Erlebach: Sonata Terza in A major

Philipp Heinrich Erlebach (1657-1714) is one of those composers who was forgotten by history. Originally from East Frisia, he arrived at the court of Rudolstadt in Thuringia at the age of 24 to serve as music director, remaining there for the rest of his life: the lustre of the court faded and the collection of over 2500 works by himself and others, amassed by Erlebach during the course of his life, was destroyed by fire. Thus this once significant composer 'from the Province' faded from memory.

Only a few works by Erlebach have survived, but these give an indication of what artistic treasures have most likely been lost. With the present CD, the Capricornus Consort Basel is making a first attempt to introduce a representative cross-section of those works of Erlebach that are still within grasp. They are strongly influenced by the French style, as is particularly evident in the two grand Overtures which bear the mark of Lully. As a contrast, the Ensemble performs two secular arias sung by countertenor Franz Vitzthum and soprano Miriam Feuersinger. In the concluding duet, the two voices attain such a fantastic harmony that one can hardly distinguish precisely which of them is singing.

First released in the spring of 2002, Lamento was awarded Quebec’s Opus Prize for Record of the Year in the Baroque Music category. Hear the acclaimed countertenor Daniel Taylor and his ensemble Theatre of Early Music in this telling combination of sacred German vocal solos and fine instrumental works.

Chicago-based period-instrument ensemble Trio Settecento (1700s Trio) performs a colorful cluster of baroque sonatas on A German Bouquet, the second in a planned series of four CDs illustrating the character and complexion of the era's music as it developed in various regions of Europe.

On A German Bouquet, the trio of violinist Rachel Barton Pine, viola da gamba player and 'cellist John Mark Rozendaal, and harpsichordist and organist David Schrader presents a program that goes beyond Bach and Buxtehude. While the CD includes works by those two giants of the German Baroque, it also offers rarely heard repertoire by Johann Schop, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, Georg Muffat, Johann Philipp Krieger, Philipp Heinrich Erlebach, and Johann Georg Pisendel, some of whom were also among the greatest German violinists of the era.