Deutsche Harmonia Mundi 50

Do not be put off by the first disc. An imagining of what Handel would have sounded like if played by a travelling Turkish band. No I did not believe it either! Anyway this answer to a question no one had ever even remotely thought of is awful, awful, awful. But after that you get one of these wonderful value box sets where you wander at leisure through early music beautifully played and recorded. This was in my Christmas stocking and I am up to disc 33.My copy has no book explaining what anything is so I am having to check reviews on line.There seems to be space for a booklet but I do not know if there ever was one.By the way, when watching season 2 of Fargo, we came across another answer to an unasked question; hunks of Mahler's second symphony seemingly arranged for string quartet and the result was very impressive indeed. So maybe you will like the Turking Band playing Handel .Come to think of it I always liked the Byrds playing Mozart on She Don't Care About Time.

Four or five stars is more a question for this set compared to the earlier one. But there are still plenty of gems and if their wouldn't have been the earlier set, I guess it would be an easy call.

Very good selection of Baroque music but even better sound quality with great remastering

Shame boxed had been split down one side before it had been shipped. Disappointing to say the least. Track number only on quite a lot of cd,s pain to have to type out. Music though is fantastic.

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The included versions are in all cases excelent ones. Only: the collection announces itself as cointaining ?baroque et musique ancienne', that is baroque and ancient music. In fact this is not so: it includes music composed by Mozart, Beethoven, Smetana and even Samuel Barber. The recordings are allright, even excellent, but I do not know how is it that Barber's music, for example, came to be considered baroque or ancient.

I almost didn't buy this, but I'm glad I did. What makes this set special is there is a lot of fairly obscure works in here that would make any collector giggle with glee. For the beginner looking for a budget baroque set, the Sony 60CD set contains more famous works and is a better "starter" option. But for those who are sick of the Brandenburgs, Four Seasons, and Water Music, then this is the eclectic set to get. Highly Recommended.

Awesome. I recall time when buying only several of DHM CDs would cost more than this 50 cd box collection today. The sound quality in this box is fantastic and this is all that counts. There is no booklet or CD with liner notes inside. Sort of buying luxurious good in bulkAnyway, don't miss this opportunity to add wonderful recordings to your collection.You will not be disappointed.Here is what you will get for a tankful of gas:1 AMOR ORIENTAL | Händel alla turca L'arte del mondo · Pera2 ARNE | Alfred Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra · McGegan3 C.P.E. BACH | Hamburg Symphonies Freiburger Barockorchester · Hengelbrock4 J.S. BACH | Concerti · Ciaccona Capriccio Stravagante · Sempé5 J.S. BACH | Notenbüchlein für Anna Magdalena | Ameling · Linde6 J.S. BACH | Organ Works | Vogel7 BAROQUE TRUMPET MUSIC | Telemann · Bach · Biber | Immer8–10 BEETHOVEN | Violin Sonatas Schroeder · Immerseel11 BEETHOVEN | Choral Fantasy · LISZT | Beethoven Cantata | Weil12 BOCCHERINI | String Quintets Smithsonian Chamber Players13 CODEX ENGELBERG 314 Vellard · Schola Cantorum Basiliensis14 CORELLI | Concerti grossi op. 6 La Petite Bande · Kuijken15 DIXIT | Choral Works by Händel · Caldara Balthasar-Neumann-Chor & -Ensemble · Hengelbrock16 THE ETON CHOIRBOOK Huelgas Ensemble · Van Neve17 FLORILEGIUM MUSICUM | Vivaldi · Marcello | Camerata Köln18–19 HÄNDEL | Der Messias Dresdner Kammerchor · Lautten Compagney · Katschner20 HÄNDEL | Woodwind Sonatas Vol. I Camerata Köln21 HÄNDEL | Woodwind Sonatas Vol. II Camerata Köln22 HÄNDEL | Süße Stille, sanfte Quelle Rial · Oman23 HÄNDEL | Venus and Adonis | Ensemble Zefiro24 HAYDN | Große Orgelmesse Augsburger Domsingknaben25 HAYDN | L'infedeltà costante Bonitatibus · Il Complesso Barocco · Curtis26 KAPSBERGIANA | Los Otros27 LAVA | Leo · Pergolesi · Hasse Kermes · Le Musiche Nove · Osele28 LOTTI | Missa Sapientiae · J.S. BACH | Magnificat | Balthasar-Neumann-Chor & -Ensemble · Hengelbrock29 METAMORPHOSIS | Barber · Elgar · Strauss Smithsonian Chamber Players · Slowik30 MONTEVERDI | Madrigali amorosi Cantus Cölln31–32 MONTEVERDI | Vespro della beata vergine | Kammerchor Stuttgart · Musica Fiata · Bernius33 MOZART | Flute & Oboe Quartets | Les Adieux34 MOZART | Requiem | Concentus Musicus Wien · Harnoncourt35 MOZART | String Quintets K. 406, 174 | Les Adieux36 MUSIC IN SANSSOUCI | Linde · Koch · Ruf37 NOVA CANTICA | Vellard · Bonnardot38 PURCELL | Instrumental Music Freiburger Barockorchester· Hengelbrock39 RAMEAU | Opera Suites in Versailles Collegium Aureum40 SCHUBERT | Die schöne Müllerin Prégardien · Staier41–42 SCHÜTZ | Symphoniae Sacrae Musica Fiata · Bernius43 SERVAIS | Souvenirs et Caprices Smithsonian Chamber Players · Bylsma · Beths44 SONGS TO POEMS BY HEINRICH HEINE Prégardien · Staier45 STAMITZ | Sinfonies & Concertos Collegium Aureum46 TELEMANN | Concertos for Viola da Gamba Perl Freiburger Barockorchester47 TELEMANN · GRAUPNER · SCHULTZE | Recorder Concertos | Oberlinger · Ensemble 1700 · Goebel48 IL VIOLINO | Bach · Veracini · Westhoff Kraemer · Sempé49 WEBER | Abu Hassan Cappella Coloniensis · Weil50 WEISS | Ouverture & Suites Junghänel

I specialise in box sets. Naturally, I have reviewed L' oiseau Lyre "the Baroque era", Harmonia Mundi's 30 CDs "music of the Enlightenment" with its marvellous booklet, and the Sony Classics sister of this box set , Vivarte 60 CDs, with the history of music in a booklet from the early medieval to the Romantic periods. That is why there is no booklet in this latest 50 CD box set from the medieval to the modern era, for I think the publishers of this set, assumed you owned the two other box sets. One should never assume anything. However, I have attempted to rectify this situation, by providing some history and details in the reviews. This is an unusual set in that it has music you do not expect to find; for example, CD 1 with arias from Handel's operas, set next to Turkish music, Oud, drums and flute. Even in the Giulio Cesare aria Son nata, part of it includes the oud or Ud, a middle Eastern instrument. The Messiah is in German with a small orchestra. Also, J.S Bach's Maginficat is the original version instead of the more popular one and so forth. That is why I like this set.This 50 CD box set can be held in one hand. The box is surrounded by four paintings from various periods. Underneath are the CD numbers, the composer and the music to be played. Inside is another white box, which makes this cardboard box very strong. The lid sits on top of the box and is not attached to it,so you can place the sleeves of the CDs you wish to play. The Sleeve is the original and has on the front, the title of the music and composer, and orchestra. On the back, composer, operas, arias, or pieces of music, plus track numbers. Below the musicians, singers, orchestra and conductor. The CD number is in the left hand corner. For example,88875037502-1. The 1 is the CD number. The colour of the CD is the same as behind the sleeve. Also, the CD number is on the disc with the name of the composer, orchestra, music to be played etc.There are no translations, or CD Rom. Most of the CD's are DDD , and a few ADD Stereo. CD's recorded between 1961-2012. The sound is excellent, after all it's Harmonia Mundi, now Sony Classics. Most of the music is played on authentic instruments. As I stated there is no booklet, so I shall make up for that. I shall now explain what all the various periods in which music is placed are about.The MEDIEVAL PERIOD: The first Western composers glorified God for the Monasteries, so they became great musical centres. However, 12th century Troubadours created a demand for secular music. Gradually composers created a art of their own which did not depend on religious texts or functions. Eventually they began to serve in the courts of the ruling classes, writing both sacred and secular music. So some composers served at church and the courts.RENAISSANCE (REBIRTH): 1450-1600. The great new bastion of culture now became the city states of Italy. Music now depended on Dukes and Princes, but the musicians still largely focused on Religion. The Composers based much of their instrumental music on the vocal music and popular dances of the times. The printing press changed all that and the Lute came into its own.THE BAROQUE PERIOD: 1600-1760. During this period music was enriched by