Schmelzer: Violin Sonatas

Schmelzer: Violin Sonatas
Romanesca
Harmonia Mundi USA 907143

Contents:

  1. Sonata IV
  2. Sonata V
  3. Sonata VI
  4. Sonata "Cucù"

    5. Sonata "Victori der Christen" (c.1683-4)
    Adaptation of Biber's 10th Rosary Sonata by Andreas Anton Schmelzer (1653-1701)
  5. Der Türken Anmarsch
  6. Der Türken Belägerung de Stadt Wien
  7. Der Türken stürmen
  8. Anmarsch der Christen
  9. Treffen der Christen
  10. Durchgang der Türken
  11. Victori der Christen
  12. Sonata I
  13. Sonata II
  14. Sonata III

Performers: Andrew Manze (violin), Nigel North (theorbo), John Toll (harpsichord, organ)

Instruments: Violins - Joseph Gagliano (Naples, 1783), Hieronymous Amati (Cremona, 1663); Bows - Gerhard Landwehr (Netherlands, 1986); Theorbo - Klaus T. Jacobsen (London, 1985 after M. Sellas c.1630); Harpsichord - Il Laboratorio (Italy, 1995 after G.B. Giusti 1679); Organ - Justin Sillman (London)

Playing time: 67'

Recording date: September 1995

Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (c.1620-1680) was one of the most important composers for violin in the mid-17th century, not just in Germany but in Europe as a whole. He was the first non-Italian Kapellmeister at the Viennese court, as well as the first non-Italian to publish violin sonatas. The six Sonatas of Sonatæ unarum fidium (1664) form the bulk of this program. Schmelzer seems to have been milder of manner than Biber, and this difference in personality carries over to the music.

A few other recordings devoted to Schmelzer:

Schmelzer: Sonata a 2, 3, 5, 6
da Sacro-Profanus Concentus Musicus e Duodena Selectarum Sonatarum
Ensemble Aurora - Enrico Gatti / Ensemble di viole Labyrinto - Paolo Pandolfo
Symphonia 91S07
Schmelzer: Sonatas / Balletti francesi / Ciaconna
Tafelmusik - Jean Lamon
Sony Vivarte 53963
Schmelzer: Sonatae unarum fidium
John Holloway / Aloysia Assenbaum / Lars Ulrik Mortensen
ECM 465 066
Schmelzer: Intrada di Polcinelli
John Holloway, Nigel North, et al.
Musicaphon 56832
Schmelzer: La Margarita
Music for the Court of Vienna and Prague
Armonico Tributo Austria - Lorenz Duftschmid
Arcana 33
Schmelzer: Intrada Di Polcinelli
w/ Dobel / Kretzinger / Muffat
John Holloway / Jaap ter Linden / Barbara Maria Willi / Nigel North
Musicaphon 56832
Schmelzer: Sonate unarum fidium
Trio Florilegium
Cavalli 217
Schmelzer: Sonatæ unarum fidium / Kerll: Oeuvres pour orgue
Odile Edouard / Freddie Eichelberger
K617 114
Schmelzer: Sonate e Balletti
Musica Fiata - Roland Wilson
CPO 999 878
Schmelzer: Sonatas
Concentus Musicus Wien - Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Warner Classics 60366

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Todd M. McComb