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Fischer: Le Journal Du Printemps Op 1 / Gaigg, Orfeo Baroque Orchestra


Release Date: 09/25/2007 
Label:  Cpo   Catalog #: 777150   Spars Code: n/a 
Composer:  Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Number of Discs: 1 
Recorded in: Stereo 
Length: 1 Hours 18 Mins. 

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Notes and Editorial Reviews



J. C. F. FISCHER Le journal du printemps • Michi Gaigg, cond; L’Orfeo Baroque O • cpo 777 150-2 (77:39)


To live and work artistically in most German states during the period when Louis XIV reigned in France meant being at least knowledgeable about all matters French. Many German courts assiduously copied the Sun King’s sense of style; and a visit to many Baroque museums throughout modern Germany is a small education in French culture of the period. So it’s not that surprising that Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer Read more (1656–1746) chose to publish a series of eight orchestral suites in the French manner, while working as Hopfkapellmeister to Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm of Baden-Baden. The Margrave’s court was artistically cosmopolitan and sophisticated, and the Margrave himself was a Francophile, despite spending much of his distinguished soldiering career ironically serving against France.


Fischer’s Le journal du printemps is not a programmatic work. Its title might be taken to refer to music written during the composer’s youth, for he was 38 when it appeared, and nothing of his had been previously published. The music reveals him as a Lullist of no mean stature, sustaining a four- and five-part homophonic string texture with admirable textural diversity, thematic distinction, and rhythmic vivacity. He covers the field of French dances well, offering among others a bransle (here termed a brandlay), sarabande, rigaudon, a majestic chaconne, a profoundly touching passacaille, several gavottes of contrasting character (flirtatious in the Third Suite, grave in the Sixth), mercurial canaries, and a brace of graceful minuets. His overtures are relatively short affairs, their quick sections more contrapuntally imitative than fugal, no doubt fitting the needs for contemporary elegant court entertainment.


The performances of the L’Orfeo Baroque Orchestra are incisive yet well blended, with several oboes, and a pair each of recorders and trumpets to vary the sound. I felt that on a few occasions Gaigg selected hectic tempos that worked against the effect of the music, most evidently in the passacaille from the Suite No. 4 in D Minor. But by and large his tempos were judiciously chosen, and his phrasing anything but metronomic. The reverberant recording environment had a hand in making the ensemble sound larger than they are—they number only 26—but there is no loss of precision. Miking is forward, with excellent stereo placement.


Highly recommended to Baroque enthusiasts, especially those who have been wishing for more overtures and suites just as tuneful as anything composed by Handel or Telemann.


FANFARE: Barry Brenesal
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Works on This Recording

1. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 2 - 1st movement, Ouverture by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 3 Minutes 19 Secs. 
2. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 2 - 2nd movement, Plainte by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 2 Minutes 33 Secs. 
3. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 2 - 3rd movement, Gigue by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 1 Minutes 0 Secs. 
4. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 2 - 4th movement, Bourée by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 1 Minutes 39 Secs. 
5. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 2 - 5th movement, Menuet by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 1 Minutes 3 Secs. 
6. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 1 - 1st movement, Ouverture by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 2 Minutes 22 Secs. 
7. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 1 - 2nd movement, Marche by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 0 Minutes 59 Secs. 
8. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 1 - 3rd movement, Air des Combattans by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 0 Minutes 54 Secs. 
9. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 1 - 4th movement, Riguadon by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 0 Minutes 35 Secs. 
10. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 1 - 5th movement, Menuet by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 1 Minutes 8 Secs. 
11. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 1 - 6th movement, Chaconne by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 3 Minutes 58 Secs. 
12. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 7 - 1st movement, Ouverture by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 2 Minutes 30 Secs. 
13. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 7 - 2nd movement, Passacaille by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 3 Minutes 19 Secs. 
14. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 7 - 3rd movement, Bourée by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 0 Minutes 38 Secs. 
15. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 7 - 4th movement, Menuet by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 1 Minutes 11 Secs. 
16. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 3 - 1st movement, Ouverture by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 2 Minutes 39 Secs. 
17. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 3 - 2nd movement, Menuet by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 0 Minutes 41 Secs. 
18. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 3 - 3rd movement, Gavotte by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 1 Minutes 41 Secs. 
19. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 3 - 4th movement, Chaconne by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 3 Minutes 21 Secs. 
20. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 4 - 1st movement, Ouverture by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 4 Minutes 27 Secs. 
21. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 4 - 2nd movement, Entrée by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 1 Minutes 22 Secs. 
22. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 4 - 3rd movement, Rondeau by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 0 Minutes 46 Secs. 
23. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 4 - 4th movement, Gavotte by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 0 Minutes 39 Secs. 
24. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 4 - 5th movement, Menuet by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 0 Minutes 44 Secs. 
25. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 4 - 6th movement, Passacaille by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 3 Minutes 36 Secs. 
26. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 6 - 1st movement, Ouverture by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 3 Minutes 28 Secs. 
27. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 6 - 2nd movement, Brandlay by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 1 Minutes 21 Secs. 
28. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 6 - 3rd movement, Amener by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 1 Minutes 54 Secs. 
29. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 6 - 4th movement, Gavotte by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 0 Minutes 35 Secs. 
30. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 6 - 5th movement, Courrante by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 1 Minutes 5 Secs. 
31. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 6 - 6th movement, Sarabande by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 1 Minutes 14 Secs. 
32. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 6 - 7th movement, Bourée by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 0 Minutes 37 Secs. 
33. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 6 - 8th movement, Menuett by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 0 Minutes 49 Secs. 
34. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 8 - 1st movement, Ouverture by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Date of Recording: 10/2005 
Venue:  Southwest German Radio Studio, Stuttgart 
Length: 4 Minutes 17 Secs. 
35. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 8 - 2nd movement, Entrée by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Length: 1 Minutes 52 Secs. 
36. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 8 - 3rd movement, Canaries by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Length: 0 Minutes 34 Secs. 
37. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 8 - 4th movement, Gavotte en Rondeau by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Length: 1 Minutes 12 Secs. 
38. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 8 - 5th movement, Passepied by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Length: 0 Minutes 38 Secs. 
39. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 8 - 6th movement, Echo by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Length: 2 Minutes 7 Secs. 
40. Le journal du printems, Op. 1: Suite no 8 - 7th movement, Menuet by Johann Caspar Fischer
Performer:  Michi Gaigg (Violin)
Conductor:  Michi Gaigg
Orchestra/Ensemble:  L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque 
 Length: 2 Minutes 26 Secs. 

