in our program is fascinating music by the Austrian violin virtuoso H.I. Biber, his reputable predecessor J.H. Schmelzer, the gifted German organists J.P. Krieger and D. Buxtehude (who happened to be J.S. Bach´s greatest influence), and finally P.H. Erlebach, an composer of extraordinarily beautiful music whose works were unfortunately nearly all lost due to a huge fire in 1735.

Johann Mattheson writes in 1793:

“In this style, the way of composing, singing, and playing is completely free, with the least amount of restrictions imaginable. One discovers one idea after another, connected only by harmony and not by words or melody, so the musician can demonstrate his virtuosity. Every unusual harmonic progression, ornament, turn, and amazing color are presented, without regard to meter or tonality, without formal themes or bass lines. One moment quick and the other slow, sometimes with one voice, other times with multiple voices, and all with the utmost surprise. Everything is created in order to be both pleasing to the ear and utterly surprising.”

In this program, four musicians - violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord, and tenor – bring to life this amazing, fantastic repertoire full of surprising virtuosity, expressive harmony, and most of all – beauty.