This programme is dedicated to Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow.
It is safe to say that Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow (1663-1712) is a ‘forgotten’ composer. He is almost exclusively remembered as Georg Frideric Handel’s teacher. His oeuvre is seldom performed and recordings are rare.
Zachow was born in Leipzig and was probably a student at the St. Thomas School. Later, he and his family moved to Eilenburg, where he continued his musical education. In 1684, Zachow was appointed as organist at the Marienkirche in Halle, he remained there until his death in 1712.
His oeuvre consists of sacred and keyboard music, the latter mainly consists of chorale arrangements. Zachow is believed to have composed around a hundred cantatas, but only about a third of those have been preserved. The instrumentation is remarkable. In the first cantata we’ll hear, there is an obbligato part for harp. Zachow was the first composer to assign this instrument an independent role in church music. The second cantata features virtuoso parts for oboes and horns. The horn in particular was still quite rare at the time.
Playlist
Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow (1663-1712)
1. Herr, wenn ich nur dich habe
Constanze Backes, soprano / Capella Frisiae / Accademia Amsterdam conducted by Ludger Rémy
(CD: “Christmas Cantatas” – Quintone Q 100001, 2012)
2. Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott (LV.18)
Simone Stella, organ
(CD: “Complete Organ Music” – Brilliant Classics 96022, 2021)
3. Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott (LV.28)
Simone Stella, organ
(CD: “Complete Organ Music” – Brilliant Classics 96022, 2021)
4. Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele
Capella Frisiae / Accademia Amsterdam conducted by Ludger Rémy
(CD: “Christmas Cantatas” – Quintone Q 100001, 2012)
Addition:
5. Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr (LV.46)
Simone Stella, organ
(CD: “Complete Organ Music” – Brilliant Classics 96022, 2021)
Image: Halle, c 1700 (Kunstkopie.de)
