What it’s all about
We are going to record the lighthearted and moving music of Balthasar Fritsch in July 2016.
Very little is known about Fritsch today, though he is thought to have been an employee of the Leipziger Stadtpfeiffer at the beginning of the 17th century. But his compositions pave the way for the better known later composers such as Johann Hermann Schein. 12 German madrigals by Fritsch were published in a print in Leipzig in 1608, The texts encompass a wide range of themes: the finite state of life, a lover’s pain and a philosophical narration about the beauty of music. We will also record Fritsch’s instrumental pavans and galliard, published in Leipzig in 1608, which beguile with lighthearted rythyms, bird calls and echo techniques.
But please hear for yourself! Here are four pieces by Balthasar Fritsch from a live recording of our debut concert in Cologne in December 2014: Fritsch in Cologne.
Who are we?
We are the ensemble Musicke&Mirth. Since founding the ensemble in 1997 in Basel, Jane Achtman and Irene Klein have explored the unique and entertaining music for two (and more) viols. For this recording we are joined by our wonderful and talented colleagues Elizabeth Rumsey und Tore Eketorp and versatile soprano Ulrike Hofbauer.
Why we need your help
Sony Music Entertainment and the Swiss Radio Station SRF are helping us to produce this recording: SRF will be funding part of the recording and the CD will be published in spring 2017 with the label Deutsche Harmonia Mundi (part of Sony). Nonetheless, we still need a substantial amount of money to realize this recording. This is where you come in! With a minimum of CHF 2500, we are sure that we can make this CD happen, and are thrilled if you want to support us in this endeavour. We thank you for your attention, spreading the word and your financial support!