For the Record, Op. 299: Rachel Barton Pine; Toomai String Quintet

September 13, 2024, 5:52 PM · Welcome to "For the Record," Violinist.com's weekly roundup of new releases of recordings by violinists, violists, cellists and other classical musicians. We hope it helps you keep track of your favorite artists, as well as find some new ones to add to your listening!

Violinist Rachel Barton Pine. Photo by Janette Beckman.

Corelli Violin Sonatas, Op. 5
Rachel Barton Pine, violin
David Schrader, keyboard
John Mark Rozendaal, cello
Brandon Acker, guitar

Violinist Rachel Barton Pine turns to the Violin Sonatas, Op. 5 of the Italian Baroque composer Arcangelo Corelli for her latest recording. First published in 1700, these sonatas feature exceptionally difficult techniques for the violin soloist and are important precursors of both sonata and concerto forms. Mindful of the era’s flexible spirit, Pine and her colleagues use a variety of period instruments throughout the recording: David Schrader alternates between organ and harpsichord, John Mark Rozendaal between violoncello and viola da gamba, Brandon Acker between theorbo, archlute, and Baroque guitar, and Pine performs the final sonata’s legendary "Follia" variations on an original-condition Gagliano viola d’amore, made from the same tree as her original-condition Gagliano violin. For this recording Pine held the violin against her chest, rather than on her collarbone, inspired by musicologist and Baroque violinist Christoph Riedo’s article "How Might Arcangelo Corelli Have Played the Violin?" published in Music in Art in 2014. The slightly different use of the left hand resulted in subtle changes to tempos and timing and the different relationship to gravity of the bowing arm created a noticeably different sound. Additionally, Pine improvised her ornaments during the recording sessions using a historically informed approach. BELOW: Artist Spotlight: Rachel Barton Pine on Corelli.

Passos Brasileiros
Toomai String Quintet
Emilie-Anne Gendron, violin
Alex Fortes, violin
George Meyer, viola
Hamilton Berry, cello
Andrew Roitstein, bass

Toomai String Quintet's album, Passos Brasileiros ("Brazilian Steps") pays homage to Brazil’s rich musical legacy. The album features original arrangements of popular songs by Milton Nascimento, Gilberto Gil, and Dona Ivone Lara (the "First Lady of Samba"); jazz-influenced works by Hermeto Pascoal and Léa Freire; and classical selections by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Chiquinha Gonzaga, and Paulinho Nogueira. These arrangements seek to capture the essence of several beloved Brazilian traditions: choro, samba, Brazilian jazz, classical music, and Música Popular Brasileira (MPB) — and to reimagine them for string quintet. BELOW: From the album, "Mamulengo."

If you have a new recording you would like us to consider for inclusion in our "For the Record" feature, please e-mail Editor Laurie Niles. Be sure to include the name of your album, a link to it and a short description of what it includes.

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For the Record, Op. 299: Rachel Barton Pine; Toomai String Quintet

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