Kuhnau: Keyboard Works

Album Description

Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Baroque keyboard music with Johann Kuhnau's "Keyboard Works," a captivating collection released on Harmonia Mundi in 1992. This two-disc set offers a comprehensive exploration of Kuhnau's mastery, featuring a diverse range of sonatas and biblical sonatas that showcase his compositional prowess and deep understanding of the keyboard repertoire.

Kuhnau, renowned for his organ playing and his significant contributions to the keyboard literature, presents a fascinating array of styles and techniques in this album. The "Fresh Keyboard Fruits" sonatas display his innovative approach to composition, while the "Biblical Sonatas" offer a vivid musical narrative of biblical stories, bringing the scriptures to life through his evocative and expressive writing.

Performed expertly on the harpsichord and clavichord by John Butt, this album captures the essence of Kuhnau's music with clarity and precision. The performances are both technically impressive and deeply engaging, providing a window into the world of Baroque keyboard music.

With a duration of 1 hour and 47 minutes, this album is a substantial and rewarding listening experience. It is an essential addition to any collection of Baroque music, offering a unique perspective on the keyboard works of Johann Kuhnau, a composer who significantly influenced the development of the genre. The album's detailed track listing, including sonatas and biblical narratives, ensures a varied and engaging journey through Kuhnau's musical legacy.

1 januari 1992

1992 harmonia mundi usa

About Johann Kuhnau

Johann Kuhnau was a remarkable German polymath whose legacy endures primarily through his compositions, though his talents extended far beyond music. As the Thomaskantor in Leipzig for 21 years, Kuhnau wore many hats—novelist, translator, lawyer, and music theorist—all while creating a rich tapestry of choral works. Today, he is best remembered for his Biblical Sonatas, a collection of programmatic keyboard sonatas published in 1700. Each sonata vividly depicts a specific biblical story, showcasing Kuhnau's unique ability to blend narrative and music. His tenure at Leipzig was followed by the illustrious Johann Sebastian Bach, cementing his place in musical history. Despite the loss of many of his larger vocal works, Kuhnau's innovative approach to musical storytelling continues to captivate audiences and inspire musicians.