Vittorio Ghielmi & Luca Pianca - Bagpipes from Hell (2000)

This oddly named recording does not contain any bagpipe music. What we do have is a collection of pieces for lute and viola da gamba featuring music by a host of baroque composers both familiar and obscure. The title was probably inspired by the opening tune, "The Brown Haired Maiden," a staple for Scottish bagpipe players. Two more arrangements of anonymous bagpipe tunes, "Bagpipes" and "Lancashire Pipes" round out the pipe connection.

Vittorio Ghielmi is clearly having fun when he imitates the droning sound of the bagpipes on his viola da gamba. When Ghielmi is joined by lutenist Luca Pianca, the result is inspired. The soloists also excel in the more introverted music of such composers as Marin Marais, Antoine Forqueray, Leopold Weiss and others. Pianca is magnificent in the solo lute pieces of Weiss, especially the expansive Praeludium et Fuga in E minor. Equally impressive is the gritty playing the duo brings to Marais's "La Paraza." Sumptuous sound quality and lavish packaging makes this recording a real treasure.