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The
Romantics: 9
MO 0207:
Robert Schumann: Piano trio in D minor;
Clara Schumann: Piano trio in G minor; Sigismond
Thalberg: Piano trio in A major
In this “trio of trios”, the Atlantis Trio
performs two trios by the greatest husband and wife team in
nineteenth century German music, Robert and Clara Schumann. This
set is completed by the inclusion of a rarely-heard A major trio
by Sigismond Thalberg. For the two Schumann works, fortepianist
Penelope Crawford uses her impeccable 1835 Conrad Graf
fortepiano, while, for the Thalberg, an Erard instrument from a
decade later is featured. Ms. Crawford is joined by her
long-time Atlantis colleagues, Jaap Schröder
(violin) and Enid Sutherland (cello), playing period
instruments.
The
Romantics: 10
MO
0304: Mendelssohn: Piano Quartets Nos. 1-3
The
Mendelssohn 2009 project: Throughout 2007, the Atlanteans will continue
their series devoted to the composer's chamber music with
fortepiano, due to be completed in 2009 in honour of the
Mendelssohn's bi-centenary. In 2007, Jaap Schröder, Penelope Crawford and their
distinguished colleagues in the Atlantis Ensemble will record
his three earliest published works: the three quartets for piano
and strings (Op. 1-3).
As in all her other recordings to date, Penelope
Crawford's magnificent 1835 fortepiano by Viennese master builder,
Conrad Graf, will be featured, providing us with a glimpse of how
Mendelssohn's music (and his own instrument) sounded in his day.
Previous releases in this series include the two piano trios (op. 49
& 66) and the piano sextet (op. posth. 110) (MO 0105 & MO 0205).
MO 0202: Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Clavier, Book 2
MO 0208: Bach: Two part Inventions, Three-part Sinfonias
MO 0210: Bach: Clavierübung II & III
Following the success of MO 0201,
Johann Sebastian Bach: Das Wohltemperierte Clavier, Book 1,
we continue our series devoted to Bach’s solo harpsichord music with
a new
release devoted to the two-part inventions and the three-part sinfonias. Like Musica Omnia’s
Well-Tempered Clavier
the new releases use Bradley Lehman's
newly discovered Bach tuning,
deciphered from the title page of Bach's autograph manuscript from
1722. Peter Watchorn plays these essential works on a large
German harpsichord by Melbourne builder, Alastair McAllister,
inspired by the instruments of Johann Heinrich Harrass (one of which
may well have been owned by Bach). Book 2 of the WTC will be
recorded in late 2007, using the Harrass harpsichord and the pedal
harpsichord that caused a sensation in our recording of Book 1. In
addition, Bach’s Italian Concerto (BWV 971) and the magnificent
French Overture (BWV 831), which comprise part 2 of Bach’s serial
publication, the Clavierübung are performed
along with the four “duets” (BWV 802-5) – large two-part inventions
– from part 3, and will be recorded in Summer, 2008 for release
in Fall 2008.
MO
0211: Telemann: Seven Sonatas for recorder and basso continuo
Dutch recorder virtuoso Saskia Coolen is joined
by her long-time colleague Margriet Tindemans (viola da gamba) and
Peter Watchorn (harpsichord) in a truly impressive new recording of
the seven surviving sonatas by Bach’s greatest German contemporary,
Georg Philipp Telemann. Included are all the sonatas for recorder
from Telemann’s Der Getreue Musik-Meister, and the two more
complex pieces from one of Telemann’s greatest projects, the
Essercizii Musici.
MO
0301:
Bull: Works for Keyboard 1
Complete Works for Keyboard. A world premiere recording.
John
Bull (1562-1628)
Dr.
John Bull is a somewhat enigmatic figure in English musical history.
Born in Hereford during the reign of Elizabeth I, Bull became an
organist of the queen’s Chapel Royal and retained this post during
the early years of James I’ s reign. His compositional output was
almost entirely devoted to the harpsichord (or virginals, as it was
known in England) and the organ. A convert to Catholicism, he fled
England in 1613 for Antwerp, where he joined a community of exiled
English Catholic musicians, including Peter Philips, and ultimately
became organist of the cathedral in Antwerp, where he died in 1628.
Bull’s music includes elaborate fantasias, pavans and galliards and
many settings based on plainsong, notably his fine set of pieces
works designated In Nomine. His keyboard variations require
incredible virtuosic skill, especially the monumental set of thirty
variations based on the tune Walsingham, which was still
considered to be unplayable in England more than a hundred years
after they were written. Harpsichordists Peter Watchorn and Mahan
Esfahani will collaborate in this series, using a variety of fine
harpsichords and organs: the first ever to present the entire
keyboard output of this great but neglected master.