new vocal forms, opera, the cantata and oratorio's and by instrumental forms such as the Sonata and the concerto. Secular music became popular and tipped patronage away from the Church to the court then eventually to the public. Most new musical ideas originated in Italy, where Scarlatti and Vivaldi were prominent. However, it was in Germany, with J.S Bach and Handel that Baroque reached its height.THE CLASSICAL PERIOD: 1750-early 1800. Known also as the age of reason- objective, detached, impersonal. This was an unsettling period during which composers such as Haydn, Mozart and Gluck created their unique work, with the simplicity and restraint of their music, where the symphony, Concerto and the Sonata under went change. Yet Mozart was not entirely a classical composer, his music in the opera's was often emotional.THE ROMANTICS: From the early 1800's onwards. Romantic is considered subjective, where individualism was all important, as were feelings and the spiritual attachment to Nature, which inspired these artists. The middle class played a great part in breaking the stranglehold of the Princes and Religion had over music. Schubert and Beethoven can be placed in the Classical and Romantic periods. From J. Stanley, Classical music, 1994.As the music in this set are not placed in specific eras, but is all over the place, I shall place the period next to the composer. These CDs are in the order that they are in the box set.AMOR ORIENTAL:(2011) Handel alla Turca. (BAROQUE). Juanita Lascarro soprano, Florin Quatu counter tenor, Ahmet Ozhan dervish, singer. Ensemble L'arte Del Mondo. Pera Ensemble. Music from Alcina, Arias from Rinaldo, Giulio Cesare, Serse, Agrippina, but also Turkish music, with the Ud, drums and flute. For example, the aria from Giulio Cesare, Son Nata has the Ud, a Middle Eastern instrument being played in parts of the aria and near the end of Cleopatra's aria as well. If you are interested in this music, and Ancient Greek and Spanish music, I suggest the Harmonia Mundi 10 CDs box set, Mediterranean music edition.(See my review). ARNE: (1999) (BAROQUE) .The Masque of Alfred. Smith, Brandes, Daniels, MacDougall. Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. Cond McGegan." Rule, Britannia" was originally composed as a grand ode to serve as a finale to Alfred. This CD Offers the overture and 18 songs. McGegan captures the character of these pieces. His tempo's are well chosen. King Alfred is in the countryside because of his defeat by the Danes, and is reunited with his family. Eventually he is victorious over his enemies.C.P. E. BACH:(1990) ( LATE BAROQUE) Hamburg Symphonies. 3, 4, 5. Concerti 165 & 43,No 4. Freiburger Barockorchester. Cond Hendelbrock. C P E Bach's life spanned from near the end of the Baroque period to the Classical period. The symphonies are magnificent examples of the time when after years with Frederick the great's court, he had the freedom of Hamburg. Played swiftly. Andreas Staier's outstanding keyboard playing of the concerto is presented with the lightest touch and splendidly accompanied by the Freiburg group. J.S BACH:(1993) Concerti, Ciaccona, Partita. Sempe, Harpsichord, Capriccio.(1966) ADD. Notenbuchlein fur Anna Magalena Bach. Ameling, Linde, Leonhardt-Harpsichord. This was Bach's second wife.(1992) Organ works. Vogel. BAROQUE TRUMPET MUSIC.(1988) Telemann, J.S Bach. Handel, Biber. Trompeten Consort Friedemann Immer. BEETHOVEN:(1988)(CLASSICAL-ROMANTIC) Sonatas for Fortepiano and violin. Van Immerseel fortepiano. Schroeder violin. The piano playing is how it would have sounded to the audiences of Beethoven's time. For example, the adagio of the "Spring" sonata, is not like anything you have heard before. Totally different. LISZT:(2001) ROMANTIC Cantata for the Inauguration of the Beethoven Statue 1845. BEETHOVEN: Choral Fantasy. Diana Damrau, Zeppenfeld. Kolner Kantori. Cappella Coloniensis des WDR. Cond Bruno Weil. A forte piano is played. The music sounds like the final of the 9th symphony. Weil as usual brings out the best of the soloists and orchestra.BOCCHERINI:(1991)(CLASSICAL) String Quintets op 11, No's 4-6. Smithsonian Chamber players. The quintets are tuneful and has some well known music. Very well played. CODEX ENGELBERG 314.