Episode 2
Donald Macleod focuses on Frescobaldi's keyboard music, in particular, his groundbreaking First Book of Toccatas and Partitas, which was rushed into print a year ahead of schedule.
Donald Macleod is joined by scholar and performer Christopher Stembridge to explore the life and work of Girolamo Frescobaldi.
They focus on Frescobaldi's keyboard music and, in particular, on his groundbreaking publication in 1615 of the First Book of Toccatas and Partitas, which the composer rushed into print a year ahead of schedule in his attempts to land a plum job at the Mantuan court.
Frescobaldi: Corrente Terza (Toccate e partite libro primo, 1616 print)
Roberto Loreggian (harpsichord)
Brilliant Classics 93767, CD 2 Tr 7
Frescobaldi: Ricercar Decimo (Obligo la, fa, sol, la, re), 1615
Performed in the studio by Christopher Stembridge (harpsichord)
Frescobaldi: Partite 12 sopra l'Aria di Ruggiero (Toccate e partite libro primo, 1616)
Rinaldo Alessandrini (harpsichord attributed to Giovani Celestini, Venice, c. 1605)
Arcana A904, CD 1 Tr 8
Caccini: Amarilli, mia bella
James Bowman (countertenor)
Skip Sempe (organ)
Jay Bernfeld (viola da gamba)
Arion ARN 68046, Tr 5
Philips (after Caccini): Amarilli, mia bella
Performed in the studio by Christopher Stembridge (harpsichord)
Frescobaldi: Toccata nona (Toccate e partite libro primo)
Performed in the studio by Christopher Stembridge (harpsichord)
Frescobaldi: Partite di Follia (Toccate e partite libro primo)
Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini (harpsichord)
Ermitage 427-2 DDD, Tr 2
Frescobaldi: Toccata sesta (Toccate e partite libro primo)
Christopher Stembridge (harpsichord)
(unreleased recording)
Frescobaldi: Toccata undecima (Toccate e partite libro primo)
Christopher Stembridge (harpsichord)
(unreleased recording)
Frescobaldi: Toccata decima (Toccate e partite libro primo)
Christopher Stembridge (harpsichord)
(unreleased recording).
Last on
Broadcasts
- Tue 28 Apr 2009 12:00BBC Radio 3
- Tue 28 Apr 2009 22:00BBC Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.