Anne Marie Dragosits - Froberger: ...avec discretion... (2016)

In its complexity and individuality, Johann Jacob Froberger's oeuvre represents one of the greatest treasures of 17th century harpsichord repertoire. His travels and friendships with musicians and intellectuals throughout Europe - including, for example, Frescobaldi, Kircher, Kerll, Weckmann, Louis Couperin, Gaultier, Fleury alias Blancrocher, Huygens and many others - are reflected in his stylistic versatillity. What is notable about all these contacts is that the fascination was invariably mutual - Froberger was inspired and also provided strong inspiration to his friends. He developed his own, unmistakable individual style, but continued using very different musical forms and ideas of sound. In his compositions of toccatas in the Italian expressive style of his time and in his polyphonic capriccios, fantasies and ricercari, the influence of his teacher Frescobaldi is clearly notable: the form of the suite, to which he added Italian elements as well at first, reflects his gradual turn towards the French style.