's baryton trios are rather uncommon items, largely because the baryton, a viola da gamba-like instrument with extra strings, has few competent players. One of these is , who is heard here with violist and cellist . Contemporary composers are hereby advised that new compositions for the instrument would be welcome, for it has a striking variety of possible timbres. The extra strings vibrate sympathetically but can also be plucked, an effect that exploits delightfully. wrote more than 150 works for the baryton at the request of his prince, Nikolaus Esterházy, who enjoyed playing the instrument; they date from the 1760s and 1770s. One wouldn't call them top-drawer , but they're fascinating. 's palette is extremely restricted here, with the baryton inhabiting a mid-range that makes it difficult to differentiate from the viola and the cello. Yet he solves this problem in any number of inventive ways, and there are dozens of other small pleasures. scores with the engineering here, working in a Spanish castle that fits the music and has an attractive live quality that brings out the unusual sounds of the baryton. This release is the second of two devoted to 's baryton trios; both are recommended, and there are plenty more pieces where these came from; one hopes to hear still further albums. ~ James Manheim