New Arts International

- This is first-rate Telemann that few people have heard. Gambist John Dornenburg is the ideal performer for these works.

The existence of Telemann Fantasias for Viola da gamba has long been known about by musicians, but until very recently no surviving copies had been located. Fortunately, a single complete print was identified by two musicologists in the Lower Saxony State Archive, after the private library holdings of the Schloss Ledenberg were transferrred there in 2000. A major edition wasn't available until 2016.
Fanfare: Veteran gambist John Dornenburg’s new version was recorded in October 2020 in England—St. Mary Magdalene Church in Gloucestershire, specifically. I was pleased with both Smith’s and Boothby’s recordings when they appeared, and I am sure I would continue to be pleased if I played them on their own. Dornenburg, however, has an edge on both of them. While all three gambists seem to have a very similar understanding of the music per se—tempos are almost identical, and so on—Dornenburg’s playing is more assertive and his tone is warmer, fuller, and more characterful.... a top recommendation

Fantasias for Viola da gamba Solo