Search - Joshua Rifkin, Merseyside Kammermusikgesellschaft Baroque Ensemble, Murray the Klavierkitzler :: The Baroque Beatles Book

A long hidden treasure for beatles fans

Mathieu B. Prevost | warwick, new york United States | 06/04/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"first released in the mid 60s, joshua rifkin's baroque beatles book has long been unavailable and is one that belongs in any serious beatles fans' library. the classical arrangements of early beatles hits never failed to impress those classical music snobs that frequented the record store i worked in when it came out. our favorite trick was to entice them to listen to it on headphones without knowing who it was. it never failed. it's timeless. my favorite track is ""Last Night I Said," Cantata for the Third Sunday after Shea Stadium, MBE 58,000: 1.Chorus: "Last night I said" Please Please Me". nuff'said."

The Talented Mr. Rifkin!

F. S. L'hoir | Irvine, CA | 10/11/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am so glad to have found this CD, which was one of my favorite albums way back, when we, in the words of the Tenor Aria from the "Cantata for the Third Sunday after Shea Stadium," were "so much younger, so much younger, than today." Joshua Rifkin, the now-musicologist at Boston University, who concocted this masterpiece, also fell under that "more youthful" category, being in his early twenties at the time. And the talented Mr. Rifkin knew his musical onions, as it were, both of the Baroque and of the Beatle variety.



The CD opens with a rousing Trumpet and Tympani "Ouverture" from the "Royal Beatleworks Music"--a four-part Suite--penned and executed in the style of G.F. Handel, and based upon that eloquent utterance of musical rapture, "I wanna hold your hand." The Suite is played with such panache that one feels that not only Mr. McC. but also the shades of Mr. H (also JSB & JL) would appreciate the little "nudge nudge, wink wink" syncopated beats that stray into the musical line at unexpected moments.



Although I love every track on this CD, my favorite moment comes in the Bachianic Shea Stadium Cantata when the tenor, who needs "somebody's help--not just anybody's Help--" ultimately hits his high note with a penetrating "HELPPPPP!!!!"



"The Baroque Beatles" is not one of those tiresome "crossover" albums with a very short shelf-life. The "menage-a-trois" between Rifkin & Lennon-McCartney is a match made in musical heaven. An unparalleled delight, it can be listened to again and again. This unlikely musical union therefore deserves to live happily ever after!"