Graupner: Concertos & Overtures

Christoph Graupner's exquisite collection of concertos and overtures is a true masterpiece of Baroque music. Released on 19 October 2018 by Accent, this album showcases the composer's incredible talent for crafting beautiful and intricate orchestral pieces. The 21 tracks, spanning 1 hour and 13 minutes, feature a range of instruments, including flutes, oboes, and trumpets, each one expertly woven into the fabric of the music.

Under the skilled direction of Rien Voskuilen, who also performs on harpsichord, the musical group L'Arpa Festante brings Graupner's compositions to life with precision and passion. The album includes two concertos for oboes and trumpets, as well as two overtures for transverse flute in the French style, all of which are likely to have been written in the early 1730s.

Graupner's music is characterised by its gentle, serenade-like quality, with the soft tones of the chalumeau, a precursor to the modern clarinet, inspiring some of the most beautiful moments on the album. With its elegant and refined sound, this collection of concertos and overtures is a must-listen for fans of classical music. Christoph Graupner's legacy as a composer of orchestral instrumental music is finally being fully explored, and this album is a testament to his enduring talent and artistry.

Christoph Graupner, born in 1683, was a prolific German composer and harpsichordist of the late Baroque era, standing shoulder to shoulder with contemporaries like Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Philipp Telemann. Graupner's musical journey is marked by his impressive tenure as Kapellmeister at the court of Darmstadt, a position he held from 1711 until his death in 1760. His extensive body of work includes a staggering 1,442 cantatas, many of which are yet to be fully explored and appreciated. Despite his prolific output, Graupner remains one of the more overlooked figures of the Baroque period. His compositions, ranging from overture-suites to concertos and cantatas, showcase his mastery of the Baroque style and his ability to create deeply engaging and emotionally resonant music. Graupner's near-miss appointment as the cantor of St. Thomas' Church in Leipzig, a position that ultimately went to Bach, adds a layer of intrigue to his story, hinting at the competitive and dynamic musical landscape of the time.