The clavichord offers a unique listening experience with extreme dynamic contrast, mainly in the soft direction, and allows the player to control dynamics and even raise pitch through vibrato.
Performer Biography
Terence Charlston, the performer, is an internationally recognized specialist on early keyboard instruments and holds the position of Chair of Historical Keyboard Instruments and Professor of Harpsichord at the Royal College of Music, London.
Compositional Technique
Froberger's fantasias and canzonas are four-voice fugues, written on four staves, that imitate vocal polyphony and explore complex counterpoint.
Composer Biography
Johann Jacob Froberger, born into a Protestant family, became court organist to Ferdinand III in Vienna in 1637 and converted to Catholicism, with his life at court marked by extensive travels.
Instruments
The clavichord used for this recording is a reconstruction of a south German clavichord (MIM 2160) from the Berlin Musical Instrument Museum, made by Andreas Hermert in 2009.
Composition History
Froberger studied in Rome with Girolamo Frescobaldi, the greatest keyboard player of his age, shortly after his appointment in Vienna.
Recording & Production
This album features the complete fantasias and canzonas by Johann Jacob Froberger, a 17th-century composer, in their first recording on clavichord.