The
first volume in this unique series will be recorded in May, 2007,
for release in the Fall. The series will showcase a number of
different harpsichords including the following:
Two-manual harpsichord after Hans Moermans II, 1642 by Zuckermann
Harpsichords & Peter Watchorn
One-manual harpsichord after Hans Moermans I, 1584 by Hubbard
Harpsichords and Peter Watchorn
Mother and child virginal after Ruckers, by Hubbard & Broekman
Two-manual harpsichord after Andreas Ruckers, 1646, by Hubbard &
Broekman
Two-manual harpsichord after Johannes Ruckers, 1642, by Walter Burr
One-manual harpsichord after Andreas Ruckers, 1640, by Hubbard &
Broekman
Two-manual harpsichord after Johannes Ruckers, 1624, by Kevin Fryer
In addition, the organ volumes will feature the C. B. Fiske
Renaissance organ at Wellesley College, MA.
MO 0302: William Byrd:
Gradualia (1607)
Ensemble Plus Ultra, directed
by Michael Noone
Musica Omnia is pleased to welcome the exciting British-based vocal
ensemble, Ensemble Plus Ultra, directed by the
distinguished conductor and scholar, Michael Noone, in a new
recording of excerpts from the extraordinary and monumental 1607
Gradualia, a vast collection of Catholic music composed by
William Byrd (1543-1623) among the dangers and recriminations of
Protestant England.
MO
0303: Sweet was the Song
By special
arrangement with the Smithsonian Institution, Musica Omnia is proud
to announce the re-release of this wonderful 1990 recording of
traditional Christmas carols. Dutch baritone Max van Egmond, who is
well-known to Musica Omnia’s listeners for his great recordings of
Schubert and Bach (MO 0102, MO 0107-8, MO 0212, MO 0101, MO 0204)
is joined by members of the Smithsonian Chamber Players in this
exquisite collection of both familiar and lesser-known Christmas
carols, sung in a variety of languages and accompanied by some of
America’s specialist performers on baroque instruments.
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New Release News
November 2006:
Bach,
Schubert, Max van Egmond and Peter Watchorn are celebrating!
On the occasion of
Musica Omnia's
re-launch
in November, the label
celebrates three important birthdays this year - with
six (6)
exciting
new releases:
MO 0107
Franz
Schubert:
Die
schöne Müllerin
MO 0108
Franz
Schubert: Winterreise
MO 0102
Franz
Schubert: Schwanengesang
Robert Schumann:
Dichterliebe
MO 0203 Johann Sebastian Bach:
Missae
Breves
First,
Dutch baritone
Max van
Egmond's 70th birthday in February and the Musica Omnia
release of four important new recordings that document his
impeccable artistry. Three releases are devoted to his
unique
approach
to the German art song,
with complete performances of Schubert/Müller's two great song
cycles. In these, Max van Egmond is joined by distinguished
American pianist, Penelope Crawford, playing an original
Viennese instrument by Conrad Graf. The third is devoted to the posthumus collection
Schwanengesang,
coupled with Schumann/ Heine's great song cycle, Dichterliebe.
Here, Max van Egmond is accompanied
by pianist, Kenneth Slowik, director of the Smithsonian's
Chamber Music program, and a leading figure in America's period
instrument community.
A fourth release honouring
Max van Egmond, Musica Omnia also celebrates the 321st birthday of
Johann Sebastian Bach, a composer who has been central to Max
van Egmond's career.
In
this first release in our Bach Choral Music series, Max van
Egmond is featured soloist with America's exciting period
instrument vocal and orchestral ensemble, Publick Musick,
directed by Thomas Folan.
MO 0201 Johann Sebastian Bach:
Das
Wohltemperierte Clavier, Book 1
In addition, we celebrate Bach's 321st
birthday with the first release in our complete
Works for Harpsichord
series: The Well-Tempered Clavier
(Das Wohltemperierte Clavier)
that uses Bradley Lehman's
newly discovered Bach tuning,
deciphered from the
title page of Bach's autograph manuscript from 1722. Peter Watchorn
plays Book 1 on a pedal harpsichord, similar to an
instrument owned by Bach, which combines the clarity of the harpsichord with the
bass sonority of the organ.
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