The life of Georg Muffat (1653-1704) was that of a cosmopolitan: born in Megève in the Savoy, educated in Paris with Lully, studied further in Alsace, after working briefly in Salzburg and in Vienna entered service in Prague , sent to Rome by his employer to study with Pasquini and eventually ended up in Passau. The work included here was published in 1690 and contains twelve toccatas, a ciacona,
… a passacaglia and a closing work entitled 'Nova cyclopeias harmonia', which, like the two preceding ones, is in fact a series of variations. The whole is a colorful collection of French, German and Italian influences, dosed by Muffat with a master hand. This great variety is the greatest asset of these organ works. On this double CD the cosmopolitan appearance and variety have been increased by taking the works in turn on two different organs, as if after hearing one work one leaves the church and then enters another. Often such practices disturb the unity. In this case, however, two particularly fine instruments were chosen, one of which is almost unchanged (the Freundt organ in Klosterneuburg from 1642) and the other has even remained completely unchanged (the Silbermann organ in Ebersmünster, dating from 1732). With such a wealth of instruments and music, this has definitely become an attractive organ CD. (JvG) In this case, however, two particularly fine instruments were chosen, one of which is almost unchanged (the Freundt organ in Klosterneuburg from 1642) and the other has even remained completely unchanged (the Silbermann organ in Ebersmünster, dating from 1732). With such a wealth of instruments and music, this has definitely become an attractive organ CD. (JvG) In this case, however, two particularly fine instruments were chosen, one of which is almost unchanged (the Freundt organ in Klosterneuburg from 1642) and the other has even remained completely unchanged (the Silbermann organ in Ebersmünster, dating from 1732). With such a wealth of instruments and music, this has definitely become an attractive organ CD. (JvG)more
