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Sony Masterworks

The Secret Mozart / Christopher Hogwood

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Details

Composer
MOZART, WOLFGANG AMADEUS
Artist
Christopher Hogwood
Format
CD
Label
Sony Masterworks
Released
Jul 11, 2006
Catalog #
82876832882
UPC
828768328828

About



MOZART Allegro in g, K 312. Andante and 5 Variations, K 501. 1 Minuetto in D, K 355. Marche funèbre, K 453a. Andantino, K 236. Klavierstücke in F, K 33b. Adagio for Glass Harmonica, K 356. La‚t uns mit geschlungen Händen, K 623. Rondo in F, K 494. Theme and 2 Variations in A, K 460. Fantasia in d, K 397 (2 versions). Sonata in D, K 381 1 • Christopher Hogwood (clvd); Derek Adlam (clvd) 1 • DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI 82876 832882 (73:46)


Mozart played on the clavichord? What at first may seem an odd concept has ample documentary evidence to support it. As anyone who has been to the Geburtshaus in Salzburg will probably recall, Mozart himself owned a clavichord that he used as a compositional tool for his last major works, according to his widow Constanze’s testimony. And as Christopher Hogwood reminds us in his notes, Mozart makes frequent reference to the instrument in general in his correspondence. As Bach, and Handel before him, then, it seems extremely likely that Mozart used this quietly intimate instrument in domestic music-making.


Hogwood’s recital is played on three instruments, including Mozart’s own, an unfretted instrument of unknown provenance conforming to the simple construction methods of late 18th-century German clavichords. It is the brightest and clearest of the three, with an attractive bell-like sonority in the upper register that makes it highly suitable for the late Adagio for Glass Harmonica, and a “buzzy” quality in bass, as heard in the final passage of the F-Major Rondo, the final movement of the composite Sonata, K 533/K 494. The oldest instrument, used for the first three works in the heading, is an unfretted clavichord by the Hamburg maker Johann Albrecht Hass, signed and dated 1761. The sound (at least as recorded) is to my mind rather on the “tubby” side, with a veiled quality that works particularly well in the chromatic intensity of the Minuetto in D.


Finally, Hogwood plays four works on an unfretted instrument by the Bavarian builder Johann David Schiedmayer. Interestingly, this late example (1791) is the one that approaches most closely the sound of a fortepiano, although I’m not sufficient of an expert on the subject to know if this was a conscious aim of later makers. Among the works played on it are both versions of the familiar Fantasia in D Minor, one of Mozart’s most unsettling keyboard works. The original breaks off on a dominant cadence, while there is another with a 10-bar completion by another hand, possibly August Müller. Hogwood plausibly suggests that the incomplete version was intended as the introduction to a work in D Major (he is not, as he implies, the first to do so; Alfred Einstein advanced the same theory 60 years ago), and consequently uses it as a lead-in to the Sonata in D, K 381, a not altogether convincing solution since the latter is for four hands. The sonata, much the most substantial work on the disc, is given a high-spirited performance by Hogwood and Derek Adlam, who achieve excellent ensemble (listen to the unanimity of the detached eighth-notes at the start of the second half of the opening Allegro), while making much of the concerto-like texture of the finale.


In general, Hogwood’s performances are as accomplished as would be expected from such a seasoned performer. Tempos are sensible, with andantes and allegrettos kept moving purposefully, while fingerwork is clean and well articulated. Ornaments are added where appropriate. Occasionally, I felt the touch was a little heavy and that rhythms were rather unyielding. A little more flexibility and expressivity would not have come amiss, but the recital is nonetheless highly rewarding both as to repertoire and as the rare opportunity to hear what Mozart sounds like on the clavichord. The CD is the third in a series devoted to the clavichord and entitled “The secret . . .”, previous issues having been devoted to Bach and Handel (both on Metronome). To come are “The secret Haydn,” and “The secret Beethoven.”


FANFARE: Brian Robins

Tracklist 23 tracks

  1. 1 Allegro in G Minor, K. 312 08:21
    Track
    1
    Title
    Allegro in G Minor, K. 312
    Duration
    08:21
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood
  2. 2 Theme: Andante 01:20
    Track
    2
    Title
    Theme: Andante
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood, Derek Adlam
  3. 3 Variation 1 01:18
    Track
    3
    Title
    Variation 1
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood, Derek Adlam
  4. 4 Variation 2 01:14
    Track
    4
    Title
    Variation 2
    Duration
    01:14
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood, Derek Adlam
  5. 5 Variation 3 01:16
    Track
    5
    Title
    Variation 3
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood, Derek Adlam
  6. 6 Variation 4 01:30
    Track
    6
    Title
    Variation 4
    Duration
    01:30
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood, Derek Adlam
  7. 7 Variation 5 02:19
    Track
    7
    Title
    Variation 5
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood, Derek Adlam
  8. 8 Minuet 03:07
    Track
    8
    Title
    Minuet
    Duration
    03:07
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Maximilian Stadler
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood
  9. 9 Trio 04:05
    Track
    9
    Title
    Trio
    Duration
    04:05
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Maximilian Stadler
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood
  10. 10 Funeral March in C Minor, K. 453a 02:14
    Track
    10
    Title
    Funeral March in C Minor, K. 453a
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood
  11. 11 Andantino in E-Flat Major, K. 236 01:41
    Track
    11
    Title
    Andantino in E-Flat Major, K. 236
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood
  12. 12 Keyboard Piece in F Major, K. Anh. A6 (previously known as K. 33B) 00:57
    Track
    12
    Title
    Keyboard Piece in F Major, K. Anh. A6 (previously known as K. 33B)
    Duration
    00:57
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood
  13. 13 Adagio in C Major, K. 356 02:51
    Track
    13
    Title
    Adagio in C Major, K. 356
    Duration
    02:51
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood
  14. 14 Laut verkunde unsre Freude, K. 623 (arr. for keyboard) 01:32
    Track
    14
    Title
    Laut verkunde unsre Freude, K. 623 (arr. for keyboard)
    Duration
    01:32
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood
  15. 15 Rondo in F Major, K. 494 06:29
    Track
    15
    Title
    Rondo in F Major, K. 494
    Duration
    06:29
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood
  16. 16 Thema 01:13
    Track
    16
    Title
    Thema
    Duration
    01:13
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood
  17. 17 Variation 1 01:18
    Track
    17
    Title
    Variation 1
    Duration
    01:18
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood
  18. 18 Variation 2 01:24
    Track
    18
    Title
    Variation 2
    Duration
    01:24
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood
  19. 19 Fantasia in D Minor, K. 397 05:18
    Track
    19
    Title
    Fantasia in D Minor, K. 397
    Duration
    05:18
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood
  20. 20 I. Allegro 05:35
    Track
    20
    Title
    I. Allegro
    Duration
    05:35
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood, Derek Adlam
  21. 21 II. Andante 07:35
    Track
    21
    Title
    II. Andante
    Duration
    07:35
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood, Derek Adlam
  22. 22 III. Allegro molto 04:21
    Track
    22
    Title
    III. Allegro molto
    Duration
    04:21
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood, Derek Adlam
  23. 23 Fantasia in D Minor, K. 397 (with coda) 05:44
    Track
    23
    Title
    Fantasia in D Minor, K. 397 (with coda)
    Duration
    05:44
    Composer
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer
    Christopher Hogwood