Sylvius Leopold Weiss: Sonatas for Lute Vol. 2 – Robert Barto (Naxos) CD

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• UPC: 730099498821
• Product Type: Music CD
• Brand Name: Naxos
• MPN: 8.553988
• Genre: Classical
• Style: Baroque / Lute Music
• Composer: Sylvius Leopold Weiss (1686–1750)
• Artist: Robert Barto (Baroque Lute)
• Release Year: 1999

Product Features

• Format: Audio CD (DDD)
• Total Time: 75:45
• Recording Technology: 20-Bit Technology for high definition sound
• Instrument: Baroque Lute by Andrew Rutherford
• Recording Venue: St. John Chrysostom Church, Newmarket, Canada (September 1996)

Overview

Sylvius Leopold Weiss was arguably the most significant lutenist of the 18th century, a contemporary of J.S. Bach whose output represents the pinnacle of the instrument's history. This Naxos release is the second volume in a definitive series of Weiss's Sonatas, performed by the acclaimed lutenist Robert Barto.

The three sonatas recorded here—No. 5 in G major, No. 25 in G minor, and No. 50 in B flat major—span the "spring, summer, and autumn" of Weiss's career. They showcase unrivaled virtuosity and exceptional craftsmanship, reflecting a style that is often close to Bach’s complexity while simultaneously anticipating the simpler, "galant" elegance of Mozart and Haydn. Recorded with 20-bit technology to capture the delicate, resonant nuances of the lute, this album is a serene yet technically dazzling journey into the heart of the Baroque era.

Interesting Facts

• The Lute Legend: Weiss was born just one year after J.S. Bach. He spent most of his professional life at the royal court in Dresden and met Bach on several occasions; it is rumored they even competed in improvisation.
• Prodigious Output: The sonatas of Weiss form the largest single body of lute music in history. His works are prized for their idiomatic writing, which makes full use of the Baroque lute's unique range and resonance.
• The Artist: Robert Barto is a world-renowned specialist in the Baroque lute. His interpretations are noted for their fluid technique and deep understanding of historical phrasing.
• The Instrument: The lute used on this recording was crafted by Andrew Rutherford. The Baroque lute typically features 13 courses (pairs of strings), offering a much deeper and richer bass range than the earlier Renaissance lute.
• Cover Art: The booklet features the Portrait of a Lutenist by Johann Kupetzky, an 18th-century artist who perfectly captured the introspective atmosphere of the period's music.

Track Listing

Sonata No. 5 in G major (20:33)

1. Prélude (1:22)
2. Allemande (5:14)
3. Courante (2:19)
4. Bourrée (2:02)
5. Sarabande (5:04)
6. Menuet (1:55)
7. Gigue (2:26)

Sonata No. 25 in G minor (22:46)

1. Prélude (0:39)
2. Allemande andante (5:10)
3. Passepied (2:08)
4. Bourrée (2:44)
5. Sarabande (6:15)
6. Menuet (3:04)
7. Gigue (2:43)

Sonata No. 50 in B flat major (32:16)

1. Introduzzione (6:57)
2. Courante (4:45)
3. Bourrée (3:11)
4. Sarabande (7:39)
5. Menuet (3:13)
6. Presto (6:28)

Publishers

Published by HNH International Ltd. (℗ 1999, © 1999). Artistic and Production Co-ordinator: Norbert Kraft. Producer and Digital Editor: Bonnie Silver. Music Notes: Frank Legl.

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