Religious music. As might be expected, this edition of Missa etcetera is dedicated to the Christmas celebrations. We look ahead to this important festival with celebratory and at times quiet music by Alessandro Scarlatti, Johann Philipp Käfer and Johann Kuhnau.
The least well known of the three, Johann Philipp Käfer, worked as organist at the court of Duke Henry of Saxe-Römhild. He later succeeded Giuseppe Boniventi, a pupil of Giovanni Legrenzi, as capellmeister at the court of Margrave Karl of Baden-Durlach. For this court chapel, Käfer also composed several operas together with his son Johann. In 1722 he came into conflict with the margrave about salary and leave, after which he was dismissed. After that, he settled in Pforzheim, where he worked as a music teacher.
Playlist
- Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725) – Cantata pastorale da camera, H. 476: Non so qual più m’ingombra (1716)
Carlotta Colombo, soprano / Orchestra Ghislieri conducted by Giulio Prandi
(CD label: Arcana No. A587) - Johann Philipp Käfer (1672-1728) – Christmas cantata: Es ist Euch heute der Heiland geboren
La Protezione della Musica conducted by Jeroen Finke
(CD label: Arcantus No. ARC 24056) - Johann Kuhnau (1660-1722) – Christmas cantata: Frohlocket, ihr Völker, und jauchzet, ihr Heiden
Jessica Jans, soprano / Franz Vitzthum and David Erler, countertenor / Daniel Schreiber, tenor / Florian Hartmann, bass / Kammerchor der Christuskirche Karlsruhe and L’arpa festante conducted by Christoph Hesse
(CD label: Christophorus No. CHR77479)Addition: - Johann Philipp Käfer – Part I Sonata in G major ‘Allegro’
La Protezione della Musica conducted by Jeroen Finke
(CD label: Arcantus No. ARC 24056)
Image: Johann Kuhnau on the cover of Neue Clavier-Ubung (in possession of Sotheby’s)
