Search - Jacques Hotteterre, Yasuko Uyama-Bouvard :: Music for Flute, Vol.2

More of a Wonderful Thing

Matyas Becvarov | Salisbury, NC United States | 07/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This disc continues Allain-Dupre's recording of Hotteterre's music for transverse flute with the same elegance, spirit and period sensitivity that characterize Volume 1. Two suites for recorder and basso continuo appear on this volume, a welcome representation of that instrument in the oeuvre of Hotteterre. Performance pitch is A=392, which reflects practice in the France of Hotteterre's day, but more importantly puts the flute down into that wonderfully soft and relaxed timbre which made it such a sensation in the first decades of the 18th century. There are bits and pieces of Hotteterre floating about in the recorded repertoire, but none surpass these performances, and once again, Naxos makes a superlative recording a bargain that can't be matched. If you want Hotteterre, don't think twice: get both volumes by this group."

Lovely if you like the flute...

Biblibio | 04/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...otherwise, these charming pieces may not be your thing. Hotteterre wrote fabulous music for the flute. It's beautiful, charming, lovely, and a wonderful CD (though the second in the series, the first recommended under the same warning). On the other hand, it may be difficult to appreciate without a prior interest in the transverse flute.



In general, Baroque music needs a certain level of appreciation in order to enjoy it. If a listener is used to the piano and the modern flute, the transverse flute and the harpsichord may sound strange. It takes a bit of time getting used to, but once you learn to like the sound, you can like all of the music. This is a classic example of this problem. If you don't like the flute too much to begin with, have had no prior introduction to Baroque flute music, and are diving into this, you may find yourself a bit surprised. You may not necessarily like it.



However, any true flute lover will find this CD (and its brother) wonderful additions to the flute collection. Hotteterre's music has everything good music needs: it has emotion, it has life, and it has memorable, beautiful melodies. Each piece has charm, heart, and feeling.



And here are recordings of Hotteterre's music for a wonderful price! While there are a few more CDs floating out there with a few of Hotteterre's pieces for the flute, his music isn't so easy to get a hold of. Here's the finest choice.



Enjoy!"