Buxtehude: Trio Sonatas, op.2
Sophie Gent (violin), Jonathan Manson (viola da gamba), Thomas Dunford (archlute), Jonathan Cohen (harpsichord, direction) (Alpha)
(scroll down for English review)
巴哈受過這麼多作曲家影響，但真正算得上他「偶像」的，應該就只有布克斯泰胡德（1637-1707），北德巴洛克音樂的代表人物。巴哈為了聽他彈管風琴，於1705年從他當時任職的中德市鎮，步行400公里去到德國北部的盧貝克。布克斯泰胡德最以管風琴及宗教樂曲著稱，但也有傑出的器樂，包括這套在他晚年出版的作品二《七首三重奏奏鳴曲》。
先說編制，與較常見的兩支旋律樂器加通奏低音稍有不同，布克斯泰胡德用小提琴及低音古提琴演奏旋律，就已是一高一低，通奏低音的部分一來寫得較為簡略，二來又不適合再用低音古提琴演奏，這個演奏就用古鍵琴及大魯特琴去做通奏低音。
另外就是這裏的「奏鳴曲」又與我們聽慣的不同，這個錄音一首奏鳴曲一軌，沒有拆開樂章，我也同意這種安排，因為布克斯泰胡德採用的奏鳴曲結構，既非我們最熟悉的快慢快三樂章奏鳴曲，但也不是意大利巴洛克、甚至巴哈較常用的慢快慢快四樂章教堂奏鳴曲。不過絕對不是一個速度、一個節奏從頭到尾，反而比三樂章、四樂章那些更為自由，旋律寫完便轉下一個速度及段落，不拖泥帶水。第二奏鳴曲當中包含一首有數個變奏的詠嘆調，第五奏鳴曲又有給小提琴演奏，類似華彩段的段落。
旋律我不會用「古雅」去形容，而是充滿活力及延續力，兩支樂器扣得緊，卻又不會太過互相壓逼，更不會像某些意大利曲目般，過於賣弄炫技及靠速度營造刺激感覺。布克斯泰胡德目前仍被當成冷門巴洛克作曲家，我相信這套作品定能讓喜歡聽器樂的朋友有新發現。
（唱片公司沒有提供YouTube試聽，連結為Spotify，我在下面再附上另一批演奏者的YouTube連結。）
If you think Buxtehude is just organ or religious music, think again. These op.2 trio sonatas would give you a new impression not just on him, but the state of North-German baroque music before Bach.
Buxtehude used a slightly different setting for his trio sonata, instead of two treble instruments, it’s a violin supported by a viola da gamba. The basso continuo part is sparsely written and it couldn’t be played by yet another viola da gamba. The solution adopted here is a very prominent archlute backed up by the harpsichord.
Also the form itself is different by our typical fast-slow-fast sonata or the four-movement sonata da chiesa. Here the moods come and go and there’s no need to doodle before the whole movement is completed.
I wouldn’t simply say the melodic writing is elegant or noble, because Buxtehude let the melodies flow on with much vitality. The two melodic instruments intertwine, but without rushing or combating each other. What set Buxtehude apart from the Italians is his refusal to pump excessive energy for a superficial sense of virtuosity. Buxtehude is still viewed by most listeners as a fringe Baroque composer, I hope this superb recording would change your mind.