Lute Sonatas

1. Sonata for lute, No 9
Composed by Giovanni Zamboni
with Luciano Contini

2. Sonata for lute, No 6
Composed by Giovanni Zamboni
with Luciano Contini

3. Sonata for lute, No 1
Composed by Giovanni Zamboni
with Luciano Contini

4. Sonata for lute, No 3
Composed by Giovanni Zamboni
with Luciano Contini

5. Sonata for lute, No 4
Composed by Giovanni Zamboni
with Luciano Contini

6. Sonata for lute, No 2
Composed by Giovanni Zamboni
with Luciano Contini

7. Sonata for lute, No 7
Composed by Giovanni Zamboni
with Luciano Contini

Tracks:

Sonata No. 36 In D Minor: Fantasia
Sonata No. 36 In D Minor: Allemande
Sonata No. 36 In D Minor: Courante
Sonata No. 36 In D Minor: Bourree
Sonata No. 36 In D Minor: Sarabande
Sonata No. 36 In D Minor: Menuet
Sonata No. 36 In D Minor: Giga
Sonata No. 49 In B Flat Major: Allemande
Sonata No. 49 In B Flat Major: Courante
Sonata No. 49 In B Flat Major: Bourree
Sonata No. 49 In B Flat Major: Sarabande: Grave
Sonata No. 49 In B Flat Major: Menuet
Sonata No. 49 In B Flat Major: Presto
Sonata No. 42 In A Minor: Allemande: Largo
Sonata No. 42 In A Minor: Allegro
Sonata No. 42 In A Minor: Bourree: Posato
Sonata No. 42 In A Minor: Sarabande
Sonata No. 42 In A Minor: Menuet
Sonata No. 42 In A Minor: Giga: Presto

Customer Reviews:

Steven Sturgill-Ojeda Reviews Barto's Weiss.......2007-04-04

This my friends is a kingly gift fit for a prince or any such audience be they heavenly or mere mortal! This is how Weiss is supposed to sound; such tender grace and exquisite phrasing and tone control. The tempos are perfect and the sound lush with tasteful reverb. I do not prefer the very dry screechy recordings some labels seem to prefer. There are many things in life that may be more "authentic" but that categorically does NOT make them better per se. I want beautiful sound that sounds like heaven might sound. Barto is the consummate Lute master of our time! While O'Dette is a more popular and a truly gifted and prolific player, I currently assert that Weiss has NEVER sounded more like Weiss than through the awe inspiringly beautiful interpretation via the utterly deft touch of Robert Bartos' hands. Please buy this disc, then buy a good 300B or SE Tube amplifier or at least a pre, some great speakers (not avaiable at your local store) and sit back and meditate or enjoy a good glass of wine or aged scotch or at least a good cup of Joe and be transported to another time and place somewhere in Transitional Bavaria at its' finest. Ok, if you can't afford the system upgrade PLEASE BUY THIS DISC!!! You won't regret it ever unless you absolutely hate fine, spiritually uplifting instrumental music. If you like great classical guitar you will be amazed at these incredible NAXOS cd recordings made using 20-bit technology that would be worth 3 times the price, SHHHHH, sorry! Don't tell Naxos. Thank you Naxos, and THANK YOU Robert Barto. Sir you are a modern day genius. A finer lute player there is not in the world today! By the way Amazon is offering these 4 for the price of 3! Order 4 at a time and SAVE. Also look carefully for his 8th disc. They DO have it but it is not listed normally. You may have to do a google or yahoo search for it, but I did buy mine through Amazon.com. It is very new and NOT to be missed!

one of my late night favorites........2007-03-18

naxos has provided me with so much great music over the years at budget price, i want to thank the folks over there right up front. this is one of my very favorite naxos releases. i know next to nothing about the lute. never touched one, never seen one in person. how many strings are on the things, anyway? to the listener, i don't think that it really matters having such answers resolved. just listen. this is gorgeous, quiet music. perfect for late at night. the tone of the instrument combined with the atmospherics of the canadian church that this recording was made in is haunting on the ears. i listen to this disc over and over again. great stuff for reading to in the evening. thanks again, naxos.

Nice Music.......2005-07-21

This is the first CD of lute music I've ever purchased. I recently heard some Sonatas by Weiss on NPR. Weiss's sonatas are very relaxing. Not very dynamic. But very nice music to go to sleep to.

