musica Dei donum
CD reviews
Johann Baptist Schiedermayr: Sacred and instrumental works
Stefan Pangratz a, Daniel Hinterbergerb, soprano; Simon
Schnorrc, tenor; Martin Danesd, bass; Hans Maiere,
organ
Tölzer Knabenchor (Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden)f; Arsatius-Consortg,
Tubicines Camerales Pragensesh (Georg Brunner); Markus Hankei,
organ
rec: June 1999, Bad Tölz, Stadtpfarrkirche; Aug. 1999, München - Berg am Laim,
Stadtpfarrkirche St Michael
Musica Bavarica - MB 75 125 (57'56")
FX Schiedermair: Neue Orgel- und Klavierstücke: andantino; andantino
graziosoe; JB Schiedermayr: Mass in G, op. 33abcdfgi;
Vesperae op. 42: Laudate Dominumabcdfgi; IV Linzer Redouten-Menuette
mit Triosg; VI Moderne Aufzügeh; Offertorium Domine
exaudi, op. 35aeg; VI Orgelstücke, op. 76: adagio arioso; fuga
(allegro moderato)e
This CD is devoted to two members of an Austrian family of several composers.
Two of them, Johann Baptist Schiedermayr and Franz Xaver Schiedermair, are
represented on this recording with sacred music, and organ and instrumental
pieces.
Johann Baptist Schiedemayr (1779 - 1840) had intended to be a monastic, but the
secularization of 1803 prevented that. In 1804 he went to Linz and in 1810 he
became organist at Linz Cathedral. In 1821 he also took charge of the
Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde of the Linz Musikverein. In 1833
the Musikverein started a musical institute; Schiedermayr became the
singing teacher. Between 1812 and 1839 he was Kapellmeister of the Linz Theatre
as well.
Schiedermayr's music was very popular in the south of Germany and Austria well
into the 19th century. It was his intention to compose pieces which were easily
accessible and relatively simple to perform. Stylistically his music is close
to the classical style.
The main work on this CD is the Mass in G, op. 33, which contains the
Graduale Salvum me fac and the Offertorium Converte me; the Gloria
and Credo are abridged, like in many mass settings of that time. There are two
other sacred pieces: the 'Laudate Dominum' from the Vespers op. 42, and
the Offertorium 'Domine exaudi' op. 35.
The performance by the Tölzer Knabenchor - from Bavaria - has a strong
atmosphere of authenticity. The solo parts are sung by members of the choir.
In particular the contributions of the trebles Stefan Pangratz and Daniel
Hinterberger are impressive. One wonders if these works would have been
performed equally well in the parish churches at the countryside, in particular
since the solo parts of the trebles are not that simple.
In addition there are some instrumental works by Schiedermayr: some menuets
with trios he composed for the National-Redoutensaal (= ballroom) and the
Casino, as well as six Moderne Aufzüge for 4 trumpets and timpani,
composed for the Corpus Christi procession, in the tradition of the Aufzüge
of the baroque era. All these works are given fine performances on period
instruments by the Arsatius-Consort and the Tubicines Camerales Pragenses
respectively.
Lastly, there are some organ works, not only by Johann Baptist Schiedermayr,
but also by another member of his family, Franz Xaver Schiedermair (1782-1833),
organist in Straubing. These are stylishly played by Hans Maier.
The booklet gives adequate information about the composer and his music, but
unfortunately only in German. It seems the producers of Musica Bavarica don't
want people outside Germany to know what Bavarian music history has to offer.
The texts of the works sung on this CD are not given as well. Shame on you!
This is not great music by any means, but it is nice to listen to. And it is
important to know what kind of music was composed and performed outside the
important cultural centres of the early 19th century. From that perspective one
could consider this recording an important addition to or even correction of
our picture of music history.
Johan van Veen (© 2002)
Relevant links:
Tölzer Knabenchor
Arsatius-Consort
Musica Bavarica