Bach-Gesellschaft Ausgabe<\/em><\/a>, vol. 36, Kellner\u2019s Fugue in d minor is attributed to J.S. Bach (now BWV Anh. 180).<\/p>\nDifferent musicological arguments (by Peter Williams, David Humphreys and Rolf Dietrich Claus) attribute to Kellner the authorship of the famous Toccata and Fugue BWV 565, including among the evidence the fact that the sources originate exclusively in a copy by Johann Ringk, a student of Kellner\u2019s, as well as diverse important style considerations. Among other pupil\u2019s of Kellner\u2019s we find names such as Johann Philipp Kirnberger and J. E. Rembt, both outstanding among J.S. Bach-inspired musicians.<\/p>\n
Kellner\u2019s musical output includes several works for the organ, harpsichord and 36 cantatas. Unfortunately a complete cantata cycle with obbligato organ, composed in 1753, is now lost. The structure of his cantatas is always the same: Chorus-Recitative-Aria-Choral. A wedding cantata includes a second Recitative before the final Choral, and some Arias have an obbligato part for the organ. His organ works show similarities with the style of Johann Ludwig Krebs, and occasionally show a virtuoso pedal part, as in the Prelude and Fugue in d minor. Other organ works are simpler and in the gallant style.<\/p>\n
The present publication is the world\u2019s first critical edition of Kellner\u2019s \u201cCertamen Musicum<\/em>\u201d, six harpsichord suites first printed in Arnstadt, of which a copy is extant in Berlin\u2019s Staatsbibliothe<\/em>k. This collection includes many obvious engraving errors: our corrections follow a clear harmony and counterpoint logic, leaving no doubts whatsoever about the composer\u2019s intentions.<\/p>\nEvery one of these Suites is preceded by a frontispiece which includes a date: Suite I 1748, Suite II 1743, Suite III 1748, Suite IV 1748, Suite V 1748, Suite VI 1749. The total number 6 is also found in many collections of music for harpsichord, organ and orchestra by J.S. Bach and other contemporary composers.<\/p>\n
A particular feature of these Suites is that each one begins with a Prelude and Fugue. The succeeding movements include always an Allemande and a Courante, but we also find Sarabandes, Andantes,\u00a0 Minuets, Gigues, Allegros, one Aria, Marches and a peculiar \u201cpar Plaisier<\/em>\u201d ending the Third Suite. The manual range only rarely descends below C and never exceeds the d”’, no doubt to allow playing the music on keyboards with a range smaller than the typical five octaves of contemporary harpsichords.<\/p>\nMovements derived from dance forms have a linear simple structure, mainly in two voices. There are few written embellishments, and nowhere do we find any allusion to the French style (exception: the Sarabande in Suite III). The hints at a \u201cgallant\u201d style suggests that Kellner was acquainted with the work of C.P.E. Bach: this is noticeable in the Prelude (with a \u201cDa Capo\u201d) and Andante of Suite II, and in the Prelude (marked \u201cAdagio<\/em>\u201d) and succeeding Adagio of Suite V. The \u201cforte\u201d and \u201cpiano\u201d (or else \u201cf\u201d and \u201cp\u201d) markings in the Prelude of Suite II, the Allegro of Suite IV and the final Allegro of Suite V, suggest the use of either a second manual or a clavichord. The disarming simplicity of the Prelude of Suite VI is followed by one of the longest pieces in the whole collection, a Fugue in 3 voices with a 5-bar subject and a total of 108 bars. The Fugue in 3 voices of Suite II is even more peculiar, with a 10-bar long subject and a total of 127 bars, ending with a short 4-bar adagio.<\/p>\nAt the end of the work we notice the abbreviation S.D.G. (Soli Deo Gloria)<\/em>, also used by other German 18th century composers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Franz Silvestri (translation by Claudio Di Veroli)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
JOHANN PETER KELLNER (1705-1772) CERTAMEN MUSICUM – Vol. I SUITES FOR HARPSICHORD Suite Nos. 3 & 4\u00a0 FRANZ SILVESTRI Johann Peter Kellner was born in Gr\u00e4fenroda, Thuringia, on the 28 or 29 September 1705, and died in the same German town on 19 April 1772.\u00a0 The scarce information we have about his life is found…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":18479,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"product_cat":[161,3347,87,177],"product_tag":[],"yoast_head":"\n
KELLNER: CERTAMEN MUSICUM - Vol. II - Urania Records<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n