Correlating listening to art music with intellectual advancement
is a risky gambit in a post-modern culture that luxuriates in
the lowest common denominator, but Delos's blurb for their 'Baby
Needs' series, originally released over a decade ago, pulls
no punches: "Research indicates that listening to classical
music promotes learning and improves problem-solving skills,
with Mozart's music currently heading the list. With this in
mind, Delos introduces a series focused on developing intellectual
capabilities right from the start", taking into account "the
special needs of the very young."
Current received 'wisdom' avers that art music is mainly for
old people, but Delos know that to be nonsense, insisting instead
that "Everyone needs Baroque". 'Baby Needs Baroque' is one considered,
non-frivolous collection among many in this series, offering
infants and toddlers - not to mention mums and dads - a gentle
but varied "musical bridge between play time and quiet time".
In fact, this is probably one of the most successful CDs in
the series: the gentle melodies and rhythms of these Baroque
pieces seem ideally suited to baby salving. Those played by
Paul Galbraith on his 8-string guitar and Carol Rosenberger's
piano are especially becalming. Some adult newcomers will be
gratified to recognise several pieces from the Classic FM playlist.
As elsewhere in the series, performances are all of good quality,
with no shortage of well-known names cropping up throughout.
Enthusiasts of historically informed performance are not likely
to be drawn to this disc in the first place, which is just as
well - these basically modern readings aim more for handsomeness
and tenderness than authenticity.
Sound quality is at least fairly good throughout, better overall
in fact than other discs in the series. Unlike others, however,
the booklet does not provide any notes at all on the pieces
heard, although it is probably fair to say that a mum making
perhaps her first purchase of such music is not likely to expect
any. Nevertheless, the tracklist provides surprisingly
full detail with regards to music and performers; though this
may strike the casual buyer as slightly intimidating, at least
those captivated by the music, babies and parents, will know
where to look next. On the other hand, there is in one case
too much detail: track 14, the Largo from Telemann's Trio Sonata
in E flat, has mysteriously vanished from the disc, meaning
that all the track numbers beyond 13 are one too high.
Byzantion
Collected reviews and contact at reviews.gramma.co.uk
Track listing
George Frideric HANDEL (1685-1759)
Air (from: Water Music, Suite no.1 in F) [3:00]
Sarabande (from: Water Music, Suite in G) [2:47]
Lentement (from: Water Music, Suite in D) [2:04]
Allegro (from: Water Music, Suite no.1 in F) [4:14]
Antonio VIVALDI (1678-1741)
Largo (from: The Four Seasons, 'Winter') [2:14]
Allegro (from: The Four Seasons, 'Spring') [3:25]
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Menuet (from: Ouverture no.2 in B minor, BWV 1067) [1:12]
Largo (from: Violin Sonata no.3, BWV 1005, arr. Paul Galbraith)
[2:32]
Aria (from: 'Goldberg' Variations, BWV 988) [5:11]
Polonaise (from: Ouverture no.2 in B minor, BWV 1067) [3:05]
Menuets I & II (from: Partita no.3 for violin, BWV 1006,
arr. Paul Galbraith) [2:44]
Sinfonia in E flat, BWV 791 [3:13]
Siciliano (from: Sonata no.1 for violin, BWV 1001, arr. Paul
Galbraith) [2:44]
Minuet, Trio I, Polacca, Trio II (from: Brandenburg Concerto
no.1 in F, BWV 1046) [7:34]
Loure (from: Partita no.3 for violin, BWV 1006, arr. Paul Galbraith)
[1:30]
Sarabande (from: French Suite no.5 in G, BWV 816) [5:56]
Adagio (from: Sonata in G minor, BWV 1020) [3:09]
Johann PACHELBEL (1653-1706)
Canon in D [4:26]
Georg Philipp TELEMANN (1681-1767)
Adagio (from: Concerto in D, for trumpet & orchestra) [2:12]
Andante (from: Sonata no.4 in E minor) [2:36]
Giuseppe TORELLI (1658-1709)
Andante (from: Sonata a 5 no.1 in G) [2:20]
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra/Gerard Schwarz (Handel)
Elmar Oliveira (violin), Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra/Gerard
Schwarz (Vivaldi)
Brazilian Guitar Quartet (Pachelbel)
Eugenia Zukerman (flute), Shanghai Quartet, Anthony Newman (harpsichord)
(Bach: Menuet, Polonaise)
Carol Rosenberger (piano) (Bach: Aria, Sinfonia, Sarabande)
Paul Galbraith (8-string guitar) (Bach: Largo, Menuets I &
II, Siciliano, Loure)
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (Bach: Minuet, Trio
I, Polacca, Trio II)
Allan Vogel (oboe), Patricia Mabee (harpsichord) (Bach: Adagio)
New York Chamber Symphony/Gerard Schwarz (trumpet, conductor)
(Torelli & Telemann: Adagio)
Jean-Pierre Rampal, Claudi Arimany (flutes) (Telemann: Andante)
DELOS DE1609 [70:54] 