Johann Friedrich Fasch: Orchestral Gems from Tempesta di Mare
By Ralph Graves
This is the fourth—and likely final—volume in this ambitious series. Johann Friedrich Fasch, a younger contemporary of Bach and Handel, was widely performed during his lifetime but fell into neglect after his death. Only a fraction of his many compositions have survived.
Since 2007, the Tempesta di Mare Philadelphia Baroque Orchestra has made a point of including at least one Fasch work in their concerts. This release, like the previous three volumes, features live performances.
Fasch spent most of his career as Kapellmeister at the court of Zerbst, in Saxony-Anhalt. In 1983, the town of Zerbst/Anhalt established the International Fasch Festival. This recording showcases performances from the 2023 festival.
Stylistically, Fasch stands at the transition to the style galante. His orchestrations are rooted in the High Baroque traditions of Telemann and Bach, yet his melodies possess a lightness and fluidity that anticipate Haydn and Mozart.
Tempesta di Mare delivers superb performances—no surprise, given their nearly 20-year commitment to discovering and premiering Fasch’s works. The ensemble’s seamless blend and energetic approach bring out the elegance and vitality of his music. Fasch leans more toward the style galante than the Baroque in this recording.
This is an outstanding recording and a remarkable series. I highly recommend all four volumes to anyone interested in Baroque music or tracing the Classical era’s roots. It’s all here.
Johann Friedrich Fasch: Orchestral Works, Vol. 4
Tempesta di Mare Philadelphia Baroque Orchestra
Chandos CHAN 0829
