Roman Engeering

1810 saw the births not only of Frédéric Chopin and Robert Schumann, but also of Norbert Burgmüller and Ludwig Schuncke. All four composers knew and valued each other as artists and as friends. While in later life Schumann and Chopin would go on to achiev e world fame with their works, Norbert Burgmüller and Ludwig Schuncke died young, leaving behind only a small body of works hardly known today. This recording brings together early works by Chopin and Schumann with selected virtuosic pieces by Burgmüller a nd Schuncke. All the works represent an energetic expression of these four geniuses, still youthful and seeking orientation, yet already manifestly inspired due to their precociousness.

Johan Helmich Roman was only 17 when he was accepted into the musicians of the Swedish royal chapel, but it was to be in England that he received much of his subsequent musical education. He returned to Sweden when he was 27 and was immediately appointed Deputy Master at the royal chapel, and six years became the Chief Master. During his early years of composition we can date very little, but from the 1720's his works are well documented, several cantatas being written for the royal court, with a particularly fine Feste Musicale coming from 1725.

Göteborg Baroque is pleased to announce the release of Johan Helmich Roman’s Then Svenska Messan, one of the most significant and beloved works in Swedish music history. Roman was a pioneer who was far ahead of his time, and today we see him as the founder of our modern musical culture. Göteborg Baroque has received accolades for its rigorous study and expressive presentation of older music in a way that makes it engaging for an audience today. With this recording, we are proud to be able to introduce this important work to an international audience.

For their new album "Mosaic", their first in four years, the German brothers Julian (trumpet) and Roman (piano) Wasserfuhr have put together their personal, international dream band and written music with each special member in mind. The result is music in which all these masterful players put their skills in the service of melody, groove and atmosphere.

Foremost among Swedish Baroque composers, Johan Helmich Roman travelled to England (1716-21) then to France, Italy, Austria and Germany (1735-37), gaining valuable firsthand knowledge of European music. At home in Stockholm he conducted the court orchestra, introduced Handel’s music, and was active in developing public concert life. His rich output includes these twelve charming and highly accomplished Flute Sonatas, the first such published in Sweden, whose galant character combines the baroque and emerging pre-classical styles.