Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Ostinato (2023) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

In music, "ostinato" (Latin obstinatus: "obstinate") is a repeated sequence of notes. A constantly repeated bass motif is perfect for improvisation - which in turn inspired many Baroque composers to write numerous masterpieces. Gunar Letzbor has put together a splendid programme from this fund of pieces, including the well-known Ciaconnas by Bertali and Schmelzer and two ostinato-dominated sonatas by the violin virtuoso Biber, but also works by lesser-known composers such as Georg Arnold, Heinrich Döbel and Johann Josef Vilsmayr.

In the question of the continuo instrumentation, the Ensemble Ars Antiqua Austria breaks new ground: according to new research, the magnificent Salzburg court, where Biber was Kapellmeister, had a special continuo accompaniment: for this magnificent instrumentation with lute, chitarra attiorba and colachone, the ensemble had the instruments specially reconstructed and now lets the "Salzburg lute continuo" be heard again on this recording.

Ars Antiqua Austria was founded in Linz in 1989 with the aim of introducing audiences to the roots of specifically Austrian baroque music played on period-instruments. The core of Ars Antiqua Austria comprises 8 musicians directed by Gunar Letzbor. The ensemble is readily augmented to accommodate a still wider repertoire. Recent tours have taken the ensemble to the Festival de la Musique Baroque at Ribeauville; Berlin Festival of Ancient Music; Festival Printemps des Arts at Nantes; Mozartfest at Würzburg with an opera production together with Michael Schopper; Tage alter Musik at Herne; Festival de Musique de Clisson et de Loire Atlantique amongst many.

TRACKLIST

01. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Violin Sonata No. 6 in C Minor, C. 143: I. —
02. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Violin Sonata No. 6 in C Minor, C. 143: II. Passacaglia
03. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Canzoni, ariæ, et sonatæ, Op. 3 (Excerpts): Capriccios Nos. 1-7
04. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Canzoni, ariæ, et sonatæ, Op. 3 (Excerpts): Capriccios Nos. 8-13
05. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Violin Sonata in C Minor, C. 107: I. Adagio
06. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Violin Sonata in C Minor, C. 107: II. Passacagli adagissimo
07. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Ciaconna in C Major
08. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Violin Sonata in A Major: I. —
09. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Violin Sonata in A Major: II. —
10. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Violin Sonata in A Major: III. —
11. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Violin Sonata in E-Flat Major: I. Prelude. Grave - Presto
12. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Violin Sonata in E-Flat Major: II. Aria. Tarde
13. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Violin Sonata in E-Flat Major: IIIa. Aria. Adagio
14. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Violin Sonata in E-Flat Major: IIIb. Passagalia. Allegro - Presto
15. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Violin Sonata in E-Flat Major: IV. Menuett
16. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Violin Sonata in E-Flat Major: V. Final
17. Ars Antiqua Austria & Gunar Letzbor - Ciaccona in A Major



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