Great music in good performance.......2005-03-30

Both Buxtehude and Weiss were contemporaries that Bach greatly admired. Yet, both remain little known outside of the world of baroque specialist. Especially in Weiss' case this obscurity is undeserved. There is little doubt that Weiss had a clear impact on Bach writing of suites for solo instruments. In addition Weiss's music clearly shares the "folk rooting" of his famous friend's works and has recurrent moments of high drama.

Looking back at the discography of recordings of Weiss' music, one cannot but conclude that this master composer has gotten quite a raw deal.

On the lute the imho most significant Weiss recording was by one of Barto's teachers Eugen Dombois. In a double lp of baroque lute music on the Seon label this Swiss player, whose career was cut short by rheumatoid arthritis, played Weiss most famous suite "L'infidele" in superb version. While I have also enjoyed a later recording by Hopkinson Smith on the Astree label, this player's authentic approach in tempo fluctuation and poor prioritization between main and sidelines in the music did not allow the music to reach full bloom.

On guitar the most significant recording was an lp by the late DG star Narciso Yepes containing to of Weiss' suites. While his technique may have been a little short of the likes of John Williams, few have been able to match Yepes' ability to flesh out the dramatic and monumental aspects of a score. This Weiss record, that unfortunately was only available in Germany, remains the second landmark recording of this composer.

While a guitarist like John Williams has complained about the "emptiness" of the guitar repertoire, he himself could have done quite a bit more to promote this great composer. Both Williams and colleague Bream have made some splendid recordings of Weiss's Tombeau and passcaglia, but especially Williams could have made better use of his talents in Weiss than in e.g. Theodorakis or second rate film music.

To end this list, I cannot omit the non-plus-ultra of all Weiss recordings. While it lasts a mere five minutes and requires extensive detective work, no Weiss lover should be without the version of Weiss' short Passcaglia that Carlos Bonel recorded in the eighties on a Decca lp. Carlos, whose impromptu replacement concert for Manuel Barueco, in which he made it to the concert hall ten minutes before the onset without preparation or program, is still on my best ten concerts of all time list, gives the listener an impression of what Glenn Gould at his very best could have done with this music. There is drama, exuberance, rhythm and endless baroque fireworks.

Now to this recording.
While the major labels are dying (the Dg website states that it made no new recordings this month) Naxos is still doing very well mining important, but underexposed repertoire. As such, we have here a first installment of a complete Weiss. Hallelujah!

In short: the works are great, the performance good, the recording decent.
As a pupil of Dombois, Barto could hardly have had better instruction in Weiss interpretation. While he may miss his teacher's high mark, the combination of the music and interpretation still warrants a full 5-star endorsement. While I do not agree with a previous reviewer's comment on Barto's technical deficiency (this was non-sense and reflects little knowledge of baroque lute technique), I was a little disappointed by the lutenist's tendency to hold back whenever Weiss works to one of his many dramatic highs. Although he takes far less time than Anton Bruckner, Weiss tends to build up dramatic tension over a long sequence of bars and often uses intricate "figurative sequences" before the final resolution. Barto tends to mess around a little too much with the tempo to my liking, which often takes the air out, instead of putting more in. A small dose from Yepes' aforementioned lp could have gone an awful long way here.

Yet the glass is more than half full here. Especially the gigues get rhythmic and highly virtuosic play that highlight Barto's abilities. The recording is a little on the spacious (read hollow) side, yet reflects the timbre of the lute appropriately and puts the instrument in a solid sound stage.

Thus Weiss fans rejoice. There are currently four more volumes available with more to follow in a set that together with Bach's and Downland's works reflects the top of the Baroque lute repertoire.

An almost free lunch with Weiss.......2004-01-20

Looking for baroque? Curious about some new baroque solist/string experiences at a nice price? Then stop right here.

For those unfamiliar with Weiss, he was contemporary with Bach and was *the* top lute music composer and lutenist of his time. Personally, I much prefer the lute works of Weiss over those of Bach. I think Bach, ever brilliant and elegant of course, is still too restrained, condensed and... well... dull, quite frankly.

