Graupner - Partitas, vol 1 - G Soly, hpschd (2002) [Philidor; FLAC]

As the literate writer of Wikipedia's entry on Christophe Graupner notes (full article enclosed):

"Graupner inadvertently played a key role in the history of music. Precarious finances in Darmstadt during the 1710s forced a reduction of musical life. The opera house was closed, and many court musicians' salaries were in arrears (including Graupner's). After many attempts to have his salary paid, and having several children and a wife to support, in 1723 Graupner applied for the Cantorate in Leipzig. Telemann had been the first choice for this position, but withdrew after securing a salary increase in Hamburg. Graupner's "audition" Magnificat, set in the style of his teacher and mentor Kuhnau, secured him the position. However, Graupner's patron (the Landgrave Ernst Ludwig of Hesse-Darmstadt) would not release him from his contract. Graupner's past due salary was paid in full, his salary was increased; and he would be kept on staff even if his Kapelle was dismissed. With such favorable terms, Graupner remained in Darmstadt, thus clearing the way for Bach to become the cantor in Leipzig."

But it was Graupner's sense of personal modesty that was his greatest obstruction, when it came to recognition by posterity. He refused other offers to leave Darmstadt, and his employer there believed the music Graupner wrote belonged to him, and him, alone. Court cases launched by Graupner's relatives for access to his scores after his death failed, and nobody saw most of his music until the mid-to-late 20th century. That modesty also denies us a portrait. He refused to sit for the Darmstadt court painter, asserting that he was just a "humble Lutheran."

His music, though, is extremely sophisticated, showing an awareness of and capability in many styles of his times and earlier. He wrote expressively, and with imagination. Hopefully, more of his scores will be recorded in the future.


You can find all my classical uploads by searching on Philidor, or in this thread:

http://kickasstorrents.ee/community/show/philidor-s-classical-stuff/?page=6#post15768265