Hi-Res Downloads

96kHz to 192kHz/24-bit FLAC, CKD 570 (supplied by www.linnrecords.com)

Marking his 70th birthday, this recital reflects both the journeys made by early composers from one country to another and those made by Trevor Pinnock in company with his preferred, rich-toned, 1982 American harpsichord modelled after an 18th-century Hemsch instrument, which he’s been playing for 40 years. We haven’t previously featured a solo harpsichord in this HFN section – recorded at the concert hall at Kent University, Canterbury, by Philip Hobbs in Aug ’14, this programme has pieces by JS Bach (The Sixth French Suite), Bull (his pictorial, galloping The King’s Hunt), Byrd, Cabezon, Frescobaldi, Handel (a floridly decorated Chaconne in G), Sweelinck and Tallis, and ends with three Scarlatti sonatas. Pinnock – such a lovely musician – makes every line sing, his playing full of energy; and as tracks end you can just hear a very slight linking background noise. CB

Sound quality: 95%

Hi-Fi News Lab Report

Tested in 192kHz guise there’s excess bandwidth to capture the ~40kHz harmonic range of Pinnock’s harpsichord and unused dynamic range, too, at this low recording level. Note bursts of (likely) spuriae at ~30kHz and ~45kHz. PM