L’Acheeron & Francois Joubert-Caillet – Erlebach: Complete Trio Sonatas (2019) [FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

The 1735 fire that destroyed the library of Thuringia’s Rudolstadt Castle was a dreadful loss: the vast majority of Philipp Heinrich Erlebach’s manuscripts went up in flames, and of the thousands of works collected there, only 70 survived the blaze. These included operas, whole annual cycles of cantatas, masses and oratorios. Some copies were distributed here and there and still survive, but we can only mourn the fact that only single versions of the majority of these manuscripts existed. Well… What more can be said? Let’s welcome the release of these six sonatas for trio of violin, viola da gamba and basso continuo, all played by François Joubert-Caillet’s Achéron ensemble in which the leader plays the bass viola continuo. Erlebach’s style and writing largely borrows from the French and Italian novelties that were taking all of Germany, Bach included, by storm. These six sonatas have a particularly Italian flavour, hinted at in the name given on the 1694 edition: “Filippo Henrico”. Virtuosity, elegance, spirit and refinement all combine making Erlebach the missing link between the early German baroque of Schein and Schütz and the great Johann Sebastian.

Tracklist:
01. Sonata quarta in C Major: I. Sonata (Grave-Vivace-Adagio)
02. Sonata quarta in C Major: II. Allemande (Grave)
03. Sonata quarta in C Major: III. Courante
04. Sonata quarta in C Major: IV. Sarabande & variatio
05. Sonata quarta in C Major: V. Gique (Prestò)
06. Sonata sesta in F Major: I. Sonata (Affetuoso-Allegro-Grave)
07. Sonata sesta in F Major: II. Allemande
08. Sonata sesta in F Major: III. Courante
09. Sonata sesta in F Major: IV. Sarabande & variatio
10. Sonata sesta in F Major: V. Gique (Vivace & prestò)
11. Sonata quinta in B-Flat Major: I. Sonata ([Grave]-Allegro-Adagio)
12. Sonata quinta in B-Flat Major: II. Allemande
13. Sonata quinta in B-Flat Major: III. Courante
14. Sonata quinta in B-Flat Major: IV. Sarabande & variatio
15. Sonata quinta in B-Flat Major: V. Gique
16. Sonata prima in D major: I. Sonata (Adagio-Allegro-Affettuoso)
17. Sonata prima in D major: II. Allemande
18. Sonata prima in D major: III. Courante
19. Sonata prima in D major: IV. Sarabande & variatio
20. Sonata prima in D major: V. Gique
21. Sonata seconda in E Minor: I. Sonata (Adagio-Allegro-Adagio)
22. Sonata seconda in E Minor: II. Allemande
23. Sonata seconda in E Minor: III. Courante
24. Sonata seconda in E Minor: IV. Sarabande
25. Sonata seconda in E Minor: V. Gique (Prestò)
26. Sonata III in A Major: I. Sonata (Adagio-Allegro-Lento)
27. Sonata III in A Major: II. Allemande
28. Sonata III in A Major: III. Courante
29. Sonata III in A Major: IV. Sarabande
30. Sonata III in A Major: V. Ciaconna-Final (Lento-Tremolo adagissimo)