Wilms: The Piano Concertos, Vol. 1

Featuring

Michael Alexander Willens
Ronald Brautigam
Kölner Akademie
Johann Wilhelm Wilms

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Cultural Impact

One of Wilms's songs was chosen as the Dutch national anthem ('Wien Neêrlandsch bloed') in 1815, a special distinction for him.

Composer Biography

After personal tragedies, including the deaths of his wife and two children, Wilms left the concert stage in 1823 to become an organist at the Mennonite Church 'Bij 't Lam'.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Wilms suffered from the prevailing taste for light entertainment in Amsterdam, yearning for 'something higher, more meaningful' in music, as noted by E.T.A. Hoffmann.

Critical Reception

For several years, Wilms's popularity in Amsterdam concert programs surpassed that of Beethoven, and he gave Amsterdam premieres of piano concertos by Mozart and Beethoven.

Performer Biography

Ronald Brautigam, the fortepiano soloist, is known for performing at the highest level on both modern and period instruments, and has an acclaimed discography on the BIS label.

Composer Biography

Johann Wilhelm Wilms, born near Cologne, moved to Amsterdam in 1791 and became successful as a piano virtuoso, composer, flautist, organist, and music critic.

Compositional Technique

Wilms's first three piano concertos show a fondness for unusual key choices for their middle movements, sometimes using a parallel or mediant key, departing from Mozart's usual practice.