Stay clear from overpriced records with some fancy spanish tradition guitar hotshot playing "baroque". I heard the famous and celebrated Andrès Segovia's Bach recordings the other day and had some brief thoughts on shooting myself. The guitar is not an instrument well suited for baroque music, particularly not baroque *lute* music. Get the real stuff like e.g. this record instead. And with a composer such as Weiss you get music that makes the most of the instrument and you also get the full spectrum of baroque complexity and sentimentality, not just the distilled version of Bach's (yes, I know that's blasphemy).

The featured solist on this recording, Bartos, is hardly the most famous of today's lutenists. And there are a few things I don't like with him and the recording in general. For instance, on one or two occasions I get the impression he has to slow down his tempo temporarily in the middle of a piece just to be able to keep up with a fast and tricky passage later. It's annoying. I also don't quite like the choice of locale for the recording, some church. There is a tad too much reverb in there for my taste.

But otherwise Bartos really shines. The phrasing is just lovely, very passionate. He is also very subtle in keeping all the voices alive, giving each the flow and emphasis it needs but not more. That is not an easy task with pieces as intricate as e.g. the presto in Sonata No 42. Overall, in spite of a few flaws, it's a beautiful recording. You'll cry your heart out, still your wallet won't weep. And it's music that will last a lifetime. Almost a free lunch, if you ask me. Four stars, plus an extra for the the low price.

Tracks:

Sonata No. 5 In G Major: Prelude
Sonata No. 5 In G Major: Allemande
Sonata No. 5 In G Major: Courante
Sonata No. 5 In G Major: Bourree
Sonata No. 5 In G Major: Sarabande
Sonata No. 5 In G Major: Menuet
Sonata No. 5 In G Major: Gigue
Sonata No. 25 in G Minor: Prelude
Sonata No. 25 In G Minor: Allemande andante
Sonata No. 25 In G Minor: Passepied
Sonata No. 25 In G Minor: Bourree
Sonata No. 25 In G Minor: Sarabande
Sonata No. 25 In G Minor: Menuet
Sonata No. 25 In G Minor: Gigue
Sonata No. 50 In B Flat Major: Introduzzione
Sonata No. 50 In B Flat Major: Courante
Sonata No. 50 In B Flat Major: Bourree
Sonata No. 50 In B Flat Major: Sarabande
Sonata No. 50 In B Flat Major: Menuet
Sonata No. 50 In B Flat Major: Presto

Customer Reviews:

thanks naxos.......2007-03-18

ROBERT BARTO is the name of the lute-player.......1999-12-04

How come neither the rewiews, nor the description of the album mentions ROBERT BARTO as the lute-player? Those who love the lute know that Silvius Leopold Weiss is the greatest lute composer of all times. His compositions are (in my view) as good as those of J.S.Bach. So in order to enjoy the magnificent compositions of Weiss, you need a very good lute-player. BARTO equals the finest lute players of today, such as Konrad Junghänel, or Hopkinson Smith. And if you want to buy a Weiss record, buy the best (in this case the cheapest!). And Barto is no doubt the best of them all. I can listen to his interpretations of Weiss over and over again. Strangely enough, he recorded The sonatas for Lute, volumes 1 and 2, on Naxos. Normally I don't buy Naxos-records, because they're not only very cheap in price but also in quality. I make an exception for this two ravishing lute CD's. Buy them! And enjoy one of the greatest composers ever, played by one of the best lute players of today. However, don't buy volume 3, played by Lei Franklin: it's worthless! But listen also to the Weiss-CD's played by Konrad Junghänel and Hopkinson Smith. Robert Barto has also recorded Weiss-sonatas for two lutes (with Karl-Ernst Schröder)on the Symphonia label (1998). Exceptionally good, but normally priced. And I can't find it in the Amazon-catalogue. Shame on you, Amazon! This heavenly music should be much more popular with the audience. And I hope Robert Barto records many more CD's with music of S.L.Weiss.

This album is a dream-come-true for music lovers!.......1999-03-24

I bought Volume I of the Weiss Lute Music last year and was thrilled by the contents and the beautiful quality of the sound. Whereas Bach may sound pedantic, Weiss is soul-soothing. When I discovered that Volume II was coming out, I was more than thrilled. I bought it two days ago and I am not disappointed. Contents and sound are, again, glorious. And the NAXOS price? How can one quibble with this? The CD would be worth it at three times the price. For those of you who search for civility and repose in today's frantically insane, computer- generated world, Weiss is for you, either volume. The sound is warm, full, intimate without being being "in-your-face." It surrounds you. And the lute music, itself? Well, this is NOT ground-breaking music, this is NOT the depths of soul-searching or profundity.... but, yes, it IS beautiful and calming and.... a balm. Yet, like some guitar music, it is NOT boring or inane. This is the kind of music that should be "piped into" the "war rooms" of the world. It beats Valium, too. And psychiatry.

Average customer rating:

Focus on the Recordings
This is a fantastic deal!
Excellent, Broad Selection
$70....when was this???
$70/40... you do the math.

Vivaldi: The Masterworks (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Trios | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00062FLHY
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Customer Reviews:

Focus on the Recordings.......2007-07-23

I've made this small review of the Vivaldi Masterworks set because it is SO difficult to find a review of such a big collection.

The price is killer and you HAVE to buy it, but be warned: these are not the best recordings, you get what you pay for.

First of all, I'm not a Vivaldi expert, but I've heard his compositions throughout my life in so many different places and recordings and have a vague idea of how some have to be played. Secondly, I'm not a classical music connoisseur, but I love it and have over 300 discs of various composers and styles. Third, I know what a good audio recording should sound like and this will influence my critique of some discs in the collection. Finally, it's easy to get lost among all the tracks contained, so in some cases I will give you my favorite tracks in a disc.

I'm sorry, but I've only reached disc 20 of the box-set, as I listen to more this review will be expanded.

DISC 1:
Why would you use an AAD recording as a first impression for a 40 disc box-set and for the "Four Seasons", which is probably Vivaldi's best know work. The concertos are played enthusiastically, but lack any additional virtuosity to put it ahead of other much better recordings out there.

DISC 2:
Same as DISC 1, played and recorded by the same people.

DISC 3:
The pieces in this disc are VERY well played, nonetheless, you can hear heavy breathing from the soloist which can be a bit annoying.

DISC 4:
Very well performed as well, heavy breathing is less present.

DISC 5:
A very good recording, excellent execution by the hapsichord and good by the recorder.
Tracks 4, 6, 7 and the whole "La Notte" are extraordinary.

DISC 6:
Exquisitely recorded and performed by the Budapest Strings.

DISC 7:
Marvelous performance on the whole disc.
Tracks 22 & 24 are non-plus-ultra.

DISC 8:
Great performance too.
Suggested tracks: 7, 12, 15, 24

DISC 9:
To have an original baroque organ playing is a plus.
Solo strings are lacking in quality (for example: tracks 6 & 7).
Suggested tracks: 1, 4, 8, 15

DISC 10:
Despite being and ADD recording, the quality is fairly good. The cello is very well played.
Suggested tracks: 3, 4, 12
Excellent track: 13

DISC 11:
Same musical group and soloist as DISC 10. The contrabass is extremely distorted sometimes, and if you take into consideration that this is an ADD recording, it can get pretty bad. Some background noise is perceived.
Suggested tracks: 3, 6, 9

DISC 12:
The compositions are somewhat boring, either way the performance is plain decent.
Suggested tracks: 10, 12

DISC 13:
Good performance and sound quality.
Suggested tracks: 1, 4, 6, 7
Excellent track: 12

DISC 14:
Good performance and sound quality too.
Suggested tracks: 10, 14, 16
Excellent track: 5

DISC 15:
Badly mixed, the basoon is blocking the whole ensamble by being in the foreground.
The playing precision is lacking.
An AWEFUL thing about this recording is that you can hear the basson key-sticking with the instrument and the saliva. It's horrible.
Such a pity, the sound of the basson with other instruments can be pretty interesting.

DISC 16:
Violins sound a bit off tempo.
Suggested tracks: 4, 8

DISC 17:
Good sound quality and performance.
Suggested tracks: 1, 7, 9

DISC 18:
Despite being an old recording, it is a very welcome one.
The performance is very well above par. Tempo is fantastic.
The quality of the recording could have been better due to some string plucking that is heard and which can become bothersome.
These are some of Vivaldi's best know tunes.
Suggested tracks: 4, 6, 13
Excellent tracks: 1, 3

DISC 19:
Lively recording.
Track 6 is the same piece found in another disc in the collection, but with a better performance.

DISC 20:
By now you've heard all of this pieces before in the other discs. Nothing new here, nor better.

