Froberger: Suites for Harpsichord, Vol. 2

Featuring

Gilbert Rowland
Johann Jakob Froberger

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Composer Biography

Johann Jakob Froberger, born in 1616, came from a family of court musicians in Stuttgart, and all four of his brothers also became professional musicians.

Composer Biography

Froberger received his early musical training from his father, Basilius, who was Kapellmeister at the Stuttgart Court Chapel, and from court organists Adam Steigleder and Johann Ulrich Steigleder.

Compositional Technique

Froberger's harpsichord suites often feature striking harmonies, irregular phrase lengths, and an individual use of cadences, influenced by French lute music.

Instruments

The harpsichord used for this recording is a 2-manual French-style instrument made by Andrew Wooderson in 2005, modeled after a Goermans instrument from Paris in 1750.

Compositional Technique

Froberger was adventurous in his choice of keys for the period, composing suites in unusual keys such as C minor, E flat major, E major, F minor, F sharp minor, B flat major, and B minor.

Composer Biography

Froberger served as organist at the Court of Vienna under Ferdinand III, who funded his studies with Frescobaldi in Rome and allowed him to travel extensively while still receiving his salary.

Composer Biography

Froberger's father, Basilius, had an extensive musical library of 103 volumes, including works by famous German composers like Schein, Schutz, Scheidt, and Praetorius, which Froberger could access.