Beethoven wrote many arrangements of folk songs, frequently at the behest of the Scottish publisher George Thompson. This collection of songs from places including Ireland, Wales, and Scotland often goes beyond the simple, amateur-friendly versions that Thompson envisaged, requiring a small ensemble of violin, cello, and piano to accompany singers Paula Sophie Bohnet, Daniel Johannsen, and Georg Klimbacher.
Featuring
Paula Sophie Bohnet
Georg Klimbacher
Daniel Johannsen
Josef Herzer
Bertin Christelbauer
Bernadette Bartos
Ludwig van Beethoven
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Composition History
Beethoven's collaboration with George Thomson, the commissioner of these folk song arrangements, was marked by disagreements, particularly regarding the simplicity of the arrangements for amateur performers.
Performer Biography
Baritone Georg Klimbacher's debut album, #talesoflove, won the Bank Austria Art Award.
Historical Context
The late 18th century saw a widespread interest in folk music, exemplified by Herder's 'Stimmen der Völker in Liedern' (Voices of the Peoples in Songs), with Scotland being particularly appealing to Romantic sensibilities.
Composition History
George Thomson, a clerk in Edinburgh, commissioned Beethoven to arrange Scottish, Irish, and Welsh folk songs for his collections.
Performer Biography
Daniel Johannsen, the tenor on this album, is a prizewinner in several international competitions, including the International Robert Schumann and Wigmore Hall/Independent Opera International Song Competitions.
Composition History
Beethoven insisted on seeing the texts of the folk songs he was setting, which was challenging as many had not yet been written, and some were in Scots, Welsh, or Irish.
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