The Hanoverian Ensemble - Telemann: Six Concertos For Two Flutes (Period Instruments) (2004)

The sweet combination of two flutes, bassoon, strings, and continuo will undoubtedly charm listeners on a first hearing of this fine, world-premiere CD of Georg Philipp Telemann's six concertos in historically informed period performances by the Hanoverian Ensemble. Yet even though the individual works are delightful, most notably in the lovely flute timbres produced by John Solum and Richard Wyton, the hardy bassoon lines of Thomas Sefcovic, and the lustrous strings -- which have just the right shining tone and crisp articulation -- Telemann's music is perhaps best appreciated in small doses. In instrumentation, form and style, one concerto closely resembles the next, and it would take either a Telemann devotee or Baroque scholar to point out the minutiae that distinguish them. The movements of all six concertos follow a standard slow-fast-slow-fast pattern, and their textures are quite spare, often in two or three contrapuntal voices barely fleshed out by harpsichordist Kent Tritle's figured-bass realizations. Although the pieces alternate between major and minor keys, and offer a fair variety of joyous and plaintive moods, there is a bland "table music" quality to these pieces that suggests they should be enjoyed as pleasant background accompaniments to other activities, such as dining or conversation, rather than followed attentively. MSR's reproduction is exceptional, though some unintended noises pop up now and then in these close recordings.