on previous 'Terpsichore' renditions. Praetorius's dances are complemented with some attractive contemporary lute works by Nicolas Vallet and Jean-Baptiste Besard, amongst which listeners will probably recognize the 'Bransles de villages' (track 22) from Respighi's 'Ancient Airs and Dances' suite.

However, is it fair to argue (as Holman does, liner notes p.7) that 'the collection was primarily intended for violins'...? Evidence to support this hypothesis comes primarily from Praetorius's preface, which indicates that the dances were composed by French dancers known chiefly as good violinists or lutenists (in particular Pierre Francisque Caroubel, who contributed many of the dances and had recently spent some time at the Wolfenbuttel court, where Terpsichore was published). Yet Praetorius's preface also refers to 'bowed and wind instruments' when describing 'loud and soft' repetitions within a dance, and also explicitly notes the suitability of adapting the dances for domestic ensemble ('...oder fur furstliche Tafeln / oder nur "in convivius" enzig zum Vergnugen...'). Given that Praetorius was in fact German (NOT French!) and that Terpsichore was published in Germany rather than for a French market in France, it is impossible to isolate his comments on this topic from similar collections published in Germany which testify to the continued popularity of the viol consort there. William Brade's collections of near identical music (of Paduanas, Galliards, Ballets,...etc) from Hamburg, 1614 and 1617, for example, indicate that they can be 'pleasingly executed on all kinds of instruments' and 'particularly on viols' ('...auf allen musicalischen Instrumenten und insonderheit auff Fiolen lieblich zu gebrauchen...').

In addition, it is equally illogical to suggest that the 'Passameze pour les cornetz' [CCLXXXVIII a 6, F.C.] - the only dance in Terpsichore with a specified instrumentation - represents the exception rather than the rule, i.e. only one dance out of 312 not intended for violin band/consort. Both contemporary accounts and other French music collections of the period confirm that the repertory of the French violinists was not as separate as Holman implies (liner notes p.7). The 'Recueil de plusieurs airs par Andre Danican Philidor' [B.N. de France, Res. F. 494] - again of music near identical to Terpsichore in style/form - includes numerous contemporaneous pieces which are given the addendum 'joue par les Grands hautbois' or 'fait pour les Cornetz [1601]' alongside (for example) a suite of music for a 'Concert donne a Louis 13 en 1627 par les vin[g]t quatres viollons et les 12 Grand Hautbois.' Let us not forget that the 'Passameze pour les cornetz' in Terpsichore was in fact written by one of the French violinists (Caroubel)!!!!!!!!

In short, this CD presents one very plausible way in which these dances from Terpsichore were played, and the performances can definitely be recommended - just so long as the justification behind excluding any other instruments (viols or wind instruments) is accepted with a degree of caution!

Praetorius without his crumhorn.......2003-06-14

If you've been put off Praetorius in the past by the liberal use of flatulent period wind instruments and harsh percussion, you might try this fine recording. Strings, bowed and plucked, take the spotlight here and the result is very pleasing. Hyperion can always be relied upon to provide nice sonics and the performers are in excellent form. Some might prefer more demonstrative playing, but the slightly laid-back approach here is highly enjoyable and sounds totally valid.

Average customer rating:

Fun arrangements

British By Arrangement

Manufacturer: White Line
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Binding: Audio CD

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British By Arrangement, Vol. 2

ASIN: B00006L3WQ
Release Date: 2002-11-26

Customer Reviews:

Fun arrangements.......2003-02-25

This is album is worth getting for the Beatlecracker Suite, particularly if you are familiar with Tchaikovsky's characteristic dances from his Nutcracker ballet. If you had not read the titles of the tracks, you might need to listen several times to figure out what Beatles tune is being given the Russian ballet treatment.

I first heard these tracks 35 years ago on one of those Extended Play records which played at 33 RPM, instead of the more usual 45. My friend thought that these renditions made The Beatles palatable! I, as a great Beatles fan was horrified!

Australians reading this might be interested to know that the first time I heard these tracks was the same day that it was announced that Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt had disappeared at Portsea.

The way that the Lennon-McCartney songs are combined with Tchaikovsky is clever and also hilarious. Worth buying to hear how it was done.

Praetorius: Dances from Terpsichore
Average customer rating:

Over-rated and over-priced disk

Unutterably divine.

Delightful Refreshing New Sounds to Modern Ears

Brilliant CD!

Praetorius: Dances from Terpsichore

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Calliope Dances: A Renaissance Revel

Michael Praetorius: Dances from Terpsichore (1612)

Telemann: Flötenquartette (flute quartets)

ASIN: B000004CXG
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Passameze/Gaillarde
La Bouree
Bransle De La Torche
Bransles Simples/Bransles Gays/Bransles Doubles
Bransles De Villages
Philou
Ballet Des Sorciers/Ballet Des Princesses/Ballet/Ballet De Princesses
Ballet/Ballet Des BAccanales/Ballet Des Matelotz/Ballet Des Coqs
Bransle De La Torche
Pavane De Spaigne/Spagnoletta
Passameze Pour Les Cornetz
Courante M.M. Wustrow/Courante/Courrant De Bataglia
La Sarabande
Volte Du Tambour/Volte/Volte/Volte
Volte/Volte/Volte/Volte

Amazon.com

If I read my Schwann catalog correctly, there are only three full CDs of Praetorius's Terpsichore, that exquisite early 17th-century disco collection, played on period instruments. This is a fine collection, up to date in performance practice and dancey enough in spirit. Unfortunately, it isn't much longer (50:30) than my other current favorite Terpsichore collection, by the New York Renaissance Band (Arabesque Z6531, 45:45). Perhaps these producers are worried that we'll wear ourselves out dancing to this music. But I find these bouncy pieces ideal to lift my spirits or to keep me alert nearly anytime. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Over-rated and over-priced disk.......2007-04-19

This disk lacks the medieval feel that I had hoped for. Many of the pieces sound baroque, similar to Handel's water music, with a lot of trumpets, and drums beating in a martial way. The rest are softer, but lack any real personality... they sound like a wind-up toy music box. I'm disappointed in the music, and unhappy with the disk.

Unutterably divine........2003-07-02

Take a break from your worries. My recommendation: turn off all electrical lighting and place a few candles about in a darkened room. Take the phone off the hook and set the dogs to patrolling the yard. Be sure the ambient temperature is agreeable. Sip from a glass of wine, smoke a cigarette, slip on some good headphones and drift away. Your ears will thank you.

Delightful Refreshing New Sounds to Modern Ears.......2002-10-02

Praetorius' collection of dance music is given here a marvelous interpretation and rendering on period instruments by Pickett and the New London Consort.

From one track to the next, it rings and warbles with sounds unlike we hear today, even in the age of synthesized output. These are just such catchy little ditties, you'll find they do lighten the load and get one tapping the feet and humming the tunes, if not even breaking out in dance.

This is simply outstanding and unique.

Brilliant CD!.......2002-01-27

This is an extraordinary recording of a fraction of the Praetorius Dances from "Terpsichore" (he didn't write them, he just collected them, and there are hundreds). They range from genteel courtly dances to rumbustious affairs that are the equivalent of modern disco and which make all the ornaments on my mantelpiece dance with joy. The disc crackles and buzzes with the most extraordinary and delicious sounds - shawms, crumhorns, hurdy-gurdys, racketts - all served with a very nice recording. Quite simply, a must-have