Johann Georg Orsler

Johann Georg Orsler: Trio Sonatas and Partitas

Václav Kapsa (ed.)

Born in Silesia, Johann Georg Orsler (c. 1698–1777) passed through a remarkable number of important places in the history of music in the Czech lands of the 18th century. In 1732, Johann Gottfried Walther wrote about him in his pioneering music dictionary. Fifty years later other music lexicographers were uncertain about the spelling of his name and which of its several bearers was responsible for the compositions marked with it. He then fell into complete obscurity, and his scattered surviving compositions have only recently come to the fore. This edition focuses on Orsler’s trio sonatas, eight of which have been collected from various sources. Written in a chamber style, they are not only rare examples of the repertoire composed for the aristocratic music lovers who settled in the Bohemian lands. Above all, they are high-quality and versatile pieces of music of interest to music historians, musicians, and listeners alike.

The volume contains a foreword, music text, critical report, editorial apparatus and translations of the vocal texts. Performing materials optimized for double-sided printing are published online (see below).

First Edition in Czech and English, colour illustrations, XL + 114 pp.

Praha: Artefactum 2024 (Academus Edition 8)

ISBN: 978-80-88283-89-8

ISMN: 979-0-706579-01-6