CD 64

Serenade

Tyrolean woman of the Lower Inn Valley near Maria Stein Viehbeck drawn from nature on stone by Papin 1817

At the beginning of his career the Tyrolean composer Johann Baptist Gänsbacher (1778- 1844) composed a series of works scored for chamber music instruments in order to make a name for himself in the music-loving circles of Vienna and the other places he stayed in. Prominent among these early works were, besides piano compositions, his Italian canzonetti and terzetti (vocal trios). These soon became popular and, in the opinion of Gänsbacher’s best friend Carl Maria von Weber, were enchantingly beautiful, especially when performed by Gänsbacher himself. In Gänsbacher’s autobiography he often writes about the emotional acclamation his song performances received, such as in 1809 in Leipzig, where of all his canzonetti it was above all “L’ameró” that was enthusiastically applauded. In 1810 he reports from Mannheim: “... I sang 6 Italian canzonetti that earned me the most fl attering applause.” They became such favorites that Gänsbacher had to sing them by popular demand on many an occasion. Also the two serenades, composed in 1811 and 1818, are courtly, agreeable, and unconventionally scored pieces dedicated to entertaining and sociable musical enjoyment.

Track 5, 1:23
Six Songs [...]
L'ameró saró costante
Joahnn Baptist Gänsbacher
(1778-1844)