Why is the Swedish baroque composer Johann Helmich Roman so rarely performed?

Started by Toni Bernet, January 07, 2025, 10:37:33 PM

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Toni Bernet

As a violinist, as a long-time director of the court orchestra at the Stockholm court and as a composer, Johann Helmich Roman was an important player in late Baroque court life in Sweden. During his years of study in England in 1716-21 (studying with Pepusch) and during an extended journey to England, France, Italy and Germany in 1735-37, he acquired detailed knowledge of the musical trends of the period between the Baroque and the gallant Rococo. His many works as a court composer include the 35-movement 'Drottingholm Music' (composed in 1744 for the marriage of Crown Prince Adolf Fredrik to Lovisa Ulrika), the 45-movement Golovin Music (written for a feast in 1728 for the Russian Minister Golovin), around 30 ambitious symphonies, sacred works, trio sonatas and concertos, among which 5 violin concertos stand out. His Assagi for solo violin are also an important, unfortunately little-known contribution to the Baroque solo literature. Roman's work also shows the extent to which baroque musical culture characterised princely Europe at the time.
Listen to his violin concerto here:
https://unbekannte-violinkonzerte.jimdofree.com/e/roman/


calyptorhynchus

I agree Roman's music is pretty good, don't know why it isn't performed much. I get the feeling it is in Sweden.

But apart from J S Bach, Vivaldi, Handel and Telemann, are any other Baroque composers performed much?
'Many men are melancholy by hearing music, but it is a pleasing melancholy that it causeth.' Robert Burton

'...is it not strange that sheepes guts should hale soules out of mens bodies?' Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing

Karl Henning

Quote from: calyptorhynchus on January 08, 2025, 11:53:44 AMI agree Roman's music is pretty good, don't know why it isn't performed much. I get the feeling it is in Sweden.

But apart from J S Bach, Vivaldi, Handel and Telemann, are any other Baroque composers performed much?
Perhaps Corelli and Monteverdi, oh! And Couperin, of course. Probably should add Domenico Scarlatti.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Cato

YouTube offers various things, among them this set of (fairly short) symphonies:





There is also a Swedish Mass:



"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

(poco) Sforzando

Quote from: Cato on January 08, 2025, 02:17:40 PMYouTube offers various things, among them this set of (fairly short) symphonies:





There is also a Swedish Mass:





I think that answers the OP's question right there.
"I don't know what sforzando means, though it clearly means something."