Johann Christoph Pez (1664-1716)
Duxplex Genius, op. 1, Douze Sonates pour violons, alto et basse continue

L'Arpa Festante
(Instruments d'époque)
Christoph Hesse, direction

The wild fantasy of the early baroque period reveals itself to us in musical aggregates that are still far away from the formal cohesion of musical material. Ideas and sounds drift on a sea of virtually unlimited possibilities, delighting us with a colourful diversity that is only very gradually bound into clear structures by rational regulative forces. Munich's Johann Christoph Pez lived and worked during this fascinating time of inspired searching and experimentation. Thanks to his talent, he was able to visit the promised land of Italy, inhaled the air of the all-powerful Italian Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Lully – and left behind a twelve-part Duplex Genius, an instrumental compendium whose highly entertaining qualities are all the more enhanced by the unpredictability of events.