Trombone And Voice In The Habsburg Empire

Featuring

Christian Lindberg
Monica Groop
Olof Larsson
Björn Gäfvert
Joseph I (Holy Roman Emperor)
Johann Ernst Eberlin

Leopold Mozart
Johann Georg Zechner
Johann Georg Albrechtsberger
Georg Reutter
Georg Christoph Wagenseil

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Composer Biography

Emperor Joseph I, who reigned from 1705-1711, played the harpsichord and flute, and studied composition with court composer Alessandro Scarlatti.

Recording & Production

This album aims to rectify the oversight of the trombone's contribution as a melodic instrument to 18th-century sacred music.

Instruments

In 18th-century Austrian music, the trombone played a very important role, often performing lengthy obbligato solos of equal importance to the voice in various sacred works.

Composer Biography

Leopold Mozart, father of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, worked under Kapellmeister Johann Ernst Eberlin and considered him a 'thorough and finished master in the art of composition'.

Performer Biography

Christian Lindberg, the trombonist on this recording, is the first full-time trombone soloist in history and has inspired many composers to write for him.

Historical Context

The Habsburg rulers, from Maximilian I to Joseph II, were not only patrons of music but also accomplished performers and even active composers.

Composition History

Many works of the era were written for specific virtuoso trombonists, such as Thomas Gschlatt of Salzburg, Anton Bachschmidt of Melk, and Leopold Christian the younger of Vienna.