Geminiani: Good Taste in the Art of Musick, Music for Violin and B.C.

Featuring

Anna Kaiser
Johannes Berger
Sólrún Franzdóttir-Wechner
Hwa-Jeong Lee
Francesco Geminiani

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Historical Context

In the 18th century, London's flourishing public concert life and publishing conditions attracted many Italian musicians, who were highly popular with the English public.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Geminiani's treatise, The Art of Playing on the Violin, opens with the groundbreaking statement that music's intention is not only to please the ear but also to express sentiments and affect the mind.

Compositional Technique

Geminiani's treatise, The Art of Playing on the Violin, is one of the first violin schools in Europe with professional standards, distinguishing itself from simpler amateur compendiums.

Composer Biography

Francesco Geminiani, the composer, left his homeland of Lucca, Italy, in 1714 to pursue his career in London, Dublin, and Paris.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Geminiani developed the term 'Ornaments of Expression' to describe musical ornaments, assigning each a specific expressive content and technical instructions.

Composition History

Geminiani's treatises, Rules for Playing in a true Taste and Treatise of Good Taste in the Art of Musick, include arrangements and variations based on popular Scottish folk songs.

Performer Biography

Anna Kaiser, the violinist on this album, specializes in historical performance practice and regularly performs with ensembles like Ardinghello and Freiburger Barockorchester.