Six Sonatas Woo; Chamber Music

Numbered volume 3 in the Naxos series of Buxtehude's chamber sonatas, these were unpublished and without opus number. We don't know which of these may have been included in a new publication but Buxtehude did announce another opus was forthcoming. One (BuxWV273) is an earlier version of BuxWV255 which is in Opus 1. One movement is completely different and there are other smaller variations but we can safely assert it wouldn't have been issued later. One might deduce from this, that any number of these unpublished works are leftover dribs and drabs that were left in a drawer to be forgotten. That would be a mistake because these are all very fine works. The final sonata on the disk BuxWV266 has been called Buxtehude's 'Jupiter' sonata. So we have to just reconcile ourselves that while not conceived as a coherent set, these works can more than stand on their own merits.

Specifically, considering the actual music here, I find the works to be the crystallization of a brilliant and creative genius. Sometimes you hear the stories of how 'composer A loved the music of composer B' and somehow if composer A is great than B automatically must be too. Or, 'A was taught by B' and if A is a genius than he got it from B'. Then it turns out that Schubert, Beethoven and Hummel, all "A" composers were taught by Salieri. So much for all the "A's and B's" you think. Well, Bach walked 200 miles to hear and hang around Buxtehude and you know what? That wily old Bach was really up to something this time! I love the music of both great men. Buxtehude is more mercurial than Bach. His melodic line is far less predictible but his counterpoint is every bit as masterful. Most of all there is a true profound beauty to this music. It tickles the mind and the slow movements bring peace to your soul. Sounds corny, I know, but I mean it sincerely.

I can't say who will like this music. I could say if you like 'A' then you will like 'B'. I wish it worked that way, but it doesn't often enough to be sure. Nevertheless if you like Handel, Vivaldi or Telemann, then there is a good chance you will like this. If you are a fan of Baroque music and chamber music, then again this should be something that will sound good to you. The collective sound of this music is springy, light and airy. It is almost an antithesis of the thicker and more cloying sounds of the late Romantic period. But that doesn't mean if you like late Romantic period music ('A') you won't enjoy Baroque period music ('B') because you never can be sure about those things.

The favorite of all my Buxtehude cd's !!!!! Enough said !! Buxtehude's three sets of sonatas and Corelli's sonatas fit together so well. The sound and compositions are fantastic !

I absolutely love this cd ! It is exactly why I listen to classical music. The sound is exceptionally clean and crisp. Great playing !

Read his autobiography, it is interesting. Get vol. 2 and 3. Less than $5.00 each on the internet!

Good day !

Buxtehude (1636/9 - 1707) is probably the most important baroque composer between Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672) and Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1710). Although much of his work consists of organ and vocal works (cantatas), the sonatas composed for chamber music are quite special. Many who enjoy Bach and Händel may not know about Buxtehude. Naxos has made his sonatas available in three CDs which are well-produced.

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