When I was a kid, a good Saturday afternoon was one spent watching “Creature Double Feature.” Now that the horrors are real, we may as well enjoy legendary harpsichordist Gustav Leonhardt, in a very silly wig. Leonhardt plays Johann Sebastian Bach – on this, Bach’s birthday – in “The Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach” (1968). The music is performed by Concentus Musicus Wien. Watch also for contributions by Bob van Asperen, Bernd Weikl, and Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Running time: 1 hour 32 minutes.
Tag: Gustav Leonhardt
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Jaap Schröder Dies Early Music Pioneer
With only hours remaining in 2019, the waning year lashed out to claim its last high-profile musical victim.
Violinist Jaap Schröder has joined his former colleagues, harpsichordist Gustav Leonhardt (d. 2012 at 83), flutist and conductor Frans Brüggen (d. 2014 at 79), and cellist Anner Bylsma (d. July 25 at 85) in the Great Beyond. The four recorded together, in various permutations, as chamber musicians and as members of Concerto Amsterdam.
Concerto Amsterdam was established by Shröder in 1960, employing members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. The ensemble started out playing on modern instruments, using historically-informed techniques, but gradually transitioned to period instruments.
Schröder was also director and concertmaster of the Academy of Ancient Music and served as visiting music director of the Smithsonian Chamber Players. He died on New Year’s Eve at the age of 94.
Bylsma, Schröder, Leonhardt and Brüggen (pictured, left to right) perform Telemann’s “Paris” Quartet No. 4
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Frans Brüggen Dies Period Instrument Pioneer
This is the second time I’m posting today. I wish I had better news. The conductor Frans Brüggen has died at the age of 79. Brüggen, who began his career as a recorder virtuoso, went on to become one of the leading lights of the period instrument movement. He cofounded the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century in 1981.
You have to love a man who named his daughters Zephyr and Eos. Thank you, Maestro, especially for your illuminating Rameau performances.
Here’s Brüggen playing a sonata by Willem de Fesch, with Gustav Leonhardt on the harpsichord:
And conducting a selection from Rameau’s “Les Boréades”:
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