The Lost World of Pomeranian Music, vol. III: Christian Michael Wolff - Sonatas

The third album released by Academy of Early Music Foundation (FAMD) and RecArt in the series Vitae Pomeranorum – The Lost World of Pomeranian Music is dedicated in its entirety to the chamber works of Szczecin-based organist and composer Christian Michael Wolff (1707-1789). Born into a famous Pomeranian musical family, he was the son of Christian Friedrich Wolff (d. 1726) and grandson of Friedrich Wolff (d. 1721), both of whom held the post of cantor and music director (Director Musices) at Szczecin’s Church of St Mary (Marienkirche zu Stettin). In the city’s history, the 18th century was not particularly favourable to the flourishing of science, culture, and art (including music). Recorded in the historical interiors of the Przelewice (formerly Prillwitz) Palace, which belonged to the Pomeranian von Schack family in Wolff’s lifetime, Sei Sonate per il Clavicembalo Obligato, col Violino o Flauto Traverso, o Violetta, Composte Da Wolff In Stettin not only testify to the development of chamber music in 18th-century Szczecin, but also provide an opportunity to rescue the now forgotten artist from oblivion. The Sonatas offer proof that Szczecin composers followed the then current European stylistic trends and tendencies. Historically the cycle may be viewed as a perfect bridge between the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and that of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It represents the style of 18th-century Berlin composers, which combined ‘the art of arranging sounds in an ear-pleasing manner’ (J.J. Rousseau) with the emotional and expressive aesthetic of the Sturm-und-Drang period.