Album

When considering Baroque concertos for multiple instruments—particularly violins—Vivaldi is certainly the name that comes most quickly to mind. This album proves, however, that many composers were writing for this medium and doing a magnificent job of it. Despite conductor Reinhard Goebel's stated trepidation about the success of concertos for four of the same instruments, he and the Musica Antiqua Köln prove to listeners that not only is the genre successful but utterly captivating. In the five concertos heard here, which are really more like transitional forms between the concerto grosso and what we now think of as a concerto, it is virtually impossible for four violins to achieve equal prominence over the orchestra. The most independence the quartet of soloists can hope to achieve is an active role in energetic fugatos. But the independence of the instruments seems scarcely the point. What is most engaging about these works is the interplay between melody and the many complex layers of harmony and accompaniment. All of this is brought to fruition by truly remarkable, intense, and meticulous playing by every musician on the album. From the fiendishly active continuo playing to the present but not overbearing harpsichord, every detail of these performances is finely tuned music-making it its very best.

© Mike D. Brownell, All Music Guide

CD 1
Giuseppe Torelli Composer Concerto for 4 violins, strings and continuo Work 6:57 Musica Antiqua Köln Early Music Ensemble, Manfred Kraemer Violin, Werner Ehrhardt Violin, Reinhard Goebel Conductor, Laura Johnson Violin, Katharina Wolff Violin, Andrea Keller Violin, Anton Steck Violin
1	1.Largo	1:35			$0.49
2	2.Allegro	2:01			$0.99
3	3.Largo	1:19			$0.49
4	4.Allegro	2:02			$0.99
Giovanni Mossi Composer Concerto for 4 violins in G-, Op.4, No.12 Work 13:51 Musica Antiqua Köln Early Music Ensemble, Manfred Kraemer Violin, Werner Ehrhardt Violin, Reinhard Goebel Conductor, Laura Johnson Violin, Katharina Wolff Violin, Andrea Keller Violin, Anton Steck Violin
5	Adagio #1.	3:52			$0.99
6	Allegro #1.	3:07			$0.99
7	Adagio #2.	3:49			$0.99
8	Allegro #2.	3:03			$0.99
Giuseppe Valentini Composer Concerto No.11 for 4 violins in A-, Op.7 Work 19:25 Musica Antiqua Köln Early Music Ensemble, Manfred Kraemer Violin, Werner Ehrhardt Violin, Reinhard Goebel Conductor, Laura Johnson Violin, Katharina Wolff Violin, Andrea Keller Violin, Anton Steck Violin
9	Largo	3:51			$0.99
10	Fuga: Allegro	5:39			$0.99
11	Grave	0:42			$0.49
12	Allegro / Grave	2:57			$0.99
13	Presto	1:27			$0.49
14	Adagio	3:11			$0.99
15	Allegro assai	1:38			$0.49
Pietro Antonio Locatelli Composer Concerto Grosso in F, Op.4, No.12 Work 12:09 Musica Antiqua Köln Early Music Ensemble, Manfred Kraemer Violin, Werner Ehrhardt Violin, Reinhard Goebel Conductor, Laura Johnson Violin, Katharina Wolff Violin, Andrea Keller Violin, Anton Steck Violin
16	Allegro #1.	3:27			$0.99
17	Largo	4:26			$0.99
18	Allegro #2.	4:16			$0.99
Leonardo Leo Composer Concerto for 4 violin & continuo in D Work 12:55 Musica Antiqua Köln Early Music Ensemble, Manfred Kraemer Violin, Werner Ehrhardt Violin, Reinhard Goebel Conductor, Laura Johnson Violin, Katharina Wolff Violin, Andrea Keller Violin, Anton Steck Violin
19	Maestoso	2:52			$0.99
20	Fuga: Allegro moderato	2:21			$0.99
21	(Moderato)	3:20			$0.99
22	Allegro	4:22			$0.99