Ars Antiqua Austria / Gunar Letzbor
Pro Adventu
- Type CD
- Label Challenge Classics
- UPC 0608917251326
- Catalog number CC 72513
- Release date 07 September 2012
About the album
Gregorius Josephus Werner (1695-1766)
Pro Adventu
Gregor Werner (1695-1766) began directing the fortunes of the Esterházy court band, the Hofkapelle, on 10 May 1728. He was an industrious man. Forty Masses, three Requiems, three Te Deums, four
Offertories, twelve Vespers, twelve Good Friday oratorios, approximately eighteen oratorios, a hundred and thirty-three antiphons and a multitude of instrumental pieces and minor works testify to his fertile creative spirit.
Little is known of his youth. He is sure to have spent an lengthy period in Vienna. The quodlibets “Bauren- Richters-Wahl” and “Der Wienner- ische Tandelmarkt” demonstrate an intimate knowledge of the Viennese background and spoken dialect in the Late Baroque period. His skilful counterpoint style suggests a connec- tion to the Court Kapellmeister J.J. Fux (1660-1741).
Werner seems to have found utter fulfilment in his work for the princely band. It seems he did not undertake any further travels. Isolated in the eastern region of the empire he wrote one musical gem after another. His oeuvre reveals the early a-capella style as well as the Baroque concer- tante style of the turn of the century.
As with Fux, there are no “lazy parts” in his counterpoint settings.
Throughout his life he remained true to the idiom of Baroque music-making and refused to adapt in any way to new fashions. Thus it is no wonder that he is supposed to have spoken disparagingly of Joseph Haydn as “G`sanglmacher” – “common songwriter” – and “Modehansl” – fashion lackey.
Nevertheless Haydn’s regard for this famous master was so high that he worked during the last months of his life on the edition and publishing of Werner’s quartets! What a delight that Werner's music is dusted off now by Ars Antiqua Austria!
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11Quartett (F major) Larghetto
02:40 -
12Quartett (F major) Vivace
01:57 -
13Quartett II (d minor) Largo
01:39 -
14Quartett II (d minor) Allegro
03:11 -
15Quartett IV (c minor) Grave
04:15 -
16Quartett IV (c minor) Allegro
02:42 -
17Cantilena pro Adventu ?
04:54 -
18Cantilena de immaculate ?
04:52 -
19Concerto a 5 parti: B Allegro
02:25 -
110Concerto a 5 parti: B Largo
02:10 -
111Concerto a 5 parti: B Tempo di Menuet
01:53 -
112Cantilena pro Adventu de immaculata conceptione Rezitativ: Maria Wurzel Davids
00:39 -
113Cantilena pro Adventu de immaculata conceptione Aria, Andante: Gleich wie der Lilien
03:48 -
114Pastorale in G a violini 2 Spirituoso
02:43 -
115Pastorale in G a violini 2 Larghetto
02:02 -
116Pastorale in G a violini 2 Vivace passato
01:57 -
117Aria pro Dominica prima Adventus Rezitativ: Seht! Wie der stolzen Schlangen Haubt
00:36 -
118Aria pro Dominica prima Adventus Aria, Larghetto: Gleich wie der reine Himmelsthau
02:27 -
119Quartett III (c minor) Adagio ma poco
01:28 -
120Quartett III (c minor) Allegro
01:39 -
121Quartett V (d minor) Adagio ma poco
01:36 -
122Quartett V (d minor) Allegro
01:53 -
123Quartett VI (g minor) Adagio ma poco
02:09 -
124Quartett VI (g minor) Vivace
02:29