Search - Dietrich Buxtehude, Manfredo Kraemer, Juan Manuel Quintana :: Dietrich Buxtehude: Sonate a due, Op. 1

One of the most intereresting revelation of 2002 (for me) !

François Beaudoin | Québec, Canada (where we speak french...) | 03/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Astonishing. Yes, truly surprising.I asked my disquaire : "Who's Dietrich Buxtehude?"He said to me "He was the idol of Bach ". I said "You mean Jean-Sebastien Bach The Great ? " "Of course..." I red that J.S.B., on the pretext of a business trip to the north of Germany, has listened Buxtehude played organ for about three months.The "pièce of résistance" on the collection on this CD is the decidely unruly sonata in D minor, with its more and more surprising effects and fantasia-like free formal desigh.On the whole, the pieces are all, without exception, mature masterpieces, wich represent a high point lifes'work and at the same time a milestone in the history of German chamber music.Manfredo Kraemer and his ensemble (Harmonia mundi) gave an imaginative and well-balanced interpretation of those sonatas. In my own point of view, this recording is indispensable."

Rediscover buxtehude

Rob Watkins | Augusta, Georgia United States | 11/20/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"dietrich buxtehude is known primarily among church musicians as a composer of organ works, but as this CD reveals, he was also a brilliant baroque composer apart from his church music. buxtehude is almost a bridge between early music and baroque, predating j.s. bach, but fully pointing the direction northern european music was headed. these sonatas reflect the italian baroque, but also explore a new depth and whimsy, if you will. the interplay between the musicians is wonderful, full of complex twists and turns that remain completely engaging. listen for the contrapuntal surprises in sonata ii and the dancing interplay in sonata v. note that each sonata contains its own surprises and special moments. in short, this is fun music that is rich and wonderful for spending an hour lost in music."