Album

Bis' Early Italian Chamber Music is a collection of early chamber sonatas for recorder and continuo played by Dan Laurin accompanied by Masaaki Suzuki. It consists of 14 pieces, mostly single-movement sonatas, canzone, a couple of works referred to as "Sinfonias," and one Ricercar dating from 1585 that at least predate and in some cases prefigure the multi-movement sonata form associated with the Baroque. The most "modern" piece here, the Sonata La Bernabea of Giovanni Antonio Pandolfi Mealli, dates from 1660.

The playing is very good—Laurin is certainly facile on the recorder and Suzuki provides a low-key accompaniment on harpsichord and organ that is tasteful and does not dominate. However, the recorder has a tendency to be a very bright instrument, and here Bis seems to have picked Laurin's playing up in a way that makes it rather shrill sounding for much of the disc. This does not hold true for every selection, as in the Giovanni Paolo Cima Sonata Seconda the recorder sounds fine and does not distort or prove piercing in tone. Why Bis, whose recordings are generally among the best being made these days, was unable to maintain a consistent, and comfortable, volume level for the recorder here is an absolute mystery.

It is very nice to have these sonatas recorded, and Early Italian Chamber Music does provide some insight into the chamber music of the early Baroque. Nevertheless, be prepared to jockey the treble knob on your amplifier or the higher sliders on your EQ, as the recording overall is a little too bright.

© Uncle Dave Lewis , All Music Guide

CD 1
Dario Castello Composer Sonata for solo instrument & continuo No.1 in C- (Sonata Concertate II/1) Work Masaaki Suzuki Harpsichord, Dan Laurin Recorder
1	Sonata for solo instrument & continuo No.1 in C- (Sonata Concertate II/1)	5:16			$0.99
Giovanni Battista Fontana Composer Sonata Seconda for soprano recorder, viola da gamba & lute (from Sonata à 1, 2, 3) Work Masaaki Suzuki Organ, Dan Laurin Recorder
2	Sonata Seconda for soprano recorder, viola da gamba & lute (from Sonata à 1, 2, 3)	6:40			$0.99
Bartolomeo Montalbano Composer Sinfonia Prima "Arezzo" Work Masaaki Suzuki Harpsichord, Dan Laurin Recorder
3	Sinfonia Prima "Arezzo"	2:26			$0.99
Giovanni Paolo Cima Composer Sonata II Work Masaaki Suzuki Organ, Dan Laurin Recorder
4	Sonata II	4:11			$0.99
Tarquinio Merula Composer Sonata Prima (from Il Primo libro de motetti ..., 1624) Work Masaaki Suzuki Harpsichord, Dan Laurin Recorder
5	Sonata Prima (from Il Primo libro de motetti ..., 1624)	5:24			$0.99
Giovanni Bassano Composer Ricercata ottava (Ricercate/passagi et Cadentie) Work Dan Laurin Recorder
6	Ricercata ottava (Ricercate/passagi et Cadentie)	2:38			$0.99
Angelo Berardi Composer Canzona sesta Work Masaaki Suzuki Harpsichord, Dan Laurin Recorder
7	Canzona sesta	8:33			$1.49
Bartolomeo Montalbano Composer Sinfonia Quarta "Geloso" Work Masaaki Suzuki Harpsichord, Dan Laurin Recorder
8	Sinfonia Quarta "Geloso"	2:36			$0.99
Giovanni Paolo Cima Composer Laudate Pueri, psalm setting for voice & continuo (Salmi passaggiati) Work Masaaki Suzuki Organ, Dan Laurin Recorder
9	Laudate Pueri, psalm setting for voice & continuo (Salmi passaggiati)	5:47			$0.99
Giovanni Paolo Cima Composer Sonata I Work Masaaki Suzuki Organ, Dan Laurin Recorder
10	Sonata I	3:58			$0.99
Girolamo Frescobaldi Composer Toccate e partite d'intavolatura di cimbalo, libro secondo, A.2 Work Masaaki Suzuki Organ, Dan Laurin Recorder
11	15.Canzona Terza in G	3:53			$0.99
Girolamo Frescobaldi Composer In partitura, il primo libro delle (38 Canzonas a 1-4), B.2 Work 6:54 Masaaki Suzuki Organ, Dan Laurin Recorder
12	1.'detta la Bonuisia'	3:36			$0.99
13	2.'detta la Bernadinia'	3:18			$0.99
Giovanni Mealli Composer Violin Sonata ('La Bernabea'), Op.4, No.1 Work Masaaki Suzuki Harpsichord, Dan Laurin Recorder
14	Violin Sonata ('La Bernabea'), Op.4, No.1	7:20			$1.49