Sonata in D major for harp and violin, Op. 113
Sonata in G major for harp and violin, Op. 115
Sonata in D major for harp and violin, Op. 114

Louis Spohr (1784-1859) jest obecnie kompozytorem nieco zapomnianym. Pośród jego zachowanych kompozycji, obok koncertów skrzypcowych, symfonii i oper, odnajdujemy także zupełnie niezwykłe trzy sonaty na harfę i skrzypce. Inspiracją dla ich stworzenia była harfistka, którą spotkał na dworze w Gotha - Dorette Scheidler. Zachwycony i poruszony jej grą, zakochał się i wkrótce została jego żoną. Koncertowali wspólnie, a Spohr dzięki temu pozostawił interesujący repertuar na harfę, która już wychodziła z użycia i którą miał zastąpić instrument z nowymi pomocnymi i ważnymi rozwiązaniami technicznymi. Na tej płycie - instrumenty z epoki: harfa pedałowa z 1815 roku i skrzypce z 1743 roku. Brzmienie zupełnie wyjątkowe, pełne emocjonalnych niuansów obecnych w tej muzyce. To dzięki wykonaniu. Nagranie w jakości Super Audio tylko to doznanie potęguje!

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In 1805, on the basis of his brilliant yet expressive playing, the 21-year-old Louis Spohr was appointed Konzertmeisterat the ducal court in Gotha. By this time he had also begun to make his mark as a composer, and during his years at the court he would add several pieces for the harp to his list of works, inspired by the young harpist Dorette Scheidler. Spohrlater recalled his reaction to her playing: ‘I was so deeply moved that I could scarce restrain my tears... I took my leave –but my heart remained behind!’ Only months later, the two were in fact married and Spohrbegan to compose works which would form the repertoire during future concert tours.

Dorette Spohr played a so-called single-action pedal harp of a similar type to the instrument used on this disc. Soon to be replaced by the double-action pedal system, the single-action pedal harp was best suited for playing in flat keys. As Spohrpreferred writing his violin parts in sharp keys, which allowed the resonance of the open strings, he adopted the method of tuning the harp a semitone lower, which had the added benefit of reducing the tension on the strings. The Sonatas Opp113-115, in D and G major, therefore have harp parts notated in E flat and A flat major respectively. Because of its delicate construction and stringing, the single-action harp has a distinct silvery bell-like sound and these sonatas are among the last important works specifically written for it. They are also the most demanding, but it is clear that Spohr intended them to display not only the technical skill of the two artists but also their musical expressiveness. The performers here are Masumi Nagasawaand Cecilia Bernardini, who have made a particular study of Spohr's writings on performance practice.

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Recording: October 2016 at the Protestantse Kerk ’t Woudt, Schipluiden, The Netherlands. Played on period instruments: Single-action pedal harp by F. J. Naderman, Paris 1815; Violin by Camillo Camilli, Mantua 1743