This is a fantastic deal!.......2007-02-25

If you are a fan at all of the Four Seasons you should love this music. I will admit right now that I am a classical music fan. I don't write or perform it. I am a novice listener. I have never taken any music lessons(though I am leaning in that direction) and certainly have not gone through any university music training. I started out in rock and roll but found classical as I got older and fell in love with it a few years ago.

With that context in mind I do hope I am able to recognize quality and this work is of the highest. It helps when you are starting with good ingredients in the first place. You can't bake great bread without great ingredients and Vivaldi's music library has some of the greatest musical ingredients of the last 300 years. They are very much the foundation for modern western culture and music. His talent is woven through what we are

The first 26 CDs are instrumental starting with the four seasons and working through many of the Master's many popular works. I will admit the four seasons are not the best interpretation I have heard but it is definitely acceptable. The rest of the music shows us many facets of the Baroque style and you can see themes emerging through some of the pieces that give us a 'fingerprint' of Vivaldi's style and the parameters of the stylistic leanings of the genre at the time. If you want to immerse yourself in 18th century music this is your chance

This music would be ideal for someone who owns a store and is looking for background music. With over 26 CDs of instrumental music alone you could have those constantly looping and you'd probably never get bored of them(OK I may be stretching it a little there). The reason is that the music does not leave a bad 'aftertaste' in your mind. It fits into the background as easily and naturally as it is to listen to it consciously in the foreground. If you are a fan of classical Baroque you don't usually need to be in the mood for this, it will adjust your mood to itself and Vivaldi's music is almost always of an uplifting sort if this collection is any indication. If you want something to listen to at your job 8 hours per day this is good for the mind and it would take you over a week to get through it if you listened to it every minute of every work day. You will also work without the worry of the music distracting your concentration. I find it enhances it when I'm working. I don't know how well this would work on school kids but teachers might want to try playing this during school time. You may create a few geniuses, we certainly could use more!

If you are looking for something to ease your sleep and oil your dreams I have put these CD's on in the background. Not only can I easily fall asleep when they are playing quietly in the background but it helps you sleep and you wake up in a very pleasant atmosphere if the music is still playing quietly when you wake(you probably would need to rip them to your MP3 player to do that). It's like napping at a classical music concert without the worry of being nudged by your spouse or offending the other concert goers with your snoring. That will be quite a unique experience for you and possibly give you some real sweet dreams. It has for me

So to wrap it up this is very intelligent, uplifting music that is great for your mind and your soul. It is definitely worth the purchase if you are a fan of the Four Seasons and the Baroque genre in my novice classical music fan's opinion

Excellent, Broad Selection.......2007-01-25

This 40-cd collection affords me a rare pleasure almost daily: the thrill of hearing something new by Vivaldi. Despite my best efforts over the years, I've managed to miss hearing a lot of great works by the master. Listening to a single CD now and then, catching tunes on the radio... you can't possibly get a comprehensive understanding of Vivaldi's output that way.

But when you work your way systematically from CD 1 through 40, you're sure to find many pleasant surprises. I've been skipping through everything I already know -- in some cases, it has only taken me about a minute to get through a whole CD (first 3 seconds of each track is usually enough). But then I stop and listen carefully three or four times to anything that's new.

Ah, what a pleasure. I've already acquired some new favorites. And some old standbys have proved even more rewarding, e.g. at first I thought RV 127 (CD 7, tracks 10-12) was performed too slowly (Naxos No: 8.553742 is much faster), but now I'm not sure; maybe it's BETTER that way! I can't recommend this set highly enough.

$70....when was this???.......2006-11-25

Wish the cost was $70 now. Guess the record producer (or Amazon) got tired of making less than $2 per CD.

$70/40... you do the math........2006-04-07

No, I don't own this collection...yet. However, the price of the collection compels me to review it beforehand. Never have I seen such a complete collection of Vivaldi compositions at such an incredibly low price. At $1.75 dollars a CD, the record producer (Brilliant Classics) isn't making much of a profit. The compilation pulls some of its works from DG Achiv Produktion's vault (see Standage), such as the violin concertos, as well as from unknown producers (the Poland Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra is heavily featured). The collection is so complete that it is academic, and I would not be surprised if music libraries quickly emptied it from Amazon's shelves. The collection is simply worth it for the incredible price (English Concert's recording of the violin concertos cost nearly 30 bucks, and is exactly featured here). Overall, the price alone makes this collection exceptionally attractive, and the ensembles featured aren't bad either.

