Schenck: Tyd en Konst-Oeffeningen, Op. 2 - CD

ENGLISH

Although information about the musical education of Johannes Scheck is hard to come by, he is still remembered as one of the greatest virtuoso viola da gamba players of 17th-century Europe. This CD contains some of the most exciting and influential sonatas from his second published work: Tyd en Konst-Offningen Op.2, the first of his instrumental creations for the da gamba, was released in Amsterdam in 1688. It is in this collection that we see Schenck starting to depart from the purely Italian style of composing that he had previously pursued. Employing a technically challenging style that stands in marked contrast to the editions prepared for amateurs that were so common during the period, he moves in these 15 sonatas (six of which are included on this release) towards the blend of European styles that led to his own signature method of composing and would, eventually, see his career go overseas.<br /> <br /> Recondita Armonia was founded by Cuban-born Lixsania Fernández, who has also collaborated with Le Tendre Amour for two other Brilliant Classics recordings (‘All in a Garden Green’ and De Bousset’s Cantates Spirituales). Lixsania is based in Spain, but participates in festivals and recordings for both television and radio stations all around the world.<br /> <br /> Other information:<br /> - Recorded in September 2013 in Spain.<br /> - Johannes Schenck was an important Dutch composer, active around 1700, born in Amsterdam, and travelling Europe as a composer and virtuoso on the Viola da Gamba. He wrote the first Dutch opera, and published in Amsterdam a set of sonatas for the viola da gamba which set the standard for the instrument’s status as one of the foremost melodic instruments of the Baroque: rich, warm, expressive and speaking.<br /> - Cuban-born Lixsania Fernandez plays 6 of these masterworks, together with other members of the Early Music group Le Tendre Amour, which received great critical acclaim for their two recordings for Brilliant Classics: All in a Garden Green (BC 94313) and Cantatas Spirituelles by De Bousset (BC 94288), forming a rich continuo of theorbo, cello and harpsichord.<br /> - Booklet includes notes on the music and the principal artist.