Johann Krieger (1652-1735) won the esteem of Handel, no less, for the skill of his counterpoint and the inventive power of his organ music. For the theorist Mattheson, Krieger was likewise the pre-eminent exponent of complex counterpoint in his generation. Yet music-lovers have hitherto been able to sample Krieger's work only in excerpted compilations. The present album occupies a unique place in the catalogue as by far the most extensive recorded survey of Krieger, containing his two published collections of keyboard music. Album 1 is filled with the six harpsichord suites which were published in 1697 in Krieger's home town of NÃ¼rnberg, though by then the composer himself was employed as an organist in the Saxon town of Zittau: a post he filled for 54 years until his death. The Suites are themselves prefaced by an elaborate fantasia, and they contain the standard sequence of dance numbers - allemandes, courantes, sarabandes and gigues. Published two years later, the Anmuthige Clavier-Ãœbung was probably written earlier, and functions as a small library of preludes, ricercares, fugues, fantasias, toccatas and a chaconne, which are not grouped together by key. Both collections make clear that Krieger deserves to rank with Fischer, Kuhnau and Pachelbel as one of the outstanding German keyboard composers of the generation before Bach. Boccaccio has paid careful attention to the details of old fingering techniques; the resultant variety in phrasing and articulation gives new life to figurations that with a more modern legato approach can seem plain. As his own booklet note explains, he has also taken considered decisions about when discreet ornamentation can enhance the music's impact and when to let Sweelinck's notes

Tracklist:

Fantasia È Partita I In C Major: I. Fantasia
Fantasia È Partita I In C Major: II. Allemande
Fantasia È Partita I In C Major: III. Corrente
Fantasia È Partita I In C Major: IV. Sarabanda
Fantasia È Partita I In C Major: V. Gique
Menuet In G Major
Bourée In G Major
Gavotte In G Major
Partita II In D Minor: I. Allemande
Partita II In D Minor: II. Corrente
Partita II In D Minor: III. Sarabanda. Ledóuble
Partita II In D Minor: IV. Gique
Partita III In F Major: I. Allemande
Partita III In F Major: II. Corrente
Partita III In F Major: III. Sarabanda. Le Couble
Partita III In F Major: IV. Gique
Partita III In F Major: V. Menuet
Partita IV In G Major: I. Allemande
Partita IV In G Major: II. Corrente
Partita IV In G Major: III. Sarabanda
Partita IV In G Major: IV. Gique
Partita IV In G Major: V. Menuet
Partita V In A Major: I. Allemande
Partita V In A Major: II. Corrente
Partita V In A Major: III. Sarabanda. Le Double
Partita V In A Major: IV. Gique
Partita VI In B Major: I. Allemande
Partita VI In B Major: II. Corrente
Partita VI In B Major: III. Sarabanda. Le Double. Le Double. Variatio. Variatio. Variatio
Partita VI In B Major: IV. Gique
Partita VI In B Major: V. Rondeau
Menuet In A Minor
Bourée In A Minor
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: I. Praeludium In E Minor
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: II. Ricercar In E Minor
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: III. Ricercar In F Major
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: IV. Praeludium In F Major
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: V. Praeludium In G Major
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: VI. Fuga In G Major
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: VII. Ricercar In A Minor
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: VIII. Ricercar In B Major
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: IX. Praeludium In A Minor
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: X. Praeludium In B Major
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: XI. Fuga. Thema I In C Major
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: XII. Fuga. Thema II In C Major
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: XIII. Fuga. Thema III In C Major
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: XIV. Fuga. Thema IV In C Major
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: XV. Fuga À 4. Themati In C Major
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: XVI. Praeludium In C Major
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: XVII. Ricercar In G Minor
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: XVIII. Praeludium In G Minor
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: XIX. Fuga In D Minor
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: XX. Fantasia In D Minor
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: XXI. Praeludium In A Major
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: XXII. Toccata In Dmajor
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: XXIII. Praeludium In C Minor
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: XXIV. Giacona In G Minor
Anmuthige Clavier-Übung: XXV. Toccata Mit Dem Pedal In C Major

UPC: 5028421958736
Label: Brilliant Classics
Release Date: 8.28.20
Format: CD

Alejandro Casal - Complete Harpsichord & Organ (CD)