The Great Violins, vol. 4 : Girolamo Amati, 1629
Johann Joseph Vilsmaÿr (1663-1722):
Artificiosus Concentus pro Camera, Distributus Sex Partes,
seu Partias à Violino Solo Con Basso Belle imitante
As well as being internationally recognised as a leading interpreter of music new and old, Peter Sheppard Skærved is the only violinist to have performed on the personal violins of Viotti, Paganini, Joachim, Kreisler and Ole Bull. In this new series, he plays music on these and many more instruments, many of which only he has access to.
Probably the best known work of J.J. Vilsmaÿr, his set of six partitas (or partias) of 1715 are perfect and relatively early examples of the baroque dance suite, and have found more popularity than many other contemporary works for the solo violin.
Peter plays a superb instrument labelled ‘Amati Brothers’ but in fact made by Girolamo (his brother had died by 1610) with the help of his son and successor Niccolò; it was probably one of the last violins on which Girolamo worked as he died in 1630.
1629 was the year in which the Great Plague swept through Italy; Nicolò found himself a lucky survivor and inheritor of the great Amati tradition. The spectacular instrument has a spruce front and single-piece maple back, with scroll and ribs in the early Cremona fashion. Skærved says that its extraordinary qualities (he has played it since 2013) have profoundly influenced his love for the violin and his understanding of what it can do. The violin is held in the collection of the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Track Listing
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Johann Joseph Vilsmaÿr (1663-1722):
Partita No. 1 in A major
- I. Prelude: Adagio-harpeggio (1:59)
- II. Aria: Allegro (1:02)
- III. Saraband: Adagio (1:28)
- IV. Gavott: Allegro-Variatio (1:28)
- V. Menuett (1:12)
- VI. Aria: Adagio-Allegro (1:40)
- VII. Menuett (1:02)
- VIII. Aria: Allegro (1:06)
- IX. Menuett (0:50)
- X. Guique: Presto (1:04) Partita No. 2 in B flat major
- I. Prelude: Adagio (1:24)
- II. Aria: Allegro (1:10)
- III. Saraband: Adagio (1:15)
- IV. Fantasia: Allegro (2:15)
- V. Menuett (0:51)
- VI. Aria (1:04)
- VII. Menuett (0:48)
- VIII. Gavott: Allegro (1:09)
- IX. Passpied (2:03)
- X. Ciaccona-Variatio-Variatio 2 (3:07) Partita No. 3 in C minor
- I. Prelude: Adagio (1:35)
- II. Courrant: Allegro (1:23)
- III. Aria (0:51)
- IV. Menuett (0:47)
- V. Aria: Allegro (0:51)
- VI. Canario: Presto (0:32)
- VII. Aria Lamentevole: Adagio (2:23)
- VIII. Menuett: Allegro (1:03)
- IX. Guique: Presto (1:50) Partita No. 4 in D major
- I. Prelude: Adagio (2:06)
- II. Aria (1:49)
- III. Menuett (1:14)
- IV. Brunada (0:53)
- V. Saraband: Adagio (2:03)
- VI. Aria: Allegro (0:34)
- VII. Menuett (1:30)
- VIII. Canario (0:56)
- IX. Passacaglia (2:53) Partita No. 5 in G minor
- I. Prelude: Harpeggio (1:24)
- II. Gavott: Allegro (1:45)
- III. Saraband: Adagio (2:04)
- IV. Rigodon: Allegro (1:26)
- V. Guique: Allegro (0:45)
- VI. Menuett (1:22)
- VII. Boure (0:58)
- VIII. Retirada: Allegro (1:16) Partita No. 6 in A major
- I. Prelude: Allegro-Aria (1:53)
- II. Saraband: Adagio (1:22)
- III. Aria: Allegro-Variatio (1:34)
- IV. Menuett (1:33)
- V. Aria: Allegro (2:04)
- VI. Menuett (1:04)
- VII. Aria: Allegro (1:23)
- VIII. Guique: Allegro (0:34)
- IX. Eccho (0:40)
- X. Aria Variata: Allegro (5:12)
Reviews
“One has to hope that these pieces are going to become better-known; they certainly deserve it. Peter Sheppard Skærved delivers excellent and stylish performances, with the help of the magnificent Amati violin. He has thoroughly analysed these suites and describes their features in detail in the booklet. That also contains extensive information about the violin.
” —Johan van Veen
“Both the instrument and the playing are beautiful. Neither Skærved nor Athene Recordings could have presented this any better than they have.
” —Henry Fogel
“The lovely 1629 Amati violin, featured in this latest volume of the intriguing Great Violins series from athene, seems an instrument with an ideal depth of subtlety and sonority to bring this music to life. Skærved’s easy virtuosity and his obvious deep love of this instrument facilitate relaxed and wonderfully eloquent performances of the music.
” —D. James Ross
“Another enterprising pairing of a 17th-century violin and composer yields some gems. The zeal of Peter Sheppard Skærved seems to have no end. My main feeling is gratitude that the Partias have been made available in this form.
” —Tully Potter
“Peter Sheppard Skærved continues his fascinating exploration of outstanding violins. Beautifully nuanced performances.
” —Terry Robbins
“Sound quality is a major attraction. These works exhibit a degree of seriousness that takes them beyond the “salon music” of their time into a realm with a greater sense of drama. And what a violin it is: a 1629 instrument by Girolamo Amati (1561-1630), with the warmth and splendidly even tone for which Amati instruments have long been renowned. Skærved is more than a virtuoso performer of these works: an exceptionally interesting CD.
” —Mark J. Estren
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