Johann Friedrich Fasch: Concertos and Symphonies 1720 - 1758

Fasch is one of the most outstanding composers of Bach’s time. In the twentieth century, there have been varying opinions regarding Fasch’s styles and contribution. Hugo Riemann (musicologist and among the founders of modern musicology) regarded Fasch as one of the most important pioneers between the Baroque and Classical eras. Even if Fasch in many ways can be seen as blazing the trail for the Classical period, his compositions are deeply rooted in the musical world of the Baroque, using the pattern of the concerto movement form developed by Vivaldi more uncompromisingly than Telemann, modern and unusual, and rich in harmonies in spite of all progressiveness such as in masterful treatment of the wind instruments in the concertos and the orchestral suites of the late Dresden period. in D minor for two flutes, two oboes, two bassoons, strings and b. c. 00:00:00 I Allegro, FWV L:d7 00:04:15 II Andante, FWV L:d7 00:07:59 III Allegro, FWV L:d7 2. Overture (Suite) in G minor for three oboes, bassoon, strings and b. c., first movement of 7, without tempo indication 00:12:44 Overture in G minor FWV K:g2 (1/7) 3. Concerto in C minor for two oboes, bassoon, strings and b. c. 00:22:29 I Allegro, FWV L:c2 00:26:26 II Largo, FWV L:c2 00:29:12 III Allegro, FWV L:c2 4. Concerto in D minor for oboe, violin, strings and b. c. 00:31:42 I Vivace, FWV L:d4 00:34:44 II Largo, FWV L:d4 00:37:12 III Allegro, FWV L:d4 5. Symphonia in A minor for strings and b. c. 00:40:33 I Allegro, FWV M:a1 00:43:41 II Andantino con sardinie piano, FWV M:a1 00:47:09 III Allegro, FWV M:a1 6. Concerto in G minor for oboe, strings and basso continuo 00:50:02 I Vivace, FWV L:g1 00:53:09 II Largo, FWV L:g1 00:55:58 III Allegro, FWV L:g1 7. Ouverture (Suite) in E minor for two oboes, bassoon, strings and b. c., first movement of 6, without tempo indication 00:59:35 Ouverture in A minor FWV K:e1 (1/6) Performed by: il Gardellino: Tracks 1, 4, 6 Il Fondamento: Track 2 Zefiro Baroque Orchestra: Track 3 Main-Barockorchester Frankfurt: Track 5 Cappella Coloniensis Orchestra: Track 7 While Johann Friedrich Fasch (1688-1758) was living, all of his compositional output was distributed by hand copied manuscript and none of it was published. Since Fasch’s death, the majority of his vocal music has been lost, while most of the instrumental works remain extant but scattered. Of the 63 extant concertos, 18 are solo concertos for various instruments. As a child, Fasch sang in choirs and at the age of 13 he was accepted as Johann Kuhnau’s first student at the Thomasschule in Leipzig where he befriended the young Georg Philip Telemann. It was in Leipzig that Fasch began practicing clavier and composition and having composed an overture with which he was pleased, Fasch signed Telemann’s name to the score as a “prank“ and presented it to the latter’s Collegium Musicum. To the composer’s joy, the ensemble read through the overture and accepted it as Telemann’s own. Fasch went on to form his own Collegium Musicum while a student at the University of Leipzig. As successful composer, Fasch was receiving commissions for operas performed at the Peter-Paul Festivals at Naumberg. Seeking more thorough training as a composer, he studied with C. Graupner and G. Grünewald. In the beginning of his professional career, Fasch held several brief positions: violinist in Bayreuth, organist in Greiz, and six months in the employ of one Count Morzin (Bohemian aristocrat from the Morzin family, from northeastern Italian region of Friuli, remembered today as the first person to employ the composer Joseph Haydn as his Kapellmeister, and the one who was Vivaldi’s patron, and dedicatee of The Four Seasons). By 1722, Fasch had apparently established a solid reputation that extended beyond Saxony and he was one of several musicians invited to apply for the vacant Thomas-Kantorat in Leipzig, a position eventually awarded to the J. S. Bach. While Fasch was at Zerbst, his works were transcribed and performed by Telemann, J.G. Pisendel, . Bach, and J.S. Bach. His son, Carl Friedrich Christian Fasch, also established a musical career serving (from 1756) as harpsichordist to Frederick the Great. On the cover: Interior of the of the east wing of the Zerbst Castle, (German: Schloss Zerbst) in the town of Zerbst, Saxony-Anhalt, where Fasch lived in this building and served as the court’s Kapellmeister for over thirty-six years from 1722 until his death in 1758. Zerbst Castle was a childhood home of Catherine the Great (born Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst) prior to being selected to marry the heir of the Russian Imperial throne in 1744. In 1945, during British and American bombing raids on the cities of the State of Saxony, thousands civilians perished and Zerbst Castle was severely damaged. Zerbst State Archives with Fasch collections, burned out completely. Only the ruins of the east wing were left standing and since 1945 stays in this state.