Customer Reviews

Schmelzer: Unarum Fidium /Holloway * Assenbaum * Mortensen

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Schmelzer is well-known to wind musicians as a composer of suitable occasional music, well-constructed, sonorous, and not over-challenging. These pieces come as a revelation of a deeper musical spirit. They are modest and serene, and very thoughtful. What makes this CD special is the superb playing of John Holloway. I've heard him play many times, on disks and live, and I've never enjoyed his musicianship more. His tone on the gut strings of his baroque violin is as smooth and vibrant as fine dark chocolate.

That "Is this classical??" was a question from a colleague when I first put this CD on at work. The organ and harpsichord continuo produce such a "beat" that I could understand him needing to ask the question. The the violin begins to weave it's complex thread. By the second track my colleague had the answer to his question but was hooked.

It's a very seductive, atmospheric piece. Surely obscure stuff like this shouldn't be so accessible?

Those of us who have come to love the solo violin works of Biber have been gratified to learn that there are more riches to be fished from that 17th-century Austrian stream. Case in point, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (1620-1680), a composer/violinist who very possibly was Biber's teacher. In 1664 Schmelzer published his SONATAE UNARUM FIDIUM (Sonatas for one violin), the first collection of violin sonatas published by a German-speaking composer. Variation sets form the backbone of the first four sonatas, while the last two dispense with variations entirely, mingling dance movements with wonderful ruminative "monologues". Much of Biber's flavor and fragrance are in the music of his older colleague as well, although Schmelzer's music is more gently lyrical and less flamboyant.

There is only one earthly image that can be compared to John Holloway's violin playing: a fine stream of molten gold. A "rival" Schmelzer set exists in the form of Andrew Manze's recording on Harmonia Mundi; Holloway's general approach to the baroque violin is more mellow and introspective than Manze - more appropriate to the "elegiac, meditative, serene" qualities of Schmelzer which Holloway alludes to in his program notes. (At the same time, Holloway's stately style misses some of the dramatic potential in the powerfully emotional Fifth Sonata.) Holloway here experiments with an unconventional and sumptuous continuo combination: organ and harpsichord, each "realising the figured bass to the full harmonic, contrapuntal and rhythmic potential of their instrument" (to quote Holloway again). The recorded sound is a little more dry and intimate than others of Holloway's recordings which I have heard, with none of the "mystical" reverb of his Biber ROSARY SONATAS, for example. But as with the ROSARY SONATAS, Holloway brings out a spiritual dimension in these pieces which is far beyond mere technical showmanship. This CD is a must for lovers of 17th-century violin music.

This is the most beautiful CD. It's uplifting, tight, clean, crisp and vigorous. Great listening.

Although I encountered Romanesca (Andrew Manze)'s rendition first and still think they are good, Holloway's is richer in detail..... Obtain both, and then you can just ignore any other versions on the market.....

I love baroque music, though I am not an erudite, I can really say that Bertali's Ciaconna for violin is a sublime piece, and that any one who loves baroque should have.
It is surprising that this piece is so unknown and not interpreted by others, though I think it is difficult to perform it any better than Holloway.
I heard it through Netcape's internet radio, and was seducted by it as soon as I heard it.

Holloway again give me new experience to enjoy and know Schemelzer. He had been worked a few outstanding output to us, ex Biber, Muffat. The more important thing is that these musicians were the representatives of Austria-Germany royal composers, it showed more different style with France, and Italy. I am appreciated in Holloway's efforts to offer a series of introduction to individual music group.