Sound Samples

Overture (Suite) in A minor, Op. 1, No. 2: I. Ouverture
Overture (Suite) in A minor, Op. 1, No. 2: II. Plainte
Overture (Suite) in A minor, Op. 1, No. 2: III. Gigue
Overture (Suite) in A minor, Op. 1, No. 2: IV. Bouree
Overture (Suite) in A minor, Op. 1, No. 2: V. Menuet
Overture (Suite) in C major, Op. 1, No. 1: I. Ouverture
Overture (Suite) in C major, Op. 1, No. 1: II. Marche
Overture (Suite) in C major, Op. 1, No. 1: III. Air des Combattans
Overture (Suite) in C major, Op. 1, No. 1: IV. Rigaudon
Overture (Suite) in C major, Op. 1, No. 1: V. Menuet
Overture (Suite) in C major, Op. 1, No. 1: VI. Chaconne
Overture (Suite) in G minor, Op. 1, No. 7: I. Ouverture
Overture (Suite) in G minor, Op. 1, No. 7: II. Passacaille
Overture (Suite) in G minor, Op. 1, No. 7: III. Bouree
Overture (Suite) in G minor, Op. 1, No. 7: IV. Menuet
Overture (Suite) in B flat major, Op. 1, No. 3: I. Ouverture
Overture (Suite) in B flat major, Op. 1, No. 3: II. Menuet
Overture (Suite) in B flat major, Op. 1, No. 3: III. Gavotte
Overture (Suite) in B flat major, Op. 1, No. 3: IV. Chaconne
Overture (Suite) in D minor, Op. 1, No. 4: I. Ouverture
Overture (Suite) in D minor, Op. 1, No. 4: II. Entree
Overture (Suite) in D minor, Op. 1, No. 4: III. Rondeau
Overture (Suite) in D minor, Op. 1, No. 4: IV. Gavotte
Overture (Suite) in D minor, Op. 1, No. 4: V. Menuet
Overture (Suite) in D minor, Op. 1, No. 4: VI. Passacaille
Overture (Suite) in F major, Op. 1, No. 6: I. Ouverture
Overture (Suite) in F major, Op. 1, No. 6: II. Brandlay
Overture (Suite) in F major, Op. 1, No. 6: III. Amener
Overture (Suite) in F major, Op. 1, No. 6: IV. Gavotte
Overture (Suite) in F major, Op. 1, No. 6: V. Courante
Overture (Suite) in F major, Op. 1, No. 6: VI. Sarabande
Overture (Suite) in F major, Op. 1, No. 6: VII. Bouree
Overture (Suite) in F major, Op. 1, No. 6: VIII. Menuet
Overture (Suite) in C major, Op. 1, No. 8: I. Ouverture
Overture (Suite) in C major, Op. 1, No. 8: II. Entree
Overture (Suite) in C major, Op. 1, No. 8: III. Canaries
Overture (Suite) in C major, Op. 1, No. 8: IV. Gavotte en Rondeau
Overture (Suite) in C major, Op. 1, No. 8: V. Passepied
Overture (Suite) in C major, Op. 1, No. 8: VI. Echo
Overture (Suite) in C major, Op. 1, No. 8: VII. Menuet

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