Description
This CD includes:
Capriccio in G (Hob. XVII: 1)
The Capriccio in G major dates from 1765. The piece is written in rondo form and, like C. Ph. E. Bach’s rondos, it evolves from a single motif. This theme is the folksong Acht Sauschneider müssen seyn: “If you have to geld a boar you need eight people. Two in front, two at the back, two to hold the beast, one to tie him up, one to handle the knife.” The piece starts in a simple and naïve way, but in due course it takes the form of a brilliant, compelling improvisation, culminating towards the end in a dramatic fermata, which leads to an inevitable cadenza. The many sequences lend an undeniably baroque flavor to the whole of it.
Andante con Variazioni (Hob. XVII:6)
In 1793 Marianne von Genzinger dies. It is very well possible that Haydn wrote the Andante con Variazioni in reaction to the loss of the woman for whom he felt such an extremely deep sympathy. In the autograph the work is described as Sonata, which probably indicates that the composer planned to write other movements as well. Haydn uses for this piece his favourite double variation formula: two themes – one in the minor, one in the major key – undergo a parallel metamorphosis. Towards the end Haydn drops the caesura marks that separate the minor theme from the major one. Focusing on the dotted rhythm of the initial motif the composer works, as if in the development section of a sonata, towards an exciting climax.
Leen de Broekert (1949-2009) studied Piano and Organ at the Royal Academy of Music in The Hague. He graduated in both subjects. He also qualified as a harpsichord player and fortepianist with Jos van Immerseel. In 1979 he was one of the laureates of the International Contest for Organ in Bruges, with an honourable citation for his Interpretation of Bach. As a fortepianist and organist he was frequently asked for concerts in Germany as well as in Holland. He also performed in England, France, Belgium, Sweden, Austria, Italy and Switzerland and recorded several CDs both on pianoforte and organ. Leen de Broekert was the organist of the Koorkerk (Abbey church) in Middelburg. He died, at the age of sixty, after a short illness, in Middelburg on 29 July 2009.