Average customer rating:

thanks naxos
Shining Late-Baroque Light
Mesmerizing!
Outstanding voyage into the realm of the lute
Another Triumph

Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 4

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 3
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ASIN: B00005MFGT
Release Date: 2001-08-21

Tracks:

Son No.46 in A: Ovt
Son No.46 in A: Courante
Son No.46 in A: Bourree
Son No.46 in A: Sarabande
Son No.46 in A: Menuet
Son No.46 in A: Presto
Son No.21 in f: Allemande
Son No.21 in f: Courante
Son No.21 in f: Bourree
Son No.21 in f: Sarabande
Son No.21 in f: Menuet
Son No.21 in f: Gigue
Son No.37 in C: Prld
Son No.37 in C: Allemande
Son No.37 in C: Courante
Son No.37 in C: Bourree
Son No.37 in C: Sarabande
Son No.37 in C: Menuets 1 & 2
Son No.37 in C: Presto

Customer Reviews:

thanks naxos.......2007-03-18

Shining Late-Baroque Light.......2003-05-11

Weiss was a contemporary of Bach and it's been said they knew one another and, perhaps, even made music together at one time or another. The music on this disc is quite good and satisfies my craving for thoughtful music. I sometimes feel that music composed during the late Baroque period proper (right up until 1750, typically) is just too light and transparent. This cd dispels my own notions and for that I am grateful. One look at the price on this disc should further remove all doubts about a purchase. If you like music from the Baroque and/or fretted string instruments then get it now. A wonderful 6-dollar investment.

Mesmerizing!.......2002-01-28

The four albums (actually five if one includes the Hagen album) of Barto playing lute music by Weiss are truly mesmerizing. They cover the range of the Weiss's intricate compositions. I truly hope that the Naxos label keep bringing out additional recordings by this outstanding artist. The recording is warm and immediate. Highly recommended!

Outstanding voyage into the realm of the lute.......2002-01-03

If you are looking for a wonderful journey into the subtle beautiful world of the baroque lute you have found your ticket. Robert Barto demonstrates his skills with the lute. All his recordings come highly recommended.

Another Triumph.......2001-12-10

Robert Barto is doing every lute fan out there a great service by recording these works, and this, the fourth volume in the series, is another smashing success. He again chooses a nice selection of pieces that vary in key, mood and difficulty, and the overall effect is wonderful. The contrast between the intense, melancholic f-minor sonata and the other, "sunnier" works in A-major and C-major is quite striking. Barto again establishes himself as perhaps the leading interpreter of Weiss; as for Weiss, he can't seem to write a bad note!

Average customer rating:

Extraordinary

Bach: Lute Suites, Trio Sonatas

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Golden Age of English Lute Music

ASIN: B000003FG2
Release Date: 1994-06-14

Tracks:

Suite in E Minor, S. 996: Prelude
Suite in E Minor, S. 996: Allemande
Suite in E Minor, S. 996: Courante
Suite in E Minor, S. 996: Sarabande
Suite in E Minor, S. 996: Bour
Suite in E Minor, S. 996: Gigue
Suite In A Minor (Originally C Minor), S. 997: Prelude
Suite In A Minor (Originally C Minor), S. 997: Fugue
Suite In A Minor (Originally C Minor), S. 997: Sarabande
Suite In A Minor (Originally C Minor), S. 997: Gigue
Sonata No. 1 In E-flat, S. 525 (Edited By Bream): Sonata No. 1 in E-flat, S. 525 (edited by Bream) Allegro moderato
Sonata No. 1 In E-flat, S. 525 (Edited By Bream): Adagio
Sonata No. 1 In E-flat, S. 525 (Edited By Bream): Allegro
Sonata No. 5 in C, S. 529 -edited by Bream: Allegro
Sonata No. 5 in C, S. 529 -edited by Bream: Largo
Sonata No. 5 in C, S. 529 -edited by Bream: Allegro

Customer Reviews:

Extraordinary.......2005-12-21

Well, I must admit my review is a little bias since I am a classical guitar enthusiast and a huge Bach fan. Bream's playing of the lute suite in Em is beautiful. This cd can serve as a nice background score while dining with your girlfriend, or as a technical performance heard with your headphones on, eyes closed, and full attention given. If you love classical music and/or the sound of a clean acoustic guitar under the arm of someone who has mastered the art of the instrument, I highly recommend this!

