Hesperion XXI, Jordi Savall - Ostinato (2002)

I have been an unconditional fan of Jordi Savall for as long as I can remember. Since the very first time I heard his solo recording of viol music by Captain Tobias Hume, to his recent recording of Bach’s Musical Offering - the best on disc -, by way of his many recordings of Spanish music, French music, such as Marin Marais, and so many others.
So, I was very excited to hear of this new recording, and, when I received it, put it in my CD player right away to hear his latest work. Alas, for the first time, I was truly disappointed by one of Savall’s recordings. This is not so much because of the music itself, or the performance, but rather the programme of the disc.
On this new disc, Savall chose a unique way to select a program. Rather than choosing music from a specific period, composer, or nation, this disc is a selection of works based on variations. From well-known pieces, such as Pachelbel’s Canon, to the beautiful improvisation on Canarios, which is a delightful example of how improvised music fits in the baroque idiom, these works are all magnificent on their own. But a certain amount of ennui sets in as the disc progresses - there is not enough variety in the music. Even though many different composers are represented, the type of music is always the same.
Any of these pieces would be one of the highlights on most of Savall’s recordings, but the combination of more than 70 minutes of music with the same structure ends up being a bit too much. Listeners may enjoy some of the works, maybe even all of them, but this is not a disc to listen to in its entirety. -- Kirk McElhearn