The Assad Brothers perform baroque keyboard works. After reading many positive comments, and after my really warm reception to their Piazzolla CD, I bought this on a whim this evening via Amazon's Digital Downloads. Many, to this baroque cat's ears, are "old favorites," and the texture of two guitars, roughly separated on each of the two stereo speakers, is quite divine. Crisp, well-articulated. Perhaps the charm is hearing each piece (especially the familiar ones) so lovingly played by these two talented guitarists. While I have recordings of some at faster tempi, here we get warmth instead of speed. Caution. Yet, on the harpsichord alone this might equate to something less interesting. Here, the two guitar's tone makes up for somewhat slower tempi in places. Ultimately satisfying, no matter the speed. The recording contains 22 tracks, from Rameu's Pièces de clavecin collections, and Domenico Scarlatti's 550+ sonatas. There are also contributions by Bach and Couperin. Hearing this music for 2 guitars makes you wonder: "was it intended this way?" I mean, you know its not, but then again, I ask the question: "Is this not the best way to hear/listen/perform these works?" In a piece like Rameau's energetic Les Cyclops, it might certainly seem that the 2 guitar version is superior in every way. Expert dynamics, articulation, and warmth. That's what keeps getting me here, this music on the guitar sounds far more warm than it would on harpsichord. And it's a quality that's so often missing, you rather fall in love with it when you hear it. Their Bach is so fast and fleeting, perfect, it seems in articulation, that you pine for more. Somehow it doesn't sound like Bach's sound world, but it is nevertheless beautiful (as the same, Bach on piano can be beautiful). And I haven't even listened to the whole thing. But it's a good one; very warmly recommended.
I love music.
I write about the music I like and have purchased for the benefit of better understanding it and sharing my preferences with others.
