Weckmann - Hpschd Works - J Katzschke (2004) [Philidor; FLAC]

In the 1640s, Emperor Ferdinand III and the Prince Elector of Saxony, Johann Georg, agreed to a friendly contest. Each pitted their court organist, respectively Froberger and Weckmann, against one another in a test of skill and improvisation. Froberger was far better known and older, so in a sense it was a test, really, for Weckmann. In any case, Froberger played first, and then Weckmann, taking for the start of his work a theme Froberger had included, played for over 30 minutes. When the latter had finished, Froberger is said to have cried out, "What a virtuoso!" and embraced Weckmann heartily. The two remained good friends, sending (and dedicating to) one another various works over time.

Weckmann suffers today from the same problem that afflicted many excellent composers of the Baroque and earlier, who spent all their life in court employ: their music was considered owned by their liege, and usually placed in a court library after their death. Fire and water damage, not to mention lack of proper maintanence over time, did all that was necessary to destroy much of what remained. Fortunately, someone did coalate (if clumsily) at an early period several manuscripts containing Weckmann's keyboard music. Where Froberger was adept at mixing the French and Northern Italian styles, Weckmann aims more to mix Northern German and Northern Italian. The result is more learned on the surface, but the music itself does not lack for charm and certainly not for invention.


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