About this release
Almost an exact contemporary of Bach, Silvius Leopold Weiss (1687–1750) was renowned in his day as one of the most proficient lutenists in Europe. Born in Grottkau, now part of Poland, he soon established himself in the service of Prince Elector of Saxony August the Strong, based in Dresden, where he eventually became the highest paid musician of the court. Over his lifetime he composed over 200 sonatas, and, remarkably, many of them remain conserved – and unplayed – to this day. The manuscripts can be found in various libraries scattered across Europe, and the London Manuscript, held in the British Library since 1877, contains a staggering 26 solo sonatas as well as other individual and ensemble works with flute. The sonatas are not like the typical Classical sonatas that would appear in Mozart’s time; they are structured more like a Baroque suite, normally comprising six individual movements, lively gigues and courantes as well as allemandes and slow sarabandes. Although Weiss’s lute music has been compared to that of J.S. Bach, there is a wealth of originality here that is not always found in Bach’s works, due to Weiss’s deep understanding of the instrument. Weiss utilised unusually sophisticated harmonies, particularly in the later works, where he frequently employed diminished seventh chords and bold enharmonic changes. His ensemble works for flute and lute add a striking new voice, leading to lively interplay between the two instruments.
Michel Cardin has devoted his career to painstakingly reconstructing the London Manuscript, bringing the various fragments to a playable standard and carefully analysing which segments belong where. Over the past decade he has released each CD individually with various works from the manuscript; now, the listener has an opportunity to own the complete collection, encapsulating 12 CDs worth of Weiss’s remarkable Baroque lute music. This slow, academic approach, based on years of research and careful analysis, has brought a highly authentic recording of these works to fruition. However, Cardin describes himself as a performer first and a musicologist second; these works can most certainly be enjoyed by anyone, whether already acquainted with Weiss or not. Baroque flautist Christiane Laflamme, who joins Cardin on the last two CDs, was also an integral part of the reconstruction process. Cardin’s venture has been reviewed in the British magazine Early Music, where it was described as “the most remarkable Weiss project of all”.
Now in a 12CD budget box: the complete London Manuscript by Silvius Leopold Weiss!
Weiss (a near exact contemporary of Bach: 1687-1750) was a famous lute player and composer in his, time, a highly regarded court musician at the Dresden court. He wrote extensively for his instrument.
This 12CD set contains the complete works found in the London Manuscript: 26 Sonatas for lute solo. The sonatas are not written in the classical sense of the genre, but they are more like suites, with several dance movements. Weiss’s musical language is highly expressive, full of daring chromatic harmonies and intricate counterpoint, only a master lutenist could write such music!
Lutenist Michel Cardin reconstructed the London Manuscript with painstaking care in a period of over 10 years, and he recorded it on separately issued CD’s. Brilliant Classics is proud to issue the complete set in one box, a monument of great music and great playing!
The booklet contains extensive liner notes by the artist.
Other information:
Recorded in Canada between 1992 and 2004.
Unique opportunity to own the complete London Manuscript in full, described by Early Music magazine as ”one of the greatest solo music sources in early music history”.
Extensive liner notes written by Michel Cardin included in clamshell with more available online.
Biographies of the artists.
