Molter: Orchestral Music & Cantatas Camerata Bachiensis

• 1 I. — 01:57
• 2 II. Andante 04:11
• 3 III. — 03:36
• 4 I. Aria In petto ho un certo affanno 06:59
• 5 II. Recitativo Ardo tacita amante 01:12
• 6 III. Aria l'adorar beltà che piace 05:57
• 7 I. — 04:06
• 8 II. Adagio 04:05
• 9 III. — 02:59
• 10 I. Allegro 02:04
• 11 II. Largo 03:05
• 12 III. Allegro 01:56
• 13 I. Overture 04:32
• 14 II. Paisan. Viste 01:38
• 15 III. Passecaille 02:51
• 16 IV. Menuet 01:17
• 17 I. Aria Care erbette amiche piante 07:45
• 18 II. Recitativo dilettissimo tirso 00:48
• 19 III. Aria colle ninfe e coi pastori 04:54
• Total Runtime 01:05:52

Info for Molter: Orchestral Music & Cantatas

Johann Melchior Molter (1696‐1765) was a younger contemporary of J.S. Bach. The two composers were born in small Thuringian towns half a day’s ride away from each other, and then travelled farther afield to make their names in major cities: Bach, south to Leipzig, Molter north to Karlsruhe.

The quantity of Molter’s extant music as well as its relative simplicity preclude more detailed comparison with the Kapellmeister of Leipzig, but he deserves to be known for a great deal more than the odd trumpet concerto which has made his name as part of the repertoires of (for example) Maurice Andre, Ludwig Guttler and John Wallace. This album valuably redresses that balance of neglect with historically informed studio recordings of vocal and chamber music which reveal a surprisingly cosmopolitan, vivacious and inventive personality in music. Most of these works are either hitherto unrecorded or long unavailable in any other version. Thus the album is essential listening for Baroque aficionados.

The cantatas show the influence of Molter’s three years of study and service in Venice and Rome between 1719 and 1721 when he could have rubbed shoulders with the likes of Vivaldi, Albinoni and Alessandro Scarlatti. Most of his vocal work is known to be lost to us, making these surviving works all the more treasurable. They were evidently written for a highly talented soprano in Karlsruhe, and Molter made full use of her ability to sing long, arching lines over a broad compass and with intense characterisation. Vivaldi and Scarlatti had already set the same texts, but Molter puts his own stamp on them.

Interspersed with the three cantatas are an elaborately ornamented A major Flute Concerto, a concertante Sonata for oboe and strings and a suite‐like B flat major Overture in the Telemann model with a grand, three‐part introduction succeeded by a sequence of dances. They likely date from earlier in Molter’s career, before his move to Karlsruhe, but are distinguished by the galant flourish to be found in the nascent Mannheim school of composers.

Camerata Bachiensis
Julia Kirchner, soprano
Roberto de Franceschi, oboe, flauto traverso

Camerata Bachiensis
Established in 2012, Camerata Bachiensis is an Early Music ensemble based in Leipzig, Germany. Performing on period instruments, the group strives to offer historically-informed performances that preserve a dynamic, personal and spontaneous approach to Early Music-making.

Camerata Bachiensis' repertoire consists primarily of 18th century sacred and chamber music, written by Central German composers who were either connected with J. S. Bach or influenced by local music traditions. Discovering and performing the forgotten or unknown music of both famous and nameless composers is an important goal for the ensemble; as a result, conducting research in libraries and archives - especially in the regions of Central Germany and Berlin - is an indispensable part of their work together. Thank to their flexible instrumentation, Camerata Bachiensis offers repertoire ranging from trio sonatas to orchestral works and cantatas, emphasizing variety and colour in their musical programmes.

The ensemble has given concerts at important Early Music festivals, including Bachfest Leipzig, Göttingen International Handel Festival and Telemann-Festtage Magdeburg. In addition to its main activity in Germany, the group has performed in France, the Netherlands, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovenia.

Camerata Bachiensis has obtained important recognition from numerous Early Music competitions. Since winning in 2013 the 7th International Telemann Competition (Magdeburg, Germany) and the 1st International 'Premio Selifa' (S. Ginesio, Italy), the ensemble has been awarded further accolades at the 6th International Graun Brothers Competition 2013 (Bad Liebenwerda, Germany), the International Van Wassenaer Concours 2014 (Utrecht, the Netherlands) and the Göttinger Reihe Historischer Musik 2014/2015 (Göttingen, Germany). In 2015, the group was selected for the eeemerging European Ensembles programme.

For the 2016/2017 season, the Bach-Museum Leipzig designated Camerata Bachiensis as its Ensemble-in-Residence. The group's first CD, featuring world premiere recordings of music by Johann Melchior Molter, will be released in 2016 by the Dutch label Brilliant Classics.

Booklet for Molter: Orchestral Music & Cantatas