Four Centuries of Great Music April 26, 2026 Four (well actually only two) Centuries of Harpsichord Concertos

Four Centuries of Great Music April 26, 2026  Four (well actually only two) Centuries of Harpsichord Concertos

I could not and any true harpsichord concertos—where the harpsichord acts as a dedicated soloist against an orchestra—before 1700, as the the harpsichord was used only in chamber music or as a continuo to fill in harmonies within an orchestra.  Some will cite the Tomaso Albinoni Op 2 concertos of 1700 as the first harpsichord concertos, but these were really concerti grossi where all of the instruments including the harpsichord may have a solo.  Let’s listen to two of these

Tomaso Albinoni:  Concerto a 5 No. 1 in F Major, Op. 2, No. 2 - I. Allegro assai
Tomaso Albinoni:  Concerto a 5 No. 1 in F Major, Op. 2, No. 2 - III. Adagio
Tomaso Albinoni:  Concerto a 5 No. 1 in F Major, Op. 2, No. 2 - IIII. Allegro

Tomaso Albinoni:  Concerto a 5 No. 3 in B-Flat Major, Op. 2, No. 6  - I. Allegro assai
Tomaso Albinoni:  Concerto a 5 No. 3 in B-Flat Major, Op. 2, No. 6  - II. Adagio
Tomaso Albinoni:  Concerto a 5 No. 3 in B-Flat Major, Op. 2, No. 6  - III. Allegro

Conductor(s): Giorgio Sasso,Conductor and the Insieme Strumentale di Roma
Tomaso Albinoni Sinfonias e Concertos, Op. 2
Stradivarius


Johann Sebastian Bach:  Harpsichord Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1052: I. Allegro
Johann Sebastian Bach:  Harpsichord Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1052: II. Adagio
Johann Sebastian Bach:  Harpsichord Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1052: III. Allegro
Christine Schornsheim, harpsichord and the Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum conducted by Burkhard Glaetzner
J.S. Bach: Complete Edition, Vol. 1/10
Brilliant Classics

John Rutter:  Suite Antique - I. Prelude
John Rutter:  Suite Antique - II. Ostinato
John Rutter:  Suite Antique - III. Aria
John Rutter:  Suite Antique - IV. Waltz
John Rutter:  Suite Antique - V. Chanson
John Rutter:  Suite Antique - VI. Rondeau

Christopher D. Lewis, harpsichord; John McMurtery, flute; Kevin Mallon & West Side Chamber Orchestra
Glass - Rutter - Francaix: Harpsichord Concertos
Naxos Recordings



Ned Rorem:  Concertino da camera_ I. Allegro non troppo
Ned Rorem:  Concertino da camera_ II. Molto moderato
Ned Rorem:  Concertino da camera_ III. Presto
Jory Vinikour, harpsichord and Chicago Philharmonic conducted by Scott Speck
20th Century Harpsichord Concertos
Cedille Records


Philip GLASS 
Concerto for Harpsichord and Chamber Orchestra 
Christopher D. Lewis, Harpsichord; Kevin Mallon & West Side Chamber Orchestra
Glass - Rutter - Francaix: Harpsichord Concertos
Naxos Recordings


Baldassare Galuppi:  Concerto in F major
Baldassare Galuppi:  Concerto in F major. I. Allegro non tanto 
Baldassare Galuppi:  Concerto in F major II. Grave 
Baldassare Galuppi:  Concerto in F majorIII. Presto 

Arianna Radaelli — harpsichord and direction with the La Filarete Ensemble
Wonder in Venice - Baldassare Galuppi:  Sonatas and concertos for harpsichord
Outthere Music