Oswald: Sonatas for Violin & Basso Continuo

Capella Jenensis

CPO 555 478-2

When the devastation of the Thirty Years' War came to an end, Andreas Oswald the Younger, the son of a musician from Weimar, was just fourteen years old. When he died in 1665, he was barely more than thirty – an auspicious talent, relegated to the poorly-paid position of Eisenach city organist three years after the death of his art-loving Duke William IV of Saxe-Weimar. Although he died so young, Oswald had great potential. His surviving legacy includes eighteen sonatas for small instrumental ensembles of a maximum of four players, which are composed so skilfully and inventively that a wide expressive spectrum can be heard. They are at times rustic, sometimes meditatively floating, martial and solemn, or poetically contemplative. Oswald's use of form is unusually rich and experimental. His music shows great character in a period of post-war reconstruction, gradually rising and taking shape after so much senseless destruction.

As part of their ongoing mission entitled "Discover Tradition", Capella Jenensis is particularly interested in rediscovering Central Germany's rich musical heritage. The ensemble performs twelve Oswald sonatas including numerous first recordings, and as such brings together the few pieces of his which were previously strewn about here and there in various recitals. They recreate a sketch of this remarkable composer, who unfortunately was not granted a longer existence.

CD x 1

CPO

29.11.2023

761203547821