Champagne.
It all really started on that (as usual) rainy Monday morning. Paolo and I were just having fun playing through some pieces we had never seen (what else do you do on a rainy Monday morning?). One of them was a Sonata in e minor by someone named Jacques Widerkehr. Publisher Musica Rara. Never heard of the guy. But what a piece! Melodious, surprising turns of phrase, virtuosity, flashes of humor, and exciting dialogue between piano and oboe. The slow movement is sweet and introverted and the last movement: full of daring, with even an occasional bit of real dramatic writing. All things that we would take for granted in the music of a real genius like Mozart. But with a totally B-list composer like Jacques Widerkehr, it came as a big surprise. The sonata felt very fresh, without any false pretensions.
But who exactly is this Jacques Christian Michael Widerkehr? Looked him up in the well known reference work ‘The New Grove’; “Jacques Christian Michael Widerkehr (l’ainé), French composer, born in Strasbourg, Alsace in 1759. Played cello, bassoon, and trombone.” And yet…. ‘The New Grove’ isn’t entirely sure about that, because that’s what a certain Philippe Widerkehr (le jeune) played as well. Another French composer, born in Strasbourg, Alsace. Philippe –that must be Jacques’ younger brother.
One thing ‘The New Grove’ is sure of: in 1783 Jacques Widerkehr moved to Paris where he was to achieve great fame as a composer. He was among the best-loved composers of the day in France. He owed his reputation to his chamber music, but especially to his “Symphonies Concertantes”. These were a novelty: solo concerti not for 1 soloist and orchestra, but for several soloists (from 2 to 7) with orchestra. According to another contemporary source, the “Biographie Universelle des Musiciens” by the critic and historian François Fétis, Widerkehr’s ‘symphonies concertantes’ were considered among the finest in that genre in France for many years……
Tracklist
Please note that the below previews are loaded as 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.Total time: 01:00:50
Additional information
| Label | |
|---|---|
| SKU | 19204 |
| Qualities | |
| Channels | 2ch Stereo, 5 Channel Surround Sound, 2ch Stereo & 5ch Surround |
| Artists | |
| Composers | |
| Genres | |
| Cables | van den Hul |
| Digital Converters | DCS AD/DA |
| Mastering Engineer | Jared Sacks |
| Mastering Equipment | B+W 803 diamond series |
| Microphones | Bruel & Kjaer, Schoeps |
| Mixing Board | Rens Heijnis custom made |
| Instruments | |
| Original Recording Format | |
| Producer | Jared Sacks |
| Recording Engineer | Jared Sacks |
| Recording location | Deventer Holland |
| Recording Software | Pyramix |
| Recording Type & Bit Rate | DSD64 |
| Speakers | AudioLab Holland |
| Release Date | April 3, 2014 |
Press reviews
Audiophile Audition
Highly recommended.
Flying Inkpot
(…) Schneemann deserves the highest praise for his ingratiating tone and interpretation (…)
Toccata
Ausgezeichnet!! (…) (…) Die instrumenten sind wunderbar und die Musik sehr angenehm. Es wundert also gar nicht das diese CD so gut gelungen ist.
Tijdschrift Oude Muziek
Bijzonder genietbare muziek, prachtig uitgevoerd op een kopie van een hobo uit 1810 en een pianoforte van Lagrasse uit 1815. Ik hoop dat u er net zo van kan genieten als ik, echt een vondst!! Hifi Video Magazine (…) verrassend melodieuze en elegante werkjes (…) (…) wat een zwoele toon – het lijkt waarachtig wel of Schneemann een beetje verliefd is op deze Widerkehr
Klassieke Zaken
melodieën rijkdom, harmonische kleuring, speelse humor en uitdrukkingskracht in deze verrassend frisse, degelijke muziek. De Menuetten zijn juweeltjes (…)
Telegraaf
charmante stukken van een componist die wist hoe hij het Parijse publiek kon behagen in een vroeg romantische stijl. Alle noten lijken in een sfeer van verliefdheid te zijn geschreven (…)
Luister
Widerkehr combineerde zijn muzikale gave met enkele prettige harmonische verrassingen (…) (…) Wat deze cd echter werkelijk de moeite waard maakt is het buitengewoon sprankelende spel van Bart Schneemann en zijn kompaan achter de piano Paolo Giacometti. De sonates die onder handen van mindere goden snel middle-of-the-road zouden kunnen klinken worden nu absolute kunstwerkjes. (…)
American Record Guide
Another Schneemann milestone (…) (…) musically this is all you could ask for (…)
BBC Music Magazine
Bart Schneemann plays them with exceptional fluency and neat phrasing, Paolo Giacometti is an accomplished if occasionally mannered partner. The recording is excellent.
International Record Review
Schneemann and Giacometti are a fine duo, and the oboe has a particularly characterfull sound. Schneemann’s technical comment of the instrument is also marvellous, and his partner is equally adept. These are very stylish and accomplished performances, never dry, and they obviously relish their discovery of this music. (…) (…) I cannot imagine better performances than what we have here. (…) (…) the recorded sound is admirable, if this is the kind of disc which appeals, don’t hesitate.
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