0 Programme Music of the Baroque Era

This strikingly innovative disc includes some very rare works resurrected with considerable aplomb here by the indefatigable Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Programme music was something rather new in the baroque era but these five works certainly have a lot of colour and descriptive aspects to them, to say the least.

Farina's "Capriccio Stravagante" dates from the early 17th century and in its 20 minutes traverses a considerable gamut of emotions which make it a very desirable piece, sadly overlooked and quite unknown. Biber and Schmelzer are perhaps more associated with large scale choral works but these instrumental pieces are certainly extremely innovative and Harnoncourt brings out the strong programmatic element extremely well.

Finally we have the great Marin Marais with his astoundingly modern description of the removal of a stone complete with speaker – almost Poulenc like – and Vivaldi's lovely "La Notte" concerto which is an ideally peaceful way to end the disc which at just over 52 minutes is a bit on the short side. Otherwise, this is strongly recommended for those who enjoy the darker side of baroque music. --classical.net, 2008

Detail: Programme Music of the Baroque Era

0 Johann Heinrich Schmelzer: Violin Sonatas

"A relatively little-trumpeted stopping-off point in Andrew Manze's extensive discography, but this is repertoire for which he has a real love, and whose violinistic fantasy suits his fearless inventiveness right down to the ground. Superb continuo playing, too, from Romanesca's other members, John Toll and Nigel North." -- Gramophone [9/2007]

Upon its release in 1996, Schmelzer: Violin Sonatas was an event -- the introduction of a first-rate, meat-and-potatoes composer of the early Baroque whose work was then familiar to virtually no one. These sonatas, drawn mostly from Schmelzer's 1664 published collection Sonatae unarum fidium, are an ideal vehicle to demonstrate the dazzling skill of violinist Andrew Manze and present Schmelzer as the obvious forebear to Heinrich von Biber, even though no historical connection between the two is known. A clue is given in that the sonata Victori der Christen is adapted by Schmelzer's son, Andreas Anton Schmelzer, from the tenth Rosary Sonata of Biber, so perhaps the two composers were linked by something more than stylistic similarity. All of these pieces are expertly played by Romanesca, with outstanding organ continuo provided by John Toll in particular.

In 2005, Harmonia Mundi re-released Schmelzer: Violin Sonatas as part of a two-for-one combination entitled Fantastic Style. While this is economically the more feasible option, it is worth it to seek out the original, which comes with a deluxe booklet containing many illustrations. --allmusic.com

Detail: Johann Heinrich Schmelzer: Violin Sonatas