Weihnachtskantate. Par SCHMELZER JOHANN HEINRICH. With this pastoral Christmas cantata by the long-serving Royal Hofkapellmeister of Vienna, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, we wish to draw attention to a prominent baroque composer whose vocal and instrumental works have yet to achieve their historical place in the “early music scene“ which they richly deserve. Schmelzer’s easily performable pastoral music is characterized by simple melodic lines in an alpine idiom, partly in the style of Venetian baroque opera. A texture of five to seven voices alternates with settings for one or two voices accompanied by continuo./ Répertoire / Solistes TT, 2 Violons, 2 AltoSBasson et Basse Con
