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Biber, Schmelzer: Music and Dance from the Viennese Court
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, Anonymous
Biber, Schmelzer: Music and Dance from the Viennese Court
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (45) - Disc #1


     
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CD Reviews

A MELODIOUS "EAR MASSAGE"
Melvyn M. Sobel | Freeport (Long Island), New York | 02/19/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"A fetching parlay of sundry sonatas and dance music ("balletti") by contemporaries Heinrich Biber [1644-1704] and Johann Schmelzer [1620-1680], the former known for his rather austere violin works, the latter his innumerable instrumental ballet suites. Remarkable about this collection is its melodic appeal, as well as its diverse, and diverting, invention. No hint of dour academia surfaces here in music originating from Austria under the umbrella of the "Viennese Court." No pedagogy, either, just attractive, smoothly charming and comforting compositions intended, over three hundred years ago, for exactly this purpose.Special mention should be made concerning the thoroughly delightful period instrument performances by Ars Antiqua Austria, under director, and first violinist, Gunnar Letzbor, assisted by the excellent Recorder Consort, under leader and soloist Michael Oman, using non-period instruments that blend perfectly. The accessibility of this music is made tantamount in a recital that must certainly be a model of period instrument practice.Further mention should be made relative to the recording venue, the St. Florian Monastery in Austria, whose intimate ambience cocoons the listener in a realm of sound completed wedded to the music.[Running time: 70:04]"