(1986)(MEDIEVAL) Music of the late Middle ages. direction Vellard. If you like Hildegard von Bingen-Canticles of Ecstasy then you will like this CD. CORELLI: (1976/77) ADD. (BAROQUE) Concerti Grossi 0p 6 Nos, 1-6. La Petite Bande-direction Sigiswald Kuijken. Authentic instruments are used to excellent effect, and the playing is always expressive and musical. DIXIT:(2004)(BAROQUE) Choral Works by Handel, Dixit Dominus Hwv 232. CALDARA: Missa dolorosa. Balthasar-Neumann-Ensemble & Chor-direction Hengelbrock. Dixit Dominus was written by Handel when he was 22,which shows a richness of ideas, excitement and freedom. This work has an eternal power to startle and delight. The choir has clarity and precision. The orchestra is magnificent. Hengelbrock's version is comparable with the best. Caldora was a Venetian and was the most popular and prolific composer in Venice at the court of Charles VI.THE ETON CHOIRBOOK: (2012) Huelgas Ensemble direction direction Paul Van Nevel. J.Sutton (1476-1479) Salve Regina. William Horewud (1484) Magnificat. E. Sturton (beginning 16th century). Gaude Virgo mater Christi. Browne (1480-1505). Wylkynson. (1475-1514) Salve regina. Choir music of this period. FLORILEGIUM MUSICALE: (1991)(BAROQUE) Vivaldi, Marcello Quant. He had a genuine flair for music. J.C. Bach, Fasch. Camerata Koln. HANDEL:(2007) Der MESSIAS. Sharon Zamir, Maria Wesseling, Van Rensburg, Raimund Nolte. Lautten Compagney direction Katschner. Swift tempi with authentic instruments. Sung in German. The Dresdner Kammerchor sungs Halleujah very fast. The orchestra is small.(1985) Vol 1 & 2 Sonatas for wood wind instruments. Camerata Koln. Very satisfying account of this repertoire. The playing is rewarding. HANDEL: (2008) Susse Stille, Sanfte Quelle. German arias 202-210. Nuria Rial soprano. Austrian Baroque Company. Direction Oman. The 9 arias are not as well known as they should be. Music for the Royal Fireworks. Fast tempi, bubbles over with joy. HANDEL: (2010) Cantatas and Sonatas. Gemma Bertagnolli soprano Ensemble Zefiro. HAYDN: (1978) ADD. (CLASSICAL) Grosse Orgelmesse. MOZART: Te Deum. Augsburger Domsingknaben. direction Kammer. HAYDN:(2008) La fedelta premiata, Orlando paladino, La vera costanza, L. isola disbitata, Arianna a Naxos. Anna Bonitatibus- mezzo. Il complesso Barocco. direction Alan Curtis & fortepiano. Arias from Haydn's operas. A true Mezzo, deep and lush. The arias are very beautiful and melodic. You may want to hear more, if so, and you like Haydn and want to investigate his music, do what I did, buy the Haydn edition 150 CDs-(Brilliant). (see my review).KAPSBERGIANA:(2009)(Baroque) Kapsberger. Bonizzi, Bertali. Los Ortos. Lee Santana Chitaronne, Hille Perl Viola da gamba, Lirone, Steve Parker, Chitarrone, Guitar. Most of these instruments came from the middle eastern instrument called the Ud or Oud. OPERA ARIAS FROM 18th CENTURY NAPOLI:(2009) Simone Kermes-soprano. Le Musiche Nove. Direction Osele. She is now a well known soprano with a high sounding voice, just right for these 18th century arias.LOTTI:(2003) (BAROQUE)Missa Sapientiae. J.S. BACH: Magnificat in E flat Major BWV 243a. Balthasar-Neumann- Ensemble & Choir, direction Hengelbrock. Lotti a Italian baroque composer who knew Vivaldi. Bach and Handel both made copies of Lotti's Missa. This is J. S Bach's original E flat version Magnificat, which is different then its better known A major version. What is special about this version are the four extra movements for Christmas. METAMORPHOSIS:(1995) (MODERN) BARBER: Adagio for strings. ELGAR: Serenade for String Orchestra. Elegy for string Orchestra. R. STRAUSS: Metamorphosen. Smithsonian chamber players. Direction Slowik. These versions are lacking the sheer emotion that these pieces require. MONTEVERDI:(1993) Madrigali Amorosi. Cantus Colln. Direction Junghanel and Lute. The composer published his eighth book in 1638 after a long gap in his madrigal output. One of the greatest of songs is Lamento della ninfa. (1989) Vespro Della Beata Vergine. Kammerchor Stuttgart. Musica Fiata Koln. Direction Frieder Bernius. MOZART:(1990)(CLASSICAL) Flute and Oboe Quartets. Les Adieux. Mozart wrote some delightful music for the flute, none more so than these delicious lightweight quartets. The Oboe Quartet radiates pleasure. MOZART:(2004) Requiem. Schoenberg Chor. Concentus Musicus Wien. Direction Harnoncourt. Schafer, Fink, Finley. Slowish tempi,and does not catch the inner core of this requiem.