The Travel Journals of Charles Burney, Second Journey, Episode 9: Burney has meetings in Berlin and then travels to Hamburg to meet Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach.
Music historian, composer, and musician Charles Burney (1726-1814) had the ambition to describe the history of music. To achieve this, he embarked on two major journeys. His first journey in 1770 through France and Italy resulted in his book “Present State of Music in France and Italy”. Two years later, in 1772, Burney traveled through the Low Countries, Germany, and Austria and wrote “Present State of Music in Germany, The Netherlands, and the United Provinces.”
After visiting Potsdam, Burney returned to Berlin and made various visits. He met Johann Philipp Kirnberger, who was at that time a court musician for Princess Amalia of Prussia. In his book, Burney pays tribute to the Graun brothers who worked and lived in Berlin. Burney also travels to Hamburg to meet Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach.
Johann Philipp Kirnberger (1721-1783)
1. Sonata in B-flat major
– Adagio
– Allegro
– Tempo di Minuetto & Variation
Lingua Franca led by Benoît Laurent, oboe
(CD German Baroque Oboe Sonatas. Ricercar Ric 321)
Carl Heinrich Graun (ca. 1703-1759)
Three motets for choir and basso continuo:
2. Herr, ich habe lieb die Stätte deines Hauses
3. Lasset uns freuen und fröhlich sein
4. Machet die Tore Weit
L’arpa festante and Basler madrigalists led by Frits Näf
(CD Carl Heinrich Graun – Te Deum. CPO 777 158-2)
Johann Gottlieb Graun (1702-1771)
5. Symphony in E-flat major for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, strings, and bc
– Allegro
– Mesto e andante con sordino
– Allegro
Moderntimes_1800
(2CD Sinfonias from the Enlightment. Challenge Classics CC72193)
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
6. Cantata “Anbetung dem Erbarmer” WQ 243
– Choir: Anbetung der Erbarmer
– Acc. B: Wir standen weinend tief in Schmerz verloren
– Aria B: Ach! Ach! Als in siebenfält’ge Nacht sein haupt dahinsank
– Acc. T: Doch nun verwandelt sich der schüchterne Gesang der traurigkeit
– Aria S: Sei gegrüsset, Fürsty des lebens
– Rec. A: Die ihr ihn fürchtet, zaget nicht
– Choir: Herr, es sit dir keiner Gleich
– Choir: Chorale: Dank, si dir, o Friede fürst
Barbara Schlick, soprano. Hilke Helling, alto. Wilfried Jochens, tenor. Gotthold Schwarz, bass. Rheinische Kantorei and Das Kleine Konzert led by Hermann Max
(CD Bach Vokalwerke. Capriccio 10 208)
Image: Johann Philipp Kirnberger
