Christian Erbach:
Canzona sexti toni
Canzona quarti toni
Ricercar noni toni sopra le fuge “Io son ferito, ahi lasso” e “Vestiva i colli”

Johann Staden:
Toccata in g
Balletto in D
Corrente in d
Allamanda varirt

Jacob Haßler:
Canzona in g

Heinrich Pfendner:
Canzon in G

Valentin Dretzel:
Sonata in a

Carl van der Hoeven:
Ricercar quarti toni

Jacob Paix:
“Ist mir ein fein braun Meg[delein]”
“Du hast mich woellen nemmen”
Schirazula Marazula
“Aus frischem freyem muth”
Ungarescha – Saltarello

Hans Leo Haßler:
Canzon 12 toni
Canzon in d
“Ach Schatz, ich sing und lache”
“Mit deinen lieblichen Augen”
“All Lust und Frewdt” (Gagliarda)
“Ach weh der schweren Pein”
“Nun last uns fröhlich sein”
“Ihr Musici, frisch auff und last doch hören”
Canzon in F

“Je prends en gre” (Intavolation of the Chanson by Clemens non Papa, South German, c. 1595)

For the first time the large clavicytherium of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum (Nuremberg) – a kind of vertical harpsichord built by an anonymous German master during the late sixteenth century – is recorded here on disc. The present instrument is undoubtedly a pinnacle of the art of instrument making, with unusual timbres and an astonishingly complex action.

Bernhard Klapprott, a former pupil of Bob van Asperen and today Professor of Harpsichord in Weimar, has selected appropriate music for this rare instrument: to be heard are delicate polyphonic works as well as full-voiced adaptations of popular songs of the time by South-German composers such as Hassler, Erbach, Paix, and Staden.

The unique instrument and the special repertoire are described in detail in the extensive booklet. In addition, Bernhard Klapprott explains the special background of the historical ornamentation employed.

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Instrument: Clavicytherium, anonymous, Germany, c. 1620, Collection Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg.