El Arte Mvsico, the ensemble on this recording, specializes in historical performance, using original instruments and period bows, and conducting thorough historical research for each program.
Composition History
A fire at Heidecksburg castle in 1735 destroyed most of Erlebach's compositions, saving only about 70 of his nearly 1000 works.
Composer Biography
Philipp Heinrich Erlebach, a central German composer, served as Kapellmeister at the court of Count Albert Anton von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt from 1681 until his death in 1714.
Recording & Production
This recording of Erlebach's VI Sonate is the first complete recording of the lesser-known version for two violins and basso continuo.
Compositional Technique
Erlebach used scordatura, a technique of altering the violin's normal tuning to suit the composition's tonality, in three of the six sonatas to achieve new sonorities.
Compositional Technique
These sonatas exemplify the typical German style of the era, blending Italian (slow-fast preludes), French (dance movements), and German (variation and imitative counterpoint) elements.
Composition History
Erlebach's VI Sonate were originally written for violin, viola da gamba, or a second violin, and basso continuo, allowing performers to choose the instrument.