More
Track list
Disk 1
1
Sonata No. 1 in F Major, WeissSW 1: I. Praelude
2
Sonata No. 1 in F Major, WeissSW 1: II. Allemande
3
Sonata No. 1 in F Major, WeissSW 1: III. Courante
4
Sonata No. 1 in F Major, WeissSW 1: IV. Bouree
5
Sonata No. 1 in F Major, WeissSW 1: V. Sarabande
6
Sonata No. 1 in F Major, WeissSW 1: VI. Menuet
7
Sonata No. 1 in F Major, WeissSW 1: VII. Gique
8
Sonata No. 2 in D Major, WeissSW 2: I. Prelude
9
Sonata No. 2 in D Major, WeissSW 2: II. Allemande
10
Sonata No. 2 in D Major, WeissSW 2: III. Courante
11
Sonata No. 2 in D Major, WeissSW 2: IV. Bourée
12
Sonata No. 2 in D Major, WeissSW 2: V. Sarabande
13
Sonata No. 2 in D Major, WeissSW 2: VI. Menuet
14
Sonata No. 2 in D Major, WeissSW 2: VII. Giga
15
Sonata No. 3 in G Minor, WeissSW 3: I. Prelude
16
Sonata No. 3 in G Minor, WeissSW 3: II. Allemande
17
Sonata No. 3 in G Minor, WeissSW 3: III. Courrante
18
Sonata No. 3 in G Minor, WeissSW 3: IV. Bouree
Disk 2
1
Sonata No. 3 in G Minor, WeissSW 3: V. Sarabande
1
Sonata No. 4 in G Major, WeissSW 5: I. Prelude
2
Sonata No. 3 in G Minor, WeissSW 3: VI. Menuet & 2do menuet
2
Sonata No. 4 in G Major, WeissSW 5: II. Allemande
3
Sonata No. 4 in G Major, WeissSW 5: III. Courante
4
Sonata No. 4 in G Major, WeissSW 5: IV. Bourée
5
Sonata No. 4 in G Major, WeissSW 5: V. Sarabande
6
Sonata No. 4 in G Major, WeissSW 5: VI. Menuet
7
Sonata No. 4 in G Major, WeissSW 5: VII. Gigue
8
Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, WeissSW 7: I. Allemande
9
Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, WeissSW 7: II. Courante
10
Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, WeissSW 7: III. Gavotte
11
Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, WeissSW 7: IV. Sarabande
12
Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, WeissSW 7: V. Menuet
13
Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, WeissSW 7: VI. Gigue
14
Sonata No. 6 in E-Flat Major, WeissSW 10: I. Prelude
15
Sonata No. 6 in E-Flat Major, WeissSW 10: II. Allemande
16
Sonata No. 6 in E-Flat Major, WeissSW 10: III. Courante
17
Sonata No. 6 in E-Flat Major, WeissSW 10: IV. Bouree
18
Sonata No. 6 in E-Flat Major, WeissSW 10: V. Sarabande
19
Sonata No. 6 in E-Flat Major, WeissSW 10: VI. Menuet
20
Sonata No. 6 in E-Flat Major, WeissSW 10: VII. Ciaccoñe
Disk 3
1
Sonata No. 7 in D Minor, WeissSW 11: I. Fantasia
2
Sonata No. 7 in D Minor, WeissSW 11: II. Allemande
3
Sonata No. 7 in D Minor, WeissSW 11: III. Courante
4
Sonata No. 7 in D Minor, WeissSW 11: IV. Gavotte
5
Sonata No. 7 in D Minor, WeissSW 11: V. Sarabande
6
Sonata No. 7 in D Minor, WeissSW 11: VI. Menuet
7
Sonata No. 7 in D Minor, WeissSW 11: VII. Gigue
8
Sonata No. 8 in A Major, WeissSW 12: I. Prelude
9
Sonata No. 8 in A Major, WeissSW 12: II. Allemande
10
Sonata No. 8 in A Major, WeissSW 12: III. Courante
11
Sonata No. 8 in A Major, WeissSW 12: IV. Bourée
12
Sonata No. 8 in A Major, WeissSW 12: V. Sarabanda
13
Sonata No. 8 in A Major, WeissSW 12: VI. Menuet
14
Sonata No. 8 in A Major, WeissSW 12: VII. Ciacona
15
Sonata No. 8 in A Major, WeissSW 12: VIII. Gigue
16
Sonata No. 9 in D Minor, WeissSW 13: I. Preludie
17
Sonata No. 9 in D Minor, WeissSW 13: II. Allemande
18
Sonata No. 9 in D Minor, WeissSW 13: III. Courante
19
Sonata No. 9 in D Minor, WeissSW 13: IV. Bouree & Double
20
Sonata No. 9 in D Minor, WeissSW 13: V. Menuet
Disk 4
1
Sonata No. 10 in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 15: I. Allemande
2
Sonata No. 10 in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 15: II. Courante
3
Sonata No. 10 in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 15: III. Paisane
4
Sonata No. 10 in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 15: IV. Sarabande
5
Sonata No. 10 in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 15: V. Menuet
6
Sonata No. 10 in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 15: VI. Gigue
7