Average customer rating:

Steven Sturgill-Ojeda Reviews Barto's Weiss
thanks naxos
Superb recording
superb music, musicianship
superb performance of classic lute music

Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 3

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 2
Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 4
Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 1
Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 5
Weiss: Lute Sonatas, Vol. 6

ASIN: B000038I7U
Release Date: 2000-01-25

Tracks:

Prelude
Allemande
Courante
Bourree
Sarabande
Menuet
Gigue
Allemande: Andante
Gavotte
Rondeau
Sarabande
Menuet
Rigaudon - Angloise: La Belle Tiroloise
Allemande: Adagio
Courante
Paysane
Sarabande
Menuet
Allegro

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In his day, Silvius Leopold Weiss (1686-1750) was one of the most famous musicians in Germany. An exact contemporary of Bach, he lived and worked in luxury in the ducal court at Dresden. However, when, after he died, his instrument (the lute) and the tablature method of writing for it descended into obsolescence, his reputation dwindled too. He wrote some 600 works for the baroque lute, almost all of them dance suites, although they were titled either sonatas or partitas. They were for the mind and not for the feet to dance to. Unlike the Renaissance lute, the baroque instrument is tuned to a chord (D minor). It resonates richly and booms with a variable number of unfretted bass strings. The three sonatas, which the brilliant Canadian lutenist Robert Barto plays with barely a squeak on this Naxos disc, span the composer's career. The early period Sonata in D major is distinguished by a freely rhythmic, unbarred Prelude. Weiss's mid-life Sonata in C minor is marked by a wonderfully doleful minuet. By the time Weiss wrote his profound Sonata in D minor in later life, his movements had become extended and absorbing intellectual journeys. Barto renders Weiss's elegantly circuitous trail with absolute logic. --Rick Jones

Customer Reviews:

Steven Sturgill-Ojeda Reviews Barto's Weiss.......2007-04-04

thanks naxos.......2007-03-18

Superb recording.......2003-08-14

The finest baroque lutenist recording today playing the music of the finest baroque lute composer in history. A combination that has produced a superb series of recordings on Naxos.

superb music, musicianship.......2002-12-17

these weiss recordings by robert barto (and the parallel series recorded by lutz kirchhof) provide a beautiful and unexpectedly poignant taste of the late baroque. the lutes in both series have a splendid tone, resonant and bright, and the recordings are close (20 bit technology is used) without being too detailed. the pieces are played with nary a buzz or flubbed note and with stunning rhythmic momentum and verve. (kirchhof once or twice pops a string in his enthusiasm.) the various suites by weiss are not strongly contrasted musically -- all are built around similar harmonic progressions and motifs, developed as arpeggiated chords and free scales -- and all the discs in the barto and kirchhof series are delightful: the music is gently propulsive, endlessly evolving, wistful, joyful, reflective and dancing by turns. highly recommended.

superb performance of classic lute music.......2000-09-20

Superbly played, well recorded disc of some magnificent music from Herr Weiss. The music is permeated by the dance rhythms which make it so appealing to listeners of this era, and yet at times in the slow passages have a poignant ring that put to shame all the horrid "new age" music that now invades the airwaves.Give yourself a treat and get this disc!

Average customer rating:

A great and underrated composer

Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 5
Weiss , and Barto
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 4
Weiss: Lute Sonatas, Vol. 6
Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 3
Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 2
Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 1

ASIN: B00006B1KG
Release Date: 2002-09-17

Tracks:

Prelude
Allemande
Courante
Bourree
Sarabande
Menuet
Presto
Tombeau Sur La Mort De M. Cajetan Baron D' Hartig
Allemande: Andante
Courante
Bourree
Sarabande: Andante
Menuet
Presto

Customer Reviews:

A great and underrated composer.......2003-04-23

For far too long Weiss has been the province of guitar and lute specialists/scholars. This music is so deep, complex and beautiful-in spirit, something like Bach's solo keyboard music-that a listener can truly become lost in it. I hope that more people become acquainted with Weiss, thanks to Barto's superb performances and Naxos's exemplary sound. This, and the other volumes in the series, are not to be missed. Terrific bargains, too.

