Lixsania Fernández, Recondita Armonia - Schenck: Tyd en Konst-Oeffeningen, Op. 2 (Sonatas for Viola da Gamba) (2014)

Tracklist

01. Sonata No. 9, Op. 2: I. Adagio - Allegro - Adagio
02. Sonata No. 9, Op. 2: II. Allemande
03. Sonata No. 9, Op. 2: III. Courant
04. Sonata No. 9, Op. 2: IV. Sarabande
05. Sonata No. 9, Op. 2: V. Gigue
06. Sonata No. 1, Op. 2: I. Adagio
07. Sonata No. 1, Op. 2: II. Ciacone. Allegro - Adagio
08. Sonata No. 1, Op. 2: III. Allemande
09. Sonata No. 1, Op. 2: IV. Courant
10. Sonata No. 1, Op. 2: V. Sarabande
11. Sonata No. 1, Op. 2: VI. Gigue
12. Sonata No. 5, Op. 2: I. Preludium. Adagio - Allegro - Adagio
13. Sonata No. 5, Op. 2: II. Allemande
14. Sonata No. 5, Op. 2: III. Courant
15. Sonata No. 5, Op. 2: IV. Sarabande
16. Sonata No. 5, Op. 2: V. Gigue
17. Sonata No. 11, Op. 2: I. Preludium. Adagio - Allegro - Adagio
18. Sonata No. 11, Op. 2: II. Allemande
19. Sonata No. 11, Op. 2: III. Courant
20. Sonata No. 11, Op. 2: IV. Sarabande
21. Sonata No. 11, Op. 2: V. Gigue
22. Sonata No. 15, Op. 2: I. Adagio
23. Sonata No. 15, Op. 2: II. Allemande
24. Sonata No. 15, Op. 2: III. Ciacone
25. Sonata No. 12, Op. 2: I. Adagio
26. Sonata No. 12, Op. 2: II. Allegro - Adagio
27. Sonata No. 12, Op. 2: III. Allemande
28. Sonata No. 12, Op. 2: IV. Courant
29. Sonata No. 12, Op. 2: V. Sarabande No. 1
30. Sonata No. 12, Op. 2: VI. Sarabande No. 2
31. Sonata No. 12, Op. 2: VII. Gigue

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.

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.

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