Labyrinth Garden: Violin at the Court of Kroměříž Ensemble Castelkorn & Josef Žák

• Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (1620 - 1680): Balletto genandt das Narrenspitall:
• 1 Schmelzer: Balletto genandt das Narrenspitall: Nos. 1-2. Intrada di Policinelli (Aria 1 - Aria 2a) - Nos. 3-4. Intrada de Cocolini (Aria 1a - Aria 2a) 02:34
• 2 Schmelzer: Balletto genandt das Narrenspitall: No. 6. Intrada di Zani (Aria 1a) 01:38
• Violin Sonata in A Minor, "Cucù":
• 3 Schmelzer: Violin Sonata in A Minor, "Cucù" 06:39
• Balletto genandt das Narrenspitall:
• 4 Schmelzer: Balletto genandt das Narrenspitall: No. 5. Intrada de Cocolini (Aria 3a) 01:35
• 5 Schmelzer: Balletto genandt das Narrenspitall: Nos. 11-12. Intrada de Graziani (Aria 1a - Aria 2a) 01:37
• 6 Schmelzer: Balletto genandt das Narrenspitall: No. 8. Intrada de Poveri (Aria 2a) (Version for Solo Theorbo by Nicolas Wattinne) 01:47
• Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644 - 1704): Ciacona for Violin and Basso Continuo:
• 7 Biber: Ciacona for Violin and Basso Continuo 14:28
• Heinrich Döbel (1651 - 1693): Sonatæ pro Fidibus - Appendix:
• 8 Döbel: Sonatæ pro Fidibus - Appendix: No. 1. Gzyga in E Minor (Allegro) 00:54
• 9 Döbel: Sonatæ pro Fidibus - Appendix: No. 2. Sarabanda and Couranto in D Major 02:40
• 10 Döbel: Sonatæ pro Fidibus - Appendix: No. 3. Gzyga I & II in A Major 02:34
• Johann Heinrich Schmelzer: Sonatae unarum fidium - Sonata IV in D Major:
• 11 Schmelzer: Sonatae unarum fidium - Sonata IV in D Major (Introduction - Sarabande - Guige - Allegro - Presto) 09:35
• Balletto genandt das Narrenspitall:
• 12 Schmelzer: Balletto genandt das Narrenspitall: Nos. 13-14. Intrada de Burattini (Aria 1a - Aria 2a) 01:57
• 13 Schmelzer: Balletto genandt das Narrenspitall: No. 9. Intrada de' Covieli (Aria 1a) 00:45
• 14 Schmelzer: Balletto genandt das Narrenspitall: No. 10. Intrada de' Covieli (Aria 2a) (Version for Solo Harpsichord by Felipe Guerra) 01:04
• Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber: Sonata violino solo representativa
• 15 Biber: Sonata violino solo representativa (Introduction. Allegro - Nachtigall - CuCu - Frosch - Adagio - Allegro 10:46
• Total Runtime 01:00:33

Info for Labyrinth Garden: Violin at the Court of Kroměříž

Two years ago, when I asked my colleagues in the Castelkorn Ensemble if they would like to take part with me in an international baroque performance competition in Sankt-Florian, Austria, I proposed a programme that had long attracted me. The virtuoso violin works by Biber and Schmelzer preserved in the Kroměříž archives are world-famous, but I wanted to approach them in a way that drew not only on my experience as a performer, but also on the sensitivity of a musician with roots in Central Europe. When my colleagues and I worked together on this programme, we were surprised to discover the variety and richness of this music. We realized how much the basso continuo instruments do not only play a complementary harmonic and rhythmic role to the solo instrument, but thanks to their varied sonic possibilities they become co-creators of the programmatic structure of these compositions, creating the necessary space for imagination in imitating non-musical sounds or for suggesting dance rhythms. Instead of the expected fireworks of technical virtuosity, it was a living, breathing space full of colour, sound and movement that gradually opened up before us, fascinating us with its dynamism and energy.

Together, we accepted the challenge and tried to capture its richness and complexity.

The result was a garden reminiscent of Prince-Bishop LichtensteinCastelcorno’s ‘Lustgarten’ in Kroměříž, an imaginary garden with shady paths where you can enter, listen to the birds sing, cool off at the fountains, dance with the statues that come to life near the colonnade, or take in an open-air night-time show. The result of our joint exploration is in your hands. Accept our invitation to lose yourself with us in the labyrinth garden! (Josef Žák)

Ensemble Castelkorn:
Felipe Guerra, harpsichord
Nicolas Wattinne, theorbo
Josef Žák, violin
Chloé Lucas, double bass

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Booklet for Labyrinth Garden: Violin at the Court of Kroměříž