Gregor Joseph Werner
- Tobias Hunger, Voktett Hannover, Magdalene Harer, Lajos Rovatkay, Anne Bierwirth, La Festa Musicale, Markus Flaig
- Magdalene Harer, Lajos Rovatkay, Anne Bierwirth, La Festa Musicale, Daniel Trumbull, Markus Flaig, Tobias Hunger, Voktett Hannover
- Mainz Chamber Orchestra, Vilmos Tátrai, Günter Kehr, Laerte Malaguti, Heinz Zickler, Hungarian Chamber Orchestra, János Sebestyén
Biography
Werner was an organist who became the Kapellmeister in the Esterhazy court. He served there well and wrote a fair amount of vocal music which mirrors a cappella masses in a strict contrapuntal sense. Werner would also employ the use of string and wind accompaniments. Though many of his melodies were sharp and jagged, other themes were conveyed with a folkish quality. These characteristics are especially apparent in Werner's secular cantatas and Christmas music. Demonstratively he could also find a manner to develop representational effects in his music as exemplified in "Musicalischer Instrumental-Calender." When Haydn came to the Esterhazy court as Kapellmeister, Werner remained on as Oberhofkapellmeister. Werner was unfortunately not particularly fond of the young Haydn. ~ Keith Johnson