Wolkenstein

Oswald von Wolkenstein - Play It Again, Oswald - Marcello Fera & Opas Diandl (2013) {Schloss Tirol}
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© 2013 Schloss Tirol | [none]
Classical / Medieval

Oswald von Wolkenstein was a German composer whose music bridged the Medieval and Renaissance eras; the last of the poet-musician knights whose monophonic music explored the ideal of courtly love, he also wrote polyphonic music in more contemporary forms. As noble "von" indicates, Oswald was from a knightly family of the Villanders line. The surname "von Wolkenstein" comes from the name of their property of Wolkenstein in Groednertal, South Tyrol (a mountainous Austrian province that was taken by Italy in World War II). As he was of high birth, there is some information available about his life; key events were written in family archives. Still, as is the norm with composers of the day, there are numerous gaps that can be filled in only imperfectly by extrapolation from his works.

Oswald von Wolkenstein - Reflektionen - Lutzenberger, Fröhlich, Frederiksen (2013) {deutsche harmonia mundi}
FLAC (tracks) - 16bit/44.1kHz - Official Digital Download (qobuz.com) -> 279 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 159 Mb
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© 2013 deutsche harmonia mundi / Sony Music | 8 87654 16182 6
Classical / Medieval / Early Music / Sacred

Oswald von Wolkenstein is considered today os one of the most important poet-composers of the Middle Ages. On this CD, three leading interpreters of early music, Lutzenberger/Fröhlich/Frederiksen, forge a link between Wolkenstein's creativity and their own free and uninhibited approach to making music.

German poet and musician Oswald von Wolkenstein (circa 1377-1445) made sure his legacy was secure by having his works compiled into collections during his lifetime. While he was certainly the author of the texts, it is less clear how many of the pieces, which number over 130, include his original music, and how many had his texts applied to preexisting works. In any case, it's an intriguing and attractive body of work, and this collection of 18 of his pieces, plus three other works, makes a fine introduction to his legacy. Von Wolkenstein was a versatile poet, whose topics include his own fascinating biography, courtly love, erotic love, and religious devotion.

German poet and musician Oswald von Wolkenstein (circa 1377-1445) made sure his legacy was secure by having his works compiled into collections during his lifetime. While he was certainly the author of the texts, it is less clear how many of the pieces, which number over 130, include his original music, and how many had his texts applied to preexisting works. In any case, it's an intriguing and attractive body of work, and this collection of 18 of his pieces, plus three other works, makes a fine introduction to his legacy.