The German-descendant Düben family of conductors spanned three generations as music directors of the Stockholm court. Andreas Düben (1597–1662) received his education in Amsterdam under Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck before settling in the capital of the Swedish superpower in the 1620s. His son Gustav Düben (c.1628–1690), and grandson Anders von Düben (1673–1738) continued the family's legacy during the following century.
The duties of a Baroque ‘Kapellmeister’ did not only include leading the court orchestra but also prolific composition for significant events, recruiting singers and musicians, acquiring instruments, and seeking out contemporary music from composers throughout mainland Europe. In their positions, the Düben Kapellmeisters amassed a substantial collection of repertoire for approximately seventy years, reflecting the artistic currents of their time. When the works fell out of fashion, Anders von Düben donated this "treasure trove" to Uppsala University, where the collection is currently preserved.
The program reflects our Nordic-Baltic collaborative orchestra's sense of roots. Its purpose is to transport both the audience and the musicians to the ever-changing cultural landscape of Stockholm's high society. A major section of the concert illustrates the musical taste of the 17th century court, which was influenced by German and Italian styles. The Uppsala collection includes preserved works ranging from Vincenzo Albrici and Heinrich Schütz to Dietrich Buxtehude and Matthias Weckmann. Additionally, our attention is directed towards the German-Baltic composer, singer, and organist Valentin Meder, who journeyed from Gotha to Hamburg, Copenhagen, Tallinn and Riga during his career.
By the turn of the century, France had emerged as the leading cultural force in Europe, and Versailles served as a model for several significant royal courts. The Düben collection includes works by composers such as Jean-Baptiste Lully, André Campra, Marin Marais, and Michel de la Barre. Anders von Düben, the last conductor of the family’s dynasty, brought many Parisian influences to the Nordic countries, contributing to theestablishment of the most important musical currents of the early 18th century in the geographical North.
Our Finnish-Norwegian-Estonian collaborative ensemble has performed with the Düben collection at the BarokkiKuopio Festival in 2022 in Kuopio and Helsinki, as well as at the Ceciliana Festival in Tallinn in 2023. The project has been supported by the Nordic Culture Fund, Nordic Culture Point, Arts Council Norway, Music Finland, Finnish Music Foundation, Norwegian Embassy in Finland, Cultural Endowment of Estonia, BarokkiKuopio Festival, and the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.
Program
Anon.: Sonata a 5 (instrumental) 2'30
Franz Tunder (1614–1667): Wachet auf (soprano aria) 6'00
Gustav Düben (1628–1690): Allemande – Sarabande – Courante à 5 (instrumental) 5'00
Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672): Erbarm dich mein, O Herre Gott (mezzo-soprano aria) 5'00
G. Düben: Sinfonia a 4 (instrumental) 4'00
Marin Marais (1656–1728): Suite in G minor (selected parts) à 3 (instrumental) 8'00
André Campra (1660–1744): Laudate dominum (bass aria) 4'30
A. Campra?: Suite from the opera L’Europe galante 10’00
Valentin Meder (1649–1719): Battaglia a 5 (instrumental) 12'00
V. Meder: Ach Herr, strafe mich nicht mit deinem Zorn (soprano aria) 7'00
Dietrich Buxtehude (1637–1707): Wachet auf BuxWV 100 (aria for soprano, mezzo-soprano, and bass) 10'00
Berit Norbakken, soprano
Sunniva Eliassen, mezzo-soprano
Sönke Tams Freier, bass
Ensemble Nylandia, Ensemble Hyperborea, and Estonian Baroque Ensemble
Conductor: Matias Häkkinen
Sponsors
The project in November 2023 is supported by the Nordic Culture Fund, Nordic Culture Point, Arts Council Norway, Music Finland and the Estonian Embassy in Norway.