Cembali Cori spezzati • Polychoral, Concertato and Trio Music from Gdańsk for Two Harpsichords

DUX 2229
The title Cembali spezzati does not, therefore, refer to a folding harpsichord (cembalo spezzato), nor to a keyboard instrument with split keys (tasti spezzati), but to the very technique of divided choirs – cori spezzati – in which each ensemble, a complete “instrument” in itself, either collaborates with, or is set in opposition to, the other. The initial plan was to focus exclusively on dialogue-style choral music composed in Gdańsk and to transfer it to the medium of two harpsichords. Andrea Gabrieli and Claudio Merulo had acted in a similar way when they performed Italian cori spezzati on the organ. Their legendary performances in the Basilica of San Marco in Venice inspired others to use the available repertoire or improvise upon it, and, in time, to write their own music for two keyboard instruments. One such composer was Aurelio Bonelli, who wrote toccate and dialoghi for two organs or two harpsichords.

DUX 2229Total time: [61:01]

Franziscus de Rivulo

[Motet] Gloria in excelsis Deo [à 8] (Source: PL-GD Ms. 4003 | Edition: Franciscus de Rivulo: Motety/Motets/Motetten, ed. Romuald Szyszko, Pelplin 1991) 619620

1. [Motet] Gloria in excelsis Deo [a 8] Instruments: Spinet, Italian | Tuning: Mezotonic 1/4

[1:51]

Paul Siefert

Canzon a 8 Source: Psalmorum Davidicorum ad gallicam melodiam […], Gdańsk 1651. Edition: Danziger Instrumental-Musik, ed. Franz Keßler, Hänssler Verlag 1979 619621

2. Canzon a 8 Instruments: Italian, Flemish | Tuning: Mezotonic 1/4

[4:42]

Balthasar Erben

Sonata sopra ut re mi fa sol la a due violini (Basso Continuo) di Sig:r Baltazer Erbenn. Source: S-Uu Instr. mus. i hs. 3:4 | Edition: Danziger Instrumental-Musik, ed. Franz Keßler, Hänssler Verlag 1979. 619622

3. Sonata sopra ut re mi fa sol la a due violini (Basso Continuo) di Sig:r Baltazer Erbenn.Instruments: Spinet, Flemish | Tuning: Mezotonic 1/6.

[6:53]

François Dufault/Hinrich Niewerth

[Suite en ut mineur] Sources: D-Bsa SA 4060 / D-B Danzig 4230 | Transcription: Maksym Zajączkiewicz 619623

4. Tombeau de Mons: von der Linden compose p[ar] Mons. Henry Niewerth / Countrepartie de Nievert sur Mareschal Linde Allem: (after: F. Dufault - Allemande CLFDuf no 16). Instruments: French, Spinet | Tuning: Werckmeister III

[3:40]

5. Courante du Meme / Countrepartie. Courante du mesme (after: F. Dufault – Courante CLFDuf no 37). Instruments: French, Spinet | Tuning: Werckmeister III

[1:28]

6. Sarabande du Meme / Countrepartie, Sarabande du mesme (after: F. Dufault – Sarabande CLFDuf no 57) Instruments: French, Spinet | Tuning: Werckmeister III

[3:27]

7. Gique du Meme (after: F. Dufault – Gique CLFDuf no 75) Instruments: French, Spinet | Tuning: Werckmeister III

[1:38]

Kaspar junior Förster

Dulcis amor Jesu a 4 […] di Sig:r Gasparo Förster, KBPJ 14. Source: S-Uu Vok. mus. i hs. 80:119 | Edition: Kaspar Förster (1616–1673): Dulcis amor Jesu [...], ed. Jesper Jerkert, Stockholm 2016. 619624

8. Dulcis amor Jesu a 4 (…) di Sig:r Gasparo Förster, KBPJ 14. Instruments: Italian, Spinet | Tuning: Mezotonic 1/6

[8:55]

Jean Jeremias du Grain

Cantata am Ersten Wey=nachts Feur=Tage. A 11. […] da Sign: du Grain. [text incipit: Willkommen, Erlöser der Erden]. Source: PL-GD Ms. Joh. 188 | Arrangement: Cembali Spezzati 619625

9. III. Aria Allegro [Basso, text incipit: Rüstet euch, erboste Feinde]

[4:06]

Johann Balthasar Christian Freislich

Das ist meine Freude, NesF B44. Source: PL-GD Ms. Joh. 22 | Arrangement: Cembali Spezzati. 619626

10. Das ist meine Freude, NesF B44. Instruments: French, French.

[3:39]

Friedrich Christian Samuel Mohrheim

[Trios in G/g] Source: D-B Mus. ms. 30190 | Edition: Friedrich Christian Mohrheim (1719–1780): Organ Works: II Organ Trios, ed. Maciej Babnis, Wydawnictwo Organon, Gdańsk 1994 619627

11. Trio 1. a 2 Clavier & Pedal da Mohrheim [without tempo indication]. Instruments: French, French | Tuning: Werckmeister III

[2:01]

12. Trio 2. a 2 Clavier & Pedal da Mohrheim [Andante] . Instruments: French, French | Tuning: Werckmeister III

[3:01]

13. Trio 3. a 2 Clavier & Pedal da Mohrheim [Fuga] . Instruments: French, French | Tuning: Werckmeister III

[1:43]

Theophil Andreas Volckmar

Sonata 1. à due Clav: et Pedale. Source: D-Dl Mus. 2390-U-1 [Kirchen SONATEN Auff eine Aus dreÿ Clavieren und Pedal beste= hende ORGEL gerichtet von Theophilo Andrea Volckmar Organist zur H Dreÿfaltigkeit in Dantzig (1717)]. Arrangement: Cembali Spezzati 619628

14. Sonata 1. a due Clav: et Pedale. Instruments: French, Spinet | Tuning: Werckmeister III

[5:46]

Johann Valentin Meder

Trio Chaconne par J V Meder. Source: S-Uu Instr. mus. i hs. 56:6 | Edition: Danziger Instrumental-Musik, ed. Franz Keßler, Hänssler Verlag 1979 619629

15. Trio Chaconne par J V Meder. Instruments: French, Spinet | Tuning: Werckmeister III

[6:34]

Anonymous (Śląsk or Oliwa, c. 1425/50)

[Rotulum à 3] Ex trinitatis culmine (copied or composed in Oliwa, c. 1425/50). Source: PL-GD Ms. 2153a [fragments]. Edition of digital copy in: Paweł Gancarczyk, Music in a Vanished Kingdom: Medieval Polyphony in the Teutonic Order State in Prussia, „Early Music” 2024 619630

16. BONUS TRACK. (Rotulum a 3) Ex trinitatis culmine (copied or composed in Oliwa, c. 1425/50). Instruments: French, French

[1:38]

Performers:
Cembali spezzati: Małgorzata Skotnicka & Maksym Zajączkiewicz;
/nr 16 - 3rd hand: Aleksandra Żebrowska (2nd voice)/

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composers	Anonymous (Śląsk or Oliwa, c. 1425/50), ∎ , de Rivulo, Franziscus ∎ , du Grain, Jean Jeremias ∎ , Erben, Balthasar ∎ , Förster, Kaspar junior ∎ , François Dufault/Hinrich Niewerth, ∎ , Freislich, Johann Balthasar Christian ∎ , Meder, Johann Valentin ∎ , Mohrheim, Friedrich Christian Samuel ∎ , Siefert, Paul ∎ , Volckmar, Theophil Andreas ∎
performers	Cembali Spezzati ∎
Releases Year	2025