Andreas Hammerschmidt: Du bist schön und lieblich (You Are Beautiful & Lovely)

The deliciously erotic aspects of the text of the Song of Solomon inspired a great many composers during the 17th century, although it remains curious that even the strictest Lutheran composers could not resist setting it to music. The majority of Hammerschmidt’s pieces on this text are written for soprano or tenor voices; these obviously represent the two protagonists, the beloved and the lover. This programme is built around these works, creating an entertainment — a small sacred opera —in which evocations of love or sensual dialogues are framed by dances and instrumental pieces. Works by Andreas Hammerschmidt, Johann Vierdanck, Dieterich Buxtehude, Thomas Strutz and others.

The violinist Stéphanie de Failly founded Clematis in 2001 with the intention of concentrating on the lesser-known repertoire of the 17th century. Clematis is very much concerned with Italian instrumental music of the 17th century, and in particular with the development of the violin repertoire; this can be seen in their recordings of works by Carlo Farina, Giovanni Battista and Tomaso Antonio Vitali.

Clematis, period ensemble
Capucine Keller, soprano
Maxime Melnik, tenor