The album title, “A Bohemian in London” refers to Moravian composer Gottfried Finger. Finger was a virtuoso viol player and played in James II’s court orchestra. Later he attempted a career as a freelance composer, eventually giving up and leaving for Germany in 1701. This collection of violin sonatas is a sampling of the over […]
Baroque music
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Fred Jacobs bring Kapsperger theorbo music to light
To some, this might seem like a hyper-specialized release. It’s a collection of early 17th Century music by Giovanni Kasprerger (who?) virtuoso of the theorbo (what?). And it’s not just theorbo music, but music specifically written for the Papal Court. But the end result — the music and the performance — should appeal to all. […]
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Leila Schayegh delivers with LeClair Violin Concertos
This first volume of Jean-Marie LeClair violin concertos features four selections: two each from his Opus 7 (1739) and Opus 10 (1743). LeClair was one of the greatest violinists of his age. He regularly used extended techniques, such as double stops, bariolages, and harmonics. And yet in his concertos, these techniques were always used in […]
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Michel-Richard de Lalande Grands Motets Evoke Grandeur
Michel-Richard de Lalande was a contemporary of Jean-Baptiste Lully and François Couperin. Like them, he served at the court of Louis XIV. Lalande’s strength was composing grand motets; elegant, extravagant, grand music suited for the Royal Chapel at Versailles. This release presents three examples. All three require a large orchestra (for the Baroque period, that […]
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Graupner Passion Cantatas II Maintain High Standard
In 1741 Christoph Graupner produced ten Passion Cantatas — one for each Sunday of Lent. Volume 1 featured three of those cantatas; Volume 2 has three more, each uniquely shaped by the text Graupner sets. Das Leiden Jesu von seinen Freunden, GWV 1122/41 (Friend, why are you here) was for the Third Sunday of Lent. […]
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Thüringer Bach Collegium Debuts Princely Concertos
This is an exceptional recording of some exceptional music. Prince Johann Ernst IV (1696-1715) was known as the “Thüringian Vivaldi.” Ernst showed musical talent at a young age. He composed nineteen works, all within nine months of his death at age 18. But there’s more to the story. His primary teacher was Johann Gottfried Walther. […]
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Psalmen & Friedensmusiken ends Heinrich Schutz series on a strong note
The Carus traversal of Heinrich Schutz works ends with a collection of commissioned works. For the most part, the music on this 2 CD set marks important occasions in the Dresden court. Some were commissioned for birthdays, others for treaty signings, and so on. Schutz studied in Venice with Giovanni Gabrielli (and perhaps with Claudio […]
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Simultaneous Scarlatti Strangely Soothing
This post isn’t just for classical folks. I think it appeals to all WTJU listeners. Harpsichordist Antoine Souchav mixed together recordings of all 555 sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti (1685 – 1757). If you’re into classical, ambient, remixes, experimental, and/or contemporary music, check out this track. Yes, it begins with a mass of sound, but as […]
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Carl Freidrich Abel Concertos Given New Life
In 2018 a collection of music by Carl Friederich Abel was discovered in Poland. In 1787 Count Maltzan purchased the manuscripts at Abel’s estate sale in London. He later returned to his native Poland, the collection soon forgotten. The Maltzan Collection has 29 works — 22 of them previously unknown. Six receive their recording world […]