COMPOSERS: Goldberg
LABELS: Dabringhaus und Grimm
WORKS: Sonata for Two Violins and basso continuo in A minor; Sonata for Two Violins and basso continuo in C; Sonata for Two Violins and basso continuo in C minor; Sonata for Two Violins and basso continuo in B flat; Sonata for Two Violins and basso continuo in G
PERFORMER: Musica Alta Ripa
CATALOGUE NO: MDG 309 0709-2
Johann Gottlieb Goldberg’s obsessive self-criticism made him destroy most of his music before his premature death at the age of 29. A noted but eccentric harpsichord virtuoso born in Danzig in 1727, Goldberg tried to combine noble Enlightenment sensibilities with his own headstrong style. Plainly unhappy with the results, he described his works as ‘miserable trifles for ladies’. The Sonatas and Polonaises assembled on this disc (the latter from a set of 24 in related keys, and probably based on Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier), portray Goldberg as a competent Baroque tunesmith of no meagre attainment. These new performances, from Musica Alta Ripa, are excellent. Beautifully played and recorded, this is a welcome and long overdue introduction to an unfamiliar composer. Recommended. Michael Jameson
Goldberg
Johann Gottlieb Goldberg’s obsessive self-criticism made him destroy most of his music before his premature death at the age of 29. A noted but eccentric harpsichord virtuoso born in Danzig in 1727, Goldberg tried to combine noble Enlightenment sensibilities with his own headstrong style. Plainly unhappy with the results, he described his works as ‘miserable trifles for ladies’.
Our rating
5
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:40 pm