Partiturbuch (Ensemble Echo Du Danube)

這張Partiturbuch收錄了當時十七世紀德語國家的宮廷器樂曲。如果仔細看這張CD所收錄的作曲家，大部份作曲家過逝年份，音樂之父巴哈連出生都還沒有。因此，這張CD上的作曲家們，可說真的都是他的大前輩。

這個Partiturbuch的編輯者為Jacob Ludwig，先後在Wolfenbüttel和Gotha的宮廷擔任音樂家。1662年，當他已經轉到Gotha宮廷時，想必是感謝前任顧主，Wolfenbüttel的Augustus公爵，便在Augustus的生日的時候獻上作為生日禮物。


Partiturbuch裡的曲子大部份為當時的奏鳴曲或是由頑固低音(ground bass / bass obstinato)開始的變奏曲形式，如夏康舞曲(Chaconne)。其實，當時十七世紀所謂的「奏鳴曲」(sonata)，都不同於之後晚期巴洛克較成熟的多樂章奏鳴曲，更別說日後西方古典樂的傳統奏鳴曲形式。這些奏鳴曲大多是單樂章，雖然一首奏鳴曲中也是聽得出來是有分段落的。這些段落，可以是速度上和情境上的不同，也可是曲風的不同，甚至可採變奏曲的形式。換句話說，當時的奏鳴曲是一個非常自由的曲式，目的主要是讓作曲家不要受任何原有存在的曲式的限制。不過，很多當時的奏鳴曲仍有一個頑固低音做為主軸或是開端，使音樂自由地發展。

Partiturbuch有有收錄的作曲家，如不是聽古樂，會包你聽都沒聽過。裡面最多作品的作曲家，莫過於Antonio Bertali，在之前的文章中有提過。他是出身於Verona的義大利音樂家，不過之後到奧地利的Habsburg王朝的宮廷裡當音樂家，甚至做到音樂總指揮(Kapellmesiter)。他在維也納一直待到他過逝為止。Partiturbuch裡有差不多一百多首作品，而這張CD選了其中十一首曲子作為精選。除了上述的Bertali以外，還有Schmelzer算是當今還算比較有名氣的古樂作曲家。CD上剩下的作曲家，也是我第一次見到，足以讓我大開眼界。

錄這張CD的樂團叫Ensemble Echo du Danube，是奧地利的古樂團。他們的表演風格很穩健，表現很稱職，特別是這種早期巴洛克變奏曲性質的音樂，他們的速度上選擇也恰到好處。通常這些曲子開頭都是簡簡單單幾個音符，慢慢編織出一整個新的世界，樂句越來越複雜，有時還會越來越炫。Ensemble Echo du Danube醞釀地剛剛好，開始時不會無聊，在高潮時也不會喘不過氣來。

Echo du Danube這張CD唯一讓我不滿意的地方，是他們錄那首Bertali最有名的Chaconne的時候，別的音樂家大部份都是飛快在拉，表現他們的小提琴技巧。Echo du Danube卻是放慢了將近有十倍，讓我感覺是CD突然壞軌一樣。除此之外，主要小提琴家的琴的聲音有時有點單薄，不過這是巴洛克小提琴本身的特性，也是之後錄音師的之後的選擇。這其實不影響欣賞這些音樂的條件。

在數字低音的伴奏樂器中，常常少不了風琴或是大鍵琴。其實二者的感覺給人完全不同。大鍵琴的音色比較清脆，讓氣氛變得比較輕鬆些。而風琴的音色比，比較厚，使得小調的曲子，音樂變得沉重，甚至悲傷。但換做是大調的曲子，則有一種超脫世俗的感覺。這種感覺，我在最後一首Schnittelbach的夏康裡感觸最深。在這張CD中，可接觸到更多早期不為人知的作曲家寫出的動聽樂曲，實在是收穫良多。


The Partiturbuch is exactly what the CD cover describes - instrumental music of the courts of 17th century Germany.  The Partiturbuch was compiled by Jacob Ludwig, court musician at Wolfenbüttel and then Gotha.  It was presented to his former employer, Duke Augustus of Wolfenbüttel, in 1662 as a birthday present.

The collection includes about one hundred pieces from the 17th century German speaking regions, from the Hanseatic cities of the North, Middle Germany, and even the great Viennese Habsburg Dynastic in Austria.

Most of the pieces are sonatas, while others are works built on top of a ground bass, like the ciaconnas (chaconne).  Even many of the sonatas are variation-like in nature, as it was a very popular form of music at the time.  The composer featured the most in the collection is Antonio Bertali, whose famous Chaconne I reviewed earlier.   Although born in Verona, Italy, Bertali would be employed by Emperor Ferdinand II of Habsburg.  He would remain in Vienna up until his death.

This CD gives a slice of many different composers from the Partiturbuch, some which I have never even heard prior, with Bertali and Schmelzer being the two I do recognize.  Interestingly, Ensemble Echo du Danube cannot resist recording the famous Chaconne in C for solo violin.  Along with John Holloway and Rare Fruits Council's recording, this is my 3rd recording of the piece.  I am aware of the Freiburg Barockconsort's recording on CPO, which is also on my list to buy in the future.

For some reason, I love pieces built on top of a ground bass, and the assortment of sonatas and chaconnes on this disc is just a treat for me.  Ensemble Echo du Danube plays the pieces with ease and smoothness.  The tempi of their playing is good, as they slowly build towards the most intricate  passages.  The violins can sound occasionally thin, but this is nothing to detract from the otherwise enjoyable selection of pieces. 

The use of the organ as the continuo instruments in general creates a very somber mood, especially for works in minor.  However, in a piece like a chaconne with a major scale, the effect is simply unworldly.  I wonder if this is the music that the composers perceived as the heaven beings listen to?

My only minor complaint on this disc is the passage in the famous Bertali's Chaconne, where most players decide to play blazingly fast to show off their virtuosity, Echo du Danube actually decides to slow it down!!  A live performance can be seen on youtube here (4:18 mark).  Because it's not to my liking, I've decided to put here instead, two chaconnes of lesser known composers but of equal charm.