Fritsch dedicated his dance collection to Duke Adolf Friedrich I and Duke Johann Albrecht II of Mecklenburg, who were his instrumental music pupils in Leipzig.
Recording & Production
The album's title, '... und weil die Music lieblich ist' (and because music is lovely), is taken from one of Balthasar Fritsch's songs featured on the recording.
Instruments
The viols used in this recording were custom-made by Robert Foster in 2001 and 2002, modeled after instruments depicted in a 1540 South German painting called 'Castalius der Brunn'.
Compositional Technique
Fritsch's 1608 vocal collection features German songs set for five voices 'in the manner of Italian madrigals'.
Composition History
Balthasar Fritsch's dance collection, titled 'Primitiae Musicales', was his first musical work.
Interpretation
Although Fritsch provided vocal texts for all five parts in his vocal pieces, it was common practice at the time to perform such compositions with voices and/or instruments ad libitum.
Composer Biography
Very little is known about the composer Balthasar Fritsch beyond the information provided in his two published music collections from 1606/07 and 1608.