Sonata No. 11 in A Major, WeissSW 16: I. Allemande
8
Sonata No. 11 in A Major, WeissSW 16: II. Air en echo
9
Sonata No. 11 in A Major, WeissSW 16: III. Paisañe
10
Sonata No. 11 in A Major, WeissSW 16: IV. Sarabande
11
Sonata No. 11 in A Major, WeissSW 16: V. Menuet
12
Sonata No. 11 in A Major, WeissSW 16: VI. Pastorrell
13
Sonata No. 12 in C Major, WeissSW 17: I. Allemande
14
Sonata No. 12 in C Major, WeissSW 17: II. Courente
15
Sonata No. 12 in C Major, WeissSW 17: III. Bourée
16
Sonata No. 12 in C Major, WeissSW 17: IV. Sarabande
17
Sonata No. 12 in C Major, WeissSW 17: V. Menuet
18
Sonata No. 12 in C Major, WeissSW 17: VI. Paisana
Disk 5
1
Sonata No. 13 in D Major, WeissSW 18: I. Allemande
2
Sonata No. 13 in D Major, WeissSW 18: II. Courante
3
Sonata No. 13 in D Major, WeissSW 18: III. Angloise
4
Sonata No. 13 in D Major, WeissSW 18: IV. Sarabande
5
Sonata No. 13 in D Major, WeissSW 18: V. Menuet
6
Sonata No. 13 in D Major, WeissSW 18: VI. Passagaille
7
Sonata No. 14 in F Major, WeissSW 19: I. Prelude
8
Sonata No. 14 in F Major, WeissSW 19: II. Allemande
9
Sonata No. 14 in F Major, WeissSW 19: III. Courante
10
Sonata No. 14 in F Major, WeissSW 19: IV. Bourée
11
Sonata No. 14 in F Major, WeissSW 19: V. Sarabande
12
Sonata No. 14 in F Major, WeissSW 19: VI. Menuet
13
Sonata No. 14 in F Major, WeissSW 19: VII. Gigue
14
Sonata No. 15 in F Minor, WeissSW 21: I. Allemande
15
Sonata No. 15 in F Minor, WeissSW 21: II. Courrante
16
Sonata No. 15 in F Minor, WeissSW 21: III. Sarabande
17
Sonata No. 15 in F Minor, WeissSW 21: IV. Bourée
18
Sonata No. 15 in F Minor, WeissSW 21: V. Tempo di menueto
19
Sonata No. 15 in F Minor, WeissSW 21: VI. Gigue
Disk 6
1
Sonata No. 16 in G Major, WeissSW 22: I. Preludie
2
Sonata No. 16 in G Major, WeissSW 22: II. Toccata
3
Sonata No. 16 in G Major, WeissSW 22: III. Fuga
4
Sonata No. 16 in G Major, WeissSW 22: IV. Courante
5
Sonata No. 16 in G Major, WeissSW 22: V. Bouree
6
Sonata No. 16 in G Major, WeissSW 22: VI. Sarabande 7’34
7
Sonata No. 16 in G Major, WeissSW 22: VII. Menuet
8
Sonata No. 16 in G Major, WeissSW 22: VIII. Allegro
9
Sonata No. 17 in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 23 ”Divertimento à solo”: I. Praelude
10
Sonata No. 17 in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 23 ”Divertimento à solo”: II. Entrée
11
Sonata No. 17 in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 23 ”Divertimento à solo”: III. Bourées I & II
12
Sonata No. 17 in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 23 ”Divertimento à solo”: IV. Gavottes I & II
13
Sonata No. 17 in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 23 ”Divertimento à solo”: V. Sarabande
14
Sonata No. 17 in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 23 ”Divertimento à solo”: VI. Menuets I & II
15
Sonata No. 17 in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 23 ”Divertimento à solo”: VII. Saltarella
Disk 7
1
Sonata No. 18 in C Major, WeissSW 24: I. Ouverture
2
Sonata No. 18 in C Major, WeissSW 24: II. Bourée
3
Sonata No. 18 in C Major, WeissSW 24: III. Aria
4
Sonata No. 18 in C Major, WeissSW 24: IV. Menuet & Trio
5
Sonata No. 18 in C Major, WeissSW 24: V. Gigue
6
Sonata No. 19 in G Minor, WeissSW 25: I. Andante
7
Sonata No. 19 in G Minor, WeissSW 25: II. Passepîed
8
Sonata No. 19 in G Minor, WeissSW 25: III. Bourée
9
Sonata No. 19 in G Minor, WeissSW 25: IV. Sarabande
10
Sonata No. 19 in G Minor, WeissSW 25: V. La Babilieuse en menuet
11
Sonata No. 19 in G Minor, WeissSW 25: VI. Gigue
12
Sonata No. 20 in D Major, WeissSW 26: I. Prelude
13
Sonata No. 20 in D Major, WeissSW 26: II. Marche
14
Sonata No. 20 in D Major, WeissSW 26: III. Gavotte
15
Sonata No. 20 in D Major, WeissSW 26: IV. Aria
16
Sonata No. 20 in D Major, WeissSW 26: V. Menuet
17
Sonata No. 20 in D Major, WeissSW 26: VI. Musette
18
Sonata No. 20 in D Major, WeissSW 26: VII. Rondeau en echo
19
Sonata No. 20 in D Major, WeissSW 26: VIII. Comment sçavez-vous?
