by Licco AMAR (Violin) and GUNTHER RAMIN (Harpsichord)
GUNTHER RAMIN
Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue Bach (1685-1780)
IN this Recital, by the two distinguished visitors who were heard from 5GB yesterday evening, Dr. Ramin, who played the organ thcu, appears as player of the harpsichord. The most important of all the pianoforte's ancestors, differing in principle from the modern instrument chiefly by having the strings plucked instead of struck by hammers, the harpsichord has a delicate tone which broadcasts well and faithfully. It is by no means unfamiliar to listeners.
Handel's music for the harpsichord formed the programmes in the ' Foundations of Music ' a month ago, so that listeners cannot need to be reminded so soon of their simple grace and melodiousness.
Johann Ludwig Krebs , son of an organist, was so carefully taught by his father that when, at the ago of thirteen, he went to the Thomasschule in Leipzig, the great Bach at once took him into his own special class. He was a favourite pupil of the master's for about nine years and latterly played the klavior at the weekly practices. He held several posts as organist and was equally eminent as a player of the klavier, composing for both instruments, and leaving, besides, a number of pieces for flute ; and, as was only natural in that simple and devout age, he composed also church music.
Not very much is known of the career of Johann Jakob Walther , beyond the fact that he was at different times violinist in the service of the Elector of Saxony and later of the Elector of Mainz. But at least two sets of his own pieces for violin have been preserved and have an importance of their own in the history of violin music. They make remarkable demands, for tho ago in which they were written, on tho skill of the player, and he must clearly have been a fine performer himself.