Sweelinck: Complete Harpsichord and Organ Music

Daniele Boccaccio (organ/harpsichord)

The only available complete set of Sweelinck’s keyboard music performed by a single artist: new and beautifully realised recordings.

‘A splendid recording by a fine artist’: Choir and Organ magazine on Daniele Boccaccio’s organ version of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier (95157) – the first ever such project. Now Boccaccio travels back several generations, to Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621). This Italian-trained. Amsterdam-based organist/composer/teacher is the real father of the North German school, including not only the Bach family but also Scheidt and Buxtehude. All these composers were aware of and decisively influenced by Sweelinck.

Sweelinck's extant keyboard output comprises some seventy pieces. The precise instrument for which each of the pieces was written cannot always be determined with certainty. While the chorale settings most likely were intended for the organ and the secular song variations for harpsichord or virginal, Sweelinck's fantasias and toccatas (over thirty in number) may well have been played on whatever keyboard instrument was at hand.

Boccaccio has paid careful attention to the details of old fingering techniques; the resultant variety in phrasing and articulation gives new life to figurations that with a more modern legato approach can seem plain. As his own booklet note explains, he has also taken considered decisions about when discreet ornamentation can enhance the music's impact and when to let Sweelinck's notes speak for themselves. Particularly in the fantasias, he captures some of the freshness with which Sweelinck's music must have struck its first listeners.

He has chosen three different instruments for the organ performances: the Arp Schnitger organ (1678) in the Johanneskirche, Oederquart; a Fritz Scherer organ (1612/13) in the Marienkirche, Lemgo; and an instrument of unknown manufacture from around 1550 in the Andreaskirche, Ostönnen. The harpsichord is a modern copy of a 1679 model by the Flemish maker Jan Couchet. A project long in the making, this set will command the attention of all early- and Baroque-music lovers.

This 6-CD set present the complete keyboard music (organ and harpsichord) of Holland’s most famous composer: Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck.

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (1562-1621) was one of the most influential composers of the Late-Renaissance and Early-Baroque. He was organist of the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam for 44 years. His influence was enormous, he attracted composers from many European countries to Amsterdam to learn his art. Even the great Johann Sebastian Bach acknowledged his superior craftsmanship.

Sweelinck’s keyboard music is divided into 4 groups: Fantasias, Toccatas, Chorale variations (sacred works), Variations on Dances (secular works). Traditionally Dances were performed on the harpsichord, Chorale Variations on the organ. Fantasias, Toccatas, Fugues and Ricercari had only a non-specific “keyboard” destination.

Daniele Boccaccio is one of Italy’s foremost keyboard players. A scholar as well, he did extensive research into historic sources. He plays 3 different historic organs and a copy of a Flemish harpsichord.

Sweelinck:
 Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr
 Allein zu dir Herr Jesu Christ, SwWV309
 Allemanda: Soll es sein
 Almande Gratie, SwWV318/N7 'More Palatino'
 Christe qui lux es et dies, SwWV301
 Da pacem Domine in diebus nostris, SwWV302
 Die flichtige Nimphæ, SwWV331
 Echo Fantasia
 Echo-Fantasia (dorisch)
 Engelsche Fortuyn
 Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott
 Est-ce Mars, SwWV 321
 Fantasia (auf die Manier eines Echo) C3, SwWV 255
 Fantasia [contraria à 4], SwWV270
 Fantasia à 2, 3 and 4 voices a2, SwWV 274
 Fantasia a 3 in G minor, SwWV271
 Fantasia à 4 a1, SwWV 273
 Fantasia à 4 C2, SwWV 254
 Fantasia a? 4 d2, SwWV259
 Fantasia à 4 F2, SwWV 264
 Fantasia à 4 G1, SwWV 266
 Fantasia à 4 G2, SwWV 267
 Fantasia auf die Manier eines Echo C1, SwWV 253
 Fantasia C5, SwWV 257
 Fantasia Chromatica 'Dorian'
 Fantasia d5, SwWV 262
 Fantasia Ut re mi fa sol la, à 4 F1, SwWV 263
 Fantasia/Fuga 7. toni G3, SwWV 268
 Fantazia g3, SwWV 272
 Ich fuhr mich vber Rheine, SwWV322
 Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, SwWV305
 Jesus Christus unser Heiland, SwWV 306
 Mein junges Leben hat ein End
 Nun freut euch lieben Christen gmein, SwWV307
 O God, die onse Vader bist, SwWV308
 Onder een linde groen, SwWV 325
 Pavana hispanica
 Pavana Lachrimae
 Pavana Philippi, SwWV 329
 Praeludium (or Fantasia), SwWV 265
 Psalm 116 - Ik heb den Heer lief
 Psalm 140, D41
 Psalm 23, SwWV 310, 'Mein Huter und mein Hirt'
 Psalm 36: Des boosdoenders wille seer quaedt in F Major, SwWV311
 Psalm 60, SwWV 312
 Puer nobis nascitur
 Ricercar del nono tono a1, SwWV280
 Toccata 2di Toni g2, SwWV 293
 Toccata 5 toni C3, SwWV 284
 Toccata 9. Toni a1, SwWV 296
 Toccata a 3 G2 SwWV289/L23
 Toccata à 4 a3, SwWV 298
 Toccata C1, SwWV 282
 Toccata C2 SwWV283/L20
 Toccata d1, SwWV 285
 Toccata G1, SwWV 288
 Toccata G4, SwWV 291
 Toccata Noni Toni SwWV297/L16
 Toccata Primi Toni d2 SwWV286/L15
 Toccata primi toni d3, SwWV 287
 Toccata Secundi Toni g1 SwWV292/L21
 Wir glauben all an einem Gott, SwWV316

"De beeltenis van Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck sierde ooit het bankbiljet van vijfentwintig gulden en zijn klaviermuziek heeft altijd wel enigermate in de belangstelling gestaan. Aan het begin van zijn carrière nam Ton Koopman op vier lp’s de eerste omvangrijke Sweelinck-anthologie op. Op dit moment is er keuze uit maar liefst vier integrale opnamen van Sweelincks klavierwerken, met als nieuwste loot aan de stam die van Daniele Boccaccio. Sweelinck werd in Duitsland ‘der Organistenmacher’ genoemd, vanwege zijn enorme invloed op de Noord-Duitse orgelmuziek. Zijn leerlingen gaven zijn muziek door aan hun eigen leerlingen, tot Buxtehude aan toe, en dan ben je nog maar één handdruk verwijderd van Johann Sebastian Bach. Boccaccio bespeelt drie Duitse orgels en een Vlaams klavecimbel en hij koos ervoor om de instrumenten op iedere cd af te wisselen. Dat werkt goed, al vraagt het soms wat gedraai aan de volumeknop tijdens het afspelen. Boccaccio heeft grondige studie gemaakt van de oude vingerzettingen, iets dat lang niet al zijn collega’s doen. Het gebruik daarvan maakt het spelen over het algemeen niet makkelijker maar de muziek wel helderder en minder robuust. Boccaccio speelt vindingrijk en laat Sweelincks onbegrensde fantasie optimaal uitkomen."
Klassieke Zaken Magazine 3-2020