Daniel Hope - Air: A baroque journey (2009)

Daniel Hope’s declared aim is to trace the development of the Baroque violin, mainly through four composers – three Italian, one German. This throws up some fascinating, sometimes extraordinary, pieces.
Among the few surviving works of the Dresden composer Westhoff are a set of amazingly coloured sonatas with movements imitating bells, a lute, and a battle. Among a kaleidoscope of brief pieces are two complete concertos, one by Telemann, the other Geminiani’s arrangement of a Corelli sonata, stylishly accompanied by Hope’s five string colleagues and continuo.
A percussionist adds great rhythmic vitality in several dance movements; the opening Falconieri Ciaccona and a Tambourin by Leclair are irresistible. In all, here’s a striking demonstration of the sheer variety and invention of Baroque violin composers, though yet another Pachelbel Canon and a ‘Greensleeves’ arrangement seem to be concessions to the disc’s commercial potential.
Although by no means ‘period’ performances – they’re at present-day pitch and, if the photos are accurate, employ modern strings and bows – they are admirably stylish. Hope uses vibrato as a colour and there are some delightful hues in the five continuo options, plucked and keyed.
Bar an occasional steely edge from relatively close-miked solo violin, recorded sound is excellent. – George Pratt

Track List:

01. Andrea Falconieri - Chaconne in G Major
02. Handel - Suite No.15 in D minor for Harpsichord, HWV 447: 3. Sarabande
03. Diego Ortiz - Ricercata segunda
04. Andrea Falconieri - La suave melodia
05. Biagio Marini - Passacalio in G minor
06. Nicola Matteis - "La Vecchia Sarabanda"
07-08. Johann Pachelbel - Canon and Gigue in D major
09-11. Telemann - Concerto for Violin concertato in A minor, TWV 51-A1
12. Westhoff - Sonata for Violin and Continuo III: Imitazione delle Campane
13. Nicola Matteis - Ground after the Scotch Humour
14-17. Francesco Geminiani - Concerto grosso No.5 in G minor
18. Antonio Valente - Gagliarda Napolitana
19. Andrea Falconieri: Passacaglia in G Minor
20. Jean-Marie Leclair: Tambourin
21. Anonymous: Greensleeves
22. Westhoff: Sonata "La guerra" in A Major - La Guerra cosí nominata di sua maestà
23. Westhoff: Sonata for Violin and Continuo II - Imitazione del Liuto. Presto
24. Johann Sebastian Bach: Suite No.3 in D, BWV 1068 - II. Air

Performers:
Daniel Hope (violin)
Lorenza Borrani (second violin)
Lucy Gould (violin)
Stewart Eaton (viola)
William Conway (cello)
Enno Senft double (bass)
Jonathan Cohen (cello)
Kristian Bezuidenhout (harpsichord, organ)
Stefan Maass, Stephan Rath (lute, guitar, theorbo)
Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen (percussion)