Johann Friedrich Fasch: Orchestral Works, Vol. 4 in Bloomington, MN

The German composer
Johann Friedrich Fasch
is known to general listeners, if at all, through a
Trumpet Concerto in D major
that is programmed with great frequency due to the general paucity of solo repertory for the trumpet. But
Tempesta di Mare
, also known as the
Philadelphia Baroque Orchestra
, has been delving into the composer's large orchestral output on a series of albums, of which this is the
fourth
, and finding music that ranges from listenable to revelatory, much of it all but unknown.
Fasch
was born just three years after
Bach
, but his music reflected a later stage, with a good deal less polyphony and a good deal more melody. Consider the
Sinfonia in B flat major
included here.
wrote quite a few of these works, which could simply be called symphonies, and they are not just orchestral works given the name Sinfonia for lack of a better word, but true examples of the form, relying on strongly shaped harmonic structures. The program includes two orchestral suites that might be mistaken for
(indeed,
admired
, and some of
's works have been wrongly attributed to
over the years), but they breathe a more gallant spirit. Sample one of the Gavottes for an idea. The
Violin Concerto in G major
here will be welcomed by violinists seeking a change from the usual
Vivaldi
and Company.
's playing may need a bit more tempesta, but one's mileage may vary, and this is certainly worth hearing for those curious about the sources of the Classical style. ~ James Manheim