I’ve just discovered Michala Petri and she’s totally knocked my socks off.
I know it’s heresy to discuss r*corder players on this forum (unless we’re making fun of them) but since I heard her play a JS Bach sonata on Sunday Baroque the other week, I’ve been on a quest to find out more.
Listen, if I can learn to do cleaner octave jumps, more rapid-fire fingering, and add warm, solid tone (when does she breathe?) by listening to her, well then, my poor trad tunes just might sound a little better.
Not much legato (Irish players don’t tongue so much), but about once a track I wonder to myself, “How the #$&% does she DO that?”
If you like Michaela, you might also like my favorite recrdr player (and my absolute favorite name in classical music, a field full of odd names): Pedro Memelsdorff.
I’ve never heard a better recording of r*… than “Delight in Disorder,” in which he plays music of Renaissance England with harpsichordist Andreas Staier. Several Playford tunes are thrown in, as well as masks & fantasies by Purcell, Matteis, and Locke. It’s from Deutche Harmonia Mundi. I’m not sure if it’s still available, but it’s worth checking.
He’s a regular with Hesperion XX, Jordi Savall’s peerless early music group.
Trying to divert you from your Petri passion was not my intention in the last post, so I will tell you what I know about the recording you heard. It was probably an RCA Victor recording of the Bach flute/recorder sonatas, with her regular accompanist, Keith Jarrett. Yes, the jazzman Keith Jarrett. He’s a dedicated harpsichordist. They also recorded a set of Handel sonatas on RCA Victor which are just as good. The reason I’m in love with the Pedro Memelsdorff recording its jaw-dropping level of improvisation.
…Let’s see, that Petri/Jarrett Bach recording’s UPC code is 090266127429.
I’ve just been through a loong span of having nothing to say. I’m still reading the board every day, though! Hope things are well with you. I’ll look for you at the Silver Leafe Faire. I’ll be the one in 21st century garb.
Actually, I already tracked down the Petri recording and have it at my desk. The CD is titled “Air” and what I heard was the last set (tracks 21-24), Sonata in F, although remarks somewhere else indicated it was written in C and transposed for the recording. Her accompanist on guitar and lute is her husband, Lars Hannibal.
I found a copy of Delight in Disorder on eBay so I’ve got a bid in (dibs! everyone). I’m cool with improvisation, though I’m not sure I’d recognize it in an unfamiliar genre.
And yes, Roger, she certainly appears to be a dish, the precocious wretch. She began playing recorder at age 3, and appeared on the radio by age 5…
I’d love to know if she’s a circular breather–that would be a neat trick on recorder. I would have guessed the air requirements are too great for that, but since I’ve never tried it I’m just speculating.
Is Kieth Jarrett OK? He was unable to play for awhile due to some disease that caused fatigue. His solo concerts from the '70s are soooo brilliant. I keep my CDs of them at hand all the time.
There are recorders with very little air requirements and very much back pressure, so you can ‘lean’ into them enough to do circular breathing. I have one on which I’m convinced I could learn it, if I’d just be serious about it.
See if anything’s coming up on eBay and maybe what old items have sold for.
Cross-check with Amazon.com to see if anyone’s offering used CDs for sale.
Using this approach, I got a Petri [DISH! d’oh–NOW I get it] with “Buy it now” and another used one via Amazon from “wherehouse.com,” an outfit a friend has had good experience with when dealing directly.
If it’s elusive, I’ll set up a search in eBay to notify me when one shows up.
Hope it helps. Good hunting!
M
Ya know, this is kind of search is why I love to shop at thrift stores. It’s like fishing. You have good days and bad days, but it’s often fun and sometimes you turn up some really fun stuff unexpectedly. Like the hand-woven wool blanket I found for $18 which my neighbor assures me is probably (American) Civil War era.
See if you can find a copy of Petri’s version of the Vivaldi 4 Seasons-- she plays the solo violin part on recorder, and it’s astounding.
Jokes aside, she really IS a dish in the other sense of the word-- very beautiful woman.
As far as sources for CDs ( also books and tons of other stuff) check out half.com . They are a sort of clearing house where you can buy and sell new and used goodies-- they take a small fee for their services . Great way to cash in on old books you no longer want.
Cara