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Dieterich BUXTEHUDE (1637-1707) Sonatas Op. 1
Sonata I in F, op. 1,1 (BuxWV 252) [09:27]
Sonata II in G, op. 1,2 (BuxWV 253) [07:43]
Sonata III in a minor, op. 1,3 (BuxWV 254) [10:13]
Sonata IV in B flat, op. 1,4 (BuxWV 255) [07:45]
Sonata V in C, op. 1,5 (BuxWV 256) [08:56]
Sonata VI in d minor, op. 1,6 (BuxWV 257) [09:15]
Sonata VII in e minor, op. 1,7 (BuxWV 258) [07:08]
L'Estravagante (Stefano Montanari
(violin); Rodney Prada (viola da gamba); Maurizio
Salerno (harpsichord))
rec. 8-10 November 2006, 8-11 January 2007, 'Baroque Hall' S.M.C., Ivrea, Italy.
DDD ARTS 47731-8 [60:30]
Dieterich BUXTEHUDE (1637-1707)
Sonatas Op. 2
Sonata I in B flat, op. 2,1 (BuxWV 259) [09:05]
Sonata II in D, op. 2,2 (BuxWV 260) [12:18]
Sonata III in g minor, op. 2,3 (BuxWV 261) [11:01]
Sonata IV in c minor, op. 2,4 (BuxWV 262) [07:37]
Sonata V in A, op. 2,5 (BuxWV 263) [09:18]
Sonata VI in E, op. 2,6 (BuxWV 264) [09:21]
Sonata VII in F, op. 2,7 (BuxWV 265) [08:28]
L'Estravagante (Stefano
Montanari (violin); Rodney Prada (viola da gamba); Maurizio Salerno
(harpsichord))
rec. 8-10 November 2006, 8-11 January 2007, 'Baroque Hall'
S.M.C., Ivrea, Italy. DDD ARTS 47732-8 [67:14]
In
the 17th century Lübeck was one of the main centres of
music in north Germany. Its reputation as such was widespread
throughout northern Europe. Highly skilled players of violin
and viola da gamba had been working in Lübeck since the
beginning of the century. As they were also active as teachers
the tradition they established was kept alive. The city's
council employed an ensemble of players, collectively known
as 'Ratsmusik'. The members of this ensemble were expected
to be virtuosos on more than one instrument. An example
is Hans Iwe, Buxtehude's assistant organist in the Marienkirche,
who played the violin, the viola da gamba and the violone.
One of the applicants for the Ratsmusik was the gambist
Peter Grecke. His letter of application to the council
in 1672 reflects the high standards set: "(...) I
am aware that your noble and worthy council never employs
common waits, but famous musicians and good composers who
have excelled at noble and princely courts".
There
were ample opportunities to play: not only was the Ratsmusik
expected to perform at official occasions, they also performed
during the Abendmusiken which Buxtehude's predecessor,
Franz Tunder, had established as well as during services.
And they also played in private surroundings, like the
homes of the city's upper class. The members of the Ratsmusik
played music from all over Europe, but also music composed
for them in Lübeck itself. It is very likely that Buxtehude's
sonatas were written for them as well. But it is quite
possible that he himself also played them, for example
together with musicians from Hamburg, as he had close ties
with, in particular, Johann Theile and Jan Adam Reincken.
Buxtehude's
sonatas have a trio texture, but whereas the Italians preferred
the combination of two violins and bass, in northern Germany
composers opted mostly for a combination of violin, bass
viol and basso continuo. Here also a specific style was
developed which combined several elements. One of these
was the polyphony of the English consort music, which had
been brought to northern Germany in particular by William
Brade (1560-1630) who had worked in Copenhagen and several
German cities before settling in Hamburg. Secondly the
instrumental music of this period shows the influence of
the so-called 'stylus phantasticus' of the North-German
organ school, whose main features are its improvisatory
character and contrasts in tempo, 'Affekt' and metre. During
the 17th century a third influence was added: the virtuosic
style of solo playing from Italy. One can imagine that
the collections of music published in Dresden by Carlo
Farina, one of the main representatives of this style,
had some influence on musicians in Lübeck.
In
Buxtehude's sonatas all three elements are represented,
and he often combines them in an ingenious way. In the
Sonata I from Op. 2, for instance, five different metres
are used. In the Sonata II from the same collection the
second movement is a fugue with the indication 'allegro',
which all of a sudden shifts to a 'largo' - exactly what
the 'stylus phantasticus' is all about. Strong contrasts
can also be found in the Sonata III from Opus 1: a vivace
is flanked by a lento and a largo which both contain harsh
dissonances. Elsewhere Buxtehude makes a number of excursions
to other keys, in particular in the Sonata VII from Op.
2. Instrumental virtuosity can be found in the Sonata V
from Op. 2, whose second movement has the indication 'solo';
here the violinist can show his skills. It is one of the
places in these sets of sonatas where Buxtehude requires
double-stopping. The following movement is described as
'concitato', a clear reference to the Italian style, especially
the stile concitato which Monteverdi made use of.
Later on in this sonata the viola da gamba also has a solo
passage. There is some double-stopping for the viola da
gamba as well, in the Sonata VII from Op. 1. Other elements
in these fourteen sonatas are variations on a subject and
the regular use of a basso ostinato.
This
description suffices to show how rich these sonatas are.
It is no wonder that nowadays they are amongst the more
frequently played chamber works. There are several recordings
of these sonatas in the catalogue, the best-known of which
are probably the performances by John Holloway, Jaap ter
Linden and Lars Ulrik Mortensen (originally released on
Dacapo, recently reissued by Naxos). But there is certainly
a place for these new recordings as they are first-rate.
The
ensemble was founded in 2007 and these two discs represent
their very first recordings. They could hardly have made
a better start. The technical skills of the players are
impressive, as in particular the solo passages show. They
also produce an excellent ensemble sound, and the balance
between the three instruments is very satisfying. But what
is more important: the expression in these sonatas is fully
explored here, and the internal contrasts are well worked
out. The choice of tempi is very convincing: they sometimes
play at high speed, but it never sounds hasty, thanks to
clear articulation. One of the features of these sonatas
is the repetition of notes, and these can become tiresome
when they are always played the same way. That is not the
case here because of the differentiation within those sequences
and the use of clear dynamic accents. On the other side
of the spectrum: the grave from the Sonata I (Op. 2) is
played very slowly, but with great expression.
In
short: these are very impressive and expressive interpretations
of Buxtehude's splendid sonatas. I very much hope the remaining
chamber music - a handful of sonatas was never published
- is going to be recorded in the near future.
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