Tuesday, July 12, 2016

String Chamber Music by 18th Century Bohemian Composers - Soijka Quartet (2016)

String Chamber Music by 18th Century Bohemian Composers 
Performer : Soijka Quartet
Label : TYX Art
Release : July 2016   BUY IT HERE

This is a series of largely forgotten Bohemian composers done by TYX Art label. In this CD four composers are submitted a piece of chamber music, well, three of them are string quartets. Of course the Czech string quartet had been familiar by the works of Johann Baptist Wanhal, Pavel Vranicky, Franz Krommer or Antonin Rejcha. The four of composers we introduced are lesser known by us, who are: Antonin Kammel, Florian Leopold Gassmann, Franz Koczwara, and Anton Zimmerman. A tasty feast for string quartet lovers as these quartet are wonderful in presentation.

The CD notes :

The goal of the Joachim Wollenweber Edition is to turn the publics attention to classical and romantic composers who have been largely forgotten. This release is the fifth album in the series, and is dedicated to four 18th century Bohemian composers, Antonin Kammel, Florian Leopold Gassmann, Franz Koczwara, and Anton Zimmerman. Performing these works is the Sojka String Quartet, which was founded by music students at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague in 2009. The ensembles focus is classical music, and contemporary works from the Czech republic. 

Antonín Kammel (born 1739 in Běleč / Biel Adige, died in 1784 in London) was formed according to studies in his home of Giuseppe Tartini in Padua. In 1765 he went to London, where he apparently wrote only instrumental music, mostly in occupations for Strings. The String Quartet in B flat major is the second plant of a set of six quartets, printed as Opus 7 in London (undated).

Florian Leopold Gassmann (born 1729 in Most / Most, died in 1774 in Vienna) came after studies at Padre GB Martini in Bologna initially produced primarily as an opera composer in Venice. Since 1763, he worked as a "court and Kammercompositor" in Vienna and helped the court orchestra to new heights. The String Quartet in C major is the second one in 1804 published collection of six quartets.

Franz Koczwara (born in 1750 in Prague, died in 1791 in London) spent his mature years in England, where he was a member of various orchestras, most recently as a double bass player at King '€ ™ s Theatre in London. The Sonata for Two Violas and Cello in C major is the sixth of a collection of sonatas for various occupations, which was published about 1775 in London.

Anton Zimmermann (born 1741 Breitenau / Široká Niva, died in 1781 in Pressburg / Bratislava) was in the service of the Archbishop (later Cardinal) and Primate of Hungary Joseph Batthyány in Preߟburg for which he established, among other things, a chamber orchestra since 1776th His String Quartet in F major is the third work of the six quartets Op. 3, which were created in 1770 and published about 1777th

written by : Andreas Wehrmeyer 

The Sojka string quartet went from students of the Music Faculty of Prague's Academy of Performing Arts (AMU) produced. Since 2009, it plays in the cast: Martin Kos and Martin Kaplan (violin), Josef Fiala (Viola) and Hana Vítková (cello). Priorities of the ensemble are the music of classical and contemporary music in the Czech Republic. Since 2012 the musicians have also been multiple guests abroad. 2015 was the quartet he has concerts in Japan and worked on feast days for contemporary music in Prague.


CD-Programm / Trackliste: - BUY IT HERE

Antonín Kammel (1739 – 1784)
Streichquartett B-Dur (op. 7 Nr. 2) /
String Quartet B Flat Major (op. 7 No. 2)
I Allegro,
II Andante espressivo,
III Tempo di Menuetto

Florian Leopold Gassmann (1729 – 1774)
Streichquartett C-Dur /
String Quartet C Major
I Andante,
II Allegro, Menuetto – Trio,
III Allegro

Franz Koczwara (ca. 1750 – 1791)
Sonate für zwei Violen und Violoncello C-Dur /
Sonata for Two Violas and Cello C Major
I Andante espressivo,
II Adagio,
III Rondo (Allegro)

Anton Zimmermann (1741 – 1781)
Streichquartett F-Dur (op. 3 Nr. 3) /
String Quartet F Major (op. 3 No. 3)
I Andante un poco Adagio,
II Menuetto (Allegretto) – Trio, Allegro, Menuetto – Trio,
III Finale – Allegro non molto