Benjamin Alard’s monumental project to record all of J.S. Bach’s keyboard works for harpsichord, clavichord, and organ progresses steadily – and wonderfully! Volume 10, of what is expected to be a 17 Volume project, was released earlier this year and focuses on music written during Bach’s early years in Leipzig. Included are the six Trio Sonatas (BWV 525 – 530) performed here on harpsichord and clavichord, and also the much-loved ‘little keyboard book’ of Anna Magdalena. S oprano Gerlinde Sämann also features on the album. Issued under the Harmonia Mundi label. Segments of some of the Trio Sonatas available on YouTube.
This recently issued album by acclaimed French harpsichordist Christophe Rousset includes seven toccatas written by J.S. Bach early in his career when he was at the Court of Weimar. This is an exceptionally clean recording of these works on a crisp, incisive instrument (anonymous ca. 1750 held in a private collection) making for a most rewarding listen. What the reviewers say: Gramophone Magazine: ‘There are occasions when Rousset’s refinement and balance are especially telling, even beyond compare….His contribution to the argument of what these pieces constitute is unquestionable…” and AllMusic Review: “…certainly nothing less than a typically masterly outing from Rousset.” [Aparté/Little Tribeca – Les Talens Lyriques 2024)
https://capricciobaroque.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/GreyWEBSITE-NEWSPOSTsCOMMUNIQs-Pics-5x3-4.png9001500Carolyn Winterhttps://capricciobaroque.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CapriccioLogoHomePage-300x140.pngCarolyn Winter2025-05-26 21:58:122025-05-26 22:10:17Christophe Rousset: Bach The Complete Toccatas
Colin Tilney’s passing is a great loss to the harpsichord and Early Music Community. A student of Gustav Leonhardt, Tilney was an influential researcher and contributor to historically-informed performance practice, a beloved instructor by many, and a much-admired performer and recording artist. Obituaries have been posted widely, including in The Telegraph UK, The Globe and Mail Canada, Classics Today, Y!Entertainment… Colin Tilney issued over 70 commercial recordings, and his final album, produced at age 89, offers a wonderfully rich, almost sultry, interpretation of Bach’s Partitas (J.S. Bach: Harpsichord Partitas, BWV 825-830). Among his many other acclaimed and influential albums is ‘George Frideric Handel – The Harpsichord Suites’ (ARCHIV Production), widely considered a benchmark. Tilney was also an ardent proponent of contemporary music for harpsichord, commissioning some himself. His recordings were often made on original instruments, but also on some of the many instruments in his own, sizeable collection. Amongst his collection was a much-loved after-Zell, built in 1983 by Colin Booth ,which he used extensively in concerts and recordings including ‘Jewels: Treasures, Old & New, for the Harpsichord’. In 2023 Colin passed this instrument on to a new owner who, following some restoration, makes it available to Capriccio for concerts. Colin Tilney was delighted to know that this instrument’s lovely voice would continue to be heard and enjoyed by lovers of harpsichord music.
Renowned harpsichord builder Allan Winkler offers a ‘must do’ course this summer for harpsichordists wanting to learn how to do basic instrument repairs. The class covers voicing and regulation of a double manual harpsichord with three registers, 2×8′, and 1×4′. Topics will include: requilling wood and plastic jacks with Delrin (white acetal plastic) plectra; assembly of wood jacks and repair of plastic jacks; how to set plectra length and shape plectra to set voicing levels; coupler adjustment, timing, and regulating three registers; setting key dip and touch; an introduction to selecting and treating feather, and voicing with quill; the basic metallurgy of harpsichord wire and how to loop and replace strings. On one evening there will be an optional visit to Allan Winkler’s harpsichord workshop in Medford for a closeup look at harpsichord-making tools and techniques and new and antique instruments.
Dates: The class is being offered twice during August – from August 5 through August 9 and from August 19 through August 23. Hours: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Price: $1040 Instructor: Allan Winkler Teaching Assistant: Louis Del Bene PT ’06, PA ’07 Venue: North Bennet Street School, 150 North Street, Boston, MA 02109
Class sizes are limited and will fill quickly – we recommend registering soon.
https://capricciobaroque.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/VoicingRegClass-3.png9001500Carolyn Winterhttps://capricciobaroque.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CapriccioLogoHomePage-300x140.pngCarolyn Winter2023-12-19 19:33:482023-12-19 22:18:42VOICING & REGULATION SUMMER CLASS WITH ALLAN WINKLER
English/Canadian harpsichordist Colin Tilney’s recording of J.S. Bach’s Partitas was issued in 2020 under the Music and Arts label and is now also available on the main streaming services. These are luxuriant, elegant Partitas which, with their slower tempi, highlight the compelling emotional warmth of these works. This three disk recording is accompanied by erudite, yet highly accessible, notes on each of the Partitas. The recording was done on an after-Zell instrument built by English early keyboard builder and harpsichordist Colin Booth in 1984. Its wonderful balance, depth of tone, and bell-like clarity make it particularly well-suited to this music.