Weiss: Lute Sonatas, Vol 7 - Nos 15 & 48 /Barto

Average customer rating:

SOOTHING

Weiss: Lute Sonatas, Vol 7 - Nos 15 & 48 /Barto

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Weiss: Lute Sonatas, Vol. 6
Weiss: Lute Sonatas, Vol. 8
Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 5
Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 4
Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 2

ASIN: B000F6YWTY
Release Date: 2006-05-16

Tracks:

Allemande
Courante
Paisane
Sarabande
Menuet
Gigue
Allemande: Andante
Courante
Bourree
Sarabande: Andante
Menuet
Presto

Customer Reviews:

SOOTHING.......2006-06-13

Lute music, for me, has always brought to my life some needed peace and it has always soothed my spirits no matter what was going on in my life at the time. This recording of Sylvius Weiss's Lute sonatas #15 and #48 played by Roberto Barto is no exception. Weiss was a contemporary of J.S. Bach. He, of course, is not nearly as well known as J.S.; however, he was obviously a great composer for the lute. The two sonatas in Volume Seven are splendid and beautiful works making full use of the lute's range. I particularly enjoyed #48 in F sharp Minor (a rather unusual key for the time this work was composed in) Roberto Barto certainly plays these works splendidly with deep feeling and with wonderful technique--giving a much needed repose to my soul indeed.

If you desire to hear some wonderful lute music that will offer some soothing sounds to your life that are played extremely well, buy this disc. The sound is great and by this being on the Naxos lable, it's at a great price-- a true bargain!

Average customer rating:

Barto triumphs again!
Barto does it again

Weiss: Lute Sonatas, Vol. 6

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 5
Weiss: Lute Sonatas, Vol 7 - Nos 15 & 48 /Barto
Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 4
Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 2
Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 3

ASIN: B0007ORDTK
Release Date: 2005-06-21

Tracks:

Introduzzione
Courante
Bourree
Sarabande
Menuet
Presto
Allemande
Courante
Gavotte
Sarabande
Menuet
Gigue
Prelude & Entree
Bourrees I & II
Gavottes I & II
Sarabande
Menuets I & II
Saltarella

Customer Reviews:

Barto triumphs again!.......2006-03-15

With technical mastery and soulful grace, Mr Barto brings us into the world of Weiss.And the final result is a little happiness in our lives.

Barto does it again.......2005-08-07

Once again Robert Barto has played the music of Weiss beatifully. This disc follows on from the 5 earlier discs by the same artist of Weiss's lute music. The playing is superb, and the recording is close to flawless. Audiophiles will notice that the technical aspects of this recording are in fact barely noticeable, a sign of a truly good recording.

The music of Weiss is undergoing a revival after many decades of neglect. This fine composer, who met and played with J.S. Bach, was the most gifted lutenist of his day. He produced many fine pieces, and this CD brings three more of his sonatas to public attention. Heartily recommended.

Weiss: Sonatas played on the unique 1590 Sixtus Rauwolf Lute

Average customer rating:

Blast from the past

Weiss: Sonatas played on the unique 1590 Sixtus Rauwolf Lute

Manufacturer: Bis
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Weiss: Lute Sonatas, Vol. 8
Weiss: Lute Sonatas, Vol 7 - Nos 15 & 48 /Barto
Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 4
Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 5
Weiss: Sonatas for Lute, Volume 2

ASIN: B000FI9ORW
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Customer Reviews:

Blast from the past.......2007-01-03

This recording is deeply satisfying on so many levels. It goes without saying that playing Weiss' music this well is the dream of most students of early music, but I bought this CD to hear this particular lute. The selection of the pieces, the respectful interpretation and Jakob Lindberg's masterful playing allow this 400 year old lute to reach out and speak with power, subtlety and grace. There is nothing tentative about the playing, no holding back for fear of damaging a delicate "antique", (apparently the oldest playable lute still in possession of its original soundboard) The diapasons are deep and warm, the trebles clear and sure of themselves. There are no traces of muddiness, no jarring timbre shifts going from low to high. It is bright and open without sounding glassy or fragile (Not a single inadvertent twang, even in the Musette). The decay and the sustain are perfectly balanced. (The choice of strings seems just perfect). This is a mature performance on a beautifully matured instrument. It's akin to letting your teeth sink gently into a perfectly ripened peach and finding the taste even sweeter than you had anticipated.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

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