(1991) String Quintet in C minor K 406. String Quintet in B flat major K 174. Les Adieux. MUSIK IN SANSSOUCI (1961) ADD. (BAROQUE-CLASSICAL) Flute Sonatas. Linde Flute, Koch Viola da gamba. Ruf Harpischord. Frederick the Great, Sonata in E minor.He was a great musician, creating the most intellectual Court in Europe. CPE BACH: Sonata in D major. BENDA: Sonata in G major. QUANTZ: Sonata in A minor. CPE Bach was the musician who stayed with Frederick the Great for 28 years, then he took over from Telemann in Hamburg. LATIN SONGS OF THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES: (1990)(MEDIEVAL) 12th century monophonic and Polyphonic songs in manuscripts from the monastery saint martial de Limoges and Conductus from cathedrals of Northern France.PURCELL: (1991)(BAROQUE) Instrumental works from the Fairy Queen, Dido and Aeneas, King Arthur, Abdelazer. Freiburger Barockorchester. Direction Hengelbrock. Excerpts from the operas. RAMEAU:(1995)(BAROQUE) Les Indes Galantes ballet suite. Dardanus suite. The opera Les Indes galantes, Les Arts Florissants cond by William Christie in Bluray and DVD. The staging is colourful and sophisicated. Collegium Aureum. I compare the music of Rameau with Rocco painting, because of his burst of gentle melodies. SCHUBERT:(1992) (ROMANTIC) Die schone Mullerin. Pregardien tenor. Andreas Staier-fortepiano. Played the type of piano that would have been around in Schubert's time. Pregarten is one of today's great Leider singers. If you really like the composers songs, there is a box set, SCHUBERT- the complete songs, HYPERION. Also, German Romanticism Edition Harmonia Mundi. SCHUTZ:(1989)(BAROQUE) Symphoniae sacrae 3. Musica Fiata. Kammerchor Stuttgart. Direction Frieder Bernius. Schutz(1585-1672) was the greatest German composer of the 17th century, the first of international stature. His output was exclusively religious. SERVAIS:(1988) (1807-1866) (ROMANTIC) Smithsonian chamber players, includes Anner Bylsma and Vera Beths. Souvenir de Bade, Caprice in A major, Caprice in D major, Caprice sur des motifs de l'opera. Le comte ory. Grand duo de concert. Souvenir de spa. I have never heard of this composer, but the music is highly tuneful and full of emotion. Well played. A gem. SCHUBERT. SCHUMANN. MENDELSSOHN.(1994) Songs to poems by Heine. Christoph Pregardien tenor and Fortepiano Andreas Staier. SCHUMANN: (ROMANTIC) Dichterliebe. MENDELSSOHN: Reiselied. Morgengrus. Allnachtlich im traume. Auf Flugelin des Gesanges. Grus. Neue Liebe. SCHUBERT: Der Atlas. Ihr bild. Das Fischermadchen. Die Stadt. Am Meer. Der Doppelganger.STAMITZ:(1963) (CLASSICAL) Concerto in D major for viola and orchestra. Sinfonia Concertante in A Major for violin, viola, violoncello and orchestra. Sinfonia in E-flat major. Collegium Aureum. Direction Franzjosef Maier. Stamitz may not match his great contemporary Mozart, but this work the Viola concerto should be in the repertory. TELEMANN:(2006)(BAROQUE) Concertos for viola da gamba. Hille Perl Viola da gamba. Freiburger Barockorchester. Perl is a master of her instrument. TELEMANN. GRAUPNER. SCHULTZE.(2009) Telemann. Concerto in G minor for alto recorder. Concerto in C major for alto recorder. Graupner suite(overture ) in F major for alto recorder. Schultze. Concerto in G major for alto recorder. Dorothee Oberlinger- recorder. Ensemble 1700. Director Reinhard Goebel. Quick Tempi-with a recorder that has a deeper sound then the usual recorder. IL VIOLINO:(2009) VERACINI. J.C BACH. VON WESTHOFF. Capriccio Stravagante. WEBER:(2003) (ROMANTIC) Abu Hassan (Opera). Symphony No 1. Durmuller-Tenor. Stojkovic Soprano. Franz-Josef Selig bass. Chorwek Ruhr. Cappella Coloniensis Des WDR. Direction Bruno Weil. A delightful One act opera, a early work of the composer. The period instruments gives the score the lightness and transparency it needs, with a first rate cast. You can use the remote control to cut out the German speaking in this opera. WEISS:(1984) Ouverture and Suites. Konrad Junghanel Lute. Weiss was a contemporary of J.S Bach. He was the greatest lutenist of the Baroque period. The quality of Weiss's musical invention seems inexhausible throughout all these works.I hope you enjoy this set as much as I have.REFERENCES: Gramophone 2009. Lloyd. N. The Golden Encyclopedia of Music. 1968. Golden Press. New York. Penguin Guide to Music 2008. Stanley, J. Classical music. 1999. Reed international books Ltd.