Disk 8
1
Sonata No. 21 in C Minor, WeissSW 27: I. Praelude
2
Sonata No. 21 in C Minor, WeissSW 27: II. Allemande
3
Sonata No. 21 in C Minor, WeissSW 27: III. Gavotte
4
Sonata No. 21 in C Minor, WeissSW 27: IV. Rondeau
5
Sonata No. 21 in C Minor, WeissSW 27: V. Sarabanda
6
Sonata No. 21 in C Minor, WeissSW 27: VI. Menuet
7
Sonata No. 21 in C Minor, WeissSW 27: VII. Riguadon
8
Sonata No. 21 in C Minor, WeissSW 27: VIII. La belle Tiroloise
9
Sonata No. 22 in F Major, WeissSW 28 “Le fameux corsair”: I. Allemande
10
Sonata No. 22 in F Major, WeissSW 28 “Le fameux corsair”: II. Courrante
11
Sonata No. 22 in F Major, WeissSW 28 “Le fameux corsair”: III. Bouree
12
Sonata No. 22 in F Major, WeissSW 28 “Le fameux corsair”: IV. Sarabande
13
Sonata No. 22 in F Major, WeissSW 28 “Le fameux corsair”: V. Menuet
14
Sonata No. 22 in F Major, WeissSW 28 “Le fameux corsair”: VI. Presto
15
Sonata No. 23 in A Minor, WeissSW 29 “L’infidèle”: I. Entrée
16
Sonata No. 23 in A Minor, WeissSW 29 “L’infidèle”: II. Courante
17
Sonata No. 23 in A Minor, WeissSW 29 “L’infidèle”: III. Sarabande
18
Sonata No. 23 in A Minor, WeissSW 29 “L’infidèle”: IV. Menuet
19
Sonata No. 23 in A Minor, WeissSW 29 “L’infidèle”: V. Musette
20
Sonata No. 23 in A Minor, WeissSW 29 “L’infidèle”: VI. Paÿsane
Disk 9
1
Sonata No. 24 in E-Flat Major, WeissSW 30: I. Prelude
2
Sonata No. 24 in E-Flat Major, WeissSW 30: II. Allemande
3
Sonata No. 24 in E-Flat Major, WeissSW 30: III. Rigaudon
4
Sonata No. 24 in E-Flat Major, WeissSW 30: IV. Sarabande
5
Sonata No. 24 in E-Flat Major, WeissSW 30: V. Gavotte
6
Sonata No. 24 in E-Flat Major, WeissSW 30: VI. Menuet
7
Sonata No. 24 in E-Flat Major, WeissSW 30: VII. Le sans soucie
8
Sonata No .25 in F Major, WeissSW 31: I. Allemande
9
Sonata No .25 in F Major, WeissSW 31: II. Allegro
10
Sonata No .25 in F Major, WeissSW 31: III. Bourée
11
Sonata No .25 in F Major, WeissSW 31: IV. Menuet
12
Sonata No .25 in F Major, WeissSW 31: V. Menuet 2do
13
Sonata No .25 in F Major, WeissSW 31: VI. Gigue
14
Sonata No. 26 in F Major, WeissSW 32: I. Allemande
15
Sonata No. 26 in F Major, WeissSW 32: II. Courante
16
Sonata No. 26 in F Major, WeissSW 32: III. Bouree
17
Sonata No. 26 in F Major, WeissSW 32: IV. Sarabande
18
Sonata No. 26 in F Major, WeissSW 32: V. Menuet I
19
Sonata No. 26 in F Major, WeissSW 32: VI. Menuet II (WeissSW16)
20
Sonata No. 26 in F Major, WeissSW 32: VII. Gigue
Disk 10
1
Menuet I in F Major, WeissSW 1.8
2
Menuet II in F Major, WeissSW 1.9
3
Gavotte in F Major, WeissSW 1.10
4
Gavotte and Double in D Major, WeissSW 2.8/2.9
5
Prelude in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 4.1
6
Ouverture in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 4.2
7
Courante in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 4.3
8
Bouree in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 4.4
9
Allegro in G Major, WeissSW 1
10
Courente Royale in G Major, WeissSW 2
11
Prelude in E-Flat Major, WeissSW 10.1
12
Menuet in G Major, WeissSW 4
13
Fuga in C Major, WeissSW 6
14
Fuga in D Minor, WeissSW 7
15
L’Amant malheureux, WeissSW 8
16
Fantasie in C Minor, WeissSW 9
17
Menuet in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 10
18
Plainte in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 15.1
19
Tombeau sur la mort de M. Cajetan Baron d’Hartig WeissSW 11
20
Bouree in C Major, WeissSW 12
21
Menuet in C Major, WeissSW 13
Disk 11
1
Gavotte in D Minor, WeissSW 14
2
Menuet in D Minor, WeissSW 15
3
