CHARLES MOUTHON

The Mystery of Sign. Mouthon - 10 Concerti à 5

Concerto No. 1 in B Major

1. l Grave

2. ll Allegro

3. lll Grave

4. lV Allegro

Concerto No. 2 in F Major

5. l Allegro

6. ll Grave

8. lll Grave

9. lV Allegro

Concerto No. 3 in D Major

10. l Allegro

11. ll Adagio

12. lll Allegro

13. lV Grave

14. V Allegro

Concerto No. 4 in G Major

15. l Allegro

16. ll Adagio

17. lll Presto

18. lV Adagio

19. V Allegro

20. Vl Grave

21. Vll Allegro

Concerto No. 5 in C Major

22. l Andante cantabile

23. ll Adagio

24. lll Allegro

25. lV Adagio

26. V Allegro

Concerto No. 6 in A Minor

27. l Allegro

28. ll Adagio

29. lll Allegro

30. lV Adagio

31. V Allegro

Concerto No. 7 in D Minor

32. l Allegro

33. ll Adagio

34. lll Allegro

Ars Antiqua Austria / Gunar Letzbor

Seven rarely recorded string concertos thought to have been composed by the 17th century French lutenist Charles Mouthon, performed by one of the leading Austrian period instrument groups, Ars Antiqua Austria. The ensemble is led by its artistic director, violinist Gunar Letzbor.

The French Lutenist and composer Charles Mouthon was born in 1626 and died around 1699. The concertos featured on this CD, which are believed to have been written by Mouthon, were played regularly in Austrian monasteries at the turn of the 18th century. The music not only shows the astonishingly high standard of performance in the country at that time, it also reveals how musicians and patrons fostered the progress that led to Viennese Classicism by combining elements from diverse cultures.

Ars Antiqua Austria was founded in Linz in 1995 with the aim of introducing audiences to the roots of Austrian baroque music played on period instruments. The core of Ars Antiqua Austria comprises eight musicians directed by Gunar Letzbor. However the ensemble is often augmented to perform works of a larger scale.

Challenge CC72336