Starter Packs

Complete your collection with these curated titles, grouped at a special discount.

Shop Now
Brilliant Classics

Schaffrath: XII Soli per il Cembalo

$12.99

Details

Composer
Christoph Schaffrath
Artist
Marius Bartoccini
Format
CD
Label
Brilliant Classics
Released
Feb 27, 2026
Catalog #
BRI97415
UPC
5063758974158

About

Christoph Schaffrath (1709-1763) was a German composer, harpsichordist, and organist active during the transition from the late Baroque to the early Classical period. Born in Hohnstein near Dresden, he studied at the University of Leipzig and later competed for the position of organist at the Sophienkirche in Dresden, though he lost to Wilhelm Friedemann Bach. Despite this setback, Schaffrath went on to build a solid career in Berlin, serving first as harpsichordist to Crown Prince Frederick (later Frederick the Great) and later as court musician to Princess Anna Amalia of Prussia. His role in these circles placed him in the heart of the north German Empfindsamer Stil, a style characterized by expressive melodies, sudden contrasts, and sensitivity to affect. Among Schaffrath's surviving works, the 12 Soli per il Cembalo hold a special place. This collection, composed for solo harpsichord, shows his ability to merge Baroque contrapuntal traditions with the emerging galant idiom. Each of the twelve pieces demonstrates clarity of texture, graceful melodic invention, and a keen sense of ornamentation appropriate for the keyboard. Unlike the dense polyphony of J.S. Bach, Schaffrath's Soli often feature a singing upper line supported by transparent accompaniment, making them more accessible to performers and audiences of his time. The sonatas show Schaffrath's sensitivity to the harpsichord's timbre and expressive limits, favoring elegance over virtuosic display. Today, the 12 Soli per il Cembalo offer valuable insight into mid-18th-century keyboard practice and exemplify the stylistic currents that paved the way for Haydn, C.P.E. Bach, and Mozart. Played by Marius Bartoccini, a keyboard player who performed as a soloist with Sigiswald Kuijken and Federico Maria Sardelli. On this recording he plays an harpsichord and clavichord. He recorded to great critical acclaim for Brilliant Classics works by Dussek, Myslivecek and Kozeluch.

Tracklist 27 tracks

  1. 1 I. — 04:50
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. —
    Duration
    04:50
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  2. 2 II. Poco andante 05:09
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Poco andante
    Duration
    05:09
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  3. 3 III. Allegro 06:49
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    06:49
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  4. 4 I. — 05:32
    Track
    4
    Title
    I. —
    Duration
    05:32
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  5. 5 II. Poco andante 04:00
    Track
    5
    Title
    II. Poco andante
    Duration
    04:00
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  6. 6 III. Allegro 04:52
    Track
    6
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    04:52
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  7. 7 I. Allegro 05:50
    Track
    7
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    05:50
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  8. 8 II. Poco adagio 04:56
    Track
    8
    Title
    II. Poco adagio
    Duration
    04:56
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  9. 9 III. Allegro 03:22
    Track
    9
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    03:22
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  10. 10 I. Allegro assai 07:11
    Track
    10
    Title
    I. Allegro assai
    Duration
    07:11
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  11. 11 II. Poco adagio 04:19
    Track
    11
    Title
    II. Poco adagio
    Duration
    04:19
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  12. 12 III. Allegro 03:45
    Track
    12
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    03:45
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  13. 13 I. Allegro 04:37
    Track
    13
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    04:37
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  14. 14 II. Andante 05:14
    Track
    14
    Title
    II. Andante
    Duration
    05:14
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  15. 15 III. Allegro 05:16
    Track
    15
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    05:16
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  16. 16 I. Allegro 05:22
    Track
    16
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    05:22
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  17. 17 II. Poco adagio 05:21
    Track
    17
    Title
    II. Poco adagio
    Duration
    05:21
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  18. 18 III. Allegro 04:14
    Track
    18
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    04:14
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  19. 19 I. Allegretto 08:00
    Track
    19
    Title
    I. Allegretto
    Duration
    08:00
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  20. 20 II. Poco andante 04:37
    Track
    20
    Title
    II. Poco andante
    Duration
    04:37
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  21. 21 III. Allegro assai (completed by A. Bartoccini) 03:17
    Track
    21
    Title
    III. Allegro assai (completed by A. Bartoccini)
    Duration
    03:17
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  22. 22 I. Allegro 05:04
    Track
    22
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    05:04
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  23. 23 II. Adagio 04:27
    Track
    23
    Title
    II. Adagio
    Duration
    04:27
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  24. 24 III. Allegro 04:27
    Track
    24
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    04:27
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  25. 25 I. Allegro 05:46
    Track
    25
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    05:46
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  26. 26 II. Poco adagio 04:29
    Track
    26
    Title
    II. Poco adagio
    Duration
    04:29
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini
  27. 27 III. Allegro assai 04:08
    Track
    27
    Title
    III. Allegro assai
    Duration
    04:08
    Composer
    Christoph Schaffrath
    Performer
    Marius Bartoccini