One of my guilty pleasures is the Gabrieli album by the National Brass Ensemble. It may not be sackbuts and cornetti, but sometimes "early music" means playing in a stylish way no matter the instrument. And this recording is fantastic and there is no way anyone can have a bad day with this much trombone and tuba on a bass line. Can you tell I married a brass player?
Gabrieli Canzona per sonare No. 2
While I'd generally prefer to hear early instruments, good music and stylish playing are good music and stylish playing, "historically informed" or not. Case in point: this beautiful recording of Gabrieli's Canzona per sonare No. 2.
Andrea Gabrieli
Giovanni Gabrieli gets the fame, but he learned it all from his uncle Andrea, who studied with Lassus and kicked off the practice of polychoral music in Venice!
Giovanni Gabrieli
Most brass players know Giovanni Gabrieli for his canzonas, but his scope was much wider than that. Check out this fantastic video to hear more (and learn more from their excellent notes)!