The collection Hortus Musicus, by Johann Adam Reincken, consists of six partitas, each structured with a da chiesa sonata followed by four dance movements: Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, and Gigue.
Interpretation
The ensemble Stylus Phantasticus, founded in 1993, aims to awaken the listener's imagination and surprise them with the freedom, constraint, virtuosity, and expressivity characteristic of the stylus phantasticus.
Compositional Technique
A typical feature of Reincken's style in these partitas is the 'harmonic ostinato with several simultaneous pedal points,' where upper parts repeat figures on the same degree while the bass acts as a basso ostinato.
Composer Biography
Johann Adam Reincken, the composer, was a highly esteemed organist who was remarkably well paid for his time and studied with Heinrich Scheidemann, the organist of St. Katharine's church in Hamburg.
Composer Biography
Johann Sebastian Bach made several journeys on foot from Lübeck to Hamburg to hear and possibly take lessons from Johann Adam Reincken, the composer, who was a famous organist.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Reincken, the composer, viewed his instrumental music, including Hortus Musicus, as a glorification of God, indicated by the homage 'Soli Deo Gloria' on the title page.
