The album explores the Baroque concept of melancholy, which was associated with genius, deep reflection, and the transience of life, as depicted in Albrecht Dürer's 'Melencolia I'.
Composition History
Johann Jacob Froberger's 'Plainte' was composed after he was robbed by pirates during a crossing from Calais and subsequently humiliated at a concert in London.
Instruments
The harpsichord, known as the 'Anonyme Collesse' after its 1748 modification, required 2500 hours of work for its reconstruction and restoration.
Instruments
The harpsichord used for this recording is an anonymous French instrument from the late 17th century, which was extensively restored between 2000 and 2004.
Performer Biography
Andreas Staier has received numerous international awards for his recordings, including the 'Ehrenurkunde' from the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik in 2002 and 'Artist of the Year' by Diapason magazine in 2006.
Album & Artwork
The album title, '…pour passer la mélancolie', is taken from a piece by Johann Jacob Froberger, which translates to 'to pass the melancholy'.
Performer Biography
Andreas Staier, the harpsichordist on this album, was previously the harpsichordist for the ensemble Musica Antiqua Köln for three years.
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