JJ Walther (1650-1717) Hortulus Chelicus No 28 Serenata a un coro di violini - Lucy van Dael, Violin

Hortulus Chelicus: No. 28, Serenata a un coro di violini - Johann Jakob Walther, Composer Lucy van Dael - Violin (Nicolo Amati, 1643) Wouter Möller - Cello Bob van Asperen - Harpsichord Baroque Violin Sonatas: Biber, Schmelzer & Walther ℗ 1993 Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin Released 05-01-1993 Producer: Sieuwert Verster Piece No. 28 from Hortulus Chelicus (1688) by the German Baroque composer Johann Jakob Walther is a highly eccentric, virtuosic work. Officially titled Serenata a un coro di violini, organo tremolante, chitarrino, piva, due trombe e timpani, lira todesca, it was originally written for: Violin (the primary solo instrument) Violin Choir (coro di violini) Organo tremolante (organ with a tremulant stop) Chitarrino (a small guitar) Piva (a type of bagpipe) Two Trumpets (due trombe) Timpani Lira todesca (German hurdy-gurdy/lira) This composition is a brilliant example of the stile fantastico and onomatopoeia, meant to imitate the sounds of various instruments, birds, and folk ensembles. Johann Jakob Walther (1650, Witterda bei Erfurt - November 2, 1717, Mainz) German violinist and composer. All the known facts of his life and activity are from the Musikalischen Lexikon by Johann Gottfried Walther (Johann Sebastian Bach's cousin), a dictionary which first appeared in 1732. J.J. Walther was born in Between 1670 and 1674 he is said to have remained a violinist in the orchestra of Cosimo III of the Medicis in Florence. From 1674 he was concertmaster at the court of Dresden. After the death of his patron in 1680 he became the Italian secretary at the elector's court in Mainz and was ordained a canon. He died in Mainz. Alongside Biber and Westhoff, J.J. Walther is one of the most significant German violinists of the 17th century. Besides a virtuoso technique including doublestops and arpeggios, his works display a wealth of formal devices, especially in the treatment of ostinato variations. 40 of his compositions are known, contained in two volumes: 1.) Scherzi da Violino solo con il basso continuo, published in 1676. This cycle anticipates Paganini's technique in that it contains pizzicato harp imitations while the bow imitates nightingale song. 2.) Hortulus chelicus published in 1688 (in the second printing of 1694 with the new title Wohlgepflanzter Violinischer Lustgarten). In the foreword, Walther expresses his confidence that this self-published volume will enjoy the same success as its predecessor. It contains 28 pieces and is more varied than the other collection.