What the reviewers say:
Jed Distler, Classics Today:‘Tilney retains his masterful legato finger technique, and the ability to make the quills on his resplently engineered harpsichord sing…the sheer beauty that Tilney creates in Bach’s more reflective movements may well be worth the price of admission.’
FanFare:‘…what makes this a superior set is the adroit and lively performance by Tilney. He instinctively knows where the phrasing emphasis is to be placed, how the registrations on his instrument work to the best advantage, and how to accomplish the often tortuous interweaving lines that Bach includes.’
https://capricciobaroque.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Colin-Tilney-Partitas.png5201450Carolyn Winterhttps://capricciobaroque.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CapriccioLogoHomePage-300x140.pngCarolyn Winter2023-06-26 15:15:012023-06-27 01:27:00Colin Tilney – a luxurious reading of Bach’s Partitas
Colin Booth, renowned English harpsichordist and early keyboard builder, issues another stellar album, this time of J.C.F. Fischer’s Eight Suites in the ‘Little Book of Flowers’ (‘Blumen-büchlein’). Colin’s almost unmatched ability to infuse dance music with an irresistible sense of lift and movement makes this recording a delight. Fischer’s beautiful Suites bloom – the music becomes irresistible, spirits are lifted, and the urge to dance becomes insurmountable. Even the seriously dance-resistant will surely engage in foot tapping. Recorded on two instruments built by Colin Booth and issued under the Soundboard Label. Available in the U.S. at https://www.ravencd.com/ and elsewhere at https://www.colinbooth.co.uk/
Yoann Moulin’s spectacular recording ‘Stylus Luxurians’ focuses on 17th century German harpsichord music by Weckmann, Froberger Ritter, Tunder, and Scheidemann. This was the period in which German music began to reflect elements of the French style after earlier adoption of elements of the Italian style. The result: simply gorgeous, luxurious music. This exquisite, crystal-clear recording of brilliantly played music makes for compulsive listening. Released under the Ricercar-Outhere label.
Lillian Gordis’ latest double-disk album ‘Bach’, released under the Paraty label, is a feast for the senses. Comprising her personal selection of Partitas, English Suites and Preludes and Fugues from the Well Tempered Clavier, this is a technical tour de force with the most compelling interpretations.
Qobuz and Pierre-Yves Lascar: “Without doubt, this is well worth a listen.” “These two musical hours are breath-taking in every sense of the word…”
https://capricciobaroque.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Communique1450x520.png5201450Carolyn Winterhttps://capricciobaroque.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CapriccioLogoHomePage-300x140.pngCarolyn Winter2022-04-07 23:24:462022-04-07 23:26:26“Definitely worth a listen!” – Lillian Gordis’ new ‘Bach’ album
This is a truly exceptional album – the music is glorious, the performance riveting, and the sound quality superb!
Federica Bianchi performs music written for keyboards from the early 15th century to the early years of the Baroque on three instruments built after historical models – a clavicymbalum after an early 15th century instrument and two harpsichords after Italian models from the 16th and 17th centuries. Some of the earliest works on the album are from the Codex Faenza (c. 1400-1420), others are arrangements from the Renaissance, and some beauties are from the late 16th/early 17th centuries.
https://capricciobaroque.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/FedericaBianchiAlbum.png9001500Carolyn Winterhttps://capricciobaroque.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CapriccioLogoHomePage-300x140.pngCarolyn Winter2022-02-17 01:39:292022-02-17 01:54:07An Exceptional Album from Federica Bianchi
At the tip of Africa the Cape Town Baroque Orchestra drives a newly flourishing Early Music Scene under Artistic Director Erik Dippenaar. The Orchestra includes some of South Africa’s finest musicians and vocalists who mainly perform music of the 18th century. Here are two recent recordings by the Orchestra. In the first, the Orchestra plays William Hayes’ (1708-1777) delightful, joyous Harpsichord concerto in G major with Erik Dippenaar directing from harpsichord. The second recording is one of a series in which Orchestra members explore early repertoire originally written to be played and sung at home – Lynelle Kenned (Soprano) and Erik Dippenaar (Early Keyboardist) perform.
https://capricciobaroque.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/CapeTownBaroqueOrch.jpg9001500Carolyn Winterhttps://capricciobaroque.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CapriccioLogoHomePage-300x140.pngCarolyn Winter2021-10-07 22:49:202021-10-11 18:04:18Delights from the Cape Town Baroque Orchestra, South Africa
