The Accademia del Ricercare, the ensemble on this recording, strictly adheres to the performance practices described in Michael Praetorius's Syntagma musicum, a musical encyclopedia from the early 17th century.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Michael Praetorius, a prominent composer of the era, conceived an incredibly broad project including the sacred Musae Sioniae and its secular counterpart, the Musae Aoniae, which gives this album its title.
Composer Biography
Erasmus Widmann's final years were extremely difficult as his hometown, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, was a center of brutal battles during the Thirty Years' War, and he, his wife, and daughter died in an epidemic.
Performer Biography
Pietro Busca, the conductor and artistic director, founded the Accademia del Ricercare in 1989, which has since won multiple international awards.
Historical Context
The instrumental music in the region of present-day Germany during the 16th century was highly diverse, reflecting both stylistic development and the political fragmentation of the area.
Compositional Technique
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Erasmus Widmann did not write suites but independent dance movements, each "baptized" with a woman's name, suggesting a descriptive intention.
Composer Biography
Erasmus Widmann, a composer featured on this album, had a tumultuous personal life, including breaking two marriage promises before marrying a third woman, which forced him to leave Austria.
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Benda: Violin Sonatas
Music for Alfonso the Wise
Giglio fiorentino
Utendal: Fröliche neue teutsche und frantzösiche Lieder
The Virtuoso Violin
Corrette, M.: Symphonies des noels / Concertos comiques
Schaffrath: Trios & Sonatas
Mayr: Concertos
Demachi: Chamber Music
Note Femminili: Compositrici Lombarde dal XVII al XIX Secolo
