Focus on Flowers

This week, Harmonia begins a new series exploring Traditions. The first of this series highlights the different facets surrounding the arrival of a newborn from many musical perspectives. Plus, a new release of bassoon music by Antonio Vivaldi.

The renowned baroque cellist Christophe Coin is the soloist this week in a new Naïve label release of Vivaldi cello concertos with Il Giardino Armonico.

One of the Pacific Northwest's most exciting live music series comes from the Early Music Guild of Seattle. On Harmonia this week, a sampling from recent seasons, including local and international artists performing music of the Spanish and Italian Renaissance, French Baroque, and J.S. Bach. Also, a new release of keyboard music by Peter Philips.

We'll explore a new release of Robert Dowland's Musical banquet (ECM) with Nigel North and Monika Mauch followed by volume three of John Dowland's lute music (Naxos).

The highlight of the 2008 Bloomington Early Music Festival was a performance by Moira Smiley and her group VOCO. Entitled "Circle, Square, Diamond, & Flag," the concert featured old and experimental folk hymns going back to the 18th Century. Also, a new release of Telemann wind concertos.

The Glossa labels brings us the final two recordings in La Venexiana's series of Monteverdi madrigals.

This week we welcome Michael McCraw, highly influential performer and teacher of historical bassoons. Plus, a new release from The Hilliard Ensemble.

This week we look at recordings with fortepianists Susan Alexander-Max (Naxos) and David Owen Norris (Avie).

This week Harmonia will explore the songs and instrumental works of the first seven composers who held the post of Master of the Queen's Musick. A new release by recorder virtuoso Dan Laurin will also be reviewed.

Christmas cantatas and concertos as well as Leclair violin sonatas are explored this week with two Chandos label releases.