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This set contains two discs of sonatas by Corelli, certainly the most important baroque Italian composer because of the influence his work had on other, later composers. The structure of his sonatas set the standard for later works, with their four movements alternating slow-fast-slow-fast. In addition, the slow movements were often quite simple, allowing the lead violinist to improvise over them.

Corelli’s sonatas have a great deal of emotion and feeling, and the music is subtle and restrained. Its simplicity recalls the English viol consort, but the sound is more modern, more incisive. This is not the violin pyrotechnics of Vivaldi, but tasteful music that relaxes and soothes. The rich, lush sound this small ensemble provides is seductive and compelling. The recording is magnificent and intimate, and the strings sound out individually, especially in the slow movements. <Sample 1: disc 1 - track 3 0’00">

The ensemble shows its skills in the occasional contrapuntal writing, as in the allegro of Sonata VI. The sound here is one of a very tight group, playing as almost a Haydn string quartet, yet with that self-effacement that makes baroque music sound so real. <Sample 2: disc 1 -track 11 0’00">
This is a wonderful, almost essential recording to understand the Italian baroque and one of its emblematic composers. With a near-perfect performance and recording, you will net be disappointed. Kudos to Arcana for excellent notes, which give an extensive discussion of the music and its context.

Kirk McElhearn

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