For this review, let's begin with the instrument. The harpsichord used for this recording is a 1981, one-manual instrument built by Martin Skowroneck, Tilman Skowroneck's father. Let me just say that rarely have I heard such a striking and delightful sound from a harpsichord. Not all, but too many harpsichord recordings sound dry, metallic, grating and plinky. Mind you, sometimes that is due to a bad recording, but for the most part the source of the sound is to blame. In this case, the strings seem endowed with a more "resonant" sound than most harpsichords I've heard in the past, and does not seem to decay as quickly as most. The low strings have a deep, husky quality to them, with a clear mid range, and a singing, rather than glassy quality to the upper strings. In their construction he still used boar's bristles and bird feathers, along with beryllium copper strings instead of brass. For more detailed info you can read this Wikipedia article and this Skowroneck posting.

Some of the pieces on this CD include the Suite IV in A minor by Johann Jakob Froberger and assorted works by Louis Couperin, both antecedents to Bach, and the Suite in A minor by Jean-Philippe Rameau a contemporary of Bach. Perfect examples of typical keyboard music from the 17th century, all played with insight and strong Baroque flair and elegance by Tilman Skowroneck, who studied harpsichord with Gustav Leonhardt and Bob van Asperen amongst others, and fortepiano with Malcolm Bilson. I've been meaning to acquire his well-received book titled "Beethoven the Pianist" which has been described as a portrait of Beethoven from a different angle.

The audio quality of this recording is superb, giving the impression that you yourself are sitting on the bench at the keyboard, and interacting with the mechanical action of the instrument. I would strongly recommend this CD to all harpsichord and Baroque enthusiasts, and especially those of you who have been turned away by "plinky" instruments.