Praelude and Fugue in E-Flat Major, WeissSW 17
4
Menuet and Trio in G Major, WeissSW 18/19
5
Bourée in F Major, WeissSW 31.7
6
Tombeau sur la mort de mur comte d’Logÿ arrivee 1721 WeissSW 20
7
Prelud in C Major, WeissSW 21
8
Fantasie in C Major, WeissSW 24
9
Menuet in C Major, WeissSW 22
10
Gavotte in C Major, WeissSW 23
11
Capricio in D Major, WeissSW 25
12
Menuet I in D Major, WeissSW 16
13
Menuet II in B Minor, WeissSW 27
14
Mademoiselle Tiroloise, WeissSW 28
15
Premier concert d’un luth et d’une flute traversière in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 6: I. Adagio
16
Premier concert d’un luth et d’une flute traversière in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 6: II. Allegro
17
Premier concert d’un luth et d’une flute traversière in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 6: III. Grave
18
Premier concert d’un luth et d’une flute traversière in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 6: IV. Allegro
Disk 12
1
Deuxième concert d’un luth avec une flute traversière in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 8: I. Andante
2
Deuxième concert d’un luth avec une flute traversière in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 8: II. Presto
3
Deuxième concert d’un luth avec une flute traversière in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 8: III. Andante
4
Deuxième concert d’un luth avec une flute traversière in B-Flat Major, WeissSW 8: IV. Allegro
5
Troisième concert d’un luth avec la flute traversière in F Major, WeissSW 9: I. Adagio
6
Troisième concert d’un luth avec la flute traversière in F Major, WeissSW 9: II. Allegro
7
Troisième concert d’un luth avec la flute traversière in F Major, WeissSW 9: III. Amoroso
8
Troisième concert d’un luth avec la flute traversière in F Major, WeissSW 9: IV. Allegro
9
Duo No. 4 in G Minor, WeissSW 14: I. Adagio
10
Duo No. 4 in G Minor, WeissSW 14: II. Gavotte
11
Duo No. 4 in G Minor, WeissSW 14: III. Sarabande
12
Duo No. 4 in G Minor, WeissSW 14: IV. Menuet
13
Duo No. 4 in G Minor, WeissSW 14: V. Bourée
14
Duo No. 4 in G Minor, WeissSW 14: VI. Ciacoña
15
Duo No. 5 in D Minor, WeissSW 20: I. Prelude
16
Duo No. 5 in D Minor, WeissSW 20: II. Un poco andante
17
Duo No. 5 in D Minor, WeissSW 20: III. La badinage
18
Duo No. 5 in D Minor, WeissSW 20: IV. Largo (WeissSW 5)
19
Duo No. 5 in D Minor, WeissSW 20: V. Le Sicilien
20
Duo No. 5 in D Minor, WeissSW 20: VI. Menuet
21
Duo No. 5 in D Minor, WeissSW 20: VII. Gigue
Now in a 12CD budget box: the complete London Manuscript by Silvius Leopold Weiss!
Weiss (a near exact contemporary of Bach: 1687‐1750) was a famous lute player and composer in his, time, a highly regarded court musician at the Dresden court. He wrote extensively for his instrument.
This 12CD set contains the complete works found in the London Manuscript: 26 Sonatas for lute solo. The sonatas are not written in the classical sense of the genre, but they are more like suites, with several dance movements. Weiss’s musical language is highly expressive, full of daring chromatic harmonies and intricate counterpoint, only a master lutenist could write such music! Lutenist Michel Cardin reconstructed the London Manuscript with painstaking care in a period of over 10 years, and he recorded it on separately issued CD’s. Brilliant Classics is proud to issue the complete set in one box, a monument of great music and great playing!
The booklet contains extensive liner notes by the artist.