Froberger's charming keyboard art

With the exception of two motets and an ensemble piece, Johann Jacob Froberger's (1616-1666) oeuvre consists of compositions for keyboard instruments. "What Chopin became for the piano literature of the 19th century, Froberger was for the piano music of the 17th century: both placed the subjective feelings of player and listener at the center of their work and both succeeded in taking their instruments to the limits of sound and expression" (Siegbert Rampe).

Now Pieter Dirksen, the Dutch specialist in 17th century keyboard music, has reissued Froberger's suites, giving all keyboard players an insight into suite music before Bach and Handel. Here you can learn expressivity and the kind of sound design that comes from the "style brisé" of French music for lute. This peculiarity requires a meticulously notated resolution of the chords, which is not easy to read. A less crowded layout would therefore have been desirable, and the distribution of the musical text between the two keyboard systems could also have been more player-friendly. Even if one is surprised at some of the editorial decisions, the Henle publishing house has nevertheless closed a gap in a repertoire which can also be used with profit in piano pedagogy.

Johann Jacob Froberger: Suites for Harpsichord, edited by Pieter Dirksen, HN 1091, € 31.00, G. Henle, Munich