Mitzi Meyerson - John Jones - 8 Setts of Lessons for the Harpsichord (2016) Hi-Res

The English Baroque composer John Jones is virtually forgotten today, though harpsichordist Mitzi Meyerson has recorded his singular Eight Setts of Lessons for the Harpsichord, a 1754 collection that is full of surprises. Jones' obscurity is easily explained because he was a contemporary of George Frederick Handel, and like others at the time, he had to work in the great man's shadow. Yet in spite of the odds against him, Jones' career as an organist and composer brought him wealth and a good reputation as a composer. His harpsichord pieces were sold by subscription, mostly to aristocrats and others who could afford them, and they attracted the notice of Charles Avison, William Boyce, and Charles Burney, among other 18th century luminaries. The Eight Setts :: actually eight suites of short pieces of wide:ranging character :: are extraordinary for their technical demands, inventiveness, and brilliance, and at their finest, are reminiscent of pieces by Domenico Scarlatti, Jean:Philippe Rameau, and even Handel, whose influence Jones couldn't have escaped. Meyerson's virtuosity and exquisite feeling for this music make this double CD an extraordinary find, and she puts Jones back in the spotlight after two centuries of neglect, a major achievement in itself. Glossa's recording is clear and crisply detailed, even though the performances were recorded in a German church, and the package is a treat for lovers of Baroque harpsichord music. Highly recommended.