Trios for 4 [Import]

This is a fine collection of some of the Baroque-era's more humble but often elegant music - trio sonatas - played by one of the finest period-instrument groups around, The Palladian Ensemble. The compositions (mainly of Handel and Telemann) are all musically interesting, emotionally refreshing and make for delightful music to play anytime. Highlights would certainly be the festive, dancing Telemann allegro in G minor (track 9) as well the unusually poinant Handel largo in B minor (track 15) for its plaintive, aria-like singing from the recorder soloist against a delicately-pulsing and wonderfully-mysterious continuo. It is the most beautiful and touching moment on the CD and reveals the immense depth and musical sensitivity of this fine ensemble.

The Baroque musicianship here is superb on all accounts - especially from lead-instumentalists Rachel Podger (violin) and Pam Thornby (recorder). Both bring a beautifully and inviting lyrical quality and warm tone to the music that keep the music fresh, spontaneous and never plodding. As one of the leading Baroque violinists today, Ms. Podger is well known for these qualities and her many recordings are nearly all recommended (try her Bach violin sonatas with Pinnock). Her phrasing is perennially sunny, her tone honeyed and her poised cresendo "swells" add a marvelous dynamic to the flow.

All-in-all, this is a most delightful CD recorded in vivid sound quality and a great bargin to boot - as are the other recordings from the Palladian Ensemble ("A Choice Collection," "The Sun King," and "An Excess of Pleasure." All their recordings are wonderful to play frequently as one goes through the day as the music do not demand to be heard but only seeks to delight with its sumptuous sonorties.

The excellent review by Alan Lehan says most of what needs saying, so I will be brief.
The trio sonata was a popular musical form from the latter 17th century to the mid 18th, and most baroque composers wrote a dozen or so. The form was very flexible, calling for two violins,( or violin and flute, two flutes, violin and oboe, two oboes etc ), cello or viola da gamba or bassoon, and harpsichord or chamber organ. The Palladian Ensemble employ recorder and violin, viola da gamba and, rather than harpsichord, a lute. The use of a lute has been very successful, it opens the music and adds a nice lushness.
The two sonatas by Handel from opus 2 are well known for their elegance and wit, I think the trio sonata reached its peak with his opus 5. The sonatas by Telemann are no strangers, while I am not familiar with those by LeClair and Quantz. All are very well played, I find this CD more satisfying than their "Choice Collection ". However when I compare the Handel with a performance for 2 violins, cello and harpsichord/organ, (London baroque)I find the violin version more full of life and joy, so I am being a little generous with a 5 star rating.