While it is now widely accepted that Mozart realized the
basso continuo in tuttis, little musicological attention has been paid to the style and significance of realizations.
McKnight also describes the manuscript itself, containing mostly solo songs in treble or soprano clefs with figured
basso continuo. A few duets with continuo are found, as well as a considerable number of songs for bass or baritone, doubled or accompanied by the continuo.
The concert programme was extended by three Antonio Caldera motets, whereas the CD also features the Sonata in F for two violins and
basso continuo written by Zelenka and Tiima's contemporary Johann Georg Orschler (Orsler), as performed by Helena Zemanova and Jana Chytilova.
Selections include a sonata for flute and harp and two trios for flute, bassoon and
basso continuo. The second half will feature contemporary music on the Celtic harp, including two pieces by Zaerr, and traditional Irish pieces arranged by Zaerr.
On the other hand, the recording is supplemented with six works from Schutz's Kleine geistliche Konzerte of 1636 and 1639, written for soloists--sung beautifully here by Agnes Mellon, Mark Padmore and Peter Kooy--and
basso continuo. Just as Schutz had prescribed some years earlier in his preface to the Psalmen Davids of 619, the German texts to these compositions are perfectly intelligible in the performance.
ALLETTAMENTI / ARMONICI / Per due Flauti Traversi, ovvero / Due Violini Senza
Basso Continuo / DI / GIOVANNI CHINZER / Da Firenze, Compositore, e Maestro di / Cappella di Musica Vocales, e Strumentale / e Professore diTromba / OPERA IV / Prix 4 lb / A PARIS / Chez/Madame Boivin, rile S.t Honore a la Regale d'Or / M.r le Clerc, rile du Roule a la Croix d'Or / M.lle Castagnerie, rue des Prouvairs / A LION M.r Bretonne, rue Merciere / Avec privilege du Roi / grave par M.lle Vandome
The harpsichordist Vaclav Luks, artistic director of Collegium 1704, the violinist Lenka Torgersen and the musicologist Vaclav Kapsa joined forces and put together six sonatas for violin and
basso continuo, some of which oscillate between Baroque and Classicism, while others are fully anchored in the new style.
Whatever happened, Mozart left only the first section complete, with just the vocal parts and
basso continuo for the others.
Statistical data on text, metric changes, voicing, mode, ambitus, and even whether or not the
basso continuo part includes a textual incipit occupy a further fifteen pages of fine print (pp.
Thus it features music by Antonin Reichenauer (the world premiere recording of the Trio Sonata in B flat major and the superb Quartet in G minor for violin, cello, bassoon and
basso continuo), Frantisek lgnac Antonin Tuma (the world premiere recording of the splendid Partita in C major), Frantisek Jiranek (the world premiere recording of the Trio Sonata in B flat major for two violins), alongside compositions by Johann Friedrich Fasch (Concerto in C major for flute, violin and bassoon, Concerto in D major for two flutes), Antonio Vivaldi (Trio in G minor for violin and lute, with Evangelina Mascardi playing the lute) and Antonio Caldara (the violin Sonata in A major).
All have a
basso continuo part, given without realization in this edition.
The sonically and dramaturgically extraordinary CD ends with Part's Spiegel im Spiegel with harp accompaniment, distantly reminiscent of
basso continuo, following which the listener must only desire deep silence.